When Love grows doubt

by Barbara Eckhoff

  "You are insane!"

  Without another word, Dumfrey grabbed two horses and pulled Moira along with him. Desperately, she thought of how she could draw attention to herself. Still everyone was busy trying to get the fire under control. She thought about calling out, but the sound of crackling wood drowned out everything and Dumfrey would immediately knock her down or kill her. She didn't have much time left, because they were getting farther and farther away from the house. When Dumfrey stopped and pulled her to one of the horses, she had an idea. She hoped that the Almighty would give her enough strength. As soon as Dumfrey loosened his grip to lift her into the saddle, she saw her chance. She grabbed his arm with her free hand and bit into his flesh as hard as she could. Filled with pain, he cried out and let go of her. This was her opportunity. With full force she threw her body into his belly and brought him down, then she

  gathered up her skirt and began to run toward the house. Calling for help, she ran toward the helpers.

  Robert, who first heard Moira's voice, looked in her direction. What the hell had his wife...? But then he saw Dumfrey standing behind her and understood immediately. Even before one of the others had grasped the situation, he ran toward his wife. When he had almost reached her, a bullet struck a tree trunk near him and splintering wood flew towards him. That son of a bitch shot at him. Moira seemed to be oblivious to this because she threw herself breathlessly into his arms.

  "Are you all right? I'm gonna get that son of a bitch."

  Before Moira could say anything in reply, however, Robert left her standing there and went after Dumfrey. Unfortunately, the rogue had a big head start, but he would now chase him until he had him.

  Dumfrey had ridden away with his horse in the direction of the cliffs. On the first stretch the path was wide enough for Robert to give his horse the spurs. He sped around the next bend and saw the

  fugitive a few hundred yards ahead of him. With his upper body bent far above the animal's neck, he chased after him. Robert did not have much time to catch up with him, because he knew that the road would soon narrow and run very close to the cliffs. If Dumfrey reached that stretch of road before he caught him, then he would probably escape, for Robert would not ride recklessly after him. The danger of falling off was too great for horse and rider. Robert made up yards by yards and got everything out of his horse. Dumfrey looked around in a hurry. His pursuer was getting closer and closer and his lame mare seemed to be slowing down. He could already hear the quick breath of the animal as he rammed the spurs into the belly of his horse. But nothing helped, he could not shake off his pursuer. Robert steered his horse alongside Dumfrey's and when he was finally on the same level, he started to jump. With a tremendous force he threw himself at Dumfrey and lifted him out of the saddle. They hit the ground hard. Dumfrey was lucky that he had landed on top of Robert and was thus able to move better. He rammed his elbow into his face and thus bought himself enough time to pick himself up and flee on foot. He ran along the path that brought him closer to the cliffs. Hastily, he looked around for his horse, but it was standing too far away with Roberts and was grazing. It was not possible for him to reach it, so he ran on. Robert, who was getting up in a daze, needed a few seconds to grasp the situation. He heard the sound of

  hooves. Help was approaching. He saw Samuel, the inspector and some of his men coming toward him. Probably Moira had mobilized them, but time was passing, he could not wait for them. Dumfrey had already a head start again and so he took up the pursuit again. With his long legs, he had no trouble catching up with the older and much smaller man. When Dumfrey felt his pursuer already at his neck he turned around in a flash and fired another bullet from his pistol at Robert. This time it missed him by only a few inches. Robert threw himself to the ground, drew his revolver and fired. Hit by the bullet, Dumfrey cried out. He grabbed his leg and saw the blood gushing out. Horrified, he staggered backwards. Dumfrey didn't seem to have noticed how close he was to the abyss, but Robert shouted to him, with his gun drawn:" Stand still Dumfrey, it's over. Come here."

  "No way, go to hell!", again he laid into Robert,

  but before he could pull the trigger, Robert shot the gun out of his hand. Dumfrey backed away, startled. Robert, recognizing the danger in which Dumfrey was in, called out to him again to come toward him, but his counterpart only laughed at him. He took another step back and now realized his mistake. With wildly flailing arms, he tried to regain his balance, but he was lost. Robert rushed forward at the moment Dumfrey lost his balance backwards, but his saving grip came to nothing as Dumfrey plunged down the precipice before his eyes with a terrified scream. At that moment, the others also reached him. Stunned, they looked over the edge.

  "We were able to observe everything, he had the choice. Be glad, it's all over."

  With that, the inspector turned away and went to his people. Robert, however, was still looking into the abyss. Disappointment and anger spread through him. Why hadn't he been a little faster, he could have saved him. Not that he suddenly felt sorry for Dumfrey. He had gotten what he deserved. Nevertheless, he would have preferred to crush him himself like an annoying insect. For he was not much more in his eyes. Then Samuel stepped next to him and put his hand on his friend's shoulder.

  "He didn't deserve it any other way."

  "I know, but I would have liked to see him dangle from the gallows and have his brains beaten out of him first. This has been a far too merciful death for him."

  "I wish I could have gotten my hands on him for what he did to Eileen, but this is as good as it gets."

  "Yes, it's over!"

  Epilogue

  It had begun to snow. The first snow that Robert saw in his new home. Temperatures had plummeted in recent days and everyone was glad to be inside the warm house today after church services. Thoughtfully he stood in the hall by the festively decorated tree. Albert and Harried had decorated it beautifully with Moira. In the background he could hear the many voices talking happily in the dining room. Tonight there would be a Christmas feast and Samuel had come with Eileen to celebrate with them. Since the fire at the orphanage, life had come to his house. Since housing for the children had to be found quickly, he had agreed with Moira that they would be housed and taught in a wing of his house and be educated.

  Moira knew what it meant to have ten lively children in the house, and credited her husband with

  immediately agreeing to house them on a temporary basis. She had come to the decision not to rebuild the orphanage and so it had already been torn down. The new orphanage should be in her parents' house. In the new building, they had more space and could accommodate even more children in the future. Robert was pleased that Moira could distract herself from the events of the last few months.

  What with everything that had happened this year!

  "You once said to me you felt lonely despite the many people around you, is that still the case?"

  Robert was jolted out of his thoughts when he heard Moira's voice behind him. Tenderly she put her arms around him and nestled against his back. Robert slowly turned to her and looked into her green eyes.

  "Are you happy, Robert? I mean, you said to me once that you might not want to stay here and go back. Is that still the case?"

  With a smile on his lips, he answered her:

  "I must have said quite a few stupid sentences. Since you came into my life, I am not lonely anymore. You are my family now, only sometimes I wish that my parents had the chance to meet you."

  "I would like that very much, too, but it's going to take a while, because you're going to have more tasks to accomplish."

  "What do you mean?" he looked at her in amazement.

  "I was going to tell you later when we were alone, but I think now, it's also a good time. I'm pregnant again."

  Immediately, a little anticipation grew inside him.

  "Are you quite sure?"

  "I know it's early, but a woman can sense something like this. Yes I'm q
uite sure."

  Happily, Robert lifted her up and twirled her around. Moira laughed in his arms. His kiss that followed made her anticipate how they would spend the night and it made her shiver pleasantly.

  "This is the most beautiful Christmas present that you could have given me. I love you."

  Tenderly, she caressed his cheek.

  "You are the best thing that ever could have happened to me and I hope that someday you will show me your home."

  "My home is here with you, and when we make the long journey someday, it will only be for a visit, because I want to spend my life here, with you and our children."

  She looked into his eyes in love, into those bright blue eyes that had captivated her from the beginning.

  Robert MacIntyre was her life, and it would always be that way.

  Now available – Part II

  Isabella had exchanged her sunday dress for her riding costume. It was such a glorious spring day that she

  wanted to steal a few hours and venture out for a ride. It was the first, since the long winter, and it would do her and her mare Tipsy good to get off the ranch. After the Reverend had been invited not only to the apple pie, but also for lunch, he was now on his way home, and Isabella had a little time to kill before she had to see to dinner. She had agreed with Louisa to be back on time. Quickly she slipped into her brown winter riding skirt, which was made of heavy wool. Along with it she wore a white blouse with long sleeves and high collar. Against the still fresh temperatures, she put on her moss green jacket made of warm winter wool, which reached her hips and had a longer peplum towards the back. Her appearance was completed with warm, wool-lined, brown riding boots, black gloves, a jaunty lime-green scarf, tied around her neck and a cowboy hat that did not quite match her elegant style of dress, but was very practical and under which she hid her long, chestnut hair. With a last, satisfied look in the mirror, she left her room and made her way to the stable. Normally, she did not make such a fuss about her appearance, but today was a beautiful day and she was looking forward to her ride. So why not dress up for a change? The opportunities on a ranch were not very often available. With a smile on her lips and a little melody in her head, she arrived at the huge barn. The stables were part of a large barn complex located near the main house. One barn housed the horses used for ranch work. Just behind it were several paddocks where the horses now grazed and quite a few small and larger paddocks where the cowboys could break in new horses or drive cattle in for branding. In one of these small paddocks, a bit off to the side, stood a black stallion that watched her with attentive eyes. The ears pricked, he followed every move she made. Isabella thought about it and paused briefly before turning to the animal. Slowly, she walked toward the small paddock. Immediately the animal started to move and ran restlessly around. Her father had caught the wild mustang a week ago and brought him here. He wanted him for himself and would have long ago ridden him but the animal was the devil in person. As soon as someone tried to approach him, he rose

  threatening. When Isabella came closer, the stallion started to snort, tossed his black mane wildly back and forth and pranced on the ground. Isabella stopped. She was only a short distance away from the fence and could see the diabolical eyes of the animal. It was a beautiful animal, but unfortunately unrideable and she wondered, as she turned around and went back to the stable, what her father was going to do with him. Well, today she was going to spend some quality time with her own horse. Her chestnut mare was already neighing happily when she heard her coming down the aisle. Tipsy was a good-natured horse, that Isabella had bought as a foal for her fifth birthday. Since then they were one heart and soul and understood each other blindly, when they rode out together.

  "Well beautiful? Shall we go for a ride today? It's so beautiful outside. You'll like to let the wind blow through your mane."

  The mare joyfully rubbed her nostrils against Isabella's arm and neighed approvingly, as if she had

  understood what she had just heard. It was not long before Isabella had saddled her horse and left the stable. Skillfully, she swung herself into the saddle and steered her mare in the direction of the main house, since her grandfather had just come out of the front door.

  "Do you want to take a little ride?"

  "Yes, it's lovely today and I haven't been out for a long time."

  "Don't ride too far, though. Did you bring the rifle? Just in case?"

  She reached up to her right thigh and pulled the rifle stock out of the holster a little so that her grandfather could see the weapon.

  "It's all there, I'll be back in a couple of hours. See you later."

  She slid the rifle back into the holster, tapped her hat in salute and gave her mare the command to trot.

  Joyfully they both trotted off.

  The sun was shining brightly from the sky and not a single cloud clouded the weather. First she rode a good distance along the fence of the cattle pasture and had seen several of her father's cowboys at work. The ranch was located in a kind of high valley. In the distance you could see forests, hills and high mountain ranges to the right and left of the ranch. In between far-reaching pastures. Later she had made a small but sharp gallop over the endless expanse of the adjacent prairie which had led into a stop on a hill. She looked around. From the hill she had a breathtaking view of her home. As far as the eye reached, she saw small black points grazing on the prairie. They were her father's cattle. The ranch house could no longer be seen.

  "That was lovely, wasn't it Tipsy? Come let's ride on."

  Happily, she patted the animal on the neck and Tipsy snorted in satisfaction. She steered her horse into the adjacent forest and rode slowly into it. All too far, she did not want to ride more, since she had promised to be back on time, but they both enjoyed the ride so much that she decided to extend it a bit more. She loved the smell of the forest. The delicate, lime green buds of the new leaves. Her horse carried her safely along the small trail around the trees. Somewhere above, sat birds singing their spring song. She was briefly startled when two rabbits jumped out of the bushes in front of her, but Tipsy didn't let that upset her. Cheekily, the two rabbits sat down on the forest floor in front of them and watched the approaching hares, before they suddenly disappeared with a leap into the undergrowth. Laughing, she rode on. A deer appeared in the undergrowth and immediately disappeared from her view. All of nature had awakened from its long winter sleep. She enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere that prevailed here. How gladly she would have stayed longer but she had to make her way home. Isabella knew her way around here well. How often had she come along this path. Only a short distance, then the forest would open up and a small trail would lead down the embankment, where she could ride along the forest on open prairie back to the ranch. Suddenly Tipsy stopped abruptly and began to neigh nervously. Isabella looked around, but could see nothing suspicious. Reassuringly she tried to talk to the increasingly nervous animal.

  "Calm down, Tipsy. What is it that makes you nervous? Come on let's ride on."

  But the animal did not move from the spot. Instead, it began to neigh loudly and prance nervously on the spot. Isabella slowly pulled the rifle from the holster and inwardly prepared herself to fire a shot. Whatever was around her, she had to try to steer Tipsy out of the woods. She had not quite finished this thought when, out of nowhere, a cougar jumped on her horse and bit the animal in the neck. Tipsy reared up wildly in pain, shook its neck convulsively and tried to shake off the beast. Isabella had cried out in horror when the cougar jumped onto the horse in front of her. The moment of shock had lasted until she had recognized the situation, had used the cougar to bite the horse's neck firmly. She couldn't shoot, the cougar was too close for that, but she tried to knock him off his horse with the butt of her rifle. With all her strength she hit the animal, the cougar let go of the horse's neck and now clawed his one paw deep into her thigh, while he came closer to her body with his sharp teeth. Painfully she cried out and panic-stricken she con
tinued to hit the cougar with the rifle. At that moment Tipsy started to move, to escape the cougar. But the cougar had bitten into her neck again. With great difficulty she managed to stay on the horse and at the same time tried to shake off the beast. Tipsy was going faster and faster. Isabella held at the same time the reins in one hand and the saddle horn to give herself support, while the other hand tried to hit the cougar with the butt of the rifle. Crouched, so as not to be lifted out of the saddle by the branches of the trees, she saw the end of the forest coming. She had to make it as far as the open prairie, then she would be able to move better, but until then endless time seemed to pass. Finally Tipsy had reached the embankment and galloped down at a wild pace. Isabella was in danger of losing her footing. She was a good rider and had been in the saddle since childhood, but she she had never been prepared for this extreme situation. She clawed her thighs against the horse‘s body and was glad when they arrived on level ground. But instead of Tipsy riding toward the ranch, she swept along the prairie in the opposite direction. Now she was able to stand up. She tied the reins around the pommel of the saddle so she wouldn't lose them and took the rifle in both hands. With the remaining strength she still had, she took a swing with the rifle and hit the cougar on the head with full force. The cougar finally let go of the animal, snarling, and with a second blow immediately following, the cougar flew off the horse in a high arc. Inwardly, Isabella breathed a sigh of relief. She had managed to shake off the dangerous beast. Isabella quickly stowed the rifle in the stock under her thigh and took up the reins again, while she tried to calm down Tipsy and steer her in the direction of the ranch. But the animal was in such a panic that it did not respond neither to the reassuring words of her nor to the rein aids. On the contrary, now on the open terrain, the animal gained even more speed. They moved away at a murderous pace mile after mile more from the ranch and the environment became more and more unknown to her.