by Anna Zogg
“Ma!” Toby screamed the word. “Ma, are you okay?”
In moments, she felt him collapse next to her.
“Please say something.” His young arms wrapped about her. “Please.”
She raised her head, clutching her arm to her chest. “It’s okay. I’m okay, Toby.”
Looking around, she watched Cole disappear over the hill. Chasing Jeb? Cattle milled nearby. Had Cole and Toby driven them there?
She now recalled the shots—of warning? They must have seen her and Jeb in the yard.
Leaning her head back, she breathed a prayer of thanksgiving.
Tears streaked Toby’s face. He wiped his nose on his sleeve. “Let me help you up, Ma.”
Cradling her arm, Lenora awkwardly gained her feet. With her son’s arm around her, they climbed the porch steps. When he tried to lead her into the house, she stiffened. “No. I’m not going back in there.”
Brow wrinkled, Toby appeared as though unable to decide what to do.
“I’ll sit here.” She took the rocking chair instead.
Her son stood nearby, pulling at his hair as though in mounting helplessness. His lower lip trembled as he repeatedly sniffed.
Lenora took a deep breath. “I’m all right, son.”
Again, he swiped his nose, chin quivering. Like all men, he needed a task to feel useful.
She closed her eyes for a moment. “Do you think you could get me a drink of water?”
His face lit up. “Sure.” He disappeared into the house and was soon back. In his haste, he had spilled half of the water.
She finished it. “One more.”
Again, he was soon back, this time with a full cup.
After Lenora drank that, she set the cup on the floorboards beside her. Still her son seemed barely able to contain his tears. So she did something she hadn’t done in years. “Come here.”
Taking care to protect her injured wrist, she pulled him onto her lap. He turned and buried his face against her neck and cried, huge sobs shuddering through his body. For a long time, she merely held him.
When he grew calmer, she said in a low voice, “It’ll be okay, Toby. I promise you.”
Gulping air, he kept his face hidden.
I will never let this happen again. Jeb Hackett would not threaten her like he had. No matter what, she had to protect herself. And her son.
As far as she was concerned, only one thing would stop Jeb. An idea seemed to come out of the blue. Because God gave it to her?
Jeb had spoken of marriage. Perhaps that was the one thing that would stop him. The moment she resolved what to do, peace washed over her.
Tonight. She wouldn’t delay proposing to Cole for one more day.
Chapter Twelve
By the time Cole returned to the ranch, his anger had burned down into red-hot ashes. Jeb Hackett had escaped, the gap too wide to close. With night coming, Cole couldn’t hope to find his way. But he determined to head over to Hackett’s place at first light and call him out.
When Cole rode into the yard, he was surprised to see Lenora sitting on the porch. Not in the house? She cradled her left arm as she rocked, not even meeting his gaze when he mounted the steps.
A quick glance told him all he needed to know. Hackett had roughed her up a bit, but had not assaulted her in the way Cole first feared when he’d ridden over the hill. He would never forget the way her scream froze his blood.
Still, he had to ask. “You okay?”
She stopped rocking and met his gaze. In a frightening calm tone, she answered. “Yes.”
He expected hysteria or at least tears. Again, she began rocking.
Toby was inside, doing something. Cleaning up a mess Hackett had made?
Cole glanced back at Lenora, then the animals that milled around the yard. It would be dark soon.
“I’m gonna pen the cattle while I can. Unless you need me here to...?”
Her deep brown eyes met his. “That’s a fine idea. Toby and I’ll be okay.” She nodded toward her rifle, resting within easy reach. “He brought me that. Reloaded it too.”
Reloaded? Cole gulped, resisting the urge to ask what happened.
Her serenity chilled him. Perhaps she was in shock? No doubt a storm of hot tears would come later. He wouldn’t be so cruel as to force them now. But when the time came, he was prepared to hold her and let her crying wash away Hackett’s brutal attack.
Cole paused to reassure her. “First thing tomorrow, I want you to give me directions to Hackett’s place.”
“Why?”
“I’m going to his ranch so that I can—”
“No.” Wide-eyed, she gripped the rocker’s armrest. “You’d never get to him. On his ranch or in town, he’s always surrounded by a dozen of his cronies.”
“I can’t let this go, Lenora.”
“You have to. There’s no other choice. Jeb’s men would beat you senseless if he ordered them to. I’ve seen it before.”
He considered his options. “Then I’ll go to the sheriff and—”
“And what? Say that you saw Jeb on my ranch?” Her voice rose. “Jeb could call twenty men to testify that he was at the saloon all day. And the results would be the same. He’d make you pay.” She stood, chest rising and falling with anxiety. “Promise me you won’t do anything foolish. I couldn’t live with myself if Jeb...”
If Cole didn’t agree, she might grow hysterical. “I’ll think about it.”
“No. Promise me.” She gripped his arm. When he didn’t answer quick enough, her fingers tightened. “I’d rather die than see you crippled for life because of me.”
Cool reason swept over him. She was right, of course. Rumors abounded about how Hackett always managed to weasel out of a conviction. Cole needed hard evidence.
I will find it. That or...
Lenora’s beautiful eyes pleaded. “Promise me.”
“I promise I won’t do anything stupid.”
Foolish perhaps—like hang up his badge and step outside the law to take down Hackett. But not stupid.
“I’ll see to the cattle.” Cole stepped off the porch and climbed back into the saddle.
* * *
Dusk had fallen by the time he finished rounding up the herd and penning the cattle in the back pasture. Lenora hadn’t moved from the porch, still rocking. Her mouth was set, but her forehead appeared calm. Though she no longer cradled her wrist, it rested on her lap. Even in the disappearing light, Cole could see her reddened skin.
He kicked himself for not taking care of her injury before the cattle. However, he doubted she would let him touch her. Perhaps now?
Without explaining first, he retrieved liniment from his saddlebags in the barn. He lit the lantern and carried it to the porch.
“Let me have a look at that.” He nodded toward her wrist.
She hesitated before stretching it toward him.
Without touching her, Cole scrutinized her arm under the light. Didn’t appear broken. After setting down the lantern and tin of liniment, he ran his fingers over her soft skin.
She hissed.
“I’m sorry.” With care, he felt along the delicate bones. When he touched a couple spots, she jerked in reflex.
“Nothing’s broken. But there’s plenty of swelling.” After scooping out some liniment, he carefully massaged it into her skin. Cole kept his voice low, like when he talked to an injured animal. “I usually use this on horses, but it should work on you too.”
She wrinkled her nose, the first authentic reaction he’d seen besides her response to pain.
“It stinks.” She pressed her other hand to her face and turned away.
“That it does.” He watched her reaction as he attempted to joke. “I guarantee a direct link between h
ow bad it smells and how good it works.”
As he feared, she didn’t smile. Pain—both physical and emotional—consumed her. In the countless times Cole had tended to injured animals, they had looked away, just like Lenora.
How he wished he could easily mend her hidden wounds.
He kept speaking even though she was likely aware of only a fraction of his words. “I know you’ll be amazed at how good it feels by morning.” Again he paused, assessing her as he continued to smooth the concoction over her delicate wrist. “The odor won’t be as bad in a few minutes. Likely tomorrow or the next day, you’ll think this liniment smells like some fancy, French perfume. You’ll be begging me for the recipe.”
A smile tugged at her lips. A good sign.
With care, he rested her hand against his palm as he stroked her skin. Not to apply more liniment, but to merely let her know he cared. Her arm was as delicate as a flower stalk.
Her dark brown eyes finally met his. Though her mouth spasmed, she didn’t cry as he expected.
“It feels a lot better,” she said in a low voice. “Thanks.”
Why didn’t she pull away? Again, Lenora didn’t react as he expected, allowing her hand to remain on his.
Cole lurched to his feet. “Be right back.” After he went inside, he blew out a breath. What was wrong with him? He seemed more affected by the contact than she. Wasn’t he supposed to be comforting her?
The smell of overcooked beans made him take pause. Where was Toby?
A steaming pan sat on the stove. Before the food burned, he removed it from the heat and went back onto the porch with a towel.
Standing before Lenora, he clenched his jaw as he contemplated touching her again.
With parted lips, she looked up at him. “What is it?”
“I, uh...” He held out the towel. “Figured this would be better to use than my...well, since it’s clean. For your...” He waved at her wrist, kicking himself for sounding so tongue-tied. After clearing his throat, he bundled her arm into a sling. “This should help. Try not to use your hand tonight, if possible.”
Eyes huge, she nodded.
Toby bounded up the steps, hair wet and face scrubbed. “Supper’s ready.”
Scratching his chin, Cole nodded. “Sounds good.” The gesture not only hid his consternation about Lenora, but covered his amusement about Toby’s idea of making supper. Apparently the boy hadn’t figured out he shouldn’t leave food unattended on the stove. Washing up before a meal was so ingrained that he’d neglected the pan of beans.
After the youngster went inside, Cole paused to ask Lenora, “You coming?”
Mouth tight, she shook her head.
Couldn’t blame her. Did she feel safer on the porch?
He stuck his head in the door. “We’re eating outside tonight, Toby.” While the youngster got dishes, he served up the beans. However, he left the blackened ones at the bottom of the pan. With bread slices and tin plates, they sat on the dusky porch to eat.
After one bite, Cole coughed, but he managed to hide his shudder at the burned taste that permeated the food.
Toby choked down some of his meal and ended up sliding his plate toward Blister who wolfed it down.
The only one who didn’t appear to notice was Lenora. As Cole scooped the beans into his mouth, he watched her. She ate without really paying attention to her food.
Seemed like supper was finished in minutes.
“Toby, why don’t you get ready for bed.” Her eerily calm voice pierced the darkness.
Cole didn’t miss the glance the boy shot his mother.
“Yes’m. Good night.” Without a word, he went inside with his plate.
What? No prayers or Bible reading like usual?
“Let me clean up, and then I’ll say good night.” Cole grabbed the tins.
Lenora’s voice rose. “I need to talk to you about something important first.”
He couldn’t help but hear the note of urgency—desperation?—that edged her voice.
“It can wait till morning. Sounds like you need rest.”
“No. Now.”
He’d heard that tone before—when she had pointed a rifle at his chest. Her voice was cold, calm, daring him to argue with her.
Cole slowly set the tin plates on the porch, but he remained standing.
The light of the lone lantern shone on her face as she raised haunted eyes to his. “I’ve been thinking about this all afternoon. My mind’s made up.” She paused to lick dry lips. “I want to offer you half my ranch.”
Were his ears playing tricks on him?
“Half your...?” He scratched his jaw. What was she talking about? For him to assume she wanted nothing in return bordered on ridiculous. He rallied. “In exchange for what? I have little money and just a few horses and guns. What could we possibly trade?”
Her mouth tightened. “Your name.”
“Huh?”
“I said ‘your name.’ I’m willing to trade half my ranch for your name.”
His jaw dropped as his brain scrambled for an explanation.
He must have looked as stupid as he felt because she added, “I’m asking you to marry me.”
Hearing himself sputter, he stopped. A thousand protests rose at her foolish idea. He could never agree.
For starters, she was cheating herself by asking for so little.
Second, she didn’t know him. Didn’t know anything about him.
Third, he was a wanderer. Had she forgotten?
The list grew.
She ducked her head. “I know it’s a bit unusual. But it’s the only way...the only way to protect myself. If I was married, I would be off-limits to—to some men.”
Jeb Hackett? Cole had no doubt she referred to him. What had happened before he and Toby had arrived and interrupted Lenora and Hackett? What had the outlaw said and done that had driven her to such a drastic step?
“Naturally, the marriage would be in name only,” she hurried to add in the same calm voice. “I’ll draw up a contract, delineating all the details so there will be no misunderstanding between us. The day we marry, I will sign half the ranch over to you. In six months or so—after things calm down—you can go your way. Or stay and raise horses like you’ve said. No strings attached.”
Six months? That was exactly how long he had been given to gather evidence of the Hackett gang. The eerie similarity caused a shudder to grip his body.
Was this God arranging the circumstances of his life yet again?
“Lenora. This is...” Cole paused to soften his words. “This is exceedingly generous of you. But you know nothing about me.”
“Not true. You’re a man of your word. You’re kind. A hard worker. And Toby cares for you. Greatly. Why not you?”
“Because—you said it yourself—I’m restless. I can’t settle in one place very long before I start looking at the horizon and wondering what’s over there.”
“I’m not asking for a lifetime commitment. Just six months. A year at the most.” She rose, taking care to protect her injured wrist. “Just enough time to get the ranch back on its feet. If needed, I could always sell out. Give you half your share and...and we’d part ways. No hard feelings.”
Tempted to say yes, he held his tongue. Reasons to decline deluged his mind.
He was in the area for one reason and one only—take Jeb Hackett down. Once that mission was accomplished, Cole would move on to the next assignment. US marshals were needed all over the Wyoming and Oregon territories as well as California. He went where they told him to go. He couldn’t if he was saddled with a wife and son.
As much as he cared for Lenora—and Toby—he wasn’t ready to settle anywhere.
“I’d like your answer tonight, Mr. Cole.” Lenora stepped closer. “If you
don’t agree, then I need to make other arrangements.”
He straightened with a jerk.
Other arrangements? Did she mean she would find someone else to marry? A rush of fury rose at the thought of another man taking his place.
She moved closer yet. “Yes or no?”
Regardless of his personal feelings, he had to decline. No other option was available for a man in his position.
Prepared to refuse, he took a deep breath. “Yes.” Astounded at his reply, he added, “I’ll do it.”
Her shoulders relaxed followed by a long exhale. “Fine. I’ll draw up a contract right now.”
Am I out of my mind?
What had he just agreed to? The ramifications of his yes crashed upon him. He shoved them aside. He already said yes. What’s done is done.
In the moments after agreeing, he grew concerned about a ten-year-old who might not understand. Clearly Lenora had mentioned something to Toby before dinner. Cole felt obligated to speak to the youngster himself. Man to man.
She brushed by him, finally entering the house.
“Wait,” he called. “Does Toby know?”
Lenora turned, her face once again in the light. “Not all the details.”
“I’d like to talk to him before...” He stumbled over the words we’re married. “Before we finalize our agreement.”
“Very well. Oh, one more thing.” She bit her lip, a deep blush spreading across her cheeks. “I would ask that you give me your word that you won’t...” She gulped, her good hand pummeled the space between then. “You won’t demand your husbandly rights once we’re married.”
He took care not to answer too quickly. Being intimate with her would only complicate his eventual departure. In a way, her request relieved him. His principles would demand he keep himself in check regardless of how tempting she might be. “I give you my word of honor.”
Again, she sighed. “Thank you.”
Before he knew it, Cole was congratulating himself on agreeing to her proposal. What if she’d chosen a less honorable man to marry? His yes had protected her from making a disastrous choice.
“Send Toby to the barn when you’re ready.”
