The second he was settled, Calvin crawled into his lap. Wolf wrapped his arms around his son and held him close. Joy at having his boy back eased some of the grief. His fingertips touched the bandages on Calvin’s wrists. “How’d this happen?”
“From the ropes. I kept trying to get loose, but they were real tight. I guess I tried too hard.”
Only the boy’s matter-of-fact tone kept Wolf’s rage from spilling out again. His son had been tied up like an animal. He sat in silence for a while, letting the anger recede a little. “How’d you get free?”
“Ranger McCain found me and cut me loose. Then he carried me out of the cave and I got to ride his horse.” Calvin sat up in Wolf’s lap. “Did you see Griffin, Pa? He’s the biggest horse I ever saw. And I got to ride him.”
“You did? And you stayed right side up?” He ruffled his son’s hair before tucking him against his chest. “Guess we’ll have to start looking for a horse for you now.”
Calvin sat up, his eyes wide with excitement. “Honest, Pa? I can have a horse of my own?”
Wolf laughed at his youthful enthusiasm and ruffled the boy’s blond hair, so like his own. “You’ve grown, I think.”
“Well, I am almost eight, Pa.”
“So you are, son.” He hugged Calvin close, then set him on his feet. “It’s getting dark. We need to go back inside.” When he felt the small hand slip into his, everything around him seemed to fall back into place. Wolf smiled. He still had his son. Everything would be all right.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Jake hauled back on Griffin’s reins and brought him to a plunging halt. The shadow he’d come tearing up the hill after was gone—again. Frustration beat at him until he wanted to howl. Where the hell had the man gone?
Hank Gerard sat on his horse a hundred feet away, searching every fold of land for Harrison, but he wasn’t there. “This is not possible,” he commented with disgust.
“Somehow, it is.” Jake climbed from the saddle, waiting until he got the feeling back in his legs before quartering the area for tracks. Wind had scoured the ground clean. “Damnation.”
They’d been riding for four hours, spotting Harrison and losing him over and over. Just when Jake was ready to call a halt and turn around, the man would appear at the top of the next rise and the race was on again. But there was no rise beyond this one. From where he stood, Jake could see halfway to next week, and nothing moved across the wide desert valley.
“Where did the crafty bastard go?” Gerard walked a dozen steps to look into a shadow that might have been a cave. The barrel of his loaded rifle led the way. It turned out to be no more than what it looked like—a shallow indent in the rock.
“Damned if I know.” Jake took his hat off and set it aside before dropping to his belly to have a look over the edge. There were handholds, if a man was set on going down that way, but not with a bullet in your shoulder like the one Harrison was sporting. Jake stood and brushed some of the dust off his shirt. Abby would have a good laugh if she could see him now. “Let’s backtrack. We must have missed something, a cave or a cut in the rocks, someplace large enough for him to hide in.”
“But we saw him here, after we came through the canyon.”
“He’s not here now.” Jake had never been outwitted by a man so many times in one day. He didn’t like the feeling.
“It will be dark soon.”
Jake considered the angle of the sun and the weariness in the man’s voice. A tired man made mistakes, deadly ones. “We’ll bed down in the canyon. We both need rest, and I’ll feel better with solid rock at my back tonight.”
Gerard dragged himself into the saddle and Jake led the way back down the steep hill toward the setting sun. He understood Gerard’s less than hopeful words. Somehow, Harrison had found a place to hide in the small canyon, or he’d managed to make it to a cutoff Jake had missed. Either way, he’d gotten away for tonight.
It took nearly an hour to reach their destination. Calling it a canyon was a generous description. The rock had been worn away by some ancient flow of water, leaving behind a split that was twice the height of a man and only half that wide. The sun had dropped behind the rim by the time Jake was satisfied they were alone.
They made camp in a wide spot that had just enough room for them to turn around the horses. The approach from either end was only wide enough for a single horse and could be defended easily by one man. He left Gerard building a small fire on the hard ground and walked east along the canyon floor, searching for the spot where their quarry had turned off and escaped. Since he didn’t expect to find anything, he carried two empty water skins. There was a stream that tumbled into a small depression in the canyon floor a couple of hundred feet away. At least his trip wouldn’t be wasted.
Nothing moved but the small animals that belonged here. Jake couldn’t hear anything but his own breathing and Hank setting up camp. They were definitely alone. As he turned toward the water, a dark smudge on the opposite wall caught his eye. He dropped the skins and drew his revolver, ducking lower to present less of a target. Foolish, since Harrison could have shot him in the back as he walked up. He approached the depression in the rock, half expecting gunshots to ring out with every step. But only silence greeted him.
This was the spot. There was blood on the wall at the height of a man’s shoulder. Harrison had stopped here for water, after Jake and Hank Gerard had gone by. The blood still gleamed, wet and fresh, against the sand-colored rock. He’d stumbled against the wall, reopening his wound. Jake followed the trail a little farther to be sure Harrison was gone. He found the place where he’d stopped to drag himself into the saddle. If Jake was reading the tracks right, the man continued to move south, away from Lucinda. But after this day, he wasn’t sure he trusted himself about anything.
For a heartbeat Jake wanted to whistle for Griffin and ride hell bent for Rachel, but good sense prevailed. Racing around in the dark was too dangerous. They’d have to wait for first light. He hoped Harrison went to ground, too. If not, he’d have a hell of a head start by morning. Holstering his gun, Jake filled both water skins and returned to camp.
“He was at the water hole, sometime after we rode through.”
Hank Gerard stopped stirring the soup he was heating and stared at Jake. Liquid dripped from the spoon to sizzle in the flames licking around a small metal pot. “How is that possible? He was ahead of us. I saw him. He couldn’t have gotten past us.”
“He did. I found fresh blood, shoulder high, on the rocks near the pool.”
“What do we do now?”
Hank stayed silent, waiting for instructions. Jake had to admit, he’d never ridden with a better man. For a while, he’d found himself wishing he’d brought Wolf along. The tracker could have found Harrison no matter where he hid. But he needed Wolf to keep Rachel safe. Gerard would have given his life for her, but, in a gun battle, his life would probably have ended a lot sooner. Wolf was where he needed to be.
Hank Gerard had proven himself to be a decent partner. He was always ready to do what was asked, never complained, or insisted on stopping. And Jake knew he could trust the man to stay by his side when the bullets started flying. But they both needed some rest. “We eat and get some sleep. We’ll head out again at first light.”
Hank picked up the second water skin and filled both their canteens and a coffeepot. He set the pot on a level spot near the fire before following Jake to the horses. They stood side by side, holding open the skins while the animals slaked their thirst. Gerard broke the silence. “Which way?”
Jake didn’t have to ask the man which way to what. “He’s still headed south.”
Gerard stifled a groan. “Shouldn’t we follow him?”
Jake shook his head. “Riding now would be dangerous for the horses.”
“And if he circles back in the night?”
He paused, fighting back the urge to race back to Rachel. “Wolf is there. She’ll be safe.”
Hank stood still, consideri
ng. “He’s a good man, I think. Gentle with his son. You trust him.”
It wasn’t a question, so he didn’t answer. When Griffin had his fill of the water, Jake set the skin aside and started removing tack from the tired animal. After a quick grooming, he poured a mound of grain for each horse from the bag tied on behind his saddle. There was no grass to speak of in the canyon, so he gave them each a little extra. It would have to hold them for tonight. He made sure all the gear was arranged so they could saddle up in a hurry before returning to the fire.
“Thanks,” Jake accepted a tin cup full of steaming liquid. Bits of meat floated on the thick surface.
“Don’t thank me until you have tasted it,” Gerard joked. “It will fill you up, but I cannot promise it will be an enjoyable experience.”
Jake laughed with him. The first couple of bites were too hot to taste, but the night air quickly cooled the soup as he ate. “Not bad,” he commented when his cup was empty.
“Hmm, high praise indeed, I think.”
“Not really. You haven’t tasted my cooking yet.”
Gerard uncorked a small flask from his coat pocket and held it out. A whiff of eye-watering fumes shouted a warning about the contents. Jake accepted it and tipped it back. He barely managed to swallow the clear liquid before the coughing started. “What the hell is that stuff?”
Gerard drank a share and sat back with a laugh. “My own recipe. Strong, yes?”
Jake eyed him through a haze of tears. “You could say that.”
“Miller charges too much for what he calls whiskey. I decided, if I had to drink bad alcohol, it should be free. So I make my own.” He capped the flask and put it away. “It also lasts a long time because one swallow is all I can stand.”
Jake actually laughed. Despite their situation, and the fact that Harrison had managed to elude them for the better part of a day, Jake found himself relaxing. Since it wasn’t the alcohol, it must be the company.
Gerard poured half the hot water from the coffeepot into the soup pot to wash it. Then he dumped two handfuls of coffee grounds into the remaining water and returned it to its spot near the fire. Before long, a rich familiar scent rose with the steam. With it came memories of his first morning in the small cabin, and Rachel’s reaction to his supply of coffee beans.
Would she share that smile with the big tracker? He could see the four of them, sitting down to eat at the small table. Rachel and Wolf would be close enough to touch. He might take her arm again, like Jake had seen when he looked back at the cabin this afternoon. Maybe something would start up between them. Wolf was a good man. He’d make Rachel a fine husband.
Jealousy stabbed at Jake, driving his breath from his lungs. He wanted to break the man’s neck for even looking at Rachel. The feeling was ridiculous, but he couldn’t seem to control the beast that rose up inside him. Rachel couldn’t have a future with anyone but him.
Future? His whirling thoughts ground to a halt. When the hell had he started thinking about having a future? He’d always known this was his last assignment as a Texas Ranger, figuring he’d die bringing Harrison to justice. It never bothered him before. But he hadn’t known Rachel before. Everything changed the night she came into his life. What the hell did he do now?
“It is a scary thing, isn’t it?”
Gerard’s voice yanked Jake back to the present. He’d forgotten the man was there. “What are you talking about?”
“Falling in love. It can be quite terrifying.” Gerard offered a cup of coffee. “It is written all over your face,” he explained. “Miss Rachel has prompted such ideas in many men.”
“She hasn’t done anything that warrants the judgment of those people,” Jake defended.
“Of course not,” Hank agreed. “It is her generous heart, I think. It shines from inside her, and gives men ideas of family and the future.”
“I don’t have a future to offer.” Jake gulped down the hot liquid to wash away the bitter taste of disappointment. For the first time in his life, he wanted to see tomorrow.
“That is the wonderful thing about the future. It hasn’t been lived yet. Anything is possible.”
Jake shook his head. “She’d be better off with Wolf.”
“But she doesn’t want him.” Gerard settled back.
The wood crackled and sparked, sending showers of sparks into the silent night air as Jake stared across the fire.
“She is kind, to everyone.” Gerard’s accent thickened. “Only for you has she ever been worried. Only for you has she cried. Accept it, my friend. You have touched her heart.”
•♥•
Rachel slept for the first time in nearly a week. One moment she was listening to the murmur of voices as Wolf settled Calvin into a bedroll near the fire, and the next the sunrise was touching the cabin, filling it with muted golden light. She stretched and snuggled under the blanket to enjoy the warmth for a moment longer. Joy filled her. She was going back to school today. When she heard movement in the next room, she slipped from her bed and hurried through her morning routine. It wouldn’t do to be late.
She rushed the boys through breakfast and urged them to wash up quickly. “I want to be there before any of the children arrive.”
“But, Sis, we’ll be there so you won’t be first.”
“I will be if you don’t hurry up.”
The race was on. The boys clambered up the stairs to get Nathan’s slate and books and chased each other back down again. Rachel was waiting at the door. “Put on your coats. It’s a chilly morning.”
“Where’s Pa?” Calvin shoved his arms into an old coat that was three sizes too big. Rachel bit the inside of her lip to keep from smiling at the picture he made.
“He’s outside waiting for us. He wanted to look around a little before we left.”
“What about my chores?”
Nathan joined them, wearing a coat that was just a little short in the arms. Rachel stared at him. “When did you grow another inch?” Her brother grinned at her, pleased she noticed. “You two should swap coats.”
Calvin and Nathan examined each other before doing as she suggested. When they were buttoned up once more, Rachel laughed. The coat sleeves hung to the knuckles of each boy, but it was an improvement. “I think that’s the best we can do. Are you ready?”
“Not until Pa comes back.” Calvin crossed his arms and stood in front of the door. “When he thinks it’s safe, he’ll come back and get us.” Nathan joined his friend, blocking the way outside.
“But we’ll be late.”
“Don’t matter,” Calvin began, but Nathan elbowed him in the ribs.
“Doesn’t matter.”
Rachel stared in amazement at her brother. He caught the look and shrugged. “Sis, don’t I need to do my chores?”
“Mr. Richards did them before you woke up.”
The boy’s brow furrowed. “I didn’t hear him go out.”
Calvin nodded. “I’m not surprised. Pa can be real quiet when he needs to be. He’s the best tracker in the territory.”
“Calvin?”
Both boys jumped when Wolf spoke from directly behind them. Calvin recovered first. “Told you.” That set both boys off and laughter trailed behind as they raced out the door.
Rachel waited while Wolf secured the cabin. “Is it safe?” Rachel kept her voice down, not wanting to spoil the boys’ fun.
“Not sure. I don’t think he’s anywhere around, but there’s no way to know for certain.” Wolf walked beside her, matching his steps to hers. His eyes never stopped moving, checking every rock and shadow for hidden danger. “Calvin. Nathan. Don’t get so far ahead.”
“Yes, sir,” Calvin called back, slowing the pace so the adults could catch up.
“Maybe he’s not going to return.”
Wolf shook his head once and took her elbow to help her over a rough patch of ground. “He’ll be back. A man like him won’t give up on something he wants.”
“Maybe we shouldn’t have come?” She look
ed over her shoulder, half expecting to see Harrison hiding behind a tree.
“Just stay close to me and do what I tell you without asking why. I won’t let anything happen to you or the boys.”
An uncomfortable feeling washed over Rachel as they walked down the street. Had it only been a day since she’d come this way with Jake and ended up in the middle of a gunfight? Harrison had gotten so close to catching her, after all these years. She shook off the memories and concentrated on the morning ahead.
The schoolhouse was empty and cold. Wolf kept them close by while he went through the building to be sure no one waited inside. Satisfied it was safe, he went outside to check the area while Rachel set up what she needed and waited for the children to arrive.
An hour later, they were still alone. None of the children had come.
“I’m sorry, Miss Rachel. Miller gave his word to McCain. I assumed that meant something.”
She closed the book she’d been trying to read with a little too much force. “It would seem their gratitude was only as deep as Jake’s shadow on their godforsaken street.”
“Sis!”
“Never mind.” Fury built until Rachel couldn’t contain it. She marched out of the schoolhouse, aiming for the General Store. Wolf pulled her up short.
“Where are you going?”
“To find Lucinda Miller and give her a piece of my mind. Kindly release me, Mr. Richards.”
Wolf let her go, but stayed on her heels. Rachel didn’t care. She had a score to settle. The front door of the General Store hit with a satisfying thump when she threw it open against the wall. It shocked her to realize she’d half hoped the fancy painted glass would break. Trying to calm her racing heart, she crossed the hardwood floor until she stood toe-to-toe with the woman who’d ruined her. “None of the children showed up this morning, which I’m sure is no surprise to you. Mr. Miller gave his word to Ranger McCain that—”
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