Edward took the opportunity to scan his surroundings, cataloguing the area. It was hard to tell from his vantage point on the ground, but there must be at least seventy or eighty head of cattle. Four men rode horses around the herd, and three others were mounted and deep in discussion about a stone’s throw away. He strained to pick up a few words from their conversation, but they spoke so fast and quietly, he could only distinguish the words “gringo” and “caballo”.
When Edward’s hands were bound, his captor rose to stand next to him, arms crossed and legs planted solidly like an Arabian sultan. One of the men, who gave most of the commands, yelled a quick order to Edward’s guard, who jumped into action.
Someone yanked a rag over Edward’s mouth. It tasted of sweat and wretched body odor. Another cloth covered his eyes, and the knot in his chest threatened to smother him. They had bound his hands and gagged him, but the loss of his sight meant he couldn’t detect a blow coming. Couldn’t gather important information about the bandits. Couldn’t see his chance for escape…
* * *
Jacob reined in his horse to stand next to Monty’s mount and rested both arms on the saddle horn. They sat in companionable stillness for a few moments, the cattle grazing nearby. At last, Jacob broke the silence. “The outriders find any new calves this mornin’?”
“Paco and Bo each found a couple. Haven’t seen Little Brother yet.”
Jacob shot a look at his friend. “He left when the others did?”
Monty nodded.
“Which way’d he go?”
“The river trail south to the creek.”
Jacob glanced up at the sun almost directly overhead. The boy should have been back two hours ago. He must have come across a struggling cow trying to deliver. It hadn’t taken Edward long to pick-up on what to do during the calvings he’d helped with so far, but sometimes the longhorns got extra ornery after they’d been laboring for a while. Jacob couldn’t say he blamed them, but it never hurt to have an extra set of hands available at a time like that.
“If it’s all right with you, think I’ll head out that way myself. Just in case he needs back-up.”
Monty nodded. “Wouldn’t hurt.”
Jacob loped his mount over the sandy soil until they reached the river then slowed to a steady jog. He couldn’t explain the urgency that tightened his gut. Edward was a smart young cowboy and knew when to call for help, but something didn’t feel right about this one.
After keeping a steady jog for almost an hour, Jacob reached Two-Fork creek with no sign of cattle or of the young cowboy. The water here was only about eight feet wide and hummed cheerfully as it hurried along with the extra volume of the spring rains. It was oblivious to the fist-sized knot that had formed in Jacob’s gut.
He turned his horse northwest to take the shorter route back to the herd. Surely Edward had made it back by now. As he jogged his mount over the uneven terrain, a half dozen large birds circled the sky just ahead and toward the west. Turkey vultures. The presence of the ugly, meat-eating birds always signaled death. Had one of the cows died trying to give birth? A new sense of unease prodded him to turn his horse off the trail and move toward the circling birds.
He rode through a patch of trees which opened to a large meadow. Urging his horse into a canter, Jacob scanned the tree line surrounding the area. They were mostly shortleaf pine trees, with a few oaks and maples mixed in the group. A large rock poked up from the ground near one of the oak trees, almost directly under where the vultures soared.
For a second, it looked like the rock moved. Reining his horse to a jog, he reached for the rifle that was always strapped to his saddle. If someone was hiding behind the boulder, Jacob would be an easy target out in the middle of the open pasture. As he cautiously moved closer, however, the shape shifted again. The image cleared. It wasn’t a rock, but a man sitting against the tree. Every nerve in his body stood on edge. Was the man friend or foe? Was he riding into a trap?
A soft call drifted to Jacob’s ears and he reined in his horse to listen. The noise was so faint he almost missed it. “Hmmpphhh…”
In an instant Jacob had his horse in a dead run, closing in on the distance between him and the weak figure propped against the tree. Edward.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Anna pulled the last loaf of bread from the oven and almost dropped it on the warming pad. Ouch. The fabric on her apron was wearing too thin to shield her from the heat of the pan. She mentally added material to the list of things to buy on her next trip to town as she ran a knife around the outside edge of the bread, loosening it from the baking tin. The front door slammed, and male voices drifted through the house. Anna stopped moving and strained her ears. Mr. O’Brien had gone to town this morning to take care of ranch business. He must have returned with a guest. Anna brushed the flour from her hands and moved the coffee pot to the front of the stove. A visitor would need refreshments.
Just as she was arranging cookies on a plate, the voices rose and her own name echoed in a familiar tone. Jacob. Why was Jacob back in the middle of the day, calling for her? A warm flutter tickled Anna’s stomach. Had he come in from the range just to see her? As quickly as it came, the flutter hardened into a knot of dread. Was he hurt?
Anna dropped the plate on the work table with a clatter, picked up her skirts in both fists, and sprinted out of the kitchen and down the hallway. Just before she reached the door to the parlor, she almost ran into Jacob. He caught her with a firm hand on both of her upper arms. Anna’s eyes scanned his body, checking for blood or breaks. Legs, arms, chest. Her gaze trailed to his face and found it whole, if a bit dirt-streaked. A wave of relief washed over her that left her weak, with legs unable to bear her own weight. She sank into Jacob, needing to touch him. To hear his heartbeat as her cheek rested against his chest.
“You’re okay…”
For a few seconds he held her, and she relished his strength. But all too soon, Jacob disentangled himself and gripped her at arm’s length. The firm set of his jaw and worried look in his eyes ignited a burning sensation, like pin pricks in Anna’s chest.
“Edward found the cattle thieves. They roughed him up a little and left him tied, but he’s okay.”
The burning sensation exploded into a blaze inside her at Jacob’s words. She struggled to move past him. She had to get inside the parlor to see Edward, but Jacob grasped her shoulders firmly.
“Anna.”
The sharp insistence in his voice made her stop struggling and turn back to face him.
“He’s okay. Just a little worn out, but nothing a cup of coffee and a good meal won’t fix.”
Anna nodded, but his words hadn’t penetrated her mind. She needed to see Edward. She had to verify for herself whether he was hurt or not.
Jacob finally released her, and Anna surged past him. There, in the overstuffed chair near the fireplace, sat her little brother. Edward gave her a weak grin as Anna knelt down in front of him.
“Hey, sis. Did you hear I found the cattle thieves?” Mud was caked along the left side of his body, including his face and hair.
Anna inspected every inch but found no evidence of blood. She stroked his hand. “So I heard. Did they hurt you?”
“Nah, they just tied me to a tree and left me there, but they got away with a bunch of cattle.”
Anna’s pulse throbbed in her temples. “How many were there? Did you recognize them?”
“I saw eight men and they were all Mexican, but I’d never seen any of ’em before.” Edward leaned back in the chair and yawned, pulling his hand from his sister’s grasp. “Sure am hungry, though. Is that fresh bread I smell?”
“It is. C’mon to the kitchen and I’ll fix you a slice with butter and peach preserves while you tell me everything that happened. Maybe you can finish off the apple pie from last night, too.”
Anna rose to her feet and assisted Edward as he brought his gangly limbs to a standing position. When they turned toward the kitchen, Jacob leaned against the door frame, watching
them. She couldn’t read the expression in his eyes, but they clouded a darker blue than normal.
When she reached him, Anna rested a hand on his arm. “You must be exhausted, too. Come and get a bite to eat. You’ll feel better with something warm in you.”
The right side of his lip quirked just a bit. “I don’t doubt that. I need to get back out to help the men, though. Bo went to town to get the sheriff and Pa. The rest of the boys started tracking the thieves and cattle they took. I need to get out there soon.”
Anna nodded. She wouldn’t be able to hold him back. It didn’t stop the bile churning in her stomach, though. “Let me pack you something to take then.”
He gave a single nod. “Guess I wouldn’t turn that down. I’ll put Edward’s horse away while you get it together.”
A few minutes later, Anna met Jacob on the front porch with a flask of coffee and a cloth full of ham sandwich and several apple fritters she’d prepared for supper that night. As she handed the bundle to him, Jacob offered a stiff smile, but it didn’t disguise the extra firm set to his jaw. He was worried about the missing cattle. “Any idea how many they got away with?”
He shook his head, his lips forming a thin line. “Edward said he thought he saw seventy or eighty head. Could be more.”
“Do you think you’ll find them?”
“Hard to say.” His eyes turned to stare across the pasture in the direction of the Guadalupe River. “The land to the south on the other side of the river has so many wild cattle roaming, it’ll be hard to track our herd. Lots of trees, too, so it wouldn’t be hard to find another spot to hide for a few days before they move on out of the county. We’ll do our best, though.”
“Jacob…”
He brought his gaze back to meet hers.
“Please be careful.”
For a moment, his eyes darkened, then he pulled her close and his lips swooped down to cover hers with an intensity that stole Anna’s breath. The kiss spoke his frustration, anger, and worry better than any words could have communicated. Anna responded to his kiss, infusing it with strength and encouragement and…love. Yes, in that moment, beyond a shadow of a doubt, her head and her heart finally agreed. She loved this man.
Much too soon, Jacob pulled back, his hand moving up her arm to cup her face. He stared at Anna for a long moment as if memorizing her features, then he released her. Without a word, he reached down to pick up the bundle of food from where he’d dropped it on the porch, strode down the steps, and mounted his horse. After one last look at Anna, he turned his horse and jogged out of the yard.
So many emotions filled her chest as he loped across the pasture and out of sight. With a prayer on her lips, Anna finally turned back toward the house. Jacob would have to rest in God’s hands. Edward needed her now.
* * *
That night, the men came dragging in an hour after dark, worn out and irritable. The nights were still chilly, so she’d made a huge pot of chili and spicy cornbread with butter and honey, along with apple fritters and donuts for dessert. When Mr. O’Brien said the blessing, he added a special thanks for Edward’s safety and a petition for the missing cattle to be found.
Anna reached under the table to squeeze Jacob’s hand. He had to be discouraged, and she wanted to impart what little comfort she could offer. He turned his hand to grip hers, and the feel of his large, work-roughened hand sent a warmth up her arm. After they all said “Amen,” Anna opened her eyes and snuck a peek at Jacob. He caught her glance and winked then squeezed and released her hand under the table. The heat crept all the way up to the tips of her ears as she focused on spreading the napkin in her lap.
Anna was thankful conversation began around them, and she soon became engrossed in the discussion herself.
“So ye found the spot they were holdin’ the cattle?” Aunt Lola’s rich brogue filled the room as she addressed her cousin.
“Yes, we found the area. Looked like they’d camped there for a while, probably gathering up the cattle over a week or so. We followed the tracks as far as the river where the creeks split off and the main branch runs shallow for a ways. Couldn’t pick up the tracks again before it got dark. They most likely kept the herd walking in the river or one of the creeks for as long as they could. The sheriff said he would send men back out to track them tomorrow.”
Monty looked up from his bowl of stew. “Hope it doesn’t rain tonight.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
After she scrubbed the dishes and cleaned the kitchen, Anna was too restless to join the rest of the family in the den like normal. Her emotions were still in a jumble from the happenings of the day, and what she needed most was quiet time with her Heavenly Father.
Grabbing her cape from a peg by the front door, she slipped outside into the cool night air. Clouds shielded the stars overhead, making the darkness thicker than usual. A damp breeze sent a shiver through her, and Anna pulled the cape tighter around her shoulders.
Standing on the porch by the rail, she replayed Jacob’s departure from earlier that day. The old familiar vise squeezed her chest. So much could happen to him out there. It brought back memories of the fear that had gripped her when Edward recounted how the bandits had roughed him up and left him tied to a tree. Abandoned there. Weak, bound, gagged, and blindfolded. He could have easily been attacked by a bear, coyote, or cougar. Edward might well have died if Jacob hadn’t found him. The what if’s tormented Anna.
Lord, please don’t take Edward from me. First Mama, then our home and Papa. I just don’t think I could stand to lose Edward, too. An image of Jacob’s blue eyes and strong chin flashed through Anna’s mind. Please keep both of my boys safe.
The door behind her creaked, and the warm glow of a lantern spilled onto the porch. Anna turned to find Jacob easing the front door closed. He strode across the porch toward the stairs but stopped short when his eyes met hers.
“Hello,” she offered softly, suddenly shy in his presence. My goodness, but he’s tall.
“It’s a bit cold out for stargazing.” Jacob’s voice was deep, almost husky, in the stillness of the night. He set the lantern down on the porch and strolled toward the rail.
Very aware of his large frame next to her, Anna faced the night sky. “I wish there were stars to gaze at. Just clouds tonight, though.”
“Clouds are good for thinking, too.” His voice was low and trailed off at the end as if lost in thought himself.
Anna let out a sigh. “I guess either one works for praying.”
“You worried about Edward?”
How could he read her thoughts so accurately? Anna bit her lip. “Do you think they’ll come back?”
He turned to face the cloudy sky, too, and was quiet for a few moments. “It’s hard to say. The sheriff said they’ve been hitting one ranch at a time. They steal about a hundred head then move on to another ranch. Hopefully they got enough of ours and won’t be back.” He glanced at Anna and held her gaze. “But whether they come back or not, God is in control.”
Anna pivoted to face him squarely, a lump clogging her chest. “But that’s what I’m struggling with. I know in my head God is in control, that he’s taking care of us. But actually placing Edward in God’s hands, to do with as He wills? What if God doesn’t keep him safe? Edward is everything I have left. If anything happened to him, I’m not sure I could stand it.” Her voice cracked at the last words and moisture burned in her eyes.
Jacob pulled her into his arms. The tender touch was too much for her raw emotions, and a sob escaped. As tears broke through her barriers, Jacob’s strong hands rubbed her back, gently stroking the pain away.
After a few minutes, Anna managed to stench the flow. With a sniffle, she straightened, giving Jacob a weak smile. “I’m sorry. I don’t usually break down like this.”
When she tried to step back, though, his muscular arms wouldn’t let her go. “You have nothing to apologize for.” His voice was strong, yet gentle.
Anna tried to secure her smile. “Well, tha
nks for the hug, then.” His arms felt so good, still holding her close.
His blue eyes twinkled in the lantern light as he tapped a forefinger to her nose. “Anytime.”
Finally releasing her, Jacob picked up the lantern. “Well, I came out to check on a couple of the mares that are due to foal. The babies usually come at night, and we try to keep an eye on ’em in case they have trouble.” He spun back, a question on his face. “Do you want to come?”
A flicker of interest bubbled inside Anna. “I’d love to.”
Just before they entered the barn, Jacob stopped walking and cautioned, “Stay as quiet as you can until we see if they’re in labor or not. Most mares are very private when they give birth and some will actually stop the foaling process if they see people. After the waters break, though, that baby’s coming no matter what.”
Anna nodded, absorbing his words. Other than their neighbor’s dog when she was little, she had never witnessed anything give birth. She sent up a little prayer that she would get to see one of these foals being born. Edward had described the excitement of each of the calvings he’d watched over the last few weeks, and she couldn’t help a twinge of jealousy over his experiences.
She crept into the barn behind Jacob, the musty combination of horse, hay, and leather flooding her senses. She followed him as quietly as her long skirts would allow until they reached a stall midway down the row. He turned the lantern wick down so it emitted only a soft glow of light. She peaked over Jacob’s shoulder through the wood beams into the stall. He slipped a hand around Anna’s waist and moved her in front of him. Now she had an unobstructed view.
Inside the stall, a large chestnut horse with very swollen sides stood. The mare’s neck and flanks gleamed a darker brown from perspiration, and she hung her head low in a painful stance. The mare’s attitude suddenly changed. Her skin tightened and she swung her large head around to nip at her belly. She pawed the straw on the stall floor and turned around in small circles several times.
“She’s having a contraction,” Jacob whispered.
The Rancher Takes a Cook Page 12
