The wall around his heart crumbled. He’d known since last night that he loved Leah. Seeing her in such danger had been almost more than he could stand, but he’d tried to pretend she didn’t mean more to him than a good friend.
Jake decided to tell her now. He’d have to explain about last night first, but he felt confident he could make her understand. Taking a deep breath, Jake stepped back onto the boardwalk.
“There you are. I’ve been looking all over for you.” Mr. Frontz’s long legs carried him toward Jake.
“I have something I need to do at the house. I’ll catch the next meeting.” Jake started to walk around him.
Mr. Frontz caught him by the forearm. “Oh, no, you don’t. If I have to go, you’re going, too. It was your idea, after all.”
Jake saw Leah enter the house. He sighed. She’d still be there when he got home in a few hours; he’d talk to her then. After all, he had been the one to sign them up for this meeting and it, too, was important. “All right. Let’s go.”
*
Leah entered the house. She made her way upstairs, thinking Molly would already be down for her nap. Not seeing the little girl on their bed, she hid the yarn and went looking for her.
Thinking she might still be in the kitchen with Agnes, Leah looked there first. Agnes sat at the table with her eyes closed.
“Agnes?” Leah looked about the room for Molly. Agnes had probably put Molly down in the Frontzs’ bedroom.
The older woman looked up and yawned, looking very relaxed, reaffirming in Leah’s mind that Molly was probably sleeping in the Frontzs’ quarters. For a moment she looked disoriented. “Leah, how’s your headache?”
Leah looked into the face that she’d come to care about. Agnes may not have given birth to her, but she was more like a mother to her than anyone else had ever been. “It’s not as bad as it was but I could use a little more powder.”
Agnes pushed away from the table. “Can’t believe I dozed off like that.”
“You were tired.” Leah poured coffee into a cup and took the headache remedy. Her stomach growled. A plate of eggs, bacon and a biscuit sat on the back of the stove.
“Thought you might like a bite to eat, so I scrambled you some eggs and added bacon and bread to it. The plate is there on the stove,” Agnes said, sitting back down. Again she yawned.
Leah picked up the plate and joined her at the table. It still hurt that they’d not told her their plans the night before, but she’d made the decision not to allow that to bother her anymore. The eggs were warm and tasted wonderful.
“We should have told you what we were going to do last night. I’m sorry you got hurt.”
Had the woman read her mind? Leah looked across into Agnes’s bright blue eyes. “Why did you leave me out?” Leah asked.
“Jake didn’t want you or Molly getting hurt. Charles agreed and, well, I didn’t want you getting hurt either, so I went along with them. I’m sorry.” Agnes covered her mouth and another yawn.
So they had cared. Leah felt so foolish. She’d been harboring ill feelings all day and for what? When would she ever learn? “It’s all right, Agnes. I appreciate that you all wanted me safe, but next time, please tell me so that I won’t come blundering out of my room.” Leah offered a smile to soften the words.
“We will.” Agnes stood. “I think I’ll wait on cleaning those rooms and take a nap.”
Leah felt a yawn overtake her, too. “Good idea. Is Molly in your room?” she asked.
Agnes stared at her blankly.
Fear gripped Leah. “Agnes, where is Molly?”
It was as if a fog lifted from Agnes’s tired mind. “Oh, my stars, I forgot all about her. She’s still at the side of the house playing.”
Leah didn’t want Agnes to see how scared she felt. “I’ll go get her.” She darted to the back door. The sky had darkened and the air had turned much colder. Leah ignored the cold.
Agnes ran after her. “I’m sorry, Leah. I’m sure she is okay.”
The two women sprinted around the corner of the house, only to find the snowman was the only thing there. The trees didn’t conceal anything. Molly was nowhere to be seen.
“I left her right here, playing with her doll. See? She built a snow house for her.” Agnes pointed at a pile of snow that resembled a log cabin, if she really tried to envision a snow home.
Panic threatened to choke Leah. Had the child wandered off? “Maybe she went inside and is playing hide-and-seek.” Leah started back inside.
She didn’t want to believe Molly had left her play area. Every day Molly had been told where she could play and where she couldn’t. Leah didn’t want to believe Molly would disobey her but deep down felt Molly had done just that.
They searched the house, the barn, the sheds and even double-checked the Frontzs’ living quarters. Agnes thought Molly might be hiding up there. “I’m going to check our rooms again. I just feel she’s hiding up there. The little one might have fallen asleep and we’re just not seeing her.” She started for the stairs once more.
“I’ll check outside while you look for her upstairs,” Leah said, reaching for her coat.
Leah hurried to the side of the house. Snow now drifted steadily from the skies. Winter storms in Colorado were proving to be very unpredictable. But she didn’t have time to worry about the weather. Leah walked toward the orchard.
Two sets of footprints led into the trees. She thought about telling Agnes about the footprints but Molly had already been out in the weather too long. Leah headed off into the orchard, calling Molly’s name.
Half an hour later, the snow was flying so thick that Leah almost couldn’t see her hand in front of her face. Her coat did little to keep the cold out. Still, she pressed onward, praying that Molly was safe.
Her feet felt as if they were two frozen chunks of ice. Darkness began to descend. Leah’s teeth chattered as she prayed. Lord, please help me find Molly. Let her be safe and warm.
Tiredness engulfed her. Leah wanted to lie down but knew she couldn’t. Molly needed her. “Molly!”
The wind whipped her voice away. Ice began to blend with the snow and cut into her frozen body and face. Leah had no idea how long she’d been out looking. She found herself kneeling in the deepening snow. Slapping herself, she fought to stay awake. Her eyes began to drift shut.
A small figure stopped in front of her. “Molly?”
Covered from head to toe in animal skins, an Indian child walked a few feet away and motioned for her to follow. Unsure if she was seeing things or if the figure was real, Leah forced herself to stand. She struggled forward, keeping the walking furs in her line of vision.
Just when she thought she couldn’t go on any longer, they came into a small group of trees. The child ran ahead. He entered a tall structure and returned a few minutes later with a woman. The dark-haired woman helped her through a teepee flap.
Warmth immediately enveloped her. Leah saw a fire in the center of the Indian tepee and Molly sitting beside it. She rubbed her eyes. “Molly?”
“Leah!” The little girl ran to her. She wrapped her small arms around Leah’s shoulders.
The child she’d been following stood a few feet away. As the skins were removed from his body, Leah recognized the little boy Molly had been playing with earlier. Why hadn’t she told Jake about the child? He’d have no idea where to look for them.
Leah felt a hand on her shoulder and looked up. The woman stood beside her holding up a straight dress. She motioned for Leah to remove her wet clothes and put the dress on.
Molly stepped back and watched as Leah tried to use her hands. The little girl tried to help her, but the buttons were too tight for her little fingers to work.
Tears filled Leah’s eyes. With cold, numb fingers Leah worked to unbutton her coat. Her fingers wouldn’t obey.
The woman said something to the boy in a guttural tone. He turned his back to them. She then gently removed Leah’s fingers from the frozen buttons and began undoing her co
at. With swift fingers and hands, she removed the rest of Leah’s clothing. Then the woman pulled the dress over Leah’s head.
She led Leah to a pile of animal skins and motioned for her to sit. Leah’s legs did her bidding without any further encouragement. The woman removed Leah’s wet boots and stockings. She gently pushed Leah back into the warmth of the furs.
“Molly,” Leah called out, as the warmth of the furs pulled her toward sleep.
The little girl hurried to her side. Leah reached up and touched Molly’s face. “Let’s take a nap.” She knew the little girl would probably object.
Molly jerked out of her reach. “No, no nap.”
Leah just wanted to hold the little girl close, make sure she was safe. “Please.”
“No, no nap.” Molly shook her head.
The woman snapped sharply at the girl and motioned for her to do as Leah said.
Molly looked from the Indian woman to Leah. The stern look on the other woman’s face seemed to convince her to do as she was told. “All right.” Molly crawled into the furs with Leah and allowed her to cuddle close.
Leah looked to the woman. “Thank you,” she said over Molly’s head.
The woman nodded and offered Leah a small smile.
Warmth from Molly’s little body and the furs relaxed her muscles. Leah wasn’t sure her feet would ever get warm. She moved them against the soft fur, praying she didn’t have frostbite on her toes.
The little boy approached. He held a fur wrapped much like a pillow. Kneeling down on one knee, he placed the pillow at her feet. Leah realized that something hot was wrapped within the fur. Warmth immediately crawled up her legs.
Leah grinned at him. “Thank you. I think I would have died out there if you hadn’t found me.” She didn’t know if he understood her, but the boy bowed his head once to her before returning to the fire.
She pulled Molly close. “How did he know I was out there?” Leah asked.
“We heard you calling. His mama wouldn’t let me go to you. But Boy said something to her and she let him.”
“Boy?”
“That’s what I call him. He can’t talk like we do,” Molly whispered over her shoulder.
“I’m glad he found me. I was so worried about you. You shouldn’t have come here.”
Molly’s small voice drifted back to her. “I’m sorry. I just wanted to play with him.”
Once more, Leah found her gaze moving to the little boy. She grinned. “Boys will get you into trouble every time.” Her eyes began to drift shut.
For now, Leah allowed herself to go to sleep. She didn’t know what tomorrow would hold and prayed that Jake and the other men would wait until the storm passed before coming after them.
She also prayed that Jake wouldn’t be too angry with her for losing Molly. Leah realized that when Jake wasn’t around, she missed him more than she’d ever missed anyone in her life. She loved Jake. There was no getting around the fact.
*
The storm raged against the house. Jake had been out searching for Leah and Molly for over an hour. He’d returned to the house to see if they’d come back or if anyone had found them during his absence. “I’m going out again,” he announced.
“Don’t be a fool, Jake,” Mr. Frontz growled from his place by the fire. He and Agnes sat side by side on the smaller of the two settees.
Cole and Ike had taken possession of the two armchairs. The reverend sat on a kitchen chair beside the fireplace, staring into the blaze, looking as miserable as the rest of them felt. His lips moved as he silently prayed.
“Charles, my family is out in that storm. I have to go find them.” He’d never used his employer’s given name and wasn’t sure why he had then. Restless energy spewed from him and Jake began to pace the floor.
“You don’t think I know that?” Mr. Frontz ran a hand around the back of his neck. “It won’t do us any good if you go looking for them and get lost yourself.”
Anguish tore through Jake’s words. “I can’t lose them.”
“I am so sorry, Jake. This is my fault. If I’d-a taken better care of the child…” Agnes buried her face in her husband’s shoulder and wept.
Jake cleared his throat. “Not to be disrespectful, but in this matter, I disagree.”
She looked up at him. If he didn’t know better, he’d have thought Agnes had aged ten years. He offered her the only comfort he had. “Agnes, this is not your fault. It’s not anyone’s fault. Children wander off all the time. Molly is no different than any other child. But, Lord willing, she will learn from this.”
Cole stood slowly. His green eyes looked into Jake’s. “I’ll go with you. I’m used to riding in this kind of weather and after dark. We’ll find them and bring them back.” His young voice cracked.
Ike cleared his throat. “I’m able to ride, too, Jake.”
It touched Jake’s heart that these young men were willing to ride out in the storm to recover his family. But he knew he could not allow them to endanger their lives. This was his job to do. His responsibility. He shook his head. “Thank you, but I can’t allow you to do that.” Jake picked up his gloves and turned to walk out the door.
“No one is leaving this house tonight.” It was an order, not a request. Mr. Frontz moved his wife away from him and walked to the table. He picked up a chair and set it in front of the door. Steely eyes stared at Jake. “Let’s all try to rest.”
The message came through loud and clear. To leave the house, he’d have to go through his boss. Jake walked back to the big chair beside the fireplace and sat down. He laid his gloves on the side table once more.
Cole slumped back down on the couch. Ike leaned his head back on the cushions and closed his eyes. The reverend continued praying.
Agnes stood. “Good night, boys.” She turned and walked up the stairs, her shoulders slumped, her head down.
The reverend stood also. “Please wake me in the morning. I’d like to go on the search party with you.”
Jake looked up at him and nodded. “Thank you, Reverend.”
He returned Jake’s nod with one of his own and then followed Agnes up the stairs. At the bottom he stopped. “Jake, I believe the good Lord is taking care of Leah and Molly. Please try to trust in Him and get some rest tonight,” Rice said, and then continued up the stairs.
It was good advice. Jake knew that God was in control but he couldn’t stop worrying, just as he couldn’t stop breathing at will. He leaned his head back on the cushion and closed his eyes.
They’d all had a rough night the night before. The symphony of snores told him that Cole and Ike had already fallen asleep. Jake continued to keep his eyes closed. He relaxed and his mind willingly scrolled over the scenes of his life since Molly and Leah had entered it.
Molly was as much his child as she had been his brother John’s. The little girl had captured his heart the moment her little hand had touched his jaw and her head rested on his shoulder. Her love of horses matched his. Teaching her how to ride on her own had become something he looked forward to. Someday, she’d be running his horse ranch, if she survived tonight.
The sobering thought tore the carefree images of Molly away. He tried to regain that sense of relaxation by focusing on Leah. Her blue eyes sparkled like no other woman’s. She never said a cross word and her laughter lifted his spirits. He’d already confessed to himself that she’d stolen his heart. Jake prayed they’d get to have a life together. Once more, sobering thoughts pulled him from the feelings of calm he’d been trying to capture.
Jake listened to the sounds of three people sleeping in the room. Opening one eye just a crack, he looked at his friend Charles.
The man slumped in his chair. His arms were crossed and his chin rested on his chest. Snores whistled through his nose.
It was time. Jake sat up. He waited a moment more and then picked up his gloves. Careful not to make a sound, Jake stood and walked to the kitchen door. He took one last look back before opening the door and leaving his fr
iends sound asleep.
Once out in the dark and cold, Jake headed to the barn. He pulled his horse out and swung into the saddle. For several moments, Jake debated which way to go. Earlier he’d searched in a state of panic; now, with a calmer head, he reasoned out where he should look.
Agnes had said she’d left the child playing on the side of the house by the apple orchard. Would Molly have gone into the trees to play? If he were four, Jake knew he wouldn’t have been able to resist the temptation to climb one of the trees. He nudged his horse forward.
No stars or moon filled the sky. Darkness enveloped him like a sickness as he entered the trees. The horse snorted his uneasiness. Jake sighed. He couldn’t see and knew it wasn’t safe to ride the horse through the snow drifts. Even a small hole could cause the horse to stumble and break a leg, so Jake knew he couldn’t chance losing his horse.
He realized he’d have to trust God to keep them safe. Jake leaned forward and patted the animal’s neck. “Come on, boy, back to the barn for you.” He turned the horse around.
As the animal ambled back to the warmth of the stable, Jake prayed. Lord, please keep my family safe. Help me to find them at first light. For the first time in a long time, I am giving You my full trust.
Chapter Seventeen
Leah woke long before the sun came up. She felt stiff but well.
A slight shuffle sounded beside the fire. The woman stood, stirring something in a cooking pot. The little boy sat on a pelt stringing a small bow. It felt funny to think of them as the woman and the boy. Leah knew they had names, but since introductions hadn’t been made, she had no idea what they were.
She scooted off the bed of furs and stood up. The borrowed dress felt comfortable as she walked to her hostess. “Good morning,” Leah said in a soft tone.
The woman smiled and indicated that she should sit down on one of the many furs about the fire.
Leah did as she was bid. She sat there for several minutes, waiting to see if the woman would talk to her. When it was obvious she wasn’t going to speak, Leah said, “I’m Leah Hollister. That’s Molly.” She pointed to where Molly still slept.
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