Providence

by Karen Noland

  His scalp prickled as he heard a soft step from somewhere behind him, every sense immediately heightened. He moved his hand instinctively toward his hip, but he had not carried a gun nor any other weapon with him.

  Straining his ears, he listened, but there was no warning until the low thrumming snarl of a large cat pierced his ears as it leapt from the brush behind him, muscles rippling beneath a golden coat, amber eyes slitted intently upon the prey. Luke’s heart froze; his instincts took over as he flung himself to the ground and rolled beneath the fallen tree that had claimed his knee earlier. Shaking from fear he braced for the blow, seeing the heavy body falling towards him. Landing with a thud, the animal lay motionless only inches from his face.

  Luke stared at the cougar, his mind racing, uncomprehending. After nearly a minute had passed, he rose slowly from his position below the log and cautiously approached the still form. Reaching out a tentative hand, he nudged the warm body. Nothing. With a great effort he finally rolled it over to discover the shaft of an arrow buried deep within the chest of the tawny cat.

  Fear welled again, as he spun to search the night in the direction from which the arrow must have come. He saw nothing but the endlessly shifting shadows; he heard nothing but the night sounds, suddenly stilled, beginning to stir again.

  Luke took a tentative step in the direction of the ranch, watchful and wary, knowing that at any moment the unseen assailant would attack. Cursing himself for leaving without a weapon, he cautiously made his way down the trail, every rustle in the undergrowth demanding his full attention, every creaking branch a sure threat.

  He reached the bunkhouse door, his nerves raw, and his heart pounding. Glancing at the house, he could see Kate dimly through the front window seated at her desk, her form silhouetted against the glow from the dying embers in the fireplace. Relieved that all was well within, he opened the door and stumbled into the dark room.

  Fumbling for matches, he managed to light the lantern and turn the wick up to illuminate the darkness. He turned to peer out the window into the deep black of the night, straining to see any movement within the bushes. Finally, exhausted, he turned haunted eyes toward heaven, God, are you out there? Are you listening? What would you have me do? I should be dead now, but have You delivered me? Is there something I’m supposed to see?

  Anguish filled his soul. Why couldn’t he find God’s love and have His peace when so many others found such comfort there? What was wrong with him? Even Kate -- who should have more reason to hate God than he -- even she had a sense of peace about her. How, Lord, how do I find that peace?

  Turning from the window, Luke noticed the Bible laying open upon the floor where he had thrown it in anger. He reached to pick it up and glanced at the yellowed page revealed before him. His eyes instinctively began scanning the words:

  For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the Lord: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the Lord; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.

  As he read the words his heart began to beat in a steady rhythm, while his mind struggled to comprehend the meaning. Was this his answer? Is it really that easy, God? Just ask?

  Luke closed his eyes, not knowing what it was he prayed for, nor why, he fell upon his knees and prayed.

  Chapter ten

  The day dawned bright, the cloudless blue expanse shimmering with a promise of the heat to come. Kate prayed again for the weather to hold at least through the branding on Saturday as she walked along the path to the barn.

  Luke already had the stalls cleaned and the horses fed by the time Kate appeared.

  “Gee, and I thought I was early this morning!” Kate exclaimed.

  “Didn’t sleep much last night. Figured I might at least make myself useful.” Luke replied.

  He looked tired, more so than Kate had ever noticed before. “Something bothering you?” she asked.

  “Kate, look, I’m really sorry for what happened last night with Jo. I wouldn’t hurt her for the world,” Luke offered apologetically.

  “I know that.”

  Luke paused, watching the new medicine hat mare canter the fence line through the open doors. Dust motes danced in the golden shafts of sunlight. He looked back to Kate, “There’s something else.”

  “What is it?” she asked with a furrowed brow.

  “I have to show you. I’m not sure I believe it myself.”

  “Well?”

  “Come on,” Luke said, picking up a Winchester ‘73 propped near the tack room door.

  They walked along a path leading away from the barn that meandered up a small hillside until they were out of sight of the main ranch buildings. Morning glories grew along here, beginning to unfurl delicate purple tinged white blooms in all their splendor. Kate watched as Luke scouted for signs along the low bushes lining the edges of the faintly worn track. Spotting some broken branches he veered off the worn path into the dense growth. Kate followed, wondering where he could be leading her. Soon they came to a small clearing dominated by an outcropping of native stone in shades of grey and red streaked here and there with tan striations.

  Kate gasped at the sight of the lifeless cougar still laying where it had fallen. The sun gleamed across the tawny coat, and a light breeze ruffled the fur as though the large creature might spring to life at any moment. Taking a step back in alarm, she turned questioning eyes on Luke.

  “What happened?” she whispered.

  Luke took a deep breath, letting it out slowly as he tried to form an answer that he wasn’t sure of himself. “I came out last night, walked for a while. I was angry at myself, or at God, I’m not even sure now.” He paused a moment, studying the dead animal as though trying to convince himself that it was real. “I sat down, over there. I heard it before - before it attacked. I barely had time to think, and when I realized that it was going to leap, I somehow ended up over there, under that log.”

  Kate looked at the spot he indicated, and could see the imprint of his hands and knees still visible in the damp ground. “But...” her voice trailed off, fear and confusion marring her delicate features.

  “Instead of landing on me in a death grip, it fell dead at my feet.”

  “How?”

  Luke rolled the big cat over with his boot. Kate’s eyes widened, fixing on the arrow shaft embedded deeply in the cat’s chest.

  “Tochoway.” it was a mere whisper.

  “What?” Luke asked sharply.

  “Tochoway,” she repeated, shifting her gaze to Luke’s ashen face.

  “You know who did this?”

  She nodded mutely, finding a seat on the outcrop as her legs threatened to collapse beneath her.

  ***

  She related the story of the Comanche boy who had been shot, and the man who now seemed to be protecting her at every turn. Luke felt a growing sense of amazement turning gradually to anger tinged with jealousy.

  “Why haven’t you told me about this before?” he demanded.

  “Why should I?” Kate asked defensively.

  “Don’t you think I have a right to know who may be coming and going from here?”

  “Excuse me, but you said yourself, you’re just the hired help! Who may or may not come on this property is my business.” Kate’s eyes flashed angrily.

  Gazing into the amber depths of her eyes, he could see the golden sparks flash as she glared at him, challenging his right to protect this family. Closing his eyes he fought to regain control of his own raging emotions. He longed to reach out, take her in his arms, erase the anger and the fear written so clearly in her eyes. No! He told himself, don’t even think that. She
’s your employer; she has no interest in you, and you have no right to her!

  Opening his eyes again, he searched her face, “I’m sorry, you’re right,” he said, offering his hand to help her to her feet.

  As Kate reached up, a shot rang out, the bullet ricocheting from the rocks behind her. An involuntary scream escaped her lips as Luke pushed her roughly to the ground. Covering her with his body, he groped for the Winchester laying a short distance away.

  “Stay here, keep low and don’t move.” Luke spoke quietly, hardly glancing at Kate as she lay against the base of the rock outcrop.

  “Where are you going?” she hissed.

  “I just want to see if I can get a look where that shot came from.” He rose cautiously, leveling his rifle before him. Another shot rang out, this time going far to the west of their location. Luke made his way to the trees along the perimeter of the clearing, staying as low to the ground as he could. Peering through the leaves and dense growth, he could just make out a roan horse standing ground tied some distance away.

  A movement just beyond the horse caught his eye in time to see the sun glinting off the barrel of a rifle leveled in his direction. He dodged and rolled to the right just as the third shot rang out. Recovering quickly, he levered the Winchester into action. With little time to think or aim, he fired off a shot off in the general direction of the attacker. The report loud in his ears, he saw a puff of dust as the bullet landed below the horse’s rear hooves, sending it into a frenzied buck.

  Luke could just make out a small figure in a dark coat. Taking closer aim this time, he levered the gun and carefully squeezed off another round. The distant man jumped back in agony, dropping his gun and grabbing his left shoulder.

  He found cover within a stand of trees, just out of sight of Luke’s searching eyes. The large roan horse had finally come to a rest nearly fifty yards away from the injured man. At a low whistle, the nervous animal pricked its ears and trotted toward its master. Retrieving his gun, the wounded man maneuvered himself into the saddle, and kicked the horse into a run. Luke tried a final parting shot that went wide of the fleeing man.

  Seeing no others join him, Luke assumed that the man had been acting alone. Still he searched for signs of an accomplice. After several moments of silence, he rose cautiously and returned to where Kate lay trembling.

  Kneeling, he helped her to sit. She trembled violently, taking deep ragged breaths. He held her hands for a moment, finally he put his arms around her and cradled her head against his shoulder, rocking her gently, whispering calming endearments against her ear. He could feel her heart beating rapidly against his chest, and smell the warm rich scent of her hair. His senses, already on edge, were nearly overwhelmed by her nearness.

  Little by little her heartbeat slowed, the trembling stopped, and with a weary sigh, she pushed away from him as she regained her composure.

  “Are you hurt?” Luke asked finally.

  Shaking her head slowly, she looked at him with frightened eyes, “You?”

  “No, but I think our ‘friend’ may be a little worse for the wear.”

  “You hit him?”

  “Not sure how bad, but I at least winged him.”

  “Rustlers?”

  “No, at least I don’t think so. They don’t usually work alone, and any experience I’ve had with them, they’d rather run than fight. That felt a whole lot more like an intentional ambush.”

  Kate gasped. “Ambush? Why? Luke what’s going on?”

  “I was about to ask you the same question.” Luke replied scathingly. “Any chance this is Johnson’s work?”

  Kate dropped her eyes, “I don’t know.” It was no more than a whisper.

  “We’d better get back to the ranch.” He offered his hand again, and lifted her easily to her feet.

  ***

  Kate’s mind raced as they made their way to the ranch. Could Johnson be that vindictive? Was he so serious about acquiring her land that he would kill her to get it? Stealing a glance at the tall man beside her, she began to wonder - who was he really? She knew almost nothing of him. Was there something in his past catching up to him? Fear began to snake its icy tendrils throughout her body. Who was Luke Josey?

  “Luke, Kate!” Jake’s troubled voice interrupted her thoughts. “What’s going on out there? We heard shots fired.”

  Kate and Luke exchanged a wary look before Kate answered, “It seems we were ambushed. Luke thinks he may have hit the man in the shoulder. Whoever it was is gone for now.”

  “Ambushed? By who? What for?” Jake’s face was a mask of concern. “And what in blazes were you two doing out there anyway?”

  “Calm down, Jake,” Luke spoke calmly to the frightened man. “I think the predator has been taken care of. I was showing Kate the remains of a cougar. At least that’s one worry off our minds for now.” He took a deep breath before continuing, “Let’s go in for breakfast and discuss this, shall we?”

  “I think that’s the best thing,” Kate agreed quickly, before Jake could protest further.

  Nana appeared from the house, wiping her hands on her apron as the trio approached. Kate saw her cornflower blue eyes shadowed by dark rings and realized for the first time how old Nana and Jake were growing. The thought sent waves of sorrow through her, how would she manage when they were gone? They had been a source of strength for her through so many years now. She smiled tenderly at Nana and placed an arm around the small woman’s stooped shoulders. “We’re fine, Nana,” she whispered against her ear, and I love you, she added silently as they went in to breakfast.

  “Momma, Mr. Josey, what happened? Did you shoot the wolf that ate our baby cow? Jon says most likely you was out shooting. Did you kill him dead?” Jo bounded into the room full of enthusiasm and questions, fiery curls glinting in the morning sun that streamed through the open windows.

  “Not exactly, sweetheart,” Luke replied catching her up in his arms, and carrying her to the table. “It was a cougar, and he is dead now,” he continued, depositing her on the bench.

  “A cougar?” Blue eyes, round with delight, regarded him intently. “Did you shoot him?”

  Luke gazed at the little girl seeing a fair amount of hero worship shining from her innocent face. “Not, me, honey. It would seem that your momma’s Comanche friend may have saved my life last night, shooting that cat clean through the heart!”

  “Really?” Jo gasped. “Tochoway was here? He is so wonderful. Did I tell you he found my dolly? I was so very worried, but then there he was, holding her for me, and he kept us dry from that storm. He’s such a nice man, and now he saved your life, too!” Jo chattered on, then suddenly grew very still, a perplexed look on her small face. “If that happened last night, then what was all that shooting a little while ago?” she asked.

  The room became gravely quiet as expectant eyes were turned on Luke and Kate. An uneasy look passed between the two of them. “Let’s all sit down, shall we? I think we have some important things to talk about.” Kate said, taking charge of the situation.

  “Luke is right about the cougar, but that is far from our worries right now.” She related the events of the morning quietly and succinctly, as her family listened. “So the question now is who and why,” she concluded, casting a pointed look in Luke’s direction.

  “Well, until we know more, or find out what exactly is going on, I don’t think any one of us should go out alone.” Luke began, “We need to always ride out with at least one other person for now, and everyone needs to carry a weapon.”

  Jake nodded his agreement. “I have an old Winchester ‘73, and Jon has a ‘90 model. We both know how to use them.”

  “Good, what about you, Kate?” Luke turned to her.

  “Will taught me to shoot before we ever moved here. I have his Colt 45 and Winchester ‘73. I’ll put the holster back on my saddle. I think there are three boxes of .44-40 cartridges on the shelf in the pantry.”

  “Smart man, your husband.” Luke said.

 
“Yes, he was.” Kate replied evenly.

  “Either Jon or I will escort Nana and Jo wherever they go. Surely they’ll be all right here at the house, don’t you think? Otherwise how are we ever going to get the cattle rounded up and down here for the branding?” Jake asked.

  After a moment’s thought, Luke said, “No, I don’t think it’s a good idea to leave them here alone. I think it would be best if you stayed with them while Jon, Kate and I bring the herds in. We’ll manage.”

  As the plans were made, Kate couldn’t stop the gnawing thoughts that Luke might not be what he seemed. Yet at the same time, she couldn’t help but notice the tenderness and concern evident as he made certain her family would be protected.

  “We’ll take two days to bring the herds in, the east one the first day, then the west herd.” Luke continued. “If we get started Thursday morning, we should have them in and ready for Saturday.”

  “Well, I’ll be baking and such like, so you best just stay out from under my feet, Jake Insley!” Nana stated. “Can’t figure having a man underfoot at a time like this.” she muttered shaking her head. “Best set you to digging the pit and laying the fire to roast that steer. That’s what you’ll be good for,” she said with a firm nod of her head. This set everyone to laughing, easing the tension, and bringing them together once again.

  ***

  Luke leaned against the rough wood of the corral fence, watching the young colts and fillies of the remuda playing and bucking in the late afternoon sunlight that filtered through the emerald canopy above. Shadows danced and wavered over the gleaming coats as they ran at one another in mock battle, kicking out, turning and racing the wind toward an unseen goal. A three-year-old buckskin gelding caught his eye. He watched young horse show exceptional athletic ability, solid muscles rippling beneath his golden hide as he came to a sliding stop, rolled back in a perfect pivot and took off again without hesitation.

  This was the one he wanted. Kate had offered him any horse from the herd in exchange for one month’s pay, and this was the one he had decided on. Catching, gentling and riding him was another thing, but Luke knew that he could do it. It was about time he got started on it, and since they had agreed to stay at the ranch until the round up Thursday morning, he had time to start now.