He knew she was right. At one time, he was close to his heavenly Father, but the pressures of life and the busyness of the ranch had pressed in, and before he knew it, he’d quit praying and seeking God.
“Martha mentioned she’d like to hold family devotions before the children went to bed.” Sarah nibbled the corner of her lower lip and glanced up at him through her lashes. “We were wondering if you’d be willing to lead them.”
Quinn stiffened and walked back to his desk, putting space between him and Sarah. Who was he to be leading folks in devotions? Yeah, maybe he stood up in front of the ranch hands on Sundays when they couldn’t go into town, but teaching children. . .what if he said the wrong thing? And how could a man who’d been walking between believing in God and chucking all he’d learned out the window lead others in their walk with the good Lord?
“I don’t think that would be a good idea.”
“What’s not?” Sarah’s brow puckered. “Having devotions or you leading them?”
He remained silent, not wanting to admit that he was a failure in the spiritual realm. He’d turned his back on God when things had gotten tough, and it didn’t seem right to go crawling back now that times were better.
Sarah strolled toward him. “You don’t have to make up your mind now. Just think about it. Please. Ryan could use a man’s example in this area, too. You’ve been such an encouragement to him.” Sarah laid her hand on Quinn’s arm. “Ryan has opened up and isn’t so angry since you’ve been showing him how to do ranch work. Thank you for that.”
She stood on her tiptoes and leaned toward him. Quinn’s heart raced double-time having her so near. He leaned down, and she placed a warm kiss on his cheek. “Good night, Quinn.”
Her gentle smile stayed with him long after she’d gone to bed. He paced the length of the parlor and back several times, finally stopping in front of the window. The glow of the lantern reflected back at him, as he stared into the inky darkness outside.
Closing his eyes, he thought of Sarah’s words. “You don’t have to bear your burdens alone, Quinn. I’m here to help, and God will help.”
Sarah had made things easier for his grandmother and had taken over much of caring for the house. She’d freed him from worrying about Grandma so he could concentrate more on the ranch, and she’d reminded him that God was there to help, too. Perhaps it was time he reacquainted himself with his heavenly Father. Time he quit running from God.
He knelt in front of a chair and bent his head. “Lord, I don’t deserve to ask for Your mercy. I’ve been stubbornly operating on my own since my pa died, but I need Your help. I miss Your closeness. Forgive me, Father God.”
❧
Sarah ran the needle through the two pieces of fabric. She loved sitting on the porch and sewing. All too soon winter would wrap them in its cold fist, and they wouldn’t be able to enjoy the outdoors like they could now. She checked on her sister and smiled. Beth sat at the far end of the porch, playing with a litter of kittens.
“I don’t like to say it, but I’m glad to have Florinda gone. My stomach was all a-swirl when she was flitting around.” Martha selected a triangle of fabric and compared it to the one she’d just stitched. She shook her head, picked another one, and started sewing. “I don’t know why she comes here. She’s always bored, even when she visited my home in Bismarck.”
“I feel badly for the shameless way I acted when she was here. I should have been kinder to her.” Sarah’s hands dropped to her lap. Some Christian she was. Her first chance to act as hostess and all she could do was to fight like crazy to keep her husband from noticing a prettier, more sophisticated woman.
Martha smiled. “I rather enjoyed watching you fight for my grandson’s attention—and if I’m not mistaken, I believe he enjoyed it, too.”
Heat rushed to Sarah’s cheeks. She closed her eyes and laid her head against the rocker. “Was I that obvious? I’m mortified.”
“Don’t be.” Martha squeezed Sarah’s hand. “It warms my heart to see Quinn so happy.”
“You think he’s happy?” Sarah looked at Martha. Her gray hair was neatly packed into a bun pinned at her nape. Wisps of white danced around her face, and soft brown eyes held hers.
“Oh, yes. I guess you could say he’s thawed since you and the children came here. For so long, he focused only on the ranch. It hurt his relationship with Anna and Adam and even with his mother. I think that’s why Ellen stayed in Bismarck after I broke my leg. She and Quinn were quite close, but then he seemed to pull away. Maybe he didn’t feel as needed with the twins finding mates and getting married. I’m so thankful he has you now.”
Sarah considered whether to tell Martha the truth about her relationship with Quinn. But how could she steal Martha’s joy? No, she and Quinn would have to work it out on their own.
Resuming her stitching, she thought about the previous evening when she’d talked with Quinn. She’d gone in there fully planning to tell him about her uncle and the danger she might have brought to the Rocking M, but instead she’d asked him about devotions. How could her plans go so haywire?
Tonight. She’d find a way to warn him tonight. They’d been at the Rocking M close to a month now, and surely Uncle Harlan had returned home and discovered his gold gone. He wouldn’t know which way they’d gone, but most likely he’d assume it was Medora since it was the closest town. Maybe by the time he got there talk would have died down.
She could only hope. Please, Father, don’t let him find us. And keep everyone at the Rocking M safe.
Ryan rode up to the front porch and pushed his hat back on his face. The sun had lightened his hair and darkened his skin, adding to the patch of freckles on his nose and cheeks. He looked so happy and at ease in the saddle. “So, are we going riding like you promised?”
Beth set down a plain white kitten with a tabby tail and ran over to join them. “Yeah, you said you’d take us riding after lunch if Quinn couldn’t.”
“I was hoping to complete the main squares today.” Sarah ran her hand over the colorful quilt pieces in her lap, but it could wait until this evening. Keeping her promise to the kids was more important.
“You go ahead. I can finish this.” Martha gently removed the sewing from Sarah’s hands.
“Looks like we’re going riding.” She grinned at her siblings.
“Yippee!” Beth clapped her hands together. “Do I getta ride my own horse?”
“No, you’d better ride with me until Quinn has time to help you more.” Sarah stood and stretched, ignoring Beth’s pout. She ducked inside and took Anna’s old hat from the peg it rested on. Life at the Rocking M was busy, but not like it had been at Uncle Harlan’s place. She’d worked from dawn to dusk, hunting, skinning, or plucking their food and trying to keep the kids away from the outlaw gang.
Ryan lifted Beth onto his horse, and they rode toward the barn. Sarah followed, but a shiver sent goose bumps across her arms. Eddie, the youngest of the outlaw gang, had constantly leered at her and tried to catch her alone. She might have been a chicken and always kept the children close, but his pale blue gaze unnerved her—and not in a good way. Not like Quinn’s steady gaze did.
But Eddie was gone, and she was a married woman for now. She twisted the gold band that Martha had given Quinn to give to her. Somehow wearing it made her feel more married.
Ryan quickly saddled the bay mare, and with Beth in front of her in the saddle, Sarah followed her brother up a hill. They rode for a good half hour. Tendrils from Beth’s blond hair tickled her face. The sun threatened to toast them, but the ever-present breeze cooled her body. She’d miss these days when the weather turned frigid and snow covered everything, just like flour did whenever Beth helped with the baking.
They rode for nearly an hour when Beth looked over her shoulder, her blue eyes pleading. “I’m hot. Can we go splash in the creek?”
It was often hard to say no to the little imp, but today she didn’t have to. “I think that’s a grand idea. You want to j
oin us, Ryan?”
The boy scowled. Ever since Quinn had taught him to ride, he hadn’t wanted to get off a horse. Why, he’d probably sleep in the barn if she’d let him. At least he was happy. After a moment his expression softened. “Sure. Why not.”
At the creek, they watered the horses, and then Sarah led them to a patch of grass to graze while the kids prepared to play in the water. Beth quickly shed her shoes and socks and tiptoed into the gurgling stream. At its deepest point, the narrow creek didn’t even reach Beth’s knees.
Ryan ran back to join them, a wide smile on his face. His boots flew in different directions and his socks quickly followed. He rolled up his pants, revealing legs as pale as the ivory fabric in her quilt. He hopped in, heedless of the rocks on the bank and in the water.
Sarah smiled, so delighted that he was a carefree boy again. Quinn had helped make that happen, and she owed him. Beth giggled and cupped a handful of water and tossed it at her brother. Not to be outdone, he splashed wave after wave at Beth. She squealed and ran the opposite direction.
Cottonwoods created a pleasant canopy overhead, allowing dappled sunlight to filter between the branches. The wind whispered through the leaves. Sarah reclined on a sun-roasted boulder near the water and watched the dancing limbs overhead. When her parents had died and they lost their farm, she thought nothing worse could ever happen, but it had. Being so helplessly locked up in jail and fearing for Ryan and Beth had been worse. But she never could have imagined how landing in jail could have turned out so wonderful. Her mother had often told her that the Bible says “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” She’d remained close to God in trying times and had prayed for Him to help her get out of jail and to protect the children, and He’d sent a handsome cowboy to rescue them.
She loved watching Quinn move, long-legged but so smooth. And his eyes—almost so brown you couldn’t see the pupils. Then there was that curly dark blond hair that she longed to twist around her finger, and his deep voice, which sent vibrations all through her when he talked. She heaved a sigh.
A strange feeling, not unlike the warmth of a mustard plaster, heated her chest. Her eyes bolted open. She loved her husband! The awe of her discovery stunned her. He’d provided a home and protected her and the kids, and somewhere along the way, her admiration had turned to love. Martha’s constant boasting about her grandson’s virtues hadn’t hurt any. She rubbed her hand over her chest, almost expecting to feel heat.
No, things couldn’t be any better—unless Quinn loved her, too. Was that too much to hope for?
Beth squealed, and she splashed through the water with Ryan roaring after her. Sarah was happy to see the kids playing together instead of bickering.
If only Quinn loved her. . .then maybe they’d never have to leave the Rocking M. Please, Lord, show me how to make my husband fall in love with me.
A twig snapped behind her just as something stepped between her and the sunlight. Beth screamed, but this wasn’t a fun squeal. Sarah opened her eyes and bolted up.
No.
Eddie stood beside her, a sickening grin pasted on his whiskery face. Uncle Harlan held Beth, who squirmed and kicked, while Jim wrestled with Ryan. He smacked her brother across the face, and Sarah jumped to her feet. “Don’t you hurt him.”
Eddie grabbed her arm. “We ain’t gonna hurt nobody unless you don’t cooperate. Then”—his gaze traveled down her chest—“well, we’ll just see.”
Sarah’s whole body trembled, and her mind raced. How could they get free without one of them getting hurt? Lord, help us.
Fifteen
Quinn walked out of the barn and headed for the house, ready for supper. Tantalizing fragrances had been emanating from the house for the past hour. Even the enticing odors of beef stew and corn bread that Claude was cooking for the ranch hands had pestered him. Tomorrow he’d tell Sarah to pack him a bigger lunch. He worked hard and had a man-size appetite.
A cloud of dust coming from the direction of the creek snagged his attention. The black horse ran at full gallop. As it neared, Quinn pursed his lips. He’d told Ryan not to run a horse into the ranch yard—and he had Beth with him. Quinn couldn’t let this slide. The boy should know better than to endanger his little sister just for some fun.
Quinn lifted his arms to keep the gelding from racing into the barn. Ryan had sense to pull back and slow the animal. Beth nearly fell off as the horse all but slid to a halt. Quinn reached for her and realized she was crying. She clutched his neck and buried her face in his shoulder. He clenched his jaw and glared at Ryan.
His heart skipped. Ryan was crying, too? “What happened?”
The boy tossed his leg over the horse and dropped to the ground. He swiped his sleeve over his eyes and sniffed. “Uncle Harlan and his men have Sarah. They want to swap her for the gold.”
Gold, he knew about, but who was this Uncle Harlan? “Beth, go inside and tell Grandma what’s happened. Can you do that?”
Beth leaned back and wiped her eyes. “Yes. Will you get Sissy back?” Her chin and lower lip quivered.
“You bet I will.” He hugged the girl and set her down. Her feet were pedaling her toward the door almost the second they hit the ground, keeping pace with his runaway heart. She dashed up the steps and through the door.
Sam and Hank walked out of the barn, covered with sprigs of hay, which they’d been piling in the loft. Quinn nodded with his head for them to join him. “Sarah’s been kidnapped.”
Both men’s eyes widened. With his hands on his hips, Quinn turned back to Ryan. “Tell me everything you know about this Uncle Harlan.”
Ryan’s face paled, and he studied the ground. “Sarah took us to live with him after our parents died. There were people back in Grand Forks who would have kept us, but we would have been split up. Sarah wouldn’t stand for that, so we snuck away one night.”
The boy swiped his eyes again and looked up at Quinn. “We didn’t know that he was an outlaw.”
Quinn straightened, knowing how devastating it must have been for Sarah to learn that when she had hoped that her uncle would care for them. He patted Ryan on the shoulder. “So, what did you do?”
“Things weren’t too terrible until three men showed up. Sarah had to hunt every day to find meat for them to eat. She worked awfully hard, but Uncle Harlan always griped at her.” Ryan’s eyes turned hard. “One man kept pestering her and trying to get her alone.”
“You’re doing good. Keep going, please.”
Ryan shrugged one shoulder. “Sarah wanted to leave, but we didn’t have anywhere to go. One day I followed my uncle and discovered where he hid his loot. The next time he and his gang left on a robbing spree, we dug up his money and headed to Medora.”
Quinn held up his hand, indicating for Ryan to stop. “Sam, saddle up my horse and three others. Hank, go find Claude, and both of you get your rifles and any ammunition you’ve got. I want you two to guard the house.”
The men left as ordered, and Quinn nodded for the boy to continue.
“The walk took a lot longer than Sarah thought it would. Then Beth twisted her ankle—” Ryan scowled. “But she was faking just so Sarah would carry her.”
“Never mind that. Just finish your story.”
He shrugged again. “Sarah left us at the shack where you found us and went to town alone. She said she was going to turn the gold in to the sheriff and get a reward, so we could take the train and get away from Uncle Harlan. We were going to start over.”
Quinn crossed his arms and stared off in the distance. Why hadn’t Sarah told him she might be in danger? She should have told him. His feelings for her had grown more than he could have believed they ever would. But she hadn’t trusted him enough to tell him the truth.
And she hadn’t played fair when Florinda had been there. Sarah teased him with her soft caresses, tender looks, and sweet kisses. She shot straight for his heart and scored a bull’s-eye. He loved her
.
He wanted to slam his fist into a wall, but that would only make him ache more. She should have told him. But he couldn’t dwell on that now. “How many men did your uncle have with him? Do you know how much gold he had?”
Ryan straightened and reached over to pet his horse. “Two men, and four hundred and fifty dollars in gold and paper money. I know, I counted it before I told Sarah about it.”
Quinn considered the money in a locked box hidden in his bedroom. There wasn’t half that much in it. But maybe it was enough to barter for Sarah’s life—to distract the outlaws so that he could save her. He closed his eyes. He had to save her. She’d become important to him. Her soft caresses and stolen kisses had broken down walls that he’d erected years ago. He looked skyward. Lord, I need Your help here. Show me how to save Sarah. I love her, Lord. I can’t lose her.
He faced Ryan again. “Do you know where the outlaws are now?”
The boy nodded. “Uncle Harlan said they would meet you at that grove of quaking aspens, about a mile west of here. Do you know where it is?” His blue eyes turned hopeful.
“Yep, I do. Take care of your horse and then get inside and stay there.”
“But I want to go with you.” He grabbed the horse’s reins but took a step toward Quinn. “I know how to shoot. I should have protected Sarah.”
Quinn pulled him into a hug. “You couldn’t fight off three men by yourself. You did what needed to be done. Beth is safe because of you, and I have the information I need to help Sarah. I’m leaving Hank and Claude here to help guard the house. Can you help them?”
Ryan nodded and led his horse to the barn, his back straighter than it had been a few moments ago.
Sam brought his saddled pinto and Quinn’s horse out of the barn. Slim and Johnny followed with their own mounts, while Hank and Claude headed for the house. “Make sure your rifles are loaded and be ready to ride in two minutes.”
He raced past the two cowpokes, leaving the front door open for them, and ran into his bedroom. First, he located the hidden box and counted out the money he had stored there. Seventy-three dollars was a far cry from what Sarah had stolen from her uncle, but would it be enough to satisfy the man?
Straight For The Heart Page 14
