At noon, they stopped and everyone filled their plates with all the goodies the women had cooked up. Jackson looked for Eliza and Peter. He found them both sitting on a blanket in the shade of the drugstore.
As he sat down beside them, Eliza said, “It’s going up nicely. I can’t believe how much you men have done already.”
Jackson smiled and allowed his gaze to move over the building. The outside walls were up and the windows and doors were being built and would soon be in place. “It sure is. It helps that we have over sixty men working on it.”
Peter grabbed a chicken leg and said around a mouthful, “I helped, huh, Pa?”
Jackson reached over and mussed the boy’s hair. “You sure did.”
“Now that the walls are up, is it all right if I play with George this afternoon?” Peter asked, tossing the chicken bone on his plate.
“I don’t see why not. You worked hard this morning,” Eliza said, handing him a napkin.
Jackson smiled at his family. He couldn’t wait until the house was finished and they could move in. His stomach growled, reminding him to eat. “Just be sure to stay away from the work site since you aren’t helping,” he warned Peter.
The little boy grinned mischievously as Eliza pushed a slice of pie in his direction. “Oh, we will. George and I have plans this afternoon. We won’t be bothering you all.”
He noticed Eliza looking at the boy with a frown. “What kind of plans?” Suspicion dripped from her voice.
“We’re going to play treasure hunt,” Peter whispered.
Jackson wondered how one played treasure hunt but didn’t give it another thought as people began to cheer. He stood up to see what all the noise was about and was glad to see Seth Billings riding his horse into town.
Rebecca jumped up to greet her husband. She picked up her skirts and ran to where he’d pulled his horse to a stop and jumped down. Seth grabbed his wife and swung her around. He kissed her soundly to more cheers from the townspeople.
Jackson turned to see Eliza’s reaction. A big smile graced her face and her brown eyes looked up at him longingly. Did she want that kind of relationship, too, or was it just wishful thinking on his part?
He finished his lunch and hurried back to work. It was better not to dwell on those things just yet. He’d known for a while that he loved Eliza and up until now had only hoped she returned those feelings.
His job this afternoon was to nail the boards together and hand them off to Hank, who made sure they went to the next person. He heard a soft laugh and looked to where Eliza sat sewing with a small group of women. Red-hot pain sliced through his thumb as he hit it with the hammer. He yelped and stuck the digit in his mouth.
Deeper laughter came from beside him. Hank slapped him on the back. “You might want to focus more on your work and less on the ladies, if you get my drift.”
Jackson scowled at him. It was none of his business if he wanted to stare at Eliza. Hank looked in the direction of the ladies; Jackson followed his gaze and found Eliza looking at him. Concern filled her eyes.
He held up his throbbing thumb for her to see. Seemingly satisfied he wasn’t seriously injured she went back to her sewing and her visiting.
Another howl of pain filled the air and Jackson looked to see young Benjamin Cooper sucking his thumb and grinning at Selena Martinez. “It appears you aren’t the only one that isn’t focused today.” Hank chuckled before walking away to get more boards.
Jackson spent the rest of the afternoon hammering and building inner walls. He smiled his approval each time he passed a working man. His jaws were starting to ache from holding the grin in place.
As dusk began to settle over the small town of Cottonwood Springs, Jackson called a halt to the work. He thanked each man for coming out to help and the women for cooking up such fine dishes. Many of the men promised to come back the following Saturday and finish up the house.
He watched as families got into their wagons and headed home. His gaze moved about as he searched for Eliza and Peter. The women had cleaned up the many makeshift tables and stored away all the food. Jackson spotted Eliza’s basket sitting next to the side of the house.
Where was she? His heart hammered in his chest as he saw Julia and Richard Harper looking around also. Anna stood off to the side, wringing her young hands, and baby Holly clung to her mama’s neck.
Richard advanced on him like a wild boar. “Have you seen our boys?”
Jackson took pleasure at the way Richard had acknowledged Peter as his son. The pleasure quickly drained away as he saw the worry in Julia’s eyes. “No. Last I saw of Peter he’d mentioned the boys were going on a treasure hunt.”
Richard frowned. “Treasure hunt? What kind of treasure hunt?”
Anna stepped forward. “Pa?”
“Not now, Anna.”
Fear laced Anna’s young voice as she tried again. “But, Pa. I might know where the boys are.”
Richard spun around to look at his daughter. “Well, why didn’t you say so sooner? Are you hiding something?” he demanded.
Julia placed a hand on her husband’s arm. “That’s not important now, dear.” She bent down and smiled at Anna. “Honey, where do you think they went?”
“I wasn’t hiding anything from you, Pa. I told Mrs. Hart about an hour ago when she asked me where they were playing.” Anna’s lips trembled.
Jackson’s heart sunk. They’d been gone over an hour? “Where are they playing, Anna?”
Anna shrugged. “I’m not really sure. I overheard Peter telling George that he knew where some pretty rocks were and that they should go find them.” She quickly added, “Mrs. Hart seemed to know where they were because she said, ‘Oh, no’ and took off running when I told her.”
Jackson’s pulse began ragging. Sweat broke out on his back and face. Oh, Lord, please don’t let them be where I think they are.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Eliza’s side hurt. She’d run most of the way to the hill where she and Jackson had gotten married. Jackson’s horse was tied to a tree not far from where they’d said their vows. Her heart pounded in her head.
She knew without being told that Peter had ridden it there. As soon as Anna had told her the boys were looking for pretty stones she’d known where Peter was going.
Why hadn’t she warned him not to come here? Jackson had said it was dangerous inside the cave. Peter had asked her several times for the white rock that hung in her bedroom window. She should have realized he might come looking for one of his own.
Catching her breath, Eliza began to climb the side of the small hill. She pulled her skirts up so that she wouldn’t trip on them. When she got to the top, her breathing felt shallow and painful.
Her gaze scanned the grass-covered wall for the opening. It was almost concealed by a large shrub bush. Eliza hurried to the gap in the rocks and yelled inside, “Peter! George!”
Neither answered.
The thought that she should go find Jackson and George’s father nicked at her brain but she chose to ignore it. One or both of the boys could be hurt and time might be running out.
Eliza squeezed through the opening. Her dress caught on a sharp rock and she jerked it free. The sound of tearing material reached her ears but she ignored it. Sunshine shone through the cracks in the walls of the hillside, providing just enough light for her to inch down the narrow pathway. “Peter!” she called again.
A whisper of sound met her call. She thought the words she heard were “down here.” It sounded as if the words had come from her left.
Pressing her back against the wall, Eliza continued on into the ever-growing darkness. It seemed to open into a cave of sorts. She saw another opening and slid inside. “Peter!”
“Ma! Down here.”
This time his voice was louder and clos
er. Eliza pressed on in the dusky light. “I’m coming!” She had no idea where the path was leading her but the incline said down, and Peter had yelled he was “down here.”
His voice came even louder now. “Hurry, George is hurt!”
Fear crept into Eliza’s hairline. She did as Peter said and quickened her pace. Just as darkness seemed to suddenly enclose her she felt her shoes slipping in something wet. Her feet flew out from under her and she began to slide. A scream tore from her throat.
Eliza grabbed for the wall as she continued to slide down. Sharp rocks cut into her fingers and palm. Then she felt her body go airborne.
Oh, Lord!
The air whooshed from her body as she landed. Tears stung her eyes as pain shot up her back and down her right leg. Light filled the cavern she’d landed in. Eliza pulled herself up into a sitting position and called, “Peter!”
“I’m here, Ma.” His small arms wrapped around her and held on tight.
Eliza hugged him back even as white-hot pain shot through her body. “Where’s George?”
“Over here. I pulled him to the side so he wouldn’t be in the way if you fell, too.” Peter pointed to the right side of the cavern.
Eliza tried to stand but her ankle twisted and she fell back to the ground. A gasp of pain ripped from her throat. Blackness threatened to cloud in behind her eyes. Eliza fought to stay conscious.
Peter let out a cry and clung to her. “I’m sorry. Pa told me not to come here. I should have listened.”
She patted his arm. “It’s all right, Peter. I think my ankle is just sprained. Let me go so I can check on George.”
He released her and said, “He bumped his head when we fell down here. I can’t get him to wake up.”
Eliza pulled her body over to the little boy’s limp form. Each movement sent a new wave of pain and nausea. She pressed her back against the wall and then ran her hands though George’s fine hair. A lump the size of a goose egg met her touch.
“Peter, did George just fall asleep or was he already asleep when you landed?” Panic filled her. She put her hand on George’s chest and felt the gentle rise and fall of his steady breathing.
Peter crouched down beside his friend. “He landed and went right to sleep. I don’t think he even knows he’s hurt.”
Eliza thanked the Lord she hadn’t hit her head, as well. She needed to be able to think straight, to figure out a way to get all three of them out safely.
Her gaze moved upward and she gasped. Large rocks that looked like icicles hung above her head. Their sharp tips pointed at the ground, at them. On the floor and walls were clumps of smaller white rocks.
“Try not to touch the rocks on the wall. Some of them are real sharp,” Peter said, holding up a hand that had several small cuts.
She remembered her own fingers and palm being cut as she’d fallen. Eliza looked down at her right hand and saw that she was bleeding from several deep cuts. “Peter, tear the hem of my skirt so I can wrap it around my hand and stop the bleeding.”
Peter picked up a stone and used its sharp edge as a knife. He sliced into her skirt and then ripped off a big piece. “Is this big enough?” he asked.
“Yes, thank you.”
She held out her hand and the little boy lovingly wrapped the fabric around her palm. He tucked it in and leaned back. “I’m sorry, Ma.”
“I know you are. Don’t worry. Jackson will come for us.” Eliza closed her eyes against the pain and worry.
Lord, please let Jackson know where to find us and, Father, I ask that You keep him safe when he gets here.
* * *
Jackson tried not to panic. He looked at Anna. “Can you go to my house and get the horse back for me?”
The girl looked to her father, who nodded his consent and then turned to Jackson and demanded, “What are you thinking?”
“That they’ve gone to the cavern I found a few weeks ago.”
Julia gasped. “The boys have been talking about that place for weeks.” She covered her mouth. Terror filled her eyes as she looked at them.
Richard grunted. “I’m going with you.” He turned to Julia. “You take the girls and go home.”
Jackson interrupted, “Maybe she and the girls could go to our house and wait for us. You’re going to need one of your horses.”
“In that case, I’ll take the team over to your place and leave the wagon there.” Richard nodded.
Anna came running to them. “Your horse isn’t there, Mr. Hart.”
He realized that either Eliza or Peter must have taken it. “Mind if I use one of yours?” he asked Richard.
“No, but I think we should hurry.” Richard climbed aboard the wagon and took off for the house.
Julia began to follow him on foot. Jackson stopped her. “I’m going to run over to the Millers’ and get a rope and a couple of lanterns. You and the girls make yourself at home.”
Julia said as she clutched little Holly to her side, “Bring our boys home safe.”
His gaze grabbed and held hers. “I’ll do my best.”
She nodded and then hurried after her husband.
An hour later, Jackson and Richard arrived at the hillside. Jackson’s horse neighed in greeting. “That’s my horse. They’re here.” He jumped from his borrowed horse. Jackson hung the coil of rope across his shoulders and balanced the lantern he carried as he ran up the hillside.
Lord, please let them be safe.
The prayer became his mantra as they raced against time to get up the hill. “The opening is up here,” he called down to Richard, who had tied up their horses and now hurried after him.
When Richard stood beside him, Jackson explained where they were going. “I’m praying they took the right tunnel and not the left but I’ll be honest, I’m pretty sure they took the left, and if so, we’re going to have to be very careful.” He tied a rope around his waist and then handed the other end to Richard. “Tie that around your waist. There are wet spots along the path, if one of us slips and starts to fall, maybe the other can stop him.”
A grim-faced Richard did as asked, then nodded. “You lead the way.”
They lit the lanterns and then started into the caves. Just inside, he saw a scrap of blue material with little white dots. Eliza’s dress. Jackson prayed for safety as they went. He chose the left tunnel first, praying his instincts were wrong. “There’s water here, so watch your step.”
“What’s that?” Richard asked, shining his light on the right side of the wall. Blood smears coated the sharp rocks.
“Blood, try not to touch the sides of the walls. Some of these rocks are razor sharp.”
“We should have worn gloves,” Richard stated.
Jackson acknowledged the comment and pressed on. He came to the edge of a drop off and called out, “Eliza, Peter, George!”
Eliza’s frantic voice called back, “Jackson be careful! There’s a drop-off!”
A relieved smile tugged at his lips. “I know. I’m standing on the edge of it. Is everyone all right?”
“My ankle is sprained and George has a knot on his head,” she answered.
“Is George hurt bad?” Richard called down.
Eliza answered, “I don’t know. He’s unconscious. We need to get him to the doctor.”
Jackson turned to Richard. Richard’s face was pale and his hands shook. He prayed Richard would get a hold of himself. “You are smaller than me. Take the rope and tie one end around your waist.”
While Richard did as he was told, Jackson called back over the ledge, “Peter, are you hurt?”
The boy answered in a scared voice, “No, sir.”
Jackson silently thanked the Lord. He turned back to Richard. “I’m going to lower you down first. Tie Peter to the rope and I’ll haul him up. Then Eliza and la
stly George.”
“Why does my family come last?” Richard demanded, new fire lighting his eyes.
Jackson understood the fear the other man was feeling, so he ignored the anger. “George is unconscious. Peter is too small to hold him while I pull them up. Eliza is hurt and can’t hold him, so it is up to you to carry your son out of that cave.”
“You’re right. I’m sorry.” Richard bowed his head.
Jackson clasped a large hand on his shoulder. “No need to be sorry. I understand how you feel. We’re going to get him to the doctor.”
Soon Jackson had his family back, and together they had hauled up Richard and George. “Peter, you take the lantern and lead us out of here.”
The boy had been unusually quiet but nodded his head and took the lantern. “Richard, you and George next. I’ll help Eliza and we’ll bring up the rear.” If any of them should slip and fall he’d be there to catch them. For the first time in his life, Jackson was thankful for his large build.
Eliza held on to his waist with her left hand and hobbled along beside him. Her pale face and clenched teeth spoke of the intense pain she felt in her ankle. But not one word of protest came from her lips.
Once out of the caves, Jackson placed a hand on Peter’s small shoulder. “Go to Doc’s place and ask him to meet us at our house. Tell him he has two patients. One with a head injury and the other with a sprained or broken ankle. Can you do that, son?”
Peter rubbed his toe in the dirt. “Yes, sir.”
“Good. Hurry.”
Peter took off like a shot. He climbed aboard Jackson’s horse and was out of sight before the others could mount up. Jackson stood Eliza next to a tree and then held on to George while Richard got on his horse. He handed the limp little boy up to his father, then Jackson went to his borrowed mare. His gaze moved to Eliza. What would be the best method for getting her on the horse?
As if she read his mind, Eliza offered him a weak smile. “Just set me in the saddle. I’ll hang on. I promise.”
Groom by Arrangement Page 21
