Abandoned Hearts (The Ozark Durham Series)

by Regina Tittel

  With growing aggravation, he noted the beginning shadows of late afternoon. This would give unfair advantage to his adversary. Trigger stumbled on loose shale and snorted with disgust while he regained his footing. Jacob accepted the fact he wouldn’t get back anytime soon and forced his attention to the job at hand.

  He yawned, rubbed the back of his neck and wished for another cup of coffee. Then it happened. The baying he’d been waiting for. He nudged his heels into Trigger’s flanks and blazed a path toward the hound’s excited voice. They caught up with him at the creek’s edge. “Come on boy, sniff him out,” Jacob encouraged as he pulled his Sharps from its sheath.

  Moments after he crossed, Moses again caught the cat’s scent and took off. Jacob followed an eerie feeling and looked up. The cat stood below a high ridge. Its golden coat boasted a healthy sheen which only helped highlight its excellent, muscular build. It appeared oddly calm, as though it held no concern for the canine closing in on its trail.

  A cold sensation traveled up Jacob’s spine as the cougar stared straight through him.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Jacob watched with amazement as the cat turned and leaped fifteen feet straight to the top of the cliff. While Moses bayed and tried to claw his way up the bluff, the cougar slipped behind a boulder out of sight. Jacob groaned at the missed shot. Now that he had a good look, he promised himself it wouldn’t happen twice.

  They’d lose precious time going around the bluff, but Jacob didn’t know of any other way. With haste, they worked their way around and paused as they approached the spot where the cat had perched. Trigger blew nervously and shook his head. Jacob would have to dismount at some point. Trying to pull off a successful shot on a spooked horse would be a waste of time.

  He encouraged the gelding onward until they reached the top. Moses had his nose to the ground. Was he confused? Jacob watched him scan the area back and forth in nervous abandonment as he tried to locate their enemy.

  Jacob shifted uneasily in the saddle. He was completely outside of his comfort zone. But, it was now or never. He dismounted and began to secure his ride to a nearby sapling.

  In a blur of motion, Moses lunged toward a crevice in the rock before he scrambled backward in sheer panic followed by an angry assailant. It was on top of the dog before Jacob could react. Drawing in a quick, but steadying breath, Jacob positioned his 45-70 to his shoulder and waited for his opportunity. It didn’t take long. The enraged feline hovered over the helpless hound and gave way to perfect aim. Just as he squeezed the trigger, the cat sensed his presence and leaped into the air. It cleared 20 feet before disappearing into the forest. At the same time as the rifle blast, Trigger reared back and emitted a high pitched whinny that sounded more like a scream. His round eyes were huge as he broke free and bounded down the trail.

  In a desperate attempt to contain his anger, Jacob clamped his jaw shut and turned his attention from horse to dog. He could barely make out the back end as the canine raced after the cat. Jacob threw his head back. “Errr! Can anything else go wrong?”

  Not far into the forest he made out a trace of blood. Was it the dog’s or had he managed to wound the cat? He hoped for the latter and continued with caution, following the scant trail the best he could. Now and then, more drops reassured him he was still headed in the right direction.

  With lengthened shadows, the beginning presence of evening made itself known. How long had he been traipsing around in here? And, how far into the forest had he gone? I hope I can still find my way out when this nightmare is over.

  Just as Jacob thought his efforts were in vain, movement about ten yards to his right grabbed his attention. He slowly let out the breath he’d unconsciously held and hunkered down.

  Time stalled. His knees grew stiff. What was going on? Where was the cat? And what of Ethan’s addle-brained dog? As Jacob started to rise, a limb snapped from behind. The hairs on the back of his neck rose.

  He spun his rifle around. A distant haze taunted him, followed by eerie silence. Beads of perspiration formed along his hairline. Every sound intensified, as did the pounding of his heart.

  A shrill whinny broke the silence then quickly stopped. Something rapidly approached. Jacob readied his rifle, unaware of what the shadows would reveal.

  Every muscle tensed as he waited. Moments turned into hours until he thought he would explode from anticipation.

  Branches broke and leaves crunched as Moses broke forth from the underbrush and collided into Jacob’s chest.

  “I swear dog if that cat doesn’t put an end to you, I just might!”

  Moses dropped himself against Jacob’s leg and panted with exhaustion. Jacob tried to form a plan, but without his horse his vulnerable state robbed him of clear thought. He was in the cougar’s domain, miles from civilization, with an undependable mutt and deserted by his horse. Jacob rose. An uneasy feeling still lingered in the air. Beside him, the hound began to whimper.

  ***

  The children sat beside Ann as she read. She tried to keep her mind on the story but her thoughts continually went back to Jacob. She lifted her head and stared at the window.

  “Keep reading.” Emily shook Ann’s arm.

  Thoughtful, she slowly turned to look at both children. “I think we should pray.” She saw the questioning look in Ethan’s eyes and stressed, “Right now.”

  Without hesitation, both children slipped from the couch to their knees. Ann knelt beside them and led them in a prayer for Jacob’s safety. Afterward, she rose and turned to the family Bible instead of the children’s book. It opened easily, its binding having been worn from generations of use. Ann let the pages fall freely, stopping when she noticed a highlighted verse.

  Out loud, she read from Psalms. “The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and His ears are open unto their cry.” Her eyes trailed to the next highlight. “The righteous cry and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.” She saw the silent questions from the trustful children and knew she needed to be careful not to fill them with fear.

  “Don’t be afraid.”

  Ethan eyed her with wisdom beyond his years. “Is Dad in trouble? Is he hurt?”

  She fought to keep her eyes from filling with tears. “I don’t know, honey. But the Holy Spirit leads people to pray for those in need. And your dad was laid on my heart, so I thought it would be best if we prayed for him.”

  “Maybe he’s cryin’ like the Bible said,” Emily offered.

  Ann wanted to direct their thoughts away from the possibility of Jacob being hurt, though in her heart that’s what she feared as well. “Perhaps he just needs help finding that ‘ole ornery cat.”

  “Then we best pray that he finds it.” Emily bobbed her head up and down as she spoke.

  Ann smiled at Emily’s comment. As the child prayed out loud, her thoughts went to the heaviness of her heart. It was then she realized the reason for her burden.

  She was truly in love.

  If given the chance, she would tell Jacob as soon as she saw him.

  ***

  Jacob peered into the darkened forest and strained to make out what his senses told him was there. Somewhere close the cat lurked. He had to be ready when it came into sight. Beside him, the hound bristled and bared his teeth. Jacob followed the dog and warily stalked ahead. He kept his eyes sharp and looked for the slightest movement.

  Snap! The sound of the steel trap reverberated throughout the forest along with the hound’s anguished cries. Jacob clenched his jaw shut with gritted teeth and choked back angry words. He knelt down and took note of the aged apparatus. He swallowed his frustration and spoke softly to the dog. Jacob kept his head up and allowed his eyes to steal glances at the trap.

  The cat moved in with experienced stealth, seizing his opportunity.

  Jacob locked eyes with it. The cat stalled. It swished its tail back and forth. Jacob drew his Sharps to his shoulder and waited for a clear shot. The cat purposefully weaved between trees, mask
ing a clean shot to his nefarious heart.

  Even with the darkened interior of the forest, Jacob could make out a smear on the cat’s left shoulder. He did hit it with his earlier shot. The lion silently padded to his left. Jacob knew his life depended on keeping up. He turned with the lion, careful to keep their eyes locked.

  Frustrated, the cat twice changed direction and tried to come up from behind. Jim had filled him in on the hunting traits of a cougar; so far, the cat reacted just as predicted. Strangely, it was his next move that caught Jacob by surprise.

  Without warning, the cat turned and bounded into the forest. “Crazy cat!” Jacob yelled aloud. “Stay put,” he absently ordered the dog, as if it had a choice. With his only thought being the need to end the hunt and soon, Jacob ran in the direction of the feline.

  Several yards deeper into the forest, Jacob came to a halt. It was too quiet. A shiver raced up his spine and gave him an unsettling feeling. Then the sound. A low growl, barely audible. Where had it come from?

  He’d raced head-long into a trap.

  He spun around to look behind him. Nothing. He tightened his grip on his rifle, every muscle tensed.

  Leaves rustled above.

  Jacob turned back and jerked his head up. He caught sight of the cougar’s reflective eyes just before it flung itself through the air and landed on his chest. The impact of its weight knocked the rifle from his hand. The hard ground expelled his lungs of air. Jacob gasped for breath beneath the enormous beast. Giant paws swung at his face. He brought his forearms up to guard his eyes against the brutal attack. Struggling for his life, he swung at the cat with all his might, his only thought being survival. Undeterred, the enraged feline continued to battle for an opening to Jacob’s throat.

  Pain burned where his foe’s razor sharp teeth made contact with his forearms. He was no match for the cat. Any moment, his next breath could be his last. His thoughts went to his family and settled on Ann. A love for a woman like he’d never known before secured his heart.

  He had to live.

  Jacob made a desperate last attempt. While the cat spat and clawed in a maddening rage, Jacob fought to draw his knees underneath his foe. He shoved his feet against the cat’s belly. With all the strength he had, Jacob thrust his legs skyward and flung the cat to the side.

  As they both scurried to their feet, Jacob dove to retrieve his rifle. Oblivious to any pain, he slid on the ground. In one fluid motion he’d regained his stance with his gun aimed.

  Out of the blackness, Trigger appeared and reared back. His whinny sounded like a battle cry. With the strength of an army, he crashed down on the lion. As he raised his front hooves to repeat the motion, the cat snarled and lurched to the side to save itself from being crushed.

  Jacob spun around. He sought for it through the trees.

  Nothing.

  Pure unadulterated fear ripped through his chest. Sweat and blood trickled into his eyes and burned. His vision blurred. The only audible sound was his breathing. Slowly, he made out the dog in the trap. His horse pranced with fright. It snorted and brought Jacob out of his daze. He blinked away the sweat and focused on the dog. It had probably been whimpering for a while, he just hadn’t heard it.

  A thickened silence enveloped the trio. Unnerving, it made things feel surreal.

  As he knelt down to release the trap, Jacob tried to soothe the dog’s nerves as much as his own and kept his voice calm. The hound worriedly licked Jacob’s numerous gashes as his foot was freed. They limped side by side, while Trigger pushed for the lead. With watchful eyes, they retreated from the woods without so much as a snarl from the cougar.

  They reached the bottom of the ridge and paused at the creek to quench their thirst. Once fully hydrated, the injured hound collapsed on the bank. His side heaved as he lay panting. Jacob cupped water to his mouth. He grimaced as pain seared through his entire upper body. Aside from his numerous cuts and bruises, several ribs felt cracked.

  He brought a hand to his face and found a swollen gash just in front of his ear where the cougar’s claws made contact. Thankfully, it missed his eye. With a grunt he stood, refusing to survey any more of his damaged body. If he was going to make it home tonight, he couldn’t give in to the fear and knowledge of how injured he might be.

  Jacob limped to his horse. “Be patient, this may take a while.” He groaned as he pulled himself onto the saddle. He closed his eyes against the wave of pain that washed over him. The cold evening air invigorated him as he tilted his head back and sucked it in. He stared at the heavens. The sun had set exposing a few twinkling stars.

  Surrounded by calm, he remembered the verse that sprang to mind while he battled in the woods. The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears are open unto their cry.

  “God,” Jacob prayed, “thank You for bringing me out alive. I sure don’t feel righteous. Forgive me for turning my back on You for so long. I’ve been selfish and ignorant thinking I didn’t need you. Any excuse I could come up with is useless since nothing is hidden from You. Please guide me back to You and safely home.”

  With a click of his tongue, Jacob steered Trigger to the edge of the woods. The moon began to reflect its fullness which eased the burden of their journey. Thankful for something finally turning out right, Jacob relieved some of the tension in his shoulders, but kept his eyes alert.

  He sensed the cat’s presence before he saw it, a silent form slinking along the edge of the field. He’d assumed it was further injured by Trigger’s attack, yet watching it now, he couldn’t believe how easily the cougar moved.

  His anger increased with each breath. Jacob coaxed his mount closer and hoped for a clear shot. His heart pounded inside his chest. After only a few yards, he realized it was now or never.

  With God-given strength he drew his rifle into position and readied his aim. He switched the safety to its off position and curled his finger around the trigger. He appreciated the feel of cold steel beneath his skin. Just as the cat attempted a leap to safety, Jacob squeezed the trigger. A resounding blast reverberated throughout the field and forest. The cougar’s body fell with a muted thump to the ground, an end to its hellish existence.

  Amazed his horse hadn’t thrown him, Jacob patted the side of his neck and nudged him forward. He pulled Trigger to a halt, only yards from their prey and cautiously dismounted.

  Armed and ready, he approached the still lion and picked up a long limb that lay nearby. He prodded the beast and heaved a sigh of relief. Their war had finally come to an end.

  With the release of fear also came utter exhaustion. His knees weakened and threatened to buckle beneath him. Jacob turned to Trigger. He walked back and found his son’s hound had summoned enough strength to catch up with them. He took pity on the brave critter and picked him up with what strength remained. He steadied the hound’s length behind the saddle before painfully mounting.

  Jacob continued toward home. Although he was eager to return to the farm, after an hour in the saddle, he could no longer hold on. The accumulation of his injuries and loss of blood left him sapped of strength. Twice, he caught himself before falling from his horse. Jacob slid his exhausted frame to the ground. He stumbled a short distance beside Trigger before he finally collapsed on the dew laden field.

  Chapter Twenty Three

  Ann glanced out the window again. Still no sign of Jacob. A kitchen chair scraped against the floor. Ethan seated himself at the table, a replica of his father. She turned away again as fear for Jacob overwhelmed her. Why was she feeling this way? The dread that she’d awaken to had only increased as the day wore on.

  “God, I can’t let the children sense my fear. Please take it from me and bring Jacob home safely.” Ann whispered her prayer before she served the family dinner.

  She shoved her food around on her plate. Her stomach had turned into a solid weight. When everyone finished, Ann eagerly cleared the table, anxious for the work that would keep her hands busy.

  It was Luke who gave her the
push she needed. “Kids, I want you to go in your rooms and fold the clothes Ann washed.” After they left, he hobbled into the kitchen and put an aged hand over Ann’s. “The kitchen is clean, Ann. You need to stop all this fussing and do what really needs done.”

  Her eyes widened at Luke before her gaze turned inquisitive. Afraid to breathe the words, Luke said them for her. “Go. Bring our boy home, and tell him to stop worrying his old dad.”

  Ann threw her arms around him and hugged Luke, careful not to topple him from his crutches. Her throat thick with tears, she said, “Be praying for him.”

  “You mean continue praying for him.”

  Ann wasn’t sure where to look; she just knew the feeling in her gut told her something was amiss, and Luke’s words confirmed it. She grabbed the keys off the counter before she ran to the truck. Perhaps by the time she got it started she’d have an idea of where to begin.

  The lonely dirt road was more desolate than usual. Long shadows cast by the full moon taunted her with the likeness of Jacob and Trigger. Ann rolled down both windows in hopes of hearing the horse give away their location. But all that answered was the sound of the truck’s tires turning over gravel.

  Ann continued to drive until her intuition guided her to a gate on her left. Trusting God was the one in control, she pulled the truck onto the overgrown driveway. She jumped from the cab and ran to unlatch the gate, anxiety building with each moment that passed. Its rusty hinges made it difficult to move. Ann lifted the weight off the front as she dragged it over to the side. Reluctantly, she paused to close the it after she passed through and tried to make up for the time as she sped through the field.

  The truck crested the top of a hill and Ann braked. Leaning out her window to whistle for Trigger, she could only hear the rumble of the engine. She switched off the ignition and climbed out of the cab. How could she possibly know which direction to go? But God had led her thus far.