Chapter Seventeen
SHERIFF JAMES WRIGHTwas a congenial fellow, and one that Levi was more than happy to have him on his side.
“I’ll gather two or three more men, and we’ll ride out there with you tonight,” Wright said. “Best to get this done as soon as possible.”
Levi wasn’t about to argue that point. “I appreciate this.”
“Of course. All right to meet at your place?”
Levi agreed, then they settled on a time and shook hands.
Finally, he thought as he rode through town. He was ready to wrap up this business with Prather. The man was far too close to Levi’s family for Levi to sleep well at night anymore.
Then he could concentrate on winning back Rebecca’s trust—and figuring what was next. Being a Marshal was his entire life. No, he thought as he raised a hand to wave at Thomas Drexel, the proprietor of the general store. Being a Marshal had been his entire life. But now there was more than that. He had a family, and a farm he wanted to keep running in honor of Edward. It made no sense at all, the way his life had shifted, not when he’d dedicated it to being on the move as he tracked down murderers and robbers of the worst kind.
He let out a breath through his teeth as the town disappeared behind him. He could think more about that once Prather was back in prison where he belonged. Right now, he needed to keep his focus on that and that alone.
For the rest of the ride back, Levi ran various scenarios through his head. Once he’d landed on a plan that felt the least dangerous, he thought through every possible aspect that could go wrong. He couldn’t fool himself—the entire endeavor was fraught with danger. But it had to be done.
It was late in the afternoon when Levi approached the house. The horse stepped gingerly across the railroad tracks, and the western sun created long shadows.
As he rode up to the house, Sarah stood with her hands on her hips, surveying her siblings with her nose in the air.
“I said that you were the baby, Emmy. That means you can’t pretend to cook. Roger! Stop playing with that stick. You’re supposed to be the grandfather! Grandfathers are dignified.”
Levi grinned as he watched their antics. These little ones had brought life into his house. He’d had no idea what he’d been missing before they arrived.
“Levi!” Johnnie shouted. He ran toward Levi, ignoring Sarah’s frustrated shout.
Levi caught Johnnie in his arms and swung him around. The little boy shrieked with glee.
“Is your mother inside?” he asked as he set Johnnie back on his feet.
“No,” Gwynnie said from the stump where she sat. “She went down to the springhouse.” She furrowed her brow. “It’s been a long time.”
“A long time?” Levi repeated. The hair on the back of his neck rose. It’s nothing, he thought. He was only on edge because of what he knew was going to happen tonight.
Gwynnie stood and brushed her hands down the front of her skirt. “Maybe about an hour?”
It didn’t take nearly that long to walk down to the creek and back. Levi squinted in that direction, but there was no sign of Rebecca at all. His heart lurched, even though he repeated to himself that it was fine, that she was only lingering to enjoy some time alone.
But still . . .
“Gwynnie, why don’t you take the others inside? Just until your mother is back.”
Gwynnie gave him a curious look. Levi didn’t want to frighten her, but he needed her to do as he asked. “Did you complete your schoolwork yet today?”
“No.” She glanced sheepishly at the ground. “We’ll go work on that.”
“Good.” He waited until she’d ushered the others inside, and then caught her before she followed them. “I’m riding down to the creek to see if your mama needs any help. Can you lock the door until we’re back?”
She nodded and began to close the door, but Levi held it open a moment longer. “If we aren’t back before dark, can you make a cold supper for the others?”
Her eyes widened.
Levi rested a hand on her narrow shoulder and squeezed. “Everything will be all right.” He cut himself off before he added, I promise. “I have some friends stopping by later. One of them is the sheriff. Don’t open the door for anyone else except him. If they arrive before we’re back, will you let them know where I’ve gone?”
Gwynnie nodded, and with the children safely tucked in to the house, Levi mounted his horse again. It didn’t take long to get to the creek, but his heart thumped harder the closer he drew to the treeline.
He emerged on the opposite side of the trees, hopeful to see Rebecca simply lost in thought, staring up at the mountains or wading in the chilly Silver Creek.
But his hopes were dashed the second he glanced both directions up and down the creek. She wasn’t there.
“Stay calm,” he whispered to himself as he dismounted. If he gave in to the mounting panic in his chest, he’d be of no use to Rebecca at all. So he did what he would do if it were anyone else who had gone missing. He tied the horse to a nearby tree and began to comb the area for any clues about what have happened.
He came across her tracks easily enough around the springhouse. And there—
Levi sucked in a breath as he reached down to pick up the discarded basket. Lying beneath it was chicken wrapped in paper, some butter, and a small white towel embroidered with little yellow flowers. Levi picked up the towel. It was one that Rebecca had brought with her. Every time he saw it, he wondered at the time it had taken her to put in all those tiny stitches to make something so pretty.
He shoved it into his pocket and gathered the other items. Setting the chicken and butter in the basket inside the springhouse, he shook his head. Why was he wasting valuable time?
Hurrying back to where he’d found everything, he searched the ground. It took no time at all to spot the larger footprints that dug into the ground alongside Rebecca’s smaller prints. He followed what looked like two men’s tracks flanking Rebecca’s to where they must have left their horses in the trees.
His stomach twisted. Why hadn’t he acted on his urge to involve Sheriff Wright sooner? If he had, Rebecca might be standing beside him right now. But he hadn’t—and it didn’t matter now if it was because of his own foolish pride or not—he’d made the wrong decision.
And he wasn’t about to let Rebecca pay for it.
Levi raced back to his horse and began to follow the tracks through the trees. They led south, exactly where he thought they would.
He set his jaw and began to plan for the worst.