Chapter Twenty
THE EVENING DRAGGEDon.
Rebecca’s arms were numb, and poor Mrs. Cooper’s hands wouldn’t stop shaking. Hot water spilled from the kettle as she attempted to pour it into teacups. Prather made an irritated sound and shot a look at the silent blond man.
Without a work, the other man stood, grabbed the kettle from Mrs. Cooper’s hands, and poured the hot water himself.
“You think you can serve up supper without spilling it, or do I have to get Bauer to do that too?” Prather barked at Mrs. Cooper.
Tears pooled at the corners of the woman’s eyes and her hands shook even more.
“I can help her,” Rebecca found herself saying.
Mrs. Cooper cast her a grateful glance. Rebecca wanted to smile at her, but she didn’t dare do anything that might make Prather say no.
But he frowned and shook his head anyway. “You think I’m about to trust a woman married to the Marshal who’s been sent here to haul me back to prison?” He gave a short laugh and gestured at Mrs. Cooper. “I’m hungry. Get the food on the table.”
Rebecca swallowed a sigh. It would’ve been nice to be free of the rope, but Prather had seen right through her. She might not have known that Levi was a Marshal, but perhaps they were more alike than she’d ever considered. Because she certainly would have taken the opportunity to find a way to escape.
Instead, she leaned back in her chair and pulled uselessly at the rope again as Mrs. Cooper summoned the courage to begin ladling stew into their bowls. They hadn’t set one out for her. Not that it mattered. It was hard to have an appetite when she feared Prather would lose his temper and shoot her at any moment. Or that he’d look out the window, see Levi approaching, and shoot him. Worst of all, what if he succeeded in killing them both, and then went after the children?
The fear was a palpable thing that rose from her stomach and threatened to choke her. Rebecca closed her eyes to force it away. Nothing had happened yet. There was still hope. And she had to cling to that or she’d fall into a state much worse than Mrs. Cooper. That would be of no use to anyone at all. If she had any hope of getting out of here alive and back to her children, she had to remain in control of the fear.
If only she had some kind of sign she could look for to know that Levi was here. Then perhaps she could help him in some way.
She glanced up toward the dark window as Prather and Bauer dug into their soup. Mrs. Cooper was furiously cleaning a spill on her countertop. The lamplight flickered slightly, casting half a second’s shadow across the room. And in that very moment, Rebecca saw something move outside.
She blinked and looked quickly away. If her eyes weren’t playing tricks on her, the last thing she wanted was for Prather or Bauer to suspect anything. She needn’t have worried, though. They ate as if they’d never have another meal.
Slowly, she looked back at the window. It was impossible to see outside, given the light in the kitchen. Prather was either extremely foolish or extremely confident in announcing their location in the house. Even only having just met the man, she suspected it was the latter.
Minutes passed, and Rebecca began to doubt what she’d seen. It could have been Hammond, after all, strolling around the property and keeping an eye out for Levi. Or it could have been Mr. Cooper, changing his mind about going for the sheriff.
Disappointment billowing in her chest, Rebecca stared down at the table. Perhaps Levi wasn’t coming at all. Maybe it was too dangerous. Or maybe . . . She swallowed. Maybe he didn’t love her as she loved him.
No. She reiterated the word in her head. She couldn’t think that way. If she gave into the fear, she was done for. She had to hang on to hope. It was the only possible way out.
“See if Hammond’s hungry,” Prather said to Bauer as he shoved his empty bowl away.
Bauer nodded and left through the back door. The minutes ticked by as Prather resumed his solo card game and Mrs. Cooper stood silently in the corner of the room, twisting her hands together.
After a while, Prather looked up from his game and frowned at the doorway. Rebecca’s heart thudded. Either Hammond or Bauer should have returned by now.
Cards forgotten, Prather slid back in his chair and stood. He withdrew one of his pistols from his side and took a couple of steps toward the door. “Sit,” he said to Mrs. Cooper without looking at her.
She scurried to Bauer’s abandoned chair and cast a worried glance at Rebecca. Rebecca caught it from the corner of her eye. She kept her gaze locked on Prather. If he turned and aimed his gun at her, what would she do? She wasn’t tied to the chair. She could leap out—and what? Duck under the table? That wouldn’t do her much good. She could run, she supposed. It was her only chance, even though the odds of outrunning a man whose hands weren’t tied behind his back were awfully slim. She’d take the chance though, if she had to.
Images of each one of her children flashed through her mind. Their faces gave her courage. She would do anything to return to them.
To return to Levi.
So she scooted to the edge of her chair. And she waited.
Prather approached the door slowly. He rested a hand on the knob. “You two,” he said, and Mrs. Cooper jumped at the sudden sound of his voice in the stillness. “Don’t move.”
He twisted the knob and opened the door at a painfully slow speed. Rebecca held her breath as it opened wider. Did she dare hope she hadn’t made up seeing someone move past the window? Someone who hadn’t been Hammond?
It was deadly silent outside. The usual night sounds seemed to have gone still, as if the entire world was holding its breath.
The door was open just wide enough now, and Prather stepped outside. He kept one hand on the door as he looked first one way, and then the next. Rebecca fought the urge to jump up and run. Not right now. But maybe, in a moment, if he continued to walk outside—
A creak from the front of the house made her eyes go wide. Prather didn’t appear to hear it, but Mrs. Cooper had. She slapped a hand over her mouth.
A few more seconds crawled past, and Prather let go of the front door.
Now, Rebecca mouthed to Mrs. Cooper, who simply sat there and stared at her. Rebecca stood, trying not to make a noise as she walked backward. She nodded at Mrs. Cooper, but the woman didn’t move.
When she reached the door that led to the parlor, she turned—and ran right into Levi.