Chapter Eleven
Dawn broke over the canyon, lifting the gloom of night. Heath sat at the table eating breakfast and watching Rachel. She had to be tired since Eden had awakened every three hours. But she didn’t seem to mind. A glorious smile never left her face.
“I reckon I’ll go get that Bible now.” Zeb Thacker gave Heath a nod and pushed back from the table.
A growl rumbled in Jax’s throat. The dog plain didn’t like the man. And more than once this morning Jax had bared his teeth and nipped at his legs. In Heath’s estimation animals were good judges of character, sensing things people couldn’t.
Heath’s gaze followed the man to the door. Like Jax, he didn’t trust Zeb either. How would they know if that was the actual family Bible? Could easily be made up to support a story.
Maybe it was the way the man had appeared in the dead of night. No one did that unless they were desperate or hurt and he appeared neither.
Or maybe it was his shifty gaze that wouldn’t quite meet Heath’s.
And maybe it was the fact that Zeb had brought only what fit in his saddlebags. Kinda strange to come all the way from Tennessee with no supplies for cooking along the trail, extra clothes, and only one canteen of water.
The story that the man”d had the presence of mind to throw in a Bible of all things when he’d set out was just a little too shady.
Questions swirled in Heath’s mind. No matter how he looked at the situation, it just didn’t add up.
Whatever the truth really was, Heath knew Zeb would bear watching. Closely.
Eden began to wail from the bedroom. Rachel set down the dishes she’d picked up. “Looks like duty calls.”
“You go tend to the little princess and I’ll clear the table.” Heath stacked the dirty plates. It wouldn’t be his first time to wash dishes and clean the kitchen. Sally never tolerated him not pulling his weight in every area. “You change her, and I’ll get the bottle ready.”
Rachel wiped her hands on her apron. “Thank you, Heath.”
Heath had the table cleared and a bottle of goat’s milk ready when she returned with the baby in her arms.
There was no sign of Zeb and his convenient Bible.
“Believe I’ll go see what’s keeping Thacker.” He lifted his hat from a hook beside the door. Jax whined and scratched to go out. “Let’s go, boy.”
Heath stepped into the bright sunlight and didn’t see Thacker anywhere. Deciding maybe the man was in the barn, he walked around the house to it. But the man wasn’t in the loft where he’d slept.
Jax’s bark alerted him. He emerged into the sunshine to see Zeb rounding the corner of the barn. The man didn’t have anything in his hands—much less the Bible he’d gone to fetch.
“Where you been, Thacker?”
“Nowhere in particular. Although I don’t see it’s any business of yours, I went for a walk around the property. Wanted to get a feel for the land.”
Heath’s eyes narrowed. Who scoped out property that didn’t belong to him. If Zeb didn’t produce proof he was Rachel’s uncle, it didn’t make any difference. The man wouldn’t be around long enough to get a feel for anything.
“If I rightly recall, you went to get the proof of your claims for Rachel,” Heath reminded him.
“Oh yes, that I was.” Zeb ran a hand over his graying whiskers. “I near forgot. I’ll just scoot up to the loft for that Bible.”
An hour later, after Rachel had fed Eden and gotten the little darling back to sleep, she sat around the kitchen table with Heath and Zeb. Rachel held Zeb’s Bible, reading the handwritten notations in it. Heath waited for the verdict.
Finally, she glanced up. “Ruth Thacker. I never knew what name my mother was born with. But then I didn’t know a whole lot about her.”
Heath tried to temper the misgivings he had about Zeb Thacker. Hope began to settle in Rachel’s pale green eyes. She wanted to believe as desperately as she needed to breathe. How could he take that from her?
“So, what do you think?” Heath asked when he could stand it no longer.
“I need a private word with you, Heath.”
Zeb stood. “You two talk. I’ll just take a walk down to the lake.”
Once the man hurriedly closed the door behind him to put distance between him and Jax, Rachel dragged in a ragged breath. “I don’t know. I can’t be certain if he’s my uncle or not. He could’ve stolen this Bible.”
“Exactly.” Heath rose and put a hand on her shoulder. “I wish I could help you. You’ll just have to trust your instincts.”
“I used to but now I find it hard after all the death and facing the new changes by myself. I admit it’s frightening.”
The anger in her tone saddened Heath. He’d thought she was moving beyond that. “You’re never alone, even on the darkest, coldest night.”
“We’ve gnawed all the meat off that bone, Heath.” She snapped Zeb’s Bible closed. “You don’t have to tell me what you think about Zeb because I can see it in your eyes. You don’t trust the man. But the scribblings in this Bible appear to be genuine. To me at least. I want to believe Zeb Thacker is my uncle.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “I need family, someone to belong to. I have to give him a chance.”
“Then, let him stay for a while until you figure it out, but you just need to be careful.”
Rachel stood, giving him a shaky smile. “I will. I’m prepared that this may not work out and can always send him packing. Thacker may not look like much, but I yearn for family.”
Heath also got to his feet. “I understand. But you have Eden.”
“Yes, I have my Eden. My family is growing by the day.” She bit her lip. “I don’t know what I’d do if someone came to claim that sweet baby.”
“Don’t borrow trouble,” he warned softly.
“It’s the last thought before I go to sleep and the first thought when I wake up.”
He smoothed back her hair. “Dwelling on it will solve nothing. Now, tell me what I can do to help you before I head back to the ranch.”
“That’s another thing. With Uncle Zeb here now to help take care of the place, there’s no need to worry about me. Uncle Zeb will help with the livestock and do some of the chores.”
That remained to be seen. So far, the man hadn’t shown much affinity toward work, leaving the egg-gathering and goat-milking to Heath. Thacker hadn’t even seen fit to feed his own horse much less Rachel’s.
No matter what Rachel said, Heath wasn’t about to leave her to Thacker’s care.
Not even if it made her mad enough to chew the hide right off a mangy buffalo.
“Uncle Zeb, do you want toride with Tillie, Eden, and me to the trading post?” Rachel asked. Five days had passed since her uncle had shown up.
Zeb looked up from the shade of the cottonwood tree where he was stretched out with his hands behind his head. “I don’t reckon so, my dear.”
“Is there something I can pick up for you then?”
“As a matter of fact, I could sure use a bag of Bull Durham. I’ve been out for a few days and have a powerful need for a smoke.”
“I’ll see what I can do.” Rachel handed the baby up to Tillie and climbed into the wagon box. “If you don’t mind, do you think you could fix the hole in the chicken coop? I’ve seen coyote signs around the place.”
“Sure thing, Rachel. As soon as I get my nap out.”
Jax snarled at her uncle as if to say the man had better get the lead out of his britches. She grabbed hold of the dog before he jumped right into the middle of him.
“Come on, Jax,” she called. The animal leaped into the bed of the wagon but put his paws on the side of it with his teeth bared.
“I don’t think that animal likes me much,” Uncle Zeb muttered.
As the wagon rolled toward the trading post Tillie laughed. “I don’t think he does either. How long is your uncle planning on staying?”
“He hasn’t really said. Somehow I get the feeling that he doesn’t have anywhere to go.”
“He’s not much for work, is he?” Tillie remarked.
“So far, he hasn’t done much,” she admitted ruefully. “Are you sure it’s safe to go to the trading post?”
“I’m positive. Quit worrying.”
Zeb Thacker had been there a full week and to Rachel’s despair he hadn’t been much help around the place. Sure, he seemed to have good intentions, but those intentions never fully translated into doing chores or helping with the animals.
And then there was his habit of mysteriously disappearing.
She didn’t know where he went or for what reason. When she asked him about it, he simply said he liked to explore and often lost track of the time.
Tillie lifted Eden to her shoulder. “What about Heath? Have you seen him or Sally lately?”
“No, not very often. I told Heath there was no need to worry about me since I have Uncle Zeb now.” But she knew he was continuing to keep an eye on them because she’d spied him up on the canyon rim one morning when she’d risen early to milk the goats.
“You two didn’t have a quarrel, did you?”
“Nope.”
“That’s good.”
“Why do you say that?”
“I happen to think you and Heath Lassiter make a handsome couple.”
“Tillie Gregory! There is no couple.” But Rachel colored, remembering the kiss in the moonlight down by the lake. Thank goodness no one knew about that but her and Heath.
“I think you protest too much. He’s sure a handsome man. So tall and strong. And all that dark hair.” Tillie grinned, her eyes twinkling, and Rachel realized her friend was teasing, probably just to get a rise out of her.
Just like a sister.
Lord, she missed her brothers who loved nothing better than to josh with her.
The rest of the trip passed quietly, each woman engrossed in her own thoughts. They pulled up in front of Singer’s Trading Post and Rachel set the brake. The store was busier than usual with several buckboards and horses tied to the hitching rail in front.
Rachel was about to climb down when Heath strolled out of the post. Shadowed by the brim of his hat, his grin stretched from ear to ear.
An unexpected stirring made her stomach dip and for a moment she felt as though she’d been thrown from a horse.
She didn’t know why seeing him made her so happy.
“What an unexpected pleasure.” He helped Rachel down then hurried around to take Eden from Tillie. “I’ve missed you. And the little princess here.”
Watching him holding the baby again made the back of her throat burn.
Heath was so big but the gentle care he took of the tiny babe who’d brought untold joy to her life always made her heart swell. She realized just how much she’d missed seeing him.
She reached for the basket full of saleable items from the wagon.
“How have things been with your uncle?” He held the door for her and Tillie.
Like he didn’t know. Really. She’d seen him spying on them from the ridge.
“He’s just fine.” She knew she should’ve been more honest, but she felt an odd loyalty to the man who appeared to be her only kin. “He’s still settling in.”
“Reckon it takes some longer than others.”
She couldn’t resist a jab. “I saw you up on the canyon ridge a few days ago.”
A sheepish grin formed. It was good to let the man know she’d caught him. And if she’d seen him that once, chances were he’d spied on them other times as well.
But somehow that fact didn’t rile her now. It was nice to be looked after, especially when it was this handsome rancher doing the looking.
Heath adjusted Eden’s blanket. “I was searching for some strays that wandered off.”
“Did you find them?”
“Yep. Say, do you mind if Sally and I pay you a visit soon?”
“I’d like that.” She set the basket of bread and fresh churned butter on the counter noticing the black-veiled Cora Quinlin coming from a back shelf filled with hats.
Heath handed the baby to Rachel. “Guess I’d best head home. We’ll call on you in the morning.”
Her gaze followed him out the door. Tomorrow wouldn’t come soon enough.
It was strange how upset she’d gotten with him constantly underfoot. Only now she wanted him to be. There was no figuring out her fickle heart.
Cora Quinlin’s black dress of stiff taffeta swished with each step as she strode from the back. The strange neighbor set flour and sugar on the counter with hands that appeared young. She was a slight woman with a confident stride. Rachel tried not to stare yet she wanted to find out what kind of person and how old Cora was. Someone entered the trading post and a draft from the open door ruffled the veil, revealing a firm neck. Cora’s skin was supple, not old and wrinkly.
Curiosity burned. Eden didn’t move a muscle when Rachel suddenly thrust out her hand. “Hello, Miss Quinlin. I’m Rachel Malloy and I’ve been wanting to meet you.”
Cora took her palm for a brief shake. “I’m sorry for your troubles. My place is at the end of the canyon, but I saw smoke from your burning house and was glad you survived.”
The woman’s voice was young-sounding. She was probably near her and Tillie’s age.
“Thank you,” Rachel said smiling. “I’m finding life on my own scary but I’m doing better, thanks to the Lassiters. I’d like to have tea with you one day.”
“I stay too busy for socializing,” Cora said abruptly, handing the clerk some money.
Rebuffed by her attitude, Rachel took a step back. Clearly, Cora had little interest in being friends. Whatever the mysterious woman’s secret was, she didn’t plan on ever revealing it.
Rachel’s gaze followed Cora to the door. “If you ever change your mind, please stop by. We’ll get acquainted.”
“Maybe someday I’ll surprise you,” Cora answered without turning. Then she stepped out into the sunlight.
But Rachel had a few answers to her questions at least and that would have to suffice.