Chapter Seventeen
The first ribbons of light tiptoed through the bedroom window and pried open Rachel’s eyes, seemingly with a hammer and chisel, just as she was getting comfortable. She groaned and turned over.
What a night. Eden had awakened with the colic, and she’d walked the floor with the baby jiggling and rocking her. The shrill cries had broken Rachel’s heart. Panic had set in, and she’d automatically feared Eden had contracted the fever or another deadly disease.
The knots in her stomach hadn’t loosened until she’d figured out the problem. Once she’d seen the tightly clenched belly muscles, she knew what to do. Putting Eden on her stomach across her knees, she’d rubbed her tiny back for what seemed like hours.
At last, the baby girl quieted and slept. Rising on her elbow, Rachel looked over into the cradle, relieved Eden was still snoozing.
Slowly Rachel got dressed, wondering what this day would bring. She prayed it went better than yesterday as she hurried toward the milking shed to milk the goats. She had plenty to do before Eden awoke and she didn’t like leaving her in the house alone. Jax followed her and quickly went to work rounding up the goats that roamed free.
At least the dog knew his job and did it without having to be told. More than she could say for one certain gentleman.
She sent the barn a scathing glance. Thus far, she’d seen neither hide nor hair of her uncle. It was just as well.
She’d barely finished milking the first two nanny goats when she heard Eden’s cries. She lifted the pail of fresh milk and whistled for Jax. When he came, she strode toward the house.
Although it killed her to tie up her loyal companion, she knew it was best. She couldn’t bear to think of the animal getting hurt—or worse. As she held the rope in her hand Jax looked up with pleading eyes and began to whine.
In the end, she called him into the house instead. She’d tie him up later.
Along about mid-morning Uncle Zeb came stomping inside. He poured some cold coffee and made a face on the first sip. “Morning.”
“It’s a little late, isn’t it?” Scowling, Rachel glanced up from her sewing. “Almost noon.”
“I reckon. I didn’t want to disturb you last night so I went straight to the barn.”
“How considerate.” She gave him a stern stare. “Were you drunk?”
“No. I gave you my word.”
Like that would stop him. But she wouldn’t argue without knowing the facts.
“You’ll have to do with cold biscuits and eggs. If you want a hot meal, you’ll have to wake up before the day’s half gone.”
“I know. I know.”
She moved to the table, giving Eden a bottle as Zeb wolfed down food that he’d had no part in bringing into the house. “How did you sleep?”
He turned bleary eyes on her, and she thought she detected a bit of shame. Maybe she simply wanted him to show some guilt and remorse for what he put her through.
“Reckon I slept fine,” he mumbled. “Why all the questions? Can’t a man drink his coffee in peace?”
Eden’s soft suckling noises filled the long silence.
Finally, Rachel spoke. “We had trespassers yesterday. I don’t suppose you know anything about that.”
Zeb’s head jerked around. “Did they do anything?”
“Jax scared them off before they could.” She leaned forward and jabbed a finger in his chest. “If they’re your friends, tell them I have a rifle now and I’ll shoot to kill.”
His Adam’s apple bobbed up and down and he lost some color. “Rifle?”
“That’s what I said. Think you can remember that?”
“Sure.” He hurried to add, “That is if I see them again, which I doubt I will.”
Rachel smoothed the contented babe’s soft blanket. “I’m glad for family, but I won’t tolerate any more of your disappearances and the drinking.”
“If it’s about last night…”
“That’s only part of it.” She raised her chin a notch. “When I took you in, I thought you’d help out around here. I’m used to hard work, but I can’t do everything. Nor should I. You have to shoulder some of the load, and I need help putting in a winter garden.”
“I’ll get right on that soon as I finish my coffee.”
“Thank you. I’d appreciate it.” Rachel was relieved to have the talk over with even though it didn’t go exactly as she’d planned.
* * *
Heath stepped from his barn, his mind on a million different things. Anger and fury had kept him awake most of the night. Rachel had already seen the worst a young woman should. Now, it made sense why she’d turned down his offer of marriage. He pulled a stool over to milk the cow. He still had to repair a fence before he took Sally to call on Rachel and the baby. The cow munched contentedly on some hay and soon the full bucket held enough.
Outside, his pulse beat a little faster just thinking about spending time with Rachel. He never tired of her company. Soon. Wandering thoughts turned to Rachel’s sweet lips. He certainly didn’t get weary of kissing her.
Not the least. In fact, her kisses were like fresh rain after a drought. With her confession yesterday, he was making headway on the plan to wed her. He just needed to go slow and steady. Some things a man couldn’t rush.
Movement in the sky made him glance up and his breath froze.
Circling in the sky were at least a dozen buzzards.
Something was dead. Had someone killed Jax? Or one of the goats? Or…
Surely something hadn’t happened to Rachel. Please, no.
With a prayer on his lips, he set the milk down, stumbled back into the barn, and quickly saddled his horse. Barely taking a minute to put the milk in the house and let Sally know where he was headed, he gently slapped the reins on the animal’s flank and sent it galloping toward the sight.
He had no idea what he’d find. But if someone had hurt Rachel or Eden, they’d best look over their shoulder because he’d come for them.
Heath raced into the Malloy yard and was off the horse before it stopped. He didn’t bother with knocking. He barreled inside and drew up short when Rachel jumped to her feet. Jax went into a barking frenzy until he recognized Heath.
“What’s wrong?” Rachel’s green eyes widened with fear. “Tell me.”
He covered the space between them in long strides and pulled her into his arms.
“Thank God you’re all right,” he breathed into her hair. “If anything had happened…”
“I’m fine. Maybe you’d best tell me why you thought I wouldn’t be.”
Heath released her and gave her a wry smile. “I noticed buzzards circling over this way and my mind jumped to conclusions I’m afraid.”
“Buzzards? I wonder what could’ve happened now.” Her brow wrinkled.
“No telling. Do you know where your uncle is?”
“I just had a heart to heart with him, told him how I stood with things. He’s probably in the barn sulking.”
Sounded about right. He turned to Rachel. “Do you mind if I take your dog?”
“Of course not.” She chewed her bottom lip like she did when she was scared and trying not to show it. “I can’t imagine what you’ll find out there.”
“Whatever or whoever it is hasn’t been dead long or we’d have seen the buzzards sooner.” He patted Jax’s head. “Come on. Let’s go see what we can find.”
She clutched his arm. “Be careful.”
Just then Eden let out a squall. Rachel went to take care of her as Heath and Jax went out the door.
The dog appeared happy to be in the fresh air and took off with a bound. His sensitive nose picked up the dead scent long before Heath. Quickly mounting the horse, Heath set out behind.
They hadn’t gone far when Jax gave an excited bark and left the trail, racing into the dense undergrowth. Heath slid from the saddle, jerked his rifle from the scabbard, and plunged after the dog. Thistle and cactus tore at his clothes, but he paid them no heed.
He could tell by the barking that Jax had stopped. He’d found whatever had died.
Gripping the rifle, he proceeded into a small clearing that was someone’s campsite. Cold embers lay inside a circle of stones. A horse grazed on some tall buffalo grass, glancing up.
And lying on a bedroll was the form of a woman.
Jax sniffed at her then whined pitifully and sat on his haunches.
“It’s okay, boy.” He ruffled the dog’s ears. “You did real good.”
Heath laid his rifle down and got a closer look at the auburn-haired woman. From the amount of animal activity, she’d been dead probably a day or so. Her brown eyes were wide open, and her cheeks were sunken. He knelt to close them and mouthed a quiet prayer for the woman’s soul, asking God to be merciful. This was an unforgiving country, and it took everything a person had to survive.
An empty bottle of laudanum rested next to her. Had she killed herself? Aside from that, there were no obvious signs of death. She had no bullet holes or other wounds as far as he could tell. But flecks of blood showed around her mouth.
With a heavy heart he wrapped her in the bedroll then turned to get her horse. He’d have to get a shovel from Rachel to bury this woman.
How sad that she ended up dying here all alone. He wished he knew who her folks were so he could let them know. But it seemed she’d taken her identity with her to the grave.
Telling Jax to stay and guard, he got on his horse.
* * *
Rachel was hanging the wash on the clothesline when she spied Heath and she froze. He led a strange horse. What had happened? Her breath caught in her throat. Dear God.
So much for hoping the buzzards had been feasting on a dead animal.
She dropped a wet flour sack that served as a diaper she’d been about to hang.
“What was it?” she asked as she hurried to meet them.
Heath pulled up and dismounted. “A woman. Don’t know who she is. We may never learn her name. I came back for a shovel to dig a grave.”
Briefly, he described her campsite.
“What on earth she was doing out here all by herself?” Rachel pushed back tendrils of hair with a trembling hand.
“The horse wears the Thorn Hill brand. After I bury her, I’ll ride over to their ranch and see if anyone knows her. Or at least say how their horse ended up with her.”
Just then Uncle Zeb came from the barn. She told him about the dead woman. “I don’t suppose you’d know who she is would you?”
“Don’t know anything about any woman,” Zeb answered. He lifted a hand to his chin in thought. That’s when she took notice that he’d shaved and put on clean clothes. She’d never seen him without his scraggly beard before. He looked years younger. Now that she could see him better, she’d put his age closer to early fifties.
“You’ve been all over this property and the surrounding area a lot lately, Thacker.” Heath spoke up. “Did you happen to see smoke from a campsite?”
Zeb Thacker’s gaze flicked from Rachel to Heath. “What are you implying?”
“Not implying anything. Simply asking a question.”
A tense silence followed. Rachel stepped between them. “We don’t have time for this. We have a woman to bury, and I suggest we get to it.”
Heath sighed. “You’re right.”
“I’ll get the shovel,” Zeb said, taking off.
Rachel picked up the laundry basket. “I’ll go back with you. I want to see what she looks like. Let me get Eden and my horse.”
Before she reached the house, Sally drove up in the buckboard. “Got tired of twiddling my thumbs and waiting for Heath to come back for me,” Sally explained, climbing down. “Decided to take matters into my own hands.”
“I’m glad you came.” Rachel told her what Heath had found. “Will you stay with Eden?”
“Honey, you don’t even have to ask.” Sally marched into the house and picked up the child. “My goodness, she’s growing like a weed. I sure have missed her.”
“We’ve missed you too, Sally. How have you been?”
“Fair to middling. Some days it’s all I can do to keep from wringing Heath’s neck. You know, I really suspect he’s not deaf one bit. I think he just doesn’t want to listen to me.”
Rachel hid a grin behind her hand. “Don’t get me in the middle of that.” She kissed Eden and grabbed the comb and brush. A woman needed her hair brushed good and proper before being put in the ground. “I’ve got to go, Sally.”
“Take your time. Me and this sweet darling will be just fine.”
Rachel hurried out to find that Heath had already saddled her horse and Uncle Zeb was mounted on his.
After the men dug the hole, they all stood around the grave with reverence. Heath said some nice words and quoted a few scriptures. Then Rachel laid some pretty wildflowers she’d picked on top of the grave. Whoever the woman was she hoped someone somewhere remembered her.
Afterward Rachel rode back and with Sally’s help made lunch for everyone. Then Heath left to return the horse to the Thorn Hill Ranch. It was mid-afternoon when Heath returned from Thorn Hill Ranch. She and Eden met him in the yard.
“Well, I have one piece to the puzzle,” he said. “One of their ranch hands said the woman worked at the tent saloon over by Estacado. Her name was Alma. Didn’t get her last name. When his back was turned, Alma lit out with his horse that was part of the ranch’s remuda.”
Rachel let her hand drift to Jax’s dark fur. “Do you think my dog has been disappearing to her campsite?”
“Hard to say. Neither the dead nor Jax can speak. But I saw no tracks, either human or animal. But I did find the dog following those intruders, so I don’t think he’d visited Alma.”
Her thoughts whirling, she glanced down at her faithful pet. “You’re right. You’ve seen a lot out here and trust your gut. What do you think was wrong with the woman?”
“My gut says she was sickly. I saw signs of vomit.” He knelt to give Jax some attention. “It would still be best to tie him up whenever you can’t keep an eye on him. At least until we know the danger has passed.” His gaze swung toward the house. “Where’s Sally and Zeb?”
“I don’t know. I was going to look for them after I hung the wash.”
They rounded the side of the house and heard loud voices. Rachel stopped.
“Mr. Thacker, idle hands are the devil’s workshop,” Sally scolded. “You’re gonna get the lead out of the seat of your pants or you’ll answer to me. Rachel didn’t have to take you in. But she did.” Sally clucked. “Lord knows, that girl has a heart of gold. The poor thing is so desperate for family that she lets you get away with being a lazy good-for-nothing. But don’t think for one minute that I’m going to.”
“Are you finished, madam?” Uncle Zeb’s voice sounded stiff and strained.
Rachel held Eden close and followed Heath. They peeked around the corner. Sally’s hands were on her hips and smoke seemed to rise from the top of the woman’s head.
“I’m just getting started. Not only what I think but what I know. Rachel has her hands full with taking care of that sweet baby and doing the washing and ironing and cooking and cleaning. She shouldn’t have to do all the outside chores too.”
Zeb squinted one eye. “How do you know what I do or don’t do? Has Rachel complained to you?”
“Lord, no. She ain’t a complainer. But I can see how tired she is and the circles under her eyes. I tell you it’s got to change. One way or another.”
Zeb drew himself up straight. “Or what, madam? You’ve been chewing on me since I came.”
“Someone needed to.” Sally paused to take a breath.
Before Rachel knew what her uncle was about to do, he grabbed Sally and kissed her. Heath stiffened and started to step forward.
She held him back whispering, “Wait, let’s see what Sally does.”
When Uncle Zeb let Sally up for air, she threw her shoulders back and bellowed, “Mr. Thacker! What are you doing? You’re drunk!”
“Well, madam, if I have to explain it to you, I guess I didn’t do it very well. Though you appeared to like it well enough while I was doing it.”
“You’re a sin and a disgrace.” Sally wiped her mouth and spat.
“I figured I would give you something to think about.” A light twinkled in Zeb’s eyes as he pulled her close again. “You sure are a handsome woman if you don’t mind me saying so.”
“You wouldn’t know a handsome woman if one bit you, you…you old codger!”
Rachel contained a giggle as Sally slapped Zeb’s chest, her hands nothing but a blur.
“I know plenty.” A perplexed frown creased his forehead as he sniffed.
Sally patted her hair that sported a few streaks of gray. “I thank you to remove your hand.”
“Yessum. I reckon when I get ready.” He squinted at her through half-closed lids.
Sally’s face flushed. She was winding up to go after Zeb again when Heath broke free from Rachel’s grip and stepped from the shadows of the house, his face a storm cloud. “Coming, Sally? We need to get back for evening chores.”
Sally hollered, “Right behind you, Heath. Gladly.”
Later, as Rachel held Eden, watching the buckboard roll out and head up the canyon trail Zeb appeared. “Rachel girl, I purely do admire a woman with gumption. I do for a fact, but that woman can sure pack a wallop.”
“I think you’ve lost your mind. Sally didn’t appreciate your attention.”
“Aw, she’s just playing hard to get.” Zeb rubbed his chin. “I’ll wear her down. A woman her age needs to be shook up once in a while.”
“You’ve been eating locoweed. Best get Sally out of your mind because she isn’t having it.” Rachel stepped closer and caught the smell of liquor just as Sally had. “You are drinking!”
He waved her away. “Aw, it was just a snort. Don’t get your bloomers in a wad.”
Rachel pointed toward the path leading to the rim that the heavy dusk hadn’t yet hidden. “That does it. Pack your things and get out of here. I gave you plenty of warning and I meant what I said about coming back drunk.” Eden began to cry, and she jostled her.
“Fine with me. You’ll regret this,” he snarled, his eyes two angry slits.
“No, I only regret being taken in and believing you were kin to me. Heath tried to warn me. I wish Sally had beat you with that broom. Now get off my land.”
She stayed where she was until he brought his horse from the barn and rode off, disappearing from sight. He was gone. With a heavy heart, she called Jax and went inside. Part of her seemed lighter. But another part held worry. Now except for Eden, she was truly alone.