Chapter Twenty-One
Heath caught Rachel as she collapsed in a heap. He swept her up in his arms and carried her to a chair with Jax whimpering and licking his owner.
“We’ve got to find her. What could’ve happened to her?” Panic and despair lodged in Rachel’s voice.
He smoothed back her hair. “I’m darn sure going to find out, you can bet on that.”
A feverish light came in Rachel’s eyes as she jumped to her feet. “I’ve caught Zeb lurking about after I sent him off. Do you think he took her out of spite?”
“Maybe.” Heath took a calming breath. “Let’s not rush to conclusions.” He covered the distance to the door in three strides.
“Where are you going?” Rachel asked.
“To pick up a trail.”
“I’m coming too.”
He turned and took her hands in his. “You might trample on top of tracks. Give me a minute to see what’s out there. I promise I’ll let you know after I’ve scoured the ground. Why don’t you look and see if anything besides Eden was taken—blankets, clothes and that sort of thing.”
At least it gave her something to do, Heath thought. Lord knows she’d lose her mind if she sat around and worried. He couldn’t imagine what was running through her head because his own was a jumble of different scenarios, none of them good.
The faces of the men that threatened Rachel that day in the trading post swam across his vision. He’d put his money on them. Or Zeb.
His jaw clenched and resolve filled his heart. If those men took Eden, they’d better ride fast and hard because he meant to find that baby no matter what he had to do.
And harm the child? He shook with anger. If they wanted to live, they’d best not.
Dropping to his knee under the cottonwood tree, he began to pray and ask God to guide them to the sweet little baby girl who filled their hearts with such joy. And as he prayed his favorite scripture came to him. “Ask and ye shall receive, seek and ye shall find, knock and the door shall be opened to you.”
He didn’t rightly know if it pertained to kidnapped babes or not, but he knew God’s abundant grace would be with them.
“Please lead us to her. Eden has brightened our lives and given Rachel hope when she had none.”
Over the next half hour, he combed every inch of ground around the house. He was about to give up in defeat when he spotted prints of someone barefoot. He tried to remember if Rachel might’ve walked barefoot out here. But he couldn’t recall an instance since he’d known her that she had not worn shoes outdoors.
Excited, he went to get Rachel and tell her what he’d found.
A few minutes later, his fingers trembled as he saddled Blackie for her. It eased his mind some to hear that nothing but the baby’s blanket was taken. He gave Rachel a flicker of a grin when he saw that she had packed a bag full of everything that Eden could possibly need in a month of Sundays. He just prayed they found her.
He grabbed the reins of their horses, and they struck out walking to keep an eye on the footprints. Jax ran ahead stopping to sniff every so often. The trail led east, up out of the canyon.
With every step Heath prayed they would find Eden.
An occasional glance at Rachel assured him she was doing as well as he could expect. As the trail rose steeply to the rim, he helped her on Blackie. She thanked him with a silent nod. Nothing would put a smile on her face until she had her baby daughter in her arms once more. Neither would he see any relief from this fist that had closed around his heart, squeezing the life from him, until he got Eden back safe and sound and set things to rights.
The trail led in the direction of Thorn Hill Ranch. That puzzled him. Who on that ranch walked around barefoot? No self-respecting cowboy would.
Overhead, the Texas sun beat down. Heath stopped several times to wipe the sweat from his eyes. For October it was an unusually humid day. A quick look at the sky showed storm clouds gathering in the west. They could sure use the rain. He just hoped it held off for a spell.
If it washed away the tracks…
He couldn’t think about that. He closed his eyes for a second and murmured a prayer. When he opened his eyes, he saw that Rachel’s lips were silently moving. Could she be praying? It seemed a lifetime ago that she told him about the little bird that sat by her window singing. Had it only been that morning?
Rounding a huge clump of prickly pear bearing ripe fruit, his breath caught in his throat.
Lying on the ground was a small blanket that had streaks of blood on it. Jax took it in his mouth and brought it to Heath.
Rachel gave a strangled cry. Dismounting, she ran to take it from his hand. Burying her face in it, she sobbed. “Oh God, oh God, oh God!”
Heath gently pulled her against his chest fighting tears of his own. “She’s not dead. Get that out of your head right now.”
She looked up into his eyes. He’d never seen such raw anguish before. “How do you know?”
“If she were dead, she’d be here with the blanket.” He pulled her against his chest. “We’re going to find her. We won’t stop looking until we do. I’ll turn over every rock. I promise you.”
Distant thunder rumbled. The storm was getting closer.
“Let me help you back on your horse. We need to hurry.”
She clutched the little blanket for all she was worth as he lifted her onto Blackie. Then, he struck off on foot, clutching the reins to his horse.
A short while later, they crossed the boundary line onto Thorn Hill Ranch. Luckily, they were still ahead of the storm, although he wasn’t sure by how much.
The footprints were not visible on the rocky ground, but he kept that fact to himself. Rachel would lose what little control she had if she knew he was following a blind trail. He figured he’d pick up the prints again if he just kept going.
And sure enough he did. They led across the pasture and right up to the backdoor of an old sheepherder’s wagon.
Fat raindrops fell as they reached the wagon. Heath removed his rifle from the scabbard and told Rachel to wait. He walked up to the door and knocked.
“Go away,” a woman’s voice ordered from inside.
“Ma’am, this is Heath Lassiter. I’m out here with Rachel Malloy and we’re looking for a baby that someone took. I’d like to speak to you about it.”
“I said go away.”
Rachel’s voice in his ear startled him. He hadn’t heard her come up behind him. “I think this is where Becca lives. Tillie told me she lives with her father in a sheepherder’s wagon. Let me try.”
Heath moved aside, hoping they wouldn’t have to storm the wagon. But he prepared to do that. He was getting Eden however he had to.
“Becca, this is Rachel Malloy. May we come in? It’s starting to rain out here and we’re getting wet.”
“No, I’m busy. Go away.”
“Did you take my baby, Becca? I need to get her back because she’s probably hungry. Her name is Eden.”
“I only have my brother in here. No one named Eden.”
Rachel tried the door and found it unlocked. Heath didn’t know what to expect, but he pressed close behind her as she swung the door out and cautiously stepped inside.
The only light came from the open door, but a young girl stood in the dim interior. The infant she cradled in her arms could only be Eden. Rachel gave a muffled cry. He knew everything in her wanted to rush forward but she held herself back. He sensed that scaring the girl would be the wrong thing to do so he eased his rifle to the floor.
“This is my baby brother,” Becca said softly, brushing the top of the baby’s head with her fingers. “His name is Samuel.”
He laid a hand on Rachel’s trembling shoulder to calm her. “Talk to her. Win her over,” he whispered.
The bloody blanket they’d found was hard to get out of his mind. He strained to see in the shadowy wagon, but he didn’t see any blood. Still, he knew Rachel wouldn’t take a deep breath until she found Eden unharmed.
“He’s a beautiful baby,” Rachel said taking a step and then another. “Can I see him? I love little ones.”
Becca turned her back to them. “He’s asleep.”
Rachel took two more steps. “I won’t wake him. I promise. You’re a good sister to him.”
“I take good care of him.”
“Yes, Becca, I can see that you don’t let any harm come.”
In the dim light, Heath held his breath as Rachel reached out to gently touch the girl. He prayed Rachel wouldn’t spook her.
“Where is your mother, Becca?” he asked.
“She went away. Paw says she ain’t ever coming back.”
“You must miss her very much,” Rachel said. “Can I hold Samuel? I’ll be very gentle.”
Becca scooted back, wildly shaking her head. “No, you’ll take him.”
Just then the door opened and a man’s voice spoke. “Who are you?”
Heath turned. “I’m Heath Lassiter. You must be Becca’s father.”
Rain had soaked the newcomer. Deep sorrow colored his eyes. “I am.” He sighed. “What has she done this time?”
“She took Miss Malloy’s baby, and we came to get her back.”
The man’s shoulders slumped, and heavy sorrow filled the man’s eyes. “It’s been hard on Becca since her maw and baby brother died. She doesn’t understand the finality of death.”
He moved past Heath and Rachel. “Becca, honey, let me have the baby.”
“Please, Paw, don’t take him away from me,” the girl pleaded as big tears filled her eyes. A sob burst out. “Please. He won’t be any trouble. I’ll take care of him, you’ll see.”
“Becca, this baby isn’t ours,” he said gently. “It belongs to this fine lady here. Remember what I told you about your maw and little brother? They went up to heaven with Jesus. It’s just you and me now.”
“But when I close my eyes and go to sleep I can see them again?”
“Yes, honey. Now let me have these folks’ baby.”
Becca reluctantly passed the infant. He in turn handed Eden to Rachel who inspected the little babe for wounds before clutching her tightly to her.
“She’s unhurt, Heath,” Rachel said quietly.
For the first time in several hours Heath could take a deep breath without his chest feeling like it was ripped open.
“Becca, you can come see the baby anytime you want,” Rachel promised.
“Samuel?”
A tender smile lit Rachel’s face. “I suppose you can call her Samuel. Eden won’t mind.”
“Samuel Eden?” Becca asked.
“What a pretty name,” Rachel said softly. “Yes.”
Heath handed her his coat to wrap the baby in until they could get to the blankets in the saddlebags. He turned to Becca’s father. “We found Eden’s blanket in the pasture soaked with blood. What was bleeding?”
Becca raised her skirt to show her ankles. “I cut my foot. It hurt real bad.”
“Yes, I’m sure it did. I’d be happy to doctor it for you,” Rachel offered.
Becca’s father spoke up, “I’ll take care of it. I know you folks are anxious to get home. Looks like there’s a break in the rain. With luck you can make the trip before it starts again. I apologize for my daughter. She didn’t mean any harm. I hope you won’t hold this against her. She doesn’t know what she’s doing.”
“We understand.” Heath laid a hand on the grieving man’s shoulder.
“I’m at my wit’s end trying to care for her.” The man dug under a pile of things and pulled out a blanket. “Here, for the little one.”
Rachel reached for it. “Thank you, sir. I’ll return it.”
“No need. It’s…we don’t need it.” His voice was thick with sorrow.
“I’m so sorry.” She laid a comforting hand on his arm. Going to Becca, Rachel gave her a warm hug and thanked her for taking sure good care of Eden. “I’ll look for you to come calling.”
Heath shook hands with Becca’s father and thanked him.
Jax crawled out from under the wagon and nudged Heath’s hand with his nose when they went outside. He ruffled the dog’s ears. “Rachel, I think Jax wants to see for himself that Eden is okay.”
Glad the rain had stopped at the moment, Rachel knelt down. Jax sniffed the baby up and down then licked Eden’s cheek, evidently satisfied that she was all right.
Rachel’s smile was a thing of beauty and made Heath’s heart sing. Laughter sprang from him, thankful he had reason to. God had granted him and Rachel their prayers and delivered Eden safely to them.
The gloom of the cloudy day lifted. He looked up at the gray sky and took a deep, cleansing breath of the moist air, drawing it into his lungs.
Rachel took Heath’s hand and squeezed. “Let’s go home.”