Chapter Twenty-Five
Heath returned after getting Austin Morgan on his way. Rachel was outside, soaking up some sun with Eden. Change was coming, only she didn’t know from what direction.
Eden put a hand in her mouth and sucked on it as she stared at Jax. The dog had jumped up on Rachel, wanting to be petted.
Heath dismounted with a chuckle. “Won’t be long until Princess will be chasing after that dog. I swear, she’s growing more every day. Hardly resembles the same babe you found.”
Rachel kissed her soft cheek. “Sometimes I lie awake at night and wonder what she’ll look like as a young woman.”
“She’ll be the prettiest thing around here. Uh…next to her mama of course.”
“Why thank you, Heath. If you’re thinking of turning my head, you just might succeed.”
He pulled something from his pocket and handed it to Rachel. “I made this for Eden. She’s starting to hold onto things better.”
The gift was a small dog carved from wood. The detail was excellent, and it was sanded as smooth as a piece of satin.
“Oh, Heath, this is lovely.” She smiled as Eden’s hand curled around it. “I was thinking just yesterday that I needed to get her some toys. You beat me to it.”
“It occurred to me she’s getting big enough.” His grin faded and his voice lowered. “I think you can sleep easier now, Rachel?”
“I can’t tell you how glad I am that the ill-gotten money is gone. But I’ve been wondering how those men will know, even if they’re watching our every move.”
Heath’s eyes narrowed and grew hard. “I don’t know. That’s a problem.”
Rachel watched him as he walked toward the barn, his long easy stride, loose and full of confidence. She admired a man who stood up to those who sought to destroy. He would never back down in the face of danger or hide when the going got rough.
The row of graves under the cottonwood tree drew her. She tucked Eden closer and strolled toward them. Her heart still ached for the family she’d lost, but the crushing pain was lessening. It seemed a lifetime ago that she buried Alice.
With tears clogging her throat, Rachel knelt to touch the cool earth. It was fitting that she’d found Eden here in this place of death and rebirth.
She brushed her eyes and gazed into the distance, reflecting on the fact that people lived, they died, and life went right on. The sun continued to rise and set and the seasons moved in harmony with the earth. Those were constants in a sea of constant change.
Suddenly a fluttering piece of paper that was caught on a prickly pear drew her attention. Curious, she moved closer and picked it up.
The penmanship was neat and though it had smudged in several places it was readable. Dried water spots on the paper indicated that it had been rained on. That told her it had been exposed to the elements for some time.
My darling Eden, My heart is breaking to leave you but I had no choice. I’m sick and fear the worst. I’ve watched Rachel Malloy and I think she’ll be a good mother. I can see how much she loves you. Please rest in the assurance that I love you more than you could ever possibly know. Promise me you’ll turn out better than what I did and stay away from saloons and men who frequent them. God, forgive me for stealing this horse. I was going back home to Walnut Creek but now I’ll not make it. Something is dreadfully wrong. I’m so tired and sick. Your mother Alma.
Rachel stood, letting the words sink in. She had to have been the woman Heath found dead. She’d mentioned Rachel by name so had she watched her? But yet, she’d been a saloon girl. Deep sorrow washed over her. The woman had been up against a wall.
Heath came from the barn and looked toward the graves, the lines of his face relaxing when he spotted her. She noted that he wore a gun belt and pistol. It paid to these days.
Something saddened in her heart that other men had made this necessary. Heath had a gentle soul and didn’t go looking for trouble. But she’d also witnessed the fierce protectiveness of his family and those he loved.
An odd quietness invaded her. Did he truly love her? Or did a sense of duty drive him? Was she nothing more than an obligation? She sighed, wishing for answers.
Rachel hurried, anxious to show him what she’d found.
“You know what this means,” he said once he’d read it several times.
“That Eden’s mother was the dead woman.”
“Yes. I think you can give up the notion that Eden’s mother will come to take her back.” He put an arm around Rachel’s shoulders and pulled her against him. “You are her mother. Sounds to me that this woman chose you to raise her little girl. She didn’t leave her here on a whim, hoping that whoever found Eden would give her a good home.”
“But how did she know I’d be the one to find her?”
“With her soiled background it’s unlikely you two ever met. She had to have been watching and liking what she saw.”
Eden dropped the carved dog Heath had given her. Her searching hand grabbed Rachel’s dress and clung to it. When Rachel glanced down, Eden’s grin stretched to cover her face.
“I don’t think I’ve ever loved anyone except Alice as I love this babe. She’s the light of my life.”
“It’s such joy to see God at work. Do you still doubt that He had a hand in all of this?”
Rachel shook her head. “My doubts have vanished.”
“I’m glad.”
She raised her head for a kiss that stole her breath and tilted her world on its axis. She wondered if Heath knew how much he’d come to mean to her. How adrift and lost she’d be without him.
“I intend to tell Eden about her mother when she gets old enough to understand. The woman had such an overwhelming unselfish love for her baby daughter.”
“Like you.” His breath ruffled the hair at her temple. “Right now I need to saddle up and scout the area, see if I can spot any sign of these men.”
“There are a hundred places they could hide. Please be safe. I’ve gotten rather attached to you.”
Heath flashed a crooked grin. “Sounds like I’m beginning to grow on you.”
“I’ll never tell.”
The teasing banter made her heart light as she watched him mount up. He sat tall and straight in the saddle, his gaze already sweeping the unforgiving terrain of rocky ravines, thick brush, and steep sides of the canyon.
The truth was the more she got to know Heath Lassiter and saw the deep spiritual strength he wore like a cloak around him the stronger she was and the more this thing between them grew.
He’d managed to wiggle into her heart when she wasn’t looking and now she couldn’t imagine life without him.
Days passed withno sign of the riders or watchers. Heath began to relax as did Rachel.
He’d spent the night in her barn because today he’d split the daylight hours between her place and his. He’d hired a cowboy off one of the ranches to see to his place and helped out as he could. Preparing for winter included rounding up the herd and moving them to a closer pasture to make it easier to see to them when it was cold and icy.
Pausing just inside the door, he stood watching the woman who had stolen his heart. His chest tightened as it always did when he was near her.
Rachel hummed, moving about the small kitchen like the rhythm of a cool clear stream, slow and easy, teasing the banks, smoothing the rough rocks as it tumbled past on the way to its destination. Yes, Rachel Malloy was a woman of purpose, even though she had yet to realize it.
She constantly surprised him. Just when he thought he had her figured out he had to rethink things. One thing he’d learned was that Rachel had grit and toughness. She couldn’t have endured all she had without plenty of backbone. And in his book that made her a woman to admire.
Thanks rose for this and every moment alone with Rachel. He shut the door and cleared his throat to announce his presence. “Good morning.”
Rachel turned, a bright smile lighting her face. “Morning, Heath. I trust you slept well?”
She took down a cup from the shelf. “I guess you have a busy day planned.”
He accepted the coffee and found a place at the table. “I need to go to the ranch for a bit. Check things out there and see about the herd. Fall roundup is upon me.”
Joining him at the table, she added milk to her hot tea. “I’m sorry to add to your load.”
He’d do anything to erase the worry clouding her beautiful green eyes. “You’re not.”
Her gaze met his. “I dreamed those men were back and they’d shot you.”
He pulled her close and smoothed her hair. “It wasn’t real. I think they must’ve figured out Morgan took the strongbox with him.”
“I hope so. I can’t live like this.”
Jax rose from the rug in front of the hearth, stretched big, and padded to Heath’s side.
Heath leaned down to smooth the animal’s brown and gray coat. “If they’ve left, we’ll know it soon. Try not to worry. That’s what I’m here for.”
Though he hated to give Rachel false hope, he told himself it was for her own good. His gut said that the men were merely lying low, waiting for an opportunity. And one thing he was sure of. When they made their move, it would be under the cover of darkness.
The weight of his pistol in the gun belt reassured him that if trouble found them, he’d be ready. He just prayed he wouldn’t have to use it.
Lord knew, Rachel asked for pitiful little, just peace and freedom to walk her own land whenever she took a notion. It made him mad enough to fight a mountain lion that those men had stolen her sense of security.
“I ran into Skeet Slaughter at the trading post last week and he told me Estacado is growing by leaps and bounds. They have a doctor now, even built themselves a jail. It’ll only be a matter of time before they’ll have a sheriff and no telling what all. It’s shaping up to be a real town.”
“That’s fast. We were only there a month ago. They must really be working hard.”
“Yep. But their progress has brought riffraff and people who try to ruin what they have. I hear they’re having trouble with some of the cowboys in the area. Seems they get drunk at the tent saloon then ride through the middle of town whooping and hollering and shooting their guns, daring the Quakers to do anything.”
“That’s sad. The Quakers are such a peaceful people.”
“They are. They don’t hold with violence, not any sort. I don’t know why others can’t leave them be.”
“Do you think it could be the same men?”
“I honestly don’t know.” He’d already given some thought to that possibility.
A big full moon cameout that night and that suited Heath just fine. After supper he and Rachel took a walk down by the lake. The moon reflecting on the water was a beautiful sight.
He didn’t know what was more breathtaking, the moon or Rachel. The light surrounded her, creating a halo of sorts about her golden hair. He inhaled the special scents of the night and the lady by his side.
Rachel’s hand curled around his arm. “Thank you for asking me to walk with you. I wouldn’t have missed this.”
“I think we both needed this moment of peace and calm to help us relax after our busy day.”
“Serenity is hard to come by these days.” She stepped back from the circle of his arms.
“One of my favorite verses is Psalm 4:8. ‘I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.’ That’s what I want for you, Rachel.”
“I’d like that. You have a lot of favorite verses. I guess you’ve read the Bible all your life.”
“And memorized a good deal of it.”
“I’m not that familiar with it.”
“He’s with us through every trial. One verse says, ‘Be still and know that I am God.’ Sometimes a body simply has to stand in one place and reflect on all they have.”
A fish leaped out of the water then slid gracefully back in, creating a few ripples. And nearby a frog added his voice to the sounds of the night.
He put his arms around her and drew her close. The fragrance of her hair teased his nose. He could feel her heart beating against his chest. Closing his eyes, he let her presence wash over him like a gentle wave upon a seashore, lapping against the rough edges of his fear that she’d never offer him more than friendship.
However, if friendship was all he’d ever get, he’d cherish it as a rare, sweet treasure.
Overcome with emotion, he gently took her hand and raised it to his lips. The kiss he pressed on the back of it came from his deep feelings for this woman.
She tilted her head to look up at him, her green eyes enchanting. Kissing her was as natural as drawing air into his lungs. Cupping his hands around her face, he kissed her long and deep, much as a drowning man clutched a passing tree branch floating by.
Later, he left her at her door with the advice to get some rest. He saddled Hondo and rode to the bluff overlooking the canyon. Here he had a good view in all directions. If anyone moved or a campfire burned, he could see it. The brilliant moon illuminated everything.
The saddle creaked when he dismounted. He made himself comfortable on the ground and waited. It was time to see if those strangers, and Zeb, lurked about.
With no stolen money around, would they just kill Rachel out of anger?
That’s what he had to find out.