Chapter 15
Funny how a kiss could change things.
Cody hadn’t planned on kissing his wife. Far from it. He thought Ella still needed time and space. But in that parlor, with a soft glow cast over her face from the candle and the clear invitation she’d given him, he couldn’t resist.
And he didn’t regret it one bit. In fact, he’d love to repeat the experience. Perhaps with a bit of passion.
His cheeks heated as he galloped alongside Hank to check the eastern pasture. When he woke this morning, Ella ensconced in his arms, he pinched his stomach to make sure he wasn’t dreaming. And he had to remind himself that falling in love with his wife hadn’t been part of the plan.
Yet he was already tumbling headlong with no way to stop. That kiss last night sealed it. Cody couldn’t deny that he wanted love, and he wanted it with Ella.
And maybe, just maybe, she was opening herself to the possibility like he was. That morning, holding her as she slept, he’d wanted so much more. He wanted the simple, everyday, meaningful love his mother’s favorite poem so eloquently stated. By sun and candle-light.
He wanted to talk. They needed to talk. But she looked so peaceful, he couldn’t bear to bring her out of slumber. Instead, he’d carefully unwrapped his arms and hauled himself off to work.
“You all right, Boss?”
Torn from his ruminations, Cody glanced at Hank. “Fine. Why?”
Hank cocked his head, eyes narrowing. “You’re quieter than usual. And that’s saying somethin’.”
“I’m fine.”
“Uh-huh.”
Cody grunted. “Has anyone been to the east pasture today?”
“Not yet. The boys’re headin’ to the north pasture to secure the fence. That old thing’s been givin’ us more trouble than not.”
Rubbing his forehead, Cody sighed. “We need to fix that. Let’s fell some trees and make new posts today.”
“Sounds like a plan. Let’s check the east pasture and then grab the boys to cut some trees.”
Surveying the herd in the first pasture didn’t take long. Most of the cows were thin, but with spring around the corner, they would soon fatten up. A few of the female cows were expecting young’uns, which would expand the herd and begin to make up for his losses over the harsh winter.
As they turned their horses for the north pasture, someone yelled Cody’s name. He looked up. Eddie galloped toward them. Cody gave Preston a command. His horse took off over the field, Hank not far behind. When they reached Eddie, the younger man’s eyes held a wild look.
“The north fence is down! All the cattle there are gone!”
Icy dread enveloped Cody. Without another word, all three men spurred their horses toward the pasture in question. They arrived at the fence. A wide gap yawned, one that several cows could pass through at a time.
Cody glanced around. “Where’s Joey?”
“He’s chasing after the herd. The ground’s soft enough that their tracks were obvious.” Eddie wiped his brow. “Unfortunately, it seems they went in three directions. It’s gonna be tough roundin’ ’em up before dark.”
Scrubbing a hand over his face, Cody stifled a groan. “All right, boys. Let’s find Joey and get a plan together.”
It took half an hour before they located their fellow ranch hand.
Joey had about thirty cows together, but deep furrows ran across his forehead.
“Sorry, Boss. I thought I followed the path with the most tracks, but they split up here, there, and everywhere. I don’t know where the rest of the herd is. ”
Two hundred and forty-two cattle missing.
Cody’s heart sank. Of their eight hundred total, they lost three hundred over the course of the harsh winter.
He couldn’t afford to lose any more. Pushing down his disappointment, Cody let out a long breath.
“We can’t waste any time. Let’s split up and find as many cattle as possible.
Report back at the north pasture in three hours. ”
Hank swiped his hat from his head, raking back his sandy hair. “We gotta get that fence repaired, too, Boss. Getting the cattle back will do nothin’ if they just get out again.” His eyes shadowed. “Not to mention if any cattle from other pastures find their way out of that blasted hole.”
Cody bit back a groan. “Joey and Eddie, you rustle up the cattle. Hank and I’ll get to work on that fence.”
“Yessir.”
The twins galloped off, leaving Cody and Hank to drive the thirty rescued cows back to the ranch.
Once all of them were safely inside the north pasture, the two men went to work on a makeshift fence.
It took several hours to get the wood to an appropriate length to repair several feet of fencing.
As they prepared to cut away the old bits of fence still standing, Cody’s boot came down on a length of rope half hidden in mud. He frowned, crouching. “Hank, c’mere.”
“Yeah, Boss?”
“Do you see what I see?” Cody pointed to tracks in the soft ground. “These horse hooves aren’t ours. And the fence looks like it was dragged.” He picked up the rope. “See this?”
Hank sucked in a breath. “You sayin’ someone pulled the fence down on purpose? Who would do somethin’ like that?” He smacked his leg. “Cattle rustlers?”
Cody’s stomach clenched. “Maybe.” Or maybe it had something to do with Blackwell’s threat.
He prayed he was wrong.
They worked for several more hours, fitting the new wood to the older fence.
By the time the sun sank low in the sky, Cody felt as though he’d been hit by a train.
He was covered in sweat, tired, and hungry.
As he hammered the last nail in place, a whistle caught his attention.
When he looked up, Eddie and Joey rumbled toward them, driving a significant portion of the herd.
Relief sluiced through Cody’s body. He hurried to the gate and flung it open.
As the cows made their way in, he called to Eddie. “How many?”
“One hundred and eighty-three. Add that to the thirty from earlier, and we’ve got most of them accounted for.”
But not all. Cody tried to summon gratitude for the ones that were found, but his gut churned with concern. If they couldn’t find the other twenty-nine, it would be a significant loss.
Hank clapped a hand on his shoulder. “We’ll find the rest, Boss. This can’t be the work of rustlers. That means those cows are out there.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“I usually am.”
Hank grinned. Cody tried to take courage from his levity, but bone-deep exhaustion radiated through him. And if it wasn’t rustlers… “Thanks for your help today, boys. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
He rode Preston home at a slower pace than usual. Cody considered himself an excellent horseman, but in his current state, he didn’t trust himself to gallop. By the time he got to the barn, deep darkness settled over the land, with stars twinkling brightly in the sky.
The door to the house opened. Ella slipped outside, covered in a thick shawl. “You’re home.”
Was that fear in her eyes? Cody dropped Preston’s reins and took several long steps to the porch. “Everything all right, Ella?”
Her breathing sounded labored. “When you didn’t come home on time, I feared the worst. But you’re here.” She exhaled, running her hands over his arms. “You’re safe.”
The gentle touch nearly made him forget the day’s stress. He caught her hands as they reached his, giving them a squeeze. “I’m sorry I worried you. Let me get the evening chores done, and I’ll be in.”
She followed him down the steps. “The chores are done.”
Cody stopped in his tracks. “What?”
Ella tightened the shawl around her. “The children helped me feed the animals, and I milked Sadie and Becky. Everything’s done.”
“You…did my chores?”
Hesitancy flickered in her eyes. “Was that wrong?”
“No!” He put his hands on her shoulders. “Not at all. I’m just surprised.”
She gave him a little smile. “It took my mind off the fact that you weren’t here.”
“I’m sorry, Ella. Someone pulled down the north fence, and all the cattle in that pasture got out. We had to repair the fence and round up the lost cows.”
Her eyes grew large. “Someone broke it?”
“Yeah.” He stopped walking, taking Ella’s arm. “Go back inside, darlin’. I’ll get Preston bedded down and be in shortly.”
She nodded. “I’ll get your supper.” After he thanked her, Ella headed into the house.
Cody blew out a breath, all the worries from the day crashing into him again. He needed answers. Was this the work of unorganized rustlers…or someone under orders from Ella’s father?
Ella sank into a chair after placing Cody’s food on the table. Words couldn’t express her relief to have her husband home. When he hadn’t come back on time, she imagined the worst. But new concerns rose like sentinels in her mind. If someone had cut the fence…so soon after Mr. Blackwell’s threats…
She pushed the thought away. Maybe it was just an unhappy coincidence.
The children had been quiet at supper. Isaiah had stared at Cody’s empty space before looking at Ella, tears welling in his brown eyes. “Where’s Uncle Cody?”
His tone and expression betrayed his deep fear. And no wonder. After losing his parents, it made sense he’d fear losing his new guardian.
She’d taken his hand and looked straight into his eyes. “Something must have come up. I’m sure he’ll be back soon. Perhaps we can do his chores after supper so he can rest when he gets home. What do you think?”
That helped a bit. They’d completed the chores together, but when Ella put the boys to bed, a few tears fell from Isaiah’s eyes. She’d wondered if he would ever fall asleep.
Moments later, she had her answer. Isaiah padded into the kitchen, clutching a blanket, eyes red. “Did Uncle Cody get home?”
Ella held out her arms. Isaiah ran to her and allowed her to pull him onto her lap. “Yes, sweetie, he’s home. He’s just getting Preston bedded down.”
Isaiah burst into sobs. He buried his face in Ella’s chest. “I thought…he wasn’t…coming back…like my daddy.”
Throat tightening, she held the little boy close. “He’s safe, Isaiah. He’s home with us.” The words were as much for her sake as for his.