Chapter 18
Ella stretched, pressing her hands against her lower back to ease the ache.
Cody knelt beside her. “I’m sorry, darlin’. I didn’t think it would take more than a day to get the garden planted.”
She smiled. “It has been quite rewarding. Knowing we did this together, to help sustain our family—” She shook her head, the smile turning to a grin. “I don’t have words to describe it.”
He responded with a smile of his own before bending down to drop seeds in a new row.
Ella watched him, her heart thumping out a gentle rhythm.
This man surprised her at every turn. His panic over Addie yesterday seemed strange until she remembered his protective nature.
When he used his gruff tone on her, Ella hadn’t known what to think.
She’d been hurt. But he refused to let the matter be until they’d worked through it.
In her experience, men rarely apologized.
The fact that Cody did so raised her respect for him.
Her gaze wandered toward the house, where the children played under a tree heavy with blooms. Contentment washed over her. This life was better than she’d ever imagined. She had a good husband and three children to love, work that fulfilled her, and a beautiful home. What more could she want?
Turning her attention back to the task at hand, Ella planted another row of beets. Reaching for more seeds, she found the basket to be empty.
Cody stood beside her, a tired smile on his face. “We did it.”
Ella looked out over the large garden patch. The freshly raked soil was dark, raised in little mounds where they’d planted their vegetables. She rose to her feet, shaking dirt from her dress. “I can’t wait to harvest all this.”
He chuckled. “That won’t be for some time.”
“I suppose the anticipation will make it even more worthwhile.”
“It does for me.” Cody gathered their gardening tools. “I should probably head out to the pastures. The guys are turning the soil to prepare it for alfalfa planting, and they’ll be needing help.”
A sliver of disappointment went through her. “And I should get lunch together for the kids.”
They walked toward the barn. She glanced at the children again. Isaiah stood, hands on his hips, a frown on his face. Jonah held Addie a few paces away, his grip protective. Ella grasped Cody’s arm. “Something’s wrong.”
Her husband’s gaze went to the kids. He dropped the basket. They both ran to the tree. When they got there, Ella went down on her knees beside Jonah and Addie while Cody stopped beside Isaiah. “What is it, son?” he asked.
Isaiah pointed toward the house. “I thought I saw a man over there.”
Alarms rang in Ella’s mind. “A man?”
Cody scanned the area Isaiah pointed at. “I’ll check it out.” He looked at Ella. “Stay here with the kids.”
Her heart dropped as her husband went inside their home. She gathered the children close and prayed hard.
Isaiah’s little voice piped up. “It might’ve been Mr. Hank.”
A shot of relief went through her. “Why’s that?”
“He had the same hat.”
Ella let out a breath.
Moments later, Cody emerged from the house. He came toward them at a jog. “House is safe. No one’s there.”
“Isaiah said he thought it was Hank.”
Cody scratched his chin. “That’s possible. Sometimes he needs something from the barn and comes to fetch it.”
But wouldn’t he have at least waved on arrival? Especially to the children? Ella frowned. Something still didn’t feel right.
“Can we eat now? I’m hungry.”
Isaiah’s comment brought Ella to her feet. She lifted Addie into her arms. “Of course. How do sandwiches sound?”
A chorus of agreement came from the boys. Ella’s gaze found Cody’s. He wore a frown.
“I don’t feel right leaving now.” His voice lowered for her ears only. “Especially if it wasn’t Hank.”
He followed them to the house. Ella strode into the kitchen. “Boys, go wash up at the pump. Isaiah, can you help your brother?”
“Uh-huh.” They took off for the kitchen door, Cody on their heels. Ella watched, knowing he wouldn’t rest until he knew they were all safe. It was one of the things she loved about him.
She froze. Loved? Was that even possible after such a short time? Her mouth grew slack as she stared at her husband. He stood on the porch, leaning against a post, watching the boys, unaware of the sudden churning in her gut.
Addie squawked. Cody turned, his gaze landing on the baby. He wiggled his fingers at her, prompting a giggle that had Addie reaching out her chubby arms for him.
“Hey, what’s this?” Isaiah’s voice floated into the kitchen. It was followed by a scream.
Cody’s gaze jerked back to the yard before he ran down the steps. Ella followed, her heart dropping to her feet. Jonah scurried toward her, eyes round with fear.
“Isaiah, don’t move!” Cody’s voice held a commanding tone, but there was a waver in it.
She came to an abrupt stop when she saw the danger before them.
A basket lay on its side, the lid flipped off. Two large snakes had their beady eyes locked on Isaiah, tongues flicking and tails rattling. The boy whimpered. His little body shook.
One of the coiled snakes hissed and reared back.
Ella watched in horror as Cody dove for Isaiah just before the reptile struck.
Her husband tackled their son to the ground and curled his body around the boy.
The snake’s fangs sunk into Cody’s thigh.
He grunted, then let out a cry when the second snake struck his calf.
Ella grabbed Jonah’s hand and rushed to the kitchen. She placed Addie on the floor beside him, her movements jerky. “Watch your sister!” She ran for the rifle hanging above the front door. Weapon in hand, she raced for the yard again.
Cody had somehow rolled away from the reptiles, but one of them poised to strike again.
Her lesson with Cody came sharply into focus.
Raising the rifle, she aimed for the coiled snake.
The gunshot sounded loud in her ears, but she hit her target.
The second snake hissed, slithering away before she could reload.
Ella dropped the gun, ran across the clearing, and fell to her knees at Cody’s side.
His face was pale. A sheen of sweat covered his brow. Isaiah sobbed in his arms. Cody lifted his eyes to Ella’s. “Take Isaiah.”
She pulled the boy into her embrace. His tears tore at her heart. “Is…Uncle Cody…going…to be…okay?”
Cody pushed himself up until he sat on the ground. His breathing sounded labored. “I’ve been bitten before and survived.”
Was he swaying? Fear built inside her. “We need to get you to the house.”
Isaiah wiggled out of her arms. He grabbed Cody’s hand. “Stand up.”
“Not yet, son.” Cody grunted, the sound pained. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, folded-up knife. His gaze settled on Ella. “Cut my pant leg so the bites are visible.”
Without thinking, she accepted the knife and set to work.
Cody’s breaths grew shakier. “We need something to tie around my leg.”
There wasn’t enough material on his pants for that. Ella jerked up the hem of her dress to reveal the bottom of her petticoat. With one slice of the knife, she cut through the fabric and tore a long strip out, then returned her gaze to Cody. “Where do I tie it?”
“Around my thigh, above the wounds. Tight.”
She wrapped the material mid-thigh and pulled it taut.
Cody grimaced, but he shook his head. “Tighter, Ella. Don’t be afraid of hurting me.”
Isaiah whimpered. She put a hand on his shoulder. “Can you take care of Addie and Jonah for me while I take care of Uncle Cody?”
The boy’s eyes were wet with tears. He nodded, casting one more look at Cody before bolting toward the house.
Ella inhaled deeply before focusing her attention on Cody’s leg. She yanked the fabric together as hard as she could.
Cody winced but nodded. “Good…job.” He picked up the knife and made an X-shaped cut over each wound.
“What are you doing?”
“I need to draw out the venom.” Bending low, he put his mouth over the bite on his calf. He sucked hard, then spit onto the ground. He repeated the process several times. Then he tried to get to the wound in his thigh. After several attempts, his shoulders slumped. “I can’t reach it.”
“I’ll do it.” Ella got to her knees and bent over him.
“I can’t ask you…”
“You’re not allowed to argue with me. Your life is in danger.” She put her hands on her hips. “I’m going to help you.”
Over the sound of his labored breathing, she leaned toward the cut. Her stomach revolted at the sight of his blood. Determined, she put her mouth to the wound.
“Whatever you do, don’t swallow.”
Ella drew out what she could, spitting it out after each suction.
When she finished, Cody pointed to the pump. “Rinse out your mouth, and bring the bucket over so I can do the same.”
After they’d washed, Ella put a hand on his shoulder. “Can you get up?”
Cody got one knee under him, but he stumbled when he tried to rise. Ella slid under his arm, supporting him as best she could. He trembled. “You need to go for Doc.”
Panic nipped. “I can’t leave you and the children!”
His blue eyes speared her. “Sucking out the poison will buy us time, but we need Doc’s remedy for snakebites.”
Her body betrayed her. Knees buckling, she almost went down and took him along.
Cody leaned against her, his warm breath tickling her ear. “You can do this, darlin’. I believe in you.”
His assurance gave her a shot of strength. Ella helped him inside. Jonah stared as they walked slowly through the kitchen. He kept a tight hold on Addie, and Ella blessed him for listening to her command to care for the baby. Isaiah stood over both of them, silent and protective.
When they reached the parlor, Ella made sure Cody lay as comfortably as possible on the couch. A glance at his leg told her time was essential. The thigh and calf had swollen.
He squeezed her hand. “Go, Ella.”
She pressed her lips to his forehead, then hurried to the children. “I need to go to town to get Doc. Keep an eye on Papa Cody for me, okay?”