Chapter 19
Every muscle in Ella’s body screamed at her, a reminder of her double fall from Preston.
Even after three days, the bruises looked fresh.
She pulled a dress over her head and covered the evidence of her mishaps.
A glance at the bed told her Cody still slept.
He’d done that a lot since his encounter with the snakes.
She walked to him and placed a hand on his forehead. His skin was cool. Relief flooded her. The fever had broken.
His eyes flitted open. “Hey.”
She sat next to him. “How are you feeling?”
“Better.” He pushed the covers back.
Ella took his arm to help him sit up. She brushed a lock of hair from his face. “Do you think you can make it downstairs today?”
“Maybe.” Cody maneuvered his legs over the side of the bed. When his right leg took on some weight, he winced.
“Still hurts?”
“A bit.” He grunted as he moved, but he walked with determination. Ella hovered beside him. They stopped at the stairs. Cody eyed her. “Seems I’m not the only one moving slow.”
“You can tell?”
“You usually walk gracefully. Right now you’re walking like you fell off a horse.”
Ella swatted his arm. He chuckled. “Just calling it like it is, darlin’.” His face sobered. “You risked your safety riding bareback. I don’t know what I would’ve done if something bad happened while you rode to town.”
She put a hand on his chest. “It was well worth it to get you help.”
He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Thanks, love.”
Ella caught her breath. “Love?”
Silence reigned for several seconds. Cody’s eyes locked on hers, the intensity there stealing the little air she had left.
“I hate to interrupt, but we need to talk.”
Ella looked down to see Travis at the base of the stairs.
An amused smile creased his face. Heat crept into Ella’s cheeks.
Cody took her hand and started down the steps.
She wanted to protest and beg him to answer her unspoken question.
Her heart beat furiously against her ribs as she wondered what he’d been about to say.
Her husband moved slowly. “I just woke up, Trav. I hope whatever it is we need to talk about is important.”
“It is.”
Cody turned to Ella. “Is this what you said we’d talk about when I first got bit?”
She nibbled the inside of her cheek. “Yes. Though I don’t know everything. Just that those snakes weren’t in our yard by accident.”
“The attack was purposeful.” It wasn’t a question.
“Looks that way.” Travis nodded toward the kitchen. “Cassie took the kids to visit with Miss Hattie, but she put coffee on before leaving.”
Once situated at the table with mugs, Travis wasted no time. “As Ella said, the snakes were planted. They were apparently transported here in a basket, the one Isaiah knocked over when he saw them in it.”
Ella shuddered, remembering how close her son had come to being bitten. Would one so young have been able to survive such an attack?
Travis fished a piece of paper from his pocket. “This was in the basket.”
Ella frowned. “A note?”
Travis slid the paper their way.
Cody took it, scanning the words. His body jerked. “Who left this?”
“I don’t know. But I aim to find out.”
The hardness in Travis’s voice sent shivers down Ella’s spine. She reached for the note.
Cody slid it from her grasp. “No, darlin’.”
She blinked. “Why?”
Something flickered in his eyes. He shook his head.
Travis speared him with a look. “She needs to know, Cody. Maybe she can help us identify who’s doing this.”
Another shiver went through her, this one leaving dread in its wake. Cody’s struggle was evident in his eyes. He closed them, breathed out long and slow, then placed the paper in her hand. His arm looped around her shoulders. Ella smoothed the paper out and read the single sentence.
SEND ARIELLA MOUNTBATTEN BACK TO BOSTON, OR WORSE WILL HAPPEN
The paper fell from her hands. She lurched back. Cody’s strong grip was the only thing that kept her upright. She stared at Travis. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
“You had enough going on. I wanted some time to look into who might have done this.”
“Did you find anything?” Cody asked.
“Not yet. There’s no out-of-towners staying at the hotel. A friend on the Boston force confirmed both Mr. Mountbatten and Mr. Blackwell are at their homes.”
Another possibility whispered through Ella’s mind. “And…Howard?”
“He’s accounted for too. All three are in Boston.”
Stormy emotion flashed over Cody’s face. “That doesn’t mean someone isn’t here on their orders. Why else would this person demand Ella go back to Boston?”
She felt weak. “Worse will happen?”
Cody’s hand closed around hers. Travis exhaled. “Ella, I will do everything I can to find who did this. Strangers stand out here. If someone is here for your father, they shouldn’t be hard to find. I’ll go to the shops today and ask around, see if anyone can tell us something.”
Ella leaned into her husband but spoke to Travis. “Do you think this is connected to whoever broke our fence?”
Travis frowned. He scratched his cheek and shook his head. “Maybe. We’ll figure that out later.” He pointed at them. “You two need to rest. You’re still recovering.”
Ella pushed back from her chair. “I’m fine.”
Cody stopped her. “Darlin’, if Travis says you need to rest, I trust his judgment. I’m guessing you’re pretty banged up from those falls.”
“And Cassie is staying to help care for the children. Take today, rest up, and we’ll regroup tomorrow,” Travis said.
“‘We’?” Ella asked, brows raised.
Travis chuckled. “I’ll be back to report my findings. And to spend time with my wife. If she’s here, I’m here.”
“We won’t object to that.” Cody stood, holding out a hand. “Thanks, Trav.”
The men shook hands, and Travis took his leave. Ella gripped her mug of coffee. It trembled as she brought it to her lips.
Cody sat beside her. “Darlin’, you’re going to crack that cup if you hold it any tighter.”
“What?” Ella looked down. Her fingers were white. She relaxed her grip. “I’m feeling a bit anxious.”
“I reckon so.” Cody covered her hand with his. “Whoever did this won’t get away with it.”
“You can’t promise that.”
His brows knit into a V. “You know I’ll do everything in my power to protect you.”
“I know.” Her throat tightened. “But look what happened to you—because of me.”
Cody’s voice lowered to a gravelly growl. “Not because of you. Because of someone else’s choice. This isn’t your fault, Ella.”
“It might have been someone else’s choice, but the fact remains you got hurt because of me being here. Isaiah might have been killed if you hadn’t protected him from those snakes.” She shivered. “And this person claims he’ll strike again if I don’t go back.”
“You’re not going back.”
“Of course not. But how are we going to keep our family safe?”
“One thing at a time.” He wrapped his arm around her. “We’ll see what Travis finds out and go from there. Now, come.”
She allowed him to lead her out of the kitchen into the parlor. Her body protested the movement. When they reached the sofa, she sank onto the cushions and closed her eyes. “What are we doing?”
The sofa squeaked as Cody sat beside her. “We follow orders. We rest.”
“I guess that doesn’t sound so bad.” She leaned her head on his shoulder, trying to banish the fear clutching her heart. Whatever the future held, she needed to trust that God had it under control.
Whatever that might look like.
Despite his outward calm, waves of anger pulsed through Cody. If only he knew who to direct it at, but their assailant was a mystery.
A fact he hoped to rectify sooner than later.
When he read the words on that paper, threatening his wife, Cody saw red.
He thought he’d hid it well, but the more he considered it, the angrier he became.
It was a wonder steam wasn’t escaping his ears as he sat beside Ella, wanting nothing more than her safety.
She sat beside him, reading aloud from his mother’s book of poems, and all he could think about was how to protect her.
“Cody?”
He blinked. Ella had put the book down. She stared at him, brows knit in concern. He shook himself and pasted on a smile. “Yeah?”
She put a hand to his cheek, rubbing it gently. “You’re upset.”
“I’m fine.”
“Are you?”
He inhaled long and slow. “I will be.”
“Is it the note?”
Tempted to deny it, but unwilling to shatter the hard-won trust between them, Cody nodded. “Yeah.”
Quiet lingered between them for a few moments. Ella’s hand fell from his cheek to his shoulder. “I’m scared.”
The soft admission tore his heart. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. She gasped in pain. Cody released her at once. He’d forgotten about her bruises. Berating himself, he started to apologize, but Ella spoke first.
“Don’t.”
“I hurt you.”
“Accidentally. You wanted to comfort me. Please don’t apologize for that.” She settled herself against him, resting her hand against his chest. “There are no bruises on my right side.”
The invitation was clear. He planted his hand on her right hip, pressing her against his body. “What’re you scared of, darlin’?”
It took her almost a minute to respond. “I’m afraid of losing you. I’m afraid of losing the children.” Her body trembled. “I’m afraid of being forced back to Howard.”
“Over my dead body.” The words came out low and fervent.
Ella stilled. She looked up at him, eyes watery. “That’s what frightens me most.”
How had this woman become so precious to him in such a short time?
Cody lowered his lips to hers, desperate to drive away her fear.
Their kiss held a passion born of the unknown.
He held her as close as he dared, mindful of her injuries.
She melted into him, her lips moving against his in a manner that felt nearly frenzied.
That told him just how scared she was. He slowed them down, kissing her gently.
His hands cupped her cheeks. They met with trails of water.
Pulling back, Cody looked her in the eyes. Her tears fell fast. His heart slammed into his ribs. He rubbed his thumbs over her cheeks.
Ella choked out a laugh. “I’m not usually this emotional.”
“You have good reason to be.”
She sighed and rested her head against his shoulder.
Cody tried to find words, but nothing seemed right. He settled for rubbing a hand against her back.
The next thing he knew, he woke to the warmth of a roaring fire. His sister stood nearby, Addie on her hip. He glanced down to see Ella sleeping on him. Protectiveness rose swiftly inside. He shifted his body, hoping to make her more comfortable.
Cassie tiptoed toward him. “The boys are napping. I’m going to start dinner.”
“I’ll take Addie.”
“Are you sure?”
He nodded. Cassie settled the baby on his lap. “I’ll be in the kitchen. Holler if you need anything.”
Addie gazed up at him with wide, trusting eyes. A wave of unworthiness pushed its way into his heart. Could he be the father this sweet child needed?
“You’re a natural with her.”
Ella’s sleepy words pulled him out of his thoughts.
He shook his head. “I think you meant to say ‘awkward.’”
“No.” She yawned and pushed herself up. “I meant what I said.”
He looked at the eight-month-old. Addie grinned, showing her two front teeth. She reached for his face, planting a chubby hand on either cheek, and squealed a laugh. A responding smile tugged at his lips.
“It’s obvious you love her.”
“I suppose I do.” He bounced the baby up and down. “Children are surprisingly easy to love.”
“So are gruff cowboys.”
Ella’s voice was soft. His heart stilled, then pounded hard. Not daring to breathe, he turned his attention to her. She watched him steadily. “Cody, what were you going to say this morning, before Travis interrupted us?”
“Ella, once I say it, it can’t be unsaid.”
“I know.”
It sounded as though she wanted him to speak the three words that had been begging for release. His stomach danced with dizzying speed. He drew in a deep breath and exhaled hard. “I was going to say—I love you. I don’t know when it happened, but it did.”
Ella’s smile lit her face.
Cody fumbled on. “This wasn’t how I planned on telling you. You deserve a grand gesture, something from the heart, and that…”
She stopped him with a finger over his lips. “I don’t need flashy gestures, Cody. This declaration, in the middle of our everyday life, is beautiful.” She paused, then softly went on. “‘I love thee to the level of every day’s most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.’”
The words, so familiar, rendered him speechless. He looked at the book in her lap. His mother’s handwriting stared back at him. “You remembered.”
Her hand found his. “Your mother knew what she was talking about. Loving another happens in the simple moments of life. By day and by night. By sun and candlelight. That’s how…
” She stopped, her chest rising and falling quickly.
Her voice softened even more, barely audible. “That’s how I fell in love with you.”
Cody laughed, his heart full to bursting. He wrapped his free arm around Ella and leaned toward her.
“Well! It’s about time!”
Cody’s gaze shot toward his sister, who stood in the parlor entrance wearing a huge grin. “Really, Cass?”
“I can’t help it if I overheard your declaration of love.”
He straightened. “Just how much did you hear?”
“Enough.” Cassie sauntered in, plucking Addie from his arms. “Congratulations, you two. I’m thrilled to know you found happiness together.” She wiggled her brows. “Now, I’ll just take this little angel to the kitchen. Ta-ta!”
Ella buried her face in his chest. He felt the heat from her cheeks through his shirt. “I’m not sure whether to feel amused or mortified.”
Cody chuckled. “At least we know we have her support.”
The clock chimed. He glanced at it. “Travis will be back soon.”
That statement seemed to deflate his wife. He put a finger under her chin, lifting it until her eyes met his. “Whatever comes, we’ll face it together. We won’t do this alone.”
She slipped her hand into his. “Thank God for that. I love you, Cody.”
“I love you too.”
And he sealed it with a kiss.