Chapter Thirty-Four
Uncle Zeb took a sip and set his cup down. He met Rachel’s eyes. “I…you’re…this is gonna be right painful for you to hear. Don’t exactly know where to start.”
“The beginning would be a good place.” Heath shifted the baby to the other arm when she coughed from deep inside her tiny chest.
The rattle of that cough filled the room and struck fear in Rachel. She tried to focus on what Uncle Zeb was saying but all she wanted to do was put Eden to her shoulder and hold her as tight as she could and fight death tooth and nail.
“Years ago, when I was young and foolish, I got mixed up with Malloy and his outlaw gang,” Zeb began. “We roamed around the country, robbing stagecoaches, trains, you name it.
“I thought I was happy. You see, I’d never had a family so I didn’t know how special that was until I came here. Rachel, you showed me the kind of love and acceptance that I’d always longed for. I knew for the first time what a real family was. When you hear what I gotta say, I ’spect you’ll ask me to leave.”
“Why did you lie about being my uncle?”
“To be able to poke around for the loot Malloy kept from us.” He hung his head.
“I think deep down I always knew it. I needed you to be my uncle very badly.”
“The lie was a sight better than Billy’s first plan.”
“Which was to kill Rachel?” Heath’s mouth was in a thin line.
“Yep. They tried that. Remember the storm that came up while you were diggin’ your sister’s grave?”
Rachel thought back to that day. The push to her back. “Someone shoved me and I caught my foot on a large root, losing my balance. I remember.”
“It was Billy. Then when that didn’t put you in a grave, they burned your house.”
“So I wouldn’t come back. That gave them free rein on the property to search all they wanted.”
Zeb nodded. “ ’Ceptin’ they still couldn’t find the money. And Heath built you this house and you moved in. That’s when they said I had to make you believe I was your long-lost uncle. Billy said I didn’t have a choice. And I figured if I went along with it they’d at least leave you alone. But then Jax kept trying to bite them. At first they kept catching him and tying him up.” He turned his attention to Heath.
“I knew you suspected me of doin’ it. I wanted to tell you about the outlaws then, but they told me if I did they’d kill me and Rachel and the baby too. I couldn’t let any harm come to you and Eden. I’d have done and said most anything to keep that from happening.”
About to bust to a gut, Sally took up the tale. “I stumbled on them talking and they took me captive. They told Zeb if he didn’t find the loot and bring it to them today they’d kill me.”
“Only I wasn’t going to let them do that,” Zeb said firmly. “I’m not much fit for crow bait but I do have a few principles.”
Sally went on. “Zeb rescued me but I turned my ankle. We found a place to ride out the storm. And here we are.”
Eden took a coughing, wheezing fit and struggled to catch her breath.
Heath lifted the blanket that formed a tent over Eden. “Rachel, you’d better come.”
Rachel’s heart stopped. “Oh, God! What is it?”
“Come and look.” He grinned. “Her fever broke. She’s cool to the touch.”
She stumbled in her haste to see for herself. “That means I can give her some milk now. The doctor said I couldn’t as long as she had fever.”
She tenderly smoothed the pretty blonde curls. Her thoughts returned to the early morning when the dove appeared outside her window before the sun rose. God had heard her cries. He’d returned Eden to them. She felt as though she’d been given a fortune in gold.
“Hallelujah.” Sally wiped a tear from her eyes.
Grabbing a pail, Uncle Zeb hurried out for fresh goat’s milk. Rachel watched him go. She knew what it had taken for him to admit he’d buffaloed them. He was clearly ashamed for the role he’d played and for the lies he’d told. She wasn’t quite sure what she was going to do about it yet. He’d taken her trust and used it against her.
But everyone deserved a second chance. Didn’t they? Wasn’t the Bible littered with people who messed up bad but got another opportunity to do the right thing?
A short while later, she sat in the rocker feeding Eden. It took a long time to get the milk into her because Rachel had to stop every few minutes to let Eden catch her breath. The child was still in a terrible way but Rachel knew the fever breaking signaled reason for renewed hope.
“She’d do better if you’d hold the bottle a little straighter,” Sally said. “I can feed her if you want me to. I can’t do anything but sit anyway.”
“Thanks, Sally, but I want to do it this time.” Rachel gently wiped the dribble from Eden’s mouth. “I’m glad you’re back.”
“Me too. You know, I’ve been thinking about Becca. I’d like to take her in and provide a home. I’m going to be lonely once Heath is gone.”
“That’s a wonderful idea but you’ll have to see what Becca’s father says about it. Maybe he’ll welcome your help. I do hope so.”
“I suppose we’ll see.” Sally paused and smoothed back a lock of hair that came loose from the bun on the back of her neck. “I think that circuit preacher might’ve taken a fancy to me. Maybe he’d want to settle down and take care of the land.”
“You know, that sounds like a good idea.”
Things seemed to be working out for everyone. Rachel kissed Eden’s soft cheek, grateful for God’s mercy.
Darkness had just fallenthat night when the outlaws struck. They galloped in on horseback, peppering the house in a hail of gunfire. Windows shattered, sending shards of glass in all directions. It seemed to be a lot more than the initial three. Where did they get more?
Jax barked and clawed at the door, trying to get out.
Rachel screamed and ducked under the kitchen table with Eden. She called Jax under there with her, praying to survive the onslaught.
“Can you douse the lamps, Rachel?” Sally yelled, crawling beside her.
Rachel laid Eden down on the floor and crawled from under the table. Jax took up guard duty in front of Eden. The look in his gentle eyes said he’d protect the baby with his life.
Making herself as small a target as possible, she went from one lamp to another until the house was pitch black.
Sally was mad enough to lay into a grizzly with a switch. She let loose a stream of dire warnings concerning the outlaws’ fate and hobbled toward the rifle. She yanked it up and parked herself at a broken window where she released a volley of bullets. With each shot she spoke a prayer that it would find its mark.
“Let this one turn these heathen outlaws from their ways and deliver us from their evil clutches,” Sally prayed over the noise of the gunshots. “Especially that heathen scoundrel Billy,” she added.
“And let this one strike fear into their hearts.” Sally fired again. “And please send help, Lord! I don’t want to die.”
Outside, Heath and Zeb found shelter behind a wagon loaded with bales of hay and returned fire.
Heath squeezed off shot after shot, Rachel praying they’d hit the mark. When one of the riders gave a loud yelp, she knew he’d struck him in the shoulder as he raced by on his horse.
“You okay, Zeb?” Heath yelled.
Rachel smiled, glad he was alive.
“Yep,” Zeb answered. “The devils ain’t got me yet.”
“Cover me. I’m going to run to the house and see if the women folk are all right.”
Rachel opened the door a crack. “We’re fine in here.”
“Good. Keep your heads down. I’m coming in.”
With Zeb keeping his backside covered, Heath zigzagged his way to the house and burst through the front door and hurried to the window in the bedroom. Rachel was at his elbow. Side by side, they fought. She took aim at a rider. The bullet hit the man’s leg. Screaming in pain, the ruffian clung to the reins and galloped out of range.
Finally the riders backed off to the edge of the lake and waited.
The moon reflected onthe riders’ faces. Heath stood in the doorway of the house staring. When Rachel stole to his side, he put his arm around her.
“Do you think they’ve given up?” she asked.
“Not a chance. They’re just trying to figure out something and come up with another plan. I figure they’ll hit us hard again as soon as they lick their wounds.”
“What’s going to get them to leave? Our deaths?” she whispered, afraid to say the thought too loud.
“Don’t think that, Rachel. We’re going to win. We have God on our side.”
“What if we send someone to the Thorn or Steele ranches for help?”
“Who? It would take too long, and we need every hand that can hold a weapon.”
“Surely if we talk to them—”
“No use. Probably liquored up. They’re after blood.” He kissed Rachel’s forehead. “When they come again, I want you to lift the trapdoor in the floor. Take Eden and get down there where you’ll be safe. Promise me.”
“What about you?” Her voice trembled. “I can’t bear to think that you might be hurt. Or worse. I won’t lose you. I refuse.”
He pulled her against him and buried his face in her hair. The rapid beat of her heart told of her paralyzing fear. He inhaled deeply. She smelled of honeysuckle. It was a scent that connected him with this unsettled land. Right now it created an unbreakable bond between them. He had to make her believe that everything would be all right.
“Now you listen to me. Nothing is going to happen to me, to any of us. God isn’t going to let these outlaws win. It isn’t how He does things. We have right on our side and right always wins.”
She pulled back and looked up at him. She kissed her fingers and pressed them to his lips. “Have I ever told you how much I love you?”
“As a matter of fact, you did but I don’t mind hearing it again. When we get married, I may put it in your vows to tell me at least a dozen times a day.”
A grin curved her lips. “And I may add a line to yours about being so bossy.”
He glanced at Sally. “I had a good teacher.”
“You sure did.”
“I can’t wait to be married to you, lady. Do you have a date in mind?” he asked.
“I won’t wait long. I’m afraid something might happen to delay it more. You just get a preacher here and that’s the day we’ll do it.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He gave her a tired grin.
Uncle Zeb gave a cry and got to his feet. “They’re coming again!”