Jake's Honor (Cowboys 0f Coulee Crossing; Romancing The West Book 1) Read online

  Jake sat back as the familiar pain of loss competed with his bruised ribs for attention.

  “I think she would want to you take her love and let it make you stronger, more loving…perhaps carry the fragrance of her love with you into your world and your relationships.”

  “That’s beautiful,” Connie said.

  They had finished the meal when Bowser barked. Jake was instantly on his feet and went to the door. He stepped outside. Bowser looked toward the coulee. Jake strained to see what had the dog on alert.

  Nothing moved in the shadows. No one rode toward them.

  But Bowser didn’t bark for no reason.

  He stepped off the porch. Bowser made to follow him, but Jake ordered him back. “Stay and watch the house.”

  Knowing the dog would obey, Jake headed for the trail through the trees.

  12

  Connie and Audrey stood in the doorway watching Jake disappear out of sight. “What if it’s that man again?” Connie asked.

  “Jake will be careful.”

  “That isn’t a word I associate with him.” Connie had no sooner spoken than she wished she hadn’t. Just as she expected, Audrey asked,

  “What word do you?”

  “I always thought he was a little wild.”

  Audrey laughed. “Maybe a little. When the boys’ mother first died, Jake was so heartbroken. The way he showed it was to pretend nothing mattered. He would do reckless things just to prove he didn’t care. He had settled down when he started courting your cousin, but then for some reason he reverted to his wild ways.”

  Connie had heard Jake’s explanation about that but didn’t feel it was her place to repeat it.

  “But since we moved out here, he’s been more settled.” Audrey chuckled. “He stills likes his horses fast though.”

  Connie thought Audrey was done with the subject but after a few minutes, she spoke again. “He’s anything but wild when it comes to matters of the heart. He’s very cautious.”

  “Isn’t that a good thing?”

  “Within reason. But it’s possible to be too cautious.”

  Connie could think of nothing to say to that and they resumed watching the line of trees. Bowser watched as well; his hackles raised. After a few minutes, the dog sat down.

  Connie pointed it out to Audrey. “I’d say whatever bothered him is gone.”

  “I’ll feel better when Jake returns.” Audrey went back to the kitchen.

  Agreeing with that statement, Connie followed. She set aside food for Megan and helped clean up after the meal.

  The job done, they returned to the porch and sat down to wait.

  Megan cried and Connie went to get her. The baby was warm and cuddly. She ate her meal without fussing then they joined Audrey on the porch.

  Jake still had not returned.

  Bowser and Megan played; the dog no longer concerned about an intruder. It should have comforted Connie, but it didn’t. Audrey remained tense as well.

  “He should have been back by now,” Audrey said after some length. “I better go see what the problem is.” She stepped off the porch.

  Connie was on her feet. “I’m coming with you.” She did not want to be left alone. She picked up Megan. She would hold her tight until they were all safely back at the house. Bowser pressed to her side, whining. She couldn’t tell if the dog sensed danger or objected to Connie taking the baby from their play. However, the dog stayed at their side as they hurried down the trail.

  They reached the trees and paused to listen. Nothing but birds made a sound.

  Moving cautiously and slowly, they followed the trail. Connie had been this way with Jake and thought it a friendly, welcoming place, but today the shadows clawed at her, the trees loomed overhead, and the birds sounded threatening. She strained toward the open patch at the end of the trees. It was all she could do not to rush forward, but Audrey held back a restraining hand and whispered, “We must be quiet.”

  The words made Connie shiver, and she held Megan tighter.

  They reached the welcome open field and Connie looked around. She’d expected they would see Jake, but he wasn’t there. She looked again, squinting into the shadows. “I don’t see him.”

  “I don’t either. What on earth has become of that boy?”

  “Let’s look in the coulee.” Connie shifted Megan on her hip and led the way. Was it possible he had taken a tumble? She shuddered, remembering him buried in dirt and how frightened she’d been. How she’d called out to God. Hadn’t she learned her lesson that day? Dear God, wherever he is, keep him safe. Help us find him.

  They reached the brim of the coulee and looked down, looked right and looked left. The water was little more than a trickle. Even if he’d fallen into it, he wouldn’t have drowned. Unless he was knocked unconscious. Still, they would see him. There was not a single thing to indicate he’d been there.

  “Now what?”

  Bowser set up a furious barking. A joyous sound.

  Connie and Audrey looked around. “I don’t see what he’s so excited about.” The dog bounded toward the trees and stopped to look over his shoulder as if telling them to follow.

  “Let’s see what he wants,” Audrey said, and they ran toward the trees.

  Jake broke from the shadows and raced toward them. He reached them and pulled them into his arms. “I got back to the house and everyone was gone. Do you know how scared I was?”

  “We were looking for you.” Audrey seemed cross but Connie understood it was relief that made her sound that way.

  “You were gone so long.” Connie clung shamelessly to his side; Megan pressed between them. The baby giggled and rubbed her fingers along Jake’s chin.

  “I thought I saw someone riding across the coulee up a ways, and I went to investigate. Had a good look around. Saw tracks, so I know I wasn’t imagining it. I walked along the coulee for a mile or so to see what else I would find. Then I returned to the house from the back. And you were gone.” His arm tightened around Connie. And likely around Audrey too.

  “We’re all safe and sound.” Audrey stepped free of her brother’s hug.

  Connie knew she must too, but knowing and doing proved to be two different things. It was Jake who backed away.

  He chucked Megan on the chin. “Good to see you feeling better, little miss.”

  She held her arms out to him. Reluctantly, Connie released her. What was the point in Megan getting used to Jake’s attention? She and Connie would have to learn to get along on their own. Besides, like Audrey said, Jake guarded his heart. He’d even told her that he wasn’t willing to risk caring for someone. Connie certainly knew she wasn’t a risk worth taking.

  But for now, Connie was simply relieved that he was safe and sound. So relieved her legs felt rubbery.

  They reached the house and sat on the porch, Megan and Bowser playing happily nearby.

  Jake, as if determined not to talk about the man who kept appearing, told them about the deer and twin fawns he’d seen. After a bit, he headed for the barn. “Need to see to my horse.”

  Audrey went inside to get her needlework.

  Connie watched Jake stride away.

  Megan watched too and made a protesting sound.

  Connie pulled the baby to her knees. “You have to let him go. We have no place in his life.”

  * * *

  There wasn’t anything urgent in the barn for Jake to take care of, but he brushed his horse simply to pass the time. He’d had glimpses of a rider disappearing over the hill. He’d seen enough signs to know the man had been this side of the coulee a number of times. He could think of no reasonable explanation for him to be hanging about. What did he want? Did it have anything to do with Connie? Or Megan?

  And then to return to the house and find it empty. His first reaction had been to think the mysterious rider had taken advantage of Jake’s absence to whisk them away. He hadn’t even thought to saddle his horse before he ran down the trail, calling for them. Bowser’s answering bark
had given him a little reassurance, but it wasn’t until he held them all in his arms that his heart rate settled back to normal.

  He couldn’t let himself care so much. Connie and Megan would go to Fort Macleod as soon as the bridge was fixed, and he’d come back to the ranch and get on with his life. He would have to deal with the pain of losing them

  His horse whinnied a protest, and he realized he’d applied too much pressure to the brush.

  “Sorry. Didn’t mean to take my feelings out on you.”

  The best thing he could do to protect his peace of mind was stay away from the house and Connie and Megan as much as possible.

  He spent the afternoon in the barn, leaving often to circle the place and make sure the ladies were safe. He rubbed his ribs and wondered if he could endure a ride but dismissed the idea. It didn’t matter what his ribs felt like, he couldn’t leave the place unguarded. A glance toward the house revealed Connie by herself staring toward the trail.

  No doubt anxious to be on her way.

  He joined them for supper.

  After a few minutes of strained conversation, Audrey confronted him. “What’s wrong with you? You haven’t had a word to say since you sat down.”

  It wasn’t completely true, but he had been uncharacteristically quiet. “I’m finding it hard to be idle,” he said by way of explanation.

  “Never known it to bother you before,” Audrey said.

  He cleaned his plate. “Got to check on things.” He left the room and headed to the coulee. He sat with his back to the trees where he could see intruders. More importantly, where he could be alone with his troubling thoughts.

  It was easy to say he didn’t care to let Connie into his heart. Harder to believe it. Just as it was easy to say he’d take her to the fort and leave her there when the very thought brought an ache to his heart.

  He stayed out until almost dark and slipped into his room after Connie and Audrey had retired.

  The next day he again stayed away from the house while still keeping an eye on things. He’d seen no rider since yesterday.

  He slipped in for a hurried dinner then rose to leave while the others were still eating, not offering an explanation.

  He only allowed himself a quick glance at Connie. Told himself she didn’t look confused by his behavior.

  Audrey scowled at him, but he didn’t stay long enough for her to deliver a scolding.

  Midafternoon he heard the wagon returning. He left the barn to watch his brothers’ approach. They trailed the long timbers behind and had lengths for the crossbars in the wagon.

  Cash was driving the wagon and stopped at the barn. “You want to hop aboard and go down there with us?”

  Jake didn’t need a second invitation. “Sure didn’t take you long.” He was prepared for them to be gone another night.

  “Found what we needed right off. Things all right here?”

  “Saw a rider early yesterday, but he was headed the other direction. Other than that, it’s been quiet. Boring, in fact.”

  “Poor Jake. Staying at home with ladies and a baby to entertain him. Sleeping on a comfortable bed. Eating meals prepared by Audrey. One could almost feel sorry for you.”

  “Yeah, I can tell you do.”

  Audrey and Connie watched them drive by with the timbers trailing behind. At the coulee, they unchained the timbers and rolled them toward where they would build the bridge.

  “It’s early,” Blaze said. “Let’s get them in place right away.”

  Blaze chained up the end of the first timber while Levi and Cash rode across the coulee. As soon as they reached the far side, Blaze waded across the stream and they took the chain and hooked it to ropes.

  “Now go slow,” Blaze called. Jake helped keep the end in place even though it hurt his ribs. He was tired of being useless.

  They inched the timber across the coulee.

  It was slow, tension-filled work. At one point the timber threatened to end up in the coulee.

  “Hold on,” Jake yelled, driving a bar into the ground to keep the timber in place.

  Blaze raced over to help him. Then signaled the other two to continue.

  Jake was sweating, his ribs screaming a protest by the time the timber was across the coulee. They straightened it and staked it in place. Then they did the second one.

  Satisfied at the job, they cheered.

  He jerked around at the sound of clapping. Connie and Audrey, with Megan at their feet, sat by the trees and watched. His gaze connected with Connie’s. She smiled. Pleased at seeing the bridge coming into shape?

  What else would it be?

  Blaze lay out the cross pieces. He glanced at the sky. “It’s almost dark. We’ll finish this tomorrow.”

  The women hurried back to the house to put supper on the table while the men took care of the horses and wagon.

  Finish it tomorrow! A final dirge. Connie and Megan’s visit would soon come to an end.

  He followed the others inside. Sat at the table. Ate as much food as any of them though he couldn’t have said what he ate.

  He’d done his best to guard his heart, but it wasn’t enough. The thought of only one more day with Connie, two counting the trip to the fort, was like a physical ache. He rubbed his chest.

  “You’ve aggravated your ribs,” Audrey said. “You shouldn’t have been helping.”

  He shrugged. “I’m fine. It’s nothing that won’t get better.” He meant his bruised ribs. His bruised heart might prove a different matter.

  The next morning, his ribs screamed at every movement he made. But he ignored the way every breath caught. No one seemed to notice how quiet he was over breakfast. Nor how slow his steps were to the barn. They all climbed into the wagon. He stifled a groan.

  Blaze studied him. “You up to helping?”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” He was touchy, but he couldn’t help it.

  “We’d understand if you’re too sore to work.”

  “I’m fine.”

  Blaze shrugged. “If you say so.”

  Levi sat beside Jake in the back of the wagon. “Don’t know why we’re in such a hurry to get the bridge built. Just means Connie and Megan will leave.”

  “It’s what she wants.” Jake resisted an urge to push his brother from the wagon, reminding himself they were no longer kids.

  “How do you know what she wants?”

  He felt everyone listening for his answer. “She said so. Has said so several times.”

  “Huh. Don’t suppose you offered her an alternative.” Levi’s look was dark and accusing.

  “What do you know? You’re still wet behind the ears.” He knew that would make Levi forget about Connie. It always bothered Levi that he was the youngest.

  “I swear, when I’m ninety and you’re ninety-two you’ll still be rubbing it in my face that I’m younger.”

  “You can count on it.”

  Cash chuckled. “The difference is by then Levi will be chortling about the fact, and Jake will be moaning that he’s older.”

  Levi jumped from the wagon and walked the last twenty feet to where they stopped.

  Jake took an end of one of the cross pieces and helped Blaze carry it to the bridge. He grabbed a spike and tried to hammer it in, but his ribs protested, and his blows were that of a young boy.

  “I’ll finish it,” Blaze said.

  Jake stood back to watch. Levi was right. Why were they in such a rush to get the bridge built?

  He tossed his hammer aside and strode away.

  * * *

  Connie helped clean the kitchen. Helped prepare vegetables for the noon meal. She joined Audrey on the porch and picked up a sock to darn. But after jabbing herself twice with the needle, she admitted defeat and rolled up the sock.

  “Do you mind if I go for a walk? I’ll take Megan.”

  “By all means. Enjoy the day.”

  Connie wasn’t sure how much she could enjoy what might be her last day here. She knew she had to move on with
her life, but she would miss the ranch. She’d miss the Hoopers. Most of all, she’d miss Jake. How foolish could she be? He’d been clear that he wasn’t ready to open his heart. Nor was she. So, they were agreed on that.

  Bowser followed on Connie’s heels as she carried Megan up the hill behind the garden and sank to the ground. The trees behind her offered shelter from the wind. Before her lay the rolling green hills. She smiled as she recalled seeing the badger.

  Her few days here had been filled with lovely things—wildlife, flowers, walks…

  She pulled her thoughts back to the present and reality.

  Megan and Bowser tumbled together in the grass and Connie laughed. “Oh, Bowser, how we’re going to miss you.” Poor Megan. One more loss her young heart couldn’t understand.

  Bowser came to his feet and looked around.

  “It’s all right, boy. I was just talking to you.”

  Bowser looked past Connie. His hackles raised and a low growl came from his throat.

  Connie knew to trust the dog’s warning. She scooped up Megan and held her tight before she turned to see what alarmed the dog. Her heart skidded sideways as a man stepped from the trees. How had he sneaked up on them?

  “Mr. Howard. I didn’t expect to see you again.”

  “Got things I need to know.” He towered above her.

  Connie inched back to put some distance between them then pushed to her feet, clinging to Megan, whose eyes were wide. Her bottom lip trembled at the sight of this unfamiliar man.

  Bowser positioned himself between Connie and the man, his teeth bared. Mr. Howard would be foolish to try anything.

  “I think you remember me, don’cha?”

  “Should I?”

  “You’re Celia’s cousin.”

  So, he was the same man. She didn’t respond to the man’s comment.

  He grinned. Connie could see why Celia had been attracted to him. He had attractive features, if somewhat too pretty. But his eyes revealed a man without kindness.

  “Your cousin didn’t mind admitting she knew me. She said she enjoyed my company. I know I enjoyed hers. A lot.”