Claiming the Cowboy's Heart Read online

  Jayne explained yet again what she’d seen while Mercy and Sybil made appropriate comforting sounds.

  Linette offered them all tea and cookies.

  Seth took both gratefully, but he couldn’t remain at the table. He carried his cup and cookie to the window and looked out. A rider kicked up dust as he rode off the ranch. Probably the man Eddie sent to find the Mountie.

  He stayed at the window long after the dust disappeared.

  Grady ran past his line of vision and crashed through the door. Billy came in on his heels.

  “You got a baby deer?” His voice was filled with awe. “Billy says we can’t see it without permission. Can we see it now? Please?”

  Seth turned back to Jayne, saw the stress creasing her forehead. It might do her good to leave the house and forget the Englishman but forgetting the danger lurking out there would be foolish.

  She sent him a desperate look.

  He made up his mind and left his post and headed to her side feeling Mercy’s measuring watchfulness. “I’ll take the boys to see the fawn, if you like.”

  She bolted to her feet. “I’ll go with you. I need to check on him, anyway.”

  “We’ll come, too,” Sybil said and she and Mercy fell in at their heels and the lot of them went down the hill.

  The boys were soon joined by Daisy, carrying Pansy.

  They went round the barn to the small pen.

  “His name is Thor,” Jayne said as they crowded up to the fence. The fawn curled up on the ground, Smokey between his paws.

  Although Thor’s eyes grew wide, he didn’t move.

  Jayne chuckled. “It looks like he doesn’t want to disturb Smokey.”

  “Thor!” Sybil laughed softly. “Strange name for a little fawn.”

  Seth checked their surroundings, seeing nothing, then he turned to the ladies. “I said he didn’t look much like a Thor but she didn’t believe me.”

  “What does it mean?” Daisy asked.

  “In mythology, Thor is a god of thunder and lightning. He carries a big hammer and smashes things. His job is to protect humans.” Sybil gave the details.

  Jayne grinned at her friends. “In this case, the humans are protecting Thor.” Her gaze captured Seth’s. He returned it with silent promise that he would protect her as well as Thor.

  “Can we touch him?” Grady asked.

  “Seth, what do you think?” Jayne asked. “Is it too soon?” She turned to explain to the children. “He’s a wild creature and people frighten him.”

  “Look,” Seth whispered and they all turned toward little Pansy. She had edged around the fence to where she could reach her fingers through the wire. Thor licked her fingers then bounced to his feet and pressed his nose close to hers.

  “There’s one human he isn’t afraid of.” Seth spoke so softly he wondered if the others heard but they all stayed where they were and watched the two little ones acknowledge each other.

  Daisy edged closer to make sure her little sister wasn’t in any danger.

  Thor skipped away then turned and tiptoed back to Pansy. She giggled as his nose touched her fingers.

  “Can we touch him, too?” Grady asked.

  “Why don’t you let him make friends with you?” Seth said. “Stand at the fence and wait for him to come to you.”

  Mercy and Sybil sat with their backs to the barn to watch. After a moment, Jayne joined them.

  Seth couldn’t relax, not that he worried about the fawn. His concern was Jayne and the threat of a fancy-dressed Englishman. He guided the children but all the while he watched the trails leading to the ranch and kept a lookout at the trees nearby where a man could hide in the shadows.

  How long would it take for the Mountie to receive Eddie’s message and get here?

  The boys stayed until the fawn finally came up to explore their fingers. A little after that they trotted off in search of bigger adventures. Daisy gathered up her little sister and headed back. “I’m going to help Ma pick beans.”

  Jayne bolted to her feet. “I plumb forgot. Come on, girls. We need to help Linette.” They raced away to the garden where Linette and Cassie were already at work.

  “Jayne,” Seth called. But she didn’t hear him.

  He rubbed at his neck. Shouldn’t she return to the house and stay out of sight? He followed slowly, not headed for the garden but for a spot behind the cookhouse that allowed him a nice view of the entire yard and most of the surrounding area. He hunkered down, alert to the tiniest movement.

  He scanned the landscape constantly but his gaze continued to return to the garden where Jayne worked alongside the others, filling tubs with green beans. He repeatedly assured himself no one would ride into the ranch and attack her. Eddie had posted a watch at either end of the trail leading to the ranch.

  A shifting shadow beyond the garden drew his attention. Every nerve in his body fired into action. He strained to make out any shape, could see nothing. But he knew something or someone had moved there. He edged his way toward the barn, saddled his horse and left as if making his way to town. Once down the road and around the corner, he cut to his left in a direction that would bring him into line with anyone leaving the spot he’d been watching. He rode as fast as he figured was safe, hoping he wouldn’t draw attention to himself, but there was no way to muffle his horse’s thudding steps.

  He reached the area without encountering anyone. He left his horse at the edge of the trees and went to examine the place where he’d seen something. The first thing he noted was the good view of the garden it provided. He stood there a moment, watching Jayne. He heard his breath whoosh in and out. A man with a good rifle could get rid of her before anyone could do a thing about it. And he could disappear before a man on horseback could overtake him.

  His heart hammered a protest against his rib. She was a sitting target. She should be indoors.

  Before he told her so, he examined the ground. Footprints. And not those of a cowboy boot. A sliver of wood caught his attention and he picked it up gingerly. One of those fancy new toothpicks. Definitely a city man. No cowboy in his right mind would use such a silly thing. A sharpened piece of wood served the purpose just fine. Or a length of oat straw. Even a stem of grass.

  A city man who killed without remorse and tracked witnesses across the world.

  Not a man to be trifled with.

  He returned to his horse and rode down the hill in a straight line to the ranch. He rode directly to the garden.

  Every woman turned to him, knowing his visit had a purpose.

  “Jayne, I don’t think it’s safe for you out here.”

  She blinked. “Why not? Eddie put two cowboys on the trails and another to watch the place.” She pointed toward Slim who leaned in the barn doorway. “And Eddie is within calling distance.” He was across the river tending to some chores. “No one is coming in here without being met by a gun-toting man.” She sat back on her heels as unconcerned as the cat grooming itself in the sunny patch of grass.

  “Yes, ma’am. That’s so. But—” He hesitated to speak his fears aloud. He turned to Linette. “Ma’am, I saw something up the hill.” He pointed to the place and five women rose and shielded their eyes with their hands to look in the direction he indicated. “Someone was there but I didn’t catch him. But I regret to say that from there Jayne is an easy target for anyone with a rifle.”

  The women turned to confront Jayne.

  “Jayne, you aren’t safe out here,” Sybil said.

  Mercy grabbed the beans still in Jayne’s hands. “You shouldn’t be here.”

  Linette nodded. “I can’t bear to think of you being a target.”

  “That’s a terribly frightening thought,” Cassie added.

  Jayne looked confused, frightened and then stubbornness hardened her expression. “You think I should run and hide?” Her flashing eyes informed Seth the question was meant for him.

  All the women said, “Yes.”

  “But the beans.” Jayne indicated the rows
left to pick.

  “We’ll take the full tub to the house,” Linette said, “and you can begin stringing them.”

  As soon as he saw Jayne meant to follow her sister-in-law, Seth hurried to the barn to unsaddle his horse. The chore seemed to take longer than usual. As soon as he finished, he trotted up the hill, ignoring the sharp reminder in his leg of his recent injury.

  Linette and Jayne worked in the kitchen.

  “I can manage this on my own,” Jayne said.

  “Very well. And thank you. I appreciate it.” As she left the house, Linette murmured to Seth, “Keep an eye on her.”

  “I mean to.”

  He circled the room, glancing out the windows. It was hot enough to require the door to stand open, which allowed him a view through the screen. Still, he felt as if a man could sneak up on him without warning.

  “Do you really think he’d venture close to the ranch when it is swarming with people?” Jayne asked him. “There’s no way he’d get in and out again without getting stopped.”

  “Likely that is true.” It was the time between getting in and out again that worried him. “Now would be a good time for you to ask God to take care of you.”

  “Why me? Or rather, why just me? You could ask, as well.”

  “I’m not sure I believe He would answer.”

  Her hands grew still. “You won’t know if you don’t ask.”

  “I’ll let you do the asking.”

  “Fine. I will.” She bowed her head a moment. Then lifted it again and gave him a direct look that burned through his caution straight to an unguarded corner of his heart. He needed to get away from this place soon or he’d forget the promise he’d made to himself to never take on more responsibility and never put anyone ahead of his pa.

  “I said a prayer for you, too,” she said, her voice both sweet and daring.

  “Save your breath.”

  “I asked God to show you that He hears and answers your prayers.”

  He let out a gusty laugh. “You believe that quite firmly.”

  “That’s right.” She went back to stringing beans as confident as if it were already done.

  He circled the room again, checking out each window and staring out the door a long time. “He’s out there. I practically saw him.”

  “I did see him.”

  He didn’t need the reminder. It was time to stop dwelling on it. He was here to protect her. He’d keep her safe.

  He continued pacing the room, stopping at a painting of mountains in full summer array. The grass shone emerald, and the deciduous trees made a light green contrast to the pine and spruce. Flowers dotted the field in the foreground, where off to the right sat a mounted cowboy. He leaned closer. “Looks like Eddie.”

  “It is. That’s one of Linette’s paintings. It’s good, isn’t it?”

  “I’m no judge of artwork but I like this. I can almost smell the fresh air and the flowers.”

  “Exactly. It feels alive.”

  He studied it a few more minutes than circled the room again, checking out the windows and doors.

  “Seth, will you sit down. You’re making me nervous.”

  “You should be nervous.”

  “Fine. I am nervous enough without you pacing around like a caged animal.”

  Even as he sat, his muscles twitched. He couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching…that the murdering Englishman was very close.

  He shifted his chair so his back was to a wall and he faced the door. “Hand me some of those beans. I might as well keep busy.”

  She moved her chair next to his and placed the tub of beans close by. He’d never pictured himself sitting in a kitchen preparing beans to be bottled, but it wasn’t half-bad. Jayne sat beside him where he could protect her. She hummed under her breath as she worked. The scent of flowers and garden soil came to him from her direction. Flies buzzed against the window glass but apart from that sound they might have been alone in their own little world.

  If only it could be so. Instead, danger hovered on their doorstep.

  * * *

  Jayne couldn’t get a thought straight. She simply continued to pull strings from beans and cut them the size Linette wanted. The mindless task failed to divert her thoughts.

  Seth had seen the murderer watching again.

  She shivered. When she felt Seth’s glance touch her, she raised her eyes, knowing they begged for reassurance. She didn’t care.

  He smiled but his eyes reflected her concern.

  She touched his arm. “At least you’re here to protect me.” She wanted to say she would be fine without protection but her brave talk about being independent and looking after herself meant nothing in the face of real danger.

  He nodded, his eyes forest green and bottomless.

  She let herself sink into his gaze, let herself find strength and safety. She drew in a trembling breath as she found what she sought. He would take care of her. With God’s help.

  Oh, Lord, I press close to You. Protect us all.

  She jerked her attention back to the beans and continued to prepare them as the clock on the wall ticked off the minutes.

  Every tick echoed like the click of a gun. Oh, why had she allowed that word into her mind?

  Her breath escaped in a groan.

  Seth took her hand and squeezed. “Don’t be afraid. There are plenty of people here to protect you.”

  She nodded, again clinging to the promise in his eyes. “I know.” A teasing imp prompted her to add, “Besides, I asked God to protect us all.”

  His smile didn’t reach his eyes. “There now. What more do you need?”

  “Nothing except for that man to be arrested and sent back to England to hang.”

  He nodded.

  * * *

  That evening, after supper, she gathered up supplies to feed Thor.

  Seth stopped her. “I’ll do it.” He reached for the bottle of milk.

  She hesitated, fighting an inner battle. Part of her wanted to hide in a closet somewhere. But she’d had enough of running. “I will not give in to my fear.”

  He took her arm and pulled her around to face him. “Listening to fear is not a bad thing. It can prevent people from taking foolish risks.”

  She studied him. Saw the concern and the pain in his eyes. She pressed her palm to his cheek. “Seth, I am not going to be foolish. I am not skating on thin ice.”

  The darkness in his eyes informed her he understood her reference.

  “We’ll take Thor into the barn to feed him. How’s that?”

  He considered her suggestion for a moment then nodded. “If you stay in the barn while I get him.”

  “I will. I don’t have a death wish, you know.”

  Their gazes clung for another second.

  “And stay close to me on the way to the barn.”

  She had no objection to being tucked under his arm, pressed to his side as they marched down the hill. From there she felt as if no harm could ever come to her.

  The words were contrary to the goals she had set for herself but provided comfort at the moment.

  After this crisis ended she would return to learning to be strong and independent.

  Chapter Thirteen

  The next day Seth again insisted on being her human shield as they went to feed the fawn. Thor, shut in the barn for the night, raced toward them as soon as he saw the bottle.

  She laughed. “Look at that. He knows where the food comes from.”

  They didn’t have to urge him to take the nipple. He grabbed it and pulled eagerly.

  She held the bottle, discovering satisfaction and peace in feeding the little animal and in seeing how it had lost its fear of her. Fear. The word covered so many things. She wanted to put her thoughts into words if she could. “I know that fear is a good thing in that it keeps us from danger. But fear can harm, too.”

  He quirked an eyebrow questioningly.

  “Like Thor’s fear of us. If he didn’t get over it he might ha
ve starved to death.”

  Seth’s gaze went slowly to Thor as if he needed to consider her statement.

  “I think our experience with fear has been at opposite ends of the spectrum,” she said.

  He again brought his gaze to her, full of dark intensity that brushed a tender spot within. She ached to be able to help him leave his fears behind.

  She went on to answer his unspoken question. “You lost Frank and Sarah because they didn’t heed the fear of thin ice. But I stood by helpless and useless because my fear crippled me.”

  He nodded. “That’s true. But I hope we are together, united with fear about this Englishman who has followed you.”

  She couldn’t look away from his gaze. Couldn’t escape his silent demand. United. The word pulled at her heart strings, threatening to undo her resolve. She must not allow his concern and her fear to drive her back to the person she’d been when Oliver was shot.

  She nodded. “I will never again let fear control me, though.”

  He narrowed his eyes. “I was hoping for more cooperation than that.”

  She gave a little shrug. “I will only promise not to ignore danger signs.”

  “I guess that will have to be good enough.”

  She didn’t bother to ask what else he wanted. She didn’t object to him being her self-appointed bodyguard but she would not become a whimpering, simpering female afraid to stand up and protect herself should the need arise.

  Grady raced into the barn. “Did he eat already?”

  “He just finished.” Jayne showed him the empty bottle. “He’s a greedy little thing.”

  “Aww. I hoped you’d let me help feed him.”

  Seth ruffled his hair. “Maybe next time. Thor seems to be comfortable enough with people now.”

  As if to prove it, Thor bumped his head into Grady’s hand then watched, his legs splayed awkwardly. When Grady reached out to pat his head the fawn bounced away a few feet and paused to wait for Grady.

  Grady trotted after him but Thor bounced away.

  “I think he wants to play tag,” Seth said.

  The pair chased up and down the alleyway. Grady paused at the door. “Can we go outside and play?”