“Did he touch you?”
“No!” Sarah said, then in words spit out from her feelings of disgust, “only his loathsome eyes did the undressing. He left me alone to take out the bullet and tend to Jethro the best I could. I’m not a nurse, and I was so afraid I’d do something wrong, but he seems to be improving. Of course, that was before the scallywag dragged him outside and threw him into the dirt again.”
She glared at Nick. “I feel so deserted and out of sorts; I doubt I shall ever forgive you for this.”
Sarah turned back to the stove, grabbed the plate, and pushed it at Nick. “Go feed your man in the barn.”
She watched his shoulders droop as he carried the plate out of the cabin. Her cruel whiplash of words had hurt him. A part of her wanted to plead forgiveness, yet another shied away, knowing it was all too much to bear. Nick and danger went hand-in-hand; she could not have one without the other.
Her mother would be glad to see her return to Texas. The teasing and I-told-you-so’s would not last too long, and then she could get back to concentrating on her career and serving the family upstairs.
Sarah sighed. It all sounded so empty now that she’d tasted the freedom in her own kitchen, felt a sense of pride in her new home, and sadly enough, experienced the sparks of love she could not deny firsthand.
She was feeding Jethro some broth when Nick returned. He beckoned his older brother into the room. “Come inside. We won’t bite.”
Sarah raised her brow and aimed her comment at Jethro. “Speak for yourself.” She bit her lip, for this was what she’d wanted to happen; the men talking to each other, half-way civil. She stood. “I’ll leave you two alone.”
“You don’t need to rush away,” both men chimed together, then they chuckled. Sarah loved the ease in the conversation. Sensing the peak of the crisis between them had somehow passed during their close touch with death.
“I’ll bring your dinner in here, Nick, so you can talk and eat at the same time.” She did not voice the real reason she wanted them together, for she was not ready to talk to her husband in a civil manner, and wanted to be in full control when she bade him goodbye.
When Sarah returned to the sickroom with Nick’s plate, a part of the discussion between the men drew to a close. Jethro would go home to spare Sandy unnecessary grief, and Sarah would accompany him to stay out of harm’s way. Although the scenario presented relief from the stress building up inside, she realized that Nick’s safety generated most of her worry. She’d fallen for a man she couldn’t have, and the irony of it all overwhelmed her.
After silent deliberation, she meekly bowed her head and said, “As you wish. I’ll go pack a few things as soon as I finish the dishes.”
Nick’s searching gaze almost weakened her. She could see that he was genuinely apologetic, but his job standing between them as impenetrable as a brick wall.
Still within hearing range, she heard Jethro say, “A man who finds a wife finds a good thing. That’s what the Good Book says, big brother, and I’d take heed before it’s too late.”
“It’s already too late,” she heard Nick say. In grave silence, she washed the dishes with a mix of heated water from the blacktop reservoir and her salty tears.
Nick confronted her as she packed a duffle bag to bring to Jethro and Sandy’s house. “Are you nearly finished?”
“How long will I be there?” she asked.
“Not long,” Nick said. “If the man doesn’t show his face here tonight, I will go to town tomorrow to end this nightmare.”
Sarah wanted to say, ‘Just so it can all start up again with your next hunt,’ but she was too weary—emotionally and physically—to start that conversation.
“Fine, I’ll count on two days. Hopefully, I won’t return to watch them put you in a grave.”
“I plan on staying alive.”
“I will pray to that end, Nick.”
Sarah fell silent, and he eventually left his position by the doorway.
When she came back out of her room, she saw that Jethro had swung his legs over the bed and was attempting to stand.
She rushed to his side. “Where’s Nick?”
“Hitching the team.”
“Well, you sit there quietly and wait for him. Another man stayed behind to help guard the place, so he can help Nick get you to the wagon. No need to exhaust yourself.”
Jethro sat and looked at Sarah. “Been thinking about what you said yesterday at the house.”
“There’s no need for you to include me in that decision,” Sarah said. “I’ll be long gone as soon as the dust settles here. The making-up is between you and Nick. I pray that you will find it in your heart to forgive him. He’s a good man—he just doesn’t know it yet.”
“You care for him, don’t you?”
“That doesn’t matter, either. I will not live my life fearing to walk around in my own yard. If Nick lives through the fight with this enemy, there is sure to be another waiting to take his place. Vengeance is a death-circle for all involved.”
“You are stronger than you think, Sarah. It took a brave woman to travel from Texas to marry a stranger and swallow the disappointment you had right out of the gate.”
Sarah changed the subject. “Will Sandy be worried? It’s mid-afternoon already.”
“She’s used to emergencies cropping up while working out on the land. She won’t become concerned until nightfall.”
“I hope she won’t be annoyed that you men have invited a guest without consulting her.”
Jethro chuckled. “She loves female company other than Ruth. Besides, you can expect her to repay you with kindness for taking the bullet out of her husband.”
“That’s not necessary. I did what needed doing.”
“You mean like the good pioneer wife you claim not to be?” Jethro said. “Taking charge when necessary, not freezing in terror at the new day—that’s what makes a person indispensable out here on the range. It also adds to the excitement some need to keep the blood pumping through their veins. I believe you are one of us, whether you do or not.”
The front door opened, and Nick called out, “Everyone ready? We’re burning daylight.”
“Yes. We’re in here,” Sarah said. Nick and his friend from the barn entered.
“Hey, Arne, nice to see you helping my big brother out here,” Jethro said. “You stay safe, hear? That young filly at church won’t ever forgive us if something happens to you.”
“I’m always careful. It’s you Trafton bunch that like to invite danger, not me.”
The men chuckled as if endangerment could somehow be a joke. Sarah would never understand the carefree mentality or the apparent need for a man to demonstrate a spirit of bravery to a watching world.
“Let’s get you in the wagon, Jethro,” Nick said. He turned to Sarah. “You can sit up front with me if you’d like.”
“That would be fine, Nick.” The men had made a straw bed in the back for Jethro and after settling him there, they covered him with a blanket. Arne stayed behind and waved as the horses pulled the wagon slowly out of the laneway with Nick attempting to avoid the wheels from falling into the ruts.
“There’s lots of food in the icebox and pantry for you and Arne. Just help yourself.”
“Thank you, Sarah.” He studied her and only broke contact when the wagon jostled in and out of a pothole. He turned his attention back to the road ahead as he spoke. “We will talk when this is over. I hope I haven’t lost you completely.”
Sarah bit her bottom lip to stop its trembling. “Talk will not solve our problems, Nick. Perhaps when you’re in town, you can drop by the depot and find out when the next trip back to Texas is scheduled.”
“Sarah! It hasn’t gone that far, has it?”
She rested her hand on his and felt the surge of emotion pulsate through her. Inside she cried, but outside she stayed firm. “I’m afraid it has.”
One hour later, Sarah watched Nick drive the team and wagon out of the homestead�
�s yard on his return trip to their cabin. He turned once as she stood on the front porch, and she noted his glassy eyes, pleading with her to reconsider. She swiveled slowly and went inside to help Sandy with the patient.
Sandy fussed over her husband in the bedroom while Ruth and Sarah prepared the supper meal. When she finally came out, she dropped into a kitchen chair.
“Do you ladies have tea on?” she asked.
“We do,” Ruth said as she hurried to pour a cup. “Why don’t you sit with Sandy? You’ve had a tough day, Sarah.”
“Oh, yes, please do sit,” Sandy said. “I can’t thank you enough for saving my husband’s life.”
“You’re welcome.” Sarah did not want to go through all the hoops of explanation she’d already done a dozen times since arriving at the Trafton homestead.
Sarah sat with her tea. “Is Jethro asleep?”
“Yes, finally. Sick men are exhausting,” Sandy said, as she lifted her cup to sip the hot beverage. “It smells wonderful in the kitchen.”
Ruth called out from the counter. “Sarah has so many tricks up her sleeve to make the simplest thing taste that wee bit better. I shall enjoy having her at the big house for a couple of days.”
Sandy’s eyes studied Sarah over the rim. “You’re troubled. Is it Nick you’re concerned about?”
“I suppose. My husband is bent on finishing up with the man who wants to kill him. It stands to reason that either one or the other will die.”
“Nick is good with a gun.”
“Why does that not comfort me?” Sarah said. “If he hadn’t been so good with a firearm, he never would have started bounty hunting and gotten into this mess in the first place.”
“You have a valid point.” Sandy’s face brightened. “Jethro and I talked about your idea last night, and I think he even brought it up with Saul this morning before they went off to work. I was encouraged that he was taking it under serious consideration. You have to know that Nick’s leaving after their father died knocked the legs out from under the younger boys. Not that they didn’t know the job—they’ve been farmers their entire lives—but Nick broke the bond-of-three when he took off, and overnight, only two remained. That left Jethro and Saul to shoulder the burdens on the home front, and it put their noses out of joint.”
“I can understand that. Nick hasn’t told me much about it except that he was looking for something he couldn’t find, and when he came to his senses, the harm was done. He was the black sheep of the family. Maybe he’d hoped that getting married and settling in at the cabin would mend the bad feelings, but so far, it’s not going in his favor.”
“When this all blows over, the boys will work it out. You watch and see.” Sandy reached over to pat Sarah’s free hand as it lay on the table.
Sarah figured she might as well get it over with—there’d be no right time to tell her new friend. “I’ll be leaving Nick when this is over. The marriage won’t work.”
“What?” squealed Ruth, who immediately joined the ladies at the table. “You can’t leave.”
“Denver is not what I expected,” Sarah said.
“So, you’re going to pull out on family, too, same as Nick did when the going got tough.”
“That’s not the same. I married into this family thinking Nick was a farmer. I didn’t care if he was rich or poor; I just wanted my own family and home. It started perfectly, like a dream come true, until—”
“Until you discovered the identical thing, you’d expect Jethro and Saul to forgive. Nick has complicated all the lives he’s touched over the last couple of years, but I can see his want to change. I saw the way he looked at his bride when he said his vows. His mistakes have reared up to bite him in the backside, but this is not the time to run, Sarah. Now is the time to stand by your man, support him, help him build a bridge back to the good graces of his brothers like you did yesterday when you came calling. Where’s that spunky girl who suggested a new plan for running the farm?”
When Sarah didn’t answer, Ruth piped in, “It’s a good plan. I heard Saul bragging up the idea to his horse this morning when I went to the coop to fetch the eggs—don’t ask, sister Sarah. Saul always talks to the brute. Claims he understands.”
Sarah smiled. “I love you two, and my heart breaks just thinking about leaving here.”
“Then you mustn’t think of it again,” Sandy said. “At least you can wait until we see how this whole work thing plays out with the men.”
“I suppose I can wait that long,” Sarah agreed.
“Good. It’s settled, then. No more talk of running,” Sandy said. “I think we should bring it to the Lord in prayer, right now, before another minute passes.”
Ruth and Sarah agreed, and the ladies bowed their heads to thank God for Jethro’s healing, to implore the Lord for Nick’s protection, and to save the men from their self-made folly. Ruth added a special blessing on Nick’s marriage that it would stay strong during its first fiery-trial.
Chapter Eleven
Nick bypassed the cabin and rode the wagon straight to the barn door.
Arne met him, helped to unhitch the team, and do the chores. Nick showed Arne all of the ideal spots to watch the goings-on outside before retiring to the cabin.
That night, a big moon shone bright, and stars speckled the sky.
For Nick, it was a relief to know that a second set of eyes was watching the horizon for trouble. Had he lost his nerve for the battle while staking out felons? Maybe he never had it in him to begin with. He should never have taken up chasing the criminals of the world to bring them to justice. Growing up, he hadn’t even once dreamed of becoming a lawman, of any kind, but a sworn-in deputy would have, at least, gained him more respect than a money-hungry bounty hunter.
He sat impatiently by the front window inside the house, using himself as bait, and Arne could see him from the barn if he looked in his direction. With the lantern low on the table next to him, so could any nighttime passersby.
Nick got up on occasion to raid the pantry, and he even snuck a plate to the barn. He noticed the Bible sitting on a table by the fireplace, picked it up and read the entire book of Genesis before his eyes showed signs of fatigue. Nick took up pacing the floor, wondering if he should sleep. His enemy could be sawing logs in town while Nick forced himself to stay awake, worried about the unpredictable attack.
Nick ended up dozing, his head resting on the kitchen table and his hand laying on his pistol.
Nick jumped when he heard shouting, and he ran to the window to see that the barn was on fire. Arne was busy letting the animals out through the side door into the corral.
He flung open the door and raced across the yard. From inside the tack room, Nick tossed the saddles, blankets, ropes, lines, whatever he could get his hands on, out the window. Together, the men saved all the animals, even dragged farm tools into the open yard. The fire blazed and when the heat reached an unbearable temperature, Nick and Arne stood back and watched the last of its shaky, vertical posts give way. The structure crumbled to the ground.
The supplies of feed, straw, and hay were lost, although Nick had to admit that he would not have had enough to last until harvest. He would not have been at the farm long enough to build his stock or feed bins, and it was only a matter of time before he’d have to resort to begging his brothers for provisions. The animals were safe, and that was all that mattered.
Nick was hot, filthy, and fuming mad by the time he and Arne got to the cabin. They drank almost the entire water pail dry, and then used the warmer supply from the cookstove reservoir to clean up.
Arne started to explain. “I saw some shadows moving at the tree line and went to sneak up behind them. While I was brawling with the one fella, the other must have slipped away to start the fire. I’m sorry, mate. You left me to guard the place, and it burned to the ground.”
“It wasn’t your fault.” Nick drew the dry towel away from his face. “Maybe we should go back and see if your man is still knocked out.”
>
“Must be gone by now,” Arne said.
“Let’s not take that for granted. Maybe his fire-buddy didn’t go back for him. Wouldn’t be the first time a rogue lit out on his friend.”
The men walked to the spot where Arne had fought with the intruder, and, after a few minutes, found him curled up under some brush half-awake and groaning.
“Looks like he came to long enough to crawl under the bush to hide,” Arne said as he dragged the groggy man into the open.
“Sam? Who sent you?” Nick yelled, having a pretty good idea of the answer. Sam went to church on occasion, but he’d had a tough business break and needed to sign up with Cretis’s crew to make ends meet.
“You know I work for Cretis. Gotta do what he tells me, man,” Sam said. He wiped the blood from his mouth with his sleeve and struggled to stand up.
“I expect you to be the first one here to rebuild my barn,” Nick said. “You and the coward who ran off and left you.”
“Awe, Nick—it wasn’t my idea to burn the barn. Harley came up with that idea.”
“So, what were you doing here, then?”
“Just watching. Suppose Cretis wanted us to do just enough to keep you awake all night so he’d have the advantage in the morning when he swept in here to catch you sleeping. He aims to do you harm. You messed with the wrong family.”
“Don’t play dumb, Sam. You know Cretis wants me dead for bringing in his outlaw brother. You’re on the wrong side of the law here.”
The young man ran bloody fingers through his hair. “What can I do to make it right, man?”
Nick sighed. “Return to town and tell Cretis you wore us out and left us dragging our feet with putting out the fire. After he rides out, go to the sheriff’s office and tell him to get his riders and hightail it out here. Let’s end this thing today.”
“You know that chap well?” Arne asked as they watched Sam ride out.
“I think so. Hopefully, Sam will come through for us. Either way, this thing ends—here, or in town,” Nick said.
A Match for Sarah Page 9