“Probably a prairie dog or rabbit,” Caleb said.
Molly shuddered. “I just hope it’s not a rattler.”
“Rattlers are too smart to be out in this heat.” He mopped his forehead with a handkerchief. “You’ll only find them out at night.”
She climbed out of the car to stretch her legs. The sun was straight overhead and her stomach reminded her that she hadn’t eaten all day.
Caleb handed her a canteen, and she drank her fill of lukewarm water before giving it back to him.
He tossed the canteen into the backseat. “Don’t look so worried. We’ll find Orbit.”
She forced a smile. “I hope you’re right.”
“I am. Doctors are always right.” He grinned. “Except when they’re not.” He glanced around. “I don’t see Magic.”
She shaded her eyes against the sun and scanned the area. “Over there!”
He followed her finger and shook his head. Magic had his nose to the ground, his hind legs circling around. “Crazy dog.”
She laughed. “Just like . . .” She drew in her breath. “Orbit was here!”
No sooner were the words out of her mouth than they both raced to Magic’s side. Caleb dropped to his haunches and inspected the ground. “You’re right.” His finger traced a circle of hoofprints.
“Those tracks belong to Orbit,” she said. She couldn’t imagine any other horse sidestepping in a circle. She kneeled by Magic, petting him. “Where is he? Where’s Orbit?”
Magic barked and started toward the canyon wall. He stopped and looked back as if to say, Well, are you going to follow me or aren’t you?
Caleb rose. “Let’s go!”
By the time Molly had gathered Magic in her arms and climbed back in the car, Caleb had already started the motor and was in the driver’s seat.
The terrain was rough, forcing Caleb to drive at a snail’s pace. Even so they bounced up and down like a rubber ball. They reached an outcrop of rocks.
“I don’t see anything,” Molly said. Magic sniffed the air and whimpered. “That way.” She pointed to the right.
Caleb drove until they reached open desert and stopped.
Magic bounded off Molly’s lap and onto Caleb’s. He strained to hang his head outside the auto, whimpering and barking.
“Go back,” she said.
Caleb shook his head. “There was nothing there.”
She brushed hair away from her face. “Try telling that to Magic.”
Caleb handed the dog over to her. He then made a wide U-turn and headed back the same way they had come. Magic stiffened in her arms.
“Stop!”
Caleb slammed on the brakes. “What?”
“I think I saw a way through.”
Caleb swung the car around in a circle.
“There!” Shadows falling across the rock had previously hidden the opening from view. Bertha barely made it between the twin mound-shaped buttes. Granite walls surrounded them, rising from the desert floor in jagged peaks.
Molly sat forward. “Over there!”
Caleb steered the car in the direction she pointed. It was Orbit, all right, standing on hind legs, front hooves frantically pawing the air.
Magic barked and tried to get out of the car, but Molly held tight. Something moved in the tall grass in front of the panicked horse. Wolves. No less than six of them were closing in on the helpless colt.
“Oh no!” Molly cried.
“Don’t let go of Magic,” Caleb shouted.
Magic had no intention of going anywhere. Instead he cowered on her lap, his body shaking.
One wolf leaped through the air. Orbit’s hoof caught the wolf by the neck, throwing the animal against a rock. They were too far away to see if the wolf was dead or merely stunned. That left five wolves.
Molly pumped her fist. “Good for you, Orbit.” The horse was blind but far from helpless. Neither, as it turned out, was her brother.
One wolf let out a menacing howl and a cold shiver shot down Molly’s spine. If only she’d thought to bring her shotgun.
Caleb inched the car forward to within twenty feet of the animals and blew his horn. Ah-ooh-ga. The wolves glanced back, teeth bared, then continued to advance toward Orbit.
Molly handed Magic over to Caleb and jumped from the vehicle. She grabbed a rock and threw it at the nearest wolf. The wild canine stared at her, its amber gaze boring into her like a branding iron. She threw another rock and this time the wolf moved away, but another— probably the leader—slithered toward her. He looked thin and mangy but no less threatening.
“Get in!” Caleb shouted.
Molly tossed one last rock before heaving herself into the vehicle. Caleb slammed his foot against the gas pedal. Bertha lurched forward, trembled, and stalled.
Caleb pounded the dash with his fist.” Blast it!” The car shuddered and backfired, once, twice—three times! The loud booms echoed through the canyon like cannon fire and the wolves ran.
He burst out laughing. “Yahoo!”
Hand on her pounding chest, Molly gasped. “Th-Thank God for Bertha.” She picked Magic up off the floor where he’d dived for cover and rubbed her nose in his fur. The poor dog was still shaking. “Your friend is okay.”
Orbit whinnied and Magic leaped out of her arms, paws on the dash, and whined.
The colt lowered his front legs and stood motionless as if afraid to move. “Orbit, it’s safe,” she called. “Come on.”
She scrambled out of the car and, after making certain no wolves lurked nearby, set Magic on the ground. The dog sprinted forward with a joyful bark and raced through the dry grass to the colt’s side. Orbit lowered his head and the two friends touched noses.
Caleb turned the flywheel and Bertha leaped to life. “Hurry, Molly. Those wolves aren’t going to stay away for long.”
“Come on, Magic.” Molly clapped her hands. The dog raced back to the car. Orbit nodded his head several times, then cautiously walked toward them, stopping every couple of feet to sniff the air.
The moment Orbit reached them Molly thrust out her hand and the horse buried his nose in her palm. The poor horse was trembling, his coat covered in dust and sweat.
Molly ran her hand along Orbit’s forehead, moving his forelock aside. “You’re safe now, little fellow.”
Caleb reached for the rope in back. “Let’s get out of here.”
“We won’t need that,” Molly said. “Orbit will follow us. Just don’t drive too fast.” A trickle of blood ran down Orbit’s left hind leg. “Oh no, he’s hurt.”
“Looks like one of the wolves caught him with a claw,” Caleb said. “I’ll clean it up later. Come on. We gotta get out of here.”
Wasting no time, they left the hidden area behind. Caleb drove extra slow for Orbit’s sake. Even so, they bounced over ruts and gullies.
Molly held on tight. She was still shaken from the ordeal, but no amount of jostling, heat, or hunger could dampen her spirits. What a day it had been. Donny making it all the way to the barn by himself. Orbit fighting off wolves.
Following her brother’s accident, she’d vowed to protect and care for him always. What an impossible task she’d set for herself. No matter how determined, how watchful, how absolutely vigilant she was, it would never be enough. Only Donny could protect Donny. The rest was up to God.
Magic whimpered and barked and her thoughts scattered like seeds in the wind. “I think he needs to go,” she said.
“Again?” He tossed a nod toward the windmill ahead. “I’ll stop there so we can all get a drink.”
Caleb pulled up alongside the high stilts. The towering blades cast a spot of welcome shade over them. Molly climbed out of the car and called Orbit. While the horse drank, Caleb held Magic up to the trough. Magic lapped noisily, his ears dragging in the water.
After Orbit had his fill, he nuzzled his nose in her hand and nodded his head up and down as he did each morning to greet her. She laughed. “You want me to sing, eh?”
She c
leared her throat. “Swing low, sweet chariot.” “Come down from above.” She sang softly at first, but her voice gradually grew louder, as did Mr. Washington’s voice in her head. What in my life needs God’s help? What secret code is buried in my heart? What chains do I need Him to remove? “Coming for to carry me home.” Help me to reach my true love.
She finished the song and Caleb joined her. “That’s the saddest song I’ve ever heard you sing.”
She smiled. “Not sad, hopeful,” she said. “It’s a song filled with hope.”
He took a step forward and cupped her elbow. “You’re shaking. You’re not still scared, are you?”
She stepped out of his reach but only to think more clearly. “I guess in a way I am. A little.” She was about to make a big change in her life and that alone was scary.
“I realized I’ve been wrong about a lot of things. About the church. Donny.” After a short hesitation she added, “God.”
He lifted a brow. “God?”
“I never really saw Him working in my life. Losing almost everything in the fire. Spotting Miss Walker’s advertisement. Coming to Cactus Patch. Even my accident. I thought that it was all by happenstance. Now I realize God was working in my life all along, but I was just too blind to see it.”
“We all tend to be blind at times,” he said.
“Not you. You never saw Donny as crippled.”
“Sometimes it’s easier to see things more clearly when you’re standing a distance away.” He studied her. “Is that why you moved away from me just now? So you can see me more clearly?”
“I always saw you clearly,” she said softly.
He tilted his head. “So where do we go from here?”
We. He said we. She exhaled. She ran her hands up and down her arms. She no longer trembled out of fear but rather anticipation, hope, and, more than anything, love.
“I don’t know what the future holds. I leave that in God’s hands. What I do know is that I love you with all my heart, and if you still want this stubborn woman . . .”
“Molly,” he said, grabbing her by the arms. “Molly Hatfield . . . are . . . are you saying what I think you’re saying?”
She nodded.
With a cry of joy he pulled her close. Laughing, she buried her head against his chest.
“Is that a yes?” she asked. “Does this mean you still want me?”
“Oh, Molly, how can you even ask me that? I want you, I love you, I need you . . . I . . .” Tightening his hold, he murmured the sweetest, most beautiful words in her ears, his warm breath showering down like gentle rain. “I know that Donny will always come first but . . .”
She lifted her head and touched a finger to his lips. “Not anymore. Thanks to you, Donny will do just fine. He doesn’t need a nursemaid and he certainly doesn’t need an overprotective sister.”
Caleb gazed at her with such tenderness she was afraid to breathe. Please, God, if this is just a dream, don’t let me wake up. Ever!
“You’ve made me the happiest man alive.” He showered her with kisses, and the sweet tenderness of his lips made her tremble with pleasure. He kissed her again and again, each time his lips becoming more demanding, but then she had some demands of her own to make.
They might have stayed locked in each other’s arms forever had Magic not barked and Orbit whinnied as if to say, Hey, you two. Let’s go home.
Chapter 37
Eleanor sat at her desk staring at the contract clause forbidding her “heiress” to marry. Robert criticized her for including such a stipulation, but it was there for good reason. Marriage complicated matters. It diminished a woman’s abilities, diverted her attention, and inevitably broke her heart. Married men could run a ranch; married women could not.
A knock sounded at the door. “Come in.”
The door opened and Molly stuck in her head. “We found Orbit.”
Eleanor barely bothered to look up. “It’s about time. Now maybe we can get some work done.”
“Do you have a moment?” Molly asked.
Eleanor sat back in her chair, pen in hand. “Come in.”
Molly walked into the room and closed the door. Dressed in divided skirt, checkered shirt, and wide-brimmmed hat, Molly looked nothing like the girl Eleanor had first set eyes on all those weeks ago. It wasn’t only the clothes that made the difference; she no longer seemed to carry the world on her shoulders, and the glow on her face had nothing to do with paint. Obviously ranch work agreed with her and this gave Eleanor a measure of satisfaction.
Molly moistened her lips. “I apologize for the disruption this morning and for taking the men away from their duties.”
“See that it doesn’t happen again.” Eleanor folded her hands on the desk. “I guess this is as good a time as any to discuss your brother. I decided to hire him a nursemaid.” Convinced that the girl would welcome the news, Eleanor was surprised to see Molly frown.
“Why . . . why would you do such a thing?”
Eleanor shrugged. “My banker friend told me that I have you to thank for chasing away that awful man Hampshire. It’s the least I can do to show my appreciation.”
“That’s very kind of you but Donny doesn’t need a nursemaid.”
Eleanor discounted Molly’s objection with a wave of a hand. “He might not, but you do. The ranch needs your full attention, and the only way that will happen is if someone else takes care of him.”
Molly stepped away from the door and stood directly in front of the desk. “Donny made it all the way to the barn by himself.”
Eleanor tossed her pen on the desk. “Am I supposed to applaud him for letting one of my horses free?”
“He only did it because he thought Orbit’s life was in danger. He shouldn’t have let him go, but it was still a great accomplishment.” Hands planted on the edge of the desk, Molly leaned forward, her face earnest. “During the Dobson Creek fire he didn’t even try to save himself and he could have died. I never thought to see the day when he could get in and out of his chair by himself.”
“He still needs help,” Eleanor said briskly. She glanced down at the contract in front of her. Molly’s name was typed neatly at the top of the page. Was it too soon to have the girl sign it? Perhaps then Molly would more readily accept Eleanor’s proposal.
Molly straightened. “I love your ranch. It gave Donny and me our first real home. I don’t know how I can ever thank you. You are truly the kindest and most generous person I’ve ever met.”
“Oh dear.” Eleanor lifted her hand to her forehead. “I do believe those were the exact same words my husband said before he walked out.”
Molly’s face softened. Good heavens, don’t let that be pity. Eleanor despised pity, especially when it was directed at her.
“I . . . I’m leaving the ranch,” Molly said.
“Leav—” Eleanor quickly recovered. She glanced down at the contract on her desk. “I was about to suggest that. Since . . . you turned down my offer for a nursemaid, there are no other options.”
“I’m sorry,” Molly said, and she sounded like she really meant it. “I didn’t mean to put you to so much trouble.”
“No trouble. I’ve had to let a lot of people go in my time.” Foolish girl. She had no idea what she was throwing away. “So what do you plan to do? Pursue your . . . singing career?” Eleanor couldn’t imagine anyone choosing to work in a saloon over running a ranch but stranger things had happened. Kate Tenney marrying the blacksmith was a good example.
Molly hesitated. “No, it’s not that. I’m in love with someone.”
Eleanor hadn’t expected this. “With whom?” she snapped. It better not be one of my ranch hands!
“Dr. Fairbanks. I plan to help him in his office. He needs a nurse assistant. It will make things a little easier for him. I’m not trained, but I’m a fast learner and there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for him. We love each other.”
Eleanor felt like she’d been kicked by a mule. As if the doctor with his noisy rattletrap
hadn’t caused enough trouble. “Love is like that horse you call Orbit,” she said brusquely. “It’s blind and won’t get you anywhere.”
“I believe love will take me wherever I want to go,” Molly said.
Eleanor rubbed her temples. What was wrong with today’s youth, believing such nonsense? In her day women married mostly for convenience—seldom for love. They married for security. The ranch offered all the security anyone could want, making such marriages unnecessary.
“I’m so very, very sorry, Miss Walker. I really wanted to do right by you. The money you loaned us . . . I’ll repay every penny.”
“The money wasn’t for you,” Eleanor said, her voice taut. “It was for Donald.”
Molly’s eyes widened. “Why would you give my brother money?”
Eleanor studied her a moment before answering. “Do you know that cows pee backwards?”
Molly frowned. “Pardon me?”
Eleanor gave a knowing nod. Molly’s leaving the ranch really was for the best. The girl had no feel for cattle. Horses maybe, but not cattle, the lifeline of the ranch.
“Your brother knows a great many things. I suspect he also knows enough not to look a gift horse in the mouth. Now get out of here. I’ve got a ranch to run.”
Molly looked about to say something but changed her mind. She quietly slipped out of the room, giving Eleanor one last questioning glance before closing the door.
Eleanor picked up the contract, glanced at it a moment, then ripped it up.
She stared at the empty space Molly left behind. Drat! She would miss the girl. As much as she hated to admit it, she’d even grown fond of Donald.
Love. What a thief. It sneaked up where it wasn’t wanted and grabbed the best and brightest. Only the old and wise knew how to avoid Cupid’s clever traps.
If Robert were here, he’d no doubt try to talk her into selling the ranch again.
Robert. What a dear, sweet man. He’d proposed numerous times but never once had he uttered the word love. A good thing. A very good thing. Because even an old hand like her couldn’t protect her heart forever.
Waiting for Morning (The Brides Of Last Chance Ranch Series) Page 27