The Shepherd's Heart Series: A Boxed Set Book Bundle Collection Volumes 1-4

by Lynnette Bonner

  Nicki smiled softly her gaze never leaving Jason’s face. “Through you, the Lord has been such a haven for me. I want her name to always be a reminder of what God did for me by bringing you into my life.”

  He cleared his throat and blinked rapidly a couple times, then nodded and turned to look at the baby. “Hello little Haven. I’m so happy to finally see you.” Jason’s stubbled cheek pressed gently to the baby’s head, his eyes closed, and his lips moved in quiet prayer.

  Sharyah traced the grain of the table, the scene almost too reverent to watch anymore.

  Cade reached across the corner of the table and tilted her face toward him. His eyes shimmering with quiet emotion, he studied her for a long moment. “You’re beautiful when you are happy,” he whispered.

  Her stomach rolled. “I am happy.” She reached out and brushed back the dark curls splayed across his forehead. Her heart dropped as she realized what she’d just done. Why was she constantly making herself vulnerable to this man? Hadn’t she just promised herself that she was done doing that? She looked away, curling her fingers into her palm and shoving her hands into her lap.

  Cade stood and tipped her face up toward him, fingers under her chin and his thumb tracing a hot caress across her cheek bone. He nodded toward the door. “Let’s go outside. I need to talk to you.”

  Fear clenched a fist around her throat. All these years she’d longed for him to show an interest in her. And now… there was such warmth in the blue of his eyes. Had that time finally come? And what if he was misinterpreting his feelings? What if the fact that she’d nearly died twice the night before, not to mention his obvious exhaustion, was confusing him? She knew he cared for her in a brotherly way. But it had never gone beyond that and she’d be a fool to allow herself to believe that anything had changed.

  Sharyah let him pull out her chair and hold the door open for her, but she wasn’t about to stand still and listen to him try to explain his obvious confusion. He needed rest and a few days distance from her near death, then he’d realize what he was really feeling, and it would be better if she didn’t let him muddle the situation up by promising her things he didn’t truly feel.

  Outside, he reached for her hand, but she stepped away. She would save him the awkwardness.

  “Sharyah—”

  “Cade, I’m exhausted.” She scanned the buildings. “Do you think there’s somewhere I could sleep for awhile?”

  There was enough truth in the statement to assuage her guilt at avoiding him.

  The door to the bunkhouse opened and the old ranch hand poked his head out. “You two look pretty tuckered. I’ve fixed up beds for you both inside.” He tilted his chin in a gesture of welcome.

  Sharyah hurried to accept the man’s offer. “Thank you.” She brushed past him.

  The man nodded. “There’s a second room there. You go on in. Cade can sleep out here next to the boy.”

  “That will be perfect.” Sharyah bustled past him, shut the door to her little room, and pressed her forehead to the cool of the wood. How long could she get away with hiding in here? Maybe if she stayed long enough he’d be gone by the time she came out.

  With a little groan, she flopped back onto the bed. Simply put, the man made her crazy.

  Cade blinked slowly at the closed portal then glanced over at Ron.

  The old man smiled sympathetically.

  Rubbing a hand over his face, Cade tried to think. Exhaustion tugged at him, but he needed to ride into Farewell Bend and telegraph Shiloh. They would be getting a message from Beth Haven that Sharyah had been killed in the fire and he wanted to let them know she was alright and at Jason’s. “Ron? Our horses need a rest. You have a mount I can use to get to town?”

  Ron scratched the back of his head. “You don’t mind my saying so, you don’t look like you should be going anywhere but straight into the sack.”

  Cade smirked. “That bad, huh?”

  Ron nodded.

  “I got a couple hours sleep last night before the fire.” And only two hours the night before that, but he didn’t add that fact. “And I need to send a message to Sharyah’s family that she’s alright.”

  Ron took his elbow and pushed him down onto an empty bunk. “You leave that to me. I’ll ride in and do it for you.”

  Relief from the responsibility sapped the rest of Cade’s resolve to stay awake. “Much obliged.” He pulled his boots from his feet and nearly groaned in pleasure as his head settled against the pillow and all went black.

  Smith Bennett pulled his horse to a stop at the top of the hill overlooking the ranch where he’d spent twenty-five years with the woman he loved. Everything looked about the same. Cade was doing a good job then, keeping the place up. The way he himself had run off after Brenda’s death though, wasn’t right. The boy had deserved better than that. But grief had blinded him to what Cade would need.

  God, forgive me.

  How many times had he prayed that? God had forgiven him, he knew. Now it was time to ask his son to do that same.

  “Gid’up.” He heeled the horse forward, skirting a low hedge and angling down the hill.

  He rode into the yard from behind the barn and could hear someone inside whistling a tuneless cadence. Reining up he swung down and dropped his horse’s reins on the ground. He’d trained the animal himself and knew it wouldn’t go anywhere.

  Poking his head around one of the large sliding doors he called, “Cade?”

  The whistling stopped and Rocky Jordan appeared out of the far back stall, a pitchfork in his hands. “Smith!” The young man strode his way holding out one hand, a genuine smile lighting his face. “It’s so good to see you.”

  Smith shook his hand and nodded. Cade must have partnered up with Rocky. Smart move. Rocky was a hard worker and knew his way around a ranch. The kid had never really had his heart in the law. “How’ve you been, son? Good to see you.”

  Rocky set the pitchfork aside and settled his hands on his hips. “I’m doing real well. How about you?” True concern darkened the young man’s eyes.

  Smith blinked and rubbed one hand over the back of his neck. “I’m starting to breathe again, son. Starting to breathe again.” The corners of his mouth pulled up slightly. “For awhile there I wondered if life was worth living, you know?”

  Rocky nodded. “I think I’d feel the same if I lost Victoria.”

  Smith didn’t comment on that. Give him another quarter of a century with the woman and then he might be close to being able to understand how he really felt. “How is she?”

  “Doing real good. Come on.” Rocky tipped his head toward the house. “She’ll skin me alive if I don’t bring you right in for refreshments.”

  Smith shuffled his feet and glanced around the barn. The last thing he wanted to see was another woman standing over Brenda’s stove. “Actually there’s something I need to take care of right away. Is Cade around?”

  Rocky hesitated. “He’s not, actually. A friend of his from Beth Haven came by and needed his help. He was having trouble with rustlers.” Rocky’s jaw bunched. “But some trouble must have gone down. We received a telegram from the head of the school board over there asking us if Cade had arrived here and if he’d be back soon. Then right after that we got a telegram from Cade. Something must have happened because he says he’s got Sharyah safe in Farewell Bend at my cousin Jason’s place and not to worry.”

  Smith sighed. He’d been hoping to get the burden of apology off his chest tonight. Looked like that would have to wait for a bit longer. He forced a smile. “Alright, then. Come on and let me see that young woman of yours. But I’ll need to catch the first east-bound train there is.”

  Rocky nodded. “One leaves this morning at nine. I’ll drive you to town in our buggy.”

  Smith felt a small weight lift from his shoulders. One step closer.

  13

  Sharyah slept the day away and awoke that evening to the lilting strains of a guitar. For a long moment she stared at the patch of stars o
utside her room’s one small window, trying to place her whereabouts and where the music was coming from.

  Then she remembered their all-night ride to Jason’s spread, delivering the baby, and finally her escape from Cade.

  She rolled to her side and sat up, eyeing the door. Would he be out there waiting for her? Or maybe he was still sleeping himself? The bunk springs groaned in protest as she stood and padded softly to the window.

  Knowing Cade, he was wide awake and waiting to stubbornly insist that she let him talk to her.

  Perhaps she should simply stay put until morning. But, as she pushed the window open to better hear the song, a tantalizing waft of smoky roast pork set her stomach rumbling with the reminder that she hadn’t eaten since yesterday.

  The music floated through the window, alluring in its beauty. Despite the begging of her stomach, she stood still to listen, her eyes falling closed. Each note wrapped around her, soothing frayed nerves and calming the fear that had lain just beneath the surface since her near escape from the fire the night before. Who would be playing so beautifully? Was it Jason? Or maybe one of his ranch hands? Finally, aided by the mouth-watering enticement of the delicious scent, the melody lured her to her door.

  She eased it open and peered into the other room. Only when she saw that Cade didn’t occupy one of the room’s four bunks did she relax and step through.

  Brandon, still sprawled on the bed they’d laid him in, head tousled and mouth gaping open, slept as the dead.

  She smiled softly. Poor boy. This was probably the best night’s sleep he’d had in a long time. She soothed the hair off his forehead and adjusted the covers, pausing for a moment by his side. Lord, help us to know how best to help him.

  Straightening, she glanced at the outer door. She could hear voices and laughter now, along with the clatter of utensils on plates. Curious to see what all the commotion could be this late at night, she poked her head outside.

  A roaring fire blazed in the middle of the yard, several stools, logs and rocks pulled up around it, and she blinked at the number of people gathered there. Where had they all come from and who were they all? A man with a long drooping black mustache and wearing a large sombrero slowly turned the spit of smoldering meat above the fire and tapped his toe in time to the guitar which had picked up the beat, now. Off to one side a long table with a lantern at each end held a wide array of food, just the sight of which had Sharyah’s stomach rumbling so loudly she feared it could be heard across the yard.

  “You must be, Sharyah?” A young woman about her own age, eyes dark as almonds and high cheek bones framed by a cascade of straight black hair, stepped up next to her with a soft smile on her browned face. “I am Rosa Vasquez. Nicki, she is my sister. She tell us that you help her during her time.”

  Sharyah dropped a quick curtsy. “It was my pleasure and I’m pleased to meet you.”

  “We are here to celebrate.” Rosa held one hand toward the food table where a portly matron busied herself straightening and refilling and smacking the hands of hungry boys she apparently deemed had enough food on their plates. “You are hungry?”

  “Famished!”

  Rosa giggled. “Well then, come.” She led the way through several darting children and offered Sharyah a plate. Then leaning forward she said quietly, “You will get not only a feast for your belly, but one for your eyes as well, when you see the one who makes the guitar sing.”

  “Rosa! For shame, talking so!” The hearty woman who’d been standing behind the table launched into a string of Spanish that set Rosa’s cheeks aflame and then her hands to wringing.

  Sharyah scooped several different foods onto her plate, her curiosity piqued even though she couldn’t understand a word being said. When the plump woman hurried off to scold a couple of small boys that had fallen into a tussle, Sharyah grinned at Rosa.

  Rosa’s levity instantly returned and she rolled her eyes. “My mama, she… how you say? She howls bigger than her teeth.”

  A laugh bubbled forth. She couldn’t help it. “Her bark is worse than her bite?” She popped a small bit of flatbread into her mouth.

  Rosa snapped her fingers. “That is it. Now come,” her dark eyes sparkled, “we will go on the pretense of getting some meat from Papa, and then you will see I speak truth about el músico.”

  Taking another bite of her tortilla, Sharyah glanced around. She should really just make her escape back to her room before Cade decided to pop out of hiding. But Rosa was already halfway across the yard, and she didn’t want to disappear on her without an explanation. Besides, the smell of the meat would torment her all night if she didn’t get at least a small slice of it. Balancing her plate on one hand, she lifted her skirt with the other and followed Rosa’s calico skirt.

  “Papa, esto es Sharyah. Desearìa un trozo de carne.” Rosa spoke to her father.

  “Si, si.” The man with the sombrero nodded his head and set to carving off a thick slice of the roast pork.

  Rosa touched Sharyah’s shoulder and nodded to the man. “This is my Papa, Carlos Vasquez.”

  Sharyah smiled. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Vasquez.”

  He nodded, his eyes glinting with good humor as he used his huge carving knife and fork to set the steaming pork onto her plate. “Si, si. Es una Hermosa noche para celebrar el nacimiento de mi nieta. Ella es tan bonita! Gracias.”

  “Papa says it is a good night to celebrate the birth of his beautiful granddaughter and thank you for your help to Nicki, today.”

  Sharyah dipped her head. “I’m glad I was here to help.”

  Rosa lowered her voice. “Now come,” she gestured toward two logs upended near each other, “let us sit and feast.” With a little giggle, she pumped her eyebrows twice in quick succession then trotted away before Sharyah could state her intention to head back to her room.

  Rosa sat, fluffed her skirts, and then clasped her hands around one knee and leaned back, looking for all the world like she was settling in for a long concert.

  Several men standing in a group and wearing big hats and ponchos blocked her view of the guitarist Rosa stared at with gleaming gaze.

  Sharyah grinned. She’d only known the girl for five minutes and already she could tell they would be lifelong friends. Cade Bennett be hanged. Suddenly she wanted to stay right here and get to know this new friend better. She settled herself onto the log next to Rosa. “Alright where is this el músico you were talk—” Her sentence ended on a squeak as her eyes settled on the man with the guitar across the fire.

  Rosa chuckled and leaned over to bump her with her shoulder. “See? It is as I said, no?”

  Sharyah’s mouth gaped open, the bite of meat she’d just taken forgotten. Cade Bennett was the el músico! How had she not known he could play a guitar, much less so beautifully?

  His black Stetson pushed back, and a red bandana crumpled around his neck, he had his head tilted to one side and his eyes closed as he plucked a harmonic melody from the strings.

  Realizing her mouth could be mistaken for an unsprung bear-trap, Sharyah snapped it shut and remembered just in the nick of time to chew a few times before she swallowed. She tossed Rosa a sheepish look that was met with a giggle.

  “Just remember, I saw him first, yes?” Rosa teased.

  Oh no you didn’t.

  Just then, as though he had sensed her there, Cade’s focus zeroed in on her without so much as a flicker right or left. His chin lifted in a quick gesture of greeting, but his fingers never missed a beat. Nor did his gaze waver.

  She lifted a finger in acknowledgment, but then pretended great interest in the food on her plate. All she could bring herself to do, however, was push the beans into little piles and twirl her fork through the mound of fried potatoes and then she lifted her eyes, only to find him still studying her, one corner of his mouth quirked in a crooked little smile.

  Her heart stalled, then rushed as though to make up for the lost beat even as heat surged into her cheeks. And immediately fol
lowing, a swell of anger washed over her. How many times would she have to take herself in hand before she finally extracted this man from her heart? He didn’t want her. How could she still be so attracted to him? Why couldn’t she get it through her head that he would never see her as more than a little sister needing protection?

  “Rosa, if you will excuse me. I think I will head off to my room for the night. It was very nice to meet you.” She stood and offered her new friend a smile.

  Rosa glanced back and forth between the two of them, a glimmer of confusion in her eyes. “Of course, you are... Forgive me. I did not know that you and he… that you were—”

  “Rosa, please.” Sharyah kept her voice low. “We are not. You have done nothing wrong. Will you be here in the morning?”

  The music stopped and out of the corner of her eye she saw him stand and pass the guitar to another man. Cade straightened his hat and started her way.

  Sharyah pressed down her instinct to run as she waited for Rosa to respond. She needed to make her escape quickly, or he would catch up to her.

  Rosa nodded. “Our family will sleep in the barn and spend a few days here to help Jason and Nicki so they can take extra time with the little ones.”

  Sharyah started backing away, balancing her plate in one hand. “Good. Maybe we can go riding, tomorrow?”

  Rosa’s shoulders eased perceptibly. “Si. I would like that.”

  “Me too. See you then.” She turned quickly, lifted her skirts with one hand, and started toward the bunk house. Only a few yards to go. Once in the safety of her room she could plead fatigue and wouldn’t have to face the man until morning.

  “Miss Jordan!” a woman called.

  Sharyah’s heart sank even as she tossed a glance over her shoulder. Rosa’s mama waved to her and hustled her way, one hand gripping several plates. Maybe she could just pretend she hadn’t heard the woman. She kept going.

  “Miss Jordan!”

  Her eyes slid shut and her feet unwillingly shuffled to a stop. She turned to face the woman well aware that Cade was only a few paces away. “Yes, ma’am?”