High Desert Haven (The Shepherd's Heart)

by Lynnette Bonner

  Motioning toward a log with his rifle, Jason used his lariat to tie the man’s hands, still cinched behind his back, to a thick sturdy branch that could not be broken. The top of the short limb had a burl on it so the rope could not slip off the end. Unless his captive dragged the huge log with him as he went, he wouldn’t be going anywhere.

  Jason retrieved the horse and brought it back to the fire. Finding a blanket in the saddle roll he unfurled it and settled it around the stranger’s frame.

  The man looked a little surprised at this kindness but still didn’t speak.

  Instead he looked away.

  Jason cocked an eyebrow. “Why are you following me?”

  Another guttural sound from the disgruntled captive. He was obviously put out at having been caught so easily in his own game.

  Jason grinned suddenly. “Not a talker, huh? Well, that’s fine. But I have some business to take care of.”

  Adding another stick to the fire, Jason mounted up. “Hopefully I’ll be back before you freeze to death.” Spinning his horse, he trotted off in the opposite direction than he intended to go. As soon as he was out of sight he circled around and went to check out the little crevice he had noticed earlier.

  Just as he had hoped, the crevice was deeper than it appeared from a distance, or even from close up to a casual observer, and it formed a little steep-sided trail that led deeper into the hills.

  When Jason topped out above an expansive valley he sucked in a deep breath of awe. At one end of the valley lay a good sized pond, now ice-covered except for the end closest to a small stream that cut a snaking black strip across the snow-blanketed basin. Not even the dimming light of the setting sun glistening off the thick blanket of covering snow could conceal the heavy grasses that would be a lush green come warmer months. This sight in itself might have been enough to take his breath away, but what affected him was what the valley contained: for spread across the white expanse of the basin was a herd of wild mustangs—the most beautiful sight he’d ever seen!

  Below him, where the trail he was on spilled into the valley, a rock-slide blocked the path, effectively making a huge corral out of the basin.

  As he swung down, pulling his binoculars to his eyes, a stallion lifted his head, nostrils flaring in the slight breeze that descended into the valley, and gave a sharp whinny. The heads of the rest of the herd snapped to attention, the last rays of a red-gold sun glimmering off their hides. After a moment of suspended stillness, the herd began to mill about nervously. He couldn’t get an exact count, but Jason guessed that there were at least two hundred head, most of them yearlings and two-year-olds. All marked with the Hanging T brand.

  It was amazing to him that no one at the ranch knew about them. He considered, his eyes following the lead stallion. John must have brought those four fine-blooded broncs he had purchased and left them here in this natural corral with a herd of mares. For the past two years the herd had been left to run free and multiply. And hidden as they were back in this huge valley, which had plenty of shelter along one end where the brow of a hill jutted out to form a covered area, Jason could see how no one had known. Especially since John Trent apparently hadn’t told anyone of their existence.

  There had to be suspicions, however, because many people had known that John had purchased four excellent horses. That might explain why the man who had been following him hadn’t made a move on him earlier. Maybe he’d been hoping that Jason knew something he, and presumably his boss, didn’t.

  Who had sent the man? Jason mounted back up. He wasn’t likely to get that information from his uninformative captive. But the face of William Harpster sprang to mind and Jason contemplated on that. He hadn’t liked William from the first moment of their meeting but he couldn’t quite place his finger on why.

  His thoughts turned to Nicki. He was honest enough to admit that his dislike of the man could stem from the fact that Nicki seemed to like him so much. Yet there was something deeper in it. Something rippled under William’s calm exterior, and Jason didn’t like it. He would keep his eye onWilliam.

  Suddenly the tawny stallion gave another piercing whistle and the herd shifted as one. Rippling muscles launched into a smooth rhythm and the herd, manes and tails flowing behind them, cantered to the far end of the valley. A mass of glistening blacks, whites, tans, browns, and reds.

  Jason let out the breath he had been unwittingly holding and tipped his hat at the sky in a salute of gratefulness for God’s guidance. The answer to his prayers had just arrived.

  11

  Brenda Jeffries finished putting the warm, heavenly scented bread rolls into the basket on the kitchen sideboard, covering them carefully with an extra towel so they stayed hot. Smoothing her apron, she glanced around the small space, making sure she hadn’t forgotten anything.

  Rolf eased up behind her, slipping his arms around her waist. “Ya aren’t gonna leave any o’ those for me?” He sniffed appreciatively.

  Smacking his hand playfully, Brenda stepped out of the circle of his arms and faced him. “I can’t feed ya more’n you can work off in a day! If ya gain any weight, we won’t be able to move around in this palace.” She gestured magnanimously around the room.

  Rolf laughed uproariously. Placing hands on his trim hips, he waggled his dark eyebrows. “Woman, I think yer askin’ for a takin’ down!”

  From their place on the bed in the corner, where they had been huddled under a blanket reading a book, the children giggled, apparently excited by the knowledge of what the next moments would bring.

  “Rolf,” Brenda shook an authoritative finger in her husband’s face, “don’t you do it! You’ll muss my dress and me just headin’ off a-visitin’!”

  “Ahhh, Bren. No one’s gonna notice a few wrinkles on yer dress when they can look into eyes the likes o’ yours.” And with that, he lunged for her, a grin splitting his face from ear to ear.

  “RoLLFFF!” Brenda’s squeal of mock alarm was accompanied by the excited cheers of her traitorous offspring.

  “Get her, Papa!”

  “Look at Mama run!”

  “Around the table, Papa! The other way! Go!”

  With a final lunge, Rolf had her cornered and Brenda threw up her hands in surrender as Rolf’s hands eased around her waist, settling threateningly just below her highly ticklish ribs. He cocked his head, winking at her. “Now, what were ya sayin’ ’bout my weight?”

  Brenda pulled an innocent face. “Did I say somethin’ about yer weight, Love?”

  “Yes, I believe ya did, Love,” he mimicked with a jab to her ribs that produced a squeal.

  “Oh! Wait now.” She giggled, grabbing his hands and trying to move them away from her ribs. “I be rememberin’ a mite.” She scrunched up her face, biting her upper lip as though in deep concentration. His fingers moved toward her ribs. “Yes!” she spoke quickly before he could make contact, “I apologize, Love fer havin’ offended yer manly pride.”

  “Mmm.” He stepped nearer, his face not losing its smile, but his voice dropping to a tone that only a wife would recognize. “Well,” he whispered, “mayhap I’ll let ya make it up to me when ya get back from visitin’.” His eyebrows pumped twice just before his lips settled over hers and Brenda heard three distinct giggles from her brood, although she knew that they couldn’t have heard their father’s deliberately low words.

  As soon as Brenda left the house for her visit with the widow Trent, Rolf turned to his children. “All right ya passle o’ rascals. I have some work I need to be finishin’ in the barn, and you three have been cooped up in this house all winter long. Why don’t ya come out and join me? I daresay it might be warmer out there than ’tis in here. What do you say?”

  A chorus of “Yes” greeted him, and he smiled as he held the door for them to precede him.

  Satisfaction slid onto William’s face as he watched the little cabin through his binoculars. This was his chance. He had been waiting patiently since early that morning for the little wooden shack
to empty of all its occupants so that he could begin his task, and now the opportunity was finally here.

  He scanned his route of escape once more through the lenses, memorizing every twist and turn he would have to take to stay out of view. Another glance at the barn confirmed no one had come out.

  He picked up the small can of kerosene and the box of matches and headed down the hill.

  The squeak of saddle leather and the crunch of horse’s hooves in the crisp snow of the yard brought Nicki’s head up.

  Diablo, the puppy, set to yapping by the door. She jumped up from the table where she had been darning a pair of Sawyer’s little socks and rushed to the window, hushing the dog. She hoped Jason had finally returned. She had agreed to give him a week. And this was the afternoon of the eighth day. All day she had been watching for him to come and had finally sent Tilly home early so she wouldn’t have to put up with any more of her knowing looks.

  As she reached the window and rubbed a spot free of frost, she laid a hand across her chest, trying to still the racing of her heart. It wouldn’t do for him to see that his tardiness had caused her concern.

  But it wasn’t Jason. It was Brenda Jeffries come for the visit she had promised at John’s funeral.

  Nicki brushed aside her disappointment. She was just excited to find out if Jason had discovered anything that would help her save the ranch, not longing to see the man himself….

  Glancing at Sawyer to make sure he was still sleeping soundly, Nicki eased her way out the door, puppy at her heels, to greet her friend.

  “OW!” Bobby Jeffries whirled on his sister. “PA! May just bit me!”

  “May Ann Jeffries! What have your mother and I been tellin’ ya ’bout bitin’?”

  May hung her head, large tears forming in her blue eyes.

  Eyes so much like her mother’s. Rolf sighed. May tugged so at his heartstrings that he often had difficulty disciplining her like he knew he should. But this biting had gone on long enough. He cleared his throat pointedly, waiting for her reply.

  She tucked a strand of straight white-blond hair behind her ear and mumbled, “No bitin’.”

  Rolf scratched his bearded face, reminding himself not to smile, as she turned the full force of her blue eyes on him, using her tears to full advantage.

  “He took my doll, Pa!” She tossed an angry glare at Bobby. “And he wouldn’t give it back!”

  “No! I—” Bobby’s protest fell dead at the searing expression Rolf turned on him.

  Satisfied to have their full attention, Rolf looked back to his daughter. “May, I don’t care what he did to ya; it’s never all right to bite. Ever. You’ve been told this afore and now I’m tellin’ ya again. No bitin’!”

  Her lower lip trembled. “Yes, Pa.”

  “Now you need to go say sorry to your brother.”

  She sighed. “Yes, Pa.” Feet dragging and her doll dangling by one arm, May walked over to Bobby. “I’m sorry, Bobby. I shouldn’t a bit ya.”

  Bobby folded his arms and looked at his father.

  “Go on, son.”

  “Fine. I forgive you. But it better not happen again!”

  “Bobby!” Rolf dipped his chin, indicating his displeasure.

  “Sorry,” Bobby mumbled.

  “Right. Now you two go on and play nicely together.”

  “Can we go back inside, Pa? I could read to May. An’ we could wrap up in the quilt.”

  “Sure, just be careful that you don’t get too close to the stove. And no adding any more wood until I get in there. I don’t want you to get burnt.”

  “Yes, Pa!” Both children ran for the door, their fight immediately forgotten.

  Rolf watched them in wonder, shaking his head over the ease with which children forgave. “We could all learn a lot from the forgiveness of children, John,” he told his other son.

  John nodded thoughtfully, watching his siblings as they raced across the yard to the house.

  “Nicki, hello,” Brenda greeted as she dropped from the saddle, wrapping her mount’s reins around the top rail of the newly erected corral.

  Diablo sniffed at the horse’s hooves, shying away with ears laid low when the horse stamped one foot.

  “Brenda, it’s so good to see you,” Nicki responded warmly, truly meaning her words.

  “I’m right sorry it’s taken me so long to make it over for that visit we talked about. I been meanin’ to get here for a couple o’ weeks now. I see you have a puppy. Bobby and May would just love to have one, but Rolf put his foot down.” She chuckled, “I have to say I was pretty thankful he did. The last thing I need is one more thing to take care of.”

  Nicki stooped to scoop the puppy into her arms. “Yes, he was a gift to Sawyer from William.” She ruffled the pup’s ears roughly. “And he is a menace! We named him Diablo after he dug a hole through the wall of the soddy not once, but twice!”

  “Oh, my.” Brenda reached out to pet the puppy on its head. “Be ye a little devil, mite?”

  Diablo glanced up at Nicki and then swiped at her cheek with a long pink tongue.

  Nicki chuckled as she dodged the doggy kiss. “Trust me when I say, yes, he is. Please come on in. I’m so glad you could come.”

  Brenda looped her arm through the handle of her basket as the two women made their way indoors.

  “My, it’s so nice and warm in here,” Brenda commented as Nicki set the puppy down and put water on the stove for tea. “Our house be so bloomin’ cold that the young-uns huddle right around the stove all day long. I can’t seem to get a thing done without steppin’ on one o’ them.”

  Nicki knew how small Brenda’s place was. “I can’t imagine living in a house this size with three children. Some days I wonder if I won’t go crazy before spring gets here. And I only have one, plus a puppy.” She cast a teasing glare at Diablo, who’d flopped down in front of the stove. “A very devilish puppy.”

  Brenda chuckled and set to pulling out her freshly baked gifts. She waved a hand in Nicki’s direction as she responded, “The size don’t bother me so much, but the cold is gettin’ to me. I feel for the children. We didn’t know ’twould get so cold in these parts. When we built, everybody we spoke to told us that winters here were fairly mild, so we built with that in mind and now….” She shrugged. “Well, winter’s almost over and come spring first thing after we plant our crops I’m gonna hold Rolf to his promise o’ soddin’ the outside o’ the house. Next winter we will be warm!”

  Brenda’s enthusiasm tugged the corners of Nicki’s mouth upwards. “Sí. This winter has been uncharacteristically cold. I think we’ve all been surprised by it. Ron just told me yesterday that he hasn’t seen our cattle looking this poorly since he’s been working for us.”

  Nicki picked up her darning as they continued to talk, and the rest of the afternoon passed in pleasant conversation. Nicki relaxed for the first time in several days, temporarily forgetting her worries about the ranch and Sawyer’s future.

  Sawyer had long since awakened and was playing with his few toys in front of the stove when Brenda glanced out the window and gasped. “Oh my, look at how late it is. Why, it be most dark. I must hurry home, Nicki. If the poor children have to eat somethin’ that Rolf cooked, I’ll have a mutiny on my hands.”

  Nicki rose to hug her friend. “It’s been so good to visit with you. I didn’t notice how late it was, either. I need to get Sawyer some dinner, although,” she chuckled, “you brought enough food with you to feed the whole town, so I won’t have to fix much.”

  Brenda smiled, waving a hand, indicating it had been her pleasure, and headed for the door.

  “Brenda, wait.” Nicki hurried to pull a large quilt from under her bed. “I want you to have this. It isn’t much, but maybe you could hang it on the wall and it would help keep the house a little warmer. I wish there was more I could do.”

  Tears pooled in Brenda’s eyes. “Thank you,” was all she choked out, but Nicki knew that a mere thanks did not accurately express what was
in the woman’s heart. She would feel the same if Sawyer was cold all the time, and someone had done something similar for her.

  “De nada.” Nicki blinked back her own tears as she hugged her friend once more. “Come again when you can.”

  “Ya can count on that. It’s been so nice to visit with another woman.”

  At that moment Nicki realized just how good she had it with Tilly coming every day. She waved as she watched Brenda mount up and ride out of the yard, thankful for the woman’s friendship.

  William had just finished dowsing the back wall and a portion of the roof with kerosene when the door to the house squeaked on its hinges as someone entered the little cabin. He froze and suppressed a groan of aggravation as he glanced in both directions. There was no cover here. If someone should come around the side of the house there would be no place for him to hide. Yet there was nothing they would need back here and he could tell by the expanse of untouched snow that no one had been behind here since the last snow, which had been several days ago. It wasn’t likely he would be found if he just stayed put.

  He debated what to do. If he just did it quickly, surely whoever had entered the cabin would be able to get out. Yet with them this close, he would have less chance of escape. Everyone around these parts knew everyone else, and it wouldn’t suit for him to have to explain why one of the Jeffries thought they had seen him running away from their house right before it burned to the ground.

  He glanced again at his escape route. He had to run a hundred feet before he would have any cover at all, and even then he would need to make it to the road before he would be safe, for in the snow his trail would be clearly visible. Anyone who came to the back of the house would be able to see it and follow him. And not until he got to the road, where many people and carriages passed every day and his footprints blended into the slush, would he feel safe.

  Sinking down to wait for whoever was inside to go back to the barn, he sighed. It wouldn’t do for him to get caught. He had come too far for that. His neck itched, and he scratched at it, trying not to imagine the prickly feel of a noose.