by Caroline Fyffe - Prairie Hearts Series 02 - Before the Larkspur Blooms
At the marker, Hannah reached out and touched the cherry-red bandanna as Thom swirled her around. She was no heavier than a piece of pollen. She gripped his shirt in both her hands, leaving it up to him to keep a firm hold on the gunnysack. If it slipped too low, it would trip them up. He strained, not wanting to lose.
“Faster, Hannah. I don’t like coming in last, unless it’s to Markus and Sarah. If we hurry we can overtake Chase and Jessie. They’re still down. They’re—”
Thom broke off his sentence. Hannah craned her neck, trying to see why. Chase and Jessie were deep in the prairie grass, lost in a passionate kiss. They couldn’t have cared less about Thom and Hannah galumphing by. Or about the dog barking. Or anything else. Desire surged through Thom’s body.
Just as Sarah and Markus crossed the finish line and let out a whoop of victory, Thom stumbled, taking Hannah down with him. He’d thrown caution to the wind today, reaching out to Hannah like this, but what were the costs? He shifted. Took the impact. Hannah landed on his chest.
Thom came awake slowly to the sound of Hannah giggling and her lips close to his. For a moment, he just lay there. Pain shot through his head when he looked to the side. Poking out of the grass next to his head was a slab of shale.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Thom! Are you all right?” A collection of wrinkles lined his forehead as he gazed in silence at the puffy white clouds. “Thom?” Hannah gently shook his shoulder. “Say something, please.”
A slow smile played around the corners of his mouth, and she let out a relieved sigh. “You scared me. You went dead white for a second there. I thought you’d hit your head.”
She gave him a playful shove, and he surprised her by pulling her down. His lips found hers, and in the semi-cover of the tall grass he kissed her. A real kiss. A sizzling kiss. A kiss Hannah felt all the way to her toes. Warmth flushed her body, and she was keenly aware of his scent and taste. He didn’t seem to be in a hurry about it, so she relaxed, placing her hands on his chest as he explored her mouth.
“Ma!”
It was Markus. He was free from Sarah and running their way.
Thom made a little sound from his throat—it might have been regret—and pulled away. Hannah sat up, pushed the sack off their legs, and began to untie the twine.
“We won! We won!”
In boy-like fashion, Markus skidded to a stop on his knees next to them, his face beaming with excitement. Ivan followed one stride behind and pushed his way in between, whining and demanding attention. “Look!” Markus held out a long piece of black licorice. “Our prize!”
“Oh, that looks delectable,” Hannah said, pleased he was having so much fun. This was so good for him, so good to have a big family around. After the kiss from Thom, she didn’t know how things could get better.
She nudged back the dog that straddled her lap so she could finish releasing Thom. Thom, who’d just kissed the stuffing out of her. She couldn’t look at him. Caleb’s kisses had never affected her like this. The longer she avoided his eyes, the hotter her face became. What had he been thinking?
Thom had pushed up on his elbows and was looking at the kids with amusement.
“You and Sarah are a worthy team,” he said to Markus. His hair had tumbled over his forehead, and he looked very boy-like himself. Hannah resisted the urge to straighten it. “Once you two got moving, there was no catching you. You deserved to win.”
At Thom’s praise, Markus smiled from ear to ear and inched closer to him, curious and cautious at the same time. Both had dark hair and dancing eyes. They could easily pass for father and son. Thom would win him over just by being himself.
Chase and Jessie walked up arm in arm. “Guess you two came in second, if we’re counting teams not crossing the finish line,” Chase said. He glanced down into Jessie’s face and smiled. “We don’t mind losing. Do we, honey?”
Jessie shook her head, and her golden hair swayed from side to side.
Chase arched one brow at Thom. “But be warned. Next time you try tripping me, you better be ready for a push back.”
Thom waved him off with a chuckle. “It was all in good fun, Logan. You certainly didn’t seem to mind.”
Hannah didn’t quite know what to think about Thom. This Thom. And the kiss? What was that all about? Perhaps it was all the bumping and grabbing they’d had to do to stay on their feet. Her cheeks warmed, and she dared a glance in his direction as she climbed to her feet. She picked up the gunnysack and headed for Mrs. Hollyhock, wishing he would stay like this forever.
Why had he gone and kissed her? Was he crazy? His impulsive action would come back to roost, without a doubt. Confuse the already sticky situation they were in. He chanced a quick glance at Hannah just as the sun, low in the west, cast a soft amber light in all directions and a cool breeze ruffled the grasslands. She had donned her shawl, and the children looked plumb worn out. The tired group relaxed on several blankets, drained from all the activity. A few feet away, Ivan lay in the grass. His chin rested on his outstretched paws, and his eyes were horizontal slits. Thom took a deep sigh.
After the sack race, Sarah and Markus had insisted on flying the kite—or at least trying to. It took a good half hour for Chase to get it aloft before handing the reins over to Sarah and then to Markus for a turn. After that, the two children had played on the shore of Shady Creek, trying to catch frogs and tiny fish. All the while Shane had kept the women busy. The toddler had not been able to keep up with the older children, and an hour ago he had run out of steam. Now, as they ate an early supper under the trees, his eyes were at half-mast.
Hannah sat close by, fiddling with the food on her plate. He relived their moment in the grass. It was the sunshine, he thought. All the laughter and fun. It had clouded his judgment and got the better of him. What judgment? He grimaced inwardly. All the space he’d worked at putting between them was now for naught.
“This sure has been a perfect day,” Mrs. Hollyhock said. “Thank you, Jessie, for inviting us.”
Chase cleared his throat, then smiled.
“Oh, you, too, of course, Mr. Logan,” she added. She set her plate aside and pulled some crochet from a bag.
“Anyone want to play horseshoes after we clean up?” Jessie asked. “I brought them along, just in case.”
Gabe and Jake let out an exaggerated groan.
“It’s getting late, sweetheart,” Chase said. “We’ll need to pack up and start home pretty soon. We still have a few chores that need tending to at the ranch.”
No one moved.
“We still have dessert, Chase. I’ll serve that up just as soon as everyone is finished.”
Chase rocked back on his elbows. “I guess you’ve heard about the trouble we’re having with rustlers.” His gaze moved to Thom. “It started off light at first, but it’s becoming a big problem.”
Thom’s hand stilled halfway to his mouth. He lowered the almost-eaten chicken leg back to his plate and wiped his fingers. “No. I’ve been keeping busy at the livery.”
Jake and Gabe were watching him closely. He’s feeling me out. Everyone in town knows my past. Did he wait all day just to ask me this? Thom’s initial indignation got pushed back by hot irritation. “You have anything else you want to ask me?” he bit out. “Go on, Logan, don’t be shy.” The rancher should have just come straight-out, asked him about the rustling, and saved everyone the hassle of putting on such a welcoming show. Chase didn’t want to hire him; he wanted to gauge his reaction.
The dazed, happy mood of the group fizzled. Hannah dropped her eyes to her plate. Anger sprouted inside Thom.
“I can see I’ve put you off,” Chase said. “That wasn’t my intent.”
“I don’t have anything to hide.”
Jessie climbed to her feet and went to check on Shane, who was sleeping on a blanket a few feet past Ivan. She covered him with a light cover. “I made a fresh apple pie,” she said softly. “Who’d like a slice?”
“And I baked a chokecherry
pie.” Mrs. Hollyhock climbed to her feet. “Raise your hand if you’d like a slice of that.”
He was sure Chase had more things besides pie he wanted to talk about, so Thom took the bull by the horns. He’d have it all out tonight. “How many head did you lose?”
“I’m dishing everyone a slice of each,” Jessie nervously interrupted. An uncharacteristic set of lines marred her forehead.
“I’d say almost fifty,” Chase said. He raised a knowing brow at his wife.
Thom whistled. “That’s a lot of beef. Worth a lot of money at market price. I can see why you’re concerned.”
Chase nodded. “More than that, they got our prize bull Friday night. If he’s still in the territory somewhere, I’d like to get him back. Paid a pretty penny for him last year.”
“You have any suspects in mind?”
Chase looked between Jake and Gabe. Shook his head. “Our little town has grown so much in the last three months, it makes it hard to keep track of everyone. It may not be anyone from Logan Meadows. It’s hard to know.”
Thom looked away over the grasslands. A bad feeling rolled around inside. It had been eight years since Rome Littleton’s group was rustling up in Colorado. The man could have changed his ways, he supposed. Gone straight. Fingering him now without any proof of wrongdoing could easily backfire. Dwight could trump up charges that could send Thom back to Deer Creek, or worse. Who knew how powerful or connected Rome was. No. He’d not go to prison again.
A long silence ensued. “You got something to say, Donovan?” Chase asked.
Thom stood, his appetite all but gone. He took the slice of pie Jessie offered anyway, just to be polite.
“I’m not your man.” He boldly met Chase’s gaze. Explaining himself to Logan rankled just as much as it had with Dwight. “I wasn’t guilty then, and I’m not guilty now. I’m working and minding my own business. Ask Win if you don’t believe me.”
He quickly ate his pie and handed the plate back to Jessie. “Thank you, Jessie. That was real good. You, too, Violet.”
Everyone, including Hannah, kept their eyes trained on their plates. The clink of forks on dishes mingled with the solo chirp of an early cricket. Thom looked toward the buggy and the sleeping horses. “I’m going to get packed up,” he said. Hannah had stood and now came to his side. “You need me to load anything for you?”
Just as the others were getting up and stretching out the kinks, a vicious barking ripped through the strained silence.
Thom swung around. Ivan was two feet away from Shane’s blanket. The child was still asleep as his dog carried on like a wild animal, growling and barking at the toddler.
Chase ran to the wagon and grabbed his gun. “What the hell’s wrong with your dog? Get him away from my son!” he yelled as he ran toward the blanket. Shane, stirring from all the commotion, lifted a small fist to rub sleepy eyes.
Thom grasped Chase’s arm to stop him. “Wait. He’s not barking at the baby. There’s something else.”
Ivan lowered his head and growled, then pounced up and down on his front paws. He stopped for only an instant and looked around before again taking up the alarm.
“Chase!” Jessie cried. “What is it? What—” She stopped as Sarah, who’d dashed over, buried her face in Jessie’s skirt. Shane’s frightened eyes blinked several times as the adults looked on helplessly. “Get my baby away from him!”
“Tell Shane to keep still,” Thom demanded. Ivan looked at him for only an instant before launching into another barking tirade.
“Ivan. Quiet!” Thom inched forward, squatted, and took him around the scruff of the neck. Carefully he pulled the anxious animal away with a struggle. It was clear Ivan didn’t want to go.
“Come on, boy,” Thom said. “Come, Ivan.” When he had him a few feet back, Mrs. Hollyhock took hold of him.
Jessie stepped forward.
“Wait!” Thom and Chase cried at the same time.
She looked at them, confused. Shane’s face clouded, his eyes watery with unshed tears, surely frightened by all the commotion.
Thom held his hand up. “Just wait a second. Ivan wouldn’t send up an alarm like that unless he sensed danger. There must be something wrong.” Hannah stood by, holding tightly to Markus’s hand.
Chase nodded. “You just stay still, Shane,” he called out. “Pa’s gonna pick you up. Just stay real still.”
The toddler nodded and smiled as if this were some fun new game and looked over to Gabe and Jake standing close by.
Chase handed his gun to Thom and inched forward, begging God not to let anything happen to his son. His son. The incarnation of his and Jessie’s love. Everything around him slowed as he carefully lifted the tiny blanket off the boy.
Jessie gasped. A three-inch-long scorpion scuttled closer to Shane’s bare thigh. Its two main claws opened and closed threateningly, and the stinger rolled up over its thick black body, dangerously close to the child’s skin.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Don’t move, Shane,” Chase ordered. “Stay very, very still.”
Mrs. Hollyhock struggled to hold Ivan. The dog growled menacingly, as if begging to be let free, sensing a great need to get the deadly creature.
Chase glanced over his shoulder at the others. He wasn’t quite sure how to get Shane free without his boy being stung.
Without saying anything, Thom handed the gun to Gabe and circled around to the other side of the blanket. Shane rolled his head to watch his progress. The scorpion crept closer to the underside of his leg, trying to hide. Shane started to reach down with his hand.
“Halt!” Chase barked. “You must stay still, Shane.” Chase’s tone said everything. “Thom is going to pick you up—fast. But you have to hold your body as—” Chase’s voice cracked. He looked away, getting his emotions under control. Shane was so small. The scorpion’s venom could easily kill him in minutes.
He inched a little closer as Thom did the same on the other side.
He looked up at Donovan. “On three.”
Even the evening sounds seemed to hush, as if they knew something very dangerous, very life changing was about to happen. Ivan quieted. Chase didn’t have to look to know the dog was sitting at attention, somehow understanding the seriousness of the situation. The only thing Chase heard was the rasp of his own breath.
Chase tensed. “One. Two. Three!”
Thom leaped forward, clamping Shane in a viselike grip under his arms and swinging him up. At the exact time, Chase swung his leg, connecting with his target just as the scorpion’s stinger snapped. Shane screamed. Thom jumped back, the child gripped in his arms, and ran over to a frantic Jessie. Mrs. Hollyhock struggled to keep ahold of Ivan, who fought to get free. His snarls of anger were frightening.
Jessie sank to the blanket and set the screaming toddler down. She ran her hands repeatedly over his legs and arms, even his neck, looking for any spot where he might have been stung. Chase dropped to her side to help. Moments passed as the group crowded around.
Jessie looked up with tear-filled eyes. “He’s OK.” That’s all she got out before she broke down in sobs. Shane stood up on shaky legs and wrapped his arms around Jessie’s head, looking at his pa. Sarah squeezed in. Chase enfolded them in an embrace, a reminder that there were things more dangerous than rustlers—and more valuable than a few lost head of cattle. He vowed never to let anything in this wild, unpredictable world hurt his family.
As the rented buggy swayed along smoothly in the soft moonlight, Hannah ran her hands over Markus for the fiftieth time, thankful that her little boy slept safely in her lap. She’d not take a single day for granted. Life was precious. Look at Caleb, how his health had deteriorated in a matter of days. Now, this narrow escape for Chase and Jessie’s toddler was one more reminder to cherish every moment.
She glanced up at the fluffy, cotton-like clouds that surrounded the moon. Random stars twinkled, and a silvery glow made the countryside look magical. The twitter from a night bird perched in the tall
trees made Hannah smile. She resisted the urge to snuggle closer to Thom, who drove the buggy in silence. He’d insisted on taking her and Markus into Logan Meadows to save Gabe or Jake the trip. She’d gladly accepted and squished in beside him with Mrs. Hollyhock on her right and Ivan at their feet.
She tried to ignore the intoxicating feel of Thom next to her. The pleasing knowledge of his protective presence so close by. Would he kiss her again when they got to her house? After all those times pushing her away, she still couldn’t believe that it had happened.
Mrs. Hollyhock’s head softly plunked onto Hannah’s shoulder, and then a tiny snore sounded next to her ear. Hannah nudged Thom’s knee.
He looked down into her eyes, the moonlight caressing his face.
She tilted her head toward the old woman, and he smiled. “Guess everyone is wore out.” He put the reins into one hand and with the other rubbed Markus’s head. “This little cowpoke sure had a busy day. He’ll most likely sleep for a week.”
His breath, so near and warm on her face, sent tingles twirling inside. She hadn’t been married all that long, but those kinds of feelings were hard to forget. Difficult to ignore the yearning inside.
She wished this buggy ride could go on forever. “We’re almost to town,” she said quietly. “I hate to wake her.”
“I’ll carry her in and then take you two home.” There was a question in his eyes. “Is that OK?”
“Fine.” The urge to lean up and kiss his lips, stroke his cheek, was strong. Hannah looked away.
They pulled up in front of the Red Rooster in silence. Thom handed her the reins and climbed down, circling around to the other side. “Shhh,” he said as he gathered the old woman into his arms. Violet started to protest, but he shushed her again. He took the stairs easily with her cradled in his arms and disappeared inside the inn. A moment later in the doorway, he called to Ivan. The dog jumped out and trotted inside.