Peace River (Rockland Ranch Series)

by Jaclyn Hawkes

  They were still working together when Isabel asked her, “What did you mean the gospel was your secret weapon?”

  Naomi started to explain about how, as a young teenage girl, she had finally left the troubled home she’d grown up in. She struggled to find a way to go to college and had finally made it with the help of scholarships and grants. She’d met Rob. They’d fallen in love almost from the start and he’d introduced her to two young Mormon missionaries. They’d taught her about the true church of Jesus Christ and that by living its principles she’d learned how to have a happy life.

  As she talked, Isabel had the strangest feeling. She wondered if this could possibly be the same gospel the two young missionaries had started to teach her own mother.

  Her hands stilled, and her heart began to pound as Naomi finished talking. She asked, “Like what kind of principles?”

  Naomi talked while she kneaded dough. “Like faith in God, repentance, the golden rule, service, honor, fidelity. Basics really. But they lead to a happy life. I would never have had the strong marriage and happy family I do without them. Through the gospel I learned all the stuff I missed growing up.

  “I knew I wanted a family of my own, but I was afraid I’d fail like my parents. They’ve gone now, poor souls. I’ve also learned that every family has their share of troubles, and that what we might think is failure at the time may all work out if we’re patient and trust in the Lord.” She finished a pan of rolls, covered it with plastic and started on another.

  Wistfully, Isabel said, “You have a beautiful family. I’ve never been around anyone like them.”

  Casually, Naomi asked, “What about you? Do you want a family someday?”

  “Yes, I’ve always wanted a family.” Isabel stared unseeing out the window. “Sometimes it seems out of my reach, but that’s what I want. I’m going to college. At least usually I am. But I really want an education more than a career. I’ve been studying sports medicine, mostly because we always seem to have a rider getting hurt. I heard jockeying was one of the most dangerous professions, but I’m sure it can’t be as bad as that bull riding.” She cringed, just thinking about it.

  Naomi‘s voice held understanding. “Rossen told me you saw a bad wreck close up. I’m so sorry. I’m sure it was very troubling.”

  “It was. It still is. I had bad dreams over it. He probably told you how I screamed in the trailer.” She smiled self-consciously. “I probably scared him right out of bed.”

  “How is that whole living in a small trailer with two men thing going?” Naomi hesitated, “If you don’t mind my asking.”

  Isabel smiled warmly at her. “Not at all. If one of them was my son, I’d be a little concerned too. It’s been wonderful. Surprisingly so. Actually, I know next to nothing about rodeoing. I’d never set foot in a trailer like that, and I didn’t know either one of them. Honestly, I expected them to act like most of the men I know. They’ve been a very pleasant surprise.

  “You’ll think I’m silly, but I’m sure they were an answer to prayer. It sounds kind of weird, I know, but it’s all worked out too well to have been coincidence. I don’t know how much they’ve told you, but I was getting desperate. I was trying to trust in God, but I was also having this urgent feeling that I needed to go now. Like right now.” She gave a shaky laugh.

  “I must have been desperate to go off with two men I didn’t know. Please trust me. I’m not that kind of girl.” Smiling self-consciously, she said, “I made them promise they’d behave strictly on a professional level before I’d come with them.”

  Grinning back, Naomi said, “Good for you. I have to admit I was a little worried when they mentioned you. I feel much better after having met you.” She patted Isabel again. “But they are good men. The best. Now I just wish they’d settle down and get married. I’m very impatiently waiting for grandchildren!”

  Isabel grinned at that. “I have wondered why they’re not attached. I don’t think it’s for lack of female interest. They create quite a stir, the two of them.”

  Naomi looked at her watch. “I wonder where they all are. They shouldn’t be much longer. I’d better put the ribs on. Excuse me, I’ll be right back.” She went out, and turned on the grill on the deck as Isabel watched through the kitchen window. Behind Naomi she noticed a storm brewing. Great black and gray thunderheads piled up against the mountains to the west. Closer in, lighter gray mist flowed almost imperceptibly down into the canyons and draws.

  Naomi stepped back into the kitchen, the door slamming in the wind behind her. “Whew! That breeze is really picking up. They’d better hurry or that’s going to catch them, and they’ll all be wet if it does.” She waved at the gathering storm out the window.

  As if on cue, two trucks appeared far down the valley, the dust in their wakes blowing quickly away by the gusting wind. They put the rolls in the oven and set the long table. Isabel felt butterflies start to flutter in her stomach. She knew Slade and Rossen would be leaving late this evening to go to another rodeo. Whether she would be with them would have to be decided soon.

  ****

  Slade and Rossen were thinking the same thing as they drove up the valley. Rossen asked, “What’s the plan, Marsh? How do you want to handle this?”

  “I’ve been wondering about that all afternoon. What I’ve finally come up with is to just assume she’s coming with. If she’s decided she doesn’t want to, we’ll deal with it then. Who knows? The decision to come the first time was pretty hassle free. Maybe it’ll be no big thing. She’s been bullet-proof this far.”

  ****

  They all came piling in, laughing and talking. Naomi was given several big hugs and Cooper even came and gave Isabel one and said, “I didn’t want you to feel left out!” He gave a great laugh that was very like Rossen’s and added, “And I never pass up a chance to hug a pretty girl!”

  Naomi swatted at him. “Bo Rockland, you behave yourself! You’re gonna make her think I’ve raised a caveman.”

  With that, he gave his mother another bear hug and proceeded to tickle her. “Too late. I’m already a caveman, Momma! And I already hugged her and don’t regret it a bit!” He gave Isabel an exaggerated wink.

  They dumped a muddy and wet plastic bag that smelled like the ocean into the big sink by the back door. Isabel was amazed when Naomi went over and looked into the bag and remarked on what a great bunch of fish they’d brought. Isabel had expected her to be upset at what came into her kitchen, but apparently this was not uncommon. Everyone washed up and cleaned up and they sat down to dinner.

  As they looked up from praying, Naomi noticed an empty chair and asked, “What happened to Kate? I thought she was fishing with you.”

  “She was. She had a little dip in the creek and decided she’d go home and dry out.” Rossen was grinning at Slade as he spoke.

  “Oh, really?” Naomi questioned sagely, passing the salad, “I’m assuming she had some help with her little dip. Which one of you did it this time?”

  She was looking at Cooper who said, “Don’t look at me, Momma! For once I’m an innocent babe. This time it was Slade himself. But I’m sure he didn’t do it on purpose.” They were all grinning at Slade who looked a little guilty.

  Naomi looked around the table skeptically. “Yes, I’m sure not.”

  There was a story here. Isabel would have to ask about it later.

  As they all helped clean up the meal and were loading the dishwasher afterward, Isabel was flabbergasted at how much food they’d just put away. They’d eaten six full racks of ribs! And they all appeared to be healthy and fit. Holy cow! Naomi must go through the groceries just feeding her own family!

  When the last dish was neatly put away Ruger and Marti went home and the rest of the family went out onto the porch. The wind had died down, but it was raining and lightning was striking somewhere up the nearby canyon. Great racketing booms of thunder rumbled and rolled, echoing down the canyon walls. Isabel had never heard anything like it.

  The Rockla
nds acted like it was a spectator sport. All the rockers had been pulled in under the overhanging roof, and they all sat in jackets and watched the show, listening as the thunder rolled. Night had begun to fall. It was an early evening because of the blackness of the storm. Lightning strikes lit the sky time and again in a glorious display of Mother Nature’s force.

  Isabel hadn’t unpacked a jacket from the trailer and was hesitant to brave the rain to go get one. Naomi brought her a blanket and she snuggled up in it in her rocker and felt a sweet sense of belonging to this loveable and happy family.

  At length, the lightning faded off down the canyon and the family started to move in different directions. Slade and Rossen came and claimed the chairs on either side of her.

  This was it. She’d known it was coming and had fretted over it all afternoon. However, now that they were here to discuss it, it didn’t seem like that big a deal. She was just going to assume she was going with and if they said differently, she would figure it out. She knew she’d been prompted to leave with them and she was going to stay with them if they’d let her.

  They sat enjoying the peace of the quiet rain after the violence of the lightning and thunder. At length, she asked, “Is it that time then? Are we out of here?” Slade and Rossen exchanged a glance.

  Rossen answered her, “We probably ought to be on the road within the hour.”

  She nodded. “I’ll have my gear loaded.”

  They watched the night sky for several more minutes.

  ****

  Apparently he really didn’t know anything. Judd looked at the now unconscious body that lay in the hay. He’d been so sure Dante would know where she’d gone. After all, they’d been as close as brother and sister their whole lives.

  Judd and a few of his friends had tried to find out something about her whereabouts, but Dante had quietly looked at them in disdain and let them hit him. Fool! He’d soon learn some respect one way or another.

  Eight days now and not a trace of where she and that monster horse had gone.

  ****

  When Eli found Dante beaten into unconsciousness in the hay barn, it made him sick. If they would do this, right in the midst of all the farm hands, they’d stop at nothing.

  He called an ambulance and the County Sheriff this time, knowing help was not forthcoming from the local police. He’d have to triple security.

  Chapter 6

  They loaded the horses in the rain and had a sweet family prayer together before saying good-bye. Slade loaded a fifth horse, brought over from his place that afternoon, that Isabel wasn’t familiar with, a tall bay mare with three high stockings and intelligent eyes.

  Isabel was much sadder at leaving than she could have imagined. It wasn’t just her horse, or that the couple of days there had been like living at a western resort. In the short time she’d been there, she’d come to love Naomi. For a little while she’d felt mothered again, and in a way she’d never experienced. As she hugged her goodbye, she knew she had made a true friend. All of Rossen’s family had been wonderful to her. She felt more like the second little sister instead of a stranger who worked for their son and brother. As she climbed up into the cab she took a twig of sage with her.

  Arrangements had been made to drop Ruger and Marti at the airport in Salt Lake City on the way out, so they sat in the back seat and Isabel was in the front between Slade and Rossen. She was close enough to smell the aftershave she hadn’t been able to get out of her mind after Slade had lent her his pillow that first day. She didn’t know how far it was to Salt Lake from here, but she hoped it was a long way.

  Isabel listened to the conversation going on around her as they drove. Ruger and Marti were flying out to California for a veterinary seminar for her continuing education requirement. She’d be taking some classes that dealt with a disease they were experiencing in their herds at the time, and Slade and Rossen joined in the discussion. Isabel had no idea what they were talking about and her mind began to wander. She was tired, and the steady swipe of the windshield wipers was almost hypnotic.

  ****

  Slade could feel Isabel begin to relax beside him. She was the most morning person he’d ever known, and she got positively loopy late at night. Soon her head drooped, and he reached over and gently pulled her over to lean on his shoulder. He didn’t see Rossen’s grin in the darkness, or Ruger and Marti exchange a look in the backseat.

  Slowly Slade withdrew from the conversation too. He was having trouble concentrating and when Rossen had to ask him the same question over again, he admitted to himself that for the first time in he didn’t even know how long, he really liked a girl. He could smell her shampoo and it got him started thinking about her hair. It was like a shining silvery-gold waterfall. Blonde, but with silver highlights instead of brown, it caught the sun like spun gold. For a week she’d kept it twisted back tight. She’d admitted she was worried about being recognized, but since being at the Rockland’s she'd worn it down. The first time he’d seen it down was that morning out on the track.

  He had hardly even believed it when she’d come around that corner like an enchanted nymph on a mythical winged horse. The beauty of the girl on the magnificent horse in the sunrise had taken his breath away. It was the first time he believed that he’d truly seen the person she was. Alone and free from the expectations of society, she’d raced like a wild fairy in the dawn.

  Just now she was soft and warm against his side and he wished he dared pull her closer. Why had he ever made that promise to keep it professional? But then he hadn’t known how he would react to her nearness. Perhaps it was a good thing after all.

  The drive to Salt Lake ended all too soon. Slade was wishing it had been longer as they pulled up in front of the terminal and let Ruger and Marti out. He was just about to get out and help when Rossen grinned and motioned him back. “Don’t move. Let her sleep.”

  Even when they stopped for gas and switched drivers, somehow her head ended up on Slade’s shoulder again on the driver’s side of the car. Slade didn’t have to see Rossen’s face in the dark to know he was smiling.

  Their next rodeo was in Idaho. They roped well, and stayed for the next go-round and won. Slade took second in the bulldoggin‘. He hadn’t even tried to draw a bull or bronc. He figured that would be a tender subject with Isabel and although he knew he’d have to deal with it soon if he wanted to continue to compete for all-around cowboy at the NFR, now wasn’t the time.

  He’d told Isabel the new horse was a spare in case one of theirs came up lame and then he’d asked her if she would mind riding it to keep it legged up while he and Rossen worked theirs. Her eyes had lit up and later that afternoon as they rode, he knew she was enjoying that part of her job.

  They had three more rodeos back to back with long night drives in between and they came to appreciate having Isabel with them all the more. She could tie up all the loose ends and even drove sometimes when both men were tired.

  She seemed to enjoy watching them perform in the rodeos, but she always left when they started the bull riding. If one or both of them wasn’t helping one of their friends with their rides, they came and sat with her in the stands and walked her back to the trailer.

  Isabel was getting to know some of the people on the rodeo circuit who were Slade and Rossen’s friends. Most of them were men, but there were a few women who were friends and a few who weren’t, but wished they were. Jesse had come to be a given, and Isabel and Rossen had become expert at protecting Slade from her affections. If they were in the stands, Slade would always sit in the middle or if they were in the trailer, he would sit at the table and then Isabel would slide in next to him so Jesse couldn’t. One time Isabel said she even felt like she was guarding his horse’s stall door while Slade was inside working on its feet.

  Once after Jesse left Slade commented, “I almost wish we hadn’t told her you were working for us. Maybe if she thought I was romantically involved, she’d leave me alone.”

  Rossen piped up, “Pro
bly not, but I think it would work great with Angelique for me! Come ‘mere and lay one on me, Isabel! We better practice!” His laugh was infectious and it appeared Isabel couldn’t help but join in giggling.

  She got an impish grin as she teased back, “I’m afraid you’ll have to teach me. Where do we start?”

  “Well, first ya have to learn to pucker up like this.” Rossen proceeded to make the biggest lips he possibly could and then began chasing Isabel around the trailer. She ran with a squeal and tried to duck behind Slade, but Rossen tackled her and began to give her pretend kisses making big zerbit noises on her face and tickling her. She squirmed and squealed again for Slade to save her, but he was at a total loss for words as he looked on. He was absolutely unsure of how to deal with this. He didn’t know whether to help her, or help Rossen, or slug Rossen. All of that must have been very apparent on his face when they finally quit giggling and Rossen helped her to her feet. They stood up, took one look at Slade, and burst into laughter again.

  Slade just continued working with his rope. He wasn’t sure what to think of Rossen and Isabel horsing around like this at all.

  ****

  It was at this fourth rodeo in a row that Isabel met Leland Wilde. She’d been watering their horses and as she walked along the alleyway between the stalls she noticed a horse that just didn’t seem right. She turned off the hose and came back to find that indeed there was a problem. The horse had been left in the stall with its halter on, and the halter had somehow caught on a piece of metal that had worked loose along the edge of the stall panel. The metal had dug into side of the horse’s face and cut it deeply. Although obviously in a lot of pain, it was holding still with its head at a funny angle.