Hearts Stolen (Texas Romance Series Book 2)

by Caryl McAdoo

  She surrendered and melted into the bed waiting for the angels to come and carry her away.

  The black lady lifted the sheet. “Oh, nice, that’s it. Here comes you sweet baby, Mama. See what can happen when you jes let go and let God? I can see his little head now. All covered with lots of hair.”

  Through a fog, Sassy’s laughter lightened Laura’s heart. Her friend squeezed her hand. Or was that an angel what touched her?

  “Did you hear? The baby’s coming. He’s coming!”

  She opened her eyes. “Am I in Heaven?”

  Rose and Evie laughed together.

  “No, little Mama. You is right here in Mis’ess Millard’s boarding house in Nacogdoches, Texas, and your wee babe is being borned.”

  “What day is it?”

  “Why this be the sixteenth of November in da year of our Lord eighteen hun’red and forty-fours. That’s a fine birthday. Sho’nuff is.”

  Wallace could hardly believe how clean he felt. Oh, on the outside, he probably still stunk a little, but on the inside. He’d never been clean on the inside before—ever.

  Something settled over him, too, like peace or love, maybe both. He would be comfortable to sit there in the hall leaning against that wall for as long as it took, because without one doubt, Laura and that baby were going to be just fine.

  The door opened, and he looked up. Sassy smiled. He clamored to his feet retrieving his hat that he accidentally knocked off in his ungraceful process. “What is it? Did she have it?”

  Looking like she hadn’t slept a wink all night, she brushed back a loose strand of red hair and tucked it up into the rest. Why didn’t she say something?

  “She did have it, didn’t she? Or you wouldn’t be smiling like that.” He took his hat off and slapped it against his leg. “Well, I’ll be da– Oooops, sorry, ma’am.” He looked at the ceiling. “Sorry.”

  “She sure did.”

  “And she’s alright? And Little Wallace?”

  “They’re both doing fine.” She clasped her hands beneath her chin. “Except maybe Lacey Rose might be a more appropriate name.”

  “A girl! Well, I’ll be. She had a girl then?”

  “Yes, sir. A beautiful, tiny little dark-haired lady. Would you like to come in and see them? Laura’s asking for you.”

  A tingle ran up his spine. “Yes, ma’am, Miss Sassy. I sure would!”

  The door opened, and Laura glanced away only a moment from examining every smidgen of her daughter’s face, memorizing each part. Evie slipped on out passing Wallace following Sassy in. The ranger wore a grin the size of the Republic.

  “Howdy, there. Guess I got it ‘bout as wrong as a three-legged horse.” She grinned. “Miss Sassy tell you he’s a she?”

  “Aw, who cares, if she’s as pretty as you?”

  How was it he always knew the just-right words to say to make her feel better than good? She must look like the dickens after the night she’d had. “Bosh, I don’t know none about that now, but this here little gal is the purtyest little doll I ‘bout ever gazed on.” She lifted the baby a little higher. “Come see.”

  The way the man looked at her child melted her heart. How in the world had God ever counted her worthy to be blessed so much as to have Wallace Rusk in her life?

  She studied him studying her daughter, and in her heart, she, the ranger, and her newborn were a family. She would never let him regret it, either; she’d be the best wife and mother to his children that he ever did hope for.

  “Well, wha’d’ya think?”

  “She’s so little.” He bent over and gave Laura a little kiss on the forehead then went back to his baby ogling. “She is fine-looking, handsome just like her mother. A little heart stealer for sure.”

  “Think we ought to go on and name her Wallace anyways? Or Wallacie?”

  “That last part sounds some like what Sassy suggested.” He glanced over at her then back to Laura. “Lacey Rose.”

  “Oh, I like that real good.” She smiled at her best friend then right back to the man she loved. “Lace from Wallace after you. I do like that.” She smiled at him then gently traced the baby’s face from her temple to her chin. “What do you say, itsy bitsy one? Lacey Rose sound just right to you?”

  As if exactly on cue, the newborn opened one eye and gazed up at her. Laura looked quickly to Wallace. “You see that there? How she went and looked straight up right at me? Why, I be thinkin’ she does like that name, sure enough.”

  “I did see it, and I agree. Pleased to meet you, Lacey Rose.” He extended his finger toward her hand, but jerked it back. “Can I touch her?”

  Laura laughed. “Well, a’course. She ain’t likely to break or nothing.”

  As soon as his finger touched Lacey’s tiny little hand, she wrapped all her fingers around his one big one. He wiggled it, but she just grabbed on tighter. He looked up grinning. “I think she’s shaking on it.”

  He seemed like he couldn’t get enough of her baby, and that thrilled Laura from the top of her head to the tips of her toes. He kissed the tiny fingers. “She won’t let go, think she might be a little partial to me?”

  “Lacey Rose surely does want you for her pap.”

  Laura looked away; probably not as much as her. She forced a smile and looked him right in the eyes. “Now I want you to clean out all that earwax and hear me good, Wallace, cause I’m talkin’ serious now. Iffin you figure waiting to be best, you just go right on ahead and meet Miss Rebecca ‘cause them were your plans from the start. See how your feelings pan. No matter which way you choose, me and little Lacey here will understand.”

  Rose watched Wallace and Laura for a few minutes then slipped out. Her heart swelled as the couple cooed over little Lacey, but a twinge of foreboding lurked. How would it all end?

  Unless the ranger married the girl, she did not see how the situation could possibly have a happy outcome. Her hand slipped to her belly of its own accord.

  And how was it going to play out with her and Levi?

  The midwife sat in a chair in the hall with her head leaning back against the wall and her eyes closed. She hummed a tune Rose recognized as a church song, but didn’t remember the words. It’d been so long since she’d been to a meeting.

  The aroma of fried pork wafted its way upstairs, and her stomach growled. She gently put her hand on the lady’s arm. “Evie, can you stay a while?”

  “Oh, shure ‘nuff, ma’am. I’s can stays all the day if needs be. Dat baby’s nigh on ta the smallest ‘un I ever seen. Least wise dat lived.”

  “I know, she’s tiny alright, but she seems healthy enough, strong for her size.”

  “Dat she does. I thinks she going ta be jus’ fine.”

  “I’m headed down to the kitchen; I’ll bring you some breakfast back up if you’d like.”

  “Why, thanks you, Miss Sassy. That’ll be rightly kind o’ you.”

  Rose checked the men’s room, found it locked, then headed downstairs. She located Mis’ess Millard in the kitchen. “Have you seen Captain Baylor this fine morning?”

  “He and that little boy of yours headed out a while back after their breakfast.” She grabbed a cup and poured Rose some coffee.

  She accepted the steaming brew and smiled. “Thank you.” She sipped. “Delicious! Can I get another cup and two breakfasts on a tray to take upstairs?”

  “Certainly, I’ll get those ready. So everyone’s fine then?”

  “Yes, praise the Lord.”

  The woman sat two plates full of scrambled eggs, two hunks of sausage, and biscuits with cream gravy. Even put a vase with a bright chrysanthemum on the tray. “There you go, sweetheart. Do you need me to get Mister Millard to carry that up for you?”

  “No, don’t bother your husband. Did Captain Baylor happen to say where they were off to?”

  The lady grinned. “Well, Charley told me they had ranger work to do. That boy is a little ringtail toot. I imagine he keeps you a’hoppin’!”

  “Indeed, he does.” Rose
laughed. “He just loves being Levi’s littlest partner.”

  “I know that’s the truth. I’m so glad the baby got here all safe and sound.”

  “Oh, yes, ma’am. And speaking of that, let me get these breakfasts upstairs, and I’ll be right back down for mine.” She lifted the tray, a little heavier than expected. “Being early, that babe’s a tiny girl, but sure seems strong enough.”

  “Maybe y’all ought to stay a few days longer just in case you find the new mama or little one needing a doc.”

  “Probably will.”

  On her return, Rose sat at the kitchen table and started telling Mis’ess Millard Laura’s story, then during and after a short stack of flapjacks with molasses, got around to her own.

  Not sure exactly why, she let it all tumble out. Being the youngest with five brothers, marrying at fifteen, being stolen, living as Bold Eagle’s wife, Levi’s rescue, their journey thus far, and falling in love with the handsome ranger even though a married woman.

  But somehow, sharing her story with this lady, made it seem more real, not so crazy and wholly unnatural as it had built itself up in her imaginations. The past month – Lord, had it only been one month – seemed more like a sad, tragic fairytale before it spilled out at the breakfast table.

  “Mama!” She turned around. Charley came running toward her with Levi hard on his heels. “Me get cut.”

  She held her arms out, and he ran into them. “Where? Are you bleeding?”

  The boy looked at his hero with his little eyes sparkling then back to her with that darling exasperated expression of his. “No! The bad man reward.” With his chest all puffed out, he pulled a copper coin from his pocket and held it out for her.

  She looked from his little hand to Levi.

  The man smiled. “Three way split, the way I see it. Charley spotted him first. Wallace and I just cleaned up for our partner here. That’s an advance; we’ll get the rest later.”

  A part of her wanted to be mad at him for indulging the boy, but she couldn’t be upset, not this day, and not with him. “You get any sleep last night?”

  “Some, enough if you want to grab a nap. Charley and I still have some rangering to do.”

  “That would be heavenly. I asked Miss Evie, the midwife, to stay a while longer. Little Lacey Rose, that’s what she named her. Well, I thought of it first, but she and Wallace liked it real well, so they –”

  “Here.” Levi pulled a key from his vest pocket and dangled it in front of her. “Use our room and go get that nap. You look and sound like you’ve been rode hard and put up wet.”

  “Well, I never figured I looked my best, but –”

  “I didn’t mean –”

  She giggled, took the key, resisted hugging him, then bent down and kissed Charley instead. “You be good.”

  He huffed, like being anything but good for his partner wasn’t an option. “Me good all times.”

  She faced Levi. “Thank you; wake me when he’s ready for a little rest.”

  He huffed again. “Rangers not nap.”

  Levi started to disagree, but maybe Charley was right. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d slept during the day. He watched Rose climb the stairs. Even bone weary, she moved so gracefully.

  He didn’t know how he could love her more, but each day gave him new reasons to care and admire her.

  Charley tugged on his trouser leg. “Ready, Partner?”

  “Sure.” He led the boy out and down the street. After a short stop at the mercantile for two apples, he made his way to the livery.

  “We riding Shooter and filly?”

  Levi tossed him an apple. “No, thought we’d give them a little treat.” He pulled his knife and went to cutting his into quarters. He took the whole one back from the boy and handed him a slice.

  Stopping at the filly’s stall first, he picked the boy up. “Hold it out on your hand flat.” He helped the boy get it in the right position. “Do it like this or you could get bit by mistake.”

  The horse sniffed then picked up the apple quarter with her lips. She crunched it then came right back for more.

  Charley grabbed another piece and held it out. He faced Levi with his dazzling smile. “Her likes it!”

  Halfway through the gray’s apple, Haygood hobbled into the barn. “Well, now. How’s every little thing with you men this morning? The doc ever get to Mis’ess Millard’s?”

  “Yeah, he showed but then promptly left. The midwife’s the one that helped Laura with her baby.” Levi set the boy down. “But we’re good, the baby and mother are fine; how about you?”

  “Oh, my cut off leg is still harping about that storm, but worse than that, I got some bad news.” Haygood looked toward the ground and shook his head. “Heard this morning them idiots in Austin rejected Houston’s peace treaty. They’re claiming he gave away too much, especially after you rangers beat Buffalo Hump and his bunch on that big raid to the coast.”

  Levi slapped his pantleg. “No one won that war. Been any reports of trouble yet?”

  “No, but me and the boys think it’s just a matter of time before the Comanche are back at it. Them young bucks, like those two you and Wallace kilt on the way back from rescuing the ladies. They didn’t want the treaty in the first place. No doubt, this’ll be just the excuse they need.”

  “When did you hear about those two yaps?”

  The older man laughed. “Don’t you know that you and Rusk can’t do anything without the whole of the Republic knowing it?”

  Levi laughed, but it came out more of a wry chuckle. If the whole of Texas knew it, then so did the Comanche. Made him wonder if the relationship between Bear Fang and Bold Eagle was close blood.

  Somehow, the young warrior had been persuaded to give up Laura, even though she obviously carried his child.

  Would the war chief feel the need to avenge the younger man’s death now and try to get Rose back since he knew the peace wasn’t going to be honored?

  Haygood tapped his boot with his cane. “Something wrong, Captain?”

  Levi focused on his friend. “No, I’m good.”

  “Well, you don’t look good. I’d say you look like a man who just had a whole band of Comanche do a war dance on his grave.”

  “That so? Were they alive? Or dead?”

  Chapter

  Twenty-Two

  Like Haygood’s dead leg predicted, a storm blew in that evening, but not so cold that it turned the pesky drizzle into sleet or snow.

  The next morning with the sky still at its leakage, Levi figured it worked out for the best. Now Laura wouldn’t feel bad that she and little Lacey were holding them back.

  In the afternoon, the drizzle turned to light rain. By the next morning when it finally stopped, Levi figured it would be at least two days, maybe three before it would be dry enough to set out. Maybe by then, the new mother and baby should be up to traveling.

  Early afternoon of the second dry day, a few wagons rolled into town. From his vantage point sitting in the parlor of Mis’ess Millard’s boarding house, it appeared to Levi that their wheels had gathered a bit too much mud for his druthers.

  If the sun and warmer weather held, things should be acceptable come morning.

  Once Rose came downstairs from getting Charley settled in for his nap, he stood and extended his hand. “Care for a little walk?”

  She looked around. “Where’s everyone?”

  “Wallace and Laura are upstairs with Lacey. I asked him to keep an eye out for our littlest partner.”

  “Where we going?”

  “I want to check at the stage office, and there’s a man Haygood told me about who has a headright he wants to sell.”

  She took his hand. “What are we checking on?”

  He opened the door for her. “News mainly, but the reward on that Lance guy would be nice.”

  “Really? It might come that quick?”

  He nodded. “Could, but who knows? Bankers do hate letting go of their gold coin.”


  “So, I never heard; what kind of reward are you expecting?”

  “The flyer said fifty dollars gold, but sometimes it goes up. It’s happened before.”

  “Really? I never dreamed it would be that much.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “You don’t intend to give Charley a third of that, do you?”

  He squeezed her hand. “No, actually I was thinking I’d put it in the bank for him once we get home.”

  Rose squeezed his hand back. “He may not like that; he’s showed me that penny you gave him at least a dozen times and bragged how much more he’s got coming.”

  “Oh, when it does get here, we can take him shopping, and he’ll never even know how much he’s really got or that it’s in the bank.”

  “Is Wallace fine with you giving Charley a cut?”

  “Why wouldn’t he be?”

  “Well, it is taking money out of his pocket.”

  He waved his off hand. “Not really.”

  She started to ask what he meant by that, but maybe she knew. Had she ever known a more generous man? He walked in silence until the stage office where he held the door for her, and she walked in.

  “Afternoon, ma’am; Captain Baylor.”

  “Any news worth talking about?”

  “Oh, nothing important, but this came for you.” He held out a small sack. “The driver said Major Williamson gave it to him for you and Sergeant Rusk with a warning.”

  Levi took it, opened the bag and peered in.

  “It’s all there, Captain. I counted it myself.”

  He retied the leather string and slipped the sack into his duster pocket. “What’s the message?”

  “Nick Ward was spotted in a little town north of Dallas; he robbed and killed a man then shot the grown son, but the boy survived.”

  “That so?”

  “Yes, sir. He also said that Ward’s reward has been doubled to five hundred dollars, gold.”