California Romance (52 page)

The confrontation with her had been intense. So was Josh’s parting with Edward. Only Charles Stanhope’s firm handclasp and quiet “I’m proud of you for doing what you know you must” eased Josh’s regret at causing his mother and brother pain.

He picked up a letter from the hand-hewn table. The words blurred, but he knew his mother’s words by heart from many readings:

Josh put the letter aside, but it had done its work well. For the dozenth time since it arrived, he asked himself,
Is it more than chance for Bayview Christian to approve a six-month leave of absence when my position here is “contingent upon performing acceptably for the next six months”? God, are You giving me a loophole in case things don’t work out with Christ the Way after all?

“No!” Josh slammed his fist on the wooden table so hard it made the bouquet of wildflowers one of the children had brought to his door jump. A sea of faces swam before him: Men, women, children. Old and young. Cattlemen and cowboys. Sheepherders. Townsfolk. Visitors who stayed in Madera before or after taking the scenic stagecoach trip to the Yosemite Valley. “I don’t belong in San Francisco,” he muttered. “I belong here among those who have welcomed me. And those who haven’t. Namely, Luther Talbot.”

“Did I hear my name?” a cold voice asked from the doorway.

Josh gritted his teeth and turned. The chairman of the board had a way of popping in like an out-of-control jack-in-the-box, especially on Saturdays. Josh knew from past experience the call would be one of three things: a critique of his latest sermon, a text for the next day, or a complaint about Josh’s attempts to carry the gospel outside the church walls. Josh wouldn’t stop. In the few short weeks he’d been in Madera, new faces had begun to appear in the congregation, thanks to his and Red Fallon’s efforts.

Today’s session was a repeat of many others. By the time Luther took his sanctimonious self away, Josh felt like he’d been thrown into a thornbush. Worse, trying to prepare the next day’s sermon seemed impossible. How could he concentrate on God with Luther Talbot’s presence lingering in the parsonage like a bad smell?

Longing to escape, Josh tramped to the livery stable and saddled Sultan. Matt had given him the black gelding shortly after Josh had returned from his trip to San Francisco.

“You need a good horse. Sultan’s strong, smart, and gentle. Treat him well, and you’ll have a friend for life,” Matt had advised. “If you ever get caught out and don’t know your way home, let Sultan have his head. He’ll bring you back to the Diamond S.”

Now Josh rubbed the gelding’s soft nose and swung into the saddle. “You’re everything Matt promised and more,” he told the superb animal. Sultan stomped one foot and whinnied as if impatient to be off. Josh nudged him into a trot, then a ground-covering canter. Right now the more distance Josh put between himself and cantankerous Luther Talbot, the better.

A
shadow blocked the late August sunlight streaming through the parsonage doorway. Tim Sterling stepped inside. “Hey Josh, want to go cat hunting tomorrow?”

Josh stared at his grinning visitor. “Cat hunting! Who hunts cats? I thought they were welcome around here to keep the mouse population down.”

Tim rolled his eyes and looked disgusted. “You sure are a city slicker! Not pussycats. Cougars. Mountain lions.”

Josh eyed him suspiciously. “Is this another of your jokes?”

Tim shook his head. “Naw.” His grin faded. “There’ve been a couple of cougar sightings. Yesterday, some of our hands combing the draws on the far north side of the range found a downed steer. We’re going after the cat that killed it.”

“What’s a cougar doing on the Diamond S this time of year? I thought they stayed in the mountains until snow came.”

Tim scowled. “This one didn’t. Maybe he figured he’d get a head start on his buddies. Do you want to go on the hunt or not? Matt says you’ll have to stay at the ranch tonight. We leave at daylight.”

Josh hid his trepidation at the idea of chasing mountain lions. “Of course I want to go. I’ll get Sultan and ride back to the ranch with you.”

The next morning, a loud pounding roused Josh from deep sleep. He opened his eyes. How could the window of the parsonage have doubled in size overnight? Who had replaced his gingham curtains with rich, brightly colored draperies?

The pounding resumed, followed by an insistent call. “Get up and grab some grub, or we’re leaving without you.”

Josh laughed. No wonder he’d been disoriented. The guest room at the Diamond S had little in common with his humble parsonage bedroom. He sprang from bed, tingling with anticipation.

“Be with you in a minute, Tim.” He poured water from a pitcher into its matching bowl and splashed his face. “No time to shave. Hope Ellie isn’t up,” he murmured, then laughed at himself. Living on a ranch meant Ellie had seen lots of unshaven men. He just didn’t want to be one of them! His admiration for Ellie had grown by leaps and bounds ever since he’d met her at the fiesta. And each time the Sierra Songbird sang in church, Josh’s hopes of some day winning her increased. “If I’m not a goner as Tim says, I’m pretty close to it,” he admitted.

“You’re slower than molasses in January,” Tim accused when Josh followed him down the staircase to the hall and into the enormous kitchen. Josh cast a quick glance around. Good. No Ellie. Just Solita. She beamed and motioned Tim and Josh to the table. She set steaming fried eggs with chili sauce in front of them and a platter of warm tortillas.

“Huevos rancheros.”

Josh dove into the egg mixture. “Solita, I don’t know anyone in San Francisco who can make these like you do. Delicious.”

“Gracias.” Her white teeth gleamed in a broad smile. “They stick to the ribs, as Senor Tim says.”

“They sure do,” Tim said through a mouthful. He gulped down the rest and jumped to his feet when Matt, Seth, and Curly came in. Josh did the same.

The men stepped outside into gray dawn and headed for the corral. But Josh couldn’t resist glancing back at the house. An upstairs curtain moved. A girl in a dressing gown appeared at the window, and a soft voice called, “Be careful.”

“We will,” Tim promised. He vaulted astride the powerful blue roan that stood saddled and waiting. Josh took Sultan’s reins from the vaquero who held them and mounted. Matt, Seth, Curly, and several other cowboys swung into their saddles.

Josh chuckled, caught up in the contagion of Tim’s excitement. How the Bayview Christian congregation would exclaim if they could see their former pastor now!

“What’s funny?” Tim wanted to know. “Settle down, Blue,” he ordered his horse.

“I was thinking about my church in San Francisco.”

A wary expression crept into Tim’s eyes. “You’re not going back, are you?”

Josh lowered his voice. “Not unless Luther Talbot convinces folks to kick me out.”

Tim shook his head. “He won’t do that. Amy won’t let him.” He hesitated, then said with deadly intensity, “We’re pards, right?”

“Of course.”

Tim’s jaw set. “I gotta warn you. There’s talk around town. Amy’s bragging she’ll be Mrs. Joshua Stanhope before your six months are up.” A grin chased away Tim’s obvious concern. “Folks are saying she’d better get a move on.”

Josh had never been more flabbergasted. “She…I…what makes her think I’m interested in her?”

“She’s Amy. That’s enough.”

Josh’s heart thundered. He bit his tongue to keep from blurting out that Amy would never be Mrs. Joshua Stanhope. The first moment he’d looked into Ellie Sterling’s shy blue eyes, the title had been hers for the taking.

Tim waggled his eyebrows. “Don’t forget. Cougars aren’t the only cats around here.” He bent low over Blue’s neck and raced off, but soon returned. “Have you ever seen a mountain lion?”

Josh shoved aside the troublesome thought of Amy stalking him. “Hardly. They don’t come to Nob Hill.”

“I guess not.” Tim pulled Blue closer to Sultan. “When Ellie and I first came out here, I was only eight years old and scared to death. Gus told us if we weren’t good, the mountain lions would eat us.”

“Who is Gus?”

Tim looked surprised. “Gus Stoddard. Ellie’s and my pa. Didn’t you know? I figured ol’ man Talbot would’ve told you before now.”

Josh shook his head. “I thought you were Sterlings.”

Tim’s eyes flashed. “We are. Gus sold us to Matt and Sarah a long time ago. Hey, don’t tell Ellie I spilled the beans. She hates being reminded we used to be Stoddards.” His face brightened. “We don’t have to worry about it any longer. Matt got a lawyer to fix it so Gus can’t bother us again without being in big trouble.”

Good for Matt. From the sketchy information Tim had given, it appeared Gus Stoddard wasn’t fit to wipe his children’s feet.

Tim didn’t seem to notice Josh’s silence. He chattered on. “Guess what, Josh? The first mountain lion I saw looked like a sleepy, overgrown pussycat. Seth and I went camping in the mountains about four years ago. A dandy place. Good fishing holes. We were having a great time, but on the way back down the creek to our camp, we heard screaming. It sounded like a woman crying for help.”

The look in Tim’s eyes sent chills skittering up Josh’s spine. “What did you do?”

“Seth said it had to be a mountain lion. They’re cowards and don’t usually attack folks unless they’re cornered—or unless it’s a mama cat with cubs. But I was glad Seth had his rifle.” Tim grimaced. “Like a dummy, I’d left mine in camp.

“Anyway, Seth had already warned me never to run if I met a cougar and didn’t have a gun. It’s the worst thing you can do. You need to spread your arms out like an eagle’s wings, make yourself look as big as you can, and yell like an Indian on the warpath. And pray hard!”

Josh gripped the reins tighter. “So what happened?”

“We came around a bend in the trail.” Tim’s eyes glazed over. “There he was, long and yellowish and not mean-looking at all…until he opened his mouth.” Tim gulped. “That cougar had one sharp set of teeth.” A red tide flowed into Tim’s face. “I forgot everything Seth said and started to run. He shoved me so hard I hit the ground. He bellowed and threw his rifle to his shoulder, but the cougar leaped into the bushes just before Seth pulled the trigger. The shot missed him.”

“Did you track him?”

“Naw. Seth said to let him go.” Tim looked shamefaced. “I gotta admit I was glad. Hey, you look kinda pale.”

“What do you expect?” Josh retorted. “After hearing your story, I’d just as soon keep my distance from any mountain lions.”

“Do you want to go back to the ranch house? Or town?”

“Not on your life. If we see a cougar, you can do your eagle act and protect me.”

Tim whooped, but Josh caught his look of relief when he set Blue to dancing across the range. Although Josh’s heart persisted in turning somersaults, he realized he’d just passed an important test.

Dusk fell with no sign of mountain lions. The hunting party set up camp a short distance upwind of where the steer had been brought down. After supper, every trace of the day’s camaraderie fled.

“I’m counting on the cougar returning to his kill,” Matt said. “No sleep for us tonight. Good thing there will be a full moon. Check your rifles, and get in your places before it rises.” He paused. “Be careful how and where you fire. We’re out to get a cougar, not each other.”

Josh’s flesh crawled. Never in his wildest imaginings had he pictured himself lying on the ground, waiting for a mountain lion. His companions showed no signs of fear. Tracking cougars, working with ornery cattle, and hunting down rustlers were all part of their day’s work. In place and invisible, they waited, with Tim motionless beside Josh. The night wore on. The moon climbed high into the sky. Josh’s legs cramped from lying in one place. His nerves twanged.
Please be with us, God
….

A strong hand clamped on Josh’s arm and cut off the rest of the prayer. “Don’t move a muscle,” Tim ordered, so low Josh had to lean close to hear. “He’s coming.”

Josh marveled at the young man’s eyesight and hearing. He strained to see and hear. A rustle in the grass and the soft
pad-pad
of footsteps rewarded his diligence. A cougar, fully five feet long and gray in the moonlight, crept toward the kill.

A shot rang out from Josh’s left.
Spang!
A horrid snarl followed. The cat exploded into the air and hit the ground running.

Tim leaped to his feet and raised his rifle. “Look out, Josh. He’s winged and heading our way!” With no time to take aim, he pulled the trigger. The rifle misfired. It knocked Tim to the ground, flew through the air, and landed at Josh’s feet.

The enraged cougar hurled toward them—snarling, spitting, and trapping them in a nightmare from which they might never awaken.

God, help me
.

Josh grabbed the rifle by the barrel and bounded to his feet, vaguely aware of shouting and the sound of men running. The cougar sprang. Josh swung the rifle with strength multiplied by fear.
Crack!
The sturdy stock smashed against the animal’s head. It split in two, but it had done its work well. The mountain lion fell to the ground with one claw scraping Tim’s leg. The next moment, a hail of bullets ended the predator’s life.

Josh shook like an aspen leaf in a high wind. “Are you all right?” he choked out.

“I reckon.” Tim struggled to his feet. “Kinda dizzy though.”

Josh looked down and gasped. Blood seeped through Tim’s torn jeans. “You’re hurt.”

Tim’s grin looked sickly in the moonlight, but he said, “Aw, it’s just a scratch. Thanks to you.”