Rebecca's Heart (19 page)

She caught a glimpse of a dark-haired man sitting beside her father then pulled sharply on the reins. The stress of the day was causing her mind to play tricks on her. She’d imagined seeing Luke in the distance a dozen times, but this time …

“Rebecca?” Luke jumped out of the wagon and with a slight limp ran toward her.

She slid down from the horse, certain she was dreaming. It had been so long since she’d heard from him.

“I missed you so much.” He lifted her off the ground and swung her around.

“I can’t believe you’re here.” Tears of joy streamed down her face at seeing him again. “And you can walk.”

Still holding her hands, he pulled them against his chest. “I wrote and told you. Didn’t you get my letter?”

“No, but that doesn’t matter anymore. I’m just glad you’re here.” A sharp wind whipped against her face. She hadn’t forgotten the urgency to find her brother. “Something’s happened, Luke.”

“What is it?” His fingers pressed against her arm.

She grabbed the reins of her horse, addressing her father as his wagon stopped beside them. “Adam’s left. He heard a rumor that Samuel’s killer is working north of here. He’s left to go after him.”

A shadow crossed her father’s face. “How long ago did he leave?”

“Ten minutes. Fifteen at the most.”

“Where’s he headed?”

“North toward Hayes, and he won’t stop until he finds the man. You could go into town and get a posse together.”

Her father adjusted the brim of his hat as he considered the choices. “Going back into town will lose valuable time.”

Luke took a step forward. “I’ll be happy to go with you.”

“You can’t go.” Rebecca shook her head. “What about your leg? You’re still limping, and it could be days before you return—”

“I’ll be fine. I’ve faced worse situations before.”

Don’t go. Not just when I’ve got you back …

This time Rebecca didn’t try to hold back the tears. The strain from the past few weeks, along with Adam’s leaving and the emotional shock of seeing Luke, was more than she could handle. His notion to chase after Adam was as foolish as her brother’s quest to bring in a murderer single-handedly. One of them would get himself killed.

“I just want to help.” Luke’s hand gripped her shoulder. “I’ll be fine—”

“You can’t make me a promise like that.”

“Shh.” He touched her mouth with his fingertips then wiped away her tears.

All she could do now was pray she didn’t lose another man she loved.

Luke leaned back in the saddle, trying to stretch the weary muscles in his back. It had been almost thirty-six hours since they’d left the Johnson farm, and still they’d seen no sign of Adam. He and Rebecca’s father had been able to follow Adam’s tracks until last night, but now a fresh layer of snow covered the ground. All they could do was rely on what Rebecca had heard and hope they were continuing in the right direction.

He’d hated to leave Rebecca. The two months they’d been apart had seemed like an eternity, and then to see her so briefly before his unexpected departure to find Adam had been torture. At least he was sure of one thing. While he knew she was upset about his decision to go after Adam, he hadn’t missed the obvious joy in her eyes when he’d arrived.

His ride on the train to Cranton had given him plenty of time to think. One thing had become clear. He wanted to marry Rebecca, even if that meant giving up his dreams of having his own shipbuilding business. There were always other opportunities. Boats ran along the Connecticut River, and surely there would be a need for someone with his skills. If not, he’d dreamed of raising horses as a boy. Maybe that was something he could learn to do.

With Rebecca’s father beside him, he kept a steady pace, staying on the main road toward the town of Hayes. He knew it was important to join in the search, but a part of him wished he hadn’t volunteered to come. His leg ached in the cold, reminding him he needed to take things slowly. He was thankful he’d been able to keep up so far, but he wasn’t sure how much longer he could continue the rigorous pace.

A chickadee perched in a nearby tree, attempting to entertain them with his cheerful call. A flock of migrating birds beat their wings above them in the cloudless gray sky. He was amazed at how calm and peaceful the valley was. Except for the crunch of snow beneath the horses’ hooves, it was surprisingly still—and beautiful. Snow glistened like tiny jewels in the morning sunlight. The landscape was a gentle combination of ridges and valleys, where meadows intermingled with thick woodlands, making a patchwork pattern like one of his mother’s quilts. He could see why Rebecca loved this part of the state so much.

“Thanks for coming with me,” Eric said, breaking the comfortable silence that had settled between them.

“I’m glad to be able to help, sir.”

“How’s the leg?”

Luke massaged the top of his thigh with his gloved hand. “It aches in the cold, but I’ll make it. Compared to some of the situations I’ve found myself in at sea, I certainly can’t complain.”

Eric’s rich laugh reminded Luke of Rebecca. “You’ll have to tell me a story or two while you’re here. I remember countless nights sitting around the fire, listening to my father-in-law speak of his adventures on the high seas. “

Already Luke’s memories seemed a lifetime ago. “I have a few of my own good tales to spin, I suppose. Stories of mutiny and legends of the monsters of the deep that at times rang true.”

“Have you ever thought of writing your own chronicles?”

Luke chuckled at the thought. During his convalescence Rebecca’s constant reading to him of adventures of heroes and heroines had been enough to discourage him from the idea. “I think I’ll leave that to men like Herman Melville, who no doubt have a better grasp on weaving such tales.”

A bough snapped beside Luke from the weight of the snow, reverberating like the muffled crack of a rifle. His horse started beneath him, and he pulled back gently on the reins to settle him. Scanning the horizon, he shivered in the wind, thankful for his wool coat, but selfishly longed for the roar of a warm fire. And for Rebecca.

“How many miles away do you figure the town of Hayes is?” Luke asked.

“I don’t think we have much farther. Another mile or two at the most. We’ll stop and talk to the sheriff to find out if he’s seen Adam or if he knows about the reward poster. If we can’t find him there, I think we’ll have no choice but to turn back.”

“Unfortunately, I have to agree.” Luke picked up his pace beside Rebecca’s father, still feeling awkward at calling him by his first name as requested. “Finding Adam in this vast wilderness will be difficult without a clear idea of which direction he’s gone.”

“Samuel’s death struck all of us hard,” Eric said, his jaw taut. “Adam’s never forgiven himself for not being able to stop it. In his mind bringing in the killer is the only way to absolve himself for what happened.”

“Right or wrong, I think I’d feel the same way.”

Luke remembered the overwhelming feelings of guilt he’d experienced over the loss of the
Liberty
. He still had moments when he relived the experience. Moments when he questioned God as to why he survived and others perished. He had no doubt Adam was struggling with many of the same questions. As he’d experienced in his own life, it was a difficult journey to go through. Until he’d stopped trying to fight God at every turn, he’d seen no relief in his future. Maybe God had brought him here for reasons beyond his relationship with Rebecca.

Eric lowered the brim of his hat to block out the rising sun. “We’ve never talked about your intentions toward my daughter.”

Luke wrapped the leather reins around his hand and slowed his pace. He’d been looking for an appropriate time to ask Rebecca’s father for her hand. Now was as good a time as any. “I’d like to marry your daughter, sir.”

“I had a feeling you’d say that.”

Luke caught the slight grin on Eric’s lips and breathed out a sigh of relief. The past day and a half spent alone with her father had been surprisingly amiable, but that hadn’t erased Luke’s feelings of concern, considering he was a virtual stranger to Rebecca’s family and wanted her hand in marriage. “I realize you haven’t known me long, but I love her and promise to take care of her.”

Eric wrapped his scarf around his neck then stuffed the ends into the front of his coat. “My wife knew your mother back in Boston and speaks highly of her.”

“I’m glad to hear that. My mother’s a wonderful lady.”

“Rebecca speaks favorably of you, as well, except for the fact that your letter writing leaves a bit to be desired.”

Luke cringed. “Unfortunately, my mother has a habit of writing letters then forgetting to post them. I have a feeling she did the same thing with the letters I wrote while I was recovering; though, I confess, letter writing has never been my strong point.”

“I’d say that’s true for all of us men.” Eric’s laugh was quickly replaced by a look of concern. “Do you plan to take her back to Boston with you?”

Luke had expected the older man’s question. He could only imagine how he’d feel when the day came for him to face the same thing with his own daughters. “I plan to leave that decision up to Rebecca, sir. Far as I’m concerned, as long as she says yes, I’ll be happy wherever we live.”

“Then I’ll give you my blessing and hope Cranton wins out.”

Luke smiled at his words as they topped another ridge and found the settlement of Hayes dotting the valley below them. Ten minutes later they rode into the sleepy town, dismounted, and tethered their horses a few yards down from the sheriff’s office. The ache in Luke’s leg was intensifying, but he worked to will the pain away. Stepping onto the boardwalk, he turned as two men flew out of the saloon and clattered onto the boardwalk beside him. The blond man landed a solid punch to his opponent’s jaw before stepping into the street. The other man, his lip bleeding, staggered down the steps after him.

“Adam!”

At the sound of his father’s voice, Adam hesitated, giving his blond adversary time to pull a gun out of his holster. Luke threw himself onto Adam, knocking him off his feet as the crack of gunfire split the morning air. The burning sensation of the bullet knocked the wind out of Luke as he slammed into the hard ground; then everything went black.

seventeen

Rebecca knelt on her hands and knees and worked in monotonous circles to finish scrubbing the living room floor. She focused on the straight grain pattern of the wood with its occasional knots, trying to control the fear she felt in the pit of her stomach. Four days had passed without news of Adam—or Luke and her father. She should have gone with them. At least then she wouldn’t have been left to imagine what was happening. As much as she loved Luke, she was still furious he would risk his entire recovery to go after Adam. More than likely he was going to end up deathly ill from exposure to the cold because of his weakened condition.

Rebecca rubbed the floor harder, knowing she shouldn’t worry about something she could do nothing about. It certainly wouldn’t bring them back any sooner, and all it had accomplished so far was to give her a headache.

She glanced up as Michaela stepped into the room from the kitchen, her hands resting against her bulging stomach. Despite the tension she must have felt, an expression of peace crossed her face. “You’re going to scrub away all the floor polish if you’re not careful.”

Rebecca wiped away the beads of moisture from her lip. “Sorry.”

“Don’t worry. I’m not complaining.” Michaela smiled then skirted around the edges of where Rebecca worked. “Every time I turn around, you’re a step ahead of me. I haven’t had to do a thing to prepare for Thanksgiving dinner, and everything is ready for tomorrow. I really appreciate it.”

“I’ve needed to keep busy.” Rebecca leaned back on her heels and balanced her arms against her legs. “Do you think they’ll be back in time?”

Michaela rested her hands against the wooden sill and stared out the window overlooking the front yard of the farmhouse. “If they’re not here by tomorrow, then we’ll wait and celebrate once they return. The girls will be disappointed. They’re upstairs right now making decorations for the table.”

Despite Michaela’s optimistic front, the lines beneath her eyes were evidence she was also worried. Winter’s fury had held off so far, but any day could bring signs of another storm.

With the back of her hand, Rebecca wiped the moisture off her forehead. “The pies and other dishes we made today will last only so long.”

Michaela turned away from the window to face her.

“Is anything else bothering you?”

Rebecca let out a long sigh then began scrubbing again. “I’m frustrated at Luke for leaving when he has no business being out there in this weather. How could he risk his life when he doesn’t have to?”

“He did it because he loves you, and Adam is your brother.”

“I know.” Rebecca stood and dumped the rag into the bucket, sloshing water down the sides. “But it seems foolish for him to risk his life to go after Adam when he’s still recovering from his accident.”

Michaela shook her head. “Luke’s not Samuel, Rebecca.