The Rancher Takes a Cook (16 page)

For a second, it looked like the rock moved.
Reining his horse to a jog, he reached for the rifle that was
always strapped to his saddle. If someone was hiding behind the
boulder, Jacob would be an easy target out in the middle of the
open pasture. As he cautiously moved closer, however, the shape
shifted again. The image cleared. It wasn’t a rock, but a man
sitting against the tree. Every nerve in his body stood on edge.
Was the man friend or foe? Was he riding into a trap?

A soft call drifted to Jacob’s ears and he
reined in his horse to listen. The noise was so faint he almost
missed it. “Hmmpphhh…”

In an instant Jacob had his horse in a dead
run, closing in on the distance between him and the weak figure
propped against the tree.
Edward
.

Anna pulled the last loaf of bread from the
oven and almost dropped it on the warming pad.
Ouch
. The
fabric on her apron was wearing too thin to shield her from the
heat of the pan. She mentally added material to the list of things
to buy on her next trip to town as she ran a knife around the
outside edge of the bread, loosening it from the baking tin. The
front door slammed, and male voices drifted through the house. Anna
stopped moving and strained her ears. Mr. O’Brien had gone to town
this morning to take care of ranch business. He must have returned
with a guest. Anna brushed the flour from her hands and moved the
coffee pot to the front of the stove. A visitor would need
refreshments.

Just as she was arranging cookies on a
plate, the voices rose and her own name echoed in a familiar tone.
Jacob. Why was Jacob back in the middle of the day, calling for
her? A warm flutter tickled Anna’s stomach. Had he come in from the
range just to see her? As quickly as it came, the flutter hardened
into a knot of dread. Was he hurt?

Anna dropped the plate on the work table
with a clatter, picked up her skirts in both fists, and sprinted
out of the kitchen and down the hallway. Just before she reached
the door to the parlor, she almost ran into Jacob. He caught her
with a firm hand on both of her upper arms. Anna’s eyes scanned his
body, checking for blood or breaks. Legs, arms, chest. Her gaze
trailed to his face and found it whole, if a bit dirt-streaked. A
wave of relief washed over her that left her weak, with legs unable
to bear her own weight. She sank into Jacob, needing to touch him.
To hear his heartbeat as her cheek rested against his chest.

“You’re okay…”

For a few seconds he held her, and she
relished his strength. But all too soon, Jacob disentangled himself
and gripped her at arm’s length. The firm set of his jaw and
worried look in his eyes ignited a burning sensation, like pin
pricks in Anna’s chest.

“Edward found the cattle thieves. They
roughed him up a little and left him tied, but
he’s
okay
.”

The burning sensation exploded into a blaze
inside her at Jacob’s words. She struggled to move past him. She
had to get inside the parlor to see Edward, but Jacob grasped her
shoulders firmly.

“Anna.”

The sharp insistence in his voice made her
stop struggling and turn back to face him.

“He’s
okay
. Just a little worn out,
but nothing a cup of coffee and a good meal won’t fix.”

Anna nodded, but his words hadn’t penetrated
her mind. She needed to see Edward. She had to verify for herself
whether he was hurt or not.

Jacob finally released her, and Anna surged
past him. There, in the overstuffed chair near the fireplace, sat
her little brother. Edward gave her a weak grin as Anna knelt down
in front of him.

“Hey, sis. Did you hear I found the cattle
thieves?” Mud was caked along the left side of his body, including
his face and hair.

Anna inspected every inch but found no
evidence of blood. She stroked his hand. “So I heard. Did they hurt
you?”

“Nah, they just tied me to a tree and left
me there, but they got away with a bunch of cattle.”

Anna’s pulse throbbed in her temples. “How
many were there? Did you recognize them?”

“I saw eight men and they were all Mexican,
but I’d never seen any of ’em before.” Edward leaned back in the
chair and yawned, pulling his hand from his sister’s grasp. “Sure
am hungry, though. Is that fresh bread I smell?”

“It is. C’mon to the kitchen and I’ll fix
you a slice with butter and peach preserves while you tell me
everything that happened. Maybe you can finish off the apple pie
from last night, too.”

Anna rose to her feet and assisted Edward as
he brought his gangly limbs to a standing position. When they
turned toward the kitchen, Jacob leaned against the door frame,
watching them. She couldn’t read the expression in his eyes, but
they clouded a darker blue than normal.

When she reached him, Anna rested a hand on
his arm. “You must be exhausted, too. Come and get a bite to eat.
You’ll feel better with something warm in you.”

The right side of his lip quirked just a
bit. “I don’t doubt that. I need to get back out to help the men,
though. Bo went to town to get the sheriff and Pa. The rest of the
boys started tracking the thieves and cattle they took. I need to
get out there soon.”

Anna nodded. She wouldn’t be able to hold
him back. It didn’t stop the bile churning in her stomach, though.
“Let me pack you something to take then.”

He gave a single nod. “Guess I wouldn’t turn
that down. I’ll put Edward’s horse away while you get it
together.”

A few minutes later, Anna met Jacob on the
front porch with a flask of coffee and a cloth full of ham sandwich
and several apple fritters she’d prepared for supper that night. As
she handed the bundle to him, Jacob offered a stiff smile, but it
didn’t disguise the extra firm set to his jaw. He was worried about
the missing cattle. “Any idea how many they got away with?”

He shook his head, his lips forming a thin
line. “Edward said he thought he saw seventy or eighty head. Could
be more.”

“Do you think you’ll find them?”

“Hard to say.” His eyes turned to stare
across the pasture in the direction of the Guadalupe River. “The
land to the south on the other side of the river has so many wild
cattle roaming, it’ll be hard to track our herd. Lots of trees,
too, so it wouldn’t be hard to find another spot to hide for a few
days before they move on out of the county. We’ll do our best,
though.”

“Jacob…”

He brought his gaze back to meet hers.

“Please be careful.”

For a moment, his eyes darkened, then he
pulled her close and his lips swooped down to cover hers with an
intensity that stole Anna’s breath. The kiss spoke his frustration,
anger, and worry better than any words could have communicated.
Anna responded to his kiss, infusing it with strength and
encouragement and…love. Yes, in that moment, beyond a shadow of a
doubt, her head and her heart finally agreed. She loved this
man.

Much too soon, Jacob pulled back, his hand
moving up her arm to cup her face. He stared at Anna for a long
moment as if memorizing her features, then he released her. Without
a word, he reached down to pick up the bundle of food from where
he’d dropped it on the porch, strode down the steps, and mounted
his horse. After one last look at Anna, he turned his horse and
jogged out of the yard.

So many emotions filled her chest as he
loped across the pasture and out of sight. With a prayer on her
lips, Anna finally turned back toward the house. Jacob would have
to rest in God’s hands. Edward needed her now.

* * *

That night, the men came dragging in an hour
after dark, worn out and irritable. The nights were still chilly,
so she’d made a huge pot of chili and spicy cornbread with butter
and honey, along with apple fritters and donuts for dessert. When
Mr. O’Brien said the blessing, he added a special thanks for
Edward’s safety and a petition for the missing cattle to be
found.

Anna reached under the table to squeeze
Jacob’s hand. He had to be discouraged, and she wanted to impart
what little comfort she could offer. He turned his hand to grip
hers, and the feel of his large, work-roughened hand sent a warmth
up her arm. After they all said “Amen,” Anna opened her eyes and
snuck a peek at Jacob. He caught her glance and winked then
squeezed and released her hand under the table. The heat crept all
the way up to the tips of her ears as she focused on spreading the
napkin in her lap.

Anna was thankful conversation began around
them, and she soon became engrossed in the discussion herself.

“So ye found the spot they were holdin’ the
cattle?” Aunt Lola’s rich brogue filled the room as she addressed
her cousin.

“Yes, we found the area. Looked like they’d
camped there for a while, probably gathering up the cattle over a
week or so. We followed the tracks as far as the river where the
creeks split off and the main branch runs shallow for a ways.
Couldn’t pick up the tracks again before it got dark. They most
likely kept the herd walking in the river or one of the creeks for
as long as they could. The sheriff said he would send men back out
to track them tomorrow.”

Monty looked up from his bowl of stew. “Hope
it doesn’t rain tonight.”

After she scrubbed the dishes and cleaned
the kitchen, Anna was too restless to join the rest of the family
in the den like normal. Her emotions were still in a jumble from
the happenings of the day, and what she needed most was quiet time
with her Heavenly Father.

Grabbing her cape from a peg by the front
door, she slipped outside into the cool night air. Clouds shielded
the stars overhead, making the darkness thicker than usual. A damp
breeze sent a shiver through her, and Anna pulled the cape tighter
around her shoulders.

Standing on the porch by the rail, she
replayed Jacob’s departure from earlier that day. The old familiar
vise squeezed her chest. So much could happen to him out there. It
brought back memories of the fear that had gripped her when Edward
recounted how the bandits had roughed him up and left him tied to a
tree. Abandoned there. Weak, bound, gagged, and blindfolded. He
could have easily been attacked by a bear, coyote, or cougar.
Edward might well have died if Jacob hadn’t found him. The what
if’s tormented Anna.

Lord, please don’t take Edward from me.
First Mama, then our home and Papa. I just don’t think I could
stand to lose Edward, too.
An image of Jacob’s blue eyes and
strong chin flashed through Anna’s mind.
Please keep both of my
boys safe.

The door behind her creaked, and the warm
glow of a lantern spilled onto the porch. Anna turned to find Jacob
easing the front door closed. He strode across the porch toward the
stairs but stopped short when his eyes met hers.

“Hello,” she offered softly, suddenly shy in
his presence.
My goodness, but he’s tall.

“It’s a bit cold out for stargazing.”
Jacob’s voice was deep, almost husky, in the stillness of the
night. He set the lantern down on the porch and strolled toward the
rail.

Very aware of his large frame next to her,
Anna faced the night sky. “I wish there were stars to gaze at. Just
clouds tonight, though.”

“Clouds are good for thinking, too.” His
voice was low and trailed off at the end as if lost in thought
himself.

Anna let out a sigh. “I guess either one
works for praying.”

“You worried about Edward?”

How could he read her thoughts so
accurately? Anna bit her lip. “Do you think they’ll come back?”

He turned to face the cloudy sky, too, and
was quiet for a few moments. “It’s hard to say. The sheriff said
they’ve been hitting one ranch at a time. They steal about a
hundred head then move on to another ranch. Hopefully they got
enough of ours and won’t be back.” He glanced at Anna and held her
gaze. “But whether they come back or not, God is in control.”

Anna pivoted to face him squarely, a lump
clogging her chest. “But that’s what I’m struggling with. I know in
my head God is in control, that he’s taking care of us. But
actually placing Edward in God’s hands, to do with as He wills?
What if God doesn’t keep him safe? Edward is everything I have
left. If anything happened to him, I’m not sure I could stand it.”
Her voice cracked at the last words and moisture burned in her
eyes.

Jacob pulled her into his arms. The tender
touch was too much for her raw emotions, and a sob escaped. As
tears broke through her barriers, Jacob’s strong hands rubbed her
back, gently stroking the pain away.

After a few minutes, Anna managed to stench
the flow. With a sniffle, she straightened, giving Jacob a weak
smile. “I’m sorry. I don’t usually break down like this.”

When she tried to step back, though, his
muscular arms wouldn’t let her go. “You have nothing to apologize
for.” His voice was strong, yet gentle.

Anna tried to secure her smile. “Well,
thanks for the hug, then.” His arms felt so good, still holding her
close.

His blue eyes twinkled in the lantern light
as he tapped a forefinger to her nose. “Anytime.”

Finally releasing her, Jacob picked up the
lantern. “Well, I came out to check on a couple of the mares that
are due to foal. The babies usually come at night, and we try to
keep an eye on ’em in case they have trouble.” He spun back, a
question on his face. “Do you want to come?”

A flicker of interest bubbled inside Anna.
“I’d love to.”

Just before they entered the barn, Jacob
stopped walking and cautioned, “Stay as quiet as you can until we
see if they’re in labor or not. Most mares are very private when
they give birth and some will actually stop the foaling process if
they see people. After the waters break, though, that baby’s coming
no matter what.”