Page 34

E d spun the pencil in his hand, darting his focus to the clock on the mantel for the dozenth time.

He’d only come home from town to grab a specific tool for the printing press repair. He’d been heading back to the road when Drew waved him inside.

His brothers sat around the table, sipping coffee. For once, Ed didn’t care if he missed out. There was still time for him to make it back to town before nightfall. He’d beg for Merritt and Jack’s mercy and a place to stay. If only Drew would stop talking.

“We’ll need to bring in the wheat, starting next week. Nick will round up a few extra hands if he can.” Drew nodded at Nick, elbows propped on the table, then directed his gaze to Ed. “The lean-to needs repair.”

Isaac shifted.

Ed caught his eye from across the table, and his heartbeat ratcheted up. “I can’t do it tomorrow.”

“Can’t?” Drew’s brows rose.

“I’m going back to town to finish fixing the printing press.” He couldn’t say the rest aloud. His plans to find Rebekah. Win her back. His hope was too new. “I’ll need another day later in the week to work on a table for the bakery too. But I’ll fit the lean-to in.”

A frantic knock sounded at the door before it burst open. Merritt stood there, hair tousled, panting as if she’d been running.

“What are you doing here?”

“What’s wrong?”

A chorus of voices rang out as the brothers jumped up from the table.

“Rebekah and I were riding this way.” Tears filled her eyes.

Rebekah? Rode out here? Worry spiked.

“A man overtook us.” Merritt gasped out the words, leaning into Kaitlyn as all the brothers crowded around. “He had a bandanna over his face. He pulled Rebekah off her horse.”

Everything in the room slowed around him. Ed couldn’t think clearly. He barely heard the rest of the conversation as he tried to will his feet toward the door. But it was as if he were trudging through molasses.

“I didn’t have—I was unarmed. They galloped off, and I was too scared to go after them.” Merritt sobbed out the words.

Isaac kneeled beside her, his voice steady and low. “Where?”

The fog in Ed’s brain cleared. He settled his hat on his head as he pushed past them and out the door. His heartbeat pounded in rhythm with his hurried steps.

Rebekah needed him. She was in danger.

He passed Merritt’s horse, spent and covered in sweat, then rushed into the barn and looped his hand through the bridle hanging on the wall. Footsteps sounded behind him as Isaac gathered his tack.

“They weren’t far from the Boutwells’. Up at the fork in the road.” Isaac had the saddle on Bullet, cinching it down as Ed finished saddling Lightning.

Ed was already in the saddle when Nick emerged from the bunkhouse with a couple of rifles. “Here.” He held the rifles out to them. “I’ll catch up to you.”

Drew ran out of the house, not far behind Nick.

Ed turned to Isaac. “You’re the best tracker I know. Help me find her.” His desperation rang out in his words.

Isaac nodded, mouth grim.

Ed urged Lightning forward. He couldn’t think about the ranchers who had been beaten. What if they couldn’t reach her in time?

He leaned low over the horse’s neck and asked for more speed.

Please God, keep her safe.

At the fork in the road, another rider approached from behind in a cloud of dust. Ed’s pulse ratcheted up a notch. He fingered the butt of the rifle, ready to pull it from the scabbard, when the horse slowed.

Isaac reined in and pointed to tracks leading off the road as Nick thundered past, heading toward town. Hopefully to get the marshal and bring help.

A nicker sounded from nearby. Isaac slowed his horse, shoulders going tense. A dark-brown horse was half hidden behind a stand of trees in a field a hundred yards ahead. Riderless.

Isaac scanned the surrounding field, then kept moving, Ed trailing as his brother swiveled back and forth in the saddle, on the lookout for any motion. When they neared a wooded area, Isaac held a finger to his lips.

Ed dismounted when Isaac did. Both took their rifles with them and drew nearer to the edge of what appeared to be a steep drop-off. Voices echoed from below. With his hand, Isaac motioned for Ed to drop low.

The undergrowth tickled his face. Isaac halted in front of him. Ed moved in beside him, slow and easy, to peer over the rise. A rough sort of clearing came into view.

Rebekah was slumped on a wide tree stump, her hands tied in front of her. She was alive!

Ed’s breathingwent shallow as a man—the bandit?—stood over her menacingly. The man faced away from Ed, and he couldn’t make out his features, but a bandanna was hanging down around his neck.

It had to be the bandit.

Ed’s breath caught in his chest as he took a longer look at Rebekah and saw the red mark on her cheek.

He couldn’t let anything happen to her. Not his Rebekah. For whether she wanted him or not, that’s what she’d always be. And nothing in life would ever be the same if she were taken from him.

“Tell me where he is.”

“I don’t know.” Rebekah’s voice was stubborn and angry.

“You know. You just won’t tell me.” The man let go of her and straightened to his full height.

“He must mean Sullivan,” Isaac said.

Ed hadn’t paid much attention to the exchange. All he cared about was rescuing Rebekah.

The outlaw drew his gun.

Isaac was ready. He had his rifle aimed into the gully.

Ed laid his on the ground, right at hand.

“My boss wants to see him.” The bandit aimed his gun at her. “Where is he?”

Ed’s heart threatened to explode.

“Take the shot,” Ed urged.

But Isaac was frozen beside him.

“Isaac,” Ed pushed.

Isaac’s fingers remained clasped around the rifle’s stock. His eyes darted wildly, as if he couldn’t find his focus.

And then Isaac relaxed his grip, breathing hard as if he’d been running at full speed. “I can’t.”

“You have to. He’s gonna shoot her.” Ed pushed the words out with force as his chest clenched.

Isaac shook his head, his hand still wrapped around the stock.

There was something terribly wrong with Ed’s brother, but this wasn’t the time to deal with it.

“You’re just as good. You take the shot.”

What choice did he have?

Ed leveled his rifle at the man who was threatening Rebekah. There was no time for more thought. That revolver could go off at any moment.

He closed his finger over the trigger. And took the shot.

* * *

A shot rang out.

Rebekah jumped, the sound reverberating through her chest.

But she felt no pain.

Thump!

She hadn’t realized she’d closed her eyes, but they flew open now to see the bandit fall to the ground. Blood seeped through his fingers where he clutched his arm.

His gun had been knocked away. It lay in the grass nearby.

Dirt and rocks rattled loose. A man was scrambling down the rise.

Ed.

Fear swelled inside her and overflowed as tears filled her eyes. He rushed forward to spring on top of the outlaw. The bandit saw him and rolled toward the gun.

“Ed, watch out!” Rebekah kicked at the bandit.

Ed launched at him, threw a punch that knocked back the bandit’s head. Their tussle pushed close, and she was knocked off the tree stump, falling hard on one shoulder.

She couldn’t tear her eyes from where Ed followed the outlaw as the man tried to run away, then wrenched his arm so that the outlaw cried out.

“I’ve got him,” Ed called out.

And there was Isaac, only steps away. She hadn’t even noticed him coming down the hill.

Ed quickly handed off the man and came to help her sit up.

“I thought we were going to be too late.” A huskiness filled his words.

She could feel the wobble in his hands as he worked to untie the ropes on her wrists.

He pulled her close. She went willingly, felt his still-frantic breathing under her cheek. She leaned into his strength, letting his warmth flow into her.

He’d come for her.

Ed slid his hands from her back to hold her arms, lifting her away from him with a gentle strength. His face grew stern as he surveyed her bruised wrists. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Yes. What about you?” Unashamed tears streaked her face as she reached up to touch the blood trickling from his brow. “You’re bleeding.”

Ed barely seemed to notice. “He must’ve gotten in a lucky punch.”

All the while, he ran his hands down her arms, tracing over them for any signs of injury.

More tears slipped free. “You came for me. After everything.”

Such depths of tenderness lingered in his eyes as he moved his hand to gently cup the side of her face. He turned her jaw slightly, examining her cheek. It’d been hurt when she’d tried to get away. From the purse of his lips and the working of his jaw, she must have gotten a bruise.

He met her eyes again with intensity. “Of course I came. I’ll always come for you.”

Her hands cupped his jaw as she leaned up to let her lips meet his. His hands closed around her waist. This was what she’d always wanted. She let herself lean into him. She was home in his arms.

“Ow!” The man howled as Isaac jerked a rope tight around his wrists.

Rebekah pulled back from Ed’s warmth.

She caught Isaac ducking his head in an awkward bend while wrangling the man, as if to avoid intruding on her moment with Ed. Once he had the bandit subdued, Isaac jerked the man to his feet.

The bandit let out a grunt, eyes on Rebekah. “You and that story you printed made too much trouble for my boss. You turned me into a wanted man.” He spat at the ground. “I should’ve been a better shot when I had you in my sights in town.”

Ed took a step toward him but stopped when Rebekah touched his arm.

Isaac jerked up the man’s sleeve to reveal a tattoo. The very one Rebekah had sketched at Quade’s ranch.

This was the man. He’d attacked both Mr. Billings and Mr. Jones. Admitted to shooting at her in town. They’d caught him.

The man tried to wrestle away, but Isaac held tight.

“Let’s go.” Isaac glanced at Rebekah. “You okay?”

She nodded. Overwhelmed, she watched him move off, prodding the bandit forward to where the horses must be waiting. She blinked and turned her head to see Ed watching her.

His eyes tracked to Isaac and back again.

His mouth was set in a thin line, but it was the vulnerability in his eyes that hit her hard. “If you still want?—”

“I don’t want Isaac. I only want you.” Tears stung behind her nose as she reached out to touch his arm. “You’re my hero.”

She caught his flare of relief and the recognition and connection that followed.

He moved to pull her close again, but she stayed him with a hand on his chest so that they were inches apart.

Ed tilted his head. “I’m sorry for not telling you sooner about the letters?—”

“I’m sorry too. If I hadn’t been trying to control everything…” Her breath escaped in a quick sigh as he gathered her hands, then intertwined their fingers.

“What were you thinking?” he chided gently. “Riding out when there was still danger.”

A breathless hope rode on his words.

She dropped her eyes to focus on his work-hardened hands. “I was coming to see you. There’s something I have to tell you.”

She lifted her eyes to study his dear face. His brow wrinkled in question.

“I know now. It’s you I love. It’s always been you. From the very first letter.”

A light dawned in his eyes. He darted his gaze across her face as if trying to decide where to land. “I’ve had feelings for you for a long time.”

“Not good ones.” She suppressed a giggle.

“Actually, I couldn’t even admit it to myself.” His eyebrow quirked, his gaze intensifying. “But I liked you from the start. And I love you even more now.”

His smile softened as he leaned in. She felt the pull of his arms around her waist, drawing her closer. She slid her hands around his neck and wove her fingers into his hair, enjoying its softness. The scent of him filled her nose. All sweat and sawdust and everything Ed.

His lips met hers. Fireworks erupted inside her. Her left foot lifted back in a little kick while their kiss deepened.

Another contented sigh filled the space when his lips left hers.

She tilted her head as his forehead rested against hers. She never wanted him to stop kissing her this way.

A shrill whistle echoed out from the top of the rise where Isaac now stood.

“Drew’s up here. David too. You guys coming?”

Rebekah let her hand slide down Ed’s arm as she stepped in the direction of the hill, but Ed tugged her back.

“You’ve taught me the importance of asking for what I want. What I need.” He spoke with an urgency. “Rebekah, I need you in my life. Will you marry me?”

While all her dreams for the paper were teetering, this dream was unfolding before her anew. The best dream of all.

“Yes, Ed McGraw. I will.”