Page 13 of A Steadfast Heart (Wind River Mail-Order Brides #2)

K aitlyn stepped onto the front porch and took a deep breath of honeysuckle-scented air. In the five days since Danna’s visit, spring had finally arrived in Wyoming. Bees buzzed among the flowering bushes, and the sun finally brought warmth as well as light. They were going to have a great day for moving the bull.

A clatter rose behind her, and she spun to face it, then relaxed. David had piled a stack of breakfast dishes to carry into the kitchen. She should have known. Michael would be a lot quieter in his attack.

She crossed the porch to examine the honeysuckle more closely. It would need pruning next spring. Assuming Michael hadn’t destroyed the ranch by then.

Tillie’s illness had been over in a day, so Kaitlyn and Drew had been able to go to town not long after the marshal stopped by. They had talked to the stationmasters for both the train and the stagecoach line. Both agreed to tell the marshal if anyone asked about Kaitlyn. Finally, Danna had agreed to warn them if any news of Michael reached her. He shouldn’t be able to take them by surprise.

So now they waited. Each day seemed longer than the one before, and it hadn’t even been a week yet.

What would Michael do? Unease sent a chill through her, despite the warm weather. Her lists of his possible actions were likely useless. Michael didn’t think like other people. Whatever move he made wouldn’t be on one of those lists. She could almost guarantee it.

Last night, after the kids were in bed, Drew had taken her hand in his and asked her to come with him to the barn. Her stomach fluttered with the memory of his warm, calloused hand enclosing her own. He’d glanced at her mouth, but Nick had stepped in to ask him a question.

Had he planned to kiss her? Did she want him to?

She shook her head. Not if he chose not to love her. She’d had enough of that in her life.

Jo had refused to go with Tillie to Mrs. Boutwell’s for the day. Kaitlyn sighed. Drew had thought things would go more smoothly with Jo after Kaitlyn had explained about her brother, but it hadn’t been the case. Anytime she could slip away, Jo had hidden either in the barn or in her room. Chores had been finished haphazardly at best, lessons not at all.

Boots thudded on the porch behind her. Drew. The men all wore boots, but she knew his footsteps. He stopped beside her.

She turned to face him. “Any luck?”

He shook his head. “She didn’t even open the door.”

Kaitlyn sighed. Of course she hadn’t. Jo had determined she was staying behind and refused to talk about it, hadn’t even come down for breakfast. “She’ll be safe here?”

Drew was silent for a moment, considering her question. Kaitlyn’s heart warmed. He hadn’t ignored or belittled her worries. He might not understand the threat Michael represented, but he didn’t ignore it.

“She’s stayed here for a morning in the past, so I think she’s safe. And we need to get that bull up front where a buyer can inspect him if we’re ever going to sell him.” He stepped closer and reached for her hand. Their fingers easily interlaced. “Come meet your new mount. I left the horses hitched to the corral fence. Just need to tighten their girths and they’ll be ready to go.”

He crossed to the porch steps, tugging on her hand. She glanced over her shoulder. Should she try to talk to Jo? But what was the point? If she hadn’t opened the door to her father, she wouldn’t to Kaitlyn.

They passed through the yard toward the corral. The horses waited near the barn, tied to the top rail of the fence. “A new mount? Who am I meeting today?”

Drew led her to the end of the line of horses. “This is Goldie. She’s sure-footed and has a bit of speed in case that bull makes a turn we aren’t predicting. Just don’t ask her to jump.”

Kaitlyn ran her fingers over the white diamond between Goldie’s eyes. The buckskin leaned into her caress. “We’re going to be great friends, aren’t we, girl?” The horse huffed an agreement.

The rest of the family clattered onto the porch, good-naturedly shoving each other. Their voices echoed across the yard. Kaitlyn felt happiness and warmth flow through her. They were her family, and she was spending the day with them.

Drew leaned down to tighten the mare’s girth, then made final adjustments for the other mounts. He returned to her and folded his hands to make a step. “Let’s get you on her before the crew gets here. Things might get a bit loud.”

Kaitlyn placed her foot in his hands and pushed off to swing astride the mare, grateful for the full skirt she’d found among Amanda’s things. At least something good had come from Jo locking her in that closet.

Drew checked her stirrups, then looked up at her questioningly. She moved around a bit in the saddle, checking the feel. “One notch lower, I think.”

He nodded, then moved her skirt and petticoat to make the adjustments. Her legs straightened a little further. It didn’t matter now, but after a full day, her knees would be happier with the lower stirrups. “That’s fine.” He lowered her skirt back over her boots, then patted her calf. His touch burned through both layers of fabric.

He pulled his hand back and rubbed it along his pants. He swallowed, his throat bobbing. “I’d, uh, better go check with my brothers.”

She nodded, her mouth too dry to reply. Drew met the rest of the family halfway between the house and the corral.

A clatter rang from the barn. Kaitlyn looked that way, and ice poured through her veins.

Jo.

On Phantom, who was barely broken. At least he was saddled.

The roan crow-hopped under her, and Kaitlyn’s heart raced. Jo clung tight, but her legs just weren’t long enough to keep a firm grip. She slid a bit, then righted herself.

The horse ran toward the corral fence and sailed over. Jo lost a stirrup but stayed upright. She reached for the saddle horn, but didn’t cry out.

From the corner of her eye, Kaitlyn saw Drew charge to the corral. The rest of the men followed, but they were all too far away.

Jo’s horse ran flat out toward the opposite fence of the corral.

Kaitlyn’s breath stuttered to a halt. Phantom was heading to Crazy Cow’s pen. And taking Jo with him.

Time froze around her. Her heart lodged in her throat. She pulled hard on the reins, and her horse backed quickly. Pressure from her knee and a rein against Goldie’s neck had the mare spinning…just in time to see Phantom sail over the second fence. This time, Jo couldn’t keep her seat. She hit the ground hard.

Inside Crazy Cow’s pen.

Phantom kept running, jumped another fence, and was soon out of sight.

Kaitlyn dug her heels into Goldie’s sides and the horse leaped forward. Kaitlyn came down hard in the saddle, then tightened her legs around the horse and leaned forward into her gallop.

Scrabbling sounds reached her ears. Probably the men clambering over the fence, but they would still need to get mounted and get their horses turned. It would only take seconds, but it was seconds Jo might not have. Crazy Cow had already spotted the intruder to her pen.

The bovine’s head came up, and she snorted, the sound chilling Kaitlyn’s blood.

She leaned forward further, nearly lying on Goldie’s neck, her eyes never moving from Jo’s too-still form.

Get up. You have to get up.

The girl didn’t obey Kaitlyn’s silent pleas.

Goldie drew close to the fence. Should they jump? Kaitlyn glanced over at the mama cow. She hadn’t lowered her head yet, but her hoof pawed the ground. Jumping would be faster. Assuming she managed to stay on the mare’s back.

Goldie slowed, and Drew’s warning drifted back through Kaitlyn’s mind. This horse didn’t like to jump.

Kaitlyn was off the horse before the mare stopped. She scrambled over the fence.

“Wait! Don’t do it!”

Drew’s anguished voice rose above the sound of Solomon’s hooves. Kaitlyn stopped for a moment, but then the cow lowered her head. They didn’t have time to wait.

The cow wasn’t moving yet. Maybe she could draw its attention away from Jo.

The men were coming. Kaitlyn only had to survive one charge.

Only.

She swallowed hard and stepped away from Jo, then waved her arms over her head and yelled. “This way, cow. Over here, you walking hunk of beef. Gonna make steak sandwiches out of you!”

The cow looked her way, snorted. “That’s right. I’m the threat. Right here.”

The cow pawed the earth, then glanced back toward Jo. Kaitlyn yelled again. No words, just sound and distraction. More hoofbeats behind her. The men were closing in.

The cow ignored the noise Kaitlyn made. Her head went down and she charged.

Right at Jo.

Kaitlyn’s mind froze, but her body didn’t. Without conscious thought, she flung herself over Jo’s still body. She covered her head with her arms, braced for the hooves to hit her back.

Please, Lord, protect us!

Nothing hit her. She peeked out between her arms. Black legs stood in front of her. Black? She looked up. Drew and Solomon had planted themselves between her and the cow. Crazy Cow slid to a stop inches away from the horse. “Get up, Kaitlyn. Back toward the fence slowly. I’ve got this.”

“But Jo?” Her breath snagged in her throat.

“I’ll get her.” Ed’s horse slid to a stop on her other side, and he swung down. He never took his eyes from Crazy Cow. “Get yourself over the fence. I’ll take care of Jo, and that walking pile of salt beef will never get past Drew and Solomon.”

Kaitlyn scrambled to her feet, her eyes on the dance between Drew and the cow. Solomon matched every move the angry bovine made with grace and precision. Jo groaned, bringing Kaitlyn back to reality.

She held herself to a slow pace as she crossed the fence.

Ed passed Jo over. Kaitlyn staggered at the young girl’s weight, but cradled her against her chest. They’d almost lost her.

Ed reached between the rails to wipe a trickle of blood from Jo’s face. “Is she okay?”

Jo’s eyelids fluttered, and she groaned again.

Kaitlyn laid her on the ground. “I don’t know. She has a pretty big bump on her head.”

“Once everyone’s out of the pen, Drew can join you. He’ll want to check Jo over.” He swung astride Lightning and they crossed the pen, Nick following on Surrey. Both horses gracefully cleared the fence, then Drew followed on Solomon.

Kaitlyn carefully straightened the little girl’s limbs. No shouts of pain. That had to be a good sign.

All three men gathered around Jo. Drew spared Kaitlyn a brief glance and ran a hand along her shoulder. “You okay?”

She nodded, and his shoulders relaxed just a bit. Then he turned to Jo, ran hands down her arms and legs. She opened her eyes and tried to sit up but sank back against the ground. Drew ran his hands along her ribcage, and she winced, but didn’t cry out.

Drew released a pent-up breath. Kaitlyn felt the force of his anger. “What on earth were you thinking?”

* * *

He’d almost lost them both.

Drew leaned against the porch post and rubbed his hand across his face. In the two hours since the accident, Jo had recovered far more than he had. He’d always liked his daughter’s spunky independent streak, but now it had almost gotten her killed. Nick had warned him that Jo didn’t listen to anyone but him. If Drew had listened, maybe today wouldn’t have happened.

Kaitlyn had put herself between Jo and Crazy Cow’s hooves. The moment he’d seen her climb into that cow pen, he’d thought his heart would stop. Even now, his knees weakened and his head swam at the memory. He could be preparing them both for burial right now. He released the breath that had tangled in his chest, took another, and released it slowly before a fraction of his equilibrium returned. Another breath, maybe two, and he would be calm enough to face the storm inside the house without making it worse.

He entered the house, barely stopping himself from slamming the door behind him. Jo had to learn to listen. His heart wouldn’t survive another day like today.

The door to the kitchen stood mostly open. Kaitlyn’s and Jo’s voices floated out from behind it. He stood still for a moment, letting those voices flow over him. He’d almost lost them, and the mere thought caused his stomach to churn. He softly closed the door, the sight of his shaking hands stopping him in his tracks. It was over, and they’d both survived.

He edged closer to the door and peeked inside. Kaitlyn had dragged a couple of chairs into the kitchen for them to sit in. She faced the doorway but didn’t acknowledge his presence. She was focused on Jo, who had her back to him.

“I could have ridden him. Pa says I’m a great rider.”

Even from this angle, he could tell that Jo had her arms crossed angrily over her chest, and he could imagine her stubborn expression.

Kaitlyn squeezed the water from a washrag and dabbed it along Jo’s forehead. “Hmm.” The sound was kind. How could she care so deeply for a little girl who treated her so callously?

Drew could almost see Kaitlyn biting her tongue. Be careful what you say , she’d whispered to him as he’d carried a still-dazed Jo into the house. Now she was following her own advice.

“I could. I’ve ridden green-broke horses before.”

“Why did this ride go so badly, do you think?”

Jo glanced down but didn’t answer.

Drew stepped into the room. “I can answer that.”

Jo turned swiftly, then grimaced and pressed a hand to her head. Drew pulled another chair into the kitchen and sat next to Kaitlyn so he could see every expression on Jo’s face. “When you saddled Phantom, did you leave him in the big stall? Untied? Did you leave the barn?”

Jo nodded. “I, um, had to get some food. And I, well, I forgot my jacket.”

“I think he rolled while he was tacked up. The saddle core splintered under his weight. When you got on, it pinched his back.”

Jo crossed her arms over her chest and smirked. Her eyes cut to Kaitlyn. “See, I told you it wasn’t my fault.”

Determination solidified inside his chest. She had endangered herself, and Kaitlyn too. She had to be made to see that. Kaitlyn squeezed his knee, drawing his attention to her. She shook her head slightly. He bit back the angry words that swirled through his mind and nodded to her. She was probably right. Yelling at Jo wouldn’t accomplish much.

Kaitlyn wiped at more dried blood on Jo’s forehead. “You put yourself and several other people at risk. You need to think through what might go wrong before you act.”

Drew leaned forward. “While you were out cold, Kaitlyn risked her life, lying over you so the cow would hit her first.”

Jo’s jaw dropped, and she glanced at Kaitlyn, then back to him. Her cheeks flushed.

Drew nodded. He had her attention now. “Your chores are doubled for the next month, and that includes inside chores. You could have both been killed.”

Jo paled, and her eyes widened for a moment. Then she speared him with an angry glare. “I might have known. You wouldn’t care if I broke my neck and died, but we can’t endanger Kaitlyn!”

Broken neck. Bile rose in his throat. When he’d identified Amanda’s body after the train wreck, her neck had been twisted at an odd angle. And he’d brought her to Wyoming. If only he’d understood his wife’s desperation, her hatred of the ranch, which had put her on that train. Old grief rose inside him. If only he’d worked less, paid more attention…

“See, he don’t even deny it.” Jo’s tone was angry, but her eyes were bright with unshed tears. Words. He needed words. If only he knew the right ones. Jo jumped up from her chair to leave the room.

“Stop!” Kaitlyn’s shaking voice froze Jo in her tracks. “How could you say such a thing?”

Jo pointed at Drew. “Ask him! He didn’t even want me. He only kept David.”

His throat constricted, blocking any attempt at the words he couldn’t find anyway. Didn’t Jo know that Amanda had left while he was away from the house?

He glanced at Kaitlyn, seated beside him, hoping she would see his need for help.

She took his hand, her hold comforting, but she focused her attention on the child in front of her. “Your father’s love for you shows in every action he takes. Ask him why he let your mother take you. I bet he has a reason.”

“Pa?”

Jo’s uncertain voice tore through his chest. He reached for her and drew her to his lap. “I should have told you about this a long time ago. I’m sorry I didn’t.”

Where to start? Images raced through his mind. Amanda unhappy. Refusing to allow the girls to leave the house and learn about the ranch—“this heathen land” as she’d called it. The girls clinging to her skirts whenever she allowed them near her.

Kaitlyn’s grip tightened on his hand and brought him back to the present. Start at the beginning, with as much of the truth as an eleven-year-old could handle. “I didn’t really understand just how much your ma hated it here.” Was that hoarse voice his? He cleared his throat. “She didn’t tell me she was leaving. I came back for lunch and she was gone.” He’d run through the house trying to find her. Then the barn, where he’d found the wagon missing.

Drew wrapped his arms around Jo. “You were so young, sweetheart. Younger than Tillie is now. And Tillie was just a baby.” His voice was still husky, almost choked. “I didn’t go after you immediately, but it wasn’t because I didn’t want you.”

“Then why?” Hope warred with suspicion in his little girl’s eyes.

“You were so young. I thought two little girls needed their ma.”

A tear ran down Jo’s face. He wiped it away with the tip of his finger. Kaitlyn squeezed his other hand. Kaitlyn. Her father had punished her for Michael’s misdeeds. Knowingly. No one had stood beside her since her mother had died, and the pain of that still showed today. That wasn’t going to happen to Jo. Not on his watch. “Jo, you and Tillie and David mean everything to me. I love this ranch and this home my parents built, but I’d walk away from it in an instant if any one of the three of you needed me to. Nothing matters more than you three kids. Nothing.”

Jo burst into tears and threw her arms around him, buried her face in his chest.

Wait a minute. Shouldn’t she be happy now? He glanced at Kaitlyn. She had tears on her cheeks as well, but her radiant smile squeezed his heart. If she could look at him that way…He looked away.

Half an hour later, he watched through the window as Ed and Nick rode out to round up the bull and find Phantom. They’d meet up with Isaac, and the three of them should be able to get the job done, no matter how cantankerous the bull was feeling. Jo had gone upstairs to rest. Kaitlyn stopped beside him, the lavender scent of her soap comforting him.

“Thought you might like this. It’s been a rough day.” Her hand shook, and the coffee nearly sloshed from the mug.

He took it from her, then looked her over. Her face was pale, her eyes bright. She seemed to be moving smoothly, but there was a rip in her sleeve. It could have so easily been her body that was ripped. He pointed to her arm. “Is that from today?”

She glanced down. “I hadn’t noticed. I must have done it when I climbed the fence.”

He put his cup down on the prep table and took her arm in his hand. It felt cold and trembled in his grip. He rubbed it, trying to give her some of his warmth. A bit of blood had soaked through her sleeve. He rolled it up to her elbow and examined the scrape. “Why didn’t you tell me you were hurt?”

“A scrape hardly counts.” Her voice was low and unsteady.

“Please, let me check it.” He held her gaze until she finally looked away, blushing. But she didn’t pull away from him. He found her lavender soap and dipped it in the basin of water she’d been using for Jo. He rubbed it between his hands, its fragrance strong and calm. It suited her.

He ran his soapy hands over her scrape, then rinsed it. Her skin was so soft beneath his fingers. Warmth flooded him. Did she feel it too? “Any other damage?” he murmured.

She shook her head, not meeting his eyes.

She could have been killed right before his eyes. His eyes squeezed shut as the thought echoed through his mind and landed in his heart. He might never have seen her again. Never have held her again. He pulled her into his arms. “I thought my heart would stop when you jumped into that pen.” His voice sounded hoarse to his own ears.

“I knew you’d get there in time.”

Warmth raced through his body, and his arms tightened around her. I knew you’d get there in time . She trusted him, when she’d never had experience at trusting anyone.

Even when he’d come so very close to failing.

He breathed in her lavender scent, then slowly released her. “Next time, don’t trust me so much.”

Except there’d better never be a next time. His heart wouldn’t survive it.