Love Finds You in Lonesome Prairie, Montana (23 page)

The tales now finished, a blanket of quiet settled on the group as folks leaned back and gazed at the crackling fire. Julia took in the night sky, the Milky Way strewn across it, and the bright moon adding a majestic mist over the fields and lake. Most of the children snuggled into a parent’s lap, and husbands and wives rested against each other.

Amid the quiet, Sarah Mack stood up, her puffed white sleeves and frilly lace flowing over her tall frame. With a simple smile at Isaac, she opened her mouth and sang a glorious rendition of Isaac’s favorite hymn, “Rock of Ages.”

From the first note, Julia was swept away by the woman’s skill. Not a noise stirred in the crowd. It seemed even the wind stilled to listen to Sarah’s voice blending the words and melody in praise to heaven.

Enveloped by the fire’s warmth, a desire to share the splendor of the moment with another person kindled in Julia’s heart. She glanced at Isaac sitting beside her, flashes of firelight dancing on his face. For a moment, his eyes caught hers. The beating of her heart seemed to stop, and everything melted into a haze. She never wanted to cease feeling his eyes’ embrace. What would it be like to live each day knowing he sought her, cared for her, needed her?

The edges of his mouth inched up, and Julia thought he was going to say something, but Sarah finished singing and the bond between them released. As Julia clapped for the singer, she realized she’d never admired another man as much as she did Isaac. Hearing the stories about him—some funny, but so many revealing his parson’s heart, his bravery, and his kindness—Julia felt she knew him even more.

A blast of wind slapped Julia’s cheek, and she shivered. Of course, these thoughts were frivolous and perhaps dangerous for her emotions. She’d be leaving soon to travel hundreds of miles away from Montana and Isaac Shepherd, but still, her heart wouldn’t obey.

She smiled at him as he stood. She knew whoever would someday have the privilege of becoming his wife, if anyone, would be a very blessed woman.

Isaac gazed into the faces around the campfire, wondering what he’d done to deserve such love and caring. When he’d set off for Montana, barely nineteen years old, he’d left everyone he knew behind. At the time he had no idea his sisters would move out and start families of their own. He’d hoped to build a community of believers, but now they were more than community—they were family.

He moseyed up to Miriam after all the guests had ambled out to make their camps on the property for the night. “This was a wonderful evening. I’m grateful to you.”

Miriam received the embrace her brother offered. “I suppose we must love you,” she said with a teasing gleam in her eye.

“I figured that out.” He smiled as he stepped out of the embrace. “All those embarrassing plays and stories made me feel real loved.” He threw her a sarcastic wink.

She sauntered toward the kitchen, her mid-section leading the way. “All right, let’s get this place cleaned up so we can go to bed.”

As Isaac returned the chairs to their places around the table, Shelby ran in.

“Anyone seen Bea?”

“No. I haven’t.” Isaac scooted in a chair then leaned on its back. “I haven’t seen her since she was sitting on your lap at the fire.” He shot a glance toward Miriam, who was returning from the kitchen. “We can’t find Bea.”

Miriam reached for the table and steadied herself. “Have you asked Elizabeth?”

Shelby’s forehead scrunched as she bent low to search under the sofa. “She and Miss Cavanaugh are checking outside. She’s got to be here.” Her voice rose. “She was sitting on my lap when that British lady sang, but then she ran off. I thought she was going to Ma, but Ma thought she was still with me….”

Isaac’s heartbeat quickened, but he clothed himself with calmness. It wouldn’t do for anyone to panic. “You stay here,” he instructed Shelby, “in case she comes back. We’ll go looking for her.”

Then those inside the house—Isaac, Miriam, Sarah Mack, her son William, and a few other guests—scattered, searching every section of the ranch inside and out. When Isaac strode back inside about ten minutes later, he saw that everyone had returned. He glanced around the room and discovered the same look on everyone’s faces: worry, fear. They hadn’t found her.

Isaac glanced at Shelby, whose eyes bore into him, desperately seeking his help. He bent to meet her gaze. “Don’t worry, we’ll find your sister. There are a lot of people around. Someone must’ve seen her.”

The twelve-year-old swallowed and nodded. “Ma and Miss Cavanaugh haven’t come back. They must still be looking. Where could she be? Please find her, Uncle Isaac.”

He held her face in his hands. “We’ll do our best. Will you do me a favor?”

She nodded.

“Pray.”

“I already have been, but I won’t stop.”

He squeezed her shoulder and then faced Miriam. “Why don’t you stay here and keep looking around the house. The men are outside.”

Isaac rushed out the front door, and in the yard he came upon Abe and Jefferson already mounted on their horses.

“Whoa.” Abe steadied his mount. The horse’s front legs pranced with excitement, sensing the tension in the air.

“I’m going to check by the coulee,” Jefferson called from his palomino. “And Abe’ll ask around at the campsites.”

Isaac threw his saddle blanket on Virginia. “I’ll check down by the lake.”

“Fine.” Abe spun his horse around. “Let out a whistle if you find her.”

With that, the two men galloped off into the silvery prairie.

Isaac finished saddling his horse then mounted.
O God, please let us find her,
he prayed as he spurred Virginia to a gallop. The thought of that sweet little girl out on the prairie by herself sent a frigid jolt up Isaac’s spine. Even though she was little, Isaac knew toddlers could travel fast as jackrabbits when they got something set in their minds. With the miles of tall grass, she could be hidden anywhere, and it’d be nearly impossible to spot her. And if she got stuck in the coulee or the muddy lake…it could already be too late.

With a quick kick, Isaac urged Virginia onward. Within minutes he spotted the lake. The low-hanging moon’s light was doubled by the reflection on the motionless surface. His eyes surveyed the area as he galloped, but he saw no sign of the girl.

Then over the sound of his horse’s hoofbeats, he heard something.

“Bea!” The shrill voice carried on the wind.

He slowed Virginia to a trot and scrutinized the prairie before him, his eyes adjusting to the gray light.

“Bea!” the voice called out again.

Ahead of him, silhouetted in black against the moonlit horizon, a figure paced, searching. A woman.

“Bea! Where are you?” the woman called again.

Isaac’s gut clenched as he drove Virginia toward the figure. The woman turned when she heard him approach and Isaac saw that it was Julia.

“Isaac, thank God,” she called, her voice shrill with worry. Her eyes flared with determination. “Please. We’ve got to find her.”

Julia’s face, etched with fear and sadness, reminded Isaac of his first memory of her as she self-sacrificially handed Bea to Elizabeth. The devotion she felt for the girls had pained his heart. What fear must be gripping her now?

Isaac situated himself in his saddle and then drew back on the reins. Virginia stopped, and he dismounted. Dropping the reins, he hurried to Julia’s side. “It’s all right. We’ll find her.”

She turned to him, and her hands clutched his arm, desperate. He felt needed, and he was glad he could be here for her as they searched for Bea.

Julia let go of his arm and pointed to the small, oval lake. “We went swimming last week, and she never stopped talking about it. What if she’s in the water?” Her voice rose in panic. Her hands formed tight fists.

“Julia—”

“Bea tried to swim but then slipped under and couldn’t get back up,” Julia interrupted. “If Shelby hadn’t been right next to her…”

“Julia, listen—”

“What will Elizabeth and Abe do if…” She shook her head, unwilling to speak the words. “They love her so much. She’s as much a part of the family now as any of Miriam’s children.”

Isaac took her chin with his hand, softly turning her face to his. “Julia, listen to me.” He caught her eyes with his gaze. “We’ll find her.”

She nodded but didn’t speak. Even in the dim light he could see her fear.

As he stared into her face, the clouds drifted past the moon, revealing a large flawless orb. The prairie brightened under the moonlight.
Thank You, Lord. Thank You for the light.

“Let’s search together.” He dropped his hand and stepped toward the lake. “With both of us looking, we have a better chance.”

“But don’t you think we should split up? Cover more ground?”

Isaac stroked her shoulder. Her muscles relaxed under his touch. “Listen. This lake’s not very big. If she were in the water, we’d hear splashing. Besides, there are all kinds of dips and snags. I don’t want you falling in.”

Isaac led his horse with one hand. He placed his other hand on the small of Julia’s back and hurriedly guided her over the prairie toward the lake. He knew it would be quicker if he went alone. He also knew she would never allow it.

They approached the shore, and his eyes swept over the water. It was perfectly still, except for the slightest ripple caused by the breeze warping and shifting the moon’s reflection.

Julia’s head tilted as she listened. “I don’t hear anything, but what if she’s already—”

“We’re not thinking that. She’s fine. Maybe she’s not even here.” Suddenly he was struck by an idea. “Let’s search here then make our way to the other side. The buffalo tunnels are there.”

Julia nodded. “Yes—she loved those tunnels.” She took a breath. “Thank you.”

“Bea!” Isaac called, scanning the water and shore.

“Bea!” Julia echoed.

Isaac led her along the bank. As they walked in silence, he scanned the gently lapping water for any disturbance. He knew Julia did the same. Many dangers waited for a tiny child on the prairie alone at night, but if he could rule out the lake, they might have time to free the girl from any other predicament.

They followed the curve to the other side. Gazing back across the lake toward the ranch, Isaac spotted the campfires and tents set up by his birthday guests.

“Do you see that?” He pointed to forms carrying lanterns, moving across the prairie. “Someone’s bound to find her.”

“It’s amazing. All these people, searching, praying.”

“They’re good folks. They’d do anything for their own.”

Isaac surveyed the ground ahead, and as his eyes focused on a patch of trees near the buffalo tunnels, he perceived a faint noise.

Julia jerked toward him. “Did you hear that? It sounds like a dog barking.”

“I did.”

They trudged toward the sound. The bark grew louder as they got closer, and Isaac’s mind pricked in recognition. “That’s Calamity. We’ll get there faster if we ride.”

He took Julia’s hand and helped her step into the stirrup and onto Virginia—an awkward undertaking, since she wasn’t wearing a split skirt. Once she was settled, he climbed onto the saddle behind her.

Ahead, toward the far end of the lake, he spied a cluster of sagebrush and low-lying box elder trees. He could barely make out the white splotches of Calamity’s coat. Virginia galloped toward the trees. Julia’s hair brushed his face; it smelled of soap and smoke from the fire.

“Do you think that’s them?” Julia’s voice quivered.

“Yeah, Bea played with the dog all day. Calamity probably followed her when she wandered off.”
Good girl, Calamity.

Isaac spotted the girl, her arm resting on Calamity’s back, her blond curls almost white in the moonlight. Relief loosened the squeezing of his chest and the knots in his stomach. “Thank You, Lord.”

But when they came within twenty feet of the girl and the dog, Virginia spooked. Isaac pulled back on the reins. Something was wrong.

Calamity was hunched down in a protective position, facing the prairie beyond. The dog’s barking grew more ferocious, interspersed with growls.

“Bea!” Julia screamed, but a wind stirred, whipping her words behind them. “She’s there, Isaac. Do you see her? Why’d you stop?” Julia shifted her weight to dismount.