Love's Rescue (16 page)

“Red Deer was here when we rode in. She said your grief had caused you to fall ill. I knew then that if you learned I’d hired Ho Chen, you would have found out about Elsie before you were ready to. Jess, people can break under the weight of so much loss.”

More than ever, Jess wanted to go to her family at the cemetery, needed to be near them…and Elsie. And she had to find their killers. To stay away from Carson City would be impossible now. But first, she had to know what had happened. She needed to know it all. “Who else, Bennett? Who else did you bury?”

“No one else. The butler made it out the kitchen door along with Ho Chen and the maid.”

Jake was saying something about Edmund taking in Malcolm and Maureen until they found employment, but all she could think of was her conversation with Elsie while Emma splashed in the tub. Elsie, sweet Elsie…she had told her about wanting to marry and have children of her own, and Jess had promised to visit her, no matter where she went. Jess’s hands curled into painful fists. Elsie had shared so many dreams, had so much she had wanted to do.

All at once, a sob broke from her, rising into a scream. “How could God be so cruel?” she shrieked. “Elsie was young! Her whole life was ahead of her!”

“God is not cruel, Jess. He is a God of love! When He takes other people to heaven, their sorrows are gone forever.”

“But what about us? We have to go on without them. God just takes people we love away at a whim and expects us to exist with these gaping holes in our lives. And don’t you think to lecture me. You have no idea what it is to lose so much!”

Jake grasped her arms. “Isaac raised you to be a God-fearing woman, Jess. Remember Romans chapter eight, verse twenty-eight: ‘And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God.’ God had a purpose in this for you, too. Trust Him. Trust Him, and let Him show you what it is.”

Tears streamed down her cheeks. She shook her head.

“And in later verses, ‘For I am convinced that neither death nor life will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.’ He loves them and He loves you, and in His good time, He’ll bring you to heaven to be with Him. You’ll see them again, Jess. You’ll see all of them again.”

She jerked her arms free. “Enough! All I know is that my house was on fire, and people I loved were trapped inside. My father tried to go in to save them, but you wouldn’t let him. You fought to keep him away from the door, and then, when it was too late, you—” She broke off, realizing what she had nearly revealed. She would not give him a chance to excuse what he’d done.

Jake stepped closer. “I what, Jess?”

Jess closed her mouth. She couldn’t believe she was even speaking to him. She wanted nothing to do with him. Jess turned away, shutting him out. For a moment, she allowed herself to remember the people she had loved, to recall details about them. Elsie, and the way her face brightened as she spoke of having children. The love in her mother’s eyes that often shone through the sadness. Had her father gotten to her mother that final night, as he’d wanted to? Had they died together? Jess relived the times she had held Emma, curled up against her. She remembered her father’s hair standing on end…and how deeply he loved his Georgeanne.

And Ambrose. Ambrose, who, since childhood, had been the center of her life. Ambrose, who had promised to come back. Ambrose, whom she had believed was too stubborn to die.

“Where are they buried?”

“The cemetery northeast of town. I’ll take you there when it’s safe.”

Shaking, she faced him. “I don’t want you to take me there, Jake. I want to be as far from you as I can get.”

“Jess!”

She marched out the door, swung the washing tools onto her shoulder like clubs, and made a straight path toward the cauldrons and the ranchmen’s sacks of clothes. Behind her, the door banged shut. She whirled to face Jake, both rug beater and laundry bat ready to strike if he came close.

He didn’t. With a murmured apology for causing her further pain, he headed for the barn.

Warily, Jess watched him go. With angry tears streaming from her eyes, she tightened her hold on the tools, but she had no cause to use them. Jake respected her wishes and left her alone.

Jess and Red Deer beat and boiled clothes and bedding for two seemingly endless days. The men bunked on the cookhouse floor each night—after dragging the dining tables and benches outdoors with a bit of grumbling—and stored their possessions in the barn. When the bed sacks had dried late the second day, Jess restuffed them with fresh straw. The next morning, she dragged bunks, chairs, and personal belongings out of the bunkhouse until the men surmised her intent and dutifully joined in her efforts. Then she scrubbed furniture, windows, floors, and fireplace for several arduous hours, pausing only twice when Ho Chen brought her something to eat. Finally, just after sunset, the last of the odors had vanished, and she announced that the bunkhouse would no longer be a threat to anyone’s health.

Late that evening, Jess stared at the ceiling above her bed, not seeing it in the midnight shadows. She lay on top of her covers, fully dressed, waiting until she could hear snores drifting from Jake’s room. A few minutes before, she had heard his boots on the stairs. His footfall had paused, and she’d heard the cat purr before his steps had resumed. Finally, she’d heard his bedroom door close softly. After that, the noises had been muffled, and she had actually blushed as she’d imagined Jake removing his bandana and unbuttoning his shirt.

She had promised herself earlier to stay two days to see the work done. It had taken three. Now she was ready to leave. She’d prepared a sack of food and a canteen of water, and her jewelry remained secure in the folds of her petticoats. She would pay her respects to her family and to Elsie, help Edmund run the store like she used to do, and follow—or demand—the sheriff’s progress until the killers were caught. She’d carry a gun in town, if necessary, but she would stay there. She couldn’t keep away any longer.

Finally, Jess heard deep, even breathing flow from Jake’s bedroom. She lifted the sack and canteen, opened her door, and moved stealthily into the hall.

The cat was gone. Jess’s hide boots were silent as she glided down the stairs. Jake’s breathing never wavered.

Outside, she crept close to the house, attentive to anyone who might be about. There was no one. She tightened her hold on her provisions and ran.

The stable was silent. Instead of Luina, Jess determined to take Jake’s stallion. She had seen no faster horse, and if she had a decent head start, the weight of a man on any other horse would leave him hopelessly outdistanced. The black scuffed about when he heard her, snorting when she slipped into his stall. Yet with the aid of a carrot and a little soothing, she was able to slip a rope around his neck and lead him out, keeping him calm enough to saddle him.

Minutes later, Jess thrilled at the feel of his strength as they thundered over the desert. On her last escape attempt, she had followed the creek, but now she held the black to the road, as it was the fastest path away from the ranch. The cover of night made the road a less dangerous place to be.

Less than twenty minutes had passed when the stallion swiveled his ears at a presence approaching from behind. Though she doubted the lawless would be about at this late hour, Jess urged the horse to his limit.

Unfortunately, the animal had his own agenda. Puzzled at his behavior, Jess glanced back. Diaz was coming up fast, riding Luina.

The stallion grunted as he caught the mare’s scent. He turned his head and slowed against Jess’s efforts to push him on, letting Diaz come up alongside him. In a last effort, Jess dug in her heels. The stallion reared.

“Whoa, Cielos! You don’ want to spill the señorita. Down,” Diaz’s voice calmed the beast. As soon as the powerful front hooves hit earth, Diaz shot out his whirring lariat and snared Jess in a way she was quickly losing patience with.

“Diaz! Let me go!”

He stepped down from Luina, shaking his head. “I am sorry, mariquita.” He pulled the rope snug and secured her hands as lightening-fast as Jake had. “But the boss, he say, ‘You don’ let her go.’ So I don’ let you go.” He firmly lashed her hands to the saddle horn, knotting the tail end around the cinch buckle. She wasn’t going anywhere without the saddle.

Jess shot him a seething glare.

In response, Diaz muttered something under his breath. Then, “The boss, he warn me about you.”

Jess watched Diaz until he took the stallion by the harness, and then she stuck the beast with her heels. The stallion snapped up his head, nearly pulling the startled man over.

“Basta!” he snapped—whether at her or at the horse, Jess didn’t know, nor did she care.

“Bennett is wrong, Diaz. He’s keeping me against my will, and you’re helping him. That’s against the law!”

Unconcerned, he took her reins and settled onto Luina. “No matter. The law already no like me very much. Le’s go, Cielos. I’m tired.”

Jess twisted her hands to loose them from the pommel. “Diaz! The first rattlesnake I find, I’m going to put in your bed!”

“No lo va a hacer,” he said.

“What does that mean?” she demanded.

He spoke distinctly for her over his shoulder. “It means you won’t do this thing.” He glanced at her. “You are angry now, but you are a nice señorita. I am sorry you are sad, mariposa, but I like you, and I keep you safe.” He waved toward the mountains. “This place, it is no safe for a woman. The boss, he knows this.” He rode quietly for a time while she steamed and struggled with the rope.

“There is much you do not know about the man Bennett,” Diaz said, then shrugged. “Vaqueros all keep to themselves, mostly. But I know the boss, and he is different since you come here. He has sadness of his own, mariposa, but I see he cares for you.”

Jess did not take that observation well. She fought harder than ever, and the rough loops cut into her hands.

“No, don’ hurt yourself! The boss will no like it,” he said, his tone soothing. “Why would you want to harm such beautiful hands?”

“Me hurt my hands? Diaz!” she snapped. “You’re the one who tied this so tight!”

Diaz didn’t debate the point. He said nothing further, and neither did Jess. They rode the rest of the way in silence, Cielos almost pleasant as he trotted alongside Luina.

As they approached the house, Diaz let out a shrill whistle to alert Jake, then reined in the horses near the porch. Doyle stepped out of the bunkhouse, pulling suspenders over his bare shoulders as he jogged over.

“She get away again?”

With a smile, Diaz shook his head, loosening the cinch for his mare. “No, the señorita only take Cielos for a ride.” He winked up at Jess. “He wanted to chase the stars, eh, mariposa?”

“Hardly,” Jess muttered with the raise of an eyebrow. “If he’d shown as much interest in the night sky as he did in Luina, I’d be waving to you from the moon.” The two men smiled.

Jess was growing tired, and she waggled her fingers at Diaz, who came over to untie her. “On the bright side of things, at least I got to be lashed to this inbred mutt and dragged across the desert.” Despite herself, Jess chuckled with the men at her own surly humor.

“It could have been worse,” Doyle said with a grin. “You could have been tied on behind Diaz before you laundered his duds.”

Jess laughed out loud, savoring the feel after having missed it for so long.

Heels pounded down the stairs inside the ranch house. Moments later, Jake flew out the door, his unbuttoned shirt stuffed into his trousers. For once, he was without a hat. Jess’s levity faded.

Jake sized up the situation and spoke to Diaz. “What happened?”

Diaz unwound the rope from Jess’s bruised wrists, careful not to harm her further. “No muy mucho, boss. I went out for a midnight ride and the lovely señorita here kindly accompanied me.” He eyed her in concern when her hands were freed, but Jess smiled to let him know the pain was bearable.

Jake stepped closer. “Jess?”

She didn’t answer. With his muscular arms, Doyle reached up and eased her down from the saddle. Jess nodded in appreciation.

Jake glanced at her wrists but didn’t comment. “Diaz, put the horses away and get some sleep. Both of you, get some sleep. I’ll keep an eye on her for the rest of the night.”

Before he left, Doyle quirked a playful grin at Jess, his teeth flashing white in his dark face. “Don’t you go nowhere, you hear?”

She slanted him an equally friendly glare as he strolled back to the bunkhouse.

With a grand gesture, Diaz swept his hat from his head and held it to his heart without jest. “It was a very great honor to ride with you tonight, señorita. I hope your hands are better soon.”

“Good night,” she said, and he led the horses away.

Jake looked down at her, his fists on his hips.

Jess strode past him. “Save the lecture, Bennett. I’m too tired.”

Jake followed her and pulled the door shut behind them. “I can send someone to get Red Deer, if you like,” he said. “She could help you dress for bed, and maybe put something on those cuts.”

“No.” Jess inspected her stinging wrists by the moonlight coming in through the window. “I don’t want to wake Red Deer. I’ll tend my wrists on my own.”

“Hmm.” Jake appeared to have his own opinion about that. He lifted a lamp from the mantel, lit it, then disappeared down the short hall between the fireplace and the stairs.

Alone, Jess collapsed on the sofa in exhaustion. The physical work she had expended that day as she’d scrubbed the bunkhouse compounded the aches she’d invited by spending two days hauling water and beating laundry. Her burning eyes fell shut. She would rest for only a minute. Fragments of odd dreams flashed through her mind. The sofa felt like a feather bed beneath her. Its pillow met her cheek, the cushions slipped under her feet. She’d rest for only a moment. For only a moment…

***

When Jake had found what he was looking for and returned from the kitchen, Jess was asleep. Knowing she needed the rest, he didn’t disturb her. He hung a small pot of water over the fire and fed a few logs to the dancing flames. As the water heated, he broke off several sage leaves from one of the dried branches Red Deer kept in the kitchen and dropped them in the water. While he waited for them to steep, he took the lamp from the mantle and set it on a table near Jess.