As the sun dipped behind the mountain and the sky was streaked with a purplish-blue paint brush, Isabel started to worry. Theodore said that he was going to take Mick out to tour the ranch and should have been back hours ago.
Abigail sat nearby, gently rocking Timmy, anxiety evident in the tightness around her eyes.
Isabel set her sewing down and walked over to the window. “They should have been back by now. What if something happened?”
Abigail shook her head. “I’m sure they’re fine. Theodore knows this land like the back of his hand. Mick might not know it, but he’s smart. They’ll be back soon,” she said, trying to sound reassuring. However, the slight tremor in her voice told Isabel that Abigail was worried, too.
Several minutes later, they heard the men’s footsteps on the wooden porch. Isabel rushed to the door with Abigail, holding Timmy, right behind her. Their shoulders were slumped, and they were covered in dust. Isabel could see the tiredness on their faces as they came into the house.
“What happened?” Isabel asked as she poured glasses of water for the men. “Is everything okay?”
They dropped into the chairs at the table, and both of them drank the entire glass of water at once without answering. Isabel refilled their glasses and then sank into one of the chairs.
Theodore ran his fingers through his hair. “I was showing Mick around, and Jacob found us. Several of our cows got out of the barn. They are my prized heifers and are about to calve.”
“They’re safe. We found them in the hills and brought them back. They are locked in the barn, no worse for the wear,” Mick said.
“What in the world?” Abigail asked. “How did they get out?”
Theodore and Mick exchanged glances, and Isabel felt a knot form in the pit of her stomach.
“It looks like someone might have let them out,” Theodore said, his voice low and tense. “This isn’t the first time my cattle have got loose lately.”
A heavy silence fell on the room as everyone thought about the situation.
Someone was deliberately trying to cause trouble for Theodore? Who would do that and why? Was it someone from the ranch, or was it an outsider?
Abigail broke the silence and voiced Isabel’s thoughts. “Who would want to do that to you? That just doesn’t make any sense.”
Mick cleared his throat, and a thoughtful look crossed his face. “You know, I’ve been hearing some talk in town. Barnaby Jenkins has been throwing his weight around and talking loud to anyone who will listen about his plans to buy out every ranch in this town,” he said slowly.
Theodore’s face got hard, and his fists clenched. The vein in his neck throbbed.
“Barnaby Jenkins?” Isabel asked, looking from one of them to the other. “Who’s that?”
Abigail grimaced and made a face like she had just eaten a lemon. “He’s a local guy, and not a pleasant one at that. Oily is the best way to describe him. Oily and sleazy. No one likes him. He’s loud, obnoxious, ambitious, and throws around a lot of money.”
Isabel thought about him for a second and asked, “Do you think he might be behind this? Could he be trying to sabotage the ranch so that Theodore is forced to sell it to him cheaply?”
Theodore stood up abruptly, almost knocking over his chair. “This is all just speculation. For all we know, someone simply left the barn door open by accident.”
Isabel could see the tension in his shoulders and the doubt written all over his face. Regardless of what Theodore said, he didn’t believe it was a simple mistake.
She stood and said, “It’s late, and I know everyone’s hungry. There’s enough bread and stew left over from lunch.”
“That’s a good idea, Isabel. Is there anything I can do to help?”
Isabel wrinkled her nose and said, “You can change Timmy while I heat up the milk. Then, if you don’t mind, you can feed him while I heat up the stew.”
“I think I got the stinky end of the deal,” Abigail said, laughing.
“We can switch duties if you like,” Isabel offered.
“No, it’s okay. I was just teasing,” Abigail replied, carrying Timmy to the blanket on the floor and getting out the supplies.
Mick sat beside Abigail, their shoulders touching. He talked to the baby, making Timmy giggle and babble while Abigail changed him.
Dinner was very tense. Abigail, Mick, and Isabel tried to make small talk over the meal, well aware that Theodore didn’t want to talk about the situation with the cows anymore.
As soon as they were done eating, Mick and Theodore went outside to hitch the wagon up.
Abigail stood. “Let me help you with the dishes before we leave.”
Isabel shook her head and smiled at her. “I’ll take care of it in a bit. Timmy is reaching for you. I think you’ve got yourself a new best friend.”
The younger woman picked up the baby and held him against her chest. “I don’t think this is what’s meant by love at first sight, but here I am.”
Timmy gave Abigail a tired smile and yawned widely. She gently rocked him, and he quickly fell asleep.
“Can I put him in his cradle?” Abigail asked.
“Of course.” Isabel led the way into their bedroom and showed her the crib that Theodore had made.
“It’s beautiful craftsmanship. If he ever gets tired of ranching, he’d do well to make furniture.”
Just then, Mick called for Abigail. “It’s time to go.”
Isabel walked Abigail and Mick outside. Abigail hugged Isabel and then climbed into the wagon with Mick’s help.
She was shocked at the change in Theodore. He clasped Mick’s hand firmly.
“Thank you.” Theodore’s voice was gruff but sincere.
“Anytime. You know where to find me if you need me,” Mick said and then climbed onto the wagon next to his wife.
Theodore and Isabel watched them go. Then, she went back into the house to clean the kitchen. Isabel was worried about Jenkins and Theodore. Regardless of Theodore’s protests that someone might have left the barn door open, he didn’t seem to believe it.
She was tired. It had been a big day, both good and bad. However, she was very restless and knew that there was no way she would be able to sleep.
The cool night air felt good against her skin as she stepped onto the porch. The full moon lit up the sky, and a million stars twinkled against the inky darkness. They seemed so close that she felt like she could reach out and grab one.
Isabel stepped toward the chairs and noticed Theodore. He was hunched over, his elbows on his knees, staring out across the dark prairie.
“Theodore,” she said softly.
He sat up quickly and looked at her. By the light of the moon and stars, she could see the scowl gracing his lips and the bouncing of his leg as he shifted in his seat. He quickly masked his look with his usual hard poker face, trying to hide his worry.
“Isabel. Shouldn’t you be in bed? It’s getting late, and you and the baby get up early.”
“I’m tired but restless. I would lay there staring at the ceiling. I could say the same about you. You had a huge day, and I know that riding out after the cattle must have been exhausting.” She paused for a minute and studied his face. “You look worried.”
His jaw tightened, and he stared at some fixed point across the land. “It’s nothing for you to be concerned about.”
Frustration flooded through her.
Every time it seemed like they were making a little bit of progress on becoming a team, he showed her that he didn’t feel the same.
Why does he keep trying to shut me out?
Aloud, she said, “If someone is targeting the ranch, then it concerns me. If nothing else, it might help to talk about it.”
“I said, leave such matters to me.” Theodore’s voice was hard and cut her like a knife. His eyes had narrowed, and his nostrils flared. “The only thing you need to worry about is the house and the baby.”
The words hit Isabel in the gut like a fist, and hurt and anger flared in her chest. Without a word, Isabel stood up and turned to go back inside.
I’m an idiot to think that anything might have changed between us and to believe he was starting to at least see me as a friend.
However, before she stepped away, Theodore grabbed her gently around her wrist. “Isabel, wait. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”
She turned to look at him and saw a flicker of vulnerability in his eyes before he blinked it away. Her anger faded, now becoming a dull thrum, as she saw the normally hard man in a slightly different light.
His hand slid away from her wrist. “It’s late, and we should both get some rest,” he said in a much gentler voice. “Goodnight, Isabel.”
She nodded and stepped toward the door. Looking back, she saw that Theodore was watching her. Smiling, she went inside the house to her room.
As she got ready for bed, she thought, I can’t be mad at him when he shows me that he does have a soft side.