Isabel angrily wiped the tears that insisted on coursing down her face. She knew that Theodore was in shock and angry—he had every right to be. Isabel was also very aware that Theodore was proud and would never let her, or anyone else, see any kind of weakness.
Despite knowing all of his, his words had still cut her deep like a knife. She wanted to be there for him. Isabel knew their relationship had come a long way since that first day when he looked at her like she was nothing more than a new roll of barbed wire.
Seeing the dead cows lying distorted on the barn floor had made her stomach churn, and she wanted to throw up. She hated the idea that the animals had suffered so much before they died. Even more, she hated seeing the stricken look on Theodore’s face.
“Why won’t that bloody man let me help him?” she muttered. “He is quite possibly the most stubborn, mule-headed human being on the face of this Earth.”
Isabel checked on Timmy, who was fast asleep, oblivious to the fact that the world was falling apart around them. She leaned over, kissed his cheek, and tucked his blanket in around him.
Feeling restless, she walked outside and stood on the porch for a while, staring into the endless, inky black night. Isabel hated feeling so helpless.
She thought about the dance and how Theodore held her in his arms while they moved slowly around the floor. An unfamiliar warmth exploded inside of her.
Theodore was about to kiss her tonight. Isabel felt like they had made strides toward having a real marriage. And now this.
After a while, Isabel went back inside. She knew that he was going to sit out there, near the barn and corral where the rest of his cows milled, making sure that no one else came near them.
Isabel tossed and turned all night long. She listened for Theodore to come in but wasn’t surprised when he didn’t.
Her eyes popped open before the sun made its debut. She hurried into the kitchen to make breakfast.
The air was heavy, as though the weight of everything that happened the night before pressed on her chest. It had started out perfectly, with Theodore finally letting down some of his walls. He had been so close to kissing her.
She sighed and rubbed her eyes before she slid the biscuits into the oven.
Isabel couldn’t believe what had happened. Half of his prized heifers had been slaughtered. She didn’t have to close her eyes to picture the gruesome scene in her mind.
Worse, she could see the devastation on Theodore’s face. If she didn’t know better, she would think she saw a hint of tears behind his eyes. His face had been tight, and his fists clenched by his side. He had pushed her away instead of letting her be there for him. He had spat out the words in a cold, stern voice laced with anger that sent an arrow through her heart.
He had shut her out before, but it felt more personal this time because she thought they had broken through the wall and formed a bond. She thought that this time, he would let her in and trust her to help him. Instead, he had seemingly built the wall back up higher and thicker than before.
Absently, Isabel took the eggs off the stove and put them on a trivet on the table with a plate of bacon next to it. She pulled the biscuits out of the oven, put them in the bread basket, and set them on the table.
Isabel wondered whether she should take some food out to Theodore, but he walked in before she could.
“Good morning. Food and coffee are ready,” she said.
He nodded.
His shoulders were rigid, and his pale face and the dark circles under his eyes made him look like death warmed over. His usual commanding presence seemed broken.
Timmy cried out, and she hurried into the bedroom, quickly changing and dressing him. She put him in his highchair and set a plate of eggs in front of him.
“Dada,” he said. “Hi, Dada.”
Theodore looked briefly at the baby and said dully, “Hi, Timmy.”
“Yum,” Timmy said, stuffing some egg into his mouth.
“Ooh, baby, you’re very talkative today,” Isabel said, with enthusiasm she didn’t feel.
He smiled at her and stuffed more eggs into his mouth.
“I noticed you didn’t come in the house last night.”
“I was busy,” he growled. He didn’t bother looking at her as he took another bite of biscuit.
She wanted to help but didn’t know what to do.
“I figured that you were. But I thought….”
He looked up from his food, his eyes blazing. “Thought what, Isabel? That I would come in and relax when half my bloody breeding heifers are dead? I didn’t know whether someone would come back and finish off the rest of my herd. You want me to come in here and act like everything’s fine?”
She flinched as though he had slapped her.
He’s upset, and he has a right to be. This isn’t about me, and I can’t take it personally. Just breathe, Isabel.
“I know that everything isn’t fine, and I don’t expect you to act like it is. I just want to make sure that you’re okay. I know this is bad, but we’ll make it through this.”
He spat at her, “There is no we. This is on me.”
Theodore finished eating and pushed his chair back.
“I’m heading into town to speak with the sheriff,” he said curtly. “The ranch is being sabotaged, and I need help figuring out who’s responsible.”
She stood up and looked him in the eyes. “I’m going with you.”
Theodore’s face hardened, and he narrowed his eyes. “No, you aren’t.”
Isabel’s heart raced, her shoulders stiffened, and she held her head up, refusing to look away. “You can’t do this alone, and you don’t have to do it alone. I’m your wife, and it’s my job to stand by your side even when life gets hard.”
He shook his head. “This isn’t up for a discussion. I’m already dealing with a lot, and I don’t need to add an argument to the list.”
The air exploded with electricity and was thick with tension as they stared at each other, neither willing to back down.
“I’m not arguing with you,” Isabel insisted. “You’re overwhelmed and tired, and I want to be there for you. I’m coming with you whether you want me to or not. I’ll have Timmy ready by the time you get the wagon hitched.”
She pulled the baby out of his highchair and walked out of the room before he could argue with her.
Isabel dressed Timmy in wool pants and a jacket she had made for him, packed a bag with a bottle, blanket, clothes, diapers, and snacks, and headed outside. Theodore and Jacob were just finishing hitching up the wagon.
Jacob glanced at Isabel, and a look of mutual understanding passed between them. Isabel was sure that there was also a measure of respect in the glance. He held the baby for her while Theodore helped her into the wagon. Jacob nodded as he handed her Timmy.
Theodore’s back was rigid, and his shoulders were tense as he drove to town, his gaze fixed on the road ahead.
Timmy sat on her lap, looking around them, babbling as usual, with intermittent words like “Dada,” “Mama,” and “yum.”
Isabel tried to figure out what she could say but couldn’t think of anything.
Finally, she patted him on the shoulder.
“We’ll get through this. We’re in this together,” she said softly.
Theodore looked at her, and for a brief second, she thought she saw a flicker of gratitude in his eyes. He gave a short nod.
“Thank you,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Isabel smiled inwardly. Although Theodore would never admit it, she believed that her presence made a difference to him. For once, someone was willing to stand by his side when things got rough.
The trip seemed to take forever, but finally, the wagon pulled up in front of the sheriff’s station.
Sheriff Bernard Norris, a thickset man with graying dark hair, was sitting at his desk when they walked in. Isabel knew from Abigail that he took his job seriously. Sheriff Norris upheld the law and protected the folks in Santa Fe with a vengeance.
The sheriff stood and held out his hand. “Theodore. What can I do for you?”
Theodore grasped it firmly. “Sheriff, I have a huge problem that I need you to investigate. Last night, someone snuck onto my ranch and killed half of my prized heifers. They were in the barn. One of my men heard a ruckus and went to check on them.”
Sheriff Norris listened intently.
“This is the third incident. A while ago, someone cut my fence, and several cows got out. Then, a few nights ago, someone opened up my barn and shooed my cows. They had to have been herded away from the ranch because we found them quite a distance away. I chalked it up to mischief and someone accidentally leaving the barn door open. Now, I have eighteen dead cows lying in my barn. That’s no accident.”
“How were they killed?”
“The best I can tell is poison. They weren’t shot or stabbed. All of them had foamed at the mouth. Their bodies were twisted like they had muscle spasms.”
“Strychnine,” the sheriff said.
“That’s what Jacob and I thought. Whoever killed my cattle had to have gotten in after the cows were moved from the corral into the barn. It wasn’t an hour and a half later that Robert found them. They said the dogs were going crazy, barking at something in the north pasture. We think it was a diversion to get the dogs away from the barn.”
Isabel shifted Timmy from one hip to the other, hating the sound of despair in Theodore’s voice. It broke her heart because there was nothing she could say or do to help him.
The sheriff sat heavily in his chair and ran his hands through his hair. He gestured to the chair in front of his desk, and Theodore sat rigidly. Isabel sat next to him, wanting to be there for him. She wanted to reach out and touch him to give him some kind of comfort, but she instinctively knew that Theodore wouldn’t appreciate it, especially in front of the sheriff.
Sheriff Norris pulled out some paper and a pen and took notes on everything Theodore told him. He passed the paper to Theodore to look over.
“Does this sound right?”
Theodore read the paper and nodded.
“Please sign it, and I’ll open an investigation.” Heaving a huge sigh, the sheriff shook his head. “I’ve heard rumors that someone is trying to force people off their ranches so the land can be bought cheaply, creating some kind of monopoly.”
“I’ve heard that Barnaby Jenkins is responsible. He’s the kind of man who would fancy himself some kind of grand cattle baron,” Theodore said.
“I’ve heard that, as well. I will certainly be looking into the situation.” The sheriff stood up and reached his hand out to Isabel. “Forgive my manners, ma’am.”
“None needed. Business first. I’m Isabel, and this here is Timmy.”
Timmy babbled and waved at the sheriff. The sheriff waved back and grinned at him.
“Pleased to meet you, Isabel.” Looking at Theodore, he said, “I had heard that you got married. Congratulations.”
“Thanks,” Theodore said, his voice tight.
It was obvious to everyone in the room that he was in no mood for any kind of celebration, which Isabel completely understood.
The sheriff put on his hat, and they headed outside. He walked toward the stables and said, “I’ll meet you out there. I just have to saddle Valor.”
Theodore nodded as he and Isabel strolled to the wagon.
“We’ll figure it out,” the sheriff said.
“I hope so,” Theodore muttered under his breath.