The pain of losing something very precious sliced through Josh. Rachel wasn’t his, though he believed with all his heart she was supposed to be. An accident might have caused her horses to run off, but deep in his gut he knew Divine Providence had sent him riding in their direction that day.
He glanced at Micah. His tough older brother had said very little since they set out. Josh couldn’t imagine the pain he must be feeling over his pregnant wife’s disappearance—and regret that he hadn’t escorted the women to town, probably. He stood to lose not only his wife but his unborn child, too.
Josh shook his head. That wasn’t going to happen. They’d find the women and bring them back home. Then he and Rachel were going to have a talk.
He reached over and squeezed Micah’s forearm. His brother looked up, his gray eyes shadowed with pain. “We’ll find them.”
A muscle twitched in Micah’s cheek, and he nodded. He urged his horse into a gallop. Josh did the same, all the time praying for God’s guidance and His protection over the women.
“Micah. Over there!” All heads turned toward Slim.
Josh’s gaze followed Slim’s long arm to where a trail of smoke rose on the morning breeze. “That’s the north line shack. Ain’t s’posed to be nobody there this time of year.”
In unison, the crew spurred their horses to a canter and raced for the shack.
Josh prayed they weren’t too late.
The fresh aroma of skillet biscuits vastly improved the odor of the shack filled with unwashed men. Not sure whether or not cooking would affect the sleeping powder, Rachel opted to wait and add it at the last minute; that way, too, the women could eat. Her stomach swirled from hunger and nerves. Hoping to mask the taste of the sleeping powder, she cut open the biscuits, and using a spoon handle, she lathered them with the store-bought apple butter she’d purchased as a surprise for Grandpa.
She peered over her shoulder. Cy and his two men were hunched over something that looked like a map. With trembling fingers, she reached into her pocket and pulled out a packet of the powder. The packet slipped from her nervous fingers and fell toward the floor. She gasped and snagged it in midair. Relief flooded her, but her knees sagged from the fright.
With another swift peek to ensure the men were still occupied, she dumped a fair amount of the powder onto each biscuit. Would it be enough to put them all to sleep? She hesitated only a moment before retrieving another packet.
“Some’n smells mighty good over there,” Cy drawled.
“Mm-hmm,” one of his men muttered.
Rachel pressed the tops back on the biscuits and lifted the plate. Please, Lord, let this work.
She forced a smile and walked to the men. “I hope you like apple butter. I put an extra portion on each biscuit.”
Cy looked at her strangelike. She hoped he didn’t suspect anything. The other two men reached for the plate. Cy snarled, reminding her of Josh’s dog. “I go first, you fools.”
He snatched four of the nine biscuits and walked over to the window. His men gave him a dirty look for not dividing them evenly. Carter split a biscuit and took two whole ones, leaving the rest for the last henchman.
With all three men munching, Rachel returned to the stove. She picked up the other plate with a half-dozen untainted biscuits. “Mind if we women eat, too?”
Cy turned and looked at the plate in her hand. “Open the door,” he mumbled as bits of pastry flew from his mouth. Carter muttered under his breath but did his boss’s bidding.
Rachel slipped into the room, meeting the anxious gazes of her friends. The door closed behind her, and the lock clicked shut. She collapsed beside Deborah on the cot.
Lou leaned forward, resting her hand on Rachel’s knee. “Did you do it?”
The plate shook in her hands. Now that the deed was done, she was even more nervous. She nodded.
“Yahoo,” Lou whispered loudly.
Deborah jumped. “Shush, Lou. They’ll hear you.”
“Come on, you two, let’s eat while we have a chance.” Rachel held out the plate.
“How much powder did you use?” Deborah asked.
“Two whole packets.”
Lou’s eyebrows shot up. Rachel’s heart took a nosedive.
“You don’t think that’s too much, do you? I didn’t want to kill them—just make them sleep.”
Lou shrugged her shoulders while she munched her biscuit.
Rachel looked at Deborah. “I don’t know,” she murmured.
Rachel pulled a spoon and two forks from her pocket. “These might help us get out of this room somehow.”
The women grinned and nodded then ate the rest of their breakfast in silence, listening to the hum of voices from the other room. It was clear the men were packing up, getting ready to leave. Rachel closed her eyes. Would she ever see Grandpa or Josh again?
Josh squatted behind a big yucca plant, careful not to get too close. Micah eased in beside him. “There’s the wagon. I don’t recognize those saddle horses; do you?”
Micah shook his head. Sam and Trent sidled up beside him. “The Testaments are going around to the back. I just hope they don’t do anything stupid.”
Josh gripped the handle of his pistol. If anyone knew how to skulk around a house, it was the Testament brothers. How else did they steal their women? If he’d had his way, they wouldn’t have brought the crazy quartet.
Slowly, the men closed their circle around the shack. For the last half hour, there’d been not a peep from the structure. Uneasiness enveloped Josh. It wasn’t normal for things to be so quiet at midday.
“You, in the shack, git yourselves out here. Now!”
Josh tensed. He reached for his pistol.
“Those crazy Testament boys. They’re gonna get the women killed,” Micah muttered.
“Trent! Micah!”
“That’s Louisa.” Trent peered over the cactus.
“Yeah?” Micah hollered.
“It’s safe to come in. But hurry. We’re locked up.”
Josh looked at his brothers. The same curiosity and relief flooded their faces. “Let’s go.”
Together they sprinted toward the shack. Kings One and Two plowed around the corner and burst in the door ahead of them. “They’s all asleep in here,” one of them yelled.
Josh followed Sam and Micah into the small building while the ranch hands held back. Surprise registered with confusion. Three men slumped against the walls, sound asleep, unaware of the danger they were in.
“Get them out of here,” Micah ordered.
Josh saw the Testaments wrestling with a locked door. Reluctantly, he grabbed hold of one of the sleeping men and dragged him outside. He and Sam tied up the slumbering trio. The loud crack of splintering wood told Josh the women were free. Would Rachel be happy to see him?
Micah exited the cabin with his arm around Deborah’s shoulders. Hand in hand with Trent, Lou hurried out behind him, grinning and waving at Sam and Josh. Finally, Kings One and Two emerged from the shack, nearly dragging Rachel out between them. Frustration seethed within. The two galoots were going to tear off her arms.
“I found her first. She’s mine,” King One said—or was it Two?
“Nuh-uh. I did. She’s mine.” They jerked her back and forth like a rag doll. Poor Rachel looked near tears.
“I’ll take charge of the lady,” Josh said.
“Nope. We found her first. She’s ours.”
Rachel’s big brown eyes impaled him. He read the unspoken question and hope.
“Actually, I found her first. I just lost her for a bit.” He grinned, and Rachel’s eyes sparked to life. “Why don’t you let the lady decide?”
“So’s you want him or us’ns?” King Two asked.
“Oh, uh, well, that’s a tough choice. Two of you big strapping men and just one of him.” Rachel grinned mischievously but eased toward Josh. Both Testaments puffed out their chests, and their lips lifted in dopey grins. “But since my grandpa’s at the Stafford ranch, I’d better go with Josh. Besides, King One, aren’t you courting Cynthia now?”
The two Testaments deflated, and King One glanced sheepishly at her. Before they had a chance to respond, Josh stepped forward and grabbed Rachel by the wrist. He pulled her away from the crowd to the other side of his horse then wrapped her tight in his embrace. She collapsed against him.
“I’m so sorry, Josh. I didn’t think I’d ever see you again.”
“Shhh. I know, honey. It’s all over now.” He kissed the top of her head, enjoying the feel of holding her close, and sent a prayer heavenward, thanking God.
Mounted on Josh’s horse a short while later, they rode back together. Rachel sat in the saddle asleep, wrapped in his arms, as he guided his horse home. Lou, anxious to inform Grandma they were safe, rode ahead with Trent and Sam. Micah and Deborah rode in the wagon, hauling the three tied-up kidnappers. Once the women were safely home, Josh would happily help his brothers escort the men to town for safekeeping in the jail.
The wind tickled his cheeks, and Josh looked skyward. Joy and relief flooded him. Though they hadn’t really talked yet, the woman he loved was in his arms. Things would work out. He just knew it.
Rachel couldn’t hold back the grin on her face as she rode the gray mare Josh had given her. She’d named her Grace because of the way she moved. Josh had scowled and shaken his head, saying that was no name for a mustang. She nudged Grace forward as Sultan pulled alongside. Her mare was swift but no match for Josh’s stallion.
Atop the hill overlooking the Stafford homestead, they pulled their horses to a stop. Josh climbed down and dropped his reins. Sultan dipped his head and snatched up a hunk of knee-high grass. Josh helped Rachel down then took her hand and pulled her away from Grace.
“I love this view of the ranch. It’s home.”
“Yes, it is beautiful. I remember the first time I saw it.” Her voice faded to a whisper. “I wished then that it was my home.”
Josh turned to face her and lightly clutched her waist. “That’s my dream, too. Make this your home, Rachel.”
Her golden eyebrows dipped as she struggled to decipher his meaning.
“Marry me, kid.”
Rachel jerked her gaze up and stared into his serious sapphire eyes. Her heart turned somersaults of joy, but she had to be sure. “You mean that? You’re not just joshin’ with me?”
He grinned. “No, honey. I love you. I’d never josh about that. Please, marry me, and make me the happiest cowpoke on this whole spread.”
Joy like she’d never known soared through her. “I love you, too. I wanted so badly to tell you when I was locked in that shack.”
Josh leaned toward her. Their lips met, and he tugged her against his chest. His kiss was everything she’d hoped it would be. Warm. Filled with love and a promise of tomorrow. For a brief moment she lingered, enjoying it. Hoping it wasn’t their last. As much as she wanted to stay there forever, she pulled back.
Something near panic dashed across Josh’s face.
“What about Grandpa?”
He sighed a breath of relief. “I talked with Ian. He wants to hang around here for a while. In case you haven’t noticed, he and Grandma are getting along better than matching salt and pepper shakers.”
He smiled that grin she loved so much. She reached up a finger, tracing a line from his dimple down to the slight cleft in his chin. Josh’s eyes closed as he savored the moment.
“I noticed.” She didn’t want to say what the feel of his rough cheek did to her insides.
Josh opened his eyes. “I talked with Micah and Sam. They’ve agreed to let me buy some high-quality brood mares. Looks like Sultan’s getting his harem. We’ll see what happens.” He removed a lock of hair that blew across her cheek and tucked it behind her ear. “You were right. I prayed and got my heart straight then talked with my brothers like a man. And they listened.”
“I’m so glad.”
He ran his hand down her hair and twirled a curl around his finger. “There’s only one thing I need to make my dream complete.”
Captured by his startling blue gaze, Rachel smiled up at him. “It would seem our two dreams are destined to merge.”
Josh’s eyebrows dipped in confusion for a moment then lifted with astonishment.
“Yes. I’ll marry you, Josh.”
He grabbed his hat and tossed it in the air. “Yahoooo!” He twirled her around then pulled her into his arms. His grin was contagious.
Rachel knew she’d finally come home. Like a spiderweb rose, God had taken simple, pliable strands and woven them into a thing of beauty.