With a leather pad protecting his hands, Josiah pulled the sizzling shepherd's pie from his new oven. He carried it directly to the table, settling it in the middle. He should probably drape a cloth over it to keep the heat in until the girls arrived. Now that the foal was finally born, he'd had a good excuse to invite them for dinner.
After lowering the cherry cobbler into the oven to cook, he closed the iron door and peered out the window again. Two figures rode horseback through the creek. A light blue dress graced the taller womanly form, and the young girl on the chestnut horse beside her wore pale yellow. They were both pretty as a field of buttercups. A familiar yearning took over his chest. How much longer, Lord? Sorry for being impatient, but it seems crazy to love them so much and not be able to call them my own.
With any luck, he'd have a chance to be alone with Mara long enough for a kiss. He’d wanted to so badly the other day when he gave her the flower crown. But he couldn’t do it in front of Katie. Not the first time. Not until Mara was his wife. Then he’d kiss her in front of the whole world if they wanted to watch.
After a glance around the table to make sure all was ready, he strode through the front door to meet them in the yard. Katie kicked her horse into a trot the minute she saw him, then pulled her to a stop in the yard.
"There's my Katie." He held Pepper's reins while the girl slid off, then opened his arms for the usual bear hug. As she threw her hands around him, he soaked up the sweet, little-girl smell. Mara reined her horse in next to Pepper, and he released Katie to help her mother.
He patted the gray gelding who fidgeted as Mara dismounted. "Who's this guy?"
Mara raised an eyebrow in a wry look. "A two-year-old trial."
He bit back a grin. "Let me get them settled in the paddock."
Mara blew out a breath. "Thanks. And then we should probably look at the foal if you want any peace at dinner."
Katie grabbed his hand. "Yes. Can we see the baby?"
He fought the urge to ruffle her hair. "Well, of course. We have our priorities. You help me take the saddle off your horse, Katie-girl. And then we'll go see that filly. I need you to pick a good name for her."
The girl's eyes rounded, and she hopped once, clapping her hands. "Yes."
After settling the saddle horses in the corral, they crept into the barn. At the sight of him, the day old filly released a high-pitched nicker.
"Hey there, girl." He opened the door to the stall and slipped in. "Let me catch the feisty thing, then you can both come in and pet her."
He eased up next to the mare, then slid a hand over the filly who hovered at her mama's side. "There now, girlie. You're getting used to this aren't you?" The little one's ears twitched as he crooned, and he slipped one hand around her chest and the other behind her rump. He guided the tiny body closer to the stall door so they would have room to move around away from the mare. "Come on in."
"Oohhh…" Katie breathed as she crept inside. "Look at her little head."
The black filly did indeed have a petite head, even though she wasn't sired by his Arabian.
"I think we should name her Arabelle, like my dolly Ezra got me. Cause she has a pretty head, too."
Josiah couldn't help a chuckle. "Arabelle she is, then." He stepped back to allow room for Mara to pet the feather-soft coat.
After Mara found the filly's tickle spot on her neck and scratched a moment, her gaze lifted to his. A soft smile touched her face. "She's beautiful. You should be so proud."
Oh, he was. So proud and so full of love, his chest was bursting.
Katherine kept the conversation lively at dinner, telling him about how Uncle Ze was going to let her train a foal all by herself this summer. She talked about the baby chicks that had just hatched, and offered to give half of them to Josiah if he wanted.
He looked to Mara as he tried to find the right words to dash her hopes. "That's awfully nice of you, Katie. I bet your mama's going to need those chicks, though. But maybe I can plan to buy some from the next batch. By then, I should have my own chicken pen ready."
Mara spoke up, raising her face to look at him. "I think Katie had a good idea. You'll need some chickens, and this batch will give you a little start. We can keep them until you have your pen ready. No rush. They'll need to wait until they're big enough to stay warm without the hen, anyway."
His heart surged. He could get used to loving this woman, especially the way she looked at him now. And that cute blush that crept into her cheeks made her even more beautiful.
After they'd eaten their fill of dinner and cherry cobbler, Josiah stretched out in his chair at the table. What could he do to make this evening last longer? He glanced at Mara's empty tin mug. "More coffee?"
She rose before he could stop her. "I'll get it."
Josiah almost stood to take the pot from her, but she made quick work of pouring. So he eased back in his chair. Yes, he'd love to spend the rest of his life getting used to this. A family dinner at home. His family. In his home. In Your timing, Lord. Help me to wait for Your timing.
"Josiah, can I go out and see Arabelle again? I promise I won't go in the stall." Katie gave him one of those puppy-dog looks that he could never deny.
But this didn't sound like his decision. "That's up to your mama, Katie-girl."
"Please, Mama." She turned that same look on Mara.
Fine lines appeared between Mara's brows. "I don't know, honey. I guess it's all right with me, but I'm not sure Josiah will want you near the foal without him."
Then the little angel turned back to him and he lost all power. He put on his mock stern face. "Just make sure you don't go in any of the stalls."
Katie rushed around the table and threw her arms around his neck. "Thank you, Josiah. I love you so much."
Moisture stung his eyes and the back of his throat. He clutched her little frame for dear life. "I love you too, Katie-girl." He didn't care that his voice cracked.
After a moment, she pulled away and turned to dash out the door.
"Don't stay long," Mara called, just before it banged shut.
As the wood reverberated from the force, Mara turned an embarrassed smile to him. "Sorry. She gets excited."
Josiah blinked back moisture and offered a wobbly grin. "I'm glad she's so happy."
Mara began stacking dishes on the table and Josiah stood to help. He should tell her to stop. To sit and enjoy herself while he cleaned up. But working together seemed right.
While she washed the dishes in the bucket on the low counter he'd built for that purpose, he stood beside her with a clean rag and dried each piece before placing it in the proper place on the shelf. His new tin ware was still shiny and uniform.
As she handed him the last pan, Mara reached for the sides of the bucket that contained now-dirty water. He laid a hand on her arm. "Let me get that."
She didn't answer, but stepped aside.
He listened for Katie as he dumped the water outside in the dusky light. No little girl noises, but the normal evening sounds echoed amongst the cricket chirps and the flowing of the river. All seemed well.
When he stepped back inside, Mara gazed out the kitchen window. She glanced back at him with a soft smile, then turned to the glass again. "The river's so peaceful. I could stand here and watch it for hours."
The image she made was too beautiful for words, with her long hair hanging down her back, tied only in a pale blue ribbon to match her dress. Dare he touch her? Would she welcome him? The last thing he wanted was to ruin the moment.
But an unseen force pulled him forward. Josiah stepped up behind Mara, and rested his hands on her shoulders. They both faced the window, but he couldn’t think about anything except the woman so near. He expected to feel her muscles tense beneath his touch. But instead, she leaned back ever so slightly until she rested against his chest.
Thank you, Lord. Josiah slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her to him, resting his chin on the softness of her hair. He breathed in the familiar scent of roses.
After a few moments, she exhaled a sigh, her body so close it melded into his.
Oh, Lord. You’ve blessed me indeed. Josiah didn't speak, just enjoyed the feel of this woman in his arms. She surely felt the gallop of his heart. But he had no secrets from her. And he certainly wasn’t going to deny his love.
After a while, Mara spoke. "Thanks for spending so much time with Katherine. It's been good for her." Her voice was wistful, and just the sound of it formed a knot in his throat.
"I'm glad I have the chance. She's special." He released a soft chuckle. "There's no way I could fight off her charms." He pressed a soft kiss on Mara's hair. "I think I've come to love her as much as I love you."
She shifted in his arms, and Josiah loosened his grip as she half-turned to look at him. Her eyes were round, luminous. The look tightened his chest. They showed fear. Vulnerability.
"Josiah." Her voice was barely louder than a whisper. "I'm not sure I'm ready."
His heart ached. From the nearness of her. From the fear she still held. The fear he had planted there. What could he do to show her it would be all right? That she didn't have to be afraid of him hurting her again?
Before his mind realized what he was doing, he lowered his mouth to hers. Oh, sweetness. She was everything he'd dreamed of. But he had to keep the kiss gentle. Just a soft touch. A simple effort to remove her fear.
Way too soon, he forced himself to pull back. He found her gaze again and searched. Her eyes were a liquid amber now. So beautiful.
He planted a kiss at the top of her forehead, then pulled her to his chest again. "Take all the time you need. I'm not going anywhere."
Josiah whistled as his mare stepped out of the river on the side opposite his ranch. He shouldn't be going to the Reids' in the middle of the day. But he wasn't very productive around his place with his mind so distracted by Mara. She needed to hurry up and marry him so he could get something accomplished around the ranch.
His mouth found the tune again as the mare followed the path over a low hill. This was one of the three-year-olds he'd bought from Zeche. She had good manners. He just had to be clearer with his signals than with Rose.
As they crested the hill, a wide ribbon of smoke caught Josiah's attention to his left. It wasn't from the direction of the Rocky Ridge Station, but he couldn't see the origin over the trees. Maybe once he rounded the bend ahead.
It might have been his gut overreacting, but something didn't feel right. As he continued riding, the air took on the scent of smoke and goose bumps rose on Josiah's upper arms. Was the grass on fire? Surely not with the wet spring they were having.
When the trees thinned, an odd sight appeared about three hundred feet ahead. Teepees. He had to blink before his mind believed it. Josiah reined in his horse. They were still protected by some tree cover, but he didn’t dare move closer. From what he could tell, the Indian camp was settled in between two buttes, so no one would see it unless they came in from the side he was on.
He leaned forward to peer around a tree. There were ten teepees that he could see, but most likely more hidden. Should he make a run for it to the Reids'? If he left the trail, he could probably get there without the Indians in the camp seeing him. Were there others moving around the area, though? An arrow of fear shot down his back. If he ran into a war party, they would likely murder him on the spot. Or maybe just torture him. Was that something to hope for?
God, show me which way to go. Protect me. And please, Lord. Keep Mara and her family safe. Urgency tightened his chest. He had to get there to warn them.
He reined his mare to the right, off the trail and into the thicker trees. Leaning low to avoid branches, he urged the horse around stumps and finally out into the meadow that bordered the Rocky Ridge station.
The buildings looked undisturbed in the distance. A figure trotted on horseback in the corral behind the barn. All good signs. The Indians must not have been here yet.
He kicked his mare hard and she lunged into a canter. It was bouncy enough to send his teeth into his throat, but he hung on and urged her faster.
Zechariah met him in the courtyard. "What's wrong?"
"Indians," Josiah gasped. "A camp full." He struggled to catch enough breath to speak through his parched throat. "Between the twin buttes."
Zeche grabbed Josiah's arm and nearly jerked him off the horse. "Get inside and tell Mara to pack supplies. Then get the girls in the well. Ezra and I'll let the horses out and meet you there."
No need to tell him twice. Josiah sprinted toward the cabin and jerked the door open. He paused for his eyes to adjust to the darkness.
A gasp pulled his attention to the right.
"Josiah!"
He caught a glimpse of Katie's blonde braids just before she threw herself against him. He clutched her, but his eyes searched for Mara, finally finding her next to the work counter. "Mara."
"Yes?" Her gaze took on a glimmer of fear, probably picking up on his tone.
"Indians. There's a camp not half a mile from here." He swung Katie into his arms and strode toward the kitchen as he spoke. "Need supplies, then get to the old well. Food, water, blankets, lanterns, and oil. And anything else you can think of."
Her face blanched as she nodded, then spun to the row of crates that held food stuffs. His fingers itched to comfort her, but now wasn't the time. Later.
He lowered Katie to her feet, then turned her shoulders in the direction of the bedroom. "Katie-girl, I have a special job for you. Can you find four blankets and put them in a stack right here?"
She nodded and scampered into the back room.
He reached for the two lanterns hanging on the wall near the front door. They should probably take one more, in case they were down there for a while. How big was the well, exactly? Better to have too many supplies than not enough. He scanned the room. There, by the ladder to the loft. A tin of oil, a box of matches, and another lantern on a shelf. He grouped them all by the door, then moved to the kitchen to help Mara.
"I hope this is enough food." She handed him a large cloth bundle. "I’ll fill the canteens."
He deposited the food bundle next to the lanterns, then took a canteen from Mara and dipped it into the fresh water bucket next to the two she held.
Her gaze raised to meet his, fear clouding her amber eyes. "How long do you think we'll be down there?"
"I don't know." God, place a fence of protection around us.
"Here's the blankets, Josiah. Do you need anything else?" Katie's voice was muffled by the stack of quilts she carried.
He capped the canteen, and turned back to survey the collection by the door. "I think that’s enough. Let's get out there."
He stepped out the door first, then scanned the yard and the tree line around them. All seemed quiet. Too quiet?
"Come on." He beckoned to Katie and Mara, and they strode out into the unknown.