By the time Bret and Noelle reached the gate that would take them off the track to where the cattle were, the sun had melted much of the snow. Only patches dotted the landscape, giving the area a neglected look as though Mother Nature’s party was over and everyone had gone home, leaving the remains of the decorations scattered around.
Noelle waited in the warm truck while Bret got out, unlatched the gate, drove through, stopped and relatched it behind them. She looked around but could see no road.
When he crawled back into the truck, she asked, “What happened to the road?”
He grinned. “There won’t be a road from now on.”
“Then how do you know where to go?”
“Easy. I know every inch of this place. I’ve learned where I can take a truck.” He patted the steering wheel. “It’s times like now when this particular horsepower comes in handy.” He glanced over at her and winked. “Hang on.”
She was glad of the warning. Although Bret seemed to know where he was going, she couldn’t see a path anywhere. He drove along an abutment that eventually widened and leveled off.
Once she adjusted to their newest direction, Noelle began to look around, glancing into the brush as they passed. When she saw eyes staring back, she blinked and stared. Adjusting her gaze, she realized that there were deer hidden all around them, watching their progress.
“Bret, look at the deer.”
“I know. Why do you think I’m out here?”
“To feed the deer?”
“To make sure there’s enough feed for my cattle after the local wildlife eat. It takes a great deal of feed to keep cattle. Some of my ranch acreage has low vegetation and has to be supplemented during certain seasons.”
Periodically he would stop the truck to unload hay and grain. He seemed to have a regular route because the cattle would be standing around as though waiting for him to show up.
Noelle found the whole procedure fascinating.
During the last stop, she watched Bret kneel beside a small creek bed and study the ground, frowning. When he joined her once again, his mouth looked grim. He turned the truck in a tight circle and started back the way they’d come.
“Is something wrong?”
“Yeah. It looks like my visitor’s back.”
“Visitor?”
“Several of the ranchers around here have been complaining of seeing cougar tracks on their property, no doubt stalking the cattle. A few weeks ago, I spent the better part of a day tracking him on my property. The blasted thing crossed my boundaries onto another ranch before I got more than a brief glimpse of his tawny coat. He’s a cunning devil.”
“What are you going to do?”
“Saddle Hercules and get back up here as soon as possible. I’ve got to find that cat before he destroys any of my livestock.”
“Isn’t that dangerous?”
“Can be.”
“You’ll be careful, won’t you?”
He gave her a quick glance from the corner of his eye. “Are you worrying about me?”
She could feel herself blushing. “I just want you to be safe.”
He grinned. “Guess my guardian angel will have to make sure I don’t come to any harm.”
“You’re teasing me, but I don’t care, because you’re right. Your guardian angel will be with you.”
As soon as they returned to the house Noelle went inside the house. Roy and Travis were in the living room.
“Bret said to tell you he spotted cougar tracks and was going out looking for the cat on horseback.”
Roy shook his head. “Maybe he’ll have more luck finding him today than he did last time. Boy, was he ticked off when that cat disappeared onto a neighboring ranch. He said he’d wasted a whole day following him around.”
“Isn’t it dangerous for him to go out on his own like that?”
“No more than any other time, I reckon. Bret’s always careful, though. No need to worry about him.” Roy picked up his hat. “Guess I’ll see you later, then,” he said and walked out of the room.
Noelle turned to Travis. “Would you like to help me bake some cookies?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Where are Brenda and Sally?”
“They’re upstairs, wrapping presents. They made me promise not to go up until they said I could.”
“Is Chris with them?”
“Nope. His friend Jamie wanted him to help move firewood over at his place. He’ll be back later.”
“How did he get over to Jamie’s?”
“Jamie’s big brother came and got him.”
“Well, then we’ll get to work and make up a batch of cookies for everybody.”
“Can we make ’em look like Christmas trees and angels and bells and stuff?”
“You bet.”
Travis trotted by her side into the kitchen.
Bret saddled Hercules and took off on the road he and Noelle had just followed. He knew he needed to take care of the cougar, but what he wanted to do was to stay at the house with Noelle. He wanted to spend as much time as possible with her. Somehow he needed to convince her that they could work out whatever was going on with her. She was obviously a very loyal person. He couldn’t fault that. Loyalty was an admirable trait.
He would just have to convince her that he deserved her loyalty as well as her present employer. He smiled to himself, thinking of all the ways he would enjoy convincing her that she needed to stay with the Bishop family.
Once he left the main road, he took the horse directly to the last sighting he’d had of the cougar’s tracks, rather than following the trail made by the truck. There were times when traveling by horseback could save him miles. This was one of those times.
Dismounting, he knelt and studied the tracks, then circled the watering hole for any sign. When he came across tracks leading into the rugged hills, he remounted and slowly followed them, keeping his eyes trained on the surrounding foliage, as well.
Despite his focus on the cat tracks, Bret lost some of his concentration because he kept thinking about Noelle. The unexpected whirr of the deadly rattlesnake spooked the horse as well as startling Bret. He’d been leaning forward, peering up into the trees for a possible sighting of tawny fur when the horse let out a snort and began to buck.
Feeling like a complete fool for having been caught unprepared like some greenhorn, Bret had only an instant to realize that he wasn’t going to be able to stay in the saddle. The world did a crazy tilt as he sailed over the horse’s head. Bret concentrated on relaxing and rolling with the fall.
It wouldn’t be the first time he’d been forcibly ejected from a saddle, he managed to think before he came to an abrupt halt as he slammed against the hard ground on his back.
He would have been all right except for some bruising if he hadn’t fallen beside a granite upcropping. The jagged ridge of rock caught him behind the ear as his head whipped back from the fall.
One instant he was aware of a whirling blue sky, the next instant pain exploded in his head, turning the blue sky into a fathomless darkness.
By midafternoon Noelle could not keep her eyes away from the kitchen window that overlooked the direction Bret had taken a few hours before. There was still no sign of him. Shouldn’t he have found the cougar by now?
She was alone in the kitchen. Travis was upstairs taking his nap, the girls had gone to visit with friends and Chris had returned home to help Roy somewhere on the ranch.
She couldn’t quite forget the shiver that had raced over her when she’d watched from this same window as Bret had ridden away earlier. She’d seen him leave the house alone on several occasions before today. She couldn’t understand her uneasiness when she’d watched his solitary figure ride out.
The girls returned in time for a late lunch. She fed them and they disappeared upstairs. When she went to check on Travis he was still sound asleep, Rex curled up on the rug beside his bed. Once again she fought her uneasiness. Rex was usually by Bret’s side. Perhaps his staying behind was what made the day seem different to her.
Noelle tiptoed over and adjusted Travis’s cover before she left the room.
Next, she went into her bedroom and checked the kittens, smiling as they milled around on wobbly legs, batting at each other, their eyes barely opened. She sat back on her heels, remembering how Bret had been so badly outnumbered on the question of whether or not to keep the kittens or to attempt to give them away. All four were now officially members of the Bishop family, each with its own name and owner.
She had a hunch that none of them would be sleeping in the barn.
Noelle returned to the kitchen and peered out the window once again. She couldn’t quite shake her restlessness. Her thoughts kept returning to Bret and how lonely he’d looked riding off alone. A brief picture of him flashed into her mind and she froze, frightened. She saw him lying on the ground, his eyes closed, his face almost gray. Hercules stood nearby, restlessly shaking his head. She could almost hear the whuffling sound of the horse and the jingle of the bridle.
Had something happened to Bret?
Unable to stay in the house another moment, she grabbed her coat off the hook and slipped it on, then stepped outside on the porch. The wind had picked up since morning, and it felt icy whipping around the corner of the house.
Worried, she peered up the lane where he’d gone, but she could see nothing.
She was still standing outside when Roy and Chris drove into the yard in the truck. Giving in to impulse, Noelle went over to the truck.
“Howdy,” Roy said, opening the door. “It’s a little cold to be standing around outside, ain’t it?”
“Roy, I’m worried about Bret.” He glanced around. “Where is he?”
“He left several hours ago to check out those cougar tracks. I haven’t seen him since then.”
Roy pushed his hat back and scratched his head. “Well, there’s nothing unusual about that. A man can spend hours trailing that cat. Bret’s been worried about the cussed thing. He’s probably decided not to come home until he gets him.”
“But what if he’s hurt…or something?”
Roy gave her a sharp look. “Whaddaya mean?”
She bit her bottom lip and looked away. Meanwhile Chris had walked around the truck and joined them. He stood there watching her, his gaze intent on her face. She forced herself to look at Chris, to let him see her concern. His face blanched but he showed no other sign.
“Let’s go find him, Roy,” Chris said quietly.
“Well, son, I can’t see where we need to—”
“I do. I think Noelle’s right. We need to go find Dad.”
Roy looked from one to the other with uneasiness written on his face.
“If you think we should, Chris, of course we’ll go. I just didn’t want your dad irritated at us for wasting time.”
“He’ll understand,” was all Chris said, turning away. Then he stopped and looked back at Noelle. He touched her lightly on the shoulder. “He’s okay, isn’t he?”
She heard the frightened little boy beneath the young man’s calm. She closed her eyes, forcing herself not to alarm him more than she already had. On a subconscious level Chris remembered her, remembered who she was, remembered their talks so long ago. She had consciously touched the bond that had been forged between them without fully stopping to think how it would affect him.
“You’ll find him,” she whispered, nodding. “That’s the important thing.”
“Did he take Rex with him?”
“No. Rex is upstairs with Travis.”
Chris hurried into the house. Within minutes he reappeared with Rex. The dog sniffed the wind, then looked up at Chris. Chris lowered the tailgate of the truck and Rex leaped inside.
Chris crawled into the cab of the truck and said, “Let’s go, Roy.”
Noelle briefly described to Roy where she and Bret had gone that morning to save Roy and Chris as much time as possible. She stood in the middle of the ranch yard for a long time after they had disappeared from view, praying that they found him before dark, praying that he was all right.
Then she turned and slowly went into the house for the long wait ahead of her.
When she heard the faint sound of a vehicle coming down the lane what seemed to be hours later, Noelle rushed to the door. The rest of the children had been fed and were upstairs. She had explained to them that Roy and Chris had gone to look for Bret, that she was certain he was all right, but that she felt he needed some assistance.
Because she was calm, they were calm. Their trust in her touched her like nothing ever had.
She slipped outside and was waiting on the porch when the truck stopped a few feet away. The gray gloom of late afternoon had sunk into deep shadows. All she could make out was that Rex wasn’t alone in the bed of the pickup truck.
Roy hopped out of the cab of the truck and hurried to the back. She followed. “Is he all right?”
“Yeah, I think so. A little groggy, but he recognized us. Last thing he remembered was flying off that blamed horse. He must have hit his head on something. He’s got a he—a heck of a knot behind his ear.”
Chris had been sitting in the back, allowing his dad to rest against him. Between Roy and Chris they managed to help Bret off the truck.
She could no longer stay away from him. Moving closer, she ran her hands over his face and shoulders. “Bret?”
“I’m okay,” he growled in disgust, then promptly made a liar of himself when his knees buckled. Roy and Chris each took an arm and helped him up the front steps.
“Put him in my room. It’s closest,” she said, running ahead of them and holding the door open.
Bret began to protest but Roy interrupted with, “Don’t be a fool, boss. There’s no reason for you to climb those steps right now.”
As soon as she saw him in the kitchen light she knew that Bret was in pain. His skin was a pasty white and he kept shivering. She hurried into her room and pulled back the covers. She looked at Roy and said, “Help him get out of those cold clothes. I’ll make him something hot to drink.”
Roy nodded. “Good idea.” He looked at Chris. “To be on the safe side, I want you to call Dr. Warner. Have him—”
“No!” Bret said, then winced at the sound. Ruefully he rubbed his head as though apologizing for the noise. “I’ll be all right, once I get warm and have something hot inside me.”
“I’m sure you will, but I want Warner to look at your head, maybe check your ribs, anyway. It’s either that, or I’m hauling you into town, myself. You decide.”
Bret stared at Roy for a moment and realized that this was going to be one argument he was going to lose. He sighed. “Do what you want,” he replied.
Chris left the room and Roy pulled off Bret’s heavy jacket, then eased him to the side of the bed. He methodically pulled off his boots and reached for his belt. “I’m not completely helpless, dammit,” Bret growled, pushing Roy’s hands away. He stood, swaying, unfastened his jeans and slid them over his hips.
Bret pulled off his shirt and stretched out on the bed. Roy pulled the covers up, found another blanket and added it to the bed. Rex, who had followed them inside the house, lay his head on the side of the bed and looked at Bret in concern.
Noelle returned carrying a large mug of hot liquid. Chris was immediately behind her. She sat down on the edge of the bed and held out the cup.
“Dr. Warner said I was lucky to catch him,” Chris said, standing at the end of the bed. “He was on his way out the door. He said he would be right on out here…before he made any other stops.”
“It’s a waste of his time,” Bret muttered, then sipped the reviving tea. He grudgingly admitted to himself that Roy might have a point. He felt very strange at the moment, not to mention humiliated. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been thrown off his horse!
“Did someone bring in Hercules?” he asked, looking up at Roy.
“I’ll make sure he gets put away properly. I tied the reins to the saddle. He’ll follow us in.”
Bret closed his eyes. “Make sure he does.” He didn’t remember Noelle taking the cup from him.
The next thing he knew Dr. Warner was poking and prodding him. “Ow, Doc,” he murmured, feeling probing fingers along his ribs.
“Yeah, I thought so,” Dr. Warner replied. “We better tape up these ribs, just in case you may have cracked them.”
Roy stood in the door. “Think we should take him to the hospital for X rays?”
Before Bret could protest, Dr. Warner was shaking his head. “There’s no need to make him travel that far for tests. The hospital’s full. We’d have to send him back home again.” He looked up at Noelle. “Don’t believe we’ve met.”
“No, sir. I’m Noelle St. Nichols.”
The doctor grinned. “Pleased to make your acquaintance. Hope you don’t mind filling in for a couple of days looking after this character. He needs to stay in bed and let those ribs rest. He’s got a mild concussion, and from the looks of things he spent a little too much time lying around outdoors in this kind of weather.” He peered at her over the top of his glasses and she knew he wanted her to understand the seriousness of the situation.
She nodded. “I’ll look after him.”
“Good.” He stood and stepped away from the bed. “I’ll give you something to help with his aches and pains. I want you to monitor his temperature. If it starts to climb, call me right away. You got that?”
“Yes, sir.”
He smiled. “He’s tough, you know. He’s gotten banged up a lot more than this since I’ve known him.”
“You keep talking about me like I’m not even here,” Bret complained. Noelle looked down at him and smiled. He felt his heart contract at the sweetness of her look. “Are the kids all right?”
She nodded. “Worried about you.”
“Tell ’em I’m all right.”
“I will.”
He looked around the room. “Guess you’ll have to sleep upstairs for tonight.”
“I don’t mind.”
The doctor nodded. “I’ll give you a call in the morning.” Once again he looked at Noelle. “Call me if there are any changes.”
“You can count on it.”
Bret kept dozing off, so that the time seemed to be moving in jerky, freeze-frame motion. He was alone, then Noelle was there. He was alone, then all four children were there. He’d close his eyes for just a moment, and when he would open them he would be alone once again.
Roy was there. Then he wasn’t. He heard voices in the kitchen. Then it was quiet. Chris came in to report that Hercules was safe, dry and fed. Roy mentioned he was going to the hospital to see Freda. He heard the shower going upstairs, footsteps on the stairs, Noelle’s voice talking to the children. With a deep sigh, he let go and allowed himself to drift away.
The next time he opened his eyes the house was quiet and the room was dark, except for a tiny night-light glowing from the adjoining bathroom. For a moment, Bret couldn’t figure out where he was. Then he remembered.
He’d gone looking for the cougar…Hercules got spooked…he’d been thrown off. He could feel the pain in his ribs as well as his head. If only his head—
“Here. The doctor said this should help the pain.”
Bret opened his eyes and looked up. Noelle stood beside the bed, holding a glass and a capsule. He blinked, then rubbed his eyes. It was Noelle, wasn’t it?
Absently he took the capsule and swallowed it without taking his eyes off the woman who stood beside the bed. He couldn’t have taken his eyes off her if his life depended on it.
She glowed. There was no other term for it. She wore a white robe and her hair was loose around her shoulders. Just above her head was a pulsating, circular light that looked remarkably like a halo. Just past her shoulders he could see the gauzy outline of wings, giant wings that looked capable of lifting her.
“Noelle?” His voice didn’t work. He licked his lips and tried again.
“I’m right here, Bret. Try to rest. Dr. Warner said you should be feeling much better by morning.”
“Travis was right,” he managed to say. “You are an angel.” He could feel his pulse begin to race and his heart pound.
She nodded.
“I’m not dreaming this, am I?”
“No.”
“What are you doing here?”
“Looking after you…and your family.”
“I know. What I mean is…you aren’t real, are you?”
She smiled. “Of course I’m real.”
He reached out and brushed his fingers along her sleeve. She took his hand and held it between both of hers. He had difficulty swallowing. “All those things you said…about other commitments. You’re not able to stay here because you’re a—You’re a—an—”
“That’s right. I’m so glad you understand. I didn’t like the idea of misleading you about me.”
“Understand? How can I understand? This isn’t possible.” He closed his eyes, opened them, saw she was still there and closed them again. They remained closed. “I know what it is. I have a concussion. The doctor said so. I’m probably delirious. I’m dreaming this whole conversation.” He opened his eyes.
Noelle stood beside him in her nightclothes, still holding the empty glass he’d drunk from earlier. The night-light cast a soft glow around her. There was no sign of either a halo or wings.
“How are you feeling?” she asked, placing her palm on his forehead.
“Like I’m losing my mind,” he admitted, as though to himself. “I can’t tell when I’m awake or asleep.”
“It’s probably the medication. Don’t fight it. Just allow it to work so that you can rest.”
His eyes drifted shut. He needed his rest. He was obviously overtired or he would never have dreamed such an impossible scene. Travis’s stories about angels had finally gotten to him.