When Love's Gone Country (Sequel two of the Embracing Love Trilogy) (10 page)

The sound of running feet came from the left, then stopped by the gate. “I know I saw someone down here,” Red Atkins said.

“Could’a been a cow walking around,” Bart Wilson said.

“It wasn’t a cow.”

“Well, if someone was here, they’re not here now.”

“Count ‘em.”

“They’re all there. It’s the middle of the night.”

“Count ‘em. I’m gonna look around.”

“Spend half the night countin’ cows, for what? I wouldn’t mind counting sheep.” Bart laughed at his own joke. “Did ya hear that, Red? ‘Course he didn’t hear that. He never hears the good ones.”

Chapter Twelve

Jacob quietly pulled his backpack over one shoulder, then headed down the path toward the stables, the blanket tucked under one arm. He kept careful watch for the two intruders, as well as Red.

Beyond the stables, he saw shadowed images of trees lined in perfect rows. He headed for them, hoping to find a hiding place until daylight. When he was surrounded by the smell of apples, he tossed his backpack against the base of one of the trees and sat down.

“I saw you.” A figure approached from the left.

Jacob was on his feet in an instant. “I don’t want no trouble.”

“You got it anyway.” Another figure approached, this time from the right.

Jacob’s hand slipped into his pocket. They’d be sorry they messed with him, that was for sure.

“You’re working the ranch, right? One of those city people turned cowboy for a week.”

“Something like that.”

“We’re sick of your kind. You come here, play around with our livelihood, then head back to the big city. We’re the ones who end up paying the price.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s free labor for the Double Y. Other ranchers have to pay their hired hands. You might as well be taking food right out of my family’s mouth.”

“We didn’t mean to hurt anyone.”

“Prove it.”

“How?”

“Don’t tell anyone about what we did.”

“What did you do?”

“You’re a quick study. Already denying what you saw. That’s good. I’m warning you, if you tell anyone, we’ll be back. It’d be a shame if that pregnant lady lost her baby.”

“You stay away from Purity. Stay away from all of us.”

“You do as you’re told and we will. You open your mouth, I don’t guarantee nothin’.”

“I won’t say anything. I won’t even be around to say anything.”

“Can’t hack the country life?”

“It ain’t that.”

“What is it then?”

“None of your damn business.”

“Son, you’ve got an attitude problem.”

“I’m not your son. Are all those cows gonna die?”

“What’s it to you, you’re leaving, remember?”

“I remember. You better remember what you said and stay away from the city folks.”

“We will.”

“We promise,” the other man said.

Jacob could almost see his smirk. Neither one of these men were to be trusted, of that he was sure.

“We’ll be watching you.” The two men headed north into the orchard. They were out of Jacob’s vision within thirty yards.

Jacob sat back down, his back against a tree so no one could sneak up behind him.

They’d harm Purity, he was sure of it.

“Damn it!”

Jacob stood up, tossed his backpack over his shoulder and headed back to the barracks. He couldn’t leave now, not when his family and friends were in danger.

“Just my luck to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

“And just what are you doing out in the middle of the night?” Red asked, sidling up beside him.

Jacob jumped. He had been lost in thought and didn’t hear Red approach. “Goin’ for a walk. Is that a crime?”

“Depends on where you’re walkin’ and what you’re doin’ besides walkin’. You been by the cow paddock tonight?”

“Yeah, I was there.”

“What were you doin’?”

“Watching the cows.”

“In the middle of the night?”

“I couldn’t sleep.”

Red appeared satisfied with his answers and relaxed his stance. “It’s hard gettin’ used to country sounds. Nature can be damn loud.”

“How long you been working at the Double Y?” Jacob expertly steered the conversation in a new direction.

“Let’s see… twelve years. Seems like a long time, don’t it?”

“Yeah.”

“It went by in a flash. They say time speeds up when you get older. I don’t know if that’s true, but I can tell you that you become more focused and have more things you want to do. You don’t get more time, though.”

“Sometimes you have too much time.”

“Yeah.” Red shook his head. “Sometimes it can seem that way, especially when you’re going through a hard time. I’ve seen plenty of those.”

“Like what?”

“You want a list? The drought ten years ago comes to mind. Everything ‘round here dried up to dust. Ground turned hard as stone. Almost shut the town down completely.”

“What’d you do?”

“Waited. Oh, we dug irrigation ditches and the like, but nothing worked. Loans were due and tempers were short. We weathered it together, though. Times were different back then. Neighbors didn’t shy away from helpin’ one another. If you needed somethin’, they’d lend it to you. When you was done, you gave it back. Not like today.”

“What changed?”

“It became less about caring for the land and the animals and more about makin’ money. That seems to be the way of change, though. The focus shifts from what’s important to what you can put in your coffers.”

“How long did you have to wait?”

“Three years.”

“How did you stand it?”

“Didn’t have much of a choice, really. The Peterman’s are good people and no one wanted to leave them high and dry. They couldn’t pay us nothin’, but most of the hands stayed on. A few left.

The fed us and housed us. Beyond that, we didn’t have a dime between us. Those were hard times. There was laughter, too, and singin’ ‘round the fire pit. We did that most nights.”

“Why didn’t you leave after the first year? That’s long enough to try when things are going from bad to worse.”

“You don’t leave the people you love. You stand side-by-side and become stronger together. I’m sure you feel that way about your family.”

Jacob was silent.

“Touch a nerve?”

“Ain’t got nothin’ to say.”

Bart headed down the path toward them. “One hundred and nine, just like there should be. I told you there weren’t none missin’.”

“What’s your name?” Red asked.

“Jacob.”

“Jacob, this here’s Bart. I’m Red.”

“Good to meet you.”

“I think Jacob was the man I saw near the paddock.”

“Was you down there?” Bart asked.

Jacob nodded his head.

“Next time you go gallivantin’ all across creation, stay away from the paddocks. I got better things to do than spend half my night countin’ cows. I’m headed back to my quarters to count sheep. That, I don’t mind doin’.”

Red chuckled.

Bart smiled as he headed back up the path. He’d gotten to use his joke after all.

“C’mon, I’ll walk you back to the ranch hand quarters,” Red said.

“I know my way.”

Red looked dubious, but said no more. As he watched Jacob following in Bart’s footsteps, he realized the height was all wrong for the man he saw. It wasn’t Jacob he saw by the cow paddock. So who was it? And why?

Chapter Thirteen

It was four a.m. when Red came to wake the city slickers. He never told anyone he enjoyed ringing the traditional triangular dinner bell, especially when he knew how much they’d come to hate the sound.

He didn’t begrudge them their little vacation, but working the ranch for a couple weeks wasn’t the same as living it day in and day out. When it was time to leave, they’d boast that they knew what it was like to do a hard day’s work. They had no way of knowing what they experienced was just one easy slice of country life.

“Daylight’s burnin’. You got ten minutes to get down to the fire pit.” Red rang the bell for another minute, then went to wake Jacob. Word traveled fast about his rogue decision to stay in the old barracks. He gained favor in his eyes from that decision, not that he’d ever let him see that.

“Make him stop ringing that thing!” Courtney held her hands over her ears as she opened her eyes. It’s still night time. The rooster isn’t even up yet.”

“Complain while you’re getting dressed, we don’t have much time,” Brad said, placing his feet on the floor and shaking his head to help clear the sleep from his brain.

Diego jumped down from the end of the bed, ready to go for a walk.

“Not now, D. I promise we’ll go for a walk when I get back.”

The look of disappointment he received was palpable.

Court and Brad met up with Alex, Purity and Bobby in the hallway.

“Where’s Meg?” Purity asked. “I’m firing her as our vacation planner.”

“It’s only the first day. In a week, you’ll be waking up before the bell ever rings,” Alex said, placing an arm around her shoulders.

“This was your idea, of course you’re excited. I need sleep.”

“You can go back to bed, if you need to.”

“Oh no she can’t,” Courtney said. “All for one and one for all. Nobody gets special treatment.”

“But she’s pregnant,” Bobby said.

“There should be a limited number of times that excuse can be used.”

“And what number should that be?” Alex asked.

“For this vacation, I’d say once a day, maybe twice.”

“Very generous of you,” Purity said. “When you’re pregnant, I’ll remind you of this conversation.”

“Is everyone ready?” Meg asked as she and Jeremy joined the group.

“Why are you so chipper?” Court asked.

“It’s a beautiful day, we’re on vacation and we’re about to have an adventure!”

“How can you tell it’s a beautiful day? The sun isn’t even up yet.”