Come Home to Me (11 page)

“We can’t give up,” she argued. “We have to find him.” She pulled away, and he reached for her wrist.

“We’re not giving up, Rachel.” He pulled her to him, and wrapped her trembling body in his arms. “I won’t give up,” he whispered close to her ears. “I just need to get my bearings.”

Rachel’s arms reached around his middle, and she leaned her head against his chest. Whether she shook from crying, the cold, or both, Jake couldn’t tell. All he knew was that he held her in his arms, and he cursed the circumstances that made it possible. He wanted to stand here and just hold her, but they couldn’t waste any time.

Jake cupped her head between his hands, and lifted her face away from his chest, tilting it upwards. Fear and panic registered in her eyes, but so did something else. Trust?

“We’ll find him. I promise.” He swiped some hair out of her face, then abruptly released her. He adjusted the duster around them, and strained his eyes to peer out from under the tree. There weren’t a whole lot of places for someone to hide or take cover. The prairie was mostly flat and devoid of trees save for a few strands here and there. Would Tommy be smart enough to seek shelter somewhere? They had to be a couple of miles from camp, and the rain continued to fall in sheets. While it wasn’t a perfect shelter, the tree they stood under afforded some protection.

“Stay here, Rachel. I’ve got one more place I want to look, and I can get there faster if I don’t have to bring you along with me.” Without waiting for an answer, he pulled the duster from his shoulders, and wrapped it around her slight body. “Don’t move from this spot until I get back.” Without looking at her, he ducked out from under the tree and ran into the pouring rain.

****

Rachel huddled against the tree trunk, wrapping Jake’s coat tightly around her freezing body. She shivered uncontrollably, and clenched her jaw to keep her teeth from chattering. It was a futile effort. How could she have been so careless and not checked sooner to make sure that the boys were inside the wagon? Thankfully, Thomas had been sober this morning. His genuine concern for her when the mule knocked her down reminded her of how he used to be. When she discovered Tommy missing, he’d immediately gone in search of him. Maybe he’d been found already, and was safely back at camp.

Jake’s concern for her after she landed in the dirt overwhelmed her. She’d heard him call her name just as she fell, and in the next instant, he was there, diverting the spooked mules away from her. Even through all the rain, there was an unmistakable look of worry in his eyes when he asked if she was all right. When she’d begged him to help her find Tommy, he hadn’t hesitated. Had he noticed that she called him by his given name? It had just slipped out without any thought.

As the minutes ticked by, Rachel’s anxiety increased. The rain had let up a little. The sheets of water coming down from the heavens had changed to a steady rain. The sky was as dark as ever, and only a small amount of light dared to break through the clouds. At least the wind had let up.

Rachel pushed aside some of the tree branches that obscured her view. She couldn’t see anything but the flat prairie in all directions, save for this small strand of trees. The heavy raindrops sent sprays of mud up off the ground. Suddenly, movement to the east caught her attention, the dark silhouette of a man walking toward her.

“Jake?” she called, and her heart sped up. She didn’t see Tommy. She forced herself to stay beneath the tree when all she wanted to do was race out and meet him. As he moved closer, she could make out the distinct outline of legs dangling off the side of the man’s upper body. He was carrying Tommy! Fear flooded her mind. What had happened? Was Tommy alive?

“Stay put, Rachel,” Jake yelled to her. How could he have known that she was about to run out to him?

The minutes it took for Jake to reach the makeshift shelter seemed like an eternity to her.  When he finally stepped under the tree, she sobbed.

“Tommy?” she reached for him, her hand on his chest.

“He’s fine. Just scared, and maybe has a few scratches is all,” Jake assured her.

“I’m all right,” the little boy confirmed, and lifted his head from Jake’s shoulder. “Jake came and got me.”

Rachel laughed in relief. “You gave me and your papa and Mr. Owens quite a scare. Where did you go off to?”

“I wanted to see the horses,” Tommy said in a sobbing voice. “I’m sorry. Are you going to punish me?”

Rachel stepped closer and squeezed the boy’s hand.  “No, Tommy. But you can’t ever do that again, you hear?”

“No, ma’am,” he said. “Jake already told me what a stupid thing I did, and how worried you were, and that it wasn’t a good thing for a man to worry the womenfolk.”

Rachel’s eyes darted to the man who held her nephew in his arms. He had known where to look for Tommy, and he’d already acted like a parent should in counseling him on being irresponsible. Jake’s choice of words might not be what she would have used, but it seemed to have made an impact on the boy.

Tommy shivered, and Rachel pulled the slicker from around her shoulders, the cold air seeping quickly through her soaked clothing.

“We’d better all just huddle here for a while. Looks like the rain’s lettin’ up a bit. Give it a few more minutes, and we’ll make a run for it back to camp. Wrap that slicker around us all, Rachel.”

Rachel didn’t hesitate. She stepped as close to Jake as was possible, her hip jutting against his thigh. Tommy was sandwiched between them. Water dripped off Jake’s hair into his face, and with Tommy in his arms, he couldn’t wipe it away. She draped the slicker around his shoulders, and her heart sped up. It felt too much like an embrace. Hesitating, she reached up and combed her fingers through his hair, smoothing the strands back against his head instead of having them fall forward into his eyes.  For once, his hair lay flat rather than sticking up and tousled in all directions.  She decided it didn’t suit him at all. She’d grown too accustomed to his unique hairstyle.

He stared at her. Even in the dim light, Jake’s eyes touched her in ways she couldn’t explain. Warmth seeped through her, and she smiled tentatively.

“Thank you, Jake,” she whispered.

“You’re welcome, Rachel,” he said quietly. His eyes remained locked on hers. “I was bettin’ you’d hold out a little longer before you called me Jake. At least another week.” A grin brightened his face.  “I’m just sorry it took rescuing your nephew for you to finally come around.”

Chapter 11

Rachel hung the last of the wet bedding over the wagon’s tailgate. Dismayed, she pushed some strands of hair out of her face that had come loose from the pins that kept her hair swept back and in a bun at the back of her head. At this rate, it would take a month before all their clothing dried. Luckily, the food supplies had stayed dry.  Tommy and Billy didn’t seem to mind their soaked britches. They splashed through the puddles left behind by yesterday’s downpour, laughing and having a good time like two boys their age should. David napped inside the wagon on the only dry blanket she could find.

Rachel lifted her head, and inhaled a deep breath, blowing the air out loudly through her mouth. With one hand pressed against the small of her back, she shielded her eyes against the sun with the other. The sky today sparkled blue.  Not a cloud was in sight. If not for the damaged wagons and soaked clothing and bedding that flapped in the breeze in every camp, one would have never guessed at the torrential rains from the day before.

At the next camp over, Thomas helped Mr. Holland repair the axel under his wagon. Many of the wagons had been damaged in the storm, and mending them would take the entire day. Mr. Wilson had been forced to declare that they would remain here for one more day. Rachel considered herself one of the lucky ones that nothing had happened to their vehicle. Wet clothing would dry. Eventually.

Rachel’s brother lifted his hat from his head, and wiped at his forehead with the back of his hand. He gazed over at her, and his lips widened in a smile. Rachel smiled back, pure joy in her heart. Thomas shook hands with Mr. Holland, then dodged water puddles and headed toward their camp.

Thomas was a different man than he’d been yesterday, and over the course of the last two years. Rachel’s heart warmed, watching her brother work and interact with people the way she remembered him. Before Polly’s death, he’d never hesitated to lend a helping hand to a neighbor in need. Seeing him work alongside their traveling companions warmed her heart. She hoped this was a true turning point for him.

“Got some water for me?” he asked, and leaned over to give her a quick peck on the cheek. Her eyes widened at the unexpected gesture. “I’ve neglected to act a little like a husband should,” he whispered in her ear. His face sobered. “I’ve neglected a lot of things.”

“It’s good to have you back, Thomas,” Rachel said softly, and reached for the metal ladle that hung from the side of the wagon. She dipped it into the water bucket that sat on the tailgate, and handed it to her brother. He tipped his head back and drank.

“After watching you fall yesterday, I thought my life would end. And then when Tommy went missing . . .” Thomas’ voice cracked. “I’m sorry for all the misery I’ve caused you. I’ve been selfish, and have done nothing but feel sorry for myself.” He swiped a hand across his face. “You’ve been right all this time. My boys need me, and you need me.”

Rachel placed her hand on his arm. His complete change of attitude was such a welcome surprise; it warmed her from the inside out. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Annabelle Edwards tiptoe through the mud. The girl stopped and glanced her way. When Rachel smiled in her direction, Annabelle lifted her chin, picked up her skirts, and marched away.

Annabelle certainly didn’t hide her jealousy. The little brat fancied Jake Owens, and he wanted nothing to do with her. She surely thought Rachel had feelings for the scout. An unexpected surge of heat raced through her at the thought. After yesterday, Rachel no longer doubted that she harbored feelings for Jake. For all his unconventional ways, he was also one of the most caring men she’d ever met. He never wavered when someone needed help, and he’d certainly helped her and Thomas on several occasions.

“I’ve been very unfair to you, Rachel.” Thomas’ voice drew her attention back to him before she could explore her thoughts any further. Thinking about Jake made her limbs go weak, and her extremities tingled. Her thoughts about him confused her. He was not the sort of man to harbor feelings of affection for. He was a wanderer, not the settling kind.

“I’ve been too absorbed in my own sorrows to see all the sacrifices you’ve made,” Thomas continued, forcing her to give him her full attention, even as her mind drifted in a completely different direction. He grabbed for her hand and squeezed. “You’ve grown into a beautiful woman, and I’ve ignored how men look at you. I’m sure at some point you want to find a man to settle down with, and raise a family of your own.”

“Thomas, I –”

Her brother held up his hand, cutting her off. Apparently he was determined to say what was on his mind. “That scout, Owens, seems to have taken a special interest in you.” Thomas’ face hardened. “He ‘pears like a dependable man on the trail, and I’ll forever be in his debt for finding Tommy, but he’s not the kind of man I want for you. Men like him aren’t the settling kind. I’ve heard all the talk about him. I’ll make sure he stays away from you from now on. I’m going to be the brother and father I’ve neglected to be for so long.”

Rachel inhaled a deep breath. Hadn’t she just had the same thoughts about the scout? “Jake Owens has no interest in me, Thomas.” She tried to sound convincing. She had no idea what sort of interest she sparked in him, or why she would even attract his attention. No doubt he was used to a different type of woman than her.   “Besides, we need to get to Oregon and start that farm. If the right man should come along some day, I won’t just abandon you and the boys.”

Thomas chuckled. “Well, while folks think we’re wed, it’ll keep the men away. Including that scout, if he knows what’s good for him.”

Rachel’s mouth suddenly went dry.
He already knows we’re not wed.
Memories of yesterday assaulted her. Standing so close to Jake under that willow tree, waiting out the storm, had played havoc with her nerves. When he called Tommy her nephew, her stomach had traded places with her heart. He knew! If he knew that she wasn’t Tommy’s mother, most likely he also knew that Thomas wasn’t her husband. How could he have found out? Lost for words, she could only gape at him. He’d eased the tension by simply saying, “We’ll talk later.”

After the rain had let up, they’d made a dash for the camp. Drenched and chilled to the bone, Rachel had barely been aware of Jake lifting her up into the safety of her wagon. It had taken hours for her to stop her uncontrollable shivering. After stripping Tommy, she dressed him in dry clothes and bundled him under several blankets with his brothers. After she managed to change out of her wet clothes into a dry chemise and dress, she huddled with the children for warmth. Where Thomas or Jake spent the night, she had no idea.

Rachel reached for a blanket draped over the wagon’s tailgate. It was dry enough to be folded. She stepped away from Thomas, and shook the blanket out in front of her before folding it.

“Speak of the devil,” Thomas grumbled behind her. Rachel looked up. She glanced over her shoulder at her brother, then her gaze followed the line of his eyes. A familiar figure strode into camp. Rachel’s heart rate increased. Jake Owens was heading straight for their wagon. She hadn’t seen him all morning, and hoped to avoid this meeting as long as possible. Apparently
later
had arrived, judging by the determined look on his face.

Tommy and Billy ran up to meet him, and he smiled brightly at the boys, tousling their hair. Interacting with the boys seemed to come so natural to him.  And they had been drawn to him from the beginning. Would he ever settle down and raise a family of his own, or would he always be as wild and untamable as he seemed to be now?
Why would it even matter to you, Rachel?

“Thomas,” Rachel said under her breath. “He saved your son’s life. He’s a good man. Be polite.”

Thomas stared at her as if she’d sprouted wings. A slow smile formed on his face, and then it quickly disappeared again. He shook his head. “Rachel, he’s no good for you. Don’t entertain those thoughts I know are floatin’ in your mind.”

The heat rose in her face. “I’m not entertaining any thoughts, Thomas. I simply want you to be cordial. Mr. Owens has been nothing but helpful.”

Before Thomas could say any more, Jake walked up to them, smiling broadly. “Mornin’,” he drawled, looking at Thomas. He reached his hand out, and her brother shook it.

“Owens.” Thomas nodded politely, but his eyes narrowed. “You look like you survived the night.”

Jake laughed. “Nothing like huddling under a tree all night in a downpour.” His eyes darted to Rachel, and she quickly lowered her gaze, picking at lint on the blanket clutched in her arms.

“Glad to see you and the boy aren’t looking like drowned rats,” Jake said, jutting his chin toward her.

Rachel cleared her throat. “We’re fine. Thank you again for your help yesterday, Mr. Owens.”

His eyes narrowed for a split second, then he raised an eyebrow. The corners of his lips rose in a barely perceptible grin.

To avoid Jake’s amused stare, Rachel set the blanket on the tailgate. Reaching inside the wagon, she rummaged for her bar of lye soap she’d set out earlier, and grabbed for her and Tommy’s bundle of wet and muddy clothes.

“If you two gentlemen will excuse me, I have clothes in need of washing.” She rushed past them, and headed toward the creek. Rachel gritted her teeth. The subtle grin on Jake’s face made him appear even more devilish and handsome than he already was, but his smug attitude also raised her hackles. Did he think he held some kind of power over her, knowing her marital status? Had he known all along? It would explain his relentless pursuit of her. Being a married woman certainly hadn’t been a deterrent.

By the sounds of the rushing water, the creek had swelled to the size of a river. Rachel didn’t know how she would accomplish cleaning her clothes with all the mud the roaring water churned up, but she couldn’t stay in camp any longer. She couldn’t talk freely to Jake in Thomas’ presence, and she didn’t even know if she wanted to speak to him.

Wandering further downstream than was necessary, Rachel knelt at the creek’s edge, and dipped Tommy’s muddy pants in the water. She laid them out on a large rock, and with vigorous strokes of her arm, scrubbed at the trousers with the soap. With every passing minute, her agitation grew.

Yesterday, while they searched for Tommy, and even when they stood under the tree, Jake had behaved like a normal man, not the brazen scout she’d come to know. Heat rose up her neck, and her forehead beaded with perspiration. Not even with her former beau, Peter, had she shared such intimate embraces as she’d done with Jake.
It had nothing to do with intimacy, Rachel. You sought comfort and warmth from his body while you were freezing, and he offered it to you by holding you in his arms.
Even so, Rachel remembered her insides heating in response to his touch and the strength of his arms. Nothing in the world would harm her while he held her close.

“You’re gonna scrub a hole right through those pants,” a deep familiar voice drawled behind her.

Rachel shrieked, and her bar of soap slipped out of her hand. It landed with a plop in the water, and immediately disappeared from view, sinking like a rock in the muddy current. She whirled around, and her legs tangled in her skirt. She stared up into Jake Owens’ grinning face. Was he mocking her? Catching her breath, her heart hammered up into her throat, and she fumbled with her skirt.   The fabric wrapped itself further around her leg

Jake’s hand reached out, and he pulled her up by the arm. Rachel’s limbs had turned to putty as she tried to recover from the shock of his unexpected appearance. Despite being unsteady on her feet, she tried to pull her arm away.

“You shouldn’t sneak up on people like that,” she said, hoping to sound composed. “Now I’ve lost my soap.”

“Sorry,” he said, looking properly demure from beneath his eyelashes. His ever-widening grin belied his sincerity. She glanced at his hand that still held her arm.

“Is there something I can do for you? I have a lot of work to do.” She lifted her chin.

“Your work can wait. Take a walk with me.”

The nerve of him! She pulled her arm free of his grasp and took a step back, smoothing down her skirt. “I most certainly will not,” she said more forceful than she had intended. A quick glance in all directions assured her that no one else was nearby.  Luckily she’d wandered far enough along the creek from where most everyone else would do their washing.