The Cowboy's Baby Bond (13 page)

“I will.”

Peaceful calm filled Willow's whole being. Things would work out. Just as soon as she got back to Granite Creek, they would have a happy home like she remembered with her parents. She wouldn't let futile wishes hinder contentment for any of them. She bounced to her feet. “I'll get Celia so we can be on our way.”

Humming, her heart filled with determination and hope, she ambled toward the river. “Celia, it's time to go.”

Of course her sister didn't answer. Likely she wouldn't until Willow came face-to-face with her. She reached the water and drew up in surprise. The canteens lay on the shore but she didn't see the girl. “Celia?” Was her sister hiding?

Willow pushed back annoyance. If only Celia would cooperate. She went a hundred yards in one direction along the riverbank, calling and peering into the trees.

“Celia, must you do this?” She retraced her steps and went a hundred yards in the other direction.

“Celia, where are you?” By the time she returned to her original spot, her annoyance had given way to fear, and she dashed back to the picnic site, her feet pounding out a beat that matched that of her heart.

“Celia's gone.”

Chapter Twelve

J
ohnny jolted to attention at the fear in Willow's voice. His first thought was that the two men had caught up with them; his second, that Celia was being Celia. “Gone where?”

Willow rushed up to him and grabbed him by the arms. “I don't know,” she wailed. “She didn't answer me, and I looked, but she isn't there.”

Sarah stood by Adam, her eyes wide.

“You stay with Adam,” he told the girl. Not wanting to frighten Sarah further, he pulled Willow to one side. “Slow down. Tell me what happened.”

“I thought she was hiding, making me look for her just to be perverse, but I went up and down the river and she's not there.”

“Did you see anything to make you think something has happened?”

Willow's nostrils flared and she blinked back tears. “Maybe she ran away.”

“You stay with those two.” He tipped his head toward Adam, contentedly playing, and Sarah, who was watching their every move, trying to decide how worried she should be. “I'll see what I can see.” Johnny pulled Willow into his arms and held her until she sucked in a breath. “I'll be back as soon as I find anything.”

She clung to his hand until he had to pull away. Leaving her alone and worried proved to be one of the hardest things he'd done.

He jogged to the river, looked in either direction, hoping Celia had been hiding and would now realize she must put an end to this little game. But he didn't see her. His neck muscles tightened as he squatted down to examine the tracks. He made out Celia's and Willow's, saw where Willow had gone in either direction. But it was other tracks that filled him with dread. Two horses had been tied to trees not a hundred yards from where they ate their lunch.

A shiver clawed up his spine. How often had the two horsemen watched Johnny and his little crowd? Lying in wait for the perfect opportunity to snatch Celia. Had she been the one they wanted or would they have taken Sarah or Willow if they'd gotten the chance? Or even Adam? Johnny ground his fists into the grass. He would find them and free Celia, and if they should hurt so much as a thread of her clothing, he would execute judgment.

His ma's words rang in his head.
Revenge is a nasty companion
. Johnny released his tension-filled lungs. He would not take justice into his own hands, but he would see that this pair received the full force of what the law had to offer such men. They would not get away with this.

He followed the tracks a few feet to be sure what had happened and then straightened. He had to make plans. Before he went back to Willow, he must calm his anger, so he stood by the river and slowed his breathing.
God, I could sure use a heap of help now
. Only when his trust returned did he make his way back to her.

She rushed toward him and fell into his arms. “Did you find her?”

He held Willow tightly, reluctant to tell her. When he didn't answer, she tipped her face toward him, her eyes full of knowing.

“What did you discover?” She stiffened, not wanting to hear bad news. She might have run but he wouldn't let her escape his arms. Not yet. Johnny wanted to calm her fears, give her reassurances. He swept her hair off her face and tucked it behind her ears. He drank in every detail of her features and smiled as calmly as he could.

“I found the tracks of two horses and two men. I saw evidence of Celia struggling with one man, and then her footprints disappeared and the horses headed away.”

The information sank in slowly. Willow's eyes widened, her lips pressed together and she swallowed. “Are you saying...” She glanced at Sarah, who paled as she listened.

Willow lowered her voice. “Are you saying what I think you're saying?”

“'Fraid I am.” He drew her to his side as he crossed to the wagon. “Don't worry. I'll bring her back.”

Willow stood trembling, her hands gripping the nearest wheel. He knew if she let go, she would sink to the ground. He did not want to leave her but he must.

He saddled Gray, then paused. He couldn't go without making sure he covered every possibility. If something should happen to him...or if someone else threatened them...

He hitched the mare to the wagon so they would have a means of flight.

Holding Gray's reins, he stood before Willow. “Get your pistol and keep it with you at all times. Don't let Sarah or Adam out of your sight. Stay here unless someone threatens you. If you're at all concerned, head for town. I'll bring Celia here and if you're gone, I'll follow you.”

“What if—”

“Whatever happens, I will find you and get you safely home.”

“Thank you,” she whispered. “I know you will.” She leaned into him, and with one arm, he held her close.

She lifted her face toward his. “Be careful. Be safe.”

“I will. You, too.” He smiled encouragingly. She smiled back bravely.

This wasn't goodbye, but who knew what might happen? “This is my promise. I'll be back with Celia.” Johnny lowered his lips to Willow's, lingered a heartbeat to enjoy the taste of her. He closed his eyes as they clung to each other, then he broke away and swung onto Gray's back.

Just before he disappeared into the trees, he glanced around and saw Willow holding the bag with her gun in it. She stood with Sarah and Adam in front of her.

Catching his eye, Willow waved and said something. He couldn't be sure but thought it might have been “Go with God.”

Johnny rode to the river to find the trail of the two horses, then kept his attention on the tracks. All the while he moved cautiously and quietly, lest the men might be lying in wait.

* * *

“Is Celia dead?” Sarah's voice crackled.

Willow knelt beside her little sister and pulled her into her arms. “Oh, honey, no. But she's missing and Johnny has gone to find her.”

“Did she run away?” Sarah looked into Willow's eyes. “She talked about running away, but she stayed 'cause I wouldn't go with her.”

“We won't know for sure what happened until Johnny brings her back.” Sarah did not need to hear all the details.

“You said ‘Go with God.' What does that mean?”

Willow sat on the quilt and pulled Sarah into her arms, grateful that Adam had fallen asleep at her knees. “It means I'm asking God to go with him and protect him.”

“Like Miss Esther prays?”

“I suppose it is.”

“I want to pray, too.” Sarah scooted around to kneel at Willow's side. She bowed her head and folded her hands. “God, please bring Celia and Johnny back safely. I don't want anyone else to die.”

Willow fought to keep her breathing calm. She didn't want anyone else to die, either. Especially not Celia or Johnny.

She pressed her fingers to her lips. He'd kissed her. A sweet, gentle kiss demanding nothing, simply offering comfort and a promise to bring Celia back. But it felt as if he'd offered more than that. For now, she let herself find strength in the thought.

Once Celia was back, Willow would have to deal with the reality of the impossible gulf between them—namely, her shameful secret. One she would take to her grave.

Only one other person knew the truth—Mr. Reames—and she meant to stay as far away from him as possible so he wouldn't feel the need to deny Adam's right to that name.

It was the one fly in her plan. She hoped her promise to stay away would make the man leave her alone. Legally, Adam was Bertie's son and Mr. and Mrs. Reames's grandson, but Willow had no wish to pursue that right.

Sarah pulled her knees to her chest and stared at the spot where they'd last seen Johnny. Willow wanted to do the same, but she had to help her little sister relax. “Let's see what we can find in the clouds.” She lay back and stared at the sky. How could it be so bright and clear on such a troubled day? Was it a reminder that God saw clearly?
Please guide Johnny to Celia and keep them both safe.

She studied the clouds, then pointed toward a cluster.
“I see a turtle. There.”

Sarah lay beside her. “I see an elephant.”

“You do? Where?”

They played the game until Adam wakened. “Man?” He looked around for Johnny, and when he couldn't find him, his bottom lip quivered.

Willow hurried to the grub box. They were down to a few raisins, which she divided between the children. Other than that, there was only some flour and other baking supplies that she'd stashed in the wagon when she'd begun her journey to Granite Creek. How simple life had seemed then. Never could she have anticipated the surprises and challenges she would encounter. Would she have made the same plans if she'd known? Yes, but she would have brought more food, prepared more thoroughly, not expected everything to be rosy. Maybe she would even have prayed and asked God for guidance.

It might be too late to plan, but not too late to pray. So once again she asked God to guide and protect Johnny and Celia.

Not knowing how long they'd be waiting, Willow moved boxes about in the wagon until she unearthed her baking supplies. “Who wants to help me make biscuits?” They'd be more like bannock than the fluffy biscuits Mama had taught her to make, but it would be warm food. Willow had syrup in a box somewhere, too, and would dig it out.

Sarah eagerly joined in helping mix up the dough and then fry it in a spider.

Willow kept her bag with the pistol hanging from her skirt and constantly looked about for any sign of danger. By the time the bannock had cooled enough for Sarah and Adam to eat it, her nerves were ready to snap.

Where were Johnny and Celia? They should have been back by now, shouldn't they? What if things had gone badly? Willow checked the position of the sun. She had no desire to be sleeping out in the open with the danger of marauding men. Granite Creek couldn't be more than an hour or two away. If Johnny didn't return soon, she would head that direction.

* * *

Johnny followed the tracks along the river, moving constantly west. Were they headed to Wolf Hollow? But to what purpose? Did they think Celia had information on a gold mine? Had Willow's husband owned one? Odd how little Johnny knew of the man other than his name. Willow seldom mentioned him.

He could tell from the tracks that the men weren't in any hurry. A thought almost made him smile. Celia would be giving them pause to reconsider taking her. She wasn't one to go along peacefully. Would they tie her to subdue her? And they must have gagged her or he'd hear her protests carried on the breeze.

The river turned to the left, giving him a view far ahead, and he reined in. Two horses and riders were just disappearing from sight. He'd almost caught up to them. He hadn't seen Celia, but likely she rode in front of one of them. Johnny grinned. He sure wouldn't want to be the one holding her.

He followed slowly, keeping close to the trees so they wouldn't see him. Now that he didn't have to check for tracks, he could go faster, but he didn't want to give away his presence, so he moved carefully.

Ahead, the riders stopped to let the horses drink. Johnny could see Celia now. She sat with her arms and feet tied and, indeed, a gag in her mouth, but her elbows jabbed at the man holding her and he grunted.

Keep it up, Celia. It will distract him while I edge close enough to do something.

Johnny dropped from his horse and moved silently through the trees, grateful for the lessons his ma had taught him. He carefully considered his options. He'd never before killed a man, though he would if it meant protecting Willow, her sisters and her son. Whatever he did, he must ensure the pair did not get away and continue to be a threat.

If he shot their right arms, they wouldn't be able to shoot him. As Johnny edged closer, he made a plan. It better work, because he'd likely get only one chance to test it.

“It's your turn to carry her,” the first man said.

Johnny was close enough to see his hard features and his black stringy hair. Johnny's jaw cracked as he clenched his teeth. The man was a half-breed, but not one he cared to identify with.

The other man was blond, with a scar from his nose to his ear. He was an ugly man even without the scar, with eyes too prominent, a heavy brow and protruding lips. Poor Celia must be terrified of this pair.

As if to prove him wrong, she head butted the half-breed.

“I ain't taking her no farther.” He pushed her to the ground.

She thrust out her bound hands to keep from landing face-first, then straightened and hopped about to stare daggers at the men.

Good. She was out of harm's way. Johnny could make this work.

He tossed a stone to the far right, and the men jerked about and shot in that direction. That was all the distraction Johnny needed. He got off a shot that hit the half-breed in the shoulder, and the man fell to the ground. Johnny hadn't expected that. Was it something he practiced so he could escape a situation such as this? “Celia, get out of the way.”

She hopped out of the men's reach as fast as her bound legs allowed.

Johnny pumped in another bullet and shot the second man. As he did, a bullet whizzed by him, close enough that he heard the whistle. Johnny leaped forward, swinging his lariat. He dropped the loop over the blond man, jerked the rope tight and pulled him from his saddle.

The half-breed was on his feet now, aiming his gun.

But Johnny had his rifle on him. “Drop it or I'll shoot you.” The man's weapon wavered as blood soaked his shirtsleeve. Even if he got off a shot, it would likely miss.

The roped man jerked about, trying to pull Johnny off balance, but he kept the rifle dead center even as he struggled to keep his feet under him.

“Drop it now.”

The half-breed finally growled and lowered his arm, the gun dangling from his hand.

“Toss it to one side.”

With a muttered oath, he threw the gun out of reach.

“Lie facedown. Put your arms above your head.”