The Jewel of His Heart (28 page)

“Before I met you, I wouldn’t waste my chili on no dog! But Shebe here is different and special, ain’t that right?” Andy said, looking down at Shebe. She responded with her usual bark and wagged her tail. “I know, you want some of that cornbread too. Bossy little thing.” But despite his teasing and protest, he proceeded to cut her a slice to cool on the saucer.

Josh chuckled. “She is that. But she deserves to be treated special, don’t you think? Still, I’m thinking about looking for another sheepdog to help out. Plus it’ll be good companionship for Shebe.”

Andy paused from ladling chili into their bowls and looked at Josh. “I think that’s a good idea. Know anyone who raises sheepdogs?”

“When I found Shebe, I was lucky. But now I don’t know if I can locate the man I bought her from. I can always ask around town.”

“Or you could run an ad in the paper Juliana works for. Give you an excuse to see her,” Andy teased.

Josh only sighed and dug into the thick chili, smacking his lips. “This is so good to have on a drizzly day. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. If you were a woman, I’d marry you.”

Andy laughed. “Thanks, Boss. I enjoy cooking. If I had a real home, I could whip up some of the best dinners you ever had, instead of making do outside without all the essentials.”

“Where did you learn to cook like this, Andy?”

“I had no mother to teach me anything, but once I left home, I tried to learn whatever I could from being on the trail and on different ranches through the years. I guess it paid off. I like taking something and turning it into a delicious dish that makes people happy. Like a challenge, I suppose. Besides, I don’t usually like anybody’s cooking but my own.”

“Does that mean you’ll be the cook when you and Nellie get married?” Josh finished off his cornbread, then handed Shebe the bowl he’d cooled.

Andy’s face flushed. “If we do, I hope we can be a partnership.”

“And that’s the way it should be, Andy.”

Shebe stopped eating abruptly, lifting her head with her ears up. Josh asked, “What is it, girl? You hear something?” But she went back to eating after a moment.

“Reckon there’s something out there?” Andy uncrossed his legs and walked over to the open doorway. “I don’t see anything.”

“I think there might be a wolf hanging around here. I saw evidence of hair tufts today when I was out riding around the perimeter. They molt in the spring, so don’t be surprised to find one sneaking around the flock. We’ll need to be extra careful now and keep our eyes open. The sheep are just too dumb to run most times.”

“I’ve never seen wolves up close, though I’ve heard ’em howling. Have you?”

Josh stood and looked out at the drizzling rain. “I have. The gray wolf is not to be messed with. He’s quite large. I say we keep our guns close by.”

By now Shebe had finished eating and wanted out of the wagon. Josh let her out and turned to help Andy clean up. “We’d better finish here and go check on the herd. If the rain stops, we’ll keep the fire going tonight.”

Juliana listened to the patter of rain outside her window and snuggled further down into the covers of her bed. Though the sound of the rain should have lulled her to sleep, she stayed wide awake. They’d been very busy at the paper, and she was looking forward to some free time. She had written an article about the new information on X-rays, and she was delighted that several citizens had commented to her and Albert about how much they enjoyed reading about people braving new frontiers in medicine. Besides coming up with interesting ads for customers about their various products or services, she felt she had proven her worth to Albert.

There was always plenty to do at the newspaper. Juliana ran errands for Albert and ordered paper, ink, and supplies, and he asked for her opinion on his editorials all the time now.

He and Sally had become so protective of her that she felt she had been adopted by them. Sometimes they would dine with the other Spencers at the boardinghouse, and Juliana felt that those were particularly fun evenings watching the entire family interact and laugh with each other. It was something she had never experienced, and it was obvious to her what she had missed. She prayed that one day she would have that kind of family—caring, loving, and devoted to one another.

Cynthia Hood had come to work for Miss Margaret, and it appeared that though she was still reserved around everyone, the job was working out nicely for her, and a bit of light had returned to her hazel eyes. Juliana now dropped in on Jane as often as she could.

But the real reason she lay awake was Josh. It had been a few weeks since their meeting. She wasn’t sure how to remedy the situation but desperately missed him and his mild sense of humor. So she’d talked to Miss Margaret after supper one night.

“It appears to me that you’re denying yourself the one you love just because of your experience with your father. I urge you to pray about this and listen to your heart,” Miss Margaret had said. “Don’t waste time on worrying about Marion and what she thinks about Josh. It doesn’t matter. What does matter is that he’s told you he loves you. He’s a good man, and you say you love him.”

Juliana protested that she was so much younger than Josh— not that it mattered to her, but she wanted him to treat her as an equal.

“You’ll be turning eighteen in May and will be considered an adult and a woman. Have you any evidence that he hasn’t treated you as an equal?” Miss Margaret asked her. Juliana couldn’t think of one single thing.

Perhaps she should ride out to see him and Andy, and maybe take Nellie along. She’d wait and see if the rain would end, and if so, she’d go on Saturday.

Josh hadn’t been to church the last few weeks. She prayed for him to find a way out of his troubles, though she could understand them, and she had seen the pain in his eyes. It just took time to work through things. She should know. Just look at her own difficulties.

Oh, how she longed to talk with her mother! She was grateful for Miss Margaret, and she believed God had had a hand in sending Miss Margaret her way, just as He had in her working for Albert. But she missed her mother’s gentle ways, even as she saw God working in her life. Miss Margaret and Josh had been instrumental in that understanding, and yes, in the beginning, even Marion. But Marion was another matter that needed settling, one she didn’t relish.

Finally Juliana drifted off to sleep. She slept fitfully, dreaming that Josh was in trouble and she was trying to reach him. In the dream she vaguely remembered that it was nighttime, and Shebe seemed to be in distress. Before the dream ended, she snapped awake with tears streaming down her face.

Juliana shuddered, feeling cold, and she snuggled back down under her blanket, pulling it tightly up to her chin. Relieved that the dream wasn’t real, she tried to shut her eyes, but it took awhile for her to go back to sleep.

The rain had finally stopped, and since the weather was warmer, Josh and Andy now slept outdoors. The campfire burned low as both men slept.

Josh turned over in his bedroll. Something had awakened him, and he sat up, rubbed his eyes, and listened. He could see Shebe standing near the back of the flock, outlined by the moonlight and barking into the shadows.

Instantly, Josh was on his feet, still fully clothed and holding his Winchester close. It had to be the gray wolf, although from where he was, he couldn’t make it out.

He gave Andy a swift jab with his boot, startling him awake. “Shebe sees something, and it might be the wolf,” he whispered.

Andy hopped up and followed Josh, who was quietly creeping to the edge of the clearing where Shebe stood still, watching. The wolf was just as Josh thought—a big gray, nearly five feet long, and he guessed weighing sixty pounds. The wolf ’s fur bristled, and his lips pulled back, displaying his incisors. Josh could see by the moonlight that his tail stuck straight out and his eyes narrowed. The wolf crouched, ready to seize a lamb who stood in total fear, unable to move or even bleat out a pitiful warning.

Shebe’s ears were laid back, her teeth were bared, and she growled, threatening to pounce in her fight to protect. Josh held his arm out, signaling Andy to halt. “Hold on. I’ll get him.”

Suddenly pandemonium broke loose. The wolf jumped on the lamb, but Shebe attacked the wolf with such fierceness that he turned to fight her off. The two of them spun around with gnashing teeth and loud growls, making it hard for Josh to take aim in the dark. He didn’t want to hit Shebe by mistake, but then the wolf backed away from Shebe and lunged at Josh, taking him by complete surprise. Shebe propelled herself to cover him, and he lost his grasp on his gun when she wedged herself between him and the wolf, causing Josh to fall to the ground.

The wolf yelped in pain as Andy’s shot hit its target. Andy stood over the wolf and finally lowered his gun. Josh had the wind knocked out of him momentarily, and Shebe lay panting next to him with a dark red stain on her thigh.

Andy hurried over to assist Josh, but he pulled himself up onto his knees and bent down over his beloved Shebe. Her breathing was shallow, and Josh quickly lifted her limp body and carried her to the wagon without as much as a backward glance at the instigator of the deadly fight.

The gash in Shebe’s thigh was deep but fixable as long as they could control the bleeding. Together Josh and Andy disinfected and dressed the area with ointment, then used sewing thread to stitch the wound closed. Josh wrapped it in one of Andy’s clean dishrags. He looked into Shebe’s sad, pleading eyes that seemed to say “help me,” and his heart melted. Shebe was like family, and as he sat next to her, he hoped Andy couldn’t see his eyes welling up with tears.
Please make her be okay, Lord
, he prayed.
She’s such a good and faithful dog. Heal her wound. We need her.
I need her. I love her.

Josh sat next to Shebe throughout the night and into midmorning, waiting for her to make a turn for the better. A few hours later, she was stirring. That was a good sign, and Josh’s heart lifted. He stroked her face to soothe her and keep her calm.

When Andy returned from morning chores, Shebe’s eyes were open slits, but they were at least open, and her breathing was stronger. “Josh, I think she’s gonna make it, now that she’s awake,” Andy said.

At the sounds of his voice, Shebe tried to sit up, but Josh restrained her. She was still too weak and didn’t put up much of a fuss, laying her head back wearily on the makeshift bed of quilts.

“I think you may be right.” Josh wiped his face with his handkerchief. “I need to get some fresh air,” he said, making his way down the wagon steps.

“I just put a pot of fresh coffee on, and there’s some leftover biscuits whenever you’re ready for a bite. You haven’t eaten since yesterday.” Andy indicated the covered pan next to the coffeepot over the campfire.

“Maybe in a minute. I need to stretch my legs right now.” He turned around and directed his gaze to Andy. “In case I didn’t tell you, thanks for watching my back.”

“Anytime, Boss. Anytime.”

By bedtime, Shebe had hobbled several times to the edge of the woods. Andy carried her bedding and placed it between his and Josh’s bedrolls for the evening. “I think that beef broth gave Shebe some strength, don’t you?” Andy asked, giving Shebe an affectionate pat on her head. She was lying stretched out with her head resting on her front paws.