“Are there any bread crumbs left?”
“Not many, the birds have found them. If you think you don’t know which way to turn, hide in the bush. I’ll be along shortly.”
He rubbed her wrists before letting go. “You’re a sight for sore eyes. Near had me frantic wondering where he’d gone with you.”
Janelle stood stupefied even when she knew time was of the essence and she best be on that horse riding before Bernie did what he come to do. His eyes held her captive, so deep a blue she could see the turbulent waves clashing with emotion. Her lips trembled and she collapsed into his arms. “Oh, Bernie. Thank you for coming. I was so scared.”
He lifted her chin to meet his gaze again and he smiled, “Wild horses couldn’t keep me away, Janelle. I love you, pure and simple, whether you want me to or not.”
“I want you to love me,” she said in a whisper.
He kissed her then, with the passion of a man who’d waited thirty long years to find love. And she kissed him back, never imagining she’d care for a man so soon after Jacob’s death. No guilt spoiled the moment and she experienced freedom in her heart. All too soon Bernie pushed her away.
“You need to go. Dress warm and head for the cabin. You can do this, Janelle.”
She nodded and moved to put on her winter coat, a wool cap, and boots. He helped her mount his horse and whispered to Blaze, “take our girl straight home, and don’t stop till you get to the barn.”
Bernie watched her leave then worked his way to the far side of the cabin, listening for signs of Sam. It didn’t take long to hear careless maneuvering through the thicket. He followed his instincts and tracked the slashed brush and noise. It appeared Sam was a poor hunter. He and Janelle would starve with his survival skills at work for them. After a few minutes, he saw the blood trail that led to a dead rabbit. He crouched behind a bush and scanned the area. He was alone. The meat laid in the open and the vultures already circled the kill.
Sam was nowhere to be seen. Bernie wondered what had caused him to take to running. He moved into the open and found imprints in the snowdrifts across the clearing and disappearing beyond the tree-line. He took off his hat and wiped his brow. How could he be sweating when the temperature had dropped low enough to freeze the drips on his face to the spot? Once in the bush he listened and could hear the careless footing of the man ahead. Bernie picked up the pace.
Five minutes later he heard the scream, not Sam’s but a woman’s – Janelle. Sam had found her. He raced now and as he drew near, he heard the yelling.
“I told you to stay in the cabin, not hiding here in the bush. How’d you get those roped untied?”
“I smashed the chair and they came loose,” she said in a voice as fierce as his. Good – Sam didn’t know Bernie was only a mere fifty yards away. Surprise was to his advantage.
“Now I like me a spunky woman, and I hoped I could leave you intact, but you give me no choice. My Pa said a good beating every day could tame the spirit of any man. Found it works on females too.”
Sam tied a rope around her waist and mounted the animal. “Hey, where did you find this beast?”
“He was on the trail just munching away so I borrowed him to make my escape.”
Sam pulled the rope toward him so that her face plastered against Blaze. “Yer lying. That no good hired hand is out here, ain’t he?”
She didn’t answer and he laughed. “Well, just let him come for you. I’ll be waiting.”
“You leave Bernie alone. He’s passing through Belle and doesn’t need to suffer for my troubles.”
Bernie’s fists tightened. She didn’t mean it, probably just trying to throw him off the scent.
Sam slackened the rope and said, “Follow me home, woman. You’ll be gettin’ no supper before I take what’s mine.”
“But I haven’t eaten all day,” Janelle argued.
“Maybe you’ll remember that next time you run off.”
“What about my son? He’ll be expecting someone to pick him up.”
“Let the hired man do it. Don’t want no squawking kids, anyway.” He roared into the air. “Are you listening, cowboy? The boy needs a father. You get on home and make the little woman happy her boy is safe and sound. Don’t need no interference from you.”
Bernie’s mind shot off in a dozen directions. Davey was a bright boy. If no one showed at three o’clock, the teacher would sound the alarm and keep him safe. His first concern was for the child’s mother. He knew she’d shrivel up and die without her son to care for.
At the cabin he watched the two go inside. He’d have to time it perfectly; after the man put his guns to the side, but before he ravished Janelle. He crept up to a window and watched. The man wasted no time. He slung her to the floor and she fought. When she came at him a third time, he slugged her hard and Bernie’s heart sunk. Taking ropes, he tied her wrists and hung her exhausted body from a nail on the wall. It was then he threw his guns to the side and started to undo his pants. It was now or never.
Bernie hurried around to the door closest to the man and burst inside, gun raised. The man tripped as he
