She glanced up at him, wiping at her errant tears. “I’m sorry,” she suddenly said, then pulled away. “The pie is ready. Sit down.” It wasn’t a request, it was a demand. He watched as she composed herself, then continued as though nothing had happened. As though he hadn’t held her just moments ago, as if his world hadn’t titled.
He knew nothing would be the same for him again.
Chapter Six
Noah stood in front of his wife and cupped her face. He stared down into her eyes and his gaze lingered. How he longed to stay home, to sit down with her and talk. Finally he might get to know her. Then, and only then would they have a real marriage.
But it wasn’t to be. Several cows were still calving, and had disappeared into the abyss. Noah and his men would spend the day trying to find those wayward cows and bringing them to safety.
“I really must go,” he said with regret.
Regret for the words that hadn’t passed between them last night, and for the sort of life Mary had lived before coming to Broken Arrow Ranch. She had hurried to bed soon after supper last night, and he was certain she felt embarrassed.
There was no need. The sins of the father were not the failings of the daughter. Mary was a victim, and certainly not responsible for anything that had occurred while under her father’s roof. He felt himself stiffen at the injustice of it all. Dear, sweet Mary – she had not asked for that treatment, and had not deserved it. To live in poverty for most of her life was an abomination. Surely someone must have known her situation?
He mentally shook himself. What were they to do? Especially when she was a child? Short of remove Mary from her father’s so-called care, there was little anyone could do. Had they done so, she would have ended up in one of those appalling orphanages. Then he would never have met her.
“Is everything alright,” she asked in her quiet voice.
Noah pulled himself out of his thoughts. “Yes, of course,” he said knowing it was a lie, then leaned in and kissed her gently on the cheek. He suddenly pulled her to him. He hadn’t planned to do so, but he liked how it felt. Last night had made him feel all sorts of things he’d never felt before.
He stared into Mary’s face. How he longed to kiss her lips. If holding her could elicit such delightful feelings, what would kissing her do? He dared not wonder.
Instead, he kissed her cheek again, then wrapped his arms tightly around her. “I’m really glad you came here, Mary,” he whispered in her ear, then pushed her away. I really must leave now.” His horse waited out front, already saddled and ready to go.
It would be a long day, by all accounts, unless the missing livestock miraculously turned up safe and sound with little intervention. From many years of experience, Noah knew that would never happen. He reluctantly let her go, and strode to the door. With his hand on the handle, her turned back to face his wife, but she was already busy clearing away the breakfast dishes.
Carrying his saddlebags, he strolled out to Cinnamon, the Chestnut horse he’d had for more years than he cared to remember. Noah’s horses came before himself, and even if he had no money for food, his horses never went hungry. He tried to shake away the distant memories, and mounted his horse.
He clicked his tongue and they were soon on their way.
The closer they got to the dam, the louder the sound. They had one very unhappy mama in distress somewhere nearby. “She’s stuck in the mud at the edge of the dam,” Joe told Noah. The old cowboy had been on Broken Arrow Ranch for more years than he cared to remember. At least that’s what he always told Noah. He’d worked for Barnabas, Noah’s father, back when the ranch had first been established, along with Clancy and Billy. Although to listen to Joe, Billy was a newcomer – he’d only been here for about twenty years.
The distraught lowing continued and it broke Noah’s heart. He could see the calf’s head pushing out, but with mama stuck, they could lose them both as they lay in several inches of water and mud. “We have to get her out,” Noah said. “We’re going to lose that calf, not to mention the cow.” He snatched a roll of rope from his saddle and fashioned it into a lasso. “Okay fellas, get into position. We’re going to save this calf.”
Before another word could be said, Noah had lassoed the cow’s front legs. Billy had her around the neck, Clancy had her back legs and Joe was on standby in case he was needed. It took all their effort, and quite a bit of time, but with everyone doing their bit, they soon had the stubborn cow unstuck.
It wasn’t long before the precious calf was born. “Well if that weren’t an effort and a half,” Clancy said. They waited around to make sure the calf was fine, and moved them further away from the dam. Noah felt like he’d already done a day’s work. They’d only been out and about for a couple of hours.
~*~
By the time he arrived home in the semi darkness, Noah was covered in mud. He stripped off in the washroom as he always did, and made his way to the bathroom.
He strode through the kitchen.
It was quiet and Mary wasn’t about. Nothing was
