Page 21 of Wild Spirit Revival

Molly grinned, her earlier trepidation forgotten. “I’m happy to help, Mrs. Beckett. And please, call me Molly.”

Lilian, who’d been silent, offered a slow smile before taking a sip of her tepid coffee. Beside her, Parker took the last bite of cake while looking between his mother and Molly.

He opened his mouth to speak but stopped at the sound of the front door opening. Elijah, Joshua, and Nathan strode in, their boots caked with mud and their faces etched with exhaustion.

Annalee jumped up, her earlier mirth replaced by excitement. “Oh, you’re just in time. We have wonderful news. Jolene just had their baby. A little boy. They named him Cody Grayson Beckett.”

The brothers’ faces transformed, weariness giving way to joy. Joshua grinned while Nathan let out a whoop of delight. Even Elijah’s expression softened, a ghost of a smile playing at his lips.

As Annalee filled them in on the details, Molly found herself slipping away to the kitchen. She wasn’t sure why, but something compelled her to let the family members have time to themselves.

She wanted to make herself useful. Perhaps it was the ingrained hospitality her mother had instilled in her, or maybe it was a desire to show her gratitude for the Becketts’ kindness.

Molly busied herself preparing plates of the cake Lilian had baked earlier and pouring cups of strong, black coffee. As she worked, she could hear the continued chatter from the other room, punctuated by Elijah’s deep, rumbling voice. Despite their rocky start, she found herself drawn to his voice, wondering how it would sound if he ever decided to laugh.

Molly stepped into the dining room, the tray holding the cake and cups of coffee balanced carefully in her hands. She approached the table where Elijah, Joshua, and Nathan sat. Their conversation hushed as she drew near, three pairs of eyes turning to watch her.

“I thought you gentlemen might appreciate some food,” Molly said, her voice steady despite the slight tremor in her hands. She set a plate and cup in front of Joshua first, who offered a broad smile.

“That’s mighty kind of you, Molly. Thank you,” Joshua said, his soft-spoken tone genuine.

Nathan’s face lit up as Molly placed his portion before him. “Thank you, Molly.”

Finally, she reached Elijah. The eldest Beckett brother’s gaze met hers for a brief moment before flicking away. As she set down his plate and cup, he merely grunted, not bothering to look up again.

She felt a flash of irritation at his brusque manner. Instead, she pushed it aside, recalling how she’d dealt with pricklier malcontents during her photography career in Chicago. If Elijah Beckett thought his silence would intimidate her, he was mistaken.

As Molly turned to leave, Naomi’s voice rang out. “Now, don’t you dare think about slinking off, young lady. Come sit down and join us. The boys were just going to talk about the rustlers.”

Molly hesitated, caught between her desire to give the family privacy and her curiosity about the recent events. Naomi’s stern expression brooked no argument, so Molly found herself settling into a chair next to Nathan.

“Now then,” Naomi continued, her eyes sharp as she surveyed her sons. “Go ahead and tell us about the rustlers.”

Joshua leaned forward, his calm appearance tinged with excitement. “Nathan already told you Tripp and his men were with us. We tracked them to Black Canyon. Elijah’s hunch about Flatrock being their hideout was right.”

Elijah’s face was impassive as he sipped his coffee.

“We managed to catch them off guard.” Nathan’s voice brimmed with pride. “Tripp came up with a brilliant plan to distract them while the rest of us rounded up the cattle.”

Molly found herself leaning in, captivated by the tale. She glanced at Elijah, noticing the way his jaw clenched when his gaze met hers.

Joshua cleared his throat, his expression turning serious. “We need to inform Brodie about what happened. Those rustlers won’t take kindly to losing the cattle after all they did to steal them.”

“I reckon they might try to retaliate.” Nathan stuffed the last bite of cake into his mouth.

A tense silence fell over the room. Molly felt a chill run down her spine as she considered the implications. She’d come to Mystic seeking adventure, but she hadn’t bargained for this level of danger.

Elijah suddenly spoke, his voice low and gravelly. “I’ll ride into town at first light to speak with Brodie. We need to be prepared for whatever comes next.”

“I’ll go with you, Eli,” Joshua said. “I want to let Faith know what happened.”

Naomi snorted. “Why would the newspaper editor want to run an article on our troubles? She has no interest in what happens with ranchers.”

“Mama,” Annalee said, sending an understanding look at Joshua. “Faith Goodell is fair in her reporting. It’s just the townsfolk have more going on for her to write about. The ranchers keep to themselves and aren’t prone to talking about their lives. I think she’d want to include an article about rustlers in the next paper.”

Naomi rose, stifling a yawn behind her hand. “You do what you think best, Joshua. I’m going to check on my new grandson, then go to bed.”

The rest of the family continued to talk after Naomi left. Molly couldn’t help wondering what she’d gotten herself into. Wild Spirit Ranch was proving to be far more than a picturesque backdrop for her photographs.

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