Page 70 of A Secret Heart
“Wait.” Merritt trailed behind her. “Danna thinks it’s still dangerous.”
Hesitation warred with determination. Rebekah couldn’t wait.
“I have to go to Ed.”
“Then I’m coming with you.”
Chapter19
Ed spun the pencil in his hand, darting his focus to the clock on the mantel for the dozenth time.
He’d only come home from town to grab a specific tool for the printing press repair. He’d been heading back to the road when Drew waved him inside.
His brothers sat around the table, sipping coffee. For once, Ed didn’t care if he missed out. There was still time for him to make it back to town before nightfall. He’d beg for Merritt and Jack’s mercy and a place to stay. If only Drew would stop talking.
“We’ll need to bring in the wheat, starting next week. Nick will round up a few extra hands if he can.” Drew nodded at Nick, elbows propped on the table, then directed his gaze to Ed. “The lean-to needs repair.”
Isaac shifted.
Ed caught his eye from across the table, and his heartbeat ratcheted up. “I can’t do it tomorrow.”
“Can’t?” Drew’s brows rose.
“I’m going back to town to finish fixing the printing press.” He couldn’t say the rest aloud. His plans to find Rebekah. Win her back. His hope was too new. “I’ll need another day later in the week to work on a table for the bakery too. But I’ll fit the lean-to in.”
A frantic knock sounded at the door before it burst open. Merritt stood there, hair tousled, panting as if she’d been running.
“What are you doing here?”
“What’s wrong?”
A chorus of voices rang out as the brothers jumped up from the table.
“Rebekah and I were riding this way.” Tears filled her eyes.
Rebekah? Rode out here? Worry spiked.
“A man overtook us.” Merritt gasped out the words, leaning into Kaitlyn as all the brothers crowded around. “He had a bandanna over his face. He pulled Rebekah off her horse.”
Everything in the room slowed around him. Ed couldn’t think clearly. He barely heard the rest of the conversation as he tried to will his feet toward the door. But it was as if he were trudging through molasses.
“I didn’t have—I was unarmed. They galloped off, and I was too scared to go after them.” Merritt sobbed out the words.
Isaac kneeled beside her, his voice steady and low. “Where?”
The fog in Ed’s brain cleared. He settled his hat on his head as he pushed past them and out the door. His heartbeat pounded in rhythm with his hurried steps.
Rebekah needed him. She was in danger.
He passed Merritt’s horse, spent and covered in sweat, then rushed into the barn and looped his hand through the bridle hanging on the wall. Footsteps sounded behind him as Isaac gathered his tack.
“They weren’t far from the Boutwells’. Up at the fork in the road.” Isaac had the saddle on Bullet, cinching it down as Ed finished saddling Lightning.
Ed was already in the saddle when Nick emerged from the bunkhouse with a couple of rifles. “Here.” He held the rifles out to them. “I’ll catch up to you.”
Drew ran out of the house, not far behind Nick.
Ed turned to Isaac. “You’re the best tracker I know. Help me find her.” His desperation rang out in his words.
