Page 17 of A Secret Heart
“We both know you didn’t want to.”
He pulled the reins up short as they rounded the road. For once, he had the perfect reply, but the words were lost as he stopped in front of the ambling cattle in the road. “You leave the gate open?”
“Of course I didn’t leave the gate open.” Her words were laced with scorn. “Maybe the fence was knocked down.”
Ed scooted as if to light from the wagon when he spotted the break in the fence, near the road. From where he sat, the fence appeared to be leaning over, almost as if the fenceposts had been pushed over on each side. Maybe a cow could have done it, but…
“Drew and I went over this fence last week. We checked every inch of it.” Ed leaned forward. He lowered his hand to reach for his rifle, even as he scanned the area for any sign of another rider.
“What are you looking at?” Rebekah leaned into his line of sight with her brows all pinched together.
He scanned the fields. They were empty except for the cattle.
“Any sign of a troublemaker.” There was nothing obvious. He lowered the rifle, focusing back on Rebekah. “Seems I remember a certain person’s comments on a woman being alone out here.”
A shadow of contemplation skittered across her features, then left.
“Don’t be ridiculous.” She scooted to lower herself off the wagon seat. “It’s cattle. They get out of fences, you put them back in.”
Little good it would do to argue with the likes of Rebekah. He jumped from the wagon and rounded it to face her. “We need to circle around to the sides of the cattle and drive them back in. You go right. I’ll go left.”
Rebekah tilted her head, one curl draping over her shoulder as she did. “It’s muddier there. I’ll go left.”
The woman would argue with a stump.
She gathered up her skirt and marched off to the left. Ed tightened his jaw. Best to get this done and get her delivered home. But as they pushed to get the cattle back in the fence, the animals weren’t having it. No matter how hard he and Rebekah worked, one ornery heifer refused to cooperate.
“Let’s get the others corralled in here, then I’ll go after that heifer.” Ed waved his hands above his head, chasing the cattle they’d rounded up farther into the fenced-off field.
Once he had them settled away from the opening, he spun to tell Rebekah to watch the break in the fence while he rounded up the last cow, but she was nowhere to be found. He’d nearly made it back to the road without sight of Rebekah when he spotted the heifer coming from behind the wagon. The cow was heading straight for him.
He stepped out of the way as the cow lumbered past him into the field. Rebekah came from the side, grinning with triumph despite the mud she’d been fussing about splattered across her dress. She herded the cow through the break in the fence, acting as if she had single-handedly saved the day.
“I thought I told you to stand back by the fence.” He didn’t want to admit how much her hard work impressed him. She could be the most stubborn and infuriating woman.
Ed leaned over to secure the fence, looping the loose wire in place until he could get the tools he’d need to make a more permanent fix. Rebekah leaned close against the post where she’d been helping him with the wire.
A loose tendril of hair clung to the mud splashed across her face. Her fair skin glowed from the exertion of having chased the cattle. Stubborn, infuriating…and beautiful. He swallowed hard. What if things had been different back in school? What if he hadn’t laughed at her story and riled up the class to do the same?
“Are you going to stand here all day?” Rebekah pushed off the fence to start for the wagon. “I’d like to get home before dark.”
Her words snapped Ed out of his thoughts. He tried not to show how shaken he was as he climbed atop the wagon, where Rebekah had already situated herself. Once in the seat, he drove the last bit to the Boutwell farm. He kept his focus forward. Blessedly, Rebekah didn’t speak for the small distance until she alighted from the wagon in front of the farmhouse.
“Good evening.” Her voice trailed off as she hurried up the steps, leaving muddy footprints behind.
Ed turned the wagon toward home. He didn’t need any more errant thoughts jumbling his brain. He sent one last look over his shoulder to see her let herself safely into the house. He was tired and hungry. That was all.
Chapter5
“You riding out to check your uncle’s herd?”
Rebekah whirled with her hand to her chest, sucking in air. Her uncle’s horse, Mabel, tossed her head. Brushing her hand along Mabel’s forelocks helped still the clanging of her own pulse. No one was supposed to be here this early. But there sat Ed atop his horse, leaning against his saddle horn with one arm as he pushed his hat back with his other. She’d thought he’d be tied up at his place after picking her up in town yesterday.
He knew good and well she wasn’t going out to check the herd. She shot him her best glare.
Rebekah stepped toward the corral fence, not wanting to answer him. Grasping the colorful saddle blanket as she turned back to the horse gave her a reason to keep her focus on Mabel. She spread the blanket, smoothing it over Mabel’s back before turning to answer him. Nothing in her wanted to give him the truth, although she half suspected he knew. Why else would he be here this morning before he’d even had enough time to do the McGraw chores?
“I’m riding to the doctor’s office to interview the injured rancher. Then I’m going to stop by the marshal’s office for a statement.” Rebekah caught sight of Ed’s scowl as she moved to where the saddle sat atop the corral fence.
