Page 29 of The Rancher's Bride
“I thought you were going home,” she said.
“You want me to leave without saying goodbye?” His gaze bore into hers.
Bethany felt her heart flutter at Benjamin’s words. She had assumed he would leave right away, but he stayed.
“Of course not,” she said, looking down as she felt her cheeks flush. “I just thought you’d be eager to get back home.”
Benjamin stepped closer and gently lifted her chin with his finger, so their eyes met. “My only concern is making sure you and Tommy are all right before I go to let your ma and pa know where you are.”
His voice was low and gravelly, sending a shiver down Bethany’s spine. She glanced away, flustered. Benjamin’s presence never failed to stir up feelings she couldn’t quite define.
Her pulse quickened at his touch and the intensity of his gaze. She opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out. He brushed back her hair and kissed her forehead before cupping her elbow. “Come on, now, Beth.”
Her head bobbed slightly as she linked her arm through his. The sound of Doc’s voice drifted towards them as they neared the bunkhouse, followed by an angry shout from Tommy.
Bethany broke free from Ben and raced the last few steps, popping her head inside. “Tommy?”
Marmee ushered her in. “Come inside, child.”
Tommy was leaning heavily on a crutch, his face pale and drawn.
“You don’t want to put any pressure on it, son,” Doc said.
Tommy’s eyes opened wide when he noticed his sister standing near the doorway. “Bethy!”
He stumbled forward, his walking stick barely supporting him. Doc quickly reached out to steady him, but Bethany was already at his side, her arms wrapping tightly around his shoulders. As she pulled back from the embrace, she heard him hiss in pain and immediately let go.
“Oh, goodness, Tommy. You don’t know how worried we’ve been.”
“Petunia made it up to the house?” Looking over her shoulder, he craned his neck. “Where’s Pa?” He winced as he hopped backwards on one foot, then sat on the edge of the bed.
“I found her at Ben’s property.”
Tommy’s eyes narrowed, and he leaned forward. “Kendrick? What were you doing at Ben Kendrick’s property?”
“Looking for you.” Bethany felt her cheeks flush as she glanced down, avoiding Tommy’s piercing gaze.What could she say?She had spent five nights at the Kendricks’ ranch after the floodwaters stranded her there? Ben had kissed her until her toes curled, and she wanted him to kiss her again? No, she could not reveal that to her protective brother nor to Marmee. “When you didn’t come home, I went looking for you. Ben rescued me when I fell in the creek.”
“You fell in the creek?” Tommy growled. “Hmm,” Tommy murmured, clearly unconvinced. But before he could inquire further, Marmee inhaled a large breath of air. “Ben rescued you?”
“He did.” Bethany’s heart raced as she turned to face Ben, her hand reaching out for him to explain. Her hopes were crushed when she saw the empty doorway where he had been standing just seconds before. Frantically, she ran outside and squinted against the bright sun in search of him. Her heart sank as she watched him riding away on his horse from the Chapman ranch, taking a piece of her heart with him.
Ben took it slowly as he approached the Moore’s homestead. He didn’t want to run into an unexpected trapper carrying a rifle. While Tommy and Devin were familiar with him, that didn’t guarantee recognition from the rest of the hill folk.
As Ben approached the clearing where the Moore family homestead was, he spotted Joe and Devin Moore fixing up the barn. Whistling loudly to let them know he was approaching, he lifted his hand in greeting as his horse trotted towards the barn.
“Hey, Ben,” Joe called out, a hint of surprise in his voice.He scanned the trees behind Ben, looking for his daughter. “Where’s Bethy?”
“Joe. Devin.” Ben pulled his horse to a stop in front of the paddock and dismounted with a soft thud. He tied the horse to the rail and moved around over to where the brothers were working on the roof. He didn’t miss the glance the brothers exchanged, their eyes searching for any sign of the woman who had been in Ben’s care.
“Joe asked you a question, son. Where’s Bethany?” Devin asked, concern etched into the lines of his face.
Ben met their scowls. “She’s just fine, sir. I took her to the Chapman house.”
Joe’s eyebrows knit together, creating deep lines on his forehead. His mouth was a thin, tight line as he waited for Ben’s answer. His eyes narrowed, and his jaw clenched in frustration. “Why would you take her there? She belongs here at home, not with Ingrid Chapman.”
“Tommy is there recovering.”
Devin hooked one leg over the ladder leaning against the barn roof. Ben held it as the man started on his way down. “What’s Tommy doing at the Chapmans? That’s on the other side of the creek.”
