Thankful Heart
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“I’m going to miss this place,” Penny said, gazing at the wide expanse of grassy hills. “The only other place I’ve seen with such beauty is in my dreams.”
She’d grown up on a ranch, so she had no idea how rare it was to see such vast stretches of land. In her opinion, there wasn’t another place like it. She smiled as she thought about the past two months and what they’d been through together.
It had been hard work but worth every minute of it. They had done more than just save one young woman from a life of slavery. They’d saved each other.
As if reading her mind, Penny turned back to look over at him. His head was bowed; his hat tilted low against the wind that whipped across the plains. The sun glistened off his dark brown hair, making it shine like polished copper. He looked like some kind of god who could do no wrong.
His eyes were closed as he sat on top of their horse’s saddle and stared straight ahead. For once he didn’t seem bothered by anything or anyone around them. Not even when a gust of wind nearly knocked him over. As soon as Penny caught sight of him, she reached down to help steady him before he fell off.
He opened his eyes and then gave her a small smile. “Thanks.”
Penny let out a laugh. “No problem. You know me. Anything for you.”
They rode silently for several minutes until Penny finally broke the silence. “We should have gone home after we found Mary and brought her here.”
It was an obvious statement considering how close they came to being arrested again. If not for the quick thinking of the sheriff, they might be standing in front of the judge now instead of riding toward town. Instead, they had decided to continue traveling westward because Penny had felt that it would take too long to go all the way back east and return to New York City.
But now Penny wished they hadn’t wasted so much time trying to find Mary. With any luck, the sheriff would catch up to the slavers and bring them both safely back to Boston.
And if they weren’t lucky enough for that to happen, Penny wanted to get back to her job and finish helping women escape from their abusive husbands. That was where she belonged. Where she always had belonged.
She sighed as she gazed at the horizon. “You’re right. We should never have left Mary behind.”
Her gaze dropped to the side of his face and lingered there. This was where she liked to rest her hand when she talked to him. But today, she kept it tucked under the reins. No matter how many times they rode into town together, she still didn’t feel completely comfortable talking to him without someone else watching. So she remained silent while she watched him.
Finally, he glanced at her. “What?”
“Nothing.” She cleared her throat. “Do you ever think about returning to New York City? Going back to your old life?”
A frown creased his brows. “That’s easy. I don’t want to leave you. Ever.”
Penny smiled at the sound of those words. Even though she knew better, she couldn’t help hoping that someday he’d say something similar to her. Something that meant exactly what he said. She shook off the ridiculous notion. There was nothing romantic about what they did—not really.
When she’d first met him, she assumed that he’d become a slave-catching outlaw simply to win her heart. When she learned otherwise, she tried to keep things professional between them. After all, it was her job. Then he’d shown her kindness. He helped her and protected her from danger. How could she not fall in love with him?
And yet, there were days when she wondered why he chose to stay with her rather than run away with his real family. What made him decide to stay when he could easily make his own way in the world? Why not join his father and brother on a cattle drive or ride off to sea?
If only she knew, maybe she could understand him better. Maybe then she wouldn’t worry so much.
With a sigh, Penny looked back to the horizon. The sun had moved higher in the sky, bringing with it the promise of a hot day. All she wanted to do was sleep in the shade somewhere near the water hole.
She had worked hard these last two months, but it seemed that they would never reach Kansas. At least Penny hoped that it was Kansas. The country seemed to stretch endlessly before them.
After a few moments of silence, Penny spoke. “I wonder how far we are from Kansas?”
“Maybe another week or two,” he answered without turning his attention away from the road. “How do you plan to pay the sheriff?”
The question surprised her. They had already discussed this issue earlier in the morning. “Don’t worry. It’ll work itself out.”
“Well, try not to worry about us either.”
Penny laughed softly. “Are you kidding me? Of course, I’m worried!”
For a moment, he didn’t answer. Finally, he lifted his gaze to hers. “Then stop worrying.”
***
They rode into town shortly after noon. By the looks of things, the sheriff had been busy since their visit the previous evening. Two men stood outside the saloon, one leaning against the building and the other pacing back and forth along the sidewalk. Both wore hats, although the man who paced appeared to have a little more gray hair.
As Penny and Jack neared the entrance of the saloon, Penny spotted Sheriff Billingsby inside. He waved them over as soon as they entered the room. His eyes lit up when he saw Penny. “Miss Turner! You’ve returned!”
“Yes, sir. We just got back a short while ago.” Penny pulled down the brim of her hat. “We’re glad to see that you caught up with the slavers.”
He nodded. “Just barely. Their horses were tired from the run. Not surprising considering how many slaves they brought with them.” He held up his hand and signaled the bartender to come closer. “Two beers, please. Make them strong.”
Jack ordered beer too. As the bartender set the drinks on the table, Penny asked, “Sheriff, do you know anything about Mary? Did you catch up with the slaver’s wagon?”
His eyes widened slightly. “Of course. But—” He hesitated as if deciding whether to tell her the truth. “But the woman is dead.”
Penny’s stomach tightened. Dead? Wasn’t that bad enough? “What happened?”
“One of the guards found her hanging by the neck in the back of their wagon. Apparently, the others decided they weren’t going any farther.”
She sat down on the edge of the table. “Did they find her body?”
“No. No sign of anyone else. Just the guard.”
Penny took a long sip of her drink. Her mouth felt dry. “Thank you for telling me. That means a lot.”
Billingsby stared at her a moment longer, then turned toward Jack. “You know, I think that’s a good idea. Let’s go check on the wagons ourselves. It might be best if you left your weapons behind.”
“Why?”
“It makes people nervous around guns. Besides, it will save time. And we won’t need to search for a place where we can hide our horses. Now come on, let’s get moving.”
Jack followed him out of the saloon. Penny lingered behind. She wasn’t sure how she felt about leaving the lawmen alone. For some reason, she trusted Billingsby. If it came down to a fight, she thought he would choose honor over duty. But Jack…
She sighed heavily. How did she expect herself to live with an outlaw? She couldn’t even trust herself. With a shake of her head, she pushed away her worries and joined Jack in following the sheriff.
Once they reached the outskirts of town, Jack led the way across the prairie grasses, which grew high in places between the rows of trees planted along the riverbank. A soft breeze rustled through the branches overhead, making the leaves shiver. It was a peaceful scene, almost pastoral, except for the occasional lowing of cows.
Before reaching the first wagon, the sheriff stopped and pointed ahead. Penny could hardly believe what she was seeing. Four horses lay dead in front of the second wagon. Each horse had its throat cut so deeply that only the skin remained. Blood dripped onto the ground below, forming a small pool.
A chill ran down her spine. What kind of animal—or person—would kill four horses like that?
When they arrived at the next wagon, Penny noticed that three more horses lay motionless nearby. The animals had suffered the same fate. There wasn’t much blood, but there was enough to leave a dark red stain on the grass.
With a deep sigh, she said, “I don’t understand. Why did these animals die?”
The sheriff shrugged. “Who knows? Maybe the slaver wanted to make an example out of them before he killed them. Or maybe the beasts attacked them.”
That possibility hadn’t occurred to Penny. Horses didn’t attack humans unless provoked, especially not wild ones. But if someone had done this, why wait until now? Why not kill the animals sooner rather than later?
Maybe they weren’t really wild. Perhaps they’d belonged to one of the slavers’ families or friends.
As she gazed at the dead horses, Penny’s heart ached. She remembered the last words she spoke to her mare, Maple. After all the years of companionship, it seemed unfair to end their relationship like this.
After a few minutes, Penny called Jack over and told him to ride ahead. Once she knew where he went, she climbed down from the saddle and walked to the nearest wagon. When she reached the door, she saw the inside of the wagon was covered with straw. She lifted the flap of the door and peered inside. Then she stepped back quickly when a man emerged.
The man looked familiar. His hair fell into his face, hiding his features. He wore a blue-gray suit, white shirt, and black tie. But something about his appearance made her think of another man who used to wear such clothes.
Shaking off her suspicions, Penny stepped closer and cleared her throat loudly. “Hello, sir,” she greeted him pleasantly. “Is that seat taken?”
He turned around slowly. The corners of his mouth twitched upward as if he were amused by her attempt to speak politely. He gave her a quick smile and answered, “Yes. By my employer. You’ll have to ask him.”
Penny tried to act casual as if she weren’t worried about being seen there. She pulled aside the curtain and peeked outside. So far, no one appeared to be watching.
She asked, “May I sit down for just a minute?”
Her request caused the man to straighten up, turn, and look at her. As soon as he realized who she was, he stiffened. He took two steps forward, leaned against the side of the wagon, and crossed his arms.
His gaze swept over her, lingering on her chest and hips.
She lowered her voice as if trying to convince herself. “We’ve never met before. Don’t you recognize me?”
For the first time since she began talking to him, the man showed a hint of interest. His eyes widened slightly and his eyebrows rose.
“You’re the lady reporter!” he exclaimed. “What are you doing here? We haven’t been expecting you. At least not today. Did you find your killer?”
“No, I’m afraid not. But I found these four dead horses.”
The man frowned. “And?”
“They were killed in the same fashion as the other horses. And the sheriff thinks they may belong to some of the slavers. That’s why we’re investigating.”
“Are you sure the slavers would do such a thing?” he asked skeptically.
“It seems highly unlikely. These horses were well cared for.”
The man laughed. “If anyone cared about them, it was their owner. Who else could take good care of them besides their master? They’re worth money.”
“But—” Penny couldn’t bring herself to say anything more. It was too easy to imagine the men responsible for killing these animals. If the sheriff thought otherwise, then Penny wouldn’t argue.
She glanced toward the sheriff and the wagons again. Her nerves grew tense. What if they discovered her presence here? Could they identify her?
Suddenly the man moved away from the wagon. He strode toward the sheriff, grabbed his arm, and whispered in his ear. A moment later, both men disappeared behind the wagons.
A chill ran through Penny. Had they heard her conversation with Jack? How long would they remain hidden before returning? Would they even come back?
She started to step away when Jack reappeared. He waved for her to follow and led her to the wagon.
“Where did those men go?” she asked.
Jack smiled. “Just out of sight. They’ll be back soon. In fact, I’m surprised they left us alone so easily.”
Penny followed Jack’s lead and sat beside him on the wagon bed. She glanced at him curiously. Was he lying to her? Maybe he wasn’t aware of how close the two men got. Or perhaps Jack didn’t realize what happened after he rode past.
Then, suddenly, Jack stood up. He pushed open the front door of the wagon, stepped inside, and shut the door behind him.
Penny waited for Jack to return, but he remained quiet inside the wagon. He must have gone to talk to the sheriff. She should tell him what she overheard, but somehow she couldn’t get her nerve up enough to speak. Instead, she sat quietly and listened.
There was a rustling sound coming from the interior. Suddenly, a tall woman wearing a blue dress emerged carrying an armload of firewood. She tossed a stick onto the floorboards.
“I brought wood, Mr. Stone,” she said. Then she glanced over her shoulder at Penny. “Who is this pretty young lady?”
When Penny hesitated, the woman approached her. She extended a hand. “My name is Mrs. Roper. Do you want to help me carry some wood upstairs?”
“Um… yes, ma’am.”
Mrs. Roper picked up another piece of wood. “Come along,” she ordered.
As Penny climbed down, she noticed three more women sitting near the fireplace. One held a baby. All wore plain dresses. There was no sign of the children she’d seen earlier.
After climbing the stairs, Penny and Mrs. Roper entered a large bedroom filled with wooden furniture. Each nightstand had a lamp. The beds were made with clean white sheets. A single window provided light to the room.
Penny looked around and saw that everything in the room belonged to Jack. Everything except for the four mules in the corner. Two of the animals were tied by the reins while the others rested comfortably in their stalls.
Penny went back downstairs. When she returned to the wagon, she found Jack standing in the doorway. He motioned for her to enter.
She did and closed the door behind her. For the first time, she took in the surroundings. She saw that most of the furnishings came from the wagons. A small table and chairs stood against one wall; a washbasin and pitcher occupied the opposite end. A rug covered much of the floor. Nearby, a cook stove dominated the center of the room.
Penny stared at the stove and imagined the kitchen where she used to live. How different things were now—the house destroyed, her family murdered, her own life threatened.
She felt lost. Where was she supposed to go? Back to the ranch? To Chicago? What would happen to her there? Did Jack intend to keep her here indefinitely or would he eventually send her home?
Before Penny could think of any answers, Jack opened the door and walked into the living room. His gaze fell upon her and a smile spread across his face.
“You look tired, Penny. Come sit next to me.”
He patted the chair next to him. Penny obeyed without thinking and sat down. She watched as Jack pulled off his boots. He folded them neatly and set them aside. Next, he removed his coat and hung it on the peg by the door. Finally, he sat down on the sofa.
The silence between them became uncomfortable. She wanted to say something but didn’t know what to say. And yet, she knew she shouldn’t stay silent. But what words could possibly ease his fears about her?
“How do you like our little hideaway?” he finally asked. “It’s not much, but I think we can make it comfortable if we work together.”
His tone sounded friendly and sincere, but Penny sensed nothing else. It seemed like all the warmth had disappeared since he arrived.
She shrugged. “So far, I’ve only been here for a day. I guess I don’t really know what to expect.”
“What are your plans for today?” Jack asked.
“I don’t know…”
“Do you have anything planned for tomorrow?”
“No, sir.”
Jack smiled. “That’s good. That means we’ll be able to spend the whole day working on the place. You see, when people come out here they often find themselves needing to wait until the spring thaw before they’re ready to move in. This gives us plenty of time to fix up the place so you’ll feel right at home.”
Penny nodded. “Thank you, Mr. Stone.”
“Let’s start by getting you acquainted with the area around the house.” He rose. “I’m going outside for a few minutes. Why don’t you walk around and take a look at the surrounding property?”
“Yes, sir.”
Penny slipped out of the wagon. After leaving the house, she followed the dirt road leading away from the front porch. As she moved farther down the hillside, she caught sight of the creek that ran alongside the house. From this angle, she could also see the other buildings: two barns, several pens, a corral, and a well-house. The distance from the house to the nearest neighbor was about half a mile.
Penny continued walking and soon reached the fence. At the edge of the woods, she paused and leaned over. Looking toward the west, she spied an open field with rolling hills. Beyond the pasture were tall trees. They formed a forest that stretched as far as she could see.
Turning north, Penny headed for the nearest barn. As she approached, she heard horses neighing inside. In fact, every horse in the herd was awake, moving restlessly around in its stall. Most of the animals looked healthy, but some looked thin.
One of the animals had a patchy black coat. Another had a deformed hoof. Penny noticed that many of the animals wore collars, which meant they weren’t wild.
When she reached the barn, Penny climbed the ladder and peeked inside. Horses grazed on hay and drank water from troughs. Some of the horses snorted and stamped their feet as they neighed loudly.
A short distance from the barn, Penny discovered a pen filled with chickens. Three roosters crowded near a wooden coop. On closer inspection, Penny found the birds were caged rather than free-roaming. There appeared to be a lot more chickens than there should have been, considering how sparse the land was.
Next, Penny visited the corral. Several horses whinnied as she passed. A white mare with brown spots led the others in a circle while another animal, a chestnut gelding, paced back and forth along the fence line.
After walking through the woods, Penny came upon the well-house. A pump stood next to a metal tank. The tank held rainwater collected during winter storms. The wellhead lay at the bottom of a deep hole.
Penny stopped next to the pump. How did they get water from such a distant source? Surely, no one in town used wells. Didn’t they need running water? Or did they haul water by wagon?
As Penny gazed upward, she spotted Jack sitting on top of the roof. She waved, then turned around. Her gaze fell on a small shed. What would they use this shed for?
Jack lowered himself onto the ridge pole. When he saw her looking at the shed, he grinned. “We’ll put it to better use,” he said. “Why don’t you join me for lunch?”
Penny hesitated. Lunch… Wasn’t that a strange way to refer to midday meals? Still, she decided to accept Jack’s invitation. “All right, sir.”
They ate sandwiches made of ham and cheese. They shared a bottle of lemonade, too.
By the end of the first week, Penny began to notice improvements around the homestead. First, Jack took care of the animals. Next, he cut firewood to keep them warm through the winter. Then he built fences to contain the animals and protect the crops from predators. Finally, he fixed up the old house.
One afternoon, after helping Jack build a new fence, Penny watched him as he walked across the yard. He seemed different, much more relaxed, less uptight. It gave her hope that if he could learn to trust her, then maybe someday he’d become comfortable enough to leave the ranch once in a while. Maybe then he could go out and do something else besides work all the time.
It wasn’t long before the snow melted. With warmer weather, the grass greened up quickly and grew thick. The sun shone brighter, and the temperature soared above freezing. By mid-April, Penny had started riding again. But even though she enjoyed the fresh air and sunshine, she missed riding in the mountains.
She often thought about her family—especially her mother. Penny didn’t understand why God had allowed her parents to die so young or why He hadn’t brought them home sooner. And what about her father’s illness? Could he recover?
On Sunday, Penny attended services in the church just like she did when she lived in Denver. The Reverend Andrews preached about love. “If we only loved each other, our lives wouldn’t be so hard,” he said.
Penny wondered if she truly felt any love toward her husband. Sometimes she wished Jack had never married her. If that happened, Penny figured, then maybe she wouldn’t feel so guilty for being unfaithful. Perhaps then she’d be able to tell herself that she really didn’t mean to hurt anyone.
At the close of the service, Penny returned to the ranch and prepared dinner for Jack. While preparing the food, Penny kept glancing at the clock. Every minute seemed longer than the last. As soon as the hour struck eight o’clock, Penny went outside.
“Sir?” Penny called as she approached the porch steps.
For several moments, Jack sat motionlessly. Then his eyes focused on Penny. He rose to greet her.
He kissed her gently, then pulled away. His gaze traveled over her face. “I’m glad you’re here.”
With those simple words, Penny knew Jack was thinking of the past. That’s why she couldn’t let him see her cry. Instead, she forced a smile and looked down at the floor.
The End