“What?” Ella’s mouth dropped open. She looked from him to Travis and back again. “Gone where?”
“Back to Boston, apparently.” Travis crossed his arms, a frown on his face. “The hotel manager said he checked out yesterday afternoon, and the station master said he caught the last train out of town.”
Cody’s hand clenched. “It makes no sense. He and Ella’s father claimed things weren’t over, and both left town soon after. Why?”
“It’s a power play.” The words tasted bitter on her tongue. “This leaves them holding the cards and us facing the unknown. My father thrives on this kind of manipulation. He uses it in his business deals all the time.”
Travis moved to the table. “How would being away from Harmony Springs help their cause? If the idea is to separate you and Cody, they can’t do much outside the territory.”
“My father has contacts all over the country. He might not be here anymore, but I’d be willing to bet he has someone here in town.”
Cody and Travis exchanged a look. Steely determination settled over her husband’s features. “Trav, has anyone checked into the hotel recently?”
“Not that I’m aware of, but I can find out tomorrow.”
“Good.” Cody reached for Ella’s free hand. “We’ll sort this out, darlin’. If your father or Mr. Blackwell is cooking up something fishy, we’ll find out.”
A hint of a smile played on her lips. “Fishy?”
“You don’t like fish. Seemed like a good point of comparison.”
Ella stared at him. “How do you know I don’t like fish?”
“Every time you see it, you wrinkle your nose.”
“I do?”
He nodded.
Travis raised a brow. “You’re observant, my friend. Even I didn’t know that. Have you considered a career in law enforcement?”
Cassie held up her hands. “Oh, no! I don’t need to be worrying about another person I love, thank you very much.”
Cody snorted. “Have you forgotten the number of ranchers who’ve been trampled in stampedes or thrown from their horses?”
Cassie shook her head, one hand planted on her hip. “Yeah, like the time you were trampled by that wild steer?” She shuddered. “I thought we were going to lose you.”
Ella blanched. Unwelcome images filled her mind. “You…you were trampled?”
“Once.” Cody shot a frown at his sister, then squeezed Ella’s hand. “It happens sometimes. I was fine.”
Ranching life could be dangerous. Everyone knew that. But to hear that Cody had experienced such a thing…
Terrible memories sprang to mind—a coachman’s lifeless body, bloodied and smashed against the pavement in Boston, the result of a horrific accident with another carriage. He’d been thrown from the carriage, trampled by his own horses before the heavy vehicle fell onto him. Ella had never been able to erase that image from mind. Now, however, she saw Cody’s blank, unstaring eyes instead of the young man’s. Her hand trembled.
Cody stood. He pulled a sleeping Addie from her arms and passed the child to Cassie. “Excuse us a moment.” He took Ella’s hand again and tugged her toward the back porch.
The cold air hit her face and numbed her body. The tremors in her extremities intensified. “Cody…I…I can’t…”
He braced his hands on her shoulders. “Look at me.”
A creaky moan rose from her throat, forcing its way past her lips. She shook her head, the motion frantic, and buried her face in his chest. Her hands gripped the sides of his waist. “I can’t lose you.”
He stilled. For several beats of her heart, Cody said nothing. Then, in one swift motion, his arms encircled her and pressed her against him. The strength of his embrace soothed her anxiety. He rested his head on hers, his voice a murmur. “I promise you, I’ll always do my best to come home to you and the kids.”
Her arms went around him in return. Cody’s right hand rubbed between her shoulder blades. After a few minutes, Ella pulled back just enough to meet his eyes. “I’m sorry. I don’t know where that came from. Usually I have better control over my emotions.” She swiped at the moisture on her cheeks.
Cody smoothed back a tendril of her hair. “Seems to me you’ve spent too much time keeping your feelings in check. Maybe this is good.”
