“Borrowing,” he corrected. “I’ll leave a note and bring the wagon back as soon as you’re at the next station. Don’t figure the man in there has used it often.” He helped her to the seat, scooped Eddie into the back, tied Sam to the side, and before he left, found paper and a stub of pencil and wrote a note.
He’d have the wagon and horses back tonight, likely before the man sobered up.
Climbing up beside the woman, he flicked the reins, and they proceeded down the trail.
“At least we’re going the right direction,” she observed, relief sighing from her.
“Did you think I’d take you elsewhere?” He didn’t even try to staunch the harsh note. “I just want to go back to my cabin.”
“It might be comfortable in many ways, but it seems a lonely place. And short of supplies.”
“I’ll go hunting. Meat is all I need.” He could live without coffee and biscuits.
“If you say so.”
“You obviously don’t agree.” He guided the team through a rough patch with a boulder pushed to one side. The wagon barely squeezed between the rock and the wall of dirt.
“I guess I don’t know why you’d want to live such a spartan life when you could enjoy a comfortable home with good meals waiting for you. I make the best bread. The aroma of it fresh from the oven. Um-hum.” Her sigh was one of pure bliss.
Despite his best intentions, saliva flooded his mouth, and he swallowed loudly.
She continued as if determined to weaken his resolve. “I have won ribbons at fairs with my pies. Apple pie, raisin pie—I make the best.”
He gave another loud swallow.
“You like meat. I can turn any sort into a delicious meal. Roast venison, beefsteak, stew that is so brown and rich it almost melts in your mouth. It’s best served over fluffy mashed potatoes.”
More loud swallowing.
“I favor cookies.” He squeezed out the words.
“Ah, cookies. My husband and my father always said I made the best. The aroma of them baking brought them home in a hurry. I don’t know what your favorite is, but my husband’s was molasses cookies. Father’s was snickerdoodles.” Her words grew ragged.
A glance in her direction showed her lips trembling.
What was he to say to comfort her? I’m sorry seemed inadequate. As he sought something else, she gasped.
What had she seen? He jerked his attention to the trail.
Chapter Five
Dianne stared. “I’ve never viewed anything so beautiful.”
The wagon rumbled to a stop as she took in the scene. To the side of the trail, the hill sloped down to a lake and a lush valley. The water was a turquoise color such as she’d never seen before. Flowers in burnt orange, yellow, and pink scattered down the hill. On the lake’s far side, a rock face rose, and, from it, a waterfall fell.
She couldn’t stop admiring the beauty and filling her senses until nothing else mattered.
“God has created a wonderful world,” she whispered.
Jace looked in the same direction. “Chet used to say no one can do things as good as God does.” The words jerked his attention from the scene. “We need to keep going.”
The wagon rumbled along the rugged trail. In places, the ground fell away almost beneath the wheels, and she leaned against the drop-off as if she could prevent them from going over the edge.
She needed to distract herself and returned to her plan of trying to convince Jace he wanted to return to the ranch. But allher talk about food had drained her. She loved cooking. Plus, she enjoyed nothing more than a clean house. She missed both. She missed her father and Edmund. A sob shuddered through her. She clamped her lips together and hoped Jace hadn’t taken note. Thankfully, his attention was focused on guiding the wagon around a sharp bend.
Her breath sucked in like a jagged knife as the ground disappeared at her side. A wheel bounced over a rock, and she gasped, clinging to the seat. Her fingers would leave permanent indentations in the wood. As soon as she could tear her gaze from the specter of the deep valley, she turned to check on Eddie. He lay asleep in the back. Thank goodness. At least she didn’t have to worry about him leaning out too far.
They passed between two rocky banks, rising on either side of them, and her ragged breathing eased.
