He studied her face. The sincerity from her tone furrowed her brow and shone in her eyes. His heart squeezed. He loved this woman more than he could put into words.
Which meant he had to return her precious calf to her. “I have to go now. I’ll bring Curly back to you.”
She shook her head, almost glaring. “Did you hear me, Tanner? I said you’re more important to me than Curly is.”
Maybe she did understand what she was saying. But could she mean that?
She moved directly in front of him, then reached up and took his face in her hands so he could only look directly at her. “I had the choice back there to save you or Curly. And I choseyou. I would choose you every time. Over an injured animal or another person or anything, save God Himself.” She slowed her words, letting each one penetrate his heart like an arrow. “I choose you.”
Warm peace like he’d never felt crept over him, and emotion clogged his throat, rising up to burn his eyes. She meant those words.God, is this what happiness feels like?
His entire life had been bringing him to this point. Could it even have been a journey orchestrated by God? Lorelei’s choice wouldn’t mean nearly so much without the host of disappointments that had come before. He might not even appreciate her—much lessloveher the way he did now—without knowing how the loss of love could slay him. Thank you, Lord.
He reached up and cupped his hands around her jaw, sliding his fingers into her hair. Then he lowered his forehead to hers. “You are the best gift God’s ever given me.” His voice rusted with the emotion thick within him.
Lorelei’s smile shone even through her glassy eyes.
He wanted to say more, so much more. But the thunderof hoofbeats sounded behind him. They would have to finish this conversation later.
He spun around, keeping himself between Lorelei and the oncoming riders, just in case. But the sight of White Horse and Rosemary had never been so welcome.
They reined in hard by Lorelei’s horse, and both took in Purcey’s body with grim expressions. Then Rosemary looked to her sister. “Lor, are you hurt?” She seemed to just then realize Tanner was there too. “Either of you?”
He almost smiled. Rosemary would always be a protective older sister, no doubt about that. And she’d done well getting Lorelei to this point. He aimed to do his part from here on out.
“I’m not hurt. I don’t think Tanner is, at least not that he’s said.” Lorelei looked to him.
He shook his head, then pointed the direction Anderson had gone. “There’s another man, Anderson, who has the calf tied on his horse. There might be two others in the area still, a man named Quigley and an Indian woman. They left camp this morning, but I couldn’t hear where they were going.”
White Horse motioned the direction they’d come from. “We find them. Tie to trees.”
Lorelei spoke up. “So that’s where you went. I was following your tracks, I thought, but they brought me to Tanner and these two men.”
Rosemary’s horse began to shift impatiently, probably feeling the anxious energy of its rider. “We’ll go after the one with the calf.”
Tanner tensed. “I’d like to go also. Let me make sure Purcey isn’t going anywhere.”
“I’m coming too.” Lorelei’s voice rang strong with determination.
It would be hard to make her stay here. But she’d proven herself brave and capable, and she’d definitely earned the right to see this adventure through.
twenty-nine
Anderson had a good start on them, but White Horse’s tracking skills allowed them to move quickly. Rosemary rode at his side, with Lorelei and Tanner just behind.
Lorelei eyed the terrain around them. “It looks like we’re headed back toward the trading post, doesn’t it?”
Tanner’s gaze did the same sweep hers had. “I was thinking that too.”
“Where do you think he’s headed?” Rosie raised a hand to shield her eyes from the burning midday sun.
Tanner squinted, but it was hard to tell if from the sun or from his line of thought. “This is one of the routes back east. He must have something in mind to do with the calf.”
Poor Curly. Her heart ached for the sweet boy who’d been such a good friend these past weeks. He must be frightened and miserable, tied on the back of the horse. Had they at least let him stretch his legs and drink water in the night? Tanner hadn’t said, and she hadn’t gathered the nerve to ask him.
She’d been hoping they would catch Anderson right away,but at least an hour had stretched on, then longer. Her belly tightened with every half hour since then. Before long, they would be back at the trading post.
During one of the stretches where White Horse slowed them to a walk as he searched for tracks, she glanced from Rosie to Tanner. “What about the other man and woman who are tied back there? And the ... other one.” She still couldn’t bring herself to saythe body.
