The sound of Elsa’s low moo drifted from behind the fort. Lorelei had to keep busy, and since she wouldn’t be any help with the tracking ... “While you guys look for his tracks, I’m going to milk Elsa. It might be tomorrow before we return, and she can’t wait that long. I’ll hurry, but if you pick up his trail, start after him and I’ll catch up.”
“Oh no. I’m not leaving you to do that again.” Rosie grabbed the pail from the wall and started out the door.“You’re likely to take the wrong trail and end up in front of the man. I’ll help milk while the men search, then we’ll catch up with them together.”
If Lorelei wasn’t already fighting the burn of disappointment, she might’ve smiled at that. She followed her sister into the courtyard, then out the gate and toward the back corner where she’d staked the milk cow that morning.
As they rounded the corner, a weak bawling made her stop short. Elsa stood over a mound on the ground. A white, hair-covered mound that lifted its head and released another pitiful sound.
A sob slipped from Lorelei’s throat, and she surged forward.
Curly seemed to sense her presence, though she approached from behind him, for he let out another cry, this one stronger.
“My boy.” She dropped to her knees at his side and ran a hand down his neck and along his ribs. Her fingers wove through the coarse hair. Warmth pressed into her palm, and the rise of his breathing lifted her hand. “Thank you, Father.” Her voice broke as tears leaked down her cheeks. God had brought him home, alive and wonderfully whole.
Curly cried again, the sound distorted through the cord binding his mouth. The effort shook his body. She had to get the ropes off his muzzle and legs.
Tanner appeared beside her, crouching at Curly’s head. “I’ll cut these off.” He used his hunting knife to loosen the knot under the calf’s jaw.
As soon as the binding fell away, Curly lifted his head again and released a full-blown bawl. The sound nearly burst her ears, but her heart was too full to care.
“My precious boy.” She ran her hands over his muzzle, clearing away the marks left by the cord. The threads had created an open sore on one corner of his nose, but that was the only injury she could see. A week of salve would heal that wound completely.
Tanner moved to cut the bindings from his legs, and within a heartbeat, all four hooves pulled free.
She ran her hands roughly over each limb, working the blood flow back into them. They would be numb and stinging as Tanner’s had been. But Lord willing, the calf would scramble to his feet in a minute or two.
At last, Curly started to move his legs on his own. He sat up, tucking them under him.
She scooted back to stand, and Tanner gripped her elbows to help her rise. As they stood waiting, watching Curly gather his strength for the next effort, Tanner slipped both arms around her waist, clasping her in front of him.
She leaned back against him, relishing his strength. Relishing the connection stronger than she’d ever imagined. God had blessed her more than she could have hoped for with this man.
thirty
Curly lifted his head from the bucket of milk and bawled toward the gate leading outside the fort. Lorelei spun and faced that direction. He must have heard something important enough to distract him from his evening meal. The calf had certainly been uneasy in the day since they’d found him tied behind the fort. Though except for stronger-than-usual hunger and thirst, he didn’t seem physically injured.
They might never know for sure why Anderson left him at the fort, though Tanner and Rosemary both figured the man simply wanted to escape and leave Purcey’s sordid business behind. Regardless of his thinking, she’d thanked God a hundred times for bringing everyone through it safely—including Curly.
The sound of horses approaching drifted through the logs. She strode toward the gate, slipping her rifle strap over her head so she could aim the weapon if she needed to.
Rosie stepped from the cabin and fell into stride beside her, rifle already positioned against her shoulder.
“It might just be Tanner and White Horse.” They’d hopedto be back before dark, but they could have run into any manner of delay as they buried Purcey’s body and brought Quigley and the woman back with them.
Rosie peered out first as she opened the gate. “It’s them. Or ... it’s Tanner and that Quigley man. White Horse and the woman aren’t with them.” Her voice tensed with those last words.
Lorelei pushed the gate wider and poked her own head out. When Tanner saw her, his teeth flashed in a grin. “He’s smiling. There must not be anything wrong.”
Rosie made a sound that came out like a growl as Lorelei stepped out and started toward Tanner.
About thirty strides separated them, and Tanner pushed his horse into a trot. Since Quigley’s animal was tethered to his gelding, the bald man bounced along behind him.
Tanner reined in as he reached her, then slid to the ground in a smooth motion. She couldn’t help it, she flew into his arms.
He accepted her willingly, his strong grip closing her in, wrapping her in the security of his hold. He pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “I missed you.”
She squeezed her eyes shut as she burrowed into his shirt. Her heart was too full to do much more. Though he’d only left early that morning, she’d missed him every moment since.
“Where’s White Horse? And that woman?” Rosie’s voice bit through the warmth hugging Lorelei. Was she worried the Indian woman might have overpowered White Horse?
