“What is it?” She practically breathed the words, not wanting to alert whatever it was to their presence.
Mitchell didn’t answer, but he rested a hand on the holster at his hip as he urged Trip forward toward the trees. Then he stopped and they sat in silence for several long moments.
No sound came from the trees, and finally, Mitchell dropped his hand and gestured at Lara to begin riding back toward the ranch.
“Must have been an animal. Maybe a fox or a coyote,” he said when they were well enough away from the trees. But despite his words, he turned to look behind them every few minutes as if he didn’t trust his own explanation.
“I haven’t brought Arlen and George their meals,” Lara said. The fear had worn away, and now she worried over how hungry they must be.
“We ought to have seen them by now. They most likely headed back toward the west. Or back home.” He glanced behind them again, even though the copse of trees was far in the distance by now.
“Is everything all right?” Lara asked quietly.
“It’s fine.” His words were spoken in a tone that was shorter than usual. Lara wanted to ask more, try to figure out what had spooked him so, but she forced herself to keep her questions to herself.
Perhaps Mitchell worried that the man who had come after her had returned. But that was so unlikely—even the sheriff himself had said so. And besides, the noise they’d heard had been low to the ground, more animal-like than anything a person could cause, unless he’d been crawling on all fours.
So instead of worrying, Lara decided to be flattered by the way Mitchell held such concern for her. She let her gaze wander toward him again. He sat a horse as if he’d grown up in the saddle. She tried to imagine him learning as a child, dark hair wild in the wind as he galloped up a hill, whooping and shouting as only a boy could. Maybe his brother rode with him, or his father.
Her heart ached as she thought of his family. No wonder he held such sadness behind his eyes. Lara thought she would too, if she’d lost everyone she loved.
But there was something else too. He’d said as much out by the water drill that night Belle had found them. That thing he’d done. What could it be? She hated that something could bother him so.
“I’m glad you’re here,” she said, seemingly out of nowhere, desperate to make him smile again.
The worry seemed to slip from his eyes. “I’m glad I’m here too.”
“Want to race me back?” She wanted to see him push against the wind, ride as if there was nothing else to worry about in the world.
It worked. His face crinkled into a smile. “I never turn down a challenge.” And without another word, he urged Trip into a gallop.
“Neither do I, Mitchell King,” Lara shouted after him as she nudged Murray to catch up.
They arrived, winded and rumpled, back at the house only to find everyone gathered around the water drill.
“Water!” Dot yelled to them as she and Joseph ran toward the horses.
“Mr. Chapman foundwater!” Joseph’s eyes were as big as the full moon. “Under the ground!”
Lara leapt off Murray, and together, she and Mitchell joined the family gathered around the drill.
And sure enough, water was burbling from the hole the drill had dug.
“Well, I’ll be,” Mitchell said. “It worked.”
Lara was smiling too big to tease him about how certain he’d been about the water. Belle and Hannah clung to each other, laughing each time the water spurted up from the ground. And Lara didn’t think she’d ever seen Arlen so filled with joy as he wrapped an arm around Josie.
“We’re going to make it,” he said, disbelief lacing his voice. “We’re going to make it.”
Dot shrieked and grabbed hold of Lara’s hands. Lara tossed Murray’s reins to Mitchell and danced with her little cousin in a circle. She’d never felt so much like celebrating in her life.
“Mama! Water!” Joseph sprinted to the back porch where George carried Isabel in his arms.
Lara shot a glance at Mitchell and grinned. George was truly head over heels for Isabel. He set her gently onto one of the chairs on the porch and then stayed nearby instead of joining in the celebration down by the drill.
Dot pulled Belle and Hannah into their circle, and together, they danced around and around. Lara didn’t think anything could feel so good as this—her family, joyful and filled with hope after so long and Mitchell’s eyes on her as he grinned.
Not a thing could ruin this moment. And for once, every worry Lara had seemed far, far away.
