Rebecca was fighting the urge to shift again when the other man who had kidnapped her, a broad, burly fellow called Hammond, burst into the kitchen, the back door to the house slamming shut.
“Cooper’s gone.”
Mrs. Cooper’s mixing spoon clattered to the floor as the pale man jumped to his feet and Prather glared at Hammond.
“Gone where?” Prather asked in a voice tinged with irritation.
“Couldn’t tell you. His horse is missing.”
Rebecca tensed as Prather stood slowly and turned his glare toward Mrs. Cooper. “You know where my cousin might’ve gotten off to?”
She shook her head as she dug her fingers into her skirts.
Prather took a step toward Mrs. Cooper, and Rebecca’s stomach swirled. Had the man been so frightened that he’d run off? Rebecca could hardly imagine that. Mr. Cooper wasn’t a small man, and he hadn’t looked scared when she’d seen him around Prather and the others.
She quietly tested the rope around her wrists again, wishing she could jump up and run easily if she needed to.
“You don’t know at all? He rode off and never thought to mention a word to his wife?” Prather stood over Mrs. Cooper now, and Rebecca worried for the woman who shrunk beneath his gaze. Mrs. Cooper had been nothing but kind to her since the second Prather’s men had brought Rebecca to this house.
“You know,” Prather said over his shoulder to the other two men. “I always fancied myself a ranch. Wouldn’t be too hard for this one to get handed over to the next of kin, would it?”
His words made goose pimples run up Rebecca’s arms. She could only imagine how terrified Mrs. Cooper was at that moment. The man had essentially threatened to kill both her and her husband.
Rebecca flexed her wrists again as Mrs. Cooper’s wide eyes darted away from Prather’s gaze and back. It was no use—the ropes held firm.
“He . . . he may have gone for a visit,” Mrs. Cooper finally said.
“At this time of the evening?” Prather raised a dark eyebrow. “Try again. The truth this time.”
Mrs. Cooper swallowed, and Rebecca could tell she was weighing what to say next. Prather obviously noticed the same. He leaned down until his mouth was near Mrs. Cooper’s ear. He whispered something that Rebecca couldn’t make out.
Whatever it was, it made Mrs. Cooper choke back a sob. “The sheriff,” she said in a voice so small that it reminded Rebecca of a mouse.
“In Crest Stone?” Prather asked.
She nodded, sorrow crossing her face. Rebecca wished she could reach out and take the woman’s hand to offer her comfort.
“Want me to ride after him?” the man named Hammond asked from the doorway.
Prather frowned, then shook his head. “Not worth it. By the time he gets there, alerts the sheriff, and can get back, we’ll be long gone. I expect Whiteside to show his face at any moment. Best you go back to watching for him.”
Hammond nodded and left, and Prather turned his attention back to Mrs. Cooper. Lifting one hand to her face, he gentlytapped her cheek. “You get back to your cooking. We’re going to be awfully hungry once all this is done.”
Mrs. Cooper shrank away, and Prather laughed. He returned to his seat, but instead of going back to his game of cards, he fixed his eyes on Rebecca. “Won’t be much longer now. Provided your man cares enough to come for you.”
His words sent a jolt of fear through Rebecca. She hadn’t considered that possibility. It wasn’t really possible that he’d leave her here . . . was it?
Prather chuckled. “Personally, I’d think the man a fool if he doesn’t. Of course, he might value his own life more than yours, so perhaps that wouldn’t be so foolish. He’s been watching me for months and has been too afraid to make a move in all that time.” He tapped his fingers on one of the cards. “What do you think? Is he coming for you?”
Rebecca narrowed her eyes. If the man thought he could goad her into doubting Levi, he was mistaken. She shoved away her earlier worry. Levi had confessed that he cared for her and wished to regain her trust. She had to place her belief in him.
It was all she had.
“You have your doubts,” Prather said.
“I do not,” she replied, a tremor lurking beneath her voice.
He eyed her for a moment longer, laughed again, and went back to flipping cards. “We’ll see.”
