The man she’d thought was about to propose to her, but who instead had bared his soul to her and risked everything so that she would know the truth!
“Oh, Kari…” she murmured, so ashamed of herself. She could but stare down at her lap as rain relentlessly pelted the windows, not even noticing when Reverend Thomas closed his Bible a short while later and rose.
“Miss Walker, did you say you’ve some rooms prepared for us?”
“Oh, yes, forgive me, Reverend!” Kari blurted, jumping up to lead the way. “Your wife is already resting, I was supposed to let you know.”
“You’ve so much on your mind, child, it’s no wonder,” the older man said kindly, glancing back at the bed. “Just point me in the right direction and then come back to sit with your father.”
Kari nodded, Seth’s parents following her and Reverend Thomas out into the hall, indicating they were ready to retire, too.
“I gave your father a mild dose of laudanum to help him sleep through the night,” Charles told her as she gestured to the room next to the Thomases. “If you have any concerns, though, don’t hesitate to wake me. I hope you can get some rest, too. How is your ankle?”
“It hurts a little now and then,” Kari replied, recalling the twinge she’d felt when she had wrested her hands away from Seth and stumbled backward—oh, dear, she hoped he was safe and dry in the bunkhouse! As if to taunt her, a sudden crack of thunder made her jump, and Molly reached out to enfold her in a hug.
“Kari, I promise you Seth knows how to handle himself in these storms. Try to get some sleep.”
Kari hugged her back, Molly’s warm embrace so reminiscent of her mother’s that she felt a hollow ache…though she summoned a small smile when Molly released her.
Kari didn’t wait for Seth’s parents to disappear into their room, but returned to her father’s side like Reverend Thomas had bade her. Caleb slept peacefully, just like Charles had said he would, no matter the wind blustering outside and the pounding rain that gave no indication of ceasing.
With a plaintive sigh, Kari did her best to settle into the wing chair in spite of her bustled dress, wrinkled now and looking worse for wear, and closed her eyes.
She imagined sleep would be impossible given everything that had happened, but she would at least attempt it. Even though all she could think about was Seth and the terrified neighing of the horses…
* * *
“Kari, wake up, daughter, wake up!”
Startled out of sleep to see Caleb standing over her, Kari jumped up so abruptly from the chair that she nearly toppled over. He caught her and steadied her, his expression grim in the light shining from the windows, a brilliant sunrise of pink and gold.
Morning already? Still bleary from being awoken so suddenly, Kari stared in confusion at her father, who wasn’t wearing his usual suit but denims and boots much like that of the ranch hands. “What’s going on? Are you all right? You should be back in bed—”
“It’s Seth, Kari. I hesitated to wake you, you were sleeping so soundly, but I thought you’d want to know before I set out—”
“Know what?” Her heart in her throat, Kari anxiously searched Caleb’s face, everything suddenly in sharp focus. “Where is he? What’s happened?”
“His horse came back without him only a short while ago, and so did the stallion that Seth went out looking for during the storm. One of the hands, Lucius, came running to the house to raise the alarm. He’s already sent out riders to search for him.”
“Search?” Almost stupidly she stared at her father, a terrible premonition in the pit of her stomach as he nodded.
“Something must have happened, his horse rearing, a fall—Kari, there’s no telling until we get out there to look for him. Now I must go.”
He released her and headed to the door, but Kari ran after him and caught his arm.
“Papa, you’re going to look for Seth, too?”
His somber “Yes,” made such gratitude flood her as he laid his hand over hers.
“I’ve much to make amends for, Kari, starting with you and Seth. God willing, we’ll find him alive.”
Caleb didn’t say anything more, only squeezing her hand before he turned and strode out the door.
Her father’s stark words ringing in her ears, Kari followed him down the stairs, the entire household appearing to be wakened to the emergency. Sarah held open the front door for him while servants clustered in silence. Outside, at least twenty somber-faced riders awaited Caleb, their horses neighing shrilly and pawing at the muddy drive.
Among them were Charles Davis and the ranch hand she guessed must be Lucius, the same man she’d seen Seth talking to last night after she had stormed into the house. Please God, may her angry words not be the last ones she would ever speak to Seth!
Off to one side stood Molly, her face etched with worry. At once she came up the steps and enfolded Kari in her arms.
