The Cowboy's Ready-Made Family (18 page)

He guided Scout along the bank, peering into the turbulent waters, which had already risen at least two feet. The lazy little creek was now a raging torrent. He rode onward, leaning over the saddle horn, calling their names over and over.

Nothing. He might have swallowed a hundred knives so sharp was the pain ripping through his insides. A couple of miles downstream he encountered a tangle of bushes. To spare Scout, he dismounted and pushed his way through the branches until he reached the edge of the creek. He scanned to his right and left.

He saw nothing but water, rain and dripping leaves.

The place was nothing like the cathedral of trees but for the first time in many years he felt a desperate need to call upon God. He lifted his face into the rain, letting it pelt his skin. “God in heaven, please help me find them and keep them safe.” He shuddered at the possibility of finding them otherwise. He remained with his face heavenward for several minutes until a calm peace filled him. He would find them. He had to believe that.

He pushed forward through the rest of the bushes. “Susanne. Robbie. Can you hear me?”

He strained for the possibility of a voice answering him in the storm.

At the edge of the trees he whistled for Scout and remounted. Slowly, afraid he would miss them in the poor visibility, he rode onward, his complete attention on the waters though he hoped not to see anything there unless it was Susanne and Robbie clinging to a rock or a branch.

Scout tossed his head and refused to move.

“What's wrong, old pal?” His horse must have noticed something amiss and Tanner sat up to look about. He saw nothing but a big rock a distance from the creek and a trickle of mud running from the nearby trail.

He blinked. In the rain it seemed the rock had moved. He knew it was only a distortion from the rain but, nevertheless, he was desperate enough to find hope in anything and nudged Scout in that direction.

The rock moved again and this time he knew he wasn't imagining it. Then a boy sat up. Tanner was off his horse and hit the ground running. “Robbie.” He hugged the boy, then wiped his hands over Robbie's face. “You're okay.”

“Auntie Susanne.” Robbie pointed toward Susanne, lying in a heap on the ground. Wrapped in a black slicker, he had mistaken her for a rock.

Tanner set the boy aside and bent over her. He touched his fingers to her neck but felt no pulse. His own stopped, too. Then he caught the faintest thread of her heartbeat. “She's alive.” Her skin was like ice. Slowly, tenderly, fearfully, he rolled her over and pressed his hand to her chest hoping and praying to feel it rise and fall. When he did, he almost collapsed over her in gratitude.

“We have to get her home,” he said to Robbie who hovered at his shoulder. He scooped her into his arms and struggled onto Scout's back. He reached down and took Robbie's hand and pulled him up to ride behind him. “Now hang on. We're going home.”

He climbed to the trail and kept the horse to a steady canter. He dared not go any faster for fear Robbie would fall off. With his arms full of a cold, still Susanne, he rode directly to the house, not stopping until he was close enough to kick at the door.

Levi opened it. “What's wrong with you? Oh.” He saw Tanner's hands were full and lifted Robbie from the horse. He handed the young boy to Frank, then steadied Tanner as he dismounted and carried Susanne inside.

Liz stared at them. “Is Auntie Susanne—” She couldn't finish.

“She's alive but cold,” Tanner answered.

He issued orders. “Levi, throw more wood in the stove. Liz, get some blankets. Frank, see to your brother. Janie, find some dry clothes for Robbie.”

Then he lowered himself onto a chair, his arms still cradling Susanne. He tossed back the hood and pushed away the wet strands of hair that clung to her face. Slowly he eased the big black slicker from her shoulders. She was soaked to the skin. He would have taken all her clothes off but, mindful of the children and Susanne's reputation, he hesitated.

He sent Levi a helpless look. “We need to get her wet things off. Any suggestions?”

Liz returned with a stack of blankets. “I can do it.”

Tanner gently lowered Susanne to a blanket the girl placed in front of the stove, then he and Levi held up another blanket to provide a curtain. “Let me know if you need any help.” He clenched his fists at feeling so helpless.

Liz bent to her task and after a bit of grunting said, “I am done. I've put her dressing gown on and a blanket over her.”

Tanner bent over Susanne, Levi hovering at his side. Her skin was cold and white, her lips bluish, her breathing shallow. “What should we do? Warm her up fast or slow? Rub her to restore circulation? You know more about these things than I do.” Levi often took care of Maisie when she was ill. “Shouldn't she be coming to?”

Levi rubbed the back of his neck. “I don't know for sure. I think we should warm her up slowly and wait and see.”

“I don't much care for the wait and see thing.”

Levi gave him a sympathetic look. “It's the best I can offer.”

The children clustered around. Robbie's skin was pale though he was now in dry clothes. Still, Tanner wrapped him in blanket and held him. The boy was like a block of ice.

“I's scared,” Janie said. Tanner made room for her on his lap beside Robbie. The two older ones sat on either side of him.

“Is she going to be okay?” Liz asked.

“I hope so.”

“We should pray,” she said. “That's what Auntie Susanne would do.”

Levi raised his eyebrows, well aware that Tanner struggled with believing God heard him.

Maybe later, Tanner would explain that his faith had changed since he'd met Susanne. It had grown and flourished. “We should certainly pray.” He bowed his head. “Father God in heaven, thank You for helping me find Susanne and Robbie. Thank You for bringing them home alive. Now please hear our prayers and make Susanne well and strong again. Amen.”

“Amen,” Levi said, and the look he gave Tanner was full of both surprise and pleasure.

It was nice to leave his little brother guessing from time to time.

They sat in silence, watching Susanne, until Levi asked, “Where did you find her?”

“About a mile downstream. I almost missed her.” Tanner gave the details of his discovery.

“What happened? How did she get so far away?”

A shudder snaked across Tanner's shoulders at how easily he could have missed them. “I don't know.”

“I was stuck on a rock in the water.” Robbie's voice quavered. “The water was deep and scary. Auntie Susanne walked into the water to get me.” He choked back a sob. “She tried to carry me to the dry ground, but she fell.” He buried his face against Tanner's chest, and Tanner rubbed his back and made soothing sounds.

He wished someone would do the same for him. To think of them both struggling in the dark, turbulent waters turned his insides icy. “Then what happened?”

“We kept falling down. Auntie Susanne kept getting up. We got to the side and she pushed me out of the water.” He turned wide, frightened eyes to Tanner.

Tanner's heart ached at the way the boy sought comfort and so much more from him.

“She fell back in.” Robbie's whispered words were barely audible. “Then she got out. Is she going to die?”

Tanner could not say and would not offer false hope. But if she didn't, what would he do? She'd given him so much—acceptance, a sense of family and belonging, and restored faith in God's love and care. Would all that disappear if she didn't survive?

No. It would dishonor all she had done and all she stood for if he returned to the Tanner he'd been a few short weeks ago.

“She moved!”

At Liz's announcement, he jumped. He put both the younger children to the side and went up on his knees to watch Susanne. She moved again, and coughed. It was the most pleasant sound he'd ever heard. Her eyelids fluttered.

The children scooted closer to their aunt and he leaned over her. “Susanne, say something.” He squeezed her hand where it lay beneath the blanket. “Say something.”

Her eyes opened. “Robbie?” she croaked.

“He's here.” He pulled the boy closer so she could see him. “He's fine. Just fine.”

She nodded and her eyes closed again.

Liz sobbed. “She's not waking up.”

Frank stood behind Levi, his expression hard, as if preparing for the worst.

Tanner had to reassure them. “She did wake up. That's a good sign. I expect she is very tired.” He tucked the blanket up under her chin. “And she's still cold. It will take time.”

Levi got to his feet. “Have any of you eaten?”

“No,” Liz answered for all of them.

“You know what we should do,” Levi said. “We should make a big pot of soup so when your aunt wakes up she can have something hot to eat. Who would like to help me?”

None of them moved, then Liz heaved herself to her feet. “I'll help. So will the others.”

Between Levi and Liz they soon had each of the children doing some task. Tanner would have helped too, but he did not want to leave Susanne's side or let go of her hand.

Several times he felt Levi studying him. He ignored his brother. He cared not that his feelings were so obvious. All that mattered at the moment was praying for Susanne to waken and staying at her side until she did.

She moaned and stirred, and he leaned over her. “Susanne, wake up.”

She swallowed hard. Her eyelids fluttered half-open several times before she saw him and focused on his eyes. “How did I get here?” She could barely speak.

Levi handed Tanner a cup. “It's warm, sweet tea. It will help her.”

Tanner slipped an arm about her shoulders and helped her sit up. He held the cup to her lips and let her drink.

“That's better,” she said. “How did I get here?” she asked again.

“I found you.”

Her blue eyes clung to him, unreadable. Then she smiled and he saw gratitude come to life in them. “I'm glad.”

The children clustered around her, touching her, patting her.

“You're okay?” Frank asked as he knelt at her side, his hand on her shoulder.

“I'll be fine.” She pulled her other hand from under the covers and patted the boy's cheek.

Tears dripped down Liz's cheeks. “I was so worried.”

Susanne cupped her hand to Liz's face. “I'm sorry to frighten you.”

Robbie rocked back and forth on his knees. “It's all my fault.”

She pulled him close and kissed his cheek. “All that matters is you are safe and sound.” And then she reached for Janie and kissed her. “All of you are safe and sound.” Her voice shook and Tanner knew the effort of comforting the children had exhausted her.

“Levi, why don't you give these children each a bowl of soup?”

Levi nodded, his eyes saying he understood what Tanner wanted. “Come along, all of you. Let's see if our joint efforts made a good soup.”

Frank didn't go directly to the table. He slipped into the other room and returned with a wooden rocking chair. He put it beside the stove. “For when Auntie Susanne wants to sit up.”

“Thank you,” she whispered, then turned to Tanner. “Would you help me?”

The words were no sooner out than he tucked the blanket around her and lifted her to the chair. He stood awkwardly at her side. What did he do now?

She slipped her hand into his. “Stay here with me.”

Levi shoved a kitchen chair in Tanner's direction and Tanner sat beside Susanne, her small cold hand in his. Nothing had ever felt so good and right.

Johnny tapped on the door, then entered. “The storm is over. The horses are calm. How are things here?” He studied Susanne, lowered his gaze to the clasped hands and looked about the table. “Good. Everyone is safely home.”

Levi filled a bowl and indicated Johnny should sit.

Even from where he sat Tanner could see Janie eyeing Johnny curiously. She shifted her attention to Levi and then to Tanner. What was going on in her little head?

She again looked at Levi. “Mr. Tanner is our friend.”

Levi grinned. “Can I be, as well?”

The child nodded. “Okay.” She turned her wide blue eyes on Johnny.

“I'd be honored if you'd let me be your friend, too,” Johnny said.

She nodded, then ducked her head, returning to her soup.

Susanne squeezed Tanner's hand and he turned to her. She smiled. “Janie likes having friends.” She lowered her voice. “So do I.”

He couldn't pull his gaze from her. Didn't even try. Friends? It sounded fine. Was it all she wanted? Was it enough for him?

Several hours later, Tanner and his brothers rode toward home. He had no choice but to leave Susanne even though he wanted nothing more than to stay and make sure she was okay. They'd remained until she had eaten soup and had moved about the kitchen a time or two. She was tired, but she assured them she would be fine.

They'd had to say goodbye in a public way. Her hands had clung to his and his to hers. Their gazes had gone on and on until Johnny cleared his throat. Then Tanner had reluctantly released her and bade them all goodbye one more time.

Levi rode close to Tanner's side. “You obviously care about that gal and she for you. Have you told her of your feelings?”

“Why would I do that? The last thing she needs is to be associated with me.” He told his brothers how the ladies in town had acted and about Mr. Morris visiting and his words of warning.

Johnny grunted. “How did Susanne handle it?”

He chuckled as the memory sweetened his insides. “She as much as told the ladies she didn't care what they thought. She said I was honorable and noble.”

Johnny slapped his thigh and chortled. “The gal's a keeper for sure.”

“Mr. Morris has a point, though,” Tanner said. “I'll be branding her with the same intolerance I face if I continue to hang around her.”