The only thing she missed about her home were the books. Not her mother, never her father, not even her room. Only the books. If she couldn't afford to buy anything to read, maybe she could write some interesting story that would make her Ranger laugh.
Or maybe she'd write the truth about the way she felt about him. After all, he'd never find her. He didn't know her name or her whereabouts.
Smiling, she wished she could see his face when he read her thoughts. Her true thoughts about him.
Rolling over, Rainey lit her candle. Beneath her first words to her Ranger she added, The thing I remember most about our dance was the warmth of your hand on my back.
Rainey smiled, wondering if she'd have the nerve to mail this letter. She tucked it under her pillow suddenly thinking of all the things she wished she could say to Travis McMurray.
After pulling the window closed, she snuggled beneath the covers. As always, she rolled into a ball, hugging her legs tightly, and wished for the dawn.
CHAPTER 14
Travis knew it was too soon for the fairy woman to answer him back, but he still stood on the porch and waited for Teagen to return from the trading post. Because today was the first of the month, his brother had driven the wagon in for supplies. The hours since Teagen left passed slowly for Travis, yet he didn't go inside. He could feel himself growing stronger every day now. His leg no longer ached when he stood for more than a few minutes, and he trusted himself to walk around the house without the cane.
At breakfast Teagen had suggested that Travis ride along with him, and in truth, Travis felt he might have been able to. Relying on his cane, he walked to the barn and back several times a day and even managed the wagon for short periods when needed. But Travis wasn't sure he felt ready to let anyone but family see him limp. His left leg was still stiff and sometimes wouldn't hold his weight. The fear that he might fall walking into Elmo's place kept him home.
He rubbed the muscle of his left thigh, wondering if the ache he felt all the way to the bone would ever go away.
And if it didn't, was he willing to stay here for the rest of his life? At some point he might have to decide whether to face the world with a limp or hide forever.
"Looking for another letter?" Sage asked as she wrapped a shawl around her shoulders and stepped onto the porch beside him. "You never did say who that letter was from."
She'd hinted before, but never asked so directly. He knew he'd have to break down and lie. "Ranger, business," he said, then added, "about a horse thief who is north of Austin."
Travis smiled. He hadn't lied and Sage looked like she'd lost interest. Over the weeks he'd talked enough about the law to bore everyone in the house. They'd even suggested he go down to Austin and stand before a judge for questioning. They all believed he knew enough for any judge to make him a lawyer.
He moved the subject away from the letter. "If Teagen doesn't hurry, he'll be caught in the rain." The clouds were so low they seemed to be sitting on the top of Whispering Mountain. He realized he liked stormy days when thunder sounded so loud it shook the ground.
"There he is now." Sage pointed as a wagon pulled out of the fog near the river.
Travis studied his older brother as he neared. Teagen raced the storm as fast as he could with a loaded wagon. "Tell Tobin and Martha. Maybe we can get the supplies in before we all get wet."
Sage didn't move. "What's that in the buckboard? It looks like he's hauling a hog pin."
Travis leaned on the railing. It was too early for the spring hogs or chickens, but his sister was right. Teagen hauled something in a cage big enough to hold a calf.
The rain broke just as he pulled alongside the house. Tobin ran from the barn to help. Martha and Sage stood on the porch taking loads of supplies as Teagen and Tobin raced through the rain to empty the wagon.
Travis leaned on his cane and tried to see what was in the cage. Nothing, as near as he could tell, but a pile of rags at the bottom. The cage was old and roughly made. It made no sense that his brother would bring such a thing home.
"Help me get him off the wagon!" Teagen yelled at Tobin.
As his brothers lowered the cage, Travis saw something move among the rags. A thin hand gripped the bars with tiny, dirty fingers.
Without thought of the downpour, Travis grabbed his cane and limped into the rain. The ground shifted beneath him, but he didn't slow as he slung hair from his eyes and hurried forward.
He reached the wagon as they set the cage in the mud. A frightened face peeked out from beneath the layers of rags.
"Get him out!" Travis shouted as he recognized the child he'd seen at the outlaws' camp the day he'd been shot. "Unlock the door!" The sight of the boy brought back the horror of the day. Seeing the camp. Knowing the farmers were about to be raided. Realizing he'd be their only hope of surviving.
Teagen pulled his hat off and let rain hit his face. "He came this way, Travis!" he yelled above the storm. "I didn't put him in there. The freighter who brought him to Elmo's said he bolts if you let him out."
Teagen's words were jumbled in the storm.
"Get him out!" Travis shouted as pale blue eyes stared up at him from behind the bars.
"I can't." Teagen sounded as frustrated as Travis. "The Germans you helped didn't know what to do with him, so they shipped him to you. He wouldn't let them touch him without fighting, and they're afraid if they let him out, he'll run out in the wilderness and starve. He's wild as a jackrabbit."
Travis closed his hand around the child's and forced himself to lower his voice. "Get him out." If possible the boy looked more frightened than he had that morning Travis had seen him tied up like a dog at the camp. His cheeks were so hollow, he looked more like a dying old man than a tiny boy. His hands were so thin, they were almost birdlike.
"I can't!" Teagen yelled again. "Somewhere in his journey to get to you, the key's been lost."
The rain washed down in sheets, pelting them all as Teagen continued. "We'll get him up on the porch and pick the lock." When Travis didn't look like he was listening, Teagen added, "If he runs in this rain, we'll never find him."
Before the brothers could lift the cage, Travis let his cane hit the mud. He patted the child's hand once, then moved to the next slat in the cage. With a sudden rage, he pulled, snapping the wooden bar. Before the child could react, Travis snapped another, then another.
In a flash the captive was out of his prison and jumping like a squirrel into Travis's arms.
The Ranger fought to hold him and remain standing. After a moment he realized he need not worry about the child falling, for thin arms had a death grip around his neck.
Tobin picked up the muddy cane and silently offered it to Travis. "Get him inside and warm. I'll take care of the horses." The remains of the cage were forgotten in the mud.
Limping, Travis made it to the porch. Without any thought of taking time to wipe his feet, he crossed into the house and headed straight for the fire in his study. Teagen walked behind him.
Travis's hand spread across the boy's back. He felt the bones of the child's rib cage as the boy shivered with fear and cold.
Carefully Travis lowered to the chair by the fire. He didn't know much about kids, but this one couldn't be more than three or four. The child began to shake violently but didn't make a sound.
Martha leaned over and placed a towel over the boy. "We need to get his clothes off before he catches cold." For once her voice sounded more worried than harsh.
Travis started to pull the boy away from him, but the child had a solid hold around his neck. If Travis pulled any harder, he might break the child's arms.
"I can't," Travis said. "Pull all the layers off you can and we'll keep him warm. He'll dry fast enough this close to the fire." He didn't want to think about how many times the boy must have been wet and cold with no one to worry about him.