The Courtship Of Izzy Mccree. Ruth Langan

was bound to be exhausted from all her travels. And the truth was, he was weary, as well.

      He crossed to the dresser and blew out the lantern. In the darkness he made his way to the bed and climbed in beside her.

      Izzy lay, stiff and frozen, steeling herself against his touch. He’d seemed so angry. She would probably have to get used to his many moods. When he was angry like this, would he be cruel? After such a long time without a woman, would he use her like a brute?

      After long, agonizing minutes, she chanced a glance at the figure next to her. He was lying on his side, facing away from her. His breathing was slow and deep.

      As she listened, she realized that he was asleep.

      It was her wedding night, and her new husband was asleep beside her.

      She nearly wept with relief. She had escaped, at least for one more night, the thing she most feared. And if she had to deal with it tomorrow night, well, that was for tomorrow.

      For several minutes she watched the man beside her. Watched his chest rise and fall with each measured breath. Studied the broad shoulders, corded with muscles.

      Now that she had a moment to think, she had to admit that his touch had been unexpectedly gentle. She was truly ashamed of her reaction. But she’d been expecting something vastly different. By the time it had registered in her brain, it was too late. The damage had been done. She’d stood there, quaking like a leaf.

      Oh, what must he think of her? There was no way she could possibly explain. The thought of speaking about something so intimate was too shocking to imagine.

      She studied the dark hair that reached almost to his back. She even lifted a hand to touch it as he had touched hers. But she couldn’t bring herself to do it. Instead she lowered her hand and closed her eyes. And, like the man beside her, fell into an exhausted sleep.

       Chapter Five

      “Sweet salvation.”

      Izzy awoke with a start. She sat up, rubbing her eyes, then glanced quickly toward the other side of the bed. It was empty. She’d been so sound asleep she hadn’t even heard Matthew moving around the room.

      His bloody clothes were still soaking in the basin. But his boots and jacket were missing from the floor.

      Without bothering to wash, she pulled on her clothes and shoes and hurried out of the bedroom.

      The cabin was empty. There was a fire burning, and dirty dishes littered the table.

      She draped a shawl around her shoulders and went in search of the others. The sound of voices led her some distance behind the barn.

      The first thing she spotted was Del, staring up a tree. Benjamin, high above her, was inching his way slowly along a branch, holding a smoking torch in his hand. Just above him was a beehive. Swarming around his head were dozens of bees.

      “Benjamin.” Izzy’s voice was choked with fear. “Look out. You’re going to get stung.”

      “I guess he’s been stung a hundred times or more.” Del’s voice rang with pride. “But it’s the only way he knows to get their honey.”

      As Izzy watched in amazement, the boy held the torch near the hive. After a few minutes the activity around it seemed to slow down, as the bees were overcome by the smoke. In one quick motion Benjamin reached into the hive. When he withdrew his arm, it was black with bees. He merely brushed them off as he shinnied down the tree. Once on the ground he held out his prize, which he broke into pieces to share with the others.

      “Here, Del.” He gave the biggest piece to his little sister.

      “This is for you, Isabella.”

      She accepted the sweet treat and smiled as she licked the honey from the comb. “If you find more, I’ll be happy to use them for a special dessert.”

      “There’s plenty more.” Benjamin pointed to the trees that towered over them. “I know of a dozen or more hives right around here.”

      “He brings me honey whenever I get hungry,” Del said proudly.

      Izzy studied the boy with new respect.

      Then, feeling she owed the children an apology, she said, “I’m sorry I slept so late. My journey must have left me more weary than I realized.”

      “It’s all right.” Del gave her a smile that was sweeter than the honey that dripped from her lips. “Pa said to let you sleep as long as you wanted.”

      Izzy glanced around. “Where is your father?”

      Benjamin nodded in the direction of the mountain. “Pa and Aaron went up into the hills to track a herd of mustangs.”

      “What for?”

      “That’s how Pa earns his living. By taming wild horses to saddle for the army.”

      “I thought he was a rancher.”

      Benjamin mopped his brow with his sleeve. “That’s what Pa wants to be. But right now, until our herd is big enough, he has to do something else to pay the bills.”

      “Isn’t it dangerous, chasing after wild horses?”

      Brother and sister shared a knowing smile.

      “It isn’t the chasing that’s dangerous,” Benjamin said. “It’s breaking them to saddle. Pa’s been thrown off a horse so many times, it’s a wonder he can still walk.”

      Izzy felt her heart lurch at the image. “Will he and Aaron be back for supper?”

      The boy shrugged and returned his attention to the honeycomb. “We never know. Sometimes they’re home in a day. Sometimes, when they find the tracks of mustangs, they follow them for days or weeks.”

      “Weeks?” Perhaps she had won a reprieve. It could be weeks before she would have to deal with her private fears. Suddenly another thought intruded. “But what about you children? Do you mean you’re left alone for weeks at a time?”

      “Yes’m.” Benjamin seemed surprised by the question. “It doesn’t matter. We just go about our chores, the same as always.”

      “But what if you should have a need of your father or older brother?”

      “What for?” the boy asked innocently.

      Izzy’s mind raced. “I don’t know. An accident, for instance.”

      “One of us would head up into the hills for Pa. And the other would go to town for the doc.” Benjamin pointed to the rifle resting against the trunk of a nearby tree. “Pa taught us how to handle a gun as soon as we were old enough to hold it. And he taught us a signal to use in case of any kind of trouble. Three shots, one after the other, would bring him and Aaron running.”

      “Well, that’s certainly comforting. If he’s close enough to hear.” She felt sick at heart thinking about these children, who were apparently raising themselves.

      Just then she glanced up to see Clement emerging from the woods. Over his shoulder he carried a fistful of pelts. “Have you been trapping, Clement?”