Free Within My Heart by Tamera Alexander Page A

younger son had no qualms about telling a falsehood, he hadn’t yet learned to fully mask his emotions. She saw that he was afraid. Not of her, Rachel knew, but of what might happen to Lady.
    She’d disciplined Kurt in every way she knew how. When James, her older brother, lived with them before he’d married Molly last month, he could simply look at Kurt and the boy’s defenses would crumble, same as they had with Thomas. When she looked at Kurt, it was as if his defenses dug a moat and shored up a five-foot wall of stone.
    Anger tightened her throat. Her face burned. For Kurt to misbehave was one thing, but for him to stand there and lie straight-faced to her was another. And in front of Charlie Daggett, no less. “Wait right here for me, young man,” she whispered, and turned to Charlie. “Thank you, Mr. Daggett,” she managed, “for letting me know. The boys and I will meet you at the ranch as soon as possible.”
    He slipped his hat on. “I’ll take a horse and head out when I get there, if it’s all the same to you.”
    “Yes, that’s fine. I’ll meet you up around Crowley’s Ridge in about an hour. If you find her, fire two rounds. I’ll follow the sound.”
    “Will do, ma’am. And . . .” Charlie shifted his weight. “I’m sorry, but there’s one more thing.”
    Rachel found his hesitance unnerving. “Yes, Mr. Daggett?”
    “I came across another heifer . . . while I was out lookin’ for Lady. The one that got tangled in the fencin’ last month?”
    She nodded.
    “I’m sorry, Miss Rachel, but . . .” His voice lowered. “Looks like a cougar got her. Either that, or it might’ve been a . . .”
    He lowered his gaze, and Rachel heard what he didn’t, or couldn’t, say. Or it might’ve been a bear. . . . Images of what the scene must look like rose in her mind with stinging clarity, and a sick feeling settled in the pit of her stomach. Fighting a shiver, she refused to let her thoughts go toward their natural bent. It was still too early in the season for bear—that’s what she told herself. In the end, it didn’t really matter what took the heifer down—cougar or bear—but it made a difference to her. And she knew it would matter to the boys. “Please, Mr. Daggett,” she whispered where only he could hear. “Don’t tell my sons about this. But if they do find out and ask, say you think it was a cougar.”
    “Yes, ma’am,” he said, nodding as he left.
    Gaining Kurt’s attention again, Rachel gave him a reproving stare as she crossed to the bed. The loss of the other heifer was upsetting, but losing Lady would be devastating. Beyond the emotional attachment she had for the first-time mother-to-be, Rachel silently counted the financial investment Lady represented. Before his passing, Thomas spent the bulk of their savings on a prized bull hailing from superior stock, as did Lady. And their first offspring, due to deliver anytime, promised strong stock for the ranch’s future. Which was even more crucial since a snowstorm had cost her the bull last month.
    If something happened to Lady and her calf—Rachel cringed inwardly, a barrage of what ifs crowded close, tempting her to worry—it would be one more confirmation of her inability to provide for her family.
    That was one reminder she didn’t need.
    Reaching for strength beyond her own, she determined not to borrow trouble that wasn’t yet on her doorstep. She cleared her throat. “Mitchell, we need to be leaving, son. Lyda—” She reached for Lyda’s hands, aware of the silent protest on Mitch’s face. “The boys and I are heading home, but I’ll try and come back later this evening.”
    Lyda shook her head. “There’s no need for you to do that. Ben and I will be fine. Dr. Brookston said he’ll sit with him while I finish up things with customers downstairs. Then Angelo might come over later if we need more help. Besides”—Lyda glanced toward the window—“more snow’s coming, bringing bitter cold, and