Cross Her Heart by Noelle Jo

Author:Noelle, Jo [Noelle, Jo]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance, Western
Publisher: Little Box Press LLC
Published: 2020-07-26T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

Ida Turner

It was easy for the days on the trail to run one into the next. There might be a different hill or trees, but much of it seemed the same. They’d crossed the Canadian River without incident. In whatever challenges they faced, Robert worked with precision. The drovers did their jobs. Eddie regained his health and took to his horse, riding point again. They ate beef and beans each night. So much was the same.

One night after the dinner plates had been washed and the sun was beginning to dip beneath the western horizon, the crew gathered around the campfire. Ida passed out a lemon drop to each person. It felt like such a luxury now.

Robert approached with Gabe, carrying one of Ida’s traveling trunks between them. Behind them, Hank and Tom carried another one. “I’ve noticed you stand most evenings when there isn’t a convenient rock,” Robert said, setting it down. “This will make it more comfortable for you to sit with us.”

“I don’t expect you to haul that out for me every time we camp,” Ida said. She handed each of those men two lemon drops.

Robert tipped his hat. “That’s what makes it worth doing, ma’am,” he said as Ida sat down. Millie sat atop the other one nearby.

George pulled out the tiny harmonicas he had in his pocket—not much more than an inch each. He fit all three of them between his lips and began to play a slow tune. Ida enjoyed the simple pleasure.

She’d been obsessed with how boring her life was on the ranch, always looking for a way into town and to shop for anything that caught her eye. They’d been on the trail for nearly three weeks, and she had yet to think it uneventful. Oh, there were times when she’d been alone for a long stretch, but even then her thoughts turned reflective. She felt it was time well spent.

The fire before her, so similar to the ones that warmed her family’s home, took on a wild glow without the bounds of the fireplace. When embers popped in a firebox, they ricocheted and died in the ash or lifted up into the chimney and out of sight. Here, the flames were mesmerizing as they flew and burned out in full view. She felt much the same as those sparks—freer, wilder, and open with possibilities.

Callum ran to the chuck wagon, returning with a few aprons in his hand and one of Millie’s bonnets strapped on his head. “If a few of you would heifer-brand yourselves, we could have ourselves a rousing dance,” he said, extending the aprons.

Ida giggled as Frank, Tom, Arnold, and Carl each chose one of the aprons and sashed it around their waist.

“Would you care to dance?” Robert’s voice pulled her from her amusement as he extended his hand toward her. Beyond him, she saw the men stand up together too. Eddie had also taken Millie out.

“My pleasure.” She placed her hand in his and felt lightning travel from her arm to her heart.

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