Claiming the Cowboy's Heart

“It’s partly my fault Jayne shot you,” Mercy said. “You see, I was attempting to teach her to shoot the pistol but she closed her eyes. Completely missed the target.”

Sybil shivered. “I tried to warn them it wasn’t a good idea.”

Seth shifted his gaze to her. Jayne had said Sybil wanted to get away from sad memories. There was a darkness in her eyes that spoke of hard times. He recognized it from seeing it in the mirror if he looked hard enough.

Then he brought his gaze to Jayne who hadn’t said anything yet. He wanted to tell her he didn’t mean to hurt her. But he didn’t know how without retracting his words, and he meant them. Foolish choices caused unbearable consequences. He didn’t want her to learn that the hard way.

She shifted her attention to something past his shoulder.

Mercy eased closer. “Tell us about yourself.”

“Not much to tell. I’m just a cowboy who’s finished a cattle drive. But I expect you all have your stories.” Maybe he could get them talking about themselves.

“Tons of them.” Mercy appeared to be the spokeswoman. Sybil looked ill at ease and Jayne looked stubborn. Must be a mule somewhere in her heritage.

Compliant, she said? Not a hope.

“I’m going to learn to ride,” Mercy said.

“Like a man,” Sybil murmured, her voice conveying shock.

“Men are allowed to do all sorts of things that women aren’t. It’s not fair.” Mercy gave another little pout. Then she brightened and gave Seth her attention. “We were talking about you, though.”

He shrugged. “I’m sure you’re far more interesting than I am.” He’d told Jayne about his pa and even his ma. But he didn’t intend to reveal any more. There were some things best left buried in the past. “Tell me about your families. I know Eddie is Jayne’s brother but nothing more.”

“I’m an only child,” Sybil said with a heavy tone.

“It sounds like you regret it.”

She nodded. “I suppose I do. With my parents dead I am all alone except for an elderly cousin.”

Jayne and Mercy pressed close to her on either side. “You have us.”

Sybil smiled and gave a little chuckle. “So I do. One of you set on turning the world upside down.” She nudged Mercy. “And the other bound and determined to shoot her way to forgetfulness.” She patted Jayne’s arm as if to say she meant no harm.

Mercy laughed. “She’s got a way with words, doesn’t she?”

Jayne shifted her gaze about the room until it came hesitantly, and likely reluctantly, to Seth. The way she squinted dared him to point out he had said something similar to Sybil’s words. “It’s not like that at all. I only want to be strong and prepared.”

Sybil patted her arm again. “Of course. We understand.”

Mercy continued to grin at her friend.

Seth jerked his chin slightly hoping she’d understand he had no desire to continue their disagreement.

The look she gave him had the power to start a fire. He tore his gaze from her scowl. “What about your family, Mercy?”

She sobered and got a faraway look in her eyes. “I’m the only living child. I had a brother who died when he was eight.”

“How old were you?”

“Six.”

A lot younger than he had been. Was it any easier at a young age? He couldn’t imagine it was.

“He got sick,” she added, then shook herself and turned to Jayne. “Jayne here is the one with an abundance of family. Tell him.”

“He already knows about Eddie. I also have two younger sisters.”

He nodded encouragement and she continued.

“Bess is almost eighteen and Anne is fifteen.”

“Do you miss them?”

A smile curved her lips. “More than I thought I would. The things with brothers and sisters is you get used to having them around and don’t think about it much then you find yourself turning to speak to them and with a start, you realize they aren’t there.”

She’d so concisely identified how the loss of a sibling felt. He fixed his attention on the ceiling as a distant pain surfaced. Not as strong as it had once been but still pulsing with life. He’d reconciled that it would never die.

Mercy, the bold spokeswoman, broke the silence. “So where are you headed?”

“Corncrib, Montana.”

“Got someone there waiting for you?” She waggled her eyebrows teasingly. “A wife, a girlfriend?”

“Just my pa.”

“Oh.” She sounded disappointed.

“What? You think I look like a man who has a wife?”

Jayne didn’t give Mercy a chance to answer. “His pa is sick.”

Sybil edged closer. “I’m sorry. I suppose you’re anxious to get there and see him.”

He heard her unspoken conclusion that his pa was on the verge of death and set out to correct it. “Pa had a stroke. He’s in the care of a very capable man. But it’s been four months since I’ve seen him. I’m anxious to see how he’s doing. I’m hoping he’s greatly improved.”

Jayne patted his shoulder and for the first time since she’d fled his room upset by his comments, the tension in his neck eased. “I’m sure everything will work out. Doesn’t God promise us that ‘all things work together for good to them that love God’?’”

Her gaze delved deep into his, searching, challenging.

“I know God’s in control of the universe and nature.” He spoke slowly, bringing his thoughts into words. “But I think He expects us to take care of the details ourselves.” He watched Jayne’s expression change as she considered his answer. It went from surprise to denial to confusion.

“I think we have to trust Him even when we don’t understand or we don’t possess enough faith,” she said.

Mercy spoke. “I kind of think Seth is right. I mean, why would God bother with little stuff?”

“Oh, no. It’s not like that,” Sybil protested. “He cares about everyone. We have to believe that.”