Rescuing the Rancher Read online

  Faith vowed to put an end to it any way she could.

  Chapter Two

  Faith packed up her meagre belongings and placed them under the seat of the buggy. Harry and Martin were still sound asleep after their night of bingeing on alcohol.

  They would have an almighty hangover this morning, Faith decided. It was exactly what they deserved.

  She was up as normal at daybreak and began preparing supper for her family. She stoked the fire, lit the wood fire stove, and filled the kettle.

  She made breakfast and boiled the kettle ready for their morning beverages. The whole time her heart pounded in her ears, terrified they would learn her secret.

  The bitterness in her heart awakened as the day progressed. She had worked her fingers to the bone all her adult life. Father and Martin worked at the local timber mill. At least she thought they did, until she ran into the owner recently and found out the pair had been sacked some months ago.

  No wonder her father was stealing her wages – he had no money of his own. Bile rose in her throat and she fought it back. How did she not realize she was being cheated by her own father? She felt sick to her stomach and had to go outside for some fresh air.

  It wasn’t long before Harry and Martin stumbled into the kitchen waiting for their breakfast to be served up to them. It was difficult, but she didn’t once deviate from her normal routine in case they got suspicious.

  She washed the dishes and tidied the kitchen as normal, then the pair left, supposedly for work, but Faith knew better. Probably going to spend the day at the local hotel, she thought bitterly.

  A short time later Faith climbed up onto the buggy she used each day to get to work and pulled her thick coat up around her shoulders. She flicked the reins and was soon on her way.

  The ride to Mountain Ridge Ranch would take at least three hours, possibly more depending on the terrain. She would have to go via the outskirts of town to ensure she wasn’t seen by Harry, and that would add time to her trip.

  As she wound her way through the unknown territory, a shiver ran through her. Once Harry and Martin realized she was gone, there would be an explosion from the pair. But that wouldn’t be until after supper when she didn’t appear at her usual time.

  She could see it now. Harry would be tearing her room to shreds trying to work out where she was. Faith’s heart pounded and her hand suddenly reached into the pocket of her skirt. She sighed with relief when she found the advertisement still there.

  Faith slowed the buggy as she came to the entrance of Mountain Ridge Ranch, the sign over the gravel road telling her she’d arrived.

  She stared down the long drive. Was that the ranch house up ahead? It looked so tiny in the distance, but was no doubt large. She was beyond exhausted – it took far longer to get there than she’d anticipated.

  What if they turned her away? After all, they had no idea she was coming.

  Faith fought back tears. This was a fool’s errand. She should have waited for a response, then planned her escape after that.

  But she knew she couldn’t. Father had become far too aggressive of late. What if he had harmed her more last night than he already did? He was a big man, and incredibly strong from working at the timber mill all these years. She couldn’t risk it.

  She lifted the reins and urged the horse forward. Her heart pounding, Faith made her way toward what she hoped would be her new employer.

  ~*~

  “Did you hear that?” Martha turned her head toward the front door. “Someone is coming.”

  Jonah frowned at his mother. “I’m sure you’re imagining things. Who would be visiting without notice?”

  Cora lay across his shoulder, her favorite place to be, on the verge of sleep. It was time for the children’s afternoon nap, and for the adults to eat now that the children had been fed.

  Jonah’s head shot up at the sound of gravel grating under the wheels of a buggy or wagon. “You’re right. Someone is here,” he said, walking toward the front door. He opened the door before their visitor had a chance to knock and stood there staring.

  A young woman stood before him. The large bruise covering almost half her face made him cringe. She stood on his porch and stared at him in a trance-like state.

  “Are you Mr Saunders,” she finally asked, her voice low as though she was scared to talk too loudly.

  She looked on the verge of collapse, and he ushered her inside. “That’s me, Jonah Saunders. Please, come in and sit down,” he said warily, leading her to a chair.

  His mother reached for Cora, and he gladly handed her over, more concerned with his wary visitor. “I’ll put the children to bed,” she said. “It is already past their nap time.”

  As she continued toward the chair, the woman’s eyes followed every movement and opened wide when she saw the twins. She finally pulled her glance away and stared at him again before speaking. “I came about the…” she said quietly, then collapsed in a heap on the floor.

  Her eyes slowly opened, and she looked about. Jonah sat on the edge of the sofa next to her. His mother stood over her, making sure she was alright. “I still think we should get Doc Henderson out here,” she said gruffly. “She is obviously not alright. Just look at her face.”

  The stranger began to sit up, then collapsed back onto the pillow Ma had put behind her head. “I’m sorry,” the woman said quietly. “I should go.”

  Jonah reached out and took her hand. Instead of being soft as he expected, they were work roughened. She was not old, probably in her twenties. Far too young for her skin to be like this. Looking beyond the bruises and the worry lines on her face, her beauty was evident.

  “Please stay,” he said, then reached out and gently touched the largest bruise – it covered her cheekbone and ventured up and over one eye. She flinched as his fingers connected ever so lightly. “When did this happen?” he asked, anger flaring within him. Whatever she did, if indeed she did anything, the young woman before him did not deserve this.

  She licked her lips before answering, they looked parched. Ma handed her some water and she took a large mouthful. “Thank you,” she said, glancing up at his elderly mother.

  She handed the glass back and sat up. “My drunkard father,” she said matter-of-factly. “He did it last night in a drunken stupor because he thought I didn’t make his coffee.” She fiddled with her hair and tried to tie it back up. “The empty mug was sitting on the counter.”

  She closed her eyes and swayed a little and Jonah thought she would collapse again. Instead she surprised him by standing.

  He watched as she straightened her skirt and reached into the pocket. “I came about this,” she said, this time sounding a little more confident. “You sent me a letter.” She pulled his letter out of her pocket and waved it around. “Is the job still open?” She looked up at him with her big brown eyes in desperation.

  “I, uh,” Words failed him. “You’re Faith Perkins?” It was the last thing he expected.

  She folder his correspondence up again and put it back in her skirt pocket, then began to walk away. “Where are you going?” He was getting a headache, probably due to worry about her situation.

  She glanced back over her shoulder as she headed toward the door. “I can see you are good people, and I don’t want you caught up in this. My father and brother are sure to come looking.” She licked her lips. “They are not the sort to take no for an answer.”

  That got his back up. “I can deal with the likes of them.” And he would if it came to that. “Have you eaten? We were just about to have lunch.”

  “I, I…” He could see from her expression she was hungry but didn’t want to impose.

  Ma walked over to her and put a gentle arm around her shoulder. “You’re safe her, Faith,” she said quietly. “Besides, we need your help too.”

  “We do,” Jonah said, and earned himself a scathing glance from his mother. He understood – Faith was like a scared rabbit and needed coaxing. Not that he blamed her after what sh
e’d been through. He was willing to guess it wasn’t the first time either.

  Ma was right, she was safe here, and he would protect her no matter what.

  “Sit down,” Ma said, pulling a kitchen chair out for Faith. “The children have eaten already and are having their afternoon nap now.”

  Faith nodded, then glanced across at the food strewn over the table. She sat down as directed but didn’t look comfortable.

  Scared was more like it. She didn’t know him or his mother and had no idea if she was safe here. Somehow he had to convince her she was.

  “Do you prefer tea or coffee,” Ma asked gently. She was keeping her voice low, and it seemed to be pacifying the young woman.

  “Tea, please,” she said quietly, then began to rise. “I, I really should go,” she said, but suddenly his mother was by her side.

  She leaned in close. “You’re safe here, Faith. Don’t be afraid. My name is Martha, I’m Jonah’s mother.” Faith nodded again, and Martha hugged her, but Faith flinched, pulling back.

  The two women shared a look, which had Jonah confused until Faith pushed her sleeves up. His mother gasped at the appalling bruises that marred her overly thin arms.

  Jonah swallowed. He had never witnessed anything so horrific in his life. His animals were treated better than this young woman had been. He vowed there and then it wouldn’t happen again. He would take care of her.

  ~*~

  These were good people, and Faith did not want to put them in danger.

  They insisted she stay and eat, and it would be rude to deny their invitation, so she reluctantly stayed. She was fine until Martha came over and hugged her, that was her undoing, and it took all her resistance not to break into tears.

  Not only had she had a long trip here, but the pressure of leaving the cottage as though it was just another day really got to her.

  After nearly an hour of travel she’d begun to sob. At first she couldn’t understand it, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t stop. She finally realized it was the relief of getting away unnoticed. Of course it was one thing to get away, but quite another to never be found.

  “Faith?” She was lost in her thoughts and it was only Martha’s kind voice that brought her back out again. “Would you like fried potatoes with your pancakes?”

  At first she was confused and glanced about. The place was unfamiliar, until her gaze settled on the elderly woman who had been so kind to her. “Thank you, just a little,” she said only slightly above a whisper.

  She glanced across at Jonah who was sitting like the naughty child in the corner, and not saying a word. She owed him a huge apology for intruding into the tranquility of his family home.

  “I am still looking for a housekeeper,” he said, his voice lower than it was earlier. She glanced across at Martha who frowned at him.

  “It’s alright,” she told the other woman. “I came about the position, after all.”

  He reached for his mug of coffee, then added fried potatoes and onions to his plate, as well as two fried sausages.

  “I can cook and clean house,” she said confidently. “I’ve been doing it for years. Of course, I can’t give you references since I don’t want anyone to know where I am.”

  The two stared at her. “No references required,” Jonah finally said. “But there are things we need to discuss – if you’re up to it, that is.”

  “That can surely wait until we finish eating,” Martha chastised her son. “First we say a blessing, then we eat, then you can talk.”

  They joined hands and Martha began to pray. “Thank you for this food, Lord, and thank you for guiding Faith to us. Amen.”

  “Amen.”

  Faith looked up, barely able to control her emotions. She had never felt so loved in her life as she did with these total strangers.

  After the meal was finished, Faith offered to help with the dishes, but Martha would have none of it. “You sit and talk with Jonah. You two have unfinished business,” she said. “We need to get you settled in.”

  Settled in? That was a revelation. Jonah had not even discussed the possibility of working here yet. She had no idea what she was in for.

  She sat on the sofa next to the fire, and he sat on the chair opposite. “Things became quite difficult after my wife Sarah died,” he said quietly, then lowered his voice even more. “My mother is not up to looking after the house anymore, or the children,” he said conspiratorially.

  “How old are they?” She’d never dealt with children before, so if she got the position, things could get interesting.

  “The twins are three,” he said matter-of-factly. “Their names are Cora and Leo, and to be honest, after everything they’ve been through, their behavior is pretty good.”

  Pretty good? Did that mean what she thought it did? “I’d have to look after the children too? You didn’t say that in the advertisement,” she said, glancing across at Martha who had joined them.

  “They are well-behaved children,” Martha interjected. “I don’t know why Jonah would say otherwise.”

  “Perhaps because they don’t always do what I tell them to do.”

  Martha sighed. “They’re three-years-old, Jonah. Three-year-olds don’t always do what they’re told.”

  He ignored his mother’s words. “You can obviously clean house, and I think you said you can cook?” Faith wasn’t sure why they were even having this conversation. It was obvious their minds had been made up the moment she walked through the door.

  Their whole demeanor wreaked of desperation, as she was sure hers did too. She needed this job, and if she didn’t get it, Faith had no idea what she would do. There was no way she could risk going back home. Next time her father could very well kill her.

  “…start?”

  What did she miss? “I’m sorry, what did you say?”

  Jonah stared at her. “I said when can you start?”

  Oh. She got the position. She should be rejoicing but there were other things to consider first. “That will depend on when I can find accommodation in town. I can’t very well sleep in the buggy,” she said, half joking.

  Jonah and Martha stared at each other. “We have a spare room here,” Jonah said quickly. “You can stay here. It will be far better than you paying rent and traveling twenty minutes both ends of the day.”

  She glanced from one to the other. “I, I couldn’t,” she said. “For one, it wouldn’t be proper. Secondly, I don’t want to be an imposition.”

  “I guess I could stay for a while,” Martha said. That solved the propriety issue.

  Jonah smiled and seemed relieved. “You have no idea how much it will mean to me if you take the position and stay here. Rent free of course.”

  She couldn’t help but grin. “I am happy to work for free room and board,” she said, feeling happier than she had for a very long time. And safe. So very safe.

  He reached over and held both her hands. “If you work for me, you get paid,” he said. It was almost at that moment they were hit by what seemed like a whirlwind. The twins ran out into the sitting room still wearing their nightgowns. Cora rubbed at her eyes and ran straight to her father. Leo stopped abruptly in front of her.

  “Who are you?” He didn’t mince words but came right out with it. She liked him already.

  “I’m Faith. Who are you,” she asked, already knowing the answer.

  He glanced across at his father, who nodded. “I’m Leo.” He then joined his sister at their father’s side.

  “What happened to your face,” Cora asked quietly.

  “Cora,” Jonah warned.

  Cora stared at her momentarily. She deserved an answer. “I had an accident,” she said quietly. The little girl ran to her side and hugged her tight.

  Faith fought back tears. She had experienced more love in the short time she’d been here than she had since her mother had died. Warmth flooded her.

  Chapter Three

  Faith was shown to her new room. It wasn’t much, Martha had
told her, but she’d never seen Faith’s own room back home.

  This room had a single bed made of wrought iron, with a beautiful quilt laying on top. “The quilt was made by my own mother many years ago,” she said, lifting the end of it and breathing in the fragrance. “It was made with love.”

  She glanced up at Faith and smiled as if remembering something very special. Faith could only imagine the memories that came with that quilt. “You can put your clothes in that wardrobe,” she said. “This room has been unused for some time, so do what you want with it.”

  She opened the drapes and Faith looked out across the field. The view was amazing. Mountains surrounded them and were covered with trees and other foliage. Two fields over she could see what appeared to be a herd of cattle. “Does that land belong to Jonah?”

  “It does. He owns all the land for miles around.” She then pointed to a small dressing table next to the bed. “That is empty, so do use it. The mirror is old, but not too bad.”

  It was far better than the one Faith had used for over a decade. If only Martha knew what she’d endured. That said, she already feared the older woman had realized.

  “There’s a chair in the corner you can use too. I’m afraid the lighting isn’t the best. Do you knit?”

  Faith’s eyes opened wide at the question. “I don’t – I’ve never had time to learn.” She could elaborate but she was beginning to feel like a victim and that just wouldn’t do.

  “Jonah is getting your bags and the ranch hands will see to your horse and buggy. You don’t need to worry yourself over them.”

  “I can’t thank either of you enough,” she said quietly as Jonah entered the room with her meagre belongings. “You’ve done more for me than anyone has ever done.” She’d been through so much the past two days, and her emotions were running high, but Faith vowed not to show further vulnerability to these lovely people. She’d done far too much of that already.