Rebecca (Angel Creek Christmas Brides #15) - Lily Graison Page 0,31

to the mountain from here and it was an impressive view. The ranch house sat nestled by a wide stream. They crossed a bridge over the water—which was Angel Creek, Amanda had informed her—and parked the wagon near a barn. Caleb jumped down, lifted Amanda to the ground and ran around to help her before she could even gather her skirts.

Hands at her waist, he lifted her and set her on her feet, much like he’d done to Amanda but he didn’t let her go right away. He stared down at her for a long moment, his hands tightening on her waist before he smiled and stepped back as a man approached them from the barn.

“Owen,” Caleb said. “Good to see you.”

“You too, Caleb.” The man was tall and didn’t look much older than she was. He grabbed the horse’s reins and nodded to the house with his head. “Go on in. I’ll unhitch the horse and get him settled in for you.”

“Thanks,” Caleb said. “Appreciate it.”

The house was full of people, some of whom she’d seen in passing while in town. Raucous laughter rang down the halls and from every room and by the time she’d removed her cloak and Caleb laid it on the growing pile draped across a bench by the door, those butterflies had turned into nervous jitters.

“Caleb!” Julia Bailey was all smiles as she approached them and although she’d said Caleb’s name, her focus was on her. “I’m so glad you made it.” She wrapped her in a half-hug before pulling away and taking her hand. “Come with me. I’ll introduce you to everyone. Matt is around here somewhere, Caleb. Look in the dining room. He’ll more than likely be wherever the food is. As for you,” she said, smiling at Amanda. “The other kids are down the hall, first room on the left.”

The men were indeed in the dining room. Rebecca watched Caleb disappear inside the room as Julia led her into a fancy parlor filled with women. A case of nerves made her break out into a sweat. Pretending to be Diana hadn’t been difficult but as she stared at the faces of the women staring back at her, Rebecca knew today’s performance would be the hardest she’d had yet.

Matt saw him first. He motioned him over and reached out with a hand. Caleb shook it and nodded to Adam Larsen and Matt’s brother-in-law, Franklin Dare.

“Just the man I wanted to see,” Matt said. “We’re talking horses and there isn’t anyone in Angel Creek who knows more about them than you do.”

Caleb grinned. “I doubt that.”

“I don’t.” Matt finished whatever he’d been drinking and set the cup on the table. “How far do you figure we could get in a day traveling with a herd of cattle and horses?”

Caleb crossed his arms and thought over the question. “Depends on if the horses are carrying anything, how good their shoes are, and what sort of terrain they’re traveling on. Why?”

Prudence, Matt’s sister and Franklin’s wife inserted herself into the conversation. “Because those Indians are getting too close for comfort, that’s why. We’ve seen them three times in the last month and that’s three times too many for me.”

Her husband put a comforting arm around her shoulder. “I’ll protect you, little dove.”

She snorted and pushed his hand away. “I can protect myself and you know it.”

“Well, in that case, you can protect me instead.”

They all laughed as she walked away. Matt waited until she’d cleared the room before speaking up again. “She’s right. The Indian’s are getting closer. I think they’ve been taking my cattle, too.”

Talk turned to the Indian raids and what the soldiers at Fort Benton were doing about them and the good mood Caleb had been in turned sour. Living in town, his world fit inside a nice little bubble that pushed the outside world away and even though he’d heard mention of Indians nearby he had no idea the situation was getting so dire. “You’re not thinking of fighting them, are you?”

Matt shook his head. “No. The fact they’re taking my cattle infuriates me but I’m not stupid enough to argue with them about it. End of the day, I have to protect my family and if that means letting them take some cattle, then that’s what I’m going to do. For now.”

“What do you mean?”

Adam glanced at Matt before saying, “I found a large tract of land several days' ride from here. A small town called Serenity Springs. It’s nothing