Sooner or Later Read online

  Mason and Rebekah hurried around the wagon to look in the direction Jimmy was pointing. Mason’s stomach knotted as he took in the swirling, churning black mass of clouds ripping the earth apart as it cut a crooked path across the countryside. Rebekah’s fingers clutched his arm, sending shafts of pain racing toward his shoulder.

  He loosened her frantic grip and turned her to face him. The breeze whipped the shorter tendrils of her hair loose from her braid. A small, wind-tossed stick slammed against her cheek, and Rebekah jerked her head and grimaced. Her eyes, squinting against the flying dust, gazed up at him with near panic.

  The cyclone roared closer. Its screams reminded Mason of a train barreling down the track. He leaned close to Rebekah’s ear. “It’ll be okay. Get Katie.”

  Rebekah’s heart raced faster than a wild mustang. She’d never been so afraid in all her life. Even marriage to Giles Wilbur didn’t seem so awful at the moment. The closer the twisting black monster came, the more she shook. Her cheek stung from the debris flying around, slapping her face.

  Mason’s fingers cut into her arms. She turned to face him again. A depth of concern she’d never before seen enveloped his features. “Did you hear me?” he yelled. “Get Katie!”

  Katie

  Instantly spurred into action, Rebekah raced toward the sobbing child. She scooped her up and turned around. Mason had Jimmy in his arms, racing toward her.

  “The creek,” he yelled, his black hair flying in all directions, making him look like some majestic warrior. Jimmy clung to him, his face buried against Mason’s chest.

  Mason’s hand grasped her upper arm, pulling her toward the creek. Rebekah fought against her skirt, whipping in the wind, entangling her legs. She stumbled. Mason lifted her, dragging her forward. Rebekah clutched Katie with a death grip, lest the girl be ripped from her arms. The cyclone roared behind her, a heinous, black creature seeking to devour them. Cracking tree limbs splintered nearby. Rebekah ducked and ran faster.

  A horse’s terrified whinny stabbed at her heart as the earth rumbled when the large animal galloped past. Katie clung to Rebekah’s neck with trembling arms. She held on so tightly, Rebekah felt her skin tingling with numbness, but with the cyclone bearing down on them, she couldn’t take the time to loosen the child’s grasp. Besides, the girl was terrified. Rebekah could hear her wailing cries over the howls of the wind. She could feel Katie’s tears warm and wet on her shoulder.

  Reaching the creek bank, Mason turned them south. He hurried along the water’s edge, steadily urging Rebekah forward. When she stumbled again, nearly dropping Katie, his strong grasp hoisted her up and urged her to run. She ran on coltish legs, her fear spurring her on. Finally, when it seemed like the cyclone might overtake them, they rounded a bend. Here, past floodwaters had dug out a four-foot-high section of the bank, making a natural shelter, and Mason pulled them to the ground on dry dirt.

  Rebekah peeked around Mason’s arm. She couldn’t see the monster, but its presence was evident. The shallow water whipped about as if struggling to escape its banks. Tree limbs, Jimmy’s quilt, and their wooden bucket flew by. Thanks to their earthen shelter, the worst of the wind skittered around them. Grateful for his masculine strength, Rebekah turned her cheek into Mason’s shoulder, shutting out nature’s fury.

  He set Jimmy down next to Rebekah, with a reassuring ruffle to the boy’s head. Leaning over, Mason gave Katie a kiss on top of her head. His black eyes held Rebekah captive, urging her to be brave. Suddenly Mason jumped to his feet then leaned down toward Rebekah. His lips, warm against her ear, sent chills tunneling down her spine. “Need to check horses. Stay here. But get out—no matter what—if the water starts to rise.”

  Rebekah practically tossed Katie into Jimmy’s arms. Turning, she grabbed at Mason’s ankle. “No! Don’t go!” His boot slipped out of her grasp. Rebekah squinted into the gray darkness, but Mason was already gone.

  She turned back to the sobbing children and sheltered them with her body. A cold, stinging rain pelted her back, seeping into her dress.

  Oh, Lord, watch over Mason. Keep him safe. Please

  After what seemed like an eternity, though Rebekah knew it was only minutes, she dared to raise her head. The sky had brightened, and the wind diminished. As quickly as the storm had come, it was gone, the rains reduced to a mist.

  Pushing her hair out of her face, she checked the children. They were wet and visibly shaken, but they were alive and unharmed. Thank You, Lord

  Katie jumped into her arms, burying her face against Rebekah’s chest. “Shhh, it’s okay, sweetie. The storm’s passed us. God kept us safe.”

  Jimmy started to shinny up the bank, but Rebekah snagged his pant leg and pulled him back. She smoothed Katie’s damp hair from her face. “Katie, sweetie, go to Jimmy for a few minutes. I need to check things before you two come out.”

  “Aw, Rebekah, let me go,” Jimmy pleaded. “I can check things.”

  Katie clutched Rebekah tighter, choking off her breath. She loosened Katie’s arms. “Sweetie, come on, I need to have a look around and make sure the storm’s over. Jimmy will hold you for a few minutes; then I’ll be right back for you.”

  “But where’s Unca Mathon? Did he get blowed away?” Her bottom lip trembled as she put words to Rebekah’s own fears. Tears cascaded down Katie’s cheeks, mingling with the rain and mud already streaking her face.

  If Mason were okay, surely he would have returned for them by now. But he wasn’t back, and she didn’t hear him calling. What if he was hurt? Rebekah’s concern for him grew by the second.

  “Don’t go, Webekah.” Katie’s sobs wrenched her heart even as her little arms strangled Rebekah’s neck again.

  “I’ll be right back. I promise.”

  “Mama didn’t come back.”

  Rebekah looked at Jimmy’s wide-eyed stare. His black eyes looked so much like Mason’s.

  “C’mon, Katie,” he finally squeaked out. “I’ll hold you till Rebekah comes back.”

  Giving Jimmy a smile of gratitude, Rebekah disentangled herself from Katie’s death grip. She rose to her feet, futilely brushing the dust and wrinkles from Danielle’s dress. Standing on her tiptoes, she gazed over the top of their sanctuary, stunned at the destruction and disarray of their camp. She looked down at the children and smiled then turned and walked back alongside the peaceful stream. The calm water rippled along, belying the mayhem of the storm. In the far distance, Rebekah watched the cyclone continue its black path of destruction, the ever-hungry monster seeking other innocent, unwary victims to devour.

  The canopy over the wagon, split in three pieces, rippled in the light breeze like an embattled flag. Thankfully, the wagon still stood, a brave survivor of the destruction. Ironically, Rebekah’s pot of stew still sat over the campfire. She stared, amazed that the small fire had withstood the sudden, vicious downpour. Her clean clothes dotted the ground along the cyclone’s path. The one thing she longed to see eluded her scope of vision.

  Where is Mason?

  Most of the trees in the area lay eerily on their sides. Those still standing resembled besieged soldiers with broken arms. In the field across the trail, Rebekah could see two of their horses grazing on the knee-high prairie grass as if nothing had happened.

  Mason must be looking for the other horses.

  Rebekah decided the most important thing she could do was secure the horses, but first she had to tend the children.

  “Jimmy,” she called from the ledge up above them, “bring Katie on up here.”

  Immediately she heard the children running along the creek bank, and then they scrambled over to her. Wide-eyed, they stared in amazement at the destruction. Katie wrapped her arm around Rebekah’s leg, her dolly tucked in her other arm and her thumb in her mouth. Jimmy scanned the area, running his fingers through his hair just like Mason did whenever he was nervous or deep in thought.

  “Where’s Uncle Mason?” He turned to her with panic written all over his face. “Is he gone?”r />
  Rebekah had hoped to see him returning by now and nearly voiced her worry, but she had to be strong for the children. She couldn’t let them see that she was wondering the same thing.

  “I figure he went looking for the other two horses. We need to get busy and clean up as much as we can before he gets back. He’ll be so proud of us.”

  Jimmy straightened, as if in agreement.

  “I want you two to stay together. Jimmy, you watch out for Katie. There may be sharp things around like broken tree limbs. You two start by gathering up all the clothes and putting them in the back of the wagon. Then stock up a pile of wood and set it near the campfire. I’m going to run over there”—she pointed to the field behind the wagon—“and bring back the two horses. Okay?”

  Katie tightened her grip on Rebekah’s leg. “I wanna go wif you.”

  Stooping down, she gave Katie a hug, then pulled a leaf from her hair. “Sweetie, I’ll need both hands to bring back those two big horses. I need you to help Jimmy. It’s very important that we find all of our clothes and other belongings before dark. It will be like a treasure hunt. Can you do that for me?”

  Katie’s eyes sparkled. “I can find tweasure. And Molly can help, since she gots eyes now.” Touching a chubby finger to each eye, Katie turned Molly away from her. “See, Molly, there’s Unca Mathon’s shirt.” Running over to the blue plaid shirt, she snatched it up and turned a victorious smile toward Rebekah.

  “Good job, Molly, Katie. Go on, Jimmy, get busy and help Katie and Molly.” Jimmy rolled his eyes as if he were too mature to partake in Katie’s game.

  “Watch her carefully,” Rebekah whispered for his ears only. “I’ll be back as soon as possible.”

  He nodded and turned, taking Katie by the hand.

  Rebekah hurried toward the horses, slowing as she got closer so as not to spook them. She recognized the closest horse as Mason’s lead horse, Duke. Rather than wrestling with two of the huge animals, she grabbed the rope attached to Duke’s halter and tugged him back toward the wagon. He came willingly with a soft whinny. Rebekah wondered if he was thankful for the human companionship. She tied Duke to one of the few trees still standing and turned back to get the other horse.

  Scanning the countryside, she again wondered where Mason and the other horses were. As she neared the second horse, Rebekah spied a patch of red against the raw browns and dusty hues the tornado had left behind. A sudden sense of foreboding assaulted her so strongly she could almost smell it. Inching forward, she felt the blood drain from her face, causing it to go nearly numb. Raising a trembling hand to her mouth, she fought back the scream that sought so viciously to escape.

  No! Mason!

  nine

  Rebekah slumped to the ground, ignoring the wetness saturating her dress. Mason’s shoulder bulged upward in an unnatural manner. She doubted it was broken—maybe dislocated—but panic swarmed her mind at the sight of it. How could she fix a dislocated shoulder?

  With trembling hands, she reached under her skirt and tore off a strip of her petticoat. She dabbed the blood on Mason’s forehead, thankful when she realized the injury was only a small gash.

  “Mason,” she called, gently jostling his good shoulder. Oh, Lord God, please help us

  A moan erupted from somewhere deep inside Mason, softly reverberating through his body. Pain etched his face as he struggled to open his eyes. His eyelids fluttered then closed again as if the effort were too difficult. He lifted his good arm and squeezed his forehead, then reached for his wounded shoulder. “Ahh!”

  Rebekah saw a muscle twitch in the side of his jaw as he gritted his teeth, and she clenched her jaw in sympathy.

  “Shhh. I’m here, Mason. Try to relax and tell me how I can help you.” Rebekah brushed his dark hair off his forehead, then ran her hand down his cheek.

  “My arm—knocked—out of joint.”

  Rebekah dabbed at the sheen of sweat covering Mason’s forehead.

  “Gotta pop it back—happened before.” Mason’s chest rose in staccato rhythm as he sucked in short gasps of breath.

  Rebekah felt a woozy darkness threatening to overpower her. This couldn’t be happening again. A picture of her pale mother and little brother lying on their deathbeds, burning up with fever, haunted her. If only there’d been a doctor nearby. And here she was again, out in the middle of nowhere with Mason injured and maybe dying. Rebekah looked all around her. She didn’t even know in which direction the nearest town was. She raised her hands to her face as unshed tears burned her eyes and tightened her throat.

  No, God, please don’t do this to me again

  “Bekah—I’m okay.” She felt Mason’s warm, calloused hand gripping her wrist. “It happened before. Help me—pop it back.”

  Rebekah spread her fingers apart and peeked at Mason. He didn’t sound like he was dying. She took a deep, shuddering breath. “I don’t know what to do.”

  “Put your foot—in my underarm. Grab my arm and jerk it—back in place.”

  “No, I can’t do that. It’ll hurt you.” She laced her fingers together and pressed her hands to her mouth. The thought of bringing Mason more pain made her want to jump up and run away, just like she’d done when Curtis said she had to marry Giles Wilbur.

  “And who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” The words she had read that morning from the book of Esther burst into her mind. Rebekah dropped her hands to her lap and sat up straight. Could everything that had happened to her have been God’s plan to bring her to this exact place? What would Mason have done if he’d gotten hurt like this when he was alone with the children? Maybe she could redeem herself by helping them. The thought gave her courage. Even though she was on her way to Denver, it blessed her that God could use her along the way to help this man and the children. Swallowing back her remaining fear and doubt, she glanced up and met Mason’s pain-filled gaze.

  He lifted his head off the ground as if he needed to get closer to her. “I need your help, Bekah.”

  Bekah That was the second time he’d called her Bekah, and he’d never called her that before. It seemed almost as if saying her full name took too much effort. How could she not help him?

  “Tell me what to do.” She heaved the words with a heavy sigh. A smile tilted Mason’s lips, bolstering her courage.

  She slipped around to his wounded side, then sat down and removed her boot. Gently she eased her toes into Mason’s warm underarm, the heel of her stocking instantly absorbing the moisture of the damp grass underneath. He grimaced, whether in real pain or anticipation, Rebekah wasn’t sure. Wrapping her hands around the wrist of his useless limb, she gazed into his eyes. “I’m afraid I’ll hurt you,” she whispered.

  “You can’t hurt me any more than it hurts now.” His eyes begged her for understanding. “Yank hard or you might have to do it again—and we don’t want that, do we?” He gave her a weak smile and laid his head back down on the wet ground.

  “How hard?” Rebekah didn’t like the way her voice trembled. She needed to be brave for Mason’s sake.

  “Hard.” The gritty tone in his voice left her no doubt.

  “Wait,” she cried. Reaching under her skirt, she tore another strip off her petticoat, then folded it into a square. “Bite down on this. Maybe it will help.”

  “Thanks.” Mason’s sweet grin sent her stomach turning flip-flops—or maybe it was just the sight of his abnormal-looking shoulder. Mason opened his mouth, and she laid the pad of cloth between his teeth.

  “You ready?”

  Mason stared deeply into her eyes, as if fortifying her for the task ahead. After a moment, he gave a brief nod.

  God, help me do this right the first time—for Mason’s sake

  Anchoring her foot into Mason’s armpit, she gave him a final glance. His eyes were shut, dark eyebrows drawn down, and teeth clenched tightly on the fabric. Rebekah tightened her grip around Mason’s forearm. She closed her eyes, heaved another quick prayer, and yanked with all
her strength.

  “Ahhh!” he cried out. His head dropped to the ground.

  “I killed him!” Rebekah dropped Mason’s arm and rose to her knees. Leaning over his still form, she cradled his face in her hands. “Please don’t die,” she whispered, patting his clean-shaven cheeks. Tears from her eyes dripped down onto his face and the backs of her hands.

  In that moment, Rebekah suddenly realized how deep her feelings for Mason ran. She blinked in surprise. Though he irritated her with his stubbornness, she knew she’d never felt this way for a man before. Did she love him? How could she tell? She’d never known the love of a man—only Davy. But he wasn’t a man, just a boy. And even though she cared for Mason, she knew he didn’t love her. He still grieved for Annie.

  She told herself to remember that God had put her here to help Mason and the kids through this rough time, not to fall in love. The thought brought more tears gushing forth. Tears of gratitude that she could be here to help. Tears of sorrow that Mason could never feel for her what she felt for him.

  He uttered a soft moan, and his breathing returned to normal. With her thumbs, Rebekah wiped her tears off his face. She brushed back a lock of his damp hair and ran her fingers over his scalp, checking for other injuries. Mason heaved a deep sigh.

  “Mmm. Do that again.” Rebekah’s hands halted. He was alive—and conscious? “Don’t stop, Bekah. That feels great.”

  Staring at him in confusion, she leaned back, sitting on her heels, and wiped the tears from her face. The deeply etched pain no longer contorted Mason’s handsome face. Instead, he seemed almost at peace. She glanced at his shoulder, relieved it no longer held that unnatural shape. She’d done it. A smile of pride tickled her lips and swelled her chest. In spite of her fear and insecurities, she’d held her ground, she hadn’t run away, and Mason seemed better.

  “Where are the kids?” He peeked out one eye for a moment then shut it again.

  “They’re picking up.” She glanced back toward camp then realized she couldn’t see the campsite because of the wagon.