The man swung down off his horse and sauntered over to her wagon. Crouching down, he examined the wheel in the fading light. “Yep, you’re stuck.”
Rachel huffed. “I know that.”
“You and the boy, out of the wagon.” After issuing this order, the man strode into the woods as she and Will climbed down to stand alongside the wagon. He hauled back a large tree limb.
Rachel and Will waited, shaking from their wet, soggy clothes. If she didn’t get Will home soon, he would end up sick. She pulled him to her side, trying to warm him up, but the child’s teeth chattered.
After wedging the limb under the stuck wheel, the man turned to Will. “You think you can climb up on that wagon seat and hold those reins to steer the horses?”
Will’s eyes rounded and he nodded furiously.
“Wait a minute. Why can’t I steer the wagon? Will is too young.”
“No offense, ma’am, but Will weighs less than you, and you and I will be pushing the wagon from behind.”
Rachel shook her head. “I don’t know. I don’t like the sound of this.”
The man nudged the brim of his hat back and rested his hands on his hips. “Do you want to get out of here? Or would you prefer to spend the night shivering in your wagon?”
“Ma, I can do it.” Will was almost jumping up and down in his excitement. “I can.”
Soon it would be full darkness, and truth be told she had no idea how to get them out of the mud. She glanced at the man who viewed her with raised eyebrows.
“Very well. Will, climb up onto the wagon seat. But be very careful.”
He climbed up and took the reins in his hands, then turned to look at the man. “Now what?”
“Hold on, son. Just let me and your ma get behind the wagon. When I tell you to, slap the reins, but not too hard, we don’t want the horses bolting. This has to be slow and easy. Slow and easy usually works just fine.” As he looked at her, his grin told Rachel he was not talking about the wagon.
Oh, how she wished when they pushed the wagon, he’d fall head first in the mud.
The brim of her hat landed on her face again.
“Put your shoulder to the back of the wagon, ma’am. When I give your son the word, we both push. Use all the strength you have. If we do it right, the wheel should go over the limb and out of the mud.” He rotated his neck. “Ready?”
“Yes.”
“Okay, Will, go ahead and slap those reins—not too hard.”
“Yes, sir.” Will had to slap the reins twice before the horses paid any attention. They started up and Rachel and the man pushed. After several grunts and pushing with all her might, the wagon moved forward and the wheel rolled over the limb. The whole thing rocked and she thought for a minute it would overturn.
“There you are, ma’am.” The man leaned back and wiped the sweat from his forehead. Then he tugged on the brim of his hat and headed to his horse.
Rachel scooted onto the seat and took the reins from Will. As much as she hated to do it, the good manners she was raised with took hold and she looked in his direction. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” That lazy grin did strange things to her insides. She was most likely hungry and cold. It couldn’t be anything else.
The group continued on their way until they reached the turnoff for the ranch. “Thank you again, sir. I appreciate your help.”
He gave her a brisk nod and frowned as she turned onto the lane underneath the arch with “Lazy Sunset Ranch” in large letters. “You live here?”
“Yes. Why?”
His frowned deepened. “Are you Mrs. Richardson? Big Bob’s wife?”
“No. I’m the cook for the ranch.”
He grinned. “Well, I’ll be.”