Landon bid farewell to Sally and headed out to the stable. He found his own horse in one of the stalls. He spent some time getting the horse saddled. The horse eyed him, as if his presence was reassuring after the days spent cooped up in the stable with the other horses. Landon was ready to be riding again. He'd put on his jeans, plaid shirt and jacket. Popping the Stetson on his head, he led the horse out to the yard. He hadn't been in the saddle since the fall at the creek. For a moment, he paused, holding onto the horse and wondering what would happen once he started riding out across the rangeland. Recalling Doc Clanton's advice, Landon resolved to take things easy to begin with.
Rising up onto the saddle, he grasped the reins. It felt good to be on top of the horse. Shaking its head, the horse snickered, as if it was glad Landon was back in place. Landon patted the horse on the side of its neck. "Let's go," he murmured.
Then he started to ride out across the rangeland. Last night, from Doyle, Landon had found out where the herd usually resided. He headed for that corner of the ranch. At first the movement of the horse unsettled Landon. Holding tightly onto the reins, he tried to sense whether his balance was still affected. For the first few minutes he didn't notice anything unusual. Maybe, he'd been right when he'd told Beth that he was healed and fully recovered.
However, cresting a ridge at a steady pace, Landon suddenly felt the world shift around him. "Whoa!" he cried out and pulled hard on the reins, drawing the horse to a standstill.
Fixing his gaze on a distant ridge, Landon felt his head spin. Everything in his view shifted noticeably. Landon groaned and grasped the pommel of the saddle. He grunted with frustration as he waited for everything to settle down. After a few moments, it all returned to normal. Landon dragged in a deep breath. "Looks like I was kidding myself," he told the horse. A few moments later he felt able to resume riding. He thought about what he could say to Beth. Nothing, was the answer to that, he told himself. Beth didn't need to know his troubles. She had enough of her own. For now, he'd keep his continuing need for recovery to himself. If anything, it made the need to remain on the Circle D even more acute.
He rode on for a short while, savoring the wide open country. He'd been cooped up in the big house for too long. A man could go stir-crazy living like that, he reflected. Although having Beth around most of the day made up for the pains of enforced confinement. Gazing out across the spread, Landon concluded that this was fine rangeland. Perfect for grazing. Plenty of space for cattle to roam. There was real promise in the Circle D. Maybe in a few years it might be one of the biggest spreads in these parts. All of that would depend on Beth being able to work the ranch. She'd need help. That was for sure. Even a team of ranch hands might not be enough. She'd need expert guidance if she was to pick up everything she needed to learn quickly enough. Landon smiled to himself as he thought about the prospect of him being the source of that help. Getting closer to Beth was real important to him. If only she'd let him into her world. If only she'd let him into her heart.
It didn't take long to find the herd. He followed the lowing sound of the cattle and found them in a broad valley. Ranch hands rode amongst the herd. Landon's dizziness had passed so he rode down into the valley with a quickened pace. Drawing up close to the herd he gazed around, looking for Beth but she was nowhere to be seen. Calling over one of the younger ranch hands, and finding that the dark-haired, broad-shouldered man's name was Jack, he asked where she was.
Jack pointed west. "She and Doyle rode off in that direction."
Instantly, Landon felt a jolt of tension race through his body. He straightened in the saddle. "When?"
Jack shrugged. "An hour ago."
Landon drew in a sharp breath. "Did they say why they were heading in that direction?"
Jack shook his head. "I don't know for sure. But it might have to do with the fact that we had some cattle stolen last night."
"How many?" Landon demanded.
"About a dozen. Doyle was real angry this morning," Jack said. "Blamed some of us hands for not fixing the holes in the fences."
"What's over that way?" he asked.
Jack frowned. "Only the Harding spread."
Wes Harding. The name triggered instant anxiety in Landon. The man who had pestered Beth back at the creek. The man who'd been responsible for Landon ending up unconscious by the side of the same creek. A hard knot of unease settled in Landon's gut. He thought for a long moment and then made a decision. "You come with me, Jack. We need to go find out what's happened to Beth and Doyle." Landon spoke with the same tone of authority he was used to using back at the Baxter spread.
Jack nodded, apparently satisfied that Landon knew what he was doing. Then both riders headed out across the rangeland. They were silent as they rode. Wild speculations filled Landon's mind as he rode. Maybe Beth and Doyle had run into rustlers. Perhaps, now that he had her alone, Doyle had acted upon his obvious interest in Beth. Landon hoped, for Doyle's sake, that no harm had come to Beth.
Finally, both riders came to the edge of the spread. Jack pointed to the cut wire of the boundary fencing. They followed the trail of the numerous gaps in the fence until they came to the last one. There, on the grassland, Landon saw recent evidence of cattle being driven through the wide gap between the fencing poles. "Looks like they came this way," Jack suggested.
Landon nodded. "I think you're right," he replied. Gazing across the wide meadow on the other side of the fence, Landon asked: "Is that the Harding spread?"
Jack nodded. "It's about a mile to the ranch house from here."
Landon didn't hesitate. Jerking the reins, he kicked against the side of his horse, driving toward the gap. "Let's go pay a call on Mr Wes Harding," Landon declared.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
"You took the cattle," Beth exclaimed angrily. "Admit it. You're nothing but a low-down rustler, Harding."
Wes Harding planted his fists against his portly sides and peered straight into Beth's eyes. His face was getting flushed now. For a while he'd managed to maintain his composure. But in the last few minutes he looked like he was beginning to crack. "You ain't got no proof to back up that claim." His voice shook with the beginnings of anger.
Alongside Beth, Doyle took one step closer to Harding. "There were tracks on Circle D land. They led right through the hole in the fence, Mr Harding. Onto your land."
All three of them were standing out in the dusty yard in front of the large, white-fronted, two-story Harding ranch house. Over by the corral, three tall, and menacing-looking ranch hands were watching the argument which had been going on for too long, as far as Beth was concerned. She'd known it would be a risk coming onto Harding land and making serious accusations. However, she'd known there had been no other option. If she let this pass, then she figured more cattle would continue to go missing. Eventually, she'd be left with none.
She and Doyle had arrived a short while ago. They'd been told that Harding wasn't around. That had just been an excuse to make them wait around, Beth told herself. Maybe Harding had hoped Beth would just go back to the Circle D without getting any answers. Well, that wasn't going to happen today, she'd decided.
Beth took a step toward Harding. "Is this how low you're willing to stoop? Stealing my cattle."
"Your cattle?" Harding sneered. He shook his head. "You think you have any chance of making that spread into a proper ranch?"
Beth's eyes flashed with fury. "Why wouldn't I be able to do that? Is it because I'm a woman?"
Harding laughed. "That might have something to do with it," he declared. "Doesn't help that you don't know what you're doing."
Rage swept through her like a tidal wave. Clenching her fists, Beth glared at Harding. "You're lucky I haven't called the law on you."
"What do you mean?"
"After what you did the other day down at the creek," Beth snapped. "Some might say that was assault."
"You've got a lot to learn, little lady," Harding said in a deeply patronizing tone of voice. "You still think y
ou're living in Billings? The law doesn't work the same out here."
"I have a witness," Beth countered.
"That Baxter man?" Harding scoffed. "He couldn't even stay on his horse. I heard he near broke his head in two."
"Lucky for you he didn't die," Beth told Harding. "Otherwise you'd be in front of the judge accused of murder."
Harding's eyes widened. "It wasn't my fault he couldn't hold onto his reins."
"I saw what happened," Beth replied. Pushing her face up to his, she announced: "Nothing would give me more pleasure than to see you taken by the law for attempted murder."
Harding quirked a brow at Beth. "You've been reading too many dime novels, young lady."
Before Beth could say another word, she heard the thundering sound of hoofbeats pounding on the trail leading into the yard of the Harding ranch. Turning, she gasped at what she saw. Landon on horseback! Riding next to him, she recognized Jack one of her ranch hands. What was Landon doing on horseback? And what was he doing here, on the Harding spread?
Landon drew his mount to a halt near the three of them. He dismounted and strode over to Beth. His eyes were narrowed with concern, the ridges of his brows furrowed deeply. Beth saw Harding take one cautious step backward. Over by the corral the three men straightened and their hands drifted down to the pistols at their waists. Beth had a bad feeling about what could happen next.
She went to Landon, taking him by the arm. "What are you doing here?" she demanded.
Landon glanced down at her. His gaze was stern, his features impassive. She hadn't seen him like this before. "Same reason you came, Beth." Landon nodded toward Doyle. The other man's previously calm demeanor had changed. Now he looked as worried as Harding.
"You're trespassing," Harding declared in a voice loud enough for everyone in the yard to hear.
Landon fixed Harding with a steady gaze. "And the men you sent to take Beth's cattle were doing exactly the same, Harding."
Harding's face turned red. "Those kind of accusations could get you into trouble, Baxter." Harding squinted at Landon's Stetson. Beth saw the edge of the bandage just below the line of the hat. "I see you still haven't recovered from your clumsy episode at the creek," Harding added sarcastically.
"Nothing I can't handle," Landon replied in a steady, unwavering voice.
Beth wanted to know what had driven Landon to take to the saddle and come all the way out to the Harding ranch house. In spite of what he'd told her about feeling fine, she knew it was too soon for him to be riding again. Worry seized her. Had he suffered any dizziness while he'd been riding? It had barely been long enough for him to make a full recovery. But, she could see Landon was determined not to show weakness. Not to Harding. Nor to Doyle.
"You took something that doesn't belong to you," Landon stated. He moved toward Harding.
Forcing himself not to react, nevertheless Beth saw Harding shake slightly as he watched Landon advance toward him. "You ain't got any proof." Harding drew himself up to his full height but he was still a head shorter than Landon. "Get off my land."
"Or you'll do what?" Landon demanded.
Harding's eyes shifted in the direction of the three men. They started to walk slowly toward their boss. Beth's heartbeat quickened. She glanced at Landon and tugged on his arm. "We can sort this out some other time, Landon."
Harding's features twisted into a sardonic expression. "Landon, is it, now?" He laughed. Glancing at Doyle, Harding added: "It's true what I've been hearing. You two are getting real friendly."
Beth heard Landon grunt. "Harding. You're testing my patience."
"And you're on my land!" Harding barked. This time there was no fake good-humor in the man's voice. Now he sounded genuinely angry.
The lowing sound of cattle rose on the air. Beth saw Landon turn his head toward the wooden-fenced pen over by the corral. Landon's eyes narrowed. Suddenly he started to stride toward the cattle pen.
"Where do you think you're going?" Harding demanded, starting to race after Landon. Ignoring Harding, Landon jerked open the gate of the cattle pen and stepped inside. Beth raced across and saw Landon pushing his way through a gathering of about twenty cattle locked inside the pen.
"Get out of there!" Harding roared. Landon ignored him, continuing his scrutiny of the hides of the cattle. When Harding gestured toward his three men that it was time for them to act, Beth called out. "Landon, watch out!"
The three men stepped into the cattle pen and prepared themselves for action. Beth's throat tightened. She stared wide-eyed at Jack and Doyle, but neither men seemed ready or willing to do anything.
Then Beth heard Landon's triumphant yell. He rested a hand on the back of one of the cows. "Here it is," he declared. "I can see it. The brand has been altered." Landon peered at Harding and smiled. "You've tried to change the brands. But I can see the original Circle D right underneath the fresh brand." Landon gestured at Beth. "Come and see," he suggested.
Beth didn't move. Shaking her head, she made it clear she didn't have to see for herself. She trusted Landon.
Harding looked flustered now. He grunted with frustration. Landon gestured for Doyle and Jack to enter the cattle pen. The men went inside and, for the next few minutes, worked with Landon to identify the cattle whose brands had been altered. They found ten of Beth's cows in the pen.
Landon walked out of the pen and faced Harding. "You know this is serious Harding. I can get the law on you for this."
"Not you, Baxter," Harding sneered. He turned to Beth. "The owner of the cattle is the only one who can do that." Beth meet Harding stare with a defiant one of her own. Harding turned back to Landon. "Unless you're really trying to tell me you have an interest in the Circle D."
That last comment made Beth's face flush with heat. There was more than one way those words could be interpreted. "That's my property you have in there," she said firmly and pointed inside the cattle enclosure.
"We're taking them back where they belong," Landon announced.
Beth saw Harding's jaw tighten and his shoulders become tense. The man knew there were too many witnesses to what Landon had found. There was nothing he could do. For now.
"Boys. Let's get those cattle back to the Circle D," Landon instructed.
While Landon, Doyle and Jack worked to retrieve the cattle from the enclosure, Beth watched Harding carefully. Once the cattle were out in the yard and Beth, Landon, Doyle and Jack had mounted their horses, Beth peered down at Harding and scowled. "You haven't heard the last of this," she stated.
Harding's face was a picture of resentment. But he said nothing as the four riders from the Circle D started to herd the cattle away from the Harding ranch house.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Landon knew he was in trouble with Beth when she didn't speak to him for much of the rest of the day. Sure, she had exchanged a few words with him when they'd been taking the cattle back to the Circle D spread. Because of herding the small number of cattle, the journey had been slower than the one Landon and Jack had taken when they'd been riding to the Harding ranch house. Beth had confined her occasional remarks to Landon to the subject of cattle. Once the cattle were back on Circle D land, Beth had ridden off quickly, explaining she had to get back to the ranch house to see the children. Landon had spent some time with the ranch hands.
The whole time he'd been with the hands, Landon's thoughts had constantly drifted to Beth. He'd seen the way she'd looked at him when he and Jack had ridden onto the yard at the Harding ranch house. There had been consternation in her eyes, as well as a touch of disbelief at what she was witnessing. Landon guessed Beth was angry with him. It was obvious to him that she didn't believe he should have ridden over to Harding's place. Even if it had worked out well, it had been foolish.
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