Charlotte's Challenge
Page 10
Charlotte laid a hand on Davie’s shoulder. “Wait right here.”
She grabbed a bucket and ran toward the horse trough. After scooping a bucketful of water she went toward bunkhouse door.
Bret dragged a body onto the dirt and dropped it. “Give me the bucket. Moose is beating at the fire with a blanket.”
“I can help.”
“Better see about that man. I think he’s dead but we need to be sure he won’t cause us more trouble.” He hurried into the bunkhouse.
Charlotte held her revolver as she checked the man’s pulse. When she didn’t feel any, she pressed on his chest. There was no movement.
Davie stood at the house’s front door. “Mama, can I come help?”
She shook her head because she didn’t want him seeing a dead person up close when it wasn’t necessary. “No, son. We’ll be in as soon as the fire’s out.”
How horrible that a man had died tonight. She wondered who had shot him, Bret or Moose. This made four people who’d died over the ownership of this ranch. Why did Winfield persist in such tactics?
***
The next morning, Charlotte was still shaky but managed to keep her feelings to herself.
Bret and Moose had located the dead man’s horse last night and fed and watered the animal. Now they loaded the body across the saddle.
She cornered Moose privately and handed him some cash. “This is an advance on your paycheck. I wanted to be sure you weren’t too strapped to get anything you wish while we’re in town.”
Looking embarrassed, Moose shoved the money into his pocket. “You’re a real thoughtful lady. Glad Bret’s gonna make sure you don’t lose your place.”
She had to settle something she’d wondered. “Who shot that man last night?”
“Reckon we both did. We didn’t plan to but he opened fire on us. Sidewinder planned to set fire to the bunkhouse with us inside. Sure glad you had that notion we ought to stay in the house.”
“Me, too, but now I’m almost afraid to leave for fear someone will try to burn us out.”
Bret overheard her. “He won’t want to lose the house or barn. I’m surprised he’d set the bunkhouse on fire. Would have suited his pocketbook if he’d simply planned to slit our throats in our sleep.”
Moose rubbed at his jaw. “Might have been his intention ‘til he saw we weren’t there.”
Jimmy tugged at Bret’s sleeve. “Can I see the dead man?”
She snapped, “You may not.”
Bret put a hand on Jimmy’s shoulder. “He’s rolled in his blanket and not a good sight for anyone. Just remember that bad people come to a sad end.”
As soon as breakfast was cleared away, the six of them piled into the wagon and headed for Palo Pinto with the dead man draped over his horse that Bret had tied to the wagon.
Once they’d reported to Sheriff Haney, he took charge of the body. “Now how did this happen?”
Bret explained Charlotte’s premonition and what had happened.
The sheriff shook his head. “If that don’t beat all? I’m sure eager to get this matter settled so the county will go back to being a peaceful place to live.”
Bret drove the short distance down the street and parked in front of the bank. He helped Charlotte down while Moose set Susie on the boardwalk. Davie and Jimmy jumped to the ground.
Moose shifted from one foot to the other. “Y’all don’t need me. Reckon I’ll mosey around town.”
Bret shook his head. “Might need you as a witness. Do you mind waiting a bit to look over the town?”
Moose grinned. “Naw, I just didn’t want to butt into your business.”
Jimmy tugged on Charlotte’s sleeve. “Mama, can us kids go to the store and get some candy while you go to the bank?”
“No, you three will stay with me. Behave your best in the bank and I’ll take you to the store afterward.”
Susie took Jimmy’s hand. “We will.”
Inside, they went to Mr. Edmondson’s office. He stood when he saw them and smiled. “How are things going for you, Mrs. Dunn? Gentlemen? Won’t you adults have a seat? Sorry I don’t have enough chairs for the children also.”
The three adults each sat in the chairs facing his desk. The children stood straight and quiet against a wall.
Pleased her children were so well behaved, Charlotte adjusted the skirt of her lavender damask dress so the folds fell gracefully. “The children are fine standing by the door.”
She made introductions and gestured to Bret. “Mr. Craig has business with you today.”
Bret leaned forward. “Might as well get to the point. I’d like to pay off the mortgage you hold on Mrs. Dunn’s ranch.”
Mr. Edmondson’s smile widened. “I must say this is a relief, Mr. Craig. I trust this means she won’t have to leave the ranch. Let me gather the paperwork.” He turned to some files in a drawer behind his desk.
When he had a sheaf of papers in hand, he turned back to his desk. He mentioned the exact number owed. The sum was not outrageous—it had been a bargain for the amount of acreage acquired and part had been paid last fall. But when you had almost no money and no cattle, the amount seemed an unconquerable mountain.
Bret counted money as he placed it on Mr. Edmondson’s desk. When he’d reached the total, he leaned back in his chair. “That should settle the debt.”
The banker signed the deed then pushed a sheet of paper toward Bret. “Mr. Craig, if you would sign here, I’ll give you the deed.”
Bret took the pen and wrote his name where indicated. “There you are. Now, her debt is cleared. Give the deed to Mrs. Dunn. I want to be clear that there is nothing improper about my friendship with Mrs. Dunn. She and her boys saved my life, a debt I don’t take lightly and one I can never repay.”
The banker smiled at Charlotte then looked at Bret. “One or two always enjoy thinking the worst. However, most who know Mrs. Dunn will agree she always acts in a proper manner and sets a good example for her children.”
Charlotte sensed she blushed. “Thank you, Mr. Edmondson.”
He handed her the deed. “Here you are, Mrs. Dunn. I’m happy things have worked out for you. When I heard the rest of your cattle had been rustled, I admit I was worried. Mr. Winfield sent word he’d be in today and I’m sure he intended to force his hand and get the mortgage. My investors have already exerted a great deal of pressure.”
“Thank you for supporting my welfare and that of my children. You’ve been very kind, Mr. Edmondson, and a true friend.” She added the deed to her purse.
Perhaps she should to say something that wouldn’t give away their plans. “I’ve been terribly worried since Ike was shot and our first cattle were rustled. I hope the sheriff can locate and return the cattle. Not much of a ranch with no animals.”
Bret remained seated. “While I’m here, I’d like to open an account. Can you take care of that or do I need to speak to a teller?”
“I’ll be happy to help you.”
Charlotte stood. “We’ll wait in there and give you some privacy.” She ushered her children into the lobby.
Moose followed her. “I sure feel better, Mrs. Dunn. You and your children are fine people. That’s a nice bunkhouse and a real good ranch. The fire damage won’t be hard to repair.”
“I feel more than just better, Moose. I could dance around the lobby.” She grinned. “Don’t worry, I won’t actually do so.”
He chuckled. “Wouldn’t bother me if you did.”
Davie had been looking outside but came to stand in front of her with a solemn expression. “He’s coming.”
There was no need to ask who her son meant. Sure enough, Elwood Winfield walked into the bank.
Mr. Winfield smirked as he approached her. “Here to throw yourself on the bank’s mercy? I believe you’ll find financial institutions show none.”
Charlotte forced a smile. “And a good day to you, too, Mr. Winfield.”
He reached for the doorknob to Mr. Edmondson’s office.
The head teller must have anticipated this because he’d rushed over and now stepped in front of the door. “Sorry, sir, but there’s someone in with Mr. Edmondson.”
“Tell him I’m here. I have important business to conduct.”
“Sorry, Mr. Winfield, I’m not allowed to interrupt him. I don’t think he’ll be long. Please feel free to wait or you could come back later.”
Charlotte’s smile was genuine this time. “Sounds like you’re not as important as you believe you are, Mr. Winfield.”
He stabbed the air with his index finger. “You’ll find out exactly how important I am when you’re forced to abandon your ranch. You should have taken my offer to buy it.”
Davie looked ready to do battle but, with a motion, Moose stopped him from speaking.
Charlotte kept her voice pleasant and smiled. “Your offer was far too low, as I’m sure you’re aware. Besides, you know that ranch will go to my oldest son one day.”
“Not likely. I suggest that while you’re in town you look for somewhere you and your brats can move when you leave the ranch. If your ranch hand is good, he can keep his job.”
This time Davie had to tug on Moose.
“Moose is an excellent ranch hand whose expertise is invaluable.” To prevent a laugh, Charlotte examined her gloves. “I’ll be staying at the ranch for several years. I’m sure Davie will provide a home for me when he’s ready to marry and start a family at the ranch.”
She widened her eyes. “Oh, I just had an idea. Why don’t you sell us your ranch then the younger children and I could move there? That’s the perfect solution. In fact, my son suggested that very thing.”
Winfield sneered. “Very funny. You can’t buy a bag of coffee, much less a ranch like mine.”
“You’re wrong. We have cash in the bank for groceries, salaries, and so forth. Of course, we’ll have to obtain cattle.” She narrowed her eyes. “As you know, cowardly rustlers stole ours in two bunches. Can’t have a cattle ranch without cattle.”
“You’re not facing reality yet. You will soon.”
The bank president’s door opened and Bret stepped out followed by Mr. Edmondson.
Mr. Edmondson shook Bret’s hand. “A pleasure doing business with you. I trust I’ll see you again soon.”
Winfield was aghast. “You? I was kept waiting because of you?”
Mr. Edmondson winked at Charlotte then turned toward Winfield. The smile he sent Winfield didn’t reach his eyes. “You wanted to see me, Elwood? Won’t you come into my office?”
Bret chuckled as he took her elbow and guided her toward the door and onto the boardwalk. “What do you say I treat everyone to ice cream?”
The children cheered, agreeing that was a great idea. The ice cream parlor was part of the drug store a couple of doors away. They found seats at two of the marble-topped tables and gave their orders.
Davie, who sat with the adults, laughed. “Did you see Mr. Winfield’s face when the teller wouldn’t let him go into Mr. Edmondson’s office? Man, was he mad.”
Moose slapped his thigh. “Sure would like to be a fly on the wall about now and hear the conversation in that office.”
Bret appeared relaxed. “I suspect it’s not pleasant for everyone concerned. I happened to mention last night’s fire to Mr. Edmondson.”
In spite of the seriousness of the fire and the man who was killed, Charlotte couldn’t stop grinning. “Mr. Edmondson has been so nice to me. I think he’ll enjoy informing that man he’s no longer a threat to us.”
After they’d leisurely eaten their treat, Charlotte told Bret she wanted to look around the general store.
“I’ll walk down and talk to the sheriff again. He needs to know about the change in ownership. Moose, Davie, you’re invited if you want to come with me.”
The three of them ambled toward the jail while Charlotte and her two youngest went into the store. She was almost giddy with relief. But what did it mean, really?
Bret must have a lot of money if he could give away the price of the mortgage. Why was he opening a bank account in Palo Pinto when he was going to California? She had too many unanswered questions whirling in her mind.
Chapter Seventeen
Bret and his two companions strolled toward the sheriff’s office.
Davie said, “Papa used to let me go see the sheriff with him. Sheriff Haney would let me look through the wanted posters.”
Bret was surprised. “I didn’t realize your dad and the sheriff were good friends. They got along real well then?”
“I guess. They’d sit around and talk about growing up in the same place.”
Bret wasn’t especially curious but wanted to encourage Davie. “Must have been nice. Where was that?”
“Macon, Missouri. They did a lot of things they shouldn’t have. Like turning over outhouses, that sort of thing.”
Moose looked thoughtful. “What’s the sheriff’s first name?”
“Arvin, but I’m not allowed to call him that.”
Moose glanced at Davie. “Since you’re about grown, your Papa must have been quite a bit older than your mama.”
“Yeah, he was twelve years older than her. She didn’t seem to mind. She’s real easy to get along with, don’t you think, Bret?”
Bret grinned at Davie. “So far. I’m not ever telling her I don’t like what’s for supper, though.”
Davie laughed.
At the sheriff’s office they waited for him to finish giving Rick instructions about the dead man. “Come in, men, and sit down.” He pushed a stack of wanted posters toward Davie. “Guess you want to look through these.”
Bret took one of the chairs. “We were in a hurry this morning in case Winfield beat us to the bank. We came to let you know that we think those cattle will be moved soon. Mrs. Dunn paid off her note at the bank a few minutes before Winfield arrived. He knows he isn’t getting that ranch now. I expect he’s going to do something, but don’t know what.”
“Glad to hear she scraped up the money. I’d hate for Ike’s work to have been wasted on Winfield and would hate to see her and the children homeless.” He leaned back and steepled his fingers over his stomach and appeared to be deep in though.
After a few seconds, he leaned forward and laid his hands on his desk. “Reckon we’d better ride out there and see what we can find. You folks go on back to the ranch after you’re through in town and I’ll ride out and meet you at the house there. I don’t have to tell you to keep this to yourselves, do I?”
Davie held up a sheet of paper. “Sheriff, this looks like Mr. Winfield’s foreman.”
“Let me see.” Sheriff Haney reached for it. “I’ll be Dadburn. It does resemble him. What do you fellas think?” He passed the poster to Bret and Moose.
Moose waved off the handbill. “Only time I saw the man was from a distance.”
“Looks like him.” Bret read the description again. “Sounds like him, too. It’s from Erath County. Where’s that from here?”
“Next county due south. Guess I didn’t study this close enough. Says his name’s Faron Adams. Lots of crooks keep their initials when they change their name.”
Bret stood. “Come on, Davie. We’d better get your mother and take everyone home to wait for Sheriff Haney.”
Davie carefully restacked wanted posters. “Thank you for letting me look at these, Sheriff Haney.”
“Thank you for your sharp eyes, Davie.” The sheriff piled them on top of others in a tray.
As they walked toward the general store, Davie raced ahead.
Moose nudged Bret. “Need to tell you something in private.”
His friend had a solemn expression. Since Moose was usually easygoing, Bret’s curiosity was aroused. “Let’s wait by the wagon for Charlotte and the children.”
“We may be in trouble. I grew up in the same town as the sheriff and remember him. Guess he didn’t remember me. ’Course it’s been a goodly number of years.”
“What’s the problem?”
“You saying he’s crooked?”
“No, I’m not accusing him. Lots of people change when they come west. What I’m saying is we got to be prepared for him to be so we don’t get caught in the crosshairs.”
“What about Ike Dunn?”
“Birds of a feather.”
Charlotte stomped out of the store looking ready for a fight. “Get in the buggy now, children.”
Bret rushed to help Charlotte but she beat him and was on the seat before he reached her. He set Susie up while both Jimmy and Davie climbed into the wagon.
Before he released the brake, he wanted to know what was wrong. “Charlotte, what’s upset you?”
Susie leaned over the seat. “Mrs. Gregory was mean to Mama.”
He kept his tone even. “How was she mean?”
“She called Mama a not nice name because—”
“That’s enough, Susan Elaine Dunn. You sit with your brothers while I talk to Bret and Moose. You pass out the peppermint sticks.”
“Reckon I’ll ride with the young ‘uns.” Moose climbed over the seat and sat with his back leaning against the bench so he could hear what Charlotte and Bret said but with his legs stretched out so the kids couldn’t get too close.
Bret released the brake and snapped the reins. When they’d turned toward the ranch, he glanced at her. “Well?”
She pulled a handkerchief from her purse and dabbed at her eyes. “Mrs. Gregory accused me of being a… a… a loose woman because you stayed in the house while you were recovering. She’d already heard you paid off the mortgage, no doubt from Winfield.”
That burned his biscuits. “Did you set her straight?”
“I tried but her mind is made up. Other people in the store stared at me as if I carried smallpox. Unless Winfield is shown for what he is, a lot of people in town will believe him.”
“Moose and I figure with Winfield knowing he won’t have the ranch that he’ll try moving those cattle this evening. The sheriff will come to the house today not long after we get there.”