Where There's a Will

by Brenda Sinclair

  But ever so wonderful!

  She’d never been kissed by a man before, and she’d always considered the idea highly overrated. After this morning, she might be forced to reconsider her opinion. Kissing possessed its merits.

  Too bad it could never happen again.

  * * *

  Adam smiled, recalling how Willow stormed out of the barn, face aflame with embarrassment. He reckoned she’d never kissed a man she worked alongside before. Perhaps she’d never been kissed until this morning, period. Knowing he might have been the first man to kiss her settled a pool of warmth in his heart.

  “We’re definitely doing that again,” he whispered to himself.

  Leonard glanced his way. “You say something, boss?”

  “Just talking to Sunrise. She produces the most beautiful fillies.” Adam silently congratulated himself on his quick thinking. He smiled as the new filly attempted to stand, spindly legs wobbling and giving out a moment later. Eventually, the little gal would figure it out.

  Sunrise hefted herself onto her feet and licked the filly. A moment later, the filly attempted to stand again, encouraged by a nudge from her mother.

  “What has you smiling?”

  Adam stared at Leonard, his mind processing the question. He hadn’t realized he’d been smiling, but after that remarkable kiss he’d just shared with Willow, he didn’t doubt it. “Just pleased with the new filly.”

  “New filly? I reckon you’re a bit pleased with my sister also.” Leonard chuckled, leaning over the stall’s half door. “I saw you kissing her. But I approve if you’re figuring on courting her.”

  Adam gaped at his ranch hand who had obviously arrived a few moments earlier than before he’d spoken up. “She was a tad emotional after the foal was born and needed a bit of comforting.”

  Leonard burst into laughter. “Next time I need a bit of comforting, I’ll keep you in mind.”

  “Only works for special ranch hands,” Adam said, chuckling. He enjoyed Leonard’s sense of humor and good-naturedness. Excellent qualities in a man who could become his brother-in-law one day. Whoa, now. That was cart before horse for certain. Or was it?

  “Only one particular ranch hand if I had to wager,” Leonard added. “My sister is a good girl, boss. I’d appreciate it if there was no funny business.”

  “Absolutely not! McLennon men are total gentlemen,” Adam blurted, his declaration sounding a tad stronger than he’d intended. But he hadn’t any regrets setting Willow’s brother straight on the matter of her virtue and his intentions toward her.

  “Sorry, boss. It needed saying, but no offense intended.” Leonard extended his hand.

  Adam shook his hand. “None taken.”

  Both of them returned to work, and Adam allowed his thoughts to drift to Willow. He suspected he was falling in love with his new Thoroughbred wrangler. Words he reckoned would never wander through his mind. He’d worried she’d been spending so much time with Davie that the young ranch hand might have caught her eye. After that kiss they shared, his worries had been set to rights. No woman kissed a man that thoroughly if another fellow occupied her thoughts.

  But if Willow would someday become his wife, he needed to start protecting her now. The best way would be to discover this secret she insisted on keeping. He’d be making a trip into Milestone tomorrow to send a telegraph to the ideal man to help with that mission.

  Chapter 8

  Adam strode into the Morgan barn and peeked into each stall as he progressed down the aisle. He stopped in front of Sunrise’s stall and watched the horse standing sedately while her filly nursed. He’d named her Morning Dew and the little girl was flourishing under Leonard’s care.

  Distracted from his mission, Adam recalled the morning the filly was born and the kiss he shared with Willow afterward. She’d seemed aloof since, avoiding him at every turn. She’d even turned down his invitation to share a Sunday afternoon buggy ride, something he knew she enjoyed immensely since she could wear one of the dresses Amanda had gifted her. No doubt she regretted their kiss, but he couldn’t claim the same. In fact, he’d repeat the pleasurable experience in a heartbeat. If he ever convinced Willow to spend a minute with him.

  Leonard wandered into the barn. His arms were loaded down with the tack he’d been cleaning. “Hi, boss. Need help with something?” He hung the harnesses on their designated hooks and stood waiting for a reply.

  “Have you seen Willow?”

  Leonard pondered the question for a minute. “Not since early this morning.”

  “Where was she?”

  “Out in the west pasture. Told me she was checking on the last of the expectant mares.” Leonard removed his crumpled Stetson, scratched his head, and replaced the hat. “That was a couple hours ago. Do you suppose one of them is laboring out there?”

  Adam felt his face pale. “We need to check now.”

  The two of them lit out on foot for the pasture, neither of them voicing what they were both thinking. Please don’t let anything happen to one of those horses!

  Ten minutes later, they stood in the pasture. Adam counted horses and came up short by one. That couldn’t be right.

  “Count the horses,” he ordered his wrangler.

  Leonard stood silently cyphering. “What the heck? There’s one missing.”

  “Count again.”

  “I already counted twice, boss. There’s one missing.” Leonard gazed in every direction in turn. “And where the heck is Willow?”

  “It’s Shadow. I don’t see Shadow.”

  Leonard removed his hat and slapped his thigh with it sending a cloud of dust into the air. “Me, neither.”

  “What do suppose happened to her?”

  “No idea. She wasn’t bred so she couldn’t have wandered off alone to birth a foal.” Leonard stuck his hat back on his head. “Do you suppose Willow noticed her missing and went looking for her?”

  “Wasn’t what I was thinking,” Adam scoffed.

  Leonard met his boss’s eyes and then his jaw dropped. “You think Willow stole her? My sister is not a horse thief!”

  “My mare is missing. Your sister is missing. Way I figure it, Willow probably took the horse.”

  “Bull pies. Willow would not steal any horse. And certainly not a horse from the Double M.” Leonard wagged a finger at Adam. “You do another round of figuring because you couldn’t be more wrong about her.”

  Adam shook his head. “Then explain it to me.”

  Leonard’s gaze scoured the horizon. “Well, I don’t rightly know what happened to either of them.”

  “Should I send word to town? Summon the sheriff?” Adam stood, hands on hips. Angry didn’t begin to cover his growing contempt for the female wrangler who promised she wouldn’t run. Now she’d not only left the ranch, she’d stolen one of his prize Thoroughbred mares.

  “Go ahead. But you’d be wasting the sheriff’s time. My sister didn’t steal Shadow.”

  Thundering hooves alerted them to two riders approaching, leading two saddled horses as well. Adam caught a glimpse of his father in the saddle. What the heck? One of the horses was Adam’s stallion, Major. Something must have happened on the ranch.

  “What are you doing out here?” Simon shouted as he and his pa rode nearer.

  “Shadow is missing. So is Willow,” Adam called in reply.

  The men reined in the horses. “That is no coincidence,” A. J. McLennon declared. “Four Morgan geldings are missing also.”

  “What?” The word exploded from Leonard’s mouth and his face paled. He met eyes with Adam. “There’s something terribly wrong going on here. Or are you figuring my sister made off with five of your horses?”

  “What in tarnation makes you think Willow took the horses?” AJ blurted, glaring at Adam.

  Adam noticed both his father and Simon wore pistols and the butt end of a rifle stuck out from each of their scabbards. “Forget it, Pa. Leonard’s correct. Something isn’t right here.”

  “We brought the
se horses. We need your help to search.” Simon handed his brother Major’s reins. Adam mounted up and settled into the saddle.

  “Here you go, son. Walker has taken a shine to you.” AJ leaned over and handed the other horse’s reins to Leonard. “And don’t worry. We’ll find your sister.”

  “And we’ll find your horses, sir.” Leonard leapt into the saddle, appearing too angry to appreciate the opportunity to ride the magnificent gelding.

  Adam mentally kicked himself, feeling the height of a grasshopper. He should have believed his wrangler. If Willow intended to run, she would have done it ages ago. “Leonard, I hope I’ll be proven wrong and your sister isn’t involved in this.”

  “She isn’t.” Leonard reined his horse around and met eyes with AJ. “Which direction you reckon the actual thieves went?”

  * * *

  Willow silently cursed the two fools she spotted riding quite a ways ahead of where she walked in the west pasture, leading four horses which she guessed were Morgan geldings displaying the Double M brand on their flank. Clearly, the pair must be newly hired hands since they were moving northeast which would eventually take them off the ranch. She wondered how long they’d ride before realizing their error.

  She’d decided to enjoy a leisurely ride in the pastures while checking on the Thoroughbred mares. She called Shadow and the obedient mare trotted over, expecting the treat she knew would be her reward. Willow fed her a carrot while she slipped on her halter. The mare was one of her favorites, and since she hadn’t been bred this year, the horse didn’t mind a passenger riding bareback. Willow and Shadow had become great friends, and she suspected the horse looked forward to their time together. Willow grasped a handful of mane and swung herself onto the horse’s back. Shadow pranced, eagerly waiting for a command.

  Willow gazed in the distance as the two men moved farther away, almost disappearing from sight. And then it dawned on Willow.

  Those men are horse thieves!

  And they’ve just stolen four Double M Morgan horses in broad daylight!

  She looked behind her toward the ranch at least a mile back at the far end of a winding valley. If she headed for help, she would lose the thieves for certain. Should she risk it, hoping the McLennons or some of their ranch hands would catch up to the rustlers later? Or should she just follow the thieves and determine where they were taking the horses? Maybe she could rescue them herself and return them to the ranch. Or she might encounter another ranch hand, either from the Double M or a neighboring ranch, who would help her.

  “Shadow, what should we do?” she whispered aloud. Since it appeared the horse hadn’t an opinion to offer, Willow kneed her sides and the mare trotted forward. Willow tightened her grip on the horse’s mane, wishing now that she’d brought a bridle, and gave Shadow the leg command to canter. They raced down the valley. Willow would give a week’s pay to spot someone passing by in a supply wagon, but she’d never relied on chance since Lady Luck had seldom crossed paths with her. She’d be forced to handle this herself.

  “Whoa, Shadow.” Willow uttered the command, softly. She smiled as the obedient horse slowed to a walk then she guided her behind a cluster of bushes, hoping to prevent the horse thieves from realizing they were being followed. She and Shadow had caught up to them easily enough. But now what? Willow hadn’t a gun. Nor had she a clue how one went about taking possession of four stolen horses without giving herself away. The sun had begun its descent and Willow estimated the time around three o’clock.

  “Do you suppose someone will notice one or both of us is missing from the ranch?” she whispered to the horse.

  Shadow bobbed her head.

  “If that was a yes, I appreciate your positive attitude.” Willow peeked around the thicket. She gasped and almost toppled off the horse, coming face to face with a bearded, grimy-clothed horse thief scowling at her, a pistol in one hand and leading a Morgan gelding with the Double M brand.

  “What the hell ya think yer doin’?” the man growled.

  Willow urged Shadow forward. “Just out for a little ride since it’s such a nice day.”

  The horse thief laughed and spit tobacco juice out the side of his mouth, narrowly missing the Morgan gelding who raised his head and whinnied his disapproval. “If ya think I’m believin’ that malarkey, yer daft in the head.”

  Willow sat tall on the mare. “Can I ask what you’re doing with that Double M horse? I work for the McLennon family and I don’t recall you being one of their ranch hands.”

  The man cackled and slapped his leg. “That’s ’cause I ain’t no ranch hand.”

  “Really?” Willow doubted the sarcasm would dawn on the simpleton. “Where are the other horses I saw you with? And where did the other fellow go?”

  “None a yer dang business. Now git off that horse,” he ordered, waving his pistol in her direction again. “You can walk back to the ranch. It being such a nice day and all.” He laughed again.

  Willow felt her jaw drop when she realized he intended to steal Shadow also. Well, not if she had a say in it. “Sorry, can’t do.”

  The man glared at her. “I said git off.”

  “This mare is my responsibility. I can’t just hand her over to anyone.”

  He stuck the pistol in his holster and grabbed a lasso, either he’d stolen it or he’d brought it. “I ain’t arguin’ with ya, girly. Jump off and step back.”

  Willow gripped Shadow’s mane. “I’m not relinquishing possession of this horse. Guess we’re coming along with you.”

  “Ya want shot over a dang horse?”

  Dang horse? Did the fool have no idea the value of this Thoroughbred mare? What kind of an idiot horse thief was he?

  Willow rested one finger on her chin, hoping to appear in deep concentration while several scenarios that might get her out of this sticky situation raced through her mind. She’d never considered the possibility of being shot to protect one of the valuable horses in her care. But it appeared that day had come. Hopefully, if it came to that, the man’s aim was lacking. At least the pistol remained in the holster while he handled the lasso. “Now that I’ve pondered the idea… I’d say… no. Being shot wasn’t on my list of duties today.”

  “Git yer behind off that horse!” he shouted.

  Shadow spooked, not accustomed to someone raising their voice around her, but Willow quickly brought her under control with a soft word and a gentle touch.

  “No loud voices, please.” Willow wagged a finger at the man. “This mare doesn’t take kindly to anyone frightening her.”

  “Dang it, woman,” the man muttered. “You’re about workin’ on my last nerve.”

  That made two of us, Willow thought. She still hadn’t arrived at a surefire plan to escape from the man with Shadow intact. Where the other Morgan geldings had gotten to, remained a mystery, and she’d worry about them later. The question remained… was anyone worried about her?

  Please notice we’re missing, Adam. I need you!

  Her only hope lay in someone from the ranch discovering them gone and coming looking for them. Would they think to bring a rifle? Even a pistol? Surely, they would realize someone had stolen their horses.

  And then bile rose to her throat.

  Unless Adam and his family believed she’d stolen Shadow and run from the Double M. Run from the situation she’d found herself in on the day Adam discovered she was female. If it was suggested she’d stolen the horses, wouldn’t Leonard convince them otherwise? What if they didn’t believe him? What if Leonard was arrested and the McLennons and some of the lawmen came looking for her? Hunting her instead of coming to her rescue?

  Had Willow’s day taken a more disastrous turn than being discovered by this horse thief?

  “We may have a problem,” she muttered.

  “Dang tootin’!” the man exclaimed, then frowned at her. “What do you mean we?”

  “The ranch owners might be out to catch a horse thief.” She stared at the man, hands sweating and heartbeat racin
g. “But they might be thinking it’s me.”

  The man’s mouth hung open. “Missy, ya done stole that mare?”

  “No!”

  “Then why’d they be lookin’ fer ya?”

  She blew out her breath. “Because there’s a good possibility they think I stole this horse.”

  “Woman, ya got me plumb confused.” The man spit tobacco juice out the side of his mouth again. “Is ya a horse thief? Or do ya work for them McLennon folk?”

  “I work for them. But awhile back I intended to run away, and now they might think I’ve actually done that. Which I had no intention of doing, by the way. But they might figure I took this mare in order to do it.” She paused to take a breath. “But I didn’t steal her. I followed you, hoping to rescue the horses you stole from them.”

  “Gawd almighty, woman. If’n I was married to ya, my ears would be bleeding listenin’ to ya yammerin’ all day long.” The man hooked the lasso back in place. “I’ll be caught for sure if’n I don’t skedaddle. Do what ya want, lady. Come with me or head back to the dang ranch. I don’t care one way or the other.”

  “I’m coming.”

  The man’s jaw dropped again. “Yer comin’ with me?” His voice rose an octave higher. “Are ya daft?”

  “I am not letting those Double M horses out of my sight.”

  “And yer fixin’ to steal them back at the first opportunity.”

  She cringed; he’d guessed precisely what she intended.

  “Ya’s more trouble than yer worth.” He shook his head, turned the horse, and rode off as if the devil licked at his heels.

  Willow blew out her breath for a moment, debating her best option. Follow the horse thief? Head back to the ranch with herself and Shadow both in one piece? Should she risk being arrested? Or risk being shot by the thief if she riled him again?

  “Darn it all, Shadow. Usually making decisions is one of my better talents.” She closed her eyes, hoping a solution would pop into her mind.

  Chapter 9