“The night you two disappeared,” the gentleman finished her thought. “I never understood why you both suddenly left Cactus Plains.”
“It’s a long story,” Leonard muttered.
“Did it have anything to do with the argument between you and your uncle?”
Leonard met the old fellow’s eyes. “You were a witness to that? You heard the threats?”
Mr. Bentley nodded. “I figured you’d spouted off in frustration. I didn’t doubt for a moment you would ever act on your words. And then I heard about your uncle’s troubles at the ranch. You should have stayed, son.” The man shook his head. “I’ve heard the Circle H is in an even worse state since you departed. Mighty sad indeed.”
“It’s not as if we had any choice,” Leonard offered.
Mr. Bentley reared back and met Leonard’s eyes. “I would have thought you’d be eager to take over after your father passed. Why you allowed Pearson to run the Circle H into the ground is beyond me.”
“I would have gladly taken over had I inherited the ranch. Father bequeathed the property to Clarence Pearson.”
“What was your father thinking?” Mr. Bentley blurted. “If I recall correctly, the two of them weren’t even speaking to each other before your father’s passing. Clarence Pearson wouldn’t know horse tack from a turnip. And he certainly hasn’t the gumption to make a success of any business, especially a ranching operation like the Circle H. Had it been me, Leonard, I might have threatened the fool’s life myself.”
“You haven’t a very high opinion of him,” Leonard said, glancing at his sister.
Willow found the man’s remarks surprising also, considering he and Clarence had moved in the same circles. Friends, or at the very least acquaintances. Or so she’d thought.
Mr. Bentley guffawed. “High opinion… not likely. No one does. Clarence Pearson is not well liked or respected by his supposed friends. The majority of them only tolerate the blowhard because he so enjoys playing the bigwig and paying the bill after a night of celebrating.”
Willow stood hands on hips. “And where, pray tell, does he earn the money to do so?”
“Gambling. Horses. Cards. Poker mostly.” Mr. Bentley shook his head. “Haven’t seen him at the tables lately though.”
“Why would you?” Leonard scoffed. “When he’s found himself a gold mine in the Circle H bank accounts.”
“He’ll have the Circle H bankrupt, if he hasn’t already,” Willow predicted. “He certainly wasn’t spending any money on upkeep or even covering normal operating expenses that we could see. And that was months ago before we left. Who knows what condition the ranch has fallen into now.”
“I could rip that freeloader limb from limb,” Leonard muttered, clenching his fists.
Mr. Bentley placed a hand on his shoulder. “Now, young man, that won’t accomplish a thing except landing your behind in a jail cell. Had you stayed and faced the sheriff, I would have vouched for your innocence. A lot of others would have also, knowing Pearson’s questionable character and unscrupulous habits. But that’s in the past, Leonard. You need to convince the law of your innocence now.”
“He’s right.” Willow reached for her brother’s hands, stilling them. “We need to win the confidence and support of the local law and handle this abominable situation properly. Hopefully, Daniel will prove that Clarence Pearson acquired our family ranch by unlawful means.”
“I don’t doubt for a minute that’s the truth of it.” Mr. Bentley scratched his head. “That lawyer fellow, Peter Braymore, handled your father’s affairs. I always took Braymore for an honest man, but if what you say about Pearson’s sudden inheritance is true, I suppose something could have happened to change that. Haven’t any notion what it might be, but it wouldn’t hurt to make inquiries.”
“Which we have a Pinkerton agent who is a friend of ours doing.” Leonard shook Mr. Bentley’s hand. “Thank you so much for introducing yourself and offering your opinion. I’m more convinced than ever Clarence Pearson pulled some shenanigans in dealing with Father’s will. And with our friend’s help, we intend to have it proven.”
“Good for you, lad.” Mr. Bentley slapped Leonard on the back. “That’s splendid. Your father would be proud.”
“And I intend to help my brother any way I can.” Willow smiled at the kindly gentleman.
“Excellent, miss. The best of luck to both of you. And let me know if there’s any way I can be of assistance.” Mr. Bentley touched the brim of his bowler. “Nothing I’d enjoy more than seeing Pearson receive his comeuppance.”
“Thank you for the offer, Mr. Bentley.”
“You’re quite welcome, young lady.” He headed off in the direction of the hotel’s front desk.
“What do you make of that?” Willow met her brother’s eyes.
Leonard smiled. “I’d say Daniel has his work cut out for him. Sawyer, too. Something isn’t right about this inheritance, and I intend to help them prove it.”
“I agree. Where do we start?”
Leonard laughed. “With breakfast. Then we need to share what we’ve just learned.”
“Papa always said start every day with a hearty meal and you can accomplish anything.” Willow’s eyes filled at the memory, but she followed her brother to a vacant table near the window. She couldn’t wait to tell Daniel and Adam what she and Leonard had discussed with Mr. Bentley. And Daniel would certainly require all the help he could muster to prove the rightful ownership of the Circle H belonged to Leonard.
* * *
Willow accompanied Leonard, Sawyer, Daniel and Adam to the Circle H Ranch later that morning. She huddled on the back seat of the rented conveyance as they rode up the long driveway leading to the main house, fearful of what she might discover when they reached their destination.
Daniel warned them that their sudden appearance on the ranch might be met with anything from disagreeable words to gunfire, and he and Sawyer sat on the carriage seat beside Leonard with several loaded firearms at their feet as a precaution. Adam rode in back with Willow, holding her hand and mumbling assurances that all would be well. If only she believed him. Nothing in her life had stayed the same since her father’s passing, but she still held out hope that her home would remain unchanged.
Soon the carriage pulled to a halt in front of the main house. Thankfully, their wood and stone home with the welcoming arch and twin hitching rails appeared the same as it ever had, and Willow hoped the inside remained clean and tidy. But her mama’s previously well-groomed flowerbeds were in a deplorable condition, overgrown with grass and filled with dead and rotting perennials.
She climbed down from the carriage with Adam’s assistance, taking a deep breath in preparation for what she might discover next. Their old dog, Joe, limped into view from around the corner of the house, wagging his tail when he spotted Leonard. The elderly canine barked and headed for his owner, collapsing on the ground at his side. Leonard dug the remains of a biscuit out of his pocket and the dog wolfed it down.
“That dog is starving,” Adam muttered.
“Joe barely has the energy to move, and why is he limping?” Willow added. “What is going on here?”
“We need to locate the foreman, if Clarence Pearson even kept him on.” Leonard headed toward the main horse barn with everyone following in his wake, but the dog remained where he was. “Red Sherman has worked for the Harrison family for years. If he was fired…”
Willow shook her head. “Red is such a nice man. I’ll never forgive that despicable man if he… there he is!” she shouted, pointing to the far corral.
All heads turned.
“Red!” Leonard called, waving.
A broad smile appeared on the foreman’s face and he hobbled toward them in his familiar bow-legged gait. “Well, look who’s back!”
Red and Leonard shook hands. “Son, you’re a sight for these old eyes. Worried I’d never see you again.”
“Thank you. I doubted I’d be back more times than I can count.”
Leonard slapped the man on the back. “You’re still here. And thank goodness you are.”
Red removed his battered Stetson and slapped his leg with it. “That Pearson feller tried to run me off so many times, I’ve lost track. But I refused to leave, knowing every animal on the property needed me.”
“What do you mean?” Adam chimed in and stuck out his hand. “By the way, I’m Adam McLennon from Milestone, Montana.”
“Red Sherman. Nice to meet you.” The foreman shook hands with Adam. “Well, Pearson might have been raised on this ranch, but he don’t know a thing about ranching. Your pa’s knowledge certainly didn’t rub off on him, like it done you, Leonard. I feared there wouldn’t be a single critter alive if I left them with him in charge.”
Willow gasped. “He wasn’t tending the horses properly? Why did I ever leave?”
“You hadn’t a choice at the time,” Adam reminded her.
“Mr. Sherman, I’m Agent Daniel McLennon with the Pinkerton Agency.” Daniel showed the foreman his badge. “This gentleman is Sawyer Manning, a retired agent. We need to discuss in detail the conditions on the ranch and what has gone on here since Leonard and Willow left.”
Red’s eyebrows rose. “Pinkertons?” He glanced at Leonard. “What in tarnation brought the Pinkertons here?”
Leonard wrapped an arm around Red’s shoulder. “They’re here to prove Clarence Pearson acquired ownership of the ranch by unlawful means. All of us believe I should have been the person to inherit Pa’s ranch.”
“Well, it’s about time someone did something about this dang fool situation. Plumb crazy decision allowing that man one foot on this property.” Red playfully poked Leonard in the ribs. “Son, you’ve got my full support. I’ll talk to these fellows until my tongue falls out of my mouth if it’ll help. I imagine most of the ranch hands would add their two cents also.”
Leonard chuckled. “We need to know everything and anything you can tell us that’s happened here.” He gazed at the horses in the corral. “Some of these horses look pretty good to me. But others appear to be doing poorly.”
Red cleared his throat and glanced away. “Well, I can explain that,” he whispered. “I could only do so much.”
Leonard tipped his head and Willow noticed the confused expression on her brother’s face. She wondered what the foreman had meant by his comment also.
“Do you care to explain yourself?” Daniel inquired.
Willow hoped Red wouldn’t be offended by the demanding tone to Daniel’s voice. She firmly believed Red could be the key to proving her uncle’s incompetence in running the ranch.
“Well, that Pearson fellow kept putting off paying the feed bill in town. Jake’s a good man, but he has his limits.” Red dragged a hand down his face.
“Jake?” Daniel glanced at Leonard.
“Jake Smythe. Owns the feed store in Cactus Plains.”
Daniel nodded. “Continue, Mr. Sherman.”
“Just Red will do.” The foreman gazed off into the distance. “I couldn’t let them horses starve, and Jake stopped filling our feed orders when the bill got out of hand. So, I paid cash for feed with my own money, knowing I could keep the more valuable animals alive at least. We pastured the rest of the horses, hoping the critters could forage enough to sustain themselves. Until I could find a solution to the feed issue.”
“Flying flapjacks!” Willow blurted. “The situation became that dire?”
“Afraid so, miss,” Red confirmed. “I did what I could. Hadn’t any way of letting you or Leonard know what was going on here. I hope I didn’t overstep or anything.”
“Overstep!” Leonard interjected. “Are you telling me that Pa’s prize Thoroughbreds would have died had you not bought feed for them?”
Red shrugged. “Some of them might have. Many of them are doing poorly, relying on what little grass is available in the pastures. Pearson sent most of the ranch hands packing so he didn’t have to pay wages. Been trying to keep the place going with a half dozen ranch hands including myself.”
Willow paced the yard, cursing under her breath. “Of all the stupid things to do! You cannot operate a ranch this size with six ranch hands!”
“Well, those fellows simply refused to leave. Like myself, the lot of them are getting up in years and might have had a difficult time finding work elsewhere. We’re all working mostly for a warm bed and a couple meals a day. None of us has seen much pay in months. A few dollars every quarter to keep us in tobacco mostly. Been using my savings to buy that feed.”
“If I get my hands on Clarence Pearson, he’ll wish he was never born,” Leonard muttered and met eyes with Red. “When we return to town, I’ll settle up with Jake at the feed store using the earned cash we stashed in my saddlebags and I brought with me from Montana. I’ll arrange a substantial order of feed to be delivered today.”
“Thank you, young man,” Red whispered, visibly tearing up.
“If you’re short a few dollars, Leonard, I’ll gladly make up the difference,” Adam offered.
“Willow and I have been working while on the run for several months, saved up several hundred dollars.” Leonard met the foreman’s eyes. “And be assured, Red, you’ll be paid back every dollar you spent keeping this ranch afloat while we were gone.”
Red waved off the offer. “Don’t worry about that right now. Just get these animals some feed. And if you have the money, send the vet out our way when he has some time to check on the health of these horses. A few of them could use some tending.”
Willow’s eyes filled with tears, hearing that some of the horses she’d loved since their birth were in dire straits. “What happened to Joe? He’s limping badly.”
“Can’t rightly prove anything since I wasn’t a witness.” Red dragged his hand down his face. “But if I had to guess I’d say someone kicked him. One useless piece of scum comes to mind.”
“Pearson,” Leonard muttered, his hands fisting.
Daniel met Sawyer’s eyes. “Our first stop when we return to town is the bank. I’d wager the ranch bank accounts have been all but drained by this Pearson fellow.”
Sawyer nodded. “My thoughts also.”
Willow gasped. “What about Mrs. Griffith? Is she still here?”
Red nodded. “Cooks for the men but she’s the only female staff left working up at the house.”
“Mrs. Griffith is doing all the cooking and the cleaning and…” Willow shook her head, speechless with anger.
“She’s getting up in years,” Leonard added. “She couldn’t possibly be doing all that work herself.”
“Does what she can. Not like that Pearson fellow is out here looking over her shoulder,” Red explained. “He hasn’t set foot on the place in weeks now. Spends all his time in town or traveling. I’ve heard talk that he’s been gambling and winning big, if the rumors are correct.”
Willow realized she was shaking; hearing everyone discussing the despicable Pearson fellow angered her beyond rational thought. What had her father been thinking, leaving his precious ranch in the hands of that horrible, useless man?
“Red, I’m taking over control of the ranch immediately. Whether Pearson likes it or not,” Leonard vowed.
Willow smiled at her brother’s announcement and strode toward the house, calling, “I need to talk to Mrs. Griffith.”
“I’m coming with you.” Adam hurried to catch up to her. “The poor woman must be bone-weary working alone all this time.”
“Mrs. Griffith would work herself to death before allowing our home to fall into shambles,” Willow confirmed. “She must be completely exhausted, the poor dear.”
“Well, help is on the way.” Adam shook his head. “I hate losing a good man like your brother, but Leonard is making the right decision returning to the Circle H and taking over proper operation of his father’s ranch.”
Willow’s eyes filled with tears and she halted Adam in his tracks. “But what will happen when Clarence Pearson returns? Leonard has no authority to run the ranch.
”
“We’re going to find Braymore, the local lawyer, and inform him Leonard is taking over. If Pearson has a problem with this, then we’ll contact a city lawyer and make it official.”
Without thinking, Willow threw her arms around Adam’s neck and hugged him tightly. “Thank you so much for helping us. I cannot express what your support means to me.”
Adam kissed her cheek. “Any man would do the same. I won’t see animals suffer because of a poor excuse for a man like Pearson.”
Willow walked with Adam to the house and she hurried inside through the front door. “Mrs. Griffith, it’s Willow. Where are you?” she called.
Chapter 21
Milestone
Amanda gazed out the kitchen window on the Double M, catching a glimpse of two Morgan geldings playfully cavorting in the corral. With the unusually hot and dry summer, drought hit Montana as well as several other states, pasture grass died from lack of water, and brush fires burned off even more of the once verdant land. Water sources had dried up on several ranches, but with a branch of the Big Hole River running through the Double M, that hadn’t been a problem for the McLennons or their stock. Thankfully, the ranch hands were storing a substantial amount of hay and feed, and their livestock shouldn’t suffer this winter.
Other things troubled Amanda more. Especially the fact they hadn’t heard a word from their people in Texas. And that included her fiancé, Sawyer Manning. She tried to believe no news was good news, but time crawled when the man she loved was so far away. And she couldn’t help worrying about all of them.
“Come sit.” Mrs. Sheridan patted the chair beside her. “You’re making me nervous.”
“Just thinking about everyone I love being off in Texas. I’m at odds being stuck here, wondering what’s happening,” Amanda admitted and settled onto the chair beside the housekeeper.
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