“The cake will be more than enough, Greta. Especially since he’s never had one just for him.”
Vanessa went to the bedroom where the only trunk she hadn’t emptied and repacked set. One by one she removed the items until she’d found the watch, complete with chain and fob. She used a handkerchief as wrapping and tied her gift with one of Dorie’s ribbons.
Then, she examined the other items in the trunk she’d thought contained only fancy dresses. She found her grandparents’ small portraits and set them on the washstand. She could ask Travis to help her hang them.
Her grandfather’s pocket knife, meerschaum pipe, his eyeglasses, and what must have been a tool for the pipe brought back memories. She didn’t like tobacco smoke, but she had loved listening to her grandfather’s stories even though she couldn’t speak in his presence. Her grandmother was the one person who had loved her, though, except for Greta. She treasured all the mementos from her grandmother and savored memories of being sheltered in Grandmother’s arms.
Marisol passed word of the birthday party to Paco, who told Billy and Sam.
Vanessa dressed the children in good clothes and wore one of her favorite dresses, a green skirt and jacket over a white blouse. The jacket was trimmed in black soutache braid as was the hem of the skirt.
When Travis came in and saw the damask cloth on the table with silver flatware, candles, and good napkins, he stopped and stared.
“Looks like something’s up. What’s so special tonight?”
Vanessa pulled his chair out for him. “You’ll see when everyone’s here.”
When the men came in for supper, the three cowboys had changed to their best shirts. Marisol wore a bright red skirt that swished when she moved. Her yellow blouse lent a festive air to her appearance. In her hair, she wore a jeweled comb.
After they’d finished their meal, Greta set the cake in front of Travis. He stared at her as if trying to decide what to do. Greta added small plates and a cake server.
Vanessa leaned over to hug Travis’ shoulder. “Jack said you’d never had a birthday party, and we decided now would be a good time to resolve that. Today is officially your birthday and I hope many more will follow.”
Travis swallowed then swallowed again. “I-I don’t know what to say. I never dreamed I’d see this happen. Thank you.”
Billy slapped the table. “Serve the cake, birthday boy. I heard that’s an applesauce cake and I can’t wait to taste it.”
“Right.” His hands shook as he reached for the server but he soon recovered and cut a slice of cake for each person.
Vanessa brought gifts from hiding and set them on the table.
Travis met her gaze. Moisture gathered in his lovely eyes. “Presents for me?”
Greta pointed at one package wrapped in brown paper used by the mercantile. “That one is from me. And why would we not have a few presents for the birthday of a fine man?”
“Greta, the cake was a wonderful gift.” He unwrapped the paper. “A pocketknife. And a fine one. Goodness, Greta, this is the nicest pocketknife I’ve ever seen.”
“It was my father’s and is very old. He had it from my grandfather.”
Travis opened the knife and closed it. “This is indeed very special and I thank you.”
Vanessa explained, “The men didn’t know about our plans in time to get something, but the children made you pictures and I have something that was my grandfather’s.”
Travis picked up one of the paintings. “This looks like Nipper and Scout.”
Jack laughed. “You can tell. I’m glad ’cause I don’t paint that well.”
“You did a fine job. Thank you. I’ll have to hang this on the bedroom wall.”
Dorie tapped the other painting. “That one’s from me.”
Travis held it up. “If I’m not mistaken, that’s Blackie on the hay.”
She clapped her hands. “Yes. I painted it from memory because I can’t go to the barn unless someone is with me. I remembered my promise.”
“Thank you, Dorie. I’m especially pleased you remembered your promise. I’ll hang this one beside Jack’s so I can see them every day and be reminded what good children you are.” He reached for the handkerchief covered gift.
“My word, a pocket watch complete with chain and fob.” He opened the watch and a chime sounded.
“That’s from me. It belonged to my grandfather. I hope you’ll enjoy having it.”
He swallowed again and moisture threatened to overflow from his eyes. “This is the nicest surprise I’ve ever had.” He blew his nose. “I can assure you it’s the best birthday I’ve ever had.”
Everyone laughed.
***
Later that night, Travis threw back the covers. In seconds he had his clothes and boots on.
Vanessa sat up and rubbed her eyes. “What’s wrong?”
“Stay inside. I heard an odd noise.”
She grabbed her robe and followed him to the kitchen.
Jack was coming down the stairs. “Papa, I heard Nipper yelp like he’s hurt.”
Travis donned his coat then grabbed his revolver and rifle. Speaking low, he said, “I’m going to check. Jack, you stay inside and take care of the women.”
Moving silently, he stepped from the house and off the porch. Billy, Paco, and Sam came out of the bunkhouse. Billy carried his old Henry rifle and Paco and Sam were armed with revolvers.
The two dogs were lying just outside their special door. He bent to check one while Billy checked the other. They’d been hit on the head but were alive. Travis prayed the dogs would recover. In addition to the fact he was attached to each of them, he knew Jack would be devastated if they died.
Glistening on the snow, a weak light showed from inside the hay barn. Paco and Billy moved to circle around to the opposite door while Sam came with him. He and Sam gave them a few seconds to get in place.
Taking care to move as silently as possible, they eased in through the barn door. Near the base of the front wall, someone dug rapidly by lantern light.
He jumped as they drew closer and grabbed the lantern. “Don’t come any closer or I’ll torch your hay.” The intruder swung the lantern precariously.
Travis was careful not to make a threatening move until Billy and Paco were close. “That’d be a pity since we spent a lot of hours growing and gathering the hay and the straw here.”
With his free hand, the criminal motioned them away. “Then you just go on back in your house and leave me be. I’ll be through and out of here in ten more minutes.”
Travis didn’t move. “Can’t blame me for being curious. You bury a lot of money there?”
“Never you mind what’s buried. Go on, get back from here.”
Paco cocked his revolver. “We do mind, Señor. We worked very hard to repair the barn and fill it with hay and straw.”
The man whirled. “Get back, I tell you.”
The lantern swung too far. Didn’t the man know fire would shoot out unless the light was kept upright?
“I don’t think so, Señor. You put down the lantern or I will have to shoot you.”
Billy pointed his rifle. “This here Henry of mine will blow a hole clean through you. I ain’t lookin’ to make a mess, so you just cooperate.”
The next thing Travis knew, the robber’s clothes had caught fire from his lantern. He dropped the flaming globe onto the straw.
“Aiiiii.” Instead of dropping to the floor and rolling, the man ran, screaming into the night.
Travis yelled, “Stop running, you fool, you’re spreading the fire.”
He raced after the burning man but called to his men, “Get that straw out of the barn before it spreads to the hay!”
His words were wasted as the three men already worked furiously. Travis tackled the robber.
The man continued screaming while Travis beat at the flames and heaped snow on the burns. The scent of burning flesh filled Travis’ nostrils, but he worked to save the scoundrel. Fortunately, the man pas
sed out, likely from the pain.
Travis stood and raced back to join the firefight. The other three men had grabbed rakes and shovels and sent flaming straw onto the snow. Paco and Sam worked from the back forward to stem the fire’s spread. Billy worked to protect the barn’s wall.
Travis used a pitchfork to throw straw out of the barn. If a spark reached the hay, they’d lose the lot. And they might not even know. Hay could smoulder for days before it burst into flame.
To him, it seemed they worked hours but it must have been only minutes. Fire spread quickly through the straw. Smoke billowed up to blind them.
Each man tied a bandana around his face, but there was no protection for the eyes. Travis scooped straw away from the wooden divider that separated the straw from the hay. Paco pushed burning straw outside onto the snow. Sam helped Billy rake down to the dirt along the wooden wall.
By the time the blaze was under control, only bare dirt was left where the straw had been stored. Billy dropped to his knees and coughed. Paco and Sam leaned against the barn and gasped to clear their lungs.
Travis’ throat and eyes burned like fire. He found a clean handful of snow and rubbed it across his eyes then pulled off his bandana to eat a handful of snow. Smoke drifted up from hot spots of straw on the ground.
Without speaking, each man scooped more snow onto those mounds.
Travis leaned on the handle of his pitchfork. “We did it, thanks to your help. Can’t tell you how grateful I am.”
Paco nodded. “We work hard to grow and harvest that hay. We would not let a bandido cheat us of our supply. I do not know what we will do for straw now.”
Travis straightened. “We’ll be all right. We can line the horses’ stalls with hay. There’s enough corn to feed the swine.”
Billy looked over at the injured robber. “What’re we gonna do with him?” He knelt to check out the man.
Sam shook his head. “He’s sure hurt bad. Thank goodness he didn’t run for the hay.”
Travis examined the man then stood. “Will one of you get his blanket? We can wrap him in it and get him to the bunkhouse until morning. Whether he makes it or not, we’ll have to take him to the sheriff.”
Paco stuck his revolver in his pants’ waist. “I will get the one from his bedroll. I don’t think he will live. He is too much burned.”
Billy rose from his knees and brushed snow from his pants. “Yep, he’s lots worse than Clanahan was and he liked to have died.”
Sam walked up leading a horse. “After you get the bedroll, I’ll put this fella in with the others for the night. He wasn’t even hobbled and he looks the worse for wear.”
Travis left the man’s care and that of his horse to the others while he checked on his dogs. He knelt by Nipper and the dog whined.
“Everything will be all right, old boy.” He soothed the dog and then moved to Scout, who was still unconscious.
From the kitchen door, Jack called, “Papa, are my dogs hurt bad?”
“They’ll be all right, son. They must have been hit in the head with a shovel as they came out their door.”
The boy pleaded, “Can I come there, please, Papa?”
Travis saw that Jack had his coat and boots on and Vanessa stood behind her son. “You can come see that they’re gonna be okay. Then you have to go back to bed.”
Jack raced to the dogs and fell to his knees beside them. Nipper licked him and Jack hugged the dog. Then he petted Scout and Scout blinked awake.
Jack half laughed, half cried. “They know I’m here, Papa. You’re good boys, aren’t you? You tried to stop that robber.”
“They did their best. Now, let’s get them inside the barn and on their beds so they can rest. They’ll have sore heads but other than that I believe they’ll be good as new in the morning.”
Crying, Jack hugged Travis. “Thank you for letting me check on them.”
When Travis had carried each dog into the barn, he laid a hand on Jack’s shoulder. “Both dogs need rest and so do you. Go on up to your new room and get back to sleep.”
“What’s gonna happen to that man?”
“If he lives, which I’m sorry to admit I doubt, he’ll go to jail. Either way, we’ll have to take him to Sweetwater Springs in the morning. You can come with us if you go to bed now.”
“I will.” Jack raced to the house.
Travis went to the bunkhouse. “He still breathing?”
Billy shook his head. “Blasted sidewinder gave up the ghost. Probably for the best. Like as not he’d a been so scarred he couldn’t even use his hands.”
Travis “Think you can sleep with his body in here? If not, we can move him to the barn.”
Paco gestured to the body. “His carcass will not keep me awake.”
Billy sank onto his bunk. “Ain’t nothin’ keepin’ me from sleepin’ now things are quiet.”
Sam trudged into the room. “I’m so tired I could sleep through a tornado.”
Travis nodded. “That’s good. Tomorrow’s soon enough to worry about him any further.” He turned and closed the door behind him. Vanessa waited in the kitchen doorway, a sight he needed right now.
She grabbed his hands. “Are you burned? Let me check.” She examined his hands then removed his coat. “We’ll have to hang your coat on the porch to air out the smoke smell.”
He hung the coat over the porch rail then returned to the kitchen. “I’m all right and so are our men. The robber died. Don’t want to think about him now. Could have lost the barn and all our hay. As it is, we’ve lost the straw.”
“That can be replaced. You can’t. If you’re sure you’re all right, then let’s go to bed.”
“Sounds perfect to me.” He let her lead him to their bedroom.
Chapter Eleven
The next morning before breakfast, Travis and his men checked where the dead man had been digging. Sam picked up the shovel and enlarged the spot until he struck metal. They pulled a Wells Fargo chest from the hole.
Travis hefted one handle and Sam the other and they carried the chest into the house.
Greta turned from the stove where she prepared breakfast and pointed a spatula at them. “Do not put that dirty thing on this table.”
They set it down near the door.
Travis pulled a chair over and checked the contents. “Nears I can figure, there’s twenty thousand here. Quite a haul. I thought robbers usually spent their cash.”
Billy scratched at his chin. “Wells Fargo pays a reward for the return of their loot.”
Sam stared at the money. “That robber killed a prison guard so I reckon there’s a reward for him, too.”
Travis closed the lid and dusted his hands together. “We’ll find out soon as we get to the sheriff’s office.”
Greta set a platter of meat on the table next to a bowl of potatoes. “You have time to wash your hands while I finish the eggs.”
Vanessa sent Jack and Dorie to the sink. “We forgot to set you up a washbowl and pitcher in your loft, so this time you can clean your hands and face with the men.”
Jack wiped his hands and face on a towel. “What will you do with the reward money?”
Travis smiled at his eager son. “Let’s not count our chickens before they hatch. We don’t know if there is reward money. Now, if you’re going to town with me, you’d better eat hearty.”
Jack always ate like he hadn’t had anything in a week.
Paco glanced at Marisol before he spoke to Travis, “I will stay here while you take this man to the sheriff.”
Billy shook his head. “I don’t hanker goin’ to town neither.”
Dorie tugged on Travis’ sleeve. “Can I go to town?”
Travis met Vanessa’s gaze. She gave an almost imperceptible nod so he answered, “I suppose so if you eat all your breakfast. Can you bundle up real warm?”
She clapped her hands. “I can. Mother showed me, remember?” She shoveled food into her mouth.
Vanessa tapped her daughter on the shoulder. �
��Slow down. Papa didn’t say you had to eat everything at once.”
Greta looked at Vanessa. “You are going too, ja?”
“I don’t particularly need anything, but I’d like to go with Travis. Do you want to come with us?”
Greta waved dismissively. “Too cold for me. I like inside where there is heat.”
Marisol smiled at Paco then looked at her hands. “I will remain here and help Greta with the dishes.”
Hearing his wife say she would like to go with him perked up Travis. Sam would be along, but otherwise there would only be his family.
After breakfast, Vanessa set on the table the wedding basket Mary Norton had sent with them. “Perhaps we should put something in this before we return it. Seems impolite to return the basket empty.”
Greta pondered a few seconds. “You should put in a ham or some other meat. I believe there are enough potatoes to spare six or seven.”
Billy nodded to her. “I’ll fetch a ham.”
Marisol walked toward the trap door. “I will get some potatoes.”
Vanessa reached into the cupboard. “I’ll fill the jar she used for cider with milk.”
Greta gestured to Vanessa. “You and the children go get dressed in warm clothes and I will take care of preparing the basket. Also I will send a list for the store.”
Soon, Travis and his family were loaded on the wagon, trying to ignore the bedroll-wrapped body in the back, the horse tied to the tailgate, or the cashbox riding by the body.
Sam rode his horse Hazard alongside them. “You want I should ride ahead and let the sheriff know you’re coming?”
Travis glanced at the young man. “Up to you. Guess it’s hard to hold back your horse to the wagon’s pace.”
“Thanks. I’ll see you in town.” Sam was soon far ahead of them.
Though he liked the young cowboy, Travis was pleased to have his family to himself. “Sam’s turned out to be a good worker. Glad Sheriff Mather sent him our way.”
Beside him, Vanessa returned his smile. “He’s always polite. He can’t be very old.”
“Billy is nosy as an old woman and told me Sam’s nineteen. Frankly, I hope he stays with us after the winter.”
Montana Sky: Capture Her Heart (Kindle Worlds Novella) (Loving A Rancher Book 6) Page 10
