Lost and Found

by B C Yancey

  "Just finishing up everything for the cattle drive; I think if everything goes well, this could be one of the most profitable years yet." He pulled back and touched her cheek. "You feelin better?"

  An early spring breeze blew strands of hair into her face. "Yes, thank you," she gave a small smile and bit her lip, "I was wondering—if you're able to spare some time...would you mind teaching me how to use a gun?" She tucked the irritating strands behind her ear and held his gaze.

  "I've always got time for you, darlin," he grinned, "but, I need to know one thing. You plannin' on robbin' any banks?" he teased.

  She smiled and leaned in to kiss his cheek, "Well, now that you mention it-"

  He chuckled and turned slightly to capture her mouth with his in a thorough kiss. The roughness of his whiskers against her skin branded her as his and his alone. It helped to keep her fears of the day before at bay. Her love for Sawyer grew deeper every day. She loved him, and she would find a way to protect him.

  Breaking the seal of their lips a few moments later, he rested his forehead against hers, "You sure you want to learn how to shoot a gun? I can think of several other things that we could spend our time doing..."

  Lillian giggled and kissed his jaw, "You play your cards right, and I'll make it up to you."

  "Oh my!" he whistled, his eyes wide with pleasure.

  "I'll make your favorite pie," she teased, patting his cheek and laughing as he scowled playfully at her.

  "Now that's just mean and hurtful, playing with a man's feelin's like that." He winked at her and kissed her quickly, "But, you know how much I love pie, sugar." Chuckling, he took her hand and tugged her along.

  They entered the tack room and found empty tin cans that would make suitable targets. Sawyer then walked with her to the rail fence overlooking the West pasture quite a few yards away from the barn. Balancing the targets on the railing, he led her several feet back. "Have you ever used a gun before?"

  Shading her eyes, Lillian shook her head, "My father tried to teach me when I was younger, but Mother didn't think it proper for a young woman to be around guns."

  "Well, I'm glad you asked then. It's a mighty handy skill to have, especially since I'll be leaving next week for Kansas City." He removed his gun from the holster at his hip.

  Lillian swallowed her anxiety; his leaving was the reason she'd decided to ask him to teach her. With the threat of Walker in town and not knowing what he'd do, learning how to use a gun would give her the peace of mind she needed. She'd debated whether to tell Sawyer about Walker appearing in town and his threatening her.

  But, with Sawyer in full preparations for the cattle drive, she didn't want to give him one more thing to stress over. She'd tell him later today she promised herself while watching Sawyer handle the weapon.

  "First, you need to know your weapon. This," he held the gun out in his palm, "is a Smith and Wesson revolver. It holds six cartridges, which means you have up to six chances to hit your target."

  Flipping the barrel chamber out, he spun it so she could see the cartridges inside, then flipped it closed. He moved her to stand in front of him and gripped her by the hips. "Brace your feet shoulder-width apart, that's right, now you're gonna hold it like this." He gripped the revolver in his hands in front of her, then took her hands and wrapped them accordingly around the gun.

  "Now you're gonna look at this part here," Sawyer said, motioning to the raised notch at the end of the barrel. "Line it up to what you want to shoot. You want to pull the hammer back, that's this part here, that'll tell the gun you're ready to discharge the bullet. Now when you're ready, you're gonna squeeze the trigger."

  He stepped away from her, "Keep your eyes open, and remember what you point the barrel at you're gonna shoot."

  The deafening roar of the gun echoed across the field as a cloud of smoke followed the flash of the bullet leaving the chamber.

  At seeing the first target topple off the railing, Sawyer smiled in pleasure and hooted, "Looks like you're a natural, darlin!"

  She lowered the gun and looked back to him, smiling wide, "WHAT?" she hollered.

  Laughing, he walked up to her and said a little louder, "Careful where you aim that." Gently, he pushed her hand to point the gun at the ground. "I said it looks like you're a natural."

  "MY EARS ARE RINGING," She shouted.

  Laughing, he nodded, "You'll get used to it; you want to do it again?"

  She nodded.

  He couldn't stop smiling. "Let me go get that target first; I want to see how you did."

  Lillian watched him find the target and place it again on the railing. He walked back to her with a wide grin creasing his lips. "You shot it dead center, honey!"

  She beamed at him, "I did?"

  "You sure did. Try it again and see if it was just beginners luck."

  He stood back a few paces and watched her move her feet apart and aim, just as he'd shown her. Before she pulled the trigger, he cupped his hands over his ears. The second target jumped off the railing, spinning as it flew into the air before falling to the ground.

  Clapping and smiling, Sawyer went to her and leaned in to kiss her. "Remind me never to get you riled while you're holding that thing." He placed another kiss to her mouth. "See if you can hit those others now, then we'll see how you do a little further away."

  An hour later, Lillian proved she had a natural talent for shooting. She'd hit all but one of the six targets dead center, even when he had her stand over fifty feet away. After holstering his weapon, they gathered the targets and headed back to the barn to put them away for later use.

  After stowing away the last of the cans, she dusted off her hands and moved toward the doorway, but she was swiftly gathered in Sawyer's arms as he maneuvered her into a corner of the tack room. "I sure do love spending time with you," he murmured, trailing kisses across her cheeks and neck. "I'm gonna miss you somethin fierce after next week."

  She threaded her fingers through his hair, "How long will you be gone?" sighing as his lips brushed hers.

  "Three to four months, if everything goes smoothly." He nipped at her lips, "Now hush, I'm settlin' in to kiss you for a bit."

  "You don't have to tell me twice," She grinned, welcoming his loving attentions.

  Chapter twenty

  Lillian, Sawyer, Paul, and Kitty gathered at the foot of the porch saying their goodbyes with dawn just barely peeking over the mountain range, casting the surroundings in a crisp bluish light.

  The air was cold and brought rosiness to their cheeks and noses as they stood watching the twelve men riding into their assigned positions as they maneuvered the herd to depart the ranch.

  The mooing of the cattle carried to their ears as the outriders and wranglers guided them through the East pasture amidst whistles and calls that echoed over to the house. Lillian and the children had gasped in surprise, never having seen three thousand head of cattle together at the same time until now. It was truly staggering.

  "Mind your Mama and be good, all right, honey bear?" Sawyer said as he hugged Kitty close and kissed her cheek.

  Kitty had been his little shadow the past few days as the start of the cattle drive had loomed ever closer and this morning had seen her barely able to hold back her tears.

  "Okay Papa," she cried against his neck.

  He set her back down after another tight squeeze and then turned to Paul. "You're gonna be the man of the house while I'm gone. It's up to you to make sure our girls are safe and happy till I get back."

  Paul's chest puffed out with pride and importance even as he fought to hide his tears, "Yes, sir. I won't let you down, Pa."

  "I know you won't," Sawyer squatted down in front of him, "now give me a good hug."

  Paul happily threw his arms around Sawyer's neck in a tight embrace.

  Swallowing past the lump of emotion that had settled in his throat, Sawyer patted Paul's back and stood. Turning to Lillian where she wiped tears from her eyes, his vision blurred and his heart thum
ped painfully against his ribs.

  More than anything he wanted to turn to Riley, who sat mounted and waiting for Sawyer to finish his goodbyes, and tell him he wasn't going. He'd stay and sit this one out. But, he couldn't because there was too much riding on this drive for him not to go.

  Lillian smoothed the collar of his coat with trembling fingers. "Be safe," she whispered.

  He still didn't know about Walker. They'd gotten so caught up in preparations for the upcoming trip she'd pushed it aside, saying to herself she'd tell him 'tomorrow'. Suddenly, there were no more 'tomorrow's' and Sawyer was leaving. She'd put it off for so long that she worried telling him now would cost the success of the ranch.

  Part of her hoped since Walker hadn't tried anything after she'd run into him last week that perhaps he'd left town and abandoned his desire for revenge against her.

  "Please be safe," she repeated, her throat thick with unspent tears. She should tell him right now. She'd promised to not keep secrets from him, and here she was doing precisely that.

  'Walker's in town. Don't leave us.' The words were there; all she had to do was say them.

  She opened her mouth to speak, but Sawyer spoke first.

  "I will. Same goes for you. I left the revolver and a box of bullets if you need it, but I don't want you picking any fights while I'm gone," Sawyer teased.

  She'd been practicing nearly every day. They'd even had a bit of a game of it a few evenings ago, having her test her skill against several of the men and found she was just as skilled as some who'd boasted of their unrivaled expertise.

  The men even had a good laugh when she proved to be more accurate when paired against him at twenty yards away from the target they'd rigged one day. He then silenced them with a show of his speed as he quickly shot down all six targets lined up in less than three seconds.

  Gathering Lillian into his arms, he held her tightly against him, "If I come back to find you in jail for causing any mischief, I'll be sorely disappointed with you." He breathed deeply of her scent, filling his lungs of her.

  She clutched him just as tightly. "I love you," she murmured, pressing kisses to his neck above his collar.

  Taking his face in her hands, she pressed her mouth to his, giving him a kiss that he knew was meant to last him till he returned.

  When at last they parted, he quickly mounted Jethro, "Freddie will be over each week the next few months to check on you till I get back."

  Lillian fought back the tears and nodded, "Alright."

  Spurring his horse to a quick pace, Sawyer blinked against the tears that blurred his vision as he turned and waved to his family. "I love you," he called to them before riding to meet up with the outriders and wranglers that had begun moving the herd.

  Not even thirty minutes after leaving, he knew the next few months would be torture. His heart already ached from missing his family, and he couldn't help but count the days till he was able to return to them.

  Almost one hundred dusty miles passed at a snail's pace over the next two and a half weeks. Depending on the terrain, they were able to push the herd around twelve miles each day, and the only trouble they'd had so far was a fight that had broken out between two of the outriders one night.

  Sawyer had quickly dealt with the disturbance, promising that one more altercation between the two would see both men packed and gone before morning.

  The sun had set by the time most of the men sat around the campfire, finishing up their evening meal before two-hour shifts of watching the cattle through the night would soon begin. Those that weren't on duty till later hurriedly ate to catch some shut-eye.

  As usual, at this time of day, Sawyer's thoughts turned to Lillian and the children. He missed them so fiercely there was a physical pain in his chest the further away he traveled. In all his twenty-two years of experience of going on drives, this was going to be the longest, most agonizing.

  Taking another bite of the beans on his plate, he listened distractedly to the conversations and laughter of the men around him.

  John was saying, "-found her. I hadn't seen her in almost four years."

  "Why not?" Durston asked, sitting next to Sawyer.

  John leaned forward and lowered his voice, "Beth got into a little trouble with a man a few years back." He gave a pointed look, making sure the sometimes-obtuse Durston understood him. "She ran off with him. Don't know what happened to the baby. Damn near broke my Ma's heart and sent my Pa into a fit the likes I ain't never seen afore. After leaving home myself, Beth and I managed to keep in touch when I'd get to a new brand and let her know where to reach me."

  Durston sat back and cocked his head, "Did she say what had happened to her when you found her? She run into trouble with the law?"

  John shook his head and took another large bite of food, "No, said she'd near drowned in the river outside of town, but managed to make it to shore somehow. It was her man she was more concerned about. He got shot in the leg and shoulder, and the wounds was festerin' somethin' fierce. By the time I was able to get Doc round to look at it, the man was nearly on the wrong side of the dirt with fever. I wouldn't be surprised if he made a pact with the devil to hold on that long. But, Doc patched him up fine, and damn if the rotten feller managed to live. " He swallowed his mouthful and wiped the crumbs from his lips with his sleeve.

  "How'd he get shot?" Durston asked, his tone full of skepticism.

  "Are ya gonna let me tell ya my story or not? Criminy, Durston!" John growled, "I'm getting to that!" Dipping his biscuit into the beans, he took another bite, "Beth claimed he'd shot himself one night while sleeping."

  John raised a cynical brow and paused to let the absurdity of it sink in, then continued, "I've been around guns my whole life, seen plenty of wounds too. Those wounds didn't come from no self-inflicted gunfight in his sleep!"

  Sawyer's brow creased in a disturbed frown as he listened. He leaned forward to hear John more clearly.

  "So—she just showed up—no warnin' or nothin'?" Durston shook his head in disbelief, "You sure she ain't on the wrong side of the law? Ain't no good comes from females showing up like that—out of the blue!"

  Nodding, John continued, "Looked like she'd been wrung through the wringer, she was so bedraggled and frail lookin'." John glanced around to make sure no one heard his next words, "I set her and her man up in the Sutter's old place. Figured since no one was living there now that Gabe's dead and Mr. Sawyer's taking care of the kids-" he shrugged and sopped the remaining beans on his plate with his biscuit and plopped the morsel into his mouth. Swallowing the food, he said, "I made sure before I left that they was taken care of. It's the least I could do, seeing as how she's my sister, even if I can't stand that feller she's with. He's a damn ugly cuss! Scars all over, and a big long one right here," he drew a line across his face to show Durston.

  "What's his name?" Durston asked, taking a sip from the steaming mug he held in his hand.

  "Hmm," John scowled in thought at his empty plate.

  The following silence stretched out to the point that Sawyer wanted to reach over and shake John. Loosen up his tongue so he'd spit out the name and Sawyer could breathe again. His stomach was tied in such a knot he thought he'd throw up the meal he'd just consumed all over the fire.

  There were plenty of Beth's in the world, weren't there?

  There had to be.

  It wasn't such an unusual name that he needed to worry much over a 'Beth' turning up. A Beth that had nearly drowned in a river; a river that was close enough for her to know she'd find her brother working nearby.

  It was merely a strange coincidence of events.

  This Beth had nothing to do with Lillian.

  Sawyer had nothing to worry about. He was not going to let his homesickness, his hungering for his wife and family, affect his judgment.

  John shrugged, "Like I said, I can't stand the feller, so I could give a cow's hind end what his name is." He set his empty plate on the ground next to him, "But, I think she said it was
Walton or Walter-"

  Standing abruptly, Sawyer growled in question, "Walker?"

  He picked John up by his shirt, holding the shorter man level with his glare. The unfortunate man's toes struggled to reach the ground as the chatter around the campfire quieted, and all the men took notice of the confrontation.

  Sawyer shook John, alarm seizing him so tightly he couldn't breathe. "Is his name Walker?" he demanded

  "Y-yes," John fearfully stammered.

  Throwing John out of his grasp, Sawyer shouted a string of curses and ran to his gear, shouting, "RILEY." His hands trembled as he readied his gear and bellowed, "RILEY!" He cursed again and threw his saddle onto Jethro's startled back.

  "Yes, boss?" Riley called out trotting over with his shotgun slung over his shoulder. "What's wrong?"

  Sawyer glanced up briefly and ordered, "You're in charge. When you get to Kansas City, send me a telegram. I'm heading home; my family's in danger." He tightened the belly strap, poking a sharp elbow in Jethro's stomach when the horse puffed it out, "Knock that off Jethro. I don't have time for your shit."

  The men watched in stunned confusion when Sawyer jumped into the saddle and rode away as though the very hounds of hell chased after him.

  Chapter twenty-one

  The first week found both children sleeping almost nightly with Lillian in her bed, now that the security Sawyer had brought with his presence left them all feeling vulnerable with his absence.

  Lillian welcomed the comfort having them near, brought her because their warm bodies helped keep the new nightmares of Walker at bay.

  When two weeks passed without problems, Lillian and the children began feeling a little more comfortable in their new routines, but still missed Sawyer and the activity of the ranch with the men away.

  However, there were plenty of chores to keep them busy, and Lillian spent as much time with the children as possible, to keep her mind occupied.

  Freddie and Charlie came over throughout the week spending meal times with them, trying to keep them busy as well.