High Desert Haven (The Shepherd's Heart)

by Lynnette Bonner

“Been out to yer place. Seems that there fire was set a-purpose. Know anyone who’d want to do y’all harm?”

  Both shook their heads.

  “Could smell kerosene distinct-like on a patch of snow just behind the cabin. None o’ yer kids would have been playing with the lamp, would they?”

  Brenda looked at Rolf. Rolf looked at Bobby.

  “I weren’t, Pa! I was readin’ to May, and she fell asleep. Then the back wall started on fire. I never touched the lamp.”

  Rolf’s voice cracked. “When I found May she was…sleeping on the bed in the house. I can’t say for sure, but I think the lamp was still on the table where we kept it.”

  Sheriff Watts gave his mustache several more twists. “Figured as much. Anybody recognize this?” He held aloft a button.

  Ron watched Jason’s face but couldn’t tell what he was feeling when he spoke. “That looks like it came off my shirt. It’s in the bunkhouse. I’ll go get it.”

  The sheriff watched him take several steps before he nodded at Ron to follow him and turned toward the Jeffries to ask some more questions.

  Jason heard Ron enter the bunkhouse behind him, but he did not turn around. He was still holding the shirt he had changed out of that morning. Someone had splashed kerosene on it. He knew it hadn’t smelled like this when he rode in earlier.

  “Ron, I’m in trouble, and I’m going to need your help.” He swiveled and fixed his gaze on the older man as he made the impulsive decision to trust him with his life.

  Ron blinked and rested his hands on narrow hips. “Son?”

  “We’ve got about two minutes before that crew out there comes busting in here, wondering what’s going on. I need you to listen carefully, but first I need to know if you believe me when I say that I did not start that fire.”

  Ron stroked one hand down his wrinkled cheek in thought, but it didn’t take him more than a second to reply. “I reckon I do, son. I reckon I do.”

  “Fine. Remember those horses you told me about? Well, I found them. And a whole lot more than just four of them. He must have left those stallions in that valley with a herd of at least fifty brood mares. There are at least two hundred horses in there.”

  Ron let out a low whistle.

  “Ron, I don’t know who set that fire last night, but it looks like someone wants me to take the fall for it. Smell this.” He handed the shirt to Ron, who promptly lifted it to his nose.

  “Kerosene.”

  Jason nodded, then grimaced at the doubt that leapt into Ron’s gray eyes. “Think back. You talked to me right after I came in with them. Did you smell even a whiff of kerosene? Why would I set the fire and then go back to help them? I was at least a quarter of a mile from that cabin about the time the fire must have been set.”

  “I believe you, son.” Ron sniffed the shirt again with a frown. “But you’re in a heap o’ trouble. What are we gonna do?”

  “First, don’t mention a thing about those horses. Someone was following me out there. I was bringing him back here to get some answers out of him when I came on the fire. Something crashed through the brush, and I thought it was just a scared animal, but it wasn’t. After the funeral today, I went down to have a look around. There were footprints. I missed whoever set the fire by a couple of yards in the dark. And whoever it was set my captive free. I followed his tracks to where I had tied him up and could see the mark where someone had cut the ropes.”

  “Your guy have a name?”

  Jason shook his head. “He wouldn’t talk. Tall. Real skinny. Dark hair. Droopy mustache. Looked like he might have recently broken his nose. Sound familiar?”

  “Could be Slim. He works for William. Conner said he thought he mighta broke the nose o’ whoever attacked us last week.” Ron’s tone held a note of something Jason couldn’t quite put his finger on. Was Ron doubting that William would have him followed? Or was he beginning to have questions of his own about Nicki’s neighbor?

  There was a commotion outside. Jason could hear the crunch of footsteps and knew he was running out of time.

  He lowered his voice. “I want you to send a wire. Rocky Jordan. Deputy Sheriff in Shilo, Oregon. Tell him everything. Tell him to bring Cade.” Jason fleetingly wished he could send for Sky, but Brooke was due to have her baby any time now, and Rocky was just as capable. He had never been more thankful for the strong bonds their family shared. “And get to those horses, Ron. Southwest corner. I brushed my trail, but if they have a good tracker they may have already followed it. You’ll have to hurry.”

  Sheriff Watts stepped through the door and swung his eyes from Ron to Jason and back again. He gave his mustache a twist. “Ya find yer shirt?”

  Ron handed it to him.

  The sheriff’s nose twitched, and he cast Jason a glance before examining the buttons. Jason hadn’t even bothered to look at the buttons; he knew one would be missing. Whether he had lost it last night while fighting the blaze or whether someone had ripped it off and planted it by the cabin was immaterial, though the latter was probably the case. With the kerosene smell on that shirt, he knew he would be spending at least one night in jail. Probably more.

  The sheriff found the missing button and then held up the one in his hand to make sure it matched the others on the shirt. Jason would give him credit for the fact that he appeared to be checking out all the evidence and not just trying to haul someone in for the crime.

  Watts’ face was grim when he spoke. “Jordan, I’m afeard yer gonna have ta come with me.”

  Jason thought of something. “Sheriff, I went and had a look around that cabin myself after the funeral today. There was a set of footprints there that don’t belong to me. They led directly into the brush behind the house. Someone else was there besides me.”

  “Well, now, ain’t it just amazin’ that from the time ya was there to the time I got there those footprints just disappeared? I been out there myself, Jordan, and the only set o’ tracks I seen were yours.”

  William, who had stepped into the room behind the sheriff, spoke up. “I’d have to concur, Sheriff. I went down there after the funeral myself and the only tracks that were there were Jordan’s. He’s just trying to think fast and save his hide.”

  Jason cast a look at Ron. Get going.

  Ron gave an imperceptible nod, then eased himself out the door.

  Jason could only hope he was heading out after those horses. If they didn’t get to them before the others, Nicki’s hope of saving this ranch was gone forever.

  The sheriff spun Jason around and roughly tied his hands behind his back. As he was pushed out the door of the bunkhouse into the swirling snow that had begun to fall, he experienced a moment of satisfaction as he saw Ron and Conner disappearing over the crest of the hill. Good. Dear God, let them be on time.

  The sheriff left Jason standing and walked over to saddle up his horse which was in the round corral.

  Nicki looked at him, her large, dark eyes fixed directly on his face. Jason’s eyes never left hers as he rubbed his cheek against his shoulder. He wished he had the words to convince her that he hadn’t done this terrible thing. He wanted to assure her that everything was going to be fine; that he would be back to take care of everything as soon as he could.

  But he had no assurances to offer her. Murder was a hanging offense, and unless Rocky was able to find something that would clear him, he probably wouldn’t set foot on Hanging T soil again. Ever. He swallowed the lump that formed in his throat at the thought. His only consolation was the fact that if Ron and Conner got to the horses on time, Nicki’s ranch would at least be saved.

  His gaze flickered to Mr. and Mrs. Jeffries. They stood just outside the door to the soddy, seemingly oblivious to the swirling snow, Rolf’s arms around Brenda’s shoulders. Jason felt his heart grip with compassion for them. What would it be like to have your little girl healthy and happy one day and gone the next?

  His thoughts turned to prayer. He had no other recourse. God, help them. Help us find out who really d
id this and bring them to justice. Be with Nicki. Keep her safe. And Lord, if you could work it out, could you please get me out of this situation? Bring Rocky quickly and guide him in the right direction once he gets here. Help him know what needs to be done.

  He turned his face back to Nicki, and she came and stood before him, looking up into his face with compassionate, questioning eyes.

  “Ma’am.” He cleared his throat. The word was too formal in light of the emotions pumping through his heart. He traded it for her name. “Nicki, I didn’t do this. I need you to trust me.”

  She searched his face before she asked, “Where were you, Jason? Where were you when that fire started?”

  He licked his lips, debating what he could tell her. Could she be trusted to keep the information about the horses from William? At this point Jason didn’t know for sure how the man was involved in this situation, but he had learned long ago to listen to his instincts. And every instinct he had screamed foul whenever that man was around.

  He tossed a glance at William and noted that he was striding toward them from where he had been by Sheriff Watts near the corral. Jason made his decision. Stepping closer to her and lowering his voice, he said, “I don’t have time to tell you everything right now. Talk to Ron. And please don’t trust William with any information. I can’t prove it yet, but I think he is somehow involved in all of this.”

  It was the wrong thing to say. What had been compassion on her face hardened into granite distrust.

  He sighed, wishing he hadn’t told her quite so much about his past.

  “Nicki—”

  There was no time to say more. William was suddenly by her side, his hand resting protectively on the back of her neck, his hard gaze fastened on Jason’s face.

  Jason stepped back, still watching her face, pleading silently with her to believe him. Trust him.

  Anger sparking in her dark eyes, she deliberately took a step closer to William. Jason felt the air vacate his lungs, as though a steer had just kicked him in the brisket. Her message was clear. She believed William.

  William’s eyes glinted in triumph as he slid his arm gently around Nicki’s shoulders, pulling her even closer to his side.

  Jason looked down at the ground, working to compress his anger. His jaw clenched as he fought the urge to hurl himself at the man. There was nothing he could do while his hands were tied behind his back.

  He turned the full force of his gaze back on Nicki, praying that she would open her eyes to the truth before it was too late. Hoping she would change her mind even now. But she lifted her chin defiantly, daring him to challenge her decision.

  Sheriff Watts took his arm and directed him over to his mount. Jason did not look her way again as he was led out of the yard. It was too painful. He was more than a little perturbed with her constantly taking up for William. Couldn’t she see the kind of man he was?

  As for seeing her in William’s arms, well, that brought about another unpleasant emotion all together. One he wasn’t yet ready to face.

  William felt his satisfaction rise as Jason was led away by Sheriff Watts. It looked like his spontaneous plan was coming together better than he’d thought. How lucky it was for him that Jason had stumbled onto that fire and stopped to help. His presence there had raised just the right amount of suspicion.

  He regretted the death of the little girl, but he couldn’t have planned Jason’s demise any better if he’d had all year. The thought of Slim’s failure momentarily left a bitter taste in his mouth, but this was just as good as Jason’s death. A bolt of inspiration jolted through him. Maybe even better. Ever since he’d cut Slim free, he’d been trying to figure out how this could work to his advantage. Maybe he just had.

  He glanced down at Nicki. Who would have thought that she would believe his insinuations so easily? Perhaps she hadn’t been as attracted to Jason as he’d at first feared. It looked like the last two years of cultivating her friendship were going to be well worth the effort it had taken.

  He tightened his grip on her shoulder, doing his best to look sympathetic to her plight. She had, after all, just lost the man she had been putting her hope in for the salvation of her ranch—a ranch that would shortly be his.

  Yes indeed, things couldn’t have worked out better. And he was standing by the woman who would soon be his wife. He caught himself before a whoop of delight escaped.

  “Come on, Nicki.” His voice was appropriately sober. “Let’s get you inside out of this snow.”

  She didn’t move but stood watching until Jason and the sheriff disappeared over the crest of the hill.

  William experienced a moment of dread. He quickly forced his emotions to calm. Let her watch to her heart’s content. The day was soon coming when she wouldn’t be able to stand the sight of Jason Jordan.

  His plan had only just begun.

  Nicki sighed as Jason disappeared over the horizon. William’s hand around her shoulders suddenly grated on her nerves. She stepped away from him and headed toward the house. Had she made the right decision? She paused before moving through the door and turned to stare at the spot where she had last seen him.

  What would Jason have to gain from setting fire to the Jeffries’ place? She couldn’t think of anything, yet it had irked her to have him telling her not to trust William. William had been there for her from the moment of John’s death. And it flew in the face of all she had ever believed in to turn against an old friend on the whim of a new one. But was it a whim?

  Her eyes flicked to William and she rubbed her temple as she turned to head into the house. She could feel the beginning of a stress headache.

  The question remained: if Jason hadn’t set that fire, who had? Again her eyes flicked to William as she shook the snow from her shawl and hung it on a peg over the bed. Could he have done such a thing? She shook her head. No, she couldn’t imagine William ever doing something like that. But neither could she see Jason doing it. What would be the motive behind such an act?

  She would talk to Ron like Jason asked and see what he had to say. Suppressing the tears that threatened to overflow, she moved to join Brenda and Rolf at the table. She couldn’t shake the feeling that she’d just made the biggest mistake of her life.

  14

  Rocky Jordan, Jason’s cousin, leaned his shoulder into the post and hunched his coat up closer to his ears, tilting his hat further back. The February sun shone, but the day was more than a little nippy. He shoved his hands into his pants pockets, pleasure curving his mouth as he watched Victoria Snyder talking animatedly to the little boy down the street. She and the boy had just emerged from the bakery, her basket now empty. They were coming his way and he really shouldn’t stare, but he couldn’t seem to turn away.

  If possible, she was even more beautiful than the last time he had seen her, which had been yesterday. Her red hair was pulled into its usual bun, wisps framing her face. The basket she always carried to deliver her mother’s fresh-baked goods to the bakery down the street swung easily by her side. Her step was just as light as always. All in all, he surmised, she didn’t look much different than she had yesterday. Still, she’s more beautiful than ever.

  He exhaled, his breath frosting the air before him in a cloud of frustration. Glancing around to make sure no one had caught him looking, he chuckled to himself, then swung his eyes back to the woman and child approaching. He had it bad. He should just ask her to dinner and be done with it, but somehow he could never bring himself to voice the question.

  He and Victoria were good friends…had been since childhood. Through the years she had courted a few boys, including Rocky’s older brother, Sky, and Cade Bennett, but she had never turned her attentions on him. Ever since she had dated Sky, Rocky had sworn himself to silence over his attraction to her. Perhaps it had something to do with not being the first one she had been interested in, nor even the second for that matter. After all, a man had his pride. More to the point, it had to do with the fact that Victoria had broken it off with S
ky because he’d become a lawman.

  Rocky fingered the cold metal of his badge. It was the reason he’d never asked her to dinner.

  Victoria glanced up and smiled at him. He dropped his hand into his pocket, willing his heart not to thunder out of his chest.

  “Hi, Rocky. How are you?”

  He dipped his chin. “Just fine, Ria. How’s your mother feeling today? Any better?” His smooth voice betrayed none of his inner turmoil.

  She sighed. “She says she is, but I’m not convinced. If you see Doc Martin, would you ask him to meander by the house? If he just stops by for a cup of coffee, she’ll be more likely to confide in him than if I drag her into his office.”

  He grinned at her. “Are you conspiring behind her back?”

  She returned his grin with a nonchalant wave. “I’m always conspiring to get her to do something!”

  Rocky chuckled.

  Victoria and her mother were close. They had been alone in this world since Victoria’s father passed away. She had been eight at the time if he remembered correctly. Victoria’s mother hadn’t been feeling well for the past month, and Rocky knew how worried Ria was about her. “If I see Doc, I’ll pass your request along.” Rocky’s eyes dropped to the little boy by Victoria’s side.

  “Oh.” Victoria rested a hand on the boy’s shoulder. “Rocky, I would like you to meet a new friend of mine. Trevor, this is my friend Rocky. He’s a sheriff in town. Rocky, this is Trevor. He just moved in down the street.”

  Rocky caught her meaning even as he squatted on the balls of his feet so he would be at the young boy’s level. The little man before him was a new resident at the town’s orphanage. Victoria volunteered some of her time there every day. He extended his hand. “I’m pleased to meet you, Trevor. How do you like our town so far?”

  Trevor’s smile, minus one tooth, was impish. “It’s nice.” He leaned forward and, in a stage whisper, added, “I especially like the ladies.” His large brown eyes angled in Victoria’s direction and Rocky turned his surprised gaze toward her just in time to see her blush a pretty pink that went perfectly with her red hair.