“He went with your uncle Pete to deliver some bulls to Cheyenne. They were going to stay overnight and visit with some other customers.”
Jim didn’t need an explanation. His uncle Pete had run his business for a number of years, supplying animals for rodeos. But that meant he couldn’t discuss things with his dad. Well, he had been complaining about Red treating him like a child. Here was an opportunity to make his own decisions.
“Red, could you rustle me up some breakfast? I’m starving.” He knew he’d need food to eat before he set out. “And then I’m going after Patience.”
“Where is she?” his mother asked.
“Up in the mountains. By the way, did you hear about her sister Faith’s death?”
“Yes, of course. Your aunt Anna was terribly distressed about it. Especially since Faith’s life could’ve been saved.”
“Patience is raising her sister’s boy.”
“Of course she is. I’m sorry the two of you broke up. She’s a wonderful person.” Megan cast a look at him. Then she asked, “Why is Patience up in the mountains?”
“The boy’s father took him up there. Patience has gone after him.”
“Did she call the sheriff?”
“Yeah. But it seems that the man is within his rights. Patience doesn’t have legal guardianship of the boy.”
“Oh, no,” Megan said. “Poor Patience.”
“Yeah.”
“Who’s going with you?”
Jim was distracted by the plate of scrambled eggs and bacon Red set in front of him, along with a big glass of milk.
“Thanks, Red. Looks great.”
“Jim? Who are you taking with you?” his mother asked with more urgency.
“I’m going by myself. I’m just going to convince Patience there’s nothing she can do if the man wants his son.”
“But exactly where are you going?” Megan persisted.
“I’ve got directions from the sheriff. I know what I’m doing, Mom.”
“But there’s a storm brewing. I heard it could be bad.”
“That’s why I need to be on my way. I need to get out of the foothills before the storm comes. I’ll be all right.”
He’d been eating while she questioned him, and now he finished the milk and stood. “I’m changing clothes, grabbing some supplies, and then I’m on my way.” He leaned down and kissed his mother’s cheek. “I’ll take the walkie-talkie with me. I’ll be in contact for a while, anyway.”
“Be careful, son.”
“I will, Mom. Oh, by the way, when the boy’s father took the kid, he left some of these worthless coins.” Jim handed her one. “I think it’s made of tin.”
“What does the ‘p’ stand for?” Megan asked.
“Your guess is as good as mine.” He kissed her again, and hurried to get his things together.
THE RIDE ON HORSEBACK up the mountain was taking much longer than he’d anticipated, but Patience was at least half a day ahead of him and he wanted to make up time. He’d found some signs of her earlier, but the new snow obliterated everything now.
He finally made camp underneath a rocky overhang, which provided shelter for him and his horse from the snow and wind. After building a small fire to heat some coffee and toast the sandwich Red had packed for him, he fed the horse and unfurled his bedroll.
It didn’t take long for him to fall asleep. But he found himself waking to nightmares in which he was unable to save Patience.
When a nightmare woke him for the third time, it was four-thirty, and he decided to give up sleeping.
He broke camp half an hour later. The sun still wasn’t up and he had to go slowly. Snow was still falling, but the farther he moved up the mountain, the less snow there was on the ground. That would continue to be true until he hit the tree line. According to the sheriff’s directions, the camp was near the tree line. So he’d know when he was getting closer by the amount of snow.
He was preparing to stop again for the night when he thought he heard something.
He reined in his horse and listened, but was met with silence. Then his horse nickered softly. “Easy, boy,” Jim whispered.
He still heard nothing but decided to go on a little farther. The sheriff had told him to turn north when he was close to the tree line. He’d also warned him to approach Kane and his men cautiously.
Jim had taken the warning seriously. He’d hidden a small pistol in one boot and a knife in the other. He also wore a gun and had a rifle on his saddle, but they might take any visible weapons.
He hoped not. He wanted to handle this situation peaceably. He only hoped Patience would cooperate. He’d always teased her that she didn’t live up to her name. She had a quick temper that matched the red streaks in her blond hair.
Jim brought himself up short. He didn’t need to think about Patience’s temper or her beautiful hair. He needed to focus on what was important.
Which he did.
And then he heard a woman scream.
Chapter Two
“I told you to stand at attention!” Joseph Kane yelled at the little boy crumpled in the snow, sobbing against Patience’s leg.
“Stop this!” Patience yelled. “He’s not even three yet.” Dear God, if she didn’t get her nephew out of here quickly, he’d die at his crazy father’s hand. How had her sister ever loved this man?
Faith had died because of him, and Patience wasn’t about to leave Tommy to the same fate. He was such a good little boy, so well behaved and loving. He was even already learning to read. And Kane had struck him because he couldn’t stand at attention for an hour at a time. It was outrageous!
“He’s too young to play soldier,” she told Joseph.
“Because you spoil him. He’s my son. He will do as I say!”
Tommy shivered against her and Patience knew it wasn’t from the cold. He was terrified. She crouched down and hugged him. She had no idea how she was going to get them out of here.
She knew Joseph Kane wasn’t ready to give up his child. By the time she’d arrived at the camp, however, Tommy had been abused both physically and mentally. Kane’s brutality was already changing Tommy’s open, loving nature. Oh, how she hated Kane.
But that wasn’t anything new. Her sister’s death had instilled in her a hatred for this man that had never gone away. Faith had been so gentle and kind. And that monster had taken advantage of her goodness.
“Go to your tent, Patience!” Kane commanded.
“Only if Tommy goes with me. He’s cold and tired. He needs to rest.”
“I am the general. You do not argue with me!”
She stood up with the little boy in her arms. “All right. I won’t.” She started to walk to the tent Kane had assigned her.
She certainly had no interest in arguing with Kane—or any of his men. When she’d arrived last night, she’d studied them, hoping to find an ally. But all of Kane’s followers were loyal to him. His three “lieutenants” were cruel, hard men, just like Joseph.
“Woman, put down that child!” he yelled.
“I’m going to our tent, just as you said, General.” She knew she should try to keep the sarcasm out of her voice, but it was impossible.
“Not with the boy!” She heard the heavy tread of feet behind her and quickened her pace.
“Hey, there!”
Everyone, including Patience, turned to look at the man who had called to the general. In the dusk she couldn’t make out his face. He and his horse were being led into camp by a pair of guards. Another guard followed with a rifle pointed at the man.
“Who are you?” Kane demanded.
“Jim Bradford.”
Patience froze. That was Jim Randall’s voice. He’d come after her! Fear swept through her. Kane would kill him.
“Why are you here, Mr. Bradford?” Kane asked.
“I was riding on the trail and I heard a lady scream,” Jim replied. “I thought she needed help.”
Patience, holding Tommy tightly to her, was waiting
to see what would happen. Jim looked straight at her.
“Ma’am, do you need some help?”
Yes! Oh, yes, I do! She shook her head.
Jim actually reached up and tipped his hat to her. “My mistake, ma’am.”
“So you’ll be on your way,” Kane said coldly.
“Well, if I were in a hurry, I guess I would, but I’m not. I’ve decided I don’t much like society anymore… Hey, I sure could use a cup of coffee.” He stared pointedly at the coffeepot beside the fire.
Kane hesitated. “Okay. And you can stay here tonight if you want. But we’ll keep your weapons until you leave. You have a problem with that?”
“Nope. I didn’t catch your name.”
One of his lieutenants answered for Kane. “He’s the general of our troops. You address him as General.”
Patience knew how pretentious Jim would think the title. Counting Kane himself, the camp had fewer than twenty men. Not exactly a lot of troops.
“Well, thank you, General, for your hospitality,” Jim said. “I’d like to ask you some questions about where a man could winter up here and come out better than a chunk of ice.”
“We’ll talk after dinner,” Kane said slowly, watching the newcomer.
Patience took Kane’s momentary distraction with the stranger as an opportunity to slip into her small tent. Sinking down on the canvas floor, she kissed Tommy’s cheek. “You were very brave, sweetheart. Mommy is so proud of you.”
“I don’t like him,” Tommy whispered, sniffing.
Patience found a tissue to wipe the boy’s nose. “I know, sweetheart. But we may be able to get away and go back home to Grandma.”
“Grandma will miss me,” Tommy said.
“Oh, yes, she will.” Tommy was right. Since her older daughter’s death, only Tommy had brought smiles to her mother’s face. Patience had hated to leave her alone, but rescuing Tommy from the likes of Joseph Kane was of prime importance.
“I’m hungry, Mommy.”
Patience reached into her knapsack and pulled out a small candy bar. “That’s because you didn’t have any lunch. But supper will be in a little while.”
“Will he let us eat?”
“I hope so. If he doesn’t, I have more candy.”
“I want to stay in here,” Tommy declared. “I don’t mind eating candy.”
Patience chuckled. It was a relief to release some of her tension. “I can tell you don’t mind,” she said.
“Ma’am?”
Patience stilled as a man stuck his head through the tent opening. To her relief, it wasn’t Kane, but Roger, one of his less-vicious followers. “Yes?”
“The general requests your presence for dinner in his tent,” Roger stated.
“What about Tommy?”
“Uh, I’ll…I’ll bring him dinner here in the tent if you want.”
“That would be very nice, Roger. Will you stay and eat with him? And remain with him until I return?”
“Uh, I’ll do what I can, ma’am. He…he reminds me of my little brother.”
“Thank you, Roger. I appreciate your kindness. Will dinner include anyone else?”
“Yes, ma’am. The triplets,” he said, using the nickname for the lieutenants, “and our visitor.”
“All right, Roger. Thank you.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said, closing the tent flap as he left.
She closed her eyes for a moment, thinking about what was before her. Dinner with Jim. He’d come to save them, she was certain. It was the first ray of hope she’d felt since she’d set off to retrieve her son.
She was thrilled that Jim had come after her. He was still the good guy she remembered. Like everyone in his family, he did what was right, no matter the cost to him.
JIM LOOKED UP as Patience entered the large tent the general called home. He’d spent the past hour pretending to be a man who was fed up with society. He’d even hinted at having had trouble with the law.
That had pleased the general.
To his surprise, the general stood and extended his hand to Patience. She ignored the gesture and sat on the only vacant camp stool.
“Jim, this is Patience, another guest tonight.” He turned to her. “My dear, we mustn’t let our little differences give our guest the wrong idea.”
She heard the warning beneath the false words and remained silent.
Kane nodded to one of his lieutenants and the man slipped from the tent. His mission became clear as several of the soldiers brought in food. To Jim’s surprise, the main dish was steaks, cooked to perfection.
“You eat well, General. I didn’t expect such quality in a camp meal.”
“Steaks are the easy part. It’s the vegetables that are hard to come by. The steaks are generously donated by the ranchers in the area, though sometimes I pay.”
Jim remembered the coins in his jeans pocket. Were they what Kane considered payment? Now he knew where some of the Randalls’ missing cattle had gone.
“I’m hoping to find someplace cut off, but with a source of supplies not too far away,” Jim said, continuing his pretense of wanting a place to hide away.
The general leaned forward, his focus on Jim. “I understand. I wonder if you might consider joining us. I supply all my men’s needs. You might stay for the winter and see if you agree with our mission.”
“What is your mission, General?”
Kane gave a mournful sigh. “I fear citizens are misled by their Christian leaders. I believe the prize goes to the fittest. I intend to rule Wyoming.”
“That would be hard to do unless you dismantled the government, wouldn’t it?”
“Ah, my friend, you are quick. I don’t intend to dismantle it. I intend to rule it. I shall be elected governor.”
It was tempting to laugh at the man. As far as Jim could tell, Kane had formed an army only to wait on him. He didn’t look prepared to overthrow anyone, much less run for office.
Jim risked a glance at Patience to see what she thought of the general’s plan. Their gazes met and she immediately turned away. He watched her look at the general before she turned her attention to her food.
He suspected the vegetables were the ones stolen from her mother’s pantry. But Patience remained cool. In control. That was what the situation required, but the Patience he remembered hadn’t been good at holding back.
Obviously she’d matured.
“So what do you think?” the general asked. “Care to join our crusade?”
“I wouldn’t mind wintering with you, but I can’t promise more than that. It depends on what happens next spring. Some of the lawmen I’ve met can’t leave well enough alone.”
“It’s the power, my friend. It goes to their heads.”
Jim nodded in agreement, thinking all the time that power had already gone to the general’s head.
Suddenly Patience spoke. “Joseph, I want to take Tommy back to Rawhide.”
Kane glared at her. “Absolutely not. The boy must learn to be a soldier!” he snapped.
“But he can’t take much more.”
“Restrain yourself. I do what I want with you and my child!” The general’s voice was ragged now and his cheeks flushed.
“Whoa!” Jim said, feeling his way carefully. “I don’t hold with hurting women and children.”
The general looked at Jim coldly. “This is a family matter. Besides, she’s too easy on the boy.”
“Women are like that,” Jim said casually. “How old is the boy?”
Patience answered. “He’s three.”
Jim frowned. “That is a bit young. They don’t even try to teach kids to read until they’re five. Maybe you should send him back to town, General, until he’s a little older.”
He kept his tone bland, steadily eating his steak. But he waited tensely for the general’s response.
“I’ve thought of that,” Kane said after a moment. “But I want to keep him here. I will keep Patience here to care for him.”
“Against her w
ill?” Jim blurted unthinkingly. But the general didn’t seem to notice the slip.
“Of course not. You’ll see. Patience, you may go home tomorrow.”
“Not without Tommy.”
“You see, Jim? She stays willingly.”
As much as he hated doing it, Jim nodded, as if he was satisfied.
One thing was clear. As Patience had said, the general was crazy, a madman, who had no business raising a child. If—no, when they got back to Rawhide, he would recommend Patience ask his cousin Nick to help her get legal guardianship of Tommy. The general couldn’t possibly convince a judge he should keep the child.
As soon as the meal was finished, Patience withdrew, rising without warning and leaving the tent, not waiting for the general’s consent. She’d never been one to submit to someone else’s control. Jim hoped the general could convince himself that she was being compliant. Otherwise, there was no telling what might happen to them all.
“PATIENCE,” SHE HEARD someone whisper just outside her tent.
Lying awake next to Tommy, she quickly sat up and whispered in return, “Yes?”
“I’m going to slit the tent here in the back. Don’t make any noise.”
She turned to face the back of the tent. She saw a blade pierce the material. Then a hand parted the edges and Jim’s face appeared.
“Oh, Jim! Thank you for coming.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t take you seriously when you called. I’m so sorry, Patience.”
She blinked hard, hoping to disperse the tears. She’d needed him so badly she couldn’t believe he was here. “Thank you.”
“What the hell is Kane thinking, bringing a child up here?”
“I keep hoping he’ll realize Tommy is too young to be a soldier. He’s very rough with him. I don’t know what to do.”
“Tommy doesn’t like him?”
“No!”
Jim shushed her, afraid they might be overheard.
“Sorry,” she whispered. “But the man is insane.”
“Yes, I can see that. Look, let’s play this out as long as we can, but if it goes bad, we’ll escape.”
Randall Renegade Page 2
