Ellie didn’t want him to spill the beans. “I came to look at material for a new dress, Percy. You must have misunderstood me.”
“But-but,” he stuttered. “You asked to see a sidearm.”
She forced a giggle and ignored the confusion on the clerk’s face. Ellie fluttered her eyelashes at him and waved a limp wrist in his direction. “Oh, Percy, you silly goose, why would I say that? I said I need some yardage—just a might longer than my arm. When you showed me the new guns, I didn’t want to appear rude.”
She averted her eyes from Ty and feigned interest in a piece of flowered material. “This will do nicely.”
Ellie carried the fabric to the counter and promptly paid. Without another word, she picked up her parcel and left.
Outside, she quickly led Chessie around the corner and stuffed the package inside her saddlebag. She’d wait until Ty left before going back, and then swear Percy to secrecy.
She tied the mare’s reigns to the stair rail leading up to the back door of the boarding house and hugged the wall, waiting for the mighty Mr. Bishop to leave. It seemed only minutes before he rode by the alley where she hid. She held her breath, thankful he didn’t glance in her direction.
Lingering outside gave her an opportunity to rethink her options. Maybe Percy’s recommendation about “load and fire” was the best idea for her. It sure would be easier.
When she felt certain Ty had ridden far enough away, she darted back inside.
“Percy,” she demanded. “Get me that Smith & Wesson, some bullets, and find a holster small enough to fit me. And don’t say a word.”
His mouth fell open in surprise. “But, Miz Rose…”
She looked at him with a raised brow. “Just do it, Percy. I aim to learn how to use that gun, and if you tell anyone, you’ll be my first victim. Do we understand each other?”
He closed his mouth and nodded. Without another word, he gathered everything together and put them on the counter.
Ellie buckled the leather gear around her waist to verify the size. She handed it back to him. “This fits just fine. Wrap it all up for me, please.”
He rolled the merchandise in brown paper and pushed it across the counter toward her.
“How much do I owe you, Percy?”
“That’ll be twenty seven-fifty, Miz Roselle.”
Ellie counted out the cash then pointed her finger at him. “Remember what I said, Percy. Don’t you tell a soul.”
Again, he nodded like an obedient child; appearing so confused Ellie almost ruined her moment of power by laughing.
* * * * *
Jeb Bryant peered through the bars of the town’s lone jail cell while Joshua perched on the edge of a rickety wooden frame. “The least they could do is wash the beddin’ in this place,” he drawled. “This blanket smells like every drunk in town has pissed on it.”
“Quit worryin’ about the damn blanket.” Jeb turned and snapped. “I don’t aim to stay here long enough to bed down. Pa should be here any minute to get us out.
Joshua squared his shoulders. “Well if you hadn’t been so quick to whip out that pistol of yours, we wouldn’t be here. This is all your fault.”
“I guess you think I should have let that card shark swindle me out of my money?” Jeb argued. “I’m not about to let anyone cheat me.”
“You can’t ever let anything go. Always tryin’ to be the big man, and then it becomes my problem because we’re twins. If you get into trouble, I get blamed right along with you. I really get sick of you sometimes. If we’d gone on home like I wanted after your hair brained idea, instead a ridin’ into town, this wouldn’t have happened.”
Leaning against the cell door, Jeb crossed his arms and leered. “Yeah, well, nobody says you have to be my shadow. I swear, if you weren’t such a coward, you wouldn’t have to follow me everywhere I go. Learn to be a man, stand on your own two feet. I dare you.”
Joshua rolled his eyes. It wouldn’t do any good to argue with his brother.
Jeb was bullheaded and ornery, and in his own mind, always right. Joshua stood and stepped up on the bunk to peek out the window overlooking Main Street. He saw nothing unusual. Just a steady parade of horses and wagons passing by and stirring up the red dirt. But something across the way caught his eye.
“Hey, come have a look.” He nodded toward the window. “Isn’t that the Fountain gal over there in the alley by the mercantile?”
Jeb crossed the cell in giant steps and clambered up next to his twin. “Well, I’ll be. Wonder what the pretty little filly is up to. Looks like she’s hidin’ from someone. Sure like the way she fills out those britches.” He paused for a moment. “I wouldn’t mind helpin’ her out of ‘em,” he added.
Joshua gave him an angry shove. “It don’t matter none how Miz Ellie dresses. She’s still a proper lady. Why don’t you stick to your saloon whores and leave her alone.”
“It sounds like someone’s sweet on that little redhead.” Jeb grinned. “Couldn’t be that you’re afraid your brother might beat your time, could it?”
Joshua jumped down from the bunk with fists so tightly balled his knuckles felt numb. His jaw tensed. It took a lot to rile him, but Jeb pushed Joshua too far. Before he was able to act, the sound of metal against metal drew his attention from throttling his brother.
The Sheriff inserted a large key, opened the door and made a sweeping gesture, “C’mon you two. Your pa is here to fetch you. One of these days he’s gonna leave you here ‘til you learn a lesson.”
Dude Bryant’s top lip quivered with anger as he stepped toward the cell. “I’ve about had it with your antics. You two knuckleheads get back to the ranch. I have a few errands to tend to. I’ll deal with you when I get home.”
Joshua imagined the lecture they’d get later and a whoosh of air escaped his lips. He hated having people upset, especially at him. Forgetting his earlier anger, he slapped his brother on the back. “Let’s get our things and get back to the ranch like Pa said. We’re already in enough trouble.”
After they’d collected their sidearms and Stetsons, they left the jail. Joshua scanned the street for Ellie, but she was nowhere in sight.
Chapter Three
The ride home was mostly uphill. Ellie let Chessie have her head and sat back to enjoy the beautiful scenery. The painter’s pallet she saw in the mercantile came to mind with all its beautiful colors. The trees lining the trail already modeled their fall colors, and before long, the surrounding hills would show off a blanket of white that would eventually drift down to cover everything.
Although Ellie welcomed cooler weather, she hated the frequent winter storms that kept her inside. For now, she’d enjoy what was left of fall and the beautiful blue sky dotted with powder puff clouds.
An image of Ty crossed her mind. She huffed in annoyance. Why, she wondered, did she continually think about him? Moreover, how could she stop? He was a thorn in her side and an obstacle to her rightful place on the ranch. He didn’t deserve the time of day, let alone time spent pondering him.
She pulled her hat further down to shield her eyes from the sun and concentrated on finding the overgrown fork in the road that lead to the old mine. There were a few hours of daylight left, and no time like the present to start practicing with her new gun.
Hoof beats sounded behind her. She turned to look over her shoulder and saw Jeb and Joshua Bryant riding in her direction. She reined Chessie to the left and off the beaten path. Hopefully, they’d pass by without a problem, but it wasn’t likely. Her jaw tightened with worry. Maybe she should have heeded Ty’s warning.
Jeb stopped his mount next to hers. “Well, well, if it isn’t Miss Roselle Fountain. What are you doing out here all alone?”
The odor of sweat permeated the air around him. She wrinkled her nose in disgust, but tried to remain civil, yet aloof. What rotten luck to run into them, especially after her near miss with a bullet. She had to keep her head.
“Good afternoon.” She gazed at Joshua, rather
than at Jeb. Looks-wise they were identical, but Joshua’s friendlier attitude made him much more attractive. She noted the beads of perspiration dotting his brow, the fullness of his lips, and the dark carpet of chest hair exposed by his unbuttoned shirt. If only he wasn’t a Bryant. Ellie shook her head slightly to clear the unladylike thoughts. The air felt much warmer.
“I’m on my way home from Sparta,” she explained. “I had some shopping to do.” Why was she even talking to them? She mentally chastised herself for sharing anything.
Jeb eyed her up and down and licked his lips like a hungry animal.
Her skin crawled, but she kept her composure. She squared herself in her saddle. “If you’ll pardon me, I’ll be on my way.”
Recollections of her morning dive into the dirt flashed through her mind.
She reined Chessie back toward the trail, but Jeb’s big hand reached across and grabbed the mare’s bridle. “Wait a minute, little gal. Don’t be in such a hurry to leave. Josh and I were wonderin’ what you were doing back in Sparta, all huddled up in the alley next to the mercantile.”
Her mouth dropped. How did he know? She struggled for an explanation. “I was not huddled anywhere. I just happened to…ah…”
“Just happened to what?”
“Actually, it’s none of your business. I’m not going to justify my actions to you or anyone else. Now, get out of my way.”
Did he see her hands trembling or hear the quiver in her voice?
He didn’t budge, but his brows peaked. “Don’t go gettin’ all mad. I was just hopin’ you and me might get to know each other a little better.” He accented his invitation with a suggestive wink.
The prospect shivered her. “I’d just as soon acquaint myself with a rattlesnake. Now, if you’ll remove your hand, I’ll be on my way.” She prayed her pretense at bravery was convincing because her chest constricted with fear.
“Leave her alone, Jeb.” Joshua finally spoke. “Let her go.”
Jeb released the bridle, but glared at him. “Sure, Josh whatever you say. I didn’t mean any harm. I was just hopin’ the pretty lady might be interested in having me come a courtin’.”
Jeb had to be joking. A skunk held more appeal. His abrasive behavior and cocky attitude masked what some might consider a handsome man, but a bad bout of the ague was preferable to spending time with him. Hopefully, her disgust wasn’t displayed on her face. She eyed him with caution.
He reached up and politely doffed his hat, but a scandalous smile spread across his face.
“Have a good day Miss Fountain. Oh, by the way, I hear tell you had a near miss with a bullet this mornin’. You might wanna be more careful. If you get my meanin’.”
Ellie dug her heels into Chessie’s side and held on tight as the mare broke into a gallop. If ever she had good reason to practice her marksmanship, she’d had just had a close encounter with it. Jeb practically admitted to being the bushwhacker.
Where was Ty Bishop when real trouble reared its head? She reached down and patted the hard bulge in her saddlebag. “You and me, Mr. Smith & Wesson, just you and me.”
Unless she was wrong, she heard only one set of hooves pounding the hardened trail—Chessie’s. Ellie glanced over her shoulder to make sure before slowing her mare to a walk. She heaved a sigh of relief and adjusted her hat’s tilt. With her gaze trained on the ground, she searched for the old trail, still determined to get in some practice.
She occasionally glanced over her shoulder to make sure she wasn’t followed.
“Aha, there it is.” She urged Chessie into the thick overgrowth. Nature had taken advantage of sporadic usage and disguised the once frequently used road with knee-high grass and sundried scrub brush.
Ellie picked her way through the overgrown brush, making sure Chessie didn’t step into a hole or gully. She certainly didn’t want to put her horse down because of a broken leg.
The road didn’t improve as she traveled back into the forest. Ellie maneuvered Chessie through the trees. She strained to see the trail and watched for familiar landmarks. The air wasn’t terribly warm but the humidity was unbearable. Damp from perspiration, her shirtfront clung to her bosom. She wiped wetness from her brow and surveyed the area. If only she could remember the exact location of the old mine shaft.
The last time she visited, she was only a child. Back then, tents, wagons, mining equipment and men hungry to find a vein of gold ore crowded the area.
Instead of gold, they found coal. In comparison to the hustle and bustle of those days, the silence was almost eerie.
When the trees fanned into a clearing, the area looked familiar. Ellie dismounted and led Chessie toward a small outcropping of rocks. She dropped the mare’s reins and left her to graze on what remained of summer’s greenery.
The area, although somewhat overgrown, was just as she remembered. Ellie shielded her eyes and scanned the area. Her lips curved into a smile. There, almost concealed by fallen branches, was the entrance to the old mine. As she pushed debris aside, she grimaced. Stringy cobwebs hung in masses and changed her decision to venture inside. She shivered. Perhaps this wasn’t the best place after all. Something might live here she didn’t care to meet. It was too early for bears to seek places to hibernate, but not for wolves or coyotes. She expected to see glowing eyes peering back from the darkness.
“C’mon Ellie. Stop being such a baby.”
Visions of Jeb Bryant’s face played in her mind. “You’ve already encountered one dangerous varmint today,” she muttered. She swatted her way through the sticky mesh and stepped inside.
Even in the dim afternoon sunlight, it was clear that beyond the spiders’ creations, the wooden beams crisscrossing the digs were old and fragile. Funny, she hadn’t even considered the noise of discharging bullets might disturb the timber supports and bring tons of rock crashing down atop her. She wanted to learn to shoot but not at the expense of being crushed to death.
Where else could she shoot without raising suspicion?
She backed out, let the branches drop back into place, and looked at the area surrounding the mine. The location was fine except for one thing. Although it was far enough from the ranch that her shots wouldn’t be heard, it was too close to a nearby road. Anyone passing might stop to investigate, and how would she explain herself, and more importantly, keep practicing in secret?
What other options were there? The boundaries of Fountainhead were limitless. Her father owned acres of expansive land, but there she risked Ty’s intrusion. Ellie shook her head at the thought of meandering closer to home. This was the perfect spot. She’d chance being heard by someone passing by rather than answer to Ty.
The sun dipped lower in the sky. She’d have to hurry before all light was lost.
She dug into Chessie’s saddlebag and withdrew the wrapped package. The horse turned her head to the side and cast a curious eye at her owner but returned to grazing. Ellie laid the parcel carefully on the ground, and peeled away the layers to expose her new gun.
The gun belt and holster fit perfectly, and she was ready to shoot, but…at what?
Only brush and trees grew in the area. She needed a target—something she could check for accuracy. She saw nothing suitable within arm’s reach inside the cave, and wasn’t about to go traipsing any further inside to look for something.
She snapped her fingers. The fabric!
Ellie never intended to make a new dress. She had better things to do with her time than spend them on foolish feminine trappings—how impractical. She folded the flowery material into a large square then looked for the best place to hang it. A dead tree caught her attention.
Perfect.
Lightning had most likely ended its life, but she was about to give it a new purpose. She carefully laid her would-be-gown against the trunk and secured it on surrounding branches. With excitement tingling through her, Ellie walked twenty paces back, turned, and took aim.
Her first shots missed the mark by a mile. The pistol had more ki
ck than she expected, but she reminded herself to take time and use the gun sight to aim at the cloth. After several more attempts, a passable grouping of holes in the colorful print rewarded her patience.
The sunlight faded fast. Ellie wasn’t generally afraid of the dark, especially now—she patted her gun, but given the recent event at the ranch, she didn’t want to worry Pa. Her stomach rumbled, reminding her suppertime was near.
She proudly wrapped the evidence of her marksmanship around her weapon, placed it in her saddlebag and mounted Chessie. Traces of a smug smile tugged at her lips. Ty Bishop and the Bryant brothers had best watch out. If they messed with her, they might get more than they bargained for.
Ellie reached home shortly after sunset. With her secret hidden in the hayloft, tucked safely behind several stacks of baled alfalfa, she hung the lantern on a hook and took a few minutes in the barn to feed and curry her horse. While she ran a comb through Chessie’s mane, the mare nosily munched oats from the feedbag secured to her head.
Ellie’s thoughts weren’t on the tedious chore, but on her shiny new gun and how she planned to use it.
“There you are.” A voice from behind caused her to jump. An eerie shadow climbed the barn’s far wall.
She turned to see Ty. “Don’t come sneakin’ up on a body like that. You almost scared me out of my wits.” Her pulse raced.
“Sorry, didn’t mean to frighten ya. I was just wonderin’ why you were out so late. You know it’s not a good idea to be ridin’ after dark.” His voice held the parental tone she detested.
Ellie dropped the curry brush and placed her hands on her hips. “What I do and when I do it, is no concern of yours. I’ll thank you to mind your own business.”
Ty pushed his hat back off his forehead. “Well, you don’t have to get so riled up about it. I’m tryin’ to look out for you. Besides, your Pa asked me if I’d seen you.”
She wagged her index finger. “I don’t need you watchin’ out for me. I’m quite capable of takin’ care of myself.”
Ellie's Legacy Page 3
