by Anna Zogg
Yet now that they were married, she couldn’t imagine going back to her lonely life.
Then guilt washed over her about the secrets she kept. Last night, she had wanted to tell him about Amos. About his thieving ways, but somehow they’d gotten sidetracked.
What about the hidden satchel?
“No,” she whispered as she leaned her hand on the windowsill and wrestled with herself. What if knowing about that money proved to be too great a temptation? Even to a man of integrity like Cole? That secret needed to remain buried.
But all the rest...
She needed to tell him. Soon. She owed Cole that much.
“Hey, Ma.” Her son’s footsteps tromped across the porch. “Look what I found.”
In his dirty hands, he held an enormous toad. Clearly happy to have a break from ranch chores, Toby grinned.
“He’s...quite a specimen.” Lenora fought to insert interest into her tone.
“Found him by the side of the house. Probably looking for bugs.”
“Probably.” It was likely the one that had frightened her that one day when she was collecting eggs.
Toby peered up at her. “Can I go fishing yet? You said I could.”
“Maybe later.” She cleared her throat. “Let’s wait till Cole gets back. He said...” She paused when her ears picked up a sound in the distance. “Stay here.”
Lenora grabbed her rifle and peered out the door. Up the road rattled a buggy. One of her neighbors was coming to call. From the looks, it was Frank Hopper.
To explain his and Jeb’s “chat” about her ranch? Perhaps apologize that he could no longer consider buying it because of threats?
After setting aside her gun, she stepped onto the porch.
Frank pulled up beside the hitching post. “G’morning, Lenora.”
“Good morning. Care to set for a spell? Coffee’s fresh.” She nodded to Toby to get him a cup as she stopped on the top step of her porch.
“I can’t stay long. I’m on my way to town.”
She chewed her lip, taking care to form her next words. “My ranch is kind of out of the way. Everything all right with your wife? Children?”
“Yes. Thanks.” He nodded in thanks as Toby handed him a cup of coffee. His gray eyes pierced her. “Heard congratulations are in order. You remarried?”
Her cheeks grew warm at the way his eyebrows rose. “Yes.”
“The missus never heard about the wedding till it was a done deal.”
She clenched her hands. “We were behind on so much work, we couldn’t take time to throw a party.”
“Huh.” Frank glanced around. “And where is Mr. Cole? I was hoping to meet him.”
“He’s checking the herd.” Why did she feel embarrassed that he wasn’t there? An odd tingle at the base of her skull forced her to add, “He should be back soon. Anytime now, as a matter of fact.”
Nodding, Frank leaned forward to rest an elbow on his knee. “You know, folks in town are talking about him. Everyone’s saying he’s a drifter. Took advantage of you.”
Everyone? The heat from her cheeks spread.
“Cole’s no drifter,” Toby piped up. “He’s a horse trainer. You should see his horses. They’re the best mannered in the country.”
“No doubt.” Frank’s smirk disappeared behind the cup as he sipped his coffee.
“I’m telling the truth. I can show you if you’d—”
“Toby, Mr. Hopper said he was in a hurry. Likely he doesn’t have time.” Lenora hoped her neighbor would get the hint and tell the real reason why he was there. Surely it wasn’t to castigate her for not throwing a party or to question her husband’s character.
“You’re right.” He straightened. “So I’ll get to the point. Heard tell that Jeb Hackett’s after your ranch.”
Even though she knew that, a chill still slid down her spine. How had he heard? And from whom? She spoke slowly. “Jeb’s made that clear a time or two.”
“Folks are saying he’s gotten his father involved. Apparently there’s some irregularity with your paperwork. And they’re going to challenge your claim.”
“That’s preposterous.” Lenora jammed her hand into her apron pocket. “Amos got this land more’n twelve years ago. The Homestead Act, like most folks around here. They can’t—”
“They can and they will.” Frank’s mouth tightened. “You know that.”
Though the hot sun climbed high in the sky, Lenora felt like a winter storm passed through her heart. She recalled stories she’d heard over the years—one in particular. A family, sitting on a nice piece of land near the river, mysteriously disappeared. No word for when or why they moved. Whispers abounded that Eli Hackett had wanted the property and naturally, when the family left, he suddenly possessed that stretch.
Of course, he claimed he’d bought it from the previous owner.
If Jeb recruited his daddy, she wouldn’t be able to stop them.
She glanced at Toby, then at her neighbor. “What’m I going to do? I—I can’t let them take our land.”
The admission surprised her. Since when did she claim this property as her own?
“If I were you, Lenora, I’d head down to Cheyenne as soon as possible. Before one of Eli’s highfalutin lawyers gets there first. Make sure your claim is rock solid.”
“All right. Thank you.”
“Don’t wait.” He shook his head for emphasis. After taking a couple gulps of his drink, he poured the remainder on the ground. “Thanks for the coffee. I’d best be going.” He tossed the cup to Toby.
Frank undid the brake, then clicked to his horse.
“Thanks again,” Lenora called.
With a wave, he and his buggy disappeared down the road.
For a long time, she looked after the small cloud of dust. Should she grab the buckboard and go? A glance at the sky showed it was almost noon and still Cole hadn’t returned. A nagging fear came back—what if he didn’t?
Ironic that she had been so anxious to get rid of her ranch a month ago. Jeb’s threats about taking the ranch did not stir the same kind of worry she now felt. Because of Cole’s involvement? She had to protect his interests as well as her own.
If she and Toby left within the hour, they could make the eight-hour trip to Cheyenne before nightfall. Maybe. Assuming they had no mishaps or delays on the road.
Her son watched her with wide eyes.
She made up her mind in an instant. “Toby, untie Porky. Lead her and her calf out into the back pasture. Make sure the pig has food. I’ll take care of the chickens.”
“Why, Ma?”
“We need to head to Cheyenne as soon as we can.”
“But shouldn’t we wait for Cole? Didn’t he say to stay close to the house?”
“We can’t, Toby. I won’t take a chance that...” She bit her lip, not wanting to frighten her son. “Go take care of the animals. Hurry. I need to pack us some food. It’s a long trip.” When her son still hesitated, she spoke sternly. “We don’t have time to waste.”
His young face screwed up. “Yes’m.” He ran toward the barn.
Lenora blew out a breath as she ran her hand across the back of her neck.
Money. We’ll need money.
As she contemplated where to find some, she grew calm. All she had to do was dig up that brown leather satchel to find plenty of money. Enough to hire a lawyer, if needed. Enough to live high off the hog for the remainder of her life.
She pressed her forehead to the porch column. The forbidden memory barged into her mind.
“Take it,” Amos rasped. He loosed the leather strap that bound the satchel to his saddle. It fell heavily to the ground...
At the time, Lenora hadn’t opened the bag. But could this be the right time? While Jeb busied hims
elf trying to steal her ranch, she would use some of the money and make certain he didn’t.
“No.” She spoke aloud. With determination. “No. We don’t need it.”
A thought struck her—Jeb had put money inside her baking soda tin. With shaking fingers, Lenora pried open the lid. Two crisp five-dollar bills lay inside. Though loathe to use the money, she shoved it into her apron pocket.
Ten dollars would be more than enough to put them up in a Cheyenne hotel and stable the horse for a couple of nights.
Chapter Fifteen
All morning, Cole traveled in a northwesterly direction, cutting back and forth across the terrain. Several times, he stopped and studied tracks, unable to identify what bothered him about them. Finally, when he came to what those down south called an arroyo, he took his time examining the signs.
From all appearances, cattle wandered through the region. Problem was, this particular area had little good grazing. So why were they there?
“Because someone’s rustling cattle.” Speaking aloud made it clear what was going on. The intermittent horse tracks—ones with shoes—confirmed that roaming cattle passed this way. Did some of them belong to Lenora?
He followed the trail for a little while, careful to keep his ears and eyes open. When the tracks disappeared, he stopped. Likely the cattle had been forced up the side of one hill to be rounded up. But someone had been very careful to cover the evidence.
A premonition slithered down his spine as he pushed Nips into the brush, out of sight from anyone above. Cole dismounted and put fingers in the horse’s nose to keep him from whinnying.
As he listened, he watched Nips’s ears flick and eyes widen. Though his pinto didn’t neigh a greeting to the horses he clearly heard, he blew a little.
“Easy, boy,” Cole murmured. He ran his hand along his horse’s neck, calming him. Nips had been a better choice than Rowdy, who would have stamped his feet in protest at having to be quiet. “That’s it.”
Hearing the clop-clop of a horse—or two—Cole concentrated. Men’s voices wafted toward his position, but he couldn’t understand what they were saying. If they were on the ledge above him, it was only a matter of time before they spotted him. A few tense minutes later, he confirmed they weren’t in the arroyo with him. The sounds definitely came from above. And they were drawing closer.
Greet them or run for it?
Instinct told Cole to flee. If they were indeed cattle rustlers, they would have no qualms about shooting him. If they weren’t, they might assume he was a thief and the results would be the same. He yanked his bandanna over his face to hide his identity and pulled his hat low and tight.
Ignoring the branches that clawed him, he climbed into the saddle. With a jerk on the reins, he turned Nips toward a direction that would mislead possible followers. However, one stirrup caught in the scrub brush. Startled, his horse squealed and shied as he tried to escape the invisible hold. Sand churned and branches snapped. Finally, his pinto bolted, nearly unseating him.
“Hey, you!”
Cole heard the yell but didn’t pause. Hunkering down in the saddle, he kicked Nips hard. “Go, boy,” he growled. “Go.”
In moments, his gelding moved into a flat-out gallop, giving all he had. When Cole heard shots, he instinctively ducked. Over a rise and down a steep hill he rode, trusting that Nips wouldn’t hesitate to obey his commands no matter where he guided him.
After nearly two miles, he finally slowed to look behind. Had he lost them? Only a fool would have followed down the dangerous inclines they’d traveled. And he’d ridden far enough away from the direction of Lenora’s ranch to throw anyone off his trail.
White lather covered his mount. Cole took a moment to grab his binoculars and pan the area. No one was in sight.
He swallowed the parched feeling in his throat, tempted to walk Nips back to the ranch so the horse could have a breather. But something told him to hurry.
“Come on, boy.” Cole kicked him into a stiff trot, then a canter.
* * *
“Lenora,” he called when he reached the ranch. The place appeared deserted. The barn door swung lazily on its hinges, batted by the ever-present breeze. Porky and her calf were in the back pasture. Why? Usually they kept her on a long rope, tied by the house. During the day the cow fed on the lush grasses while her baby napped nearby.
A quick glance told him Sheba and Rowdy were in back, as well. What about Lenora’s horse? Cole couldn’t see him. Blister was nowhere to be found.
A chill gripped him when he saw the door to the house open. Cole rode his horse up to the porch and leaped off. A look inside proved the place was empty.
“Oh, God, please...” Closing his eyes, he stood inside the large room, not knowing what to ask for. Not daring to imagine what had happened. Again, he stepped into the bright sunshine.
Swiveling on his heel, he looked for some clue for where Lenora and Toby had gone. Cole pushed his hat off and nearly yanked out a handful of hair as he castigated himself. How could he have been so stupid to think Lenora would be safe for even a few hours? No doubt Hackett had been watching the place and had swooped down the minute Cole was out of sight.
With an effort, he calmed himself. He had only one choice. Pin on his badge, ride to Silver Peaks and speak to the sheriff. Identify himself as a US.marshal and deputize men to rescue Lenora from Jeb Hackett.
That decided, he blew out a breath.
After he cooled Nips, he would saddle up Rowdy and be on his way.
The distant muffled bark of a dog caught his ear. Blister? It took Cole a few minutes to figure out the sound came from the root cellar. So Hackett hadn’t shot the dog? Perhaps in a strange, twisted act of mercy he’d allowed Toby to lock him up.
When Cole yanked open the door, he yelped and jumped back. Two gun barrels pointed straight at him, from a rifle and shotgun. The next moment, a wiry form flew at him.
“Cole!” Toby threw his arms around him.
A pale-faced Lenora emerged from a dark corner a second later.
Cole gripped her hand, tempted to yank her into his arms. “Thank...thank God.” He shot the prayer upward.
They were all right. He could breathe again.
Brown smudges dusted her, but she looked okay as she squinted up into his face. Relief soon gave way to horror as she stared at him, mouth agape. “Cole! What happened?”
“I came back as soon as I could. I’m sorry, I—”
“No, no. You’ve got blood all over you.” Her face had gone white.
“I do?” He looked down, now noticing his torn shirt and the multiple scratches on one arm.
Pressing her lips together, she gingerly touched his face. “You’ve a nasty gash here.”
As soon as she mentioned it, the wound began to sting. In his concern for her, he’d not even noticed.
He flexed his cheek. Yep, it definitely burned. And now in earnest. “So why were you and Toby hiding in the root cellar?”
“That can wait.” She spoke with a firmness he wouldn’t dare oppose. “Your wounds need tending first.”
“I don’t s’pose you know of anyone around here who has some good salve, do you?”
A tense smile broke on her face. “Maybe. Let’s go up to the house.” Then she sobered as she gripped his uninjured arm. “I—I’m really glad you’re all right.” She seemed to have difficulty saying the words.
“I’m glad you are too.”
She smoothed down her hair. “Toby, take care of Nips for Cole, would you?”
“Yes’m.” He had not made a sound the whole time they’d been talking.
“Wait a sec.” Cole grabbed his binoculars and panned the area. Before he took the time to tend to his wounds, he wanted to make certain that Hackett wasn’t barreling down on the ranch.
No one was in sight in the nearby hills. The road remained empty. Good. Cole hadn’t been followed. Only then would he allow himself to relax.
In the house, he took the chair Lenora indicated. With his head tilted back, he let her clean the gash on his face with water and a soft cloth.
Biting her lip, she studied him. “This needs to be stitched. It won’t stop bleeding.”
“Who knew a tree branch could do such damage.”
She grimaced as she took care to dab his cheek.
“Lenora.” He grabbed her hand. “If you want, I can do it myself. Got a mirror?”
“No. Yes, but...” She passed her other hand over her forehead. With a visible effort, she squared her shoulders. “I’ll do it.”
“I’ve got some astringent powders. That’ll deaden the wound some. Why don’t you get a needle and thread.”
Looking braver than she apparently felt, she nodded.
He was soon back and seated, cheek dusted with powder. The sting had abated somewhat.
“I think... I think one stitch should be enough.” If possible, she looked whiter than ever. Her lips appeared bloodless.
He met her gaze. “Skin is pretty tough, so do it quick. Don’t think. Pretend you’re sewing up my leather gloves.”
Nodding, she gulped as she again peered at the gash.
He put one hand on her waist to steady her as she leaned toward him. Balling his other fist, he clenched his teeth, determined not to flinch at the needle’s first bite.
The powder had done its job, dulling most of the pain. She did as he bade, working quickly. After several tugs, she was tying off the thread and knotting the ends.
“Hold still.” She took care to cut the excess. When she straightened, she wore the look of someone who couldn’t believe she’d just done something extraordinary.
She automatically wove the needle through the collar of her blouse, like he’d seen her do a dozen times after she was done mending.
“Congratulations.” Cole tried not to grin too broadly because of the odd pull on his cheek. “You survived.”
“Thank...” Swaying on her feet, she suddenly dropped the scissors and bolted out the front door.
