by Stacey Kayne
“That don’t change how we been treated,” shouted Abel.
“No, it doesn’t. I agree, we’ve waited long enough, but it’s sure as hell not worth taking innocent lives over. One of Carrington’s men was killed today.”
“He must have drawn on them,” said Deke, the men around him murmuring their agreement.
“Not by Chuck’s account. Carrington’s man tossed down his gun straightaway, yet someone saw fit to kill him anyhow. They left here with two months’ worth of wages. That kind of loot messes with a man’s mind. Are you willing to trust those men with your pay? Abel?”
“I ain’t thought about it like that,” Abel admitted.
Juniper let his gaze slide over the crowd. “How ’bout you, Deke? Will? Marcus?”
Men who’d seemed ready to burn Reginald at the stake now appeared rather chagrined.
“Y’all know I’m on your side in this. We want to get The Grove office stocked and running again. We’re working to do just that. Y’all go on about your business and let Carrington clean up McFarland’s mess.”
“I aim to give Carrington a piece of my mind first,” Abel stated, his wide stance suggesting he wasn’t going anywhere.
Lily inched closer to Juniper.
“Your grievances have been noted,” said Juniper. “Now walk on.”
“Who’s the woman?”
Lily felt a change in Juniper’s stance. Watching his fingers flex above his gun, she stiffened and glanced back at all the curious gazes now gaping at her. Suddenly the air was too thick for her lungs.
“Miss Palmer is not your concern.”
The chilling calm in Juniper’s voice raised the fine hair across Lily’s skin.
“She’s one of ’em though, ain’t she?” Abel persisted. “Don’t see why we can’t get some answers. Like why the hell we got to wait a whole ’nother month for wages we should’ a been paid weeks ago!”
“There’ll be a time for that. This isn’t that time.”
“I say it is,” the other man growled.
“For the last time, disperse.”
The tight ranks of men seemed to loosen, men falling back, moving off to the side, everyone but the man at the center.
“And if we don’t?” Abel asked with a sneer.
One tug and Lily was standing behind Juniper, staring up at his broad shoulders.
“Now, that’s just too sad to think about, Abel. We already have too many widows in this town.”
Lily stifled the urge to wrap her arms around Juniper, in fear that he’d draw his gun. She wasn’t quite sure if she feared for Juniper or the group of men.
“Just walk on,” he said.
Mumbled voices grew louder, and men began to file off, walking back into town.
“Dammit!” shouted Abel as Deke dragged him along with the others. “Whose idea was it to hire a gunslinger as a sheriff, anyhow?”
“Think it was yers,” said Deke.
They knew? Lily was surprised.
Juniper’s arm snaked around her, drawing her back against his side. His gaze didn’t waver from the main road as the men returned to their shops and homes. Juniper looked a different man from the pleasant sheriff she’d awakened to in the jail cell. Oddly, she felt protected beneath the weight of his arm.
“Are we—”
“Hold that thought,” he said, his arm tightening around her as he guided her toward the livery.
Anxious to be out of the street, she hurried along beside him without complaint, stepping into the dim lighting of the stable. The strong, musty scent of horses and straw bathed her senses. Günter stood at the far side of the barn, his gun still in hand.
Reginald leaned forward, peeking around Günter’s massive frame. Relief eased his tense expression at the sight of them. “Please tell me we’re leaving.”
“We’re leaving,” Juniper replied, guiding Lily through the hay-strewn corridor. “Frank?”
“They’re ready, Sheriff.” The livery master stepped into view from outside. He stood farther out, near the exterior corrals, holding the reins of three saddled horses.
Juniper didn’t slow his stride until they stood beside one of the two chestnut mares. “Up you go,” he said, his hands engulfing Lily’s waist before she’d even come to a stop.
“Mr. Barns!”
“I keep telling you, darlin’,” he said, dropping her into place, “it’s Sheriff Barns.” Juniper flashed a tight smile, masking the mess of nerves putting a serious twinge in his spine. Having watched most of the men head into the saloon, he doubted their flimsy sense of reason would last long once they all had a few shots of whiskey in them. They needed to get as far as they could away from town before sundown. There was just enough daylight to get them within a day’s ride of the Double D.
“Günter,” he said, glancing back. “Give me your gun belt.”
His deputy tugged at the leather strap hanging at his hips without question. They had spares locked up at the sheriff’s office. Juniper took the holstered gun and handed it to Reginald.
“Head straight down that path,” he instructed, pointing at the narrow trail leading up to the main road. “Once you hit the main road, keep heading northwest. I’ll be right behind you.”
Reginald didn’t hesitate. Cinching the gun belt tight, he kicked his heels against his horse’s barrel and set off down the path worn into the tall grass.
Lily sat stiff in the saddle, her distrust clear as the vibrant green of her eyes.
“Catch up with Reginald,” Juniper instructed. “I’ll be right behind you.”
“Why—”
“You’ll have to trust me, Lily,” he said, and smacked the horse’s haunch.
The mare leaped forward, knowing the trail by heart, giving Lily little choice but to hold on. Her startled words faded as the horse took off.
“What did Emma say?” asked Günter.
Watching Lily take control of the mare, Juniper feared she might turn back and demand answers he wasn’t yet ready to give. He watched her until she’d caught up with Reginald. Both disappeared through the trees lining the road.
A breath of relief broke from June’s chest. He pulled off his hat, shoved a hand through his sweaty hair, then tugged the Stetson back into place as he met Günter’s gaze.
“Group’s being led by the two Chandler men. They’re headed for a homestead not far from the Double D, up in those flat-ridged hills. You remember how to get to my folks’ place?”
“Sure.”
“Meet me there tomorrow, an hour after sundown,” he said as he mounted the bay stallion Frank had outfitted with his saddle and supplies. “At the north fork at the base of the ridge, where we started roundup last spring.”
Günter gave a sharp nod. “I know the place.”
“I’ll ditch the Carringtons with my family.” Juniper’s horse shifted, anxious to take the trail, powerful muscles flexing beneath his light golden coat. Juniper tightened his hold on the reins and hoped the large bay was ready for an open run. “You know anything about the U.S. marshal that Griggs went off to meet?”
“No. First I’ve heard of it.”
“See if you can track them down and get that marshal to help us out. Tell Deputy Griggs to get back to his office. If he leaves his post again before I return, he’s fired.”
“I’ll pass the message,” said Günter.
“Where’s the rest of Carrington’s men?” Juniper asked, realizing just now that they were missing.
“All three of them insisted on staying at camp.” Günter shrugged. “They said Miss Carrington would want them to keep working. Their carriage driver is on his way back to ’Frisco with their fallen man. Grimshaw said Mathews was with him when the Carringtons arrived with the cash box. He’s not in camp now.”
No telling if Mathews had stayed with Chandler or headed back up to camp. Right now his concern was the men still on the run.
“Before you go after Griggs, find Jonas. Arrest him and recover whatever he was paid t
o open that strongbox. I want a list of names.”
“You want me to file official charges against him?” asked Günter.
“Just lock him up for now. We need a reason for any others with stolen money to turn it in. Get the word out, no one receives wages until every dime is recovered.” A touch of his heels and his stallion bounded forward. “See you tomorrow, an hour after sundown!”
“I’ll be there,” Günter called out. “Good luck!”
Juniper shoved his hat down tight, thinking he needed more than luck.
Juniper’s parting words echoed through her mind, mocking her as she raced to keep up with Reginald.
You’ll have to trust me, Lily.
She didn’t trust him. With each stride of her horse, she wanted to turn back. But Regi hadn’t given up his lead, his horse kicking up dust a few yards ahead of her.
Why hadn’t Juniper ridden out with them? Surely they’d have been safer staying together.
Rounding the next bend in the road, Regi drew up sharp, his horse nickering as it stumbled to a stop before a fork in the road, the wide path splitting into two trails. Both appeared to curve west, but with the tall scrub and dense foliage, they couldn’t see but thirty yards of each path.
Regi glanced back at her, his eyes wide with panic. “Did he say which way?”
“No.” Her heart clenched as a rush of fear crowded her throat. What if this was a setup and all his bravado in town had been for show? Without guidance, they’d be easy targets if that mob decided to hunt them down.
“To the right!” a voice bellowed from behind them. She turned to see Juniper bearing down on them.
Relief slammed through her.
The sound of hoofbeats told her Reginald had set off again. Lily’s gaze remained transfixed on the man charging toward her like a dark warrior. A tingling rush of sensation rose up low in her belly. She released a hard breath, trying to expel the startling burst of elemental attraction. Her gaze moved beyond him, searching for Günter. Nothing trailed Juniper but his cloud of dust.
Why was he alone? Wouldn’t he have brought Günter if they were going after the cash box as he’d said?
Juniper reined the large bay horse in beside her, swirling dust high into the air. “We don’t have time to dawdle.”
“Where’s Günter?”
“Rounding up reinforcements,” he said before riding past. “Let’s move.”
“Just a moment!”
To her surprise he slowed and glanced back at her. “What is it, Miss Carrington?”
“If no one is after us, why are we riding as though we’re fleeing for our lives?”
He guided his horse around and rode in close beside her. “We’re not out for a Sunday ride. Your bandits aren’t cantering through these hills. Best chance for taking them by surprise is to make up as much ground as possible. Now let’s move.”
He circled her before again taking off down the trail. Lily’s horse charged after him without prompting, nearly whipping her from the saddle. She quickly righted herself, digging her boots into the stirrups. It was far too late to worry about scuffing the fine leather. Her entire ensemble would be reduced to scraps before this trip was over.
Over the next two hours the mare beneath her followed Juniper’s lead, slowing when he slowed, picking up speed when he urged his horse into a harder pace. With each new rise of grass and trees, she hoped to see signs of a cattle ranch, but only saw more of the same—rolling hills, rocks and oak trees. A few times they reached a high point giving a view of the wide valley to the west, spanning out to the coastal mountains barely visible on the distant horizon.
Regi stayed close beside her, holding up surprisingly well. Rigid in his saddle, he hadn’t uttered a single complaint. Too often Lily’s gaze strayed to the span of Juniper’s shoulders. Knowing who he was should have stamped out any frivolous attraction. But it didn’t.
Every time he glanced back, tagging her with those pale blue eyes, her body was crowded by an awareness she’d never felt in the presence of any man. She kept remembering the smiling face she’d awakened to at the lumber camp, his warm, throaty laughter. Ribbons of heat twisted up from low in her belly as nerve endings she’d never been aware of shimmered to full life.
She shifted in the saddle, not at all comfortable with her body’s reaction.
Juniper slowed in front of her. His gaze tracked the setting sun before moving across the dirt, short grass and surrounding trees. He stepped down from his saddle.
“We’re stopping for the night.”
Lily reined in beside him. “I beg your pardon?”
A quick glance didn’t show a homestead anywhere in sight. Lily stood in the stirrups, ignoring the ache in her thighs as her gaze swept across the land. She saw nothing but miles of rolling hills and massive oak trees casting shadows across the tall spring grasses.
“You said we were going to a ranch.”
“We are.” Juniper began releasing the ties holding a pack behind his saddle. “But as you can see, the sun is about to set.”
“And you expect us to stop and just…sleep on the ground?”
“That’s generally how it works, Miss Palmer. Unless you have a tent tucked into another hidden pocket on that skirt.” He turned away to place his gear on the ground, and she swore she saw a spark of amusement in his gaze. “Be thankful it isn’t raining.”
Beside her, Reginald groaned as he stepped down from a stirrup. Their cunning sheriff knew quite well they were not accustomed to enduring such long rides or sleeping out in the open.
“You did this on purpose,” she said.
Juniper looked up from the saddle he’d set next to his pack. “Did what on purpose?”
“Dragged us off into the wilderness when we could have spent the night in The Grove.”
“I’ll take the ground over The Grove,” said Reginald, busily releasing his saddle. “I haven’t forgotten their lack of hospitality.”
“But he knew we’d be left out in the open come nightfall.”
“My only intention was to get you out of that town before tempers flared up again, and to ride as far as possible before sunset. We’ve made good time so far. I apologize if our progress poses an inconvenience to tonight’s sleeping arrangements, but every hour of riding counts when you’re tracking bandits.”
She glanced toward north, the direction they’d been riding the past hour. A deep yearning to believe him warred with a persistent distrust. “Will they keep riding through the night?”
“Not unless they plan to kill their horses and go the next forty miles on foot.”
“Forty miles?” The thought of another full day of heavy riding intensified the ache in her muscles and the burning of blisters beneath her leather gloves.
“Yes, ma’am. I like a warm, soft bed as much as the next man. I’ve been without sleep for nearly three solid days. When we reach my family’s ranch tomorrow afternoon, you won’t find anyone more appreciative of a warm meal, a hot bath and a clean bed.”
“By tomorrow afternoon I won’t be interested in clean beds and warm baths. I’m not planning a weekend stay on your foster parents’ ranch. I want to recover my money and get back to The Grove. Are you certain the thieves are headed this way?”
He stepped up to her horse and began uncinching her saddle. “You were standing right beside me when Emma told us where they were headed.”
“I wouldn’t know one flat-topped ridge from another or where to find them. Why didn’t you tell me it was a two-day ride?”
He shot her an annoyed glance as he folded the cinch over her saddle. “Had we started out in the morning, a full day’s ride would get us to the Double D. We didn’t start out in the morning. I haven’t misled you.”
“You sent us off alone for a reason. We have every right to know what’s going on with this investigation. What did you discuss with Günter you didn’t want us to hear?”
“What exactly do you think I’m hiding from you?”
“How
should I know? For all I know, you could be leading us in the opposite direction. Manipulation is a skill you’ve mastered. You’re a man of many faces, Mr. Barns, using each facade to bend people to your will.”
He tossed her saddle aside and strode toward her, his hands on his lean hips, just behind the pearl grips of his guns. “The hell I am.”
“Oh, please. You know what you’re doing. I was practically simpering in your hands inside that jail cell, and I don’t simper!”
His eyebrows shot up, his eyes alight with mirth. “Is that a fact?”
“Until I found out who you really are,” she amended. “At which point you became an overbearing brute. Neither of which was the compassionate man I saw in the Donnelly home, or the hardened killer who stood before me outside that livery.”
His shoulders shifted. “What can I say? I’m a complex sort of man.”
“You’re cunning is what you are, I’ll give you that.”
“Glad to hear you have some faith in me.”
“Faith? How can I possibly have faith in the man who killed my parents and stole my life!”
“I’ve been trying to save your life all afternoon! I’ll recover your stolen money and get you back where you belong as soon as possible.”
“Where I belong?” Rage flared, narrowing her gaze. “I own L. P. Carrington Lumber. The camp is now my property. If you believe your manhandling will put me in my place, you can think again.”
“I apologized for—”
“I decide where I belong!” Lily shouted over him. She shoved her windblown hair away from her face and tugged at the shoulder of her waistcoat now hanging near her elbow. “I may be scuffed and blistered, which I’m sure delights you no end, but I’m staying in these hills until I’ve secured my lumber camp!”
Golden eyebrows pinched inward. “Why would you assume I’d enjoy your displeasure?”
“Because of what you are.”
Juniper stared into eyes seething with contempt. Her continuous accusations chipped away at his pride. “I’ll assume you’re not referring to my being a sheriff.”
“No, I am not!”
“Well, then. Of course you’d assume I’d take advantage of grieving widows, bind you up to be abducted, then send you riding all over the countryside just for the hell of it. Why did you insist on coming with me when you clearly don’t trust me to protect you, much less uphold the law?”
