Colin's Quest

by Shirleen Davies

  Cursing, Brodie took a step forward. “How can we help?”

  Without looking up, the doctor nodded over his shoulder. “Hot water, towels, bandages, and alcohol…in the cupboard.” He looked at Colin. “Help me get his shirt off and remove his boots.”

  The doctor worked for over an hour removing two bullets, cleaning the wounds, and stitching, Colin and Brodie assisting with whatever he asked. His wife, who usually acted as his assistant, had fallen ill with a stomach ailment. Their help had been crucial. The blessing had come when Quinn didn’t regain consciousness the entire time.

  Infection loomed as the biggest threat. The doctor told them if he made it through the next few days, Quinn had a good chance of recovering.

  Colin wanted to let Sarah know what happened, needing the comfort he knew she’d provide. By the time the doctor finished, it was well past midnight, so he settled for falling asleep in the small waiting area, Brodie snoring next to him.

  “What happened?” Wes asked the two men he’d hired to send a warning to MacLaren. Their job had been to scare him, soften him up for the talk Wes planned. The nervous twitch on the face of one and the way the second shuffled his feet signaled their failure.

  “We had a problem, but it’s handled. No need to worry.” The smug voice of the one with the twitch did nothing to diminish Wes’s concerns.

  “Did you scare him the way I asked?”

  “We did more than that. Two of them walked outside, leaving the third playing cards. We called him out for cheating. When he went for his gun, we put a couple slugs in him. That’ll scare MacLaren better than any words could.”

  Wes paced around the desk, his face devoid of expression, other than the deep red color. He didn’t betray his feelings as he planted his feet in front of the man, then grabbed the front of his shirt.

  “He pulled his gun on you?”

  “Truth is, boss, we drew first and before he could react, I fired.” The man licked his parched lips, recognizing the rage on Wes’s face.

  “You fool. That’s not what I ordered you to do.” Even though his voice stayed low, it hissed with anger. “He needed to fear we’d do something to one of his cousins, believe they were in danger—not kill anyone.” Without warning, he let go, landing a blow to the man’s jaw, watching as he clutched his face, then fell to the ground. Not finished, Wes repeatedly kicked him until Walt and the other man hauled him back.

  “Enough, Wes. You’ll kill him.” Walt tightened his grip when he tried to shake free.

  “Maybe I want to kill him. Did you hear what they did?”

  “Yeah, I did. I’ll ride into town, find out if he’s still alive.” Walt stared at Wes, then shifted his gaze to the other men. “You two, get back to your camp. Don’t go into town or ride back here until one of us comes for you.”

  “What about the money you promised us?” The man held a handkerchief to his bloody face.

  Never breaking his hold on Wes, Walt took a step forward. “I’ll forget you said that. If you get paid, it’ll be when you do the job right.” He waited until they scrambled away, heading toward their horses. “I doubt we’ll ever see them again.” Glaring at his longtime friend, Walt’s voice took on an urgent tone. “If they killed him, it’s the end of it. Do you hear me? You find another woman. Sarah MacGregor is not the only female in River City. Hell, I don’t know what’s so attractive about her that you’re going to all this trouble.”

  “Sometimes, Walt, I don’t believe you have anything useful between your ears. Her father owns a ranch almost as large as ours. Combining the two would give us the biggest spread south of Salem.” And there it was. The main reason he wanted her. But there was one other reason.

  “And you’re willing to kill a man to get to MacGregor’s land? Hell, until he’s dead in the ground, the man has no intention of letting you take what he’s built.”

  Wes hesitated a moment. “I didn’t order a killing. They were to scare MacLaren, nothing more. Sarah isn’t like any woman I’ve ever known. Not only is she beautiful and honest, she’s good and pure. She’s the kind of woman I need to keep me away from Rhoda.”

  “Damn, Wes. Is that what this is about? You want some woman to save you, change your ways? If it is, I can tell you right now it isn’t going to work.” Walt held on to the disbelief he felt, not wanting to rile Wes further.

  “And why the hell not?”

  “’Cause you’ve got ways about you no woman can change. A woman like her will expect you to be faithful, and we both know you’ll never be completely free of Rhoda. That woman’s got her claws in you something fierce. You listen to me. If you don’t find a way to stop seeing her for good, your pa’s gonna learn of it, and he’ll kill you.”

  “I’ve already stopped. She doesn’t like it, thinks she can change my mind, but she won’t. I’m finished with Rhoda. That’s why it’s so important I marry Sarah.” Wes slammed his hat down on his head. “Let’s get back to the ranch, then you can ride to town. We’ve got to know what happened with MacLaren. I’ve waited long enough to speak with Dougal about changing Sarah’s mind.”

  A cold chill washed over Walt. He’d never seen Wes get this serious about a woman. His friend didn’t know how to lose or let another man get what he figured belonged to him. By the look in his eyes, Wes had already convinced himself she’d be his and no one else’s.

  Pulling her hair in a rough grip, Fergus Bell pushed Rhoda onto her knees, her tears doing nothing to change his actions. He’d ridden in late, well past midnight, anxious to get back to his young wife. First, he’d met with one of his men.

  The ranch hand had seen her with a man while Fergus was away. Although the cowboy hadn’t gotten a good look at his face, he’d seen enough to know what they were doing. They’d been stupid enough to leave a curtain pulled back and the window ajar.

  “Wife or not, you will tell me who he is or I will kill you. And believe me, no one will ever find your body.” Fergus yanked her by the hair again, glaring into her frightened face. “Did you think I wouldn’t learn of it, that I didn’t suspect you had someone else in your bed?”

  Trying to control her sobs, Rhoda swiped at her damp face, her eyes pleading with him. “You’re wrong, Fergus. It’s you, no one else. I don’t know what your man saw, but I haven’t been with anyone but you.”

  “You’re a lying whore, Rhoda. Always knew it, but I ignored it. I can’t ignore it any longer and allow you to make a fool of me. Now, who is he?”

  She tried to shake her head, her scalp burning in pain as his grip held firm. “I swear, you’re wrong, Fergus. I’m always at the ranch, making this a nice home for you. Who would dare come here to see me? No one, Fergus. It would be lunacy.”

  As if a powerful blow had been dealt to his chest, her words sparked a vision so strong, he couldn’t shake it. An instant later, he shoved her away, hearing her cry out as she slammed into a wall. Her scream of pain held no power over him, but the certainty of betrayal did.

  Cursing, he leaned over her. “Wes. While I’ve been away, you took Wes as your lover.” He slapped her, drawing blood.

  “No,” she whimpered, unable to take a breath as pain ripped through her.

  Too angry to hear her denial, he paced away, then whirled back to face her. “My own son,” he roared, his fists clenching at his sides. “You turned my son against me.”

  She watched his fury mount, knowing he could kill her with one blow. Taking a shaky breath, Rhoda raised her head.

  “He forced himself on me. Threatened me if I didn’t do what he wanted. I swear, Fergus. I didn’t want to, but I had no choice.” Sobbing, she grabbed his leg, begging him to believe her.

  His face contorted, his lips curling in disgust. “You’re a beautiful woman. Anything a man wants, you give him.” Pulling from her grasp, he stepped away. “You’re also a terrible liar. I don’t know why I didn’t see it before.” Pacing back and forth, he whirled on her, his angry gaze boring into hers. “I will send you away, but not yet. I n
eed you for one more task.” He shot her a wry smile. “A job for which you are eminently suited. When it’s over, you’ll pack your belongings—only what you brought to the marriage. You’ll be taken into town, given some money, and put on the first stage. I don’t care where you go or how you’ll survive. I never want to see your face again.”

  Colin woke with a jerk. Twisting, he saw Brodie in a nearby chair, head lowered, long legs stretched out, arms crossed. Recognition as to why they weren’t in the hotel came quickly, a jolt of fear ripping through him. Pushing open the adjacent door, waking Brodie, he sighed in relief when he saw Quinn asleep, his chest rising and falling with each breath.

  “How is he?” Brodie’s hoarse whisper snapped the doctor awake.

  Rubbing his eyes and standing, the doctor leaned over Quinn. A moment later, he straightened.

  “He made it through the first night. His heartbeat is strong and color is good. His breathing is shallow, but that’s to be expected.”

  “Did he wake up at all last night?” Colin stepped forward, resting a hand on Quinn’s arm.

  “Moaned and muttered a few times, but I couldn’t make out what he said. He’s as strong as any man I’ve ever seen. His body isn’t letting him give up, and there’s no sign of infection so far. I’m optimistic he’ll pull through. If you boys are going to stay here a while, I believe I’ll get some breakfast.”

  Neither heard the door close, their attention fixed on Quinn.

  “We need to find out who did this, Colin.”

  “Don’t worry. We will.”

  “The sheriff is still searching for the bank robbers. From what I heard, he didn’t leave much help behind.” Brodie shoved his hands into his trouser pockets. “I can’t stand here and wait.”

  Colin knew how he felt, but they couldn’t leave Quinn alone. “I’ll keep watch while you go to the jail. Maybe the deputy has learned something.”

  Nodding, Brodie took another look at Quinn, then headed for the door.

  “Grab breakfast while you’re out. No sense going hungry.”

  Pulling up a chair, Colin sat down, never taking his gaze from Quinn. His chest squeezed, watching his cousin’s chest rise and fall. There was so much he wanted to say. Leaning forward, he placed his mouth close to his cousin’s ear.

  “You will pull through, lad. There’s no way Brodie and I will ride home without you next to us.” He took a shaky breath, his voice choked with emotion. “I promise, we will find out who did this and they will pay.”

  “It’s no longer my fight. Sarah’s made her decision and I’ll not be trying to change it.” Dougal continued saddling his horse, preparing to ride out to check on the stock. Glancing at Wes, he felt a stab of pain at the way the family had split, cursing his luck at having such stubborn daughters.

  “You can’t give up. Together, we can force MacLaren to leave without her.”

  “He’s listened to nothing I’ve had to say. What makes you believe he’ll change his mind?”

  “Money, MacGregor. We offer enough money and he’ll leave, forgetting why he came.”

  Dougal threw back his head and laughed. “You’re a fool if you think MacLaren will be swayed by money. The man’s waited years to claim Sarah, ridden hundreds of miles, and defied my demands in front of the entire town. He won’t be swayed by money.”

  “Then we’ll persuade him in other ways.”

  Dougal turned toward him, not liking the menacing tone in Wes’s voice. Settling fisted hands on his hips, he narrowed his gaze. “What are you suggesting?”

  “You may not have heard, but one of the MacLarens was shot last night. From what I hear, he’s alive, but not by much. Seems to me it wouldn’t be hard to convince them leaving was the best for their health, and Sarah’s.”

  For a large man, Dougal moved fast, grabbing Wes by the front of his shirt. “Are you threatening my daughter?”

  “Easy, MacGregor. I’d never hurt Sarah, but MacLaren doesn’t know that.”

  Dougal shoved him away. “I’ll not be part of a killing, not even to keep Sarah away from him.”

  This wasn’t the answer Wes expected. He’d heard MacGregor had threatened MacLaren, implying he’d do anything to keep him away from his daughter.

  “It can be done without anyone suspecting us. I have men who will rough them up, make believe we’ll do whatever is needed to get them out of town without Sarah.”

  “I said nae and won’t be changing my mind. The deal is off. There’ll be no marriage between you and Sarah. I’ve accepted it. It’s best you did, too.” Swinging into the saddle, Dougal stared down at Wes. “I’m warning you. You’ll not be putting Sarah or Geneen in danger. Let her go. I have.”

  Wes’s jaw dropped at the way Dougal had given up, allowing his daughters to ride away, perhaps never to be seen again. “You’ll regret this, MacGregor.”

  Reining his horse back around, Dougal glared at Wes. “Hear this, Bell. Any harm comes to Sarah, you’ll be the one who regrets it.”

  “I couldn’t find out any more. No one knows either man who shot your cousin,” the deputy explained. “Descriptions vary from one witness to another. Not much more I can do until the sheriff gets back in town.”

  “You telling me you want to wait around while the men who tried to kill him are out there somewhere? Hell, we don’t even know why they pulled a gun on Quinn.” Brodie had never been good with lack of action or excuses.

  “From what the bartender said, the gunmen accused him of cheating. There’s mixed accounts of who pulled their gun first. The bartender swears it wasn’t Quinn, but others disagree.” The deputy rested his arms on the desk and leaned forward.

  “You don’t know him, but he’d never cheat. It’s not in his blood. It was an excuse to shoot, nothing more.”

  Shrugging, the deputy showed no remorse at his inability to locate the shooter. “Look, you want to try to find them? Go ahead. You’ll be on your own until the sheriff returns.”

  “When will that be?” Brodie scrubbed a hand down his face, frustrated at the lack of help. In his mind, a good lawman did whatever needed to be done to capture those responsible for breaking the law. The man before him didn’t measure up to what the job required. Brodie glared at him, believing he could do a better job of tracking down the men who’d shot Quinn.

  “Don’t know. He’s after a group of bank robbers. Could be days. Could be longer.”

  Knowing he’d learn nothing more, Brodie headed out, stopping for a quick breakfast before returning to find Colin sitting next to Quinn.

  “Any change?” Brodie handed him a muffin and coffee he’d gotten from the hotel restaurant.

  “Nothing. His eyes fluttered a couple times, but he never woke up.” Setting the muffin aside, he took a sip of coffee. “What did the deputy say?”

  “The man may not be a complete eejit, but he’s close. He found out nothing. You and I could’ve learned more than he did.” Leaning against the door, he crossed his arms. “I’ll sit with him a spell. Why don’t you go find Sarah, tell her what happened? I know you want to.”

  Finishing the muffin, Colin swallowed the last of his coffee and stood. “Aye. I do want to see her.”

  Brodie nodded, taking Colin’s chair. “I’ll find you if anything changes.”

  “Are you ready?” Wes waited for Walt to mount his horse.

  “I still don’t think this is a good idea. What if the discussion turns to threats and people overhear us? You know you’ve never had much patience.” Walt swung up on this horse, pulling up next to Wes.

  “You worry too much. Trust me. We’ll talk, nothing more. I’ll make him understand leaving town is in his best interest. Besides, he now has his cousin to worry about. He sure as hell isn’t going to risk anyone else. By this time next week, the MacLarens will be out of the way and I’ll be planning my marriage.”

  Wes’s assurances did nothing to calm the apprehension in Walt’s gut. If anything, his worry grew the closer they got to town.

  C
hapter Eleven

  Paying little attention to the afternoon activity in town, Colin returned to Sarah’s house, thinking of Quinn. He’d spent the morning talking to anyone who might know of the incident in the saloon. His first stop had been to see the bartender. As Brodie learned from the deputy, the gunmen were unknown to the locals, having come to town looking for work a few days prior. The description he pieced together could fit about any man in River City.

  They already knew they’d get little help from the law. Finding the men who shot Quinn, then disappeared like ghosts would take time. Right now, that’s all he and Brodie had. Between Quinn’s recovery and the town council locating a replacement for Sarah, he had more time on his hands than he cared to consider. And it would be put to good use.

  “Good afternoon, Geneen. Is Sarah at home?”

  “She’s still at school. It shouldn’t be too long, but you could go wait for her, maybe encourage her to send the children home early.” She sent him an encouraging smile.

  “I suppose I could.” Colin didn’t move from his spot on the porch.

  “Colin, are you all right?” Geneen studied his face, seeing lines of worry around his eyes.

  “I will be. Right now, I just need to see Sarah.”

  “All right then. Come with me.” Shutting the door, she took off at a fast pace toward the school, then dashed inside as Colin waited. Not a minute later, Sarah stepped outside, leaving Geneen to take over with the children.

  “What is it, Colin?”

  He held out his hand. “Walk with me, Sarah.”

  The silence stretched, Colin saying nothing as they approached the stream lined on both sides with thick brush and trees, the foliage hovering between green and light yellow. Even in September, some wild berries still appeared on the bushes. Reaching out, Sarah picked a few, handing half to Colin, then popping the rest in her mouth.