Raising Kane

by Long, Heather

  Quanto studied his posture for a moment and a hint of approval flickered in his gaze, but it came and went too quickly for Kid to be certain. “I told you once that you traveled a dark and twisted path, do you remember?”

  The old man had delivered that charming warning the first time they’d met. Kid had come with Sam and Micah to fetch Scarlett and the gold. His brother wouldn’t be dissuaded and had been furious with Kid for helping Scarlett leave the ranch in the first place. He’d had trouble even explaining why he’d done it, only that Cody would have slaughtered anyone who had gotten in his way and Kid hadn’t realized how much Sam cared about Scarlett. So he’d trusted his instincts.

  But that journey brought him into contact with the rest of the Morning Star clan. Wyatt had scared the hell out of him and Quanto—he’d known. He’d known exactly what Kid could do and he was the first one who’d ever recognized him and his gift. Kid hadn’t been able to get away from him fast enough.

  “Yes,” he said with only a hint of shame. “And I hated you for even talking to me.”

  “It was fear, not hate.” The older man smiled. “You were too used to hiding what you felt because you felt too much. And somewhere along the way, I think you forgot to feel your own feelings because you experienced everyone else’s. Their passions, their hatreds, their angers—they overwhelmed you and had for years.”

  It made as much sense as anything. But it still didn’t answer the question of what was happening to him right now.

  “When a man runs long enough, he forgets how to walk, how to crawl, how to stop. You’ve ridden the rising and falling currents of every single person in your life, particularly those you care about. You take their burdens in, absorbing their grief, their fear, their pain and you chase it with empty pleasures so you can have a moment of respite, and still you ride the rapids, with no rest in sight. Until now. Now you are at the center of a calm pool. The water does not ripple if you do not move.”

  Kid frowned, another thread unraveling. “It’s me.”

  “Exactly so. You are feeling it now…”

  “…because I can’t feel anyone else.” Whatever Quanto and Wyatt did to block their emotions left Kid alone and he’d been alone in his head and his soul for the last several days. Leaning back in the chair he exhaled a long, hard breath. He didn’t know whether to laugh or to weep. “This is me.”

  “In the journey of every man, the hardest step is the one toward self. You are beginning to find yourself. You must allow yourself to grieve, to experience those emotions so drowned out by the noise of others. You have to know you and, in this way, you will learn what is separate and how to separate.”

  “I have no idea what that actually means, but all right. If that’s what we have to do.” Kid decided to laugh, a fraught sound made tense by his seesawing emotions.

  “He’s ready,” Wyatt’s quiet observation reminded Kid that the man was there, watchful and protective. The last word was not one he would have associated with him before, but after the way he comforted Kid and how he maintained a steady, solid presence, Kid thought he might understand it better. Wyatt protected with every breath in his body and he’d been protecting Kid from the beginning. Filing that piece of knowledge away, Kid looked at Quanto. Did he agree?

  “Yes, he is ready. Finally.” The Indian smiled. “Tomorrow we will begin in earnest to train you.”

  Begin? Kid’s eyebrows rose. Haven’t we already started?

  Chapter 9

  Evelyn, San Antonio

  The further south the coach traveled the more precarious the journey became. The road, or what they laughingly referred to as a trail, seemed more like the driver sending the coach across whatever land would hold it. They’d gone off the ruts more times than they’d stayed on them as rain pursued them south from the river. Her companions had bid her farewell at Fort Worth and four others, including a mother and child joined the coach from the fort to San Antonio. Crowded together, at least they were warm.

  The town was nothing like she expected. Though still chilly, it was far warmer than it had been when she began the trip and the rain continued to fall in steady streams. People hurried through the rain, collars turned up and hats low as water spilled off the brims. Her bag was soaked, but the leather satchel had protected the contents. Evelyn followed the coach driver’s directions to the livery stable, her legs protesting every agonizing step.

  The driving need to keep moving, to go west before anyone discovered her intentions or worse, she lost her nerve, compelled her to stay on her feet even as she longed to waste some of her precious coin on a room for the night. But she didn’t have access to more, so she would need every penny to pay for a horse, and supplies. The gray day and mud-pocked, puddle filled street did nothing to ease her mood. Her skirts were soaked within two steps and dragged heavily at her legs.

  By the time she reached the livery, she was as wet as the soggy land itself. But she was closer. Every moment drew her closer to her final goal. What she didn’t expect was a man fluent only in another language to be handling the barn. Stymied by the language, she motioned to the horses, but he kept shaking his head. The words he rattled off so swiftly were incomprehensible and the tears she’d fought for weeks threatened to surface.

  Dark bushy eyebrows drew together in absolute consternation as the man stared at her. At least the interior of the town stable was dry and warm, she picked at her sodden skirts. Behind her, the doors creaked open. Turning, she spotted three men entering and stomping off the wet. Dressed in heavy slickers and large hats, they shed water with every step, but they also looked dry underneath all the outerwear.

  The Spaniard hurried over to them, greeting them rapidly in the unfamiliar language. Evelyn fought to keep her expression smooth as the men glanced at her with a hint of curiosity.

  “Ma’am?” The one in the center, a kindly enough looking gentleman approached and doffed his soaking hat to reveal equally damp hair. “Jaime doesn’t speak much English and he’s only an assistant stable master, well, groom really. He said he doesn’t understand what you’re asking.”

  The other two men remained behind. The man speaking to her had a relatively gentle demeanor, but she’d seen what dangers lurked behind even the most polite of veneers. Her request revealed nothing about her goals, so there seemed to be very little harm in explaining it to the man. “A horse. I wanted to purchase a horse or rent one for several weeks, if possible, as well as all the requisite gear.”

  “All right.” The gentleman turned back to Jaime and spoke Spanish easily, though without the same rapid-fire quality. Instead, his vowels lengthened with the barest hint of a drawl. Jaime rubbed his chin at the request and seemed to ponder it. They exchanged several more sentences before the man turned back to her. The two he traveled with bypassed them to head further down the stall aisle. Evelyn shifted, trying to keep an eye on both groups.

  No sense in having them come up behind her.

  Her erstwhile translator glanced from her to the other two and back. His eyebrows raised in surprise or question, she couldn’t be sure. “They aren’t a threat, ma’am.”

  “As you say.” She gave him a prim nod, neither agreeing nor disagreeing with his sentiment. Her father taught her that a man proved his words with actions. In this case, a lack of action would suffice.

  “Jaime has a couple of horses he might be able to part with, but the gear might be tougher. He doesn’t have any lady’s saddles.”

  “I’m sorry, an astride saddle would suffice. I haven’t ridden side in far too many years.” Not to mention she had so many more miles to cover and she imagined much of it through hostile territory. Astride would be safer, quite frankly.

  “All right.” He repeated her answer in Spanish and Jaime bobbed his head and motioned for her to follow him. She glanced at her translator and he motioned for her to take lead and fell into step alongside her, well out of touching distance. Satisfied enough with that, she trailed after the eager groomsman.

 
They passed the other two men, their horses nearly saddled and her translator paused to murmur something and one of the men laughed at him. She kept a wary eye on them, when Jaime paused and indicated a rather tall, broad shouldered beast with light brown spots spattered against a worn white coat. She thought the horse was dirty at first, but a closer inspection revealed that simply to be the horse’s coloration.

  Edging closer, she wasn’t prepared for the horse to lunge the door or the teeth snapping so close. Her translator caught the halter and tapped the horse’s nose with a firm. “No.”

  Heart slamming against her ribs, Evelyn retreated and stared from Jaime to the horse to the translator and paused. A fierce expression crossed the translator’s face and he said something in the other language, his hard tone needing no translation. She understood anger. Jaime fidgeted and stammered something out. The man’s two companions had apparently picked up on the changing temperature and joined them.

  “Everything all right, Micah?” The blond didn’t look at her, his attention wholly focused on the groomsman.

  “Jaime and I need to have a discussion about manners and ladies and not trying to pawn sour-tempered, abused animals off on unsuspecting customers.” Her translator, Micah, never looked away from Jaime either, but he held onto the horse and his gentle strokes softened the horse’s agitation until the mare’s head nearly nodded from the affection.

  “We could take the mare, swap her one of ours.” The third man spoke, his voice was softer, easier, and no less kind than Micah’s. Up close she identified darker skin, longer hair and the slightest of tilts to his eyes. He was an Indian of some sort. An odd collection of men, but they seemed quite comfortable together.

  “We could,” Micah nodded and smiled agreeably. “I’ll take this beauty home and take care of her.” He glanced in the stall and whatever he saw irritated him, because he fixed another hard look on Jaime and rattled off another series of sentences. The groomsman looked crestfallen, but nodded and hurried up the aisle.

  “Forgive me, but what did you just tell him?” And regretted the question instantly, as all three men transferred their attention to her.

  “Well, ma’am, it would be impolite to translate what I just told Jaime, but we’ll see that you have a horse and some gear to get you on your way.” Micah gave her a polite enough smile. “I hope you’ll forgive me for asking, but where you planning to ride to?”

  “I don’t really believe that’s any of your concern.” Up until now, they’d been exceptionally kind, but she saw no point in inviting further confidences.

  “It is if we’re sending you out into the wilds alone.” The blond didn’t seem to be concerned with niceties. “Micah’s the type to worry and he doesn’t need the guilt of something happening to you.”

  “How about we simply offer to escort the nice lady to where she needs to go? It can’t be that far, surely,” the Indian offered.

  Before Evelyn could voice her objection, Micah shook his head. “She doesn’t know us. She isn’t going to accept an escort.”

  “Thank you for the offer.” It was the least she could say. “And for the assistance with the horse.”

  Micah continued to pet the horse and the beast all, but leaned into him, soaking up the affection. “Not a problem, ma’am. But if you’re willing to take a little advice, I’d suggest staying put today. The rain’s likely to continue and it’s not really fit weather for traveling.”

  “You’re about to attempt it.” She gestured to his saddled horses.

  “We’re also geared up for it and know the land.” The blond shook his head. “Which horse you want to give her, Micah?”

  “Samson.”

  The blond didn’t question it, just nodded and headed back toward the horses.

  “He’s a gelding,” Micah told her. “Sturdy and he’ll run his heart out if you let him, but make him rest because he doesn’t know the meaning of patience.”

  She could feel the weight of his considering gaze and did her best not bristle under it. Frankly, the man had done her three kindnesses and he needn’t have done any.

  “You know much about horses, ma’am?”

  “I can manage. My father had some when I was younger. I rode most of my childhood.” A passing wave of nostalgia tangled with the hard nugget of anger in her gut. “It’s been a while, but I remember how it works.”

  “All right, and caring for them?” Again the sense of being weighed against some standard pressed in on her.

  “I know they need to eat and to get plenty of water. They shouldn’t run all day. I know to rub them down after a ride and to take the saddle off and to check the cinch before mounting.” And that entailed the full sum of her knowledge.

  Micah sighed. It was apparently not enough to satisfy him. “Are you sure you can’t wait to ride out until tomorrow? Rain means uncertain footing and you’ll risk hurting the horse.”

  The choice of his words, risking the horse rather than herself, sparked her interest. Their little friend hadn’t returned yet, so she gave the matter the full weight of consideration. “We have no certainty the rain will end tomorrow.”

  “It’s likely.” He shrugged. “Storms don’t linger that much in these parts this time of year.”

  “It’s rained all the way from Fort Worth. How can you say that?” She wanted to take the words back immediately, but they’d slipped out.

  His gaze sharpened on her. “You’re a might far from home, ma’am.”

  Walking away might have been the better choice, but instead she lifted her chin and met the challenge head on. “And?”

  “No and, ma’am. But if you’re not familiar with the area, the land, it’s treacherous.” Concern filled the syllables. “I wouldn’t feel right about sending you out alone, particularly unprepared.”

  “You wouldn’t be sending me anywhere, sir. I’m afraid this is a journey that cannot wait. I appreciate your assistance, but I will remove the burden from you. I’m sure there are other stables within the town and I can purchase a horse and gear from them.” She didn’t make it three steps.

  “Ma’am…”

  Keep walking. But the man had been nothing but kind and she was so very tired. “Yes?”

  “Is it an emergency? Can you spare a couple of days to rest up and let someone give you a few lessons with the horse? Maybe let the weather clear up?” The earnest attitude surprised her, as did the honest caring in his tone. Maybe if more men like him had been in Kansas…

  She smothered the thought. “It’s important. I really do not want to delay any longer than I have already.”

  “But can you afford an accident? Forgive me for saying this, but if you ride off into the unknown in a storm without the knowledge or the skill, you’re going to have an accident.” It wasn’t an unreasonable assumption.

  Her automatic denial died unspoken, but she choked on confessing the truth. Her funds wouldn’t stretch to cover a stay and supplies.

  “If you go to the Silver Star Inn—right down the walk from here, very nice place, three levels—and you can tell them you want a room on the Kane account. Let Mr. Taylor know Micah Kane sent you. He’ll set you up. That gives us a couple of days to ride back to my ranch. I can pick out a better mare and equipment for you and come back and make sure you know what you’re doing.”

  It was an unbelievably generous offer. “Why would you do that?”

  “I’m with the lady. Why are you doing that?” The blond spoke from a point so close to her she actually jumped at the sound of his voice. When had he come back? She hadn’t heard him move before he spoke. He gave her a dismissive look.

  Her would-be savior gave the blond a patient look. “Because the lady needs help, Cody. We still help folks because it’s the right thing to do.”

  The blond growled, actually growled. “You Kanes.”

  “Yes. We Kanes.” Micah grinned. She found herself trusting that smile.

  “I can wait a day or two at most.” She agreed grudgingly. “But I would r
ather pay for my own room and the horse.” Accepting a stranger’s generosity and their advice only went so far.

  “She’ll be gone the moment we leave.” Cody predicted.

  She arched her brows and took a step away from him. He was nowhere near as friendly as his companion.

  “Will you?” Micah addressed the question to her and she considered her answer. “Be gone as soon as we’ve left?”

  “Not that my word will mean much and no idea why I’m even offering it…” Because sometimes, baby girl, even with all the facts laid out in front of you and the law as your guide, you have to trust your instincts about people. Her father’s wisdom echoed in her ears. “Two days. I shall go to the Silver Star Inn, correct?” And pray that she had enough coin to cover it all. If not, perhaps she could barter with the small bit of gold in her shoe. When he nodded, she pressed on. “Exactly two days. If by noon the day after tomorrow I haven’t seen you, I shall indeed move on.”

  “Fair enough. We’re going overland. If we push it, we can be at the ranch by tomorrow morning and be back the following day…”

  She frowned. “But surely in this weather that will be dangerous for you.”

  “For them.” Cody scowled. “They can stay here. I’ll get the damn horse and gear. Buck, let them know I’m coming.” He stalked down the aisle after the odd instruction and Micah sighed.

  “Well, why don’t you meet me back here tomorrow and I’ll give you a lesson.” Micah looked pained. “Miss…?”

  “Wilson.” She lied. “Ellen Wilson.” They’d been nothing but nice, and she trusted her instincts, but she was tired and she wouldn’t see these men again.

  “I’ll meet you back here in the morning, Miss Wilson. Say ten o’clock? And maybe you could wear something better suited for riding astride, if that’s what you’re going to insist on doing.”