“Did you ever see him slipping away?”
“Sure have. He stuck close to Hank and Thomas until I caught those boys stealing cattle.”
“I thought both of you caught them.” Colt’s mind raced with accusations.
“Nope. Just me, and then he rode up.”
“He isn’t getting out of my sight.”
“Mine either. Although I can’t figure out why he would have murdered Hank and Thomas.”
Colt hesitated. Recollections of what he and Will used to do settled in his mind. “Maybe they knew too much about Will’s business, or he just got greedy.”
Clancy glanced behind them. “Hey, Thatcher Lee.”
The young man joined them. He placed his foot on the fence rail. “I’m real worried about Mrs. Langley and the girls.”
“We are, too, son.” Clancy stared out into the ever-darkening shadows. A few horses made their way toward them.
“I want whoever has caused this trouble found,” Thatcher Lee said. “I think the only reason the women went with us today was because it left no one there to defend them.”
“This is their home,” Colt said. “I know our boss can handle herself, but she shouldn’t have to tote a rifle to protect what’s hers.”
“Well, count me in on what needs to be done,” Thatcher Lee said. He stroked the head of one of the horses. “I wonder about our good sheriff. He’s never around when you need him, and he’s plum lazy.” With those words he turned and strode off toward the stables.
“What do you think?” Clancy asked.
“Nothing’s changed. I just want to know why.”
In her bedroom, by the light of the kerosene lamp, Anne counted the money in the cash box, the money she used for payroll. Last month it all balanced out, but this month she was two hundred dollars short. Where had it gone? No one knew where she kept it. Someone would have to search her room to find it. She kept it at the bottom of the leather trunk with the girls’ baby clothes and her parents’ Bible on top. Rosita? The sweet lady never set foot in Anne’s room. No, Rosita had not taken the money. But who had?
She shivered. Cattle rustlers. Murders. Money gone. Hard work and sleepless nights she could handle, but this shook her. Will would have known what to do. He’d have strapped on his Colts and cleaned up this mess.
Strapped on his Colts. The Peacemaker. Colt Wilson.
Her mind must be slipping to linger on a man who was most likely as rotten as her husband.
Anne shoved the cash box back into the trunk and eased down onto her bed. It squeaked, as it always had. She lay back on the quilt, the one her mother had given her on her wedding day—one of the few memories of Will that didn’t hurt. He’d lied to her and broken the law, and maybe he’d brought down this trouble on his family. Betrayal stalked her day and night, and she didn’t want to love a man who’d do the same thing again. Why couldn’t she fall in love with a man who wasn’t an outlaw?
Burying her face in her hands, she cried until not a single tear was left. Oh, God, what am I to do? I have Sammie Jo and Nancy to raise. Someone is murdering my ranch hands and stealing my cattle and my cash. A near-man has my Sammie Jo’s attention, and Colt Wilson is too good-looking and so very kind.
“Mama.”
Anne blinked, wiped her face, and took a deep breath. “Yes, Nancy.”
“My frog’s gone.”
“Come on in, honey.” Anne stood from the bed.
The door opened, and Nancy broke into tears the moment she saw her mama. “He’s run away. I just know it.”
“Are you sure?” For certain if the frog had died, Rosita would have taken care of the matter.
“Can we go find Mr. Colt? He’ll know where to look for Mr. Frog.”
Anne sensed the color drain from her face. “Honey, we can’t bother Mr. Colt. He’s worked very hard today.”
Nancy sniffed. “But he’s my best friend. He never laughs at me, and he talks to me like I’m all grown up.”
Oh, Colt has stolen more than one Langley woman’s heart. She bent to her daughter’s side. “Perhaps we can find your Mr. Frog. I’ll help you.”
Nancy wrapped her arms around her mama’s neck. “It’s no good, but we can try.”
Anne grasped her daughter’s hand and the lamp. Together they made their way through the house, looking here and there for one lonely frog. Satisfied it wasn’t inside, they stepped onto the porch.
“Mr. Frog,” Nancy called, “you don’t have to hide. I’m here.”
“Miss Nancy, did you lose your frog?”
At the sound of Colt’s voice, Anne’s legs felt like quivering matchsticks.
“Yes, sir. He’s run off.”
Colt mounted the back porch steps. He bent down to Nancy. “I’ll look, but you know what?”
She shook her head.
“I think he’s missing his frog friends. I know you take good care of him, but I bet he wants to be with his family and friends. What if you lived with him? Wouldn’t you miss your mama and Sammie Jo?”
“I would, sir. And I’d miss you, too.” She swiped at her eyes. “I want him to be happy. I’ll let him be free.”
“Your daddy would be proud of you.” Colt stood and shoved his hands into his jeans pockets.
Alarm took over Anne’s senses—the missing money and all the trouble at the Double L. “Nancy, why don’t you run along and get ready for bed?”
“Good night, little one,” Colt said. “Don’t forget to tell your sister good night.”
Nancy started to protest, but with a lift of her mama’s chin, she disappeared inside. A few moments later, Anne stared into the shadows at Colt.
“You have a good evening, ma’am.”
When he turned to leave, curiosity got the best of Anne. “Were you needing to talk to me?”
He shrugged. “No.”
“Then what were you doing up here?”
“I’d rather keep that to myself if you don’t mind.”
Anger simmered to a fast boil. “You’re snooping around my house, and you don’t want to tell me why?”
“That’s what I said.” He stiffened.
“Maybe you know more about what has been going on than you’re telling.”
Colt said nothing.
“Are you keeping something from me? Or are you involved?”
His fists clenched. “If that’s what you think of me, then I’m clearing out of here tonight.”
Regret washed over her. She rubbed her shoulders. “I don’t think you’re against me,” she said softly. “Colt, you know something you’re not telling me, and I don’t like it at all.”
“I’m not in the habit of accusing a man without proof.”
“What did you see here tonight?” she asked, barely above a whisper.
“Nothing.”
Clancy appeared from the shadows. She held her breath.
“Anne, Colt won’t tell you what’s going on, but I’ll tell you. In fact, I’m part of it, too.”
“I want to hear all of it.” She whipped her attention to Clancy.
“We’ve been keeping watch on the house and barns at night. One night I do it, and Colt does it the next.”
Anger smoothed to near tears. She grabbed the porch post. “I’m sorry. I thought…I thought…” She swallowed the lump in her throat. “If I’m to trust anyone, it’s you two.”
Colt stepped forward then back. He raked his fingers through his hair. “I’m heading back to the bunkhouse. Enough for one night.”
“That’s what I came to tell you,” Clancy said. “He’s missing.”
“Who?” Anne asked. “You have to tell me.” Her voice rose higher. “Please tell me.”
Chapter 8
Anne trembled in the shadows, a different side for Colt to see. In all of the times they’d been together, she’d been strong and fearless—bossy and full of spirit. He wanted to reach out and hold her, take care of the situation and put her mind at ease. But he couldn’t.
“Anne, I do
n’t have proof,” Colt said. “I spent too many years in prison to accuse an innocent man. Clancy and I suspect one of the hands, and we’re watching him. I can’t say anymore.”
Her shoulders lifted and fell. “I’m sorry, and I understand. Don’t know what’s got into me.”
“I do,” he said. “You have a family and a ranch. It would make a person question everyone around ’em—especially someone you trusted.”
She nodded. “Thanks.” She peered around him to Clancy. “After Will died, it took that feisty old man behind you to toughen me up.”
Clancy chuckled. “You had it in ya. You just didn’t know it.”
“What can I do to help?” Her attention focused on both men. “Won’t do any good to tell me ‘nothing.’ I can’t sleep or think right, and I won’t until this is settled.”
Colt wished he’d spent more time with his mother so he’d know how to convince Anne of her foolishness. “I guess keep your eyes open. Nancy and Sammie Jo wander off a lot. Might be good if you’d make sure they stick around the ranch.” He forced a laugh. “Although Sammie Jo can handle herself, there’s no point in her walking into a snake pit.”
“I agree,” Clancy said. “Both girls have a streak of stubbornness when it comes to telling them they can’t do something. Kinda like their mama.”
“I’ll make sure it sounds like it’s their idea—and include Rosita with this, too. She could find things for them to do. I want the girls to be cautious but not afraid.”
Colt thought about Will. He should have been more careful and held on to this woman. Any man would be proud to…
“Cattle’s missin’, too,” Clancy said. “We brought back the ones Hank and Thomas stole, but now there’s twenty or so gone.”
“So we’re looking at a real greedy man.” Colt glanced toward the bunkhouse. “If you two don’t mind, I’m going to take a little look around.”
“Got your rifle?” Anne asked.
“Yes, ma’am. I’ve used it a time or two.”
“I’d still like to know who you two suspect.”
“If you run him off, then we don’t have a chance to catch him. At least this way Clancy and I can make sure he or they are stopped.” He hoped his optimism reassured her.
“I’ll be along in a bit,” Clancy said. “I want Anne to take a look at my shoulder.”
Colt stepped down from the porch steps and headed toward the bunkhouse and barns. Leaving Anne with Clancy gave him an opportunity to back away from her soft voice and the yearning in his heart. She made his senses go loco.
Studying the shadows, he doubted if anyone would be stupid enough to do anything with him and Clancy out checking on things. Usually it was just one of them, like he was taking off to the outhouse or couldn’t sleep.
The full moon helped light the corral and the surrounding buildings. He walked to the back of the barns, along the fences, and then to the bunkhouse. The beds were occupied except his and Clancy’s. Had their suspect guessed what was going on and crept back to his bunk? This cowboy was one clever hombre.
He eased onto his bed and stared up at the ceiling, not really looking but pondering the situation. While in prison he thought he’d done enough thinking for a lifetime. Obviously not, ’cause he couldn’t figure out what was going on at the Double L.
“You and Clancy all right?” Thatcher Lee whispered.
“Yeah. Clancy’s shoulder is botherin’ him, and I made sure he got to Miss Anne’s before changing his mind.”
Colt listened to the snores around him. Tonight, like so many nights before, he pretended to sink his toes into the boots of the murderin’ cattle rustler who had made life miserable for Anne and tried to figure out how to stop him. He remembered the days when his own mind wrapped around the best way to deceive innocent folks. Odd—now he was on the other side. He understood how folks felt when robbed of their property or when someone they knew was killed.
Whoever had been up to no good would slip soon. His confidence would overcome his good sense, and he’d start making mistakes. Colt planned to be right there when it all broke loose.
“Too bad,” Thatcher Lee said. “She’ll fix him up. G’night. Big day tomorrow.”
Anne examined Clancy’s shoulder by the lamplight in the kitchen. She thought it had been healing fine, but infection oozed from it.
“Why didn’t you tell me about this sooner?” She blew out an exasperated sigh, remembering the infection in Will’s leg.
“I was taking care of it myself. Used some aloe leaves on it, and it does look better.” Clancy sat at the table while Anne poked at his sore arm.
“It needs to look a whole lot better.” She held the light over his shoulder for signs of red streaks. “Lucky for you I don’t see any blood poisoning.”
“What can you do for me?”
“I’ll clean it up and use some whiskey to burn out some of the infection. Probably wouldn’t hurt for me to squeeze a little aloe on it. In the morning I’ll take the wagon into town for medicine. I need supplies anyway. Nearly out of sugar and coffee.”
“Can’t do that. We need the wagon to haul feed for the cattle.”
She opened the pie safe and pulled out a bottle of whiskey. A clean towel lay on the kitchen table. “Then I’ll ride in by myself. Faster that way.”
“With all the trouble we’re having around here?”
She tapped her foot against the wooden floor then dabbed the wound with the whiskey, watching him wince. “Do you want to go with me?”
“Oh, I’d be a lot of good with a hurt shoulder.”
Concern mixed with fear shadowed Anne’s calm composure. Clancy was running a fever and needed more than she could do. A woman in town knew a lot about herbs. An extra day made a lot of difference. “I’ll ask Thatcher Lee to ride along.”
“I’d rather you take Colt—in case of trouble.”
All the way to town with a man who leaves me tongue-tied? “What about one of the other hands?”
“What’s wrong with Colt? He’s good with a gun, and I won’t have to worry about you. Is it because you’ve got feelings for him?”
Anne sensed her face aflame. If Clancy had guessed her secret, had anyone else?
“Don’t worry. I haven’t told a soul. But I do think it’s a good idea to have him go along with you.”
She realized he’d backed her into a corner. No way out but to ask Colt to escort her. “All right. I’ll ask him first thing in the morning.”
“No need. I’ll do it when I head back to the bunkhouse.”
Barking orders seemed the easiest way for Anne to cope with trouble. “Don’t go out with the men tomorrow. Stay here and keep Rosita and the girls company.”
“I did toughen you up, didn’t I? Before Will died, you’d have packed up the girls and left for the city.”
“Times change.” Her voice softened. “I love you like a father, don’t you know that?”
Clancy nodded. “I’m a bit partial to you, too.” He peered at his shoulder. “The aloe is helping a lot. In another day it’ll be fine. I only asked for you to take a look at it ’cause I can’t see what it looks like. You don’t need to go to all this trouble.”
She forced a smile through her weariness. Clancy’s shoulder just added to more of her worries—like a stall no one wanted to clean. At least she could do something about Clancy in the morning.
Spending the day with Colt tomorrow would cause her a sleepless night tonight. A handsome man had no room in her head or her heart.
Colt had given up on any sleep tonight. If he hadn’t enough on his mind, now he had to ride into town with Anne. She made him nervous with all the men around. What would happen during the several hours alone? He’d most likely fall off his horse.
He glanced at Clancy and doubted if he slept, either. His shoulder probably throbbed each time his heart beat. And it had to hurt powerful bad for him to ask Anne for help.
Lord, would You heal Clancy’s shoulder? He’s an old man who works ha
rd. I’d rather him go see You years from now.
Colt nearly jolted out of bed. Was he praying? When did this happen? His heart pounded like thunder rumbling on the prairie. Taking a deep breath, he eased back onto the bunk. He must believe in God, or he wouldn’t have prayed. When he thought through the last few days, he realized his trust in God had grown while trust in himself had slipped away.
This must be what Clancy had been talking about. God would reach out and snatch him when he least expected it. In the middle of frettin’ over Anne and the ranch, Colt had shaken off his independence and depended on God—not his rifle, his mind, or anyone around him.
Do I feel any different? He touched his chest as if God might have made him a new heart. According to what he’d read in the Bible and from listening to Clancy talk, if he believed and died this very minute, he’d live with God.
Heaven was a whole sight better than the other place, and he’d been real close to that. Reuben would be real pleased about this, but his other brothers would laugh good and hard about this one. Colt didn’t care what any man thought. Strange how his mind had moved from thinking on himself to thinking about God.
He’d been hooked like a fish on a line and didn’t mind a bit. He thought men found God when trouble had them next to death—like in the middle of a shootout or with a body full of holes lying next to ’em. This was an ordinary night. Nothing special, except Clancy’s shoulder needed doctoring.
Telling his friend crossed his mind; Clancy would want to know. And Anne…wonder how she’d take the news? Or was he supposed to keep quiet?
Guess he should pray a little more and do it right. From what he’d read, Jesus took the blame for his ornery soul, and he needed to thank Him and ask Him to take over his rotten life.
Chapter 9
Colt took a glimpse at Anne’s saddle to see if she’d brought two canteens of water. The day promised to be another scorcher. Once assured she’d be fine, he swung up onto the saddle.
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