******
Amanda walked into the barn after finishing her chores and spotted Will sitting on a small bench. “Do you know where I can find Jake?”
“He rode out with a few men to check fences on the south border. Took Tinder with him.” Will didn’t turn from the repair work that held his attention.
“I want to know what’s next. What do we need to do to protect the cattle, the horses?”
“Best for you to talk with Jake. He’s your foreman—it should come from him.”
“Well, he’s not here and I’m asking you.” Amanda walked up to within a few feet of Will, hands on hips, eyes not wavering from his. “I won’t be cut out of this.”
He continued to sit but stared right back at her. “Look, I don’t know for certain what Jake plans, or how I fit into it, other than continue to ride fence lines.” Will looked back at the leather in his hands and tried to ignore the woman who still stood next to him. He could feel the heat pouring from her. Whether it was from anger or something else, he didn’t know.
“Don’t dismiss me, Will. The three of you must have shared your thoughts after I went upstairs last night. I need answers, need to know what to expect, and how to stop the rustling. Jake’s not here, but you are, and I suspect you know what he plans. Please, tell me.” She placed a hand on Will’s arm.
He put the piece of leather on a small table and pushed his tall frame from the bench. Her hand fell away. He missed the warmth of her touch immediately and stepped back to gain some distance. Being this close to Amanda, without others around, wasn’t a smart idea. There was too much pull between them. All he could think about when she was around was their kiss and how he had wanted it to continue, and how much he wanted to pull her to him now.
“All I know for sure is that he plans to bring the cattle as close-in as possible—into one large herd—and post extra men. He wants to keep watch twenty-four hours a day. Most likely he, Drew, and I will rotate shifts so that one of us is always with the herd. Drew rode to town to send a telegram to his boss in Denver. He thinks Dunnigan may agree to help with some extra men––men trained to look for rustlers and deal with them. No guarantees, but Drew believes it’s worth a try.” Will plunged his hands into his pockets and turned to leave.
“That’s all? What about warning the other ranchers, hiring more men, and contacting the Colorado Rangers?” Amanda followed him toward the barn entrance.
“Jake sent a man out to let the neighboring ranchers know what happened. Drew’s boss has contacts with the Rangers. He’s hoping we’ll get some support from them.”
Amanda stopped at one of the stalls. She placed a hand on the nearest post to peer over at the six-month-old colt inside. If all went well, they hoped he would be the foundation of a new breeding program that Tessa had talked Grant into starting. But it would all be put at risk if they didn’t stop the rustlers. Taking cattle was one thing, but stealing horses made it much more serious in the eyes of the ranchers.
“Amanda, are you all right?” She was so lost in her thoughts she hadn’t noticed Will come back to stand beside her. Although he kept his hands stashed in his pockets, he stood only a foot away and the closeness unsettled her.
“I’m fine, just worried about all that’s happened. Jake’s a wonderful foreman, but older, and I know Drew plans to leave for Denver soon. It’s become clear to me you’re here for other reasons than a ranch job. We both know you’re much more than a basic hand. This is a short-term job for you, isn’t it Will?”
Will looked uncomfortable as he gazed down into her troubled eyes. He could lie, but that would serve no purpose. She’d guessed right. He planned to finish his business with Hollis then head home, to Fire Mountain. But standing here, inches away, made his determination to distance himself from Amanda harder than he’d thought. What he saw in her eyes mirrored his own––desire and a longing to continue what they’d started only days before. He pulled a hand from a pocket and lifted it to gently brush strands of hair off her face and hook it behind an ear before letting his fingers gently caress her cheek, before cupping it with his palm. She leaned into him and brought one hand up to cover his. He placed his other hand on her shoulder and turned her to him.
“Amanda, how I wish things could be different. But I’m not the man you believe me to be.” His words were soft but there was no mistaking the yearning in his voice.
Amanda raised her eyes to study his face, looking for confirmation of his words, but she found none. “No, Will, you are exactly the man I believe you to be. I wouldn’t want you to be anyone else.” She lifted a hand to his shoulder and leaned up to place a kiss on his unshaven cheek.
At Amanda’s touch, Will turned to her and drew her close. His lips brushed across hers so lightly she had little time to acknowledge the contact. Then his mouth settled more firmly on hers and she responded fully, wrapping her arms around his neck to pull him towards her. He sipped at her lips until she opened and his tongue began a dance with hers. He kept one hand on her back while the other moved to a hip, then up to caress her stomach before continuing the upward journey to cup a breast. A sigh escaped her as his hand moved over her in a gentle caress, causing heat to flare between them.
Neither noticed that their bodies were flush and she was now backed up to the stall railing, her legs between his. His lips left hers to move down her neck to the top of her blouse. Her head fell back and he placed soft kisses along the small exposed opening before traveling back up to capture her mouth again.
The sound of wagon wheels and a shout of, “Whoa,” pierced the quiet of the barn. Will dropped his arms and stepped back as both tried to calm their breathing and adjust to the sudden lack of contact.
“I’ll get Amanda, Grant. She’s probably in the house.” Amanda and Will recognized Tess’s voice.
“Pa! Ma! You’re back.” It was Joey this time.
Amanda looked up at Will before starting for the door. “It’s my parents.” Her words were rough, quiet. What was I thinking? And after all my internal promises to stay away from this man. “Come on, I’ll introduce you.” She stepped further ahead of Will as they approached the barn entrance. “I’m here, Tess,” she called out, then ran to hug her mother, who stood next to the wagon.
Eleanor returned her daughter’s embrace while staring at the man behind her. Her head shifted to Drew, then back again at the stranger. Other than the clothes, the two men were identical. “So, you must be Drew’s brother.” She walked up to Will. Amanda took the opportunity to run into her father’s outstretched arms.
Will pulled off his hat. “Yes, ma’am. I’m Will MacLaren. I take it you’ve met my brother.”
“Yes, we happened upon them in town.” Eleanor continued to stare at the two men as Drew walked up beside them.
“So, this is the brother,” a voice boomed from behind Amanda’s mother. “Grant Taylor.” He reached out a hand to grasp the one Will offered.
“Will MacLaren, Mr. Taylor.”
“Call me Grant, or boss, but not Mr. Taylor. Makes me feel old. Glad to hear you’ve been helping Jake and Amanda. Also heard we’ve got trouble. As soon as I get Eleanor settled, let’s meet in my office so you can fill me in.” Grant looked between Will and Drew.
“Yes, sir,” they both answered, then walked back to the wagon to help unload the luggage and carry it into the house.
Tess watched in silence from the porch as the scene played out. At one time she would have had a father, a mother, to welcome home, but not now. The ache hit hard, but passed within moments. She was used to the dull ache of having no family, but for some reason it never got any easier.
******
The pain was intense. He lay on his back and stared up at dusty, spider-infested rafters. Sunlight streamed through cracks in the old roof and he could hear the constant buzz of insects. He tried to sit up, but his left shoulder wouldn’t cooperate. Rolling to his side he used his right arm for leverage to push to his knees. The pain was sharp and surged from his s
houlder down the length of his arm. Blood soaked through his jacket. He took a deep breath and willed his body to stand. He looked around the small cabin, and remembered. Hollis. The man had shot him.
Frank Alts pulled back his jacket, then his vest, to reveal the shirt below. Something pinched his skin. He’d moved his badge from his pocket to his shirt just before the meeting with Hollis, but right now, he couldn’t remember why. It was now bent and poking into his skin. A searing pain came from a hole in his left shoulder. Reality hit quick. Changing the badge’s location had saved his life. Hollis’ bullet must have hit his badge, deflecting it just enough to miss his heart and pierce his left shoulder. Hurt like hell, but he was alive.
Sweat poured off Frank as he looked around for something to clean the wound. Nothing. He held his injured shoulder tight to his side and limped out the door. He’d have to hike down the long trail to find help. His horse and guns were gone but at least he could walk. He took one last look at the cabin, then began the journey down the mountain.
******
“I told you we had to get it done before Taylor got home. Now there’s no choice but to close up and clear out with the cattle while there’s still a chance to make some money.” Sheriff Dutton paced the small office and peered out the window to make sure no one was outside. “Tonight, Chet. No more stalling.”
“Taylor doesn’t have any idea it’s us, and he won’t find out. I told you, Alts is dead and the others won’t say a word. The real money is in the horses, and I aim to grab them before we clear out.” Hollis pulled a thin cheroot from his jacket and lit up. He sat back in the chair, relaxed, giving the impression of calm when he was just as concerned as Dutton. He’d give up on his dream of the girl, but he wouldn’t give up on taking the horses from the Taylor ranch. They were some of the best mounts in the state and would bring good money in Wyoming or Montana.
“No, Chet. We have to leave now, tonight, with the cattle. Forget the horses. It’s not worth the risk now that they’ve been moved to the ranch.” Dutton just didn’t understand the man’s reluctance to get out while they still could. The cattle would bring enough money to start over somewhere else––out of the reach of Will MacLaren.
Hollis crushed the cheroot on the floor and stood. He was a good five inches taller than Dutton, but fifty pounds lighter. He’d like to take care of the man now but it would have to wait until they were away from town. The sheriff had become a liability. He’d need to be taken care of the same as Alts.
“Tell you what, we’ll ride out to the see the boys and tell them to be ready to move in two days. You can stay with them. Take what you need and let the deputy know you’ll be gone a couple days. We’ll be out of the area by the time he realizes you aren’t coming back.”
“Good, Chet, that’s good. I’ll meet you outside of town in an hour.” Dutton was surprised at Chet’s decision, but relieved. It was time they moved on to where no one recognized Hollis. Dutton would take his cut and get as far away from the man as possible.
Chapter Fifteen
“Alts, huh? Never met the man. Jake must’ve hired him after I left.” Grant sat at his desk and listened as Will explained the activities of the last few weeks.
“There’s something else you should know.” Will dreaded what he had to say but knew it had to be done. “Johnny Mullins was riding with Alts. He was shot and killed when we caught them in the canyon.” Will paused for a moment before he continued. “Amanda fired the shot that killed him.”
Grant’s face contorted. He sprang from his chair and slammed his fist onto the desk. “Who allowed my daughter to go out on a night raid, after rustlers?” he bellowed. “She could’ve been killed.”
The office door burst open. Amanda and Eleanor stormed into the room, but stopped when they saw that all seemed fine. Amanda’s father was known for his calm disposition and slow temper. The outburst they’d heard had surprised both women.
“Grant, what is going on in here? We could hear you in the kitchen.” Eleanor walked up to her husband and looked around, as if trying to find the source of his outburst.
“It’s my fault, ma’am. I just gave your husband some news he didn’t want to hear.” Will shot a meaningful glance at Amanda. He saw her eyes widen as she grasped his meaning.
“Do you want to tell me what possessed you to go out at night, with the men, after a group of rustlers? What the hell were you thinking?” Grant seldom swore in front of the women, and worked hard to control his anger, but the thought that he could’ve lost Amanda, never seen her again, shot tremors through his normally stoic frame.
“Father, I can explain…”
“Oh, can you now? And can you explain shooting a man?”
“Shooting a man? What do you mean, Grant?” Eleanor’s composure began to crack at the knowledge that her daughter may have hurt someone.
“Yes, Eleanor. Shot and killed a man. Johnny Mullins,” Grant said.
“Johnny? He’s dead?” Eleanor face drained of color. She looked at her daughter before lowering herself into a nearby chair.
“Father, if you’d just let me explain,” Amanda tried again. When her father didn’t respond, she continued. “I made them take me. None of them—Jake, Will, or Drew—wanted me to go, but I forced it.”
“We should’ve tried harder to stop her, sir.” Drew said. “I’ve never seen someone so determined not to be left behind.”
“They couldn’t have stopped me, Father. I would have followed them. It’s no one’s fault but mine that I was out there.” She walked up to her father and fixed her eyes on him. “And I’d do it again.”
Her father said nothing, just continued to stare at his daughter and come to terms with the fact that she’d done something he’d prayed she’d never do.
“But why would you shoot Johnny?” her mother asked.
“He was with them, Mother. He rode out with Frank Alts and was in the canyon where we keep the remuda. Two other men were with them. When Will called out to let them know we were there, they started to shoot. Alts and Johnny were able to get past Jake, Will, and Drew. I was the last person with any chance to stop them. I didn’t know it was Johnny until it was too late.”
“He was alive when we got to him, but he didn’t offer an explanation. Just said he shouldn’t have gone with them.” Will walked over to stand by Amanda just as the office door opened.
Tess stepped inside and looked around at the people in the room. “Is everything all right, Amanda?”
“Yes, everything is fine. We were explaining about Johnny to Mother and Father.”
“Did you go with them too, Tess?” Grant asked.
“No. I didn’t know they’d left until I went looking for Amanda and found her horse was gone. It was when they returned that I learned what had happened.”
The room was silent for a moment before Will broke the silence. “Drew and I have a few things to take care of––if we’re through here.”
“Yes, we’re through, for now,” Grant said.
Amanda and Tess began to leave with the men before Grant stopped them. “I’d like you two to stay. Eleanor and I have some things to explain, and this appears to be a good time.”
The two young women glanced at each other but did as Grant asked.
“Sit down, girls. This may take some time,” Eleanor said when the two continued to stand in front of the desk.
“This all sounds quite mysterious, Mother.”
“In some ways it may seem so, dear. Your Father and I had much time to talk on our travels, sort some things out that had been haunting us for a long time. We made the decision that it was time we told you girls more details about the past. You’re both old enough and there’s no point in waiting any longer.”
Grant walked over to the chair where Eleanor sat and placed a hand on his wife’s shoulder. They smiled at each other before Eleanor nodded for him to continue.
“Amanda, how much do you remember about your Mother leaving for Europe when you were about a yea
r old?”
Amanda’s eyes swept to her mother’s. “I was just a baby. I never knew she left. How long were you gone, Mother?”
“Almost a year. It was a hard time for your father and me. I met your father when he came to London for business and we fell in love. My parents objected, of course. He was a rough American, and a rancher. The combination was quite beyond them. But after a while they accepted my desire to marry Grant. I was young, and never quite acclimated to ranch life. I’d grown up with servants, balls, grand holidays, and all the wonderful things my parents provided. I had help here, of course, but the work was unending and the social connections non-existent.” Eleanor looked up at Tessa. “Your mother—Julia—was my only friend. I was very lonely. Grant and I had spoken of me returning to England for a long visit, but then I became pregnant with you, Amanda, and leaving seemed impossible.”
Grant leaned down to whisper in his wife’s ear. When she nodded, he continued. “She was miserable, Amanda. She loved you, but she needed to leave, decide if she wanted to continue her life with me in Colorado or stay permanently in England. It was hard on both of us. You were so small, but we had help at that time and I encouraged her to go. I wanted it to be decided one way or another before you were old enough to remember her absence.” Grant walked over to a table, grabbed a bottle and poured a drink. He downed it in one swallow before turning back to the women. He took a deep breath and continued.
“Her absence was painful and I was incredibly lonely without her.” He poured another drink and shot it down his throat, letting the amber liquid work its magic. Amanda had never seen her Father drink during the day. She knew there was more to come but had no idea what could upset her parents so much.
“Tess, your Mother and Father lived at the ranch at that time. Bobby had worked for me about two years when Eleanor left for England. He knew it was hard for me to be away from the ranch for long periods, so he volunteered to do most of the traveling.” He glanced once more at his wife before going on. “There’s no easy way to say this, but Julia and I had always been drawn to each other. Knowing this, and that my marriage with Eleanor was strained, Julia made it a point to never be around me without Bobby. Neither of us had any intention of ever acting on our feelings.”
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