Jessie glanced at her sister. Mary Louise had been on her best behavior since her quarrel with their father last Sunday. The smartly dressed blonde was walking, talking, and acting like a well-bred and well-educated lady. Somehow Jessie didn’t trust the girl; a person couldn’t change so in only a week.
“Thank you, Miss Lane,” Navarro replied. “I’ll join the boys for a game now.”
Jed, Matt, Mary Louise, and Gran watched as Navarro walked away, and Jessie watched all five with great interest. She suspected that none of them wanted to like or accept Navarro. She wondered at their reluctance.
* * *
With the law gone, Matt assigned several men to ride guard around the ranch that night. As the hands left, Matt joined the men, who were tossing metal rings around posts fifteen feet apart. Others played cards, made or listened to music on the bunkhouse porch, or did rope tricks to entertain their friends.
At ten, Roy returned to the bunkhouse to roust Biscuit Hank for doctoring. Roy was in terrible pain with four broken fingers. While Hank tried to straighten and bind Roy’s injured hand with Matt’s help, Navarro fetched Jed. Jessie heard the noise and went to investigate.
In the bunkhouse, Roy claimed, “I fell, Boss, and bent ’em back. They snapped like twigs. I won’t be no good for a long time—if this hand ever heals right. I’m heading for my uncle’s ranch in San Antonio at first light. Davy’s fine, so I won’t trouble you with caring for me. You got enough work on your hands.”
Roy took more swallows from the whiskey bottle that Hank urged on him for dulling the agony. The man grimaced. “Sorry, Boss. It was a crazy accident.”
Jessie and Jed exchanged glances. “You sure it was an accident?” Jed asked.
Roy looked scared and nervous as he vowed, “It was, Boss.”
“You’ve been with me for years, Roy. I’ve never known you to be careless.”
Roy drank again and groaned in pain as Matt helped Hank set the breaks as best they could.
“You need a real doc for this mess,” Hank remarked.
“They got two in San Antonio. My aunt can tend me good. I cain’t work like this. No need for me to hang around and be more trouble.”
“It’s three hundred miles. You need doctorin’ afore that,” Hank protested.
“I’ll go to Stockton and hitch a ride. Be easier than horseback. Won’t cost much.” Roy spoke without convincing the others.
“Mighty anxious to leave,” Matt said. “Speak the truth, man.”
The strong liquor took effect and Roy snapped, “You would be, too, if—”
“Who did this?” Matt insisted, interrupting. “We been friends a long time. You owe us the truth. A fall don’t tear a shirt like that.”
“He’ll find out and they’ll kill me next time. I hafta leave.”
“Who?” Jessie entreated. “We’ll protect you, Roy. Tell us, please.”
“I cain’t, Miss Jessie.”
“Yes you can,” she urged in a soothing tone.
Roy shuddered in anguish and fear. “I don’t know. I swear it. That gang just called him ‘Boss.’ They broke my fingers so I cain’t work. They said if I wasn’t gone tomorrow, they’d git me. They got a spy here. That’s how they know to do ever’thing. He’ll tell ’em I talked. They’ll ambush me.”
“Spy? Who?” the redhead asked.
“Don’t know, Miss Jessie. One of our hands is working for him. Maybe they scared him into doing it. They’re real mean. There’s lots of ’em. We cain’t stop ’em. We’ll all get killed. Sell out, Jed, or yore family could be next. If you tell the boys what I said, that spy will talk and they’ll be gunning for me. I hafta quit and ride out, Jed. I hafta.”
“Let him go, Papa. But you have to promise to come back to work when this trouble is over. Deal, Roy?”
“I will. Just don’t say what I tol’ you.”
“We won’t,” Jed said to calm the shaking man.
When Roy finished the whiskey and was put to bed, Matt asked, “You believe we have a spy here?”
“No, ’course not. They were just scaring Roy off. I can’t let him stay like that. Fletcher could get to him again and use him against us. Once a man breaks, he can’t be trusted again. We won’t tell the boys what happened until he’s gone. That leaves us with thirteen men, me, and Jess. Anybody else you think can be scared off, Matt?”
“No, sir. Roy was the weakest and had been with us the shortest time. If any strangers or old hands come by, we shouldn’t hire them.”
“Why?” Jed questioned.
“Maybe Fletcher’s gotten to them. Too risky.”
“I have another plan, Mr. Lane, if you want to strike blow for blow.”
Monday night beneath a waning crescent moon, the group Navarro had selected met at the corral. “Carlos, did you pick the darkest and best-trained horses for our raid?”
“Si, amigo, the best.”
Navarro eyed the men in dark clothes and hats that would help them blend into the night. “Any of you wearing anything that might make noise?” The men all replied they weren’t, as ordered. “I know you boys can ride bareback. We don’t want anything to make sound and we don’t want to be seen. The moon’s on our side tonight, but we have to be careful. We can’t allow any of us to be captured and turned over to the sheriff or Army. Anybody who makes a mistake or gets surprised takes the blame for the whole thing.”
They all concurred. “Carlos, you ride with Jimmy Joe. Matt, you go with Miguel. Jessie will be with me. That’ll split up our best shots and best riders. Keep your partner in sight. If you have to leave him behind to protect the Lanes and the rest of our group, be brave and do it. Just like we planned, dynamite the tops. Big John said that’ll hurt him the most. If it breaks those windmills’ fingers, good. If not, we’ll settle for taking off their heads. Fletcher’ll have to put lots of hands on them for repairs. That’ll repay him and give us time to work.”
“Where did you get this dynamite?” Matt inquired.
“At the fort while me and Jessie were waiting on the troops to get ready to leave. I got to talking to one of the soldiers and he showed me around. When the guard turned his back in the magazine, I stuffed three sticks in my shirt. I wish we had more. You have the time down?” They all said yes. “We need them to blow together. That’ll cause confusion. Cut fences on your way back—but hurry. No chances. Me and Jessie will fire his south shed as we leave. As soon as you’re back, curry your horse and release him, then get in the bunkhouse. If Fletcher rushes over, we want it to look like a regular night. We’ll be going now, sir,” Navarro told Jed.
“You boys be real careful-like,” Jed warned. “Navarro, you take care of Jess for me. I don’t like her going on this job. It’s dangerous.”
“I’ll be fine, Papa. Navarro needs the best shots and riders in case of trouble.”
Jessie noted the time on her father’s pocketwatch. They hadn’t seen anything but stock since they reached their enemy’s land. Navarro climbed the windmill and tied the dynamite to the gear box on the wheel. At two o’clock, she told him to light the long fuse. He struck a safety match and did so, then scampered down to leap on his horse. They galloped for distance from the impending blast. It shook the night like thunder and lightning during a bad storm.
Watchful for approaching men, they rode to a pasture shed and set it ablaze. Again, they galloped away toward safety, and for home this time. On Lane land, Jessie halted her mount and called out for Navarro to do the same.
“What’s wrong? Did you hear or see something?”
“No, but I need a kiss,” she replied, edging her horse closer to his.
“We have to hurry,” he responded, but released the animal’s mane to lean over and cup Jessie’s face between his hands. He kissed her with tenderness that rapidly turned into raging desire. He groaned as he leaned away. “We have to ride.”
“I know, but I needed you for a moment. We have so little time alone.”
“I wish that weren’t so, but it is, Jessie, a
nd it’ll be that way for good.”
“Please stop reminding me that I’ll lose you, Navarro,” she beseeched him.
“If I don’t, you’ll ignore it. I’ve come to know you well, woman.”
“Yes, you have, better than anyone. You sure you can get along without me after you leave?” she asked, trying to keep her tone teasing and light.
“It’ll be hard, but I have to learn, don’t I?”
Jessie knew he didn’t expect or want an answer, so she responded, “Yep. Just as long as I know it’ll be as difficult on you as it’ll be on me. Let’s get home, partner.” She nudged her mount and galloped off to give him that breathing space he always needed when she got too close.
Tuesday morning, Wilbur Fletcher arrived to see Jedidiah Lane. Mary Louise entertained their neighbor until Jed and Jessie reached the house. Martha had gone to fetch them and warn them of their enemy’s presence. They found the man sitting in their parlor and sipping coffee as if he were an invited guest!
“What do you want here?” Jessie asked. “You’re not welcome on Lane land.”
“How dare you enter my home!” Jed added in a cold tone. “Mary Louise, you know better than to invite this rattlesnake inside. If you have anything to say to me, Fletcher, come outside. I don’t want you fouling my home with your evil stench. But since we have nothing to discuss, just ride off the same way you came.”
“And don’t come back,” Jessie finished.
Fletcher, looking annoyingly unruffled, set down his cup and rose. “You’re a hard man to deal with, Jed. There’s no need to be impolite or hostile. We are neighbors.”
Jed walked outside in a hurry as he tried to master his raging temper. At the porch, he turned on the man and said, “You’ve never been a good neighbor. You crave my land, but you won’t ever get your dirty hands on it. Never.”
“I made you a fair offer. You’re getting too old to manage such a large spread. Your son can’t take over for you, and surely you don’t expect these young ladies to do so. What kind of father are you to work them so hard and to keep such beauties secluded way out here? With my offer, you could have a good life in town. You’re making Miss Jessie as hard and stubborn as you are.”
“Jess can manage this spread as well as I can. And she will when I’m gone.”
“She’s a woman, Jed, a beautiful woman. She shouldn’t have to shoulder such a burden because of your pride and selfishness. She should be married with children of her own. You’re making that choice impossible for her. As for Miss Mary Louise, she’s much too educated and ravishing to be trapped in a wilderness. And that son of yours, he could receive treatments for his problems in a big city.”
Jed was furious. His face flushed and his sturdy body stiffened with barely leashed emotion. “Don’t go telling me how to run my family matters! You don’t even have a wife and children, so what do you know about them? Nothing! I never understood why you settled here in what you call a wilderness. Why don’t you give up and move on? You’ve got plenty of money to buy a good spread somewhere else, near those big cities you like. You can’t grow here with me in your path so you’re wasting your time waiting and talking.”
“Expansion is precisely why I want to purchase the Box L. You have the best grazing land and water supply in the southwestern area. I’ll even raise my offer. Name a fair price and we can settle our business today.”
“We have no business with you, Fletcher,” Jessie remarked.
“Give it up, ’cause I’ll never sell out, especially to the likes of you.”
The brown-eyed man responded in a calm voice, “If you keep attacking me, Jed, you’ll lose. You’ll find yourself in prison very soon. Then what will happen to your family and property? I know you dumped those coyotes on me. You’re also to blame for dynamiting three of my windmills last night. I’ve sent word to the sheriff about your crazy doings. He should be returning to question you this week. You’ve gone mad, Jed, and I’m sorry to see that happen. You have this insane idea I’m your enemy, but I’m not. I freely admit I want your spread badly, but I wouldn’t do the things you’ve accused me of doing to get it. I don’t have to resort to such vile actions. You’ll lose this ranch all by yourself through your criminal deeds. When you step too far, I’ll be there to buy this spread, and you’ll be the loser.”
Jed looked as if the man’s words alarmed him, but still he claimed, “I don’t know anything about coyotes and windmills, Fletcher. If you aren’t behind all this trouble I’m having, maybe that ghostly gang you mentioned is harassing both of us. I’m a God-fearing, hardworking man. I don’t fight unless I’m forced to.”
“Don’t be sarcastic, Jed, and don’t lie. You’re boxing yourself in with these undeserved attacks on me. I want to get this land legally and fairly.”
“When would I have time to attack you? We’re busy with branding. We’re shorthanded, but you know all about that. If you send your hirelings over here again to kill my critters, or do damage, or scare off any more hands, you’ll be sorry. Plenty sorry,” Jessie’s father added with renewed courage and coldness.
Without raising his voice, Fletcher said, “Don’t threaten me. I’m getting as mad as you claim to be. I’ve been patient waiting for you to work this craziness out of your head or for the sheriff to capture the real culprits. Neither has happened. The only change in our situation is that it’s getting worse. The next Box L hand I see on my place will be shot for trespassing.”
“If you murder any of my men, you’ll hang. Toby Cooper and Captain Graham know us, have for years; they’d know you shot an innocent man. We both know everything you’ve done to me. I’ve been lying back too long while you challenged me. It’s fighting time. You’ll get everything you deserve,” Jed warned.
Fletcher reacted to that threat by narrowing his dark eyes for a moment, then forced himself to relax again. He brushed some flicks of dust off his well-made suit from Dallas. He glanced at his neatly trimmed nails. “I’m sorry you feel that way, Jed, and that you’re being so stubborn and unreasonable. When you finally give up because you go broke or someone gets hurt, my offer won’t be as good as it is now. I sincerely wish we could work this out without more hostility.”
“Why do you really want this ranch?” Jessie inquired.
Fletcher’s eyes roamed her head to foot. “I told you why, Miss Jessie.”
Beneath his brown gaze, Jessie felt she must look a mess. Mary Louise was right; he was handsome, virile, and well mannered. He was a smooth and clever charmer! “I don’t think so,” she refuted. “There are too many other places you can go and settle. If you want our land this badly, there must be a better reason than greed for water and grass. If you keep pressing us, the truth will come out. I wonder how that will affect the law’s reactions.”
Fletcher smiled, and his aristocratic features softened. His dark hair was combed from his tanned face. His hairline receded slightly at his temples to form a brown widow’s peak in the middle. His brows were thick, his nose straight, and his mouth full. She had never paid much attention to his looks before; now she realized how appealing they were. If she didn’t know the truth, she would think she was crazy to suspect such a dashing and polite man of attacking them in such horrible ways!
“You’re a surprising and refreshing woman, Miss Jessie. You’ll make some lucky man a very strong, intelligent, and dependable wife.”
Jed didn’t like the way his enemy was eyeing his daughters. “I should have claimed all the land up to the mountains; then you couldn’t have moved in and started trouble. I only needed three hundred thousand acres, and I never thought anyone would claim land without water and much grass. ’Course with your wealth, you can afford to build plenty of windmills. Tell me, Fletcher; why did you box yourself in like that? You don’t belong in a place like this.”
“I saw this area and fell in love with it, as you did. I planned to live here a while, then move back East. I decided it would be easy to sell later for a nice profit if I created a nice
spread. But the longer I remained, the more attached I became to my ranch. I decided I wanted to make it the biggest and best in this area. This is where I want to spend my life, so I’m staying.”
“You’re a big-city man. Your being here don’t make sense, like Jessie said.”
Fletcher glanced from Jed to Jessie, eyed her once more, then looked back at her father. “I don’t need to explain myself to you or to anybody. When I want something, I get it, because I have the money and wits to do so. Eventually all of this will be Bar F land. The sooner you face that reality, Jed, the better for all of us. I don’t want to ruin you to win, so don’t force me to break you. You know I can undercut every deal you try to make. I can hire every seasonal wrangler who comes to this area and let them sit on my bunkhouse porch. How will you get your cattle to market then? I can purchase the supply stores in both towns, then refuse to sell goods to you or price them so high you’ll go broke or wanting. There are plenty of ways to change your mind without violence. I’m a rich and powerful man. I’m smart and I’m determined. I don’t need to resort to the sort of vile tactics you’re using and accusing me of using. I won’t tolerate them any longer. Attack me again, and it will be war between us. I don’t have a family to worry about protecting, and I do have more men working for me. Think twice before challenging me again.”
“You’re about as innocent as the devil is about tempting Eve!” Jed retorted. “Sheriff Cooper and Captain Graham are keeping an eye on this area. You’ll make a slip soon and be unmasked. We’ll see how much your money matters then.”
“They can’t unmask me if I’m innocent. If I were you, I’d look for whomever my real enemy is and go after him. Somebody wants you out of here worse than I do. I’d ask myself who and why. Good-bye, Miss Jessie. Good-bye, Miss Mary Louise,” he said, smiling and tipping his hat to the blonde standing in the doorway observing them. “I do hope you fine ladies will enlighten your father as to the error of his ways before this matter is out of control.”
Follow The Wind Page 22
