Follow The Wind

by Janelle Taylor

  From the corner of her eye, Jessie saw Mary Louise standing in the doorway to their bedroom. A curious chill passed over her. She shrugged and dismissed it, then returned to her talk with her father.

  On Saturday, Mary Louise caught Navarro in the barn alone. “We have to talk,” she told him. “Something terrible has happened. Father will be furious about what I’m planning to do. He talked to Jessica last night about you. I think it’s big trouble. We can’t talk here. Don’t let anyone see you, but follow me after I leave.” She took a horse and headed away from the corral.

  Navarro was intrigued and worried. He couldn’t march to the house and ask to see Jessie alone, not with Jed there. He slipped away. When he caught up with Mary Louise, he dismounted and joined her. “What’s wrong with Jessie?”

  “She’s standing between us” came the shocking reply.

  “What?” he asked, looking and feeling baffled.

  “You don’t notice me with her around. Ever since I came home and met you, my head’s been spinning. I become hot and weak all over when I’m near you. I want you, Navarro. I know it’s bold and wicked, but I do.” She fondled his chest as she entreated, “Kiss me before I die of hunger.”

  Navarro grasped her hands and tried to push her away. “No, Miss Lane. I—”

  “Yes, Navarro,” she persisted as she rubbed herself against him.

  When she tried to pull down his head to kiss him, he scolded, “Behave, girl, or your father will whip both of us. I thought you said—”

  “Not if he doesn’t know about us. I won’t tell. If he finds out and intrudes, something could happen to him.” She sent him a sultry smile. “If you get rid of Father, Jessica will have to sell out and split the money with me. It’ll give us plenty to start a new life together somewhere. If Jessica refuses, you can take care of her, too. Please, Navarro, my love, let’s run away together.”

  The desperado was stunned. All he wanted to do was put distance between himself and this greedy creature. “Get mounted, girl. This isn’t a game.”

  “Far from it, my handsome drifter. This is your chance to win both me and plenty of money. I’m yours for the taking. All we need is money to make our dream come true. You can blame Mr. Fletcher for Father’s death.”

  The fugitive gaped at the blonde. “Either you don’t know what you’re saying, or this is a trick or a cruel joke. I don’t want to take you, Miss Lane, or hurt Jed. Forget this happened. Let’s go.”

  Mary Louise grabbed his shirt and yanked on it, causing it to rip. “I’m more beautiful and desirable than my spinster sister! I’m offering you two treasures. I’m more of a woman than she’ll ever be. We’re rebels at heart, Navarro; we’re perfectly suited to each other. We can escape together.”

  Navarro couldn’t believe he hadn’t seen this coming. Mary Louise must have been planning this for days. “No, we aren’t matched at all, Miss Lane. You shouldn’t behave this way.”

  “We are alike,” she argued, pouting and glaring.

  “No,” he stated in a firm tone to discourage her.

  As Mary Louise shrieked, “Yes, we are, damn you!,” she scratched his cheek.

  Navarro backed away and stared at the raging beauty with the flashing blue eyes. She was nothing like her older sister, nothing. He rubbed his stinging cheek and saw blood on his fingers. “Why did you do that?” he demanded.

  Mary Louise settled down and frowned. “I lost my temper. I’m sorry,” she murmured as she lowered her head. “It’s just that I’ve been craving you so long and so much that it’s driving me crazy. Are you sure you don’t want me, Navarro?”

  He tried to be kind and polite as Jessie had taught him. “I’m sorry, but no.”

  Mary Louise waited a moment, then said, “A woman can’t force a man to desire her. I was certain you’d feel the same way I do. I was mistaken. Give me a minute to calm myself, then we’ll head home. I won’t trouble you again. About Father and Jessica, I was only testing your loyalty and honor. I don’t want them hurt.”

  Navarro watched the girl retreat behind a row of bushes. He wiped his injured cheek, and wondered how to explain it to everyone. He couldn’t tell Jessie or Jed or the others what the girl had offered; it was too cruel, too shocking. He straightened his shirt, noticing several buttons were missing. He wondered if he should escort Mary Louise home or just leave her there. As he paced and waited, he heard a curious sound, like another rip, then a harsh slap!

  Mary Louise returned with mussed hair, ripped and dirty dress, and scratches on her neck. She muttered peevishly, “I’m so clumsy today. I fell and made a mess of myself. My dress is ruined.” The blonde mounted her pinto, grabbed the sorrel’s reins, and raced from the scene with both horses.

  Navarro was taken off guard and she was already too distant to halt her. He was befuddled and vexed. What in…Dread filled the wide-eyed man and stiffened his tall frame. His heart pounded. He ran after the vindictive girl who had taken his mount. He suspected she would drop its reins soon, if he was right about what she intended to do. He was; he found the animal grazing over the next hill. Winded from his run, he leapt on his sorrel and raced after Mary Louise. He couldn’t overtake her in time.

  As she neared the barn, the blonde screamed for help. Men came running to her aid. She fell off the horse into Matt’s arms, sobbing and looking terrified. “Don’t let him near me!” she shrieked and clutched at Matt as Navarro approached. “He tried to attack me! Navarro ambushed me and tried to rape me,” she accused, then snuggled her face against the foreman’s protective shoulder.

  Chapter Twelve

  Mathew Cordell’s astonished gaze locked on Navarro’s angry expression. The foreman saw his torn shirt and bleeding scratches. Matt looked at Mary Louise’s disheveled injured condition. He was perplexed and disappointed, as were the other hands.

  “You’ve been one of us for months, Navarro,” Matt said. “I can’t believe you would do something terrible like this.”

  “I didn’t, Matt; she did. Miss Lane asked me to escort her riding. When we halted, she got too friendly. I tried to discourage her, but she went wild and attacked me. Then she messed herself up like that and hightailed for home to get me into trouble. She even ran my horse over a mile so I couldn’t stop her. I never touched her.”

  Jed and Jessie arrived during Navarro’s denial and shocking accusation. The hands—who had been around the “drifter” for only seven weeks, but around their boss’s daughter for years—didn’t know what to say or believe. They knew the girl was defiant and unhappy, but they couldn’t imagine anyone lying about such a serious thing. Jessie was stunned speechless for a time, fearing the outcome of what she was certain was her sister’s spiteful mischief.

  “That’s a lie, you heartless beast!” Mary Louise raged. “You trailed me and waylaid me. I would never entice a saddletramp like you! Surely you don’t expect everyone to believe I injured myself. Look at us; we’re both wearing the evidence of your guilt.”

  Navarro’s gaze narrowed and hardened at the destructive and wicked girl. “You know I never tried to—”

  “Hush, both of you!” Jed stormed. “Girl, tell me what happened.”

  Mary Louise dabbed at fake tears. She repeated her wild tale. “I’m sorry, Father. He caught up with me and wanted to talk. I didn’t realize he could be this dangerous. I know I’ve been terrible lately, but I’m not to blame for this trouble. Honestly I’m not,” she vowed, her blue gaze widening in an attempt to appear truthful. “You know I’ve never liked or trusted him, so why would I entice him?”

  Jed glared at Mary Louise who looked so like his dead Alice at that moment, then at Navarro, who was a threat to his family. “What did you do to her?” he asked. “I never expected something like this from you.”

  “I swear I didn’t harm her, sir.”

  “Then how do you explain all this?” Jed argued, pointing to the “evidence.”

  Navarro related his side of the story, except for the blonde’s idea about killi
ng Jed and Jessie. He knew they would never believe that evil part, and it would cause them to doubt his other words. He finished with, “When she took off like this, I guessed what she had in mind. I raced after her to reason with her—”

  “He’s lying, Father! He—”

  Irate, Jed thundered, “Silence, girl! Let me handle this. This is crazy, Navarro. Why would Mary Louise hurt herself to frame you?”

  “I don’t know, sir, but I’m innocent.” Those words echoed through the fugitive’s mind from a day long past when he had used them after being accused and arrested for that gold robbery. No one had believed him then, and he had been brutally and unjustly punished; he could tell that was going to happen again today. If not for Jessie and the changes she had wrought in him, he would curse them and leave without another word! “I’m innocent,” he repeated, but knew it was futile. Fury and bitterness flooded him as he watched and listened.

  Jed waved everyone to silence as he considered this matter. He had seen his oldest and favorite daughter, his helpmate, responding more and more to this drifter every day. There was no way he could allow Jessie to get tangled up with a saddlebum like Navarro Jones. This was the perfect excuse to get rid of him before the gunslinger won Jessie’s heart. Jed knew how much he loved and needed Jessie, how much his mother and son needed her. “I’ve heard enough of this sorry affair. I have to fire you, Navarro. You can’t stay. In addition to this new trouble, for all I know, you could be on Fletcher’s payroll. Roy said we have a spy in our midst; that could be you.”

  Navarro was incensed. “That isn’t true, sir. I’m loyal to the Lanes.”

  “I don’t know what really happened out there. You’ve been a big help to us, but I have to let you go to keep peace around here.”

  “What about Fletcher, Mr. Lane?”

  “We’ll take care of him.”

  “Can you do it alone, sir? What about your family? They’re in danger. I wouldn’t touch your daughter; I swear it. Tell them the truth, Miss Lane.”

  “I did,” the blonde vowed.

  Jed exhaled loudly. “Even if it was a misunderstanding or a rash mistake, it’s best for you to leave, Navarro. I can’t take your side against my own daughter. I have enough trouble without adding you and her to it. Get packed and ride out.”

  “No, Papa!” Jessie shouted. “I know Navarro and he wouldn’t do anything like this. It’s Mary Louise’s fault; punish her, but not him. We need Navarro, Papa.”

  “Are you calling me—your own sister—a liar?” Mary Louise shrieked.

  Jessie glared at the devious girl. “I’m saying you’re wrong, that’s all.”

  “If you—”

  “Silence, girl,” Jed ordered a second time to prevent a hateful reply before the others. “Leave, Navarro, before there’s more trouble. Be glad I have doubts about what happened and gratitude for all you’ve done or I would have the boys tie you to the corral so I could whip you good to defend my daughter’s honor. Get riding, son, before I change my mind,” he warned.

  At that familiar threat, rage filled the desperado’s mind, and it stiffened his body. It glittered ominously in his brownish-green eyes and tightened his jawline. Framed again! He was tempted to reveal how much the girl hated Jed and Jessie, but those incredible words would cause a fight for certain, and he couldn’t lick this many men at the same time. No man, he vowed, would ever lash him again! Besides, Mary Louise was to blame, not the others, so why hurt them? He was fired, he told himself, so he had no choice but to leave.

  All his life he’d been used, betrayed, and then discarded. Yet, after all this time here, he had thought these people were different. Only his sweet and brave Jessie believed him and had stood up for him. Yet, he admitted, he couldn’t expect the other hired hands to go against their boss and friend for someone who was almost a stranger. His only regrets were how this would hurt Jessie and Tom. He dared not look at his love. “I’m innocent; one day, you’ll learn that the hard way, sir.” He stalked to the bunkhouse to pack, telling himself he should be grateful for an excuse to desert Jessie without having to explain the truth. But somehow, he wasn’t.

  “You can’t do this, Papa! It isn’t fair or right. He’s innocent.”

  “Don’t become disrespectful like your sister, Jess. I have to do what I think is best for all of us. Mary Louise, go to the house and get cleaned up. And do your chores without any back talk.”

  “Yes, Father,” she replied, and hurried to obey.

  “Let him stay until morning, Papa,” Jessie implored, “so you’ll have time to calm down and think clearly. We need his help.”

  “I can handle Fletcher from now on. I’ve been dodging my duty or letting others do it for me too long. This is my ranch and family. I’ll defend them. You boys get back to work. Sorry you had to witness such a disgrace.”

  The concerned foreman and men also obeyed their distraught boss.

  Gran, who had positioned herself and Tom on the front porch, urged the youth to go inside until everything was settled.

  Tom protested, as he wanted to go to his friend’s defense. “It ain’t fair, Gran. He’s innocent. He wouldn’t hurt nobody here.”

  “You can’t help him, Tom; your pa has spoken. Don’t argue with him.”

  “But Navarro’s my friend, Gran. At least let me go tell him good-bye.”

  “Your pa won’t like that. And you don’t want to make leaving harder on Navarro. He knows how you feel. Come inside.”

  Mary Louise reached the porch. All exchanged glances. She frowned at the suspicions she read on their faces. “I can see you two believe him over me!”

  “You’re mean, Mary Louise, a liar!” Tom accused, hurt and angry.

  “I’m glad he’s leaving. That drifter is no good; he’s trouble.”

  The youth’s florid complexion became rosier. His weak eyes squinted. “He is not! I hope Pa beats you for lying! If I was big enough, I would.”

  Mary Louise pinched his arm, and he jerked and yelled. “You only like him because he’s pampered you like a baby. He can’t change you to normal, Tom. Nobody can. Forget that road trash and being something you aren’t.”

  Ignoring her aches, Gran straightened herself to her full five foot two. “Mary Louise! Hush your mouth, girl, or I’ll tell Jed to whip you.”

  “Does everybody hate me and doubt me? I can’t wait to leave here! My friends back East never treated me this horrible way.” She ran into the house.

  At the corral, Jessie was still reasoning with her father. “What’s wrong, Papa? This isn’t like you. He was working hard and fitting in well here. You shamed him and hurt him.”

  “Better to hurt a stranger than us, Jess.”

  “Is it, Papa? Cruelty backlashes. I’m going to see him before he leaves.”

  “Don’t, Jess!” he said in a sharp tone.

  Her blue eyes glistened with defiance. “Sorry, Papa, this is one time I can’t obey. I brought him here. I gave him hope for friendship and peace. If you’re going to steal them away, I have to let him know I’m sorry and I don’t agree with you.”

  Navarro stalked past them with his saddlebags slung over one shoulder, his bedroll under his arm, a sack of supplies from Hank in one hand, and his rifle in the other. His holsters were strapped to muscled thighs, and his hat was low on his forehead as if to conceal his bitter gaze. He didn’t look at or speak to either Jed or Jessie. The desperado packed his possessions and mounted. Off he rode at a fast pace, fearing he had seen Jessica Lane for the last time.

  Jessie ran to the horse Mary Louise had used and swung into the saddle. She ignored her father’s shouts as she pursued her lover. When she neared him, she yelled, “Navarro! Wait up!”

  Navarro reined in, but didn’t look back. He sat stiff in his saddle. When Jessie reached him, edged close, and finally faced him, he kept his gaze ahead. “What is it, Miss Lane?” he asked, his tone intentionally icy and his manner forbidding. It was time to go. Coldness would make it easier for both of them to p
art.

  Tears moistened Jessie’s light blue eyes. “You didn’t say good-bye.”

  “Was there any need to? I came here leaving, like I do every place,” he responded.

  “I’m sorry Papa humiliated you and hurt you, Navarro. It wasn’t right, and I told him so. He felt he had no choice but to defend her, even though the little witch doesn’t deserve it. Mary Louise is miserable; she hates this place and wants to leave, but Papa won’t let her. I wish he would. No, I wish he had long ago; then this wouldn’t have happened to us. When Papa calms down, he’ll be sorry and be ashamed of himself for treating you so badly. I believe you’re innocent, Navarro, because I know you.”

  “Do you, Jess?” he asked, finally meeting her misty gaze.

  The redhead realized that the two men she loved most now called her Jess. She didn’t ask Navarro why he had decided to call her that today. “I don’t know much about you, Navarro, but I know what kind of man you are. She lied to cause trouble.”

  “Are you certain?” he challenged, causing her to grimace.

  “Please don’t try to hurt me to make this parting easier, Navarro. We have so little time left, and I have some things to say. Even if I didn’t know you and my sister, evidence doesn’t lie. You’re left-handed; those scratches, the rips in her dress, and that slap mark were on the wrong side for you to have inflicted them. I was going to challenge her about her so-called evidence, but tempers were too hot for reasoning. Papa usually listens to me, but not today. He’s a good man, Navarro, but all his troubles are changing him. Don’t think too harshly of him. He has a large burden on his shoulders. He doesn’t want any of us to see how scared he is. Papa’s fifty-four and he’s worked hard, but he has health problems. Sometimes I see him rubbing his aching hands like Gran does. Sometimes I’ve seen him so stiff in the legs and back after sitting a long time that he can hardly get up from a chair or get off his horse. I’ve noticed a lot of little things that he tries to hide. I love him, Navarro, but he’s wrong this time. Please camp nearby while I reason with him and try to force the truth from Mary Louise. I’m sure Papa will apologize soon and rehire you. Please give us time and patience.”