He blew out a frustrated breath. “I had experience.”
“Where?” She winced the instant the question came out.
Shifting in the saddle, he smirked. “For a woman who doesn’t like me, you sure are curious.”
Letting out a breath, she gripped the reins tighter. “I like you well enough.”
Snorting, he focused his gaze straight ahead. “I guess that’s something.” They rode in silence for a short while, a question churning in Dirk’s gut. “Why do you care about my background? My work at the ranch has nothing to do with you.” He ground the last out, hoping his brusque voice made it clear he had no intention of sharing anything about his past.
When she didn’t answer, he mumbled a grateful prayer, thankful for the silence as they covered another mile. In another minute, they’d be able to see Splendor.
“I don’t know.”
His brows furrowed, confused at her comment. “What?”
Lifting her chin, she glared at him. “I don’t know why I’m curious about you, but I am.”
His lips twisted into a wry grin. Even if he didn’t trust her, Dirk appreciated the fact Rosemary always spoke her mind.
Seeing the town come into view, he exhaled a relieved breath. “Appears you’ll have to hold onto your curiosity, darlin’.”
“Darlin’?” she gasped, ready to lay into him until she saw Beau Davis riding toward them. “I am not your darlin’,” she hissed out.
“No, darlin’. You certainly aren’t.”
If Beau weren’t so close, she would’ve, well…she wasn’t sure what she would’ve done. No man had ever called her any type of endearment, not even her father. It was always Rosemary or Rosie Girl, never sweetheart, or dearest, or…darlin’.
Smiling, Beau looked at Rosemary, touching the brim of his hat. “Ma’am, Dirk. What brings you to town?”
“I’m on my way to the clinic, Deputy.” She barely glanced at Dirk as she moved Angel past Beau.
Dirk’s mouth quirked into a slight grin as she rode away, appreciating how she looked in the saddle. If he were being honest, he appreciated the way she looked all the time. He’d just never let her know.
Beau looked at Dirk. “I’ve never known Rosemary to be quite so feisty.” Pushing his hat back on his forehead, he leaned on the saddle horn. “What’d you say to her?”
Dirk shook his head. “It doesn’t take much. At least not when she’s around me.” Shaking his head, he turned toward Beau. “Are you heading out to your ranch?”
“Not yet. I’m riding out to Redemption’s Edge, then heading to Caro’s place,” he said, mentioning his fiancée, Caroline Iverson. “She’s getting the house ready for the wedding…which can’t come soon enough.”
Not much for talking about weddings, deaths, or anything personal, Dirk nodded.
Beau took a quick look to see Rosemary dismount and head into the clinic before continuing in his deep, southern drawl. “Did you hear about Boyden Trask escaping?”
Dirk’s head whipped toward him. “Say that again.”
“Trask escaped about a week ago.”
“And you waited this long to tell anyone?” Dirk mumbled a curse.
“Hell no. Gabe received the telegram yesterday. That’s why I’m going to see Dax and Luke. To warn them about Trask.”
“He’d be a fool to come back to Splendor, or even Big Pine. If he’s running, my guess is he’d head north to Canada.”
Beau snorted. “The man’s already demonstrated he’s not the brightest person around these parts.”
“Which is why he’s such a threat.”
Beau nodded. “He’s a vengeful sort, and Rosemary was the main witness at his trial. Nothing he does would surprise me.”
Dirk rubbed his jaw, doing his best to ignore the tightening in his chest. “Including coming after Rosemary.”
“There’s something else, but it may not mean anything. Gabe received a letter a few months ago from a family friend in St. Louis. The man is thinking of moving his family out this way and wanted Gabe’s advice.” Beau paused, adjusting his grip on the reins.
Dirk lifted a brow, his mind still whirling on the news about Boyden Trask escaping. “What’d it say?”
“Seems there’s been a string of murders following a path from Boston to St. Louis.”
A muscle in Dirk’s jaw twitched, his throat thickening as a ball of ice formed in his stomach.
Beau continued, not noticing his friend’s reaction. “We didn’t think much about it when the first letter arrived. Murders occur all the time. A second letter arrived a few days ago from the same friend. He’d traveled to Kansas City on business, learning another murder, similar to the others, had occurred. He met with a friend who works for Pinkerton. The agent believes all the killings are connected.” Beau drew in a breath. “Young women in their early twenties go missing. Their bodies are found a week or more later.” He scrubbed a hand down his face. “They were all tortured before being strangled.”
Dirk cursed under his breath. “Does Gabe think whoever is doing this is headed our way?”
“He has no idea. Kansas City is a long way from Splendor. If the murders are connected, the odds whoever is doing this would travel our way instead of west or south are pretty slim. If he’s after young women, there are bigger towns elsewhere.”
Dirk nodded, although he didn’t share Beau’s optimism at Splendor being too far away to attract a killer. “Does Gabe plan to spread the word around town?”
“Not about the murders, but Cash, Mack, and Caleb are letting people know about Trask.” He mentioned the other deputies. “They’ll also be riding to warn people outside of town.” Beau looked at him, his face grim. “We’re taking the news of Trask seriously. Not much we can do about what’s happening back east. No need to panic everyone when the murders are hundreds of miles away.”
“I’m headed out to speak with the Murtons. I’ll stop at the jail and tell Gabe that I’ll let them know about Trask, although they’re a good distance outside of Splendor.” Dirk would do what he promised Dax—talk to the Murtons about their bull. What he wanted to do was plant himself outside the clinic to make certain if Trask came back to Splendor, he got nowhere near Rosemary. For a woman he didn’t particularly like, he couldn’t push aside the overwhelming need to protect her.
“Appreciate it, Dirk. I’d better get going.” Beau reined his horse north, taking the trail toward Redemption’s Edge.
Watching until he disappeared around a bend, Dirk rode into Splendor, pausing outside the clinic, wrestling with the idea of going inside to warn Rosemary. Deciding the news could wait until after he met with the Murtons, he rode on.
Leaving Banshee outside the jail, he glanced around, a sense of foreboding washing over him. Boyden Trask might not be the smartest criminal, but he had a long memory and a heart for vengeance. No doubt the man had a list of those he blamed for his fall from respected businessman to convicted felon, coercing Rosemary, Ben, Jimmy, and Teddy into committing crimes, with him as the sole beneficiary.
It was Rosemary’s testimony that persuaded the jury to sentence him to time in the territorial prison. He’d screamed out his anger as the deputies hauled him out of the Wild Rose, the saloon used as the courthouse until the town could build one. His protests about believing the word of a girl over his fell on a jury of twelve men already convinced of his guilt.
Trask hadn’t helped his cause by defending himself, expressing his indignation with vulgar outbursts and deranged ramblings. By the time the judge pounded the gavel, indicating the time had come for deliberations, everyone had witnessed the man’s crazed eyes and belligerent attitude. It would’ve been a shock if the verdict had come back as anything except guilty.
Shoving open the door of the jail, Dirk spotted Gabe standing in the corner where an old stove kept a perpetual pot of thick coffee ready for anyone who entered. Glancing over his shoulder, the sheriff nodded at him.
“You must have heard the news.”
>
Dirk nodded, lowering himself into one of the chairs across from where Gabe sat down behind his desk.
“I saw Beau on his way out to see Dax and Luke. What are your plans for protecting Rosemary?”
Gabe blew across the hot liquid in his cup before taking a sip, wincing at the bitter taste. “We have a number of young women to protect in Splendor, not just Rosemary.” His mind had gone straight to his younger half-sister, a woman he hadn’t met until months before. Nora Reeser Evans journeyed to Splendor at the insistence of their father, a man who’d betrayed Gabe’s mother by having an affair not long after Gabe’s birth. Nora’s mother had been unaware of his married status, believing his words of love.
Dirk shook his head. “I’m talking about Trask, not some lunatic killer who may never find his way to Splendor.”
“I have nothing new on Trask. He escaped, but hasn’t been seen since.” Gabe set down his cup, leaning his arms on the desk. “Do you honestly believe he’d be foolish enough to come back this way? He must know we’ll be watching for him.”
“What I know is he’s not right in the head. A man like him will do anything for revenge, and we both know Rosemary is who he’d come after.”
“I agree. My advice is she stay at the ranch until we hear more about Trask. I’ve sent telegrams to lawmen I know in Idaho, Wyoming, and the Dakotas. He’ll show his face somewhere.”
Dirk rubbed his chin. “Rosemary won’t take well to being told she should stay at the ranch. She’s serious about her work at the clinic.”
“Guess it all depends on how big a target she wants to be. Even Trask isn’t stupid enough to go after her at a ranch where she’s surrounded by people who’ll protect her.” Standing, Gabe picked up his cup, opening the back door to the jail. Tossing the contents outside, he turned toward Dirk. “You or one of the ranch hands could escort her to town each morning.”
“Dax already has me doing that,” Dirk grumbled, his mouth forming a thin line. “He wants her close by if Rachel or Ginny need her.”
Gabe nodded, understanding the protective nature of the Pelletiers, as well as most families in Splendor. “Trask knows she works at the clinic.”
Standing, Dirk’s jaw tensed. That was where Trask found her the day Gabe and a few other men had set a trap for the man. Dirk had been one of the men.
“Trask won’t get to her again, Gabe. You have my word on that.”
Chapter Four
Omaha, Nebraska
“Hear that?” The older ranch hand leaned forward in his saddle, trying to hear the sound again, stroking his graying stubble.
The man beside him lifted a brow, nodding. “Seems we found the missing cattle.”
Reining their horses in the direction of the bawling animals, they rode through thick brush before finding the ten head of cattle they’d been searching for all morning huddled around a small pond, oblivious to their arrival.
“They’re all here. The boss will be real happy about this. Let’s get them back with the rest of the herd.” The older man circled to the right while the other ranch hand cut through thick brush to the left of the cattle.
“Ah hell.” The younger man reined to a stop. Dismounting, he took a few cautious steps, getting a better look at the crumpled form covered in dirt. “You’d better come see this,” he yelled in the direction his friend had ridden. Pulling away several fallen branches, the man’s face blanched before he turned away, retching into the bushes.
“We need to get…” The gruff voice faded away as he stopped next to the other horse. Sliding to the ground, the older man’s eyes widened. “Good Lord,” he breathed out, his stomach rebelling at the sight of what appeared to be the body of a young woman. “Looks like someone beat her before she died.”
“Before she was murdered, you mean.” The younger of the two wiped a sleeve across his mouth. “What should we do?”
“I’ll grab a blanket. We’ll wrap up the body, then take her to the boss.”
“Are we leaving the cattle?”
The older man untied the blanket from behind his saddle, closing his eyes for a moment before turning back to look at the body, letting out a pent-up breath. “Nope. We get them back with the herd, then find the boss.”
Splendor
“Excellent work, Rosemary. I’ll talk to the family while you finish in here.” Clay McCord dried his hands, tossing the towel on the counter before heading for the waiting room.
Pausing until the door clicked shut behind him, she looked down at the face of the boy who’d fallen off a ladder, breaking his leg below the knee. Still sleeping from the effects of the chloroform, Rosemary took a moment to study his serene features, allowing herself to wonder what it would be like to have a family of her own. Rarely did she let her mind wander to such frivolous thoughts. Lately, though, they’d come a little more often.
Until the Pelletiers had taken her, Ben, and the Odell boys in, her dreams had consisted of keeping everyone safe, scavenging enough food for the four to make it through one more day. Rosemary seldom worried about those things now.
Brushing hair off his forehead, she used a damp cloth to finish cleaning his face before organizing the instruments Clay had used to set the leg, hearing the child’s soft moan. Reaching for a bottle in the cupboard, she poured some of the liquid into a small container. Neither Clay nor Doc Worthington were comfortable administering laudanum to children. In this case, however, Clay decided the pain would be too great for the boy to bear without help.
Finishing her task, her gaze moved to the closed door as it creaked open, Clay walking in.
“Dirk is out front to escort you back to the ranch. I’ll finish with the boy.”
She grimaced, shaking her head. “I’m going to stay at the boardinghouse tonight.”
Clay shook his head. “You’d better let Dirk know. He seems set on taking you back with him.”
Her brows furrowing, lips drawing into a thin line, she wiped her suddenly damp palms down the front of her skirt. Steeling herself for the battle to come, she took one more look at the sleeping boy before confronting Dirk.
Closing the door behind her, she spotted him leaning against a wall, his arms crossed, features unreadable. Casting a brief smile at the boy’s family, she nodded for Dirk to follow her outside. Not allowing him an instant to talk, she whirled around to look up at him.
“I’m staying at Suzanne’s tonight.”
He glared down at her. “Afraid that won’t happen tonight, or any night soon. Get what you need and let’s get going.”
Refusing to budge, she crossed her arms. “Are you deaf? I said I’m staying at the boardinghouse tonight.”
Glancing around, he reached out to grasp her elbow, drawing her into the narrow passageway between the buildings.
“Let go of me.” Struggling against his hold, Rosemary gave up when his hand tightened.
“Calm down. There’s been a change. I’ve got news you aren’t going to like.” Dropping his hand, he took another look toward the boardwalk.
She rubbed her arm, not because of any pain he’d inflicted, but to rid herself of the strange feeling his touch caused. “I already don’t like the way you’re treating me.”
“This is worse, sweetheart.”
“I am not…” Her voice trailed off when he held up a hand.
“Boyden Trask escaped.”
His comment stalled any further complaints, her jaw dropping. “Escaped?”
“Gabe got the news yesterday that he escaped a week ago.”
Placing a hand on her stomach, she forced away the ball of dread lodged in her throat, refusing to voice her fear.
Dirk’s eyes softened. “No one knows where he went, Rosemary. He may be hundreds of miles away by now.”
She looked up at him, trying to control the trembling in her voice. “You don’t believe that or you wouldn’t be insisting I return to the ranch.”
There’d be no point in scaring her further by telling her he believed Trask would seek
revenge on Rosemary and the boys before leaving the territory. “I’m a cautious man, as are Dax and Luke. We can keep you safe while you’re at the ranch, and Gabe will make sure someone’s watching for Trask while you’re at the clinic. He knows you’ve stayed at the boardinghouse. If you go back there, you’ll be putting yourself and Suzanne at risk. Is that what you want?”
She couldn’t dispute his logic. Trask would have no qualms about using Suzanne to get to her. Rosemary also believed Suzanne wouldn’t hesitate to place her own life in danger to save a friend. Shaking her head, her shoulders slumped as she let out a slow breath.
“Let me get my coat.”
A slight scowl crossed his face. “The horses are in front of the clinic. If we hurry, we’ll have time to reach the ranch before sundown.”
Nodding before turning away, her eyes reflected the fear he knew she wanted to keep hidden.
Dirk felt an unfamiliar wave of relief when she failed to fight him any further. What bothered him most was his body’s reaction to her. He didn’t like the way his breath caught at the sight of her slender hips swaying in the soft cotton dress, or the way his chest tightened, his protective instincts flaring when he saw her bottom lip tremble at the news of Trask’s escape. He told himself he’d feel the same if any woman were threatened, especially one included in the Pelletier family. The catch in his heart told him he might just be fooling himself.
Omaha
“The telegram from St. Louis confirmed the injuries to their victim are much the same as the ones inflicted on this young woman.” The aging doctor pointed to a series of cuts along the arms and legs, then looked up at his younger colleague. “I witnessed a good many atrocities during the war, but I’ve never seen anything like this.”
“This, my friend, is nothing less than torture.” Looking closer at the injuries, the younger doctor shook his head before straightening. “Does the sheriff know who she is?”
“Thinks she’s the daughter of a farmer a few miles north of here. Recognized her from church. He has a deputy riding out to talk to the man and his missus.”
Courage Canyon Page 4
