by Sable Hunter
“I don’t either and you’re right. His hatred runs deep. He won’t let this go. I’m the one who uncovered his spy ring, the reason he lost a fortune. Jubal will come for me, sooner or later, it’s only a matter of time.”
“That’s one reason I hate to leave, King, but I need to go.”
King’s head jerked up to look at his friend. “What do you mean?”
“I plan on heading into town to send that telegram to Kenneth Wallace, the lawyer that I was telling Reno about. If the barrister agrees to take the case, Reno will need to travel up to DC and confer with him.”
King nodded, his eyes studying his friend’s face. He looked troubled. “And then what?” he asked, knowing there was more.
“I’m heading out to find the Indian tribe that has Ace’s sister. I’m going to bring her home to him.”
Surprised, King stared at his friend. “Why now? Have you heard something?”
“Reno did, on his last trip to town.” He walked to the wall where a painting hung that he’d brought from England, a fox hunting scene. “A man in the saloon said he’d spotted the tribe out near the San Saba river, he also said he saw a white girl with them.”
“And you’re going after her alone? Take some of the men with you.” King cursed his bum leg. “I’d go with you myself if I could ride. When Dom comes, I’m hoping to get rid of this cast for once and for all.”
“I’ve asked Clay to accompany me. Other than that, I don’t really have a plan.”
King eased down into a chair. “Well, an outright attack isn’t the best idea, which leaves two alternatives.”
“I agree, either make a deal or take her when no one’s looking, if that’s possible.”
“This is a dangerous undertaking,” King stated slowly. “But I understand why you’re doing it. Ace has gotten to me to.”
“Ace, yes, I’m doing this for him, but I’m also doing it for the girl.” Gentry leaned on the kitchen table, his head bowed. “I know it will sound stupid, but I’ve been having these dreams about her.”
“About Ace’s sister?”
“Yes.” He shook his head, shrugging. “My grandmother had dreams about things and people that proved to be…unexplained. I think I inherited her unfortunate ability.”
King nodded. “I understand. Jericho’s mom, Mattie, she saw the war coming years before the first gun was ever shot. What are your dreams telling you?”
“I’ve seen her. Amelia. I know she’s suffering. I can feel her pain, her fear.”
“What a burden to bear, Gentry, I’m sorry.”
“My burden isn’t as great as hers, that’s why I have to try to help her.” He picked up his rifle from where it was propped near the door. “We’ll return as soon as we can.”
King pulled to his feet. “Tell Fancy goodbye before you leave, or she’ll be sad.”
Gentry smiled. “I planned on it.” He gave King a pointed stare. “I hope she’s happy when I get back, one way or the other.”
King understood what Gentry was saying. “I’d say none of us knows the future, but you might be an exception. Have you had any of these dreams about me?”
Gentry laughed. “Yea, but I’m not telling you. If things don’t work out, I don’t want you blaming me or saying I steered you wrong. As Clay is fond of quoting, you’re going to have to work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”
“The only fear I have is for your and Clay’s safety. We need you to come home to King’s Ransom, in one piece, Englishman.”
“We’ll do our best.” Gentry tipped his hat and left King to ponder his future alone.
CHAPTER TEN
Fancy stood on the front porch with the others to watch Domino come down the ridge toward home, driving a big black bull ahead of him. She stood just behind and to the right of King, close enough for her skin to tingle at his nearness. For the past two days, since Gentry and Clay had left, things seemed to change between them. They’d been dancing around one another, playing their own version of hide-and-seek. While her awareness of him had only increased, he seemed to go out of his way to avoid her. No one had to tell her that something needed to break, things couldn’t go on the way they were.
“Domino!” King hailed their friend. “Looks like he’s leading you home, not the other way around.”
Heading out into the yard, they all went out to greet the cowboy, who looked weary from his journey. “Be careful around him, Diablo’s got a temper.”
“Oh, he’s beautiful,” Fancy whispered, already enamored with the large bovine. “He doesn’t deserve such a harsh name. He’s a Black Beauty.”
Jericho chuckled. “Fancy, if you call that bull, Beauty, you’ll emasculate him. He won’t ever father any calves.”
“Masculine men can be very beautiful, I think,” Fancy said softly and to the other men’s delight, King blushed. No one said anything, but there were more than a few under-their-breath snickers.
“He sure got a lot of attention when I took him off the train. He drew quiet a crowd, men ganging around him, all trying to get a closer look. That bull is going to be the envy of the territory,” Domino said as he dismounted. Jericho and Boone stepped forward to lead the bull to the barn and Fancy took off after them, anxious to make friends with the animal. As she ran, laughing on her way, Domino’s eyes followed her. “Damn, the awkward duckling has turned into a right-pretty swan.”
King ignored Domino’s comment. “I’m about ready for this cast to come off. Will you check it out later?”
“Sure will, I can’t wait to examine the construction. I bet Fancy can teach me a thing or two.”
“Maybe. Was the payout for the drive what we expected?”
Domino removed a leather pouch from his belt, which was held tight by a metal chain. “We lost a half dozen along the way, which was to be expected, but the price per head was good. After I paid everyone and bought the bull, we still came out ahead of what you wanted. I was pleased.” He handed the pouch to King.
“What about the cook?”
Domino eyed him funny, but answered the question. “I did talk to Rodriguez about coming to work for us. He has one more cattle drive to make, then he said he’d stop by and check things out on his way home to San Antonio. The man’s in demand, I’m not sure we can pay what he wants.” He gestured toward the barn. “Fancy’s not working out?”
“Oh, she works herself to death. Cooperative. Unselfish. Bends over backwards to do whatever she thinks I want.” King let out a harsh breath. “I just think it would be better for everyone concerned if she found some place more suitable.”
“Well, I did as you asked about Rodriguez, Captain.” Domino clapped King on the shoulder. “But I must say, I think you’re being a fool.”
“You might be right. Come on in the house and tell me all about the drive.”
…Fancy hung over the side of the stall as Boone and Jericho fed and watered the newest member of the family. “I bet he’s glad to get here.”
“Be careful, Fancy,” Boone warned. “We don’t know what kind of disposition he has yet.”
Hanging over the side, with her arm outstretched, she giggled as the big animal licked her palm. “Oh, he’s a sweetheart, aren’t you, Beauty?”
Jericho grinned at Boone. “She’s gonna ruin him. He’s gonna be a puppy dog instead of a bull.”
Climbing down, she ran to check on her other charge, the small bull calf whose mother died giving birth. “How are you, Little John?”
“Little John? What kind of name is that for a bull? When he grows up are you going to change it to Big John?” Boone loved to give Fancy a hard time.
“Maybe,” she giggled, “but the name isn’t a reference to his size, Little John is the legendary outlaw friend of Robin Hood. He was Robin’s chief lieutenant and second-in-command of the Merry Men. In his case, Little John’s name was ironic, because he was gigantic, over seven-foot-tall and highly skilled with the bow and quarterstaff.”
“King’s always loved Robin Hood, h
e used to call us his Merry Men, cheered us up when we would be facing another battle,” Boone remembered. “You’ll have to ask him about it sometimes.”
“I will.” Sometimes. If he ever stayed in the same room with her for any length of time. “I guess I’d better go finish the meal. Domino will be hungry.”
“All right, but try not to spoil these animal, Miss Fancy. They won’t be worth a plug nickel.”
“I’ll try,” she promised. “I just love so hard, sometimes I can’t keep it all inside.”
“And if you come back later, be sure to shut the gate and the stall doors. We’re not going to let this one run loose on the open range. He’s worth too much money. We’ll be bringing the ladies into the barn or the corral to visit him. If he were to get loose, he’d take off into the hills and maybe run into that cougar. We wouldn’t want that to happen.”
“No, we wouldn’t. I’ll be careful,” she assured them.
Boone and Jericho watched her go.
“She’s something else,” Boone muttered. “I’ve never met a woman like her.”
“Someday we will,” Jericho said solemnly, “someday we will.”
When Fancy arrived at King’s cabin, she headed for the kitchen, intent on putting the final touches on the celebration meal she’d prepared for Domino’s return. Upon entering the kitchen, she saw Domino using a hand saw to remove King’s cast. “Oh, do you need some help?” she asked, running to offer her assistance.
“No, I have it,” Domino told her. “I must say, this is as fine a cast as I’ve ever seen. You’ll have to give me your recipe.”
“Gladly.” She knelt down next to them, so as to see better. “How does it look?”
Watching the man and woman examine his leg with fascination, made King feel like he was a bug being studied under one of those new-fangled microscopes he’d seen at university. “I want to stand up.”
“Hold on, Ramsay,” Domino cautioned him. “You’re going to have to take your time. You probably should use those crutches for a while.”
“He will, I’ll make certain of it,” Fancy promised for him.
“Excuse me,” King interrupted them, “I think I know what I can or can’t do.”
Fancy and Domino stared a glance, obviously both thinking the same thing.
“I’ll help him until he gets his sea legs,” she promised Domino.
King didn’t realize how serious she was until the meal was over and he mentioned that he was going to take a short walk, just to limber up his leg. Fancy wiped her hands on the dish towel, then came to him and proceeded to glue herself to his side. She wrapped an arm around his waist and urged him on. “All right, here we go. Lean on me.”
He hadn’t expected it, but before he’d taken too many steps, he found that he did need her. His leg wasn’t as strong as he expected, the muscles were weak and if Fancy hadn’t been lending him support, he would’ve ended up on his ass more than once.
As they walked, Fancy thought the night felt like silk around them. She loved the feel of his body pressed to hers. Everything seemed magical – from the stars in the sky to the night birds calling goodnight from the nearby grove of trees.
“Thanks,” he told her, once they’d made a round to the barn and back.
“You’re very welcome. Glad to help.” She was indeed happy to be of service, mainly because every second she got to be close to him was heavenly. “I sure do like the new bull.”
Knowing how she was about the animals, he cautioned her. “When you go down there to feed the calf, make triple-damn sure you latch the gate. I don’t want the new bull out with the general herd.”
“I will. Of course,” she assured him. “Boone and Jericho told me the same thing.” She wouldn’t ever put one of their animals in danger if she could help it. They walked for as long as he wanted to, and when he was through, she helped him back to the cabin.
As they moved inside, they walked into the kitchen where Domino and Reno were waiting, so Domino could check his leg one more time. The two men were talking, and Fancy couldn’t help but overhear.
“I approached Rodriguez about working here to replace Fancy. He doesn’t really like being tied down, he enjoys the chuckwagon. Between you, me, and the gate post, I don’t think he’ll be interested, but to make King happy, I asked.”
Domino had no more than got the words out of his mouth, that he looked up and saw King and Fancy. Fancy’s face crumpled. She glanced up at King with her heart in her eyes, then bowed her head and fled. “I’m going to go feed Little John.”
“Little John?” King asked, his stomach sinking at what had just happened.
“She named the calf after some Robin Hood character.”
King frowned. “I know who Little John is.” He hobbled over to a chair. “Hell, I keep messing this up one way or the other – over and over again.” Hanging his head, he shook it sadly. “Sometimes doing the right thing is hard as hell.”
…Fancy ran through the dark, tears streaming down her face. She felt like Sisyphus, who was condemned by the Greek god Zeus to push a boulder up a hill, then watch it roll back down, only to be required to repeat the move again and again, with the results never changing. Surely, she must be crazy to keep making the same mistake time after time. She was so naïve, thinking they were becoming close, that every time would be different. But King never failed to slap her down, put her in her place, remind Fancy of her position – a position which did not include a relationship with him.
Reaching the barn door, she flung it open, shut it hard, then ran to throw herself in Little John’s stall, draping her arms around the small bull’s neck. She sat there on the hay and wept, crying until she could cry no more. After a time, she rose and led the orphan to one of the milk cows, then stayed with him while he nursed, making sure the cow accepted the little waif. When she was calm enough, she kissed Little John goodnight, then spoke to Beauty, before shutting everything up tight.
After leaving the barn, she didn’t go back to the cabin straightway. Instead, she strolled in the moonlight to the garden spot, wondering if she would be here when the time for harvest came. She smiled sadly as she recalled how she’d dreamed as she’d sown the seeds, pretending to herself that this was truly her home, King was her husband, and she was working to provide for her family. Fancy didn’t know what she would’ve done without her imagination, her life would be unbearable without it. She’d used it to escape intolerable situations, imagining she was a princess, or Joan of Arc, or a wife waiting on the shore for her sailor husband – but this time, her daydreams had backfired. She’d begun to believe them. Yes, King’s behavior contributed to her confusion, he seemed to run hot and cold – giving her hope, then dashing those hopes against the rocks of reality.
Standing by the fence, she held on to the post, barely aware of the rough wood grazing her cheek. She needed to go in, go to bed and rest. Morning would come early, there were chores to be done. For as long as she was here, she’d do her job to the best of her ability. She lingered just a few more seconds, watching the fireflies as they flitted through the trees.
Her attention was so rapt, she didn’t see the figure as it came through the trees, slinking to the shadows on the way to the barn.
* * *
The next morning, Fancy was frying pork, getting ready to serve breakfast when Boone came rushing into the kitchen. “The bull’s gone, the barn door was left unlatched!”
She whirled around, her heart sinking, while the men all jumped to their feet to join the search.
“Shit!” King slammed his fist on the table, then turned to glare at Fancy. The accusation in his eyes was clear as a bell. “I told you to make sure you fastened the locks.”
“I did! I promise I did!” She removed the pan from the fire, ready to go help look for the animal.
“Well, somebody left it open and you were the last one out there. What other explanation is there?” King stood and reached for his crutches, then tossed them aside with disdain. “I
’m sick of those things!”
“You need them, King!” She hurried to pick them up and bring them to him. “Please use them until your leg is stronger.”
“No!” He held his hand out to keep her at arm’s length. “I don’t need the crutches and I don’t need you!”
Fancy pulled back as if she’d been struck, stepping aside while he moved past. “I didn’t leave the gate open, I didn’t.”
“Yea, it opened by itself. The men know better, they’re used to taking care of the stock!”
Reno stood from his place at the table. “Let’s not get excited. We’ll find him, he’s probably just hunting a girlfriend. Let’s split up and we’ll make short work of this.”
As they left, Fancy stood there, still reeling from King’s anger. She was so crushed at his displeasure, she could barely breathe. Covering her face, she tried to remember exactly what had happened the night before. She’d gone inside the barn, crying, fed the calf, spoke to Beauty, then left. She’d shut the gate, hadn’t she? Fancy tried to remember. Could King be right? Was this her fault? Nausea roiled in her belly. What if something happened and it was because of her?
Unable to stay inside, she made triple sure the wood stove fire was under control – she didn’t want to burn the cabin down – and left out the back door. In the distance, she could see the men fanning out on horseback, ready to search in different directions. Even King was managing to ride. If something happened to him and he hurt his leg again, that would be her fault also.
Desperate to do something, she tried to figure out what direction the bull would go if he took off. Water. Food. Companionship. Those were the things she would seek out, so that’s the direction she went first, toward the river.
Fancy walked at a fast pace. Sometimes the going was rough, rocks were strewn about and the ground was uneven. As beautiful as her surroundings were, today she didn’t stop to admire the view. Packsaddle Mountain loomed to her left, the river straight ahead. She knew there were gorges and caves that the cattle sometimes wandered into. She’d only been down this way a couple of times, but she’d listened to the men talk about their land often.
