Blue Horizon (Shades of Blue, Book 4)

by McQueen, Hildie

  “Need help, McClintock?” Grayson called out with a wide grin. “Looks like that one is giving you trouble.”

  The cowboy pulled his horse to a standstill and watched his father and older brother Ashley move the herd into the corral. He rode closer and hit the cow on the rump with his rope. The startled animal rushed to join the herd. Grayson pushed his hat back on his head and studied Josiah. “You’ve never quite mastered ropin’, huh?”

  “Nope.” Josiah wound the rope into a circle, the harsh strands making a rasping sound against his leather gloves. “Can’t seem to get it right. I practice.”

  “Yeah well, it takes time. You’ve come a long way since coming here. It’s a big change to go from railroad work to ranching. You’ve done good.”

  “Yeah.” As usual, it did not sit well with him to have lied to the Coles about his background. They took him in and treated Josiah like a part of the family. What would their reaction be to where he came from? As open minded and fair as his employers were, they’d not hold it against him. What they would not care for was his lying to them. In time he would have to confess, they deserved to know the truth. He spurred his horse forward and Grayson rode along. Seemed the cowboy was in the mood to talk.

  The sun was low on the horizon casting long shadows across the plain. Although not yet summer, the days were already longer and winter’s hold finally easing. “You’ve been sullen. Something botherin’ you?” Grayson asked, his eyes on the cattle.

  “I talked to Laura Foster the other day when we were in town. Seems to be more at ease. Said I shouldn’t feel obligated to keep an eye out for her.”

  Grayson nodded. “You still going round there then? What do you think?”

  “Other than that one time, when I saw a stranger racing away, I don’t have any reason to think she should be worried. If her husband was alive, he’d shown his face by now, don’t you think?”

  “I don’t know.” Grayson frowned. “It was a long hard winter. If he was hurt and recovering, then that could be the reason he’s not shown up. But then again, if the cavalry found his horse...” He didn’t have to finish. The man had to be dead.

  Josiah let out a breath. “I’ll go east in a few weeks. I won’t stay long.”

  At this Grayson did look surprised. “I thought you planned to move back with your family eventually.”

  “I changed my mind.” Josiah made to leave, but Grayson’s words stopped him.

  “Does this have anything to do with Laura Foster?”

  “No. It has to do with me not wanting to live the life I had back east.”

  “All right then. Pa will be glad to hear it.” It was hard not to like the easygoing cowboy whose long hair blew across his smiling face. He lifted his hat, shoved his hair back and jammed it onto his head. “Race ya to the barn.”

  Chapter Eight

  It had been weeks since Mitch left town and he looked forward to the open space. He preferred to check on his land, but he rode in the opposite direction to visit his sister instead. Although not as demanding as his mother, if he didn’t visit his sister Nora regularly, she was liable to ride into town just to ensure he was all right.

  Several times she’d bundled up her and Grayson’s baby and came to see him. Each time her sharp eyes taking in the old family home where he now lived not missing a thing. Always the unasked question between them, hung in the air. How much are you drinking?

  He loved his sister and didn’t like her to worry about him. But she did. Ever since she’d married Grayson Cole and moved away from town, Nora took it upon herself to look after Mitch. Sometimes it made him feel as if he was the younger sibling. And since she was his only family near, he tolerated it. Today he actually looked forward to spending time with Nora and his infant nephew.

  She was part of the Cole family now and it put his mind at rest to know his sister was well cared for. Not long after marrying Grayson Cole, she’d gotten pregnant. Both of the Cole twins, Grayson and Bronson had children now. Ashley, the oldest and his wife Grace were expecting their first child early summer.

  It was a windy day and Mitch wondered if it meant to get colder in the evening. He considered staying the night at Nora’s home and decided it would be best. Besides, he’d get the opportunity to help Grayson with his horses and learn from the well-known horse trainer.

  Sometimes he envisioned that if he’d had his way and sold the mercantile, he could learn from Grayson and his friend, Matt Carson, how to become a rancher as well. It was a shame the land he’d purchased over a year earlier remained deserted, not tended and overgrown since he was much too busy with the mercantile to take the time to till the soil, much less start building.

  One day.

  Or maybe he was kidding himself. Perhaps he should be realistic and sell it.

  Mitch arrived and spotted Grayson by a corral. He reached over the fencing, his hand outstretched toward a huge beast of a horse. The animal seemed timid, slowly nearing before backing away. Grayson did not move, but maintained his arm outstretched, speaking in soft tones. Not wanting to interrupt, Mitch dismounted and pulled his steed toward the newly-built barn where he’d find a well-maintained stall with fresh hay for his mount.

  He emerged and found Grayson no longer by the corral, but beside a barrel. The cowboy lifted his face and smiled. “Get your horse settled, all right?”

  “I didn’t think you saw me.”

  “I did, but didn’t want the new horse to know I did.”

  Grayson splashed water on his face and then rinsed off his hands and arms. He pulled his fingers down his long strands wringing the water from his hair. “It was a warm day, but damn this water is cold.” He shivered, exaggerating the motions. “Damn cold.” He yanked a cloth from a nail on the fence and dried his skin. “Come to see Nora?”

  Mitch nodded. “Yeah.” He scanned the land and exhaled. “It nice out here. I like coming around. Catch a glimpse of what I’m missin’.”

  “Why don’t you find a wife? Get married and move to your land. There isn’t anything holding you back.”

  “Any idea where I will find this woman?” Mitch laughed when Grayson’s eyebrows lifted. “Exactly. There are no women in town, or the next town. That I know of.”

  “You can write for one. Or better yet. Josiah is going out east. Maybe he can...”

  “Grayson,” Mitch interrupted. “Josiah barely talks. You reckon he’s gonna make a good match-maker?”

  “True. He doesn’t talk much.” Grayson shook his head. “But you gotta find someone. I see it in your eyes, you want to settle down, have a family of your own.”

  “Don’t worry about it. I’m fine.” Not wanting to continue the topic of conversation they both knew there was no easy solution for, he walked towards the house. “I hope Nora made something good. I’m hungry.”

  Dinner was indeed delicious, a hearty stew with huge chunks of carrots and potatoes in a thick broth. Nora had also baked bread of which Mitch ate more than his fill. The trio kept the conversation light, mostly Mitch filling in Nora on the happenings in town and incidents in the mercantile. Time passed quickly and Grayson excused himself to go and check on the animals in the barn. He refused Mitch’s offer to help telling him to spend time with his sister.

  Mitch sat cradling a cup of coffee in his hands while Nora went about the chore of cleaning up from their meal. Her coloring matched his. People often mistook them for twins, both with chestnut hair and honey colored eyes.

  “What’s weighs on your mind, Mitch?” Nora asked without looking up from washing the bowls they’d just eaten from. “You’re quiet.”

  Mitch shrugged and replied honestly. “I don’t know. Feel like I’m just living in the shadows. You know, on the outside lookin’ in kind of thing lately. I have nothing. No one. Not sure why it’s been botherin’ me so much lately.”

  Her lips curved into a smile. “You�
�ve always had a role, brother. Not just as my protector for all those years after we were attacked, but then as the man of the house for Mother and me. Now that I’m married and Mother’s moved east, you only have yourself. You need someone to look after.”

  Her words rung true and he was impressed at Nora’s ability to see things so clearly. She’d once been the town’s schoolteacher; her intelligence and sound judgment always impressed him.

  “What do I do now?”

  The chair scratched the floor when she pulled it back and sat opposite him. “You find out who you are. Decide what it is you want to do and then do it. The town needs the mercantile, but perhaps you can sell it. I know the store’s not what you want to do.”

  “I’ve considered it. Grow crops, raise some horses...” He looked out the window toward the barn.

  “But?” Nora’s eyes narrowed. “What?”

  Instead of an answer he drank from the coffee cup and shrugged.

  “You need to take care of someone. That’s it isn’t it?”

  “Got any whiskey?” He regretted the question as soon as it left his lips. Not only did Nora sit back, concern filled her eyes.

  “Do you drink every day?”

  He did. “Forget it, I was just asking.”

  “You’re not drinking while you’re here.” Her hand covered his. “Please, Mitch, stop drinking so much. It can ruin your life.” He had no life as far as he was concerned, but decided it was best not to say it out loud.

  Mitch rolled his eyes and huffed. “Got any pie left?”

  His sister knew him well enough to know he would not speak on the subject any more.

  Chapter Nine

  Laura didn’t mind the dust the horse kicked up. In a few minutes she’d be home and have Gabe in her arms and his face covered in kisses. She smiled at the thought. Her nieces would also be excited to see her as she always brought them hard candy from the mercantile. A shiver of apprehension stopped her revelry and she looked over her shoulder. The road was empty, no one around.

  When she looked forward, the corner of her eye caught movement in the trees. A horse or maybe another animal flashed past so fast it was hard for her to recognize it. She kept moving, not wanting to risk encountering a bear and kicked up to a brisk place.

  Suddenly another movement got her attention. A small child’s laughter rang. This time Laura pulled the cart to a stop. Why would a child be out here in the middle of nowhere? There were no houses nearby. She looked in both directions and once again behind her only to find the road and the surroundings empty. A second happy giggle sounded from the wood line and she narrowed her eyes focusing into the woods. “Anyone there?” she screamed, but there was no answer.

  Silence. The wind picked up and she watched leaves float from the trees while she considered if she should go in search of whatever child could be lost. And what about the earlier movement? If it was a bear, the child was in danger.

  Laura climbed from the wagon and walked towards the wood calling for whoever was there. When she reached a small clearing, she looked around for footprints, but everything was undisturbed. Nothing. A soft sound then set her running back to the wagon. She shook from head to toe and tears streamed down her face.

  Something was terribly wrong. Not here, not in the forest, but at her sister’s house.

  Not sure how, but she knew.

  *****

  Josiah pulled his horse to a stop and wiped at the back of his neck with a bandana. They’d been searching the wooded area for several hours, the sun was setting and they’d yet to find anyone, much less a child.

  It would be horrible to return to Laura without news and his gut clenched at the thought of what she was going through at the moment.

  He’d not heard any gunshots which meant none of the others had found anything either. A tree branch hung low, so Josiah leaned forward to avoid it and saw something in the nearby bushes. After scanning the surroundings and ensuring no one was about, he dismounted and walked to what looked to be a sack.

  The thuds of his heart echoed in his ears, and he prayed it was not little Gabriel. Most anything was preferable to finding a dead child. Upon closer inspection he realized it was a dirty blanket not a sack. Josiah pulled it back and his heart sunk, his chest tightening at the sight. With care he replaced the blanket and picked up the small bundle.

  He pulled his gun from the holster and shot twice into the air.

  Not that he knew what to expect, but Laura’s reaction to her son’s death was still strange to Josiah. She’d not reached for the child, had not cried or screamed. He’d expected hysteria even fainting, but she reacted by turning and walking into the house. There were many people there, he noted. Her sister Amelia, Elizabeth and Nora Cole stood wringing their hands, eyes meeting in question at Laura’s reaction. One by one the women went inside to see about Laura.

  Talk of finding the person responsible for killing a defenseless infant began. Voices lifted and then calmed when Hank Cole called for it. Everyone wanted to do something, anything to avoid focusing in the knowledge that someone had taken a child from his home only to murder him. The men divided into groups and headed in each direction. They rode hard, not wanting to lose precious daylight. Josiah rode with the group that headed west.

  Several hours later they were forced to set up camp. It was a dark, moonless night making it impossible to see anything, much less track the killer.

  Josiah’s group went about gathering wood and settling their mounts for the night. They decided it best to travel a few miles in the morning and look for clues instead of heading straight back with nothing. Grim faces in place, the men sat around the campfire.

  “While we’re out here looking for a stranger, the real killer could be someone the family knows,” Josiah told the group.

  “What are you saying?” Laura’s brother-in-law asked. “You think it could have been someone from ‘round here?”

  “I don’t know. How did the person get to the house? No one claims to have seen a strange rider and every ranch surrounding the house had men in the fields today. Someone should have seen something.”

  “True,” another man replied. “But at the same time, we’re talking about a lot of land. Makes it easy for someone to hide.”

  The next day everyone returned to their homes after spending hours on a fruitless search. Although Josiah wanted to see Laura, he didn’t go near the home. Her sister walked out to him, her reddened eyes lifting to his. “Laura is sleeping. At least I think she is, most of the time she just lays there staring at the ceiling. Hasn’t cried one tear yet. I’m worried about her.”

  Josiah wasn’t sure what he should say. He understood loss, but everyone reacted to it differently. “She’s dealing with the child’s death in her own way.”

  Amelia wiped at her nose and sniffed. “Of course, but she scares me. I wonder if I should get the doctor to come see about her.”

  “I’ll go to town and ask Olivia Cole to come out. I’m sure she’ll do it.” Josiah said his goodbyes and left for the town doctor. After delivering his message and being assured by Olivia she would ride out to the Davis’s home, he returned to the Cole ranch. He didn’t go to the main house, didn’t want to sit around the dinner table and talk about what happened. Instead he went to the bunkhouse and poured a glass of whiskey.

  A deep part of him ached to find the person responsible for such a cruel act. The glass in his hand shook when he lifted it to his mouth. The fiery trail down from his throat soothed him allowing him to relax into the chair. Josiah pictured Laura’s face, the paleness when hearing the news was the only indicator she heard them. It was as if she already knew the boy was dead. Was it possible that she’d harm the boy? No, Laura could not have killed her child. She’d been heading back from town. Although, the sister had described the rider as a thin, small man, when she’d spotted him leaving with a wailing Gabriel.r />
  Not liking the direction of his thoughts, Josiah stood and went to the door, his mind reeling with the possibilities. Who would benefit from the death of a child? No one would, and from what he’d seen, Laura doted on the boy. It had to be someone who was mentally unstable, someone who hated Laura for some reason. He should leave well enough alone, and let Sheriff Dawson do his job and investigate. There was no true motive for him to remain involved. But something bothered him. A feeling there was something they’d all missed, if only he could figure out what, maybe he’d be able to put it all behind him.

  The next day life was back to the usual. Josiah let the cattle out to pasture and spent the rest of the day doing his other chores around the stables and fields. It was late afternoon when the growling in his stomach reminded him he’d missed supper the night before. He went to the Cole’s house and entered the kitchen.

  The family cook had a steaming bowl of chili in front of him before he even asked. After a second serving and several slices of fresh baked bread he felt like a new man. The older woman shook her head when he patted his stomach. “You won’t be able to stay atop that horse. Fall asleep from all that food in your belly.”

  Although the older woman kept a stern expression, she slid a slice of pie in front of him.

  The sound of a rider approaching got Josiah’s attention. No one else was about. Elizabeth Cole was probably either on the opposite side of the house gardening or upstairs. The others were all out with the cattle. He pulled the door open to find Amelia, Laura’s sister approaching. Eyes wide and hair askew the woman let out a breath of relief. “I came looking for you.”

  “Come in,” Josiah stood back and waited for the woman to enter, but she remained rooted to the spot.