by Em Petrova
He grabbed Cash by the shoulder. “I have to speak to Susannah.”
Cash nodded and Ford ran back into the barn. The horses belonging to the Ryans were all there in their stalls, restless and ready to be fed. But he didn’t have time for that now, and their hay boxes could hold them off for a bit. He needed a ride.
Wanna-Bea looked at him as he approached, giving him a wary eye roll and tail flick. He spoke to her softly and opened the stall door. She jerked her head as if to scare him off, but he stood his ground.
“Let’s go, girl. Time for a gallop.”
In a minute he had the horse under his control and was flying down the driveway after Susannah. The ladies had at least stopped at the end of the driveway as asked, but they’d piled from the truck and leaned against it speaking heatedly.
When he rode up, Susannah turned to look at him, eyes widening when she saw which horse he was riding and probably silently cursing him for it too.
He leaped to the ground and kept hold of the reins. “Susannah, I’m sorry. I’m a damn fool, and I’ll say it loud enough for everyone to hear.” He raised his voice and yelled, “I’m a damn fool!”
Shelby and Charlotte stared at them and then moved around the side of the truck to offer some privacy, though they’d hear every word. He didn’t care about that—only about making sure Susannah knew exactly how he felt about her.
He stepped up to her and cupped her face in his hand, staring into her eyes. “Sweetness, I love you. You freakin’ own my heart and have for weeks. I’ve been an ass, too afraid to speak my mind, but no more. I love you and I want you forever.”
Her lower lip trembled.
He went on. “I was high-handed back there, and I apologize for it. I just can’t have you getting caught up in something that could hurt you. I can’t lose you, don’t you understand?”
Her big green eyes welled with tears and then overflowed. She rushed forward, hitting his chest and making him rock back on his boots as he caught her.
“I love you, Ford. I know we’ll argue more in our lives, but I only want to argue with you.”
“Hopefully the making up part is better than the arguing.”
She gave a sob and buried her head against his neck. Wanna-Bea snorted at being made to stand so close to them, and they drew apart with a laugh.
“We’re okay, Ford. Now go get the Daltons’ horses back.”
He gave a nod and a smile he hoped conveyed how much he loved her as he swung onto Wanna-Bea’s bare back, turning for the ranch and whatever clues would be found there.
* * * * *
Susannah wrapped her arms around her middle, holding in her shaking insides.
Ford loved her.
And the stubborn guy had actually admitted it.
At last.
“We knew it, Susannah. Welcome to the family!” Shelby scooted around the truck and whipped her into her arms, giving her a huge hug.
“I… There was no mention of being in the family,” Susannah stuttered, patting her friend’s back.
Charlotte hugged her next. “Ford said he wants you in a forever way, and that means wedding bells and oh! I can’t wait to help plan another Dalton wedding.”
“And there’s the land to get in order,” Shelby added.
Susannah stepped back, looking between the women. “Land?”
They exchanged a conspiratorial look, but before Susannah could ask, her father and brothers came pealing into the driveway. The story came out in quick bursts of speech, and Ryan insisted on staying with the women. Irritating. Yet after Ford’s revelation that he couldn’t let her get hurt or lose her, she was more willing to listen to their reasoning.
After a couple more minutes, the Daltons all showed up at the end of the drive too. Hank’s gaze landed on his wife and then slid to Susannah’s father. He pointed. “Headed that way on horseback. Someone skilled at riding and leading several horses at the same time. Do you have any neighbors who’ve been coveting the stock?”
Her father stepped up to the truck window and spoke to them for a minute. She assumed a plan was in place, because her daddy got back into the truck with her brothers and drove quickly to the ranch before the Daltons rolled out toward Paradise Valley.
Ryan sent Susannah a long look. “They’re all saddling up to ride, posse-style. You know this could get ugly, right?” He turned around to look at Charlotte and Shelby in the back seat.
Her heart juddered at the thought of the crime turning from horse thievery to something more violent and involving people they all loved.
She folded her arms. “Where Ford goes, I go.”
Ryan pushed out a sigh. “Damn stubborn women, all of ya. Okay, then. As long as you stay with me.” He put the truck into drive and headed down the road toward Paradise Valley.
Chapter Ten
With this many riders, the thief who had made away with the horses from the Ryan Ranch wouldn’t have a prayer of making a getaway. Which was good, because Ford felt awful and he knew Susannah felt worse. Uncle Ted joined them right as they were gathered to ride out, and Ford couldn’t quite meet his uncle’s eye.
Mr. Ryan took point and sent them in pairs in several directions in case the perpetrator circled back to throw them off his trail. Ford knew odds were against him—but people got away with worse every day.
When Mr. Ryan and Uncle Ted drew their horses alongside each other, Susannah’s father tugged his hat brim down. “I apologize for the trouble, Dalton.”
“Not your fault.”
“You lent my daughter those horses and they disappeared on my watch. I’ll gladly pay the going rate for them if they’re not recovered. Or if they are and you’re willing to part with them. My daughter needs the stock.”
Uncle Ted gave a nod. “We’ll find those horses and the bastard who thought he could steal from either of us.” He swung his head to look at Ford. “Boy, you ridin’ with me?”
“Yessir.” Tension coiled within Ford as he guided his horse next to his uncle’s. Here was when he’d catch hell. He’d never gotten a direct telling off from this particular family member but this was a day of firsts.
As everybody dispersed, he said a silent prayer that they all went safe. This was dangerous country over bluffs with plenty of rocky terrain to cover. One slip of a hoof could send the rider crashing to the ground or worse, into a ravine.
His uncle wasn’t much of a talker on a good day, and over the years it seemed he’d grown quieter, listening to his sons and the little ones mostly. Ford still didn’t like how the quiet stretched on. For the first five minutes, he only noted the jangle of their tack, but finally his uncle glanced over.
Ford spoke first. “I apologize, sir.”
Surprise lifted his uncle’s white brow. “For what?”
“For what’s happened.”
“Hell, it’s not on you, boy. Bad people everywhere in this world, but you’re not one and neither are the Ryans.”
Ford dipped his head, processing the fact that his uncle wasn’t going to read him his rights.
“Actually, I want to tell you something.”
“Oh?” Maybe Ford would be told to go home after this, that he wasn’t needed on the ranch any longer. His gut clenched at the thought of walking away from everything he loved so well… and one beautiful woman he’d never abandon.
Uncle Ted looked over at him, rising and falling in the saddle, his blue eyes piercing from under the brim of his hat. “I’ve got an offer for you.”
Ford focused on him, trying to interpret his body language to guess what it could be. The last thing he wanted was to get his hopes up.
“I’ve got a plot of land that could use improving.”
Heart pounding, Ford kept pace, waiting for more.
“Twenty acres on the west boundary of the ranch. Isn’t much, but there’s water and space as far as the eye can see.”
That was pretty much any point in all of Paradise Valley—it was one of Ford’s favorite things about coming her
e. But he wasn’t totally understanding what his uncle was saying.
“I think I know it. Haven’t been up there in a while.”
“Not much call to do so, I reckon, and all the rebuilding after the fire has been close to the main house. But I’d like to see you do something with that plot of land, Ford. You’re a good man, my boys like workin’ with you, and we can always use the help.”
His throat closed off. He struggled for an interminable second before he could push out words. “You’re offering me a piece of Paradise Valley?”
He got the side-eye and a crooked smile. “If you want it. All you gotta do is go into town and sign the deed at the lawyer’s office with me.”
Ford stared at his uncle and then straight ahead, afraid to believe.
When he didn’t speak, Uncle Ted said, “It’s not much, like I said.”
“No,” he choked out finally. “It’s enough. It’s everything. Thank you.”
His uncle gave him a grin, and Ford returned it, happiness hitting him so hard that it was difficult to remember his reason for being out here in the first place.
They rode on, scanning the land and searching brush for sign of someone hiding, even if the thief had sent the horses on ahead of him. When they ran across the other guys, they took a moment to exchange information before heading on.
Everyone in a saddle had a drawn face and worry creasing his brow—except Ford. He felt like tearing off his hat and tossing it into the air with a hoot of joy.
He had the girl. He had the land and purpose. Now he could truly live.
* * * * *
In the back seat of the truck, Charlotte and Shelby were speaking quietly about their kids and husbands, and Ryan was on alert, surveying the land for sign of the thief, hat pulled low over his eyes. But Susannah was distracted by a whirlwind of emotions.
Ford’s words resonated through her mind, and she just wanted to be in his arms to seal the deal. Fear kept overtaking that feeling, though—fear of all the unknowns. A horse thief wasn’t reckless or stupid, and he’d be prepared to defend himself once the Daltons and her family caught up with him. What if Ford was injured or—
“Suz, your knuckles are white from twisting your hands. Calm down. It’ll be okay. We’ll find the horses.”
She stared at her brother. He really was clueless, wasn’t he? She cared about the animals—of course she did. But if anything happened to the man she loved…
She made a conscious effort to unknot her fingers and try to relax. Glancing out the side window, she caught some movement. She bolted upright as a horse’s head came into view—followed by another and another.
“That’s him!” Her cry was cut off by a gasp from Shelby.
Ryan gripped the wheel. “Hold on, ladies. It’s gonna get bumpy.”
As he gunned it across the land, the fourth and fifth horses came into sight. All five animals shied at the noise of the engine and tires digging up the ground.
“Oh my God, Ryan! Don’t hit the horses!”
“Never.” They closed the distance swiftly, and she braced herself in her seat, white knuckles all the way.
She kept waiting to see the rider come over the ridge, but there were only five horses.
Ryan hit the brakes and dirt sprayed around their hooves. They started to bolt, and he used the truck to ease forward, corralling them.
“Jump out and grab their leads, Susannah.”
She did and heard another door slam behind her as the other women got out to control the horses too.
“Charlotte, grab this.” Susannah thrust the rope into her hands and yanked her cell from her pocket. Dialing furiously, she made note of Ryan turning the truck around and blasting down over the ridge.
In pursuit.
Her heart bottomed out and her lungs were on fire. Ford answered on the first ring.
“Ryan’s got him. Over Landry Ridge.”
“We’re close to that. Call Hank and see where he’s at. We can tighten the noose.”
She looked at Charlotte with wide eyes. “Ford says to call Hank and tell him our position so they can close in.” This was way too much drama for her little country girl heart. It was about to beat out of her chest.
Charlotte moved the leads to one hand and dialed Hank.
“We’ve recovered five horses,” Susannah told Ford.
“Good. Sweetness?”
“Yes?”
“Be careful.”
“You too.”
The line went dead, and she pocketed the phone, working to calm the horses after their fright at a one-ton pickup coming straight for them. She spoke senseless words to them, and the other ladies did the same.
She exchanged a look with Shelby and then Charlotte.
“They’ll be okay,” Charlotte said to her.
Tears burned at the backs of her eyes. “That man would go to great lengths not to get caught.”
Shelby’s face got a little paler but she said, “Charlotte’s right. They’ll all be okay.”
Susannah realized she had all the males she loved out there, their lives at risk. But she was only thinking of Ford. She couldn’t bear it if anything happened to him.
A rifle shot rang out, echoing up the ridge to the higher ground where the ladies and horses waited.
Icy dread washed over Susannah, and she ran to the ridge to look over where her brother had disappeared.
“The shot’s farther off than we think,” Charlotte said. A horse snorted and stomped, angry at her treatment.
“We have to get down there!” Susannah cried.
“I didn’t realize how dangerous this really was,” Shelby said faintly. “I should be back home with my kids.”
Susannah turned to the women. “Take the horses and ride back. I’ll go on foot to meet the others.”
They were shaking their heads before her scheme left her lips.
“No way, lady. You’re a Dalton woman now, and we protect our own. We can’t let you go out there.” Charlotte tossed her hair over her shoulder. “We all ride back and wait for our men to return. It’s what they’d want, and we’ve done our part.”
Deep down, Susannah knew she was right, but her boots were molded to the earth and she couldn’t budge from her position. Her horse tugged at the rope in her hand, forcing her to grip it more securely.
“C’mon. Ford is cut from the same bolt of cloth Hank and Witt are. He won’t want you down there in the fight. If there is a fight,” she added, opening her eyes wide for emphasis.
Swallowing hard, Susannah nodded. “All right. Can you both ride bareback?”
The ladies exchanged grins. “You’re talking to Dalton women, and we’re just as tough as the men.” Charlotte gathered the lead in her hand, clutched a bit of mane, and pushed off with her left foot, swinging with her right.
The horse started trotting away, but Charlotte was securely seated. Susannah tossed her a grin as she handed Charlotte a second horse’s rope to lead back to Paradise Valley.
Shelby got situated next and took an extra rope as well. When Susannah swung on bareback, her horse took off at once. She threw a look back toward the ridge, wishing Ford was cresting it right now, but she and the women were alone.
She tried to focus on the toughness of the guys and how they were prepared for any eventuality. She just prayed it didn’t come to violence. She gripped her lead rope tighter and directed the horse’s head east toward home.
Toward that big clan that loved, laughed and played as hard as they worked. She couldn’t imagine being lucky enough to call herself part of the Dalton family. Yet she was already thinking of Paradise Valley as home, no matter where she and Ford ended up.
* * * * *
Two Daltons had rifles raised and trained on the thief. Caught red-handed sitting atop one of the Daltons’ horses stolen off the Ryans’ property.
They formed a circle around the man and Ford had the benefit of studying his profile. How was it that the guy looked familiar? He didn’t know many of the
townspeople or even the neighbors.
“Don’t think you can bullshit your way out of this,” Uncle Ted said in a hard tone that reminded Ford of his own father. When his pa got riled, there was no stopping him until he’d said his piece. And stealing from the Daltons definitely riled them all.
They waited for the guy to speak, but he kept his lips sealed. In the normal clothes of western shirt and jeans, he could be anybody in the county. But he was young and had a downtrodden, worn look about him that made Ford think he might not be in great health. Instead of a tanned complexion, his skin bore a yellow cast. Hollows stood under his eyes. And he didn’t wear a hat but his hair looked dull and almost thin for his age.
Desperation had driven him to steal, was Ford’s thinking.
Beside him, Ryan stood with legs braced wide and arms folded over his chest, glaring down the perpetrator. All the Ryans looked ready to string the guy up, and no wonder—he’d walked onto their property and stolen from them.
When Ford had first seen Ryan drive up in the pickup, his immediately reaction was for Susannah. But she wasn’t with him, and her brother assured Ford she was safe. Since she was with the other Dalton ladies, either she really was safe or she would find some trouble to get into and he’d soon hear about it.
“The authorities are on their way, and even if you don’t tell us your reason for stealing from us—all of us—” Uncle Ted looked around the ring of men, “we will still learn why.”
Ford glanced back at the thief’s profile and it hit him. Where he’d seen him before.
“You were at the open house, weren’t you?” Ford’s words fell like lead raindrops over the group.
The thief stared straight ahead, mute.
Ford broke rank, riding up to face the man from as close as his horse would allow. “You were at the open house for the horse therapy program.”
“Son of a bitch,” Mr. Ryan grated out, riding forward as well. His horse danced around the one the man sat on, which only added to the feeling of command. “You dared to come onto my property as a friend only to scope out the best way to steal from me? I should—”
