He waited until Noah reached for Hasty’s rope and pulled the horse toward him. His expression didn’t change as he turned and took the road to Splendor, never looking back.
“It’s time we head back, Miss Tolbert.”
Abby nodded, retracing their path to the ranch and a life she never thought she’d be forced to live—one she didn’t want. What she dreamed of, almost had in her grasp, had disappeared with the twist of a few words.
“This was a mistake, Archie. We should’ve gotten as far away from here as possible. Gone back to Colorado or Wyoming.” Lem took a long draw from his cigarette, blowing out the smoke in a rushed exhale. “We don’t have to stay. We owe these fellas nothing.”
“Maybe not, but they’ve ridden with us for months.” Archie glanced over his shoulder, making sure the others couldn’t hear. “And don’t forget they helped us avoid the posse in Idaho, even when they knew we wouldn’t be able to keep the herd. They’ve gotten nothing for their efforts, except a small amount of money from the Splendor bank robbery.”
“You getting soft now that Drake’s not around?”
"Hell no, but I’m not anxious to do something that will get us killed, either. We ride out, what’s to stop them from coming after us?”
“We’d leave them the herd,” Lem protested.
“Thirty head isn’t worth the time to drive them to market. I’m telling you, Hal and the others will ride after us. He won’t ignore betrayal.” Archie watched as Hal stood up from his seat near the fire, fingering the scar on his face as had become his habit when agitated. “They’re restless. We need to finish this, split the money, and take off.”
“Why Tolbert’s place? We don’t need that kind of risk.” Lem tossed his smoke to the ground, snuffing it out with a twist of his heel.
“I’m with Hal on this one. With Drake dead, they’ll figure the chance of us coming back is low. The daughter doesn’t understand ranching. We’ll grab her cattle before she knows what happened and can round up the men to follow us. This will be the easiest take we’ve ever had.”
“One hit and out, right? Then we take what we have and hightail it out of Montana.”
“We’ll go after the cattle he keeps on his eastern border. It’s big enough to make us some cash, and small enough to control them during a drive south. A herd that size will give us the grubstake we need to start over someplace else.” Archie nodded as Hal approached.
“Problems?” Hal eyed both men, not trusting either one.
“Discussing which herd to go after and when.” Archie crossed his arms, tossing a look to the men who followed Hal from the campfire and now stood behind him. “Lem and I are thinking we’ll ride to Tolbert’s, make sure the cattle are still in the same section of land.”
“You and I will go, Archie. Lem can stay here with the others.”
Lem stepped forward. Archie reached out a hand and stopped him. “Any reason you don’t want Lem along?”
“Nope. Just being cautious.” Hal kept his gaze locked on Archie, ignoring the anger he saw on Lem’s face.
“All right. We should head out tomorrow. It’ll take a day to get there and another to ride back. We’ll need a count of the number of cowhands guarding the cattle. My guess is it’ll be down from when Tolbert was alive. With Drake dead, the woman won’t be watching for us. Should be easy.”
“Nothing about any of this has been easy. I don’t expect that will change.” He shifted toward the men behind him. “Biff, you handle the men and herd until we return.”
“Sure thing, Hal.” Biff sent a menacing look at Lem, daring him to challenge Hal’s order. All the men had been loyal to Drake, not to Archie or Lem. When word of Drake’s hanging reached the gang, they’d looked to Hal as their leader. His orders were followed, the same as Drake’s.
“We’ll go forward with plans to raid the spread north of here tomorrow, then you and I will leave for the Tolbert ranch. Any objection?” Hal narrowed his gaze on Archie, knowing he’d go along with the raid.
“No argument from me.” Archie stood rooted in place as Hal and his cronies walked back to the fire, then muttered a string of curses. He couldn’t control the unease spreading through him. Hal held no love for either him or Lem. He’d have more reason than not to put both in the ground once he knew where to find the Tolbert cattle. Perhaps Lem was right. He’d have to think on it, make a decision soon. Right now, the odds were neither he nor Lem would be participating in any profit from the stolen cattle.
“Never thought I’d see the day you’d be wearing a deputy’s badge, Cash.” Dax’s chuckle came from years of friendship. “Does this mean you’re staying around Splendor for a while?” He poured whiskey and handed glasses to Cash, Beau, and Luke, then held his own glass in the air. “To the newest residents of Splendor.”
“You want to tell us why you decided to work for Gabe? Seems bounty hunting is a lot more lucrative.” Luke settled into a worn leather chair, stretching out his legs, crossing them at the ankles.
Cash gazed out the window toward the barn and the men working to break a horse in the nearby corral. He took a sip of the whiskey, letting it slip down his throat, creating a soothing warmth.
“More money, if you don’t die trying to find your prey. You move from one squalid hole to another, chasing desperate men who have no conscience and don’t care how they make their money. It’s rare you go to bed without a gun resting real close, and you always fall to sleep with your pants still fastened. Looking over your shoulder becomes a way of life, and the ability to trust diminishes with each hunt.” He turned toward the others, catching the look Beau shot him. “Since the war, I’ve put away enough to buy a small place. Now I can look for a new career, a job where I can stay in bed all night with a pretty woman and not worry about someone breaking down the door to kill me in my sleep.”
Luke drew his legs up and rested his arms on his knees, rolling his glass between his palms. “You always have a place here, Cash. You, too, Beau.”
Cash lowered himself into a chair next to Luke and tilted his glass toward him. “Thanks, and we might take you up on it. For now, we want to get the latest threat out of the way, then we’ll decide.”
“Is that the reason you rode out here? To tell us we have more problems heading our way?” Dax leaned a hip against the edge of his desk, crossing his arms.
“The biggest reason, yes. Gabe got a telegram from Sheriff Sterling. The rustling has started up again around Big Pine. It may be a couple isolated raids, but it’s best to be prepared.”
“Any connection to Drake’s gang?” Luke asked.
“Don’t know.”
“What’s your gut tell you?” Dax believed Cash had already formed an opinion.
Cash looked at the others. Every instinct he had told him the remnants of the gang had returned to finish what they started. “Yes. I think it’s a good bet.”
“How do you think Miss Tolbert will take the news?” Beau asked as the Tolbert ranch house came into view. Dax and Luke volunteered to send a man to the Frey ranch to warn the brothers, letting Cash and Beau ride on to speak with Abby.
“As well as anyone. She’s had a lot to deal with, and we both know she never had any intention of going back to the ranch—at least not so soon. Rustling is one of the hardships ranchers face. Abby won’t like it, but she has no choice.”
Sliding off their horses, they took several steps toward the door when it flew open and Dirk Masters came out. He stopped short at the sight of them.
“Cash, Beau, what brings you out here?”
“We need to speak with Miss Tolbert—”
“I’m here. Please, come in.” Abby stood in the doorway, motioning them inside.
“You’ll need to hear this, too,” Beau said to Dirk as he followed Cash past Abby.
“Sit down. Can I get you both coffee?”
“No, thank you. This shouldn’t take long.” Cash took a seat and explained what they knew of the rustling in Big Pine.
Abby listened without interrupting, as Dirk paced back and forth in front of the window.
“We thought you’d want to know, maybe have more men guard the herd.”
Abby lifted her hands from her lap and folded them on top of the desk. “I thought, hoped, the rustling would stop with Drake’s death.”
“Rustling never stops. It’s the way of it out here.” Dirk glanced at Cash. “Any raids near Splendor?”
“None yet. Maybe there won’t be.”
Abby took a closer look at the reflection coming from inside Cash’s jacket. “Is that a star on your shirt?”
Cash’s hand went to his shirt and felt the metal. He’d already forgotten he wore it. “Yes, ma’am. Beau and I signed on to help Gabe for a while. One man can’t keep up with how fast the town is growing. Mr. Clausen and the town leaders approved us right off.”
“Gabe didn’t mention to them he’d already sworn us in,” Beau joked.
Abby offered a vague smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I’m sure they would. We’ve needed more help for a while and I’m relieved you’re the ones helping the sheriff.”
“You’ll let us know if you get any further word from Sterling?” Dirk asked.
“We will. The Pelletiers know and they’re sending a man out to warn the Freys. It may be they’ll never make it this far west.” Cash rested his hands on the arms of the chair and pushed up.
“Excuse me if I don’t share your optimism.” Abby stood and walked around the desk, clasping her hands in front of her. “Thank you for riding out. We’ll take your warning seriously and be prepared.”
She waited until they left, then motioned for Dirk to follow her back inside.
“Double the men with the herd on the eastern border. If they hit us at all, that’s where it’ll be.”
“Yes, ma’am. I’ll send Mal with additional men.” He turned, then looked back over his shoulder. “If they come here, we’ll be ready for them. There won’t be any more tragedies at this ranch as long as I’m alive to stop it.”
Abby blinked several times as he disappeared outside, swiping at tears as frustration and anger flowed through her. She felt scared and cornered, and didn’t want to deal with any of this. In her mind, she shouldn’t have to. What she did want was no longer in her grasp, and no matter how she wished it different, she truly was alone.
Chapter Twenty-Four
“She’ll be all right. Dirk will keep watch on her and take care of any threats,” Gabe said to Cash and Beau, glancing up as Noah stopped in the doorway. He nodded at the three men.
“What threats and to who?” He grabbed a chair, turning it around and straddling it, resting his arms on the back.
“Abby.”
Noah jerked upright. “Why the hell didn’t you tell me?” He stared at Gabe, his mouth set in a scowl.
“Settle down. She’s fine.” Gabe explained about the telegram from Sheriff Sterling and why Cash and Beau had ridden out to the Tolbert ranch. “Dirk knows about the raids. He’ll make certain she’s protected.”
Noah stood, pacing around the small office, mumbling to himself.
“You care to share what’s got you so upset?” Gabe asked.
Noah stopped, resting his fisted hands on his hips. “Dirk hasn’t been on the ranch long and doesn’t know all the places rustlers could hide, waiting for the right opportunity. Hell, half the men who work for Abby are new, hired on in the last few months. Tolbert never could keep help around for long.” He scrubbed a hand over his stubbled face, a knot growing in his stomach. “Abby’s smart, but she’s not a rancher.”
“You can ride out there anytime you want, talk with her, make sure she’s all right.” Gabe clasped his hands behind his head and leaned back in his chair.
“You know I can’t do that,” Noah ground out before muttering a curse.
“Sure you can. Saddle Tempest and ride.” Gabe knew he baited Noah, but he didn’t care. He’d grown tired of watching him sulk around, acting as if his decision to stop seeing Abby made sense. “For the love of God, Noah. Abby can’t help the fact she inherited everything. What do you want her to do? Give it all away, bury it, burn it?”
“Damn it. You know that’s not what I want.” Noah’s face reddened at the exchange. It had been years since he and Gabe engaged in such a heated discussion.
“Then what? You’re miserable, and according to Dirk, so is Abby. And it’s not as if the woman earned the money or knows how to make it grow. You ever think about that?”
Noah glared at him, shaking his head in confusion. “What are you talking about?”
“Do you think that lawyer from Big Pine is the best person to help her make business decisions, invest her money?” Gabe asked.
“You know I don’t.”
“Then who else will she turn to? Clausen is all right for holding what the ranch earns, but not for growing it.”
“Yeah?”
“Lord, you’re thick.” Gabe pushed away from his desk and stood. “Noah, you’re one of the smartest businessmen I know. You can take a dollar and make it ten by taking it in one door and sending it out another. That’s what you bring to a marriage with Abby. You’re not taking a dime from her. You’re growing a future.” He walked around the desk and slapped Noah on the back. “You better start thinking straight about what you have to offer Abby, my friend, because it’s a hell of a lot more than you realize.”
Cash and Beau stayed silent, listening to the exchange, their heads shifting back and forth between the two, their expressions changing as the conversation shifted.
“I didn’t ask for your opinion.” Noah began to say something more before he thought better of it and clamped his mouth shut.
“Since when did I ever wait for you to ask?”
“Hell,” Noah mumbled, shaking his head. “I’ve got to get out of here, get some fresh air. I want to know the moment you hear anything new from Sterling.” He didn’t wait for Gabe to respond before jerking the door open and storming outside.
No one spoke for several moments after he left, although Cash and Beau exchanged confused glances. Gabe broke the silence when he stood and slammed his hat on his head.
“Stubborn fool,” he grumbled, strapping his gun belt around his waist.
“I’m guessing he made the decision to stop courting Abby.” Cash grabbed his own hat and stood as Beau did the same.
“He did.”
“So, if I understand this, Abigail Tolbert is available to court, right?” Beau asked, his brows flickering up and down.
“Damn it, Beau. This isn’t funny,” Cash growled.
Beau held out his hands, palms out. “Not saying it is. Just asking a question.”
“Make sure you don’t ask that question of the wrong man.” Gabe tipped his hat lower and stepped off the boardwalk into the crowded street, then called over his shoulder. “I don’t want to handle a murder on top of everything else.”
Noah’s heart had slammed into his chest the moment Gabe mentioned Abby might be in danger, and it hadn’t slowed down since. If anything, the clawing sensation and icy knob in his stomach worsened, as did the throbbing in his head.
He stoked the forge and picked up a tool from the repair box. Hammering heated metal, focusing on the job, always helped him think through difficult situations—or helped him push them from his mind. Right now, he didn’t know what he preferred. He raised the hammer three times, letting it fall with a heavy thud. If he worked hard enough, he might be able to drive the worry from his mind.
Gabe told him they had to wait, see if the rustling in Big Pine continued, and if so, where. If they hit ranches to the east, they’d be moving away from Splendor. To the west would be a signal the gang moved closer. For now, Noah had to wait, the same as everyone else.
The more important question pumping through his system had to do with Gabe’s remarks about Abby’s wealth. Gabe had an uncanny ability of explaining troubles in such a way that even an idiot could see the logic. After listening t
o his words, Noah did consider himself a fool. How could he have been so blind as not to see what he had to offer Abby?
Sure, she had wealth, but no idea what to do with it without direction from Eugene Payson or Horace Clausen. Good intentions meant nothing when your advice didn’t impact someone in a personal way. It hit him like a slap in the face. Abby had almost begged him not to turn his back on her. She needed him, said she couldn’t do it herself. It took Gabe to help him understand what she meant. He threw the tool in his hand aside, cursing as he watched it skitter across the dirt.
“Hello, Mr. Brandt.”
Noah spun around. He hadn’t heard anyone approach, his mind too focused on Abby and how to fix the damage he’d created.
“Miss Murton. What may I do for you?” He worked to keep the frown from his face.
“I hope it’s all right, but you said I should come to you if Mr. Clausen approved the use of the abandoned house as my residence.” Her voice shook at first, calming the more she spoke.
“And did he?”
“Yes, he did.” Her face lit in a bright smile, helping to pull Noah from his dark mood. “And the town is providing money to help fix it up.”
“That’s good news. Now I need to gather the men. Give me a couple days, find out who’s available. With enough help, we may be able to get most of the work done over two, maybe three days.”
“Papa taught me how to use a hammer and whitewash boards. I’ll do whatever you tell me.”
“Let’s not worry about that today. I know the men will need plenty of food and lots of water. I’m certain you can work something out with Suzanne to help with the food.”
“That’s a wonderful idea. I’ll speak with her right away.” Sarah placed a hand on his arm and looked up at him “Thank you so much, Mr. Brandt.” She dropped her hand and stepped back. “I’ll be ready whenever you have the men.”
He nodded, pleased with her delight in the small amount of help he and a few other men could contribute to her new home. For a few minutes, she’d taken his mind off his mistakes with Abby and the possible danger. Enough time for him to calm down and realize he had to make some decisions, fast.
Sunrise Ridge (Redemption Mountain Historical Western Romance Book 3) Page 22
