“What do you have there, Mrs. MacLaren?” Wiping her hands down the pants Quinn’s younger brother, Thane, had offered her, her gaze landed on the covered dish in Kyla’s hand.
“I made a pie for Caleb and Camden. I’ve also packed bread, fruit, and cold meat. Would you and Jinny mind taking it out to them? I’d ask one of the men, but they’re all so busy...” She shrugged, knowing Emma understood. “If you leave soon, you’ll have plenty of time to ride back before dark.”
“Of course. I need to clean up a bit, then find Jinny—”
“She’s with Geneen, doing the milking. They should be done soon.”
“I will let her know. We’ll come by your house, pack it all up, and go. Is there anything else you’d like us to take?”
“Nae, Emma. The food will be enough. I know they still have some supplies, but it’s always better if someone else makes it. I’ll take the pie back to the house and finish packing the rest.”
“We shouldn’t be long.” Emma saddled Moonshine, then ran the short distance to where Jinny and Geneen would be doing the milking. So far, she’d missed out on this chore, for which she felt grateful. It had never been one of her favorites. “Hey, Jinny. Kyla asked if we could ride to the new place, take some food to Caleb and Camden.”
Geneen looked up from where she sat on the stool. She wore the same kind of pants as Emma. As Ewan was fond of saying, he had two additional ranch hands in Emma and Geneen, three if Heather ever returned from working at the Evanston ranch.
“If you two don’t mind, I’d like to ride along.” Geneen stood, placing the full milk bucket near the other two.
“We’d love it.” Jinny finished, moving the last bucket aside, then put the stool away.
“I’ll get Moonshine and meet you two at Kyla’s.”
Boyd needed to get moving. After he left the cabin yesterday, he could tell someone followed him. Assuming it were the sheriff and his deputies, Doggett followed the path until he felt certain he could find it again, then veered to the west. Changing directions several times, he finally made camp in a gully, settling in for the night.
Chewing on a biscuit he’d purchased from Stein, he kept watch on the trail, half expecting the sheriff and his men to ride up on him at any time. He figured if that had been their plan, they would’ve arrested him last night.
Boyd had heard enough while in his cell to know Brodie MacLaren didn’t believe he fired the shots causing the stampede. He didn’t understand how the lawman figured it out, but the sheriff believed Boyd would eventually lead them to the real shooter. He didn’t intend to lead them anywhere. The man he sought would be dead within minutes of Doggett finding him. Then he’d go after Giles. He didn’t want any loose ends to clean up later.
Finishing his meager breakfast, Boyd mounted his horse, turning north, hoping to get away before the sheriff realized he’d left. He’d purposely ridden onto Pearce land yesterday. Working for Big Jim gave him time to learn the property, where to hide, where to bed down.
Spotting the sun peeking over the eastern hills, he pulled up his coat’s collar, giving him more protection from the early morning chill. Boyd glanced over his shoulder, sensing someone behind him, seeing no one. Until he reached the top of a short rise ahead, he wouldn’t change directions. He needed to reach his destination well ahead of the men tracking him.
Riding the easy grade to the top, Boyd leaned back in the saddle, allowing himself a few minutes to watch the sunrise. It had been too long since he’d given himself time to enjoy the simple pleasures. Ever since he left Colorado, his life hadn’t been his. He’d been on a mission, his previous employer calling it a crusade. Boyd’s total focus had been to do whatever needed to finish the task. He was close. Close enough he could almost taste it.
A few more miles, a little more deception, then he could put the past behind him forever.
Chapter Twenty-One
“I didn’t see any sign of storm clouds when we started out.” Emma pursed her lips at the change in the sky. Since they’d left Circle M, dark, threatening clouds had rolled in, now covering the entire sky.
“If we hurry, we might be able to get to the hacienda before they burst open.” Jinny’s words had barely left her mouth when the first drops of rain fell. “Maybe not.”
Reaching behind them, all three grabbed their raincoats, hurrying to put them on.
“Caleb mentioned the property has some old casitas between Circle M and the hacienda.” Geneen shifted in her saddle, looking around as the rain started to come down at a steady pace.
“Did he say where?” Emma asked, pulling the hood over her head, cringing as a bolt of lightning pierced the sky above them, followed by the loud crack of thunder a few seconds later.
“No. Let’s head toward the trees. At least we’ll have some cover.” Geneen rode out, pushing her horse into a gallop, Jinny and Emma close behind. As they got closer to the trees, Geneen glanced over her shoulder and pointed. “Up there. I think I see something.”
A few minutes later, they dismounted beside a dilapidated structure of adobe and rock. Untying their saddlebags, they rushed to the door and pushed.
“It must be stuck.” Emma kicked at it. When it didn’t budge, Jinny and Geneen joined her. “Gosh darn.” Emma took a step back, then rammed into it with her shoulder, putting all her weight behind it. “Ugh,” she groaned, then grinned when it moved. “Push.”
The door couldn’t hold up to the efforts of all three. A few seconds later, it opened enough for them to rush inside.
“It’s so dark.” Jinny shoved off her hood, then looked back through the open doorway, the other two women standing next to her. “We got in here just in time.” Pushing the door closed, she shrugged out of the coat, shaking off the excess water.
“I’d say it would’ve been better if you’d moved on.”
They whipped around at the deep voice, their eyes going wide at the sight of a rifle pointed at them, the silhouette of a man holding it.
“I’d tell you to turn around and ride off, but now that you’ve seen my face, I can’t let you go.”
Emma’s heart pounded. Swallowing the bile rising in her throat, she took a step forward.
“Easy, missy. Stay where you are.”
Emma froze, her body shaking. “Who are you?”
“Don’t believe it matters. Truth is, I know who you are, Miss Pearce. My guess is these other two are MacLarens.”
Jinny gasped, then straightened her spine, glaring at the man. “You’re a coward, hiding in the shadows. I want to know who you are.”
“Well, aren’t you a feisty one.” The man stood, walking toward them.
Emma stared at the face, his features somewhat familiar. The eyes, the set of his jaw, his build. Biting her lip, her eyes scrunched in concentration, trying to remember if she knew the man, had ever seen him.
“Get over in that corner and sit down.” He pointed to the far corner at the back of the small casita. “Leave your saddlebags by the door.”
Geneen crossed her arms, planting her feet. “No. Not until we know who you are and why you want to keep us here.”
He took a menacing step forward, lowering the rifle. He pulled a six-gun from his holster, aiming at her chest. “You forget who’s in charge here. I don’t have to tell you anything.” His voice hardened with each word. “Move to the corner, or there will be only two of you I have to deal with.”
Grabbing Geneen’s arm, Emma hauled her toward the corner, Jinny following.
Keeping his gun trained on them, he stepped forward. “That’s better. Sit down with your backs to the wall.” When they were settled, he walked to their saddlebags, rummaging through each one, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth as he pulled out food, then chuckled. “Look what you brought me.” Reaching inside, he drew out a six-gun, loaded, ready to fire. Doing the same with the other saddlebags, he was rewarded with more food and two more guns.
Emma leaned toward Jinny. “We have to get out of here.�
�� A gunshot hitting the floor at her feet had her jerking away, silencing further conversation.
“No talking.” Keeping his gaze on them, he walked to his gear and pulled out his rope, cutting short lengths. “You.” He pointed to Emma, tossing her two lengths. “Tie their hands behind their backs. And make ‘em tight.”
Emma’s hand shook as she reached for the rope. “Why don’t you just let us go? We don’t know who you are and won’t tell anyone what happened.”
He didn’t answer her question. “Do as I tell you.”
Biting her lower lip, Emma tied Jinny’s hands, then Geneen’s, keeping the ropes as loose as she thought wise, hoping he didn’t come over and test them. When finished, she turned toward him, lifting her chin.
“Come over here.”
Glaring at him, Emma stood and walked over.
“Turn around.” When she did, he tied her hands, then sent her back with the others. “Not a word out of any of you. We’re miles away from another ranch, so don’t waste your time screaming. If you try, I’ll gag you.” Holstering his gun, he stalked to the pile of food, ignoring the pie in favor of the cold meat and bread. Sitting with his back to the door, he dug in, never taking his eyes off them.
“How could we lose him? He’s been right in front of us since sunup.” Brodie stared at the spot where the tracks disappeared.
“The man is smart. He cut back and forth across the river, coming out here, then crossed once more on these rocks. He took advantage of them hiding his tracks.” Sam lifted his field glasses, scanning the area beyond the rocks. “We need to scatter out, look for the spot he left the rocks and got back on soft ground.”
The four fanned out, searching for close to an hour before Quinn shouted to the others. “I’ve found some tracks.” He slid off Warrior.
Sam had never been trained in tracking. It wasn’t a skill Allan Pinkerton required, and it wasn’t needed on most cases. The one time he did need it, he had been fortunate to have a partner on the case, a man skilled in tracking. He’d been more than willing to share his knowledge with Sam.
“That’s Doggett,” Sam said, studying the tracks. “He’s moving straight east of here.”
This time, the four weren’t subtle in their pursuit. His attempts to lose them meant Doggett knew they were behind him, and he had over an hour advantage.
Quinn kept watch, knowing the instant they crossed from Pearce land to the property the MacLarens owned with August Fielder. Dotted between here and the main hacienda were casitas used by the vaqueros and their families. The same was true heading east of the hacienda. Juan Estrada had been generous in erecting the structures. Some had been damaged by the occasional earthquake, but most were in good condition.
“There are numerous casitas on the property. Doggett could be hiding in any one of them.” Quinn rode next to Brodie, Sam in the lead, and Blaine at the back.
“Aye. I’ve been thinking the same.” Brodie kept his gaze roving back and forth, looking for signs of movement. “Except we’re certain Doggett’s following someone, which means he could end up miles from here.”
Sam turned in his saddle, looking at Quinn. “The hacienda is north of here, correct?”
“Aye. We’re on the southern border of the property where it touches Circle M land. The main house is in the center of the ranch.”
“The tracks keep moving east. Doggett isn’t heading to the house, and neither is the man he’s following.”
“What do you mean, Sam?” Brodie kicked Hunter enough to catch up to him.
“I’ve been following two sets of tracks for a while, and they’re both heading in that direction.” Sam nodded toward the mountains leading into Nevada. “We’d better catch up to them soon or we may lose them both.”
Emma shifted on the hard ground. She’d been picking at the rope, trying to free her hands. The man had tied hers tight, much tighter than she’d done with Jinny and Geneen.
“Don’t any of you move.” He walked to the door, yanking it open, then stepped outside.
The sound of horses caught the girls’ attention. The structure had a window in front, one in each side wall, and none in the back. Glancing through the small opening across from their position in the corner, they could see him leading their horses behind the casita.
“I wonder what he has planned.” Jinny squirmed, working the rope. “My hands are almost free.”
“Mine, too.” Geneen huffed out a frustrated breath before flashing them a weak smile. “They’re free. Emma, turn around and I’ll—” She stopped, inching her back to the wall when the door slammed open.
He stepped inside, his narrowed gaze fastened on the three. Stalking toward them, he grabbed Geneen’s left arm, yanking her up. Realizing the rope no longer held her hands, he ducked just in time to avoid her swinging right hand. Cursing, he slapped her across the face, then shoved her against the wall.
“Stop it!” Jinny screamed.
Ignoring her, his face contorted as he glared at Geneen. “That was stupid. Pick up the rope.” She hesitated, still stunned by the blow to her face. Rubbing her reddened cheek, she bent down to scoop up the rope. “Turn around.” This time, he made sure the rope was tight before shoving her to the ground. He looked at Jinny. “Stand up.” He didn’t wait for her to obey, reaching down and yanking her up. “Almost had yours off, too.” Knotting the rope tight until Jinny whimpered in pain, he turned her around to look at him. “You try anything—and I mean anything at all—you’ll regret it.”
Storming away, he glanced over his shoulder to see Jinny slump to the ground. Picking up the guns he’d confiscated from the saddlebags, he stuffed one behind him in the waistband of his pants. He hid the other two in his saddlebags.
Picking up his gear, he shifted his stance to look at them, his jaw hard, face taut. After a minute, he walked to the door and disappeared outside.
“Is he leaving us?” Geneen’s hopeful words whispered out as she again tried to loosen the rope binding her wrists.
Emma braced herself against the wall, using it as leverage to stand. Her gaze darted to the door, then out the windows as wobbly legs carried her to the other side of the room.
“Emma, get back over here. He’ll hurt you, or worse, if he comes back and finds you’re trying to spy on him.” Jinny’s soft plea didn’t change Emma’s course.
Emma had spent the time deriding herself for coming into the shelter without her gun, for wearing a dress instead of pants, and for her stupidity at not thinking they could be in danger. They were on MacLaren land, and few did anything to get on the wrong side of the family. A deluded sense of safety always seemed to wrap itself around her when she rode across their property, as if being on Circle M land would shield her from peril.
She knew better. Danger could be found anywhere, whether it be by people who seemed to pose no threat or complete strangers, such as the man who held them captive.
“He’s tying the saddlebags to his horse. I can’t see Moonshine or your horses anywhere.”
“They must be in back, Emma. Surely he wouldn’t turn them loose.” Jinny spoke in a nervous whisper.
“Even if he does, they won’t go far.” Geneen’s voice strengthened the longer the man stayed outside.
“She’s right, Jinny. Moonshine might stray a few feet, but unless she’s scared, she’ll stay nearby.” Emma turned to look back out the window, then jerked at the sound of gunfire. Dashing back to the others, she lowered herself to the ground, her back to Jinny. “We have to get free. See if you can loosen my rope.”
They heard more shooting, the sound of a scream, then another few shots.
“Who do you think is out there?” Geneen pushed herself up while Jinny continued trying to loosen the ropes around Emma’s wrists.
“Get down, Geneen,” Emma hissed at the same time a stray bullet hit the wall of the casita close to the window where Geneen stood. Hunkering down, she hurried back to her spot, moving close to Jinny.
“I think I got it, Emma.
” Jinny looked over her shoulder, seeing Emma slip out of the rope. Turning, Emma settled on her knees, working on Jinny’s rope. It took little time for Emma to release Jinny’s hands, then move to Geneen’s.
“Give up, Cliff. I know what you’ve done. You won’t get away with it.”
Emma’s head snapped up. She recognized the deep, raspy sound. Jumping to her feet, she ran to the window, peering out.
“Emma!” Jinny came up beside her, tugging at her dress. “Get away from the window.”
“I know that voice, Jinny.” Emma couldn’t see very far out of the small opening.
“Stay back, Boyd. You know I won’t hesitate to shoot you.” The angry voice of their captor had Emma ducking down as another round of gunfire split the air.
“There are men following me, Cliff. The sheriff and his men aren’t that far behind.”
“Brodie,” Emma whispered. “Quinn and Blaine must be with him.”
“And maybe Sam.” Jinny’s chest tightened, thinking Sam might ride right into danger, maybe death. “We have to warn them.” She started for the door, stopping when Emma’s hand clamped around her arm.
“No, Jinny. You have to stay inside where it’s safe. The men will hear the gunfire.”
“She’s right, Jinny.” Geneen scooted next to them. “It won’t be long until they find us.”
“Gunfire,” Sam yelled, kicking his horse, knowing the others did the same.
The sound continued as the four men reined to a stop not far from a casita. Sam pulled out his field glasses, moving them from right to left, coming to a stop when he saw movement behind a cluster of rocks.
“Doggett is hiding behind those rocks. The other shooter is behind the casita.”
“Just one, Sam?” Brodie asked, pulling out his six-gun.
“One is all I see.” He continued looking, edging his horse to the left.
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