Heart Of Texas (Historical Romance)

by Constance O'Banyon

  Harwood glanced right into Gabe's eyes. "The reason I know so much about your family is because there have been complaints about your pa from other ranchers around Mariposa Springs. So many, in fact, it seemed reasonable to investigate him. I have someone watching him right now. And," he said, leaning back in his chair, "I mean to go down there myself and have a look around."

  Gabe stuck his hand out, feeling relief. "Thank you, Mr. Harwood. The Hamilton family needs your help."

  As Casey stepped out of Finnegan's General Store, a gust of wind tore her bonnet off and sent it sailing into the street. A man scooped it up and walked toward her, offering it to her on the tips of his fingers.

  "You must be new to these parts or else you'd have had that bonnet tied on so it wouldn't blow away, ma'am."

  She smiled and slipped it on her head, tying it beneath her chin. "I am fairly new here."

  "My name's Ron Harwood. I just arrived here myself. I've been looking for work but haven't had much luck yet."

  "What kind of work, Mr. Harwood?"

  "Ranching mostly-cowherding. I'm not good at much else."

  "I may be able to help you. But you will have to come with me to see the town attorney, Mr. Murdock. I want him to meet you before I agree to anything."

  Gabe had followed Casey into town, staying a safe distance away so she wouldn't know he was there, but close enough to protect her if she ran into danger. He had held back when he saw her safely enter Mariposa Springs. He even circled town so he would enter it from a different direction than she. What he really wanted to do was demand that she not ride out alone, but she wouldn't listen to anything he told her.

  When 'he spotted the ranger with Casey, he smiled. Harwood was a man of his word, and Gabe was relieved Harwood had taken the danger to the Hamiltons seriously.

  Unknown to Casey, Fletcher and Omous had been camping out on the Brazos so they could watch for trouble. Gabe and Flint had set up camp closer to the ranch so they could ride in quickly if the need arose.

  Sometimes at night, Gabe would visit Kate and just sit on her front porch, watching the house. He had even caught brief glimpses of Casey. Not enough to fill his need for her. But at least he knew she was safe.

  He dismounted and met Harwood's gaze and caught the slight shake of his head, indicating he didn't want to be recognized.

  Casey stopped short when she saw him. "Good day, Mr. Slaughter," she said in a frosty tone. "If you will follow me, Mr. Harwood, I will lead you to Mr. Murdock's office."

  The ranger smiled and touched his hat. "Excuse me," he said, stepping around Gabe

  Now what was that woman up to? Gabe wondered. And more than that, what was Harwood doing with her? He had asked him to watch her, not talk to her. The ranger was not a bad-looking sort. In fact, women might find him handsome.

  For the first time in his life, Gabe was experiencing a new emotion: jealousy.

  He had already made up his mind that he would visit the attorney later on and ask him why Casey had brought Harwood to his office.

  Casey had given Mr. Harwood directions to the ranch after getting wholehearted approval from Mr. Murdock to hire him. It seemed the two men knew each other, and the attorney had a high regard for Mr. Harwood.

  She crossed the street to Betsy's Tearoom. She had enjoyed the sandwich she'd eaten there the other time she had been in town.

  Betsy gave her a cheery greeting.

  "I remember you. I found out after you left the last time that you inherited the Spanish Spur from Bob Reynolds."

  "That's right." Casey seated herself at a table. "I'd like a cup of tea and a sandwich, please."

  Betsy set a cup of tea in front of Casey.

  "I only have ham today." -

  "That sounds good."

  As Betsy brought the sandwich, both women spotted the tall, handsome man crossing the street. Everywhere Casey looked, Gabe seemed to be there. Her heartbeat jumped at the sight of him. She wished he'd just go away.

  "That's the man I'm going to marry," Betsy said, moving closer to the window. "I get these palpitations in my heart when he looks at me."

  Casey took a sip of tea. Kate had said at one time that Betsy had planned to marry Gabe. There was a puzzle here she couldn't quite grasp. Kate had indicated that Gabe had not wanted the marriage. "Has he asked you?"

  "No." Betsy sighed as Gabe rode away. "And he probably never will. I don't expect him to stay around very much longer. You see, he and his pa don't get on. They never have. I'm surprised Gabe came back at all. He took it hard when his sister, Nora, died. He blamed Cyrus for her death, and so do many of us."

  Casey shook her head. "He's probably made up with his father."

  "No. Pete Wilson, who works at the Case Mesa ranch, says there's trouble between them. It seems Cyrus wants this piece of property somewhere, and Gabe is determined he won't get it."

  Casey felt as though a knife twisted in her heart. "Are you sure?"

  "Yes. You see, Gabe never had anyone to look out for him after his ma died, except his sister Nora. His pa sure didn't."

  Casey wasn't really listening to Betsy. She had heard the story before from Gabe himself.

  She had thought he had betrayed her, and she was the one who had not believed in him. At the first test of their love, she had let him down. He had been innocent of everything she accused him of. He had tried to explain, but she hadn't let him.

  She pushed the sandwich aside and stood. "I find I'm not hungry after all." She gave Betsy money and left as quickly as possible.

  Casey felt ashamed. Gabe would probably never forgive her, and she didn't blame him.

  Still, doubt nagged at her mind, and it followed her all the way home. Everything had pointed to Gabe's guilt.

  Casey didn't know that Gabe rode behind her, keeping out of sight, just as he had on her ride into Mariposa Springs.

  Gabe emerged from the shadows and opened the door to the bunkhouse. He was careful not to make a sound as he stepped across the floor. The lone lantern cast a ring of light around the Ranger as he sat with his head bent over a book.

  "Come on in, Gabe. I've been expecting you."

  Gabe stepped into the light. "No one hears me if I don't want them to unless it's another Indian."

  "Like you, I'm half Indian. My pa was a full- blood Cherokee." He motioned to a chair. "Sit down and ask your questions. I could see you were full of them today in town."

  "I spoke to Murdock. He told me some of what I wanted to know. You must be really worried about Cyrus if you are actually working undercover here on the Spanish Spur."

  "Murdock told me a few things about you as well. I imagine I know more about you than you'd be comfortable with."

  "I don't care what you think about me. My only interest is keeping Casey and her family safe."

  "She was shaken up about running into you in town. I don't care what happened between the two of you; I only want to do my job. You do know we have your pa's place staked out?"

  "I'm comforted by that: It should have been done a long time ago."

  "I met the two Hamilton kids today. Dammit, how can your pa have done what he did to them? That stampede could have killed them all."

  "You need to understand about Cyrus-he cares nothing for anyone except himself. And when he wants something, he gets it one way or another."

  "That's why I'm here... to make sure he doesn't get what he wants. People around here are fed up with him. That day when you came to see me, I figured it was time to act. If a man's own son don't trust him, who will?"

  "It's about time someone did something," Gabe said, irritated. He stood and walked to the door. "I'll just be going now. But I'm not far away. I'll be keeping an eye on the Hamilton, too."

  "I know where you're camped. I know where Will Fletcher and your uncle are camped, too."

  "Then if you need me for any reason, you know where to find me."

  "You must love her a great deal."

  Gabe glanced up at the ceiling with his hand
s on his hips. "More than you can imagine." He walked out onto the porch and stepped quickly back into the shadows. Jenny was running across the yard, and Sam was laughingly trying to catch her. Casey stood on the porch, lovingly watching over them.

  Gabe felt the now familiar ache inside him. He moved silently away and melted into the shadows, but he could still hear their voices.

  "You can't catch me," Jenny called breathlessly.

  "Yes, I can," Sam said, grabbing her up and set ding her in his arms.

  Casey had been worrying for two days over what Betsy had told her about Gabe. She had to know everything, and there was only one person she could go to for the truth.

  Kate was watering her plants on the porch when Casey approached her cabin.

  "Looks like cold weather is coming," Kate said. "I'll be needing to move these plants indoors before long."

  "It is much cooler. I have put quilts on our beds."

  Kate broke a yellowed leaf from one of the plants. "You didn't come here to talk 'bout the weather or my plants, did ya?"

  "No." Casey moved up the steps. "I could use a cup of tea, and a good dose of the truth."

  Kate smiled. "I got hot water on the stove. I was just waiting for you to start questioning. I knowed you'd start putting the pieces together and see they didn't fit."

  Casey followed Kate into the house and to the kitchen. "Betsy, the most unlikely person, made me question my conclusions. She told me Gabe despised his father."

  "With his yardstick of honor, Gabe could not take to his pa's way of doing things. He could never forgive Cyrus for Nora's death."

  Casey took the little woman's hand. "Can you ever forgive me for the unkind things I said to you?"

  Kate patted Casey's hand. "Shucks, hon, you was just mixed up in your feelings. And it did look bad, Gabe not telling you that Cyrus was his pa. I'd have probably thought the same thing, if I'd been you."

  Casey sat down at the table. "Tell me everything."

  Kate grinned. "I can do better than that. I can tell you where Gabe is. He never left you at all. He's been Watching over you like a guardian angel." Her grin widened. "Well, Gabe ain't exactly an angel. But he's watching over you all the same."

  Flint had heard the rider approaching before the horse even came into view. With catlike quickness, he flattened himself behind a tree. Gabe had chosen this location because they had a clear view of the surrounding countryside.

  He recognized that it was Miss Hamilton right away. Flint glanced at Gabe, who was asleep on his bedroll. Usually his cousin heard every sound, but right now he slept in total exhaustion.

  He knelt down and shook Gabe. "Wake up. You're about to have company."

  Gabe blinked groggily, trying to throw off his sleep- drugged state. Then he immediately became alert and rolled to his feet. Moving quickly, he hurriedly put on his boots.

  "Your woman has come to you."

  Flint moved away, blending in quickly with the countryside. Only someone with Gabe's hearing could have heard him lead his horse away and mount up in the distance.

  Gabe pushed his hand through his hair and buttoned the top button of his shirt. When Casey drew up to him, he nodded.

  She watched him tuck his shirt into his waistband. "Forgive my appearance. I was sleeping," he admitted.

  It was midafternoon, and Gabe would never have been sleeping at this time of day if he had not been awake all night. Knowing him like she did, she suspected he had been watching her house to make sure her family was safe.

  She dismounted in a flurry of petticoats. "I have come to talk to you."

  "I know already what you want to say, so you can save your breath." He looked past her to Flint, who was just riding over the hill. "I'm not here to spy on you for my father's sake, if that's what you think."

  He looked so tired and worried, she ached to take him in her arms and comfort him. "You're wrong. I don't think that way anymore."

  His eyes widened slightly. "What made you arrive at that conclusion?"

  "The most unlikely source-Betsy Turner."

  "I seem to remember that name, but it was a very long time ago." He nodded as recognition hit him. "I do remember her."

  Casey thought it was ironic that Betsy adored Gabe while he hardly remembered her at all. It was sad in a way.

  "So," he said, breaking into her thoughts, "you don't object to my camping on your land?"

  There were so many things she wanted to say to him. After talking to Kate, she knew Gabe's reason for guarding her family-it was out of love for his sister, Nora. The way Kate had put it, "Gabe didn't want to watch any more innocent people die."

  She felt ashamed that she had misunderstood his motives that night by the river. She had thought he had been attracted to her as she had been to him. She had blatantly enticed him into making love to her. He never would have touched her if she hadn't been so forward.

  She met his gaze squarely and said in a straightforward manner, "You are free to camp here as long as you want. I have no objections."

  "And," he remarked dully, "you rode all the way out here to tell me this?"

  "No, that was not my reason. When you left, you forgot to draw your wages. I have brought them to you."

  "I... No. Don't do this."

  She was puzzled by his response when she held several bills out to him, and he stepped away from her. "You earned this money. Please take it."

  He ignored her offering. "I earned nothing! I wasn't there when you needed me the most."

  "Kate told me where you were. It must have been frustrating for you to find out that the law wouldn't help you."

  "Is there anything else?"

  There was a long, uncomfortable silence between them. "No," she said at last. "Nothing else."

  "Then there is no point to this, is there?" He angrily took the money out of her hand and stuffed it in her saddlebag. "You brought me the money, and I refused it. End of conversation."

  She felt a heavy sadness. "If that's the way you want it. The money will be waiting for you should you change your mind."

  "I won't."

  She could almost see the young boy finding his sister dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. She remembered him telling her about the incident, and how her heart had gone out to that young boy. She'd never imagined that he had been speaking about himself.

  There was nothing else to say, so she mounted her horse. "Stay here as long as you like."

  His hand went instinctively toward her and tension corded his muscles. He quickly turned away, unwilling to watch her ride out of his life.

  Gabe was not expecting his next visitor. He had just taken a drink from his canteen when he heard the rider approaching. The horse was coming from the direction of the river, so he knew it wasn't Flint returning.

  Instinct drove him to the ground, and he rolled over until he could reach his rifle. Then he stood up, aiming it just as the rider came into view.

  He lowered the rifle and waited for Cyrus to approach. His father halted and thumbed his hat back.

  "I was told I'd find you here." His gaze dropped to the rifle. "You don't need that."

  "I can't think of any reason you would feel it necessary to pay me a social visit."

  Cyrus dismounted. "I've been doing some thinking since your visit, and something you said struck a chord with me."

  "I didn't think you were listening to me."

  "Well, I was. You said I had no friends or family, and for most of my life, that never mattered, but I find it matters now."

  "It's too late. Anyone who would have been willing to love you is dead."

  "You're not dead."

  "I am as far as you're concerned, Cyrus. You've told me that plenty of times. I don't even think of you as my father." Gabe couldn't swallow his anger; it stuck in his throat. "If you don't think I won't shoot you dead, just try going near the Hamiltons again."

  "Suppose I agreed to back off-would you come home then?"

  Gabe heard a rifle cock just beh
ind him, and he cursed himself for a fool to have trusted his father. He had Teague at his back and his father on the other side. He flipped his rifle up and spun around, but he was too late; there was no time to cock it. Ira Teague was not twenty paces away, and Gabe hadn't even heard him approach.

  "I guess you got me this time. I should've known you'd have someone sneak up behind my back. Tell him to shoot, because if he doesn't, I will."

  "Gabe, son-this is none of my doing."

  The bullet rang out; Gabe dove for the ground and fired, but from his vantage point he didn't know if he'd hit Teague. He turned toward his father, thinking he might have drawn his gun, but he saw Cyrus slumping to his knees, the red spot on the front of his shirt growing wider.

  Teague had shot his father! At the moment he didn't know whether the man had missed him and hit his father by mistake or shot him on purpose. He crawled forward, ripped off his shirt, and fell to his knees, pressing the wadded-up cloth against his father's wound.

  Cyrus was coughing up blood as he put his hand on his son's. "L.. didn't... do this."

  Gabe pressed tighter against the wound, but there was too much blood. "Hold on. Flint will have heard the shot, and he'll be here in no time."

  But he could tell by the position of the wound and how much it was bleeding that it was fatal, and the look his father gave him was evidence that he knew it too. For all he knew, Teague could be sneaking up on him right now, but it didn't seem to matter; he had to be with his father when he drew his last breath.

  Gabe didn't love him, though he'd wanted to when he was younger, and he certainly didn't respect him, but no man should have to die alone, not even Cyrus.

  Cyrus's hand clamped harder on Gabe's. "Sorry... sorr..." He went limp. Gabe felt like a fist had slammed into him, and then there was emptiness inside. He reached up and closed his father's eyes and turned to retrieve his rifle.

  "I wouldn't do that if I was you," Teague said from just behind him. "The last of the Slaughters will die here today." -

  "You've already spilled enough blood today. My father didn't even have a chance to defend himself."