by Connie Mason
“Anywhere, as long as it’s far away from here.”
“You’re not thinking straight, Chad. None of this is your fault.”
“Isn’t it? I killed Hal, and that makes me responsible for everything that happened after that.”
Pierce knew he couldn’t stop Chad from leaving, and it made him mad as hell. From the corner of his eye he saw Zoey standing in the doorway. He turned and faced her squarely, his anger palpable.
“Are you satisfied now?” he charged. “No woman is worth the kind of anguish my brother is suffering now.”
His expression was so fierce, Zoey recoiled in horror. His rejection struck her like a physical blow. She knew he spoke from concern for his brother, but that didn’t make the hurt any less intense. She was a woman, thus he despised her. Cora Lee and her despicable brother had hatched this plot against the Delaneys, but Pierce was making her take the brunt of his hatred. He blamed her for meddling in his life. Everything that had happened from the day of their wedding to this tragic event was the direct result of their forced marriage.
“I don’t want to intrude on your privacy, but I thought you’d like to hear what Cora Lee told me before she died,” Zoey mumbled.
Pierce preferred not to listen, but realized it was something that had to be brought into the open. “Very well, what did she tell you?”
“She said the baby she carried belonged to her brother. That they had been … been intimate since she was fourteen. When she conceived, Hal told her to get you into bed and convince you that the baby belonged to you. When that didn’t work, Hal became enraged and beat Cora Lee. She was so frightened of him that when he suggested Cora Lee blame Pierce for the beating, she went along with him. If you need a witness, Mrs. Zigler heard everything and can verify Cora Lee’s dying words.” She turned away. “Oh, one more thing,” she threw over her shoulder. “Cora Lee said she’s sorry. Good-bye, Pierce.”
Pierce laughed harshly, her good-bye all but lost on him. “Sorry! What good does that do now?” He didn’t try to stop Zoey when she left the kitchen. He was still upset over Chad’s decision to leave. Whatever was between him and Zoey could be settled later, after he had time to cool down. At this moment he regretted his marriage to Zoey more than he’d regretted anything in his life. Unfortunately, for the majority of men, women were a necessary evil. There were times when his need for Zoey was obsessive. When that happened he felt as if he’d compromised everything he knew and believed in.
“Aren’t you going after her?” Chad asked when Pierce made no move to follow Zoey. “You know you don’t want her to leave.”
“She’s not leaving,” Pierce said. “I’ll see her back at the house. Someone has to wait for the undertaker. Go on home, Chad. I’ll take care of things here.”
“I’m not going home, Pierce.” Chad’s calmness betrayed nothing of the turmoil roiling inside him. “I’m leaving … now. Tell Ryan good-bye for me.”
“You can’t do this!” Pierce shouted, desperate to change Chad’s mind.
“Good-bye, Pierce.”
Chad slammed out the door; Pierce followed. “When will you be back?”
“Maybe never. Don’t you understand? I killed four people. It’s going to be damn hard to live with myself after today. I’m going to ride as hard and far as I can.”
He mounted up.
“Chad, wait! Don’t go like this. Stick around. You’re bound to feel different tomorrow.”
Chad gave Pierce a look that made his blood congeal. “I’m not the same man who arrived here a few hours ago. I’m a killer of women and babies.”
Before Pierce could form a reply, Chad dug his heels into his mount and thundered off, raising a cloud of dust behind him.
Zoey left the Doolittle ranch, her heart aching. She knew what she had to do. Pierce didn’t want her, could barely stand the sight of her. He had no need of a wife, and she’d known it from the beginning. She never expected to fall in love with the stranger who had appeared in her root cellar, clinging to life by a slim thread. She had forced the marriage between them, and now must pay the consequences for her rash act. Pierce had too many things to contend with now; he didn’t need her around to reinforce his low opinion of women.
When she reached the Delaney ranch, Ryan came out of the barn to meet Zoey. He waited for her to dismount before asking, “Where are Chad and Pierce? They should have returned hours ago. What happened at the Doolittles’?”
Zoey hated to be the bearer of tragic news, but there was no help for it Ryan had to be told about the tragedy that had taken place at the Doolittle ranch.
“The worst thing imaginable happened, Ryan.” Then she proceeded to tell him everything that had taken place as succinctly as possible. By the time she finished, Ryan’s face was ashen and he appeared visibly shaken.
“My God! Poor Chad.”
“There’s more,” Zoey said. “Chad’s leaving. He’s upset and devastated and not thinking clearly. He’s taking full responsibility for all four deaths.”
“Maybe I can change his mind,” Ryan said as he hurried away. “I’m going to the Rocking D.”
“Ryan, tell Pierce good-bye for me, will you?”
“Sure,” Ryan agreed, absently.
Zoey watched as he stopped to speak briefly to one of the hands before riding off. She fervently prayed he wasn’t too late to stop Chad from ruining his life. When Ryan had ridden out of sight, she headed toward the house. She couldn’t remain here. Not now, not the way Pierce felt about her. It was time she went home to the Circle F.
A handful of neighbors showed up the following day for the funeral. All three Doolittles were buried in a plot behind the house. If people thought it strange that Cora Lee’s husband wasn’t present, no one mentioned it. After the preacher prayed over the pine boxes, no one returned to the house for refreshments, which was the usual custom. They drifted back to their homes, and the preacher returned to town immediately. Only Otto Zigler and his wife remained to speak with Pierce.
“What does Chad intend to do with the ranch?” Otto asked, gripping his hat in his sweaty hands.
“Sell it, I suppose,” Pierce said. He didn’t care what happened to the place. He hadn’t been home since the deaths and was anxious to leave this accursed place.
Otto cleared his throat. “I’d like to lease it. I know the land and ranch house have been neglected since Ed fell ill, but I have several sons, any one of whom can work the land and make it productive again. I’m not rich, you understand, but perhaps we can work something out.”
“Come see me in a few days, Otto, and we’ll discuss it. Chad gave me permission to handle things in his absence.”
The Ziglers left a few minutes later. Ryan approached, leading both his horse and Pierce’s. “Let’s go home, Pierce. Maybe Chad changed his mind and is waiting for us at the ranch.”
Pierce shook his head. “That won’t happen, Ryan. You didn’t see Chad. He was profoundly shaken by what had taken place here.”
“I wish I’d gotten here in time. Maybe I could have changed his mind.”
“There’s nothing you could have done. All we can do now is pray that he comes to his senses soon. I hate to think of him wandering around the country in the frame of mind he’s in.” He sighed regretfully. “I couldn’t reach him, Ryan.”
They rode home in silence. When they reached the ranch, Pierce’s thoughts turned to Zoey. Vaguely he wondered why she hadn’t shown up for the funeral. Not that he blamed her. The funeral had been an ordeal from start to finish. Throughout the brief service Pierce could sense the unspoken questions hanging in the air, the accusatory looks, the curious stares.
They rode into the barn. One of the hands came up and took their mounts. From the corner of his eye Pierce noted an empty stall, and something cold slid down his spine. “Where’s Zoey’s horse?”
The hand, Rick Bowman, shrugged his shoulders. “She lit out of here yesterday, boss.”
Pierce went still. “She left? Did you see
in which direction she rode?”
“No, can’t say as I noticed. Maybe she went into town. I figured she was going to join you and Ryan at the Doolittles’. Terrible thing,” Bowman said, shaking his head. “Ryan told me what happened before he left yesterday.”
“A real tragedy,” Pierce agreed. “Did you notice if my wife’s saddlebags were packed when she left?”
“Sorry, boss, can’t rightly say.” Having nothing more to add, he walked away.
“Wait a minute!” Ryan said, slapping his forehead. “In all the excitement I forgot. I don’t know if it means anything, but Zoey told me to tell you good-bye.”
Pierce was more shaken than he let on, and couldn’t understand why. He hadn’t made a secret of the fact that he didn’t want a wife. Everyone knew he wasn’t a marrying man. What happened at the Doolittle ranch had been a grim reminder of the trouble women could bring into a man’s life. It was inevitable that he and Zoey would part one day. He had neither the time nor the inclination to complicate his life with a permanent relationship. Without Chad pulling his weight with the chores, the ranch needed him, and that was what was important to him now. When Chad returned … if he returned … he would need the support of both his brothers, and Pierce intended to be here for him.
“Sorry I didn’t tell you sooner, Pierce,” Ryan continued, “but I was so worried about Chad, I couldn’t think straight.”
“It’s all right, Ryan. I knew Zoey was going to leave. It’s not as if this comes as a surprise.”
“Go after her, Pierce.”
Pierce shook his head. “No, this is what Zoey wants. Her land and ranch mean as much to her as our land means to us.”
“She loves you. She confessed as much to both me and Chad.”
Pierce gave a derisive laugh. “Love? It doesn’t exist. Zoey used me. We used one another. She saved my life, and in return I made it possible for her to keep her land.”
“Don’t tell me she wasn’t a real wife to you, because I don’t believe that. I heard the noises coming from your room.”
Pierce flushed. “I don’t deny it. That’s the only part of our marriage that was real.”
“Look, Pierce, you know I’d never try to tell you what to do, and Lord knows I’m never going to be saddled with a wife myself, but dammit, man, I think you should go after Zoey. What if the ‘real’ part of your marriage produces a child?”
A coldness crept over Pierce. “Did Zoey tell you there was going to be a child?”
“No, but it’s a possibility, isn’t it?”
“I reckon,” Pierce admitted. “I wasn’t as careful as I should have been. I’m going up to my room. I’m beat.”
* * *
A child, Pierce reflected as he lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling. Was it possible? Would Zoey leave him if she was carrying his child?
Chapter 15
Zoey swayed in her saddle as she rode through the entrance to the Circle F. She was exhausted, dirty, and depressed. Fortunately, she had encountered no problems on the trip. She had sought cover in a fringe of trees a short distance from the road and passed an uneasy night. Not wanting to attract attention, she had eschewed a fire, munched on dry biscuits and cheese she had taken from the Delaney kitchen, curled up in her blanket, and tried not to think of Pierce.
She would never forget the way Pierce had looked at her that tragic day at the Doolittles’. That one feral look spoke volumes about his feelings. He didn’t want her, didn’t want any wife. The least she could do was honor his wishes and leave.
Zoey spied Cully working near the corral and hailed him. Cully saw her, gave a whoop, and trotted over to meet her. He appeared upset, and a frisson of fear slid down her spine. What now? she wondered, hoping nothing had gone wrong with the cattle drive.
“Miz Zoey, thank God you’re home! Is Delaney with you? They didn’t hang him, did they? We heard all about it when we returned from the fort. It was the talk of the town for days.”
Zoey dismounted. “I’m alone,” she said crisply. “Pierce is well. He’s been cleared of all charges. Was the cattle drive successful? Was the army pleased with the delivery?”
Cully nodded. “Got them there in good shape. Me and the boys spent the night at the fort and started for home the next morning. We weren’t expecting trouble.”
Zoey shivered. Days were getting cooler now and a cold wind blew down from the mountains. But it was Cully’s expression that both chilled and frightened her.
“Come inside where it’s warm and I’ll explain everything. You look plum beat. I can’t believe your husband let you travel all this way by yourself.”
Cully put the coffeepot on to boil while Zoey dropped down into the nearest chair. “I am beat, Cully. These past weeks have been exhausting. You can’t imagine the things that went on in Dry Gulch. I’ll explain after you tell me what’s wrong. I know you, Cully, and something tells me I’m not going to like what you’re going to say.”
“You’re right,” Cully said, easing his spare frame into the chair across from Zoey. “We were robbed on the way home from the fort. A dozen masked men attacked us one night after we’d bedded down. We were overpowered before we even knew they were in our the camp. Took every last dime the army paid for the steers, and then some. Stole my watch and other valuables me and the boys had on us. Weren’t much, but it’s all we had.”
Zoey stared at Cully; she was absolutely horrified. “Stolen? Everything? Oh, God.” She dropped her head in her hands and sobbed. This on top of everything else was just too much. With the taxes due this fall and no money with which to pay them, the Circle F was no better off than it had been before Pierce had arrived and changed their fortune.
“This was Willoughby’s doing!” Zoey blasted. “That man just won’t give up. Whatever are we going to do? There’s enough money in the bank to pay the hands, thank God. But what then?”
“Winter’s coming on,” Cully said. “We won’t need help till spring, when the cows start calving and we rebuild our herd.”
Zoey gave a harsh laugh. “How are we going to buy feed and supplies for the winter and pay the taxes?”
“Ask Delaney for money,” Cully suggested. “He’d help, I know he would.”
Zoey sighed wearily. “Pierce and I are no longer married. The divorce decree is with Pierce. Once the judge signs it, it’s all over. I suspect I’m already a divorced woman. Pierce doesn’t owe me a thing. He upheld his part of our arrangement. More than upheld it, and we all know it. He earned his freedom.”
“But he don’t know about this, Miz Zoey. I could go to Dry Gulch, explain—”
“No! Pierce is no longer responsible for me or my problems. He has enough problems of his own.”
“I ain’t prying, but it might help if you told me about it, Miz Zoey.”
“It’s … difficult to explain, but I’ll try. After they took Pierce away, I followed. I feared the vigilantes would hang him before he reached Dry Gulch. As it turned out, I was right. When I caught up with them, the rope was already around Pierce’s neck.”
Cully gave a low whistle. “How did you stop the lynching? Did Pierce do all them things he was accused of?”
“No, Pierce was innocent of all charges. I never doubted it for a minute. I was able to interrupt the lynching long enough for his brothers and the hands from the Delaney ranch to stop it. Pierce did spend a few days in jail before things took a turn none of us expected.”
Her voice faltered; she girded herself for the retelling of the tragedy that followed.
“You might as well tell me everything,” Cully said, giving her hand a sympathetic pat.
Swallowing the lump in her throat, Zoey took a deep breath and related the events that led to the deaths of the entire Doolittle family. She held nothing back, even revealing how Pierce had looked at her after Chad left. When she finished, her mouth was so dry it felt as if she were talking around cotton. Cully poured her a cup of coffee and she gulped it down, welcoming the burning trail it left in
her mouth.
“That’s some story,” Cully said, shaking his head in commiseration. “Can’t rightly say I blame Pierce for being upset. You should have stuck around, given him time to work through this. I could of sworn he cared for you.”
He started to say something else, then flushed and looked away.
“Go ahead and say it, Cully. You’re more like a father to me than a hired hand. You know me better than anyone alive.”
“It ain’t my place.”
“You were going to say that Pierce and I shared a bed,” Zoey said, sparing herself nothing. “Pierce didn’t take advantage of me, if that’s what you’re thinking. It’s true he tried to seduce me, but I was willing to be seduced. I don’t regret a thing.”
“I reckon he’d help if you were to ask him,” Cully suggested hopefully.
“I … can’t. We’ll just have to let the hands go for the winter and get by as best we can. As for the taxes, I’ll borrow the money from the bank.”
Cully looked aghast. “From Willoughby’s bank?”
“Is there another bank in town?”
“You know right well there ain’t.”
“I still have the confession Willoughby wrote. He won’t dare refuse to loan me the money I need.”
“We’ll see,” Cully muttered. He didn’t trust Willoughby any farther than he could toss him.
Zoey rose tiredly. “I’d appreciate it if you’d put some water on the stove to boil. I need to soak in a hot tub and think. I’ll wait until I have my wits about me before going to town to apply for a loan.”
Cully nodded and left the kitchen. It was a damn shame Pierce and Zoey were no longer a couple, he mumbled to himself. They suited each other so well. But more to the point, Zoey needed Pierce.
Dry Gulch
Pierce threw himself into his work, prowling around the ranch like a caged tiger. Angry, edgy, spoiling for a fight. The hands made sure they kept their distance, skirting around him on tiptoes, so to speak.
Pierce blamed his glum mood on Chad’s continued absence, but Ryan and the hands knew better. Arising at dawn, Pierce drove himself relentlessly until dusk. He took supper with Ryan and retired early. Ryan was so disgusted by Pierce’s short temper and taciturn manner that he accused Pierce of alienating everyone on the ranch.
