“I’ll do it.”
Jed nodded at Bryce, pulled his hat down and headed for the door. Lance followed.
* * * *
Rafe sat back in his leather desk chair and looked at Vince Callahan. “So, you think Garcia is thinking about selling?”
“I’m sure of it. He and his son were working on a fence near your ranch when a couple of hands and I ran into them this morning. Of course, we stopped to talk and I mentioned you were interested in buying his place. He said he’d consider it.” Vince took the cigar Rafe offered.
“Since I lost the Lawson place I don’t intend to lose Garcia’s. Did you mention a price to him?”
“No, Rafe. I thought it was your place to talk money.”
Rafe nodded. “If I could figure out a way to get the Lawson ranch…” His voice trailed off.
“Well, you never know. Something could happen.”
There was a short silence then Rafe asked, “What are you thinking?”
“I’m thinking there are probably ways to make the bounty hunter give up his ranch.”
“Such as?”
“He could meet with an accident and not be able to do any ranching. It’s happened to better men than him.”
“I guess an accident could work, but I wouldn’t be upset if the son-of-a-bitch was dead. Of course I’d be the first person they’d look at if anything happened to him. It’s no secret I hate his guts because of all he’s done to me.”
“Wainwright could get hurt so bad out on the range that he doesn’t get over it.” Vince gave his boss an evil grin.
“Wouldn’t his partner continue to run the ranch?” Rafe raised an eyebrow and puffed the expensive cigar.
“The partner’s a cripple. He’s not able to run a ranch alone. I’m sure he’d sell out in a hurry if something happened to Wainwright.”
“An accident would have to be well planned and would need to take place away from the house. Though I’m still mad at her, I don’t want anything to happen to Amelia.”
“Nothing will happen to her. She’ll come home, safe as the day she left. I know there’s no way she’d want to stay there if…well, let’s say…she’d have no reason to stay there without him.” He grinned again. “Of course we’d both welcome her back even if she has been with the dirty bounty hunter.”
Rafe nodded. “You’re right, and I’m glad you still feel that way about her. As a matter of fact, I’m surprised she hasn’t tired of him and come home already. I thought she’d get over being mad at me by now.”
“I think she probably wants to come home, but he has some kind of hold on her.” Vince puffed his cigar. “Of course, I’m waiting for her to realize what a mistake she made by taking up with him, and to turn to me for comfort.”
“That’s good, Vince. You know I want to meet Elizabeth’s rich relatives in England and who better to leave my ranch to than you with Amelia at your side. I know the two of you will make a good team.”
“I’m going to make sure you’ll be able to take that trip sooner than you think, Rafe.”
Rafe nodded and stood. “Let’s hope we can have everything in place by the time you get back from the cattle drive.”
“We plan to pull out at dawn.” Vince stood, too. “Now, don’t you worry about a thing. As soon as we get the cows to the train, I’ll pay the boys and they’ll go into town to celebrate and I’ll head back here. Amelia may even be home by then. If she isn’t, I assure you it won’t be long until she is.”
“I hope she comes to her senses by then, but if not, I know you’ll be able to handle it.” Rafe walked to the door with Vince. “I’ll come out to see you and the boys off in the morning.”
“You know you don’t have to, boss, but I’m sure the hands will appreciate it.”
“I have to thank you, Vince. You’ve proven to me, more than one time, what a fine foreman you are and what a good husband you’ll be for Amelia.” Rafe chuckled and patted him on the shoulder. “Now, I have to go have dinner with my wife. I’m trying to keep her calm until everything is settled. She still thinks I’m going to accept Amelia’s marriage. Of course, you know damn good and well I’ll never do it, but it was the only way I could keep Elizabeth happy.”
“Women are easy to fool sometimes.”
“When you and Amelia are married, you’ll learn there are many things you’ll have to keep from her. Women think they have more control over you than they do. They even think they’re as smart as men and you and I both know no woman is.”
Vince didn’t answer, but he did laugh as he went out the door.
* * * *
Amelia stood on the Garcias’ front porch with Jed and the sheriff.
“We’re getting ready to ride out to where Miguel told you the incident took place,” Jed said.
“Miguel also told me the men who attacked his father worked for Daddy.” There was sadness in Amelia’s voice.
Lance frowned. “Did he know their names?”
“The way Miguel described them, I know one of them was Vince Callahan.”
“How could you be sure?” Jed looked down at her.
“Miguel said he had blond hair to his shoulders and he was a big man who wore a brown hat. That doesn’t describe anybody on the Double D except Vince.”
“You don’t suppose Garcia was doing something to make the men attack him, do you?”
“Lance, you know Roberto wouldn’t do anything to antagonize anyone.” Amelia stared at him. “Vince, on the other hand, wouldn’t think twice about attacking the man for no reason.”
Lance put his hand on her arm. “Do you think it would be too much to ask Miguel to ride out and show us the area where his father was attacked? We wouldn’t have to spend time searching for the exact spot.”
“I’m not sure. You’d have to ask Miguel.”
“Ask me what?” Miguel came out the door.
“Son, could you describe to me what happened to your father?” Lance looked at the young boy.
“Yes, sir.”
“Before you talk to the sheriff, Miguel, tell us if the doctor is still with your father.”
“Yes, Miz Amelia, he is.”
“Has he told you anything?” Jed asked.
“No. He told me to leave, but Mama is still in there with them.”
“I’m sure Doc will tell you something soon.” Lance pushed his hat back. “Now could we have that talk?”
“I told Miz Amelia everything I know.”
“It would be helpful if you’d tell me.”
Miguel nodded and told Lance the same story he told Amelia.
“And that was it?”
“Yes, sir.”
Lance rubbed his forehead with the back of his hand. “I appreciate the information, son. Wainwright and I’ll go out and see if we can find the place where this all took place.”
Miguel asked, “Do you want me to go with you?”
Lance glanced at Jed and Jed said, “We’d appreciate it, but don’t feel you have to, Miguel. I’m sure we’ll be able to find the right place.”
“I don’t mind going. I want to help.”
“Then why don’t you double with me on Devil? He doesn’t mind carrying two people.”
“I’d like to ride your horse, Mr. Jed.” He turned to Amelia. “Do you think it’s all right for me to go with them with Poppa being so sick?”
“Of course it is, Miguel,” Amelia said. “I’m sure the doctor will be with your father a while and if there’s any news you need to hear right away, I’ll ride out and get you.”
He nodded. “Then I’ll go with you.”
“Good. Why don’t you go make friends with Devil and I’ll be there in a minute.”
Miguel nodded and went down the steps.
Amelia looked up at Jed. Her voice was almost a whisper when she said, “I’m afraid.”
“Of what, honey?”
“I helped Juanita dress some of Roberto’s wounds. He’s in bad shape, Jed. It’ll be a miracle if he lives. If he d
oes, I don’t know what kind of shape he’ll be in.”
Jed slipped his arm around her shoulder. “Then, we’ll have to help the Garcias.”
“Of course we will.”
“I’ll be back soon, but if you need Miguel or me back sooner, fire a gun in the air two times.”
“I’ll fire it twice if the news is good.”
He nodded. “And if I need to prepare Miguel for the worst, fire it three times.”
Amelia would have said more, but the doctor stepped out on the porch. His gray moustache didn’t hide the gloomy set of his mouth.
“How’s my Poppa?” Miguel asked.
“Why don’t you go back in and see your poppa, sonny. He’s talking a little and I’m sure your mother would want you in there.” Sheldon Wagner took out his handkerchief and wiped his brow.
Without a word, Miguel came back on the porch and ran into the house.
“How is Garcia, really, Doc?” Lance asked.
Doc Wagner shook his head. “I did everything I could, but I’m afraid he’s hurt on the inside. His ribs are broken and without cutting him open there’s no way to know for sure whether or not some of his vital organs aren’t damaged beyond repair. He’s just too weak for an operation like that.”
“Is he going to…” Amelia couldn’t finish.
“I don’t know, Amelia. We’ll have to wait and see. It’s up to a higher power than me.” He gave her a weak smile. “Do you think I could get a cup of coffee?”
“Sure. I’ll be right back.” She went into the house.
“I didn’t want to say this in front of her, Jed, but there’s little hope for Garcia. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a man beaten as bad. If he makes it through the day, I’ll be surprised.”
“I thought you said he was talking.”
“He is, but I don’t foresee him getting better.”
“The sheriff and I are going out to the site and see what we can find. Miguel was going with us, but I don’t know if he’ll want to now. Either way, maybe you should tell Amelia there’s little hope so she can be prepared as well as help prepare the boy.”
Sheldon nodded and turned to Lance. “Mrs. Garcia said her son told her one of Donahue’s men did this to Roberto. Do you believe it, Sheriff?”
“We’ll know more after we take a look, but I have no reason to doubt the boy.”
“How about you, Wainwright?”
Jed shrugged. “I know Donahue hates Indians enough to want to beat them to death. I’m not sure how he feels about Mexicans.”
Doctor Wagner lifted an eyebrow. “From personal experience, I presume.”
“You’re right about that.”
Amelia came back on the porch with two cups of coffee. She handed one to the doctor and glanced at Jed and Lance. “If I knew you’d still be here, I would’ve brought you both a cup.”
“Thanks, Amelia, but we’ll be leaving as soon as we find out if Miguel is going to go with us. You can have a cup ready for us when we get back.” Lance turned to his horse.
Miguel returned to the porch. “Mama said I was to go with you. She doesn’t want you to miss anything out there.”
“Then let’s get going so you can get back to your father soon, Miguel.” Jed headed toward his horse. He threw Amelia a quick smile and mounted, pulling Miguel up behind him. As soon as Lance was on his horse, the three of them rode off.
* * * *
A faint line of pink raked across the Eastern sky as Amelia and Jed climbed the steps to their bedroom.
“I’m thankful Roberto regained consciousness and was able to tell us Vince Callahan was the one who ordered two men to beat him as he held Miguel.” Jed began unbuttoning his shirt.
“It’s still hard for me to believe Daddy would condone this.” Amelia was on the verge of tears. “How could I live with him for over eighteen years and not see what kind of man my father is?”
“Maybe your father didn’t know what Vince was up to, honey. His foreman could be doing this on his own.”
Amelia shook her head. “I don’t think anything ever happens on the Double D that my father doesn’t know about. He always brags that he knows what each and every one of his men are doing at any given time.”
“I hope you’re wrong this time.”
“So do I, but I doubt that I am.”
Neither said anything else as they undressed and climbed into bed. Amelia thought she was tired enough to fall immediately asleep, but she was unable to. All she could think about was how Roberto Garcia had been so brutally beaten. It angered her to think the man who orchestrated this crime was the man her father wanted her to marry. How could he not see what an evil man Vince was? Or was her daddy as evil?
Without warning, Amelia burst into sobs.
Jed turned over and put his arm around her. “What is it, sweetheart?”
She pressed her face into his chest and said through her tears, “How could my father want me to marry a man who could do this awful thing?”
“I’m sure your father doesn’t realize how terrible Vince is.”
“I’m so thankful you decided to marry me. If you hadn’t, I could’ve ended up living with that evil man.”
“Don’t even think about that. You were able to thwart that plan and we are married.”
“I know.”
“Try to relax.”
She said nothing, but after a few minutes, her sobs began to subside. Finally she muttered, “I know one thing.”
“What, honey?”
“After this terrible incident, I know I’ll never reconcile with my father. Thinking he knew what was going to happen to Roberto means I could never look him in the face again. When he disowned me, he might have thought it was temporary, but it wasn’t. It was forever.” She put her arm around his waist and pulled herself closer to him.
Jed tightened his arms around her. “Try to put it out of your mind, Amelia. You need to get some rest. We may have to go back to the Garcias’ place later today.”
“I don’t know how not to think about it, Jed.”
He moved his hand to her chin and tilted it upward. “Try to think of something else,” he whispered as he kissed her.
It wasn’t long until their lovemaking drove everything out of her mind except the fact that she was in Jed’s arms and she was his. If not forever, at least at this moment and he cared what happened to her. She knew there was no way he could be as kind and gentle if he didn’t care at all.
* * * *
Three hours after going to bed, Amelia and Jed were awakened by a sharp rap on the front door. Amelia grunted and sat up and Jed got out of bed and slipped into his pants. “Go back to sleep. I’ll see who it is.”
Amelia nodded and dropped back to the feather pillow.
In a matter of minutes, Jed was sitting on the side of the bed patting her face gently. “Amelia, I know you want to sleep, but you need to wake up.”
“Why?” She didn’t open her eyes and her voice was so low, he could hardly hear her.
“Miguel was at the door. His father died a little while ago and his mother wants Curt and us to come. I told him we’d be there as soon as we could get dressed.”
Amelia sat up and threw her legs over the side of the bed. “Then we need to get ready and go. Do we have time for coffee?”
“I don’t think so. Maybe Juanita will have some.”
A short time later, Curt brought their horses to the door, saddled and ready to ride. The three of them mounted and rode off toward the Garcia ranch. When they arrived, Amelia was surprised to see Doctor Wagner, Sheriff Lance Gentry, Charles Fielding and Father Dellrio of the Catholic Mission, sitting on the porch. She wondered why there were no neighbor ranch women to console and support Juanita and Miguel in their time of grief.
They hitched their horses to the rail and dismounted. Jed said, “Miguel wanted us to come as quickly as we could. Are we too early?”
“No, Jed,” Lance said. “We’re all here at the request of Roberto Garcia.”
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Jed frowned. “But Miguel said his father was dead.”
“He is,” Sheldon Wagner said. “He died about four o’clock this morning.”
“Juanita had sent for me so I was here to give him the last rites and to honor his funeral requests,” Father Dellrio said.
“Then where are their friends and neighbors?” Amelia looked puzzled. “I’m surprised none of them are here.”
“They don’t know Garcia’s dead,” Lance said. “Juanita doesn’t want to tell them yet.”
“Why not?” Amelia frowned.
“Roberto made a list of the people he wanted to be here to take care of some business before anyone else knew of his death,” the sheriff explained.
“Are you sure we should be here?” Curt asked.
“Absolutely. She wouldn’t have sent Miguel for you if he hadn’t wanted you to come.” Charles Fielding stood. “I’ll inform Mrs. Garcia you’ve arrived.”
Before he could go inside, the door opened and Juanita stepped out. Everyone could tell she’d been crying. “I heard them arrive, Mr. Fielding.”
Amelia walked to her and took her hand. “We wanted to come.”
Juanita gave her a weak smile and looked around at the others. “Please, everyone, come inside. I’ve cooked breakfast.”
“You shouldn’t have troubled yourself, Mrs. Garcia,” Lance said.
“I had to do something.” Still holding Amelia’s hand, she added, “Will you come and help me serve?”
“Of course.” Amelia followed her into the house.
The others walked in behind them.
After everyone had been seated and served, Juanita sat beside her son. “Miguel and I had a talk with Roberto before he passed away this morning. Doctor Wagner was here and Roberto asked him to go for Father Dellrio. Father sent someone for the sheriff and the banker. Miguel came for you.” She nodded at Amelia and went on, saying, “Roberto told us exactly what he wanted done after his passing. Everyone, with the exception of the Wainwrights and Mr. Allison, was here in time to witness what my husband said.”
Everyone nodded as Juanita paused and wiped the corner of her eye with a napkin.
“If you want to tell us later, Juanita, we don’t mind.” Amelia patted the woman’s arm.
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