Curt landed the brand. The cow bellowed and Jed let it go. He reached for the next one.
“Man, you haven’t said two words since you came back. Is everything all right at the house?”
“It’s fine.”
“Uh oh. That means something’s wrong. What is it?”
Jed frowned at him. “If you must know, Amelia and I had an argument.”
“I figured as much. She acted strange at breakfast.”
“It’ll be all right.”
“Sure it will. All you have to do is get down on your knees and beg her forgiveness.”
“I’m not going to do that and you know it.”
“I know it’d be hard for you to say you’re wrong. You’ve never wanted to admit it, but in this case you probably are.”
“What the hell do you mean?”
“I know sweet Amelia couldn’t….”
His words were cut off when two shots rang in the air.
Jed let the calf go and Curt dropped the branding iron. “Something’s wrong at the house,” Curt said and headed toward his horse.
“Take over, Ward,” Jed yelled as he followed.
When they reached the house, both men jumped from their saddles and ran toward Delores, who was hovered over a form on the ground. Juanita was holding Miguel by the shoulders. She and her son were crying.
Jed wasn’t sure his knees were going to hold him. Amelia’s angry, hurt face flashed before his eyes as his heart fell to his stomach. She had told him she loved him and he’d flung it back in her face. How could he have hurt her so?
“What happened?” Curt asked.
Delores was holding Elizabeth’s head off the ground and was cleaning blood from her face. “He hit her with his gun,” Delores said.
“Who hit her?” Jed went to his knees and held his mother-in-law as Delores bandaged her head.
“Vince Callahan,” Elizabeth muttered.
“It was the man who held me so they could kill Poppa,” Miguel cried.
Jed’s heart thumped. “Where’s Amelia?”
“He took her.” With Jed’s help, Elizabeth got to her feet. “They…”
A horse came into the yard. Both Curt and Jed pulled their guns.
“Don’t shoot me,” the boy cried. “I came to bring something to Miz Elizabeth.”
Jed holstered his gun. “I think Elizabeth will be all right. I’m going after Amelia.”
“Wait.” Curt took his arm. “Maybe this has something to do with Amelia.”
Jed hesitated and turned toward Richard. “Give it to me, boy.”
“It’s for Miz Elizabeth.” The scared boy looked down from his horse at her. “Are you all right, Ma’am?”
“Give it to Jed, Richard.”
Jed scanned the letter. “Nothing here.” He handed the letter to Elizabeth. “Your husband wants you to come home.”
Elizabeth was leaning on Delores. “I should go see what’s going on.”
Jed didn’t answer, but headed for his horse.
Again Curt stopped him. “Use your head, Jed. Treat this as one of your chases. If you go running off without knowing where you’re going…”
“You’re right.” Though his heart was pounding and he wanted to run after Amelia as fast as the horse would take him, he knew he had to be smart. He’d get her back faster. He turned toward Elizabeth. “Where was Amelia when he took her?”
She showed him and in few minutes, he had the tracks picked out. He was glad Curt had stopped him. He would’ve headed down the road toward town, but after finding the tracks left in the yard he saw they headed toward the back of the ranch which connected it to the Double D.
“Get two or three of the men, Curt. I don’t have time to go for Lance Gentry. We’re forming our own posse.” He straightened up. “Delores, we’ll send the others back to watch out here.”
“I’m going to go home, Jed.”
He frowned. “Why, Elizabeth?”
“I want to know if Rafe is behind this and I intend to find out.”
“But…”
“Don’t argue with me. I’ll be fine.”
“If you go, at least let one of the men go with you.”
“All right, I will, but you forget about me. All I want is for you to go find my daughter for me.”
Jed leaned over and kissed her cheek. “I’ll find her for both of us.”
Ward, Andy and Elton rode up with Curt and the four men headed out across the yard behind Jed.
* * * *
Mort stayed with Juanita and Miguel. Darrel Reed, Richard, and Delores struck out to the Double D with Elizabeth. They were still some distance away when they saw smoke coming from the vicinity of the ranch.
Elizabeth grabbed her throat. “Oh, Lord, he must have burned my house.”
“It could be something else, Ma’am,” Darrel suggested. “We have to burn lots of things on ranches.”
“The men are on a cattle drive. I don’t think the few left would burn anything that would create that much smoke.” She turned to Delores with tears in her eyes. “Everything I own is in the house.”
Delores patted her hand. “Maybe we’ll get there in time to put it out.”
It was as if Elizabeth didn’t hear Delores. She placed her hands over her face and began to sob. “My daughter has been kidnapped and my home is burning, and only God knows what has happened to my husband.”
Delores held Elizabeth’s hand tightly. “You’re a strong woman, Miz Elizabeth. You can handle anything this old world throws at you. Please dry your tears and try to be strong. We don’t know what’ll be facing us at your house, but we know Mr. Jed is going to bring Miz Amelia home to us and we have to be brave for her. She’s going to need our support when Mr. Jed gets her away from that terrible man.”
Elizabeth rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand. “Of course, you’re right, Delores. I have to be strong for the others. Thank God I have you to remind me of it sometimes.”
They were silent until the house came into view. There was still smoldering smoke, but it looked like the fire was out. The house was blackened on the side and one of the columns on the front porch had fallen. “Oh, my Lord, I hope nobody was hurt.” Elizabeth moaned. “Drive faster, Darrel.”
“Yes, Ma’am.” He slapped the horse’s rear with the reins.
“I’ll take care of the horses, Miz Elizabeth,” Richard said when Darrel pulled her buggy to a stop in front of the scarred mansion.
“Thank you, young man.”
Darrel jumped down and turned to help the women from the buggy. As soon as Elizabeth’s feet touched ground, she started to run toward the house. Darrel grabbed her arm. “Wait. You better not get too close, Ma’am. It could be dangerous. It looks like that porch roof could collapse at any moment.”‘
“I’ve got to see if Rafe is all right.” Elizabeth looked at Darrel. “He could be hurt.”
Wayne Rivers appeared at the door. “I heard the buggy pull up. Hello, Mrs. Donahue.”
“Where’s Rafe, Wayne? Is he inside?” She pulled her arm from Darrel’s hand and headed toward the porch.
Delores followed her.
“Yes, Ma’am. He’s been hurt so I put him in the back room. It seems to be safe in there.” He met her at the top of the steps. “Be careful coming in. There are some loose boards on the porch.”
Elizabeth took the hand he offered and stepped carefully across the porch and inside the entry. Without saying anything, she headed to the first floor bedroom. The others followed her. As soon as she opened the door and entered the room, she let out a gasp and ran to her husband.
He looked awfully white and there was blood all over his chest where the shirt had been ripped away. His eyes were closed and she knelt beside him and asked no one in particular, “Is he dead?”
Darrel moved next to the bed, reached down and touched Rafe’s wrist then his throat. “He’s alive, Ma’am, but barely. Looks like he’s been shot and needs a doctor immediately.”
“Yes, yes. Get the doctor, someone,” Elizabeth cried. “Delores, get…”
“As soon as we got the fire out, I sent for the doc, Miz Elizabeth,” Wayne Rivers said. “He should be here anytime now.”
Delores put her hand on Elizabeth’s shoulder. “Let me see if I can help him, Ma’am. I might be able to help stop some of this bleeding.”
Elizabeth moved over and Delores knelt beside her.
Rafe’s eyes flickered. “Elizabeth…”
“I’m here, Rafe.” She bit her lip to hold back tears. “Can you tell us what happened?”
“Elizabeth…” His voice trailed off.
“Don’t try to talk, Rafe. You can tell us what happened later. You need to save your strength now.” She squeezed his hand and looked at Wayne. “Do you know what transpired here?”
“Cal and me was working down by the creek. He happened to see the smoke and we got here as fast as we could. The fire was pretty bad and it took us a little while, but we managed to get it out. Then I thought I better check inside. I found the boss trying to crawl out. If Cal hadn’t seen the smoke, it would have burned down with the boss inside.”
“I’m thankful you got here in time.” She looked back at her husband. “Did he say anything?”
“He said the name Vince.”
“Do you think Callahan did this?” Darrel asked.
“There’s not a doubt in my mind that he did it.” Wayne Rivers looked determined. “That fool is capable of anything.”
Elizabeth looked up at Wayne and tears ran down her cheeks. “If Vince Callahan tried to kill Rafe, what will that evil man do to my daughter?”
“Don’t worry, Miz Donahue. Jed won’t let anything happen to her,” Darrel said.
“What if he’s too late?”
“He won’t be. When it comes to tracking a man, ain’t nobody better than Jed Wainwright.” He glanced back at Wayne Rivers. “Why don’t we leave these ladies here to look after Mr. Donahue until the Doctor arrives? We should check the damage the fire did and see if there’s a way we can shore up the porch so it won’t be a danger.”
Wayne nodded.
Darrel turned to Delores. “Come get us if you need anything.”
Delores nodded. “Thank you, Darrel.”
The men left and Elizabeth looked at Rafe with tears in her eyes. “Oh, you foolish man. I guess you now realize you trusted Vince Callahan too far, don’t you, Rafe?”
“Do you really think Vince Callahan did this?” Delores was removing the crude bandage Wayne had put on Rafe.
“I know he did. I’m sure he sent Richard to get me so he could sneak in the back way and steal Amelia. Vince is an evil man, Delores. I think I’ve always known, but there was no convincing Rafe the man had any faults.”
“Now, he knows.”
“But is it too late for him to rectify his mistake and make up with his daughter?”
“If the doctor doesn’t get here soon, it may be.” Delores sighed. “Now we have to get busy. I need some hot water and a slew of bandages. Tear up a sheet if you have to. In the meantime I’m going to use his shirt to hold the wound together.”
“I’ll get the rest for you.” Elizabeth stood, brushed back tears and scurried out of the room. She didn’t mind taking instructions from her maid. At least Delores seemed to know what she was doing. Elizabeth sure didn’t. She’d never had to deal with a gunshot wound before and having something to do kept her from falling apart about all that was happening to those in her family at this moment.
* * * *
When Amelia opened her eyes, it took her a minute to realize where she was. Then it came back. Vince had hit her mother with the butt of his rifle and when she tried to rescue her mother, he had roughly grabbed her and threw her in front of him on his horse. When she tried to fight him and get off the animal, he’d hit her in the mouth with his fist. She didn’t remember anything else until they arrived at this cabin. She recognized it as one of the line shacks on the back of her father’s ranch. When Vince pushed her inside, she fought him again and he’d hit her in the mouth once more with his fist. Everything then went black. He must have thrown her on this rough cot. Her head was turned to the wall and he didn’t know she was conscious. He was talking with somebody, so to keep him from knowing she’d regained consciousness, she closed her eyes and listened, hoping she’d pick up some kind of clue on how to escape.
“Don’t you think we should head on out of here, Vince?”
“Not yet. There’s one more thing I need to do.”
“What’s that?”
“I’m going to kill the breed before I go.”
“Think he’ll come alone to rescue her?”
“Absolutely. Indians ain’t that smart. He’ll be so mad he’ll not think to get back-up.”
“What if you don’t kill him when he gets here?”
“Damn it, Smithy, I’m not the bad shot you are. I’ll kill him on the first try.”
“I’m not a bad shot.”
“The hell you’re not. You missed him the day they came to the ranch and he shot you in the arm. Now you tell me you missed the man driving the wagon and Amelia shot you in the shoulder. You’ve messed up twice. I don’t know why I don’t get rid of you for all the help you’ve been to me.”
“I would’ve got ’em if they hadn’t been too far away. Besides, I beat the hell out of that Mexican for you.”
“Yeah. Are you going to try to make me pay you for that like Herb Dinkins did?” Vince’s voice had a sneer in it.
“What’d Dinkins do?”
“The damn fool wanted me to pay him double for working the cattle drive or he threatened to tell everyone I was behind the wetback’s murder.”
“How’d you convince him not to tell?”
“Got him in the middle of the herd and shoved him off his horse.” Vince laughed his vicious laugh. “Wasn’t a sign of him after five thousand cattle took a stroll over his body. And the best part was nobody knew what happened. They decided he must have run off because the work was too hard.”
“I ain’t gonna tell nobody nothing.” Smithy’s voice sounded scared.
“That’s smart of you. Now, give me a cup of coffee. It should be done by now.”
“Want somethin’ to eat, boss? I heated the stew and it’s pretty good.”
“Give me a bowl.”
“When’s your gal gonna wake up? She could probably cook somethin’ good.”
“Go check on her.”
Feet moved across the bare floor. Amelia kept her eyes closed.
“Sleeping like a baby.”
“Then get me some stew. She’ll eventually wake up.”
The feet moved away.
“She’s such a pretty little thing, I’m surprised you ain’t took her yet, boss.”
“All in good time, Smithy. I want her to be wide awake and I want the bounty hunter tied up in a chair right over there watching when I show her and him both what a real man can do.”
Smithy laughed. “You sure do know how to get revenge.”
“Damn right I do. If it hadn’t been for that bastard, I’d be married to the bitch and be the sole owner of the Double D by now. Instead, all I got is the money I took from Donahue’s safe and the daughter he planned to give me anyway.”
“You gonna marry her now?”
“Hell no. Got no reason to. All I wanted from that marriage was a couple of kids and the title to the Double D Ranch. Since that’s not going to happen I’ve decided as soon as I get to California with her, she’s going to start making up for the money I’ve lost.”
“How’s she gonna do that?”
“Look at her, Smithy. As you said, she’s beautiful. Those California men will pay a good price to get between those legs.”
Smithy laughed again. “If I save up my money, can I get a turn?”
“Your money is as good as anybody’s.”
There was a pause.
“Why did you get so quiet, Smithy?”
“I
think I heard something outside.”
“Check and see if it’s him.” A chair scraped and a gun cocked. “If he’s found us, it’s time for the fun to begin.”
Amelia felt her heart leap into her throat. She hoped Jed had used his head and brought someone with him.
Chapter 21
Jed crept to where Curt was squatted behind a mass of twisted bushes. “There are two horses stabled in a shed. There’s another window in the back of the cabin, but it’s covered. Elton and Andy are there to make sure nobody leaves the back way. Ward’s off to your right. I think I made enough noise to get one of them to come out and check.”
“How many do you think are there?”
Jed shook his head. “If we go by the horses, there are only two.”
“Then this should be easy.”
“We have to make sure Amelia doesn’t get hurt.”
“That goes without saying, my friend.”
The cabin door opened a crack and the barrel of a rifle came out. A raspy voice asked, “Is that you, bounty hunter?”
Jed nodded to Curt and then to Ward. He stepped forward, but shielded himself behind a tree. “Where’s my wife?” he shouted, letting the anger show in his voice.
“You ain’t got no wife now, red man. She belongs to Vince just like it was always meant to be.”
Before he could reply, Amelia screamed.
Jed had the urge to rush forward to rescue her, but he managed to control himself. He gritted his teeth. “If either of you bastards touch her, this red man will make you sorry you ever heard the name Amelia Donahue.”
“What you gonna do about it, Injun?”
“I’ll skin you alive and I mean that literally. My people are specialists at it and they taught me well.”
A shot whizzed by Jed’s head.
He fired back and the door slammed shut. Jed took advantage of it and darted closer to the cabin.
Glass broke in the small window in front and the gun barrel came out. It fired, but was way off the mark.
Jed fired and the rifle fell from the window. “Come on out and face me like a man, Callahan.”
“If you think you’re so tough, come on in and save your wife, breed.” It was Vince’s voice this time.
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