by Barbara Goss
He stepped inside behind her, and Glenna reached up, pulled the wooden latch, and let out the dogs who circled the house, barking wildly.
“What the dickens did you do that for? How are we to get out?” Asa cried. He grabbed her and shook her. “Get them back in the pen.”
She pulled as far away from him as she could. “I can’t. Only Ruth can go near them.”
“Where the devil is Ruth?”
“In town.”
Asa sighed. “We’ll have to wait for her, then. I’m going to use you as a hostage to gain back my freedom. The U.S. Marshals have a bounty on my head.”
The dogs were at the back door, barking and snarling. Asa pulled Glenna into the sitting room. “Sit!” he told her, and she obeyed.
Asa paced the room. “When Ruth returns, I want you to tell her you pulled the latch by mistake.” He noticed the small arsenal with ammunition in the hall. “Well, now, maybe we won’t have to wait for Ruth to return after all; I’ll just shoot those dogs.”
Glenna didn’t like that idea. She had to persuade him to wait. “The shots will alert Mr. Brown.” She made up the name, since there was no Mr. Brown living in the area.
Asa stared at her. “Who is Mr. Brown?”
“The caretaker. He lives on the other side of the pond through the woods. He’ll be here in no time if he hears gunshots.”
Asa swore. “How are we to get out of here, then?”
Glenna shrugged. She wished the U.S. Marshals would gallop up the lane and rescue her already, or maybe even Spence.
Spence—what would he do when he finally arrived for her only to find out she’s been kidnapped by Asa?
“Does Ruth have any rat poison or anything we could feed to the dogs?” he asked.
Glenna shook her head. “We don’t have a rodent problem.”
Both Glenna and Asa jerked nervously when one of the dogs pounced on the back door with a snarl.
“Ruth will be home shortly, and she’ll corral the dogs. You can get away while she’s still outside,” Glenna offered.
“You mean, we can get away.” Asa rubbed his temples. “How long does it usually take her in town?”
“About an hour. She’s just checking the telegraph office for messages.”
Asa peered out the window. “Great. The blasted dogs have scared my horse away from the house.” He ran to look out another window. “He’s drinking from the pond. He should come if I whistle. When Ruth is penning up the dogs, we’ll make a break for it.”
Glenna sat quietly but nervously while Asa paced. “Why do you need to take me with you?”
Asa gave her a wicked smile, “You’re my bargaining tool to freedom.”
~~~**~~~
Ruth tied her horse in front of the telegraph/post office and went inside. “Any messages for me, Jeb?”
“Yes, I do have one,” he said, handing her a yellow paper.
Ruth opened it and read:
On my way Stop Asa still not caught Stop Be on lookout Stop Spence
Ruth folded the paper and put it in her pocket. She knew Glenna would be pleased to see Spence, but the news that Asa was still out there was worrisome.
She stopped at the butchers’ to buy meat for their next few dinners and a little extra in case Spence showed up. Ruth packed the meat in her saddle bags and headed for home.
She knew something was wrong when she approached since she heard her dogs barking before she’d caught sight of the house. She slowed her horse and proceeded cautiously. Instead of galloping up the lane to the house, she circled around the back through the woods where she spied the dogs running loose, but there was no one around. Then she noticed the strange horse.
Ruth wondered if it was Spence’s horse or Asa’s? How could she tell? She tried to recall the horse Spence had ridden the last time he’d visited, but all she remembered was it had been brown, and this horse was brown. She sighed and thought about what she should do.
If it was Spence, why had Glenna pulled the latch to let the dogs out? The answer was that she wouldn’t have, so it had to be Asa. She backed her horse up and galloped back to town where she went into the sheriff’s office. There was a poster on the wall that read: “Wanted: $1000 reward for Asa Livingston,” followed by his description.
“That’s him,” Ruth said, pointing to the poster. “He’s at my house.”
~~~**~~~
When Ruth finally returned, she opened the back door and yelled inside, “Did you pull the latch by accident, Glenna?”
Glenna looked at Asa and saw him nod.
“Yes, I’m sorry, Ruth.”
“No problem. I’ll just round them up.”
“Stand up,” Asa ordered. “Get ready. We’re going out the front door as soon as she gets the last of those blasted animals penned.”
Glenna knew she had no choice. If Asa planned to use her to gain his freedom, he wouldn’t hurt her—at least, not yet.
Asa looked out the back window, still gripping Glenna’s elbow. “She’s closed the gate. Let’s go!” He pulled her out the front door and whistled for his horse, but the horse never came. He whistled again, and three men came out of the side yard, guns pointed at them.
“Drop your guns, Asa. We have you covered,” the man wearing the silver badge on his chest yelled.
Glenna let out a sigh of relief and slipped back into the house where Ruth took her into her arms. “I saw the dogs out and rode back to get the sheriff and the small posse he was able to round up.”
“Thank God. Ruth, thank you.”
Glenna and Ruth went to the front window to watch Asa being taken into town, his arms tied behind him and several guns pointed at his back.
They sighed. “We really need to fall on our knees and thank God,” Ruth said.
After they’d praised and thanked God, Glenna told Ruth what had happened.
“Why, Glenna, you’re still shaking. I have some good news, too.” She pulled the telegram from her pocket and handed it to Glenna.
Glenna read it and smiled. “Spence is coming! I’m so excited. And he warned you about Asa!”
“I think it’s time to let that man know how you feel about him,” Ruth said, hugging her.
“Our problem is insurmountable. What should I do?”
Ruth shrugged. “What else? Pray.”
Chapter Sixteen
Spence didn’t stop at the McKays’ ranch, but he sped as fast as he could to Mead. He had to make sure Glenna was safe, and to keep his promise that he’d return to her. Although, he’d promised to come for her after Asa had been caught, he still had to keep the promise and make sure Asa hadn’t found her. Maybe he was seeking revenge or possibly, he thought she still had the ledger. The thought caused him to ride even faster.
Spence trotted up to Ruth’s place in mid-afternoon, tied his horse a distance away, and walked cautiously up to the house. He’d hoped to fool the dogs, but they started barking the minute his foot hit the front lawn. Ruth peeked out the front window and smiled.
She opened the front door. “Come on in, stranger. We’ve been waiting for you.”
Spence stepped inside and scanned the room for Glenna.
“She’s in the pond,” Ruth said. “Doggone—can’t keep her out of it.”
Spence laughed. “I’d better wait for her to come inside, then.”
“I’ve got coffee on,” Ruth yelled over her shoulder as she walked to the kitchen. “I made a coffee cake this morning, too.”
Spence sat and had refreshments with Ruth while she filled him in on what had happened over the past four days.
“So, Asa’s in the Mead jail?”
Ruth nodded. “Yes, unless the U.S. Marshals have arrived to pick him up. That’s what the sheriff told me would happen next.”
Spence acted like a casual visitor, but his heart was already beating hard. He couldn’t wait to see Glenna again.
Spence and Ruth turned when the back door opened and closed. Ruth helped Glenna slide into her bedroom before Spenc
e could turn to see her in the damp nightgown.
“Get dressed quick,” Spence heard Ruth say to Glenna. “We have a visitor.”
Spence smiled and finished his coffee. He stood in the doorway so he could see her the minute she came out of her room.
The door opened and she peeked out, squealed, and ran into his arms. Her hair was wet and felt cool on his face, but he didn’t mind. He held her tightly.
She pulled away after a moment and looked up at him, her eyes were sparkling with joy. “It’s so good to see you, Spence. You kept your promise, and Asa is locked up.”
Ruth smiled. “I know you two have a lot to say to each other. I think I’ll take a turn in the pond.”
While Ruth changed into her gown, Glenna poured more coffee for Spence and some for herself. “Coffee cake?” she asked.
“No. I already had two pieces while I waited for you.”
Glenna smiled. “I haven’t had a piece yet. I like mine smeared with butter.”
Spence threw his head back and laughed.
They heard Ruth tiptoe out the back door. Glenna cut herself a slice of the cake and spread butter over it. Spence watched with anticipation.
Glenna gave him a mischievous smile. “Are you sure you won’t have one more piece?”
Spence took the remaining piece and spread it with butter. “On second thought, I am still hungry.”
Glenna took a bite, and he thought she’d purposely smeared butter on her lips. He did the same, and they stared at each other’s buttered lips. When Spence could stand it no longer, he leaned in and kissed the butter from her lips. She managed to clean the butter from his lips, too.
“Glenna,” he said softly, “will you marry me?”
“I can’t imagine marrying anyone else,” she whispered. Her smile faded. “But where would we live? I can’t leave my father alone.”
“I realize that. I would be willing to live in Salt Creek if you would consent to at least a brief visit with my family. They want to meet you.”
Glenna looked surprised. “You told them about me?”
He nodded. “Well, I told my mother. She said I should follow my heart, and that’s what I’m doing.”
Glenna smiled up at him, making his heart beat faster. “I think we’ve left out something very important.”
“You don’t really want me on my knees, do you?”
“No, but there are three important words that are needed to bind the proposal.”
“Oh!” Spence felt himself blush. “That goes without saying. I wouldn’t ask you to marry me if I wasn’t head over heels in love with you.”
Glenna’s smile widened. “I love you, too.”
He bent over and kissed her again. “Let’s do this soon. If we don’t, I’ll have to forbid the use of butter.”
Glenna hugged Ruth goodbye and thanked her for having her. “I promise to visit again soon.”
“The sheriff informed me that I have the reward coming for Asa Livingston’s capture,” Ruth said. “I don’t know what I’ll do with that much money.”
“You could spruce up the house, maybe paint it and plant more flowers.”
“Or buy more dogs.” Ruth laughed. “But I’ve been thinking of maybe selling up and buying a place in Salt Creek, now that I’ll know someone who’ll be living there.”
“Oh, that would be wonderful,” Glenna said. “You could build a house somewhere on our property.”
Ruth smiled. “I like that idea. I’ll think it over. Now, you two go, and send me a telegram when you marry.”
They knew something was wrong the moment they trotted up the lane to the McKay home. Several of the crew were standing in front of the house with the head of the town council, Silas Jones, and Rosa.
“Oh, no!” Glenna gasped. “Something has happened to Father.”
They urged their horses to go faster.
“What’s going on?” Spence asked no one in particular once they’d slipped from their mounts.
Silas Jones turned and said, “Rory McKay is missing.”
Spence’s eyes traveled from Silas to the men standing nearby. “When was the last time you saw him?”
Glenna ran to Rosa who hugged her.
George Whitney, foreman of the cattle, came forward. “I saw him leave with Asa Livingston a week ago, and no one has seen him since.”
Spence looked at Glenna who was weeping on Rosa’s shoulder. “Did anyone contact the sheriff?”
Silas Jones said, “We don’t presently have a sheriff. Zeke quit. It seems he’s come into some money and property.”
“How’s that?” Spence asked.
“Asa Livingston sold him the salt mine and factory. He’s even living in Asa’s mansion with his family. I checked the deeds...it’s all legal.”
Spence shook his head. “If McKay was seen last with Asa, and now Zeke owns all that property, we need to talk to Zeke and find out what’s going on. When did this transaction take place?”
“About the same time McKay disappeared,” Silas said. “Zeke’s probably at the salt mine.”
Spence went over to where Rosa was rocking Glenna. “I’ll find him.” He kissed Glenna’s forehead and mounted his horse. “Are you coming, Silas?”
They found Zeke sitting behind the desk in the front office. He had his feet up, and he was smoking a fat cigar.
“What can I do for you, gentlemen,” he asked.
Spencer spoke first. “When was the last time you saw Asa Livingston?”
Zeke pulled out a paper from his desk drawer. “The night we signed this contract.” Zeke squinted at the paper. “July tenth.”
“That was a week ago. Have you seen him since?” Silas asked.
“Nope. He said he was free and leaving town.”
Spence paced while Silas questioned him further. “Wait—you say he was here at night? Why would he be here at night?”
Zeke shrugged. “I was riding by and saw him come out of the mine carrying a lantern, so I stopped and was going to turn him in, but he made me an offer I just couldn’t refuse.” Zeke puffed on his cigar. “I’m rich.”
Silas slammed his fist on the desk. “You took an oath—”
“Hold on!” Spence yelled. “He was coming out of the mine with a lantern. How many horses did he have with him?”
Zeke threw his cigar in the ashtray and coughed. “Come to think of it, he had two. I figured he’d come to the mine to pick one of them up.”
“Are horses usually kept in the mine?” Spence asked.
“No, I’ve never seen one inside, but the horses weren’t inside. They were tied to the hitching post outside.”
“We need to go into the mine and look around. Will you take us inside?”
Zeke laughed. “You got a court order?”
Spence drew his gun from his holster. “Here’s my court order. Move.”
Between the bright sunlight and gleaming white salt, the men had to shield their eyes at first. As they walked through the tunnel, several men worked, digging into the white piles of salt with picks and shovels. Spence and Silas checked for signs of foul play along the way. They reached the end of the tunnel, and Spence saw the nailed-up door.
“What’s in there, Zeke?”
Zeke shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ve never been in there. It’s the old office. It isn’t used anymore, so Asa must have closed it off.”
Silas and Spence pulled on the boards, but they wouldn’t budge.
“Have you got any tools? We need to get this door open,” Spence yelled to Zeke.
Zeke walked over to where the men were working and grabbed a pick. “Will this do?”
Spence took it and pried off the wood. He said a silent prayer and opened the door.
Chapter Seventeen
A man’s body lay on the desk, face down. Spence turned him over. It was McKay. He was relieved he was still warm. “My God!” he said. “We need to save this man.”
Spence, Zeke, and Silas carried Rory from the mine and into the new
office. He was breathing, but his eyes were closed, and he was as pale as a sheet.
“I’ll ride for Doc Bradley,” Silas said.
“No time,” Spence replied. “We’ll have to ride him to the doc’s office. He’s barely hanging on.”
After leaving Rory McKay in the good doctor’s hands, Spence rode back to the ranch to get Glenna. If her father should die, she’d want to be with him. His heart went out to her. Just when they were about to have some happiness, this had to happen.
He wondered why Asa would have left him in an old office to die. Then, the truth hit him—he’d tried to force McKay to tell him where Glenna was hiding out.
Glenna sat beside her father’s bed, holding his hand, and weeping while Spence spoke with the doctor.
Spence whispered, “Doc, will he make it?”
The doctor walked Spence a distance from Glenna and her father and said, “Besides not having food or water for a week or so, he’s had a stroke. I don’t think he’ll ever be as he once was, but I think he may pull through. His heart is strong, and well...Rory McKay is too stubborn to die.”
Relief flooded through Spencer’s body. “That’s good to hear. It would break Glenna’s heart if her father died.”
“Mind you, he’s going to need a long recuperation period, and I doubt he’ll ever run his ranch again.” The doctor scratched his head. “I thought he was a goner when I first examined him, but he has a will to live.”
Spence secured a hotel room for Glenna so she could be near her father. He rode back to the ranch and tried to put some normalcy into his daily routine. He’d been there long enough to know how the stables should be run, and the foreman of the cattle knew what he was doing, so the ranch remained operational. In the evening, Spencer joined Glenna at Rory’s bedside.
Spence was bringing a horse in from the corral when a man walked up to him. He wasn’t sure who the man was at first, but he looked familiar.
“You got any jobs open?” he said.
