Heather's Choice

by Shirleen Davies

  “Aye. Now go,” Heather urged, watching the herd come closer to the men hidden in the boulders.

  Within minutes, Emma stopped again, dropping onto her stomach. “We can get them from here.”

  Heather flanked her on one side while Geneen and Coral settled into position on the other.

  “I’ll take the one on the far right,” Heather said.

  Emma nodded. “The one next to him is mine.”

  Geneen sucked in a breath, letting it out in a slow whoosh. “Coral and I will aim for the third man.”

  Emma glanced at all three. “Just be sure to stay down. They won’t see us in the grass—at least not soon enough to get off good shots before we do.”

  “All right then, lasses.” Heather held up her gun, aiming at her target.

  Emma did the same, forcing herself to relax. “Everyone ready?” The instant they answered, she counted. “One, two, three.”

  The sound of four rifles discharging at one time ripped through the quiet countryside. Two men dropped, the third staggered, then fell when a second shot caught him in the chest.

  “Holy…” Geneen sputtered, looking at the herd. “The cattle…”

  Heather, Emma, and Coral whipped their heads in the direction of the cattle, hearing the sounds of scared animals.

  Emma jumped up, her heart pounding. “They’re stampeding.”

  Heather stood, grabbing Emma’s arm to keep her from rushing forward. “The lads will be fine. Look.” She pointed toward the men. “They’re letting the herd go and taking cover. We must continue down the slope and try to get closer to the other men.”

  Not long ago, Emma had been badly injured in a stampede. Quinn had been with her. The memory still haunted her, causing nightmares and nights where she couldn’t sleep at all.

  Geneen screeched as a bullet hit the ground in front of her. “Get down! They’ve seen us.”

  Heather dropped, yanking Emma down beside her. Aiming her rifle at the cluster of boulders, Heather fired. The others did the same, unloading their weapons until they were out of bullets, then reloading.

  The remaining rustlers fired wildly up the hill, then turned to fire at the men on the other side.

  “Why don’t they surrender?” Geneen reached into her pocket, reloading her rifle once more.

  As soon as the question left her lips, the area quieted. The women didn’t speak, listening and watching for any movement around the boulders.

  “I think I see Colin and Brodie.” Coral supported herself on her elbows, watching as the group of MacLaren men made their way toward the rocks. “There’s Uncle Ewan.”

  “I see Bram and Sean. And Mr. Donahue is alongside them.” Geneen got to her knees, keeping her rifle trained on the last place she’d seen the rustlers.

  When the area remained quiet, Heather stood, followed by Emma and Coral. All raised their rifles to their shoulders.

  “Let’s move closer.” Emma started edging forward, one slow step after another, her gaze searching for any signs of life among the rocks.

  “Look, Colin is motioning to us.” Coral took several steps forward. “He’s waving his arms. I think he wants us to get down.”

  Not five seconds later, gunfire landed within feet of the women, causing them to drop. Another barrage of shooting lasted less than a minute before all went still.

  Heather raised her head, searching for her brother, Bram, but she was too low to get a good look. Waiting a few more minutes, she slowly rose to her feet, once again aiming at the rocks. Seeing Brodie climb to the top of one of the rocks and wave at her, she lowered her gun, looking at the others.

  “The lads have them.”

  “Thank God,” Emma breathed out. Pushing up, she stood next to Heather, rifle lax at her side.

  For a minute, the four women simply stood next to each other, taking in the full scope of what had happened.

  “We did it.” Coral looked at Heather, placing a hand on her stomach, feeling a wave of nausea as she thought of what they’d done.

  “Aye, lass. We did.” Heather placed a hand on Coral’s arm. “Are you all right?”

  Nodding, she drew in a slow breath. “I just never, um…never…”

  “Neither have the rest of us, lass. I’m hoping we’ll never have to do it again.” Heather squeezed Coral’s arm lightly, then let go.

  “I suppose we should see if any of the rustlers are still alive.” Emma’s voice sounded resigned, knowing it was their duty to check for survivors.

  “Coral, do you want to stay here?” Heather asked.

  “No. I’m a part of this and I’ll see it through.”

  The four started down the hill toward the first three men they’d shot. They reached the spot the same time as Colin, Brodie, and Ewan.

  “You did this, lasses?” Ewan asked, kneeling by one of the men to check for any signs of life.

  Coral forced herself to look at the bodies, her stomach roiling. An instant later, she turned away, racing several steps from the others to wretch into the scrub. Within seconds, Geneen and Heather joined her. Emma seemed the only one who could look at the bodies without the sight sickening her.

  Emma’s face hardened. “Yes, Uncle Ewan. We did. We knew no other way to warn you of what we found.” She glanced at Heather, Coral, and Geneen, glad to see them walking back toward the group.

  “Well, lasses, you shot real well. Those lads are already growing cold.” Ewan stood, looking at the four young women. “I left instructions for none of you to leave the ranch. Now you’ll be telling me why you went against my orders.”

  Emma let out a breath, licking her lips. “It was Audrey.” She thought of Quinn’s mother, her mother-in-law, Emma’s respect for the woman’s premonitions growing.

  Ewan’s brow’s furrowed. “What about her?”

  “Mr. Delacroix heard of what happened and came to the ranch. Something about his visit bothered her. When she spoke with Kyla, they decided we should ride out and warn you.”

  Colin stepped next to Geneen, placing a comforting hand on his sister-in-law’s shoulder. “Aye.” He nodded as understanding dawned. “One of Aunt Audrey’s hunches.”

  Heather glanced at the bodies, then back at the men. “She was quite agitated, wanting us to leave right away. She seemed to be feeling sick at what she felt.”

  “But she couldn’t explain the danger. Only that we needed to warn you.” Geneen placed a hand on her stomach, looking at Colin. “I’m glad they ordered us to come.”

  Brodie listened to the conversation as he searched each body for clues as to their identity. Standing, he shook his head. “They’ve nothing on them to say who they are. Did you see horses?”

  Emma nodded. “Yes. They must’ve run off. What of the other men?”

  “They’ll not be causing us any more problems, lass.” Ewan took off his hat, swiping an arm across his brow.

  Brodie walked several paces up the hill, scanning the area for any sign of the horses. “We need to find their horses. Maybe there is something in the saddlebags to indicate who they are.”

  “Or who put them up to this,” Colin hissed out.

  “Let’s get the bodies taken care of, then look for the horses.” Ewan looked at Heather. “Where are yours?”

  “A couple hundred yards back. At least that’s where we left them.”

  “Get them and ride back to join us.” Ewan let his gaze study the three bodies before turning away. “There’s a lot to be done before we round the cattle back up and start for home.”

  “A couple more miles and we’ll be home. I’m anxious to see Emma.” Quinn took a sideways look at the man who rode next to him.

  Deke Arrington had come to town to join his uncle in the saddlery business. At first, everyone thought he had an interest in Jinny. Quinn now believed the man had his sights set on another MacLaren woman.

  “Pearl says you’ve been spending some time with Coral.”

  Deke’s face shifted toward Quinn, his expression going still. “A li
ttle.”

  “And what does a little mean, lad?”

  Returning his attention to the trail, Deke didn’t answer right away. After a moment, he shot a quick look at Quinn. “I like her. Right now, that’s all there is to it.”

  “It’s the same as you said about Jinny.”

  “Jinny’s heart was never available, Quinn. She and Sam belong together.”

  Quinn couldn’t dispute it. From the first time Sam met Jinny, he made no secret of his interest. Being that Brodie was his boss, and Jinny’s brother, it took him a little while to make his intentions known. Then fate had jumped in, forcing the couple to part while Sam took care of some unresolved issues from his past.

  “Aye, they do. Are you thinking you and Coral belong together?”

  Deke’s jaw tightened. “As I said, I like her. For now, that’s all I’m willing to say.”

  “Then I’m expecting you to be careful with her. I’ll not be having her hurt by your attentions if you’ve no plans to carry them through. I’m hoping you understand me, Deke.”

  Looking over, Deke saw the hard lines on Quinn’s face, the warning look in his eyes.

  “I understand you, Quinn. It’s not my intention to hurt her.”

  “Intentions mean nothing when we’re talking about lasses. Actions and what you say are what they rely on. You’d best be careful with both.”

  Caleb rode a few feet behind them, hearing the conversation, knowing Quinn’s warning was all too real. He thought of what Pearl and Opal had said about Coral, how she was sweet on Deke. It appeared he felt the same about her, but like many men, he wanted to take his time, make certain his feelings were more than a passing fascination.

  Caleb had gone through the same with Heather. Unlike Coral, who he suspected did have feelings for Deke, Heather made her dislike of Caleb clear. Accepting it had been hard, but necessary. Even if he had decided to leave the ranch, it didn’t lessen his need to protect her, keep her as far away from danger as possible.

  He breathed a sigh of relief, knowing Heather was safe at the ranch. The same sense of longing Quinn expressed to see Emma washed over Caleb. The difference was Quinn would spend the night with his woman, while Caleb would be alone.

  “Not long now, lads,” Ian called from the front. “Fletch and Cam, when we get there, take the ranch hand’s body around back of the barn.”

  “Do you plan to bury him in the ranch plot, Uncle Ian?” Fletcher asked. They had a family plot with two headstones. One for Angus and the other for Gillis. A small distance away, they had a ranch plot for those who died on the ranch but had no family to claim them.

  “I’ll be asking the other men if he has family. If not, then aye, we’ll have a service for him here.” Ian’s nostrils flared at what the rustlers had done to their man. “Then we’ll find who did this and make sure they pay.”

  Camden nodded. “Aye. They’ll be paying all right. I’m wondering if the other group found the cattle.”

  “If so, it won’t be long before we know. It’s doubtful they’ll stay out more than a couple nights before coming back.” Ian looked over his shoulder at Quinn. “Brodie will need to see the body. Maybe he’ll have some ideas about who did this.”

  Quinn’s expression didn’t change. “Maybe. Although I’m doubtful anyone knows why, except the men who killed him.” Looking ahead, he saw the last bend in the trail, the ranch house and barn coming into view. “A few more minutes.”

  As they rode into view, the men saw the women rush outside, then down the steps, waving. The smiles on their faces froze when they spotted the body draped over Camden’s horse.

  “Who is it, Ian?” Gail walked up to her husband, hugging him when he slid to the ground.

  “The missing ranch hand.”

  “Shot?”

  “Nae, Gail. Not shot. We’ll be discussing it later.”

  Quinn dismounted, tossing the reins over the rail before dashing up the steps. A few minutes later, he came back outside, looking at his mother, Audrey.

  “Where’s Emma?”

  “And Heather,” Caleb asked, looking around.

  The women cast quick glances at each other, although no one spoke up.

  “Ma, where’s Emma?”

  Audrey took the steps up to the porch, looking at her son. “I’m sure she and the others are fine.”

  Quinn’s lips thinned, his eyes flashing. “Where is my wife, Ma?”

  “Well now, we had a visitor while you were gone.” Kyla joined them. “Mr. Delacroix came to check on us. Something about his visit bothered your ma. We had to make a decision.”

  Caleb hurried up the steps, facing Kyla, knowing in his gut this had something to do with Heather. “What decision?”

  “You know how serious we take Audrey’s instincts.”

  Both men remained silent, although judging by their expressions, they were doing their best to rein in their anger.

  “She sensed danger, although she didn’t know what. Right, Audrey?”

  Swallowing, she nodded. “Aye. The same as I felt the day Angus and Gillis were killed. I couldn’t ignore it.”

  “And neither could we.” Gail stepped next to them.

  Kyla nodded. “Bay told us your group was headed east, up the mountains. We weren’t going to send the lasses there.”

  “Which lasses and where did you send them?” Caleb’s voice was strained, his fists clenched.

  “Geneen, Heather, Emma, and Coral, of course. The lasses who can ride and shoot the best.”

  At the mention of Coral, Deke pounded up the steps.

  “Where’d you send them, Mrs. MacLaren?” Deke asked, his shaky voice betraying his feelings.

  Kyla lifted her chin. “To where Bay told us the second group was going to look for the herd. North, beyond the Estrada hacienda.”

  Quinn tore his hat off, tossing it onto a chair. “So you just let the lasses ride into danger, not knowing what they’d be facing? Ma, what were you thinking?”

  Audrey took a slight step forward, glaring at her son. “Don’t you be taking a tone with me, Quinn MacLaren. I was thinking of protecting our men, and the best chance of that was to send the lasses to warn them. Those four ride and shoot as well as any of you, and better than some. If there was a warning to be delivered, they were our only hope of doing it.”

  “When?” Caleb asked.

  Kyla looked up at him. “This morning.”

  Turning away, Quinn mumbled a curse as he ran a hand through his hair. Taking deep breaths, he looked back at Caleb and Deke. “We’ll grab food, then be going after them.”

  “But, Quinn—”

  “Nae, Ma. I’ll not wait to see if they ride back. We’ll be going now, and don’t try to stop us.”

  Chapter Twelve

  “I’m ready, Quinn.” Caleb finished filling his saddlebags with the food the women had prepared, swallowing the piece of bread Kyla handed him. They’d done nothing else except fill their canteens and double check the cinches of their saddles.

  “So am I.” Deke walked up to them, holding the reins of his horse.

  Swinging up into the saddle, Quinn gave a brief nod to his mother, who stood on the porch with her hands clasped in front of her. “Let’s go.”

  The three rode north, touching the spurs lightly to the sides of their horses, moving into a gallop. Ian and the others in their group, except for Brodie, volunteered to ride along. He needed to get back to town and his wife, Maggie.

  Quinn refused their help. They were needed at the ranch. Even though he knew the women would object, whoever killed their man was still out there. He had no intention of leaving the women alone to face them.

  They continued for no more than thirty minutes when riders approached from the north.

  Caleb reined up Jupiter. “It’s Colin and the lads. And the women are with them.”

  “Aye, they are.” They didn’t miss the relief in Quinn’s voice. He saw Emma lift her arm, then drop it to her side. Quinn moved forward, his gaze locked o
n her.

  Within minutes, they’d met the group, Quinn dropping to the ground and running to Emma. Lifting his arms, she put her hands on his shoulders, letting him pull her out of the saddle. Wrapping his arms around her, he tugged her to him.

  “Ah, lass. You scared me.” He whispered the words against her ear. Placing a hand under her chin, he lifted her face. “I thought…” Words failed as he looked into her eyes.

  “I’m fine, Quinn.” Getting on tiptoes, she leaned up, kissing him. “We’re all fine.”

  Caleb watched, then moved his gaze to Heather. She stared at him, causing his heart to beat almost painfully in his chest. Nudging Jupiter forward, he rode up next to her.

  “Are you all right?” He studied her, seeing no wounds or other injuries. What he wanted to do was run his hands over her, discover for himself that she was fine.

  “Aye, Caleb. I’m fine.”

  “I know you’re wondering what happened, and we’ll be explaining it all.” Ian motioned everyone to circle around him. “For now, all I’ll be saying is we found the cattle and merged them with the rest of the herd. The ranch hands at the Estrada place are watching them.” He glanced at each of the women. “And we might not be here now if the lasses hadn’t come to our rescue. Now, I’m tired and ready for food. I’ll save the rest for later.” Turning his horse around, he headed toward the ranch, the others following.

  Quinn didn’t let more than two feet separate him from Emma on the ride back.

  Although they didn’t touch or say more than the few words, the same held true for Caleb and Heather.

  Deke rode behind Coral, never dropping his gaze from her back.

  By the time they reached the ranch, they were all exhausted. Blaine, Fletcher, Camden, and several of the younger MacLarens took care of the horses as the riders made their way into the house.

  After accepting greetings, they sat around the table, the men digging into the food while the women stared at their plates.

  Audrey placed a hand on Heather’s shoulder. “You’re not hungry, lass?”

  Shaking her head, Heather leaned back in her chair. “Nae, Ma. I’m tired, but don’t think I’ll be sleeping much.” She looked at Caleb, who sat next to her, offering nothing except a grim expression. “I’m thinking I’ll walk outside for a while.” Pushing back her chair, she ignored the curious expressions.