Ladd Springs

by Dianne Venetta

  Chapter Eleven

  Delaney carefully traversed the grassy slope, her legs rendered rubbery weak, her knees stressed by the steep angle of descent. Her skin stung from scratches, aggravated by the sheen of sweat on her arms. She was hot and tired but ignored it all. She had made her escape. Now she had to go back for Sadie.

  But should she wait? After the man lost her, would he have left the forest? Or gone back to looting Ladd gold? And what of his friend? Would he require stitches? Would they be at the hospital now?

  Hitting level terrain, Delaney hurried down the rocky clay trail, dodging stones jutting up from the ground as she practically ran down the hill. She couldn’t leave Sadie tied to the post for a second longer than necessary. If anything happened to her mare, Delaney would never forgive herself. She had abandoned her. But she’d done it to spare Sadie the danger, hadn’t she?

  A tiny voice inside her head that continued to poke at her conscience. Had she endangered her horse by leaving her? Delaney shook the questions from her mind. She took a deep breath and calmed the renewed pounding in her chest. There would be no answers until she made it back to the trailhead.

  “Hey!”

  Breath slammed free from her lungs.

  “What are you doing?”

  Delaney whirled and her chest detonated with alarm—relief—confusion. Nick Harris stood about fifty feet ahead of her. She had totally missed him.

  “Out for a leisure hike?” he called out, but his amusement quickly cooled to concern. He jogged up to her and asked, “Are you all right?”

  Her eyes darted back and forth across his. Grateful for the safety he represented, she was also wary of telling the truth. “Nothing.”

  “Nothing?”

  Delaney realized she had mistaken his question. What did he ask her again? Didn’t matter. She had to get to Sadie.

  Nick gently pulled her to a stop. “Slow down,” he said, his voice steeped in what sounded like genuine concern. “You don’t look so hot.”

  The retort that normally would have burst from her lips evaporated. She didn’t feel so hot. She’d nearly been shot!

  “What’s wrong?” He scanned the ridge above. “What happened? What were you doing up there?” His dark gaze smoldered as it fixed upon hers.

  Questions, questions, questions—she needed to get to Sadie! Delaney kicked her legs into action, but Nick’s grip steeled as he held her. The move stunned her. He shook her to attention. “Talk to me,” he commanded.

  “There was a man in the woods, I ditched him, but I have to get back to Sadie.” She stumbled over her words, trying not to divulge too much. She peered up into his eyes, which were swimming with temper.

  “What man?” he asked, his voice suddenly low and dangerous.

  “A man, a stranger—I don’t know who he is.” Delaney tried to yank free from his grasp, but the effort was useless. Sapped of strength, she posed no opposition to his ironclad hold. “Please. I need to get to my horse.”

  “We need to call the police.”

  “No!” she cried. “They can’t do anything to help,” she added breathlessly. “It’s a waste of time.”

  “Of course they can. They can go after this man you’re talking about.”

  And find the gold? Discover she’d shot first? Delaney shook her head adamantly. “No. I can handle it.”

  Nick scoffed with a biting laugh. “You’re in no condition to handle anything. Look at you!”

  It was the first time she thought to consider her appearance. Delaney looked down and held up her arms, checked out her clothing. She was covered in orange-black smudges and littered with bruises and scrapes, many bleeding. Her backpack was stuck to her back, the silver camera hung from her neck.

  What must he think?

  “Where is Sadie?” he asked.

  “She’s by the trail,” Delaney replied automatically.

  “Let’s go.”

  “No. I can get her myself.”

  “You’re not going anywhere by yourself.”

  Reflex urged her to refuse, but glancing at the sizeable hands on her arms, Delaney acquiesced. She inhaled deeply. She doubted he’d let go if she didn’t give in. She blew out her breath, some of the tension releasing with it. “Fine.”

  Nick loosened his hold, but didn’t fully release her.

  Afraid she would escape? Delaney wondered silently, but quickly surrendered to the inevitable and marched down the trail, accompanied by her shadow. She wasn’t going anywhere without Prince Harris. She suppressed a swell of pleasure at her nickname and sighed. Maybe it was for the better. If the men saw her, they might think twice about shooting with Nick by her side. She had to admit the man was not only formidable in stature, he exuded an ominous threat as he strode alongside her. There was something about Nick Harris that broadcast strength. Power. It shouted loud and clear that he meant business.

  For a moment they walked, no sound but boots on ground. The light breeze cooled her skin, calmed her mind. Blisters were forming on her feet after the impromptu run, one beginning to throb.

  Nick broke the silence. “Why did you leave Sadie at the post?”

  “Didn’t want to spook her,” Delaney lied, concentrating on the brown-gray path ahead, careful to avoid the rise of rocks and roots embedded in the ground.

  “Spook her?”

  “Sadie is very intelligent.” Delaney looped her thumbs beneath her shoulder straps. “She’d know if something was up.”

  “What exactly was up?” he asked, pitching his head down toward hers.

  Nick expected her to look him in the eye, but Delaney wasn’t that keen on her ability to lie. If she faced him head on, he’d see through her in a second. “Around these parts,” she said, maintaining focus on the trail, “we’re used to trespassers. When they come around, we handle them.”

  “Handle them, how?”

  Delaney didn’t respond. As they passed Ernie’s cabin, she peered over at it, wondering if he was staring at them through the window. Not good for him to think she was in cahoots with Mr. Harris.

  She accelerated her pace and Nick asked, “Is there something you’re not telling me, Ms. Wilkins?”

  Tightening her hold on the backpack, she stole a glance to her side and shook her head. Rounding the clearing to the field bordering the forest entrance, her pulse quickened. She could see the whip of a white-blonde tail from here, partially obscured by the line of trees. “There’s Sadie.” She turned to her side and said to him, “I should be good now.” Nick laughed. It was a presumptive sound that irked her. “Thank you for your concern”—she steadied her tone—“but I’m fine. You don’t have to continue any farther.”

  “How about you let me be the judge of that.” He waved a hand toward Sadie and with a brief dip, asked, “Shall we?”

  “No,” she wanted to snip, we won’t. But if she’d learned one thing about this man, it was that he didn’t listen very well. “Really, Mr. Harris. You don’t have to bother yourself.”

  His pleasure widened into a thousand watt smile. “It’s no bother, I assure you.”

  The glint in his eyes sparked her annoyance. Add the subtle smirk dangling on the edge of his lips, and she was downright infuriated. She was fine. Now that she was over the initial scare, she was completely capable of handling things from here on out. Ruminating over the unexpected kink he presented, Delaney glanced over her shoulder and asked, “Why did you stop by this afternoon?”

  “Same reason as always.” He paused, then quipped, “Why the camera around your neck?”

  Delaney’s gaze dropped briefly to her chest. “Nature photography,” she said. Un-looping the camera, she unzipped her backpack and dropped the camera inside. Wordlessly, she closed it and looked at him. “Is Uncle Ernie expecting you?”

  “Should he be?”

  “Do you always play games, Mr. Harris?”

  Nick cocked his brow and set hands to rest along the ridge of his belt. “I’m the one playing games?”

  As th
ey idled beneath the canopy of leaves, sunlight filtering in moving spots across the ground around them, a kick of wind released sticky strands of hair from her neck and shoulders as Delaney considered her options. She could allow him to tagalong, or devise some excuse to make him stay back. She stared into what were now becoming familiar brown eyes, and hesitated.

  If she had a good excuse, she would have delivered it by now.

  He smiled. “Sadie’s waiting.”

  With an audible groan, Delaney surrendered. She lifted her ponytail from its matted position against her neck and backpack and drew it forward, the swatch of tangled hair resting atop her breast. “Fine. But you stay back,” she warned as she started walking. “I don’t need you spooking Sadie, either.”

  “Wouldn’t think of it.”

  Trekking along the edge of the forest, Delaney couldn’t help but look deeper into the brush for signs of movement. Were the men here? Were they watching them? She had no idea what the man would have done once he lost her. Did he realize she knew exactly what they were doing? Or did he think she was a snooping hiker?

  Not with a camera perched on the end of her nose. Unless they were brain dead, they understood exactly what was at stake. The scene unfolded in her mind’s eye—the bullets, the face-to-face contact, and a skittish tingle streaked through her chest. Would they tell Clem?

  They’d have to, wouldn’t they? Jittery angst turned to chilly trepidation. She didn’t imagine Clem would confuse the issue, either. Not like there was a surplus of blondes running around Ladd forest.

  “Have you thought any more about what I said?”

  “What?”

  “About our conversation,” he prompted.

  “What conversation?”

  “The taxes, the auction…”

  Trampling through knee high grass, Delaney stated in no uncertain terms, “We’re not going to lose the property to auction.”

  “You have the money? Is that your plan to get the property from your uncle?”

  “My plan is my business,” Delaney said. Sadie whinnied as she neared.

  “Sadie...” Delaney breathed out, relief swamping her. The horse whinnied again, the bugling cry comforting to Delaney’s ears. Next to Felicity, Sadie was the most important living creature in her world.

  Delaney strode over and unleashed her horse from the post. A fly buzzed near her face. She waved it off, then rubbed the flat expanse of damp-haired skin between her eyes. “Good girl.” She turned to Nick, “Okay, well, thanks, but I’m good.” Delaney turned to him, startled by the change in his expression. She followed his line of sight and her heart caught. Farther into the woods, standing center of the trail, was the big man. The one with the gun. She clenched the leather bridle in hand. Instinct urged her to run, but she hesitated. Big man was fixated on Nick.

  Nick was by her side at once, moving her behind him as he stared the man down. “Is that him?” he asked under his breath.

  Delaney spied the gun in his hand. “Yes,” she uttered, thighs dissolving into pools at her knees.

  “Can I help you?” Nick asked, making it clear courtesy was not his intent.

  For a fleeting moment, Delaney thought about reaching for her gun. Nick was unarmed, she needed to do something. But the man stepped toward them, icing any such move. Next to her, Sadie grew still, her ears stiff, twitching. The sun beat down.

  Nick angled back and reached a protective arm her way. “I wouldn’t take another step if I were you.”

  The man seemed to find Nick’s warning humorous. Delaney’s throat went dry as she saw Nick slide a gun from the back of his jeans, allowing hand and gun to linger behind him.

  “My problem ain’t with you, mister.” The stranger flicked a glance her way. “It’s the woman I’m interested in.”

  “She’s with me.”

  Delaney could see the man go through the mental calculation of risk and reward. It was clear he wanted to settle the score with her, clear he knew a lot was riding on her not walking out alive, on her not talking. Fear thundered through her limbs. Would he go through Nick to see that she didn’t?

  “I’ll tell you again,” the man said, “I ain’t got no trouble with you. She and I have some unfinished business to take care of.”

  “Not today, you don’t.”

  The man never blinked. He raised his gun.

  Nick mirrored the movement, his arm solid and straight. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”

  Stunned, the man hesitated. Nick jumped forward. Sadie reared with a frightened squeal.

  Delaney closed her eyes, pushed into her horse and braced against the blast. But none came. When her lids popped open, Sadie was prancing restlessly at her shoulder. The man was running away. Fast.

  Nick jogged several yards up the trail behind him. With one eye on Nick, Delaney hushed her mare, stroked her neck. “Whoa, Sadie. It’s okay.”

  Nick paused, gun raised, staring after the man. When he seemed satisfied the stranger was in full retreat, he returned to Delaney. “Can I assume that was your trespasser?”

  She nodded, tugging back Sadie, anxious to gallop off in the direction of home.

  “You need to call the police.” Nick stuck the black pistol back into his rear waistband. “When a man levels a gun at you, he means business.”

  Heart pulsing erratically against her ribs, Delaney tried to make light of the incident. “Seems to me he’s the one running scared.”

  “Not for long.”

  “Well, I think you did the trick,” she said, avoiding Nick’s questioning stare. “I don’t think calling the police is necessary.”

  He screwed his expression. “Do you like to take chances?”

  “What?” With shaky arms, she slid the bridle over Sadie’s head and down onto her back. “No, I’m not taking chances, I just—”

  “Did you expect him to show up here with a gun?”

  She gulped.

  Nick took a step closer and demanded, “What happened in there that you’re not telling me?”

  “Nothing. I told you—I stumbled across them when I was hiking and warned them to get off my property. Guess they didn’t listen.”

  “Them?”

  Had she said there was only one? Delaney raced through her story, grasping for details. “I think there was another one,” she muttered and tried to leap onto her horse.

  But Nick stopped her, pulling her to the ground so hard, her boots hit the dirt with a decisive thud. He spun her around to face him, and her pulse scattered. Sadie’s ears pricked forward. Delaney blinked against the bright sun.

  “Not so fast,” he said. “I just risked my life for you and I want to know why.”

  “I didn’t ask you to risk your life for me,” she exclaimed, guilt pouring into her as she acknowledged she might well be dead if he hadn’t. Against the glare, she couldn’t quite make out the nuance in his expression—and wished there was no need.

  “Well...aren’t you a sweet one?” Nick took the reins from her and began to lead Sadie back toward the house.

  “Hey—” Delaney snapped to attention. “Where are you going with my horse?”

  “Back to the house,” he replied. “Are you coming?”

  Whose house? And why was Sadie following him so easily?

  Nearly head and shoulders with her mare, he seemed fully in control of the situation, as though he’d handled more than a few horses in his time. Nick walked without hurry and Sadie jauntily kept pace beside him, her white tail swishing back and forth. Only his crisp white-button down gave him away for a city-boy, showing a wrinkled shirt tail he hadn’t bothered to tuck back into his jeans. Her gaze dropped to his long-legged jeans and expensive leather boots that looked right at home amidst the green hills rising around him. A strange longing pulled at her. Nick Harris was a good-looking man, she’d give him that. And today she’d have to add courageous to the column of desirable qualities. He hadn’t flinched when that man raised his gun. In fact, he’d been so smooth in securing his o
wn, the man hadn’t even see it coming. Then he drew first and Nick ended it. There was no prolonged macho standoff, no haphazard show of force. Nick simply stated his position and then followed through. Now he was following through with another position—she wasn’t making the trip back to the house alone.

  Delaney brushed away strands of hair sticking to her face. She shook her head, gathered her wits and cut her losses. Fighting with the man who had just saved her life was bad form, no matter how you looked at it. She owed him a debt of gratitude, her personal feelings notwithstanding.

  But ditched by Sadie? Staring into the buttery cream butt of her horse, Delaney fumed. Traitor. She took off after the two, grumbling to herself, “I’m coming, I’m coming.”

  Once they crossed the bridge and neared the Ernie’s cabin, Nick looked around, his mind seeking the most likely direction for the stables.

  Delaney reached for the reins. “I’ll take those now, thank you.”

  Ignoring her play, he glanced toward the small clearing just past Ernie’s place, the gentle slope leading up into the mountain where he’d spotted Delaney earlier, and a miscellany of openings into the trees surrounding them. But since he had not been offered a tour, he didn’t have the first clue. “Where are the stables?”

  “Back down that way,” she pointed.

  Nick saw a trail leading into an arched tunnel of trees and branches. He headed for the opening.

  “I can walk Sadie myself, you know.”

  Nick paused. “I believe you.” Irritation flared in her dark eyes, setting them ablaze. He liked spirit in a woman. Liked independence and strength, too. “But I’m not letting you anywhere near those woods, unescorted.” Besides, he wanted to reserve the opportunity to enjoy more than simply her temper.

  “You’re being ridiculous.”

  “And you’re being careless.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Humor me, will you?”

  “I don’t need to humor you,” Delaney huffed. “This is my land and my horse.” But as she tried to yank the reins from his grasp, he lifted them above her head and out of reach. “Sorry.” He shrugged, suppressing the pleasure he found in riling her temper. “No can do.”

  Delaney’s black brow furrowed. “Are you always this controlling?”

  “Usually no need,” he replied. “Most people I deal with have more sense. But you, you’re like an angry honey badger running around the desert.”

  “A what?”

  Nick grinned. “A honey badger. Craziest animal I ever saw. Chases venomous snakes across the desert floor like nobody’s business.” He laughed and added, “Though when she’s bitten by her prey, she can become downright docile.” Nick gently tugged at Sadie’s bit and walked off ahead of her. He imagined Delaney to be contemplating an attack of her own at the moment, but it couldn’t be helped. She was a stubborn one and required a patient hand, but she could benefit from a strong hand, too. Whether she was willing to admit it or not, Delaney had been spooked by those men and more so than her horse. When he first saw her, Nick recognized the blank look for what it was. Fright. Something happened out there and it scared her, but for some reason she wasn’t revealing details. That man clearly believed she had something he wanted. Did she know what it was?

  Delaney caught up with him and, with a decidedly calmer tone, asked, “May I walk my own horse, please?”

  Nick looked askance. “Oh, I don’t know.” He stroked the mare’s muscular neck. “Sadie seems pretty happy in my hands.”

  “She’s my horse,” Delaney snarled and yanked at the reins in his hands.

  Nick allowed her the small victory. Demoralizing Delaney wasn’t the goal. Keeping her safe was.

  He followed as Delaney led the way through the woods. Leaves sat suspended from branches in the air above them as they walked, dense enough to block most of the sunlight. It made this section of the forest quiet, peaceful. Soft pillows of leaves blanketed the forest floor to either side of the trail, punctuated by black logs rotted by years of decay. The faint sound of creek water could be heard down below. To him, it felt like they were strolling through a cavern, the air rich with the musky scent of nature. It would make for a memorable hike for his hotel guests.

  With two long strides, Nick caught up with Delaney, Sadie’s hooves rhythmic and steady as she walked at Delaney’s side, her head bobbing in cadence, with the occasional shake to her mane. It made him miss his horses back in Montana.

  “Thank you for saving me back there,” Delaney murmured. “I didn’t expect him to be waiting at my horse.”

  “No?” The surprise apology heightened Nick’s awareness of Delaney’s femininity. Add the close proximity, the privacy of their situation and his impulse was to touch her, to brush the hair from her neck and wrap his arm around her slim shoulders. But he didn’t. Not yet. “You seemed pretty concerned about her. Which makes no sense unless you knew that man might turn up.”

  “I was—and I did,” Delaney underscored. “Sadie has been with me since she was a foal. If anything happened to her, I’d die—right after I killed the bastard who hurt her.”

  Surprised by the degree of vengeance in her voice, Nick merely agreed. “You’ve raised a beauty,” he admired, and patted her rear.

  “She is.”

  Nick wanted to probe. He wanted to know why Delaney had been hiking in the woods with a backpack, why she carried a camera, why she exited the woods on the far side instead of where she hitched her horse. But he didn’t ask—there’d be time enough for that later. “Where’s Felicity?” he asked, casually changing the subject.

  “At a friend’s house. Thankfully,” Delaney added.

  “Good. You expect her home soon?”

  She doused him with an eyeful of suspicion. “Why?”

  Nick indulged her with a reticent smile. “I’m concerned for her safety. She should know there’s the potential for danger in the forest.”

  “She does,” Delaney snapped, then instantly retreated. She heaved a sigh and slowed, tilting her face up to him. Brown eyes softened with motherly concern. “I told her not to go out alone until further notice.”

  “This isn’t the first run-in with these gentlemen, I take it?”

  “Second.”

  Nick approved the contrite tone to her answer. Maybe he could get through to her after all. “Wise of you to counsel her against it.”

  She flipped him a nod in thanks.

  Nick trailed her to the stables and watched as Delaney executed her duties without remark. She handled the horses with gentle authority, cleared the center corridor of horse crap without fuss, the pungent scent permeating his nostrils as she rolled it by in her wheelbarrow. Delaney didn’t dawdle, but performed every task with the efficiency of routine. “Finished,” she announced. Swiping the back of her hand across her forehead, she slung the backpack over her shoulder and looked to him. “Should I assume you’re escorting me back to the house?”

  Pleased with her acquiescence, Nick replied, “You should.”

  “Yay,” she mumbled.

  As she walked past him on her way out, he detected the sweat and dirt clinging to her person. Drawn to her rear end, he mused with satisfaction. It only gets better from here, my dear.