Charlotte's Challenge

by Caroline Clemmons

  Rick shook his head. “Naw, there’s a couple of old biddies in town who think she’ll send the kids packing because they’re her stepchildren. Some people have no brains.”

  Whatever anyone thought, Bret knew Charlotte would never part with her children. He suspected anyone who tried to separate them would find himself facing a wildcat protecting her young. Apparently most people in the community respected and were loyal to Charlotte.

  Bret sat on the flat portion of a boulder. In a few minutes it would be in the shade. Until then, the surface was hot enough to be uncomfortable. In spite of that, he settled down to eat lunch and wait.

  Chapter Fifteen

  After Charlotte had fed the children their lunch, she’d sent them to their rooms to play. Until she heard from the sheriff, she wasn’t letting them linger outside. Both dogs waited on the front porch and would alert her if a prowler was near. Knowing a good marksman with a rifle could pick someone off without being close enough to alert the dogs worried her.

  She still wore her overalls. She wasn’t changing until she learned whether or not she’d need to help herd cattle. There was a chance that Bret, Moose, and the sheriff might locate the cattle today.

  Surely there was.

  To hold on to her sanity, she had to believe the cattle could be recovered. Poor Davie was so worried. She had him reading the entire stack of Missouri Kid stories.

  After perusing one, she was convinced there was no harm in them. They were terribly far-fetched but she had to agree they were entertaining. Last she checked, he was reading aloud to Jimmy and Susie.

  She swept all the floors then scrubbed the floor in the kitchen and entry. Then she polished the furniture in the front rooms. The house smelled like beeswax and the oil she used on the baseboards. After replacing the mint and cloves she used in the kitchen to repel bugs and mice, she was exhausted. Just as well or nerves would have had her pacing the floor.

  Instead, she summoned the energy to get supper cooking in the oven. Without a clue when Bret and Moose would return, she elected to cook plenty. They might bring the sheriff with them when they finally arrived.

  She couldn’t put out of her mind the tender way Bret acted when she’d found the cattle were gone. His arms around her had been comforting. She longed for them now, needed him to reassure her that things would work out. She prayed they would and that Bret and Moose and the sheriff and any of his deputies helping would be safe.

  ***

  Bret tensed at every sound. For all they knew, it might be days before anyone else came. Except for the sheriff on watch, Bret and his companions waited in the shade. He was tired of the tension and his bottom was tired of the rock seat. The hot sun reflected off the rocks and raised the temperature at least ten degrees.

  If whoever was expected to bring provisions to the three criminals below arrived, would he or they realize others were watching? Bret and his companions had been careful to leave their horses in cover and had positioned themselves in hiding.

  Sheriff Haney returned. “Someone’s coming.” He crouched behind a boulder.

  Bret swatted an ant from his arm and stretched on the ground with a good view of the criminals. When he’d planned his trip, he’d never dreamed he’d be chasing rustlers. Now that he was, he figured this qualified as a grand adventure.

  Their success here meant too much to Charlotte’s welfare for them to fail. She had taken care of him when he was defenseless. With horror he recalled her explanation of what would have happened had she and her sons not rescued him.

  Moose hunkered down near Bret. “Get ready for some action.”

  “I’m ready and I’m tired of waiting around for some crook to show his face.” Bret peered at the horseman approaching. “It’s Arp. He’s Winfield’s so-called foreman.”

  The sheriff motioned for them to be quiet.

  Arp rode up to the rustlers’ camp. He untied a gunny sack from his saddle and dropped it to the ground. “Boss sent you this.”

  One of the rustlers stood. “How long do we have to stick around here? I have reasons to go into town.”

  Arp took out the makings and rolled a smoke. “Your girl will wait, Snyder. If she don’t, she wasn’t yours to start with.”

  The man called Snyder braced his legs and looked ready to draw his revolver. “Listen here, I find out you been trying to beat my time, Winfield won’t be able to save your hide.”

  As if he hadn’t noticed the threat, Arp lit his cigarette then tossed the match to the ground. “Settle down, will you? You want to get caught in parson’s noose go ahead. I intend to remain free with no strings tying me.”

  A second man gestured behind them. “This canyon’s about grazed out. Either the cattle have to be moved in a week or so or you’d best bring in feed.”

  “Boss figures he’ll have the Widow Dunn’s ranch in no more than two weeks. Soon as she and her tribe are moved out of the house, we’ll move these cattle back to that ranch. Plenty of grass there.”

  The statement made Bret see red. His dissatisfaction must have been obvious to his friend.

  Moose laid a hand on his arm. When Bret looked at him, Moose shook his head.

  Bret turned back to the drama below. He might be green but he was smart enough to realize the sheriff wanted to capture Winfield in the act. That knowledge didn’t prevent Bret from wishing they could round up the rustlers now and take them to jail.

  The sheriff waited until Arp had been gone for half an hour before signaling them to go to the horses.

  Once there, the sheriff spoke quietly, “Let’s ride for the ranch. Walk your horse until we’re a ways from here. No use in letting them know we overheard arrangements.”

  They rode directly to the ranch. Charlotte and the children came out onto the porch.

  Charlotte’s face was etched with pain. “No luck?”

  Bret dismounted and hurried up to her. “We have good news.”

  Hope sparked in Davie’s eyes. “Really? Please wait until I take care of your horses before you tell everything.”

  “Sheriff, I’ve cooked plenty for supper. Please, you and Rick join us.”

  After exchanging glances with his deputy, Sheriff Haney dismounted and looped his reins around the rail. “I’m grateful. Sure was glad to have those sandwiches you sent but it’s been a long time since we ate them.”

  Bret admired the gracious manner Charlotte had of making guests welcome. She had to be worried half out of her mind because they’d returned without the cattle even though he’d told her they had good news.

  He hurried to catch up to her. “We found your cattle.”

  She whirled to face him. Hope shone in her eyes. “Will you be able to reclaim them? Do you know who took them?”

  “Yes to both questions. Wait and let the sheriff explain. I simply couldn’t let you wonder any longer.”

  “Thank you. We’ve been so worried. The day has seemed at least forty-eight hours long.”

  Susie poured coffee for everyone except her and Jimmy, who drank milk.

  Charlotte set food on the table in record time. After she’d ladled out bowls of stew and set two skillets of cornbread on the table she joined them.

  Sheriff Haney explained how they’d found the cattle and what they’d overheard. “Mrs. Dunn, you can’t get upset by what we heard.”

  “That’s where you’re wrong, Sheriff Haney. I am very upset. Winfield plans to steal our home after he’s already stolen our cattle and killed Ike, Stubby, and Quirt. I’ll bet Winfield went to the bank today to push for buying our mortgage note.”

  The sheriff explained, “I intend to catch him in the act of checking on the cattle.”

  “That may make sense to you, but I don’t understand why you didn’t arrest the men you saw there today and drive our cattle back to this ranch where they belong.”

  “If I had arrested those men today, there’s no way I could prove Winfield was involved. He’d say he didn’t know what his men were doing and that he was innoce
nt of any involvement. I want to catch him as well as the men who work for him.”

  Moose nodded and sopped the last of his stew from the bowl with a chunk of cornbread. “I’d sure like to see some of Winfield’s cattle. I reckon there’s some changed brands on his beeves.”

  The sheriff rubbed at his neck. “Like I told you, I haven’t heard of any other ranchers losing cattle in this county. I don’t remember where he came from. Seems like it was down close to Waco.”

  Bret took another piece of cornbread. “How long ago did he buy his ranch?” He slit the bread and inserted butter.

  Sheriff Haney frowned. “Can’t recall exactly but think he came a few months before Mrs. Dunn arrived.” He looked at Charlotte. “Has that been about three years?”

  “I came three years ago next month. Elwood Winfield was already living on his ranch then but he wasn’t a problem until later.”

  The sheriff leaned forward. “Problem? What kind of problem and why the devil wasn’t I told?”

  Charlotte stood and refilled coffee cups. “I guess I should have said he was a pest. He kept trying to get Ike to sell the ranch to him. Nothing Ike said would discourage the man. Even though Ike hated to make an enemy of Winfield, he finally told him not to ask again or he’d shoot him on sight.”

  She raised a hand palm out toward the sheriff. “He wouldn’t have but we were so tired of him pestering Ike. We knew he was responsible for some of the mischief around the ranch but we had no proof.”

  Bret asked, “What kind of things happened?”

  “Fences were pulled down a few times. Once the creek was dammed with brush we were supposed to think happened naturally. The backup flooded a cornfield at the wrong time which meant Ike had to buy corn for the pigs and chickens. That sort of thing. Nothing life-threatening, just constant annoyances that created more work.”

  She sent Davie and Jimmy a scolding glare. “That’s why the boys weren’t supposed to be riding far from home the day they found you, Bret. Thank heavens they disobeyed that time, but you can understand why I wasn’t comfortable with them being far from the house.”

  “Of course I can see why—especially when your husband had recently died. No one could blame you if you’d kept them right here around the house and barn.” Bret winked at Davie. “I have to admit I’m sure glad they chose that day to rebel.”

  Davie shook his head. “But we didn’t intend to disobey. We were cutting up and racing our horses and just didn’t pay close enough attention to where we were.”

  Jimmy’s eyes were round as saucers. “Mama, we didn’t mean to, honest. We were just having fun.”

  “Boys, not noticing where you are is very serious. You know you have to pay attention all the time. You could bring real trouble on yourselves otherwise. We’ll talk more about that another time.”

  Charlotte put her hands on her hips. “What do you men plan to do about resolving this mess of a situation?”

  The sheriff stood. “Mrs. Dunn, you’re going to have to trust us. Rick and I will come up with a plan and bring a few more men to help us when the time comes. We’ll make sure Bret and Moose are part of the action. Appreciate the meal but right now, Rick and I need to be on our way.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Charlotte was too frustrated to settle down. She paced the floor while Susie and Jimmy did the dishes.

  Bret stepped in front of her. “You’re disappointed but this will work out soon. The sheriff and his deputy heard enough to know who’s behind all your trouble.”

  “I’m worried, Bret. I can’t help having a bad feeling about this. Too much can go wrong before the sheriff returns.”

  He tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “He seemed to me to know his business. Don’t you trust him?”

  She caught her breath, surprised at his touch. How she would have loved to lean against him. “I’ve no reason not to trust him. He hasn’t found the men who shot Ike and our two ranch hands but I know he tried. At least… I think he did.”

  Moose stood near the kitchen door. “He seemed like a trustworthy man to me. He and Rick did what I would have done. Doesn’t do any good to capture the little guys and let the one responsible get away.”

  Charlotte wanted those cattle returned and the men responsible in jail. “Maybe they would have talked.”

  Bret shook his head, his blue eyes held sympathy. “And maybe Winfield would have been into the wind before the sheriff could get to him. You can bet he wouldn’t wait around when that Arp fellow didn’t return.”

  She wasn’t convinced. “But maybe the sheriff could arrest him before—”

  “Charlotte,” Bret held her shoulders. “I know you’re worried but you’re not being logical. The plan is good and you have the guarantee that it will be carried out very soon.”

  He took her hand and led her to the couch in the parlor. “I need to talk to you about something important. Moose, Davie, would you please come, too.”

  He guided her to sit on the couch. “We need to talk about the mortgage and this will take decisions on the part of Charlotte and Davie and cooperation from Moose.” He gestured for Moose and Davie to take a seat.

  When they had, Bret looked at her. “Please trust me. Tell me, just how much is this note the bank holds?”

  After she told him, he said, “I have enough to pay off your mortgage. But the last thing we need is for Winfield to know I have the money and that it’s here.”

  She couldn’t breathe for a minute. “What do you mean, you can pay off the mortgage? Then the ranch would belong to you so how does that help Davie or me?”

  “Because I would gift it to you. The land would be yours free and clear.”

  Davie leaped to his feet. “You mean it, Bret? Would you really do that for us?”

  She hated to disappoint her son. “How could we let you do that? It’s too much.”

  Davie looked at her with such pain in his eyes. “Mama?”

  Bret signaled Davie to wait. “Charlotte, you saved my life. I owe you more than I can ever repay. I’m sure Davie knew I had cash even if he didn’t know how much. You could have taken it and told me it must have been stolen before you rescued me. You could have made sure I didn’t recover and no one would have been the wiser. All I ask is that you let Moose work here as long as he wishes and pay him a decent wage.”

  Tears poured down Charlotte’s cheeks. “I would have done that anyway if we kept the ranch. But we’ll lose everything unless the sheriff catches Winfield. You can bet that polecat is already pressuring the bank’s investors to let him buy our note so he can foreclose.”

  “I say we beat him at his own game.”

  She swiped at her cheeks. “How?”

  “Early tomorrow morning, we all go to town. I’ll have enough money with me to pay off the bank. Once that’s done, you can relax and Winfield will be out of luck.”

  Moose stood. “Sounds like a good plan. Reckon I’ll go turn in and be up in time for the chores before we leave.”

  Charlotte shook her head. “Bret and Moose, I have an uneasy feeling. Do you two mind sharing tonight and staying here in the house? I’ll sleep with Susie again and you can have my room.”

  Moose rubbed his jaw. “Don’t mind sleeping in here if it makes you feel easier, Miz Dunn, but I’d as soon roll up in a blanket on the floor.”

  Bret pretended to be upset. “What? You think I have fleas?”

  Moose grinned. “I think you’ll take up more than half the bed and so will I. That’ll lead to us fighting for cover and space all night and neither of us getting much sleep.”

  Davie said, “Moose, you can have our bed and Jimmy and I can sleep on pallets. We’ve done that when we had company come stay and we don’t mind.”

  He turned to her. “Mama, maybe we should let Buster and Billy into the house if you’re worried.”

  “That’s a good idea, son.” Charlotte rubbed her arms. “I guess I’m being silly, but I have this odd feeling, like I did when we were being watched tha
t time. I’ll get the spare quilts and make up the pallets. ”

  Lately, she’d frequently had the feeling of someone watching. She didn’t want anything to happen, especially now that Bret might save the ranch. She couldn’t believe she could be lucky enough to have things work out so well after all the problems they’d had.

  She laid out the pallets in the parlor so the boys could have the dogs sleep with them. With luck her sons wouldn’t end up with fleas. They bathed the dogs often and applied herbs to the water to deter insects. If necessary, she’d toss some herbs into the boys’ bath water.

  They’d all settled down to sleep when Jimmy slipped into Susie’s room to alert Charlotte of trouble.

  Jimmy whispered, “Davie heard the dogs give a low growl. He’s keeping them quiet while I get you.”

  “Jimmy, let Bret and Moose know while I slip on my overalls. Susie, stay right where you are.”

  By the time she’d fastened her overalls and stepped into the hall, Bret had his rifle in his hands and walked ahead of her.

  She tapped Jimmy on the shoulder. “You go wait with your sister until I say different.”

  Jimmy nodded although obviously disappointed.

  Moose whispered, “Dadburn, I should’ve brought in my rifle.” He carried his revolver.

  She leaned toward him. “You can use Ike’s. I keep it cleaned and loaded over the fireplace.”

  The three adults crept forward.

  Moose said, “Keep the dogs quiet and inside. No need them getting shot.”

  The two men slipped out the kitchen door and circled to the bunkhouse. A lantern shone from inside.

  Charlotte and Davie watched as the two men signaled to one another. Moose went around toward the back. Bret stood by the front door.

  An owl hooted and Bret threw open the door. “Stop where you are.”

  A loud crash sounded followed by gunshots.

  Dear Lord, please protect Bret and Moose.

  Fire blazed inside the bunkhouse.