She smiled and waved. “Thank you for the biscuits.”
Mrs. Sheridan hooked her free arm around Willie’s, carrying the basket with the other hand. “Now, a bit of ginger in hot tea and a buttered biscuit will fix you right up.”
Ginger in tea? Willow had never heard of the home remedy for cramping, but today she’d willingly try anything. Then she would warn Leonard their ruse had been discovered, and they needed to plan their escape before anything more about them was learned. While working here, Willow overheard talk that one of Adam’s brothers worked in Chicago as a Pinkerton agent.
Just their luck!
Whatever happened, it was imperative she and Leonard leave before Adam got wind of their deception. No doubt one word to their boss’s brother, the Pinkerton, and Leonard and Willow Harrison’s goose would be cooked. Despite how much she enjoyed working here, better safe than sorry. And that meant once again pulling up stakes and moving on.
* * *
Adam hung his Stetson on the hook by the ranch house back door and then wandered into the kitchen. He almost tripped over his own feet when he spotted his horse wrangler, Willie Hughes, seated at the table with Mrs. Sheridan, sipping a cup of tea and munching on a buttered sourdough biscuit. He hadn’t a problem with Willie taking a break from planting the garden. But he’d swear his horse wrangler was wearing a blue calico dress.
He shook his head and looked again.
Still wearing a dress.
He blinked furiously, convinced his mind had played tricks on him.
Nope. Willie Hughes still sat at the table, wearing one of his sister’s old dresses.
Adam grimaced. He’d been working long hours with the arrival of more foals and helping his brothers with calves dropping in the wee hours of the night. But he realized now he needed to take time for more sleep; this year the normal spring exhaustion had taken on serious consequences. Hallucinations like this were nothing to take lightly.
Adam placed a hand on his forehead, something he recalled his mother doing. He wasn’t certain what he should be testing for, but he definitely wasn’t well. Maybe he should lie down for a few minutes until the hallucination passed.
“You aren’t seeing things,” Mrs. Sheridan commented.
Adam met her eyes, feeling somewhat relieved. “You’re seeing it, too?”
One of the housekeeper’s eyebrows rose. “Your horse wrangler wearing a dress?”
He nodded slowly.
“Looks pretty good in it, too.” Mrs. Sheridan chuckled.
Adam jolted, her words penetrating his consciousness. “What?”
“Meet your wrangler, Adam. This is Miss Willow Harrison, formerly known as Willie Hughes.” Mrs. Sheridan smiled and patted the girl’s hand. “We’ve been getting acquainted, and she’s a lovely young lady.”
Young lady?
Adam shook his head. His new horse wrangler was a girl? He preferred it when he reckoned he’d been hallucinating. The last thing he needed on the ranch was a female horse wrangler. But dang it, Miss Harrison certainly had a winning way with his Thoroughbreds. She obviously loved his horses and they adored her in equal measure.
He dragged his hand through his hair. “Willow Harrison,” he muttered, trying out the name on his tongue while admiring just how stunning she looked in that dress. Her short blonde hair shone like it had been painted with sunshine and her complexion glowed. He’d never paid his wrangler much attention, but he recognized a total transformation when he saw one. And man, had she ever changed! Even with her hair cut so short, she looked absolutely amazing.
“Please say something,” Willow whispered, meeting his eyes. “Am I fired?”
Fired? What did she mean? “Oh!” he blurted. “I… I don’t know.”
Mrs. Sheridan burst into laughter. “Appears your boss is feeling a bit flummoxed at the moment, dear. Perhaps we should give him a bit of time to think on it.”
Adam felt his jaw drop. He didn’t much appreciate being the brunt of a joke. “I… maybe. I don’t know.” He threw up his hands. “Dang it anyway. Is Leonard a girl, too?”
Willow laughed, despite her nervousness. “No, my brother is definitely a boy.”
“Well, I thought you were one, too. Look how that turned out,” Adam groused, hating the fact her laughter was one of the sweetest sounds he’d ever heard. Female laughter. Why hadn’t he noticed that before? Willie had… Willow had covered her tracks well.
“I’m sorry to have deceived you,” she muttered, standing. “We’ll pack our things and be off the ranch tonight.”
“Whoa!” Adam exclaimed. She seemed extremely eager to leave the ranch due to him simply discovering she was a girl. Was there more to this? “Not so fast!”
Chapter 5
Willow stood frozen, knees shaking slightly. The words that exploded from her boss’s mouth spoke of his anger. Did he intend to report her to the local law for her deception? If he turned her over to the local authorities, would one of them discover the significance of Willow Harrison’s identity and Leonard’s also? Maybe even learn they hailed from Cactus Plains? Then it wouldn’t be long until the Texas authorities were informed. Once the truth came to light, the local sheriff would be obliged and more than willing to lock them in a cell and throw away the key.
Willow took a deep breath and then blew it out. Was she overreacting?
So she’d been discovered. A female horse wrangler dressed as a boy, desperate to find work. No one would question Leonard’s identity. He hadn’t disguised himself, other than using a false surname which he could blame on her. No, they’d come too far, given up too much. They must retain their freedom, even if, God forbid, they stole a horse or two to escape. Horse theft seemed small potatoes in contrast to what they had fled originally, but she hoped it wouldn’t come to that. She needed to talk to Leonard. He’d know what next step would be best.
Willow grabbed the boy’s clothes off the chair by the back door and dashed outside. She’d almost reached the horse barn before realizing she still wore the blue dress Mrs. Sheridan had given her, after hearing her lamenting the fact she no longer owned any. Apparently, the dress had belonged to Adam’s sister, Amanda, and it fit Willow perfectly. For a moment, she considered returning to the main house to change, but decided against it. She needed to change clothes, pack her gear, and flee from the ranch with her brother as soon as possible. She’d leave the dress in the cabin.
She continued toward the horse barn where Leonard worked. Suddenly, someone grabbed her arm and she screamed, not having heard anyone approach from behind.
“I don’t mean you any harm,” Adam exclaimed.
Willow’s heartbeat raced. Would he attempt to stop her from leaving? “I’m looking for my brother,” she muttered, increasing her pace as she almost raced to the barn.
“Mrs. Sheridan warned me you figured I’d run you off.” Adam strode alongside her. “Intending to leave?”
Willow’s vision blurred with unshed tears. What an understatement! “You could say that,” she muttered under her breath.
Adam reached out and snagged her arm. “I don’t care that you lied. I require you and Leonard to work with the horses. I still have a dozen mares ready to foal. I need you to stay. I want you to stay.”
Willow shook her head.
“Trouble isn’t a new concept to the McLennon family,” he argued. “Are you avoiding something? Maybe someone? Running never solved anything. Just ask my father.”
“Really?” She glared at him, doubting very much that his father had been involved with something as serious as they had.
Adam met her eyes. “A. J. McLennon knows all about running when you shouldn’t have.”
Willow waved her hand at the futility of even considering Adam’s assistance. He couldn’t help; no one could. She continued on toward the horse barn, yanked open the side door and strode inside. She spotted her brother at the far end of the barn and shouted, “Leonard! We’re leaving now!”
When her brother saw h
er standing there the feed bucket dropped from his hand. “What are you doing wearing a dress?” he blurted.
Two ranch hands stood gaping.
“Adam knows the truth about me,” she called, waving him toward her. “Let’s go.”
Her brother stumbled toward her, shaking his head. “Dammit. How did that happen?”
Willow’s eyes filled. Just last night, Leonard mentioned how much he loved working here and she’d agreed with him. They both hoped this ranch would prove the place to settle down for a while and stop running from their past. “The housekeeper guessed my secret. Then Adam walked into the kitchen… everyone is going to know. I’m so sorry. I should have been more careful.”
Leonard wrapped his sister in his arms. “Don’t cry. It’s not your fault.”
“Yes, it is.”
“Maybe it’s for the best.”
Willow glared at him and then whispered, “How can you say that? You know what could happen.”
“You could stop running for one thing.”
Willow turned and stared at Adam, standing hands on hips. She cringed; he appeared furious with her.
“You don’t understand,” Leonard said, defending his sister’s decision.
“No, I don’t! Explain it to me,” Adam demanded.
Willow stepped out of her brother’s embrace. “Let’s go.”
Adam snagged her arm as she attempted to brush by him. “Running is not the answer.”
“It’s the only answer!” she exclaimed, swiping at her tears.
“Come with me!” Adam ordered, grasping Willow’s hand and nodding at her brother. “You, too.” He glared at the ranch hands in the barn. “The rest of you get back to work.”
* * *
Adam settled into Jackson’s chair behind what had been their father’s battered old desk in the ranch house study. Even though his oldest brother took over management of the Double M from their pa awhile back, everyone discussed ranch business in this room.
Adam leaned back and tented his fingers; being the boss wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. If someone had told him one day he’d be raking a female horse wrangler over the coals for lying to him, he would have sent for Doc Bennett, figuring the fellow was ailing in the head.
Adam glanced from Willow to Leonard, then returned his attention to the pretty young woman in front of him. Knowing her true gender, he couldn’t miss the natural beauty in her shiny hair and glowing complexion. She still wore Amanda’s wrinkled old dress. Despite her slim build, Willow’s subtle curves filled the dress out in all the right places. Under other circumstances, Adam couldn’t have kept his eyes off her. But she’d deceived him. “Who wants to start? Which of you will tell me the truth? And we’re not leaving here until one of you does.”
Willow and Leonard exchanged a look. Her gaze moved upward and then she shook her head ever so slightly. Adam wouldn’t have noticed the movement if he hadn’t been watching her so intently. Was that a subtle warning to her brother?
Don’t say a word. Don’t give us away. Don’t trust him!
Adam dragged his hand down his face. That thought summed it up perfectly; she didn’t trust him. For some reason, that realization hurt more than the fact she’d lied about being a girl.
Willow’s hands lay in her lap, her fingers worrying a fold in her skirt. Her head hung and Adam would bet a month’s wages, her eyes were filled with more tears. Having discovered Willow’s secret, Mrs. Sheridan and he had turned the girl’s world upside down. Both Willow and Leonard appeared to be healthy, wholesome kids who’d grown up on a ranch, evident from their talent with horses. They didn’t appear any different from him or his siblings. So, what in the dickens was the problem? Something was definitely wrong in their world, and Adam vowed to discover what it was and help set it right.
Adam blew out his breath. “All right. I won’t push the matter.”
Willow’s head whipped up and her jaw dropped.
“But I insist both of you promise me two things.”
“What’s that?” Leonard piped up.
“Neither of you will attempt to leave this ranch. Not this afternoon. And especially not in the middle of the night.” Adam sat arms crossed. “This condition is not negotiable.”
Leonard glanced at Willow, but neither of them spoke a word.
“Second thing, you will continue to work here. The ranch hands will be informed Willow is a young lady, but you both will remain in my employ and work alongside the rest of the men hired to care for my horses.” Adam raised his hand when Willow appeared ready to protest. “I suspect there is more to this than the fact Willie Hughes was a girl. Was. Willie is gone, Willow works for me now. I know you’re keeping something from me, but I won’t insist you divulge this secret right now.”
Willow slumped in her chair. Leonard grumbled to himself.
“Neither of you is leaving this room until you promise you’ll remain here. The McLennons would be the last folks anyone would suspect of harboring… fugitives.” Of course, he was simply guessing, but he reckoned that comment might get a response.
Willow gasped.
Adam raised his hand. “Not saying you’re fugitives. But if it’s true, I’ll wait for you to explain the circumstances. There’s always two sides to every story, and neither of you seems the type committing heinous crimes at every turn.”
“I’m not leaving,” Leonard proclaimed. “I’m fed up to the gills with running, and I’m done with it.”
Willow stood and glared at him. “Leonard Harrison, don’t you say one more word.”
“I ain’t saying anything. But I ain’t leaving here neither.” Leonard stood his ground and threw up his hands. “This whole business is… is…”
“Is your fault?” Adam speculated.
“No!” Willow blurted.
“Yes!” Leonard exclaimed.
“No, it’s not!” Willow reiterated.
“Enough!” Adam bellowed, waving his hand. “I didn’t mean that to sound so harsh. I don’t rightly care what it is or who caused it. Tell me the issue when you feel you can trust me with the information. And I doubt you trust me or anyone else for that matter right now. And perhaps you have good reason not to.”
“It ain’t so much that we don’t trust you, Adam,” Leonard began. He glanced at Willow and then stuffed his hands in his pockets. “You don’t need this kind of trouble at your door. We respect you and your family. You don’t need the likes of—”
“Stop right there.” Adam stood, meeting Leonard eye to eye. “I’d bet you’re good people who got yourselves tangled up in something not so good. And now, you’re shy of sufficient ways to get out of it.”
“Fair assumption,” Leonard muttered.
“The McLennons have connections with lawmen all across this country. We can help. Heck, we want to help.” Adam held up his hands. “I won’t interfere until you decide you’re willing and prepared to welcome our help with it.”
“What if that don’t happen?” Willow ventured.
“Then I guess you remain working here, praying no one comes looking for you.” Adam summarized their situation in the simplest of terms, hoping Willow or Leonard would realize the tenuous conditions they’d put themselves under. “If a lawman discovers you’re here, then we’ll deal with it. But if someone less scrupulous discovers your whereabouts, intent on doing you harm, then you’d better pray none of my family or none of our hired help is harmed. That consequence would be solely on your shoulders.”
Willow’s face paled and tears welled in her eyes.
Leonard cursed softly.
“Go back to work, but keep in mind what I’ve said.” Adam waved them toward the door. “Believe me, I meant every word, especially wanting to help you. Deciding how we resolve your problems is up to you. And I meant ‘we’. All you need do is ask.”
Leonard reached for Willow’s hand and he guided her out of the study.
A moment later, Adam heard the front door close behind the pair of them. Only t
ime would tell whether or not he discovered the ranch was short two horse wranglers, or the two of them decided to trust him and ask for his help.
He hoped the latter would win out.
Chapter 6
Willow strode down the path from the main house heading for their cabin. There wasn’t a moment to lose. Somehow, they needed to leave the ranch, leave Milestone and never return.
“I meant it, Willie… Willow. I’m not leaving.” Leonard hurried to catch up to her.
She halted mid-stride and glared at him. “Don’t be silly. We can’t stay!”
“Of course we can.” Leonard reached for her arm. “You heard what Adam said. He’s not turning us over to the law. We can continue to work here.”
Willow shook her head. “Even if we trust him to keep quiet, Mrs. Sheridan could mention something at church or the general store. Next thing you know we find ourselves inhabiting a cell in the Milestone jailhouse.”
“How are you fixing on leaving?” Leonard blurted. “Planning on adding horse theft to your string of crimes?”
Willow’s eyes filled with tears. The idea had crossed her mind earlier, but she’d dismissed it just as easily. “You know perfectly well I’ve never committed one single crime in my life.”
“I know.”
“And I would never steal another person’s horse.” Willow raised her chin. “I would simply ‘borrow’ a Double M mare, maybe Shadow, and arrange for her return later.”
Leonard hooted. “Your notion of borrowed would be considered stolen by a McLennon.”
Willow threw up her hands. “Then what do you propose we do?”
“Stay put for now.”
She closed her eyes and silently counted to ten. Her brother had never frustrated her more. Leonard usually saw eye to eye with her on matters, depending on how reasonable her opinion. Despite the logic of her thinking today, Leonard appeared determined to stay and she doubted she’d budge him from this ranch. She wouldn’t get far though without his help, his support, or his ability to keep her safe from harm. She opened her eyes and nodded. “All right, we’ll stay. But only until we figure something out.”
Where There's a Will Page 4