"And you know what happened the next morning?" Jake asked. "I remembered." His voice quivered with emotion. Ethan could see how much regaining his memory had meant to his father. A light had been reignited in him.
"What do you recall about the fall, pa?" Ethan asked.
Jake looked steadily at Ethan. "Everything," he announced evenly. There was certainty in Jake's voice. And there was a steely resolve in his eyes. All doubt and uncertainty had been vanquished.
Ethan waited with bated breath, hardly able to remain seated. He needed to know the truth. Needed to know what had caused his father so much suffering during these past few weeks.
"I know who was on our spread that day, Ethan," Jake said. "And I can guess why he was there."
"Who was it, pa?"
Jake's eyes narrowed. "Brett Calhoun."
Ethan grunted with a mixture of disgust and relief. The truth. Just as he'd guessed. But now he had confirmation from his father.
"I caught Calhoun supervising two riders. They were on the border between our spread and the Buchanan ranch." Jake grimaced as if the memory caused him physical pain. Ethan was sure it probably did. "They were cutting fence wires. They had some of our cattle, and they looked like they were ready to move them over onto Buchanan land."
Ethan leaned forward and slammed his fist down on the desk. "How dare Calhoun do that," Ethan groaned.
As if pleased with the strength of Ethan's reaction, Jake smiled. Ethan told himself he could get used to seeing his father smile like that every day from now on. "I confronted Calhoun. There was trouble. Guns were drawn and a shot was fired. My horse reared and I was thrown. When I came to, the men were gone." Jake's brows creased with the distress of memory. "And from that moment, I couldn't remember what had happened. Until yesterday. Until after I prayed to my God." Jake's voice rose, filled with an energy and strength Ethan hadn't heard in weeks. Turning back to God had brought the truth back into Jake's life.
Ethan shook his head and sighed. "I'm sure glad you got your memory back, pa."
"So am I, son," Jake agreed.
"But, what can we do about Calhoun? The sheriff needs to know about this."
Jake nodded. "He will. When the time is right."
Ethan squinted at Jake. "Why can't we do it now?"
"You know what Calhoun's like. He has eyes everywhere."
Ethan thought about the rider who'd followed him and Chloe to the forest. It must have been one of Calhoun's men, he told himself. He decided to tell his father. As he explained what had happened. Ethan saw Jake's eyes light up with barely disguised fury. "If Calhoun thinks he's going to do any more harm to my family, he better realize he's not immune from the law."
"I've heard it said Calhoun has plenty of influence in this town, pa," Ethan said. "Him and the Buchanans have never seen eye to eye."
Jake nodded. "Calhoun has been using us against the Buchanan family," Jake said. "There's no other explanation for it. He's been trying to make fools of us, Ethan." Jake gripped the sides of his chair. "We'll get him, son. Don't you worry about that."
And then, for the next hour, Ethan and his father discussed exactly how they were going to make sure Brett Calhoun spent the coming Christmas in jail.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
The schoolhouse was on the edge of town. Chloe drew her carriage to a halt at the foot of the steps and got down from the seat. Children's voices drifted down the air from behind the closed white double doors at the top of the steps. According to what Chloe had been told before she left the Buchanan ranch, it would be near the end of the first of the morning lessons. The children would soon be on break. She waited until she heard the frantic pounding of tiny feet and the doors burst open. A dozen children, mostly less than ten years of age, raced down the stairs, yelling at the tops of their voices. A tall young woman with a serenely patient expression on her face emerged from inside the schoolhouse. The teacher, Miss Ruthven, was newly arrived in Inspiration. She had taken over the teaching of the town's children in September. The former teacher, a Buchanan wife had made way in order to devote time to bringing up her own little one who'd been born earlier that year.
Chloe made her way up the stairs. "Miss Ruthven?" she asked.
The bright-eyed, evenly featured woman smiled. She was dressed in a plain white gown. She held out her hand to Chloe. "Miss Forsyth. So lovely to meet you. Won't you join me." Miss Ruthven glanced at the children chasing each other around the yard. She shook her head and smiled. "We can talk in peace inside the classroom."
Chloe followed Miss Ruthven into the classroom. Miss Ruthven closed the doors. Instantly, quiet descended upon the room. Both women exchanged relieved smiles.
"What can I do for you?" Miss Ruthven asked.
"I saw you and the children singing Christmas carols at the town procession, the other night," Chloe said.
Miss Ruthven nodded. "Indeed we did." She smiled. "The children love to sing all the favorites that everyone knows so well."
"They sang so delightfully," Chloe said. "Especially with such a fine teacher giving them instruction. Everyone was thrilled to listen to them in Main Street. Especially when they gathered around the Christmas tree." Chloe gasped with delight and held a hand to her chest. "It made my heart warm just listening to them."
Miss Ruthven's cheeks flushed. "That's very kind of you, Miss Forsyth." She titled her head. "The children were so excited. And to be the focus of attention like that. They were given lots of little gifts as rewards for their singing." Miss Ruthven looked earnestly at Chloe. But, did you have something you wanted to ask of me?"
Chloe nodded. "I do. It's only three days to Christmas."
Miss Ruthven grinned. "The children can't wait."
"I was wondering if you have any plans for Christmas Eve," Chloe asked.
Miss Ruthven thought for a moment. "Obviously, the school will be closed that day. We were planning on visiting Main Street and singing some carols for everyone who is in town."
Chloe leaned forward. "I wonder if I could ask you a favor, Miss Ruthven."
Miss Ruthven's eyes narrowed. She was clearly curious about Chloe's request. "It depends what it is, Miss Forsyth."
"I'd like to invite you and the children to the Buchanan ranch on Christmas Eve. We're having a special party, and I'd love for the children to bring their sweet voices and beautiful songs."
Miss Ruthven's brows lifted in surprise. "Mmm," she said. "That sounds interesting."
Chloe considered her plan for a moment. Since she'd last visited the Armstrong ranch, leaving Ethan watching her drive away in her carriage, she'd spent all her time at the Buchanan ranch, putting the finishing touches to the Christmas decorations. She'd even put some decorations in the cookhouse. When she'd been busy doing all that, she'd gotten the idea of having the children visit the ranch and sing for everyone.
"Of course I can promise plenty of cake and lemonade and some surprise gifts for the children," Chloe added.
Miss Ruthven's brows shot up in a line. "That is tempting," she admitted. She looked thoughtful for a few moments. "It is short notice, though."
"I know," Chloe admitted. "And if you can't do it, I will understand. But I only got the idea yesterday, and my aunt thinks it would be wonderful."
Miss Ruthven thought a while longer. Finally, she nodded enthusiastically. "I think it is a lovely idea, Miss Forsyth."
Chloe's spirits brightened instantly. "Excellent."
She and Miss Ruthven talked over the details for the next five minutes. Satisfied with the arrangements, Chloe bid Miss Ruthven farewell and made her way to her carriage. As Chloe drove away from the schoolhouse, Miss Ruthven called the children back into class.
Chloe drove the carriage toward Main Street. She was pleased with what she'd arranged. Christmas Eve would be even more special this year, she told herself. The last few days had been packed with frantic activity. Seized with fresh ideas, Chloe had thrown herself into her work at the ranch. The activity had also been a we
lcome means for her to forget about what had happened with Ethan up at the Armstrong ranch.
Returning home on that day, Chloe had immediately gone to her room, eager to be away from her family. She had needed some solitude, to think about what had taken place between herself and Ethan. An argument, she told herself. It had been their first disagreement. But had it also been their final one? Chloe worried she'd been premature in leaving the Armstrong ranch. She'd thought about what Ethan had told her. The mysterious rider who'd followed them to the forest was worrying. But, somehow, at the time, it had seemed to Chloe that Ethan had been all too eager to offer it up as some kind of explanation for the bad things which were happening between the Buchanans and Armstrongs.
And then there had been the kiss. The memory of it had tormented Chloe all night back at the Buchanan house. During the following days, she hadn't been able to get the memory of the kiss out of her mind. Ethan's tender embrace had been unforgettable. The softness of his lips had been irresistible. Dragging herself away from Ethan had been one of the hardest things she'd ever done. And the separation of the last few days had been hard to take.
So, Chloe had done the one thing she knew which would take her mind away from Ethan Armstrong. She had thrown herself into Christmas preparations. Luckily there had been plenty to do. And she had helped out in the kitchen, lending a hand to the food preparations. This year was going to be as special as the previous years, Chloe told herself as the carriage rolled up to Main Street. The only dark cloud would be that Ethan Armstrong would not be around to make the Christmas complete.
Chloe guided the carriage out onto Main Street. Even for this time of the day, the street was busy with townsfolk milling up and down the boardwalk. A thin layer of snow had settled on the street. Every store in Main Street had been decorated for Christmas. Main Street had been transformed into a riot of red, green and white. The large Christmas tree next to the town hall had been garlanded with a bewildering variety of ornamental animals, angels and a variety of brightly colored baubles. Gifts for children lay strewn around the base of the massive tree. Chloe recalled how she, Eugenie and Caleb had taken part in the Christmas procession. It had been a wonderful evening. A candlelit procession with everyone singing Christmas songs. The only dark spot of the evening had been the absence of Ethan. Chloe had expected to see Ethan there. But she hadn't seen him. She could still feel the heavy knot of disappointment.
For a moment, she considered stopping at the mercantile. However, she set that idea aside. The mercantile would be running out of things to sell at this rate, she told herself. Smiling at the memory of Mr Murchison's delighted expression at the huge volume of sales, Chloe steered the carriage northward and prepared to leave town.
Just as she was passing the jailhouse, Chloe saw something which almost forced her to drag on the horse's reins and pull the carriage to a sudden halt. She gasped, staring in disbelief at what she could see on the other side of the boardwalk.
Ethan.
And, standing alongside him were two men. His father, Jake. And right between the two Armstrong men stood Brett Calhoun.
What was so disturbing about the scene was that, in contrast to the previous conversation she'd witnessed between Calhoun and Ethan, this time both men were laughing and smiling as if they were the best of friends. To make matters even more confusing, Jake Armstrong was laughing, too. Since meeting Jake, Chloe hadn't seen Jake smile like that. She wondered what had caused the sudden improvement in the Armstrong senior.
Then, as if to make her day even worse, Ethan caught sight of Chloe. She slowed the carriage, thinking he'd make his way over to her. She realized she wanted to speak to him. If for no other reason than to get an explanation for this bewildering sight of Ethan and Calhoun looking like they were the best of friends.
Then, Ethan did the worst thing imaginable. The one thing she never would have expected him to do under the circumstances.
He turned his head away and completely ignored her. He went right back to talking with Calhoun who had his back to her. She felt as if she'd been struck a physical blow in her middle. She moaned quietly and stifled a rebellious yell. She considered going over to Ethan and demanding an explanation. But, her good sense stopped her. She swallowed and then dragged in a deep breath.
It was time to move on from Ethan Armstrong, she told herself firmly. And, with that final thought, she tugged on the reins and drove the carriage out of town as fast as she could.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
The sheriff came to visit the Buchanan ranch later that evening. From the window of her bedroom, looking down at the yard, Chloe saw sheriff Nathan Cameron arriving and dismounting from his horse. He had a grim expression on his face. Wondering if his visit was connected with the disappearance of the cattle a few days earlier, Chloe went downstairs, intending to hear what might be said. If there was bad news about the Armstrong family, she wanted to know what it was.
As she reached the hall at the foot of the stairs, Chloe heard the sheriff speaking in the parlor. She heard Eugenie and Caleb talking with him. Hugging the banister at the foot of the stairs, Chloe flinched when it creaked slightly. She froze, realizing the sound had probably been heard in the parlor. Her suspicions were confirmed when Eugenie appeared at the parlor door. "Come on in, Chloe," Eugenie said. "I think you might like to hear this," she added cryptically.
Chloe smiled hesitantly and followed her aunt into the parlor. Sheriff Cameron stood in front of the fireplace. He was a tall, good-looking man with friendly features. He held his Stetson in his hands. He smiled at Chloe as she entered. "Miss Forsyth," he said dipping his head courteously. "Good to see you back in Inspiration for Christmas."
Chloe nodded back at the sheriff. "Nice to see you, too, sheriff." Chloe saw Caleb, seated by the fireplace. He was frowning as if he'd just heard something he didn't like.
Chloe sat down on the sofa and Eugenie took a place next to her. Eugenie smiled at Chloe. "The sheriff has brought us some news, Chloe. It's about our friends, the Armstrong family."
Caleb grunted at that description of the neighboring ranchers. Eugenie gave Caleb a scolding look and then smiled up at the sheriff. "Maybe you'd like to recap what you just told us, sheriff," she said. "For the benefit of my niece. I'm sure she'll be most interested in your news."
Chloe wondered what kind of news would make the sheriff come out to the Buchanan ranch in the dark.
Sheriff Cameron shifted his Stetson from one hand to the other. "I suppose it is good news. Not just for the Buchanan family. But for the whole of the town." Sheriff Cameron smiled. "You know how there has been a feud between the Buchanans and the Armstrongs."
"I was aware of that," Chloe confirmed.
"Well, it seems things weren't all that they seemed to be," the sheriff stated.
"How so?" Chloe asked.
The sheriff glanced at Caleb. "Your uncle here came to me complaining that the Armstrong family were stealing cattle. Or causing different kinds of trouble on this ranch." The sheriff frowned. "Of course, all of that was serious enough. And I have tried my best to deal with the problem using the law." He sighed. "But, I have to admit, it hasn't been easy. We haven't actually caught either the Buchanans or the Armstrongs interfering in these ranches."
"But you had all the complaints," Chloe said. "And the stolen cattle turning up on Armstrong land."
The sheriff shook his head. "None of that was enough. We needed more evidence than that. Rustling is a complicated business, ma'am. It's a devil of a thing to prove. Unless you catch someone red-handed. And, to be honest, we haven't."
Caleb grunted yet again. Chloe glanced at her uncle. Whatever the sheriff was trying to explain certainly didn't meet with Caleb's approval.
"Until, that is, we got some help from Jake Armstrong," the sheriff continued.
The Rancher’s Christmas Wish (Brides 0f Inspiration Book 8) Page 17