“Morning,” Harris called from where he sat, milking one of their dairy cows.
“Morning. It’s gonna be a hot one,” Blake replied as he went for a pitchfork. He began working away at a bale of hay, making sure the horses had their breakfasts.
The brothers chatted amiably as they worked in tandem through the tasks they’d been doing for years.
“Say, would you mind taking something to Macie for me?” Harris inquired.
Blake shrugged, “Sure.”
He watched curiously as Harris placed a small bundle wrapped in a damp handkerchief into Blake’s waiting hand.
“It’s an herb we were talking about. I found it yesterday and picked it for her. I’ve kept the roots wet, so she should be able to plant it without any trouble.” Harris gave him a wave and headed towards Judy’s kitchen where a hearty breakfast was surely awaiting him.
Blake eyed the bundle then shrugged. It was nice of Harris, he supposed, to do this for Macie. But it would be no match for the gift Blake had in mind, he thought confidently.
He returned to the cone flowers and looked around hastily before grabbing up a handful. Then he strutted to the cabin, grinning in anticipation of Macie’s reaction to his thoughtfulness.
She was flipping flapjacks at the stove, with her back to him, when he arrived. “You have just enough time to wash up,” Macie called over her shoulder. “These are almost ready.”
Blake frowned down at his hands which were both full and not available for washing. “I, uh, have something for you.”
She turned expectantly and then her brow furrowed as she tried to make sense of what she saw.
It wasn’t the appreciative response he’d hoped for. Shifting uncomfortably, Blake found the need to explain. “I saw these flowers and thought of you.”
“Oh?” Macie asked, frowning. No doubt she was racking her brain to try and remember when she’d mentioned cone flowers.
“I thought you might like them. They’re so pretty,” he trailed off lamely.
Understanding lit her eyes and Macie smiled. “That’s so thoughtful of you, Blake. Thank you.”
He heaved a sigh of relief and handed the bouquet to her. She found an empty jar, filled it with water, and plunked the flower stems into it.
“I’ll put them here on the table like a centerpiece. Back east, at fancy parties, they always had centerpieces.” Macie seemed a little flushed and Blake hoped it was due to the pleasure of his unexpected gift and not just from standing at the hot stove.
“Harris asked me to give you this.” Blake held out the handkerchief.
She took it and lifted the top layer. “It’s thyme!” Macie chortled gleefully. “I can’t believe he found thyme! I was telling him the other day about how hard it is to get fresh herbs. My mother always had a herb garden and I would love to start one of my own. I’ll have to get this planted right away.” She looked over at him and concluded by saying, “The pancakes should be ready. Do you want to wash up?”
Glumly, Blake slunk to the washstand where he scrubbed his hands with more force than strictly necessary. Macie had accepted his flowers, but they hadn’t been anywhere near as welcome as the ugly plant his brother had sent. His brilliant plan for winning her heart had been easily overshadowed by Harris. What would happen if Macie realized she preferred Harris to Blake? She said she was committed to their wedding vows, but Blake had made sure an annulment was possible. What a fool he’d been!
He was glum at breakfast, though he tried to hide it from Macie. If he was already behind in the race, being snarky wouldn’t help his cause. He made sure the wood box was full before he went to meet Troy at the stables.
The two men rode to town quietly. Blake had to force his mind to the task at hand, though he’d have preferred mulling over his next move with his wife. Only by promising himself that he’d devote himself to making Macie fall in love with him once they had Lucien Durning off their backs, was he able to stay focused.
“Let’s stop at the general store first,” Blake suggested, suddenly inspired. “We want to make sure Durning’s spies are watching us when we go into Iver’s office.”
Troy grunted his approval of this plan and turned his horse towards the store. The two men dismounted and tied their reins loosely to the hitching post before strolling inside. Unhurriedly, the brothers wandered over to the tools and examined them carefully, discussing the advantage of this one over that.
“Hi, there, Blake,” cooed Belle Nelson.
Blake looked down, caught off guard by the suddenness of her appearance. “Hello, Miss Nelson,” he replied.
Next to him, Troy dug his elbow into Blake’s side. Blake threw his brother a quelling glare which Troy seemed to find entertaining.
“Is your wife here today?” the buxom brunette asked innocently.
“Erm, no. She’s at home,” Blake said uncomfortably.
“Gee, I hope she’s not sick.” Belle leaned against him, batting her eyelashes at him. “Be sure to give her my best.”
Blake scratched his head and replied, “Sure. I’ll do that.” He hadn’t realized the two women were friendly. Maybe they’d known each other back when Macie first lived in Elmswood.
“Hello, Belle,” Troy said pointedly.
She dragged her eyes reluctantly from Blake and gave his brother an unctuous smile. “Hello, Troy. I hope you’re in good health.”
“Oh, I’m fine, thanks. My wife just had a baby and they’re both fine, too. Our father is coming along well since his head injury. Kind of you to ask,” Troy smirked.
Belle airily laughed. “Gosh, Blake, your family has been through so much lately. I’m sure you appreciate your friends even more than before.” Then she ran a hand down his arm.
When Blake jerked himself out of her reach she almost lost her balance, much to Troy’s amusement, Blake noted with annoyance.
“We should get going,” Blake told his brother. He didn’t wait for Troy, but turned on his heel and stalked from the store.
On the street once again, he lifted his hat and smoothed his hair underneath, wishing he could do more to wash the memory of Belle away.
Troy’s chuckle announced his arrival. “I thought we’d have to pull her fangs out of you,” he laughed.
Blake looked over at him, wondering if his brother was mocking him. But no. Troy clapped him on the shoulder and motioned them towards the street. In his eyes was sympathy not criticism and Blake followed his brother gladly.
As they walked, he couldn’t keep his gaze from swinging around the street. Who was Lucien’s spy? Was someone taking note of their stroll across Main Street? Would a shady figure scurry off to make a report the moment Iver Kennedy’s door shut behind them?
For the first time, Blake hoped so.
Chapter 33
Iver Kennedy looked up from where he stood at his filing cabinet. “Hello, there,” he said, friendly once again, Blake noted.
“We want to talk with you about something important,” the young Texan began.
The lawyer’s eyebrows lifted and he gestured for the two Bradfields to take a seat at his desk. He slid into his own chair and inquired, “What’s on your mind? I take it you aren’t here for legal advice.”
“No, not today,” Blake assured him. “We have a plan for putting a stop to Lucien Durning’s reign of terror.”
“Please, tell me all,” Iver said eagerly.
There was some risk involved with telling their plan to one of Lucien’s sources. Troy had pointed out that they didn’t really know if Iver was strictly trustworthy. After talking it over, they’d decided that they would enlist the lawyer’s help without giving too many details. If Durning’s thugs didn’t show up as planned, they would know that Iver Kennedy had betrayed them.
“We’d like to catch him in the act,” Blake explained cautiously. “We need you to report to him that I’m going off exploring again.”
Iver’s eyes lit up. “I see. Yes, that could work. He’s unpredictable in his me
thods. Still, it’s your best chance to know when he’ll strike. Don’t tell me anything more,” he urged. “I can’t tell him what I don’t know, should it come to that.”
Blake threw Troy a knowing look. That certainly sounded as though Iver was on their side.
“Thank you,” Blake said humbly. “I’ll be headed out first thing tomorrow morning and return the following day. Do you think that’s too short a time?”
Iver scratched at his chin. “No, I think it’ll be enough. He’ll have to act quickly, which might work in your favor. I’ll tell him you’re not going far and are eager to get back after all the trouble you’ve had on the ranch. He’ll like that.”
Troy clapped his hands on his knees. “Well, we’d best be on our way.”
“I hope everything works out for you,” Iver said, getting to his feet and extending a hand. “I don’t want to pry, but you seem different somehow, Blake. Your grandfather told me how much he hoped that you’d find peace for your restless spirit.”
Blake shook the proffered hand. “I’m on my way towards peacefulness, I think.”
“Good for you, son.” Iver nodded his approval.
Troy led the way back to the street. It was time for some acting. As they’d previously discussed, Blake tucked a folded piece of paper into his back pocket. At this, Troy threw up his hands and stalked off in the other direction. Blake looked around furtively before climbing onto his horse and riding out of town.
If a spy was watching, he hoped that it would appear that things weren’t going well for the Bradfields. Causing dissent among them was likely part of Lucien’s hope for stirring up trouble. Everyone knew that Troy didn’t approve of Blake’s wanderings. It would be suspicious if the two left the lawyer’s office and went off together like old friends. Blake would take off back home and Troy would head up to the sheriff’s office to arrange things there.
The rest of the family gathered for lunch in Judy’s big kitchen. Troy appeared as the women began to carry food to the table and everyone took their seats.
“Iver seems willing to help,” Blake reported. “He urged us not to give him any important details.”
Len nodded his approval of this. “If Durning tries to trick him or force him to talk, he’ll have little to say. That sounds like he could be on the up and up.”
“It took some doing, but the sheriff agreed to lend us his men,” Troy added. “Since we don’t know when the attack will come, Sheriff Mayer is reluctant to simply plant his deputies here indefinitely.”
“It’s a good thing we said Blake will leave tomorrow and only be gone for two days,” Macie said with a satisfied smile. “Durning won’t have endless time to act.”
They rehashed the details of their plan as they ate, tweaking the finer points with the hopes of outfoxing Lucien Durning.
There were a few risks they couldn’t escape no matter how many times they thought them through. Blake knew that he would have to be especially wary as he rode out of town. He couldn’t bring a companion and, as the men had learned, any number of them might be overcome. It would be an ideal time for attack and the Bradfields could find no way to avoid this risk.
There was also the possibility that there was a spy among the ranch hands. Clora had pointed this out calmly and everyone had reeled, recognizing both that it was entirely likely and that they hadn’t thought of it yet. If they did anything out of the ordinary, Durning might be tipped off. Though there were some hands they trusted implicitly, none of the family was willing to risk all by talking too freely about their plot even to these men.
“I’ll double the watch,” Troy affirmed. “And I’ll assign the most reliable fellows to the house here.”
The meal ended with grim nods of approval for their plan. They would only have one chance. As soon as they played their hand, Lucien would change his methods. It was imperative that they catch his men in the act.
They bid each other solemn farewells. It wouldn’t do to huddle together too many more times before they enacted their plan. Each knew that this could be the last time they were together. It was a sobering thought, though Blake found himself energized by the danger rather than cowed by it.
He and Macie meandered back to the cabin. He needed to take a watch out on the range but found he wanted to see his wife safely home.
“Do you really think this plan will work?” she inquired, voice strained.
“I think it’s the best plan we can make,” he replied. “Are you worried?”
Macie glanced up at him, her eyes wide and lips a thin line. She nodded abruptly. “I don’t want anyone to be hurt, but I’m more afraid of what Durning will do next. I’ve already lost my family once and I don’t think I can do it again.”
Blake looked down at her with compassion. He hadn’t thought of that. This would be much more frightening to her since Macie understood what was at stake. They’d reached their front door and both stopped as if in unspoken agreement.
“We’ll be as careful as we can,” he reassured her.
She nodded, biting her lower lip absently, arms wrapped around herself.
Without thinking, Blake reached out and drew her into an embrace. It took only a moment before her arms snaked around his waist and she melted into him. Never in his life had Blake experienced anything as sweet as this. Getting to hold Macie close, feeling her warmth and smelling her hair, was more dazzling than the night sky full of stars. He could have stayed there for hours and was sorry when he had to pull away from her.
Macie’s cheeks were a little pink and her eyes soft as she looked up at him. The words he’d thought of saying disappeared from his mind as he gazed at her.
“I’d best get the bread baking,” she said shyly.
Blake nodded and pointed wordlessly towards the stable, unable to make his mouth work properly.
“’Bye then,” Macie said as she went into the house.
“Bye,” he replied stupidly to the door as it closed behind her.
***
Macie wondered if the day had doubled in length as she tried to fill her time. It didn’t help that her mind was never far from the coming events or that her eyes strayed to the clock repeatedly. She was worn out by mid afternoon, but knew that if she lay down she would only fret. So, the floor got the cleaning of its life, every inch of the stove was blacked, and she cut enough vegetables to make a month’s worth of stew.
Finally, Blake returned and moved about the cabin trying to put together a convincing rucksack. If he was stopped, they’d agreed he should be carrying believable items. It wouldn’t do to have the whole plan come crashing down because of some small detail like that.
They ate and tried to find something to say but couldn’t come up with anything much. She’d been looking forward to the meal all afternoon, eager for a break from the long day. But with little conversation, they were finished far too soon. When she settled into her usual chair, the clock told her that there were still two hours before bed time. Macie picked up her crocheting with a sigh.
“Oh, I saw Belle Nelson in town,” Blake told her from his seat across from her. “She said to tell you hello.”
Instantly, Macie prickled. Her eyes narrowed and she clarified, “Belle Nelson asked you to give me her greetings?”
The Scars of a Pure Heart Page 24