by Barbara Goss
Dan was bored following Joe Austin for the week. He was grateful Joe wasn’t courting Leila around; he’d find that hard to watch. So far, Austin had gotten a haircut, and bought rope from the hardware store and a new suit at the mercantile. He visited the minister at Holy Trinity Church, and made purchases in the general store. He’d met two men and they went into the saloon for a few drinks. So far, he had nothing on Joe.
Dan followed him home as he usually did, and since it was growing dark, decided Joe was in for the night. He'd just begun to turn his horse to leave when he saw two men ride up to Joe’s house, and he backed his horse into the woods a bit to watch.
Curiously, the two men were all dressed in black, and when Joe came out, he was also dressed in black. Dan thought it curious—were they planning to blend in with the night somewhere?
He watched Joe saddle his horse and hang a rope from his saddle horn. Were they going to steal some cattle under the cover of darkness? Dan started to follow them, but with three men dressed in black clothes, riding dark-colored horses, they were nearly impossible to see. Dan came to a fork in the road where the three men had disappeared. He sat there, squinting, trying to spot the men, and heard a horse come up from behind him. He turned with his hand on his gun.
“It’s me, Dan,” Jack said.
“I lost them,” Dan said.
“I followed Leo all the way to his home where he changed into black clothing and picked up a man who lives on Shady Road,” Jack said. “They both rode to Joe’s and I watched them from across the lane from you. When the men left, I tried to follow as well.”
“Could you find that house on Shady Road in the daytime?” Dan asked.
“Sure. There are only three houses on that road. I’ll find out who lives there.”
“Perfect. We might as well go back to the hotel,” Dan said. “I’ll be anxious to hear who’s missing cattle tomorrow.”
Dan and Jack were eating at Rosie’s after their nighttime adventure when Jack pulled a paper from his pocket. “We got a wire from the home office. Wait until you see our orders.”
Dan took the paper from him, read it, then threw his head back and laughed. “I’ll be! Looks like we’re one step ahead of them.”
“I bet the council reported the cattle thieving to the home office,” Jack said with a laugh. “So now my helping you nail something on Joe is more than just a side job. Now it’s bona fide.”
“I think Joe and his friends are rustling cattle, all right, but how will we catch them at it?” Dan asked.
Leila sat out in the summerhouse, reliving her kiss with Dan. Just knowing she’d never experience another kiss from him brought tears to her eyes. She sat and wept.
“Leila! Whatever's wrong?”
Leila jerked in surprise. “Kate!” She quickly dried her eyes. “Nothing.”
Kate took the chair beside her. “Don’t tell me nothing when I have two perfectly good eyes, and no one cries for nothing.”
“I just feel melancholy.”
“Please, confide in me,” Kate pleaded.
“Some things can’t be shared, Kate.”
“Well, I can understand that but I want you to know I care about you, and I know something’s amiss. Maybe I could help in some way.”
Leila sat, staring into space. She really needed to talk to someone, but Kate wouldn’t be able to help.
“I don’t think you can help me. No one can.”
“Is it still Dan McCall?”
“No, Kate. I’m betrothed, remember?”
“Are you unsure about marrying Joe? Is that it?”
Kate sighed. “All right, I’ll mind my own business.” She stood and hugged Leila. “I just want you to know I consider you a good friend, and I care about you.”
Leila watched Kate walk toward the door of the summerhouse. “Wait!” Leila cried.
Kate turned and looked at Leila with anticipation.
“Sit down, Kate.”
Kate walked back to resume her seat beside Leila.
“If I tell you, do you promise not to tell anyone, even Jeremy?”
“Hmm, that might be a problem. I share everything with my husband,” Kate said.
Leila shook her head. “Then I can’t confide in you.”
“All right. I’ll keep your secret as long as I don’t have to lie to Jeremy.”
“I still love Dan.” Leila dabbed at her tearing eyes.
“Then why are you marrying Joe?”
“He said if I didn’t marry him, he’d kill Dan.” Leila’s eyes filled with tears again.
“Oh, Leila!” Kate stood and hugged her again. “So, you’re marrying him just to protect Dan?”
Leila nodded. “I don’t even like Joe Austin.”
“Do you think he'd really kill Dan?” Kate asked.
“Yes. I could tell by the evil glint in his eyes he would. He hates Dan and Jack for sending his brother to jail, so, I’m sure he would.”
Kate leaned her head back in her chair and closed her eyes. “That is a problem.”
“I’d rather lose my chance to win Dan than endanger his life,” Leila said.
“You really do love him, then,” Kate said. “Are you sure you don’t want to include Jeremy in this problem? He might be able to help?”
“I’m afraid he’d tell Dan, who I’m sure will think he can take care of himself, but if a man shoots you in the back, how can you defend yourself?” Leila said.
“I wonder if we could find a way to stall the wedding,” Kate said. “Maybe you could get ill or something.”
“It might work. I have nine days left to think of something, or I’ll marry him if I have to.”
“We need to spend some time in prayer, Leila.”
“I’m not a good prayer person, Kate. I don’t even know how to pray.”
“I’ll teach you, then. You know, God and prayer are high on Dan’s list of things most important to him.”
“Really?” Leila asked. “Teach me then, Kate. I want to learn.”
When Dan met Jack at Rosie’s for lunch, they exchanged notes about the pair they were following.
“Another boring day following Joe. He seems to be preparing himself for something.”
“I found out who lives on Shady Road, and you won’t believe who it is,” Jack said.
“I don’t know many people in Hays, Jack, so go ahead and surprise me.”
“Sheriff Boggs lives there.”
“No!” Dan said, dropping his fork. “Are you certain?”
Jack nodded. “I couldn’t follow Leo today because I couldn’t find him. What do you suppose that means?”
Dan sat and thought a moment. They had seen three men: Leo, Joe, and possibly Sheriff Boggs ride off, dressed in black, with ropes attached to their saddles.
“He could be selling the stolen cattle or stashing them away,” Dan said.
“Well, Randy Owens claims he’s missing about ten Aberdeen Angus he bought from a man in Victoria,” Jack said. “The cattle were brought to American from Europe and are rare here, in the States.”
“So, they stole from Owens after we lost them,” Dan said. “Dagnabbit!”
“I heard something else in town today, while I was searching for Leo.”
“Well,” Dan said, “let’s have it.”
Jack hesitated, sipping his tea slowly. “Joe’s betrothed and getting married next Saturday.”
Dan shrugged. “I wish him luck. Maybe we can arrest him before the nuptials.” “Aren’t you interested in who he’s marrying?” Jack asked.
Dan studied Jack’s face for a moment and then he felt his heart throb painfully. “Not April—I mean, Leila?”
Jack nodded. “It was the talk of the saloon today,” Jack said.
“After one dinner they’re betrothed?”
“Looks like it.”
“Something’s not right,” Dan said. “I’ve been following him, and he hasn’t been near the Walkers’ to court her. Far as I know, he’s had only one dinner
with her.”
Jack shrugged.
“Maybe I’ll take a ride over to see Kate and Jeremy. I have a feeling something is just not right here.”
“Wishful thinking, maybe?” Jack asked. “You know, she was promised to him by mail. So courting isn’t really required when it’s a mail order romance. Sometimes, the man marries the bride right off the train.”
“What if he was demanding she pay her train fare back if she refused to marry him, and she didn’t have the money, so she was forced to accept?” Dan asked.
“I guess anything’s possible, Dan.”
“I can’t let her marry a cattle rustler.”
“Why don’t you ride out to the Walkers’ and I’ll take over following Joe, since I can’t find Leo,” Jack said.
“Thanks, Jack. This might be a good time to give Leila her gift.”
“Dan!” Kate greeted. “How nice to see you. Come on in.” Kate held the door wide so he could enter.
“I’m sorry I haven’t been by before now, but our current job has kept us busy,” he said.
“I understand. I’ll have Gertrude serve us some tea.”
“No, I can’t stay long,” he said. “I need to speak with Leila for a moment. Is she in?”
“She’s out in the summerhouse. She seems to spend a lot of time out there, lately. Do you know where it is?” Kate asked.
“Yes, I do. Thank you,” Dan said and walked to the front door. “Tell Jeremy I said hello.”
“I will, and we’d both love to see you for dinner—any night you can make it. Bring Jack, too.”
“Thank you, Kate. I might just take you up on it—there's only so much of Rosie's stew I can take,” he said with a chuckle.
Dan removed the package from his saddlebag and walked back to the summerhouse. He stopped short when he saw her resting on the lounge chair with her eyes closed, but then he opened the door to the screened-in room and sat on the chair beside her. She never blinked. He wondered if she was asleep.
“Leila,” he whispered.
Leila’s eyes flew open and she stared at him as if in a daze. "Dan?" she said, rubbing her eyes.
“Yes. I have something for you. A wedding gift, it seems.”
Leila’s eyes closed, and she rubbed her face with her hands. “You’ve heard, then?”
“Yes, I’ve heard,” he said with a frown.
He handed her the reticule.
“My reticule!” She took it from him, opened it, and took out a framed daguerreotype, which she held to her breast.
“Your money’s still there too,” he said.
“I didn’t have much, just about a dollar.”
“Take a look and make sure it’s all there.”
Leila dug into the reticule and pulled out several dollars. “This isn’t mine,” she said.
“Of course it is. I rode all the way to Leavenworth to get it for you,” he said.
“The reticule is mine, but I didn’t have this much money—or have I forgotten that, too?”
Dan studied her face and asked the question he dreaded asking. “Do you love Joe Austin?”
Leila dropped the daguerreotype into the reticule. She looked at him while biting her lower lip. She hesitated several moments, as if composing her words before saying them.
“Mail order brides are never in love when they step off the train, Dan. They marry the man they’re promised to and they learn to love each other later.”
“What if that doesn’t happen?” Dan asked.
Leila shrugged. “I guess it’s sort of a gamble.”
Dan grimaced. “You deserve better, Leila.”
“Really? Well, it seems I can’t have better, so I’ll just have to take my chances, won’t I?” she said softly.
Dan looked down at his feet. He knew what she'd meant by that. He ran his fingers through his hair. “I’m sorry.”
“I understand, Dan, really, I do,” she said. “I’ll be fine.”
“Why isn’t he courting you?”
“We courted by mail.”
“Can’t you wait until someone better comes along?” Dan asked. “Someone more worthy.”
“Joe’s all right. It’s not his fault his brother's a train robber.”
Dan shifted in his seat. How it hurt to know she was willing to marry anyone. Why couldn’t things be different? If only he had a home and a regular job, he’d marry her so fast her head would spin.
“I care about you, Leila, you know I do,” he said tenderly.
Leila sighed. “I care about you, too, Dan. We just couldn’t make things work.”
“Will you make me a promise?” he asked.
She nodded.
“Promise me that if he treats you badly, you’ll come and find me,” Dan felt his hands ball into fists, “and I’ll kill him with my bare hands.” He stood, walked to the summerhouse door, and turned when he heard her speak.
“I promise.” Leila stood and walked to him. “Thank you for returning my reticule. The image of my folks means so much to me—it’s all I have left of them.”
“There’s enough money in there to repay Joe for the train fare, if you change your mind about marrying him,” he said.
Dan stood with his hand on the doorknob, but he couldn’t seem to turn it to leave. He stared down at Leila. He wanted to remember her the way she was that day, with her gorgeous hair flowing down her back, and her violet dress. Her eyes seemed to be begging him for something—a goodbye kiss, perhaps? No, he couldn’t handle a kiss. If he kissed her now, he’d never be able to let her go.
He finally turned the knob and stepped out of the summerhouse. “God be with you, Leila,” he said, and turned to walk to the front of the house.
Chapter 12
Once again, Leila sat in the summerhouse in tears. He’d ridden all the way to Leavenworth to retrieve her reticule. She sighed. Why would he have done that? She knew he loved her, but why couldn’t he see that having a house and job weren’t the most important ingredients for happiness. They’d find a way to get along. Their love for each other would be strong enough. She was sure of it.
Of course, she knew it was better this way since Joe had threatened to kill Dan otherwise, and she couldn’t have married him even if he’d have begged her. She was glad things had ended for them on a pleasant note.
“Leila?” Kate called.
She looked up to see Kate opening the summerhouse door. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine,” Leila said, wiping away the last of her tears.
“What did Dan want? Have you two come to an agreement?” Kate asked.
“As a matter of fact, we have,” Leila said. “We’ve agreed that anything more than friendship for us is out of the question. He even brought me a wedding gift.” Leila held the reticule up.
“Oh, I’d hoped—”
“It’s better this way. When I first saw him here, I thought maybe he was here to fix things between us. It would have pained me to have refused him, but I’d have had to. From the look of hate I saw in Joe’s eyes, I’ve no doubt he’d have killed Dan.”
“So you’re still marrying Joe?” Kate asked.
Leila nodded.
“I think you’re making a big mistake, Leila. Dan can take care of himself.”
“Maybe he could, but I wouldn’t bet his life on it. Do you know how hard it was for me not to have thrown myself into his arms and tell him everything?”
“I think I do know.” Kate patted Leila’s shoulder and sighed. “I came out to tell you I need another fitting for the wedding dress. I’m about to make the sleeves. It’s almost finished.”
“Thank you, Kate.”
Dan walked into the lumberyard building and marched into Jeremy’s office.
Jeremy stood. “To what do I owe this surprise visit?”
“I need a favor,” Dan said. “A big one.”
“No matter what it is, you have it.” Jeremy sat. “Have a seat,” he told him.
Dan took the seat on the opposite
side of Jeremy’s desk.
“I’m trying to catch some cattle thieves, but the rascals operate at night and we keep losing them. They dress in all black and use dark horses,” Dan said. “I’d like to set a trap for them.”
“And…” Jeremy said.
“And I’d like to use your place. You still have cattle, right?” Dan asked.
“I still have about twenty-five. Just enough to ensure we have plenty of meat,” Jeremy said. “I’m no longer breeding, though.”
“I want to start a rumor around town that you have a dozen of those Aberdeen Angus cattle, from Scotland. They’re rare here in the States and I think it might just lure the thieves to your place.”
“As long as there’s no danger to my wife, Leila, or my staff, I don’t see a reason to object,” Jeremy said.
“Good.” Dan stood. “I’ll start the rumor and we’ll stand guard at your place, starting tomorrow. We’ll arrive just before dark, and you won’t even know we’re there.”
“You know, Dan, Kate’s pretty upset you haven’t been ‘round for dinner. She hopes there’s a good reason.”
“There is. I’m trying to put some distance between myself and Leila,” Dan said.
“Well, I guess that’s a good thing, then. She’s going to marry soon, and then you can resume your visits.” Jeremy stood and walked Dan to the door. “We miss seeing you.”
“And I miss your cook’s dinners. If I have to eat one more bowl of stew…”
Jeremy slapped Dan on the back and they both laughed.
First thing the next morning, Jack and Dan proceeded to spread the rumor, casually, around town. Dan visited the barbershop first.
“Howdy, Frank," Dan said. "I just need a trim and a shave.”
“Sure thing,” Frank said. “It wasn’t that long ago I cut your hair.”
“I like keeping it short,” Dan replied.
“So, what’s new?” Frank asked as he trimmed Dan’s hair.
“Well, I just visited my good friend, Jeremy Walker. He’s got a really nice place. His cook is fantastic. He got some new cattle he was showing me the other day. Now…what were they called?” Dan pretended to think. “Oh, Aberdeen Angus. They come all the way from Scotland. Beautiful animals. He’s got about two dozen.”