Oliver’s tone was almost frightening as he answered him. It was a low, menacing growl. “Get out of our way.”
The other man laughed. “Don’t be that way, Gyles,” he commented. “Why should we be enemies when we can be friends?”
“You’re no friend of mine,” Oliver retorted. “Now get out of my way.”
“Don’t be so rude in front of your… friend?” he stated as his eyes turned to her once more. Amelia stepped closer to Oliver unconsciously.
Oliver’s hand tightened around her hand immediately. “We’re going.” He stopped short as the man stepped across his path once more. His shoulders were broader than Oliver’s and he was at least two inches taller. His arms were like thick logs.
Don’t fight.
Amelia’s silent plea was interrupted as the man continued his taunts.
“Must you? I was hoping we could all become acquainted. I would love to know the name of this pretty little lady.” He smirked at her. “What’s your name, pretty lady?”
“Back off,” Oliver replied in a low menacing tone. His hand reached out to the man’s chest, holding him at bay.
The man glared at Oliver’s hand. “Or what?” he asked as his eyes rose to meet Oliver’s.
Oliver raised his chin and took a deep breath. He dropped his hand. “I’ve got better things to do than stand here and talk to you,” he retorted. He stepped around the man, but this time he didn’t try to block their path. Oliver stalked away and Amelia eagerly followed him.
Amelia didn’t look back as Oliver led her from the scene. She could hear the man calling after them, saying that he looked forward to seeing them again, but she kept her eyes on Oliver.
His expression was grim long after the man was gone. He didn’t speak as they went to the general store to collect her material. Amelia wasn’t sure if she should ask about what had happened and who the man was, but as they traveled home she could no longer endure the tense silence.
“Oliver?” she said gently. She knew he wasn’t in the best mood and she didn’t want to make it worse.
“Yes?”
“Who was that man?” she asked timidly.
His nostrils flared. “No one.”
“He didn’t act like no one. He acted as if he knew you,” she pressed gently.
“He’s no one for you to worry yourself about,” Oliver replied.
“I wasn’t going to,” Amelia continued. “I just wanted to know…”
“Leave it alone.”
Amelia blinked rapidly at Oliver’s sharp response. His eyes were fixed ahead and he was still refusing to look in her direction. Whoever that man was, he had gotten under Oliver’s skin in a way she had never seen anyone do before. There was obviously something between them, but Oliver refused to explain. Whoever he was he had the ability to upset deeply. Amelia wondered if she would ever find out why. She could ask Melvin, he might know. However, she wasn’t sure Oliver would appreciate that, and she didn’t want to add to his unhappy mood. She was going to have to let it go, for now.
Chapter Thirteen
It was a bright day. There was a cloudless sky above as far as the eye could see. The sun shone down its molten rays over the undulating landscape. Atop the hill, where the main house was located, one could see for miles. In the far distance dark specs dotted the sea of green and brown, the cattle grazing.
It was a day that would make anyone smile. Yet, Oliver Gyles was on edge. More than a week had passed since he took Amelia to town, and since that day, he’d avoided returning there. He tried his best to evade Amelia’s questions, but he knew that he couldn’t keep it up forever. He was more determined than ever to see to it that the ranch stood out and made its mark. That would be retribution enough.
Oliver was working in the north fields of the property. He hoped to clear the land of the remnants of tree stumps and brambles that marked the area. He had a thought to plant peas the next season, but the land needed to be made ready before he could proceed. Melvin agreed that it was a good idea. They would try it and see how the people in town responded. If there was demand, then they would expand the plot.
“Did you hear?” Melvin questioned as he rode up the small hill to where Oliver was removing a large tree stump. He stopped his horse beside him.
“Hear what?” he asked in returned, as he turned to look at his friend. A frown instantly marked his features. What could it be now?
“I just came back from town and I heard that some rustlers attacked the Gerber Ranch the other day. They got off with thirty head,” Melvin informed him. “Sheriff Manchester said they’ve hit some other ranches over in Oakstead and now they seem to be headin’ this way.”
Oliver shifted his weight. Rustlers. They were the last thing they needed. They were just two men. They couldn’t handle a gang of men determined to take what belonged to them.
“We need to get the cattle in,” he stated. The hoe was forgotten and the tree stump, too, as Oliver climbed onto his horse, which was grazing nearby, and rode down the hill, across the field and back toward the barn. He wasn’t about to let anyone take what he’d worked so hard for.
“Ollie,” Melvin called after him. “What’re you thinkin’?”
“I’m thinking that we need to get the cattle closer to home so they’re easier to defend. We’ll keep them in the corral for a few days while we see how things are looking. If they are headed this way, we can’t afford to take any chances. It’s just you and me.”
“And Amelia,” Melvin interjected. “What do we tell her about this?”
Oliver stopped and turned immediately. “Nothing,” he declared. “Amelia doesn’t get involved in this.”
“Involved in what?” her voice called behind him.
Oliver spun around to find her stepping out from behind the log pile. She smiled at him and there was only one thing that came to his mind.
Sunshine.
Then, his mind drifted to that day in town and the way that man had eyed her.
No one looks at her like that.
“What were you saying?” Amelia asked again as she got closer.
Oliver cast a cautionary glance in Melvin’s direction. He sighed and turned back to her. “Nothing that you need to worry about.”
Amelia peered up at him. Her brow wrinkled. “Worry about what?” she asked as she stepped closer to the horses, near enough to reach out and touch her.
Oliver looked down at her. The last thing he wanted was for her to worry, but he could not hide everything from her. He would tell her the truth, but he wouldn’t allow her to get involved in it. Protecting the house was not her responsibility. He didn’t want her putting herself at risk.
“Sheriff Manchester informed us that there are some rustlers in the area,” he explained. “They attacked a ranch several miles away, closer to town. There’s a chance they might come this way so we’re taking precautions.”
“That’s terrible. Was anyone hurt?” Amelia asked concerned.
“I don’t know,” Oliver replied. He turned to Melvin. The other man shook his head.
“Sheriff Manchester didn’t say,” Melvin stated.
“What do we need to do to protect the ranch?” Amelia asked. She looked from him to Melvin and back again.
Oliver smiled. “You? Nothing at all,” he replied. “Melvin and I will be fine out here. We will take care of everything.”
Amelia continued to frown. “Are you sure? If they do come here, then what? How can I help? There has to be something I can do.”
“We can handle it,” Melvin assured her. “Just me and Oliver.”
He placed a hand on Amelia’s shoulder. “You don’t have to worry. You aren’t in danger here. We can protect this place.” He smiled warmly. “You just get back to work and carry on as if nothing happened. There is no reason to believe that they might come this way. They might turn full around and head in the other direction.”
“If you’re sure,” Amelia replied skeptically. She flashed a demure smile at
him. Her hand immediately reached up and tucked tendrils of her golden hair behind her ear.
So beautiful.
“We’re headed out to bring in the cattle. We’ll see you when we get back,” he informed her. His eyes lingered on the slender contours of her neck and waves of gold that fell over her shoulder.
“All right,” Amelia replied. She lifted her eyes to his face once more. She smiled, turned and walked back to the house and her work.
The moment Amelia was gone, Oliver felt a hand on his shoulder. “What was that, Ollie?”
“She didn’t need a reason to be afraid,” he said calmly. He looked at Melvin. “Besides, what can she do to stop men intent on taking the cattle?”
“But what if something happens?” Melvin questioned. “If they show up?”
“Then we’ll handle it,” he replied. He looked at Melvin. “I don’t want her worried unnecessarily. If we have a reason to be concerned, then we’ll make her ready. Until then, we let her live in the peace she came here for.”
Melvin nodded. “All right.”
“Get fresh horses ready and lassos, just in case,” Oliver instructed as he slipped from his saddle. “I’ll go get us something to take to eat on the ride.” He patted his horse’s flank. “We need to have all the cattle in before it’s dark and by now there’s no telling how far they may have roamed down the east plain. It could be a while out there.”
Melvin nodded and turned toward the barns. He rode away and Oliver watched him go. He took a deep breath and cast his eyes upwards. If the rustlers did come, then they were going to need some help.
“Lord, look after us,” he commented, he marched down the small hill to the house.
Amelia was sweeping the room when he walked in. Her hips and hair swayed with the movement of her arms. She turned at the sound of his entry, smiled and continued what she was doing.
“I thought you’d be gone by now,” she commented as she went about her work.
“It might be a while,” Oliver stated. “I thought I’d put together something for Melvin and I to snack on.”
She nodded. “I’ve already finished up lunch.” She stopped. “Do you want me to fix it for you?”
Oliver smiled. “That won’t be necessary. I can get it myself. You carry on with your work. I’m sorry you’ll be eating lunch alone today.”
“It’s all right,” Amelia replied. “It won’t be the first time.”
“I know, but it isn’t quite the same eating in the field as it is eating here with everyone,” Oliver commented.
Amelia chuckled. “What did you do before I came?”
“I don’t know,” Oliver answered. “I’m just glad you did. This place is a little nicer with you here,” he mused.
A soft laugh left Amelia’s lips. She set her hand on her hip and propped against the broom. “Only a little?”
Oliver shrugged. “Maybe more than a little,” he continued to tease. He observed Amelia closely, the way she held herself and the way her cheeks rose when she smiled, the soft pink hue of them.
They lingered together for a moment before Oliver excused himself. He had important things to do and the sooner he got to them, the sooner he could return to Amelia’s company.
“I better get along,” he stated.
Amelia nodded and her expression changed, became concerned. “Be careful.”
“We will,” Oliver replied before he left the room.
That night the house was peaceful as Oliver helped Amelia clear the dishes from the table. The cattle were corralled, and he was tired from the unexpected added work. Still, he felt a lot better knowing that the animals were safely home.
He stood at the sink and began to dry the dishes as Amelia washed them. He stood next to her, their arms just brushing past each other as they each went about their part in cleaning the dishes.
“You both have a good night now,” Melvin declared. “I think I’ll turn in early.”
“Goodnight, Melvin,” Amelia called. Her hands were covered in suds as she washed a plate.
“Night, Melvin,” Oliver added. He gave the other man a nod as he dried the cup in his hands and set it aside.
Amelia and Oliver stood beside each other in silence after that. However, Oliver’s heart was anything but quiet. It beat so loudly in his chest that he could feel it pounding in his ears.
“Did you get everything done today?” Amelia asked calmly as she continued to wash the dishes.
“Just about,” Oliver replied. “What didn’t happen today will happen tomorrow,” he continued. “I can only do so much. The north field still needs preparing for planting, but that isn’t a rush. Tomorrow I’ll start again, and maybe have it ready by the week’s end.”
“You do a lot for one person,” Amelia agreed. “You really take pride in this place.”
“This is my home. Of course, I take pride in it,” he stated. He looked at her lightly. “You should, too. This is your home as well.”
Amelia’s brown eyes turned and looked up at him. She smiled brightly but didn’t say anything. A rosy hue tinted her cheeks. Oliver wanted to touch it and feel the warmth of her skin beneath his fingers, but he didn’t. He kept the dishtowel in his hand and dried the plate he had plucked from the sink.
Oliver didn’t hear the crack of the gun until after the glass in the window pane shattered. He grabbed Amelia immediately about the waist and hit the floor, cradling her gently beneath him as he covered her body with his. He lay there for several long minutes with his ears trained for the sound of more gunfire.
“What was that?” Melvin called as he rushed in with his shotgun in hand. He looked at where they lay on the floor and then raised the gun to his eye as he took cover behind a post and aimed the weapon at the broken window.
Oliver was breathing hard as he looked down at Amelia. “Are you all right? Are you hurt?” he asked in a rush. His eyes started to scan her body for signs of blood. There were flecks of red on the front of her dress, but nothing greater than that. Oliver found where the glass had cut tiny marks into her arm.
Amelia didn’t speak. She lay there trembling and breathing hard.
He stroked her hair comfortingly, “It’s all right. I think it’s over now. You’re safe.”
“I thought they wouldn’t come this way,” she said through ragged breaths. Her fingers were hooked into the sleeves of his shirt. Oliver could feel her nails scratch against his skin as her fingers tightened at another unexpected sound. “What was that?”
Oliver looked at Melvin. Someone needed to make sure everything was all right.
“I’m going out to check,” Melvin declared, wordlessly understanding the look Oliver had given him. A moment later, he rushed out of the door with gun raised. Oliver stayed with Amelia.
He shifted his weight off of Amelia and sat on the ground beside her. He helped her up and began to inspect her injuries. Amelia sat quietly as he did so, allowing Oliver to look after her without complaint. It was nothing serious, little nicks along her upper arm, but nothing life-threatening.
Amelia was still breathing hard. She was scared. Oliver didn’t blame her. He took her in his arms and hugged her to him. Several moments later they were still on the floor when Melvin returned.
“There ain’t no one out there,” he informed them. “The corral is sound. Whoever it was, they’re long gone.”
“The rustlers,” Amelia said shakily. She looked at Oliver questioningly.
Oliver had his doubts. He met Melvin’s gaze and the other man nodded. It seemed that he felt as Oliver did. Rustlers wouldn’t shoot through a window for no reason. If they were coming for the cattle they would never have bothered with the house but sought to get the cattle out unnoticed. No, this was something else. Something personal.
He helped Amelia to her feet and led her to the bathroom to clean up her wounds and clean the blood from her dress. She was still nervous and shaking as he wiped her arms and face. The stains in her dress would take more work than he had time
for at that moment.
“I’m sorry you got hurt,” he stated as he wiped her arm with the cloth.
“You said we would be fine,” Amelia said softly.
Oliver shook his head. “I guess I underestimated them,” he replied. Oliver was unwilling to share his thoughts with her. It would only make her more nervous and afraid. He didn’t want that, not when he couldn’t be sure what the truth was.
“I think you should get some rest,” he suggested as he cleaned the few specs of blood from her neck. “You’ve had a long day and a shock. Melvin and I will go out and patrol the property to make sure nothing else happens. Tomorrow, we’ll go into town and report this to the Sheriff.”
For the Love of a Wounded Cowboy: A Historical Western Romance Book Page 12