The pair was tied to a tree before either knew what was happening. When Elissa finally came to stand in front of them, she shook her head. “I should have known.”
Henry Wilkens, Jr. and Steven were the ones tied to a tree. “I thought you were supposed to be escorting my horses to the ranch not destroying where they would be housed.”
Steven remained silent. If he didn’t talk until he spoke to the sheriff, maybe he could strike some kind of deal. It was worth a shot.
“You and your cousin aren’t natural. You don’t deserve to have a ranch.” Henry spat at Elissa’s feet. “I’ll never stop until I see you two are ruined.”
Elissa snorted. “Actually, you will stop. After this, you’ll be locked up for a long time. And your father will make certain it happens, I’m positive.”
“You don’t know my father.” Henry struggled against the ropes. He couldn’t believe how tight Elissa had tied them. “He may have the biggest cattle spread, but he also wants your ranch. He can break his own horses without paying you for them.”
Azure eyes glowed in the dark. Elissa had to refrain from allowing her eyes to turn red. She knew by the way Henry was breathing and the way he was sweating, he was lying.
Still, the way men had treated her and Cassandra over the years, Elissa wasn’t about to fully discount what Henry had said. “You’re all talk. No stamina. And couldn’t handle either of us unnatural women.”
Steven couldn’t contain his snort at the comment. Even though he hadn’t been on the ranch long, he knew better than to confront either face to face. Burning down the stables might have worked if not for the sluts from the saloon.
“Shut up.” Henry glared at his so-called friend. Things were crumbling faster than he could keep up with. He didn’t like it. Not one bit.
“It’s wise if you both be quiet.” Elissa retrieved the reins to their horses. She easily mounted the larger of the two horses. “Not bad stock. I wonder if your pa is missing them.”
Henry’s face paled considerably. Elissa couldn’t help the laugh. The growl caught her attention. “Raven, there you are. Would you and your pups be so kind as to guard these young men?”
Raven bared her fangs. She knew exactly what these men had attempted to do. The one who had been at the ranch before had been attempting to look into her master’s bedroom. She’d made certain he’d moved on. But she had missed how he and his cohort had started the fire.
“Good girl. I’ll be back. When I feel like it.” Elissa kneed the horse until he was in a cantor. She wanted to see if the women and Cassandra had managed to contain the fire. It would take a couple months, at least, for the stables to be rebuilt.
Ten minutes later Elissa arrived at the ranch. The fire was nearly out. Unfortunately, the stables were a complete loss. “Dammit!”
Cassandra turned at the sound of the curse. She was beyond exhausted. She had been pumping the water nonstop as the women continued with the chain. They had made certain the fire wouldn’t spread to the barn, second stables or the chicken coop. But it had cost them the old stables.
Elissa easily swung off the tall horse. She tied the reins of both horses to the post of the back porch before making her way to Cassandra. She brought her wife into her arms. “I have Henry and Steven tied up to a tree.” Her voice lowered so only Cassandra could hear her. “Henry claims his pa is partly behind this. I don’t believe it, but…”
“But too many times we’ve had people who seemed trustworthy not be.” Cassandra knew her wife was only being cautious. They had to or they would lose what they were working so hard for.
“I hate to leave you and the ladies to start the cleanup, but I’m going to take the wagon into town. I’ll get supplies we’ll need.” Elissa couldn’t believe the stables were gone. “And I’ll return Mr. Wilkens’ horses and talk with the sheriff.”
“I wish I could go with you. But one of us has to be here for Emily. I’m surprised she hasn’t woken up with all the commotion.” Cassandra felt her stomach rumbling. They’d been working for hours. “Breakfast first, then we can start hauling the rubble away. See if anything is salvageable.”
“As always, my amazing wife.” Elissa wanted to kiss Cassandra before she left. But she didn’t want to waste any time. Besides, there was quite the audience. An hour just to Salem. If Mr. Wilkens wasn’t there, and it was the middle of the night, she would have to ride to his ranch.
“Be safe.” Cassandra waited until Elissa had hitched the wagon and tied the horses to the back of it. Their eyes met as the vampire drove into the darkness.
It was time to take charge. “All right. This was not the way I wanted to get to know each of you. I promise to work on learning all your names. Forgive me if I mess up. Now that things are nearly settled with the stable, everyone rest. I’m going to check on Emily before beginning breakfast.”
“Wait.” Another of the meek ones found her voice. “My name is Lily. While I’m tired, I’d like to help with breakfast. I used to cook for my family before there were too many mouths to feed.”
“I’d appreciate it. Why don’t you gather some eggs? Fried eggs, along with bacon should go a long way. Maybe toast.” Cassandra watched as Lily hustled to the chicken coop.
Cassandra made her way into the house. When she was just outside Emily’s door, she heard the sniffling. She knocked before entering.
Emily’s back was to the door. She was hugging her pillow and crying into it. Cassandra carefully sat on the edge of the bed. “Hey, Sweetheart. Are you ok?”
The child rolled over. Cassandra instantly had Emily in her arms. “I had a bad dream. I thought something happened to you and Elissa.”
“Oh Sweetheart. I should have been here for you.” Cassandra kissed Emily on the forehead. “There was a little trouble. One of the stables caught fire. There are some ladies that will be staying here. They will help rebuild it. Elissa had to get some more lumber to begin rebuilding it. But she’ll be back. We’ll always be here for you.”
Emily tightened her hold on Cassandra. She took a deep breath. Her heart was finally calming some. Just being in Cassandra’s arms helped with that. “I’m glad.”
“Me too.” Cassandra wiped the tears from Emily’s cheeks. “Now, do you want breakfast? Or do you want to attempt to sleep more. A nice young woman named Lily will be helping me make breakfast for all ten of us.”
“Ten?” Emily’s azure eyes grew wide. She hadn’t been around that many people since she had been hiding in town. It seemed like forever it was just Cassandra, Elissa, the wolves and herself.
“I know. A lot of people. But they are here to help.” Cassandra could tell her charge was tired. But she heard the rumble of someone’s stomach. “Why don’t you come sit in the kitchen with me and Lily. Then back to bed.”
“Ok.” Emily nodded as well. Cassandra rose. She held out her hand. Normally in the house, she didn’t hold her charge’s hand. But with so many strangers, she thought it might help.
By the time Cassandra and Emily made it to the kitchen, the breakfast was in full swing. Already, she was thinking Lily might be the one to take over cooking. It wasn’t one of the chores she enjoyed so much, even though she had thought she would.
Once everyone was fed and Emily was tucked back into bed, Cassandra decided she would allow the ladies time to sleep in. No one, including herself, had had much sleep.
Instead of making her way to the bedroom, Cassandra decided to sit on the back porch with the door open so she could hear Emily if she should have another nightmare.
It wasn’t long before Lily stood before her. “Is this seat taken?” Cassandra tiredly shook her head. “I wanted to say thank you again. Not just for Elissa bringing us here when we had nowhere else to go. But trusting us. Not many in town would you know.”
“Well, we’re not like many people. You’ll discover that the longer you work here.” Cassandra’s only worry. That the ladies would remain and see Elissa never aged. And then there was the day she would no
longer age.
“I’m hoping to save enough money. Not to leave this place, but to buy an interest.” Lily didn’t dare look at her new employer. It was bold since the only things Cassandra knew of her was that she was a former saloon girl, had helped with the fire and had cooked for ten people.
“That’s different than the last two. They wanted to marry one of us so they could take the ranch out from under us.” Cassandra spoke nonchalantly but it remained a sore spot.
“There are some people in this world that are pure evil.” Lily’s eyes focused on the remaining stable. Most of the women inside weren’t her friends. They had looked out for one another the best they could.
“And those same people judge someone like me.” Lily shook her head. “None of us wanted this life. Some their husband or fiancé went and died on them or deserted them. Some their families died. In my case, another baby came along and there were too many to feed. They didn’t even give me a penny just left me in Salem one day.”
Anger bubbled within Cassandra. “I understand. If it weren’t for Elissa, I don’t know where I’d be. She found me at an orphanage. It’s been an adventure of people wanting to use me for one thing or another. But I’ve always had her. As long as you work hard, we’ll always be here for you.”
Lilly’s smile was shy. She turned her head. Cassandra had her eyes closed. It took her a moment to find her courage. “You and Elissa aren’t cousins, are you?”
Emerald eyes were instantly open. They were dark with anger. She noticed Lily flinch at the expression on her face and the darkness of her eyes. “And if we were more than cousins?”
Now the smile was genuine. Lily shook her head. “I didn’t mean to worry you. As a saloon girl, I’ve entertained both males and females so it doesn’t offend me. I know it does the world and even some of the ladies in the stables. But to me, love is love.”
The words brought a genuine smile to Cassandra’s weary face. “Thank you. The way I was raised, love is love. But then, I was mostly raised by Elissa.”
“I don’t know either of you.” Lily maintained the eye contact. “I just know that you were here when we needed you. If you need help, besides just making a go of this ranch, I’ll be there. As long as I can be.”
Once again, Cassandra was smiling. The words could be rehearsed. Lily could be attempting to gain her favor. But she thought Lily was telling the truth. And she thought she could trust her. “I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”
()()()()()()()()()()()()()
Elissa hated making the hour long trip to Salem without Cassandra. She would have enjoyed having Emily with her of course. But this was something she had to do on her own since her wife had to remain on the ranch.
The moon was about to set which would mean the sun would be on the rise. Elissa grinned at the thought of how she didn’t have to fear the sun any longer.
The vampire closed her eyes for a moment. Elissa allowed her mind to open. She reached out for Cassandra. Tired. Worried. Happy. Loved.
At least Cassandra was safe. Hopefully Raven and her pups were making certain Henry and Steven remained tied to the tree. It was the only true concern Elissa had at being away from the ranch at the moment.
The town of Salem was sleeping when Elissa’s wagon rumbled into town. The saloon was even closed for the night. She knew she would have to travel to the Wilkens ranch.
Elissa and Cassandra had only been to the Wilkens ranch a handful of times. She knew the way it was just arriving before even the light of day that had the vampire nervous.
The fact there were armed men at the gate to the cattle ranch only caused Elissa’s nervousness to rise. Mr. Wilkens had a great deal more land than she and Cassandra. Cattle rustling was more of a problem than horse rustling, but this was not what she thought she would come across.
The vampire pulled the wagon to a stop several feet in front of the guards. Azure eyes took in how both tall dirty cowboys placed their hands at their hips just above their pistols.
“My name is Elissa Monroe.” Elissa made certain her hands remained on the reins and in sight of the cowboys. “I need to speak to Mr. Wilkens about his son and to return the two horses his son and his son’s associate borrowed last night.”
The cowboys turned to one another. As far as they knew, Henry had been put on a train for The East. There was no way the dark-haired woman was telling the truth. “Step off the wagon.”
A dark eyebrow rose. There was no way Elissa was stepping down until she was at the ranch house or was informed where Mr. Wilkens was. “Either get Mr. Wilkens or I’m driving right on past you. And if either of you even thinks of using those irons on your hips, I know how to kill without making a sound. I like and respect Mr. Wilkens. I’d hate to kill his hired hands.”
“A woman doesn’t scare us.” The guns were drawn and pointed at Elissa. Now both dark eyebrows rose. Elissa debated only for a second if she should kill them or just give them a warning they would not soon forget.
A dagger was in each hand before either could even ready their pistols. The daggers lodged in each one’s right inner thigh. Had Elissa wanted to, she could have had truer aim. But she figured they deserved a warning shot, if only because they owed so much to Mr. Wilkens.
Both men dropped their weapons. “Don’t pull those out. You could bleed to death before you are tended to. Get in the back of the wagon and I’ll get you the help you don’t deserve.”
Both men hesitated before limping to the back of the wagon. Groans were heard as they managed to haul themselves into the back. “I should make you clean the blood out. I’m getting fresh lumber later.”
Elissa wasn’t gentle in starting the wagon. She couldn’t keep the smile of satisfaction from her face, even if she wanted to. Luckily for the men in back the road to the ranch house was only a mile and a half.
The lights were on in the bunkhouse, but not the main house. Elissa pulled up in front. “Stay here.” She knocked on the door. A grizzly appearing man opened the door. “I have the two guards in the back of the wagon. I’ll want my daggers back after they are tended to. I need to speak to Mr. Wilkens.”
The grizzly man peered over Elissa’s shoulder. His dark head shook. “Murphy. Reynolds. Help those two idiots out of the wagon and patch them up.” He turned back to Elissa. “If you’d be kind enough to follow me, Miss Elissa.”
The vampire was surprised the man knew her name. “Mr. Wilkens described you perfectly. I’m sorry about those young pups. They don’t like to work so they take what they think is the gravy shift of overnight watch.” The man shook his head. “I’m Frank, by the way. I’m foreman.”
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Frank.” Elissa followed along. It wasn’t surprising to discover the two men were lazy pieces of garbage. It’s why they thought they could take a woman. Especially were idiots if they thought they could take a woman in dark leathers with swords strapped to her back.
The door was opened for her. “Please wait here. It won’t be a moment. Mr. Wilkens should be awake.” Elissa glanced around the room Frank left her in. Mr. Wilkens definitely had money. Everything was store bought. She hadn’t even seen the likes in the finest homes in Greece.
Mr. Wilkens came hurrying into the room he was still buttoning his shirt. “Frank tells me you injured two of my boys. I’m certain you had good reason.”
There was a darkness in Mr. Wilkens’ eyes Elissa hadn’t seen before. She could understand. If any of her employees were intentionally harmed, the person would be in for a world of hurt.
“They wouldn’t let me pass. I have two of your horses. And I have your son and Steven tied to a couple trees on my property.” All movement by Mr. Wilkens froze. “They burned down one of my two stables. So I did what I had to. I hope you will too.”
Chapter 42
Cassandra stretched. She hadn’t realized she’d fallen asleep on the porch next to Lily. Her back was protesting lying on the wooden planks for so long. Or was it the fact they had wor
ked so hard to put out the fire.
The sun was just beginning to penetrate the woods surrounding the ranch. Cassandra wondered if a second breakfast was in order or maybe just some of the cookies Emily had helped her bake two days prior.
Before Cassandra could contemplate further, the sound of a wagon and horses caught her attention. She heard the groan as Lily began to awaken. “Would you stay here and check on Emily if she should call for me or Elissa.”
“Whatever you need me to do.” Lily stood and stretched some more. She leaned against the open doorframe so that she could watch her boss and listen for Emily.
“Thank you.” Cassandra practically ran to meet the wagon. It was more than full of timber. She wasn’t certain there was enough for the entire stables when she saw three more wagons behind Elissa.
Elissa held out an arm to her wife. Never stopping the wagon, she pulled Cassandra into the seat next to her. The mortal didn’t hesitate into snuggling next to her wife. It didn’t matter that summer temps were nearly upon them. She needed the contact with her vampire.
“Mr. Wilkens and a few of his ranch hands have offered to help rebuild the stables.” Elissa circled the wagon so it was near the burnt remains of the old stables. “The sheriff is in the far wagon to take Henry and Steven into custody. Either you or I best go with him and his men. Raven and her pups are guarding the pair.”
Cassandra snorted at the thought of anyone attempting to get close to either young man while Raven and her pups were on guard duty. “Would you like to stay here and start with the rebuilding? I can start on lunch for the entire crew when I get back. Maybe have Lily help me.”
“Lily?” Elissa had noticed the young woman standing on the porch watching as they passed by. She could have sworn the young woman had a knowing expression.
The mortal lowered her voice. “Lily and I talked a little last night after things had settled down. She’d like to earn a percentage in the ranch one day. Until then, she’s happy to work with the horses, cook, clean. Basically whatever we need.” Cassandra took a breath. “And she knows we aren’t cousins.”
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