The Trailrider's Fortune

by Shannah Biondine

  "And those would be?" Miranda prompted.

  "He's strong and independent. He has an amazing sense of humor. He can be stubborn and impossible, or perfectly reasonable and sweet as a lamb. Either way, sometimes I just want to kill him," Sparkle admitted with a tiny smile. "And I'm happiest when I'm with him, wrapped in his arms. That's why I came here."

  "Those are some of the same reasons I love Zach," the other woman agreed. "Yet I've never thought of my husband as being anything like Rafe. Why did Rafe think your relationship was over? He told me you'd found someone else when I was nursing him back from his gunshot wound."

  "Rafe and I were very close. I didn't really have another suitor. We had a misunderstanding. I came to explain and see if he'd give us a second chance. Have you never had an argument with Mr. Donaldson? One that took a little work to patch up?"

  "Oh, a good many of them." Miranda's laugh was musical. She pressed a hand to her rotund abdomen. "The last big set-to we had was…about seven months ago. It's heavenly making up, isn't it?"

  Whatever doubts Sparkle harbored about this woman's acceptance were gone. Miranda didn't dislike her. Miranda was frank and amusing; and, like Travis, bore a striking resemblance to Rafe. So strong it was impossible to look at her without seeing something of the man Sparkle loved.

  "I know you and your mother never approved of Rafe's line of work."

  Now Rafe's sister gave Sparkle a hard look. "I don't approve of what he does for money, but neither do I consider it to be 'work.' A workman builds or repairs things. Rafe does just the opposite. He destroys people and lives. Rafe weakens our social system and risks his own life doing it."

  Interesting…almost the polar opposite of how Rafe viewed it.

  Miranda shook her head. "Travis was beside himself when Driscoll brought Rafe back here more dead than alive. We nearly lost him, and he knows that, yet I don't think he appreciates how rough it is for us living with the constant fear he might be killed. I applaud your stand, Miss LaFleur. I'll support you any way I can. Rafe has to put up his gun if he means to take a wife."

  "Thank you," was all Sparkle managed to get out after that speech.

  "You won't thank me for also reminding you that a liaison with my brother is wrong. Immoral. We can't pick and choose which of the Lord's commandments to obey, Miss LaFleur. A good Christian obeys all of them. I'll stay here with you. This bed's big enough for both of us. Rafe won't be permitted to abscond with you to that cabin again. Not that I condemn you for the passion you feel. Lord knows, Rafe needs a strong woman passionately committed to him."

  Sparkle tried to hide her smile. "He does?"

  "Indeed. Travis would be content with a girl to simply hold his hand and gaze into his eyes, but not Rafe. He delights in excess. His appetite for excitement is what sends him roaming with a gun strapped to his hip. But the need for your affection is stronger than that appetite. It could force him to give up his wild ways, Miss LaFleur."

  "That sounds so oddly formal. Please call me Sparkle."

  "Only if you'll call me Miranda, or Rannie. I hate that, but when Rafe was young, he couldn't pronounce my name. The nickname stuck."

  "Well, Miranda, I hope you're right. I pray Rafe will agree to change his way of life, but I'd rather have him just the way he is than lose him again."

  "Oh, I'm right." Miranda handed Sparkle clean towels from a dresser drawer. "I can't claim to know him better, but I've known Rafe longer than you have. He's needed you his whole life. He's a wastrel and a murderer, who's probably already damned for eternity." She sighed, dropping her gaze. "But he's also my brother. I want him to be happy, to father children and have a full life. He'll come around to our way of thinking, you'll see."

  CHAPTER 25

  Rafe spent much of the day checking fences for Travis, trying to concentrate on his task. He didn't have much luck, nagged by the way things had been left dangling between him and Sparkle. Maybe it was best to give her some time, but he didn't think she'd change her mind about his peacemaker.

  She'd urged him to change his ways since the first time she told his fortune, and she hadn't even known him then. He'd been a stranger to her. When they became friends, she'd scoffed at him for risking his life to one day buy a saloon. Always gotten testy over his prediction that he had a short future, hated to hear about the bullet fated to claim him some day. Been mad as a hissin' cat over the stupid flesh wound Bowlegs Barker had given him.

  He abruptly wheeled Snatch around and set his spurs to the sorrel's flanks. She'd been furious over that. Christ! Why hadn't he seen it before?

  He tied Snatch to the porch rail and marched into the parlor. Sparkle was on the sofa with a little girl in her lap. They were looking at Sparkle's cards. "Well now, look at who's come to visit," he called, winking as the moppet glanced up.

  "Uncle Rafe!"

  Kayla bounded from Sparkle's lap and raced to him, giggling when she was swept up into his arms.

  "Now, wait a second. If you're callin' me Uncle Rafe, you must be…Whoa, that can't be right, though. You can't be Kayla," he taunted, grinning. "Kayla's no bigger than a minute, while you're a half-grown lady. Darned pretty one, too. Almost as pretty as the one over there." He nodded toward Sparkle. "You like the lady with the fancy picture cards? She's mine, you know."

  "You brought her here?"

  Rafe's gaze met Sparkle's. "Nope, she came on her own. But I'm real happy she did. She's my best friend in this whole world, and I've been thinking she should stay with me for good."

  Kayla's arms tightened around Rafe's neck. "Can she, Uncle Rafe? She has lots of pictures and funny stories. She say you saved her from some bad, mean men and Snatch helped you."

  "Time for your nap, young lady," Miranda announced, reaching for the toddler.

  Rafe refused to relinquish his hold. "You're too far along to be totin' her now. I'll take her. Where do you want her?"

  "In Travis' bed." He nodded and followed his sister down the hall.

  He was surprised to find Sparkle fighting tears when he returned to sit beside her on the sofa. He held out his red bandanna. This time she accepted it and wiped her eyes. "I came to talk about this mornin'," he said gently.

  She reached for his hand and squeezed it, still weeping.

  "Somebody put another slug in me? You're upset like outside the doc's in Wichita, when those idiots tried to steal Snatch."

  "I'm not upset," she sniffled. "I'm touched."

  He openly perused her. "Where, in the head?"

  "I never imagined you'd be so wonderful with children. You're the man who calmly explained about hiring out to kill Slocumb. You see, you don't have to hunt desperadoes, Rafe!"

  "I see we're still stuck on that." He sighed. "Maybe you should've taken that city doc fella up on his proposal. Then you could be proud of your man for savin' lives, instead of ashamed of him for takin' them."

  "I'm not…" She paused and met his dark gaze. "I'm not ashamed of you. I'm just not strong enough to live in fear. I told you what happened to my mother. I hate the thought of you hurt."

  "That's part of what I wanted to talk about, because to be honest, I'm plumb confused. You were mad at me last night for bein' thinner and havin' been shot. You got all ticked when I got shot in the arm by horse thieves. I recollect I asked then if it would've been okay if I'd just had them arrested without gettin' a scratch. It was the flesh wound you were mad about, wasn't it?"

  "Of course! I was frightened half to death. When Frazer said you'd been shot, I dropped my bag and literally ran to the doctor's surgery, terrified of what I'd find when I got there. I'm scared out of my mind whenever you go into a dangerous situation. I love you."

  "So you get all mad when I'm hurt because you love me? That's why?"

  "No, I get mad because all the men I've hired still haven't managed to kill you yet," she snapped back. "Of course it's because I love you! Why else would it upset me?"

  "So you were already in love with me in Wichita that day? You were so boil
in' mad, you wouldn't hardly talk. When I asked if I was in the way, you only yelled louder and insisted you were made that I was hurt."

  "Oh, so what. What difference does it make when—"

  "A whole world of difference to me, darlin'." He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close, a warm smile lighting his face. "Big Al was wrong. It was never about just likin' me in bed. You just now admitted you loved me before I ever took you the first time. When I'd only kissed you and held you in my arms one night. That's why you wanted me to be your first, ain't it? Why you chose me out of all the men in that trailhead. You were sweet on me even then."

  Her cheeks went pinker than they had being caught naked in the cabin. "Sparkle, I ain't never seen you turn this red. I'm right! You were in love with me a long time ago."

  She squirmed a bit. "I suppose I must have been. Maybe Joe Brooks just gave me a convenient excuse to throw myself at you, as you always suspected."

  "Lord, but I'm glad you did." He kissed her deeply, then sobered. "I think I knew I'd never get free of you the second I looked into your eyes that first time outside the Scarlet Lady. But I stormed off and left you in Kansas City cause I was so frustrated. Truth is, I never believed you really cared about me. Never really deep down believed you could. I feel rotten that I made you come crawlin' back. It should've been me crawlin' on my hands and knees to you."

  "You didn't understand the situation, Rafe."

  "Neither do you. Remember when I told you last night about bein' a hired gun?" She nodded, her features wary. "It's been a long while that I've been ridin' trails, makin' bounties. All that time, I never set much store by true love or the Good Book—or anything else but gunpowder and reward money. But God gave you to me…dropped you right off that porch onto my feet. Maybe we were meant to be together, like you say. But I like to think you're livin' proof He ain't turned His back on me."

  "You say the sweetest things sometimes."

  "I'm a sweet person. Just ask anybody."

  That brought a deep chuckle from behind them. They turned to find Travis listening from the kitchen doorway. "Come on, sweet Big Brother," he taunted. "Want to show you somethin' out in the barn."

  When they were alone, Rafe discussed his plans and paused to grip his brother's shoulder. "Listen, I said a few things I didn't mean before. You stood by me during a rough time. Sorry for bein' so ornery."

  "Like when you told me to kick her off the ranch. I knew you didn't want me to. We're even. I'd never sell Snatch. In fact, I'd buy him from you. Damned sorrel's turned out to be a decent stud animal. Three of my mares are in foal since we let him out in the pasture. Horse works faster than you do."

  Rafe laughed, but sobered as he met his brother's eyes. "I owe you one, Travis. For Sparkle. I was bein' so stubborn, could have let her get away, and that would have ripped it for good. Thanks, Little Brother."

  Travis had supper with the family, but immediately afterward got cleaned up and rounded up the hands to attend a local barn dance. Rafe and Sparkle settled in the parlor for a quiet evening alone, but their intimacy was short lived.

  A pair of cowhands burst through the front door, congratulating Rafe on his upcoming marriage. Travis had made the announcement in the bunkhouse. The boisterous voices drew Miranda from the hall. Within minutes, Kayla was awakened and crawled into Rafe's lap. He was drawn into the kitchen as the cowboys straggled out the back door. He'd just taken his place at the trestle table when several more men came through the house, laughing and joking.

  "Well, this fixes my flint but good," Rafe grumbled, surrounded by his fiancée, his pregnant sister, and his young niece. "Won't be a chance of anyone hirin' me once the men hit the waterin' holes with this tale. Worked years to build a fearsome reputation, only to have you gals turn me into a Nancy-boy in the blink of an eye. I can hear the talk now. Rafe Conley gave up poker and whiskey. Saw him sippin' hot chocolate with womenfolk. Havin' a dad-blamed tea party."

  He flashed his darkest glower at Miranda. "I'll have to walk around with my fly open to prove I still got a set of balls."

  "Raford," Miranda hissed, glancing at Kayla.

  "Sorry." He downed his chocolate and reached for Sparkle's hand. "Well, good night all. We best turn in, darlin'."

  She didn't budge. "She's sleeping in the back bedroom with me," Miranda informed him. "There'll be no more visits to that cabin until she's your lawful wife."

  "Miranda, I'm leavin' day after tomorrow. Won't see her for a spell and—"

  "You won't be seeing her the way you saw her this morning until you bring the preacher out here."

  Rafe swore beneath his breath and released Sparkle's fingers. "Rannie, when Ma died, did she nominate you the family pain in the ass?"

  "As a matter of fact, she did. She said because I was five years older and unquestionably wiser than you—and since you were always the troublemaker of the household—I should ride herd over you. It's a job I never wanted and don't particularly enjoy. I'll gladly relinquish the chore to Sparkle. Thankfully, she's up to it."

  Two days later, Rafe rode out of Pueblo.

  CHAPTER 26

  The front door opened and the unfriendly blonde Rafe recalled only too well stood in the doorway, no hint of a welcome on her face. "Afternoon, ma'am. I don't know if you remember me."

  "Mr. Conley." She glanced past him, frowning at the empty porch and walkway. "Isn't Sparkle with you?"

  Rafe flushed. This was damned thick humble pie, no matter how he sliced it. "No, Miz LaFleur. She doesn't know I've come. She's still back at the ranch. I'd like to have a private word with Jace, if I might. I apologize to both of you for leaving the way I did."

  "He should be home soon. Please come in."

  Rafe perched on the edge of the settee, vividly aware of his other disastrous visit to this same parlor. "Sparkle told me that he got fixed up at the hospital and he's walkin' now. That's great. You must be real pleased to have him up and about."

  "Yes. He's doing so well, he works a few hours each afternoon at the library. Would you like a cup of tea while you wait?"

  "That would be fine, ma'am." They moved to the dining room. Rafe politely sat drinking tea while Majesta struggled to make small talk. Thankfully, Jace came in the front door just as she was about to pour a second cup. He walked without the aid of a crutch or cane, Rafe saw, but not smoothly yet.

  "Good seein' you again, Jace," Rafe said as the man entered the parlor.

  Jace moved forward, slowly extending his right hand, but looked uncertain. "You remember Mr. Conley, Jace," Majesta encouraged. "Sparkle brought him to visit us once before. He'd been courting her before your accident. They met in Wichita and he's from Colorado."

  "You're the one who decided against marrying my sister." Jace pulled his hand back before Rafe could shake.

  "Is she?" Rafe inquired. "She told me you're not actually kin. Said your ma just took her in years ago."

  The other man shook his head and hesitated. "Forgive me. I still get a little muddled at times. No, we're not blood. That's true, but I think of Sparkle as an adopted sister." Jace lowered himself into a nearby chair, blue eyes riveted on Rafe. "I must say, I'm very surprised to see you."

  "I know, and as I told your wife, I'm sorry for my rudeness before. Never said goodbye. You folks were right kind and polite, but Sparkle and I had—"

  "A falling out. She was most distressed. She and I had our disagreements, as well, and she's not staying with us any longer. She promised to write, but I haven't heard from her."

  Majesta spoke up again. "He says she's at his ranch."

  Rafe ran a hand over his freshly barbered hair and toyed with the hat brim in his hands. "She's been stayin' with me and my brother in Colorado. The housekeeper and ranch foreman are playin' chaperone. She came to look me up when she left here."

  This was met with stilted silence from both LaFleurs. Rafe went on. "The long and short of it is this. I mistook her feelin's. The wrong things were said, and we had to…well, maybe it to
ok some time apart before we each had settled down enough that we could get together and talk about it." His color deepened. "You know how things can be between folks."

  "I know it's not easy to get to the heart of the matter with Sparkle," Jace agreed.

  "We're getting' married," Rafe informed him, looking him dead in the eye. If Jace was going to balk at the notion, here was his chance.

  "I thought as much," his wife nodded with a smug expression. She glanced over at her husband.

  He took the news calmly.

  "That's why I've come here," Rafe said. "I want things straight between us, too, Jace. We'll be like brothers-in-law or somethin'. Got me a brother-in-law already and we get on just fine. I reckon it won't be quite the same, but I'd like us to get along. Don't reckon we can unless I straighten out a few things with you."

  "Well, Sparkle's a grown woman. She may have told you that we had differing views on several topics, but if she's decided to wed you, I have no objection."

  "She didn't want you to know the truth." Rafe looked Jace squarely in the eye without flinching. "I told you I was partners in my brother's spread. That ain't so. The fact is, I been hirin' out as a freelance gun for a long while. I only stay at my brother's place for the winters. I met Sparkle at a saloon where she worked. She wasn't never a schoolmarm."

  "Majesta and I discovered that," Jace answered dryly, with a meaningful look over at his wife. Rafe could see he clearly didn't appreciate folks keeping things from him. Not that Rafe blamed him one bit.

  He took a deep breath. "She wants me to hang up my gun. Before I do, I'd like some answers from you. You were involved in the money from Texas."

  "Yes, and…? What do you need to know?"

  "Where exactly did she get thousands in stolen cash, and whether she put herself in danger to get it. I've followed too many outlaw trails myself to accept that one's stone cold, no matter how long the loot was buried. Anyone likely to come lookin' for either of you, specifically for my bride as soon as the preacher leaves?"