By the time she took the eggs into the kitchen, Ben had placed the milk by the churn and Iris was awake.
She looked up from her place at the table. “I didn’t want to come out there where that mean old hen was.”
Amanda poured a glass of milk and set it in front of her daughter. “I’ll make your breakfast, Dear. Did you sleep well?”
Iris nodded. “Can I have flapjacks?”
Amanda prepared them and set them in front of her daughter. “I ate with Daddy and Papa.”
She started dinner cooking while Iris told her about a dream.
“Next time we go to town, I’ll get you a slate and chalk so you can draw pictures for me. You can also learn your alphabet so you can spell out your name.”
“Will I go to school?”
“Not for a while. There aren’t enough children at Morgan’s Crossing for a teacher so Mrs. Morgan teaches children in the mornings. There’s no full school yet so I’ll be your teacher.”
“And Daddy?”
“No, he has to take care of the animals and growing our food. When he comes in at night, he’s tired and just wants to enjoy being with us.”
Iris had just finished her food when the sound of horses galloping caught her attention. She rushed to the door. Garrett and Rusty led their horses to the barn and handed the reins to Monty. After a brief palaver with Ben and Monty, the two headed to the house.
She stood back to let them enter. “What’s happened? Are Preston and Papa all right?”
Garrett took off his hat. “We were out checking on the cattle on the far side. We saw vultures and rode over there. Someone had killed a steer and cooked part of it over a campfire. We followed their trail until they fired on us from cover. We were in the open, so we took off and found Preston and Tom finishing the irrigation. They’re right behind us, Ma’am, but we wanted you to know what’s happened.”
“Thank you. You’re sure Preston and his father are both all right and will be here soon?”
“Yes, Ma’am” He gestured with his hat. “I can just see them riding this way. Give them another five minutes.” He clapped his hat on his head and headed for the barn.
What should she do? She judged the time at about eleven, so she should begin dinner. She started the potatoes to boil and opened a can of green beans. Her brain was only half focused on the food and she scolded herself. Her husband and father-in-law would be dog-tired and didn’t need burned or half-cooked food.
“Iris, you need to set the table. Papa and Daddy are on their way.”
A rider rode into the yard and she thought the man was from Morgan’s Crossing. He conversed with Garrett and then turned around and rode out.
About that time, Preston and Papa rode up. They dismounted and she could see their fatigue. They washed up at the horse trough then went with the other four hands into the bunkhouse.
She pulled the roast from the oven. What a silly mistake. She was so preoccupied she’d forgotten she’d cooked potatoes, onions, and carrots with the meat. Oh well, they could have creamed-potato pancakes with supper.
By the time Preston and Papa came into the kitchen, she had dinner ready to set on the table. This time, neither man had taken time to strip off his muddy clothes or boots. They were safe, and that was all that mattered right now.
“What did the man from the mine say?”
“Snyder didn’t show up for work last night. His stuff’s gone from the boarding house. Must have left as if going to his shift and kept going.
“What do you have planned?” She set the platter of meat and bowls of vegetables on the table, along with the bread she’d baked yesterday.
“Staying right here. I reckon they’ll come to us soon enough.” He passed the meat platter to his father.
Papa took a big serving of everything that came his way. “Garrett and Rusty are turning in so they can help watch tonight. Reckon I’ll do the same soon as I eat.”
She studied her husband’s face. “You’ll nap, won’t you, Preston?”
“Guess I’d better. We don’t know when they’ll strike, but I want to be wide awake when they do.”
Iris slid from her chair and tugged on Papa’s sleeve. “You promise you won’t get dead either?”
Papa’s smile shone with affection. “Well, Princess Iris, I sure plan to be around for a long time yet. But, you have to promise to mind real good. If your Mommy tells you to do something, you do it fast even if it doesn’t make sense. You promise?”
She nodded and climbed back on her chair. “I always do what Mommy says.”
After they’d eaten, she sent Iris to take her nap. Papa went for his own rest and Preston joined her in cleaning the kitchen.
She sank her hands into the soapy water. “Helping is nice of you, but you should go lie down. I’ll be there soon.”
He kept drying dishes. “I’m pretty keyed up. Reckon drying dishes will soothe me some.”
Soon, they’d tidied the kitchen and laid down for their nap. She pulled the quilt over them.
He snuggled her against him. “Listen, if the house is attacked, you and Iris go to the cellar.”
“But what if, heaven forbid, they set the house on fire?”
“Pull out the rack where the canned stuff is stored. Behind those shelves is another small room and a tunnel. The opening is about fifty feet away where those bushes are. Papa and I planted them to disguise the outlet. You may have trouble opening the door, but stay there until I come for you.”
He nuzzled her neck, his voice solemn, “If for some reason Papa or I can’t get there, wait for several hours before you try opening the door. Remember your promise to take care of Iris.”
She turned and buried her face against his chest. “Oh, Preston, forgive me for bringing this to you. No wonder you’re angry with me. But, I only wanted a normal life for Iris and me, not to cause this terror.”
He patted her back gently. “I know. We’ll talk about things when this is over.” He held her against him.
Neither of them could sleep for a few minutes. She was near frozen with fear. He shifted his weight but held her close.
He exhaled, sounding frustrated. “I need sleep. I can’t afford to face them this tired.” He dropped off and his hold on her relaxed. She lay listening to his strong heartbeat, praying it remained strong.
Chapter Nineteen
Vern Baxter left the train at Sweetwater Springs. He’d seen the Snyders leave at the stop before this, but they hadn’t seen him. He’d signaled the conductor, who’d already spotted the gang.
After leaving the passenger car, he walked along the platform. He stopped a man standing nearby. “Which way to the sheriff’s office?”
The man pulled his waistcoat aside to display a badge. “You must be Baxter. You see the men we’re looking for?” He turned and walked toward the town.
Vern kept in step with him. “Got off the stop before this one. Not even a town, just a water stop. Unloaded horses and rode off. If you’re not going to Kincaid’s, I need directions.”
The other man sent Vern an incredulous stare. “I’m going. No time to lose. How many did you see?”
“The four who killed the guard.”
The sheriff said, “Now there’s five. Man from the mine walked off the job. I figure he met up with them somehow.”
Vern was disgusted. “They must have some kind of code. Telegraph operator showed me a copy of the wire that told them she was here. Durned if I could figure out how they’d know where to meet.” He pulled the piece of paper from his pocket and showed it to the sheriff.
Sheriff Mather read the wire. “I can’t decipher any code either, but they must have something in mind.”
At his office, the sheriff grabbed his rifle and saddlebags. “Hard ride to get to Kincaid’s place.” He turned to one deputy. “You’re in charge ’til I get back.”
“You have a posse?”
“They’ll meet us at the livery. Small town, word gets around fast.”
Sure enough, as he and the sheriff walked to the livery, four other men joined with them. With Kincaid and his ranch hands, they’d outnumber the Snyders. That might or might not be enough.
They mounted and the sheriff yelled, “Come on, let’s ride.”
***
Gunfire awakened Preston from his nap. He pulled on his boots and grabbed his pistol. He’d left his rifle over the kitchen door.
Papa ran down the hall behind him. “I’ll cover the front.”
Amanda rushed after him. “Preston, wait. You can’t just rush out there and get shot. Check around first.”
He frowned at her as he lowered his rifle. “I hadn’t planned to leave the house without inspecting from inside. Looks like my men are in the barn and bunkhouse. They’re being fired on from two directions. I’d bet the others are sneaking around to the other side of the house and barn.”
“What are you going to do?”
“Whatever it takes. You take Iris to the cellar like I explained earlier. Take a lantern and keep your gun with you. Don’t come out until Papa or I come for you.”
“I don’t want to leave you, but you’re right. I have to make sure she’s safe.” She went to get Iris.
The little girl was frightened by the gunfire and didn’t want to go into the cellar.
Preston said, “Princess Iris, you have to do exactly as Mommy says. Things will be all right, but you and Mommy have to hide for a little while.”
Amanda said, “We’ll be safe and like we’re playing a game. Lots of children like to play in the cellar. I’ll tell you about people who even made houses in cellars.”
When he’d made certain they were hidden, he closed the trap door and scooted Papa’s armchair over the handle. Wouldn’t fool anyone for long but that was the best he could manage.
Preston strode to the back window and peeped out. As he’d suspected, he spotted movement. One man waited behind the new privy. That left two more somewhere.
He hated to break the window’s glass, but he leveled his rifle and waited for the man to make his move. When he did, Preston shot him in the leg. Let him try running with that wound. He sent another shot and hit the injured man’s rifle as the man crawled back behind the privy. Likely that shot hurt his hand, too.
Two more men lurked out there and he waited for any sign of movement. Suddenly, a bullet sent slivers showering out of the window frame. He heard running and waited for an assault.
Two men sprang from hiding, one firing while the other ran towards the house. Preston aimed carefully and hit the running man in the chest. Surprise showed on his face before he fell forward in the dirt. The other man disappeared behind the smoke house.
“Papa, you all right?”
“Never been better. The boys got one of them sidewinders.”
“I killed one and wounded another but there’s one behind the smoke house.”
The sound of riders coming caused one of the remaining uninjured culprits to throw out his rifle and come out with his hands raised. He heard a horse gallop away as the remaining man lit out.
“Papa, please let Amanda and Iris out of the cellar. One man’s getting away.” He ran out the front door.
He yelled at the posse, “One man escaped.” He commandeered the horse one of his men had vacated and lit out after the killer. He didn’t have time to check, but he thought one of the other riders followed him.
The dust from the escaping man led Preston on the trail. He rode Garrett’s horse, a good runner. The man he chased didn’t know the country and Preston did.
By now, he’d figured where they must have camped last night. The killer headed into a row of trees along the river. Durned if the scoundrel hadn’t ridden right across his field of oats.
Preston skirted the field, hoping to cut off the other man before he got to the trees. If the polecat crossed the river, he’d be hard to find. The man veered east and looked like he was running to the creek and the trees that led onto Harper land. Preston sure didn’t want this low-down coyote tangling with the Harper women who lived that direction.
He was gaining on the man, who rode as if panicked. A cold-blooded killer like that would hardly panic so it must be a trick. Into the trees they went. Preston slowed now that they were in a place where the yellow-bellied cur could hide.
The rider behind him caught up. From Amanda’s description and the star on his jacket, he must be Amanda’s friend Vern Baxter. Preston nodded to him and focused on the man they pursued. They walked their horses now, looking for prints.
At the creek, there were several places suitable for an ambush. Preston signaled the other lawman to split up and veer slightly apart. He dismounted and walked quietly on the pine needles, avoiding sticks and twigs that might snap and give away his position.
Baxter did the same. The man was good, Preston would give him that. He moved across the ground as silently as if he never touched the land.
Through the trees, Preston spotted a horse. That had to mean the outlaw had hidden behind the creek bank. Racing from tree to tree, Preston watched for any sign of a person or the tip of a rifle.
A shot rang out and, on his right, Baxter slumped against a tree trunk. But Preston had seen where the shot was from and raced to confront the killer. He surprised the crook but the man turned his rifle on Preston.
Preston fired at the same time as the other man. A bullet whizzed by his ear and stung like fire. The nasty piece of work who’d shot at him dropped in the dirt.
Preston kept his rifle aimed at the scoundrel in case he was still able to fire that rifle. Not so, for the man was dead. Preston stood looking down at him, sorry to have killed another human, but glad this one would no longer bother Amanda.
Holding his shoulder, Baxter joined him. “Good shooting. That’s Clyde Snyder, the gang leader. Dead is the only way you can be sure he won’t retaliate against Mara.”
“I’ll load him on his horse and take him back. That is, unless you need to ride this horse. Preston supported Baxter’s good arm. “Can you make it to the horses?”
“Been hurt worse.” In spite of his wound, Baxter smiled. “’Course I was younger then.”
Preston pulled off his shirt and used it and his handkerchief to bandage Baxter’s wound. “That’s not good but I hope will help until we get you to the house. Monty, one of my hands, is good at treating things like this.”
“Handy since you’re a long ways from a doctor.”
“There’s a good one in Sweetwater Springs, but you’ve seen how far a ride that is. In a wagon the trip takes most of two days.”
Preston dragged and hefted Snyder’s body over his horse’s saddle then retrieved the dead man’s rifle. He led the horse by the reins as he and the lawman walked back to their mounts.
“Baxter, will you call my wife Amanda? She’ll explain why after all this is over and you’ve seen a doctor, but it’s important.”
Baxter sent him a perplexed stare. “Don’t make sense, but if that’s what she wants, I’ll do it. And we’re almost kin so call me Vern.”
They reached their horses and Preston helped the injured man mount. “You sure you can stay in the saddle?”
“I’ll do my durndest.” In spite of his assurance, he was pale and one hand gripped the pommel.
“She’s praised you for looking after her and saving her life. That places me in your debt.”
“Pay it by taking good care of her.” The lawman was sagging in the saddle and Preston feared he’d fall.
“You think your horse could support both of us?”
“Long as we’re walking. Why, you think you have to mollycoddle me?”
“My wife would have my hide if I let you fall off your horse and get hurt more than you already are.”
“I wouldn’t like it either, but I’ll be all right. You just lead us to your house so I can visit with your wife.”
“Remember, she’s Amanda now. She thought she was safe with her new identity but Bertie Snyder walked into the local store and
recognized her.”
“Bad luck for her, but at least now I’ve found her. I have a copy of the wire Bertie sent to his cousin. Dadblamed if those four weren’t living with their uncle on a farm right outside my town. Bertie sent the wire to his pa but I knew it was meant for Clyde. The telegraph operator is a friend of mine and always alerted me when a crook received a wire or anything suspicious came across the line.”
They arrived at the ranch house to find the sheriff, his posse, and the ranch hands drinking coffee in his kitchen. Amanda was at the stove frying up steaks and potatoes. The captured men sat on the floor in a corner with hands and feet tied. Papa leaned against the doorframe that led to the parlor. Iris laid out the cutlery, but the table was too small for this many people.
He recognized four chairs from the bunk house as well as those from the porches. “Monty, get your medicine kit. The marshal’s been shot.”
Monty clomped out as fast as Preston had ever seen him move.
Vern plopped onto one of the vacant chairs.
Amanda turned and flew to hug Vern Baxter. “Oh, Uncle Vern, I’m so glad to see you.”
He gave her a one-armed hug. “Mighty happy to see you. We have a lot of catching up to do. But, don’t let those steaks burn, girl.”
Iris rushed to Preston. “Daddy, you didn’t get dead.”
He lifted her and hugged her. “I promised I’d do my best, Princess Iris.”
She let go of his neck. “Two of those mean men did. I don’t know why they’d want to hurt Mommy, do you? She’s a good Mommy.”
His eyes met Amanda’s over Iris’ head. “Yes, she is.”
Iris put her hand on his cheek. “Daddy, what happened to your ear? You got blood on it.”
“Just a scratch, Princess.”
“Mommy can kiss it and make it well like she does for me.”
The men in the room chuckled.
Monty returned with his doctoring kit and set it down by Vern. “Let’s take a look at that.” He untied Preston’s makeshift bandage. “Went clean through and didn’t hit nothing vital.”
Montana Sky: Amanda's Rancher (Kindle Worlds) (Loving A Rancher Book 1) Page 16