“Where have you been?” Mandy asked, suddenly furious.
Sally laughed and pulled Mandy into her arms again. There was considerable talking as Sally told of her adventure.
“You ran in here on a broken leg?”
“I’m a McClellen. Of course I did.”
Wise Sister rested the baby in Mandy’s arms. “Time for him to eat. I’ll see to helping you clean up.”
Mandy took the little boy.
Wise Sister tidied the room, changed the sheets with only a little help and a minor break in the talking, and made sure all was well.
“I’m no help at all.” Sally sank down on the bed, her eyes fixed on the tiny baby. “I wonder what I expected to do if I’d gotten here alone?”
Mandy looked away from the baby and started to cry again. “I’m so glad you came.”
“Too late to do any good.”
“No, you’re doing me a world of good right now, just by being here.”
The door to the cabin opened again and they heard someone speak.
“Is that Luther?”
“Yep, he and Buff and Logan must have finally caught up.”
“You’ve talked a lot about Logan?” Mandy made it a question.
“I’ll explain later. Where’s Sidney?”
Mandy’s tears dried up, and she looked down at her son. With one trembling hand she reached out to touch the little hand that flailed near the baby’s cheek. With a few gentle brushes, Mandy got the baby to open his hand and cling to her finger. “Sidney is in town.”
“You’re sure? We met a man named Cooter on the trail, and Luther was afraid he meant you and Sidney ill.”
“Cooter?” Mandy looked up. “Sidney was planning to fire him.”
“He held a gun on us. He and the man chasing me lit out, and Luther thought they were heading here.” Sally told Mandy briefly what had transpired.
“I wonder if he hurt Sidney.” Mandy was exhausted and overwrought. That was surely the only reason that speaking of Sidney possibly being dead didn’t give her a single twinge of sadness. She remembered her vow, as her child was born, to need no one, to stand on her own. Maybe that’s why she wasn’t overly worried about her absent husband.
Sally leaned close and whispered, “Who is that man out there?”
“What man?” Mandy knew exactly what man.
“A tall blond man who looked to be coming in at the same time I was.”
“Tom Linscott. He brought a team by right when the baby started coming. He stayed around.”
He did all her chores and took care of the girls when she couldn’t. He saved her sanity. “I wouldn’t let him in here, of course, but I reckon I did some hollering there toward the time the little one came. I must have scared him into ignoring my orders that he stay out.”
Sally’s brows arched nearly to her hairline. “He was coming in?”
Considering all she’d been through, Mandy was surprised to find out she had the strength to blush. “Must’ve been.”
Wise Sister interrupted. “I take the baby. Show him to the menfolk. They will wish to know how you and the little one fare.” She gently lifted the baby from Mandy’s arms, adjusted the tiny blankets a bit, and said, “You need to sleep.” Then she took the baby and left.
Mandy looked at her son as he disappeared. “Who did you say that is?”
Sally gave Mandy a huge hug. Mandy clung to her sister as if Sally was a floating log in a rushing river. A life saver.
“That’s Wise Sister. She’ll take good care of the baby, Mandy. When I was hurt and broke my leg, she took care of me. She’s almost as good a doctor as Beth.”
“How’d you say you broke your leg again?” Mandy’s eyelids seemed to weigh about ten pounds each.
Sally lifted her battered cast and Mandy perked up, but soon her eyes grew heavy again. “I’m going to let you rest for a while.” Sally squeezed Mandy’s hands then rose from the bedside.
Mandy held on tight when Sally tried to let go. “You won’t leave, will you?”
Sally hesitated for just a second. “Of course I won’t leave.”
For some reason Mandy was sure Sally was lying. “Please don’t leave.”
Tears burned her eyes again and she remembered how she’d decided to never need anyone again. But maybe she did need her sister. For just a little while.
“I’ll be here when you wake up, Mandy. I’m here for a little while. Don’t worry about a thing. You’ve got lots of help.”
I don’t need any help. Mandy thought it but couldn’t quite manage to say it out loud for fear Sally would believe her and leave.
Sally’s brow furrowed as she watched Mandy.
Mandy almost begged Sally to stay in the room with her. And that reminded Mandy again that she’d taken a vow to never depend on anyone again. She let loose of Sally’s hands.
“You get some sleep now. I’ll take care of your little ones.”
Well, she’d start being independent just as soon as she woke up from her nap. “Thank you, Sally. I’m so glad you’re here.”
Mandy’s eyes fell shut as she heard the door close, leaving her completely alone. Her last thought as she felt herself sinking into sleep was she’d have cried her head off if she hadn’t been so tired.
Sally emerged from the room to find quite a party going on.
Luther held Catherine on his lap. The little girl was grinning and tugging on his beard. The tall, blond stranger held two-year-old Angela as if they were old friends. Wise Sister held the baby and stood next to Buff, who admired the little tyke, as proud as a grandpa rooster.
Sally limped over to Logan’s side. Her foot didn’t even hurt anymore. The cast was hanging by shreds of fabric. As soon as things settled down, she’d cut it the rest of the way off. As she stood by his side and looked at the people here, she could almost see him sketching the scene in his head.
Everyone was talking quietly, if they were talking at all, except Angela, who was jabbering away to the stranger. Sally caught the word “horsie.”
“Yes, I have a big horsie.” The stranger smiled at Angela, bounced her on his knee, and listened to her as if every word was etched in gold.
Who was he?
Logan smiled down at Sally. “Your sister’s okay, then?”
“Yes, she is. She’s fine. She was glad to see us, but she managed the whole thing herself. She’s a tough woman.” Sally looked at the three little ones. All three little more than babies. Her sister was tough indeed. “I’ve never even met my nieces before.” Afraid her voice would break, Sally swallowed hard before she went on. “And a nephew. They shouldn’t be so far away from family.”
“Sidney is her family now.”
Snorting, Sally looked sideways at Logan. Was she going to do this? End up somewhere so far from loved ones that her children never knew their aunts and uncles and grandparents? Was that a reasonable life? To give up everyone else for a man? It might be a good deal if it was the right man, but how could anyone know? Mandy had adored Sidney. Sally remembered Pa’s unhappiness with Mandy’s choice, but Mandy would not be turned aside from having him.
Luther turned Catherine so she straddled his knee and introduced the little girl to her new brother. Once Catherine’s attention was caught there, Luther looked up. “We need to get ready for trouble.”
“What trouble?” Tom Linscott responded immediately. Sally noticed he wore a revolver on his hip, and his weathered skin and sharp blue eyes spoke of living a hard life and conquering a hard land.
Luther explained about Cooter’s threats, speaking calmly to keep from upsetting the children. “We need to put someone on lookout through that gap. If we own the high ground, no one can get in. Anyone who lives in here ought to have sense enough to post a guard.”
“Where’s Sidney?” Sally hadn’t even though of him until Luther spoke of someone needing more sense.
“He went to town.” Tom faced Angela outward and began bouncing her on his knee. Good thing, because the
little girl might have been frightened by the fierce anger on Tom’s face. He let none of it sound in his voice, and he kept jiggling Angela as if he didn’t have a care.
Everyone in the room fell silent. The baby chose that moment to howl.
“See da baby.” Angela reached up and slapped Tom in the face, then looked up and laughed. Tom smiled back—but there was no smile in his eyes.
“We need to post a guard.” Sally looked at the wounded warriors around her—Luther still covered in blood, Buff needing his leg tended. Wise Sister needed to do the tending. Logan probably ought to be at least sitting down. Tom was healthy but this wasn’t his problem.
That left her. “I’ll go.” Her cast was so battered she didn’t think it was doing any good anymore. But her leg seemed to be holding up.
“I’ll go.” Logan stepped forward. He looked reasonably steady. But had the man ever even aimed a gun?
Sally couldn’t help but not feel reassured.
Luther jabbed a finger at Sally. “You need to help with the young’uns. I’ll go.”
But Sally thought Luther looked unsteady under his gruff exterior.
“I’ll go,” Tom said. “I don’t mind staying up all night. I just came way too close to helping deliver a baby. I probably won’t sleep for a month. And I’ll probably have nightmares for the rest of my life.” Tom stood with Angela in the crook of his arm. “But if that no-account Gray comes riding through that gap, I can’t promise not to fill his backside with buckshot.”
All things considered, Sally wasn’t sure she could make that promise herself.
“Then tomorrow I’m going to ride in to Helena.” Tom handed Angela to Buff. “Find Sidney.” Tom drew his Colt as soon as his hands were free. “Kick that worthless excuse for a man in the backside for going to town when his wife was ready to have a baby.” He cracked open the revolver. “And send what’s left of him home.” Tom checked the load with quick, practiced motions then snapped the gun shut.
“Then I’ll contact the U.S. marshal.” Tom returned his gun to his holster with a soft whoosh of iron on leather. “And give him a description of the two varmints who drew their guns on you folks.” Tom settled his Stetson more firmly on his head. “I’ve seen Cooter.” With one tug, Tom drew his hat down nearly to his eyes. “If his big brother looks as much like Cooter as you say—”
“He does,” Luther interjected.
“Good, then I can describe ’em both well enough that the authorities will know just who to look for.” Striding to the door, Tom reached for the knob. “Then I’ll make sure the sheriff rides out to find the body you left behind.” He turned the knob hard as if crushing the doorknob was a substitute for crushing an outlaw—or Sidney. “And then I’ll send a wire.” Tom looked back, sliding his eyes over each of them.
Sally knew they were a battered-looking group. She suspected he was assessing their fitness to stay here and take care of Mandy. What was Mandy to him?
“And get ahold of someone who knew Colonel McGarritt.” They must have measured up because Tom turned back to the door and jerked it open. “So they can get a bead on the men who killed the group you were riding with and wipe ’em out and put an end to the danger Mandy is in.” Tom stormed out, slamming the door behind him.
Which set the baby to crying again.
“A man of action.” Sally looked after him, impressed. That’s the kind of man she should be marrying. She smiled up at Logan. Too bad for common sense, she was in love with the paint slinger instead of the gunslinger.
Wise Sister took control. “Sally, you get a bedroll and sleep on the floor in Mandy’s room.” She bounced the fussing infant. “I’ll take the youngsters into the other bedroom and get them settled. Their eyes are heavy. They’ll sleep soon.”
Wise Sister turned to Buff. “Then I’ll see to your leg. It needs tending. All of you men find a spot on the floor and get some sleep. We’ll need you at full strength in the morning.”
A woman of action. Sally was glad someone was taking charge.
Or course, Sally would have liked a bit of time alone with Logan to try and reassure herself that loving him was enough to overcome their differences. But who could stand up to Wise Sister?
They all obeyed like a herd of mindless sheep. Mindless, wounded sheep
Twenty – nine
Mandy woke to find an Indian in her bedroom.
She’d have screamed if she thought it was real. Probably a dream. Her eyes fell shut.
“No, come back. It’s morning.” The lady gently rocked Mandy’s shoulder.
Mandy realized her shoulder being rocked was what woke her to begin with. She felt sleep ease away. It was the kindest wake-up she’d ever had. Mandy moaned and stretched, aching oddly, still mostly asleep.
“The baby needs to eat, little mama.”
“Baby?” Mandy’s eyes flew open and focused. She’d had the baby. “Where’s Tom?”
Mandy clamped her mouth shut. That wasn’t the first question she should have asked.
The baby let out a thin yowl, like a hungry kitten, and Mandy sat up, groaning at the battering her body had taken yesterday.
“Let me help, Mandy.” Sally slid an arm under Mandy’s shoulder.
“Sally!” Everything came back to Mandy in a rush. Mandy’s eyes met her sister’s, and they launched themselves into a hug.
While her little sister, who was taller than Mandy these days, held her in arms made tough by long hours doing a man’s work, Mandy felt that stupid, weak urge to weep again.
That thin cry sounded again.
Sally eased Mandy back then smiled. “Hi. Yeah, I’m here.” She propped a rolled-up blanket behind Mandy’s shoulders.
Wise Sister carefully helped Mandy settle the baby in to a meal.
“What time is it?” That was a dumb question. What difference did it make what time it was? It was feeding time. That would be her only clock for a long time. Except it felt like she’d slept a long time. And she’d expected to be awake all night caring for a baby.
“The sun rises already in the east.” Wise Sister, that was the Indian lady’s name. Shoshone.
With a clear head and no baby being born, Mandy could recognize the dress and the beadwork as Shoshone. She looked at Sally and saw that Sally was wearing a doeskin dress similar to Wise Sister’s. How had anyone gotten Sally into a dress?
“I can’t believe I slept all night.” Mandy’s head cleared more with every word. That full night of sleep had been incredibly healing.
“We tended the little one,” Wise Sister crooned, smoothing back Mandy’s hair. “You needed rest.”
Mandy took a few deep breaths and enjoyed the presence of women. So wonderful to have a woman around. Then her shoulders squared. She was the big sister, the pioneer wife, the tough Texas ranch girl, and the fastest gun and deadliest shot in the West … and she’d believe that until someone proved her wrong.
“Where have you been, Sally? What happened to you? Are you all right? Tell me everything even if you already went over it last night. Did you say you’ve got a broken leg?”
Sally lifted her leg up. It looked fine. “Wise Sister cut the rest of the cast off last night. I feel almost whole again after I got shot off a cliff.”
“What?” Mandy felt her brows slam down over her eyes. “Start talking. I want to know everything that’s happened.”
Sally jerked her chin, sat down on the bed, and started at the beginning.
The baby was almost finished with his meal by the time Sally got to yesterday.
“Cooter! He held you at gunpoint?” Mandy’s fingers itched to get her rifle. The nursing baby slowed her down.
“I think he’d have just shot us where we stood except Luther and Buff were a few steps behind some undergrowth. Buff was shot in the leg and Luther had to stop the bleeding. Wise Sister and I were tending Logan, who was knocked insensible after he dived off that cliff to save me.” Sally kept taking fascinated peeks at the baby. “Even with two guns held o
n us it was too risky for the outlaws to start shooting. Cooter struck me as a cautious man and a thinking man. Which makes him mighty dangerous.”
“The yellow-haired man stands lookout on the gap into your home,” Wise Sister said.
“Tom.” He was still here, still taking care of her. Mandy swallowed and turned her thoughts away from how much she admired him. Which made her think of her husband and how much she did not admire him. “What about Sidney? Did he come home? Do you think Cooter killed him?”
Sally’s eyes widened.
Mandy realized how she’d sounded. Her voice had been too brisk, too indifferent.
“We don’t know. Cooter talked about finding the mother lode then held the gun on us until his brother, Fergus, could get away. He didn’t say anything about where Sidney was. Luther’s sure Cooter was talking about you and Sidney and all your gold. The two of them rode off, and we headed here fast, afraid they were coming straight for you.”
“No, there’s no gold here.” Mandy turned all the possibilities over in her mind. “I’m sure Cooter knows that. But I’m sure he’s has been working out a plan to get his hands on it. Somehow. He wasn’t referring to a direct attack. Or at least I doubt it. Sidney put the gold in a bank in Denver and made sure people far and wide knew it so there’d be no point in attempting to steal it from here or there. He picked one that’s got a safe that has never been robbed. Cooter must have some idea about the money, but I have no notion what it might be. I don’t see how he’d think coming here would help him.”
Sally nodded. “Good, then there’s no immediate threat.” Sally then told Mandy what Tom planned to do with his day.
Mandy relaxed. “That’ll put the U.S. marshals on the trail of the right men. It’ll make this area dangerous for them, and if they’re not caught, it’ll be because they quit the country, at least for now. But I very much suspect they’ll be back.”
“We’ll be ready for ’em,” Sally said with a mean look in her eyes that Mandy had missed very much.
“Yes, we will. Now, who’s Logan?” Mandy watched fascinated as her mean, dangerous little sister turned all pink and shy.
Sophie's Daughters Trilogy Page 57