The Cattleman Meets His Match

by Sherri Shackelford

  “I had some business up in Cimarron Springs. Elizabeth and I were worried when you didn’t show. I figure you’re a grown man who can ask for help when he needs it, but once Elizabeth is worried, there’s no going back.”

  John snorted softly. “I remember.”

  “Anyway, it was pretty easy to backtrack. I figured you’d be stopping at the fort for supplies. They’d heard of you all right. They’d been warned about your arrival. Wendell wants you all arrested and sent back to Fool’s End.” Jack waved his coffee cup through the air. “I expected a more dangerous-looking crew after the deputy’s dustup. And boys.”

  Moira made a sound of frustration. “This isn’t fair. We cleared everything with the sheriff.”

  “Evidently, the sheriff was only temporary. He’s been transferred to another town. I pulled some strings with the boys at the fort,” Jack continued. “I did what I could. Since it’s a state official making the case, I had the jurisdiction transferred to the U.S. Marshals. That means we can take the girls across the Kansas border. Marshal Garrett Cain has agreed to take over the case for me.”

  “Couldn’t you handle this?” John asked. “Throw out the whole nonsense?”

  “The deputy knows you came up through Indian Territory with longhorns. He’d have kicked up a fit if I sent them back to Texas.”

  “I still don’t like it,” Moira said. “What do we know about the marshal? Can we trust him?”

  “Don’t worry. I’ve met Marshal Cain. He’s a good man. If there’s anything that can be done, he’ll figure it out.”

  Moira paced before the brothers. “They’re children. Who cares about a few apples they’ve taken for survival? Where is the forgiveness?”

  “Wait.” Jack held out his hands. “Let’s go back a step. How did y’all end up together anyway?”

  John sketched out the story. He kept to the facts, downplaying his own role. Moira glanced between the two men. Jack Elder remained respectfully quiet during the explanation, yet she sensed he had more questions.

  “If you weren’t my own flesh and blood,” Sheriff Elder said, “I’d say you were lying.”

  John grinned. “I gave them the idea. I told them about Gramps in forty-nine.”

  “Not sure how much of that story I believe.”

  “I believe more of it now.”

  “You did good, John.”

  The cowboy didn’t reply, yet Moira sensed his pride.

  * * *

  The two brothers exchanged a glance. John studied his boots. “Moira, I can’t shake the belief that Wendell is after you for some reason. Something personal.”

  “Me?”

  Her thoughts flew back over their encounter in Fool’s End. This had gone beyond a bit of revenge for whatever disturbance her brother had caused.

  Sheriff Elder rubbed his chin. “Can you think of any reason the deputy would want you back in Fool’s End. What brought you there in the first place?”

  “I was searching for my brother. He sent a telegraph from there. Part of the message was missing, but I made out Fool’s End and the name Grey. It was the first I’d heard from my brother in almost four years. I came as soon as I could. Mr. Grey said he’d never met Tommy. Something didn’t sit right.”

  “It doesn’t make any sense.” John tugged on his ear. “Why wouldn’t he admit that he knew your brother? If he’s exacting some sort of revenge, what for? And we’re certain your brother wasn’t in Fool’s End the whole time?”

  Moira’s stomach plummeted. “I don’t know. I didn’t check. Mr. Grey said he was gone...I took him at his word.”

  “Let’s not panic until we think about this.” John touched her cheek. The gesture was comforting. “The sheriff had heard of your brother. He said he’d moved on. There’s no reason to believe Tommy was still there at the same time.”

  Her breathing came in quick, shallow gasps. “What do we know about Sheriff Taylor? What if he was working with Mr. Grey? He said there had been a dustup over Mr. Grey’s daughter. What if he was lying?”

  “No. I don’t think so. The sheriff let us leave without much of a fuss. Wendell was the one who wanted your return. If Sheriff Taylor was involved, he wouldn’t have let you leave that easily.”

  Moira shifted and Jack turned in her direction.

  “And the telegram didn’t say anything else?”

  “Not much. I brought it along. Would you like me to fetch it?”

  “Wouldn’t hurt.”

  Moira retrieved the telegram and returned in short order.

  Jack held the singed pieces between his thumb and forefinger. “What do you make of that word?”

  The cowboy leaned closer. “Looks like it starts with a w.”

  Jack tucked the papers back into the envelope and handed it back. “I can do some digging on my way back to Texas.”

  “I don’t know if that’s such a good idea,” Moira said. “I don’t trust Wendell. If you start asking questions, who knows what he’ll do.”

  “Don’t worry about me, miss. I’ve been dealing with men like the deputy my whole career. I’ll be careful.”

  An awkward silence descended and Moira realized the brothers were looking in her direction. She stood and dusted her pants. “I’ll leave you two gentlemen.”

  Jack clasped her hand in both of his. “Pleasure to meet you.”

  Moira returned his easy grin. She wouldn’t have thought it possible, what with all the trouble the girls had caused for his brother, yet he seemed genuinely at ease with her presence.

  “Pleased to meet you as well.”

  And she was pleased. Watching the two men together filled her with warmth.

  She left more confused than she had been all week. If the brothers got along so well, why was John traveling four hundred miles to get away from them?

  * * *

  When Moira moved out of earshot, Jack’s expression sobered. “You’re lucky you made it this far without a catastrophe. There are rivers and Indians and who knows what else. Not to mention those cattle are deadly if spooked.”

  “Bobcats and skunks.”

  “Huh?”

  “That’s what else is out here. Moira nearly drowned in the Snake River, Champion was almost mauled by a bobcat. And I got skunked.”

  “Who is Champion?”

  “The dog.”

  “I thought the dog’s name was Dog.”

  “Not anymore.”

  “I’ll bet you didn’t come up with that name. You’ve never been real imaginative when it came to naming things.”

  “No,” John conceded. “Actually the girls came up with that name. And now he won’t answer to anything else.”

  “Well, it’s better than Dog. That’s for certain.”

  “Which reminds me, we also ran into a group of Indians,” John said.

  “You ran into Indians.” Jack shook his head. “It’s fortunate Elizabeth didn’t know what was happening. She’d have pitched a fit.”

  “I thought I’d planned for everything,” John said. “I sure hadn’t planned for any of this.”

  Of all his brothers, he’d known Jack the least growing up. His brother’s job as a Texas Ranger had taken him to all corners of the state. He hadn’t been around much. When he’d married and taken over the role of sheriff in Paris, Texas, they’d grown closer.

  Jack glanced at the cattle. “You realize things might be hostile at the border.”

  “I know.” John blew out a hard breath. “Any chance of lenience?”

  “None. The ranchers and farmers will meet you at the border with rifles. They’re taming the West one farm at a time. They don’t want cattle chewing through their crops and bringing disease.”

  “What do you think about Texas fever? When I left, I figure the stories
were exaggerated. You know, because the farmers and ranchers didn’t want the cattle trampling through their fences and grazing on their land. After our stop in Fool’s End, I’m not so certain. I heard a few things that had me worried.”

  “It’s real, all right, and getting worse. I think in the beginning there might have been a question. Not anymore. Texas cattle carry something that’s killing off the Midwestern stock.”

  “But our stock is immune?”

  “Looks that way.”

  John pressed two fingers against his temple “I’ll see if I can sell the herd in Fort Preble. Winter is coming. I’m hoping they’ll need the stock.”

  “I’m sorry,” Jack continued. “I know the boys give you a hard time. None of us wanted this.”

  “I took a shot. It didn’t work out.”

  “You know you can always turn around and go home. There are able-bodied men for driving cattle out here.”

  “No. Robert has enough to worry about. I couldn’t see that before.”

  Jack dropped his head and stared at the reins clasped in his hands. “It changed him, losing Doreen. It changed all of us. You were probably too young to remember, but he wasn’t always like he is now.”

  “I’m only four years younger. I was old enough to remember, and too young to understand.”

  “He’s hard on you. I’ve seen that. That’s why I didn’t stop this cattle drive. I figured both of you could use the distance.”

  John didn’t mind losing face to his brothers, but starting over took time. What if Moira wasn’t willing to wait? Anything might happen between now and then.

  And he hadn’t even gotten the courage to ask her if she’d even consider courting sometime down the road. “Selling the herd is the best choice. I don’t see how kicking and screaming is going to change anything.”

  “You’re unencumbered. You can travel. You’ll have a bit of money from the sale of the herd. Go to Europe. See the continent like them fancy fellows back east. Worse comes to worst, I’ll put the homestead on the market. I can’t seem to shake that property. It’s gone through two owners and it always comes back into Elizabeth’s name.”

  John rubbed his face. “Don’t sell the property. I’ll still take over the deed.”

  “Suit yourself.”

  “I won’t need much.”

  Jack slapped his gloves against his leg and stared into the distance. “What are going to do with the horses?”

  John blinked. “The remuda?”

  “Yeah. You’re selling the herd. What about the horses?”

  “Hadn’t thought about it yet.”

  “Let me know. I have buyers. And they will pay top dollar.”

  “I might take you up on that offer.”

  “It’s none of my business, but you were always more of a horseman than a cattleman.” Jack patted his horse’s neck.

  “There’s more money in cattle than there is in horses.”

  “A man doesn’t need much.”

  “I need security if I want to build a future. If I want a family.” The words escaped before John could call them back.

  Jack faced his mount and adjusted the saddle. “Taking care of someone is more than putting a roof over their heads. That’s probably the easiest part. The hard part of taking care of someone is building their trust.”

  John kicked at the dirt. The girls had trusted him. How would they feel once they realized he was quitting? Probably they’d be happy. They’d have their pay, they were out of Fool’s End. There was help for them in Cimarron Springs.

  Jack faced him once more. “You’re doing the right thing by those girls. They’re young, they’re defenseless. You’ve gotten lucky this far. Maybe someone higher up is watching out for you. I don’t know. But anything can happen. It’s best they’re not riding the trail anymore.”

  “Believe me, I’ve thought of that.”

  “Marshal Cain is a good man. You can leave the girls in his hands. You’ve done more than most men already.”

  Hadn’t John said the same thing to himself a week before? “I have to see this through. Some of those girls have families. If I can reunite them, then I’ll have done a good thing.”

  “Even Miss Moira O’Mara?”

  “Especially Moira.”

  John didn’t want his brother reading anything into the relationship. He might have had a chance before he lost the herd. A chance of building a future for them. Now he was starting over. Moira deserved better. No matter what Jack said, she deserved someone who could provide for her. Until he knew whether or not a horse ranch was viable, he couldn’t make her any promises.

  He’d help her find her brother. That much he could do. Once they were reunited she wouldn’t have much use for a failed rancher anyway.

  John stuck his hands in his back pockets. “Can you make arrangements for us in town?”

  “They’ve got barracks set aside for visitors.” Jack led his horse toward the remuda. “You’ll hardly recognize the place. It’s doubled in size since we drove that herd up to Wichita in seventy-one.” His brother halted. “Do you trust them?”

  “How do you mean?”

  “They’re pickpockets. And how long have you known Miss O’Mara? Maybe the deputy isn’t lying after all. You think she knows more than she’s saying.”

  “She’s not lying.”

  “I trust your instincts.”

  John grinned. “I’ve been waiting my whole life for one of you to say that.”

  “If Dad had lived longer, he’d have taught us better. We tried to fill in for him. We did the best we could, but we were too young ourselves.”

  “I know that.”

  Jack strapped a feed bag onto his horse. “What’s the story on Miss O’Mara? You think she’ll settle in Cimarron Springs?”

  John sensed a deeper meaning behind the question. By the time he built up the homestead, she’d probably be married and starting a family of her own. There was no reason to believe she’d wait for him. No reason to believe the idea had ever even crossed her mind.

  “I doubt she’ll stay around long,” John replied. “I’m guessing she’ll make sure the girls are settled, then she’ll be gone again. She won’t quit until she finds her brother.”

  “Loyalty is an admirable trait in a person.”

  “Yep.”

  “And you don’t think she was working with the girls? That’s the one part of Wendell’s story that rang true. Those girls were organized. Feels to me like there was an adult involved. Someone older. More savvy.”

  “Those girls were definitely working together, but Moira wasn’t a part of it. I’ve had my doubts about Darcy. Something’s not right there. But Moira’s problems begin and end with Grey. He wants revenge for something. And I have to wonder how bad does he want it? How far is he willing to go?”

  “I’ll check it out. You know, we’re all assuming this goes back to Mr. Grey on account of the telegram. Maybe we should be taking a look at Wendell.”

  “He doesn’t seem smart enough to start something on his own.”

  “I still think it’s worth checking up on.” Jack glanced at the chuck wagon. “That does not smell like Pops’s usual mash.”

  “The food is different when you bring girls on the trip.” John patted his stomach. “I’ve never gained weight on a cattle drive before.”

  “Are those flowers?” His brother squinted at the posy of black-eyed Susans on the back of the chuck wagon.

  “Wildflowers. Wherever we go, they always seem to find wildflowers. I can’t figure it out.”

  “That’s because you’re not looking.”

  “I’m a man.”

  “Tell you what. I’ll send Sergeant Baker on ahead and stick around for lunch. You’ve been on the trail for six, almost seven days? We
’ll take the girls into town. Let them get cleaned up and sleep with a roof over their heads. We can all eat dinner in town.”

  “They’d like that.”

  “You said some of the girls have family. I can start digging up information at the fort.”

  “I haven’t thought that far ahead.” John scratched his forehead. “I know Tony has an uncle. Sarah has family, but I’m not certain she’s welcome with them. There’s no one for Hazel.”

  “What about the dark-haired girl?”

  “Darcy. That’s the one I told you about before.”

  “Cimarron Springs is a nice town. Good people. You might find your solution up there.”

  “I tried to take a shortcut, Jack. I should have taken the long way.”

  “You were in that alley for a reason.” His brother looped the reins around his fist. “Sometimes you have to sit back and trust in God’s plan. Stop pushing and step back a pace. He’ll lead you where you need to be.”

  John kept his silence. He might be the most easygoing of the Elders, but he’d never been one to sit back and wait for anything once an idea got hold of him.

  Sarah approached them, a plate in each hand. “Would you like a scoop of peach cobbler? We didn’t have any fresh so I used some tinned.”

  “Peach cobbler?” Jack’s face lightened.

  “I’m telling you, this isn’t your normal cattle drive,” John said.

  Jack accepted the plate with a grin. “I could get used to this.”

  Wishing he felt as optimistic, John glanced at the place where the girls had gathered around the chuck wagon. They’d known all along that the end of the line was Fort Preble. He’d pay them fair and square, but there was no way he was leaving them on their own. He had a bad feeling his new plan wasn’t going to go over well.

  Chapter Fifteen

  “His brother is going to change everything,” Darcy declared. “You mark my words. They’re up to something, the Elders, I can tell.”

  Moira had the uneasy feeling that Darcy was correct. “I have an idea, but I’m not entirely certain.”

  She searched for the cowboy. Somewhere along the way she’d begun to think of them as a team. With the arrival of his brother, the balance had shifted. He wasn’t consulting her any longer. Once again she felt an unaccustomed prick of jealousy. Outside of the cattle drive, he had a whole other life. A life that didn’t include her.