Tom shook his head, sputtered one last time as though he was trying to say something, and breathed his last.
Watts twisted the end of his mustache with grim realization. William Harpster was still at large. Not only that, but there were several members of The Stockman’s Association to arrest for accessory to multiple charges.
He sighed. It was going to be a long day. He stood to his feet.
A bullet sank into the ground by his foot, and he heard the report as he dove for cover, realizing even as he did that had he remained squatting by Roland for even a second longer he would now be a dead man.
He tucked into a roll and came up on the other side of a still partially smoldering section of log wall that hadn’t burned completely to the ground. His gun nestled snuggly in his palm as he came out of the roll, and he spun to face the barn, cowering behind the wall. But he didn’t fire a return shot yet.
He’d known a man once that shot his wife in the dark as she came back in from the outhouse, and he’d made it a policy ever since not to fire unless he knew who he was firing at.
He twisted his mustache and studied on the situation a bit.
Rocky heard a shot as they galloped toward William’s place, and the column of smoke on the horizon was not a good sign. His jaw hardened. He and Cade pressed their horses to go faster.
Seconds later another shot rang out, and he glanced over at Cade. “We might be too late,” he yelled.
Cade didn’t reply, just kept bent low over the neck of his horse as they raced forward.
They pulled up on the ridge above William’s house to study the layout. All was now quiet. From here, they could see Sheriff Watts ducked down behind a portion of still-smoking wall, his gun drawn, and a body sprawled in front of the house.
He glanced up at them and gestured toward the barn, holding up one finger.
One man in the barn. Rocky rubbed his face. William Harpster? Or someone else?
The barn, a large building, stood just off to their left. From this angle they could see there was a door in the side as well as in the back.
He turned to Cade. “We need to settle this before Jason gets here. I don’t want him doing something he’ll regret, and he was plenty angry.”
Cade nodded. “Noticed that.” He studied the situation a moment. “Sheriff’s got the front of the barn handled and has pretty good cover. From this direction you can see the back and the right side. I’ll swing around wide and cover the left. If the sheriff keeps his attention on the front and we both move in when I get into place and whistle, we should have this done in no time.”
Rocky nodded and gestured for the sheriff to wait for a minute. Cade turned and rode swiftly for the other side of the barn as Rocky shucked his rifle and swung down from his horse, leaving it ground tethered.
It was only a moment before he heard Cade’s bird-call whistle and gestured for Sheriff Watts to keep William’s attention on the front of the barn.
Rocky lay down and started to belly-crawl toward the barn from one sage to the next. Lord, keep us all safe and help us to apprehend this guy.
From the corner of his eye he saw Sheriff Watts remove his hat, place it on the end of his pistol, and then raise the crown above the top of the smoldering wall. The loud crack of a rifle split the air, and he quickly dropped the hat down. A second later the sheriff returned fire, placing the bullet into the ground a good five feet in front of the barn door.
That was good thinking. Then there would be no chance of a bullet piercing a wall and accidentally hitting either Cade or himself.
He was out of sight of the sheriff now, and there was only open ground between him and the side barn door.
A movement to his left caught his eye. It was Cade gesturing that he would go in the back door. There must not be a door on the other side of the building then.
At the front of the barn another shot rang out from the sheriff’s pistol, followed by return fire from the rifle.
Cade held up his fingers, counting up, and on three both men broke cover and raced for their respective doors.
Rocky hoped this would be over in a matter of seconds.
At the soddy, Jason carried Nicki inside and laid her on the bed, leaving her in Brenda’s care. He sent Conner off to find Dr. Rike and then switched his saddle to a fresh horse.
Ron stepped up beside him. He chewed on a piece of hay for a moment and then spat on the ground. “Anger can make a man do some pretty stupid things, sometimes.”
Jason stilled, recognizing the warning in the older man’s tone. His jaw hardened, but he nodded his acknowledgment as he tightened the cinch and swung into the saddle.
He was coming into William’s yard from the west when he saw Rocky break free from crouching behind a juniper bush and rush for the side door of the barn. Off to his right Sheriff Watts had just returned fire to the barn. The house smoldered, a heap of charred rubble.
He calculated the scenario. Rocky would have to pause to open the side door before he could move inside to apprehend William. The sound of the door opening might give him away. There needed to be a vivid distraction to keep William’s attention on the front of the barn. He swallowed. He might have a chance of rushing in from the front, but there was a long space of open area between him and the barn.
Rocky was only five steps from the side door when Jason made his decision and kicked his horse past Sheriff Watts, galloping for the front door of the barn.
“Son!” he heard the sheriff call from behind him.
Rocky glanced up, his eyes going wide, but kept on toward the door, gun in hand.
From the front of the barn Jason heard a shot.
Felt his horse stumble beneath him, then catch itself.
And then he leapt out of the saddle, pistol nestled against his palm, and took the last six steps in a zigzag sprint, energized by sheer anger.
He felt searing heat burn along his jaw as he burst from the sunlight into the darkened interior of the barn. He tucked his head and somersaulted across the floor at an angle to where he presumed Harpster might be. At least as a moving target he would be harder to hit than one standing in blatant contrast to the sunlight outside. A loud crash reverberated in his ears and echoed all around him. God, I’d like to live through this, please.
Rocky shouted from somewhere in the shadows toward the back, pulling Harpster’s attention away from Jason.
No! Jason blinked, his eyes just beginning to adjust to the interior.
Toward the middle of the barn he could see William swinging around toward Rocky.
Jason raised his gun. “Put down the gun, Harpster!”
The man kept moving, ignoring Jason’s command, raising his gun toward Rocky.
Three shots rang out, one echoing on the heels of another. The two men in his vision both collapsed.
“Rocky!” Jason’s heart was in his throat.
“Rocky!” That was Cade’s voice.
Two bodies lay sprawled on the floor—Rocky, near the side-door, and William, in the center of the room. Jason rushed toward Harpster to make sure he would be no more of a threat.
The man sprawled, unconscious, on the floor.
Jason bent and felt for a pulse. It was there, but faint. One bullet had taken the man low and on his right side, and the other had cut a furrow along his scalp that oozed blood. Jason kicked the rifle away from the man and then stooped to pat him down for other weapons.
Sheriff Watts came through the front door just as Jason heard Cade’s exclamation from where he’d squatted near Rocky. “Rocky! You trying to take ten years off my life? Or are you just aiming to get some nice attention from the pretty Victoria Snyder when we get home?”
Stark fear laced Cade’s tone, and Jason’s blood washed cold.
Watts stooped to turn William over on his belly. “I got ’im. Go see ta yer friend.”
Jason stood and started to turn toward Rocky when something caught his attention. An old, worn-at-heel pair of boots was tossed in the corner of o
ne stall. He’d bet his bottom dollar the print they made would be familiar.
“Jason, a little help!” Cade called.
Jason pulled his attention from the boots and rushed to Cade’s side. A puddle of blood was pooling under Rocky’s right shoulder and Cade, stripped to the waist, pressed his shirt to the front of the wound. Jason immediately stripped off his own shirt, noticing that it was already slick with blood across one shoulder. He blinked at it and swiped a hand across his cheek. It came away bloody.
He snorted and swiped the blood onto his pants. Carefully folding the bloody patch to the inside he pressed his wadded up shirt to the spot where the bullet had exited Rocky’s back, then eased Rocky back down to lay on the ground. His weight would keep pressure on the makeshift bandage.
Thankfully the bullet had only gone through the thick muscle along the top of his shoulder. Since there didn’t appear to be any broken bones, it would heal quicker.
Rocky grimaced. “Wouldn’t you know I’d get shot when there wasn’t even a pretty gal around to lessen some of the sting of it. All I’ve got is your ugly mugs to look at.” He took a breath and squeezed his temples with one hand’s fingers and thumb. “Did we get him?”
Jason nodded. “Yeah, Sheriff is cuffing him now. You did good.”
“You saved my life.” He looked hard at Jason, pain glazing his eyes. “He had the drop on me. I was having trouble adjusting to the dim light. He’d stacked a couple bales of hay right inside the door, so it took me a bit to get in. When I heard all those shots, I was sure your next job was gonna be as a sieve, and just came in yelling to get his attention off you.”
Jason grinned. “It takes more than a couple of bullets to take down a Jordan…you know that.” Rocky attempted a grin.
Cade eyed Jason seriously. “It looks like you came close.”
Jason gingerly felt his jaw as Cade stripped off his bandana and handed it to him. Jason took it and pressed it to the cut. A twinkle leapt into his eyes. “Guess God’s still got plans for this old hide of mine.”
Cade sighed and scrubbed a hand down his face. “I’m so glad you two are all right. I came running in the back door and stepped on a rake that was lying there. It sprung up and smacked me so hard I was seeing flashes of light. Next thing I know bullets are flying, and everything is over.” He glanced toward Sheriff Watts. “I’m gonna go see if the sheriff needs any help.”
Jason and Rocky stared at each other. As Cade walked away, both burst out laughing, then grimaced in pain and settled into quiet chuckling.
21
Nicki smiled as she placed the last warm tamale in its cornhusk shell into the pan with the others. Her heart felt as light as the mists that rose from the white waters of the Deschutes.
Her arm was healing, although it was still quite painful and she couldn’t lift heavy things or rotate her arm in a full circle yet. She’d been able to give up the sling several days ago, however, so that felt like progress.
She thought of William and shuddered. Sheriff Watts had taken him to the jail in Prineville to await his trial. It had been pushed to the front of the court’s docket because of the nature of his crimes, and Nicki had already been to town to testify. Between her testimony, Sheriff Watts’ testimony, and the evidence of the pair of boots found in William’s barn, there had been no chance that he’d go free. William had been found guilty and sentenced to hang—a verdict that had been carried out the next morning. Nicki hadn’t gone, but the men had, and all of them had come home with solemn faces.
The first day after the hanging Jason and the men had spent the day creating a temporary corral for the horses. Since then, they had spent a week and a half gentling the creatures so they would be easier to handle on the long drive they would face. Cade planned to drive the herd up to Canada, where he expected to get more than double his investment.
Today the men would take a break from the horses to help put a roof on Nicki’s barn. And tonight would be Rolf and Brenda’s last night at her place. Nicki had talked to Pastor Saunders and he was more than happy to agree that building a home for the Jeffries should be the next “Jesus with skin” act the congregation performed. Several men said they were available, so tomorrow would see a snug, warm soddy constructed for the Jeffries on their homestead.
Today people would not only bring food for today’s work, but also items to donate to the Jeffries for their new home. Nicki had been working at sewing the rag braids Brenda and the boys had woven together into a rug she would give to them.
A wagon clattered into the yard, and Nicki picked up the towel and headed outside, calling for Sawyer to follow. She would send someone back in for the heavy pan of tamales and come back in a moment for her pies.
Two long tables had been set up in the yard and were already laden with food. Fried chicken, ham steaks, and beef of all kinds graced the meat table. Potatoes, boiled eggs, pickles, canned vegetables, breads, and desserts filled the remainder of the tables.
Suzanne Snow stepped up beside her, and concern for the woman who had been like a mother to her since she arrived here filled Nicki’s heart. “Oh, Suze! How are you? Are you all going to make it?”
“Well, Jim and Sid were able to save the wool from most of the sheep that were slaughtered. And we had Sid ride from ranch to ranch to try and sell some of the meat. We were able to sell quite a bit of it. So I think we are going to make it.” She smoothed her skirts. “I heard that Jason helped out Jacob Ashland with a couple horses?”
Nicki smiled. “Yes. He sold him the horse he bought in Prineville when he came here. It took all their savings to buy it, but at least they had some savings to use. He also gave them a pregnant mare from the nine horses that we kept, on the condition that this foal would be given back to us once it’s weaned. I think the Ashlands are going to be fine, too.”
Suzanne grinned and studied her face with motherly affection. “You say ‘us’ like you are planning for him to stick around for a while.”
Nicki felt herself blush. Coming from anyone else that would be construed as prying. But coming from Suzanne she didn’t mind so much. “Um…well…he has said nothing to me, but already I cannot imagine life without him. I’ve never felt that way before.”
The women’s eyes traveled to where Jason worked with several men to nail the trusses together. Sawyer lolled on Jason’s back, arms wrapped firmly around his neck and Jason bent to the work for a moment as though the boy wasn’t even there. Then he stood and set Sawyer on his own two feet, ruffling his hair and squatting down to his level. He said a few words to the toddler, then watched with a tender light in his eyes as Sawyer scampered off after Jake Ashland. Jason stood and caught Nicki’s eyes on him. He smiled, his blue gaze drawing her like a compass needle to north.
Suzanne’s words were soft. “He’s a good man.”
Nicki sighed, lost in the magnetic current that kept her eyes fixed on Jason. “Yes. He is,” she whispered.
Jason’s smile stretched into a grin, and he tossed her a bold wink before bending to his task once more.
“Oh! My pies!” Nicki’s hands flew into the air, and she rushed toward the house, Suzanne’s chuckle following her across the yard.
She heard another wagon trundle into the yard as she pulled her pies from the oven. She noted with satisfaction that she’d had the coals just right this time. The crusts were a perfect golden brown.
The door opened and Jason stood there with an odd expression. “Nick, can you come outside for a minute?”
She looked at him, wondering what he needed her for. “Can it wait a moment? I have—”
“No.” He motioned her toward him. “Come on. It won’t take more than a minute. Just come outside.” He stepped back and held the door for her, a distinct twinkle glittering in his eyes.
Her curiosity was piqued. “What are you up to?” She stepped outside, shading her eyes with her hands.
Standing next to a wagon was her family. Mama, Papa, and all her younger siblings.
&n
bsp; With a gasp she closed her eyes, one hand going to her mouth, the other to cover her heart.
Jason chuckled. “I sent the third hand Ron hired to California to find them.”
Opening her eyes, she looked at him. “Muchas gracias.” He nodded, and then she was running forward and wrapping her arms around Mama, Papa, Coreena, and little Manuel. Juna and Rosa were young women in their own right, now. My, how they’d all grown! Her brothers were taller than she was! Papa’s hair was a little grayer. Mama’s wrinkles a little more pronounced, but they were here!
Mama was the last one she pulled into her embrace. “Oh, Mama, te amo! I have so much to tell you, I don’t know where to start. I have a son, and—Sawyer!” She spun to search the crowd for him, but Jason was there, just behind her, with Sawyer sitting on one arm. He handed the toddler to her.
It felt so right to have Jason there in the midst of her family. She grabbed his hand and swiveled back to her parents. “This is your grandson, Sawyer, and this,” she pulled Jason forward, “is the man responsible for bringing you here. This is Jason.”
Without hesitation Juanita pulled Jason into a hug, kissing him on both cheeks. “Thank you. You will never know how much it means to me to be here with my Dominique once more.”
Jason nodded.
Papa reached for Sawyer, and suddenly everyone began talking at once. Jason stepped back, looking a little lost and confused standing in the center of the chaos that was her family.
Nicki wrapped her arms around Coreena again and met Jason’s eyes over the top of the little girl’s head. She wished he could see into her heart and understand the happiness he’d given her. Resting her cheek on the top of Coreena’s head, she mouthed, “Thank you.”
He nodded again and backed away, his gaze locked with hers. Rocky approached his side, taking his attention, and handed him a letter. He said something to Jason, clapped him on the shoulder, and walked away. She watched as Jason slid the letter from the envelope, read it, and then tucked it into his shirt pocket, a strange emotion etching his face. Her focus flicked to his pocket and then back. What could it be?
High Desert Haven (The Shepherd's Heart) Page 27