Duff swore, pinning his cousin with a disgusted glare. “Your momma ever say you ended up with half a brain?”
Clark threw the last of his coffee on the fire, trying to ignore the anger at Duff’s comment. “There’s five of us and they don’t know we’re anywhere around here. Unaware we’re even after them. We gonna leave if there’s ten or fifteen of them, forget about Deke, and ride back to Texas?”
“He’s right, Duff. We came here for one reason. To kill the Pelletiers. No matter how many men they have, there will come a time when they’ll be alone. That’s when we strike.” Whitey lit a hand-rolled cigarette and inhaled with a deep draw, releasing the smoke in a slow stream.
“Oh, we’ll get rid of them, but we need to handle it in a different way than I’d planned. They’ll definitely recognize you and me, Whitey, and possibly Clark. I doubt they’ve ever seen a wanted poster on Bill or Jed. Here’s what we’ll do…”
“Rachel, come quick.” Charles pounded on her bedroom door, trying to wake her at the early hour. “There’s been an accident at the Pelletier ranch and I’ll need your help.” The sun hadn’t yet begun to rise as Charles grabbed supplies from the cabinets and picked up his satchel. “I’ll harness Old Pete and get the wagon ready. You dress and go out front. Tell Ellis we’re on our way.” He ran to the back to get the wagon.
Rachel tried to clear her sleep-fogged brain as she dressed, reached for her bonnet and shawl, then raced out front.
“What happened?”
“Most of the boys were out with the herd last night, bedded down, when something spooked the cattle. They plowed straight through camp. Two of the new men are pretty broken up. Rude’s got a knot on his head but, other than that, he’s okay.” Ellis looked up to see Charles drive the wagon onto the main street and stop to let Rachel climb up.
The doctor drove as fast as he dared, pushing Old Pete to his limit and hitting every rut in the dirt road.
Dax and Luke had ordered the three injured men to be taken to the bunkhouse, where Bernice and Hank had done what they could. Two of them were in bad shape with broken bones, bruises, and who knew what else, while Rude nursed a bump on his head. It could’ve been worse.
“What’s taking Ellis so long?” Dax opened the bunkhouse door to peer out for the third time in ten minutes. He and Luke had been bunked down under some trees not far from the herd, yet far enough they’d missed being trampled.
“They’ll be here. It takes time. My guess is the doc will bring the wagon and all they have is Old Pete.” Luke bent over Johnny, one of the injured men, doing his best to clean the dirt and rocks from the numerous cuts that covered his arms and face. Bernice had muttered it was a mercy Johnny and the other cowboy, Tat, remained unconscious.
Dax tore outside when one of the men yelled that the doctor’s wagon had drawn into sight. He reached up to help Rachel down. She avoided him and jumped to the ground on her own.
“Where are they?” Charles asked as he grabbed the supplies.
“In the bunkhouse.” Dax watched Rachel follow her uncle inside, a sharp pang of regret slicing through him at the way she ignored him. It was no more than he deserved.
Charles made a quick examination of Johnny, then did the same with Tat, noting how young each appeared. “We’ll need help to set limbs and keep them still. Both may have injuries I can’t see. I’ll do what I can.”
“Luke and I will stay,” Dax said.
“So will Bernice and me.” Hank walked up to stand by his wife.
“All right. Everyone else outside,” Dax ordered.
Charles and Rachel worked as fast as possible, checking the injuries, applying splints and setting broken limbs. The others helped as needed. Dax marveled at the way Rachel focused on her work, calming Johnny and Tat as they moved in and out of consciousness, assisting Charles in a quiet, efficient manner. He’d seen her work on Hank using the same expert care.
“We’ve done all we can do for now. Rachel and I will need to stay here tonight.” He looked around the bunkhouse, realizing all the ranch hands needed to be in this one large room tonight. At least the injured men were on bunks close to the door.
“We’ll set up a bunk for you next to them, Doc. Rachel should stay in the house. There’s no use in her staying all night in here with the rest of the men.” Dax had no intention of letting Rachel stay in a room surrounded by a bunch of ranch hands.
“I’m staying here. This is where I’m needed.”
“Rachel—”
“No, Dax. I’m staying.” She’d placed her hands on her hips and glared at him. “Where do you think I slept during the war? I’ll tell you. In a tent with injured men like these, except there were many more to watch over. You and the others stay in the house. Uncle Charles and I will be fine out here.” She turned her back to him, ending any further argument.
“Come one, Dax. They know what they’re doing. We’ll only be in the way.” Luke touched his brother’s arm, encouraging him to let the decision stand.
Dax didn’t like it. “If that’s your decision, then I’ll stay also.”
Checking Tat’s bandages, Rachel glanced over her shoulder at him. “No.”
He moved around to look down on her. “Let me remind you, Miss Davenport. This is the Pelletier ranch. It doesn’t belong to you or anyone else, and no one tells me what to do on my own property. I’ll bunk down wherever I please.”
She kept her head angled away, hoping Dax wouldn’t notice the heat which crept up her face, certain she’d turned scarlet.
He watched her, waiting for a response. It didn’t come. “Do we understand each other?”
Rachel pinned him with a heated glare, the sarcasm in her response hard to miss. “Yes, General. We understand each other just fine.”
His mouth quirked up the slightest bit, glad he’d hit a nerve. She could be tough, he’d give her that.
Luke listened to the exchange, surprised and pleased at Dax’s response. Perhaps his brother had started to come around to the idea the ranch might be worth keeping.
“I’ll take care of getting everyone fed. Let me know what else you need.” Bernice took off for the house, Hank not far behind.
“I’m going to check on the men watching the herd, make sure nothing else has happened since we’ve been gone. Bull’s already here, still not healed enough to ride, and with his head injury, Rude needs to stay behind. Do you need me to send anyone else back?” Luke asked.
“No. You’ll want every man left to keep watch on the cattle. Take Ellis with you.”
“Someone started the stampede, Dax. A couple of the men heard gunshots before the cattle spooked.”
“I know.”
“Tolbert’s men?”
“That’s my guess.” Dax shot a look at Johnny and Tat, both in such bad shape they might not make it until morning. He clenched his jaw as anger rose at the human destruction King Tolbert and his men had caused. He shoved the bunkhouse door open and headed toward the house in long, determined strides, taking the front steps two at a time and slamming the door open as he entered.
“What are you thinking?” Luke kept pace, knowing Dax had come to a decision.
“I’m riding to the Tolbert ranch. It’s time to end this.”
“You’re not going alone.” Luke grabbed his arm and spun him around. “It’s suicide riding in there without the rest of us.”
“The hell I’m not.” Dax shook off Luke’s hand and opened the gun cabinet, pulling out his rifle, a revolver, and ammunition.
“At least wait until I get back with some of the men. I’ll send Ellis to town for Gabe. We can all ride to Tolbert’s together.”
Dax narrowed his eyes at Luke. “I’ll wait an hour. If you’re not back, I’m going alone.”
Ellis rode into town, bringing Gabe and Noah back with him.
Luke ordered most of the men to guard the herd, selecting a few to ride with him, believing they needed a show of force to accomplish anything. He knew Dax wouldn’t do anything s
tupid, yet he’d never witnessed the type of rage he’d seen on his brother’s face when they brought the injured men back to the ranch. He had reached his limit with Tolbert, and Luke was capable of holding Dax off for just so long before he rode out to confront the man.
Dax mounted Hannibal in one fluid motion. He’d waited long enough for Luke. The time had come to confront King, with or without additional men.
“Where are you headed, Dax?” Hank rushed out of the house to stand next to his boss, afraid he’d decided to ride out alone.
“I’m leaving for Tolbert’s. Don’t try to stop me.” Dax turned his horse toward the neighboring ranch.
“Don’t believe I’ll have to.” Hank pointed toward Luke heading toward them from one direction while Ellis, Gabe, and Noah approached from the other.
“You weren’t planning to leave without us, right, big brother?” Luke reined Prince to a stop next to Dax.
“Another minute and I’d have been gone.”
They waited as the others joined them, Gabe pulling up alongside Dax. “I’m in charge here, Dax. No shooting. We’re going to get Tolbert’s side of what happened, then I’ll decide from there. You understand?”
“You know as well as I do that King is responsible for what’s been happening. He won’t talk his way out of it this time.”
Gabe leaned toward Dax. “And I’ll arrest you if you do something stupid. Now, let’s get going.”
“Father, there’s a group of riders approaching.” Abigail had bounded from her seat on the front porch and dashed to her father’s office at the sight of a large group of men heading toward their house.
“Guess I’d better see what they want.”
He waited as Gabe, Noah, Dax, and Luke dismounted. Noah glanced at Abigail, who stood next to her father on the porch, and wondered how much she might know about her father’s actions. He couldn’t believe she could have any knowledge of such violent events.
“Sheriff, what can I do for you?”
“Someone stampeded the Pelletier cattle. Two men are critical, may not make it, and a third has a head wound. You know anything about it?”
“I’m sorry to hear about it. My guess is you’re here because you suspect me of ordering the stampede. Whatever happened didn’t come from me.” King said the words as doubt spread through him. Too many instances of violence had been directed against the neighboring ranch, none of it ordered by him. However, all of it seemed to be traced back to his ranch.
“Where’s Drake?” Gabe asked.
“He and some men have been away from the ranch, checking for stray cattle the last three days. They’re not due back for a couple more days.”
“Where?”
“Started at the southwest line and were to move north.”
“The line bordering the Pelletier ranch?”
Irritation began to burn within King. His gut told him Drake had to be involved, yet he’d allowed the man to convince him otherwise.
“That’s right.”
Everyone turned at the sound of an approaching rider.
King walked down the steps, passing Dax and Luke without a glance, and watched as Drake stopped in front of him. He hadn’t expected to see the man so soon.
“What’s going on, boss?”
“There’s been another incident on the Pelletier ranch. You know anything about it?”
“No.” He glanced around, recognizing most of the men who’d ridden in with the sheriff.
“You telling us you know nothing of a stampede that injured three men? It happened close to the same area where you’ve been riding. A couple of the Pelletier cowhands heard gunshots before the cattle spooked.” Gabe rested a hand on the butt of his gun, uncertain how the volatile ex-soldier would react. Noah noticed the movement and edged closer, ready to act if needed.
Drake stepped up within inches of Gabe’s face and planted his feet. “You accusing me of something, Sheriff?”
“Not yet.” Gabe stood his ground, narrowing his eyes on the man he knew was lying. To his disappointment, Drake’s jaw worked, but he stayed silent.
Drake turned toward King. “I had nothing to do with a stampede and neither did any of the men. I’ll be in the barn if you need me.”
“I want to see you when you’re finished.” King turned to the others. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll return to my work. Good day, gentlemen.”
“We’re not done, King,” Gabe said. “I still have a lot of questions. I’d like to meet with the men who were with Drake the last few days.”
“Of course. I’ll send word to you once they return.”
“Be sure you do.” He turned to Dax and Luke, who’d stayed remarkably silent. “Let’s go.”
King shoved his hands in his pockets, coming to the realization he’d made a mistake hiring Drake. He should have cut him loose with the others. It would’ve left him shorthanded, but that seemed insignificant when faced with what he believed the man had done. In his gut, he knew Drake had something to do with the acts against the Pelletiers, even though he’d been warned not to harm them. The man, and the rest of those loyal to him, had to go.
Chapter Sixteen
“He’s not going to make it, is he?” Rachel’s heart sank at the way Johnny struggled for every breath. They’d done all they could, and he’d fought hard. Yet, with each heartbeat, his body sank further into decline.
“There’s always hope.” Charles suspected the cowhand suffered internal injuries. Nothing more could be done, but the doctor refused to believe the worst. He’d seen more miracles in his life than he could count, patients without a chance would rally and prove him wrong. “I won’t give up on him.”
Tat began to improve within the first few hours after Charles and Rachel arrived. Although severe, his injuries hadn’t been as extensive as Johnny’s. Charles felt certain Tat would recover.
“Is there anything more we can do?”
“Keep watch and make him comfortable. It’s up to his body, and God.”
The bunkhouse door scraped open as Bull stepped inside, carrying food and coffee from the main house. He set everything down on a nearby table before looking at both men.
“Dax, Luke, and the others are back. I expect they’ll be over here any time.”
No sooner had he finished than the door opened to reveal the group who’d ridden to Tolbert’s ranch. Their expressions signaled the displeasure and frustration each felt.
Gabe walked up next to Rachel, staring down at Tat, then Johnny. “Are they improving?”
“Tat is, Johnny is hanging on,” Rachel said as she applied a damp cloth to the face of the young man who’d yet to rally. “We’ll know more by morning. Tat should recover real well, although Charles is certain he’ll end up with a limp.” She looked toward the second bed.
“You and the doctor have done a good job. From what I’ve been told, it’s surprising either of them still has a chance.”
Dax watched the easy exchange between the two and felt what could only be described as jealousy swell within him. He’d always been cocky, even arrogant in his attitude toward the emotion. He kept a tight hold on his feelings, never before allowing a woman to get under his skin, mess with his mind. The control had vanished when Rachel entered his life.
He replayed the warning he’d given Rachel earlier. Let me remind you, Miss Davenport. This is the Pelletier ranch. It doesn’t belong to you or anyone else, and no one tells me what to do on my own property. He’d been surprised at the intensity of his words, as if he believed them. Had he been lying to himself, to Luke, and to Rachel? Did the ranch mean more to him than he’d been willing to admit?
“I’ll be in the house. Thanks for riding out, Gabe.” He shook the other man’s hand, nodded at the doctor and Rachel, then disappeared outside.
She set down the damp cloth and fought the urge to go after him. The need to be near Dax, touch him, had swelled to the point of suffocation. Weren’t her feelings for him supposed to recede, give way to an acceptance that
whatever had begun between them had ended? Why did it seem her desire for the man continued to build? It wasn’t supposed to be this way.
“Go to him, Rachel. He won’t talk to me. Perhaps he’ll open up to you.”
She hadn’t noticed Luke walk up beside her. “It would be a wasted effort. He wants nothing to do with me.”
“You might be surprised at what he wants. Fact is, he may not realize what’s important to him. The man hides his feelings well.”
Rachel considered Luke’s words. “What makes you think he’ll speak with me?”
“Perhaps he won’t. You’ll never know if you don’t try.”
Rachel let her hands run down the front of her dress, more in nervous agitation than as a way to smooth the creases. Before she had time to talk herself out of it, she pulled the door open and, with determined steps, followed Dax to the house.
He’d reached the front door when he heard footfalls on the steps behind him. He glanced over his shoulder, surprised at who stepped up next to him.
“Is there something you want?” His sharp eyes narrowed as he studied her.
Her courage began to slip as she focused on the set of his face and clamped jaw, wondering why she’d taken Luke’s advice. Then she caught herself, determined to forge ahead.
“Do you have a minute to talk?” The calm, even tone surprised her.
“About?” Dax’s breath hitched as her tongue skimmed across her lips. The small action sent heat rushing through his body and he crossed his arms in an attempt to hide his reaction.
What could she talk about? The attacks on the ranch, his plans, her love for him?
“The clinic.” The words popped out before she even realized it. Her look of surprise wasn’t lost on Dax.
Amusement crossed his face as it dawned on him her request might not have anything whatsoever to do with the clinic.
“All right. Come inside and we’ll talk about the clinic.” He let the two words stretch out. “Would you like some coffee, or a glass of sherry?”
Rachel took a seat in one of the large leather chairs, a mischievous look flashing across her face. “Whiskey would be nice.”
Redemption's Edge: Book 1, Redemption Mountain Historical Western Romance Page 20