Stronger Than the Rest

by Shirleen Davies

  The mood in the room had sobered measurably as the letter was passed around. No one blamed the young widow for Drew’s condition. It was her husband who’d pulled the trigger. But in Will’s mind, the bullet had been meant for him, not his twin brother. Anything having to do with a Bierdan still left a bitter taste.

  Niall walked over to Kate and put an arm around her waist. “You’ve mentioned a couple of times how you’d like to see the Taylor ranch. This might be a good time to go.”

  Kate’s eyes widened. “Why, yes. This would be a perfect time.”

  “Hold on, Niall. If anyone is going to Cold Creek, it’ll be me.” Will put his hands on his hips and walked up to his oldest brother.

  “Who’s going to Cold Creek?” Will’s wife, Amanda, had entered the kitchen and caught the last part of the conversation.

  “There may be trouble in Cold Creek. Drew and Alicia are there. I don’t intend to wait and see how it all unfolds,” Will answered.

  “Then I’m going, too.” Amanda stated.

  Niall looked at Jamie and Torie. “You okay here if the four of us go check on Aunt Alicia and Drew?”

  “Of course,” Torie answered right away.

  “No problem. Gus is here, and now that Pete’s back, we’re in good shape,” Jamie assured them. Gus Dixon was the longtime MacLaren foreman, and Pete Cantlin their chief wrangler. He’d left a couple of years before to take care of some business, he’d said, but had returned a few months ago. Pete had been the first MacLaren ranch hand the boys had met on their journey to their Uncle Stuart’s and Aunt Alicia’s ranch after their parents had been murdered. The first real cowboy the boys had known.

  “And Isaac?” Kate asked.

  “Isaac’s a cinch,” Jamie replied. “It’s Beth we’ll have to keep a watch on.”

  Beth was Niall’s daughter, Kate’s step-daughter, and at fourteen she was starting to grow up. Much too fast as far as the adult MacLarens were concerned. Beth was a sweet girl, smart, with a quick laugh, who possessed ranching skills that surpassed some of the wranglers.

  Niall clapped his brother on the shoulder. “Thanks, Jamie. We’ll let you know what we find.”

  ******

  Niall, Kate, Will, and Amanda decided to take the train to Great Valley. It was easier to transport their horses in a stock car than to purchase fresh mounts in Great Valley. Plus they preferred to ride their own horses to the Taylor ranch. It was late the next day when they arrived. There hadn’t been time to send a telegram, but Amanda had assured them there was plenty of room at the house for everyone.

  Niall and Kate took one look at the massive structure and concurred. It was close to twice the size of the MacLaren ranch house. Lights still burned inside and the front door opened.

  “My God, Amanda!” Tess called as she flew down the steps to embrace her sister. “Why didn’t you tell us you were coming?”

  Amanda drew back to look at her sister. It had been almost three months, but Tess looked more serene, content. “There wasn’t time.” Amanda looked up to see her parents, Grant and Eleanor, come down the steps. She ran to them and wrapped her arms around both.

  “Well, that was quick,” her mother said. “I read Alicia’s letter before she mailed it. I told her I’d bet any amount of money that we’d see you within a week of getting the letter.”

  “Two days, Mother. It took two days,” Amanda beamed. She loved Will and their life at Fire Mountain, but she missed her family.

  Will and Niall had just finished their greetings when both spotted Drew. He was at the bottom of the ramp, waiting, a large, burley man at his back. Kate saw him at the same time, but unlike the men, didn’t hesitate to run up and wrap her arms around him.

  “Oh, Drew, it is so good to see you. But I’m still miffed you didn’t come to Will and Amanda’s wedding.” She wiped away a tear that threatened and looked up at the stranger behind Drew. “I’m Kate MacLaren, Niall’s wife.”

  “Mr. Jericho, ma’am. I assist Mr. MacLaren with whatever he needs.”

  By the looks of him, Kate thought the man was capable of handling about anything that came at him. “Mr. Jericho, it’s a pleasure.”

  Niall clasped a hand on Drew’s shoulder. “Mighty glad to see you. Wish I’d been here that day, but…” Niall’s voice broke at the sight of his younger brother in a wheelchair.

  The last memory Niall had of him was during a race they’d had—his horse against Drew’s—when the attorney had come home for Alicia’s birthday. It hadn’t been a surprise that Niall had won on his magnificent stallion, Zeus, but what had been a surprise was Drew pulling up mere seconds behind. They’d laughed and talked for over an hour about Drew’s plan to work another few years for Dunnigan, then come home. It hadn’t worked out that way.

  “Wouldn’t have mattered, Niall. What happened, it couldn’t have been stopped. No one was looking for it.” Drew looked behind Niall to see Will. “And it was my decision to be here. Mine alone,” he added for Will’s benefit.

  Will stepped up and grabbed his brother’s hand. He wanted to pull him up in a bear hug, but knew that would have to wait. “You look good, real good.”

  “Come on, everyone. Let’s go inside, get some food in you, and sort out the sleeping arrangements.” Grant called out. “Then we can get to the good stuff—whiskey and cigars.”

  ******

  Maria put together food for their guests. Afterwards, the men retired to the office while the women settled in the living room.

  “How is he, Aunt Alicia?” Amanda asked. The young woman had been at the ranch the day Drew had been shot. It had devastated them all.

  “He’d doing well, considering. Works at least twice each day with Mr. Jericho on some exercises his doctors in Denver and Doc Wheaton prescribed. He takes a couple of hot baths and Mr. Jericho massages his legs each day.” Alicia sighed. “That boy is stronger than anyone else I know. He won’t give up until he walks again. And all the while, he’s doing work for Mr. Dunnigan and trying to help around here.”

  Kate reached over and took her aunt’s hand. “We all have faith he’ll walk again. It may take some time, but he will.”

  Tess sat silent during the conversation. She’d met everyone before, at the wedding, and felt comfortable around them, but she wasn’t sure how much to share. She was certain Drew had some feeling in his legs. She’d walked by his room and been startled by a crash, then overheard Drew say something to Jericho about a searing pain. She had yet to say anything to Drew. He’d tell her when he was ready.

  Grant made his way around the office and topped off each man’s glass. “So, there you have it. I now own the Langdon ranch, although I’m sure that won’t insulate me from those who’ve been threatening the ranchers. Mrs. Bierdan is in a financial mess, but determined to keep her place. Two men were run off, one killed, two beaten, and her house vandalized, but she’s holding on.”

  “Has Dunnigan made a formal offer for her place?” Niall asked Drew.

  “No. I made his intentions known, but nothing yet. I’ll give her some time, then meet again.”

  “Must be hard for you, her being Bierdan’s widow.” Will walked to the window and looked out at the blackened sky.

  “Not her fault, Will. She was as innocent as any of us. Truth is, I’ve come to realize, even in this chair, I’m better off than most people.” He tossed back the rest of his whiskey and signaled to Jericho for another. “But I will walk again, I guarantee you that.”

  The room fell silent, contemplating the tragedies that had affected them all, and how none could have been avoided. They couldn’t change a thing, only go forward.

  “What now?” Niall asked Grant.

  “Something tells me the worst is yet to come. Don’t know why no one has threatened me or my men. That’s a puzzle. But we’ve got to locate this Luther fellow and those that ride with him. Frank is doing all he can, but it’s just him and his deputy. O’Dell’s a good man but young, with little experience. What Frank needs is someone
with experience.” He looked around the room and knew that the experience needed had just arrived on his front step. The MacLarens would do all they could to help, and stay until it was finished.

  ******

  Fire Mountain, Arizona

  “Jamie, stop pacing. You’re making me crazy,” Torie implored as she walked the room with a fussy Caleb. The baby had wakened twice and each time it had taken an hour to calm him.

  She watched her husband wrestle with something. Torie was sure she knew what it was but waited for him to say it.

  He stopped and ran both hands through his deep auburn colored hair, then crossed his arms and leaned against a wall. He looked up to stare into the eyes of the woman he’d loved since they had shared a desk in the one room school house.

  “I should be there.”

  “Yes.”

  “What?” Jamie wasn’t sure he’d heard her right.

  “You’re right. You should be there, with your brothers.” She shifted Caleb’s position, walked up to Jamie, and put her free arm around his waist. “Go. Help them finish this.”

  He looked as if he would argue, find reasons not to go, but she shut him off.

  “I have Gus and Pete, plus twenty other men. Trent Garner and Josh Jacklin are a few miles away, and Sam Browning or Cord McAllister would come if there was trouble. Plus my parents. I can handle the children.” She stood on her toes and placed a kiss on Jamie’s cheek. “Go. We’ll be fine.”

  Jamie wrapped his arms around his wife and youngest son and, for at least the hundredth time, wondered what he’d done to deserve them.

  “Papa?” The door to their room opened and a sleepy Adam came in, followed by Isaac. “What’s happening?”

  Jamie scooped up both boys in his large arms and held them close. “Everything’s fine,” he said in a soft voice, then looked at Torie. “Everything is just fine.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Cold Creek, Colorado

  It was late. Jeff had lain on his bunk for hours, unable to sleep. He gave up, pulled on his trousers, and walked toward the door. He stepped into the cool night to the sight of three figures outside the barn. Two held torches, one held the horses. Two more men appeared in the distance, keeping watch.

  Jeff heard shots and turned to see Ben, a new wrangler, running toward the trespassers from behind the house, gun drawn. One of the intruders holding a torch screamed and dropped the burning object into the barn. Ben fired again and the outlaw fell to the ground.

  Jeff looked back toward the barn, pulled his gun, aimed, and fired. The man holding the horses cursed, dropped the reins, and grabbed at his bleeding arm. The third threw his torch into the barn at the first round of gunfire, and jumped onto his mount. Ben fired again. The rider cursed, but didn’t stop. He took off toward where the other two watched, not moving to help. He joined them and left the two wounded men to fend for themselves.

  “Stop where you are.” Jeff’s voice carried through the clear night air. The injured man who had been holding the horses never slowed, but jumped onto his horse and turned to follow his companions into the dark. Both Jeff and Ben fired. Jeff’s shot went wide but Ben’s hit the mark and the man fell.

  Jeff and Ben ran for the barn, ignoring the unmoving figure of the outlaw by the barn and the one who lay shot several yards away. They’d deal with them later.

  They led four horses outside while Clint and the rest of the hands filled buckets and tossed water on the fire. Eloise stood near the barn entrance, ready to run inside, but Clint grabbed her arm, and held her back.

  “Stop, Mrs. Bierdan. We’ve got it under control, and the horses are safe. You don’t need to go in there—not yet.”

  She looked at Clint and realized he was right. The men had taken care of everything while she slept. She hadn’t heard a thing until the sound of gunfire pierced her fitful dreams. At least no one was injured.

  “Did you recognize them, Boss?” Ben asked. He’d been hired just that morning. Jeff knew he was more skilled with a gun than horses, and the young man had just proven how good he was.

  “One, maybe. The big one.” By the descriptions he’d heard, Jeff was certain the one who fled first was Luther Grimm. If it was, at least he was wounded. But who were the others who had stayed back, watching?

  Jeff walked over and knelt by the fallen intruder. He turned him over but his fixed eyes told him it was too late. Ben’s shot had been true.

  “Clint, Jay. Either of you recognize this man?”

  “Never seen him,” Jay responded.

  “Me either, Boss” Clint said.

  “What about that one?” Jeff nodded toward the second man.

  “Never seen him, either,” Clint said and Jay concurred.

  Although not dead, his breathing was labored, and the wound looked bad. The foreman was of a mind to let the injury take its course, but knew he’d never go through with it.

  “Stan,” Jeff called out, “get some water and see what you can do for this man. If he makes it until morning we’ll load him in a wagon with the body of the other one and take them into town. No sense going tonight—it’s late and those men may be waiting for us. The rest of you, make sure all the ashes are cold and take the horses back inside.”

  He looked back at Clint and Jay. “Did either of you get a good look at the one who rode off?”

  “He was gone by the time we got close enough to see. Wish we had. He’d be one dead sonofa…” Clint stopped and looked at Mrs. Bierdan.

  “It’s all right, Clint. I feel exactly the same.” Eloise ran her hands over her lightly covered arms, more out of frustration than to stem the cold air. She’d only had time to grab her wrapper in her hurry to get outside. A chill still rippled through her at the thought that more of her men could have been injured, or killed.

  “Ben, you okay to stay a while longer tonight?” Jeff asked.

  “Sure, Boss. Whatever you want.”

  “Good. You two,” he pointed to the other new men who had been hired in the last two days, “keep guard with Ben. I don’t think those men will be back but I’m not willing to take the chance.”

  Eloise stared at the dead man. She’d never been this close to someone covered in so much blood. He wasn’t young, maybe in his late thirties. She’d never seen him before, which meant he was most likely brought in just for the purpose of terrorizing her and her men. What kind of man would do that? she wondered.

  “Mrs. Bierdan?”

  She broke her gaze from the body. “Yes, Clint?”

  “You gonna be okay?”

  She nodded. “Yes, I’ll be fine. Thanks for taking care of everything. I can’t thank you and the men enough.”

  “It’s our job, Mrs. Bierdan. Wish we’d gotten out here in time to get all of them but at least there’s one that won’t bother you anymore.” Clint glared at the body without a bit of remorse at the loss of life. The outlaw had it coming.

  “We’re set,” Jeff said as he walked up. “We’ve got the injured man in the bunkhouse and will do what we can until morning. Three men are on guard and the barn’s cleaned up. I’m going to head in if it’s all right with you.”

  “You go ahead, Jeff. See you tomorrow.” She nodded at Clint and turned for the house. Eloise thought she should offer to tend the injured man, but knew her lack of skills wouldn’t help. Jeff and the others had much more experience with bullet wounds than she did.

  Both men watched her enter the house and close the door. Jeff walked one direction around the house, Clint walked the other. They met back at the front and headed toward the bunkhouse. Both were dead tired and angry. All the men had been pushed to the edge with this latest threat, but none would leave. They’d work until they dropped if it was required to save the ranch, and Mrs. Bierdan.

  ******

  “Damn, that hurts,” Drew hissed through clenched teeth as pain shot up a leg for the fourth time this session. They’d been working for well over an hour. He was drenched in sweat, but refused to stop. He’d stood for
the first time in three months. Three damn months and he wasn’t about to sit again until he took a full step. “Again, Mr. Jericho.”

  Drew placed his hands against the wall as Jericho steadied him. “You ready?” Jericho asked.

  “Yes.”

  Jericho let go but stayed right behind Drew, ready to grab him and start again.

  Drew closed his eyes and focused. He thought of walking, riding, anything that involved his legs. He balanced so long against the wall that Jericho thought he’d given up or his body had locked in place. Then he saw Drew take a deep breath and push from the wall. When he was erect, he dropped his hands and stood. One second, two seconds, five seconds. Ten seconds passed and he hadn’t fallen. He could feel pulsing sensations up and down both legs, but his body held.

  He closed his eyes again and thought of the one thing he wanted more than anything else. Tess. He would walk again, for Tess. Without realizing it he took one step forward, then brought his other leg up alongside the other. He started to take another step but ran into the wall. He was out of room, but he’d done it. He’d walked.

  Drew opened his eyes and tried to glance at Jericho over his shoulder. The change in posture confused his muscles and he dropped in a heap on the floor, but not until after he’d hit a table with an arm and sent a vase crashing to the ground.

  The door slammed open. Tess stood staring at Drew where he lay on the wooden floor. “Okay, I’ve had enough. What’s going on in here?” Her hands were on her hips, her voice harsh, and an angry scowl replaced her serene features. It was a new look for her, and Drew didn’t like being on the receiving end.

  “Come inside, Tess, and close the door,” Drew said.

  She looked around the room, then behind her, into the hall.

  “It’s okay. Come on in.”