Stronger Than the Rest

by Shirleen Davies

  “As far as I can tell, there are at least six left,” Jamie said and slid a bullet into his pistol to replace the one he’d used. “I could see one woman, a couple of kids, and one man. Probably Ibarra and his family.”

  “And the Rosado’s?” Drew asked.

  “Don’t know.”

  They heard voices moving toward them from the direction of the house. The sound of boots crunching the rocky dirt path indicated that several men were searching for the intruders. The brothers fanned out and took positions that allowed them to pick off the outlaws as they emerged from the brush.

  A tall, slender gunman emerged only yards from Will, holding his pistol in front of him. One shot and the outlaw lay on the ground, writhing in pain.

  “Shit,” another called out. “Think they got Clem.”

  Two others appeared to the left of Drew, guns ready. Drew aimed and squeezed at the same time another shot rang out. He’d hit his man, as had Niall.

  “Let’s get out of here, Luther,” someone hissed.

  “Back to the house. Now!” another voice commanded.

  Niall made his way toward Jamie. “You hear that?”

  “Yeah,” Jamie replied. “Looks like Luther is part of this group.” He stopped at the sound of the barn door being opened. “We’d better get moving if we hope to get them before they ride out.”

  The four stalked toward the house in silent, quick steps, keeping low, guns at the ready. Niall motioned for them to spread out. Drew reached the back of the house first and crouched below the open kitchen window. He edged up. A man was tied to a chair, trying to break loose as the chair tipped and swayed below him. He dropped down and moved to the next window. A woman tied to a bed. He cursed in disgust, but didn’t stop, moving on to the next opening. He heard crying, whimpering. He looked in to see several children, another man, and two women. These must be the Rosados.

  He spun at the sound of someone approaching to see Will kneel beside him at the same time yells sounded from the barn and seven riders took off to the south. They rode fast and low, making for a difficult target.

  The sound of gunfire split the night as the brothers emerged from around the house to aim and shoot at the retreating men. One shot was true as an outlaw grabbed a shoulder and fell to the ground. The other six disappeared into the dark.

  “Did any of you get a good look at those men?” Niall asked.

  “One was the man they called Drago.” Jamie reloaded and holstered his revolver.

  “The largest one was probably Luther. We’ll know when we check the other bodies,” Drew added.

  They split up, with Drew and Will walking out to the rider who’d fallen in his attempt to flee. Niall and Jamie walked into the house to check on the families.

  “Are you Ibarra?” Niall asked as he knelt to loosen the ties on the chair. He helped the man stand and stepped back.

  “Sí, I am Alonzo Ibarra,” he said as he hurried to the bedroom where his wife had been held.

  Jamie heard crying in the back bedroom, pulled his gun, and slowly opened the door. He saw no gunmen, only a frightened family. “Are you the Rosados?” he asked as he holstered his weapon.

  “I am Manuel Rosado. This is my family.” He looked at Jamie in confusion. “Who are you?”

  “Jamie MacLaren, a friend of Gordon Taylor,” Jamie replied and gave them a brief summary of the events leading up to tonight. “Do you know anything about a man named Drago?”

  “Sí, he is a mean one. Ordered his men to take us and bring us to Alonzo’s home. We’ve been here four days. Are Alonzo and Sophia all right?”

  Manuel’s question was answered when the Ibarras ran into the room. Niall stood in the doorway and surveyed the site. Five adults and six children, the oldest no more than fourteen. It must have been terrifying for them.

  “Jamie, we best grab our horses and check the men out back, make sure none are still breathing.”

  None of the three men were alive, and none looked like the description they had of Luther. Jamie and Niall flung them over the horses and walked to the house, dumping the bodies near the barn.

  Drew and Will had returned with the one who had tried to leave. He was alive, but unconscious. They laid him on the porch while the women went for water and bandages. Perhaps they could find out where Drago and Luther were headed.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Frisco, Colorado

  Pierce awoke in his darkened hotel room, illuminated only by a small ray of moonlight streaming through the curtains. A sound drew his attention. He rolled over, grabbed his gun, then stood, and pointed the weapon at the sound. Connor.

  “Hell, I could have shot you,” Pierce hissed.

  “Except that you would’ve already been dead,” Connor replied. He’d been in the room for just a few minutes, but Pierce hadn’t stirred at all when he’d entered.

  “Shit, what time is it?” Pierce pushed his hands through his hair, and scrubbed his face in an attempt to wake up.

  “Just after midnight. Time to leave.” Connor started to gather Pierce’s belongings and stuff them into his saddlebag while his brother threw on his shirt and boots.

  They rode non-stop toward Cold Creek.

  Connor wasn’t certain Ira would realize he and Pierce were traveling to the small Colorado town. Walsh had insisted Connor concentrate on the saloon and mining business—his involvement in activities at the Bierdan and Langdon ranches had been limited. But Ira wasn’t stupid. If he couldn’t locate his ex-employees in Denver, the next logical place would be Cold Creek, where Walsh had sent Drago and Luther, two men prominently mentioned in the damning ledger.

  ******

  Cold Creek, Colorado

  “You sure you’ll be all right riding over alone?” Alicia asked as the three younger women prepared to depart for the Bierdan ranch. Amanda and Tess thought they should’ve paid a social call on Eloise sooner, but there hadn’t been time. Kate decided to join them. The visit would take their minds off the men who’d ridden out to find the outlaws.

  “It’s daylight and there are three of us. We’ll use the road instead of the shortcut through the trees. I’m sure we’ll be fine.” Amanda didn’t mention that each of the women carried handguns with them, plus the rifle Amanda always had tucked in the scabbard on her saddle. “And we’ll be back in plenty of time for supper.” She hugged Alicia. The other two were outside, saddled and ready to leave.

  Eloise was surprised but pleased when she saw them ride up before noon. She seldom had company these days, except for the sheriff.

  “I hope we’re not intruding,” Amanda leaned in and gave the young woman a warm hug. “You know Tess, of course, and this is Kate MacLaren. She’s Niall’s wife.”

  Within minutes the four were chatting, catching up on the activities of late. Even though Tess, Kate, and Amanda were aware of Eloise’s troubles, the impact intensified when described by Eloise herself.

  “Are you going to stay?” Amanda placed the empty coffee cup on the table. She knew if it were her she would fight to the end. But Amanda had been born to ranch, loved the life and the challenges. Eloise hadn’t.

  Eloise looked at the three women, each so different, but each strong in their own way. She wasn’t sure where she fit with women like them—if she did fit.

  “I would like to stay but I’m not sure that’s possible. Running a ranch requires so much more than I’d realized. Skills I never learned, money that isn’t available. I just hope to make it through this season, then I’ll decide.” Eloise stood and picked up the empty cups. “I hope you can all stay for dinner. There’s plenty and I’d love the company.”

  The hopeful expression on her face just about broke Tess’s heart. She knew Eloise had struggled with not only running the ranch but the consequences of her husband’s decisions. She realized that Eloise would be interested what was happening with Drew.

  “Oh, Eloise, I have some wonderful news for you,” Tess said and explained how Drew had been working to walk again, an
d finally had succeeded. “It is so wonderful,” she finished.

  “My God, Tess, that is wonderful news. You don’t know how many times I’ve thought of him and prayed that he’d walk again.” As far as Eloise was concerned, that was the best news she’d heard in a very long time.

  “Plus Drew has asked Tess to marry him,” Kate smiled at the woman seated next to her. “Of course she accepted.”

  “I’m so happy for you, Tess!” Eloise hugged her friend, wishing her the best in her marriage. “Come on, you can all help me in the kitchen.”

  ******

  “Where to now?” Luther asked Drago. They’d ridden all night, first south, then east. He was sure Drago had a plan. His moves were never impulsive. They’d pulled up to rest, eat jerky and hardtack, and water the horses.

  Earlier they’d watched a large group of men riding toward the Rosado and Ibarra ranches. Drago had recognized three of them—Grant Taylor, his foreman, and the large man who always escorted Drew MacLaren. He’d only seen Grant Taylor twice when he’d snuck onto the Big G. Taylor’s place was the next one on Ira’s list. Walsh wanted all the ranchland that had good timber, and the Big G was one of them.

  “We ride north from here and pay a visit to the lovely Widow Bierdan. The woman will agree to sell the land to Walsh before we leave.”

  ******

  Ira and Stiles stepped from the train and waited in impatient silence for their horses to be unloaded and saddled. The men were determined to reach Cold Creek before Connor. As far as Walsh was concerned, Connor was a walking dead man.

  He’d been retracing his decisions since he’d hired Connor several months before. Connor had been recommended by several sources, including his contact in New York who’d alerted Ira of the inquiries into his businesses. If his contact was an associate of Connor, he wouldn’t have warned Ira, would he? No, his contact must have been just as blind to Connor’s true reasons for being in Denver as Ira had.

  And who was Pierce? Connor had to have hired him at the saloon for only one reason—to find the ledger and decode it. Walsh had sent a telegram to contacts in Boston, New York, and Philadelphia when he’d made the decision to bring in Stiles to follow Pierce. The response from Boston finalized his decision. Pierce was an accomplished thief and decoding expert. One of the best. Ira cursed himself for the hundredth time for being such a fool.

  When Pierce had ridden out of Denver, Ira had had no doubt where he would go—Cold Creek. The man had made a copy of his ledger, decoded it, and knew the extent of Ira’s activities, knew of Drago and Luther’s involvement, and knew both men were in Cold Creek. Walsh also realized there was no way the two could reach the Bierdan ranch before him and Stiles. He’d visit Mrs. Bierdan and wait for Connor and Pierce to arrive. Then he’d kill them.

  ******

  “I wish we’d figured things out before you and your family went through this,” Grant said as he and the rest of the men prepared to leave for the Big G.

  “You sent men, Grant. Without their help we would not have survived. There was no reason for Drago and his men to keep us alive—we meant nothing to them. My home was just a safe place for them to stay.” Alonzo Ibarra held out his hand to his neighbor and friend. “Thank you. I will be forever in your debt.”

  He walked over to the MacLarens. “Thank you. I wish there was more I could do to show my gratitude.” He shook each hand, then stepped back.

  “No thanks needed, Mr. Ibarra. We’re glad to have helped,” Drew said, expressing the thoughts of everyone.

  “Let’s go, men.” Grant tipped his hat once more to the Ibarras. He hoped he and his men found Drago and Luther before they harmed anyone else. At least the MacLarens had put a hole in the size of their gang. Now only six were left.

  ******

  “I’m so glad all of you came. It’s been the nicest day I’ve had in a long time.” Eloise hugged each of the women, sorry to see the day end.

  “It’s been a wonderful day for all of us. I’m hoping we’ll be able to see you again before we leave for Fire Mountain,” Amanda said as she picked up her riding gloves. They’d stayed later than intended. She was glad the ride home wouldn’t take long.

  She grasped the handle of the front door, pulled it open, and almost walked into a tall, bronze-skinned man standing at the threshold. Her eyes must have shown her surprise.

  “Sorry to have frightened you, Miss….?”

  “Uh, Amanda. Amanda MacLaren.”

  “Ah, a MacLaren. How nice to meet you.” He extended his arm and for the first time Amanda noticed it held a gun. A gun now pointed at her. “Please, step back into the house, Amanda MacLaren.”

  She walked backyards a few feet and ran into Kate, who’d come up behind her. “What’s going on?”

  “Another beautiful woman. I am a lucky man today.” The stranger pointed the gun toward the front room. Two other men followed him and began to check each room in the house.

  The women turned as a loud crash came from the kitchen. Amanda and Kate’s eyes shot to where Tess and Eloise had been talking and heard a man’s voice.

  “Move into the front room, ladies, and don’t say a word,” the harsh voice commanded. Tess and Eloise walked through the doorway, a large, brutal looking man behind them, pointing a gun at their backs. Another man stepped into the kitchen and closed the door, leaving their last comrade to watch the horses.

  “Well, it appears we are very lucky indeed.” Drago told the others. “Did you seen anyone else?”

  “One, but he is no longer a concern to us,” Luther sneered.

  Eloise gasped at the knowledge that another of her men may have been murdered by these men. Jeff had debated whether or not to leave just the one man today. Eloise had insisted one was enough. She’d been wrong.

  “Which of you is Mrs. Bierdan?” Drago asked.

  Each looked away from him or let their eyes fall to the floor, but no one spoke.

  “Let me remind you ladies who holds the gun. I’m sure you’re all aware that I have no qualms about using it.” His cold stare washed over the women. “Now, which one of you is Eloise Bierdan?”

  “I am,” Eloise said in a calm voice that masked her inner fear. She glared at the man but didn’t back away.

  Drago studied the four and made a decision. “Take these three into separate rooms and tie them,” pointing to Amanda, Kate, and Tess. “And gag them. This one will stay here.” He focused his gaze and gun on Eloise.

  Luther and two others escorted the women away from the front of the house. Tess was deposited in a downstairs bedroom while Amanda and Kate were securely tied to bedposts in rooms above.

  Drago sat in a chair across from Eloise.

  “Where are all your ranch hands? Surely there is more than the one that Luther found?”

  Eloise raised her chin and glared at the foul creature before her. “They’re wranglers. Where do you think they are?”

  He let her comment go. “So, they are gone for the entire day. You and your friends are alone.” It was a statement.

  Eloise said nothing.

  “You are a very stubborn woman, Mrs. Bierdan. You have no husband, no experience in ranching, yet you continue to hold on to a ranch you know you will lose. Why?” No one had suspected the young woman would be so difficult to persuade. Her determined nature and strong will had held her fear at bay. She never even asked how much Walsh was willing to pay. Drago had to admire her spirit even though he knew she’d make the right decision—or disappear.

  Eloise stared at her captor, not understanding how anyone would think she’d react to threats and killings by giving up. She knew few people in this part of the country who responded well to intimidation.

  Eloise knew Jeff and her other men were working at the far end of the ranch today, sorting and branding cattle, and checking for disease. He’d told her it would be a long day. She could only pray that they’d finish early and return. Her mind buzzed with anything she could say or do to stall for time. “You have me at a
disadvantage. You know my name but I don’t know yours.”

  “Ah, my apologies. My name is Sebastian Drago.”

  “And you work for?”

  “I work for myself, Mrs. Bierdan, and my partner.” Drago bent to rest his forearms on his thighs, the gun still pointing her way.

  “And is your partner Ira Walsh?” She’d reasoned it could only be the other buyer from Denver. No other buyer had surfaced and she was convinced that neither Grant Taylor nor Louis Dunnigan would use the tactics of men such as the one who sat before her.

  Drago ignored her. He stood and walked to the small cabinet that contained two decanters and a bottle of whiskey. He holstered his gun, certain Eloise would not try anything stupid while her friends were his hostages. Drago poured a drink and threw it back, then poured another. “You have not answered my question. Why stay when you will lose the ranch anyway?” This time his eyes trailed over her, making their way up her dress to her chest, and settling on her face with an appreciative gaze.

  The scrutiny made her skin crawl. She stood and walked to within five feet of the repulsive man. She couldn’t force her body to move closer.

  “It’s my land, Mr. Drago, and my decision whether or not I sell. It’s too bad your partner had no patience, because, as you say, I may very well lose the ranch. But I assure you, if I sell, it won’t be to men like you or Walsh.” Eloise had no idea where the words came from. She was angry, outraged at what these men had done. The lives they’d wasted and damage they’d caused.

  He set the glass down, never taking his eyes from her. The menace in his face sent chills up her spine and she forced herself not to back away. To her astonishment, he laughed. It was a sinister sound, not the type of laugh that caught others and made them join in. No, this was a laugh of disbelief, threatening in its harshness, by a man who thought she would cower under his threats.