“You mean, Bull, don’t you?” Reining Tempest toward town, he smiled at Abby’s laughter as she stepped back inside the house.
“Are you ready?” Cash stood at the bottom of the stairs as Alison walked down wearing a coat and grasping a small bag.
“What’s in there?” He nodded toward the satchel when she’d taken the last step down.
Her face colored. “We didn’t have a chance to eat last time, so I packed something.”
“May I?” He reached out his hand.
“It’s not much.” She handed him the bag, wondering why he was so curious about bread, fruit, and cold chicken. “Hope it’s all right.”
Glancing inside, he handed the bag back, not feeling a bit guilty about confirming what she’d said. “It’s fine. The horses are out back. Let’s get going.” He had no plans to stay at the cabin after he learned the truth. Once she confessed her true reasons for being in Splendor, they’d ride back to town, pack her belongings, and he’d put her on the first stage back east.
He helped her onto Joker’s saddle, then mounted Hunter, reining him toward the north end of town. Within minutes, they’d disappeared down the trail. Riding in silence, Cash kept watch. He’d felt a prickling sensation the moment they’d left the boundary of Splendor, yet he’d seen nothing, including any wild animals. The thought had him sitting up straighter.
Foxes, mule deer, raccoons, rabbits, even an occasional gray wolf were common when riding outside of town. Today, he’d spotted nothing. Resting a hand on the butt of his gun, Cash took another look around.
“Let’s go this way.” Taking a trail to his left, he remained vigilant as they made a steep vertical climb. He’d taken the animal path one other time. Not wide, with patches of ice and snow, it cut some time off his normal ride.
“Where are we, Cash?”
“We’re still going to the cabin, just taking a different trail. I thought you might like a change in scenery.”
Riding behind him, he couldn’t see her eyes roll at the obvious lie. “Since I’ve been on the other trail so many times,” she called to his back, her sarcasm clear.
Glancing over his shoulder, Cash nodded. “Are you doing all right?”
“As good as possible with the narrow, icy trail, and tree limbs slapping me in the face every few seconds. How about you?”
His rumbled laughter sounded good after suffering his disdain for so many days. Ever since what happened at the cabin, she’d been plagued with guilt, remorse, and a sense of loss so great she couldn’t sleep. Deciding the time had come to tell him the truth, intense fear wrapped around her as they rode up the mountain. She had no idea how he’d respond, what he’d say, or if he’d arrest her for the plans she’d made so many months ago.
All Alison knew was she’d ruined her chance to gain his trust or have him care about her again. He had cared once. She knew this as certain as she knew her brother would no longer come running through the fields toward her, laughing and holding out his arms for a hug. Her eyes misted at the memory. The reality of why and how he had died hurt more. It wasn’t at all as she’d expected. If it weren’t for Lena sitting with her one evening, explaining the events of the shooting, Alison might never have learned the truth.
“It won’t be long now. The trail may be rough and the snow will get thicker the closer we get to the top, but it takes less time than the trail we took before.”
The lump in her throat had dissolved, reforming as a hard ball of ice in her stomach. Reaching the cabin meant they were closer to the time he’d learn her secret—the moment when he’d push her from his life for good and she’d have decisions to make. If he didn’t arrest her, would she stay in Splendor to run her business? Or would she leave?
She had little money. What she’d saved in Kentucky was used to purchase the business and move west. Selling the shop and starting over someplace else would be her last choice. But staying to watch Cash move about his days, perhaps falling in love with someone else, held no appeal at all. Both choices felt like a rope around her neck, tightening, squeezing the life out of her.
“Another five minutes, Alison.” Cash looked over his shoulder, noticing the glazed look in her eyes. “Are you doing all right?”
Clearing her throat, she nodded. “Yes. Fine.” Not long now before her life would change. If only she could see into the future and discover how.
“Can I help?” Bull stood a few feet from Noah, watching as he loaded the tools Dax had ordered.
“Sure. See the stack over there?” Noah nodded toward a box of new tools. “Those go, too.”
It took little time with both of them working to load the wagon, feed and water the horses in the stable, and close the livery.
“Unharness the horse and throw a saddle on him. We’ll leave the wagon here while we have lunch at the house.” Noah saw Bull’s brows furrow. “You didn’t think you could ride in and out of town without seeing Lydia, did you?”
“Dax mentioned needing the tools as soon as I could get them back to the ranch. I doubt he’d understand me stopping in to see Lydia.”
“I believe he would understand, but we’ll make it a quick visit. I know the ladies have already made lunch, and I’m sure you don’t want to disappoint them.”“I most certainly would not want to disappoint the ladies.” Bull grinned, latching onto any reason to see Lydia. “I’ll saddle the horse.”
“You move up the trail, Clem. I’ll stay here and give the signal after Brandt rides past. We’ll get him from the front and back so there’s no chance he’ll get away.”
“What do we do with the body, Louis?”
“What do you think we do with it?” He waited while Clem considered the question, then shrugged. “Nothing, Clem. We ride out as soon as he’s on the ground.”
“We aren’t that far from town. Someone will hear the gunfire.”
“That’s why we won’t hesitate after we take our shots. We can’t stick around to check the body or move it off the trail.” Pulling out a worn pocket watch, Louis checked the time. “You need to get into position. Brandt should be leaving the livery in a few minutes.”
Reining his horse around, Clem rode up the trail before disappearing into a copse of pine trees set around two large boulders. Both would provide excellent cover while giving him the visibility needed to spot his target. Dismounting, he grabbed his Enfield rifle, looked around, then hunkered down near one of the boulders to wait.
Louis secured his horse several yards off the trail. Checking his Whitworth rifle, he smirked. It was more than he needed for this kill. He’d used it for long-range targets as a sharpshooter for the Confederacy. If all went according to plan, Brandt wouldn’t be more than a hundred yards up the trail. During the war, his longest hit had been about eleven hundred yards. Granted, he’d marked a group of officers standing in a cluster and he’d hit only one, yet it had been recorded as a kill.
Anticipation gripped him at the prospect of tallying up one more kill of a Union soldier. According to Monty, Noah had been a major in the Union Army, a sharpshooter with a stellar record. After today, he’d be nothing more than a number, his record during the war dying with him.
Noah and Bull rode next to each other as they started up the trail out of town. Noah’s house sat on a hill overlooking Splendor. A slow stride would get them there in thirty minutes. Today, they rode at an increased pace, hoping to cut ten minutes off the trip.
Riding side-by-side, anyone who didn’t know them might assume they were brothers. Both were well over six feet tall, and with their military background, had a naturally relaxed, upright posture in the saddle.
“Have you and Lydia set a date for the wedding?” Noah glanced over at Bull, knowing his friend didn’t want to wait long to claim her.
“Early summer at the ranch. It’s where Lydia and I got to know each other. I can’t think of a better place. We talked to Reverend Paige last Sunday and he’s agreed to ride out with his wife.”
“Another big shindig at Redempti
on’s Edge.”
Bull chuckled. “Lydia, Rachel, and Ginny are already coming up with ideas. Doubt it will be long before Lena, Isabella, and Suzanne join them.” Sighing, he shook his head. “I know the ladies all mean well, but I’d just as soon ride to Big Pine for a quiet wedding and enjoy a few days away.”
“Have you said as much to Lydia?”
Bull shot a glance at Noah, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “Do I look like a man with a death wish?”
A deep, rumbling laugh left Noah’s lips. “You look like a man with everything to live for. Why, I bet—”
Before he could finish, a loud crack came from behind him, a burning pain searing into his back.
“Noah!” Bull started to reach over for his friend when another shot rang out from in front of them, the bullet knocking Noah off his saddle.
Pulling his revolver from its holster, Bull slid off his horse as more shots hit the ground around them. Grabbing Noah by the collar, noting the blood, he tried to drag him off the trail. He groaned at the effort of moving a man who weighed as much as he did. Seconds before reaching a safe location, Bull heard the crack of two rifles. One bullet whizzed past his head. A moment later, he cursed as the second bullet found its mark. Bull collapsed on top of Noah, taking one last glimpse of the sky before his eyelids grew heavy and the world went black.
~~~~~
Chapter Twenty-Two
Standing on the boardwalk, Clay McCord’s hand stilled on the door of the general store. Whipping around, he focused his gaze on the hill behind town. Another shot rang out, confirming what he’d heard moments before.
“Did you hear that?” Bernie ran out of the telegraph office, waving his arms.
“Find Sheriff Evans and Beau. Send them up the hill toward Brandt’s house.” Jumping off the boardwalk, Clay ran to the stables behind the livery, taking mere minutes to saddle his horse. By the time he started up the trail, at least two more shots pierced the morning air, his chest tightening with each bang. He’d seen the sign saying the livery was closed, knowing Noah left mid-mornings on Saturdays. Sending up a prayer, he spurred his horse on, anxiety gripping him at what he expected to find.
Bernie burst into the Dixie, seeing Gabe and Nick talking near the bar.
“Sheriff! Shots are being fired up the hill to the Brandt place.”
Not waiting, Gabe rushed out of the saloon, Nick close behind.
“Clay McCord is already heading up there,” Bernie called to their backs, doubting either heard him in the rush to grab their horses.
“Where’s Beau?” Nick sucked in a breath as he saddled his horse, working as fast as possible to keep up with Gabe.
“Rode out an hour ago.” Swinging into the saddle, he reigned Blackheart around to see several townsfolk clustered outside the stable gate. “Get inside the buildings and wait there,” he shouted as he rode past, Nick a few yards behind.
Fear wrapped around Gabe as he encouraged Blackheart up the wide trail toward Noah’s house. The ride seemed to take forever, even though only minutes had gone by before he spotted a man kneeling beside two inert bodies. Drawing his gun, he pointed it at the man.
“Put your hands up and step away.”
Clay raised his hands, standing, turning so Gabe could see him.
“Clay?”
“I heard the shots and sent Bernie to get you.” His rough voice and somber face signaled what Gabe feared. “It’s bad, Gabe.”
Nick reined to a stop as Gabe slid from his horse, dropping to his knees next to Noah. A feral scream wrenched from his chest at the blood pooling around him. Seeing the other body, he gasped at the sight of Bull, blood covering his shirt.
“Both are still breathing, but we need to stop the bleeding.” Clay pressed his hands against Bull’s wound, Gabe doing the same with Noah, applying pressure to what appeared to be the most life-threatening wound.
“Nick, we need a wagon. Then get Doc up here and ride to the Pelletier’s. We’ll need Rachel.”
Clay and Gabe did what they could, neither Noah nor Bull responding to their efforts.
“They’re both still breathing.” Clay’s ragged breaths spoke of the effort needed to stop the bleeding. “Just barely,” he muttered.
“We will not lose them. We can’t,” Gabe ground out, ripping off his shirt and pressing it to Noah’s wound. I can’t lose you, he thought, an agonizing pain squeezing his chest. “Hold on, buddy. You can make it. You’ve got to.”
“I wonder what’s gotten into him.” Lydia rocked Gabriel, trying to pacify him. A few minutes before, he’d woken up screaming, his face red, arms flailing.
Abby sat down, adjusted her clothing, then reached out. “Give him to me, Lydia. Maybe he’s hungry.” A few minutes later she looked up at Lydia, shaking her head. “He’s not interested.”
“I can take him out in the sunshine and walk with him. He always likes being outside.”
“Like his papa.” Abby stood, buttoned the front of her dress, then checked the time on the wall clock. “I wonder what’s keeping the men.”
“You know how they are. Probably got to talking about something and lost track of time. They’ll be here.” Lydia walked through the front door, taking a seat on the rocker Noah had built for Abby on the porch. Bull had already told her he planned to build one for them. They both loved children and wanted a houseful.
Gabriel began to settle down as Lydia continued to rock. Within minutes, they were both asleep. Which is how Lena and Suzanne found them when they arrived an hour later. Stepping down from the wagon, they glanced at each other, neither wanting the job they’d been given by Nick, yet knowing the news would come best from them.
“I thought I heard a wagon pull up.” Abby looked down at Gabriel sleeping in Lydia’s arms as she walked through the door. Warmth spread through her as a smile curved her lips.
Glancing at Lena and Suzanne, her smile froze, then slipped completely when she saw the somber expressions on their faces. Her hands began to shake as she walked down the steps to meet them. The men were long overdue, her worry increasing with each passing minute until she’d made the decision to ask Lydia to ride into town and find them.
“What is it?” Abby’s voice shook. Reaching out, she latched onto Suzanne’s hand. “Tell me.”
Suzanne had known Abby since she was a young girl and looked after her for a while after her mother died, until Abby had been sent back east to school. Her heart broke looking at the fear on her face.
“Let’s sit down.” Suzanne tried to guide her back to the porch, but Abby pulled away.
“No. Tell me.”
Her distressed demand woke Lydia. Seeing Lena and Suzanne, she stood, careful not to wake Gabriel. “Is something wrong?”
Lena looked between the two women. They couldn’t afford to waste more time.
“Both Noah and Bull were shot and are at the clinic.”
“My God.” Abby’s hand flew to her mouth, her eyes tearing. “We have to go.”
“Abby, wait.” Suzanne stepped close. “You both need to know. The men are in very serious condition. Doc doesn’t know if either will make it.”
Lena dashed to grab Gabriel as Lydia’s arms began to give out. The young woman’s shoulders slumped as panic surged through her an instant before a calm resolve stilled her features.
“We must leave right now.” Lydia hurried to the wagon, climbing into the back as Suzanne helped Abby onto the seat, then climbed up next to her.
Lena handed Gabriel to Suzanne, then squeezed herself onto the seat, grabbing the lines. Her throat tightened as quiet sobs came from the back of the wagon. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw Lydia swipe at the tears streaming down her face.
Why? Lena thought as anger spread through her. She felt like screaming at the injustice, knowing her rage would change nothing. Steeling herself, Lena guided the wagon back to town, sending up silent prayers the entire way—for Noah and Bull, for Abby and Lydia, and for the entire town who had become her family.
They rode close to the cabin, finding an area where the snow wasn’t as deep. Ground tying Hunter, Cash walked around Joker, reaching up to help Alison down.
“I’m perfectly capable of getting off a horse.” She ignored his gesture, tugging up her dress and swinging a leg over the back of the saddle, stumbling a little as she landed. Untying the satchel from behind the saddle, she lifted her hem, strolled past him and through the open doorway. The door still rested where it had fallen the first time Cash brought her here. Glancing at the bed, her face flushed at the memory, wishing she could take that day back and start over.
Cash came in behind her, grabbing the chair and setting it down next to the bed.
“Have a seat, Alison.” He gestured toward the bed, then pulled over a chair for himself and sat down.
Pursing her lips, she pulled her coat tighter, taking hesitant steps to the bed, sitting on the edge. Gripping her satchel on her lap, she sucked in a deep breath, letting it out in a slow whoosh. Directing an unwavering gaze at Cash, she began.
“My name is Alison Burns McGrath. I’m twenty-two years old. My father was killed in the war, my mother is still living on our farm in Kentucky, and my brother was killed during a bank robbery in Splendor.”
Cash stared at her, his face a mask. She saw no anger, no condemnation, and more surprising, no shock at her confession. Her eyes widened a little before her gaze shifted to the floor, then back up to his face.
“You knew all this already, didn’t you?”
Cash could barely talk for the relief he felt. She’d laid it all out, didn’t try to hide behind more secrets. Her candor stunned him.
“Yes, I knew.”
She leaned forward. “Yet you wanted to ride all the way to the cabin to hear me say it?”
“We needed privacy.”
“I could’ve told you all this at the shop.”
He stood, closing the distance between them, holding out his hands. Setting the satchel on the bed, she placed her hands in his, allowing him to help her up. Hope surged through her for a brief moment at the look he gave her, so much like what she saw in his eyes when they’d made love.
Survivor Pass Page 20