Dashing Druid (Texas Druids)

by Lyn Horner

  Lil blinked furiously.

  Alabama coughed. “Well, I s’pose we better start roundin’ up the rest of the herd. Yuh want us to hold ’em here on the flat, Miz Lil, or somewheres else?”

  She stared at him in surprise, then shot Tye another glance.

  His mouth crooked. “’Twould seem you’re the boss, Lily, until your father returns. What would ye have us do?”

  Licking dry lips, she scanned the landscape. “I guess the flat oughta do. It’s close enough to that wash we passed last night so we can water them later.”

  The men accepted her decision without question. Mounting fresh horses, they set out singly or in pairs to gather the missing stock – all except Tye. When Lil lagged behind, staring at Neil’s grave, he stayed with her.

  “Are ye all right, colleen?” he asked quietly.

  “I’m fine.”

  “Are ye then?” He sounded highly doubtful.

  Turning, she walked a short distance away and gazed with blurred eyes at the herd of longhorns. They grazed peacefully, as if last night had never happened.

  “Neil was a good friend,” she said hoarsely. “I’m going to miss him. A whole lot. Yet . . . I’m glad it’s not me, and I’m so ashamed!” She meant to tell him she was also very glad it wasn’t him in that grave, but her voice cracked and the floodgates broke.

  Tye muttered something in Irish. Then he was there, pulling her against him. His arms encircled her, and she clung to him, sobbing brokenly.

  “Lily, you’re not to feel that way! Neil wouldn’t want ye to, and I won’t have it!” He cupped her face between his big, work-roughened hands and tipped her head back until his image swam before her brimming eyes. “If it were you . . . merciful heaven, it doesn’t bear thinking.”

  Groaning, he kissed her with such fierce tenderness that she allowed herself to believe he loved her. In that instant, she gave herself to him, heart and soul. He was life in all its sweetness. She needed him. She loved him.

  Had he led her off somewhere private, Lil would have gone with him gladly. Instead, breathing hard, he lifted his head and stared at her. Could he see her love for him? she wondered in a daze. As if reading her thoughts – as he had seemed to do many times before – he shook his head, released her and stepped back so hastily that she swayed on her feet for a brief instant.

  “We’ve cattle to collect,” he whispered huskily. “Are ye up to it?”

  No, I’m not! I need you! She silently cried.

  He stared at her again with a pained look on his face.

  Sanity returned, making Lil feel like a fool. What was she thinking? Had Neil’s death made her soft in the head? Why, just the other day she’d told Tye, blushing hotly, that she now knew she wasn’t in a family way, and he’d been mighty relieved to hear it. He’d apologized for making her worry, as if it was all his doing. Filled with sudden, unexplainable anger, she’d spun on her heel and walked away to avoid slapping him.

  He lusted after her, he cared for her in his way, but he’d made it clear he wouldn’t let himself touch her again. If he did, she might get pregnant, and he didn’t want to have to marry her – because he didn’t truly love her.

  Brushing the drying tears from her cheeks, she nodded in reply to his question.

  “Good girl. MacClure would be proud of ye.” With that, he turned and headed for his horse, leaving Lil to wonder why she had ever allowed him into her heart.

  * * *

  When Del and Jack rode in after supper, Tye was having a second cup of coffee. Nearby, Lil sat cross-legged, silently gazing into the low-burning campfire. Across from them, Chic was engaged in halfhearted conversation with Alabama. The others seemed too worn out and dispirited from last night’s tragedy to say much.

  Lil rose as her father tied up his horse and walked over with Jack padding silently behind him. Tye shared her sense of dread at having to tell them about Neil.

  “Pa, I . . . I’m glad you’re back,” she said.

  “Glad to be back,” Del replied, throwing a puzzled glance at the silent group around the campfire. “Kinda quiet, ain’t it.”

  “The boy’s are tuckered out from last night,” Chic said. “You want some grub?”

  “Thanks, but Jack snared a rabbit and spitted it for us earlier.” He aimed his frowning gaze at Lil. “You had trouble last night? Is that how come I didn’t meet up with you sooner? And where’s MacClure? I need to talk to him.”

  Tye had risen to stand near Lil. He saw her lips tremble as she bent her head and hugged herself.

  “What’s wrong?” Del demanded. “And what are you doing in camp, Devlin? How come you ain’t out with the herd?”

  “Luis took my shift. I’ll ride night herd with Lil later.” Seeing the trail boss scowl, he grimly explained, “We had a hellish storm last night and a stampede. MacClure was killed.”

  “Good Lord!” Del gasped, jerking with shock. His mouth worked silently for a moment; then he swung away, shaking his head. “I can’t believe it.”

  “We buried him this morning,” Lil said, voice unsteady. “After . . . afterward, we started rounding up strays. It’ll take another day or two to chase them all down.”

  “I’m damn sorry about Neil,” Del muttered after a moment’s silence.

  “He was a good Segundo,” Jack remarked, high praise coming from him.

  Del looked drawn and old when he finally turned around. Sighing, he pinched his eyes between thumb and forefinger.

  “Looks like we could be in for more trouble,” he said. “We crossed paths with a trader up ahead. He said the Cheyenne are riled because the Army’s fixing to throw the ringleaders of last year’s uprising in prison down in Florida. A bunch of young bucks have jumped the reservation and they’re doing some raiding. We’ll have to keep a close eye out or we’re liable to lose the horses, maybe our scalps too.”

  “Doesn’t sound good, boss,” Alabama commented. “I sure wish we had a few more hands in case of a fight.”

  Del grunted. “So do I, ’specially now with Neil gone.” He rubbed his neck and muttered, “I dunno what I’ll do without him. Or who I’ll find to replace him.”

  “Why not give your daughter a chance?” Tye suggested, eyeing Lil.

  She gaped at him. Picking up her disbelief and uncertainty – mixed with a dash of excitement – he cocked an eyebrow, daring her to take up the challenge.

  “Are you off your rocker?” Del blurted. “A woman segundo? The men would never take orders from her.”

  “Oh, but we would. In fact, we’ve been doing so all day. ’Twas Alabama who first asked her for orders.” Receiving a disconcerted glance from the stocky drover, Tye didn’t mind putting him on the spot after all the times he’d looked down his nose at Dewey. Not to mention his tiresome pranks.

  “I reckon I did, boss,” Alabama admitted. “She seemed like the one to ask, being your daughter.”

  “I wouldn’t mind taking her orders,” Jack drawled. “She knows cattle good as any of us and she’s easy on the eyes.” His remark drew laughs from the other men.

  Tye clamped his teeth together and glared at the handsome Indian. He didn’t like the man practicing his charm on Lil. It pleased him no end to hear her angry reaction.

  “My looks have nothing to do with whether I can handle the job or not. You’d better remember that once I do start giving orders, or you’ll be gone so quick you won’t see your own dust.”

  Jack instantly sobered “Yes ma’am. Sorry. I didn’t mean no disrespect.”

  “I didn’t say I was giving you the job,” Del said, contemplating Lil.

  She flushed and glanced at Tye. He nodded encouragement and was proud to see her square her shoulders and meet her father’s stare.

  “I can do it, Pa.”

  “You really want to try it after what happened to MacClure?” As he spoke, Del shot Tye a glare that said this was his doing.

  Tye’s mouth went dry. Christ! Del was right. If anything happened to Lil, it would be his faul
t. He wanted to tell her to forget it, it was a bad idea, but she was already arguing her case.

  “Neil’s death was an accident. It could’ve happened to any of us. And yeah, I do want to try it.”

  Lifting his Stetson, Del plowed a hand through his matted gray hair, then slapped the stained hat back on. He drew a deep breath and let it out slowly. “All right, I’ll give you a chance. But you be damn careful. Is that clear?”

  “Yes sir,” Lil promised with an exultant smile.

  Nodding curtly, Del focused on Tye. “Devlin, since you’re so all-fired anxious for Lil to be segundo, I figure you can take over the rest of MacClure’s job. I’m moving you to point. I’ll take your swing spot until we pick up another man.” He jabbed a finger at Tye. “And if Lil needs somebody to back her up, that somebody’s you. Agreed?”

  “Pa! I don’t need anybody nursemaiding me,” Lil protested.

  “Don’t argue, girl. It’s this way or not at all. Well, Devlin?”

  Tye spread a hand across his chest. “Upon my word, sir, I’ll stay close by her.”

  “Humph! You’ve been doing that every chance you get, anyway. Might as well be useful while you’re at it.”

  “Pa!” Lil blurted, turning scarlet as a round of laughter broke out among the men.

  Feeling a flush climb up his own throat, Tye grinned sheepishly.

  “Quit hee-hawin’ and turn in, all of you,” Del barked. “I want those cattle rounded up pronto tomorrow. We’ve gotta get to Wichita ’fore the market’s so flooded we can’t find a buyer.”

  * * *

  Pausing to rest his horse the next afternoon, Del grimaced and stretched his saddle-weary back. He’d just helped bring in more steers, but there were still a bunch missing. Much as he hated to face it, they’d be at this another day. Even then the tally was bound to come up short, though not by too many head, he hoped.

  Damn, it was hot. He mopped his face with a sweat-soaked bandanna, longing for the shade of his front porch and a tall glass of Rebecca’s lemonade. Maybe he was getting too old for the trail, like his brother had tried to tell him.

  Someone shouted his name. Nudging his sorrel around, he saw Dewey Sherman approach at a dead run.

  “Boss, there’s some mighty big dust behind us. They’s comin’ up fast.” Dewey blurted, dragging his horse to a halt. His dark face glistened with sweat.

  “Must be the Circle H crowd.” Del frowned, recalling Tye’s scrap with Frank Howard. He made a quick decision. “Think I’ll go have a talk with Judd Howard. Tell Lil for me, Dewey.”

  “Yessuh, but don’t yuh want some comp’ny? I hear tell that young’un of Mistah Howard’s ain’t too friendly.”

  Del snorted. “The day I run scared from Frank Howard is the day I’ll give up breathing. Just do like I said.” With that, he tapped the sorrel’s flanks and headed south.

  As it turned out, he didn’t set eyes on Frank. Judd and his older boy, Travis, were the ones who rode out to meet him. They drew rein facing each other.

  “Howdy, Del,” Judd said in his deep, rumbling voice. “Didn’t figure to see you again ’til Wichita.”

  “Didn’t expect to see you, neither, Judd,” Del replied, exchanging nods with Travis – a short-haired, weathered version of his brother. “But we had a stampede the other night and we’re still rounding ’em up.”

  Broader and shorter than his sons, Judd tipped his hat back, revealing gray-blond hair, and leaned a hefty forearm on his saddle horn. He smiled slyly. “Well now, maybe I’ll send my boys out huntin’. Might pick up a few unbranded mavericks.”

  Del eyed his old friend with fond humor. They’d grown up on adjoining farms in the Arkansas hills and had come to Texas as young bucks along with Jeb. A lot of water had passed under the bridge since then, but Del still regarded Judd as a second brother.

  Grinning, he drawled, “Try it, you old range bull, and I’ll put a new curl in your horns.”

  Judd gave a barrel-chested laugh, then turned serious. “Sorry to hear about your trouble. Be glad to lay over a day or two and lend you a few hands.”

  “Thanks, Judd, but I can’t ask that of you. Anyway, one more day oughta put us back on the road. Just hope we don’t run into those renegade Cheyennes. Did you hear about ’em?”

  “Yeah, I got the word. Ain’t too worried, though. We’ve got enough guns to handle any trouble. How about you?”

  “We’ll do,” Del said, hoping he was right.

  “You all right on supplies? We’ve got plenty to spare.”

  “Thanks again, but we’re okay. No damage done to the wagons.” Studying the reins he toyed with, Del added gruffly, “Lost Neil MacClure, though, when he tried to head off the herd.”

  Frowning, Judd shifted in his saddle. “Damn, that’s real bad news. He was a good man.”

  “Sure was.”

  “Think you can rustle up a new ramrod to finish out the drive?”

  Del adopted a deadpan expression. “Don’t need to. The boys already found me one – Lil.”

  “Well, I’ll be,” Judd muttered in astonishment.

  Shaking his head, Travis chuckled. “Best watch out, Del, or she’ll have your job next.”

  A wry grin eased its way across Del’s mouth. “Reckon she might at that if she doesn’t marry up pretty quick.”

  Judd’s hazel eyes narrowed shrewdly. “You think she’ll tie the knot with that Devlin fella Frank tangled with?”

  “Frank told you about that, did he?”

  “Yeah and I heard plenty about what he’s gonna do to the Irishman the next time they meet. They bumped heads in Fort Worth, too – over Lil, I gather.”

  Del stiffened. “I didn’t know about that.” Guessing Lil had known but hadn’t told him, he scowled.

  “Dammit!” Travis interjected. “I told Frank back at the ranch to leave Lil alone, but he’s too stubborn to back off.”

  Several years older than Frank, with a wife and three youngsters back home, Travis was Judd’s right arm. Del thought it a shame his good sense hadn’t rubbed off on his hotheaded brother.

  “Reckon this is my doing,” Judd said ruefully. “I let Frank know a while back that I’d be pleased to see him make a match with Lil. I know they haven’t always gotten along, but I thought if Frank put his mind to courting her . . . .”

  He shook his head and sighed. “Sorry to bring you trouble, Del, but I hoped Lil would settle the boy down.”

  Del shrugged. “I figured you had a hand in it when Frank showed up at our place last fall and started paying attention to her. Have to admit Rebecca and I kind of encouraged him, too, but Lil had already met Devlin. It was at a dance back then when he and your boy first locked horns, as a matter of fact.”

  “Mmm, and now Frank’s got the bit between his teeth. Well, I’ve kept him close to hand since he paid you that last visit, and I’ll make sure he stays that way ’til we’re clear of your outfit.”

  “Glad to hear it. You’d best keep an eye on him when we hit Wichita, too, and I’ll do the same with Devlin.”

  “That’s a deal. You’ve got my word Frank won’t be the one to start trouble,” Judd promised, extending his hand to Del.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  As he herded longhorns across the shallow Cimarron River, Tye watched Lil re-enter the water from the north bank. She was tireless, or so she wanted them all to think.

  “Kirby,” she called, “help Dewey pull that steer out before the quicksand sucks him under.”

  On the far side of the herd from Tye, young Kirby rode forward, threw a second loop on the mired steer, and helped Dewey drag the animal to safety. The river was down, and the treacherous bottom had already claimed one animal. Clearly, Lil didn’t mean to lose any more.

  Tye smiled. She was proving herself a capable segundo. The men accepted her orders without question. As Jack had said, she knew cattle as well as any of them, maybe better, and she had earned their respect along the trail. She also knew how to handle trouble, not only with the her
d, but among the crew. Just the other night she’d prevented a fight between Dewey and Alabama.

  Dewey had tolerated the other man’s superior attitude and derogatory jibes for as long as he could. Night before last, Alabama had gone too far, telling a nasty joke about coloreds, and Dewey had exploded, calling him ‘no-good white trash’. If Lil hadn’t stepped between the two, fists would have flown for sure.

  “There’ll be no fighting while you’re part of this crew,” she’d fiercely decreed. “We stick together out here or we die.” Then she’d told Alabama to button his mouth from now on. Tye had silently applauded. He’d also caught Del’s surge of pride in his daughter.

  Lil twisted in her saddle now to look over the herd’s progress. Seeing her breasts thrust against her faded calico shirt, Tye instantly hardened. He nearly groaned with need.

  “Fool,” he muttered, tearing his gaze away from her. “Why torture yourself so, when you’ve sworn not to touch her again?”

  When the drive ended, he should leave, for both their sakes. He’d been telling himself that for weeks, yet the thought of parting with her was agonizing.

  A few hours later, Tye rode forward with Del and Lil to meet a small, well-mounted band of Indians.

  “Cheyenne,” Lil said grimly. “Must be some of the ones you heard about, Pa.”

  Del nodded, never taking his eyes off their visitors. “I’m surprised they want to parley. Could be a good sign, but I doubt it.”

  Tye had a feeling he was right. These warriors were nothing like the starving Comanches they’d met back near Fort Sill – or the other groups they’d encountered since. He doubted they were out to beg a toll for crossing their land; more likely they’d take what they wanted. Proud and fierce-looking, they rode their ponies with fluid grace, dressed in breechclouts and moccasins.

  The man in the lead also wore a fringed buckskin shirt painted yellow and splashed with symbols. A buffalo-horned headdress crowned his head, with eagle feathers fluttering in the wind. The other riders sported long, fur-wrapped braids; one displayed a topknot bound in red.

  Tye counted seven in the party, three armed with rifles, the others with lances, bows and arrows. Glancing behind him, he was glad to see Jack and Luis gallop forward. A show of strength seemed in order.