“If we catch up to the man who just ran off, I’ll bring him right along,” Justin added. “If we don’t, we’ll study his trail enough to tell you something.”
Cole nodded. “The sheriff knows all about the explosion and the men out here who died. He’ll be glad to have someone to arrest. Wait . . . we’re forgetting about Pa’s will. It’s late in the day. Justin, you’ll be heading in exactly the wrong direction.”
“What’s your pa’s will got to do with this? Your pa’s alive and well.”
“Heath, you’ll have to go with Walt. Explain what’s going on while you ride.”
“No, Heath goes with you. I need someone who read that sign to talk to the sheriff.”
“I saw the tracks,” Justin said. “I can tell the tale as well as Heath.”
Walt knew that wasn’t true. They all did. With a snort of disgust, Walt headed for the barn and a few minutes later emerged with two horses.
“Cabin’s empty. You three have a good look around before you go. I didn’t take time to be thorough when I was still thinking a lone gunman might be around. These are the only horses left and they’re crowbait.” Walt handed a pair of reins to Heath, then swung up onto the skinny horse. It wasn’t prime horseflesh and didn’t make the gunmen hiding here look prosperous. Heath’s was a heavier animal, its hooves thick and its back wide like a plow horse.
“Mel, I’d take you along, but I don’t want you riding after a man who might be holed up and aiming at his back trail. I doubt I’ll get back to the cabin tonight. I don’t want you riding alone, and Justin and Cole need to stay together all the way to town to talk to the sheriff. They’ll have to go a long ways out of their way to take you to the JB. Best stay at the Bodens’.”
Mel nodded. “Be careful, both of you. We’ll pick up your horses.”
Cole watched them ride away. “I don’t like the idea of them riding after a man who might be holed up, aiming at his back trail.”
Mel heard Uncle Walt’s words repeated exactly, and her stomach gave a sickening twist of fear.
“I feel like I’m sending others to fight my fight,” he added.
Justin slapped Cole on the shoulder. “You can’t send men like Heath and Walt anywhere and you know it. Stopping them would’ve been the trick.”
“That’s especially true for Uncle Walt.” Mel’s fear eased a bit. Walt was a hard trail-savvy man. He’d be fine and he’d protect Heath—and Heath probably didn’t need any protecting. “C’mon, let’s go look around the cabin, then get to town. It’s gonna be a long day, but at least it’s better than mining for gold.”
Just as Walt said, the cabin had nothing in it. No mysterious notes written with scrawled, cramped handwriting. No packs of gold nuggets. No evidence that there was any connection between these men and the explosions, except for incriminating tracks that not many men could read.
They had to walk until they reached their horses. Then they rode for town, knowing the day was wearing down around them.
15
The sun was dropping behind Mount Kebbel by the time they reached the sheriff’s office in Skull Gulch.
Mel swung down, saddlesore from the grueling day. And it wasn’t over yet.
They hitched their horses, and then the three of them headed to the jail. The sheriff must’ve seen them coming, because he swung the door open before they reached it.
“What happened?”
Justin and Cole took turns telling their story. Mel threw in a few words, too. The sheriff knew about the explosions already, and knew enough about Walt Blake that he believed every word the Bodens said about where the trail led.
“I expect Walt to be in at some point. Whether later tonight or tomorrow sometime, I can’t say. He was chasing a man living in the cabin with two others, and we know it was three men’s tracks we followed, so we want that man.”
“If anyone can bring him in, it’s Walt.”
“Let’s head for home.” Justin tugged his hat low on his head.
Mel felt funny riding to the Bodens’ and calling it “home.” She rode along anyway. “Rosita won’t be planning on me for supper.” And she was so hungry her belly button was rubbing against her backbone.
“She’s expecting Justin and me,” Cole said. “Justin, you can skip your third helping for once so that Mel has something to eat.”
“She’s also expecting Heath, and Rosita always makes plenty. There’ll be enough food for everyone.”
Mel wasn’t really worried about the food. But she was a boiling caldron of worry, and Cole Boden riding along beside her was the source of most of it.
Since their horses had rested while they talked with the sheriff, they were able to set a faster pace. Even so, it was full dark by the time they reached the Cimarron Ranch. Mel was glad to see lanterns glowing in the windows of the main house and also the bunkhouse.
John Hightree, the Bodens’ foreman, came outside to greet them. “Howdy, Mel. Cole, Justin, you’re late. I had a notion to send out a search party.”
“You’d’ve been looking in the wrong place.” Cole gave him a quick rundown on the day.
“Heath just got here. He told me most of it. Go on in and eat. I’ll see to the horses.”
“Thanks, John.” While Mel liked to see to her own horse, she badly wanted to follow the glow of that warm light.
They headed inside together. Mel was surprised to see the family just sitting down to dinner.
Rosita smiled as she carried a large bowl of beef stew to the table. “It’s good you’ve come, Mel.”
Sadie gave Mel a big hug, then grabbed a platter of biscuits stacked high. She set them on the table and went to a seat snugged tight against Heath’s.
“Yes, it’s nice you’re staying,” Angie said. She smiled as she placed plates on the table.
Justin came in, washed his hands in a basin of water, then hugged Angie and gave her a modest kiss that didn’t match the heat in his eyes.
Cole threw out Justin’s water and refilled the basin. “You’re next, Mel.”
Soon they were all seated at the table, Cole at the head, Justin at the foot, with Mel finding herself on Cole’s right next to Heath and Sadie. She looked across the table at Rosita, Angie, and Justin.
Cole led them in a heartfelt prayer for their pa’s healing and safe return, the well-being of the whole family and all those around them, for the men who’d died and those who grieved, and finally for strength sufficient for the task ahead.
“Now,” Cole said before he put so much as a bite of stew on his plate, “let’s talk about what my grandparents might have to do with all this.”
“Cole’s grandfather’s name shows up again.” Veronica straightened from the writing and set her magnifying glass down with a sharp click. “Right along with Señora Lauressa de Val, the old Don’s wife.”
And if she was reading it right, they needed to see the rest of these notes—which her children had in New Mexico. The urgency of it was almost a lightning bolt. She felt the very hand of God sending chills up her spine and ordering her home.
She lurched to her feet. A groan escaped as her spine straightened and cracked in about five places. The pain brought her hands to the small of her back. She’d been bending over this writing for hours.
Chance came up behind her and rubbed her back. “It’s time for a break. Let’s at least walk around inside the house. We can’t go outside, but we can still move around a little.”
“No, there’s no time for a walk.” She was too anxious to think about her aches and pains. “We’ve got to go home.”
With a twist of his big hands, he turned her to face him. “You’re the one who’s been fussing about the doctoring I need. I’ve been ready for weeks.”
His leg was healed, Ronnie knew that, but it hurt and had limited movement. He wasn’t well.
“I’ve changed my mind. And now that I have, I want to be there. You pack everything you can.” Ronnie pointed at Chance, as ready to go as if someone had stuck a
spur in her flank.
“Finn is usually around this time of day. I’ll have him hire us a carriage to take us to the train station. I’ve checked the schedule, and a train leaves at two in the afternoon that’s going south through Skull Gulch. It’s nearly noon now. We have time to make it if we don’t lollygag.”
Chance gave her one long look, and whatever he saw convinced him to get moving. “I’ll gather everything two people can carry.”
He headed for the bedroom. They’d brought little more with them than a change of clothes. But they’d made purchases since arriving here. “We’ve paid rent until the end of February. We can leave anything we can’t haul along and have it shipped to us later.”
“I’ll be back to help as soon as I find Finn.” Ronnie caught Chance’s arm before he could leave. “You know I want to invite him to come along with us, don’t you?”
“Yep.” Chance gave her a warm smile. “Another young’un around the place would be good, Ronnie. Ask him.”
“I’m just worried he’s alone, living on the street. I can’t just take him. He speaks of his mother, and I can tell he’s lying, but I’m not sure what he’s lying about.” She shook her head. “I am getting a straight answer out of him today.”
She ran out of the room, straight for the front door. Neither she nor Chance wandered around outside. They’d caught the first man who’d attacked them, then slipped away to live in a place no one knew about, not even the doctor. All Chance’s treatments had been arranged by sending notes through Finn and answering the doctor’s pointed questions about Chance’s leg, then getting more notes with details for new exercises.
At first, Veronica had gone out to buy necessities, but since they’d met Finn, he’d done most of their running for them. Their first trip of any distance would be when they headed for the train.
She swung open the front door and nearly knocked Finn off the porch. He jumped, his eyes wide with fear. Ronnie had to wonder what crazed expression she had on her face. She’d wonder later—right now she needed his help.
“Finn . . .” She gave him rapid-fire directions and pressed a five-dollar gold piece in his hand. Then before he ran off to earn his money, she dropped to her knees in front of him.
Yes, she was in a tearing hurry, but she had time for this one thing. She caught him by the shoulders. “Time is up for us to get to know each other better. Now, I’ve got a direct question for you. I’ll have no choice but to accept whatever you say as the truth.”
She ran a hand through his wild red curls. “Mr. Boden and I have a nice big house in New Mexico Territory. There is plenty of space for one fine young man. You. You’ve spoken of your ma, but I’ve yet to meet her and I can see you’re living a rugged life.”
She looked deep into his eyes. “Are you alone in the world, Finn? Do you really have a ma and a home? Or are you living on the street like so many unfortunate children? Because if you need a home, I’m offering you one.”
“Missus, I’m fine.” His eyes shifted, and she just didn’t know . . . was he too proud to let a family take him in, or did he really have a mother somewhere who wanted him?
Ronnie held up her hand to stop him from talking further. “You’ve got from now until you get back with that carriage to give me an answer. Think about it. I’ve got two grown sons and a grown daughter. I miss having a youngster in the house. Now go and get back fast. There’s more money for you if we make that train on time.”
With a single jerk of his chin in agreement, he turned and dashed away.
Ronnie took a few seconds to worry about the young’un. He needed help whether he had a ma or not. She’d give him money, but would he know what to do with it? Would it make him the target of thieves? She just didn’t know how to handle the situation.
Whirling away from one problem, she charged toward another. Chance had a trunk fully packed and was working on the two satchels they’d brought from the CR.
There was little left to pack. She quickly wrote the doctor a note, explaining what had happened, and folded it. If Finn came with them to New Mexico, she’d mail it from the train station. If he didn’t, the boy could do one last job for her and maybe earn himself a generous amount.
Chance dragged the trunk to the front porch, Ronnie following with the satchels, her reticule, and with a quick stop in the kitchen she added bread, apples, and cheese, enough to feed them all the way to Skull Gulch.
Finn came running up moments later. Behind him was a shoddy cart, drawn by a single pony and driven by a man who looked like he sold vegetables at the local shops.
Ronnie gave it two seconds’ consideration and decided this would do fine.
They stepped outside where Ronnie was struck by the cold. She’d been nearly housebound for most of her time in Denver, and the weather made her miss New Mexico Territory even more.
She’d told Chance all about Finn, and now when the boy approached, she asked, “Have you made your decision, Finn?”
He gave her such a scared look that she was prepared to grab him and drag him with her if he said no.
“Missus, I really do have a ma, but she’s ailing something fierce. There’s just the two of us and we live a few blocks from here in a bad way. I can’t leave her, so my answer is no, unless . . . c-can we t-take my ma, too?”
Ronnie gave Chance a wild look.
He said, “Will she come? She’s got no time to think about it—she’ll just have to climb in the cart and go.”
The cart that was already nearly full with their trunk and satchels.
In a halting voice, Finn replied, “She’s mostly not awake these days, and we’ll have to carry her. I doubt she’ll even know we’re moving her.”
The boy’s words about broke Ronnie’s heart.
“Hop in, Finn.” Chance caught Ronnie by the waist and hoisted her into the bed of the cart. “Give the driver directions.”
16
Mel checked the load in her pistol and then snapped it shut.
“I’m gonna teach her how to shoot.” Mel stepped up beside the sweet city girl who’d married into the Boden clan. They definitely needed to toughen her up.
Angie said, “I really don’t—”
“I’m a crack shot,” Sadie said. “I can teach her just as well as you.”
“Justin has spent—”
“I can shoot the head off a rattlesnake at a hundred yards.” Mel wasn’t even bragging, and her old friend Sadie knew it.
“If you’ll just listen,” Angie began, louder this time, but Sadie ignored her.
Sadie grinned. “We can both advise her.”
“Well, as to that, a few times—”
“Yep, and the two of us don’t need to waste lead practicing.” Mel handed Angie her pistol.
Angie rolled her eyes.
Which struck Mel as rude.
Then the little, genteel city woman raised the gun and blasted away at an aspen scrub growing out of the base of Skull Mesa. She fired three shots so fast they sounded almost like one and tore the aspen clean off at its trunk, then turned to arch a brow at her friends.
“Nice shootin’.” Mel smiled. City Girl might be tough enough already.
“It looks like Justin got here before us.” Sadie slapped Angie on the shoulder.
“Are we going to take time to climb Skull Mesa tonight?” Angie did love the top of that mesa.
Mel slung an arm around Angie’s other shoulder. “It’s a little late. Not much to see from the top in the dark.”
“Justin and I have gone up a couple of times.”
“I didn’t know that.” Mel looked at the mesa rising up beside them. “I’ve only gone up once.”
“When did you two climb it?” Sadie asked. “You never told me or I’d have gone along.”
“We . . . uh . . . well, we decided just the two of us might go.” Angie’s cheeks turned a surprising shade of bright pink.
Mel wondered why.
Sadie grinned, punched Angie lightly on the shoulder, and ga
ve her a look that reminded Mel they were both married women.
She’d always been able to outrope, outride, and honestly outthink most any woman she met—and most men, too—but right now there was plenty these two knew that she didn’t.
“The wind’s picking up.” The weather was a good change of subject, and she grabbed for it. “Let’s head in.”
Angie handed her gun back to Mel, who holstered it. She hadn’t brought her Winchester from home, but she oughta see how Angie handled that.
“You need more shooting practice, Angie?” Justin led the way out to the mesa, with Heath beside him and Cole bringing up the rear.
Justin and Heath were the ones going out to see their wives, after all. Cole was just along for the walk. He looked past his brothers—he counted Heath as a brother now just to keep things simple—and saw Mel, grinning and holstering her gun. Tougher and better at the frontier life than either of the other women. And if Cole was being honest, probably tougher than any of the men, too.
Not stronger, though. He could still beat her in a wrestling match.
And then the thought of wrestling with Mel distracted him so much he only stopped walking toward her when he ran into Justin. His little brother glanced back, irritated.
Cole moved to Justin’s side, doing his best to act like nothing had happened.
“I’m doing fine. You’ve helped me so much, these two are impressed.” Angie’s blue eyes flashed with good humor as she jerked her head toward Mel and Sadie with a wide smile. Her blond hair had come loose from its braid a bit from standing out in the wind. The fine ends fluttered around her face.
The women lined up and they were a picture. Mel in her dusty trousers, who never wore a skirt except to church. Cole could look at her and not see why any man would look twice at a stone made of gold when he could have a woman golden on the outside, with a heart of gold within.
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