by Sue Heasley
****
Sheriff Baker and his deputy calmed their restless horses as they waited beneath the overhang of trees in a ravine. Someone was coming.
“It’s about damn time you showed up,” Baker scowled. He turned toward his deputy. “Go keep a look out on the ridge.”
The incoming rider pulled his horse up beside him but stayed in the shadows of the trees. “I had to wait until I could get away unnoticed. You did well today at the ranch.”
“I could have forced Lillie to tell me where Rex was hiding. Then this whole charade would be over with, and I’d have my money.”
“The kid was watching. The time wasn’t right. You don’t make a move until I say so. Is that clear?” The rider’s hand rested on the butt of a gun.
“Sure.” The sheriff slipped an already rolled cigarette out of his pocket and lit it.
The rider grabbed it out of his hand and crumbled it. “No light.”
“What the hell.” The sheriff looked toward the distance where only the shadow of his deputy sitting on the next ridge was visible. Dusk was settling in across the horizon. “We are miles from the ranch. There is no one around.”
“We can’t take any chances.” The rider took in the area around him. “I took a big risk coming here.”
“Yeah, well, let’s get this over with. I got a big busted lady waiting for me back at the saloon.” The sheriff nodded toward the other horse’s saddlebags. “I want my money.”
The rider pulled out a small leather pouch and tossed it into the sheriff’s hand.
Baker looked inside it and moved the coins around. “Shit.” He went for his .45. Before he could clear his gun from the holster, the rider had his weapon pointed at his head.
“That is all you get for now.”
“Easy.” Baker slowly raised his hands away from his side. “That’s not our agreement.”
“The last thing I need is you attracting attention to yourself at the saloon, you damn drunk.”
“A hard-working man has to have a little fun.”
“You better listen to me. We robbed the bank. Someone will get suspicious if you suddenly show up with a pouch full of coin to spend on prostitutes and booze.” The rider drew up his reins. “I’ll pay you off when the job is done. You’ll be hearing from me.”
The sheriff blew out the breath he’d been holding as he watched Jose gallop away in the direction of the ranch. He gave a shrill whistle and waved at his deputy to come in off his watch on the hill. Tonight, he would keep company with a bottle of whiskey and his favorite prostitute. Jose could go to hell as far as he was concerned. He’d earned his money today, and he planned to have a damn good time.
Chapter Six
“You need to settle down. You have way too much energy.”
Ben jumped up and down on his bed. “Yes, Mama.”
Lillie pulled back his covers. “Climb in. It’s time to get some rest.”
“I’m going to practice riding again in the morning. Horses are fun.”
“I think that’s a great idea. The more you ride the better you will get.” Lillie pulled a blanket up to his chin and kissed his cheek.
“You don’t need to tuck me in anymore. I’m a big boy now.”
“Okay, Ben, good night.” Lillie turned to his window and pulled back the curtain. Her thoughts had drifted to someone else. She gazed out across the distant pasture looking for any sign of movement.
The full moon had begun to rise, casting eerie shadows across the land. She didn’t want to admit it, but she still had feelings for Rex Utah. Her handsome cowboy had headed out across the range several hours ago and hadn’t returned.
“Damn you, Rex, for making me worry,” she whispered.
“Why did you say Rex’s name?” Ben leaned up on his elbow.
Lillie whirled around. She hadn’t realized she’d been talking loud enough for him to hear. “Oh, it’s nothing. I was thinking aloud. I have some business with him. That’s all, Ben.”
“What business?” His large curious eyes stared back at her. “Why is he here?”
“Don’t worry about him. Now, you had better get some sleep. You need to get up early to help with the morning chores.”
“I hope he leaves soon,” Ben whispered. He rolled over onto his side and snuggled under his blanket.
With all her strength, Lillie held back her response. The time wasn’t right to tell Ben about his father. Even though she tried to ignore his comment, the tears threatened to come. She hurried outside to the front porch. With her arms folded across her chest, she leaned against a wooden post. She drew in a deep breath and let the soft breeze ease her tears.
Everything seemed quiet on the ranch, except for the sounds of cattle in the distant pastures. Lillie made her way to the far end of the porch and gazed out toward the foothills. Her secret hideaway called to her. A warm wind tousled her hair. With each beat of her heart, the need to follow Rex increased. Her past lover called to her, invading her soul. She had to stay strong and ignore the urge to fall into his arms once again. Old feelings had resurfaced the moment she’d recognized the familiar deep tone of his voice back at the river.
One lone tear slid out of the corner of her eye. She swiped it away. For the first time in years, she had opened her heart once again. There was no denying her love for Rex. But things were more complicated now. There was a little boy involved.
Lately, she had been spending a lot of time with Jose. She always looked at him as a friend. Nothing more. She didn’t think she could ever love him. Rex would always keep her heart captive. However, if he eventually left again, she would have no choice but to make a serious commitment to Jose. Mabel especially had been pushing them together for months for some reason. She had even started to convince her father that Jose was the best man for her. She had decided the man she would end up marrying would be her choice. That is, when she was ready to settle down. But for right now, she had one man that kept invading her thoughts.
Lillie continued to gaze out toward the foothills. She paced across the front porch as she worried about Rex. He’d been gone for too long. Did the posse catch up with him? Maybe he hightailed it out of town for good. What if he was injured and needed help? She was running out of patience. Damn him.
Lillie ran toward the stables and in no time had saddled her horse. She headed out across the pasture at a gallop. She glanced back over her shoulder, having the feeling someone was watching her. She saw nothing except the wooden white planks of the ranch house fading into the darkness behind her.
****
Mabel stood at the kitchen window in the dark shadows watching Lillie gallop away from the ranch. “Where the hell is she going at this hour?”
“Who?” Jose stuffed a large piece of blackberry pie into his mouth.
“Who do you think? Didn’t you see Lillie in the stables when you put up your horse?” Mable put her hands on her hips and scowled.
Jose swallowed his pie. He held up his cup for coffee. “I haven’t been to the stables yet. My horse is on the backside of the ranch house tied to the rail post. What are you fussing about?”
“Lillie is on her horse heading toward the foothills. She is up to something.”
Jose’s one eyebrow arched up. He leaned his elbow on the table and rubbed his chin. “I’ll check on her. She’s been upset since we rescued Rex.”
Mabel filled his coffee cup. “You better ask for her hand in marriage soon. You know how Lillie felt about Rex in the past.”
“Don’t worry about anything.” Jose’s wooden chair scraped on the floor as he pushed back from the table. He placed his brown Stetson on his head. “Soon I’ll be in control of this entire operation.” He smiled as he hurried out the door.
A small sneeze sounded from the darkened hallway. “Ben, is that you?” Mabel stepped closer, but no one was there. She peeked into Charlie’s room. He was still sound asleep. She must be hearing things. Mabel yawned as she climbed the back stairway to her bedroom.
&nbs
p; ****
“Ben, you can come out now. Mable went to bed,” Charlie whispered. “One of these days you’re going to get caught spying.”
Ben poked his head up from the opposite side of the bed where he had hidden on the floor. He climbed onto Charlie’s bed and sat next to him. “I’m sorry. I think I learned it from you.”
Charlie laughed. The expression on Ben’s face suddenly changed to a frown. “What’s wrong now?”
“I don’t understand why everyone is fussing over that new guy named Rex. He doesn’t belong here.” Ben tugged on Charlie’s arm. “Make him go home, Grandpa. He bothers Ma.”
Charlie hugged Ben and sighed. “This was his home once, way before you were born.”
Ben’s eyes widened. “It was?”
“Yes, I found him alone and starving in an alley in town. He was not that much older than you are now. He grew up on this ranch along with your mother.”
“Where are his ma and pa?” Ben sat up straighter, his little eyes filled with curiosity.
“No one seemed to know anything about him in town.” Charlie ran his fingers through his gray hair remembering the day he found Rex.
Ben tugged on his sleeve again. “Why did he leave the ranch?”
“That, my boy, is a story for another day.” Charlie ruffled his hair. “Maybe when you’re older.”
Ben suddenly giggled. “I can hear your tummy rumbling.”
“You know what?” Charlie rubbed his belly. “I think it needs some blackberry pie. What about yours?”
“Yeah.” He bounced off the bed.
“Now you have to be very quiet like a mouse so we don’t wake Mable.” Charlie slowly pulled himself up and stopped. “Whoa, I’m still a little woozy from my medicine.”
Ben jumped up and down beside the bed. “I can get it. I can get it.”
Charlie laughed and put his fingers to his lips. “Remember, little spy, be quiet like a mouse.”
Ben tiptoed out of his room. Within a short time, he showed back up with blackberry pie and two forks.
Just like his father, Charlie thought as he held the pie while Ben climbed onto the bed and sat beside him.
“Sorry, Grandpa. I couldn’t reach the plates.” Ben grabbed a fork and dug in.
Charlie smiled down at his only grandson. “This will do fine.”
Chapter Seven
Lillie reined in her quarter horse and leaned down to pat the side of his neck. She took in the overgrown walking path that led to a secluded waterfall. No one came to this desolate area at the far end of the ranch. The small path wove its way around large boulders and thick brush at the bottom of a mountain ravine. Even though darkness had fallen and the full moon cast light over the area, it didn’t look like anyone had passed through here for a long time. But then again, Rex had always been good at covering his tracks. Every time she arrived at this point on the trail, emotions welled up inside her. Childhood memories came rushing back making her feel melancholy. Especially the one when Rex made her swear never to tell anyone about their secret swimming hole.
After Lillie agreed, Rex demanded they seal their oath with a kiss. Even though she was nervous, she had nodded. His kiss had set off butterflies in her stomach. It was a tender moment she would cherish forever. She had visited the area at least twice a year after Rex had disappeared. But she never stayed long. It was too painful. Deep inside, she had this crazy hope he’d be waiting for her at the water’s edge. She had been a foolish girl to think he’d ever come back.
Once Lillie arrived at the bottom of the ravine, she dismounted her horse. She rubbed his muzzle and took several deep breaths as a queasy feeling hit her stomach. She still didn’t know what to say to Rex if she found him at their childhood hideaway. But she couldn’t turn away either. She removed the brush blocking the hidden cave and led her horse into its opening. She took a small tree branch and dragged the end of the branches over her tracks like a broom. Lillie pulled the brush back up against the mouth of the cave. Darkness enveloped her even more now that the moon’s light no longer shone on her. Her horse remained calm since he had walked through the forty-foot tunnel numerous times before.
Water trickled down the interior walls of the cave. A rush of cool air made her shiver. Usually light flooded through the far opening of the cave guiding her forward like a beacon. Since night had fallen, nothing but darkness loomed ahead. Her steps slowed as she ran her hand along the cave walls to guide her forward. When her foot encountered a large rock, she stumbled sideways. Her head banged against the cave wall. Lillie wanted to cry out at the sharp pain coursing across her forehead but kept it to herself. She led her horse around the rock she had tripped over and continued forward. Finally, the sound of a crackling fire made her aware that Rex was here. Small sparks of light danced off the walls at the end of the passageway.
Lillie paused at the cave exit and took in her surroundings. Paradise was the first word that entered her mind. She loved the sound of the waterfall cascading down the side of the large boulders and into a pool of water. The full moon appeared to set on the top of the mountain casting light down through the sparkling water making it look magical. Rex lay propped up on one elbow watching the flames of a fire and stirring the embers with a stick. He had been swimming, for his dark brown hair hung down past the nape of his neck and clung to his bare muscled back. Her eyes followed the line of his spine lower and to her disappointment found his pants were on.
“Are you going to stand there all night staring at me, or are you going to join me?”
Rex’s husky voice startled Lillie.
“I’m looking at the waterfall, not you.” She led her horse to the water’s edge to let him drink. When she passed Rex, she saw him out of the corner of her eye with a slight smirk on his face, which added to her irritation. Lillie walked to the opposite side of his fire pit. Memories came rushing back of her standing in this exact position. This time instead of her best friend it was her lost love who had broken her spirit.
Rex glanced up at her. “Honey, you’re bleeding.” He jumped to his feet and rushed to her side.
“What?” Lillie touched the dampness at her temple. Blood dotted her fingers.
He helped her sit by the fire. “What the hell happened? Are you okay?” He grabbed his handkerchief, wet it, and gently cleaned her wound.
“I’m fine. I tripped over a rock and hit my head against the side of the cave wall.” She pushed his hand away. “Stop fussing over me.”
Rex handed her his handkerchief. He touched her chin to make her turn and look at him. “You little fool. What are you doing out here this time of night?”
“I was worried about you.”
“Don’t you think I can take care of myself?”
Lillie pulled back from his touch, stood, and walked to the opposite side of the fire. “I saw you ride away from the ranch. When you didn’t come home, I thought the sheriff’s posse might have picked you up. The sheriff said he’d leave some men staked outside the ranch boundaries to watch for you. Their campfires would be easy to spot. Although, I didn’t notice any on the way here. They might still be out there.”
“So, you do still care about me.”
Lillie lowered her eyes. She didn’t want to admit anything. Her actions were obvious. “Well, I…”
“You remembered our special place.” Rex finished her sentence. He stepped closer and stopped with no more than a foot between them. “Maybe this is the perfect opportunity for me to sneak back into town.”
To her surprise, he had changed the subject. “No, Rex.” Her voice held a sense of panic.
“I need to pick up my gun belt and find my horse. A man can’t survive out here without those necessities.” He crossed his arms over his broad chest. “Besides, your father gave me that Appaloosa. I will not let him go to the highest bidder in town.”
“Please, Rex. Don’t be a fool.” Lillie stepped closer. “They might be watching for you.”
“Hey, you know I can be in and o
ut of that town like a ghost. I’ve done it before when we were kids.”
“Those times have changed, in case you haven’t noticed.” Lillie turned away and gazed out over the glistening moonlit water. They had shared so many special memories here. “I used to know you, but not anymore.”
“You’ve changed too.” Rex took in her appearance. “You’re a woman trying to act like a man. You either try fighting with me, which I always let you win, in case you haven’t noticed. Or you act like a concerned lover. Maybe you don’t know what you want in life. You’re confused.”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Lillie placed her hands on her hips.
“First of all, you leave a mark on my chest with a whip. You then knock me out cold at the river.” He narrowed his eyes and stepped closer. “You kicked me in my manhood in the barn when I tried to kiss you.”
“Oh, and I suppose you don’t think you deserved it after what you did to me?” She stepped backward and unfolded her arms.
Rex ignored her statement. His eyes roamed over her body. “So, are you pretending to be my concerned lover?”
Lillie’s knees weakened. His dark, piercing eyes glittered with a suggestion of something more intimate. She stretched her arm out, her palm toward him to stop his advancement. It landed on his bare chest. Warm sensations penetrated her palm and trickled up her arm. She shivered. Right when she decided to back away, he placed his hand over hers to hold it tighter against his skin.
“What do you feel?”
“No, Rex.” Lillie could tell her racing heart matched his. “Don’t start with me.” She tried to pull her hand back, but he refused to let it go. She had never felt more petrified in her life.
This was a full-grown man standing in front of her. He was no longer the underdeveloped teenage boy she had rolled around with in the hayloft all those years ago. They had explored each other’s bodies fully for the first time in their young lives. Their passionate journey had produced Ben. Rex deserved to know about him. However, if he was going to turn around and leave again, she didn’t want Ben’s feelings hurt. She couldn’t get involved with him. On top of everything, she needed to prove he was innocent of murder in the bank heist.