Ride The Wind (Vincente 3)

by Constance O'Banyon

"Has he talked?"

  "Nope. He's not saying much."

  "Then I might want to spend some time alone with him. He'll talk for me," Noble said, his eyes narrowing.

  "I'll take you back."

  The front door opened, and Reese entered the jail. He paid little attention to the man talking to Sheriff Davis, because he had more important matters on his mind. "I hear you got one of the Miller brothers. I want to talk to him."

  "Get in line," the sheriff stated with humor. "What do you want with him, Reese?"

  Noble turned to meet the ice-cold eyes of the man called Reese. "Are you Starrett?"

  Reese knew immediately that he was facing Saber's brother. "I am. And you must be Noble Vincente."

  The two men took each other's measure. And Noble was the first to speak. "Is my sister with you?"

  "No. I didn't think it would be wise to bring her out in the open just yet."

  Noble took the two steps that placed him in front of Reese. "And you have appointed yourself the expert on what's best for my sister?"

  "Hell, yes," Reese said with the heat of anger. He had expected the owner of Casa del Sol to be an arrogant bastard, and he was. "When I found Saber, you weren't around to ask how you wanted me to handle the situation. So, to save her life, I just acted on my own."

  "How is my sister, and what measures have you taken to protect her?"

  Reese stared into the dark eyes of Saber's brother. "She's taken over the running of my house-she's offered me her advice on how to saddle a horse. She's taken on the running of my ranch she is the damnedest, most stubborn woman I've ever met! How is she? You might better inquire how I've survived her instructions."

  Sheriff Davis whitened. No one, not even Reese Starrett, ought to say such things to Vincente about his sister. With trepidation, he watched the two powerful men glare at each other, and he wondered if their meeting was going to end in bloodshed. He couldn't let that happen, and was about to step between them when he heard Noble Vincente laugh.

  Noble extended his hand to a startled Reese. "You have just accurately described my sister. I can see now why Zeb was convinced that Saber would be safe with you. Well done, Starrett."

  Reese grinned and shook Noble's hand. "I don't mind telling you, I dreaded meeting you far more than the Miller brothers, with Graham Felton thrown in for good measure."

  Noble clapped Reese on the back. "You will find the Vincente family grateful to you for what you did. Come, let us question Sam Miller. I won't rest until I have his brother and Felton locked away or dead, and I'd prefer to see them dead. I heard you had to kill Earl. Later I will want you to tell me all about it."

  The two tall men made their way back to the cells, leaving Sheriff Davis to follow, scratching his head in confusion.

  Sam Miller looked more like a frightened boy than a desperate outlaw. There was misery on his youthful features, and he couldn't meet the eyes of the two hard-eyed men who entered his cell.

  But when he saw Reese, his eyes brightened. "Mr. Felton, have you come to get me out?"

  Noble spoke before Reese had a chance to. "And if he has, will you tell us where to find your brother Eugene?"

  Sam glanced in confusion at the man he believed to be Graham Felton. "Eugene's looking for our brother Earl, Mr. Felton. I don't believe Earl'd run out with the money, but Eugene does."

  Reese sat down on the empty cot across from the young Miller boy. "Earl didn't run out on you anymore than I'm Graham Felton. I had to shoot your brother to get the information I needed to find Miss Vincente."

  Sam's eyes widened, and he swallowed several times. "Is Earl dead?"

  "I'm afraid so. He gave me no choice." Reese crossed his legs and met the boy's gaze squarely. "You see, Sam, when you walk outside the law, bad things happen to you. I spoke to your ma. If you get out of this, I hope you'll go home and take care of her."

  Sam lowered his head and began to sob. "Our ma will be mightily grieved when she hears about Earl."

  Reese suddenly felt pity for the boy. "I think she already suspects he's never coming home, Sam."

  Noble had no pity for the boy who had assisted in kidnapping his sister. "You should have considered your mother's feelings before you chose your kind of life."

  Reese held his hand up to silence Noble. "Miss Vincente has told me of your kindness to her. She said you kept Eugene away from her and protected her. I'm sure if you talk, the sheriff will look a little more kindly on your part in the kidnapping."

  Noble frowned, not sure what in the hell Reese was trying to do. But he'd wait and see where the other man went with this.

  Sam raised tear-bright eyes. "I couldn't let Eugene hurt her."

  "No, you couldn't. I believe that your ma would be proud of you for protecting Miss Vincente, Sam."

  Sam blinked. "Do you think so?"

  "Yes. She was the one who told me how to find Earl, and that finally led me to Miss Vincente."

  "Ma wouldn't help you against her own sons!"

  "She was hesitant until I told her that the three of you had kidnapped an innocent woman."

  His face flushed with shame. "My ma knows what we did?"

  Reese nodded. "She's hurt real bad, Sam. You might like to know that I made her a promise that I tried to keep. I told her I wouldn't shoot any of you unless you drew first."

  He nodded in understanding. "Earl drew on you, and you had to kill him."

  "Yes."

  "And you'd keep your promise if you found Eugene?"

  "I would. So far all the law wants you for is kidnapping. You haven't killed anyone yet. You'll probably spend time in jail, but it's better than being dead." Reese moved forward and lowered his voice. "Now, you have to understand, Sam, Sheriff Davis and Noble Vincente here didn't make your ma any such promise. That's why I think you should tell me where to find Eugene. If I can, I'll bring him in alive. You don't want your ma to weep over another dead son, do you?"

  Sam was quiet while he considered Reese's words. At last he nodded. "I don't even know your name."

  "Sam, my name's Reese Starrett."

  The boy's eyes widened. "I've heard of you. If Earl pulled on you, he didn't stand a chance. They say you're fast on the draw."

  "But no one ever said I drew on an unarmed man or shot first, Sam."

  "I heard that, too," Sam agreed. "I'll tell you where Eugene went, but only you."

  "You'll have to tell Mr. Vincente, too, Sam. Saber is his sister."

  Sam glanced into the cold, dark eyes of the Spaniard. "No. I won't tell him. He'll kill Eugene for sure."

  "Damned right I will!" Noble said menacingly. "No one takes one of my family and lives to tell about it."

  Sam hugged the wall, his eyes going to Reese. "If I tell you, you won't tell him, will you?"

  "Think how you'd feel if someone kidnapped your sister," Reese told him.

  The boy lowered his head, weighed down with shame for what he was about to do. But he had to try to save his brother. "Eugene's gone looking for Earl across the Mexican border at Los Lunas."

  "What makes you think Earl is in Los Lunas?" Noble asked.

  "'Cause," Sam replied. "That was where we was to meet up with him if we got separated."

  Reese stood. "You did the right thing in telling me, Sam."

  Noble had trouble keeping his temper. But Reese had been clever in getting the information they needed. Noble reached out and gripped Sam by the shirtfront and slammed him against the wall. "I could kill you right here, you little weasel, and no one would blame me."

  Reese clutched Noble's arm. "We have what we need from him. Let him be. He can't hurt anyone locked in here. And he did protect your sister as well as he could."

  Noble dropped his hands to his sides and turned to leave. "If I find you lied to us, Miller, I'll be back, and no one can save you then."

  Reese had reached the cell door when Sam's voice stopped him. "You'll keep your promise to my ma, won't you?"

  "Yes, I will." He stepped through the cell
door and watched as Sheriff Davis locked it. "I'll keep my promise to your ma if you'll make me a promise."

  Sam looked startled. "What kind of promise?"

  "That you'll go straight and stay out of trouble when you get out of this. And that you'll take care of your ma."

  The young boy's eyes held an earnest expression. "I promise, Mr. Starrett. I'll never do anything outside the law again. I learned my lesson."

  When Reese reached the outer office, Noble was pacing the floor. "Just what was that little display all about?"

  Reese shrugged. "You wouldn't get the boy to betray his brother with threats. He might not like his brother, but he would never hand him over to us if he thought we were going to kill him."

  "So you made a promise that you aren't going to keep?"

  "Wrong, Vincente. I made a promise I have every intention of keeping. The promise was to Sam's mother, and I won't go back on it."

  Guarded respect appeared in Noble's eyes. "I made no such promise."

  "No, you didn't," Reese admitted.

  Sheriff Davis hung the keys on a hook and turned to his two visitors. "I'll get a posse together and head out for the border first thing in the morning."

  Reese swung around to the man Winna Mae had accused of bungling everything the night Saber was kidnapped. "No. No posse," he said in a commanding voice. "We can't hope to get Miller and Felton until we have a plan. I don't want a bunch of shopkeepers and farmers riding about the countryside gun-happy."

  Noble's respect for Reese was growing. He'd been damn clever the way he had rescued his sister from the Miller brothers. Noble was just beginning to realize how much danger Reese had faced to save Saber. And he agreed with him about the posse. It would only get in Noble's way when they went after Graham Felton.

  "This isn't your fight, Starrett," Noble told him. "It's my fight, and I'll do it my way."

  "The hell you will," Reese said angrily. "You don't do anything without me."

  Noble stared at Reese for a long moment. He nodded to the sheriff and motioned for Reese to follow him outside, where they could talk in private. "So she got to you, did she?"

  Reese didn't have to ask what Noble meant. "Yeah. Saber worked her magic on me."

  Reese stepped into the street, untied the reins of his horse, and led it toward the hotel while Noble fell in beside him.

  When they reached the other side of the street, Noble asked the question that had been haunting him since he'd heard of Saber's abduction. "Did the Miller brothers touch Saber in any improper way?"

  Silver eyes looked into dark brown ones. Reese decided to say it right out. "I don't know. And worse still, Saber doesn't even know for sure. She was unconscious for two days after they'd taken her."

  Noble was angry and grieved at the same time. "Even you won't stop me from killing them if I find out they touched my sister, Reese."

  "If that turns out to be the case, I'll help you string them up without a trial," Reese answered.

  The two men who loved Saber most shook hands in understanding. Each knew the other would do whatever was necessary to capture the men involved in kidnapping Saber.

  The two days since Reese had been away seemed to drag by for Saber. On the third day, she decided to go riding to get away from the house. Gabe and Jake had ridden out before sunup, so they couldn't go with her. Even though Reese had told her not to ride out alone, she was going anyway!

  In spite of the cold weather, there was a feeling of spring in the air. The breeze was sweeter, and tender sprigs of green peeped from beneath the patches of snow that still remained.

  As she rode along the riverbank, she stopped to watch a doe with its fawn. Her heart felt lighter, and her troubles lessened when she was riding. Gabe and Jake had not found anymore dead cattle since Reese had gone, and that pleased her for Reese's sake.

  She rode toward the cliffs, watching the way the river cut through a canyon, and she wished she could imprint this tranquil picture on her mind. She wanted to think of Reese riding here after she had gone. She wondered if he would lose the ranch. She couldn't let that happen. There had to be something she could do to help him.

  It was almost sundown when she finally led her mount into the barn. She was glad to see that the stalls where Jake and Gabe kept their horses were empty that meant they weren't back yet. She unsaddled her horse and gave him fresh hay. Her footsteps were heavy as she made her way to the house to face another evening alone. And to make matters worse, she'd forgotten to lay logs on the fire, so it had probably gone out; the house would be cold.

  Glancing up, she saw smoke rising from the chimney, and she was puzzled. That was when she noticed the fashionable black carriage parked in front of the cabin. Her heart lightened it belonged to her brother!

  She hurried into the house and was met at the door by a worried Rachel. "Where have you been, little sister?" Rachel asked, hands on hips.

  Saber rushed into her sister-in-law's embrace and hugged her tightly. "Just riding. But I'm so glad you are here."

  Rachel met her eyes. "Are you all right?"

  "Yes. But I wouldn't be if it hadn't been for Reese."

  Rachel slid her arm about Saber's waist. She loved Noble's sister every bit as much as she loved her own sister, Delia. "I am sorry you have gone through so much. But it's over now. They will find the men responsible, and that will put an end to it."

  Saber nodded. "I know they will. I just needed you here with me to cheer me up."

  Rachel stepped back and looked her over from head to toe. "I'd say your wardrobe is not quite.. .in fashion. Whatever are you wearing?"

  Saber grinned, remembering a time when Rachel had worn trousers, much to Noble's dismay. "You don't like my choice of apparel?"

  "I should say not! It's fortunate for you that I brought your trunk, and even more fortunate that your brother can't see you like this." She smiled. "Although I would love to see Noble's face if he caught sight of you in that garb."

  Saber looked miserably into Rachel's eyes. "I really need someone to talk to, Rachel."

  "That's why I'm here." She glanced about the house. "Where is this Reese Starrett? When I ar rived there was no one here. I have wanted to meet him ever since I heard he'd rescued you."

  "He's gone to Fort Worth."

  "That explains it. We may have crossed paths." Rachel walked around the room, examining the books on the shelf. "This house could certainly do with a woman's touch."

  "That's what I think, too."

  "Well, from what I've heard of Mr. Starrett, he would have no trouble getting a line of women to volunteer for that position. He's quite sought after, but has managed to elude matrimony thus far."

  Saber removed Reese's coat and hung it on the coatrack. "I imagine you're right." She linked her arm through Rachel's and led her toward the kitchen. "I'm hungry, how about you?"

  "Starved."

  "Shall I make enough for the Casa del Sol hands who accompanied you?"

  "It seems Reese's man, Miguel, took them off to the bunkhouse and settled them in."

  "I'm surprised that Noble would let you come without him."

  "He grumbled about it a bit, but in the end we both decided that you might need me, and I wanted to see for myself that you were safe."

  "I am. Jake and Gabe have been looking out for me."

  "Then let's eat. And afterward I want you to tell me everything that's happened."

  Saber and Rachel were just about to sit down to eat when Jake and Gabe ambled in. After Saber fed them and sent them off to the bunkhouse, she and Rachel sat around the fire in silent companionship.

  At last Rachel said, "Well, tell me about Mr. Starrett. What does he look like? What kind of man is he?"

  Saber leaned her head back and thought for a moment. "He doesn't have the chiseled good looks that Noble has, and he doesn't have the boyish looks of Matthew. Reese's features are harsher, his eyes disturbing, as if he'd done and seen too much. I know that nothing can harm me when he's nearby. He's stron
g and lean, and when he looks at me I...I want..."

  Rachel had been watching Saber closely. "I see. Tell me a little more about him."

  "He's a man of the land, and the sky is reflected in his eyes. He's proud, honorable, and stubborn. I have never seen anyone with eyes the color of his. They can be dark gray when he's thinking, or they can be transparent silver when he feels something deeply."

  "And did he feel something deeply with you, Saber?"

  Saber met Rachel's questioning glance. "He feels passionate about this ranch."

  "And?"

  A painful lump formed in Saber's throat. "I love him." She buried her face in her hands and fought against the tears that threatened to fall. "I love him so desperately."

  Rachel bent down beside her, brushing the hair out of her face and making her look up. "How does he feel about you, Saber?"

  "I think I know he finds me nothing but trouble."

  "Are you sure?"

  "Yes, very sure. I am ashamed to tell you this, but I have to tell someone. I threw myself at him, and he wouldn't have me."

  "Saber, you just said he was a man of honor. Perhaps if he liked you less, he would have taken you to bed."

  "No. You are mistaken. He wants only to see the last of me."

  "This is very serious indeed. What about Matthew?"

  "Everything is in such a tangle. I can never let Reese know how much I love him, or he will despise me because Matthew is his friend. Matthew must never know, either. I will marry him as I planned, but I will always feel like I'm cheating on him, because I love Reese. Perhaps know ing I don't love him will make me a better wife. I'll be tolerant and thoughtful, and he will never know that I am dead inside."

  Rachel gathered Saber to her. "Oh, my dear little sister you are in love with Reese Starrett. I can only imagine the torment I would be living through if Noble and I had not settled our differences and admitted that we loved each other."

  "I know. But there will be no such happy ending for me, Rachel."

  "Don't give up so easily, Saber. Let me think on this for awhile."

  "Do you believe I'm awful?"

  "No, sweet little sister. I think you are a woman disposed to marry the wrong man, and I will never let that happen."