by DiAnn Mills
Alex lifted his chin and continued his parading. “When the war is over, the citizens of our great country will know that it wouldn’t have been won without your service and sacrifice.”
“Bravo,” I said to Alex. “You have performed splendidly.” I whirled around and saw the hurt on Brice’s downcast face. Poor boy, I wish I knew how to dissuade his infatuation with me.
Mrs. Monarch had told me that the boys now enjoyed school and talked of attending college in the future. Brice claimed he wanted to be a teacher like me.
When the day ended, Tahoma met me along the road to Ghost Ranch with two horses, saddled and ready to ride. “I thought you might need to get rid of some energy,” he said.
“You’re better than a lighthouse in a storm.” I patted the spotted mare I usually rode. She had a docile temperament, and yet she loved to run as much as I liked the feeling of flying.
“I see not much was happening on the high seas today. Teddy Roosevelt and the Rough Riders had land adventures.”
I laughed and stuffed my books and the boys’ papers to grade into a saddlebag. Swinging myself up onto the saddle, I was thrilled to be riding and even more thrilled to be with Tahoma.
Being with him reminded me of days gone by in Syracuse. The winters there piled snow high and deep. As soon as it packed hard, I was ready to find the steepest hill and slide down. Of course, Victoria disapproved, but Grandfather shared my excitement. We seldom argued during those times, except about who was going to sit in the front of the toboggan. That first downhill run of the season was always the best.
That sensation mirrored how I felt about Tahoma. I was heading straight down a slippery hill, and I had no thought of how to stop myself or if I even wanted to. Yes, we were from two different cultures. But here I didn’t feel like Eva Fortier of the Fortier and Bennington families. I was simply Miss Eva, and I loved the freedom of not having to have proper manners or wear the latest fashion.
We rode east over an open area, racing together like two children determined to catch the wind. I was glad I’d worn my scarf and gloves, for the air had a nasty bite.
“You’re an excellent rider,” he said once we slowed our horses and let them walk.
“I’ve had many lessons, and the attire to go with it—a different riding habit for every season.”
“I’m sure the killer will be found soon, and you’ll be able to return to the lifestyle you’re accustomed to.”
His words saddened me. “I suppose so. Although I do enjoy living here, which is odd, since I always thought I should have the finest of everything.” I paused, reflecting on my earlier thoughts about Tahoma and our cultural differences. “A few months ago, if someone had suggested I live without indoor plumbing or electricity, I would have laughed at the idea. Maybe scoffed at the whole absurd notion. But I’m surviving quite well without them. And, as unusual as it might sound, I prefer my new friends to my old luxuries. I love teaching and learning new skills.”
“You did a fine job helping me with Rex.”
I treasured his compliment because I knew he wouldn’t flatter me. “Thank you. Have you seen how well he’s recovered? He started to ride yesterday, but Charlotte found out and nearly gave him a thrashing.”
“She would have too.”
“I would have helped her.”
He laughed. “You’re stronger than you think—both physically and mentally.”
“Thank you. That was very kind.”
“The clinic was quiet after you left.”
Did I hear longing in his voice? “I do chatter a bit.”
“I thought it sounded musical.”
I startled, my hopes and dreams about Tahoma swirling around my heart. Maybe he wouldn’t ever be comfortable in Syracuse. Maybe he’d feel more comfortable in Chicago where he received his medical training. “Do you ever miss Chicago?”
“Not really. This is home.”
“Did you get involved with the social life there?”
“Oh, a bit.” Bitterness bordered his words. “All in the name of making a good impression.”
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have pried.”
He turned and smiled. The man could give Clark Gable a run for “most handsome.” I nearly choked, sincerely glad Tahoma wasn’t able to read my thoughts.
“Let’s say I fulfilled a woman’s dreams.” His tone gave away a regretful experience. “I learned much more than how to be a good doctor in Chicago.”
I doubted if I wanted to hear more, but I forged ahead anyway. “I’m assuming it was a white woman, and I hope I can convince you that all of us are not the same.”
“You already have.”
His tone caused me to whip my attention to his dark eyes as though chained to him. “Thank you.” My words sounded as weak as my heart.
“The story’s quite simple, and I played a fool’s role.” He paused, and I assumed he regretted not only the past but telling me the story. “She wanted her father to send her abroad to study—Paris, specifically. He refused because she had a habit of spending money beyond what he felt was reasonable. So she asked me to tutor her in a few classes to prove she could be a good scholar. I also escorted her to several high-society parties.”
We walked the horses several feet in silence, and my heart ached for what I feared had happened.
“She told several people that we planned to marry when I finished my schooling. However, I hadn’t asked her. But I was stupid enough to let her lead me around by my nose. Eventually her father gave her a choice of Paris or me.”
“That’s deplorable.”
Tahoma laughed, but I felt it was a way to mask how the woman had hurt him. “I used a few other words to describe my feelings. Anyway, I learned about the ruse from one of her friends. My lady friend never admitted to any wrongdoing.”
“I appreciate your telling me. But she wasn’t a lady according to my standards.” I stiffened in the saddle. “I hope she enjoyed Paris.”
“Oh, I’m sure she did…and her father’s money.”
Indeed, I wanted him to have recovered from the woman’s cruel and thoughtless behavior. I’d never treat Tahoma so shamelessly. I hesitated and carefully formed my words. “Do you have a special lady friend now?”
He pulled his horse to a halt, and I did the same. My heart beat incessantly against my chest, and I feared I’d humiliated myself.
“Eva, there is no one. I’m waiting for God to put that special woman in my life.”
Relief coursed through me. I moistened my lips in an effort to keep my feelings hidden. “I’m sure He has the perfect woman for you, one who won’t toy with your feelings.”
And maybe I could be that woman, but I had no idea how we’d survive in such a confused world.
CHAPTER 24
Tahoma watched Eva leave the Monarch home. Four days had passed since he took the late afternoon horseback ride with her. Every time he thought about their conversation, he berated himself for telling her what had happened in Chicago. But he couldn’t do a thing about it now except regret every word. He wasn’t sure why he’d chosen to bring the past to the surface, except that he’d compared the two women more than once. Eva had proven to him that not all white women were out to take advantage of a man, just like he wanted white people to understand that Indians were not all alike.
Glancing up at the late afternoon sun, he noted that Pete was late. Normally they met and discussed the current situation before Tahoma retrieved his horse and rode back home. If he’d been detained, he’d have sent Charlotte. A twist of apprehension settled on him. Pete lived and breathed punctuality and a dedication to his purpose in being at Ghost Ranch. Tahoma never doubted the seriousness of what had occurred in New York, but he wasn’t sure if he’d prepared himself for a murderer to strike here. Uneasiness continued to snake through him.
Eva joined him on the road. “Good to see you,” she said. “Are you wanting my company, or do you have business at the ranch?”
Her blue eyes could
bedazzle the kings of this world. “Both. How could I refuse a beautiful woman?”
“Thank you.” Her smile indicated she welcomed their bantering. “Sometimes I’m uncomfortable knowing you’re watching me and the boys. Other times I’m so glad you’re there. Did you see and hear Brice imitating Abraham Lincoln today? I had no idea he could memorize the Gettysburg Address so quickly.”
“He did a fine job. Even Alex approved.”
She fairly beamed. “I do enjoy my boys. I believe every one of them is progressing above their class level.”
“I think the credit goes to their teacher.”
He felt her attention focused on him, and he wondered what she was thinking. “Thank you for always making me feel special.”
Her words warmed him, and for the moment he enjoyed the way she made him feel good about himself. “It’s easy.” He stared down the narrow, winding road toward the ranch. “Did Pete mention anything about being late today?”
“Not at all. I saw him at dinner last night, but not since then.”
He surveyed the area surrounding them. He dreaded what Pete’s absence might mean—to all of them.
“Tahoma, I don’t like the look on your face. Do you think something has happened to him?”
“Oh, I’m sure it’s nothing. But I’ll escort you back.”
She stopped in the middle of the snow-dusted road. “You would not have asked me if you weren’t concerned.”
His gaze swung toward the road. “Eva, we won’t find out a thing until we get to the ranch.” As he took in the essence of the woman on his right, pride filled him just to be walking alongside her. She tilted her head—just like she always did when she had a question. Tender moments when they were together, he could kiss her and not think twice about it. But not today. Misgivings continued to needle him about Pete. “I’m going to let you walk alone, and I’m going to move to higher ground.”
“All right.” She patted her rifle. “Your company is much preferred over being alone, but I’m glad I know how to use this rifle.”
“A true pioneer woman.” Climbing to a steeper terrain allowed him to study where someone could fire a shot at her. He panned the area through binoculars. Nothing in sight. Nothing but a strange whirling in his spirit that danger whispered around him.
His stakes had long risen past a debt to Andrew Fortier. Whatever touched Eva’s life touched his.
I hurried along at a brisk pace to the cookhouse. A gust of wind whipped around my face as if carrying a bad omen. Worry about Pete shook me to the core. He had explained to me how he’d previously worked for a government security agency, but now he had a private business of keeping people safe. He wouldn’t have left Tahoma stranded unless something prevented him from his duties, and that something kept me walking at a fast clip.
Charlotte would be helping the cook dish out the ranch hands’ food and making sure the men had plenty of coffee. I prayed Pete would be there. Maybe he’d forgotten the time, or he was ill and Charlotte couldn’t escape her supper responsibilities.
Yes, that made sense. I was overreacting.
I burst through the door and stood paralyzed while searching for Pete in the long room of rough-sawn tables and benches filled with men. The tall, slender man who wore a revolver on his left was not there. Grandfather had told me that left-handed men were extremely intelligent, and that thought calmed me about Pete’s whereabouts.
Leaning my rifle against the side of the cookhouse wall, I saw Charlotte sitting beside Rex and captured her attention. I scurried around the end of the tables to her. Obviously I looked upset, for her first words were concern for me.
“I’m fine. Do you know where Pete is?” Breathless, I hoped I made sense.
“He’s supposed to—”
I shook my head and breathed in sharply, not wanting to lose a single moment in locating him. “He didn’t arrive.”
“Here, Miss Eva.” Rex had taken to making sure everything about my life and Charlotte’s was perfect. “Sit down until you’re feeling better. You look a mite peaked.” He took his plate and moved farther down the table.
I thanked him and eased onto the bench. “How are you feeling?”
“Better every day. The good Lord smiled on me when you, Miss Charlotte, and Tahoma saved my life, and I don’t intend to forget it.”
What a dear man.
As soon as Rex found a different place to eat, my gaze flew to Charlotte. “Do you know where Pete might be?”
“No.” She wrung her hands—the first time I’d ever seen her show a sign of distress. “Let’s check the bunkhouse.”
She grabbed her coat, and I followed her without question. I’d never been to the bunkhouse, and I had no desire to step into the men’s quarters, but I would if Charlotte asked me to. Once there, she called out Pete’s name then went inside while I waited in the cold. I didn’t want the man hurt or ill, but I did want him to be inside. My mind turned to Walt Chambers, someone who remained a mystery yet to be resolved. I knew he was the enemy, and I feared he’d done something horrible to Pete.
Charlotte emerged from the door. Her pale face spoke fathoms about her fears. “Looks like he never slept in his bed.”
“Where do we look now?” I said. “The barns?”
“I’ll do that while you go to the cookhouse and ask the men if any of them have seen him. You’ll have to raise your voice so they can hear you.”
I raced back to the cookhouse and slipped on a piece of ice and fell to my knees. Ignoring the stinging, I rushed to my feet with the door of the cookhouse in sight. Evening shadows were falling, and I hoped darkness wouldn’t overcome the ranch before Pete was found. When I flung open the door, it flew back against the side of the building with a terrible bang. I reached for it and closed it to keep out the cold. Every ranch hand in the room turned my way. I didn’t need to raise my voice to gather their attention.
I blinked back tears, the result of worrying about Pete mixed with my nasty fall on the ice. “Have any of you seen Pete Davidson today?” My voice trembled.
Juan Martinez, the Mexican foreman, stood in the back of the room. “He no show up for work today, Miss Eva,” he said.
“Thank you. Do any of you have an idea where he might be?”
No one stepped forward, and it frightened me. Visions of Grandfather swept across my mind. I’d already vowed that not one more person would be hurt because of what I’d witnessed in Syracuse.
“If you see him, would you let Miss Charlotte know immediately?”
Mr. Martinez nodded, and I attempted a timid smile.
My heart ached for Pete. He had to be all right. Misunderstandings happened all the time. He could have driven to Santa Fe to call or wire Mr. Murdock. That made sense, and I was behaving foolishly about a grown man who knew how to defend himself.
The door opened and Charlotte stepped in. Her slow steps and ashen face told me more than I ever wanted to know.
“I found him,” she whispered. “His body is lying in his horse’s stall. He’s been shot in the head.”
CHAPTER 25
When Tahoma saw Charlotte and Eva leave the cookhouse with Juan Martinez, Rex, and a handful of other men, he suspected trouble had taken root at Ghost Ranch. He rode his horse toward the group. Juan and another man raced to the horse barn while Tahoma hurried toward the women.
“Pete’s been murdered.” Charlotte’s face had drained of color.
Tahoma’s gaze quickly assessed her and then Eva, who wrapped her arm around Charlotte’s waist and looked just as pale. “What happened?”
“Gunshot to the head,” Charlotte said. “I found him in the horse barn.”
Not Pete. “Any strangers lurking about?”
“I haven’t seen any.” Charlotte turned to Rex, who hovered over both women.
“No one’s been snooping around, ma’am,” Rex said. “Trust me on that.”
Tahoma swung off his horse. “I need to see him.”
“It’s too late.” Ch
arlotte’s words broke, and she drew in a ragged breath.
“The county will need an official report.” He didn’t add that he wanted to see what kind of gun was used and at what range Pete had been killed.
“I’ll go with you,” Rex said. “Something about this ain’t right. We’d have seen a man traipsing around.”
Tahoma had a lot more to say but not around the women. Charlotte normally could handle about anything, but she was close to Pete. Eva hadn’t spoken since he arrived. “Charlotte, are you two all right for a little while?”
She nodded. “I need to write a note for the sheriff. From the looks of Pete’s bedroll and what Juan told me, Pete could have been killed last night. He didn’t show up for breakfast this morning or report to work. His—” She took another deep breath. “His horse’s stall is at the far end. Men could have gone in and out of there all day and not seen him. The wind howled something fierce. Could it be we simply didn’t hear a gunshot?”
Tahoma didn’t respond. It was hard to disguise gunfire, and he realized Charlotte was looking for reasons why no one had been aware of Pete’s shooting. He might need to drive to Santa Fe once he examined the dead man to make a physician’s report and place a call to James Murdock. “Eva, stay with Charlotte. Where is your rifle?”
“In the cookhouse.” The flat sound of her words alarmed him, but he couldn’t tend to her until he saw to Pete.
“I’ll get it,” Rex said, and took off on a run.
Tahoma started to caution him with a reminder about his recent surgery but knew it wouldn’t do any good. He glanced back at the women, alarm racing through him. He had no intentions of leaving the women until Eva had her rifle. Studying her face for signs of shock, he wished he’d asked her how she’d endured her grandfather’s murder. Although she hadn’t seen Pete’s body, this had to bring back bad memories.
“I’m all right, Tahoma,” she whispered, as though reading his mind.
His lady was made of a strong fiber. Without a doubt, he loved her, but was he using good sense? Not knowing what to say, Tahoma merely offered a smile aimed at reassuring her and turned his attention to Charlotte.