Harder Than the Rest

by Shirleen Davies

  Will looked up as he heard Amanda’s boots on the stairs. “You didn’t have to wait,” Amanda said as she walked into the room.

  “We need to talk.”

  “Can’t it wait, Will?”

  “No, now.”

  Amanda was used to Will being in control, in charge. He was good at hiding his emotions, but not now. She’d never seen him uncomfortable—as if he needed to deliver a message he wished could remain unsaid.

  “I’m asking you to not come along, Amanda. Stay here, where you’ll be safe.” Will’s voice was almost a plea, not just a request, and his concern obvious.

  “Why would I stay here, when someone may be trying to steal our cattle? I don’t understand how you could ask me this.”

  “Because there could be shooting. Someone could get killed. I don’t want that to be you. Can you understand?” Will had no other words for the dread he felt at her joining them.

  “I understand that you feel responsible for my safety, but you’re not. Only I can decide what I need to do. Thank you for your concern, but I’m coming with you.” Amanda wouldn’t budge. Her parents had left her in charge and she wouldn’t let them down.

  Will’s dread increased with each word she spoke. Someone was going to get hurt tonight, he felt it, and could only hope it wouldn’t be Amanda. “All right, but stay with me.” When she began to balk at his command, Will continued, his voice strained. “I mean it, Amanda. If you don’t stay with me and do as I say, I’ll tie you to my horse so I know where you are. You got that?”

  “You wouldn’t.”

  “Don’t test me. I wouldn’t say it if I wasn’t prepared to do it.”

  The two stared at each other before a shout from Drew brought them back to the present. “You two coming?”

  Without another word, Amanda turned and stomped outside, mounted her horse, and nudged Angel into a gallop that had her out of sight within a minute.

  “Damn, Will. What did you say to get her so riled up?” Jake asked.

  “I told her I’d tie her to Justice if she didn’t stay with me when we got to the valley.”

  “Ah, well, can’t imagine why that would set her off.” Jake cast a look at Drew before following the woman at a safe distance.

  ******

  “What do you see, Drew?” Will looked up at his brother who’d climbed a small rock formation to get a better look into the valley used for the extra horses. Jake was perched beside him. According to Jake, the remuda had been in this location about a week, but until tonight, only he and Amanda had known the location. At least that’s what they’d thought.

  “Nothing except the horses. I count fifteen. Is that right, Jake?”

  “That’d be right. Looks like they haven’t found this location or just haven’t arrived.”

  “How far to the cattle?” Will asked.

  “About two miles, so we’d better start riding.” Jake was anxious to find the people responsible for the thefts. His gut told him they were close.

  Drew and Jake began their descent but looked up at the sound of approaching horses.

  “Well, what have we here?” Drew asked no one in particular as he looked down on four riders approaching the remuda. “We’ve got four men surrounding the horses. Jake, see if you can make out who they are.”

  “Looks like Alts and Mullins, but I don’t recognize the other two. Do you, Will?” Jake worked to control his anger at finding two of his hands robbing the Big G. He’d never tolerated a thief, but it was worse when it was your own men.

  Will climbed up beside the others and peered over the rocks. “No. Here’s what we’ll do. Drew, you head around left. Jake, you go right, and I’ll head straight in.”

  “Which direction should I go?” Amanda prepared herself for the anticipated response.

  “You’ll stay here, make sure no one gets past us. We can’t afford to have one of them ride out and warn the rest of the group. Can you do that?”

  She couldn’t contain her smile. She’d been prepared to fight Will, ride in with them even if he ordered her away. “Yes, I can handle it.”

  “Good. Let’s go.”

  Amanda ground tied her horse, grabbed her rifle, and walked toward a small knoll with a good view of the meadow and remuda. A rider could get over the rocky terrain across from her, but it would take time. The outlaws would choose the shortest route, which meant they’d ride right past her for a quick escape. She settled in and watched Will, Jake, and Drew ride forward and take positions that would allow them to move in without being seen. There wasn’t much cover, but the noise from the horses, and a new moon, which cast no light, helped hide their approach.

  It happened fast.

  Will dismounted, slid behind a nearby rock, and aimed his rifle at one of the men he didn’t recognize. “Hold up, gentlemen. You’re not leaving with those horses.” His voice carried through the small pasture and over the noise of the horses, but seemed to have no impact on the four men.

  First Alts, then Mullins and the others, raised their heads when they heard the warning. Instead of heeding it, they all went for their weapons and turned towards the voice. One of the men Jake hadn’t recognized fired first, his shot wild, hitting rocks above Will’s head. Mullins got one shot off toward Drew’s location, but missed.

  A shot from Will disabled the closest man with a clean hit through his right shoulder. No sooner had the man slumped in his saddle than the other three spun their horses around and continued to shoot into the sightless night. Drew aimed at the one closest to his position. The man hit the ground at the same instant the remaining two rode straight toward the canyon entrance, leaving their comrades and horses behind.

  “Pull up!” Will ordered. The two rode straight toward him and their escape. The only answer was several shots that ricocheted off the ground and rock. Will’s next three shots missed as he tried, without success, to slow the retreating riders. It was up to Amanda.

  Behind a small boulder, Amanda steadied her rifle. She watched as the two riders approached, both huddled low in their saddles. One shot rang out as she squeezed the trigger. One of the outlaws fell. As she sighted in on the fourth man, a bullet hit the ground next to her, spewing up rock and dirt. Amanda dropped back behind the boulder, mentally deriding herself for not getting a second shot off sooner. Then reality hit. Her stomach clenched as her body began to shake. She’d shot a man. Is he dead? The rifle fell from her hands. At the sound of loud voices, she looked up and around the boulder to see Will and Jake kneeling next to the man she’d shot. Without thought she raced toward them, fell to the ground, and stared into familiar eyes. Johnny Mullins.

  Tears formed in her eyes as she frantically tried ripping some cloth from her skirt to stop his bleeding.

  “It’s no use, Amanda. He’s not going to make it.” Will put a hand on her shoulder, but she shook it off and tried to work faster.

  “Johnny? Johnny, can you hear me?” Amanda leaned in close and gently pushed hair off the dying man’s forehead. “Johnny, talk to me.”

  His glazed eyes opened just enough to recognize the woman kneeling over him. A slight frown formed on his face. He winced and coughed up blood.

  “I’m sorry, Miss Amanda.” He coughed again and his face contorted with pain. “I shouldn’t have gone with him. Shouldn’t have gone.” That was all he got out before his eyes lost their sight and his breathing ceased.

  “Oh no, Johnny. What have I done?” Amanda’s anguished voiced sliced through Will. This time she didn’t resist as he pulled her close.

  “It’s not your fault, Amanda. He tried to steal the horses. You stopped him. It was the only thing you could do.” Will stared into grief-stricken eyes and tightened his hold on her.

  “I’ll take care of him, Will. You get Amanda to her horse.” Jake held a blanket and knelt to cover the dead man’s body.

  Will nodded as he guided Amanda away. He understood the gut-wrenching feeling of killing someone. The first time was the worst and he knew the scene wo
uld haunt Amanda for a long time. Hopefully, she’d never experience it again. But they lived in a land populated by men who had no qualms about stealing. And killing.

  “It’s not your fault.” Will repeated his earlier statement. This time Amanda lifted her head and nodded slightly.

  “I know.” Amanda’s voice was flat. At his doubtful stare, she continued. “And I’ll be fine. Really. But I don’t understand why. Why would he do this?”

  “Only Johnny knew why he got involved in something like this.” Will couldn’t focus on the dead man. “Right now we have a bigger problem. Jake recognized the rider who rode off. Alts, which means he won’t go back to the ranch. We’ll take the horses back with us tonight then split them into smaller groups at the ranch. It won’t be safe to pasture them too far away. The loss of the full remuda would set you back a good deal of money as well as time.” Will looked off over the hills beyond. This was a complication he didn’t need. His focus should be on Hollis, not some group of rustlers stealing horses and cattle from people who meant nothing to him. No, this was not his fight.

  “If you two are ready, we need to get started.” Drew had ridden up without either noticing. “The three dead are tied to their horses and strung together. Amanda? Are you okay leading them back to the ranch while Jake, Will, and I handle the remuda?”

  “Sure, Drew. I’ll get Angel.” Amanda walked off to find her horse grazing not far away. She wondered how Tinder would take the news about Johnny. They’d been close, basically inseparable, as Jake had commented more than once. The thought stopped her. Could Tinder be involved, or know what his friend was doing? Amanda didn’t want to think about how not only Johnny, but possibly Tinder, could’ve fooled so many people.

  Chapter Twelve

  Amanda was tired and discouraged by the time she spotted the big ranch house around the last bend. She rode past the barn and guided the three horses into a corral. She untied the lead rope to each horse but left the dead bodies as they were. She’d leave that job to the others.

  “Good Lord, Amanda, what happened?” Tess ran to her friend as soon as she heard the approach of horses. Surveying the scene she stared in disbelief at the body of the one she recognized. Johnny Mullins. When her friend didn’t respond, Tess turned and wrapped her hand around Amanda’s upper arm. “Amanda, tell me what happened out there.”

  Before Amanda could reply they heard the sound of horses and turned to see Jake, Will, and Drew guiding the remuda into the largest corral. Drew jumped down to secure the gate as Jake and Will made their way to where the women stood.

  “I suppose Amanda told you what happened,” Jake said to Tess.

  “No, she hasn’t said a word,” Tess kept her eyes on Amanda. She had never seen her friend look this grim.

  “Will, can you and Drew handle things here? Send a couple of men into town with the bodies. They should notify the sheriff, even though I expect he won’t do a thing about it. I’ll take Tess inside and explain. Come on, Amanda, you too.” Jake felt responsible for Amanda coming along and dreaded the encounter with her parents when they arrived back at the ranch.

  “No, Jake. I’ll stay and help. I need to do this.” Amanda’s words were directed at her foreman but her eyes stared at Johnny’s body, still tied to his horse.

  Jake started to reply, but a glance from Will stopped him.

  Tess looked from Will to Amanda, then back to Jake. “Let’s go inside. I’ll make coffee for everyone, and you need to get that leg up.” Tess scanned Amanda’s face once more, then turned to walk the short distance to the house.

  “You don’t have to do this, Amanda. Drew and I can handle it. It’d be better if you weren’t here.” Will knew his voice sounded hard, harder than intended, but he didn’t want her handling the bodies, reliving the scene.

  Amanda raised her chin, eyes flashing, and seemed to draw strength from the challenge Will threw at her. “It’s my family’s ranch, Will. It was my bullet that killed Johnny. You can go inside if you like, but I’m staying here. Do we understand each other?”

  Will’s eyes narrowed to slits. He stared at her for a long moment. “Yes, ma’am, I believe we do. Drew and I will stay. Get this done quick.” He glanced at his twin who’d walked up but stood silent.

  “Why don’t you get a wagon ready, Amanda? We’ll load the bodies for the trip to town.” Drew said.

  Both men walked past Amanda into the corral and began to untie the dead men, letting the bodies slide to the ground. Within minutes Will and Drew had unsaddled the three horses and had carried the bodies outside the corral.

  Amanda pulled up in the wagon as the men approached with Johnny.

  “What’s going on?” It was Tinder, jogging out of the bunkhouse with several men following. He stopped and stared at the body they carried. “Johnny? What the hell happened?” he choked out before he turned to the side and gagged.

  Amanda’s heart twisted at the pain she saw in Tinder’s face. “I did it, Tinder. It was me. I shot him.” She looked directly at the ranch hand, waiting.

  “You? But why?” Tinder was dumbstruck, not only at the death of his friend, but at the confession of the woman before him.

  Drew explained. “Johnny was with Alts and two other men who were attempting to steal the remuda. They pulled guns and started to ride off. There was no choice, Tinder. Amanda’s shot hit Johnny.” Will and Amanda watched the reactions of the other ranch hands.

  “And Alts?” A tall, older man spoke from the back of the group.

  “We didn’t get him. He rode off, probably to catch up with the group he’s working with. We’re going to be talking to each one of you, find out if you know anything about Alts that would help us find him,” Drew said.

  Will looked over the men again and wondered which ones, if any, might be involved with Alts in the thefts. “Caldwell, Hutchins, load the other two bodies, then take the wagon into town and bring back the sheriff, if he’ll come.” The two men nodded. He turned his attention to the others. “Like Drew said, we’ll need to speak with each of you. Tinder, I want you to go with Drew, inside to the office, get some coffee. Amanda and I’ll join you in a few minutes.”

  “I had nothing to do with this, if that’s what you’re thinking,” Tinder began to protest, but Will held up a hand to stop him.

  “We’re not accusing anyone. You’re the first because you and Johnny were friends and you worked with Alts more than the others. You might have heard or seen something that could help. That’s it.” Will looked at the others. “The rest of you go on back to the bunkhouse for now.” He turned to Amanda. “I figured you’d want to be there when we talk with Tinder.”

  “Jake should be there, too. He hired most of the men and knows Tinder better than the rest of us. I’ll meet you in the house.” Amanda trudged up the steps and into the house without another glance at anyone. What she wanted was to wash up, climb into bed, and sleep. What she needed to do was the same thing her father would if he were here––meet with the men and find out as much as possible before any of them decided to take off. She headed for the kitchen.

  “How are you doing?” Tess was at the sink rinsing cups and preparing more coffee. She knew Amanda was excellent with a gun, but had never shot at anyone before. Tess realized the extent that Johnny’s death hurt her friend, even if she didn’t want everyone else to see it. Amanda had always been strong, people relied on her, but even the strongest person could only shoulder so much. “Can I do anything for you? Get you something?”

  “No, thanks. I just want to clean up before meeting with Tinder and the others in Father’s office.” Amanda ran a hand through her hair and took a deep, ragged breath. “I didn’t know it was Johnny until he was down. It doesn’t make sense, Tess. He loved it here. Always talked about learning everything he could so he could be a foreman somewhere in the future.” Her confused eyes found her friend’s then slid to the ground.

  “The way Jake tells it, you didn’t have a choice, Amanda. Johnny was part of the gro
up, shooting the same as everyone else, and trying to get away. Jake would’ve done the same, so would Will and Drew. Johnny made his choice. Maybe someday we’ll learn why.” Tess put an arm around Amanda, pulling her close.

  “I know you’re right, but it feels horrible just the same. Nothing will ever remove the picture from my head of Johnny on the ground, bleeding and looking up at me.” Amanda walked over to the sink and grabbed a glass for water. It was time to meet the others. “I’ll be up late. Don’t wait as this could take a while. We’ll talk in the morning.”

  ******

  “What do you mean, they killed the others?” Hollis stomped towards Alts and grabbed the man’s shirt until they were nose-to-nose. “What the hell happened?”

  “Don’t know what happened. But Jake and the new man, MacLaren, were waiting for us. A couple of others, too, but I didn’t see them. One was probably MacLaren’s brother.” Alts shoved Hollis away and stepped back. The man was a loose cannon. Alts rested his hand on the butt of his gun. “Someone must’ve tipped them off, but I don’t know who. No one else at the Big G knows what’s been going on, unless you have another pair of eyes on the place and haven’t told me.” There wasn’t any mistaking the accusatory tone in Alts’ voice. He didn’t trust Hollis. Alts knew the man was pure evil and wondered again how much longer he could endure his association with such a snake. “There’s something else. Johnny Mullins saw me ride out and followed along. Thought we were just going to check the cattle, and no matter what I said he refused to head back. He’s dead.”

  “So they believe he was with you to take the horses? Stupid fool. He would’ve ended up dead either way, as he’d never have gone along with stealing from the Big G. The kid would’ve turned you in, and the rest of us, too.” Hollis paced the small space in the old cabin where they always met. It was a few miles north of the Big G and Bierdan ranches, and most thought it deserted.

  “Well, they know that I’m involved. We need to move the cattle we’ve already taken and get out of here. It’s not safe to stick around.” Alts spit the words out.