Whispering Pines

by Scarlett Dunn

  “Yeah, but it’s still a great place to pick off a posse if they go in after them.”

  “True enough. Let’s head back to the ranch. No sense in following them tonight.” Morgan wanted to think about the situation. More than anything, he wanted to go after them, but it was going to be dark by the time he got to the ranch to ready supplies for a few days. “I’ll take off early in the morning and follow the trail.”

  “I’ll go. Don’t forget you’re getting married soon,” Murph said.

  “I’ll be back in time, but I’m going. Keep a close eye on the women. And I’ll tell them I don’t want them riding to the farm without one of the men with them.”

  “You want me to ride to town and tell the sheriff what’s going on?” Murph asked.

  “I don’t want to waste Jack’s time. We don’t know how much of a head start they have. I may not find anything.”

  “It could be someone else rustling, thinking we would blame it on Frank,” Murph said.

  “Could be,” Morgan said, but he didn’t believe it for a minute. His intuition told him this was Frank’s doing.

  Murph read Morgan’s expression. Morgan wasn’t buying his theory. “Watch your back.”

  * * *

  Morgan was a little late for dinner, but Rose and Granny were waiting for him. He waited until they finished dinner and were sitting in the parlor before he told them he was leaving in the morning. “We’ve had some more rustling.”

  Rose and Granny looked at him, waiting for him to say the words they feared.

  “I’ll be riding out early and following the trail we found.”

  “Alone?” Rose asked.

  “Yes. The men will help you with anything you need. I’d prefer you stay on the ranch, but if you have to go to the farm, one of the men will take you.”

  “Morgan, do you think it was Frank and his gang?” Granny asked the question they were all thinking about.

  “I can’t be sure, but since he’s not in jail, I think it’s highly likely.”

  “But what will you do alone? Shouldn’t someone go with you?” Rose hated feeling torn between her brother and her future husband. She couldn’t help worrying about both of them. Frankie was her blood, and she didn’t want him hurt. But she would soon share a bond with Morgan, a bond that was supposed to run deeper than blood.

  “I can’t afford to take my men from their work. We’re behind on ranch work from the last time we chased them to Kansas. We have a lot to do before winter sets in.” Morgan wondered if Rose was worried he would string Frank up if he found him.

  Granny stood, but before she walked upstairs, she turned to Morgan. “I no longer think you feel the vengeance in your heart now that you are to marry Rose. I expect you will do the right thing if you catch up with them.”

  Morgan didn’t respond. He hoped he could live up to her expectations. He hadn’t forgotten everything Frank had done to provoke him. He told himself he could control his anger if he ever caught up to Frank, but there were times he wasn’t as confident.

  Rose waited until Granny left the room before she expressed her concerns. “I’m afraid for you to go after so many men alone.”

  “Are you worried about me, or about Frank?”

  Rose wouldn’t lie to him. “Both. Is it wrong of me not to want either one of you hurt?”

  Morgan appreciated her honesty. “No, it’s not wrong.” He stood and held out his hand to her. “I have to turn in since I’ll be leaving early.”

  When they reached Rose’s bedroom door, Morgan said good night and kissed her lightly on the lips.

  “Please be careful.”

  “I’ll be back before the wedding.” He knew she was upset over what he was going to do, but he wouldn’t allow her feelings to deter him.

  Rose watched him walk down the hallway. “Morgan,” she said before he opened his bedroom door.

  Morgan turned around and looked at her.

  Words seemed to fail her. She ran to his open arms and kissed him again.

  “That will have to hold me until I get back,” he said when he released her.

  She looked up at him with tears in her eyes. “You will come back.”

  He hugged her one last time. “Nothing could stop me, knowing I’ll be getting kisses like that every night.”

  * * *

  Before dawn, Morgan had reached the area where he’d turned back the day before. He wanted to know if Frank and his gang were responsible, and he wanted to know who was buying his cattle. The buyers had to know they were buying stolen cattle since his brand was on every animal. He couldn’t shake the feeling Frank was behind this, even though he couldn’t prove it this time. If Frank had a lick of sense, he’d ride down to Mexico and hide out for a few years. But Frank wanted to make a point, and he wasn’t going to ride away until he had accomplished that goal. He was allowing his personal feelings to get in the way of good judgment. Morgan wasn’t going to make the same mistake. Morgan sensed one of them would be dead before their feud ended. He was determined it wasn’t going to be him. The way he saw it, he had a lot to live for. He felt very fortunate to be marrying Rose and starting a family. Indeed, fortune had smiled on him, and he wasn’t a man to take his blessings lightly.

  * * *

  Rose was in the kitchen helping Granny cook vegetables when she looked out the window and saw Murph leading the big black horse to the paddock. She grabbed two apples and sliced them into pieces. “Granny, I will be back in a few minutes.”

  When she reached the paddock, she started talking to Judge. He ambled over to her and nudged her hand with his muzzle.

  Murph was filling the water troughs, but he was keeping a close eye on Rose and the horse. It surprised him that Judge had taken to her so quickly. He was actually behaving affectionately, much as he did with Morgan. “Morgan is the only one that horse usually likes.”

  “He’s so sweet,” Rose said as she held out her slices of apple to the horse.

  Sweet wasn’t the word Murph would use to describe Judge, but he was being very gentle with Rose. “Sometimes he can be as rank as a wild mustang, but now I’m beginning to think the apples are the secret. Morgan feeds them to him all the time.”

  Rose thought her heart would break each time she looked at the raised scars over his body. She stroked his powerful neck, and Judge leaned into her. “What happened to him?”

  Murph stared at her. “Morgan didn’t tell you?”

  “No. Granny said Morgan used to ride him years ago, but she hadn’t seen him in a long time.”

  Murph figured Morgan wouldn’t care if he told her about Judge. The only thing Morgan had told him and the other men not to tell Rose was that Frank had threatened to kill her. The way Murph saw it, Rose had a right to know what a low-down skunk she had for a brother.

  When Murph didn’t respond right away, Rose turned to him. “Don’t you know what happened to him?”

  “Your brother Frank did that to him.”

  * * *

  Morgan followed the trail for two days, and just as he suspected, they were going into New Mexico Territory. There were only three men with the cattle, and Morgan figured the gang split up for some reason. Morgan hoped Frank was one of the three men; he didn’t like the thought of Frank being in Whispering Pines. But he was confident Murph and his men would see to the safety of Rose and Granny. They were all aware of the lengths to which Frank would go to hurt him. By the third day, Morgan knew he had to turn back. If he didn’t head back now, he wouldn’t get home in time for his wedding.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  “Joseph, would you go to the farm with us?” Rose asked when she found him in the stable. She hated to ask him to leave the ranch, but he was the only man around. She wanted to talk to Stevie, and Granny wanted to pick up more vegetables.

  “Yes. I’ll get the buckboard ready.”

  On the way to the farm, Rose decided to talk to Joseph about Judge. She’d already discussed it with Granny the night before. Granny told h
er she didn’t doubt Murph’s account of what Frankie did to the beautiful horse. Granny recounted the day Joseph brought Frankie home from Morgan’s ranch. He hadn’t said anything other than Frankie wasn’t going to work on the ranch anymore.

  “Joseph, do you know what Frankie did to Judge?” Rose asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Why didn’t anyone tell me?” Granny asked.

  “It wasn’t for me to say,” Joseph answered.

  “Is that why you brought Frank home that day, Joseph?” Granny asked, remembering Frank had been nineteen when Morgan gave him a job on his ranch.

  “Yes.”

  Murph had told Rose that Frank had taken a whip to the horse, nearly killing him. Morgan nearly killed Frank. Once the men pulled Morgan off of Frank, Joseph got Frank in the buckboard and took him back to the farm. Murph thought it was best to put the horse down, but Morgan wouldn’t hear of it. Morgan had helped foal Judge, and he was determined to nurse him back to health.

  “Why would Frankie do such a thing?” Rose asked, not really expecting an answer.

  “Bad spirit.”

  Rose and Granny stared at Joseph. His comment seemed to sum up Frankie’s life. What else could be said? When Murph told Rose the truth about Judge, she didn’t want to believe Frankie could do such a thing. But too much evidence was mounting against him. She wanted to speak with Stevie to find out how much he knew about Frankie. She hoped she could convince him not to follow in his brother’s footsteps.

  “This explains so many things. Little wonder Morgan carried so much vengeance in his heart,” Granny said.

  They reached the farm, and Stevie met them on the front porch. He seemed surprised to see them. “I didn’t know you were coming back today.”

  “I need to talk to you, Stevie,” Rose said.

  “Joseph and I will load the vegetables while you two talk,” Granny said.

  Rose and Stevie walked inside to the kitchen and sat at the table. “Stevie, do you know where Frankie is hiding out?”

  Stevie made an attempt to feign surprise at her question. “No, why are you asking me that?”

  Rose had always been able to tell when Stevie was lying, and she thought he was lying now. “Someone rustled cattle at the ranch.”

  “When?”

  “I’m not sure, but it had to be recent. Are you sure you don’t know where Frankie or members of his gang are hiding?”

  “I told you I don’t know where he is. How should I know?” He jumped up and walked to the stove and poured himself a cup of coffee. “Is Morgan trying to find the rustlers?”

  Suddenly, Rose became suspicious. She wasn’t sure how much she should reveal out of fear for Morgan. “He’s talking about it.”

  “Why does everybody think it has to be Frankie when cattle are rustled? I expect he’s probably in Mexico having a fine old time.”

  Stevie was talking to her, but he wasn’t looking her in the eye. “You told me you thought Frankie would come back here for you. Why do you think he is in Mexico now?” she asked.

  “I was hoping he would come back, but he won’t.”

  “Stevie, he should pay for his crimes. Maybe if he turned himself in, he might not hang.”

  Stevie grunted in disgust. “I don’t think he’s done half of what everyone says. If he turned himself in, Morgan would make sure he hangs. You know the sheriff is Morgan’s best friend.”

  “Stevie, did you know what Frankie did to Morgan’s horse years ago?”

  He turned to walk back to the table, but he didn’t sit down. “What are you talking about?”

  After relating everything Murph had told her, Stevie said, “Did Morgan tell you that pack of lies? I can’t believe you would listen to anything he has to say. Frankie wouldn’t do that.”

  “Frankie, Morgan didn’t tell me. I’m afraid it is true.”

  Stevie narrowed his eyes at her. “No wonder Frankie hates you. You’ve let Morgan turn you against him.”

  The undisguised hatred in his eyes forced Rose to lean back in her chair. Unlike the last time, she thought she was prepared for anything he said to her. But she wasn’t prepared for the look of sheer hate on his face. “Stevie, you know more than you’re saying. You know Frankie is guilty of rustling, and a lot worse. He tried to kill Joseph Longbow. Joseph Longbow would never tell a lie. Don’t you see Frankie could kill someone? If you know where he is you should tell me. I don’t know what’s happened to him, but he’s dangerous. You can’t trust him, Stevie.”

  “I hope he kills Morgan,” Stevie growled.

  “How can you say such a thing to me? Don’t you understand Frankie has lied about Morgan?”

  Stevie hated her all the more for her defense of the man he hated. “Maybe Frankie will kill both of you.”

  Tears filled Rose’s eyes at his words. “I was hoping to talk some sense into you, but I think it’s too late. You’ve become as wicked as Frankie.” She turned to leave, but before she walked out the door, she said, “Stevie, evil deeds cannot escape His judgment. I’ll pray for your soul.”

  As soon as Rose reached the buckboard, Granny saw the tears running down her cheeks. She walked to Rose and put her arms around her. “Don’t cry, honey.”

  Stevie walked outside and yelled, “Rose, don’t come back here.”

  Granny turned to face Stevie. “Stevie, I will remind you this is my farm. Rose will come and go as she pleases. We were going to invite you to the wedding on Saturday, but I think it’s best if you stay away.”

  “I don’t want to come to their wedding. I bet it won’t even take place.” Stevie knew he shouldn’t have said that, but he was angry. He wanted them to worry about what could happen.

  Before Rose climbed in the buckboard, she wiped the tears from her face. She wouldn’t allow Stevie to ruin her special day. She turned to confront him. “The wedding will take place. I am proud and honored to become the wife of a man with sterling character, who works hard for a living, and doesn’t steal from others. And you can tell Frankie what I said. If you are helping Frankie steal, you are no better than he is.”

  Granny was heartbroken her youngest grandson would not listen to reason. “Stevie, I’m sorry to say your brother betrays everyone. What makes you think he won’t betray you? How do you know that you can trust him? A man who breaks all of God’s commandments will not come to a good end. And if you’ve helped Frank rustle, just remember the Good Book says ‘Treasures of wickedness gain nothing.’”

  Stevie grunted. “I’m tired of hearing what the Good Book says.” He stalked inside the house, slamming the door behind him.

  Rose cried all the way back to the ranch. She cried for the brothers she’d lost forever. She cried over not trusting Morgan from the moment the stagecoach stopped on that road in Kansas. She cried for Granny. This wonderful woman had given so much of her life to caring for her grandchildren, and she was heartbroken over Frankie and Stevie. “Granny, I am so sorry about my brothers. You’ve sacrificed so much for us.”

  “Rose, it’s not your fault. They made their own choices. Now they will have to live with the consequences. If not on this earth, then they will surely pay when they meet their Maker.”

  * * *

  Stevie thought about Granny’s question as he saddled his horse. Reuben had asked him the same question the last time he saw him before Frankie arrived for their meeting. Reuben tried to tell him Frankie was going to double-cross him. Stevie refused to believe Frankie would ever betray him. Everyone was wrong about his brother. Right now, what he needed to do was get on his horse and ride to the Conner place. He had to tell Frankie the wedding was going to take place tomorrow.

  The cabin was empty when Stevie arrived, so he walked inside to wait for them to return. He thought it was possible Frankie was in Denver watching Reuben. Stevie waited over two hours before he decided to go home. On his way, he thought about taking the money he had stolen from the stagecoach and leaving Whispering Pines for good. He could take Reuben up on his offer an
d travel with him. Even if Frankie did go through with the bank robbery, he would probably stay around Whispering Pines to cause Morgan more trouble. Frankie seemed to live for seeking retribution against Morgan.

  If Frank didn’t come by the farm tonight, Stevie figured he’d ride back out to the cabin tomorrow. The money was due to arrive at the bank, and it would be nice to know one way or the other what day they were going to stage the robbery.

  * * *

  Morgan made it back to the ranch at dinnertime on Friday. Rose saw him ride in, and by the time he’d cared for his horse, she was waiting for him on the front porch. Seeing her standing there waiting for him lifted his mood. He was tired, dirty, and hungry, but seeing her made him forget all about the way he was feeling, and he picked up his pace. He liked knowing this was what it was going to be like in the future each time he came home. What man could ask for more than a beautiful woman waiting for him with a smile?

  Morgan picked her up and held her to him. He’d missed her more than he imagined he would. “I’m happy to be home.”

  She looked up at him and said, “I missed you.”

  He kissed her, then said, “And I’ve missed your kisses.” After tomorrow he would be free to take her to his bedroom and show her how much he’d missed her in the most intimate way. He was a lucky man.

  “You’re just in time for dinner.”

  “Good, I’m starving. I found out I can’t cook as good as you.” He placed his arm around her waist as they walked into the house.

  While he was away, Rose had thought of the many things she wanted to say to him. She wanted to tell him how sorry she was that Frankie had hurt Judge so many years ago. She was sorry she’d ever doubted his word when he’d tried to tell her about the crimes Frankie had committed. She wanted to tell him she would make him a good wife, and he’d never have a reason to regret marrying her. Since he was tired and hungry, and dinner was waiting, she decided to wait until later for that conversation.