Honest Horseman (River's End Ranch Book 5)

by Cindy Caldwell

  Kelsi walked toward her, shaking her head. “Talk about you? Ask anything at all?”

  “Well, yeah,” she said quietly as she shifted her weight from boot to boot and looked away.

  “You think he magically turned into a babbling pink unicorn when you left and tells me everything? I’m afraid not. If he said anything at all it would have been to Dani. You know that. Since you left, he pretty much keeps to himself. More than usual, anyway.”

  Belinda nodded, and mustered a smile at Kelsi. What was she thinking? Wyatt didn’t tell his business on the best of days. “Of course. I best be off. I need to go see Wade before it gets too late.” She reached for her wallet in her back pocket and pulled out some bills.

  “Uh, no,” Kelsi said as she held up her palms and shook her head. “It’s on the Ranch. Welcome back.”

  Belinda stared after her as Kelsi flipped her blonde pony tail and pushed through the swinging doors back into the kitchen. She stood, but before she could turn to leave, Kelsi popped her head on the other side of the pass-through window, her familiar, ice blue Weston eyes squinted directly at Belinda.

  “I always liked you, no matter what you did to destroy my brother. Just don’t do it again.”

  Chapter 3

  She made a point not to look in the direction of the stables as she drove over to the main house where she presumed Wade’s office still was. She parked right in front, and sat back in the seat, looking up at the old building. She took in the familiar stained glass at the peak on top and in the beautiful, old double doors that she’d passed through so many times.

  She shook off the memories and reached for her work binder, ready to take notes from Wade and get started on this investigation. She’d thought it through on the drive up—she was pretty sure that where they’d found the animals wouldn’t be accessible by her vehicle. She also was confident Wade would let her borrow a horse and maybe a pack mule so she could ride up and check out the scene. She’d told her boss that she’d be heading up likely the next day and would report back by the end of the week at the earliest. So she was ready.

  The heavy doors swung open easily, and she passed through the quiet dining room and toward Wade’s office. She peeked her head in before she knocked lightly on the frame of the open door and she took off her hat, tucking her binder under her arm.

  Wade stood at the large window that overlooked the ranch, his back to her. When he didn’t turn, she cleared her throat and knocked again.

  He turned from the window and smiled as he saw her, his Weston blue eyes sparkling as he came around the big, mahogany desk and crossed to the door.

  “Belinda Archer. You’re a sight for sore eyes,” he said as he pulled her into a hug. He stepped away and held her at arm’s length. “And as beautiful as ever.”

  “Aw, Wade,” she said as she bumped her fist on his shoulder. She’d always liked Wade, even though he’d mercilessly teased her and Wyatt back in the day.

  He winked at her and led her by the elbow to one of the soft leather chairs on front of the desk. They were the same big, wing-backed ones his father had in the office and she remembered sitting there only once before. It wasn’t her favorite memory, but she shook it off as he rounded the desk again and shuffled some maps on his desk.

  “Thanks for coming so quickly,” he said.

  “Not a problem. You don’t seem too surprised to see me.”

  He looked up from the maps and raised his eyebrows. “Why would I be? You’re the best in Fish and Game and I expect no less. We’ve been big supporters and have a long history with the department. I had a feeling it would be you.”

  Belinda sat up straight in the chair as he turned back to the maps. She couldn’t help but wonder if Wyatt had been thinking the same—if he expected her. She guessed she’d find out soon enough.

  “Besides, you have extensive knowledge of the terrain from your time here at the Ranch. And you understand...well, the nature of things.”

  Her heart tugged at that comment. The nature of things was one of Wyatt’s favorite phrases, and his dad and grandpa before him. It was about understanding the land, and the relationship between the Westons and the Ranch. Yes, she did understand.

  He found the map he’d been rummaging for and held it up. Belinda stood and leaned her elbows on the desk as she narrowed her eyes and surveyed the area on the map that had been circled.

  “I believe this is where Wyatt and Glen found the foxes. This is the area he circled, anyway. You familiar with it?”

  She stepped back from the desk and gazed out the window, leaning forward and pointing to the mountain she knew to be the spot. “Yes, right there. On the back side, though, facing west. I’ve been there many times. Well, Wyatt and I...”

  Wade held up his palms in her direction. “Don’t tell me anything I don’t want to know about young couples and where they head out on horse trips.”

  “Oh, I didn’t mean—”

  Wade laughed, crossing to the window and throwing his arm over her shoulder. “I’m just teasing. Old habits die hard. Besides, I bet Will I could make you blush inside of ten minutes and I won the bet.”

  He’d gotten her again. Already. She shook her head and laughed.

  “Wade, have you heard back from Fish and Game?”

  She spun toward the door and her stomach did a flip at the familiar sight and sound of Wyatt Weston. He had his back to her as he hung his hat on the rack by the door. His sandy blond hair fell just over the collar of his flannel shirt, and when he turned and his ice blue Weston eyes fell on her, her stomach flipped full circle, all the way, and her breath caught in her throat.

  “Actually, Wyatt, yes I have. You remember Belinda Archer, I’m sure,” Wade said, his eyes twinkling as he looked from Wyatt to Belinda.

  “Wade—” Wyatt broke his gaze and looked to his older brother, his eyes narrowed.

  “Isn’t it marvelous? They’ve sent their best, their big gun. I couldn’t be more pleased, as I’m certain you are,” Wade said as he fought a grin.

  Belinda pried her tongue from the roof of her mouth as she willed her heartbeat to slow. “Hello, Wyatt,” she managed finally.

  Wyatt ran his hand through his hair, pushing back a stray bit that had fallen over his forehead. “Hello, Belinda,” he said as he glared at Wade.

  It was all Belinda could do not to run as they spent the next half hour getting down to business, going over the topo maps Wade and Wyatt had marked.

  “So what do you think?” Wade said as he plopped into his chair, and Belinda and Wyatt took the seats opposite him.

  Wyatt rubbed his eyes. “I’ve been thinking a lot about it. If it was serious poachers, say an organized ring of any kind, they would have left carcasses after they’d stolen the pelts. The foxes were intact, which makes it even worse. Killing for nothing. It’s not right, not—”

  “The nature of things.” Belinda finished his sentence and he turned his ice blue eyes in her direction. She couldn’t get a read on him at all, and he’d barely looked at her since his first obvious surprise at seeing her in Wade’s office.

  “No. It’s not,” he said slowly as he turned back to the maps. “But I’ve learned that there are lots of things that don’t go the way they’re supposed to.”

  She stiffened at his words. Was he referring to her? About what had happened between them? She wasn’t quite sure she wanted to know.

  “If it wasn’t aiming to sell the fox pelts, it was likely just dumb kids having a grand old time on our property, killing innocent animals,” he said through gritted teeth. “Like last time.”

  Well, there it was. Just like last time, when her little brother and his ridiculous friends had made a mess that there was no way to fix. Not any way she could come up with, anyway.

  Wade stood and folded his arms over his chest. “Those days are long gone, Wyatt. You two need to work together on this one, and let bygones be bygones. Besides, Hank’s out of the picture. He’s still in Arizona, isn’t he?” Wade asked
as he cocked his head at Belinda.

  “Yes, he is. At least last I heard,” she said quietly, wishing that she could rewind several years and change the way things had ended for all of them. But she couldn’t. The only thing she could do to make it up to Wyatt—the Westons—was to find this poacher and get them off the property. And hopefully in jail. For good.

  “Good.” Wade leaned over and reached into his desk drawer, pulling out a set of keys on a brass chain. He tossed them to Wyatt over the desk.

  Wyatt caught the keys, his eyebrows rising. “What are these for?”

  “They’re the keys to the Copper Cabin. I think Belinda deserves the best we’ve got for her stay. Belinda, how long do you think you’ll need?”

  “If I get lucky, not more than a week or two,” she said as she glanced out the corner of her eye at Wyatt.

  “All right, then,” Wade said as he pushed himself back from the desk and stood. “It’s empty for two weeks. Do your best. Wyatt will get you settled in the cabin.”

  Wyatt coughed into his hand and looked pleadingly at Wade, who averted his eyes, glanced down at his watch and reached for his coat. “I’ve got to go. Family dinner tonight, and it’s my night to cook,” he said as he shook his head. “I don’t even know what I’m having yet so I’d better get on it.” As he headed out the door, he said over his shoulder, “I’ll meet you both here tomorrow morning at nine and we can get you and Wyatt outfitted for your trip. Thanks for coming and I’ll see you tomorrow, Belinda.”

  She and Wyatt stared after him in silence for a moment, their eyes wide as he weaved around the renovation project, disappearing into the restaurant kitchen and barking orders.

  She crossed to the door and reached for her hat as she settled her gun on her hip. “Wyatt, I don’t think—”

  “I don’t think it’s a good idea, either. I’ll fix it tonight,” he said as he grabbed his hat and pulled it down over his forehead. “Let’s get your bags.”

  She sighed as she looked after him. No, it wasn’t a good idea at all.

  Chapter 4

  “Did you know she was coming?” Dani hissed at Kelsi as they sat down in a booth in the cafe, the others gathering around the counter where Wade had set out his specialty.

  “Of course not. How would I know?” Kelsi looked at her fingernails and glanced lovingly at Shane. He nodded at her and smiled as he reached for the special spices to go with her supper.

  Wyatt closed his eyes and squared his shoulders as his twin sisters discussed him, something he always abhorred. He’d rather be invisible most of the time, and Belinda Archer’s arrival sure made that impossible.

  He grabbed his plate and scooted Dani over in the booth as he settled in. “I certainly didn’t,” he said as he reached past Dani and grabbed the mustard from the head of the table.

  “You didn’t either?” Dani’s eyes widened as she looked from Kelsi to her brother. “Wade didn’t tell you either?”

  Wyatt glanced at his older brother who was reveling in the compliments from his siblings. His cousin Jess and her new husband, Jake, lifted their plates and smiled in his direction as they took seats next to Will and Ellie.

  “Are you all right?” Dani said as she rested her hand on his arm. The last thing he wanted was to tell the twins how his stomach had clenched when he’d seen her, her emerald green eyes and dark ponytail sending ripples of memories through his body at first sight. They’d never keep it to themselves—well, Dani might, but Kelsi wouldn’t, couldn’t. So he opted for silence.

  “I almost fell over dead when she walked into the cafe today.”

  “She was in the cafe and you didn’t tell anybody?” Dani said, aghast.

  Kelsi sat back in the booth, scooting over and making way for Shane. She rubbed his cheek as he set down her plate of food, her special spice mix set right in front. “How would I do that and who would I tell? I had to close up the cafe and get home to fetch Shane for family supper,” she said, and Wyatt couldn’t miss Dani rolling her eyes, although he was certain Kelsi missed it as she sprinkled that infernal powder on her food.

  Wyatt sat back against the vinyl booth and rubbed stubble on his chin. He hadn’t talked about Belinda Archer—although he couldn’t say he hadn’t thought about her—for years. Seeing her in Wade’s office today, he’d thought it had been yesterday when she’d left Riston without a word, and just when he’d made up his mind that she was the one for him. He’d worked hard to get her out of his mind, but today, it seemed like it had been only yesterday that he’d last seen her, heard her sweet laugh and held her soft hand by the campfire as they talked about their future. And then she’d vanished.

  When he’d taken her to her cabin, it was all he could do to keep from asking her what had happened, why she’d left without a trace, hadn’t trusted him to tell him. But he’d done it. They’d barely spoken, and he’d gotten her bags in the door and gotten back out as quick as he could. He needed some quiet time to think, and he’d spent the rest of the day at the stables brushing Belle and coming up with a plan.

  “Wyatt, I asked if you’re all right,” Dani repeated, concern flashing in her bright blue eyes. “You’re not eating.”

  He set his fork down with a clatter. He’d just been moving Wade’s supper from one side of the plate to the other, his stomach in knots. He glanced up at his older brother and turned back to the table.

  “I’m fine. I just need to talk to Wade for a moment,” he said as he pushed his plate away, set his napkin on top of it and nodded at Shane and Kelsi. “Excuse me.”

  He crossed the diner and turned behind the counter, where Wade was serving. Wade glanced in his direction, but before he could reach him, he picked up a glass of root beer and tapped on it with his fork. “Can I have your attention please, for just a moment?” he said as the room quieted, all eyes turned in his direction.

  “I believe you’ve all heard about the poaching issue up on the west range that Wyatt and Glen came upon the other day. You’ll also remember that we have had some issues in the past, and it’s nothing to mess around with. Random people shooting on the Ranch is dangerous for everybody, guests especially, and not to be taken lightly.”

  Jess took Jake’s hand. Jake nodded, and Wyatt was grateful that he’d had Jake to take the foxes to, and Jake had confirmed that they’d been shot, at fairly close range. Having a veterinarian in the family was turning out to be handy.

  “I’ve called Fish and Game, and they’ve sent a warden out to investigate. They’ve sent their best, Belinda Archer—whom you will all remember—and I’ve asked her and Wyatt to take care of the matter. They’ll be leaving tomorrow to investigate. Should have everything taken care of inside of a week, I imagine, so no need to alarm the guests. Just wanted to keep you all in the loop.”

  Wyatt flushed at the mention of Belinda’s name, and heated more as all eyes turned questioningly toward him. There were some new faces, but his siblings’ looks of concern when they heard her name was almost more than he could bear. If he could have, he would have gladly sunk into the floor. The center of attention was something he’d tried all of his life to avoid.

  He forced a weak smile as Wade set down his root beer and the attention settled back where it should be, on supper. He tugged at Wade’s elbow and pulled him back into the kitchen.

  “Wade, this is not a good idea. I won’t do it.”

  “Won’t do what?” Wade said as he folded his arms over his chest and leaned against the wall, crossing one boot over the other.

  “I won’t—can’t—go up there with her. And you know darn well why.”

  Wade narrowed his eyes at his brother. “You’re the best man for it, Wyatt. The past is the past. It shouldn’t be a problem.”

  Wyatt let out a sigh and rubbed the back of his neck. “Glen can go. He’s really good, and learning fast. He was with me and knows exactly where it is.”

  Wade pushed himself from the wall and hung his thumbs in his pockets. “Well, I have two things to say to th
at. One, he’s new and doesn’t know the mountains like you do. I know she’s ridden them almost as much as you have, mostly with you back in the day, but it’s been a long time and she needs the best guide I can give her.”

  Wyatt closed his eyes. Even though it was still cool, it seemed hot in the kitchen and he tugged at his collar. He’d done everything he could to erase those very memories from his mind, of all those trail rides, exploring with her in the mountains. And they weren’t welcome now.

  “Secondly, Mom and Dad have left the safety of the ranch guests in our hands, and poachers are something that could be a big problem. One stray bullet toward a guest and we’re through. Grandpa would have been up there in a heartbeat, seeing to it on his own. It’s a Weston’s responsibility. You know that.”

  Wyatt did know that, and he hadn’t meant to shirk his responsibility. But this? It was asking too much. “Wade, I—”

  Wade stepped forward and set his hands on his brother’s shoulders, looking him in the eye. “I know how hard this must be for you, brother. I truly do. I know what she did, but that was a long time ago. We have to look beyond that. You’re the best Weston for the job, and I’d be irresponsible to let it go to anyone else.”

  He patted him on the shoulder and held out his hand. Wyatt slowly reached for it and shook it, even as he knew he’d regret it. But Wade was right, it really was the only way.

  Wade smiled and chocked him on the shoulder. “Thanks, Wyatt. I knew you’d come through.”

  He pushed through the swinging doors but poked his head back through and winked before he said, “Besides, Mom would kill me if I didn’t make you go.”

  Chapter 5

  Belinda sat on the edge of her very comfortable bed and stretched. She’d been so exhausted the night before that after Wyatt left—very few words passing between them, as expected—she’d heated a can of beans that she’d found in the pantry and fallen into an exhausted sleep.