Irritation rolled through him, although it was not directed toward Natalie. Lopez had her completely duped. “No, the cattle Lopez is grazing on Rose Hill grass are perfectly safe.”
She studied him, her fine brows drawn into a V. “Then who do you hope to arrest and for what crime?”
“Natalie.” There was no way to soften the blow. “I believe Lopez is the cattle thief.”
It took a moment for his words to sink in. Her eyes rounded. “Surely you jest!” Her voice echoed in the still night.
“I do not.” He glanced at the darkened house and placed his finger across his lips as a reminder for her to keep her voice down.
“That is preposterous,” she said, softer but with just as much fervor. “I’ve known the man for over a year. He pays me to let his cattle graze in our pastures. I highly doubt a thief would do that.”
“It wouldn’t surprise me if a thief who stood to make thousands of dollars selling stolen cattle didn’t mind losing a little money in order to keep a widow in the dark about his crooked business practices.”
She stared at him for several long moments. Levi prayed she could hear the truth in his words. Although he didn’t have hard evidence Lopez was the thief, he felt it in his gut. And if there was one thing he’d learned in four years of war, it was to trust his gut.
“I know you don’t like Alexander.” She shook her head, her disappointment apparent. “But to accuse him of stealing cattle is beyond the pale.”
He’d feared he would have a difficult time convincing her. “Don’t you find it strange that he’s constantly moving animals in and out of Rose Hill land? His men are heavily armed with far more gun power than is necessary for simply watching cows eat grass.”
“I don’t know a thing about cattle, but I’m certain he has a perfectly good reason for both.”
“Such as?” He wanted her to think this through for herself.
“Well, he could … perhaps he …” She sent him a look of irritation. “I have no idea, but I simply can’t believe Alexander is the thief you claim he is.”
“Think about it. A widow with a large plantation is exactly the cover a thief would need to keep his ill-gotten animals safe before moving them north. There was no shortage of Texas beef during the war, which tells me men like Lopez were all too happy to drive cattle north to sell, despite their origin in a Confederate state.”
Her brow remained furrowed. “A business associate of my father-in-law sold beef to the Union. He was hanged by Confederate sympathizers. I doubt Alexander would have risked such a terrible fate for the sake of selling some cows to the Yankees. You have the wrong man, Colonel. You would do well to keep searching.”
The stubborn woman wouldn’t believe him until he had Lopez in chains. “Just promise me you’ll be careful should he show his face at Rose Hill. Trust me when I say you will thank me after I’ve arrested him and sent him to Austin for trial.”
“We shall see.”
“Yes, we shall. Goodnight, Mrs. Ellis.” He stood and stomped down the steps to his waiting mount. Riding away, he recognized that jealousy had been the sole reason for his churlishness. He’d come to warn her, not to win her love. Lopez had been a guest at Rose Hill for over a year. His business was stealing cattle, not harming widows and small children. Still, the thought of Natalie having feelings for the criminal made Levi all the more determined to see that man behind the bars of a Union Army prison.
Turning his mount in the direction of Langford Manor, he slowed the animal to a docile walk. The sliver of moon offered meager light to aid his trek home, and despite Levi’s vexation with a certain widow, he wouldn’t ride recklessly and endanger his horse and himself. He looked up to the starlit sky, a plan forming in his mind. He would take a full company of men and surround the pastures on all sides, effectively cutting off any escape routes. Catching Lopez with the stolen cattle would be difficult, but Levi would settle for apprehending his men and the animals. A search party could locate Lopez once they had the confessions of his cowhands.
Frustration rolled through him. Why couldn’t Natalie see the truth? It was so completely obvious. Did she have feelings for Lopez? Is that why she couldn’t admit what was right in front of her face? Well, he would have to—
The cocking of a gun echoed in the still night.
An explosion rent the air in the next moment, and something slammed into the back of Levi’s shoulder, knocking the breath out of him. His horse reared and bolted into a gallop. Levi barely hung on.
“Get him!”
Lopez’s voice.
The wooded area that lay between Rose Hill and Langford Manor emerged from the shadows ahead. Levi steered the horse into the thick brush, and the terrified animal raced in despite branches that must have torn at its legs. The crashing sound behind him told Levi that Lopez and his men were following.
Clutching the reins with one hand while his other arm hung limp, Levi wasn’t prepared when the horse stopped abruptly. Levi flew through the air over the horse’s head and landed on the ground with a horrific thud. His head slammed into something hard.
The horse tore around the fallen tree that had blocked its path, leaving Levi gasping for air with lungs that wouldn’t work.
Dazed and in pain, he could hear Lopez and his men closing in. Had God seen him through four years of war only to let him die in Texas at the hands of a cattle thief?
Though he fought against it, his eyelids slid closed, and the world went black.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Hot tears stung Natalie’s eyes long after Levi rode away. Why must men act so foolishly? To come in here and accuse Alexander of stealing cattle was beyond ridiculous. He hadn’t mentioned any proof, only speculations and allegations. Perhaps his jealousy went so deep he intended to ruin the only man who stood in his way of having her. Yet even as that thought crossed her mind, she tossed it aside. Levi was not vindictive. Of that she was certain. But to accuse an innocent man of such a serious crime was uncalled for.
She frowned as she peered into the dark night. What had he said about the men working for Alexander? That they were well armed? Why would cowboys herding cattle need so many weapons? Of course, any number of predators lurked in the woods and brush, including bobcats, coyotes, and the occasional bear. They would need to protect the cattle as well as themselves while they moved the animals to … wherever it was they moved them.
Shadows of doubt crept across her mind. Armed cowboys. Cattle moved every few weeks. It did sound rather suspicious, especially when she considered the reports of stolen livestock.
She shook her head. Why, Alexander had proposed marriage to her, and she was giving it serious consideration. Surely she would have sensed something amiss all these months if he were involved in something sinister. His overbearing ways were disagreeable and often reminded her of George, but it didn’t mean he was a criminal.
“Miz Natalie, what you doin’ up so late?” Moses came around the corner of the porch. “I saw the light an’ thought I best come check on things.”
“I wanted to get a breath of cool air. The house is rather stuffy.” She didn’t mention Levi’s visit.
“The days shore are gettin’ hot. Well, I’ll turn in now.” He made to leave.
“Moses?”
“Yessum?”
She felt silly for allowing herself even the tiniest bit of doubt regarding Alexander’s practices with his own cattle, yet Levi had been so positive. “Have you noticed anything unusual about the cattle Señor Lopez runs through Rose Hill?”
His brow rose, but he turned his head. “I ’spect I don’t know much about raisin’ cows, but he don’t seem to have any particular kind the way your pappy and Massa Ellis used to run. Them were all the same breed, but the cows Señor Lopez brings in has lots’a different kinds all mixed in. I thought that a bit strange.”
She nodded. “What about the cowboys he hires? Have you noticed anything about them?”
“The few times I’ve run acros
s ’em, they ain’t too friendly.”
“Were they armed?”
“Yessum.” Moses frowned. “Miz Natalie, why you askin’ all these questions? Is somethin’ goin’ on with Señor Lopez and his cattle I need to know about?”
She sighed. “I’m not at liberty to say why, but will you keep your eye on them, please? Let me know if you see or hear anything unusual.”
“You the second person to ask that of me today. The colonel seemed mighty curious about them cattle earlier.”
That didn’t surprise her. “Did he mention anything about Señor Lopez?”
“No, ma’am, just said to keep watch on them cows.”
She nodded. “Thank you. You turn in for the night now. I’ll blow out the lanterns before I do the same.”
He regarded her a moment, then nodded. “Good night.” He turned and disappeared around the corner.
The conversation left her with more questions than answers.
She went inside and locked the front door. She blew out all but one lantern, then carried the lit one up the stairs, all the while mulling over what Moses had said. He’d noted various breeds in Alexander’s herd. While having different breeds of livestock in one herd wasn’t evidence of stolen cattle, it was unusual. She recalled the many times Papa bragged on his cattle, declaring them the finest Herefords in all of Texas. He’d prided himself on buying the very best bulls in order to improve the lineage and health of the herd.
She readied for bed. A rose-scented breeze drifted in through the lacy curtains as she crawled under the cool sheet and blew out the light. Glancing toward the darkened window that faced east, she guessed Levi had reached Langford Manor by now. Was their conversation keeping him awake as it was her? Though she had to concede there were oddities about Alexander’s cattle business, she couldn’t go so far as to agree with Levi. Alexander had been a good friend the past year. The money he paid for leasing her pastures had kept the bankers from taking possession of her land and provided a security she would always be grateful for.
Sighing, she decided that on the morrow, she would have Moses take her to see Alexander’s cattle for herself. Then she would convince Levi he was wrong.
A toad croaking very near his ear awoke Levi.
Gradually opening his eyes to bright stars shimmering through tree branches, Levi couldn’t fathom where he was or why he was there. When he tried to move, a searing pain raced through his left shoulder, and memories flooded back.
He gave a humorless laugh then flinched with another wave of pain. Obviously, he wasn’t dead. Not yet, anyway. Only the usual night noises met his ears, echoing in the stillness of the wooded area. The toad continued to croak, though not as close.
Where were Lopez and his men, and why hadn’t they finished him off?
Taking a deep breath to clear the fog in his mind, he concentrated on remembering. How long had he lain there? He’d fallen from his horse, but nothing seemed clear after that. He’d been certain Lopez and his cowboys were on his tail when he entered the woods. Had they followed his horse without realizing Levi was no longer in the saddle?
Carefully, he inched his head to his right, wincing when a tender spot on the back of his scalp raked across the ground. He must’ve hit his head when he fell. A dark object loomed in front of him. He spread his fingers and touched something solid and rough. A fallen tree. He guessed he’d landed on the far side of it when his horse shied. Looking overhead again, he searched for the North Star, needing something to give him bearing. But with so many branches obstructing the night sky, it was impossible to locate. He knew he’d turned his horse off the road that led to Langford Manor, but how far they’d gone before he became unseated was a blurry memory.
A sound in the distance brought him alert. Horses’ hooves beating the ground. Not close, but near enough to tell Levi he had to get out of there. When he tried to sit up, a wave of dizziness and pain nearly knocked him unconscious again. Breathing heavily, he felt the back of his left shoulder. Warm and sticky. If the wound wasn’t attended to soon, he could bleed to death.
Concentrating on remaining calm, he put the skills he’d acquired during the war to work. His best guess was he’d only gone a couple miles when Lopez shot him. Then he’d gone another half mile into the woods before the horse threw him. Langford Manor was still several miles away. Definitely too far to walk in the dark with a bullet in his shoulder.
But he couldn’t stay where he was. Lopez and his men would be back soon enough. He lay flat on his back, his life’s blood slowly seeping from his body. This was not the way he wanted to die.
Though he’d been in some tricky situations during the war— some he shouldn’t have survived—he’d never felt as helpless as he did now.
“God,” he whispered. “You’ve seen me through some tough times. I hope you have more days left for me, but right now, I’m not so sure. Help me, Lord. And keep Natalie safe.”
He kept the prayer open-ended. Knowing God was right there, only a breath away, brought on a sense of calm. The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer. Ma had reminded Levi and his brothers of that verse before they’d headed off to war, quoting a favorite Psalm. Surely those words rang true in this situation too.
With woods and brush on his left, he turned to his right again and eyed the log. If he could wedge himself up against it and use some of the foliage around him as cover, Lopez and his men might not see him, even after the sun rose. Surely Corporal Banks would send out a search party when he realized Levi had not returned from Rose Hill. It would be up to God which group of men found Levi first.
Bracing himself for the pain he knew would come, he used his good elbow to scoot his body toward the log. He resisted the urge to cry out when fiery fingers shot through his shoulder and down his body. The few inches that separated him from the log seemed like a mile as he dragged himself to it. Once he was up against the rough bark, he closed his eyes for several minutes to let his breathing return to normal, all the while pushing his wounded shoulder into the ground, which he hoped would staunch the bleeding. When the pain gradually subsided to a dull ache, he yanked on the branches of a low shrub and pulled them toward him, again and again, until he had enough greenery to cover himself. The last thing he did was take his gun from its holster and lay it on his chest. He wouldn’t give up without a fight.
Having done all he could until daylight arrived, Levi relaxed. He stared up at the starlit sky, his eyes getting heavy. As he drifted off to sleep, his last thought was of Natalie. He hoped he would live to see her beautiful blue eyes and that stubborn set to her jaw again. He might even let her stew in her remorse a few days.
Then, he would take her in his arms and kiss her sweet lips until she agreed to marry him.
“Miz Natalie? Miz Natalie! Wake up.”
Natalie startled awake. Carolina’s face loomed above her, the glow of candlelight illuminating her wide eyes. “What’s wrong? Is it Samuel?”
Carolina lit the lamp beside the bed as Natalie sat up, groggy.
“Samuel be sleepin’. It be the colonel.”
“Colonel Maish?” She glanced out the window where the lace curtains parted. The sky was still dark. What time was it?
“William, er, Corporal Banks is here. Says the colonel didn’t never come back to the army camp. Thought he might’ve come here, but I told him no. He be worried.”
Natalie stood, still confused about the conversation. “Where is he? Corporal Banks, I mean.”
“He in the kitchen with Moses an’ Harriet.”
“All right. I’ll be down shortly.”
After the servant left, Natalie dressed while she wondered where Levi could be. If the corporal was worried, then Levi not returning to camp was unusual.
When she entered the kitchen, four pairs of concerned eyes met her. Corporal Banks stood and gave a polite nod.
“Mrs. Ellis. I’m sorry to disturb you folks so early, but I had hoped the colonel spent the night here at Rose Hill.”
Corporal Banks’ frown deepened. “He sent me a message to let me know he was going to check on some suspicious activity. We were waiting for his return. What did he say about the cattle on your land?”
She glanced at the others in the room. She didn’t approve of spreading gossip, but she trusted that when Alexander cleared things up regarding his cattle, the three servants would keep whatever they heard tonight to themselves.
“He believed Señor Lopez to be the cattle thief the Union Army is searching for.” At the gasps in the room, she hastened to add, “But I told him he was absolutely incorrect. Alexander is not a thief. He pays me to lease my pastures.”
The corporal’s grave expression didn’t change. “What time did he leave Rose Hill?”
“It was after dark, but I’m not sure of the hour.”
“And you say he’d just come from looking at the herd?”
“Yes.”
Corporal Banks put his hat on, his face grim. “Ma’am, I didn’t want to alarm you, but we believe the colonel is in danger. His horse returned to Langford Manor a short time ago without him.” His gaze held hers. “There was blood on the saddle.”
Her own blood went cold.
Noises from outside drew their attention. The group moved outside to see dozens of mounted soldiers filling the yard. Corporal Banks drew up next to her.
“We’re forming a search party.”
“I be glad to help,” Moses said. “I get the wagon hitched”—he glanced at Natalie—“in case he too injured to ride.”
Fear clutched at her heart. Everyone flew into action while she stood rooted to the porch. Torches were lit, orders were given, and suddenly, the yard was emptied of soldiers. Harriet and Carolina returned to the kitchen to make sandwiches and more coffee. Even the new field workers, aroused by the commotion, volunteered to join in the search. Ruth’s tall husband, Wash, climbed up on the wagon seat beside Moses, and they followed the soldiers.
The Widow of Rose Hill (The Women of Rose Hill Book 2) Page 25