Chasing the Sun

by Tracie Peterson

  Lockhart admired Hannah’s shapely backside as she climbed into the wagon. She had refused his assistance, but that only freed him to watch her every move. Her beauty was something that had attracted him from the beginning, but it was her father’s money he wanted. Hannah probably didn’t realize how much money her father had brought with him to the West. Nor would she know about the shipment her grandfather had made shortly after the beginning of the war. Dandridge had confided in him about the collection of family heirlooms: gold, silver and jewelry that had belonged to his family for generations. Treasure that he had buried somewhere on the Barnett Ranch in order to keep it from enemy hands.

  The stupid man had told Lockhart everything . . . except where the goods were actually hidden. That, he hoped to figure out after he married Hannah. He would have all the time in the world to search the ranch if he lived there. Unfortunately, the judge had put an obstacle in his way. But it was only a small obstacle.

  His plans were coming together, and for once Herbert Lockhart felt that everything he wanted was within reach. He realized all at once that Hannah was watching him. If looks could kill, he knew he’d be hearing his eulogy spoken. But since they couldn’t, he merely returned her glare with a grin.

  “We’re going to have quite a time, you and I. Marriage to you will be a challenge—rather like breaking a fine mare. I will look forward to the rewards and benefits.”

  “There will be neither for you, I promise you that.”

  “Oh, but that’s where you’re wrong, my dear.” He tied his horse to the back of the wagon and came to climb up beside her. “You will make me a very happy man . . . or you will become a very sad sister.”

  “You are a poor excuse for a man.”

  “But not for long,” he said. “As soon as we find your father’s treasure, I will be quite wealthy.”

  Hannah looked at him in surprise. “What are you talking about?”

  Lockhart looked at her in disbelief. “Didn’t he tell you about it?” He frowned. This could complicate things a bit. He had always figured Hannah knew where her father had hidden their valuables.

  “Your father told me he hid a great deal of wealth on the ranch.” Lockhart tried to keep the frustration from his voice. She could be pretending not to know. “All those valuables he brought with him from Vicksburg.”

  Hannah folded her arms against her chest. “You’re quite mad. My father had a small amount of gold, but I’ve been using that for the benefit of my family. There is nothing else.”

  “I pray for your sake that you’re wrong in regard to that, my dear. Your father told me there was a map with instructions, and I intend to find it.”

  Hannah tried to move away as he joined her on the wagon seat, but he would have no part of that. “Stay where you are. I rather like the feel of you next to me.” He picked up the reins and snapped them. He would soon have everything he’d worked so hard to gain.

  They halted in front of the hotel, and to Lockhart’s great frustration, William was standing in front of the establishment. The two men locked eyes immediately and Lockhart felt a sense of danger in his adversary’s expression.

  “What do you think you’re doing, Lockhart? I thought I made it clear to you that I wasn’t going to tolerate any nonsense.”

  “Miss Dandridge has changed her mind and is returning to Cedar Springs with me.”

  Barnett looked at Hannah and then back to Lockhart. “I don’t think so.”

  “You have nothing to say about the matter.” Lockhart narrowed his eyes. “We will retrieve the children and then we’re leaving. If you interfere, there will be consequences.”

  “Such as putting an end to my life or the life of her brother and sister?”

  Lockhart knew Hannah couldn’t possibly have told Barnett about his threat. That left only the children. He threw a cautious look over his shoulder and then beyond William. Seeing no one in sight, he shrugged. “I’d just as soon see all of you dead. That would eliminate a great many complications in my life. However, at this point, if you don’t leave us alone and do exactly what I tell you to, I’ll be forced to make this young woman a very unhappy bride.”

  “I think you already did that when you had her father killed.”

  Lockhart fumed, determined that those mouthy children would suffer for giving him away. Now he had no choice but to kill Barnett. He jumped down from the wagon, but in his haste, twisted his knee in the process. Ignoring the pain, however, he stepped within a foot of Barnett. “I did have her father killed,” he said, lowering his voice, “but I’ll kill you myself. It will be self-defense, and Hannah herself will be my witness.” He couldn’t suppress a smile as he drew a gun from his pocket.

  “Hold it there, Lockhart.”

  The sound of a pistol being cocked sounded from very near Lockhart’s right ear. Herbert Lockhart felt all that he’d worked for slipping away as the sheriff stepped closer. The cold metal barrel of the sheriff’s gun touched Lockhart’s neck. For a moment, Lockhart thought only of pulling his trigger and ending Barnett’s life.

  “Give me the gun,” the sheriff demanded, pressing his pistol painfully against Lockhart’s neck. “Now.”

  Seeing the satisfaction in Barnett’s eyes, Lockhart hesitated a moment longer. Then a thought came to him. He had friends. He had people who could help him out of this. People who owed him. He smiled and lowered his gun.

  “Very well. But this is far from over.”

  Hannah continued to think of Herbert’s comments as the sheriff led him away. He’d had her father murdered—probably for the treasure he believed existed.

  “Treasure indeed,” she muttered. There was no treasure. Was there?

  “Are you all right?” William asked, coming alongside her.

  “I don’t know,” Hannah said, slowly shaking her head from side to side. “It seems as if everything has suddenly gone crazy.”

  He chuckled. “The whole country is at war. The Comanche call you friend because you walked among them and offered them care, and you’re just now thinkin’ that everything is going crazy?”

  She frowned. “Lockhart said my father had a treasure he’d hidden away. He seemed to think it was on the ranch and that he would lay hold of it by marrying me.” She suddenly remembered the map that she’d found with the gold her father had left under the floor. “I think I know where the map is.”

  William shook his head and put a hand to her elbow. “Enough. We’ve got other business to settle. If there is a treasure to be found, it will keep. Right now, we need to discuss something far more important.”

  27

  They were nearly halfway back to Cedar Springs when William halted the horses for a rest. Sunshine had warmed the day and the earlier clouds had drifted to the north, leaving a gloriously clear blue sky. The children were more than happy to get out of the wagon and play for a time near the full, wide creek. Thankfully, they seemed completely unharmed by the earlier trauma. Hannah was glad the children had been with the judge instead of on the street to see Lockhart pull a gun on William and hoped that they would forget all that they’d overheard through the hotel door. It was bad enough that they knew their father had been murdered.

  Hannah felt awkward as William helped her from the wagon. They hadn’t exchanged much conversation since the sheriff had taken Lockhart away, despite William declaring they needed to do just that. Now Hannah wasn’t at all sure what to say or do. Thank you hardly seemed enough, and there was still the matter of the treasure.

  William attended the horses, then approached Hannah as she contemplated Lockhart’s actions. She wanted to believe the law would see justice done to Lockhart. But even so, it wouldn’t take away the fact that he’d thoroughly wronged her family. No amount of punishment could bring her father back to life.

  “Walk with me?” William asked.

  She nodded and they set out a short distance to a rocky ledge that overlooked the creek. When William began to talk about the war, Hannah found herself engrossed
in his recollection.

  “We were positioned across a line of Confederate soldiers who were intent on keeping us from advancing into Vicksburg. We tried to spread out in order to cover more territory, and I had taken up a place near a stand of trees. I heard a noise in the brush and knew it was a Rebel soldier. I took aim from a standing position and was ready to fire for the first time in that battle.” He fell silent as they reached the ledge.

  Hannah didn’t want to interrupt his thoughts, so she waited for him to continue. When he did, she could hear the pain in his voice.

  “When the soldier came out of the brush I was just about to squeeze the trigger when I realized he was just a boy. He couldn’t have been more than thirteen. I held the gun on him for a moment and when he saw me . . . well, there was a look on his face that I’d seen before. It was a sort of recognition that death had come to him. I lowered my gun. I couldn’t kill a child—not for my country—not for my father.”

  William looked away for a moment. “I told him to go home. I told him he was too young to lose his life, and I was old enough to know it was wrong to take it. I turned and walked away, and that was when someone fired and hit me in the leg.” He looked at her and shrugged. “I don’t remember much after that. I lost a lot of blood and very nearly lost my leg.”

  “He shot you after you showed him mercy?” Hannah asked in disbelief.

  “I don’t know who shot me. It might have been the boy or someone else. It really doesn’t matter. I knew I didn’t want to be a part of this war anymore.”

  Seeing his eyes glisten with unshed tears, Hannah reached out to take hold of his hand. She felt her breath catch as he tightened his fingers over hers.

  “I don’t know why,” he said softly, “but I wanted you to know.”

  “I’m glad you told me,” she said.

  “Did you really mean it when you said you’d already forgiven me?”

  Hannah nodded. “I know that this may sound strange to you, but when I watched your compassion for the Numunuu . . . well . . . I began to see you differently. The war seemed far away then, and even though I knew you had been a part of the attack on Vicksburg, my heart changed.”

  He turned and gazed into her eyes. Hannah didn’t mind his thorough study. She took the opportunity to return the favor. She reached up to push back his thick brown hair and smiled.

  “I’ve wanted to do that for a very long time.”

  “I won’t tell you what I’ve wanted to do,” he said with a grin.

  Her eyes widened. “Why, Mr. Barnett, I thought you to be a gentleman.”

  His expression turned mischievous. “I am—that’s why I’m not telling you.”

  She laughed and let go his hand, only to have William recapture it. “Don’t go. I think we need to settle a couple of things.”

  “Such as?” she said, her curiosity more than a little stirred.

  “Your brother and sister seem to think that you’re in love with me.” He drew her hand to his chest. “Andy says you said as much to Herbert Lockhart.”

  “I suppose . . . I did.” She glanced away in embarrassment.

  “Don’t you figure that’s tellin’ the wrong man?” he teased.

  “You weren’t around to tell,” she finally answered. “Not only that, but I wasn’t sure you’d want to hear me say such a thing.”

  He put his finger under her chin and guided her eyes back to his. His voice was soft and low. “I’ve been waiting to hear that for all of my life.”

  “But you haven’t known me all of your life,” she countered.

  William kissed her fingers. “I feel like I have.”

  Hannah shivered from the sudden rush of emotions crashing over her. She thought she might very well faint from the intensity of the moment, but just then Andy and Marty came running.

  “Are you gonna kiss her?” Andy asked.

  William looked at him and then to Marty. “Do you think I should?”

  “Did you ask her to marry you?” Andy questioned, looking quite serious.

  “No, I haven’t yet done that.”

  Hannah wanted to giggle at the scene as Andy shook his head. “I don’t reckon you should kiss until you get married.”

  Marty nodded. “Yeah, it’s kind of better that way.”

  Hannah looked at her sister and shook her head. “Why in the world would you say that, Martha Dandridge?”

  She answered nonchalantly, “’Cause if he doesn’t like kissin’ you, then you’ll already be married and he won’t be able to leave.”

  William roared with laughter. “She makes a very good point. I believe I’ll wait until after we’re married.”

  Putting her hands on her hips, Hannah turned back to him. “Well, I don’t remember being asked.”

  Andy nudged William. “You’d better ask her.”

  William gave the boy a sober nod. “How do you suppose I should go about it?”

  Hannah raised a brow, but otherwise forced her expression to be void of emotion.

  “You gotta promise her that you’ll work hard for her,” Andy said. “And that you’ll always do nice things for her.”

  “Like bring her flowers,” Marty added.

  “And sometimes you have to read to her. My pa said that our mama liked it when he read to her.”

  Hannah smiled at this. She hadn’t known their father to be overly sentimental with his stories, but clearly he had shared this memory with his son.

  “I think I can do all of that,” William said, giving Hannah a wink.

  “Then I suppose you should just ask her to marry you,” Andy said. “Hannah doesn’t like folks to talk around things. She’s always sayin’ that.”

  “He’s right, you know,” Hannah said. “I prefer people just be honest and forthright with me.” She turned to gaze into William’s eyes.

  “I prefer that, too,” he told her. Taking hold of her hand, he grinned. “Marry me?”

  Hannah nodded. “I believe I will.”

  William looked to Andy and Marty. “Are you sure I have to wait to kiss her until after we’re married?”

  The children gave a quick nod and William let go his hold on Hannah. “Then I reckon we’d better get married tomorrow, ’cause I want to kiss her right away.”

  They reached Cedar Springs in the early afternoon. Hannah had hoped they could marry and head right out to the ranch, but talk ran high about recent trouble with the Comanche.

  “It ain’t safe out there,” Nelson Pritchard declared. “Two fellas from over Denton way were scalped as they were makin’ their way to Dallas. A third fella was able to get away and tell what happened. He said there must have been over seventy Injuns. Even the Terrys came in from the ranch. Your people, too.”

  “Where are they staying?” William questioned.

  “Livery for the Mexicans and hotel for the Terrys.”

  William looked at Hannah and frowned. “If they came in there must have been a grave threat.”

  “But we saw Night Bear just before going in to Dallas. He told me we’d be safe.”

  “You conversed with the Comanche?” Nels asked in disbelief.

  “Hannah’s a friend to them,” Andy said proudly.

  “She’s a fool then.” Pritchard all but spat the words.

  “You take that back. You can’t call my sister a fool,” Andy said, moving forward.

  William put his hand out to stop the boy. “You would do well to watch what you say, Pritchard.” He turned to Hannah. “Guess we need to go find the others and invite them to our wedding.”

  Hannah felt her face warm. “That’s fine by me,” she told him.

  Mr. Pritchard looked surprised. “You two are getting married?”

  Andy spoke up before anyone else could. “He asked Hannah just a little while ago.”

  “But they didn’t kiss,” Marty added. “They gotta get married first.”

  A sly grin spread across William’s face as he turned back to Pritchard. “So you see, we need to talk to the p
reacher.”

  Nelson looked confused. “But I thought Miss Dandridge was marrying Mr. Lockhart. That’s what he’s told everybody.”

  “He told them wrong,” Hannah interjected. “I have no romantic interest in Mr. Lockhart.”

  “He killed our pa,” Marty declared.

  Pritchard shook his head and waggled a finger at Hannah. “You’d do well to teach her about lying.”

  “She isn’t lying,” Hannah replied. “She’s telling the truth, and Mr. Lockhart is in jail awaiting trial for the murder of our father.”

  “But . . . how could that be?” The storekeeper looked to William and then again to Hannah, his expression one of disbelief.

  “The details are unimportant at the moment,” William said. “What matters is that he can no longer harm this family.”

  “It’s more important that Will and Hannah get married,” Andy stated in an authoritative manner.

  William smiled. “The boy is absolutely right. That’s far more important.”

  “I knew your pa to be a good Southerner, Miss Dandridge. Mr. Barnett. . . .” Mr. Pritchard momentarily fell silent. He looked uncomfortable as he continued. “Mr. Barnett fought for the Yankees. Your pa wouldn’t approve of this marriage.”

  “I believe my father would completely approve,” Hannah said, turning her smile on William. “Especially given that William has just returned from risking his life to smuggle cattle to the Confederacy,” Hannah declared. “He cares more about feeding the hungry than fighting, Mr. Pritchard. He’s a hero for the betterment of mankind.”

  “You were a part of getting food to the troops?” Pritchard asked, looking to William.

  Hannah could see that William wasn’t exactly comfortable with the question. She gave him a reassuring smile and he nodded. Hannah turned back to Mr. Pritchard. “So you see, Mr. Barnett’s heart is in helping people whether from the North or the South. He and some of his Confederate soldier friends drove cattle into Louisiana. He’s just now returned.”