Picking through the rubble, he knelt, brushing ashes from an old table. Lifting it, he spotted a book, pages singed, cover torn. One of his dime novels. Retrieving it, Wyatt thumbed through the one personal belonging he’d been able to find. Staring at the charred book, he thought of Nora. Less than twenty-four hours had passed since he’d seen her, yet it seemed like days.
“Anything over your direction, Bull?” Gabe stood at the opposite end of the line the men had formed to search the area. So far, they’d found nothing indicating who might have attacked the ranch.
“Not yet. We still have a ways to go.”
“Over here.”
All turned to look at Walt, who bent down, reaching under a sparse shrub. Standing, he held up a battered, dirty gray cap. The men gathered around, staring at the well-worn hat.
Dax reached out, taking the cap from Walt’s hand. “Confederate infantrymen wore these during the war. It’s not unusual to see someone still wearing one.” He looked at Travis, who rested against a sturdy stick to support his leg. “Do you recognize it?”
“No, sir, and someone would’ve seen it if it had been here before the attack.”
Dax turned to Wyatt.
“I’ve never seen it before. May I?” He reached out his hand, taking it from Dax. Holding it up, Wyatt studied it before giving it back. “Quantrill’s Raiders and similar groups still wear these.” He looked at Cash. “Ned Baylor had one.”
“Are you thinking we’ve got one of those guerilla bands up this way?” Cash asked.
Wyatt shook his head. “We’re awfully far north for them.”
Luke crossed his arms. “I think hired guns were sent to hurt our operations.”
“For what purpose?” Gabe asked.
Luke shrugged. “Maybe they believe shutting down our horse breeding business, at least for a while, may give someone else an advantage in getting Army contracts.”
“I agree with Luke.” Dax handed the hat to Gabe. “Our success has made us a target. Those who don’t want us to succeed will do whatever they can to knock us down.”
Staring at the hat, Wyatt’s stomach began to churn, as if warning him there might be more to the hired guns going after the Pelletiers. No matter how he scrutinized it, he couldn’t come up with any other reason for the attack.
“Unless we catch the people who did this, we may never know the reason.” Gabe looked up to see riders coming in from the north, recognizing men from the Pelletier ranch. “Let’s finish searching the area so the men can start searching for the horses.”
Wyatt continued looking until the group had covered the entire area, his mind still haunted by the sense he’d overlooked something. His unease could be attributed to nothing more than gut instincts. The same instincts that had saved his life numerous times during the war.
“Wyatt.” He looked over his shoulder to see Dax motioning to him.
“Yes, sir.”
“I want you to lead one of the groups searching for the horses. Luke and Bull will lead the other two. You’ll be riding south. Everyone meets back here at sunset.”
Wyatt nodded. “Who’ll be riding with me?”
Dax motioned toward a group of three men. “Tat, Johnny, and Mal. They know the area, and you know the horses.”
“I’ll get Rogue.” Wyatt turned, pulling the charred book from his back pocket to slip into his saddlebags.
“Be careful. I don’t want any more casualties.”
Mal led the way over the rough terrain, down a winding trail, then into an expanse of open land. They’d been searching for over an hour, finding few tracks.
Wyatt focused on finding the horses bred at Redemption’s Edge. Those were the ones he’d been training for use on the ranch. If they came across the wild herd, those animals would be rounded up and driven back with the others, but they weren’t his first priority.
Mal reined up next to Wyatt. “There’s a canyon west of here. I’d like to take a look before we head any farther south.”
Nodding, Wyatt whistled, getting Tat’s and Johnny’s attention, then signaled a change in direction.
The group hadn’t ridden far when the sound of horses had them stopping, listening to determine the location. Moving forward, they entered a canyon.
It took a couple seconds for Wyatt to recognize them. “Those are ours. They’re the ones bred on the ranch. We’ll round them up and head back to Redemption’s Edge.”
“What about the wild herd?” Mal asked.
“They can wait. I want to get these secured back at the ranch. Afterward, we can come back.”
A huge sense of relief claimed Wyatt as the four men herded the animals into a small group and started back. He’d spent long hours working with these horses. They weren’t part of any contract. Instead, they would stay on the ranch, be trained for trail drives and used for breeding. In his mind, they were ten times more valuable than the wild herd.
Nora and Lena stepped into the clinic, seeing patients lined against one wall. Word of the opening of the updated medical office spread rapidly, drawing more and more people each day until both doctors had full schedules. Nodding at those they recognized, the women sat down, waiting for Dr. McCord to appear. A few minutes passed before Clay walked out of one of the examination rooms.
“Lena, Nora. Are you here to see about Sam?”
Standing, they walked up to him. “How is he?” Lena asked.
“In a good deal of pain, but otherwise, doing well. If we can avoid infection, I expect Lydia will be able to take him back to the ranch within a few days. She’s in with him now. Would you like to join them for a few minutes?”
Lena nodded. “Yes, we would.”
“Don’t plan to stay more than a few minutes. Sam needs to rest.” He paused a moment, looking at those waiting for him. “Lydia could use some sleep. If one of you is available to stay for a little bit, she can use one of the beds in the guest rooms upstairs.” He walked them to the room at the far end of the first floor.
“Thank you, Clay. I’ll encourage her to get some rest while I sit with Sam.” Lena opened the door, peering inside, seeing Lydia. “Is it all right if Nora and I join you for a few minutes?”
Lydia gave a weary smile, her features showing extreme exhaustion. “Please, come in. He just fell back to sleep.”
Shutting the door behind them, they stepped to the bed, watching his bandaged chest rise and fall. He looked so young in sleep, not the seventeen-year-old who’d already experienced so much pain.
“Have you been able to speak to him?” Nora moved two chairs toward the bed, both women taking a seat.
“A little. He’s able to stay awake for several minutes, then nods off again. Doc McCord says it’s for the best. The more sleep he’s able to get, the sooner he’ll heal.” Lydia let out a shaky breath. “I pray he’s right.”
Nora reached toward her, settling a hand on her arm. “He’s a strong boy and in good hands with Doc McCord.”
“Doctor Worthington looked in on him earlier this morning. He’s optimistic, the same as Doc McCord.”
“We’re lucky to have two such fine men.” Lena looked around, then back at Lydia. “I heard Rosemary came in with you. Did she go back to the ranch?”
She nodded. “She left an hour ago to let everyone know about Sam and bring Selina back. I’m sure it will cheer him up to have both his sisters watching over him.” She tried to make her comment light, but couldn’t hide the worry.
“Selina’s always a joy to be around.” Lena thought of the energetic ten-year-old, smiling.
Lydia let out a soft snort. “She’ll talk to him so much, he’ll want to heal up quick so he can get back to work.” She looked at Nora, a brow lifting. “Sam did say Wyatt left the ranch to have supper with you.”
Nora’s throat constricted a little as she nodded. “Yes. We had supper before he rode back.”
“Sam said Wyatt is the reason he and the others are still alive.”
“Gabe mentioned the same.” Nor
a didn’t add her sense that Wyatt probably wished he had never left the ranch. He no doubt regretted the time he spent in town with her when compared to what he found when he returned home—the buildings on fire and men trying to kill his friends.
“Gabe and Cash rode back out this morning. They’re going to try and figure out who might’ve been involved in the attack.” Lena’s lips drew into a thin line. “It’s all so senseless.”
“Rosemary and I spoke a little bit about it before she left. By setting the fires, it doesn’t appear they were trying to steal anything, except the horses. I know the men don’t keep much with them.” Lydia stared down at the clasped hands in her lap, noticing her knuckles beginning to turn white as her worry rose. “Wyatt told Clay they let the horses go, but didn’t follow them. Strange behavior if they were trying to rustle them.”
“The entire incident is strange to me,” Nora ground out, the anger and worry she’d been trying to ignore beginning to show. “What kind of men set fire to a house with men inside, then shoot into the burning building?”
Lena’s sick expression conveyed her feelings as much as her words. “Men who enjoy it.”
Chapter Eleven
The men sat outside the bunkhouse, preferring to eat their supper in the evening air rather than inside. They’d shoved around the bunks, then created extra pallets for the three men who would now sleep with them.
Bull already had a rough sketch of how to expand the existing building to accommodate another dozen men. A group had been designated to work all day Sunday getting the area ready, while the rest of the ranch hands would watch the cattle or join Wyatt in searching for the wild horses.
“Do you think we have a chance of catching those animals again?” Mal asked, shoveling a forkful of stew into his mouth. “It was pure luck we rounded them up the first time.”
Wyatt shook his head, setting his empty tin plate on the ground. “Dax and Luke want us to spend a day or two looking, then get back here. So far, there’s been no trace of those wild ones.”
Mal snorted. “And there won’t be. The lead stallion is a mean critter. Men around here got to calling him Diablo, and for good reason. I’ve never seen a meaner horse in my life. We’ve been watching him a couple years, but never got close until the last time. It’s as if he has a sense, warning him of danger. I’ve never seen a herd gather up and run as fast as his. It’ll be a lucky man who captures and tames the beast. He’ll have a lifelong partner.”
“You’re the perfect man to do it, Wyatt.”
Shaking his head at Tat, Wyatt chuckled. “I’ve got Rogue.”
Johnny nodded. “Guess it’s likely those two stallions would have to be kept far apart.”
Wyatt looked out into the distance, his jaw working. “At the old Frey place, we kept them in corrals where they couldn’t see each other. The wild stallion went crazy every time he’d spot Rogue.”
“I’m telling you, Wyatt. Be careful. If you find them, make sure you have a good number of men around to cut him off and wear him down. Diablo will plow right through men on horses.”
Wyatt looked at Mal, nodding. More a cattleman, the longtime ranch hand had worked with a good many horses, learning more than he cared to about the skittish animals. Mal preferred a saddle broke horse, staying away from the untamed, wild ones.
Rubbing his chin, Wyatt looked at Mal. “Travis mentioned a herd up in the mountains. Told me he spots them in the late spring through early fall, but can’t get close before they disappear over the winter. Are we talking about Diablo’s band?”
Mal set down his plate, crossing his arms. “Might be. It’s hard to tell with Diablo. Sometimes they’re up north, near the Blackfoot village. Other times, they’re east or west of the ranch. He doesn’t often lead them south. Frey’s place might be the farthest south that herd’s been. Might mean those horses will be wandering some until Diablo decides where to lead them. You get an early start on Sunday and you just might find them.”
Wyatt’s gaze snapped to Mal’s. “Tomorrow’s Sunday?”
Nodding, Mal grinned. “Unless the Lord decided to change the days around.”
Grabbing his plate, Wyatt stood, stomping around the corner of the bunkhouse to the washstand. Cleaning up, he thought of Nora and his promise to sit with her during church. As far as he knew, none of the men at the ranch would be heading to town tomorrow. They’d all committed to working around the ranch or searching for the wild horses. He had no way to get a message to her unless he rode to town or…
Wiping wet hands down his pants, Wyatt hurried to the front porch, walking past Gabe’s horse. As he lifted his hand to knock, the door opened, the man he wanted to see standing on the other side. Gabe glanced at him, then stood aside.
“Coming in?”
Shaking his head, Wyatt whipped off his hat, fingering the edges. “I need to ask something of you.”
Stepping outside, Gabe closed the door. “I’m on my way back to town. Is it something you need done tonight?”
Nodding, he cleared his throat. “It’s about Nora.”
Gabe’s gaze hardened, his expression unreadable. “Go on.”
“We made plans to meet at church tomorrow, sit next to each other.” He turned, signaling with his hat toward the men. “With all that’s happened, I won’t be able to be there. I might not be able to make our supper next Saturday, either.”
Gabe’s expression softened. “You want me to carry the bad news?”
“Well, I don’t know if she’ll see it as bad news, but I’d be grateful if you told her.”
“You know, Wyatt, you’ll have to make it up to her.”
Wyatt’s brows furrowed, his feet shifting a little. “What do you mean?”
“It’s the way a woman’s mind works. You cancel, they expect something more from you next time.”
Wyatt’s eyes widened. “They do?”
“Of course. It’s the way of it. Next Sunday, you’ll need to sit by her at church, then come to the house for Sunday supper.” Shrugging, Gabe walked down the steps, picking up his horse’s reins. “It’s a punishment of sorts.” Swinging into the saddle, he grinned. “See you next Sunday.”
Nora finished the last button on another dress as Allie continued the frantic pace. All week, they’d worked from early morning until Gabe walked in to take her home. Lena had met Jack after school each day, giving Nora more time. Looking behind her, she couldn’t believe how much they’d accomplished, and Allie hadn’t turned away any new work. It had given her little time to think of Wyatt.
After Gabe passed along his regrets about church, she had a hard time believing Wyatt didn’t blame his time with her as the reason the outlaws got away with so much destruction. Even Lena’s assurances to the contrary couldn’t keep Nora from feeling a certain amount of guilt. The one piece of good news had been Sam’s quick recovery. Bull had brought the wagon to town the day before, taking him home to finish recovering.
She’d never lived on a ranch, but after learning so much from her friendship with the Pelletiers, she understood the work never ended. The fire created unanticipated chores, work unable to be put off, and without being told, she knew Wyatt would accept as much of the burden as possible. She could only hope he also accepted Gabe’s offer to come to supper on Sunday.
“Good afternoon, ladies.”
Allie and Nora looked up, sharing a groan as Ruby blew into the shop. Setting their work down, they stood, Allie walking up to her.
“Good afternoon, Miss Ruby. What brings you in today?”
She looked around, her gaze landing on a group of dresses hanging near the back. “Are those my dresses?”
Ruby didn’t wait for Allie to respond before slipping past her, heading straight toward the back. Shoving one dress aside, then another, she studied each, saying nothing. After scrutinizing the last one, she turned toward Allie, who’d walked up beside her.
“You are a very talented woman. I can already see I made the right choice in selecting you.”
Allie hid her amusement, not mentioning she owned the only seamstress shop in Splendor.
Ruby stared down at Nora, who’d resumed applying buttons to the almost finished dresses, then turned back to Allie. “Have you completed any of the hats?”
“We’ll start those next, Miss Ruby.”
“I’ll still have the first order in a few days, correct?”
“As we agreed.” She did her best to not let the woman walk over her as Allie suspected Ruby did with most people. “We still need the women to come in so we can complete any modifications and finish the hems.”
“Being Friday, I can’t possibly have them come in this afternoon. Would tomorrow afternoon be soon enough?”
Allie clasped her hands in front of her. “Tomorrow morning would be better.”
Letting out an indulgent sigh, Ruby smiled. “My dear, the ladies seldom get out of bed before noon. The earliest I can get them here is two o’clock.”
Biting her lip, Allie nodded, keeping her features blank. Then she made the mistake of looking at Nora, who couldn’t hide a grin. A chuckle escaped before Allie could stop it.
“Is something funny?”
“Nothing at all.” Walking toward the door, she pulled it open. “If that’s all, I should get back to work so the first group of dresses is completed for the fittings tomorrow.”
“Two o’clock, Mrs. Coulter.” Ruby stepped past her and into the waning afternoon light.
Allie nodded. “Two o’clock, Miss Ruby.” Watching the woman sashay down the street, doing her best to make a show of passing each shop, Allie closed the door, folding her arms over her chest. “That woman.”
“Is going to make you a lot of money.” Nora’s smile lit her face, causing Allie to smile in return.
“Yes, she is, isn’t she?”
“And when asked which famous women you’ve designed dresses for, you’ll be able to say Miss Ruby Walsh.” Nora’s eyes sparkled in amusement when Allie groaned.
“The way she advertises herself and my shop by parading down the boardwalk, I believe everyone in the western part of the territory is going to know Allie Coulter made her clothes. This isn’t quite the reputation I’d hoped for.”
Forsaken Falls Page 10