Sweet Savage Heart

by Janelle Taylor

  Perhaps her mother’s tragedy had proven that defiance and obstinancy were bad traits, dangerous ones, and that she must cease them or she and others might suffer as Marissa had. At last the Great Spirit had sent her home to help and comfort Nathan. “I am home, Mother, and I will take care of Grandfather for you,” she promised.

  On his return, Cody Slade gave Nathan and Travis a shocking report on what had happened during their twomonth absence. The hazel-eyed, sandy-haired man of twenty-six related infuriating news of cattle and horse rustling, the tearing down of fences, the burning of two hay fields, the surprising departure of James McFarland and subsequent purchase of his ranch by Harrison Caldwell, and the Caldwells’ intense curiosity regarding their whereabouts. Anger laced his voice when he revealed how Harrison had been seeing too much of his sweetheart, Mary Beth Sims, and told how the Caldwells had sat with the Simses in church earlier that day. He explained that the reason he had been escorting Rachel around had to do with the strange accidents that had befallen some of the women on McFarland’s ranch, which had driven off many of the Flying M hands.

  “What did the sheriff do to help Jim?” Nathan questioned.

  “Wasn’t much he could do, sir. Nobody would speak out; they were too scared. After McFarland lost so many hands and things got so dangerous over there, he sold out. Caldwell bought his place fair and square, or made it look that way. ‘Course nobody bid against him.”

  “Everybody knows Harry is behind all this trouble,” Nathan accused. “He’s sitting around us like a tight horseshoe! I never thought Jim would weaken, but I don’t blame him under those circumstances. But Harry’s crazy if he thinks he’s going to run us out and get my ranch. As soon as the rest of the boys get back from the cattle drive, we’ll take care of those rustlers and fence cutters. We’ll set out guards and handle this trouble ourselves. We’ll teach that Yankee lawyer what it is to tangle with real Texans. When the election comes around, that sheriff’s gonna be real sorry he’s in Harry’s hire. Cody, you make sure Harry doesn’t get his bloody hands on Mary Beth.”

  “I’m doing my best, sir, but she’s mighty scared. Ain’t no secret Sims is beholden to Caldwell. She’ll have it rough if her pa insists she marry him. I’ll kill him first!” Cody vowed, imagining his love caught helplessly in that vulture’s clutches.

  “Maybe we should send for a U.S. Marshal to do some nosing around,” Nathan suggested with mild sarcasm. “The government owes us something for holding us captive in the Union.”

  “Won’t do any good, sir. Caldwell’s covering his tracks better’n an Apache. He’s been reporting the same kind of trouble we’re having. It ain’t nothing but a trick to look innocent. While you were gone, he hired two gunslingers; claimed they were for protection of his property and people. If you ask me, I’d bet they’re the ones doing the killing and raiding. Mean-looking cusses, sir. From what I hear, they rode with that cold-blooded Quantrill, so folks around here won’t rile ‘em.”

  Hearing of Caldwell’s latest deceptions caused Travis to recall how the unscrupulous lawyer had achieved his power. The Civil War had ended two years earlier and very little fighting had taken place in the Lone Star State, but many Texans were bitter over the Rebels’ defeat and the terms of peace. Although most of the ex-slave owners lived in the eastern and southern parts of Texas, the aftereffects of the war were still being felt in more widespread areas. Texas had once been a republic with its own president, and she continued to feel and flaunt her streak of independence with such acts as flying the Texas flag on the same level with the American flag. Texans were proud and resilient folk, and now that the exsoldiers had returned home and Reconstruction was underway, huge, prosperous cattle spreads were being created across this vast and rugged state.

  Travis and Nathan were very much aware that during the war and shortly afterward, lawyer and rancher Harrison Caldwell had begun taking control of local politics and absorbing neighboring ranches. Well acquainted with the law, on the books and in the political offices, Caldwell had carried out his grasping process legally in the public eye and deceitfully in private. It seemed no one could stop him from achieving his dream of creating one of the largest and most lucrative cattle empires in the west.

  America needed what Texas and Nathan had to offer, and Nathan had been doing extremely well until nature had begun dealing him some harsh blows. By borrowing money for survival, he had opened a door that a clever and daring thief like Caldwell could enter if Nathan could not find a way to close it soon. Years ago the Rocking C had been bordered by four separate ranches and a river; today it was bordered by the river and a horseshoeshaped Circle C Ranch.

  Travis had been silently taking in Cody’s new information, reflecting that it would affect him personally by making Rana a target. “You said Clarissa has been checking around on us. What did you tell her?”

  “Like you ordered, boss, I told her you two had private business and didn’t tell us where you were heading or why. She’s been real busy trying to uncover something. She even had that painter do her picture, but he didn’t tell her nothing either. Before he left town, he came out to tell me she had been pumping him for information and that he wanted you to know he had kept his mouth shut about your granddaughter. I’m glad you two got her home safely. Bart said she looks just like…” Cody halted, wondering if he should mention Nathan’s deceased child.

  Nathan smiled knowingly and nodded. “Yep, she’s almost the spittin’ image of her mother. Got Marissa’s spunk, too. Tell the boys to keep quiet about her; Rana needs time to get settled before people start trying to get a peek at her, especially those Caldwells. They might consider her a tangle in their plans.”

  Cody knew Bart had announced Rana’s arrival and supplied details of her appearance to his brother, Darby, and to Rachel Raines. No matter their orders and good intentions, the hands would not be able to keep news like this quiet very long. He also knew this would be a frightening, difficult change for a young girl, particularly one to whom men would be attracted. Cody could understand Nathan’s concern, and he promised to help protect Rana.

  Travis ventured, “Maybe we should send a few of the boys to join up with Mace and warn him about this new trouble. We’ll be in deep mud if anything happens to the cattle money. We’ve got that loan due at Mason’s bank on August first. If we can’t repay it, Caldwell will have an open door to buying us out real legal. We need to be careful and alert. I think it would be a good idea to hire a few extra men, Nate; we could round up the herds and set guards on them for awhile, at least until we can find a way to unmask Caldwell.”

  “Won’t be easy, Travis; he’s real clever. You’d best watch out for those two varmints he hired. If anything happened to you, Caldwell would find it easier to push Mister Crandall around,” Cody warned, aware of the potency and importance of Travis’s reputation.

  “Do you know who they are?” Travis asked.

  “Wes Monroe and Jackson Hayes, real bad types,” Cody Slade replied. “You want me to join up with Mace and Todd?”

  Travis did not respond. He was stunned by the possible identities of the two gunmen, for their first names were familiar. If he had not been badly injured and in Texas when the Lowrys had been killed, he might have been charged with their murders, for he had had a strong motive. The Lowrys had hired men called “Wes” and “Jack” to ambush him! His gut instinct told him these were the same two men who had beaten him senseless near St. Louis. If so, they were cruel and unfeeling bastards who would stop at nothing. At last he might be given a shot at revenge, or rather justice. Yet he had to be careful, for more was at stake than his own personal war with them. No doubt they had robbed and slain their boss long ago, implying that even the code of honesty and loyalty among criminals meant nothing to them. If the Caldwells felt threatened by Rana’s arrival, they might sic…

  He saw that Nathan and Cody were staring at him inquisitively. He promised himself he would handle the problem of Wes and Jack later. “I think you sho
uld stay here, Cody, and take care of some other matters for me. Pick out our three best shooters and send them. We’ll talk again tomorrow.”

  After Cody left them, Nathan turned to Travis and asked, “Something caught your head, son; what was it?”

  When Travis exposed his suspicions, Nathan looked worried. “If they remember you, son, you’ll be in grave danger. You know they don’t want anybody exposing them to the authorities.”

  “They’ve killed so many people I doubt they’d remember me. After supper, I’ll sneak over to the Circle C. Just in case it is them and their memories are good, I’d like to sight them first.”

  “You’re going to kill ‘em, aren’t you?” Nathan probed.

  “Yep,” he stated casually. He couldn’t forget the almost lethal beating they had given him, or witnessing the Indian girl’s rape and murder. Except for the Hunkpapa betrayal, once he resolved the Caldwell and Lowry matters, his past and present would be settled; and afterward he could work on his future, which looked brighter and happier since he had met Rana “Wild Wind” Michaels. He couldn’t allow anyone or anything to harm her or endanger their future.

  “I won’t ask you to turn this matter over to the sheriff, because there isn’t any proof against them, here or back in Missouri. I know you’ve got to take care of this, son, but do me one favor; don’t get caught. I don’t want you hanged for getting rid of dung like that, and you can bet Caldwell will sic the sheriff on you if you’re seen.”

  “Don’t worry, Nate. For now, I’m only going to make sure it’s them. Hopefully they won’t recognize me. But like the Apaches say, it’s easier to kill a man than capture him. This time, they won’t get away.” Travis looked at Nathan and reasoned, “It isn’t just for me, Nate. Those bastards have tortured and killed lots of innocent people. I have to stop them. I’m willing to swear they killed Lowry and his daughter and took more than their payment for taking care of me, and I watched them torment that Indian girl before slicing her throat. A man doesn’t forget a sight like that. As I recall, the one called Jack didn’t have much sense. Wes was the one who gave the orders. If he’s still got my knife, I’m going to kill him with it. Trust me, Nate; I’m going to defeat them and Caldwell.”

  Nathan changed the grim subject. “I plan to go into town in the morning. I need to speak with Wilber Mason about my loan and see if I can learn anything about McFarland’s sale. While I’m there, I’ll hire a seamstress to come out and get started on some clothes for Rana, and I’ll see if I can hire that schoolteacher to help her with her lessons. I think you should hang around the house until I get home. I would feel better knowing you’re here to protect my granddaughter.”

  “You’re right, Nate. We shouldn’t leave Rana alone with all this trouble scattered about. When you get back, I’ll check on things.” Travis recalled what the two bushwhackers had done to the Indian girl who had warned him about Elizabeth’s treachery and what Cody had told them about incidents involving women on the McFarland ranch. He would make certain Rana was not left unprotected for a single minute! He would also teach her how to fire a pistol and rifle tomorrow. He was glad Rana was smart and brave and knew how to fight. But even so, men like Wes, Jack, and Harrison were deadly.

  Because of her injured hand, Rana was not allowed to assist Nathan and Travis in the preparation of their evening meal. As they worked, the two men taught her how to use the water pump and wood-burning stove. They showed her the pantry and explained about their foods and the use of their dishes. While the meal was cooking, Travis guided her to the bath closet in the hall and related its function. He told her that Rachel would teach her about doing the laundry when the housekeeper returned in a week. “You’ll like her, Rana, and she’ll be glad to help you with anything. Don’t be embarrassed to ask questions.”

  “There is so much to learn,” she murmured, feeling ignorant and insecure in this strange place.

  He tenderly cuffed her chin. “I know, but you can do it. Nate’s going to town in the morning, so I’ll work with you most of tomorrow. I plan to teach you how to shoot a pistol and rifle, so I won’t worry about you when I’m gone.”

  “Gone? Where are you going?” she asked as if panicstricken.

  “Just around the ranch, micante.” He saw her smile as he called her “my heart.” “I have to check a few things. We had a little trouble while we were away fetching you. Somebody’s been stealing cattle and horses and cutting holes in our fences. The man who owned a neighboring ranch got scared, sold out, and left. It’s best not to let this kind of trouble get out of hand.”

  “Another tribe raids on our lands?” she inquired in surprise. “Who would dare challenge you and Grandfather?”

  Travis chuckled. “Renegade whites are trying to raid our lands, but we’ll stop them now that we’re home again. Don’t worry.”

  “Rana will help you defeat them,” she bravely announced.

  “No, Rana will not. Rana will stay at home and study her lessons. When you’ve learned them, I’ll teach you all about ranching, and rustling, and shooting. Then, if there’s any more trouble, you can ride against the varmints with me. We both know how well you can fight; right now, your lessons are more important than helping me defeat a few raiders. Agreed?” he softly demanded, not wanting her to confront the Caldwells or Wes and Jack.

  She smiled at him and nodded her head. She sensed his worry over her and it warmed her heart. He did not doubt her capabilities, she realized; he only wanted to protect her. “I will obey.”

  “Good.” He caught her hand and, after stealing a blissful and heady kiss, led her back to the kitchen.

  As they ate and Rana practiced with the utensils, Nathan told her what he and Travis had decided to reveal about her past and the reasons for her return. “We’ll tell anyone who’s bold enough to ask—and you can bet there’ll be a few people who’ll do so—the simple truth. We haven’t done anything wrong and we’ve got nothing to be ashamed of, so why get tangled up in fancy lies? It won’t take our friends long to love you and accept you. If we stick to the truth, we won’t have to worry about getting our stories crossed and having people think we’ve got something terrible to hide. The only thing we’ll keep quiet about is that false marriage between you two. Is that all right with you, Rana?”

  Travis added before she could respond, “I doubt anyone will be fool enough to say anything ugly to you, or about you, Rana. If someone does, he’ll answer to me. Anyone with eyes and ears can see you haven’t lived as a wild savage or an abused white captive. Just remember, you don’t have to explain anything to anybody. Some people will be genuinely interested and some will be downright nosy or rude. You decide how you want to handle each one, and we’ll back you.”

  Rana smiled at both men. “Do not worry about me. Remember, for many years as Wild Wind I accepted good and bad teasing. I will not allow their words to harm me or to make me forget my honor. I will let my actions and face speak for me and prove my worth. It is good to speak the truth, for lies and tricks can do much harm.”

  Later that night, as Rana snuggled into her bed, she savored its comfort and softness. In spite of the awesome learning task before her, she felt happy and relaxed. The word “home” kept drifting across her sleepy mind like a peaceful cloud in a tranquil blue sky. She cuddled the doll in her arms as if it were a tangible link to her deceased mother, for it brought back good memories of nights when she and Marissa had shared this bed, had laughed and whispered and made up beautiful fantasies that had not been allowed to become realities. Yes, she decided, her destiny was here with her grandfather and her husband. Husband, her mind echoed, then she smiled.

  With Nathan and Rana in bed, Travis stood before the fireplace in the sitting room and admired the three portraits above the mantel. His gaze finally settled on his favorite of Rana. She was so beautiful and radiant and she was so close, but so was Nathan. Lordy, how he wanted her, he reflected. It had been days since that night in the forest when she had declared that she had chosen
him to share her life. She was like sunshine, and flowers, and a fresh breeze; she was a rainbow, a child, a rare treasure; she was all things good and pure and priceless. Her eyes, so large and mellow, held such magic and allure. It was as if every inch of her called out irresistibly to be touched ever so gently. Her tumbling tresses presented an enticing aura of sensuality. This angel displayed overwhelming charms and she was… almost his.

  Travis stared at her painted image and yearned for her. He imagined her lying in bed a short distance away, waiting for him. These next weeks pretending she was his “sister” would be unmerciful, yet he needed to protect her life and reputation as much as he needed to be with her. Could he betray Nathan’s trust in his own home? What if Nathan caught them together? It could damage their relationship. Even if they declared their love, would it excuse or justify their intimacy? There was no safe way they could marry until this danger with the Caldwells was past and, until they were legally wed, would Nathan understand and accept their wanton affair? It was indeed a predicament.

  Travis paced the sitting room, wondering if he should go to Rana. He needed her and wanted her, but could he risk discovery? Twice he had challenged it on the trail; how long could his luck hold out? He doused the lanterns and headed toward his room.

  In the hallway, Travis glanced to his left to find Rana poised in her open doorway, smiling at him and mutely beckoning him to her side. He looked toward Nathan’s closed door and sighed heavily. If he learned the truth, Nathan would have to understand that he could not resist Rana or deny these passions burning within them. He quietly headed toward her. She opened the door and allowed his entrance.