Sweet Savage Heart

by Janelle Taylor

  At two o’clock Friday afternoon, Travis galloped into town like a man pursued by demons. He hurriedly dismounted and rushed into the bank, demanding to see Wilber Mason. Inside Mason’s closed office, Travis dropped his saddlebags on the desk and emptied them of numerous pouches that were bulging, as Mason promptly learned, with gold nuggets. Travis loosened the drawstrings on several to expose their contents and declared, “There’s your money, Mason. And don’t you dare tell me it’s too late to pay off Nate’s loan. You handle it personally and deposit the rest in Nate’s account. Be quick and give me those papers. I’m exhausted and I want to get home.”

  Wilber looked from the shiny, valuable gold to the rugged man whose clothes were rumpled and dusty and who hadn’t shaved for at least a month and probably hadn’t bathed in that length of time. He did look exhausted and agitated. Apparently he had slept and eaten little in the past weeks, facts that the gauntness of his face and body confirmed. “Where have you been, Kincade, and where did you get all this gold?”

  “From an old friend,” he replied sullenly, using words that echoed Nathan’s of the day before. “Hear me well, Mason; if you’ve set any foreclosure and auction plans in motion, you’d best end them here and now or you’ll answer to me, and I’m not talking very nice these days. Now settle up Nate’s account so I can be on my way.”

  “Evidently you haven’t spoken to Nathan,” he stated and smiled.

  “I’ve been out of town since the fourth. I came straight here before you and Crandall got too busy stealing Nate’s ranch.”

  “Like you’ve been stealing gold to save it?” Wilber probed.

  “Not a nugget of this is stolen; it’s all mine. I’ll tell you what, Mason; if you hear of any gold robberies, you can notify the sheriff to investigate me. I’m sure he’ll do a better job on me than he’s done on all the crimes going on around here. All he’ll find out is the gold is mine. Get busy ‘cause I’m tired and hungry and mean.”

  “You can keep the gold or deposit it here, but you—”

  Travis nimbly dodged around the desk, seized Mason’s coat, and yanked the startled banker from his chair. Almost nose to nose, he warned, “Don’t rile me, Mason. I said mark his debt paid.”

  “Nate’s already paid off his loan!” Wilber shrieked. As Travis’s hand loosened its grasp and Wilber sank weakly into his chair, he stammered, “I… I swear, Kin… Kincade. I’ll show you the papers. He paid it all and deposited more money. Said he got it from an old friend, just like you did. Came in yesterday, a few minutes before closing time. I handled the transaction myself, but his ranch still isn’t safe. He’s had some big trouble while you were gone.”

  “What kind of trouble?” Travis asked as he wondered where Nathan had gotten so much money.

  “The river’s been dammed and there’s been some burnings and shootings and water holes have been poisoned. You should have been here; he needed you,” Wilber scolded, trying to regain his composure.

  “Take care of this gold and make sure you weigh it accurately,” Travis cautioned pointedly, then rushed to his waiting horses. Mounting Apache and seizing the packhorse’s reins, he galloped for home.

  Not too far behind him, a bank teller rode swiftly toward Harrison’s ranch to inform him of this curious incident.

  Rana heard Travis’s name shouted in the yard and ran out to greet him. She did not care how he looked or who was watching as she flung herself into his beckoning arms and hugged him tightly. At that moment, thoughts of their sham were forgotten by both. He embraced her fiercely and planted kisses all over her face.

  “The message did not come for so many days and we were afraid for you,” she told him as tears brightened her blue-gray eyes. She searched his face and body for injuries and was relieved to find none, but she saw that the swift, arduous journey had given him a terrible beating.

  “I’m safe, micante. The telegraph lines were down most of the way, until I reached Fort Wallace. I couldn’t spare the time to keep checking locations. What’s been happening here?” he inquired anxiously.

  At this point, Nathan and Mace rode up. They quickly dismounted and each gave Travis a bear hug. “You had me plenty worried, son,” Nate declared, “when that telegram was so late.”

  “We need to talk, Nate,” he stated seriously.

  Nathan smiled and slapped him affectionately on the back. “No need to worry, son. I paid off our loan yesterday.”

  “I know. I just came from the bank. I left the gold there. We shouldn’t have any money problems for a long time, if ever. But how did you come up with that cash?”

  Nathan grinned and suggested, “Let’s get inside. We’ve got plenty to tell you. Mace, you come along too.”

  Travis listened with astonishment as Nathan, Mace, and Rana explained what had occurred during his absence. His emotions were mixed, and he kept glancing at Rana in surprise. Even though he had previously observed her mental and physical prowess, he could not help but be amazed at her feats. “We’ll have to be real careful, son, ‘cause I’m sure he’s got his dander up by now. What we need to do is get those witnesses and branding irons and saddlebags. But tell us about your journey. You had us scared when we didn’t hear from you, boy.”

  Travis went over the details of his trip and his accomplishments. He and Rana exchanged smiles as he talked about Lone Wolf and Myeerah. “That part of my life is finally settled,” he remarked happily. His smile faded as he added, “Let’s get busy settling our problems here.”

  Nathan told him, “As soon as we do, I have those papers that say you aren’t my son anymore. Seems you two are free to marry.”

  Travis pulled Rana into his arms and whispered, “I love you, micante, and I sorely missed you.” To the others he said, “We’ll keep this quiet for now. We don’t want Rana put in any danger. If I know Clarissa, she’ll be furious, and she’ll try to get her Papa that way.”

  After finishing their talk, Mace and Nathan left the room so that Rana and Travis could share a few moments alone. “I saw the look on your face when I mentioned her name. What is it, Rana?”

  Rana told him about Clarissa’s visit and his fury mounted. She smiled and nestled against his chest. “Do not worry, mihigna; I ordered her away. I told Grandfather nothing of her mean visit. She fears losing you and her father to me, and that fear makes her vicious, like an injured wolf. But soon the Caldwells will be defeated and we will marry.”

  “I need to get cleaned up and do some checking around. We’ll talk about this later,” he murmured, then smiled seductively.

  “Yes, we will talk later,” she concurred, thinking of what else she had to tell him and knowing that it was not yet the time or place.

  Just as Travis was about to leave the house, a violent rainstorm broke overhead. Nathan rushed inside soaking wet and beaming with joy. Rana was here, and Travis was home safely, the loan had been paid, and the heavy rain would help replenish their vanishing water supply. He told Travis there was nothing he could do on the ranch this late in the day in stormy weather, and what he needed was a bath, shave, hot food, and a good night’s sleep. Travis did not need much convincing and immediately set out to do what Nathan had suggested.

  He had only intended to rest until Nathan had gone to bed, but he was so fatigued that he fell into a deep sleep and nothing aroused him—not the loud thunder or Rana as she sat on the edge of his bed and watched him for a long time. She made no attempt to awaken him; she only wanted and needed to be near him.

  “See there, Papa, I told you it wasn’t Travis hanging around here secretly and doing those things,” Clarissa stated petulantly.

  “Nor was he the one sending those telegrams, you fool. There’s no way he could have gotten here today from Springfield. I don’t know where he went or how he got that gold, but I intend to find out.”

  “Surely you can understand why he tricked me. He didn’t want you to learn about the gold and rob him on the trail as you did the cattle money. What are you going to do now to for
ce Crandall out?”

  “I haven’t decided, but I will. Don’t you worry none, girl.”

  “You’re hesitating because of that little slut, aren’t you? You can’t claim her, Papa; it would ruin everything we’ve worked for!”

  Harrison slapped her and sneered, “That little slut, as you call her, is my daughter and your half sister. I’ve told you before, girl, let me handle my affairs.” He stalked from the room then, shaking with anger.

  I’ll get you for this, you bastard, she vowed silently.

  Harrison returned to the room suddenly and taunted, “Oh, yes, there’s something I forgot to tell you about Nathan’s recent trips to Dallas.” He laughed wickedly as he related the pertinent information to a stunned Clarissa.

  The next morning, Travis rode to the river to assess the damage. Seeing how it had been done, he also understood the only possible way to clear the blockage. All he lacked was dynamite, and he knew where to find some. He turned as he heard a horse approaching, and saw Clarissa riding toward him as if she had known where he would be.

  She dismounted, ran to him, and tried to embrace him. He pushed her away and glared at her. “What’s wrong, love?” she asked. “I’ve watched for you all morning. I thought you would be glad to see me.”

  “And I thought you’d keep your papa under control while I was gone,” he retorted, slipping into the provoking role he was forced to play with her.

  Assuming that Rana had not told him of her visit, Clarissa asked, “What are you talking about?” She unsuccessfully attempted to look and sound hurt and innocent.

  He laughed harshly and demanded, “Get off that silly horse, Clarissa. It doesn’t ride with me. We both know Harrison Caldwell is behind all this trouble and destruction. I was hoping you cared enough about me to stall him until my return so I could fight him.”

  “Don’t be mean. I love you, Travis. I would do anything to help you and make you happy,” she told him, trying to snuggle closer.

  “If that were true, you would be on my side,” he argued.

  “Then tell me how to prove my love and loyalty!” she cried.

  He answered smoothly, “Give me evidence against your father so I can have him put in jail for his crimes. Once he’s out of the way and you own his ranch, then we can talk seriously—not before.”

  Clarissa stared at Travis. If she agreed to help him defeat her father, Harrison would retaliate by leaving everything to his “daughter” Rana. Yet if she confessed her deceit about Rana’s parentage in order to stop Harrison from changing his heir, she would be exposed as a liar—if her father could be convinced she had lied to him. Now that Travis had been disowned and disinherited, perhaps he would be more vulnerable to her offerings. She had to bluff him. “I don’t know anything about Papa’s affairs, Travis. He’s always so secretive. I don’t think he trusts me, because we’re so close. Why don’t you beat the truth out of him or one of his hirelings?”

  “You really expect me to believe you don’t know anything?” he scoffed in disgust. “If we can’t get your father’s place, then we’d have nothing,” he told her, trying to sound vexed and flustered.

  “What about Nathan’s ranch? You’ll get it one day,” she responded innocently, though her expression told him she knew otherwise, as he had suspected.

  “Not unless I marry that little savage of a granddaughter! He’s cut me off, hoping to force us together. If I let your papa take over, I won’t get any part of this ranch, and it’s mine, damnit! I’ll fight him ‘til one of us lands in hell, and I’ll marry her if necessary.”

  “Never! That little bitch can’t inherit Nathan’s ranch because she isn’t his granddaughter!” she shouted at him, then softened her voice to add, “Because Marissa isn’t Nathan’s daughter.”

  “What are you saying, woman?” he demanded eagerly, seeing she had made a rash slip in her anger.

  Clarissa related the story of Ruth Crandall’s death-bed confession to her mother, Sarah Jane Caldwell. “Marissa’s father was a red-haired, blue-eyed outlaw! Mama told Papa, and he told me years ago, before he decided to seek another wife who could give him a son to take everything that rightfully belongs to me. I hate him and, if I knew anything that would help get rid of him, I would tell you. He can’t live forever, Travis. You get Nathan’s ranch by proving Rana isn’t the rightful heir; then one day I’ll get Papa’s holdings. We’ll marry and have the largest spread in this area.”

  Travis persisted in questioning her slip. “How do you know that it wasn’t fever talking when Mrs. Crandall said such things to your mother?”

  “Marissa was born six months after Nathan returned home from a four-month cattle drive, and she was fully grown as babies go. Hasn’t anyone ever told you Ruth Crandall had black hair? How does black hair mix with blond to make a flaming-haired child? It doesn’t.”

  “Obviously Nate didn’t care that she wasn’t his by blood.”

  “Nate didn’t, and still doesn’t, know the truth.”

  “And you expect me to tell him?” he inquired, fury lacing his words.

  She stated coldly, “If you want the ranch badly enough, you will. Otherwise, Rana will steal it from you.

  “Did Harrison threaten to expose Marissa as a bastard and she couldn’t bear the shame? Is that what he told her to make her run away? Has he been trying to steal this ranch that long? Were you involved?” he demanded, attempting to evoke more answers.

  “Don’t be ridiculous! She ran away because she was pregnant. And she kept running because of all she had done to hide her sins.”

  “You certainly know a lot about her,” he stated skeptically.

  Clarissa’s dark eyes narrowed. “I knew her and Raymond for years, but I never told her she was the bastard of an unknown Scotsman who had raped her mother. She died believing Nathan was her father.”

  “Did Raymond know she was pregnant? Was that his hold over her?” he probed, aware Clarissa was rashly exposing more than she had intended.

  Clarissa’s tone and gaze altered noticeably as she began to lie. “He made a deal with her. He was to get her away from her sinful past if she paid him money. When she tried to cheat on her part of their deal, he used it to blackmail her and to force her to whore for his gambling stakes. She should have killed the son of a bitch for beating her and degrading her. She was a fool and a weakling. She was willing to do anything to keep the truth from her father and Todd Raines!”

  Although he was aware of what she had told Rana, he queried convincingly, “Todd? What does he have to do with this?”

  “It seems he and Marissa discovered each other and fell in love, but, sadly, she was carrying another man’s child by then. Since she hadn’t been bedding Todd long enough, she couldn’t tell him the child was his. She was afraid Todd and Nathan would hate her, so she bolted. She hoped to divorce Raymond and return one day, but Raymond realized what a good thing he had and used it. By the time she came to her senses, she had committed more sins and had gotten in too deep to dig her way out. Then, those nasty Indians got in her way.”

  “You mean she was really in love with Todd Raines?”

  “Isn’t that amusing? After all her running around, she found true love when it was too late. How pathetic.”

  He suggested doubtfully, “Something’s strange here, Clarissa. I thought you said you two were friends. You sound as if you hated her.”

  “Why shouldn’t I have? One of the men she was whoring with was my father—while she was pretending to be my friend and tutor. Why do you think he’s so hot for Rana? Because she’s her mother’s image!”

  Travis hated to think of Harrison’s putting his hands on that lovely creature who had looked like his beloved. “Is Harrison Rana’s father?”

  “Thank heavens he isn’t, or he’d leave her everything! Papa was back East during that time.” She recalled what Marissa had told her friend, and what the traitorous friend had told Raymond, and what Raymond had told her about the timing of her breakup with Harrison, her
affair with Todd, and her pregnancy. She had no doubt about when Rana had been conceived, but she couldn’t imagine anyone else believing such a shocking accusation. “When Papa returned, Marissa was long gone and he was hopping mad. Papa had actually wanted to marry her, and he would have if she’d agreed, before or after Michaels. Haven’t you figured it out by now, Travis? Revenge, that’s what Papa wants with the Crandall ranch, revenge for Marissa’s loss. Until he saw Rana,” she added bitterly.

  “Lordy, woman, what a tangled mess…”

  “He wants Rana badly, Travis, and he would sacrifice all of his schemes to marry her, but then they would have it all if Nathan conveniently died, if you understand my meaning.”

  So much for her alleged ignorance of her father’s life and intentions, he mused. “Not if I get her first,” Travis argued, knowing she would be vexed by his words.

  Clarissa knew she could not tell him the lie she had told her father, for then Travis would also believe Rana had a claim on the Caldwell holdings. Travis was right; it was a complicated and tangled mess. Maybe she should get rid of her father now and take what she could. Whatever happened, she was more than ready to get rid of Fargo, Wes, Silas, and Jackson, before one of them started trouble.

  “Let me mull this over and I’ll see you in a few days. Since you don’t know anything about your papa’s business, keep a sharp eye and ear on him, and report anything suspicious to me.” With this, Travis mounted his horse and waved his farewell.