She dished out the meal to the hungry men. Greg and the father were annoyed with her but appreciated the dinner. Cole adored her. But it was Hayden who puzzled her the most. At times, he was nice to her. Even seemed to like her. And at others, he was downright obnoxious. Almost as if he wanted her to leave.
Hayden took the plate from her. “Go ahead and sit down. We can get refills if we want. And after we’re through, we can all clean our own plates.” He took a bite. “Good. Thanks.”
“My pleasure.” She took a bite and then looked at the men around her. “Didn’t any of you wash up before dinner? You do know cleanliness is next to Godliness?”
Hayden took another bite and then stared at her. “That’s not in the Bible. You know that, right?”
Her face heated. She thought it was, but he spoke with such authority, she wondered. Once she got back to town, she’d look that up. “Well, even if it isn’t, cleanliness never hurt anyone.” She pointed at their hands. “Look at your hands. They are nearly black.”
Bob glared and pointed his fork at her. “Missy, you have a sour attitude. Keep your bitterness to yourself. We’ve done just fine all these years without you.”
A sour attitude? What did that mean? She started to say something else when she looked at Hayden.
He shook his head.
She didn’t want to stop arguing. Not at all. But she took his quiet advice and shoved another forkful of beans into her mouth. Let them eat with dirty hands. One thing for sure, she wouldn’t let them cook until they did clean up.
The cabin door opened and blew in a gust of cold air.
Bob yelled. “Greg, you and Cole go cut some more wood. Going to be cold tonight, and we need to keep her warm.”
Penelope’s heart warmed toward the older Burkett. Nice words were rare from the man.
“Don’t want her squawking to the sheriff that we mistreated her.” Bob glared at her. “Heaven knows, she’s squawked about everything else.”
Her good feelings toward the man evaporated. Squawk. Made her think of a chicken. Is that what he thought about her? She started to question him when again Hayden shook his head.
Now that made her mad. Why did he think he had the right to tell her what to do or not even if he wasn’t speaking? She took another bite, finished her dinner, and then stood to take her plate.
Hayden took it from her. “If you’ll notice, my hands are clean. I’ll wash your plate for you.” He went to the kitchen.
She followed him. “Thank you. Sorry, I hadn’t noticed you had clean hands.”
He turned to her. “Are you about ready to go back to town now?”
“No.” She turned from him. “I need to find out why the town likes your lawbreaking family, yet, finds me, well, unlikable.”
“Pa calling your words nothing but squawking ought to give you an idea. I bet you haven’t said anything nice about one of us. We didn’t ask you to come and root us out of our hideout. Yet, you seem to take it upon yourself to tell each of us what we do wrong.”
“That’s not true.”
He shook his head. “It is. From dirty hands to scolding us about the outlaw way of life. You’ve called me ornery. Unshaven. Rebellious. And you don’t even know me.”
She stared at him. “Well, from where I am standing, all those things are true.”
“Are they? Maybe that’s your problem. You stand alone away from others and point out what you don’t like or what you deem as wrong or sinful. Maybe if you took the time to get to know us, you’d think different.”
“I doubt it.” She stormed to the kitchen door and looked out the window. Darkness had swallowed the gloomy day turning it black.
He followed her and stood behind her. “Maybe if you gave others a chance, people would give you one.”
She turned. “I didn’t realize you knew the Bible so well as to tell me, a preacher’s daughter, about what is in or not in the Good Book.”
He smiled. “My mother. She made sure to read it to us. And she talked to us about what was in it. Told us that it was what was in the heart that counted. Not the outward appearance.”
“She must have been a wise woman.”
“She was. I think you might have a different opinion of us if you’d known us before everything went bad. Before the war. Before my mother died.”
Penelope frowned. “Sorry, I hadn’t realized what your family had been through.”
“I would think your father might impress on you to give people the benefit of the doubt. Hard to know what people have been through if you don’t talk to them.”
She bristled. “I do talk to people.”
He put a finger to her lips. “There’s a difference between talking at someone and talking with them.”
She huffed. “I don’t like the way you presume and assume that you know me and the way I think.”
He shook his head. “Isn’t that what you do?”
“No. It is not.” She moved away from him. He had a terrible habit of unnerving her. She’d never doubted herself before. Hayden made her feel unsure of just about everything. “I’m tired.”
He gestured for her to go into the other room. “We fixed up the bed for you. Found enough blankets to wall you in so you’ll be warm yet have some privacy.”
“Thank you.” She stared into his eyes and for a moment lost herself. She found joy in being near him. If only. But she’d learned if onlys brought regret. More than likely, she’d wind up being married to the preacher from Chico.
Hayden held open a blanket for her. “Sleep well. Think about going back to town tomorrow.”
She passed him. Wanted to say yes, but then she looked at him and didn’t want to leave. Ever. She looked skyward and prayed that her mother’s everything-will-work-out plan could come true for her.
Chapter 12
Rand rode along the ridge to the caves. He didn’t hold back and rode Black Jack hard. And didn’t look back. He hadn’t wanted the preacher to go along but knew there was no way he could stop him. Penelope was his daughter after all.
He reined the horse to a stop and checked the ground for prints. He’d been following three or four shod horses carrying weight. But he didn’t see the sheriff’s horse’s chipped print. The prints angled down toward the road going toward town and looked to be almost a day old.
Rand looked back and wondered if it was the gang that had held up the bank in Chico. The sheriff had gathered several men to watch the town and should be able to handle them. Rand looked at Wyler as the preacher rode beside him.
“None of these are the sheriff’s horse. Doubt it’s the Burketts. Always figured they were farther up the ridge.”
Wyler stepped down and stretched. “Thanks, I needed a break.” He looked at him. “Thanks for looking for Penelope. I know the sheriff wanted you to stay and help him out in town.”
Rand didn’t answer but studied the tracks. Old feelings pummeled him. The thrill of the chase. The sorrow of losing Susanna. The hate he held for himself.
Wyler put a hand on his shoulder. “I know how hard this is for you. Your old life. What happened to Susanna. If you ever want to talk, I’m here for you.”
Rand stood, looked into the preacher’s brown eyes, ready to blast the man. Instead, he saw the kindness in Wyler’s eyes, and Rand’s angry words stalled. Not knowing what else to do, he shrugged and mounted his horse.
“We’ll travel back up the ridge. Sorry, I got distracted following the wrong tracks.”
Wyler mounted his horse. “Lead the way. I’ll follow.”
Rand hated the soft-spoken ways of the man. Wyler’s kindness was irritating. Maybe that’s where Penelope got her reputation as a too-gooder. Without any more words, he wheeled Black Jack around and charged up the hill.
The day gave way to dusk. Rand paused in front of a small cave but decided to go on up the ridge. He found a small trail and followed it across a creek and up. He held his hand up to stop the preacher.
“Looks like there might be a cave
up there. Might give us shelter for the night.”
“Good, hate to say it, but my backside is aching for a rest.”
Rand glanced back. The preacher looked done in. A pang of guilt assaulted Rand that he’d pushed the man so hard. Then again, it was Wyler’s choice to come along. He led Black Jack along the narrow trail and up the steep path. A narrow opening caught his attention.
He motioned for Wyler to stop, pulled out his gun, and walked to the entrance. It opened into a good-sized cave. Inside, he found a rusty lantern. Rand struck a match and lit up the dark cave.
Wyler followed him inside. “This is plenty big for an outlaw gang. Even has a back entrance.” He walked to the back of the cave and stooped to pick up something from the ground. “Penelope’s ribbon. I recognize it.”
Rand strode to him. “You sure.”
Wyler grinned. “Doubt any outlaws wear ribbons.”
Despite his mood, Rand grinned. “Right, but kids from town go to these caves.”
“Not this far out. They go to the ones nearer town. My boys showed me not a month ago.”
Rand went out the back entrance that opened to a small meadow. “Looks like they ran some cattle in here. Wonder why they left?”
Wyler sat on a boulder. “She was here. Where did they go?”
Rand bent and checked the ground. “The sheriff’s horse was here all right.”
The preacher fidgeted with the reins. “The Burkett’s, I don’t believe they will hurt her. They usually go out of their way to help others.”
Rubbing the back of his neck, Rand eyed the preacher. “Helping others by giving them what they’ve stolen from others. Hardly what I’d call good guys.”
Preacher Wyler’s brow furrowed with worry.
To set Wyler at ease, Rand continued. “But you’re right. They haven’t hurt anyone. I’m sure Penelope is safe.” He didn’t really. Something must have changed to get the Burketts to do something as radical as kidnap a woman.
The preacher stood and paced. “Penelope is a, well, she can be difficult.”
“I’ve noticed.”
“Sometimes, a person grabs hold of justice without grace and mercy. God sent Jesus to bring us grace while taking the judgment due us upon himself. That makes all the difference. I’ve tried to get Penelope to understand, but I fear she has taken it upon herself to be judge and executioner.”
Rand stared at him. Susanna had mentioned similar words. He had to admit, he was as likable as the preacher’s daughter. Penelope irritated him with her pointed finger and words. But his reputation sent people running from him like they ran from Penelope.
“The gang had to leave the hideout for some reason. I should be able to find their tracks tomorrow morning.”
“Looks like we have firewood to make a fire.” Wyler picked up a can. “Even left us some beans. I’ll fix us some supper.”
“I’ll unsaddle the horses.”
Wyler grinned. “I will gladly let you. I’ve found several muscles that I haven’t used in some time.”
Rand led the horses out the back. Despite his anger at God, he was beginning to like Preacher Wyler. By the time he re-entered the cave, the preacher had a fire going and beans simmering in a banged-up pan.
“Appears they stayed here for some time.” Rand kept the rest of his thoughts to himself. Something wasn’t right. Good men could go bad under the right circumstances. As a bounty hunter, he’d brought many of them in. Some riding, some draped over the saddle.
The preacher nodded.
He knew. He wasn’t saying it, but Rand could tell the preacher was hoping against hope that his daughter was safe. That the Burketts hadn’t gone outlaw. For the preacher’s sake, he hoped there was some good left in the men. That they’d taken Penelope for ransom said otherwise.
***
Penelope awoke. The room was warm. She could smell pork cooking. For a minute, she forgot where she was and relished in the feeling of being wanted. She slipped out of the worn cot and hurriedly put her clothes on.
The men had been perfect gentlemen. During the night, she’d seen Hayden’s shadow as he stood guard over her little blanketed bedroom. He was a good man. The others, she wasn’t so sure of. Although Cole was young and seemed to have kept a shell of goodness. Greg and the father were harder.
She didn’t trust them.
“Breakfast is ready.” Hayden slapped the blanket.
Penelope pulled the blanket and stood in front of him. “I’m ready.”
“Yes, I guess you are.” He stared at her. Almost as if he were in shock.
And she understood that. She couldn’t take her eyes from him. He was tall. Nice-looking. Not only handsome, but Hayden looked like a good man. Strong and sure of himself, but ready to protect her. He wasn’t hardened like his pa or Greg.
“Breakfast is ready. Cole and Pa made it.”
She followed his gesture and sat at the broken table. Two crates taking the place of table legs. The food smelled wonderful.
“Little Missy, I was thinking of sending you back to town with Hayden. We don’t want any harm to come to you.” He stopped and gave her a hard stare. “You’re surely to bring nothing but trouble to us. Been thinking we need to move on, leave Texas and start over.”
Hayden stopped eating and put his fork down. “That’s good news.”
The older Burkett nodded. “Thought you’d be pleased seeing as you’re getting what you want.” He turned his attention back to her. “I hope you understand the danger you’ve put us in. I’m sure the sheriff and your family are looking for us.”
Penelope could hardly swallow the food. He was right. She’d had no thought for the trouble she’d brought down on the Burketts. “I’m sorry. I only wanted to find out why people liked you and your family and to understand why they didn’t like me.”
Hayden took her hand in his. “Do you understand now?”
The warmth of his hand swallowed hers. “I’m trying.” She’d never felt this way before about another. Penelope wanted to stay with him. Talk to him. “Do you think I’m friendlier?”
Hayden stared at her. “Maybe.” He smiled. “I see you’re trying. You haven’t scolded us on doing something wrong this morning.” He moved a wild strand of hair from her face. “Yet.”
“And I won’t either.” She smiled at him and then at his family who were watching them.
Cole grinned. “You two look cozy. In fact, a preacher’s daughter fits you Hayden.”
His father stood. “You better get her back to town. Be sure to explain to them that we did not take her.”
Penelope held up her hand. “Please, forgive me. I will make sure they all understand that I wrote the note.” She laughed. “I wonder what they did with all that smelly money?”
Cole snickered. “Yeah, those little skunks did their job. Everyone in that bank came running out.”
Penelope grinned as the scene replayed in her mind. She shouldn’t find it so funny, but it really was. Maybe she was getting better because before she’d have pointed out what a bad deed they’d done.
She grabbed a blanket. “I’ll make sure they all know you and your sons had nothing to do with my disappearance and that I took the sheriff’s horse.”
Hayden grinned. “You ready to go?”
Cole came up to her. “Thanks for the good dinners.”
Bob and Greg mumbled their thanks.
Hayden was about to go out the door to saddle the horses when shots were fired. Penelope dove to the floor along with the Burketts.
Hayden drew his gun and peeked out the broken window.
Harsh words came in through the window. “In the cabin, we got you covered. Come out with your hands up?”
Bob put his gun down. “Do as they say, boys. I don’t want anyone hurt.” Bob opened the door and threw out his gun. The other men threw out their guns. “Don’t shoot, Sheriff.”
Bitter laughter sent chills down Penelope’s spine.
Hayden shoved her behind the blanke
t curtain and told her to get on the bed and under the blankets. “Don’t make a sound.”
She raised up. “Isn’t it the sheriff?”
Hayden shook his head. “No.”
Penelope ducked under the blanket and prayed that she and all the Burketts would be safe.
Chapter 13
Hayden stood in front of Penelope’s makeshift room.
With guns drawn, three men charged through the door. The leader waited while the other two picked up the guns and shoved the Burketts toward the back wall.
“Thanks for the fire. We need a place to stay. If you do as we say, no one will get hurt.”
Hayden glanced at his brothers and Pa.
“Smells like food. You have any more? We’d be obliged to let you live if you cook us up a meal.” The leader sneered at them, evil in his voice.
Pa nodded. “We can. Go on Cole, make them some beans and bacon.”
Cole went to the stove and started the beans.
“That’s right neighborly. We need to hide out for a few days, and then we can move on. Picked up a strongbox from Duston. Nice of them to have the money all bundled up for us.”
Hayden caught Greg’s look.
“Wes, go out and get the strongbox.”
The one by the door went outside and came back and tossed the box on the table. “Box smells all perfumy, Ray.”
The third man pushed Hayden aside and tore the blanket from the rope. He looked at the bed and then went to Penelope and prodded her with his gun. “Get up, you. And get over there with the others.”
Penelope stood.
“It’s a woman, Wes.” He sneered. “We might have some fun tonight.”
Hayden grabbed Penelope and shoved her behind him. “Leave my wife alone.”
Wes strode to him and pulled Penelope from behind him. “She’s pretty.” He shoved her toward the stove. “Go help the other one cook.”
With fear in her eyes, Penelope looked back.
Hayden nodded. He wanted to rush to her and protect her with his life, but right now, it was best they did as they were told.
Penelope Page 8