“There must be a dozen papers of cattle ownership in this folder. And…”
“What?”
“A deed. To White Willow,” he said, pointing at the ground. “It is signed by Clifford Thomas and…Kate Callahan.”
Levi and Noah exchanged glances.
A nagging feeling sat in the pit of Noah’s stomach. He just couldn’t believe that she would choose Thomas over him. Wouldn’t believe it.
“It’s a forgery,” Eamon stated nonchalantly—as if Noah’s whole world didn’t depend on it.
“How can you tell?” Levi asked while Noah caught his breath.
“That’s not Kate’s writing.” He pointed at her signature. “I have seen enough of her lists of supplies she made me pick up in town to tell you that I know what her scribbling looks like, and that is not it.” He picked up a chunk of metal from the table. “It wouldn’t be legal anyway until he had a notary’s stamped seal.” He held up the authentic looking notary stamp.
Noah unrolled the closest parchment to him. There, staring back at him, was a picture clear as day of none other than Clifford Thomas, the word WANTED written in huge letters across the top. He turned it around to show the others.
“No wonder someone wanted him dead,” Eamon said loudly. “I knew I’d seen that fella somewhere before. He’s been thieving cattle all across the west.”
The scratching sound of the stable doors as they swung wide had Noah scrambling to re-roll the parchment and cover the money with the oversized satchel.
“Are you leaving?” Kate’s voice had a hint of anger mixed with confusion.
He spun around to face her.
“Kate,” Noah said, recognizing too late his informality. “What are you doing out here? Don’t you have guests?”
“Are you leaving?” she demanded again.
“Not unless you’re giving me the boot.” He tried to appear calm, but he didn’t know what to do with his hands, so he stuck them firmly into his pockets.
Her face relaxed and she exhaled loudly, her relief visible.
The sound of the coins scratching against the table and clanging against each other was hard to miss. Noah closed his eyes. He didn’t want to keep anything from Kate—especially something that could be putting her and her entire ranch in danger.
“Listen, Miss Callahan, we need to talk.”
“Yes, we do.” Before he could say another word, she took a step inside the stable. “A gentleman who has been writing to me for several weeks has just written to inform me that he is coming to White Willow.”
That was the last thing he had expected her to say and it took him completely off guard.
Slow down, Deardon, he told himself as he struggled to gather his thoughts. And his emotions.
He waited, staring at her for a moment before he trusted himself enough to speak.
“Thank you for letting me know.” He didn’t want to wait anymore. Didn’t want to keep wondering if she’d felt the same connection between them as he had. “Are you interested in him?” He wanted to smack his forehead against the palm of his hand. “What I mean to ask, is…”
“I thought he was the perfect suitor. He said all the right things in his letters and had the experience and intelligence that I was looking for when I first placed the ad.”
“I see.” He swallowed, unsure he wanted to hear anymore. “Well, I…”
“If you’ll just let me finish,” she said, reaching out and brushing her fingers against the flesh of his arm.
He wanted so badly to pull her into his arms, tell her that was where she belonged, and to taste the sweetness of her kiss, but he rooted his feet to the ground and flexed his jaw in restraint.
“I realized that everything I knew about him were from words on a page. And everything I know about you is from talking to you, watching you…being with you.”
“So, what are you saying?” He wanted to be sure he understood the meaning in her words.
“Are you going to make me say it?” she asked with a smile.
“Yes.”
“It’s you, Noah Deardon. You are the one I want. I don’t care who else comes knocking at our door. I’ve made my choice.”
His heart flipped inside.
Our door.
She’d made her choice. He should be jumping up and down, knowing she would be his, but something was missing.
Love.
Levi cleared his throat.
Noah had almost forgotten that he and Eamon were still behind him.
“This is great and all, but do you think this conversation could wait?” Eamon asked from behind him.
Kate’s brows scrunched with concern.
Noah nodded. “Eamon’s right. Look, Kate…”
Her jaw tensed and her chin lifted.
“I have to tell you something. And you’re not going to like it.”
Kate took a step backward, literally bracing herself against the stable’s doorframe. She stared at him, the catch-lights in her eyes wet. He took the two steps that separated them and placed his hands on her shoulders, looking down into her honey-colored eyes, her emotions as transparent as glass.
She shook her head as she turned on her heel, escaping his touch, and started back for the house, faster than he would have thought her able with a sprained ankle.
“Well,” Levi said in a ‘you’re-such-a-dolt’ sort of way, “go after her.”
“Miss Callahan,” Noah called as he followed her outside of the stable. “Where are you going?”
She didn’t pause even for a moment, but still limped as quickly as she could toward the house and the ladies sitting on the veranda.
“Katie Callahan!” he yelled. “I love you!”
She froze and slowly turned around to face him. The women on the veranda stood and Noah could hear the crunching of gravel behind him. They had an audience.
He closed the distance between them in a few heartbeats, delving his hands into her dark brown tresses, and bracing the back of her head as he lifted her face to meet his kiss. He didn’t care who watched. Kate would be his wife as soon as they could get the pastor and he needed her to know how he felt.
He’d waited long enough and didn’t want anything standing in the way of their new life together. He deepened the kiss, dropping his hands so his arms could wrap all the way around her and pull her in tightly to him. He groaned softly when her hands slid up his chest and around his neck, her fingers grasping the hair at the back of his neck and holding him in place as she readily returned his affection.
Well aware of their spectators, Noah broke the kiss, but did not release his hold around her as he bent down to look into her eyes. Wet trails lined her face and his gut churned at the thought that he’d put them there.
“Now that we’ve got that settled, can I talk to you?”
Kate bit her lip and nodded. “Just let me say goodbye to the girls.”
He kissed the tip of her nose, then lifted her into his arms and carried her up the porch steps, setting her down in front of the table where the ladies awaited with appreciative smiles. Noah was glad these women seemed like real friends and not like so many of the busy-bodies he’d encountered back home. The last thing he wanted was for her to be the talk of the town for a simple kiss.
Who was he kidding? It had been an incredible, delectable kiss.
Cal had already hitched the carriage the women had arrived in and had it waiting for them as they descended the stairs with a wave. Mrs. Jones, the pastor’s wife, hugged Kate tightly and whispered something in her ear before leaving.
Once the women pulled out of the drive, Noah leaned down to pick her up again.
“I can walk, you know.”
“I know,” he said as he pulled her back up into his arms and headed back toward the stable, past Levi and Eamon who both stood there grinning, the satchel strung over Eamon’s shoulder.
He set Kate down on the table and they proceeded to tell her everything they had discovered about the rustler from Abilene
.
“So, you think those cattle I saw this morning are stolen?” she asked.
She took the news surprisingly well.
“I’m afraid so, but just as I promised, we’ll head out to the east pasture and check that downed fence and the cows, just to be sure.”
“Should we have Dell ride out and get Nate?”
“No!” All three men said in unison.
“Surely, you don’t think Dell has anything to do with this? He’s been at White Willow nearly as long as I have.”
“Let’s just keep it between us for now. At least until we know what we’re up against,” Noah said.
“Levi and I will ride out with you. If it’s rustlers we’re dealing with, then it is under my jurisdiction too,” Eamon assured Kate.
“We need to get out there before it gets too dark.” The smell of snow lingered in the air and Noah wanted to make sure they would get back before it hit.
“Let’s go.”
Chapter Thirteen
The sky darkened to a smoky grey with thick clouds hanging low above the ranch. Noah tossed numerous blankets into the back of the wagon, along with several boards for mending the downed fence. The air had grown chilly and Kate pulled her coat up tighter against the knit scarf her mother had made for her years ago.
Noah climbed up onto the seat next to her and plopped one of her father’s old hats on top of her head. “Are you sure you still want to come? It could be dangerous.”
“I can’t just sit here and wait, not knowing. I’d rather be with you. Dangerous or not.” Kate pushed the hat up off her forehead. It was much too large, but she figured it would offer some protection if the snow started to fall before they returned.
“Thank you.”
“You’re a good woman, Katie Callahan,” Noah said, picking up the reins. “Hi-yah!”
The ride out to the east pasture didn’t take long, but as they approached the section where she’d seen the downed fence, Eamon and Levi circled back to them and dismounted, tying their horses to fence posts.
“Smoke.” Levi said as he pointed to a stream of white vapors rising from the building next to the full corral.
Noah stopped the wagon, handed her the reins, then leaned over and kissed her fully on the mouth. When he pulled away, he looked down into her eyes. “If you hear shots, you ride out to Boswell’s as quickly as you can and tell him everything, ya hear?” He looked at her, the corners of his fierce blue eyes crinkling as his stare deepened. “Promise me.”
“How can you ask that of me?” Kate shook her head. “How can you ask me to leave you?”
“I have to know you’re safe,” he pleaded. “I can’t lose you. Not now. Not ever.” His jaw flexed. “Promise me!” he demanded, his eyes holding her hostage.
She stared at him without answering for as long as she dared.
“I promise,” she finally relented.
He pulled her tightly into him, his hand holding her head against his shoulder. When he let go, he turned to leave without a word.
“Noah,” she called, sliding toward the edge of the seat.
He looked back. Without another moment’s hesitation, she reached out and grabbed a hold of his collar, pulling his face toward her and kissing him with fervor.
“Be safe!” she made her own demand in a whisper, pulling just far enough away that their lips were not fully connected. Her eyes opened, searching his for a promise.
Noah nodded and kissed her quick one more time. He jumped down from the buckboard and grabbed the rifle out of the holster at the side of the seat.
“I like doing that,” he said as he handed the gun up to her and winked.
Kate tucked her face into her scarf and smiled. She loved that man. Why hadn’t she just told him? The thought of their kiss warmed her on the inside and she raised her fingers to caress the vacant spot where his lips had just left hers. The chill of the open air brushed against her face and she shivered off the cold.
CRACK!
Kate’s heart skipped a beat as she watched all three men she’d come with dive to the ground for cover as the shot ricocheted off the ground only a few feet from where Noah had landed. The horses pranced about, pulling the wagon back and forth as they sensed the newfound danger.
“Whoa,” she called, attempting to calm them as she scanned the area, looking for where the shot had originated. There was nothing but open space between her and the cabin, nowhere for the men to take cover.
Promise me! Noah’s voice echoed in her mind.
She slapped the reins to turn the wagon around toward Boswell’s place when another shot rang out through the air. This time, movement in the trees above caught her attention. Fear gripped her chest as she glanced back over her shoulder. They would never be able to see their attacker’s position from their locations on the ground and would be easy targets.
“Sorry, Noah,” she said aloud before coming around full-circle and riding toward the men.
Kate scrunched down as far as she could in front of the seat and still be able to lead the horses. She wished she’d thought to wear her britches instead of the blamed skirt she had on. It would have made maneuvering so much easier.
When she reached Noah, she climbed down the backside of the seat, away from the shots, until her good foot hit the ground. Then, she lifted her rifle, steadying it against the wood, and fired two shots consecutively into the mountainside to create a distraction enough for the others to get to safety.
Noah, Levi, and Eamon all scrambled from the ground and ducked behind the wagon, each attempting to catch his breath.
“He’s in the trees,” Kate informed them, indicating the cluster on the mountainside where she’d seen movement.
“I’ll get the horses,” Levi said, nodding to his and Eamon’s mounts.
“You can’t be serious?” she asked incredulously. He would be completely unprotected.
When Levi looked at Noah and nodded in a slow deliberate fashion, both Noah and Eamon twisted forward against the wagon, bracing their arms against the wood and taking aim. They took turns firing shots and reloading while Levi ran out across the open land toward the restless horses.
CRACK! The shot pinged off of a piece of metal that shook the whole wagon.
Noah grunted next to her and she glanced over to see his jaw pulsating as he clenched his teeth together.
Eamon’s gun clicked with an empty chamber and Noah wasn’t yet ready to fire, so Kate slid the rifle back into the little groove she’d discovered in the edge of the wagon’s board and aimed.
CRACK!
Kate ducked back down and watched with baited breath, her back up against the wagon, as Levi mounted the palomino he’d chosen in place of his own, the reins of Eamon’s buckskin still in his hand. He laid close to the horse’s neck as he made his way back to them. Instead of dismounting, he threw the reins to Eamon, who pulled himself up onto the back of his horse, his head low, and turned back to Noah.
“Near as I can tell, there’s only one shooter,” he said, as his mount pranced around excitedly. “We’ll head up after him. You get that pretty little lady of yours to that shelter.” He looked up as huge, white flakes of snow started to fall. “Looks like he’s got a right cozy fire going inside.”
“Eamon!” Levi called.
The Pinkerton tipped his hat at Kate and turned to follow Levi.
It took a moment, but she realized that the shooting had stopped.
“He’s on the move,” Noah said, sidling around her to the front of the wagon.
“What are you doing?” she asked in a whisper, though she didn’t know why.
He climbed up onto the seat and reached down for her, swinging her up alongside him, crying out with pain. He slapped the reins and quickly closed the distance between them and the cabin.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, looking him over as well as she could, blinking away the flakes that landed on her lashes.
“I’m fine,” he said, his voice strained and grumbly.
The snow came down thicker now, making it difficult to see in any direction.
She’d lost sight of Levi and Eamon.
Noah jumped down off the buckboard and tethered the wagon team to the hitching post there. He took the rifle from her, set it on the edge of the wagon, and reached up for her, a grimace contorting his face.
Kate’s eyes were drawn to the torn fabric and growingly red material of Noah’s sleeve.
“You’ve been hit.”
“It’s nothing,” Noah said, wrapping his hands around her waist and lowering her to the ground. “We have to get inside.”
Click. There was no mistaking the sound of a gun’s cocking hammer.
Noah froze, his eyes fixed on hers, warning her not to move, his body creating the perfect barrier between her and their foe.
“Drop it, Deardon, and step away from the wagon.”
Kate’s heart sunk. She knew that voice.
Dell.
Chapter Fourteen
How in blazes did he get down the mountain so fast?
Noah tossed his pistol onto the ground into the fresh blanket of snow that grew thicker by the second, and raised his hands shoulder level, his arm throbbing. Luckily, the bullet had gone straight through the fleshy part of his arm, but he’d lost a significant amount of blood. If he didn’t tend to it soon…well, he didn’t want to think about that. He needed to be strong. For her.
“Don’t move,” he mouthed to Kate as he slowly turned around.
“Nobody has to get hurt,” the tall, older foreman said. “I’m just going to collect the cattle from the corral and we’ll be on our way.”
“You know I can’t let you do that. It would ruin White Willow if anyone learned we’d been passing stolen cattle.”
“And just what are you going to do to stop me?” Dell asked with a haughty chuckle. “I’m the one with the gun.”
A whirling wind kicked up, blowing the dense snowflakes around in a dizzying flurry.
“Come on, Dell. You’re smarter than this. You’re not going to make it very far in this storm. Think about it. There’s nowhere to run.” Noah was practically screaming to be heard above the sound of the mounting blizzard.
The Deardons Complete Mini-Series Page 30