Silver Springs

by Carolyn Lampman

  Just as he began to wonder how long he could hold on, his horse miraculously slowed and came to a stop. Within seconds, Alexis was there, lifting Betsy from his arms and pushing him back up into the saddle.

  As she collapsed on the ground with her little sister clutched tightly in her arms, Ox realized Alexis had ridden alongside, grabbed the bridle and stopped his horse. It was no small feat in the best of circumstances. From a sidesaddle, it must have been incredibly difficult.

  By the time he dismounted, Shannon and Jared had arrived, white-faced and frightened. “Is she all right?”

  “No thanks to you two. What in the world were you thinking? Of all the harebrained, idiotic stunts…”

  Ox hunkered down next to Alexis as she lectured her shamefaced siblings. He couldn’t resist reaching out and touching Betsy’s hair just to reassure himself she was all right.

  Without warning, the little girl reached up to Ox’s neck and hugged him. “You catched me, Mr. Treenery.”

  “Yes,” he said, folding her in his arms and hugging her back, “and I’m glad I did.”

  “I do it again?”

  He looked down at her in astonishment. “What?”

  “I ride again. It was fun!”

  For the first time, Ox realized the screams that had frightened him so badly were cries of excitement, not fear. He glanced at the pony cart and the terrified calf Jared and Shannon each had a firm hold on. Suddenly, their crime didn’t seem so large. In fact, their ingenuity was rather impressive. “You know, Alexis, the pony cart isn’t such a bad idea.”

  “Are you insane? They could have been killed. If you think—”

  He held up a hand. “I just meant if they had a proper pony and were taught how to drive, it might give them something to do with their time.”

  “You mean keep them out of mischief?”

  “It’s a possibility. “

  “You’d reward them for this fiasco?”

  “If we hadn’t come along when we did, they might have pulled it off. I’m sure they’d never have put Betsy in it alone. Besides, it wasn’t a complete disaster. They did me a big favor.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  With a grin, Ox nodded toward the road. “They accomplished something I’ve been wanting to do for the last two weeks.”

  Angel followed the direction of his gaze and gasped as she reached up to her bare head. Damaged beyond repair, her hat lay in the middle of the road like a squashed bug.

  Chapter 21

  “Alexis, do stop your pacing,” Vanessa said, looking up from her embroidery. “You’ve been nervous as a cat since dinner.”

  “I’m sorry.” Angel sat down with a deep sigh and tapped her fingers on the arm of the divan.

  Jessie watched her sympathetically for a moment. “Is there something wrong?”

  “Not really. I’m just restless this evening. I think it must be the weather.” She glanced toward the window where the wind howled just beyond the leaded panes. “We’re in for a thunderstorm, unless I miss my guess.”

  “Your father was jumpy this evening, too.” Vanessa bit off her thread and chose another color from the bright array on the table next to her. “I wonder if it has to do with his mysterious visitor.”

  Angel swallowed a smile. If his visitor was the detective he’d hired, Richard Brady would soon be in a tearing temper. In the meantime, she needed to figure out what was going on.

  “This may not be the best time to bring this up, Alexis,” Vanessa said, rethreading her needle, “but I think I’ll go back to New York with your father.”

  Angel’s fingers stilled. “Oh?”

  “I haven’t been home in a long time, and I miss my friends.”

  “Are you taking the children?”

  “Not unless you want me to.” Vanessa smiled slightly. “I’d have a battle on my hands if I tried, especially now they’re going to get a pony. They really love it here.”

  “The country air is good for them. Anyway, I enjoy having them around.”

  “I know you do.” Vanessa studied the pattern on her embroidery closely. “Although the summer is half over, with your father and me out of the way, Angelica can come for her usual visit.”

  Angel froze. How did Vanessa know she spent a few days every summer with Alexis and the children? Had Alexis told her, or was she guessing? It was impossible to know, and a wrong response could give the whole game away.

  “You don’t need to look like that,” Vanessa said after a moment, as she calmly took a stitch. “I’ve known about it almost since the beginning.”

  “You have?” Angel asked faintly.

  “Duncan told me. He knew how distressed I was about the disagreement between Angelica and your father.” Vanessa sighed wistfully. “Anyway, I’m glad it hasn’t kept her from you and the children. You will give her my love, won’t you?”

  Angel had difficulty finding her voice. “I...of course I will. She...she cares about you, too.”

  Vanessa smiled affectionately. “I know.”

  Martha brought the surprising conversation to an end as she opened the door and pinned Angel with a fierce scowl. “His royal highness wants to see you in your study. I told him you’d be along when you were finished here.”

  Vanessa bit her lip. “Oh, Martha, you didn’t argue with him, did you?”

  “Humph, I’m just a servant. It’s not my place to argue with anyone. I’ll leave that pleasure to his daughter,” she said, then shut the door with a resounding thud.

  Vanessa frowned. “You know, you really should do something about her, Alexis.”

  “What do you suggest?”

  “I don’t know. Couldn’t you just speak to her or something?”

  “Come on, Vanessa. You know as well as I do I could talk to her until my face turned blue, and it wouldn’t make the slightest difference.”

  “Surely she’d listen to her employer,” Jessie protested.

  “She might if she considered me her employer,” Angel said with a grin. “Unfortunately, she sees me as an overgrown child still in need of guidance.”

  “How very odd,” Jessie murmured.

  “Not really. She and my mother grew up together and were very close. When Mother got married, Martha came along as her personal maid. Just before she died, my mother begged Martha to take care of her babies. Martha has been diligently carrying out that promise ever since.”

  “But you’re all grown up now.”

  “My sister and I realized a long time ago that Martha won’t feel she’s completely lost my mother as long as we still need her.” Angel smiled a little sadly. “And I guess we’ve always felt that way too.”

  “Maybe that explains why your father never fired her,” Vanessa said pensively. “I’ve always wondered.”

  “It wouldn’t have done him any good if he had; Martha’s one person he can’t intimidate. She won’t leave us until she’s good and ready. Anyway,” she said, rising to her feet with a determined air. “I guess I better go see what Father wants before he has an apoplexy.”

  “It’s probably some small household matter he wants to discuss,” Vanessa said calmly. “You’ll be back before you know it.”

  “I’m sure you’re right,” Angel said, though she knew differently. Richard Brady was probably ready to chew nails about now. She wasn’t sure if the butterflies in her stomach were from anticipation or dread as she walked the short distance down the hall to the study.

  “Martha said you sent for me?” she said, shutting the door behind her.

  “Took you long enough to get here,” Richard said with a growl.

  Angel resisted the urge to make a sarcastic remark about having better things to do with her time. “I’m sorry,” she said, trying to act meek the way Alexis would. “What was it you wanted to see me about?”

  “Treenery.”

  Angel’s eyes widened in surprised. “Mr. Treenery? The last I heard he was in California.”

  “Not him,” Richard said, i
n irritation, “his grandson.”

  “Ox? Oh no! What’s happened to him?” Angel’s hand went to her throat. “He’s not...dead, is he?”

  “For God’s sake, Alexis, don’t be such a pea-brain. I didn’t say anything was wrong with him.”

  “Thank goodness!” Angel closed her eyes in relief and sank gracefully onto an armchair. “You scared me half to death.”

  “I swear, you get sillier every day,” Richard said in disgust.

  Angel wondered if she’d overdone it a bit as he rose to his feet and walked over to the window.

  “How often does he go to Silver Springs Gulch?” he asked finally.

  “Once every couple of weeks or so.”

  He frowned. “You’re sure?”

  “Positive. He always stays the night when he goes. The men he needs to talk to usually come here to see him, so he doesn’t have to make the trip.”

  “Oh?” Richard frowned. “What men?”

  “I don’t know any of them by name, and I never paid much attention to what their business was with Ox.”

  “Then how did you know they came from Silver Springs Gulch?”

  “They usually mention Sam.”

  “Sam? Who the hell is that?”

  Angel looked confused. “Isn’t he the station master at Silver Springs Gulch?”

  “No.”

  “I could have sworn Ox said...oh well, I must have misunderstood.”

  Richard gave her a thoughtful look. “How much time do you spend with Treenery?”

  “Time? I don’t know. A couple of hours a day, I suppose.”

  “That’s not enough. I want you to spend every possible minute you can with him.”

  “Why? You’ve already accomplished what you were after. The marriage will take place as you wanted. Even if we spent every second together, we wouldn’t move up the date.”

  “This doesn’t have anything to do with that.”

  “No?”

  Richard shook his head impatiently. “This is far more important than your silly love affair. I have to know his schedule, where he goes and whom he meets.”

  “Why don’t you just ask him?”

  Richard rolled his eyes. “Because I don’t want him to know I’m onto him, obviously. He apparently doesn’t see you as any kind of threat, so he won’t try to hide anything.”

  “You want me to spy on him?” Angel pretended to be aghast.

  “Let’s just say I have a vested interest in his comings and goings.”

  “What for? I thought you trusted him. He works for you, for heaven’s sake.”

  “A man in my position can’t afford to trust anybody, especially where a lot of money is concerned.”

  “You think Ox is stealing from you?”

  “In a manner of speaking. I think he and his grandfather are behind all the problems The Flying T has been having.”

  Angel sat up straight. “That’s ridiculous. You have nothing to base it on.”

  “Oh no?” Richard crossed to his desk and picked up a sheaf of papers. “This says differently.”

  “What is it?”

  “I’ve had a man investigating your fiancé and the way he runs the stage line. This is the report. It makes for very interesting reading.”

  “Why, what did he find out?”

  “Just what I suspected. The Flying T has more than its fair share of trouble with outlaws. In fact, nine out of ten attacks are against our stages or supply wagons, and The Silver Springs Express is never touched. Putting on extra guards and changing schedules only made things worse. The outlaw gang seems to know our every move.”

  He slammed the report down on the desk and went to the sideboard to pour himself a drink. “Then there are all the unexpected misfortunes that beset us. We run into rockslides where there have never been any before. Mail and luggage disappear, only to show up where the trip began. Wheels fall off coaches. Horses go lame for no apparent reason.”

  “What does all that have to do with Ox?” Angel asked indignantly.

  “My investigator reached the obvious conclusion; The Flying T is being deliberately destroyed from the inside.”

  “And you suspect Ox?”

  “I don’t just suspect him. I know damn well he’s behind it, he and that grandfather of his.”

  “That makes no sense. Ox and his grandfather have as much invested in The Flying T as you do. Why would they steal from themselves?”

  “How did I wind up with such a simpleton for a daughter?” he muttered in exasperation. “If The Flying T loses money, it also loses value. Treenery could eventually buy me out for very little and have the entire business for himself. I’ll be damned if I’ll step out of the way and give him full ownership of The Flying T. There’s too much money to be made.”

  “Ox would never be a party to such a thing!” Angel cried. “He’s a fine, decent man.”

  “A few kisses and a handsome face have blinded you to his true character,” Richard snapped. “He’s as money-hungry as that grandfather of his. Why do you think he wants to marry you so badly?”

  Angel jumped to her feet. “That’s not true. It’s you that’s blinded by your greed. Ox loves me, not Duncan’s fortune.”

  “Is that right? Shall I tell him the conditions of Duncan’s will? How long do you think he’ll stick around once he knows he’ll never touch a penny of your money?”

  “It won’t make the slightest difference to him!” she cried.

  “Are you certain of that?” Richard swirled the brandy in the bottom of his glass. “Have you ever discussed it with him?”

  “N—no.”

  “Well, I have. He has big dreams for a man with no expectations. Would you like to know the plans he has for your money?”

  “P-plans?”

  “He’s going to build a very expensive house in Chicago, for one thing. I’ll wager he never mentioned it.”

  “You’re lying!”

  “Am I? What about the sizable increase he gave his mother in her quarterly allowance and the expensive new wardrobe he just bought her?” He took a swallow of his drink. “At least, he said it was for his mother. I don’t know of any other women in his life. Do you?”

  “I...I’m sure there’s a good explanation,” Angel covered her face with her hands. “He loves me. I know he does.”

  “Frankly, I don’t know why you’re so upset.” Richard said. “Not only are you marrying the man you say you love, you have enough money to keep him under control.”

  Stunned by the cruelty of his words, Angel nearly gave herself away with a scream of rage. She managed to keep her temper, but just barely. Realizing she risked everything if she stayed in the same vicinity as her father, she did the only thing she could think of. She ran out of the room.

  It wasn’t until she slammed the door of Alexis’s bedroom behind her that she realized that’s exactly what her sister would have done. It was one of the biggest differences between them. Alexis ran away from their father in tears, and Angel stayed to fight.

  Angel was still standing with her back against the door fuming when she heard a noise. She held her breath for a moment to hear better, then headed for the bed at a run. Her father was coming up the stairs.

  She was lying on the bed sobbing noisily into her pillow when he spoke to her through the door. “I’m sorry, Alexis,” he said heavily. “But you needed to know the truth.”

  “Go away!”

  “When you get over being hurt, you’ll realize this is for the best, and we can get on with what needs to be done. I hate to do this, but it’s for your own good. I can’t have you running off to your lover before you have time to think it through.”

  The unmistakable sound of a key grating in the lock brought her up off the bed in a heartbeat. “Don’t you dare!”

  She ran to the door, but an experimental twist of the knob was useless.

  “Let me out of here,” she screamed, pounding on the door with both fists. “Martha! Shannon!...Jared!...Anybody!” Angel li
stened intently. Nothing. Her father wasn’t coming back, and everyone was downstairs, too far away to hear her.

  Angel glanced around in frustration. There had to be some way to escape her prison. Ox was waiting for her. Her gaze lit on the window in her dressing room, and she began to smile. Jared and Shannon’s escape route. Of course!

  Within a few minutes, she had changed into a simple dark skirt and jacket and stood at the window staring out at the huge cottonwood tree. With the wind whipping the branches about, her idea wasn’t nearly as inviting. Her days of climbing trees were long behind her. Angel hoped it was the sort of thing one never forgot.

  The window opened so smoothly, Angel suspected her siblings had oiled the hinges. She stuffed her stockings firmly into her shoes, wrapped them in her cloak and dropped the whole bundle out the window. This was a lot easier before I was old enough to let down my skirts, she thought as she pulled the hem of her skirt between her legs and tucked it into her waist band. Nervously, she sat on the sill and swung her legs over the edge. The ground seemed a long way down, and the wind tugged at her relentlessly. Still, the heavy bark of the tree was reassuringly rough against her hand as she reached out to grab a limb.

  Taking a deep breath, she put both arms around the trunk and swung out of the window onto the limb. For a moment, she clung to the tree for dear life, then sighed in relief. Despite her fears to the contrary, the limb was stout enough to support her. Though the wind was making it sway rather alarmingly, she felt secure in her perch.

  Her descent was unremarkable, and it wasn’t long before she stood on the ground, slightly shaken, but safe. She huffed a sigh of relief then retrieved her things. It was odd how much more dangerous tree climbing seemed as an adult than when she had been young and adventurous.

  Avoiding the rectangle of light coming through the window of the library, she skirted the house and made her way to the barn. In a short time, she had the buggy hitched up and was on the way to her rendezvous with Ox.

  Chapter 22

  The rain started when she was about halfway to the cabin. Angel pulled her cloak tighter around her, but the wind seemed to drive the cold and wet right through. It was not a night to be out and about. She sighed in relief when she saw the light in the window. At least Ox hadn’t given up waiting and gone home. He opened the door, spilling out golden light in warm welcome as she drove up.