by Rita Hestand
Slim got very still, then he looked up in Cole's face and grinned. "I've never known a man like you, boss. I'd be loco not to take it. I accept! And I'll damned sure pay you back as I can for the place."
"Good!" Cole smiled. "And don't worry yourself with paying me back, if I can count on you being there for me, that's payment enough."
Slim shook his head, "I'll be there for you, boss."
They rode harder now.
But it was obvious that the boss was worried about his lady, and rightfully so. Slim was worried too. If they didn't catch them before they got to Austin, their chances were going to narrow.
"You love her, don't you?" Slim said as they settled in for the night, lying on his blanket and staring into the fire.
"Slim, just wish I'd told her before this happened. I never thought I'd find anyone that suited me so well, before. Never thought there was anyone out there for me. I've been a bit wild, lived a good life, but now I'm ready for something different, something more permanent. Gabby is a mixture of fire and water. She's honest and doesn't play female games. She's hardworking, and independent as hell."
"You'll have plenty of time to tell her boss. Besides, I don't think you'd have married her if there hadn't been something there all along. Don't fret. We'll get her back. Remember, Miss Martha wouldn't settle for anything less…She'll have both our hides if anything happens to Gabby. She told me going back the other night she thinks the world of Gabby, almost like her daughter."
Cole chuckled. "I guess you're right about that. You know Slim, love is a strange thing. It's not just physical, it is so many things wrapped into one. It's hard to describe or explain. Just sitting on the porch every night, ever since she came here, I feel like I notice things more, feel things more, see things more clearly. The world looks better, smells better, feels better. She's so easy to talk to. She's so different than anyone I've ever known, and yet…. we got a connection. I feel that connection when I'm around her. It's hard to put into words."
Slim nodded slowly, as though his mind was on someone else as Cole spoke. "I know that feeling."
"How long you and Miss Martha…you know, felt this way?"
"A long time. First time I bedded her," he paused to smile, "I knew I wanted her for my own. She was such a lady, so different than the whores that hang around the saloon. She has one thing they don't."
"What's that?" Cole smiled
"Heart!" Slim grinned.
Cole grinned. He knew that feeling too.
Feeling better, they both went to sleep.
The next morning before dawn they were up and riding. They didn't even fix any coffee, just grabbed some jerky and their canteens.
Slim showed him a back trail that would get them a couple hours ahead, maybe more if they could make good time.
The trail was much more treacherous, but they managed from rocky cliffs that led to disasters, to fallen trees making the path difficult.
Chapter Eighteen
"Do you know where to start looking for her?" Slim asked as they passed Waco. They'd slowed their horse so as not to tire them out so much.
"The Land Office, but I'd like to catch them before they get there though. I don't want a scene there. I'd imagine they'd check into some hotel and then go to the Land office. But if we could catch them before they get to Austin even better. At least that is what I'm expecting. If we can get to Austin before they do, we might avoid a fight in front of people. I don't want this to get nasty or involve others in our fight."
Slim considered what he said and nodded slowly as though he were thinking it through. "You know boss, there is another short cut we could take that might get us even closer, faster. But we'd have to ride like the dickens and not all of it smooth riding either."
"I'm for anything that gets us there faster."
"Then let's do it." Slim firmed his lips and adjusted his hat so that it wouldn't blow off his head. "Let's ride!"
At a pace that would scare most gophers in a hole, they made tracks. Their journey took them into a totally unpredictable land. Trees were so dense in places they had to dodge them and slow slung branches. Streams were swollen from the rains.
To top it off, it stormed that night and they kept riding as though the lightning spurred them onward, lighting their way.
It was a long time before they stopped. But the horses needed to rest, and water and they were totally wiped out tired. The moment it stopped raining; they pitched a camp. "Sure, would like to have some of Gabby's home cooking tonight." Cole said, aloud.
Slim glanced his way as he finished tending the horses. Cole made a fire and they laid their slickers down on the ground then put their blankets over them.
"Would taste mighty good, I've got to admit." Slim glanced at him. "Where did she learn to cook so good."
Cole grinned, "Harmon taught her a lot about it, and her mother left her recipes to try. She cooked for him after her mother died, and she was only seven then."
"That's young to lose a mother." Slim remarked.
"Yeah, I think that's why her and Martha get along so well. Martha had a lot of good things to say about her dad, and that made Gabby like her.
"It's hard to imagine anyone hiding their daughter out that many years." Slim shook his head.
"He did it for a lot of reasons. They were dirt poor for one thing and being a girl, he figured the more that knew about her, the worse things could get. The first time I met her, she was so damned dirty, I couldn't believe it. I didn't know she was working that land, herself. But there she was in those dirty clothes, and a flop hat covering all that beautiful red hair. But I sure do remember when the hat fell, and all that hair cascaded down her back. I couldn't take my eyes off her."
Slim grinned, "It's a fact, most red-heads are freckled and a bit homely."
"Most, not all!" Cole grinned.
"No sir, not all." Slim nodded.
Cole opened some canned beans and he'd brought the last of Gabby's biscuits with him in his saddle bag. They tasted good and reminded Cole of her.
"How far you reckon we are from Austin?" Cole asked him.
"Bout fifty miles, I reckon give or take a few." Slim told him.
"We're making good time. Maybe we'll catch up to them before long."
"I'd say so." Slim acknowledged.
"I want to kill them Slim, with my bare hands." Cole muttered thickly. "I know I shouldn't want to, but I do."
"Boss, we're going to get her back. Don't you fret about that. We gotta use our heads."
"How can you be so sure?" Cole glanced at him.
"Because if we don't get her back, we'll have to deal with Miss Martha, that's how I know." Slim chuckled. "And that might be worse than dealing with them."
Cole chuckled, "I guess you're right about that."
"Is the rumor true that you won her in a poker game?" Slim asked as he took a plate and helped himself.
"How'd you know about that?" Cole frowned.
"People in town talk a lot." Slim smiled.
"Yeah, I guess you could say that. Harmon bet me a filly on his hand. He was sure he had a good one too. But I had him beat. I went out to his place to pick up the filly he bet me, and come to find out, Gabby was the filly." Cole chuckled. "First, I was shocked he even had a daughter, then to find out she was the filly, well, he really got me on that one."
"If that don't beat all. Were you sore?"
"No not after I realized why he did it."
"What do you mean?"
"He knew he was dying, and he was scared stiff that Gabby would be alone. He was trying to take care of her before he died. I understood that well enough. But I was shocked that he expected me to marry her."
They both chuckled, then got quiet.
"Did you know he'd been married?" Cole asked.
"I heard it once, but only once and didn't get no details of it. After I saw Gabby, I wondered what happened to the wife. Do you know?"
"Got bit by a rattlesnake. Gabby was seven years old whe
n it happened."
"Harmon raised that kid, by himself, all those years?" Slim asked, flicking his cigarette of its ashes. "The old man had more guts than I gave him credit for."
"That's about the size of it, yeah."
Slim was quiet a minute, then he blurted, "Well he did a dandy job of it."
Cole laughed good-naturedly at him. "He sure did."
"Tell me something, boss, did you marry her because of old Harmon?"
Cole stared into the fire, "At first, I guess you could say that. And then when Harmon passed out and I carried him back inside, and when I saw all that beautiful red hair of hers, I couldn't take my eyes off her. I mean there she was in men's working clothes, dirty as a pig, and then that hat flew off. Gotta admit, it took my breath away. But that wasn't all, her independent nature grew on me too. First, I liked her, then it was more than like, I admired her. Now, I guess I'm pretty darned crazy about her…"
"I'm glad boss. I'm happy for you. For a long time, I didn't think there would ever be a Mrs. in your house. But I am sure glad."
Cole glanced at him a chuckled. "Me either! Funny how a man goes around most his life, thinking he's such a grand catch, then some little thing comes along and teaches him better."
"I've been in love with Miss Martha a long-time boss. A long time. And I don't regret one moment we've spent together either."
"It's true, women sort of tame a man." Cole resounded.
"They sure do."
"Night, Slim."
"Night boss."
The minute they laid their heads down, they were asleep.
But the next morning a light drizzle woke them and got them going. They had jerky and water and took off again.
Since it stormed the night before they had a muddy ride. At one-point Slim's horse fell back as the land gave way under the horse's hoofs.
But Slim didn't slow down. He just got back on his horse and rode like thunder.
When the horses were lathered good, Cole and Slim walked them. It was a slow go then, but he didn't want to wear them out.
***
Gabby stared into the firelight. It had been three days on the trail. These men pushed her to exhaustion every day. She'd tried to best them a couple of times and nearly got shot for her trouble, but they needed her signature, so they wouldn’t be killing her, she thought.
"Did you know my father?" She asked the tall one, called Butch.
"Only through the poker game."
She studied him, he was tall, lean, and ugly as sin. His thick blonde hair was so dirty it looked browner than blonde. His brown eyes were bloodshot from drinking whiskey all the time. He was the boss of the two of them, giving all the orders.
The other one was shorter, rounder and a bit cleaner. His brown hair looked as though he might have washed more, his gray eyes weren't blood shot either, Gabby surmised. But she could tell Shorty didn't like being given orders all the time, as he cursed under his breath continuously.
"I can't believe he would bet the ranch on a poker game." Gabby muttered lowly.
"Well he did," Butch barked. "Only he didn't sign it. And it ain't legal if it ain't signed, someone already told us. But as soon as you sign it, there'll be no more trouble."
"Are you going to let me go, if I sign it?"
"Haven't decided yet." Butch told her.
"What happened to the eye-witnesses at the game?" She asked, knowing the answer, but wanting to hear what they had to say on the matter.
Shorty joined them after taking care of the horses, "They got kilt, that's what happened."
"Who killed them?" she blurted.
"Butch, who else?" Short replied.
"You got an awfully big mouth, Shorty." Butch shot him a sarcastic glance.
"It's the truth, I didn’t do it." Shorty told him.
"Shut up, Shorty." Butch demanded, pulling his gun and aiming it at him. "You just keep your eye on the little lady here, and keep your big mouth shut. Otherwise we'll have to kill her too, after she signs."
Gabby stared at Butch, "What makes you think I'll sign if you're going to kill me anyway?"
"She's got a point," Shorty nodded.
"I told you to shut up, Shorty. Don't make me tell you again." Butch barked pulling his gun on Shorty and putting it to his head.
"You shoot me, you'll have to watch her by yourself." Shorty informed him. "I ain't much on killin' a woman, Butch."
"I don't think I ask you…" Butch threatened once more.
"Shorty, what makes you think he won't kill you too, when this is settled?" Gabby asked looking from one to the other. "That way, he could have the land to himself."
Shorty snorted, "Because Butch is lazy. He don't like to do nothing but bark orders. He needs me to work the land for him."
"So, you're going to do all the work, and he'll get all the profits, is that it?" She asked innocently.
Shorty frowned. He didn't like how she said that.
"Look lady, you ought not to be saying things like that. You're trying to cause trouble." Shorty shot her a frown.
"You better get some sleep lady. We'll be in Austin in two days." Butch insisted as he slightly kicked her with his boot.
"And if I sign, are you still going to kill me?" She asked holding her head up.
Butch considered her question and stirred the fire a bit. "I haven't decided yet. I done told you. You keep mouthing I might."
"My husband will be upset if you kill me. He'll be after you if you do." She told him boldly.
"Husband. When did you get married?"
"The day my father died," she said with a hollow voice.
"Oh yeah, who did you marry?" Butch watched her every move now.
"Cole Martin."
"Say, he's got a sizable spread about ten miles from her place." Shorty studied on that information for a moment. "He's the one that was with Harmon that night we rode up. If we take that land, we'll have to fight him too."
"So, we'll fight him."
"I heard tell, he's fast with a gun." Short informed Butch.
"You see him draw?" Butch asked.
"No, just heard tell." Shorty affirmed.
"We'll worry about him later." Butch told him. "Let's turn in and get some rest, we got a long ride tomorrow. One more night of campin' out, and this will be over."
"I'll sure be glad of that, I'm getting' saddle sore," Shorty complained.
"Won't be long now." Butch assured him.
Chapter Nineteen
Gabby had wondered just how good her husband was with a gun, and if he was following now. He'd never bragged about his gun, so hearing he was good with one surprised her. There were probably many things she had yet to learn about her husband.
Their last night together had been something she would never forget and hold dear to her heart. It might have been her first and last chance at love. She sighed heavily, at least she got a glimpse of heaven in his arms.
How she'd managed to turn lose of all her inhibitions and just let nature take its course, still astounded her. But in Cole's arms, she could do no less. He was powerful as a lover.
She wanted to live, and somehow, she wasn't sure how, she was going to get out of this mess. She had a real life to get back to now. She had to find a way to best them.
She hoped Cole wasn't following her, he could get killed and she couldn't stand that thought.
The trail they took now was more treacherous and the horses had to rest several times a day to go on. There were more trees now and sometimes they maneuvered through them like crawling through a spider web. The creeks were swollen from the rain.
As they camped for the night, she set up a campfire and cooked for them, they'd brought plenty of canned beans and bacon, along with a sizable amount of coffee. The two gathered about, after seeing to the horses.
"You know Butch, she ain't complained once about cookin' for us."
"I'm hungry too, Shorty." She told him, casting him a curious glance. "Besides, I like to cook."
&nbs
p; She dished up beans for them and found herself a comfortable place near a tree trunk.
Shorty wasn't the neatest or cleanest eater, as he drooled his food on his lower chin. He didn't even bother wiping it away, she noticed. Butch smacked his food and she had to turn away to keep from getting sick at how piggish they were. These men knew little about cleanliness, she decided.
She had a deep sense that they didn't trust her either, although just what she might do to escape eluded her as much as them. She was ever watchful for them to slip up, and leave a gun handy, or go to sleep while she was awake.
"Butch, she's sure a pretty little thing." Shorty was saying as he cleaned his plate, and finally wiped his mouth. "She's got the prettiest hair I ever did see."
"Yeah, I reckon she is." Butch agreed, casting her a glance. Butch had a deep sinister kind of voice that caught her attention. While Shorty had a nasal sound, she didn't even have to look at them to know which was talking.
Butch moved with confidence around the camp, wary of her every move or sound. He wasn't jumpy like Shorty, but aware. His voice was reproachful, his smile sour.
"Never seen hair like that before, but once, but no one as pretty as her. Most red-heads have freckles, how come you don't?" Shorty mused staring at her now with appreciation.
"I had them when I was a kid, they kind of faded as I got older." She replied. "And I wear a hat most of the time to shade my face."
Butch didn't seem to like the conversation, he paced around the camp with impatience. "You got an itch for a woman, Shorty?" Butch eyed him too now. Just from his tone of voice, it was obvious Butch didn't trust Shorty too far either.
"Did you really win my land in a poker game with my father, or are you trying to steal it, legally?" She asked watching the interplay between them as they exchanged glances.