Love Finds You in Last Chance, California (27 page)

Justin pushed to his feet and jammed the telegram in his front pocket. Time to hit the saddle and get back to the ranch. He’d left Toby in Alex’s care long enough. He didn’t want her resenting the boy. No. He needed to care for Toby—regardless of whether the law acknowledged Toby as his. He’d fight for the right to keep his son, and no one would stop him.

Three days later Justin stepped off his horse in front of the sheriff’s office and looped his reins around the hitching rail out front. A full day at the ranch had brought him to town late, and he’d put Toby to bed early after Martha offered to keep an ear tuned for the boy.

The last two days had been frustrating. Alex ignored him when he got back from sending his telegram, seemingly lost in the book she was reading to Toby. The two dark heads bent together over the colorful pictures, and Toby’s chubby hand pointed at the book as he tried to follow the words. The image of his little boy snuggled on Alex’s lap had wrenched his heart. Would his son ever know the love of a mother again, or would he always need to depend on housekeepers and caretakers?

He’d attempted to talk to Alex since then, but she hadn’t seemed interested. She’d been acting like a driven woman, putting work first and foremost. This evening was the first time Justin had felt comfortable heading to town.

He raised his hand and reached for the doorknob of the sheriff’s office when it swung open from the inside.

Sheriff Ramsey stood in the dim light, a surprised look on his face as he stared out at Justin. “Just headed home, but I have a few minutes, if you’re lookin’ for me?”

“Thanks, Sheriff.”

Carl Ramsey drew the door back farther and motioned Justin inside. “What’s on your mind, son?”

“More trouble at the Circle T.” Justin stepped across the threshold and heard the door click shut behind him. He sank down into the chair in front of the desk as the sheriff took his seat behind it. Ramsey rocked back in his chair and crossed his arms, his gray eyes boring into Justin’s. “Go ahead; I’m all ears.”

Justin nodded. “Thanks. You already know about Alex’s missing horses and the fence being cut.”

“Yeah. You, Frank, and Alex followed the tracks and lost ’em.”

“Never found the horses, either.”

Ramsey nodded and placed a booted foot up on the corner of his desk. The other foot joined it, and a chunk of dried mud fell to the floor. The sheriff scowled and glared at the offending dirt. “Sarah’s not going to like that.” He snorted and waved a hand. “No matter, I’ll clean it up ’fore she comes. Go on.”

Justin crossed his arms and leaned back. “Carter Foster called on Alex a few days after he brought word about her cut fence. Stayed for dinner and said he’d picked up the contract Alex lost with the cavalry. I don’t trust him, but I can’t prove he’s not on the level.”

“Huh. Ben told me that Foster was some kind of distant relative. He got his ranch from his daddy, along with plenty of money to run it. His herd is big enough to fill more than one army contract. Never figured out why he didn’t get it instead of Travers.” He rubbed his chin. “Never cottoned to him myself, but it wouldn’t surprise me none if he’s sweet on Alex—and he’d not be the only man in the mountains to feel the same.” He narrowed his eyes and leaned forward, his back rigid and his voice low. “You think she suspects who done it?”

Justin shrugged. “I’m the new man on the ranch. Not much gets discussed with me. She may have spoken with Joe; I don’t know. None of it makes sense.”

“Hmm. It don’t, at that. I don’t want to see Alex get hurt, if there’s trouble brewin’.” He leaned back and seemed to relax. “Makes you wonder if someone’s out to cause trouble for Alex and Joe or if it’s just some young’uns what had too much to drink that cut the fence. I’m guessin’ you’re here because you think it’s the first case.”

“I do. I can’t prove anything, but I have a bad feeling.” He hesitated, wondering if he should tell about the episode with Christy Grey. No, that was personal and had nothing to do with the ranch. No reason to burden the sheriff.

Ramsey leaned forward. “Wish Alex had come to me right after the horses disappeared. She mentioned it to me not long ago, and I’ve been keepin’ an ear to the ground. I’ll keep nosing around and see if I can turn anything up.”

“Much obliged. I’ll do the same.”

“I’m glad you’re out there. Alex know that her father sent for you?”

Justin winced and shook his head. “No. The subject hasn’t come up.”

Sheriff Ramsey trained a keen pair of eyes on Justin. “Might be just as well. She’s a strong woman. Independent, with a mind of her own. Pretty and smart. She’d be a good catch for a man, but she’d be a poor enemy if she decided you couldn’t be trusted.”

Justin smiled and raised his eyebrows. “Yeah. But I can’t see the man that catches her being someone like me. Alex deserves a man who’s never been married, not one who’d burden her with a ready-made family.”

“About that. I wondered—your boy—he don’t look much like you. He favor his ma?” The shrewd gray eyes peered out from under the bushy brows.

Justin’s gaze held steady. “He does.” A few seconds elapsed and he plunged forward. “I’m not his blood father, but I married his mother well before he was born. If love makes a man a father, then he’s one hundred percent mine.”

“Ah-huh.” The gray head bobbed in agreement. “Thought it might be somethin’ like that. I agree, the boy’s as much yours as his ma’s. Any idea about his natural pa?”

“No, and I don’t care to. The man got Molly in a family way and promised to marry her then disappeared the next day. If I were to discover his name, you’d probably have to lock me up for what I’d do to him.”

Sheriff Ramsey squinted his eyes and rubbed his chin. “Doubtful. Kinda think I wouldn’t be in town the day that happened. Sometimes a man’s got to do what’s right, if you catch my meanin’.”

“I do. But it’ll never happen anyway. The secret died with Molly.”

“Mind me askin’ what happened to your wife? A shame, a young woman like she musta been, dyin’ and leavin’ a little one behind.”

Justin removed his hat and ran his fingers around the rim. “We lived over in Auburn. Funny, coming full circle like that. My pa’s ranch lay between Sacramento and Auburn, and when I left home, I landed there. Met Molly and thought I was in love. Molly didn’t love me. I thought she did when I married her, but I found out not long after that she was with child. And it wasn’t mine.”

“Good of you to take on her problem like that.”

“She was still pining for the baby’s father. I cared for her and I stayed. Guess I hoped she’d come to care for me.”

“What happened?” Carl Ramsey leaned his forearms on the desk.

Justin settled back in his chair. “She started drinking. I think Toby was almost two before I figured out that drink was fueling her black moods. Bernie, the bartender where she’d worked, kept her supplied. When I found out, I laid him out cold on the floor of the saloon. A few days later, Molly was dead.”

“Dead. Just like that? She take sick?”

“Not the kind you’re thinking of. More like sickness in her soul.” He sighed wearily. “When she found out what happened with Bernie, she threatened to take Toby and leave. The next day I came home to find Toby asleep and alone at the cabin. No Molly in sight. I figured I knew where she’d gone, as I’d dumped out all her bottles a couple of nights before. I knew she wouldn’t go to the saloon, and I’d asked the storekeeper to be sure she didn’t get anything from him.”

“But she got some anyway?”

“No. I think she tried. She went to the store and was on her way back. Don’t know if she was thinking clear. A boy came running to my door, shouting that Molly was hurt. I told him to stay with Toby and raced up the street. She lay in the middle of the road, her body crumpled from a passing wagon.”

Sheriff Ramsey winced and ran his hand over his chin. “Sorry to hear that. What’d the driver say?”

“He never saw her. According to an onlooker, she ran in front of him like the fiends of Hades were on her heels. The man never had a chance to stop. Lead horse knocked her down right under the wheels of the wagon.” He shook his head, trying to clear the memory of Molly’s broken body. “After I buried her, I packed up the boy and moved to Truckee. Too many people around town were talking—saying they thought she did it on purpose ’cause she couldn’t get anything to drink.”

“What do you think?”

Justin wagged his head and closed his eyes for a moment then slowly opened them and focused on the sheriff. “I wish I knew,” he whispered. “I’ll never forgive myself for failing her.”

“You loved her?”

“At first. But I failed just the same. I shoulda been able to make her happy—or at least kept her from sinking so deep into the blackness. I failed the boy, too. He lost his mama and didn’t hardly know me, what with me being gone so much. I shoulda been around more. Took my place as her husband and Toby’s father. Anyway, I swore the truth would never come back to haunt Toby. He’ll be told that his mama loved him—that much is true.”

A somber silence settled over the room. The sun dropped below the horizon and darkness increased. The lone lantern hanging on a wooden peg near the door cast its light over the two silent men, each lost in his own reflection.

A few minutes passed and Justin started to rise then settled back into his chair. “One more thing.”

“Git it off yer chest, son.”

Justin let his gaze rove the room for a moment before answering, trying to gather his thoughts. Dim shadows lingered around the barred cell in the back of the shack, and an air of expectancy hovered nearby. “Molly’s sister turned up in town a few days ago. Name’s Christy Grey and she’s working at the saloon.”

“Saw her. Pretty, nicely dressed redheaded gal?”

“Yeah.”

“And you say she’s your wife’s sister? Come out for a little family visit?”

Justin bit back a laugh. “Hardly. I didn’t know she existed until she showed up at the ranch two days ago.”

“Hmm. Alex see her?”

“Unfortunately.”

“What’d she want with you? Or did she come to see Alex?”

Justin shook his head and released a small groan. “Me. Or maybe I should say Toby. She’s trying to take my son. Says I have no right to him.”

The sheriff’s forehead wrinkled and his head drew back a mite. “No right? You’re his pa.”

“She’s claiming I never married Molly. That I abandoned Molly and Toby. Says she’s blood kin, and she wants him.”

“Does she know you’re not Toby’s natural father?”

“I don’t know for sure, but I don’t think so. Besides, I don’t care to have Toby find out. Things like that cast a shadow on a child’s life. I’m his pa, and that’s all he needs to know. I just got to prove I married his mother.”

“Should be simple. You got a marriage certificate or a family Bible that the preacher put the date and your names in?”

Justin leaned forward. “No. I wired the preacher in Auburn and got a reply from the sheriff. The preacher died and the courthouse where he recorded the marriage burned. I have no idea what happened to Molly’s copy.”

“Ah, tough luck.” The sheriff wagged his head and tapped his fingers against the surface of his desk. “Alex know all this?”

“Miss Grey blurted it out in front of her. I haven’t told her about the courthouse or the preacher.”

“Ah-huh. Well, now.” Sheriff Ramsey seemed at a loss for words but kept his eyes steady on Justin.

Justin pushed to his feet and extended his hand. The sheriff stood and shook it, then Justin stepped toward the door. “Thanks for your time, Sheriff. I appreciate you keeping an eye out for what might be going on at the ranch—and for the listening ear.”

The man hitched up his belt and walked around his desk. “Sure thing. I should tell you that if the Grey woman comes to me with a complaint, I’ll have to look into it. Not that I want to, mind you—but I’ve a sworn duty to uphold.”

“Yeah, I know.” Justin turned the knob and pulled open the door. He hesitated then swung back around. “I’m sure it goes without saying, but…”

“I’ll keep your story about Molly and the rest to myself. Not anyone else’s business.”

“Thanks. Much obliged again, Sheriff. Have a good night.”

“You, too. Guess I’ll be gettin’ on home, or Sarah’s going to send the posse after me.”

Justin pulled the door shut behind him and headed down the street to his stallion tied to the hitching rail. He’d hoped things would get easier after he arrived here, but life sure had a way of disappointing some men.

Seemed like God might take a hand in things just this once in his life. ’Course, he’d not been doing much along the lines of prayer or reading a Bible for some time now.

He stopped alongside his horse and paused then reached into his saddlebag, drew out an object wrapped in oilskin, and balanced it on his hand.
Mother’s Bible.
He hadn’t thought of it or looked at it since placing it here more than a year ago. Maybe it was time to start reading it again. It might not change anything, but he doubted it would hurt, either.