Wildfire Creek (12 page)

“Of course. He’s smart, attractive, and works hard. Maybe too hard with having the livery, his store, and building a cabin a few miles from town. He doesn’t boast about himself like some men are prone to do, and from what Dax and Luke say, he’d rather walk away from a fight than be drawn into one. Someday I’m sure a clever young woman will snatch him up.”

“Do you think—” She clamped her mouth shut when she spotted Ginny walking toward their table.

“Hello, Ginny,” Rachel said.

“Hello, Mrs. Pelletier, Miss Tolbert.” She set plates heaped with food before the women and stepped back.

“I wish you’d call me, Rachel,” she requested.

“And please, call me Abby,” Abigail added.

“All right.” She began to turn toward the kitchen, then stopped. “How is Luke doing with his house?”

Rachel had wondered if Ginny would ask about him. “He stays there most nights. You ought to go out and see it sometime.”

“Oh, I could never take time from work. Besides, I don’t have a horse or wagon.” She fidgeted as if the conversation were moving in an uncomfortable direction.

“I’d be glad to take you,” Rachel offered.

“We could all go out. I’d like to see it as well,” Abby said.

“You don’t work on Sundays, Ginny. I’ll ask Luke if it would be all right if we ride out after church.”

“Oh, no. I’m certain he wouldn’t want to be bothered,” Ginny protested, wishing she’d never asked about him.

“Nonsense. I’m sure he’d be pleased we’re all so interested to see it.”

“No. Absolutely not.” Luke glared down at Rachel as she finished preparing supper.

His adamancy amused her and had her wondering why he had such a strong reaction to her request. “Why ever not?”

He paced a few feet away, then turned toward her. “I built it to get away, not because I want visitors. You, Dax, Bernice, and Hank…fine. Bull and a couple others would be all right. Noah and Gabe are always welcome. But no other women.”

“Ginny and Abby just want to see what you’ve done. I told them how hard you and the men worked to get finished before the first snow. It would be wonderful to bring them by after church this Sunday.”

“Perhaps I haven’t been clear.
No
. They are not invited to the house. You and Dax are welcome after church, but that’s it.”

She opened her mouth to protest once more before a look from Luke silenced her. Rachel knew the time had come to accept his decision and inform her friends. She winced as he slammed the door and headed toward the barn.
That had not gone too well
, she thought.

“Was that Luke I heard?” Dax walked in through the back door, walking into the front room. Rachel followed a few feet behind.

“I made the mistake of inviting Ginny and Abby to visit his house, thinking Luke wouldn’t mind.”

Dax looked out the front windows in time to see his brother mount Prince and ride away at a brisk pace. He then turned his gaze to Rachel, casting her an amused grin.

“What do you find so humorous?”

“He built the house to get away and find solitude, not to entertain. Did he set you straight?”

“Oh, he certainly did.” She strolled across the room, then looked back at Dax. “It makes no sense to me. Who would spend all that time building a home and not want people to visit?”

He watched her retreat toward the kitchen and shook his head. However, he did make a wager with himself. He’d bet any amount of money the first woman to set foot inside his home, besides Rachel, would be Ginny Sorensen.

Chapter Eight

Luke finished grooming Prince and closed the gate to the stable. He’d been staying at his place for over a week, finding he preferred the quiet solitude after a long day working cattle and being surrounded by the other men. Most days he’d stay at the ranch long enough to visit with Rachel and Dax before riding out, but Rachel’s surprise announcement had him eager to get away.

He walked up the steps to the front door and turned to survey the area. The sun had set over the mountains. If not for the few kerosene lanterns he’d placed around, everything would be covered in darkness. He’d loaded each of the stoves with wood before he left that morning and had already started the one in the kitchen, which was where he headed to check on the extra stew Rachel had put aside for him the day before.

As he stirred the contents of the black pot, Luke felt a tinge of regret about his response to Rachel. Her intention had been good—show off his new place to her friends. He wondered if it would’ve bothered him if she’d wanted to show it to her Uncle Charles or someone other than Ginny.

“Ginny…” The whispered name slipped from his lips without thought. Ever since the night he and Bull had hauled the others from the saloon, the same night he’d realized her friendship had become important to him, her image often appeared.

Luke realized the magnitude of his feelings when the last image he would see as he fell asleep was Ginny. She was the first person he thought of each morning for the past week—longer if he were being honest. The reason he’d stayed away from the Wild Rose, and Ginny, had everything to do with the understanding of how much he wanted her, but not as a wife. He honestly believed he would never marry, and that was the danger. He had too many travels in his future to settle down with one woman.

He grabbed a bowl, ladled up a healthy portion of stew, and took a seat. The aroma floated through the air as he dug in, taking one bite after another until the bowl was empty. He’d just pushed away from the table when Prince let out an ear-piercing whinny.

Luke drew his gun and dashed to the front door, pushing it open an inch, then further, until he had a better view of the outside. He’d left two lanterns burning on the porch, and the moon shown through the clouds, adding enough light to cast the area in a solid glow. He saw nothing.

He could hear Prince prancing in the stable before letting out another whinny, this one less forceful. Luke crouched low and made his way to the end of porch, then swung over the railing to land in front of the stable.

“What is it, Prince?” Luke opened the gate and stroked his horse. Prince shook his head, then began to calm as Luke continued to talk in a low, calm voice. “Is there someone out here?” He’d just gotten the words out when he heard the sounds of breaking twigs, as if someone rushed through the bushes.

He took off running in the direction of the noise, stopping several times to listen. Again, he heard the rustling of shrubs near the creek and started in that direction, hearing water splashing as he ran. Luke stopped at the water’s edge, looking up and then down the creek, but saw nothing. He thought of going across the stream, rejecting the idea when he realized it would be impossible to find anybody in the dense forest.

Luke holstered his gun and began the short trek back to the house, glad he’d left so many lanterns burning. In the morning he’d make a full sweep of the area. Perhaps he’d find boot tracks or another piece of cloth, anything to help him figure out who was hiding in the mountains, and possibly behind the missing supplies.

“Perhaps he’ll change his mind.” Abby and Ginny stood at the back of the church, listening to Rachel’s news. They wouldn’t be going to Luke’s.

“Maybe. With him, it’s hard to say. It may be smart to let him enjoy his time alone for now and hope we receive an invitation in the future.” Rachel could see the disappointment in Ginny’s face. She wondered if her feelings for Luke were as obvious to others as they were to Rachel. “Have you seen him in town lately?”

“Not since the men finished his place and they all came to the Rose to celebrate. I’m certain you see him quite often. It makes no difference to me if he comes to town or not. He’s just another customer at the saloon.” Ginny’s voice became more resolute with each word, doing her best to convince herself she truly didn’t care one way or another about him.

Abby shot a curious look at Rachel. She hadn’t thought about Ginny having feelings for Luke and wondered if he returned her interest.

“Of course, you’re right. You must serve them at the boardinghouse, then at the saloon in the evening. All the men must run together in your mind,” Rachel said.

Ginny shook her head. “That’s right. None holds any more interest to me than another.”

“Good morning, ladies.”

The women turned at the rough voice to see Frank Frey walk up with his brother, Hiram. Rachel gave them both a hug. When the Frey brothers, along with her and her uncle Charles, were held captive by outlaws several months before, the Pelletiers, Gabe, Noah, and Cash Coulter, a friend of Dax’s and Luke’s from before the war, had rescued them, killing the outlaws in the process.

“It’s so good to see both of you.” Rachel knew the brothers didn’t come to town often. “I believe you know Miss Abigail Tolbert and Miss Ginny Sorensen.”

As greetings were exchanged, Abby spotted Noah a few yards away, glancing in her direction as he carried on a conversation with Gabe. She wanted to break away to speak with him, but noticed her father near the front of the church, speaking with Reverend Paige. She was about ready to walk toward him when she saw Noah turn in her direction.

“Hello, Hiram, Frank.” He held out his hand to the ranchers.

“Noah. How are you doing with your cabin?” Frank asked.

“It’s finished. I stay there most nights.” Noah cast a look at Abby, hoping they’d have a few minutes to talk. If nothing more, he enjoyed the sound of her voice, her open and animated expressions. She could make him smile with a few words.

“Any chance you’ve noticed anything missing—supplies, food, tools?” Hiram asked.

He focused on the brothers. “As a matter of fact, I have. Not much, mainly hardtack, jerky, and other food. A bucket went missing a couple weeks ago.”

“Hmmm…” Hiram rubbed his chin between his thumb and forefinger. “Sounds like what’s been happening at our place.”

“You don’t say.” Noah thought on it a minute. “How far would it be for someone to travel between your place and mine?”

“If they’re riding a horse, it’s a few miles. By foot, you can cut through the trees and brush, cutting off some of the distance.” Frank glanced at his brother, who nodded.

“A few hours?” Noah asked.

“Maybe a couple hours by foot if they keep moving. You don’t think someone’s camped up in the mountain, do you?” Hiram asked.

“Could be. Luke’s been noticing the same as us. I’m guessing it’s about a two hour distance on foot between his place and mine.”

“With good weather, a body could travel between all three places in a day, then head back to where they’re hiding.” Frank thought about it a moment. “Harder in the winter. Plus, they’d be carrying what they stole. I’m guessing there’s more than one person doing the stealing.” He looked up at the darkening sky.

“Did you find any tracks?” Noah asked.

“Nothing. We’re guessing it’s Indians. Maybe the band of Blackfoot that have been camping north of the Pelletier ranch. Could be a small party from their village.”

Rachel, Ginny, and Abby listened with rapt attention to the conversation. No one wanted trouble with the Blackfoot. Most would look the other way if small amounts were taken, but the way the men spoke, it seemed the thefts had increased and spread from ranch to ranch. Few could afford to let the thievery go on for long.

“Hank’s been grumbling about supplies missing from our place,” Rachel said. “I thought he’d made an error in his count. Listening to you, though, perhaps not. We’ve also lost a pig and several chickens. You know, Luke’s place is only a mile from the main ranch house.”