Wildfire Creek (13 page)

“Four places that are being raided.” Frank shifted from one foot to the other as he considered all the information.

“That we know of.” Noah crossed his arms, not liking what he’d been hearing.

“If it continues, we’ll need to get a group together and search the caves.” Frank and Hiram had been through this a few years back. They found a man and his young son holed up in a cave with little food and water. They’d brought them to their ranch and put the man to work. He was still one of their best wranglers and the brothers helped with schooling the boy.

“It’s time to leave, Abigail.”

Everyone turned at King Tolbert’s booming voice several feet away. He made no move to walk forward and greet anyone, just stood erect with his gaze fixed on his daughter.

Abby stared at him, uncomfortable with the way he treated many in the town. She’d mentioned it to him once or twice. He’d cut her off each time, saying she had no business telling him how to act toward others. Her eyes darted to Noah, who looked as disappointed as she felt because they’d have no time to talk.

“Coming, Father.” Abby said her goodbyes before joining him at their buggy. It was an unpleasant end to an otherwise wonderful morning.

“We missed you at church today.” Rachel set the plate of roast beef on the table. She’d been taking over more of the cooking from Bernice, who’d fallen ill a few weeks before. She seemed to be over the sickness when, without warning, a relapse sent her back to bed. Bernice hadn’t been able to regain her strength. She and Hank took meals in their place near the bunkhouse—meals Rachel made and carried over.

“Too much to do. I’ll make it next week.” Luke passed a bowl of potatoes to Dax.

“You need any help at your place before the snow comes?” Dax asked.

“Everything is closed up, wood’s stacked, and I have plenty of blankets.”

“And food?”

Luke smiled at Rachel’s question. “Figured I’d be here for supper most nights. I’ll take over eggs and a slab of bacon when I need it. My coffee tin is full and I have a bottle of whiskey. What else does a man need?”

She laughed at the self-satisfied look on his face. “I guess there isn’t much else.”

They ate in silence a few minutes before Rachel brought up the question they’d all been avoiding. “What happens if Bernice doesn’t pull through?”

Dax set down his fork and settled back in his chair. No one wanted to contemplate the ranch without Bernice—or Hank without his wife.

“Does Charles think she won’t pull through?” Dax asked.

Rachel’s Uncle Charles was a wonderful doctor and cared a great deal about the people of Splendor. He held out more hope for patients than most doctors she’d worked alongside during the Civil War. Even so, she could sense his hope weaken regarding Bernice’s chance of recovery.

“He hasn’t said it in so many words. It’s what he
isn’t
saying that has me wondering if she’s fading more than he’s letting on.”

“She and Hank will always have a place here, even if she can no longer cook and clean for us. They can stay in their place out back.” Dax looked toward Luke and saw him nod.

“I can continue to cook and clean until we know if she’ll improve.”

“That’s fine for a couple more weeks, then we have to make a decision. You’re doing enough here, along with going to the clinic most days. Even before she got sick, I’d been thinking of hiring someone to help her. We have twice the men we did when Luke and I took over the place. It’s too much for one person.”

“You have someone in mind?” Luke asked.

“No, but I’ll give it some thought. Do you know of anyone looking for work?”

“No one comes to mind. Just asking. Besides, it’s your decision since you’ll be around the person more than me. I just want someone who can cook well enough to keep the men from grumbling about their food.”

“I’ll ask around when I’m in town,” Rachel said. “There are a few young women who are of an age to move out of their family’s home and start to work.”

“I’m not certain that’s what we want. A mature woman who the men won’t be inclined to follow around and moon over would be best.” Dax didn’t care to imagine how the men would respond to a young, pretty woman.

She scrunched her face a little and looked at Luke. “Do you feel the same?”

“I do.” He didn’t elaborate. Dax had said it all. He stood and walked toward the window, looking up at the blacking sky. “I’d better head back. Appears as if a storm may be coming and I don’t want to get caught in it.”

“Why don’t you stay here tonight?” Dax asked. Luke’s room at the ranch would always be his and he saw no reason for him to ride out into approaching weather.

“Another time. Looks like whatever is coming is moving at a slow pace and I want to get the house heated before I turn in. I’ll see you in the morning.”

Dax stood at the front window, an arm around his wife’s shoulders, and watched Luke ride off. Although his brother seemed more at peace than he had in a while, Dax couldn’t squelch the feeling that the tranquility Luke felt now would begin to unravel…and soon.

“That’s the last of it.” Flatnose swung up on his horse and stared down at the guards standing with their hands in the air.

Rick looked around at the men and the surrounding hills, seeing no sign of anyone watching them. Each man had stuffed their saddlebags full of gold. He didn’t want to take the wagon back to the ranch, preferring to tie up the guards and take off.

Flatnose glanced at two of his men. “Collect their guns, tie them up to the wagon wheels, and set the horses loose. We need to get moving.”

The men worked at a quick pace, not wanting to prolong their stay. Gold wagons moved within a tight schedule. When the gold didn’t appear as planned, a search group would be formed to find it. They wanted to be as far away as they could by then.

“Let’s go.” Rick didn’t wait to see if the others followed—he knew they would. He headed toward the brush and a small deer trail hidden from the road. It would take longer to reach the ranch, but it would make tracking them almost impossible.

They’d ridden close to an hour when Flatnose edged up beside him. “We’re being watched.” He nodded toward the ridge above and ahead of them.

Rick lifted his gaze to see a band of Indians, he assumed Sioux, sitting astride their horses, making no move to come closer.

“How long?”

“They’ve been following for a few miles. My guess is they saw us steal the gold and are waiting for the right spot to attack.”

Flatnose continued to watch as they kept pace with them. They had little trouble with the various tribes who lived throughout the territory. A few stolen cattle and missing supplies. He’d heard rumors a small band of renegades had been robbing gold shipments north of here. Perhaps they’d moved south. He held up his hand, signaling for his men to stop.

“Stay close. We’re a mile from where the trail splits and we head to the ranch. If we make it to that point, they’ll have a hard time getting down the ridge and picking up the trail before we head up the creek to the property.” Flatnose glanced up to the ridge. The riders still sat motionless, watching.

“What do you think they’re up to?” one of the men asked.

“Could be watching to see what we do and where we stash the gold.” Rick turned his horse back to the trail and glanced over his shoulder. “Keep together.”

They’d get to the ranch, unload the gold, post guards, and wait. After they’d split the gold with the men, he and Flatnose would stash the remaining bags in an underground room they’d built in the house.

Rick had thought more and more about this being his last job. Getting a place near Big Pine and Felicity appealed to him more and more, as well as leaving the life of an outlaw behind. They’d taken enough to allow him the luxury of never working again. He’d still find something so as not to make people wonder. Maybe he’d even see about being one of Sheriff Sterling’s deputies. Rick smiled at the thought. What better way to push suspicion away from him than being a lawman? It just might work.

Chapter Nine

“When are you leaving?” Ginny asked as she set a drink down in front of Luke. She’d heard him mention to the men at the table he’d be traveling to Denver on business. When Bull asked why so far, all he’d said was a friend needed his help, then went silent. She guessed it had something to do with his Pinkerton work.

“In two days.” He took a good look at her, the first one he’d allowed himself since walking into the Rose. Luke hadn’t seen Ginny in weeks, purposely avoiding the saloon and the conflicting emotion he felt whenever they were close. Each time he saw her, she seemed more beautiful than the time before. No matter his resolve, he couldn’t control his body’s response to the woman he wanted as a friend and nothing more. At least that’s what he’d been telling himself for weeks as he sat in his place, alone, wishing he could figure out why she muddled his mind.

“Isn’t it a bad time of year to be traveling over the mountains? The odds are good you’ll be hitting snow.” Bull threw his cards on the table. “I’m out.”

“I’m meeting up with someone in Big Pine, then we’re riding to Denver.”

Ginny glanced at him and wondered if the
“someone”
he referred to might be a woman, then mentally shook herself. She had no business thinking about Luke and other women, especially since she was almost certain he had someone in Big Pine he saw every few weeks. At least that’s what Belle had said, and her friend knew just about everything there was to know about the men in Splendor.

“Whatever it is, it must be important to have you traveling so far this time of year,” Ellis muttered.

“Are you making some kind of point, Ellis?” Luke asked. The oldest ranch hand never said much, so when he did, Luke tended to listen.

“Nothing in particular, ‘cept we don’t have much time to get the work done before the bad weather starts. You haven’t been here a full winter and don’t know how bad it can be. Dax is going to need everyone.”

“And you’re saying that includes me?” As an equal owner in the ranch, Luke knew the men were hesitant to bring up any of their opinions about how to run the place, which made what Ellis implied worth considering.

“All I’m saying is you haven’t experienced a Montana winter and neither has Dax. They can be brutal enough to cause even war-hardened men like the two of you to take notice.” Ellis threw down his cards. “It’s been a long week. Think I’ll head back.”

Bull and the other men followed Ellis’ lead and stood.

“You coming, Luke?” Bull asked.

“I’ll follow in a bit.” He watched them leave, then turned toward Ginny, who’d already begun to pick up the empty glasses. “What do you think?”

She stopped to stare at him. “About what?”

“Am I making a mistake leaving for Denver?”

Ginny’s eyes widened. She couldn’t have been more stunned at his question. “You’re asking my opinion?”

Luke stood, downed the last of his whiskey, and placed the empty glass on her tray. “Yes, I’m asking what you think.”

“Well—”

“Ginny,” Al called from behind the bar. “Why don’t you finish up and go home?”

“Thanks, Al.” She glanced at Luke.

“Finish and I’ll walk you home.”

He waited outside, wondering why he’d offered. She walked the short distance to the boardinghouse by herself each night after work. Tonight he realized he didn’t like it. Of course, he’d asked her about leaving for Denver. Luke wanted her opinion, although he didn’t understand why it mattered to him.