Wildfire Creek (26 page)

“Another time. I’m anxious to see my place. Dax and I can talk tomorrow.”

“Um…Luke…” Rachel began, worry on her face.

“What’s wrong?” A knot formed in his gut.

“Whoever is stealing broke into your place and took food and bedding. Dax and Gabe boarded up the broken window, but the new one he ordered hasn’t come in from Big Pine yet.” She saw the expression on Luke’s face turn from worry to anger and wished Dax had been the one to tell him. “It’s not as bad as it sounds. Other than the window, Dax said whoever did it didn’t damage anything else.”

“Did they take anything besides food and blankets?”

“Dax and Gabe couldn’t tell. You’ll have to look around to see what else is missing. Why don’t you stay and talk with Dax? I can pack up blankets and food, and Dax can follow you over in the wagon after supper.”

“No sense waiting for Dax to return. I can pack up what’s needed and drive the wagon over myself. I’ll bring it back in the morning.” Even as tired as he felt, he needed to see the place and figure out what else had been taken.

“All right. I’ll pack food and bedding while you get the wagon ready.” Rachel walked past Ginny, who hadn’t moved from her spot near the door. Ginny waited for her to disappear into the kitchen before taking a few tentative steps toward Luke.

“Can’t you stay for supper? I’ve made pot roast and a pie. There’ll be nothing for you at your place.”

He looked down at her, a vague sense of regret washing over him. She was right. He had nothing of real value at his place. It was a wooden structure meant to bring him a sense of independence. Although he preferred being close to the creek, his own house had yet to become a real home. An image of Ginny, standing at the sink in his kitchen, flashed across his mind, sending a brief wave of panic through him. He shook it off before it took hold.

“I need to see the house for myself. Rachel will send food along for tonight.” He grabbed his coat and hat, then headed toward the wagon, determined to put some distance between him and Ginny. He did want to check the house. What he wanted more was to get as far away as he could from the temptation she posed.

He finished tying Prince to the back of the wagon as Rachel and Ginny approached, their arms full of bedding and supplies.

“There’s meat, biscuits, and pie for tonight. You know, Dax is going to be upset you didn’t stay.” Rachel placed what she’d packed in the wagon and stepped back as Luke climbed up and settled on the seat.

“He’ll understand. I’ll be back early tomorrow.” He picked up the reins, then turned his gaze on Ginny. She hadn’t said a word to him since he’d left the house. He opened his mouth to speak, then stopped, tipping his hat to her before slapping the reins.

“Stubborn man,” Rachel mumbled as she turned toward the house.

Ginny watched Luke disappear into the fading light. She had such conflicting feelings about him. She’d worried every day he’d been away, had been glad he’d returned in one piece, and disappointed in his reaction to her being at the ranch. Although it shouldn’t have surprised her. As much as he seemed to want her friendship, his actions toward her said much more than his words. He would tolerate her working at the ranch for the sake of peace between him and Dax. She knew if it were up to him, she and Mary would be gone, shuttled back to town without any regret.

She followed Rachel into the house, making up her mind she’d stay until Bernice recovered, then find a job in town. Before Rachel offered her the job, she’d been considering another possibility, one that would provide her with more than enough money to support her and Mary, and allow her to save for the house. It would take more time to think it through, and she’d have to discuss it with at least one other person, but with Luke back, the idea made more sense. By the end of winter, after the last storm, she’d make her decision. For now, all she needed to do was stay out of Luke’s way.

Chapter Eighteen

Walking around, Luke surveyed the damage, noting a couple other missing items. It could’ve been worse—might have been if Dax and Gabe hadn’t discovered what happened and boarded up the place.

He made up his mind he’d build shutters for the windows and get Noah to make locks. He’d heard Gil Murton had a way with dogs. Not many people bred them, believing they weren’t of much value on a ranch. Gil felt different. It’d been said he could train a dog to do anything. Luke wanted a dog to guard his place when he was away.

Luke unpacked the wagon, unwrapping the cold meat and biscuits, and pulled up a chair in front of the stove in his bedroom—the only one he’d had time to light. Even cold, the roast tasted mighty good. He finished it and the biscuits before unwrapping the pie. As much as he liked Bernice’s cooking, Ginny’s pie had to be one of the best he’d ever eaten.

Luke stoked the fire, tossing more wood inside the stove before closing the door. He fell back on the bed, not bothering to remove anything except his boots, then rested the crook of his arm over his eyes. An image of Ginny standing on the porch, tossing a look at him over her shoulder, a broad smile on her face flashed across his mind. He could feel his body tighten at the fantasy being created. As he drifted off, he briefly wondered if the image might be more real than he wanted to believe.

Early the next morning, Luke pulled the wagon to a stop next to the barn and jumped down. The storm had dumped at least a foot of snow during the night, making the short trip from his place to the ranch house more hazardous. The wind had picked up, blowing frigid air across the drifts, which came to three feet in some places. There’d be a lot more on the ground before spring replaced winter.

He spotted Bull coming out of the bunkhouse and nodded in acknowledgment, getting a dubious look in return as the ranch hand walked up next to him.

Bull grabbed Prince’s saddle and blanket from the back of the wagon, tossing them over a rail of one of the stalls, and turned toward Luke. “Dax had a few harsh words about you not staying around long enough to talk with him yesterday.”

“I had to check the damage at my place.” Luke tried not to read too much into Bull’s warning. He knew Dax would get over his initial irritation.

“Who do you think is doing it?” Bull asked.

“It’s got to be Indians. Who else would be up in those mountains this time of year?”

“Dax, Gabe, and I visited Running Bear while you were gone. He told Dax no one from his village has disappeared.” Bull told him of finding the arrowheads and Noah’s biscuit tin.

“Then it’s another tribe or a band of renegades. Doesn’t matter. I just want to stop them.” Luke explained his plan to build shutters and talk to Gil Murton about a dog.

“I’ve heard the same about Murton. It’s said he’s equally as good with horses. Too bad he’s got his own place because he’d be a good addition to the ranch.” Bull grabbed his own tack and started for the corral in back.

Just what I need
, Luke thought as he strode toward the house,
another young, single ranch hand to draw Ginny’s attention.
He stopped and shook his head, wondering where that had come from. He didn’t care a whit if Ginny found one of the wranglers attractive, as long as it didn’t affect her work. And if she fell in love, it would suit him just fine. He didn’t need visions of her clouding his mind and keeping him awake at night. The sooner she met someone, the sooner he’d find peace and get on with his life.

Luke trudged up the front steps, wondering why the thought of Ginny with another man left a hole in his chest. He let the thought pass as the front door swung open, Dax standing in the opening.

“I heard you’d gotten back. I would’ve felt better about it if you’d stuck around for supper.” Dax stepped aside, noticing Luke’s grim expression. He wondered whether it had to do with the thefts at his place or their new cook.

“Rachel told me what happened at the house. I needed to see the damage for myself.” He walked into the study and tossed his hat on the desk before sitting. “Thanks for taking care of boarding the windows up.”

“Gabe helped. I saw you talking with Bull. Did he tell you of our visit to Running Bear’s camp?”

“He did. Doesn’t make sense that it’s not someone with his village or another tribe. Perhaps it’s a brave who had a disagreement with Running Bear, the same as Long Feather.” He scrubbed a hand over his face and glanced outside, noticing Ginny coming out of the chicken coop with a basket in her hand, wearing the trousers he’d seen her in the day before. She didn’t walk back to the house. His gaze followed her as she stopped next to Travis, pointed to something and laughed. Travis laughed with her, causing a knot to form deep in Luke’s stomach.

“She going to be a problem?” Dax asked.

“Who?” Luke’s eyes never left her and Travis. They continued talking before she nodded toward the house and walked away.

“Ginny. Is her working here going to be a problem?”

Luke turned his attention back to Dax. He’d been wondering the same since he’d found her in the kitchen, dressed in men’s clothing. “Why is she wearing trousers and a man’s hat? Doesn’t she have enough clothes of her own?”

 Dax stared at him, wondering why men who’d met their match in a woman continued to deny their feelings. Not too long ago he’d done the same with Rachel, and Luke had been the one to set him straight. He’d keep his mouth shut about it—for now.

“The weather. Some days it’s too cold and windy to walk outside. All she owns are thin cotton dresses, except for the wool coat and dress some anonymous person sent her from Big Pine.” Dax cast a knowing look at Luke. “Rachel found the pants and shirt in a box and thought they’d fit. I’m guessing they belonged to Pat Hanes.” Pat owned the ranch before them, fought alongside the brothers as a Texas Ranger, and died from an outlaw’s bullet. He’d left the ranch to Dax and Luke. “Now answer my question. Is Ginny living here going to be a problem for you?”

Luke grabbed his hat, shoved it tight on his head, and walked to the door. “I’m heading out to the herd.”

“You’ll stay for supper tonight.” It wasn’t a question.

Luke glared at Dax, nodded, then left without another word.

Dax leaned back in his chair, watching as Luke mounted Prince and took off toward the north pasture. His brother might come across as relaxed and charming with a slow temper, but Dax knew the other side of him. He could be coiled as tight as a piano wire and as angry as a frustrated bull, but no one would notice—except Dax. Luke had an uncanny ability to hide how he felt about a situation and continue toward the goal he had in mind. A skill which served him well as a spy for the Confederacy and an agent for Pinkerton. However, Dax doubted it would help him much with Ginny.

Noah pointed his pistol into the air and fired off one shot. “Stop before I put a bullet in you,” he yelled as the slim figure disappeared into the trees. He knew the threat wouldn’t stop the thief, just as he knew he’d never shoot someone in the back.

He’d spent a long day at the livery before stopping by Suzanne’s to pick up the food he’d ordered for his cabin. The heavy snow made his trek to the cabin long and cold. He knew each day would get worse until winter turned to spring, then summer. Darkness cloaked the trail the last several hundred yards, and if it weren’t for the lantern, he wouldn’t have suspected anything. At least until he’d gone inside.

Noah saw the light, jumped off Tempest, and ran toward the front door, kicking it open. A crash from the kitchen was followed by flames from a broken lantern. He glanced out a window to see the intruder running away from the cabin, then worked to douse the fire, accepting there’d be no finding the thief tonight.