Читать книгу The Horseman's Frontier Family - Karen Kirst - Страница 11

Chapter Three

“They accused you of what?” Above the pewter mug suspended halfway to his mouth, the gold flecks in Clint’s brown eyes shimmered with disbelief.

Cradling his mug of steaming coffee, Elijah leaned back in his chair and sighed. “This shouldn’t come as a surprise. We’re all aware of the Chaucers’ opinion of us.” He looked across the table at Gideon. “I’m just sorry that coming to a man’s aid has placed you in this position.”

Gideon traced lazy circles on the coarse tabletop. Even if he could’ve foreseen the outcome, he wouldn’t have left Montgomery to die. His brothers knew that. Still, the situation he found himself in rankled.

Despite his fatigue, he’d passed a restless night, his mind on the occupants of the tent a quarter acre upstream. Visible yet far enough away he couldn’t hear their conversations. They don’t have conversations, though, do they? Not for the first time, he pondered the boy’s continuing silence.

“We don’t know much about Evelyn Montgomery. Is she as disagreeable as her brothers?” Clint asked.

His brother’s appointment as sheriff of Brave Rock had become more than just a job. It had become a calling, an honorable mission to maintain the peace of this Oklahoma town birthed from dreams of independence and the grit and determination to see them into reality. With a keen, observant mind and commitment to upholding the law, he was the best man for it.

“Evelyn—” her given name sounded odd on his lips “—can be difficult.”

“Which is another word for stubborn, like some people I know.” A knowing grin hovered about Lije’s mouth.

“Contrary is a better word,” Gideon shot back, thinking of her resistance to his every attempt to make life easier for her. Why he even tried he hadn’t a clue. “She’s good with her son, though. Protective.” The immense love she possessed for him was evident in every look, every touch.

Seated across the table in Lije’s cabin, his brothers exchanged a quick, telling glance. He knew by Clint’s cautious expression and the sympathy in Lije’s hazel eyes they were thinking of Susannah and Maggie.

“You have my constant prayers, brother. In time, God will sort this out the way He sees fit.”

Gideon pressed his lips together, cutting off the stinging retort. As a preacher, Lije centered his whole life around the things of God. Comforting folks, praying for them and encouraging them in difficult times came as second nature to the eldest Thornton brother. Gideon wanted no part of it. Not anymore. The grief stemming from the loss of his wife and daughter had transformed into resentment and anger at the all-powerful God he’d once served.

He could’ve spared them and yet chose not to. Every time he felt the urge to pray or dust off his Bible, he reminded himself of that fact.

Pushing to his feet, he set his cup in the dry sink behind him and crossed to the door, retrieving his hat from the row of hooks. “I’ve gotta go. Got errands in town to tend to.”

Lije stood, as well. “And I have to meet the work crew. We’re framing the chapel windows this morning.”

Work on the official Brave Rock church—which would also be used as a meeting house—had commenced a couple days ago on the western edge of Lije’s claim closest to town. Residents were working in shifts so that everyone shared the load and families weren’t taken from their planting and the building of their own cabins for very long.

“I can spare a few hours this afternoon,” Gideon told Elijah.

The preacher’s jaw dropped. “You’re offering to work on the church?”

Aware of Gideon’s aversion to spiritual matters, his brother hadn’t asked him to pitch in. But Lije worked his fingers to the bone seeing to the needs of this town. Swinging a hammer for a few hours was the least Gideon could do. Besides, it would gain him a reprieve from the feisty widow Montgomery.

“I am. Unless you don’t need me.”

Clint watched the exchange with interest.

Lije picked up his jaw. “Oh, we need you, little brother.” Clapping a hand on Gideon’s shoulder, he grinned big. “What time should we expect you?”

“Around one o’clock. How’s that?”

“Perfect. The men will be returning from lunch then.”

Gideon opened the door.

“Hold up a second.”

Clint shoved his chair back. The gold star pinned to his vest winked in the morning sunlight streaming through the curtainless window. The last shingle of Lije’s one-room cabin had been nailed into place last week, and it lacked those little touches that made a dwelling into a home. Wouldn’t be this way for long, however. He’d seen Alice hemming blue-and-white-checked curtains in preparation for her and Lije’s upcoming nuptials. If the bouquet of daffodils gracing the table—the only spot of color in the room—was any indication, the sweet-natured redhead would have these sparse quarters looking more like a home in no time.

“You should know we’ve had more trouble,” Clint said. “The Ramseys’ barn burned down last night. It was a total loss.”

Lije’s expression turned grave. “There weren’t any fatalities, thank the good Lord.”

Gideon shook his head in disgust. “Did they get all the animals out?”

“All but a milk cow,” Clint supplied. “They were fortunate.”

“Any idea how it started?”

“Not yet. Lars and I are looking into it.” His younger brother’s features hardened. “If it turns out it wasn’t an accident, we’ll find out who the perpetrators are and go after them.”

“These incidents are stirring up suspicion amongst the townsfolk, which is the last thing we need.” Sighing, Lije wearily massaged his neck. If Gideon knew his brother, he’d probably stayed up half the night tending to the Ramsey family’s needs. “Without unity and a sense of brotherhood, what kind of town will Brave Rock be?”

Not a place any decent folk would want to live, Gideon answered silently. If he were still a praying man, he’d ask God for assistance. Since he wasn’t, he’d just have to trust Clint’s prediction. The troublemakers would make a mistake eventually, which would lead to their arrest and, ultimately, peace for Brave Rock’s residents. Hopefully sooner rather than later, before someone got hurt or outright killed.

* * *

“Hold him steady. I’m almost done.” Evelyn’s pencil scraped across the page in light strokes. “I think this one is some type of earless lizard. We’ll look it up tonight before bed.”

Fortunately, she knew exactly which trunk contained their books. Drake had argued against bringing them out here, saying she wouldn’t have time for such unnecessary luxuries, but she’d been adamant. Walt enjoyed studying the pictures in the encyclopedia and almanac. And she wouldn’t dream of leaving her journals behind. They contained drawings and descriptions of all sorts of things—Rose Hill, their church in Virginia, flowers, butterflies and birds she’d encountered—a pictorial history of her life. Of course, Drake hadn’t seen any value in them.

“Done.” She snapped the book closed.

Walt raised the bluish-gray-and-black lizard closer to his face, ran a finger along its spindly spine and gingerly set it on the sloping bank, watching intently as it scurried behind the rocks. Shrugging, he turned to her. Red ringed his mouth, evidence of the berries he’d eaten for dessert. She picked up the basin of dirty dishes and carried it to the stream. Crouching beside him, she dipped a rag in the cool water. “Let’s clean your face, sweetheart. It’s a wonder you didn’t get a tummy ache from all those strawberries.”

Wearing a long-suffering expression, he stood still and let her work. Affection bubbled up in her. He was so beautiful, her little boy. His olive skin, dark, expressive eyes and distinctive features had been handed down from his Russian grandmother, Nancy Petrov Chaucer, just as they had been to Evelyn and her brothers. There wasn’t a single sign of his Montgomery heritage. Was that the reason Drake hadn’t bonded with him?

Sighing, she kissed his cheek, which he rewarded with a tight hug. When he stiffened against her, she leaned back. His eyes were huge. “What’s wrong?”

Twisting, balancing her weight with a splayed hand in the grass, she spotted Gideon’s wagon slowly approaching. There, trailing behind it, was a Guernsey cow much like the one they’d left at Reid’s. That wasn’t Mirabelle, however.

Taking Walt’s hand, she stood and watched as the aloof cowboy eased his team to a stop in front of the stable. After setting the brake, he climbed down and, striding to the cow, untethered her and led her across the field in their direction. What in the world?

The brim of his black Stetson cast his eyes in shadow; his stubble-covered jaw and chin were set in grim lines. As if she exuded a foul stench, he stopped a ways out, his mouth unsmiling. Gloved hands gripping the lines, he extended them to her.

“This is Petra.”

“That’s a Russian name.”

A sigh lifted his vest-clad chest. “Bought her from a Russian family.”

“There are Russians here?” During their stay in Boomer Town, the tent city that had sprung up along the border of Unassigned Lands in the weeks preceding the land rush, she’d encountered Poles and Czechs but no Russians. “My mother came to America when she was a little girl. She taught me the language. What are their names?”

“Kozlov.”

“Where is their claim? Can you take me?” Excitement shimmered through her. Her brothers hadn’t cared to learn the language. She’d enjoy conversing with native speakers again.

He gave her a long measuring look. “I reckon I could do that.”

“Forget I asked.” What’s gotten into you, Evelyn? To willingly accompany this man anywhere would be unthinkable. “I’ll locate them on my own.”

Jerking a thumb over his shoulder, he said, “I’ve got supplies to unload. Can you take her now?” Again he lifted the leads.

“What do you expect me to do with her?”

“Take care of her. She’s your milk cow, after all.”

“Mine?” Her gaze volleyed between the cowboy and the russet-hued beast. “I don’t understand. Did my brothers—”

“They have nothing to do with this.” He shoved up his brim, revealing those piercing wolf’s eyes, a turbulent, stormy gray. “Your son needs milk.”

As if that were enough justification for a gesture such as this. “You can’t mean to tell me that you purchased Petra for us?”

Gideon’s gaze flickered to Walt, and his face altered. Pain-ravaged was the best word to describe him. Tormented. Jaw working, he dragged his attention back to her.

“For Walt.”

Dazed by what she’d seen, Evelyn took halting steps forward. He veered back, maintaining distance as he transferred the leads to her. Then he left.

Evelyn stared after him. A thousand bewildered questions skated through her mind with no clear-cut answers.

Petra shifted, straining to reach the grass. A milk cow. Gideon Thornton had brought them a milk cow. He’d become aware of their need and met it, no questions asked, no payment demanded.

Something was very wrong here.

* * *

“Can’t you see what he’s doing?” Reid paced a trail in the grass, his gestures stiff and jerky, while she scrubbed her single black dress in the wash basin. “He’s obviously trying to make you think he’s one of the good guys, someone to be trusted.”

Evelyn paused, soap bar resting against the ridged washboard, and gazed at Petra grazing contently in the field, then at Gideon heaving another log into place. Even from this distance, the man’s impressive strength was on display. His biceps had to be as large as small tree trunks! “Why would he care what I think?”

Her brother shot her a dubious look. “Please tell me you’re not really that naive. What do you have that he wants?”

The name on the stake. “Rightful ownership of this claim.”

“Exactly.” He snapped his fingers.

“Let me get this straight. You think he bought the cow not as an act of kindness but as a bribe. He’s going to try and convince me not to contest the claim.”

“That’s right.”

Resuming her task, she mopped her forehead with her sleeve. “Doesn’t sound like something he’d do.”

“Oh, what, now that you’ve spent a whole day in his company you know what kind of person he is?”

“No, of course not. It just doesn’t seem like he’d put forth that kind of energy on a plan that isn’t foolproof. He’s rather busy, if you can’t tell.”

Glancing toward the stable, Reid smirked. “Yeah, well, his single-mindedness will only benefit us. When all is said and done, that will be your stable, sis. Yours and Walt’s. It’ll save us from having to build it later.”

Her gaze once again drawn to the taciturn middle Thornton brother, she experienced a pinprick of disquiet. How would she feel if she’d worked that hard on something only to have to leave it behind?

“Oh, no, you don’t.” Her twin was suddenly squatting in front of her, his coffee-colored eyes boring into hers. His ivory felt hat sat at a rakish angle on his head. “Don’t feel sorry for the guy. He doesn’t deserve your compassion, Evelyn. Remember, he’s trying to steal Walt’s inheritance. He’s taking advantage of a widow and her fatherless child.”

She disliked it when Reid read her mind like that. Some things a girl preferred to keep private. Lifting her chin, she met him stare for stare. “I could never forget that.”

Studying her with narrowed eyes, he finally nodded, then frowned again at her navy blue skirt and white scoop-necked blouse. No doubt he disapproved of her not wearing proper mourning clothes.

“Before you say it, I own only one appropriate outfit.” She lifted the long-sleeved, too-elegant-for-everyday-use black blouse out of the sudsy water. Aware of Evelyn’s scant wardrobe, her mother-in-law had made her several outfits to wear to church services. Not a fan of black, she’d rarely worn this particular one. “I have to wash it sometime. Besides, it shouldn’t matter what I wear out here when there’s no one around to see.”

Again, a long, slow perusal. “Evelyn, I—” Frowning, he stared at the ground beneath his dusty boots. “I’ve wanted to ask you about Drake ever since...” Cautious eyes met hers. “Look, the accident shocked us all. I know you have a huge burden to shoulder. Walt’s silence adds to that, I’m sure, but I’m worried about you. We all are.”

Laying the soap aside, she rinsed the material and wrung out the excess water. “There’s no need to worry. I assure you I’m fine.”

For her brothers’ sakes, she’d tried her best to hide her unhappy marital state. After all, Theo had introduced her to Drake Montgomery, and all three brothers had encouraged her to accept his proposal. If they’d discovered the true state of affairs between her and her husband, they would’ve blamed themselves. And perhaps intervened, which could have ended in violence. So she’d playacted.

Reid followed her to the rope she’d strung up between two oaks. “That’s the problem. A woman who’s just lost her husband should not be fine.”

“Everyone grieves differently.” Hooking the clothespins in place, she checked to see that Walt was still cavorting with Lion and Shadow along the stream bank. “Besides, I’ve a lot to keep me busy these days. There isn’t time to dwell on our loss.”

“You were inconsolable after Ma and Pa died,” he pointed out, following her back to the pile of laundry awaiting her attention.

“That was different.”

“Evelyn—”

“Reid.” Holding up a hand, she shot him a quelling look. “No more. Please.”

He opened his mouth to speak, shook his head and snapped it shut again. As she bent to her task, relief speared through her. Her brother could be relentless. Somehow she doubted this was the last time she’d hear of this.

“I’d better go.”

“Thanks for the rabbits. I’ll make a nice stew for supper.”

“That’s nice.”

Hearing the note of distraction in his voice, she looked up and caught him staring in Gideon’s direction, a troublesome glint in his eyes.

Popping up, she slipped her arm through his. “I’ll walk you to your horse.”

Unfortunately, they had to walk past the stable to where Rusty was tethered to the corral fence. Just as they came abreast of the door opening, Gideon emerged and bumped into Reid.

“Sorry,” Gideon muttered.

Shaking free of her hold, Reid sidestepped to block his exit. “Why don’t you watch where you’re going, Thornton?”

“It was an accident,” he clipped out, holding himself erect. Aloof. “No need to make more of it than it is.”

Although about the same height, Gideon had at least forty pounds of solid muscle on her brother. The outcome of an altercation between the two men wasn’t difficult to envision.

Reid poked a finger in Gideon’s chest. “Nice try with the milk cow. But I’m wise to your schemes, and so is Evelyn. Don’t think you can charm your way into keeping what doesn’t belong to you.”

Gideon’s head reared back. His icy gaze slammed into her, silently accusing. “My motivation had nothing to do with the dispute.”

Was he speaking the truth? Or was he just a clever actor?

Aware of the ratcheting tension, Evelyn tugged on her brother’s forearm. “Reid, please. Let it go.”

“Steer clear of my sister and nephew, you filthy cur.”

Color climbed up Gideon’s neck. His massive hands curling into fists, he stuck his face close to Reid’s. “Or what?”

Oh, no. Gideon’s legendary temper was about to be unleashed.

“Oh, you’ll find out what,” Reid sneered.

“I don’t cotton to threats, especially from a man who’s trespassing on my land.”

“Why, you—”

“Don’t do this.” Evelyn hauled on Reid’s arm with all her might but couldn’t budge him. “Think of Walt.”

Beneath her fingertips, she felt his thick muscle quiver, and she thought Reid would shake her off again. He surprised her, however. With a parting promise that this conversation wasn’t finished, he guided her to the corral. A sigh gusted from her lungs. Crisis averted.

This time. What will happen the next time your brothers come to check on you? What if she couldn’t talk them down? Theo, Brett and Reid loathed the Thornton brothers. Now that Gideon stood in the way of her inheritance, the state of affairs would only deteriorate.

Someone was likely to get hurt, which would only serve to traumatize Walt further.

No matter what, she couldn’t let that happen.