Wildfire Creek (Redemption Mountain Historical Western Romance Book 2), Page 4

  Chapter Three

  “I thought I’d find you up here.” Gabe Evans, Splendor’s sheriff, slid off his horse and walked toward the unfinished cabin his friend, Noah Brandt, had been working on for weeks.

  Noah looked up from preparing the window frame. “Lots to do before the weather sets in. I expect about three weeks of fair weather before the first snow.”

  The warm winds of summer had already given way to chilly nights and brisk breezes. As he took off his coat and threw it across a tree stump, Gabe guessed three weeks might be optimistic.

  “What do you want me to do?”

  Noah shot a look at his closest friend, a man he’d known since childhood. Gabe had been a colonel in the Union Army during the war, while Noah had risen to the rank of major. They’d planned to open a business together in their hometown of New York after the war, yet neither felt quite ready when Lincoln announced Lee’s surrender at Appomattox. They’d wandered out west, Noah settling in Splendor a year before Gabe made his way back to the small town and, out of exasperation and guilt, accepted the sheriff’s position.

  “Help me frame out the last two windows, then we’ll finish chinking.”

  They worked alongside each other for hours, stopping for an occasional drink of water or to swallow down some hardtack and jerky. Noah sometimes brought more substantial food. Today, and for as long as the weather held, he planned to work hard, taking little time to eat. As the day wore on, the men stepped back from the house and looked it over, gauging the workmanship and what needed to be fixed.

  “You’ve done a fine job.” Gabe clasped Noah on the shoulder. “She’ll love it.”

  Noah shot him a look. “Who?”

  “Miss Abigail. That is who you’re building this for, isn’t it?”

  Noah snorted at the thought. Someone as fine and beautiful as Abigail Tolbert wouldn’t think of setting foot in a cabin such as his. The young woman who’d so completely captured his heart would never be his. Her father, owner of the biggest ranch in this part of Montana, would never allow her to marry a mere blacksmith. No. She’d marry some fancy gentleman from Big Pine. At close to twenty thousand residents, she’d have quite a few to choose from, and all more financially successful than him.

  “This cabin is for me. No woman will ever cross the threshold.” He stalked toward the bucket of water and took one more drink. “You ready to ride back?”

  “Let’s clean up, grab supper at Suzanne’s, then see what’s happening at the Wild Rose.”

  “Sounds good.” Noah mounted Tempest, the horse he’d owned since before the Civil War. He looked over his shoulder once more before following his friend toward Splendor.

  The cabin had been built on several acres not too far from town. It stood on land the Pelletiers had given Noah in thanks for his part in freeing Rachel, Doc Worthington, and two neighboring ranchers from an outlaw gang determined to kill Dax and Luke. Without the quick and accurate work of the ex-Union sharpshooter, Rachel and the others may very well have become victims. Instead, Noah’s expertise had been the deciding factor in their victory.

  Dax and Luke had offered to help him build his cabin, providing him whatever he needed. He’d refused flat out, giving no explanation. In fact, until today, he’d waived off Gabe’s help. He wouldn’t have accepted if the weather wasn’t about to change.

  “Did I tell you some of my supplies have turned up missing?” Noah asked about halfway to town.

  “You mentioned jerky missing.”

  “When I got to the cabin this morning, a blanket, a tin of hardtack, and a tin of jerky were gone.”

  Gabe thought this over. He’d had complaints of food missing from Frank and Hiram Frey, widowed brothers who lived a few miles from Noah’s land. Dax had mentioned stolen chickens, eggs, and supplies. The three properties shared a common boundary and all rested against the base of Redemption Mountain. For years, Noah’s land had been known as Sunrise Ridge, due to the magnificent sunrises visible from the site. The location gave him good southern exposure and protection from the strong northern winds.

  “The Freys and Dax have mentioned missing supplies. At first I thought it might be a Blackfoot raiding party.”

  Both rode in silence the rest of the way…Gabe considering who could be behind the stolen items, and Noah absorbed in thoughts about Abigail Tolbert. In his mind, whomever she married would be getting a prize—a beautiful, delicate flower. He’d never have her, and that’s the real reason he spent so much time building his cabin at Sunrise Ridge. Once she married, he knew he’d need a refuge, somewhere he could go to be alone. From then on, he’d let his dreams sustain him.

  “I’m so glad you came to town.” Ginny gave Rachel a quick hug. “With my work and caring for Mary, I don’t have much time to visit.” They sat in Suzanne’s kitchen, drinking tea and munching on cookies. Ginny knew she should start getting ready for her shift at the Rose, but she wanted to squeeze in as much time with Rachel as she could.

  “From what Uncle Charles said, Mary had a pretty high fever. She seems much better now.”

  “Oh, she is. I won’t let her get out of bed for a few days, at least until she feels like eating regular food, but the difference from last night is incredible.”

  “Luke mentioned he helped you bring Mary home.” Rachel averted her eyes, not wanting to appear too interested in the answer.

  “He’s been very kind. I could’ve handled Mary myself, but I couldn’t refuse the help.” Ginny finished the last bite of her cookie and wiped her hands on her apron.

  “Luke is a good man, as is Dax. It’s been fascinating to watch how they work together. Sometimes it’s as if they read each other’s thoughts. If Luke does decide he ever wants to settle down and marry, the woman will be very lucky.”

  Ginny chuckled at the thought. “I can see Dax settled, but Luke? He seems the type of man who’ll go through life without commitment, other than to you, Dax, and the ranch. I doubt he’ll ever put down roots with a wife and children.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “I don’t know. He’s always on the move, looking for his next escapade. I’m sure he’d make a wonderful friend. Not so sure he’d want to be a husband and father, or be tied down.” Ginny glanced at Rachel, hoping she didn’t read too much into her words. “It doesn’t matter to me. I’ve no intention of ever marrying and being tied to a man. I’ll raise Mary. She’ll be my family.”

  Rachel watched Ginny’s face as she spoke. Although the words were clear, she doubted the young woman had a lot of conviction behind them.

  “You’re still so young. Who knows what will happen?”

  “I know everyone believes I’m still a girl, but the truth is, I’m almost twenty-one. By the time Mary is old enough to move out, marriage will be out of the question for me.” She pushed up from the table and grabbed the two cups. “Besides, I’m not like other women. I just don’t think I’d make a good wife.”

  Rachel let the comment settle between them without response. In her mind, Ginny would make a wonderful wife and mother. She also knew each person had to make the choice for themselves.

  “Well, it’s time I left for home. I’ll check on Mary once more, make sure she’s still resting peacefully. Be sure to get in touch with Uncle Charles if anything changes.”

  “I will.” Ginny gave Rachel one more hug. “Please be careful riding home, and thank you for coming in to check on Mary.”

  The sun still hovered above the mountaintops as Rachel left town. She rode past the school on the left and Noah’s livery on the right. She saw no one inside, an unusual occurrence before Dax and Luke gave Noah the land. In her mind, the man spent too much time in the livery, working in the heat produced by his forge. It was good to see him taking time away to concentrate on something besides his work.

  The road forked not far from the edge of town. Going right would take her toward King Tolbert’s ranch, while going left would take her home. She’d heard little from the rancher since her marria
ge to Dax. At one point he’d indicated an interest in courting her. All other men, including Tolbert, faded into the distance the more time she spent with Dax. The attraction between them had been instantaneous, even though it took time for Dax to come to the conclusion he couldn’t live without her. She believed the same pull existed between Luke and Ginny.

  No matter how much the young woman denied it, Rachel believed she had a strong interest in him. The same held true for Luke. As the ranch house came within view, Rachel wondered how long the two would suppress their feelings. Both were as stubborn as any two people she’d ever met, so it might be a long while.

  “You’re not going into town with the boys tonight?” Dax asked as they finished supper.

  “Not tonight.” Luke finished his pie and pushed the plate away.

  “I checked on Mary today.” They’d discussed ranch business all during supper, leaving Rachel no time to speak of her visit to town.

  “That so? And how’s she doing?” Luke asked, not wanting anyone to detect his true level of interest. The main reason he had decided to stay home on a Saturday night was to avoid Ginny. He just didn’t like the way his body responded to her.

  “She’s on the mend. I told Ginny to be sure and contact Uncle Charles or me if anything changes. She also mentioned how much she appreciated your help,” Rachel added, noting something pass over Luke’s face. Perhaps surprise that Ginny had spoken of him?

  “I didn’t do anything someone else wouldn’t have offered.”

  “You may think that, but not everyone would have spent the night at the clinic with her, then carried Mary home.” Rachel stood to help Bernice gather the empty plates, then stopped and looked at Luke. “Did you know Ginny is almost twenty-one? I would’ve sworn she couldn’t be older than eighteen.” She disappeared into the kitchen, leaving Luke, Dax, and Hank to themselves.

  “The woman’s not much younger than you.” Dax’s off-handed comment hit a nerve.

  “Doesn’t matter to me. It’s not as if I’m courting her. Hell, I’ve no interest in courting anyone.” Luke stood and stomped toward the front door, leaving Dax and Hank to watch his retreating back.

  “I don’t believe that boy knows his own mind,” Hank said, sitting back and crossing his arms over his chest.

  Dax’s brows furrowed as he heard Luke slam the front door, then looked at Hank, one side of his mouth lifting in a wry grin. “I believe you’re right.”

  Luke stopped on the porch, breathing in the cool night air, focusing on the almost full moon and brilliant stars. He didn’t understand why he got so edgy when anyone mentioned Ginny. She was nothing like the type of woman he’d want, if he were looking. He liked tall women with full figures, not overly slim and petite. She couldn’t be much over five feet, four inches and willow thin, as if a strong wind could carry her away.

  He raked a hand through his hair before settling his hat on his head and resting his hands on the railing. What he needed was a weekend in Big Pine, playing cards, drinking, and doing whatever he pleased without the watchful eyes of the citizens of Splendor on him. The town had grown at a rapid rate since he and Dax arrived almost a year before. The gold mines around Big Pine had attracted thousands to what was now the territorial capital. Some of those who hadn’t struck gold traveled on, many deciding to make Splendor their home. They opened stores, purchased land, and began to build new lives. All the same, it still seemed small and any amount of gossip traveled fast.

  “Hey, Luke, you sure you don’t want to ride into town with us?” Bull led his horse out of the barn, followed by Rude, Ellis, and several other ranch hands.

  He straightened, pushed his hat back from his forehead, and shook his head. “Not tonight. You all have a good time and try not to lose too much of the pay we handed out.”

  “You know where we’ll be if you change your mind.” Bull saluted before turning his horse toward Splendor.

  Luke watched them ride out, not feeling the regret he’d anticipated. Most times he’d be the one leading the pack, wanting to cut loose and enjoy some time away from the ranch. Although he didn’t regret his decision to stay, there were times he needed space, separation from Dax and Rachel. He’d contemplated approaching Dax about building a place of his own with a view of Wildfire Creek. Something about the rolling waters against the base of Redemption Mountain soothed him, helped him forget some of what he’d seen during the war.

  Unlike Dax, he hadn’t been on the battlefields for long. He’d been separated out, asked to join the Confederate Secret Service Bureau, a covert agency. The organization ran espionage and counter-intelligence operations in Washington and throughout the North. The work had been challenging, exciting, and somewhat dangerous. He never knew where they’d send him, or which group or organization he’d be required to infiltrate.

  The one problem had been over-zealous agents, his counterparts who extracted information in ways he felt were cruel and inhumane. There weren’t many, but enough to see some innocent people harmed and others, who were guilty, escape.

  His short stint helping Dutch and the Pinkerton Agency was more his style. Little bureaucracy, freedom to pursue leads, and agents who didn’t worry about jurisdictions. As non-government officials, their ability to make arrests fell outside normal boundaries. When they’d parted ways several weeks before, Luke let Dutch know if Pinkerton ever had another need in either the Montana or Idaho territories to contact him.

  Luke heard the front door open and close, followed by approaching footsteps. He didn’t turn. He didn’t need to in order to know Dax stood a few feet away.

  “You going to tell me what’s bothering you?” Dax asked, leaning a hip against the porch railing.

  He turned and mimicked Dax’s stance, resting a hip on the rail. “I’m thinking of building a place next to Wildfire Creek.”

  Dax narrowed his eyes at his brother, wondering what had triggered his desire to create a different home. “You do whatever you need to. Just know that Rachel and I like having you here.”

  “It’s got nothing to do with you and Rachel. I’ve been thinking about this for months, and the appeal of having my own place keeps gnawing at me. I figure it’s time I did something about it.”

  “Snow will be coming in a few weeks.” Dax looked up at the clear sky. Those who hadn’t spent a winter in this part of the territory had no idea of the treacherous weather. He and Luke had seen the end of last year’s weather. This would be their first full season on the ranch.

  “I figure to have maybe three weeks if I start now. If not, I’ll have to wait until spring.” He looked at his brother. “That’s too long, Dax.”

  Dax pushed from the railing and took a breath. “All right. We’ll talk to the boys tomorrow, figure the supplies, and get what you need out to the site. I figure we can spare three or four men at a time.” He paused a moment, thinking through what Luke would need. “You do have a spot picked out, right?”

  Once more, Luke took off his hat, this time tossing it on the nearby swing, relieved and thankful Dax hadn’t fought him on this. “I do.”

  Dax nodded, clasping Luke’s shoulder. “Good. We’ll talk more tomorrow.”

  Bull picked up his cards and glanced around the room, looking for one of the girls to fill his glass. He spotted Ginny as she walked in from the back and waved. The expression of friendly recognition on her face faded as she marched toward the table he shared with several others.

  “Where is he?” Ginny’s words were calm, although her hands were fisted on her hips and her eyes sparked.

  Bull glanced at the others, then back at Ginny. “Where’s who?”

  “You know darn well who I mean. Luke. Where is he?” She looked around the room, hoping to spot him at another table.

  “He didn’t come in with us tonight.”

  “Coward.” Her mumbled response could just be heard over the noise in the saloon.

  “You got a problem with him, Ginny?” Bull asked. He’d never seen her so angry. She’d get
irritated with some of the more insistent customers, but over the months, she’d learned to deal with the drunks and obnoxious ones.

  “I sure do, and I’m certain he knows it or he would’ve come in tonight.” She blew out a breath and turned toward the bar to grab a bottle of whiskey before walking back to the table. She poured drinks for those who held up their glasses, then set the bottle on the table. “You tell Luke I need to speak with him.” She’d calmed a little, but not much. When no one responded, she added, “You understand?”

  Bull kept his face impassive, although he was mighty tempted to grin. Compared to Luke and most of the men, she was a slip of a thing, yet she had no problem holding her own against any of them. He understood Luke’s attraction to her, even if his boss wouldn’t admit it.

  “Yes, ma’am, I sure do.”

  She brushed a strand of hair from her face and stared down at Bull. “I’d better see him in here soon.” Ginny stalked off, stopping at a couple of other tables and smiling as if nothing unusual had happened.

  “Never seen her quite like that,” Ellis said as he sipped his whiskey.

  “Don’t bode well for the boss,” Rude added, still keeping his eyes on Ginny. “Wonder what he did.”

  “Guess we’ll find out.” Bull picked up his whiskey and tossed it back.

  Chapter Four

  “Isn’t this close to the spot you took the arrow?” Dax asked, wondering at the location Luke had chosen for the house.

  Several of the men gathered in the study with the brothers, discussing Luke’s plans to build a cabin. It was Sunday morning, the sun had only been up for an hour, yet everyone seemed focused and alert.

  “It is. I figure no matter where I build, if the Indians want to find me, they will.”

  His home would sit about a mile from the main ranch house. Distant enough for privacy, yet close enough to go back and forth with ease.

  Dax looked over the materials Luke listed, some of which would need to be ordered, including a cook stove. “Are you planning to stay there this winter?”