Authors: Ginger Simpson
Ben took a step forward, waving a furled fist.
“Why you thievin’ underhanded bastard.”
Unflinching, Jeb crossed his arms.
“Now,
now, Ben.
Is that any way to talk to the man who’s gonna get you a fair
price for your property? We don’t aim to steal anything. My pa’ll get the money
from the bank today and then we’ll be back. All you need to do is keep your
mouth shut, and Miz Ellie won’t get hurt. Is it a deal?”
Ben’s jaw tensed. His arms hung limply at his sides. “What
choice do I have? But I’m warning you, you’d better not harm her.”
“If you take me up on my offer, we can get the deal
finalized and your daughter will be home in time for breakfast. But there’s one
more thing.” Jeb cocked his hat lower. “You tell anyone and she’s as good as
dead, and that includes my Pa. All he needs to know is that you’ve decided to
sell. Do we understand each other?”
Ben nodded, hanging his head. “Just bring my daughter home.”
Jeb strode out of the house, letting the door slam. He loved
being in control, having Ben Fountain under his thumb. What a fool. He actually
believed his daughter was coming home. Jeb smiled up at this brother.
“Seems Ben has decided to sell his ranch, after all.
Let’s
get Pa to the bank before it closes.”
Jeb took his sidearm back from Curly and mounted up. Digging
his heels hard into the flanks of his horse, he left the compound. His spirited
departure left his brother in a dusting of snow.
* * * * *
Ty and Sheriff Andrew
Gamble,
stood
in front of his office, when Ty spied the Bryant brothers riding up Main
Street. Their horses slogged through the slushy snow, now brown from being
mixed with the underlying mud.
Ty curled his mouth into a sneer.
“Hellfire,
just who I need to see today.
So help me, if they had anything to do
with Ellie’s disappearance, I swear—”
“Hold on, Ty,” Andrew cautioned. “I don’t wanna have to
arrest you for something stupid. You already spent last night in one of my
cells because you needed a place to bed down, but the door wasn’t locked behind
you. You’re just jumpin’ the gun ‘cause Jeb rubs you the wrong way.”
“I reckon you’re right,” Ty said, keeping his brow furrowed,
“but once we find Ellie, I’m gonna dig up rock hard evidence proving they’re
behind the dead cattle and recent gunshot at Fountainhead. Right now, I need to
concentrate on finding Ben’s daughter.”
Andrew nodded. “I agree. We’ve got a posse going from ranch
to ranch in the valley, where else can we look?”
Ty rubbed his brow. He hadn’t slept a wink all night, and
his mind was numb from worry. “I think we oughta fan out on the trail leadin’
up to the ranch.”
His thoughts flashed to the dance, and how mad at him Ellie
had been. She wasn’t above doing something dumb when her temper flared. Shaken
by the thought, he shared his fear. “God forbid that hard-headed gal tried to
walk home in freezin’ weather.”
The lawman shrugged. “I’ve known Ellie since she was a babe,
and I swear she was born with the beauty of her ma, but the temper of her pa,
when he’s riled.”
“That’s what scares me,” Ty said, cracking his knuckles.
“Ben
don’t
show it often, but when he does…”
Joshua and Jeb rode up and dismounted. Ty took a deep breath
and fought the urge to jump down and grab Jeb by the throat. His cocky attitude
made him as different from his twin as night to day. This wasn’t the time, but
come hell or high water, Ty swore to take Jeb Bryant down a peg or two.
“Mornin’ Sheriff, Ty.” Grinning, Jeb touched the brim of his
black hat. Joshua stood silently behind his brother and gave a quick nod.
Jeb leaned against the hitching rail and glanced up at the
two. “We passed Cole Harding on the way into town and heard ‘bout Miz Ellie. We
thought maybe we could lend a hand in findin’ her.
Awful, her
missin’ and all.
I’ll bet her pa’s plumb worried out of his mind.”
Ty’s moved his jaw from side to side, easing the ache from
clenched teeth. He held his temper in check and stared down at Jeb. “We don’t
need help from the likes of you.”
“Whoa!” Andrew held up a hand, and looked at Ty. “We need
all the men we can round up. If the boys want to help, what could it hurt?” The
sheriff grabbed his hat as an icy wind gust ruffled the brim. Ty shivered and
pulled his coat collar a little higher. Maybe Andrew was right. More men, more
ground covered. If Ellie was out in the weather, how much more of this cold
could she stand? He gave a reluctant shrug.
“Tell us what you want us to do,” Jeb said. “We’ve got an
important errand to run, but afterwards, we’ll meet you wherever you say.”
Ty looked from Jeb to his twin, wondering if there was any
chance he might be wrong about the two. He did a subtle headshake. Joshua might
be on the up and up, but Jeb…never.
The Sheriff interrupted his thoughts. “The rider we sent out
should be back with the Porters and the Simpsons.
When they get here, you take charge and lead them up the
trail. I’ll wait for the Bryants here, and we’ll search the town again,
including re-checking the hotel, and Ma Brown’s boarding house. It never hurts
to be thorough.”
Ty rubbed his brow. “I just wanna find her.”
Andrew placed a sympathetic hand on Ty’s shoulder. “Don’t
worry, we will.” He turned to the twins. “You two take care of your business
and get yourselves back here, pronto. I’ll be in my office.” The sheriff
stomped snow from his boots and went inside.
Ty eyed the empty street, anxiously waiting to see riders.
With the turn in the weather, people had drifted indoors and stayed there. He
prayed wherever Ellie was, she was inside. His gaze wandered to the mercantile
in time to see the Bryants enter. The feeling that Jeb was somehow involved
stuck in Ty’s craw. Joshua, always a meek shadow, following his brother, and
saying little, must know something.
Growing suspicion niggled at Ty. He walked a little further
down the street, and then cut back to the store. Sidling up to the window, he
peered inside, watching the two brothers gather canned goods, flour, coffee and
a blanket.
He continued watching as Percy added a side of bacon and
what looked like a few pieces of hard candy to the Bryant’s purchase.
As soon as he started to bundle the lot, Ty quickly crossed
the street while fumbling in his pocket for his knife. He stepped back up on
the walkway, ripped a small piece of splintering wood from the edge, and leaned
against the sheltering wall of the Sheriff’s office, pretending to whittle. His
mind raced with thoughts of Ellie and his blade bore the frustration of not
being able to do a damned thing.
Ty glanced up from slinging splinters when the brothers came
back to their horses. He cast a suspicious eye while Jeb secured the package to
the back of his saddle, still wondering what made this “errand” so darned
important.
Joshua stepped up next to Ty, holding his hat in his hands.
“I’m surely sorry ‘bout Miz Ellie.”
Ty was shocked to hear him speak, but appreciated his
concern. “We’ll find her, Joshua. We’re not givin’ up until we do, so I’m
beholdin’ for your help.”
Joshua’s mouth formed a crooked smile, and for the split
second before he turned to join his brother, already mounted and waiting, Ty
swore Joshua wanted to say more.
As he watched them ride away, Ty wondered if he was right.
Were there unspoken words in that gaze? He couldn’t put his finger on what
chewed on him, but there was something. The look on Joshua’s face turned from
worry to real caring in an instant. Unlike his conniving mirror-imaged brother,
Joshua’s eyes reflected a good soul.
“Ah, maybe I’m grabbin’ at straws,” Ty muttered, throwing
the piece of wood into the street. Still, a nagging fear about the duo made the
hair on the back of his neck stand on end. There was no ignoring it.
He ducked his head inside the Sheriff’s office. “Hey,
Andrew, I’m gonna follow a hunch. Send the rest of the men up the trail and
have ‘em search some of those old caverns back in the trees. I’ll join ‘em as
quick as I can.”
Before Andrew had a chance to question him, Ty jumped
astride Shadow and rode off in the same direction as the twins.
* * * * *
The bright sunshine warmed the icy air, turning the snow to
slush. The only sound in the otherwise quiet countryside was the slurping of
hooves, pulling themselves free from the grasp of the melting mess. Jeb turned
to his brother. “We should run through the plan one last time. At the fork,
I’ll take the supplies up to Ellie, while you ride on home and fetch Pa. I’ll
meet you both back at the bank.”
Joshua cast a puzzled look at his brother. “What am I
supposed to tell him if he keeps asking why Ben changed his mind?”
“Don’t you dare say a word about me holdin’
Ellie.
Pa
don’t
need to know
nothin’ about that. Just assure him that ol’ man Fountain is ready to sell.”
Joshua heaved a sigh. “Jeb, you know Pa ain’t gonna buy that
without pressin’ for more information. I expected him to ask a lot more
questions last night, but it was late and he was half asleep. He knows full
well up till now Ben’s rejected any offers made to him, and even you killin’
his cows and takin’ a pot shot at Ellie didn’t make a difference. Pa ain’t
dumb.”
“Hmm, maybe you’re right.” Jeb swiped at his brow and
thought for a moment. “I got it! Tell him Ben is in poor health, and runnin’ a
ranch has become too much for him to handle. Yeah, that should work. I recall
folks in town talkin’ ‘bout Ben’s recent ailment? Just have Pa get the money
and be ready to ride. Ben’s gonna go along with anything I say.” Jeb snapped
his fingers. “You know, to make this legal, we ought to take along someone to
witness the deal. The bank clerk…somebody…”
“What about Ellie?” Joshua blurted. “This whole thing is
gonna blow up in your face like a stick of dynamite.” He dropped his voice to
an almost inaudible whisper. “And as usual, I’ve been dumb enough to keep my
mouth shut for the shake of keepin’ peace with you.”
“You just continue to keep your mouth shut and let me take
care of business, and don’t worry. I have everything handled.”
“Coulda fooled me.
Sounds more like
you’re makin’ it up as you go along.”
“Well, at least I’m doin’ something. We both know you ain’t
got the guts. If I left everything to you, we wouldn’t be on the verge of
owning the best piece of property in Tennessee. As soon as Pa has the deed in
his pocket, you and I are gonna join the search for Ellie, showin’ what carin’
folk we are.”
Jeb’s echoing laughter sent a rabbit scurrying across the
trail.
At the fork in the road, Jeb split from his brother. He
couldn’t help but notice Joshua casting him one last disapproving look.
Chapter Nineteen
Beyond town, the muddied street turned to an almost pristine
trail that made tracking the brothers a cinch. Ty stayed his distance from the
two, at times barely hearing their muffled voices in the distance. It appeared
the twins were headed home, but he planned to make sure.
He reined in his horse where the road forked toward the
Bryant spread and studied the imprints in the snow. Clearly, the two riders had
parted company. His hunch was that Joshua would head home while Jeb would lead
the way to Ellie.
Ty nervously chewed his bottom lip and prayed his hunch
about Jeb’s involvement proved accurate. He nudged Shadow up the trail, away
from Dude’s ranch. God, he hoped Ellie was all right. If Jeb had hurt her in
any way, he was going to pay for it, and painfully.
Ty followed the only set of prints in the slush. A blind man
could. The fact that the rider wasn’t taking any precautions attested to his
arrogance, further evidence he tracked Jeb. But why would he ride off in this
direction? He must have a good reason to be headed into such a desolate area,
and Ty bet it was Ellie.
His heart quickened at the thought of finding her. Sure,
he’d been attracted to her before this whole ordeal, but now he knew how much
he cared for her.
Really cared for her.
The deep down,
forever type that made people do and say stupid things. He meant to tell her,
too.
If she’d let him.
He’d ridden forever, or so it felt. He arched his aching
back and glanced at the sky, but according to the sun’s position, it was barely
midday. His stomach rumbled in confirmation. Funny, he hadn’t even thought
about food until now. His only hunger had been the need to find Ellie safe and
sound.
In a wide spot, he halted his horse and listened. He heard
nothing but stillness disturbed by the occasional plop of melting snow falling
from the trees. Wait. There was something.
A voice, distinct
and not too far away.
He led Shadow further into the thicket and secured
him to a branch. Patting the animal’s rump, he whispered. “You stay here, boy,
and keep quiet.”
Ty huddled close to the tree line and continued up the
trail. His every step sunk deep into the slushy drifts, dribbling melting snow
into his boots and making him labor for each breath.
Cold, tired and angry, he stopped to rest for a moment,
adding wet feet to the list of things for which to curse Jeb. Ty’s socks were
drenched, and his toes felt like the icicles hanging from the shadowed
hillsides. He’d have to grin and bear it, but slogging along at this pace was
taking forever. Ty scanned ahead. Barely visible beyond where he hunkered, he
spied a structure of some sort, an old barn, a shed?
He listened for a minute, and hearing nothing, he moved from
the drifts out onto the trail, planting his sodden boots in the prints left by
Jeb’s mount.