Linda Ford (4 page)

“You think that will be okay, Belle?” Red asked.

“I guess so.”

No one acknowledged his generosity, so Ward had to settle for feeling like poor-quality chicken feed. “Then let’s ride.”

He made his way back to the horses and left them to follow. Or not. Whatever they decided. He had done his best. Not much else he could do. But he knew he would not ride away and leave them at the side of the road even if the pair got it in their minds to turn all prickly.

Shoot. They were already more prickly than he cared to deal with.

He reached the horses and turned back to them, standing exactly where they were when he left. “You coming or not?”

Their hesitation was palpable. “I get it. You don’t want to come with me. But you don’t have a lot of options. And I don’t aim to leave you here. So let’s get moving.”

They sure did know how to look less than enthusiastic as they picked their way across the grass to his side. He cupped his hands to help Red mount.

Belle drew back, her fear as thick as stew.

“I have to lift you up to sit behind your sister,” he said, wanting to warn her before he touched her.

She nodded but her eyes flooded with wariness.

He grabbed her about the waist, heard her indrawn breath, felt her stiffen, but before she could reconsider he had her perched behind Red.

He swung into his own saddle and led the way.

“How far?” Belle whispered, likely meaning only for Red to hear.

“It will be almost dark before we get there.”

The sooner she learned that Ward meant her no harm nor posed a threat, the better for them all. How long before either of them felt comfortable with him?

Chapter Three

B
elle’s arms clutched about Red’s waist. Feeling the fear and desperation in her little sister, she almost forgot the way her head pounded, the pain driving deeper with each thud of her mount’s hooves. She shivered, though the sun beat down with enough heat to bake biscuits on the dirt trail. Where were they going? She took some comfort in the fact it was the same direction as the ranch. She could always flee there for protection should the need arise. Of course that depended on how far Ward’s cabin was from the ranch. He rode a few feet ahead, leading the way. Why had he offered his cabin? Did he have an ulterior motive? Or was it born from knowing what it was like to receive the blows of fists?

She urged the horse forward until she rode at Ward’s side. “Where is your cabin?”

He pointed in the general direction of the ranch. Some help that was. Would it hurt the man to give exact directions?

“It’s nothing like Eden Valley Ranch. For one thing it doesn’t have the backing of a rich family back in England. Nor does it have the thousands of acres of the Eden Valley land grant. But I’ll be able to run enough cows and horses to make a good living.” He sat easy in the saddle as only a cowboy used to long hours on the back of a horse could.

Red shifted, wishing she could be half as comfortable. But her leg hurt almost as much as her head. She was tired and admittedly, a tad cranky. She didn’t need a cowboy to point it out to her.

Ward continued talking as if his cabin was the most important thing in the world. Maybe it was to him. For her, it was only a place she would go to because she had no other option. Resolve drove away a great deal of her discomfort. She would find a place as soon as possible. She allowed herself to dream a little. Wouldn’t it be nice if Belle could attend school and later, they could celebrate Christmas together in their own home? She’d trim the tree with red ribbons tied in bows of various sizes. There would be gifts. Nothing extravagant. Perhaps a new dress for each of them. Warm mittens. Woolen coats. Maybe she could splurge for one extravagance. A storybook for Belle and a book of poetry for herself.

Poetry? She mocked her dreams. How foolish. That pleasure belonged to the past. As did such dreams. She couldn’t afford half a penny candy let alone frivolous things. With every ounce of self-control she could muster, she jerked her attention back to Ward, who still talked about his place.

“I wanted to get a simple cabin built first in the hopes of persuading my family to join me. Once they’re here, I figured there would be plenty of hands to help make it larger. Next spring, I hope to buy enough cows to start my own herd.” His voice rang with hope and pride.

Red accepted that she had neither hope nor pride left. Nor was she bitter about it. Not with Belle safely behind her, Thorton locked up and a chance to make a better life for them.

“Red,” Belle whispered. “When did you eat last?”

She let the horse drop back and spoke low, hoping Belle would be the only one who heard. “Been a while. But we’ll manage. You and me, we’re survivors, remember? Nobody and nothing can defeat us. Especially not a little bit of hunger.”

“I have an awful big hunger.”

No doubt Old Mike never thought to feed a little girl. Red was glad Belle couldn’t see her face or she might guess at her anger. She could take all sorts of mistreatment, but it made her boil inside that people seemed to forget Belle was a child. Children should be protected, guarded, treated as gifts from God. They should never know anything but trust. “We’ll be okay. You’ll see.”

Ward slowed until he rode beside her. “We’ll rustle up some food soon.” He’d overheard them.

Seems the man was determined to stick his nose into everything she did. However, she was grateful for his help. Or was she? She gave a humorless smile. Not really. She didn’t want him or any man extending favors. If she never again saw another man or had to accept anything from a man’s hand, it would suit her just fine.

They continued on the worn trail. Grass whispered as the wind passed over it. Birds scolded the intruders. The gentle scent of pine trees filled the air. They climbed a hill, the Rockies rising up in the distance.

Belle leaned over to get a better view. “Are we going to live in the mountains?” Awe rounded her words.

Red thought of all the places a person could hide in that rugged expanse. She’d heard men tell tales of treacherous cliffs and impassable barriers, but they’d also spoke reverently of roomy caves, rushing water and ideal camping spots.
Where a man could live forever in peace with a boundless supply of fish to eat and fresh water to drink.
It sounded ideal to Red’s ears. Ward shifted in the saddle to answer Belle’s question. “We’ll be pretty close to the mountains. Some mornings it feels like you can reach out and touch them right outside the window. But the distances are deceiving. It would take a hard day’s ride to get to the foot of one of those giants.”

Despite her resistance to anything he might offer, he made the view from his cabin sound appealing. And the way his eyes flashed blue as if reflecting the sky back, Red found herself drawn into his description.

“Every time I see them out the window, I think of a portion in the Bible, one of the Psalms, ‘They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Zion which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever. As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about his people from henceforth and forever.’ Reminds me that God doesn’t change.”

Belle sighed heavily. “Red says we don’t trust God anymore, even though Mama and Papa said we always should.” The accusation in her voice brought a choking argument to Red’s throat, but she would not list all her reasons in front of Ward.

Ward pushed his hat back and gave Red an unblinking look. But rather than accusation or disapproval, she thought she saw sympathy. “Sometimes it’s hard to trust. Awfully hard.”

She couldn’t jerk from his gaze and, as it deepened, something warm and gentle seemed to brush against a dark and angry spot buried deep within.

With an effort, she shifted in her saddle, keeping her attention on things close by, ignoring the mountains. But again and again her gaze was drawn to the distance. If she could escape to the mountains. Find safety.

Resignation sighed into her soul. Ward’s cabin would have to do. For now.

If they ever reached this cabin.

She’d been half slouching in the saddle, weary from too much riding, too much struggle, too much life, but now she straightened and stared ahead, though she saw neither the mountains nor the narrow trail. What if there wasn’t a cabin? What if it was all a trick? Had she, in her desperation to escape Thorton’s clutches, fallen into a worse situation? She began to shake and sucked in air. She could not let Belle know of her concern. Whatever came, wherever this man led her, her first and foremost thought was to protect Belle.

Perhaps she should get Belle to slip from the horse now and hide in the trees. Then when she knew what lay ahead she could come back for her, either to take her to a real cabin or to escape into hiding. But the idea of abandoning Belle for any reason did not rest easy in Red’s mind. Instead, she would be attentive and prepared to take evasive action if things turned sour.

The sun ducked behind the mountains, sending rays of light upward into the sky.

“Look,” Belle said. “God is sending out fiery arrows to show us the way.”

Despite the knot of disbelief in her heart, Red couldn’t help thinking that’s exactly what it looked like. For half a second she let herself think her life could be different, that God was directing her to a place where she could forget the past.

But reality could not be wished away or fancied out of existence. She was headed into an uncertain future. Moreover she was Red. A woman who would forever be known as a saloon dancer. Many would question if dancing had been the only thing she did. It had been, though few would believe it. Seems Thorton wasn’t interested in anything more than forcing her to dance for others so he could collect the money he demanded before each performance. That and controlling her, humiliating her.

He’d never allowed any other man to go beyond touching. She shuddered at the memory of those harsh fingers feeling her. Then she forced herself to sit motionless so as not to alarm Belle.

“There’s the ranch.” Ward pointed.

Red pulled back on the reins. The horse stopped moving and Red stared. “You said we were going to your place.” It was the Eden Valley Ranch. The place she’d ridden away from before daylight. Had he tricked her?

He didn’t turn toward her, which was probably for the best. He might not like the suspicion and anger tightening her face. “Have to let the boss know I got his horse and saddle back.”

“What is he going to do?”

“Horse thieves aren’t treated kindly around here.”

“I have firsthand knowledge of not being treated kindly.”

He turned to consider her. “They’re usually hung.”

She pressed her hand to her throat. “So you’re really turning me over to a hangman? This was all just a ruse to get me to come along.” Belle’s hands dug into Red’s ribs. She shouldn’t let her anger make her forget to guard her words. “It’s okay, Belle. I’m not going to hang. Now or ever.” She yanked on the reins and jabbed her heels into her mount’s ribs. The animal jerked so hard, Red almost came unseated, and then it took off in a bone-pounding trot. She kicked again. “Faster, you lazy animal.”

But faster wasn’t something this horse understood. She’d do better to try to escape into the trees, and she pulled the horse off the trail. It went reluctantly, crashing through the brush. Red ducked to avoid branches. Belle clung to her, a high-pitched sound whistling from her.

The horse jerked to a halt and stood quivering, surrounded by trees. Despite Red’s urging, it refused to take another step.

“Get down, Belle. Hurry.” She held out an arm to help Belle to the ground, then dropped down beside her, grabbed her hand and raced into the trees. They were making too much noise. Ward would have no trouble tracking them. She stopped. “We have to be quiet.” To their right was a thicket of bushes. “There. Crawl in out of sight.”

Belle clung to her. “Me?”

“I’m coming, too. Hurry up.” They fought through the tangles and crouched on the ground. She wrapped her arms about Belle and held her tight. Red panted, the sound ragged and loud. She forced herself to breathe slow, deep.

The soft thud of horse hooves approached. The leather of a saddle squeaked.

Red didn’t move, didn’t release the air in her lungs.

No sound came from the horse or the cowboy. How long could she hold her breath? Her head felt funny.

“I know you’re in there and I’m not leaving.” Ward sounded so sure of himself that she wanted to jump out screaming and scare his horse so Ward would get dumped off.

She let the air whoosh out of her lungs. Stupid man probably wouldn’t get thrown no matter what she did.

“I’m not about to get myself hanged.”

Belle twitched and turned toward Red, her blue eyes big and full of fear.

“Nobody is hanging me,” she assured her little sister.

“I doubt Eddie will want to hang you.” Ward didn’t need to sound so regretful.

“You might as well come right out and say you consider it foolish for him to show any leniency.”

“Yeah, well, he hasn’t had to fight you every mile of the ride.”

“You tricked me.”

He groaned. “I thought you might like a meal. There’s little in way of supplies at the cabin.”

“I’m awful hungry,” Belle whispered.

Red considered her options. They were pretty unappealing. Either hide in the bushes while Ward waited, determined to take her to the ranch, or admit defeat. Either way, she was destined to go to the ranch.

“Let’s get out of here,” she whispered to Belle, and they scrambled from the bushes. She drew herself up tall and straight. She’d go to the gallows, she’d face her punishment. But no one would see a shadow of fear on her face.

“We’re ready.” She marched back to the trail where the horse munched on grass. Stupid animal. If it had run like a horse was supposed to, they would be far away now.

Ward swung to the ground and came to assist her back to the saddle.

She grabbed the saddle horn and pulled herself up without assistance, but as she reached for Belle, Ward swung her up. Red didn’t wait for Ward, but headed straight for Eden Valley Ranch and whatever justice Mr. Gardiner would mete out.

She kept her attention on the trail as they edged downward, passed empty corrals, clattered over a wooden bridge and turned toward the big house. But with each step forward her enthusiasm and determination weakened.

Ward drew abreast of her. “He isn’t going to let you hang.”

“I guess not. Who would look after Belle if he did?” Did she manage to keep a defensive note in her voice?

“I expect Linette would give her a home. She’s given Grady one.”

Red had seen a little boy previously but assumed he was Linette and Eddie’s son. “Good to know someone would show my sister some Christian charity.”

Ward sighed long and loud. “Linette is a very sweet, patient woman.”

He didn’t need to say what he really meant. That Red wasn’t. But before she could point out that it was hard to be sweet and patient under her particular circumstances, the cowboys poured from the building she knew to be the cookhouse. They didn’t make a sound.

“They’re staring.” Belle sounded scared.

“Guess their mamas didn’t teach them it was rude.” She kept her attention fixed straight ahead.

The door in the house up the hill opened and Eddie stepped out, Linette on one side and a little boy on the other. They waited as Ward escorted her toward them. They stopped ten feet from the watchful trio.

Ward swung from his horse. Red would have dismounted on her own, but her skirts made it awkward at best and with Belle pressed to her back, impossible. So she allowed Ward to grasp her by the waist and assist her. It meant nothing that his hands were steady, and his shoulders where she was forced to rest her hands, solid. As soon as her feet touched the ground she sprang away, brushing her skirt clear up to her waist trying to flick away the feel of his touch.