Brazos Bride (12 page)

Zach rubbed at his jaw. “After what happened you may not believe us, Hope, but we plan to make sure you’re safe while we catch whoever’s doing this.”

“
I hope you can.” She shrugged her shoulders in defeat. “I have no other plan to save myself.” She looked at Micah. “You are not backing out then?”

Micah took her hand in his and rubbed a finger over the gold band he’d given her last night. How could she ask that question? “We’re married until you say different. You’re a Stone now, and we stick together through whatever comes.”

He stood and pulled her up. “Why don’t you go in and rest. We’ll get things cleaned up enough to leave Bert and Slim here without making a hardship on them.”

She examined her hands and looked down at her skirts. “I could not possibly touch anything inside until I have washed.”

Bert shook his head. “Sorry, Miz Stone, but there ain’t no water left for a spell.”

Micah scooped her up and carried her inside. “You rest on my bed.” He flipped the pillow to the unused side then lowered her to the bed.

“
Move that lovely quilt so we do not get black on it.” She sank against the narrow mattress. “I told my foreman we are wed and your men would be cutting the fence and moving cattle to the river. No one will stop you.”

“
That’s good to know. I saw you talking with him. Now your ranch hands know we’re wed, Bert and Slim will go to the river and bring some water for washing.” Micah unfastened her shoes and slid them from her feet.

She closed her eyes and sighed, as if relieved to be lying down.

“
We’ll let the cattle start drifting to the water. It’ll save most of them.”

“
This side of the bank has a nice sloping beach, so they’ll be all right on their own today.” She wriggled, as if trying to burrow into the thin mattress and pillow.

Need for her erupted inside him, a desire so strong he could barely restrain himself from taking her in his arms. He slid the sheet over her soiled dress then strode to the door, not daring to linger for fear he’d reveal his feelings and make a damn fool of himself.

Hand on the latch, he stopped and called over his shoulder. “I’ll be right outside. Call if you need anything.”

The other four men were already at work stowing gear and tools they’d salvaged in the shed and lean-to they’d used before they’d built the barn. He motioned for them to join him beneath a stand of trees twenty feet from the house. “Looks like we have a tough row to hoe. We’d best talk over our plans.”

Chapter Thirteen

“
Hope, wake up.”

Hope came to in a panic when someone gently shook her shoulder. Quickly the day’s horror came back to her—fire’s blazing heat, screaming horses, billowing smoke, men’s desperation. The odor of charred cedar lingered in the air and surrounded her, but she realized she was safe in Micah’s cabin.

“
I am awake.” She turned into the pillow and inhaled. Soot from her face and hair streaked the fabric, but Micah’s scent remained.

“
Sorry I had to disturb your rest. If we don’t leave soon, it’ll be dark before we get to your place.”

Near the front door, three valises waited. She noted that Micah had washed and changed clothes, so he must have gone to the river. “Did I sleep so soundly I did not hear you and your brothers gather your clothing?”

“
We tried to be real quiet. Left our boots on the porch.”

Imagine that. Except for the few hours last night in Micah’s arms, she hadn’t slept well in months. She had begun to think her body would never reclaim the carefree rest it craved.

“
There’s a bucket of water for you on the table.”

Beside it were some rags and a bar of her lavender soap. The lilac dress she wore yesterday lay across a chair. A white enameled chamber pot sat beside the bed. “You are very thoughtful.”

Micah looked embarrassed. “I’ll wait outside. Let me know when you’re ready to leave.”

After peering out the window to be certain the men were busy, she relieved herself and put the lid back on the pot. At least she hadn’t thrown up her lunch. Slipping off her outer clothing, she scrubbed herself and tidied her hair.

She slid into the lilac dress. After examining the soot-stained yellow one, she determined it was ruined, then balled it up and laid it in the fireplace. She fastened her shoe buttons, remembering how nice it had been to have Micah perform that simple task for her yesterday and this morning. Assured she was as neat as possible, she walked to the door and stepped outside.

Micah saw her immediately and strode her way. “Great, we’ll go on to your place now. That is, if you’re up to it.”

She nodded. “I...where should I empty the water?” She looked around for a privy and whispered, “And the chamber pot?”

“
Don’t worry, Bert and Slim will take care of everything.”

The other four men joined them. Each appeared to have washed and Micah’s brothers also had changed clothes. Zach grabbed two of the bags and Joel the other, and they stashed them in the buggy.

Micah guided her to the rig. “We’re ready.” He lifted her up as if she were a child.

Joel and Zach mounted horses and Micah retied his mount to the back of the rig. Bert and Slim stood nearby.

Slim smiled at her then saluted Micah. “Don’t you worry none about us. We’ll be fine here. We’ll do everything just like you said, Cap’n.”

Bert nodded. “Yes, Cap’n, you can count on us. We’re sure proud we met you, Miz Stone.”

“
In spite of the fire, I’m pleased to have met you both. Thank you for the wonderful meal.”

Micah guided the buggy out of the yard and back on the trail. Joel and Zach rode beside them. No one spoke and Hope thought the brothers were too tired for conversation. She certainly was.

The sun was low on the horizon when they arrived at her ranch house. Wispy clouds created a lovely sunset. A breeze sent a dust devil whirling across the road. A road runner ran beside the carriage, it’s brown plumage and crest blending into the shadows when it turned toward a mesquite tree. After the turmoil of the afternoon, the lovely evening seemed from a different world than the charred ruins of Micah’s barn.

Her hacienda came in sight. Hope’s heart sank as they drew near. The wide, open gates revealed a drama. Inside the tall walls surrounding her home, her aunt and uncle were loading their belongings into their buggy. Another wagon stood to one side, and a man unloaded a stack of bags and containers.

Micah asked, “Isn’t that Mr. Hoskins who owns the livery stable?”

Joel said, “Looks like him.” He laughed. “Trust our aunts to press him into service when they reached town.”

Hope spotted two women who fit Micah’s descriptions of his aunts standing near Mr. Hoskins. Eduardo wasn’t in sight. Ramona raced frantically between the two newcomers to Hope’s aunt and uncle.

Zach chuckled. “Looks like the aunts didn’t lose any time after I sent their wire. Made the stage from Weatherford all right. What’ll you bet they soon have things going their way?”

“
Damn,” Joel said. “Uh, begging your pardon, little sister, but I’d hoped the Montoyas would have moved out by now. Would have saved us what looks to be a nasty confrontation.”

Hope spoke sharply, “You men have forgotten that I am a Montoya.”

Micah sent her a glare. “You
were
a Montoya. For now you’re a Stone, and we take care of our own.”

She straightened her spine, suddenly reminded of how disheveled she must appear. “I can handle Tio Jorge and Tia Sofia.” When she saw the unrelenting set of Micah’s jaw, she said, “They are my family, the same as your brothers and aunts are yours. You must allow me to talk to them.”

Micah nodded. “You can start, but if there’s trouble, I’ll take over.”

Tia Sofia spotted them first. She tugged at Tio Jorge’s arm and pointed. All activity stopped, except the livery stable man, who seemed to increase speed unloading the aunts’ trunks and cases. Before Micah guided the buggy near the house, the man from the livery stable leaped into his wagon and set the horses off at a trot. He shot through the double gates’ broad opening and veered wide off the road, bouncing across range to avoid them, and kept going. Hope marveled that a wagon wheel or axle did not break.

Joel and Zach dropped back to let Micah and Hope arrive first. Micah pulled the buggy near the courtyard fountain beside Tio Jorge and Tia Sofia. Joel and Zach rode over to their aunts. Poor Ramona, looking frazzled, rushed to stand with Tia Sofia.

Micah helped Hope down and walked with her.

Hope braced herself for the tirade she expected. “Tia Sofia, Tio Jorge, you received my letter.”

Her aunt burst into tears. “How could you do this to us? Marry without our knowledge or consent, without your uncle to give you away?” Her eyes grew wide and she gasped. “Look at your hair, your shoes. Is this the way a lady behaves?”

Tio Jorge rushed at Micah. “Murderer! What have you done to our niece?”

Hope stepped forward and held up her hand. “Wait, it is not as you think. While we were having lunch at Micah’s ranch, someone set fire to his barn.”

“
The hands sent word of the fire and that you were seen there.” Tio Jorge glared at Micah. “A real man would have protected his wife and kept her out of harm’s way.”

Micah’s jaw clenched and he stepped forward. Certain there would be harsh words, she stepped between the men and touched her uncle’s arm. “Tio, he did protect me, and asked me to remain safely in his home with the door barred. But a wife helps her husband, so I did what I could. Would Tia Sofia have done less for you?”

Her aunt put her hands on her cheeks. “She is right, Jorge. Did I sit idle while our hay burned those years ago?”

Tio Jorge’s hatred for Micah seared his words like a brand. “If anything happens to my niece—a scratch on her finger—I will see you hanged even if I must do it alone.” He turned to his wife. “Come, Sofia, we will go home.”

Hope chewed on her lip as she watched her aunt and uncle walk away. They seemed genuinely to care for her. In case they were not the killers, she couldn’t let them part this way.

“
Tío, tía
! Wait!” She rushed to hug her uncle then pressed a kiss to her aunt’s cheek. “Thank you both for your care.
Vaya con Dios
. I will see you soon.”

Surely they were innocent. Yet, no one had a better motive or opportunity, and Tio Jorge was so full of anger. When Micah and his brothers found the person responsible, if it wasn’t either Tia Sofia or Tio Jorge, she would apologize to her aunt and uncle and explain her concern for them. In the meantime, if by chance they were innocent, they would be much safer removed from her ranch.

Tio Jorge helped Tia Sofia onto the wagon, climbed aboard, then clicked the reins. Without a backward glance, her uncle drove away. Her aunt turned to offer a small wave and Hope returned the gesture.

Micah’s hand touched Hope’s waist. “Let me introduce you to my aunts.”

She leaned against him for support, fatigue dragging at her. “First, Micah, I simply must sit down. This has been a tiring day for everyone. Shall we all go inside?”

“
Dang, I should have thought of that first.” He helped her up the steps and into the house, stopping only long enough to signal to the others to come inside.

The cool interior refreshed her. The house was built of thick adobe bricks plastered over inside and out. Though the outside was painted sandy beige, inside dark woodwork accented creamy white walls. Wide windows and arches offered ample ventilation while the foot-deep walls held out the heat.

Hers was the most beautiful hacienda anywhere, she was positive. Until she determined her poisoning, always she had felt safe and comfortable here. Living in a home built like a fortress, had advantages. Before the poison, her only threat had been her father’s temper.

Hadn’t he reminded her often enough that she should have been born male?
“We named you Hope because I had hoped you’d be a boy
,
” he’d said so many times, always followed by a cruel laugh. In all her life, he’d never said one kind word to her, had never shown any sign he held affection for her. She often wondered if he’d cared about anyone or anything except the ranch and his money.

Now all this was hers. She could do with it as she wished, providing she survived this assassin’s attempts. Looking at the man by her side, she believed her chances had increased five-fold from a few days ago.

Consuela rushed up. “Señorita...” she looked at Micah and dropped a slight curtsy. “
Por favor.
Señora, we worried for you when we heard of the fire. You wish us to prepare dinner now or help you to your room?”

“
Neither yet. We will wait in the salon. Please ask the others to come so I may introduce my husband and his family.” Leaning on Micah’s arm, she crossed the terracotta-colored tiles and entered the large room used to greet guests. Choosing the nearest chair for herself, she indicated the sofas and chairs, “Please, make yourselves comfortable. We must discuss how this will be done.”