Echoes of the Heart (13 page)

           
When
extensive herd sales transpired, the bank held greater deposits.
 
Knowing he could not be too cautious, he made
the decision to discuss the strangers with John.

He entered the
office to find his deputy cleaning rifles he had taken from the cabinet near
the door.
 
While wiping gun oil from a
shiny blue metal barrel, he looked up at Cash with a tight-lipped grin.

“Thought I would
get these ready, just in case.”

 
“Guess you noticed them, too.”
 
He checked his revolver making sure it
carried a full load.

“I’ll talk to
Angie later.
 
Maybe she knows
something.”
 
Sliding his gun back into
the leather holster, he turned to the door.

“I need to tell
Slim, Chuck will stop by to pick up my bull for breeding, so I am headed to the
ranch.”

John continued
cleaning.
 
“I’ll keep things under
control here.
 
By the way, did you talk
to Chad?”

“He’ll stop by
when they bring in the herd today.
 
Fill
him in if I’m not here when he arrives.”

He adjusted his
gun belt while walking to saddle Rabbit for the ride to his ranch.
 
The spirited Appaloosa set out at a slow gait
heading westward, breaking into a run at the edge of town.

Thirteen

A cat on fire,
Raeden ran up the staircase, undoing buttons along the way and tore to her
room.
 
She kicked off shoes in the corner
and yanked the dress off her shoulders letting it fall in a heap on the
floor.
 
Attempting to remove the
lingering scent of Cash off her skin, she splashed water over her body then
hastily slipped into riding apparel.
 
Still pulling the last boot, she hopped to the door.

           
Plagued
by hunger, she dashed to the kitchen to slap some cold bacon between slices of
bread, consuming the last bite before reaching the barn.

           
With
her arm extended, Arte snickered his greeting while stepping closer and pressed
a soft muzzle into her hand.
 
She laid
her cheek softly on his forehead, happy to be with her friend.

           
The
bridle hung over one shoulder when she entered the stall.
 
He pawed the earth in anticipation as she
raised it over his proud chiseled head.
 
She lifted his chin blowing a slight breath into his nostril to calm him
and walked him out to the tack room where Nick stood, waiting with the saddle.

           
His
expression appeared grim while he tightened the straps around Arte’s expansive
girth.
 
“Nice day for a ride.
 
Are you going alone?”

           
Raeden
pulled on riding gloves and walked toward her mount.
 
“Yes, it’s a beautiful day.
 
Where do you suggest?
 
I have no desire to get lost.”

           
Gathering
the reins tightly around Arte’s sleek muscled neck, she mounted while he
pranced in a circle before facing Nick.
 
Hesitating for a moment, Nick spoke.
 
“If you head north you’ll find a stand of trees to serve as a marker, a little
farther, there’s a large ranch.
 
You
can’t miss it.”

           
Arte
circled, pivoting on hindquarters and hopping on front legs while she pulled
his chin to his neck to maintain control.
 
He skipped in place and his head bobbed against his restraints then snorted
his discontent.

           
Watching
Raeden, Nick’s mouth fell open, his hands limp at his sides, staring wide-eyed
in amazement as Raeden controlled the restive steed.
 
“It’s not always safe around here.
 
Maybe I should ride with you.”

           
“No
thanks, Nick.
 
You have my promise I will
not go too far, just enough to start getting my bearings.”

                       
She
reined in a northerly direction while the anxious horse pushed forward then
leapt into a gallop when Raeden gave him his head.
 
The powerful rhythm of Arte’s hooves beneath
and wind through her hair did wonders for Raeden’s disposition.—not to mention
the scant sandwich she had devoured like a school of piranha that had not eaten
for weeks.

           
Time
seemed to stand still.
 
They raced over
the grasslands then in the distance she spotted a thicket of Box Elder showing
their fall colors and slowed Arte’s pace.
 
A clear rippling creek meandered in from the east through the grove,
lush green meadow grass spread along the banks.

           
Halting
to rest in the shade, she led Arte to the stream for a drink.
 
He pawed at the water splashing droplets up
to his chest and blowing bubbles through his submerged nostrils then grazed on
the blades spiking through musty loam.

           
Raeden
drank from the brook before remounting Arte.
 
Following the streambed, she made the decision to continue the ride
knowing it impossible to get lost as long as she stayed near the water.
 
With the oasis behind them, her mount pranced
forward.
 
Raeden absorbed the splendid
panorama encircling their space.
 
The
pampas spread for miles around them touching the blue sky along the horizon
broken only by dots of trees and rock formations jutting from the earth.

***

Cash scanned the
horizon, breathing fresh air deep into his lungs and feeling at ease with the
sun on his face.
 
He knew this land like
the back of his hand, having lived here most of his life.
 
The beauty never ceased to amaze him.

           
The
rugged landscape changed drastically from season to season, giving no quarter
to those unable to survive under extreme conditions.

He followed the
stream running through his spread to the main house, inspecting the grounds
finding them in good repair, as usual, under the care of his foreman.

Beneath a
spreading tree, a distance from the house stood the family cemetery, scattered
with wild flowers and manicured shrubs.
 
He felt a knot in his stomach when he turned his gaze in the direction
of the graveyard and considered if he could ever live here again.

Like his father
and his father before him, ranching remained in his blood, but the pangs of
remorse pierced with a vengeance deep in his center, the loss of his wife and
newborn kept forcing him away.

Spotting the
caretaker moving Samson, his prize Hereford
bull, he reined toward him, dismounting to shake hands with Slim.
 
“Hi, Slim, the place looks great.”
 
He scratched Samson’s ears then led his
cowpony to water, dropping the reins before her, knowing she would not move.

“A man’s gotta’ do
somthun’ seein’ it’s a little slow since you don’t do much ranchin.”
 
Slim, an aging black cowboy spent numerous
hard years in the saddle before coming to work for his father.
 
Cash was only seventeen when he went away to
the university after the death of his mother, Samantha Cash Rydell.
 
She had tutored him at home until she passed
away.

           
Both
parents came from old money, leaving him with wealth and estates in Europe
once belonging to the Cash family.
 
He
had not traveled there yet, but planned to some time in the future, if he ever
got his head back on straight.

           
His
grandfather, a thrill seeker had moved from back east to South
Dakota with his wife to start the cattle ranch with
their only child Cash’s father, who loved this wild country and stayed on after
they passed.

Cash’s father had
died from a fall from a horse five years before.
 
Slim stayed on as foreman.
 
Cash felt fortunate having him at the ranch,
a friend he knew could be trusted with his very life if necessary.

Cash walked to
Rabbit.
 
“I have had my fill of full-time
ranching.
 
Just wanted to let you know
Chuck will be picking up Samson.”
 
A
light hint of sarcasm played in his tone.
 
“Didn’t want you to think him a rustler and shoot him.”

Filling the
canteen at the pump, he took a long drink.
 
“I’m going right back, there’s some new faces in town.
 
In case there is trouble, I need to be there.”

“I be needin’ sum
provisions.
 
You wudn’t happen to have
sum’ whiskey in those saddle bags?”

           
Cash
never brought anything with him for Slim.
 
Preferring to be a recluse, the man would never come into town if he
did.

Reaching the
reins, he swung into the saddle.
 
“See
you around when you come in for supplies.
 
We can get drunk and maybe you can call on one of those new girls at
Angie’s place.
 
I’ll set you up at the
hotel, stay as long as you like.”

Slim stood head
held high, grinning and gave him a casual salute.

His return passed
easily, Rabbit’s gait steady when he neared the familiar stand of trees.
 
Cash’s gaze caught the small figure riding on
horseback along the creek bed, perhaps a young lad.
 
Ever cautious, he placed a hand near the
rifle and waited for the boy to come close.

Recognizing the
blood bay from St. Louis, he bolted
ahead toward the unconcealed feminine curves in tight pants.
 
The notion he should protect her sparked
fury.
 
What in the hell is she doing out here riding alone?

           
Panic
grabbed her throat when Raeden eyed the rider dashing toward her, and the
feelings did not change when she recognized Cash on horseback.
 
Nowhere to hide, she dismounted Arte and
straight as an arrow stood her ground.
 
Dust surged around Rabbit as she skidded to a halt, Cash leapt off
before coming to a standstill.

Raeden hoped the
pounding in her chest would not give her away as she stood to face him with her
chin held high.

No emotion showed
on his face as he approached, his eyes roamed freely over her.
 
“What brings you out here, Miss Newell?
 
Not enough excitement at the store?
 
I didn’t think you would follow me this far.”

She stomped a
foot, hands balled at her sides.
 
“I’m
taking a ride, if it’s any of your business.”
 
Still embarrassed by her earlier behavior, she dropped her eyes to the
ground, avoiding his leer.
 
She had let
him touch her in places no lady would allow.
 
Just the thought made her tingle all over.

“Aren’t you afraid
you’ll get lost or taken hostage by some savage?”
 
The tone of his voice grew serious and his
features relaxed.
 
“You don’t even carry
a gun, you little fool.”

Is that a note of concern in his voice?
 
“It appears the only danger I need be
concerned with is you, Marshal.”
 
The
muscles in her face tensed.
 
“I know
exactly where I am, sir, and if you will kindly leave me alone, I will be
heading back home.”

A hint of arrogant
satisfaction emerged in his voice.
 
“Great, I’m going the same way myself.
 
We can ride together.”

Rabbit stepped
timidly forward and pushed Raeden backwards with her muzzle.
 
The sudden movement caused her to stumble and
fall flat on her rump.
 
She jumped up
laughing, brushing dust from her rear then moved to the filly.
 
Rabbit lowered her head and allowed Raeden to
rub her under her forelock and whisper in her ear.

Cash reached for
her reins looking bewildered.

           
“She
is a beautiful horse, Cash.
 
I’ve never
seen such markings.”

           
“Rabbit
is an Appaloosa, a favorite of the Indians.”

           
“Rabbit—that’s
a strange name.”

           
Cash
chuckled.
 
“Actually, her name is Little
Rabbit.
 
An Indian name, Dull Knife made
me a gift of her a few years back.”

Tension broken,
they walked side-by-side leading their horses along the stream, Cash at a slow
pace to allow Raeden to keep up.
 
“What
brings you out here, Marshal?
 
Looking
for bandits or cattle rustlers?”

He glanced at
Raeden.
 
“I thought I would rescue a
damsel in distress.”
 
His reply made her
smile.
 
His voice softened.
 
“I went out to my ranch to discuss a matter
with my foreman.”

Raeden playfully
kicked up a small rock scattering small chips of dirt.
 
“I didn’t realize you ranched along with your
job as marshal.
 
Do you come often?”