HT02 - Sing: A Novel of Colorado (21 page)

She smiled and lifted a brow. “Does that mean we can try it? A little orchard?”

He gave her a wry grin. “We can try. But I’m betting those little saplings will be next winter’s kindling.” He shook his head. “This just isn’t fruit country.”

“It works in Penrose. And on the Western Slope.”

“Different conditions, temperatures. But you can try it if it’ll make you happy.”

“Oh! Thank you!” She reached up on tiptoe and kissed him on the cheek.

“Heavens, Mrs. McAllan, what will all these fine people say?”

“They’ll say ‘those McAllans must be a happily married couple.’”

“They’d be right,” he said, smiling into her eyes. “I’m proud of you, Dess. It’s come to my attention how much you do at the ranch, for our family, for the boys. I see you, Dess. I know what you put in, day in and day out. And I appreciate it.”

She hovered there for a moment, relishing his kind praise. “Should we go, then? Grab those saplings?”

“Sure,” he said. “Sure.”

Bryce, Robert, Odessa, and Samuel were eating at Fanny’s Restaurant, enjoying a delicious dinner of roast chicken and new potatoes with a healthy portion of early peas—“just came in on a train from California,” the waitress announced proudly—with Samuel happily asleep in the new large pram perched beside their table. Odessa had no idea what she would do with the pram once they returned to the ranch, but it satisfied her brother-in-law to have accomplished what he set out to do.

They talked of life in Bangor, of the family’s shipping business, and new trade routes that were opening around the world.

“Deciding to take part in some of the trade, rather than simply build the ships, was some of the most clever advice I ever took,” Robert said with satisfaction. “You would not believe the loads of Victorian nonsense we’re importing from China—shiploads of furniture, bolt after bolt of silk fabric … I tell you the truth, we could keep ten more ships busy full time, simply on that venture. And thank God for it! After losing those two ships this winter, we’d be in dire straits ourselves, had we not expanded in such a fashion.”

Odessa studied him as he spoke, waiting for him to broach the subject of the shipping business success versus the ranch’s struggles, but then Robert asked Odessa about growing up in Philadelphia. They realized they knew a couple of the same families, connecting them, albeit loosely, but connecting them all the same. Robert told a hilarious story about his friend trying to woo a girl that Odessa once knew, all to no avail. But the story amused her, bringing back happy memories of Philadelphia society. It all felt like so long ago …

Odessa sat back against her chair, uncomfortably full after a slice of apple pie, but completely satisfied. It felt so grand to be out, away from the ranch for the day. Most times when she came with Bryce to Westcliffe, they bought their supplies and made their way home. It never occurred to them to eat a little early and head back using the last of daylight to reach the ranch. “I love this,” Odessa said to Bryce. “This is the ultimate luxury, not cooking—having someone else feed us for a change.”

He smiled over at her. “You deserve it. We’ll need to make it a habit, every time we come to Westcliffe.” A shadow crossed over his face. Money. He was thinking about money again, the future.

Robert paid the bill, and they rose to depart. But as they were pulling on their jackets, Sheriff Olsbo and his wife entered the restaurant. The sheriff glanced over to his wife and said, “Would you mind if I take a moment with these folks?”

The short, well-rounded woman waved him onward as she followed a waitress to a small table for two in the corner. Odessa instinctively knew she didn’t want to know the words that would come from Sheriff Olsbo’s mouth. But Bryce reached out a hand to her, and Robert was already proudly pushing the pram out the restaurant door.

“Come, Dess,” Bryce said, reading the hesitation on her face.

Together, they walked out the door and Odessa pulled her coat a little tighter around her. The evening still held spring’s chill. They gathered together, and the sheriff eyed Robert and then glanced at Bryce.

“It’s all right,” Bryce said. “This is my brother, Robert. There are no secrets between us.”

Odessa wondered, wondered when he had told his brother about that hateful day when Reid and Doctor Morton came to the ranch, murdered their ranch hand Nels, and kidnapped her.

“Reid Bannock’s been sighted in the county.” The sheriff’s voice was low, gentle, his eyes on Odessa.

Her breath came out in a swift whoosh, and she was glad that Samuel was safely in that ridiculous pram, because suddenly, her legs felt weak. Bryce wrapped an arm around her waist. “You all right?”

She ignored his question, straightened, focused on her anger toward Reid, and stared at the sheriff. “When? Where?”

“We trailed him for two days and lost him this morning, just over the pass. He was instructed to stay away,” he rushed on, his big hands bouncing in the air. “If I get a hold of him, I have the right to jail him immediately.”

“Where was he heading?” Bryce asked.

“Hopefully, he’s on his way West. Just took a shortcut to tell me he’s man enough to taunt me.”

“No,” Odessa whispered. She glanced at her husband. “He knows, Bryce. He’s found out about the gold bar … or he’s coming for us.”

The sheriff glanced around and then leaned in. “There aren’t but a few who know about the gold,” the sheriff said, doubt lining every word.

“But the legend is well-known around these parts, and Cañon City isn’t far away. If he caught wind of it, wouldn’t he come to the same conclusion as we did? That the treasure Sam was trying to direct us to was not a new treasure but rather an ancient one? And that bar might be just one of many more?” Odessa said.

She grimaced as both Bryce and the sheriff shushed her. In her agitation, she hadn’t realized how her voice had risen.

“All I know for sure,” the sheriff returned in a hushed voice, “is that if he dared to come ’round, he’d come up against Bryce’s shotgun, with twelve men to back him up. And I’m sayin’ I wouldn’t question a man who shot a trespasser like that on his property.”

“
If
Bryce is home,” Odessa ground out. “And what if word has reached Reid that we found that gold bar in Louise’s cabin? Reid has always thought we knew the way into Sam’s mine. He’ll find us even more irresistible if he thinks we know the location of conquistador gold, that he could simply lift and load.”

“What do you mean by ‘if Bryce is home’?” the sheriff asked, eyes narrowing in confusion. “You mean if he’s not in the house?”

“No,” she said, barely shoving back tears. “If he’s in the country. If he’s in Spain.”

The sheriff glanced from Odessa to Bryce. “You thinkin’ of takin’ a trip?”

“Thinking about it,” Bryce allowed.

“I’m thinkin’ you ought to consider different options,” Sheriff Olsbo said carefully, gesticulating with his big paw of a hand. “As I said, I don’t expect Bannock will come this way. But if he did … I don’t want your wife and child at home alone.”

“They wouldn’t be alone. I’d have the hands rotating watch.”

Sheriff Olsbo raised one doubtful, bushy brow. He shook his head. “How ’bout you take the missus with you to Spain? That’s a six, nine-month trip from here.”

Odessa’s eyes lifted in surprise. Hope surged through her. It was better to take the risk and be together than—

Bryce was already shaking his head. “Impossible. The consumption makes it too dangerous for Odessa.”

“Haven’t you struggled with bouts of consumption yourself?” the sheriff pressed. Bryce glowered in his direction, and the sheriff immediately backpedaled. “I’ve said enough.” He raised both hands. “Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, friends. Let’s hope Bannock’s simply on his way elsewhere. I’ll let you know if I catch wind of anything about him. And you let me know if you head East, all right?”

Bryce took his outstretched hand and shook it, carefully avoiding Odessa’s gaze. The sheriff shook Robert’s hand too, then tipped his hat toward Odessa. “You need anything, ma’am,” he said, “you come and find me, understood?”

“Thank you, Sheriff,” she said. And as she turned away, she tried not to think of a reason she might need to find him.

As the McAllans and the sheriff parted ways, a man bent to light his cigarette, right around the corner from them all. He grinned up at the moon. He’d been following the McAllans all over town, even sitting at a table near them through dinner, but this, this was exactly what Reid Bannock had been after. Confirmation that the McAllans had the gold bar and had not yet retrieved the rest. It sounded as if they were unsure where the rest might lay, but if Bannock was right—he’d find a way to help them figure it out.

And then the treasure would be theirs.

“Bryce, what are you doing?” Odessa said, hating the high pitch of her tone. She bounced Samuel, who had been fussy since their return.

He paused as he put on his chaps and glanced toward his brother. “Now, Dess, you know I need to do this.”

She shook her head. “No. No, Bryce. You can’t mean to go after him.”

“I’m taking Tabito with me.” He reached out to her, but she took a step backward, still shaking her head. He bit his lip and looked down at the floor, then back to her. “Robert is here with you. You and Samuel will be safe with him.”

“You are going after Bannock?” Robert asked calmly, from the chair.

Bryce reached for a bag and tossed it over his shoulder. “Tabito’s the best tracker around. Chances are Bannock’s moved on, but I’m going to make certain he has. If he’s hanging about, he’s after me or mine. Best to meet him head-on.”

Robert rose. “Why not bring four men in here to guard your family? I’d like to come along.”

Bryce cocked his head and rubbed his neck. “I’d feel better knowing you were here with Odessa and the baby. Bring in as many men as you feel necessary to back you up.” He straightened and looked to Odessa. “We’ll be back within a week’s time. If not, send for the Sheriff.”

“Why not go for the sheriff now?” Odessa said, hearing the fear in her own voice.

Bryce shook his head. “We won’t know anything more than he told us!” He clamped his lips shut, frustrated by his own sharp tone. “Look,” he said, raising a conciliatory hand, “no one has attacked this ranch in years, other than Reid Bannock. I’m not about to sit here and allow it to happen again.”

He stepped toward her and wrapped an arm around her and the baby. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”