Journey of the Heart (20 page)

Sadie was surprised at the rush of sympathy she felt for Cait. She might have made an impulsive mistake, but was clearly suffering for it, and able to take responsibility for it, too. She seemed to feel sorrier for Gabe and Sky than for herself, which proved she was more grown-up than Sadie had given her credit for.

“Gabe’s been very nice about it,” Cait continued, “though I’m sure he’s still upset with me.”

Sadie smiled to herself. So Miss Caitlin Burke cared what Gabe thought of her. She was sure the younger woman was trying to find out whether Gabe had said anything to his sister about her. How interesting.

“Oh, I think he’s forgiven you,” Sadie replied kindly. “He’s made some mistakes with horses in his time.”

“It’s hard to believe, since he’s so good with them,” answered Caitlin, her relief almost palpable.

“Nobody’s perfect, Cait,” said Sadie with a touch of dry humor.

Cait blushed. “Of course not. I didn’t mean that Gabe was…just that…I admire him and so does my Da for how he is with horses.”

“Gabe has always been able to sense things with animals or people, and work like this shows him at his best. But when it comes to words, well, he hasn’t always been so good telling anyone, particularly women, how he feels.”

Sadie didn’t think Caitlin Burke had thought much about Gabe around women, from the way her eyes opened a little in surprise. Which was probably just as well, since she was engaged and leaving by the end of the summer.

One morning at the end of her first week on the ranch, both Elizabeth and Cait apologized to Sadie after breakfast. “Cait and I must go into town, Sadie, to meet with the dressmaker. Cait will need some new dresses for her trip back east. You are welcome to come with us, of course,” Elizabeth added.

“I think I’ll stay here, if that is all right with you, May I take Snowflake out?”

“Why, of course. Just be careful not to go too far.”

“I think I am pretty sure of my way now,” Sadie reassured her.

She knew the boundaries of the ranch and headed up into the hills, the way she and Cait and Elizabeth had ridden. But they had never gone up into the mountains and she could feel them pulling her. Snowflake was fresh and she decided to see if she could find the sheepherder’s camp.

It took a good hour to climb to the high meadows, but the mare was surefooted and all Sadie had to do was enjoy the scenery. The first meadow she reached was dotted with sheep and as she rode through them she was met by a black-and-white dog barking furiously.

Snowflake clearly did not appreciate his presence and Sadie had to work hard to keep her going steady. She’d wanted to go farther, but it seemed like the dog might not let her through the meadow.

Suddenly he turned and ran off, only to come back, looking over his shoulder at the gray-haired man who followed him. It must be Eduardo, the Burkes’ shepherd, Sadie realized. He was carrying a shotgun and she waved and called to him, hoping he wouldn’t feel threatened by a woman, even if she was a stranger.

“
Hola,
Eduardo.”

“
Hola, señorita
. Do I know you?”

“I am Sadie Hart, Gabe’s sister,” she explained.

Eduardo smiled. “I didn’t know Señor Hart had a sister.”

“I’m here on a visit from Texas,” she explained. “Usually Mrs. Burke and Caitlin and I ride together, but this morning they had to go into town and I decided to explore a little farther on my own.”

“
Ten cuidado, señorita
,” warned Eduardo, his smile fading. “We have had some trouble, as I’m sure you know.”

“Yes, Gabe told me about the sheep. But you are the one who needs to be careful.”

Eduardo lifted his shotgun. “I am always prepared,
señorita
. And my dog, he always lets me know if someone’s coming. Would you like a cup of coffee?”

“
No,
gracias.
I’m going to ride up a little farther before I turn back.”

“There’s another meadow through the trees, a few hundred feet up.”

“Thank you, Eduardo,” she said with a wave as she turned Snowflake.

“
Hasta luego, señorita
.”

The view from the next meadow was spectacular. Sadie could see the whole valley spread beneath her and off in the distance, the long mesa north of El Morro. She turned back reluctantly, but she didn’t want to stay so long that Gabe or the Burkes got worried about her.

When she reached the first meadow, Eduardo and his dog were nowhere in sight so she rode through and started down the mountain. Maybe it was because she was in a hurry and Snowflake could sense it. Maybe the horse was still nervous after encountering the dog, but halfway down the trail she stumbled and Sadie almost went over her head.

“Easy, girl, easy. It’s all right.”

But it wasn’t, for she could see that the mare was favoring her right foot and by the time they were down to the foothills, she was limping painfully, and Sadie was forced to dismount.

She lifted the mare’s foreleg and examined her hoof first. There was no stone caught in the shoe, which was what Sadie had hoped for. She felt up Snowflake’s hock. It was warm and a little swollen. She’d probably put all her weight on it when she stumbled.

“Oh, Snowflake, I’m sorry,” said Sadie, though she really had nothing to be sorry for. These things happened, but it would be a long walk back to the ranch.

The mare was limping badly and it took a long time to come down the trail out of the hills. They were almost down when Sadie heard a horse trotting down behind her. When she turned, she recognized the rider immediately: Señor Juan Chavez. What was he doing, riding on the Burke property? She could feel her heart beating faster, but she kept her face calm and expressionless. She’d be damned if he would know she was afraid of him.

“It is Señorita Hart, isn’t it?”

Sadie gave him a curt nod. “
Buenos dias,
Señor Chavez.”

“You remembered my name. I’m flattered.”

“Don’t be,” Sadie replied flatly as she walked on. Maybe if she ignored him, he would just ride on.

“When a pretty
señorita
remembers me, how can I not be flattered.” His words were all charm, but when Sadie looked up, his green eyes were as opaque as ever.

“You are notorious, Señor Chavez, which is why I remembered you. And I am not a ‘pretty
señorita
,’ so you can save your charm for someone else.” Chavez laughed and Sadie was surprised to realize that his amusement was spontaneous and genuine.

“What happened to your mare?” he asked, dismounting as he spoke.

“She stumbled coming down. I think her hoof caught on a rock and her leg took all the weight.”

“Let me take a look.” Chavez handed Sadie the reins of his horse and she took them without thinking and then looked down at them, wondering why she was letting him go near one of Michael Burke’s horses. He seemed to be examining Snowflake gently enough, but Sadie moved closer, as though to protect the mare.

“Don’t worry, Miss Hart. I won’t hurt her. She’s definitely suffered a bad strain, but I don’t think there will be any permanent damage.”

Sadie was so relieved to hear that her appraisal was probably correct that she smiled at Chavez without thinking.

“You’ll have to ride with me, Miss Hart,” he said, as though expecting her to immediately jump into his saddle because he suggested it.

“I most certainly do not have to,” Sadie answered in her best schoolteacher voice.

Chavez pushed his sombrero back and smiled at her. Sadie wasn’t sure, but she thought his green eyes might even have shared in the smile.

“Señorita Hart, I assure you I mean no harm.”

“Not even after your oh so subtly veiled warning in town, Señor Chavez? I hear you have great talents as a bully.”

“You’ve heard the truth, Miss Hart, but I choose the time and the place. And what could be more annoying to Gabe Hart than that I rescue his sister. I am only taking advantage of the situation. He and Burke will be very aware that I could have threatened you but didn’t.”

“I don’t intend to give you that satisfaction, Señor Chavez.”

His eyes turned opaque again. “That is a shame,” he replied smoothly, “for your sweet, wide mouth looks like it could give me much satisfaction,
señorita
.”

Sadie raised her hand to slap him and he caught it in midair. His hand closed around her forearm like a vise and when she finally relaxed and he let her go, she rubbed it, knowing she would have bruises the next day.

“
Disculpame, señorita
. But I have not let anyone strike me for years.”

“You are a common bully, Mr. Chavez. And from what I have heard, you work for an even bigger one. I have no respect for bullies. I’ve seen too many of them on the school yard,” said Sadie, her voice full of contempt.

“Nevertheless, if you won’t ride with me, I will have to keep you company for at least part of the way, Miss Hart.”

Sadie grabbed Snowflake’s reins and started walking. Chavez mounted his black and in a second was beside her. “Just because you are being stubborn, I see no reason for me to walk,” he said with a smile that almost made him look human again.

Sadie looked away and they worked their way silently down out of the foothills. When they reached the valley, Chavez said: “I’ll go a little farther with you,
señorita
. But I doubt I would be very welcome on the Burkes’ ranch.”

“Why is it that sometimes you sound Mexican and at others, a gringo, Mr. Chavez?” The question popped out before Sadie realized she was asking it aloud. She looked up at Chavez and saw his face looked more closed than usual.

“It is a long story, Miss Hart,” he answered. “And I am very sure that you are not really interested in my life history.”

She shouldn’t be, thought Sadie, but really, the man was intriguing to her. From what she had heard of him, by no stretch of the imagination could he be called a good man, but she had to admit that whatever his motive was, she appreciated his company on the long hot walk. It would have seemed endless without him.

They were within sight of the entrance gate when Chavez finally pulled up his horse. “
Adios, señorita
. I am sure you will be fine from here.”

“
Muchas gracias,
Señor Chavez.
Y vaya con Dios
,” she added. She didn’t know whether he heard her or not. It had come out spontaneously, but now that she thought of it, if anyone needed to ‘go with God,’ it was Juan Chavez, who had the look of one who rode with the devil.

Halfway to the ranch house, Sadie saw a horse and rider cantering toward her. It was Gabe on his own paint and he pulled up suddenly, creating a cloud of dust around them as soon as he saw her.

“My God, Sarah Ellen, we’ve been worried about you. It is almost dinnertime and you left after breakfast.” He dismounted and threw his arms around her in a bear hug.

“I’m all right, Gabe,” she reassured him when he let her go, “but Snowflake strained her hock coming down from the mountains.”

Gabe knelt to examine it and without thinking Sadie said, “Señor Chavez said he thought that although it was a bad sprain, it probably wouldn’t cause lasting damage.”

“Chavez! What the hell were you doing with him?” exclaimed Gabe, straightening up and glaring at her.

“I wasn’t doing anything with Mr. Chavez, Gabe,” Sadie replied coolly. “He met me on the trail down from the sheep camp. He may not be the Burkes’ friend, but he offered me a ride and when I wouldn’t take it, accompanied me to the gate. I am grateful to him for that, whatever he is.”

Gabe took off his hat and ran his hand through his hair. “I’m sorry I snapped at you, Sadie. I guess I’m thankful you met him, too,” he added doubtfully. “But what was he doing around the sheep anyway, unless to poison a few more?”

“He hadn’t poisoned any today, as far as I know.” Sadie wasn’t sure why she was coming to Chavez’s defense. If he was hanging around the Burkes’ sheep, he was likely up to no good. She certainly didn’t really like the man, with his cold eyes and threatening manner, but he wasn’t the devil incarnate!

“I feel terrible about Snowflake, Gabe. The Burkes have been so good to me, and here I go and lame one of their best horses.”

“You weren’t riding foolishly. I know you too well for that, Sarah Ellen.”

“No, I wasn’t. And I didn’t go off the ranch, either, Gabe. Just a little farther than we’ve gone before. It was just that we were coming downhill on a trail with a lot of loose rock.”

“It could have happened to anyone,” Gabe reassured her. He took a closer look at his sister. She looked on the verge of tears and must be exhausted from her long walk. “You look completely done in, Sadie. Here, you take Buck and ride up to the house and I’ll lead Snowflake.” She gave him a grateful smiled and mounted his paint.

“Tell Mrs. Burke to go ahead with dinner and I’ll be right along.”

“Yes, Gabe.”

* * * *

When she dismounted in front of the corral, she heard the front door slam and Elizabeth hurried over to her, with Michael not far behind.

“Sadie! Thank God you are safe. We were so worried about you.”

“I am fine, Mrs. Burke,” said Sadie and then looked over at Michael. “Oh, Mr. Burke, I am so sorry to tell you this, but Snowflake strained her hock.” She gestured down the road. “Gabe is leading her in.”

“I was hopin’ it was something like that and not that you’d met up with any of Mackie’s men,” said Michael. “How did it happen?”

“I wanted to get up a little higher than we’ve ridden before,” said Sadie apologetically. “I followed the trail up to the sheep camp. I met Eduardo and rode the meadows. It was when I started down that she caught herself on a loose rock.”

“That was a long walk home, Sadie,” said Elizabeth solicitously. “Come, I have dinner on the table.”

“Gabe said to sit down and eat, Mrs. Burke. He’ll join us when he gets Snowflake settled.”

“Keep both our dinners hot,
a ghra,”
said Michael. “I’ll just be walkin’ down to meet him.”

* * * *

Sadie gulped down a glass of lemonade before she even looked at her food. “Mr. Burke was very understanding,” she said, lifting her eyes to Elizabeth. “I feel so bad about the mare.”