Love Finds You in Sundance, Wyoming (28 page)

Travis hauled back hard on his horse’s mouth and slid to a stop, horror rising inside. Angel had fallen from her horse, and a man was swinging down alongside her. His cowboys had already accounted for one dead rustler, and the herd of stampeding cattle took care of another. Arizona and Wren were hard on the heels of two who had fled, and his other cowhands were heading off the exhausted cattle. That left the hombre standing over Angel.

White-hot anger filled him. He’d seen Angel wing the rustler and the man pull his pistol, getting off a shot before Travis could so much as lift his gun.

He lashed Raven’s sides. “Yaw!” The big black leapt forward, and Travis lifted his pistol. The rustler bent over Angel’s prone form, and Travis let loose with a round. It fell short, clipping the grass alongside the man’s leg.

The big man jumped sideways, and an ugly oath rolled from his mouth. He turned, gun in hand.

Travis kept his horse moving, guiding him with one hand and using his knees to urge him forward, while his other hand kept a firm grip on his gun. Another fifty feet and he’d be close enough to land a shot.

Ping!
The whip of a bullet zipped past his ear. Another report sounded, louder this time, and his hat flew from his head. His scalp burned, and something warm trickled down the side of his face. He pushed the discomfort aside and raised his pistol again. Angel. What if his bullet hit Angel instead of the rustler? Holstering his weapon, he leaned low in the saddle, his mind racing. Another minute and he’d be there.

The outlaw leaned over Angel one last time, then swung away and grabbed his horse’s reins, pulling him to the side. He put his foot in the stirrup and started to rise. Travis called for more speed. Raven jumped a small wash and barreled across the clearing where Angel lay.

Travis dragged the stallion to a stop and catapulted from his saddle, launching himself and hitting the rustler full force. Raven trotted away, and the outlaw’s horse jumped sideways, almost trampling the men as they somersaulted across the ground.

Travis rolled onto his knees and pushed to his feet. He leaned down and grabbed the man’s shirt. The rustler groaned and slowly pulled his gun from his belt. Travis kicked it out of his hand, then yanked him to a standing position.

Suddenly, the outlaw lashed out with his good arm. His doubled fist caught Travis full in the stomach. Pain shot through Travis’s middle, and he doubled over. Another blow landed on the back of his head and he fell to his knees, struggling to shake off the throbbing. If this man got away, they’d probably never find him again. He had to pay for what he’d done to Angel. The cattle didn’t matter, but Travis had a horrible feeling he’d lost the woman he loved. He threw all of his strength into standing and made one last charge, throwing his arms around the man’s knees and knocking him to the ground.

They tumbled across the ground, fists pounding and boots kicking. Travis landed several hard punches to his opponent’s body. The rustler seemed to lose steam, and his swings grew weaker, only occasionally finding their mark.

Hooves entering the clearing gave Travis a renewed burst of energy. One of the other outlaws might be returning. It was time to end this. He drew back his arm and let loose with a mighty swing, connecting with the man’s bloody face. A loud crack echoed as Travis made contact with his chin, and the outlaw fell unconscious at his feet.

Travis leapt forward and scooped up the pistol he’d kicked out of the way and turned, holding it in front of him.

Nate swung down from his horse a few yards away. He dropped the reins, cast a glance at Travis, and rushed over to Angel. “How bad is she?”

“I don’t know. This hombre shot her and was getting away when I rode in.”

“Yeah, I saw you finish him off.” Nate leaned over the prostrate girl. “She’s bleeding bad.”

Travis tore his bandana from around his neck. “Give me yours.” He held out his hand and grabbed the one Nate held out. “No good. They’re both filthy. You got anything else?”

Nate jogged to his horse and came back a moment later, holding a clean towel. “I keep an old one in my saddlebag.”

“Tear a piece off. We’ve got to stop the bleeding and get her to the ranch.”

As soon as Nate finished, Travis grabbed the cloth, opened the top buttons of her shirt, and pressed it against the wound high up in her shoulder. “Tear the rest in half and knot it together.”

Nate did as instructed and handed the long piece to Travis.

“Now help hold her up so I can get this wrapped around her chest.” They worked together for several long minutes without speaking. Finally, Travis sat back on his heels as Nate carefully laid Angel back on the ground. “The bleeding could start up again, but we’ve got a chance. How about the men?”

Nate looked up. “Arizona and Wren shot another of the rustlers, and they captured the last one. Wren took a bullet in the arm but it’s not serious. Looks like we’ve got two to take to the sheriff.”

“Good. You, Arizona, and Wren get this carcass loaded on a horse, but make sure you tie him good and proper. We don’t want him waking and getting away.”

“Looks like you winged him. Want I should tie up the wound?”

Travis grunted. He didn’t care if the man died from blood loss, but the sheriff might appreciate a live prisoner over a dead one. “Yeah. But I didn’t shoot him, Angel did. Just before he clipped her.”

Nate’s mouth firmed in a harsh line. “Plucky girl, our Angel. Wish she’d shot him dead center, though.”

“Yeah, but I’d hate to have his blood on her hands. Find Charlie or Bud and send one of them to town for the doctor. Tell him I don’t care if he has to ride the horse into the ground. Get there fast and get the doc back to the ranch.”

“You taking Angel?”

“Yes.” Travis stood. “Help me get her into the saddle, and I’ll sit behind her. I’m praying Libby and Maria will be able to pull her through.”

Nate nodded. “I’ll be praying, as well. God loves her. Don’t forget that.”

Travis wiped his hands down his pant legs. His fingers had started to swell, and he hoped he’d be able to hold Angel and the reins, but he wasn’t giving this precious cargo to anyone else. “I won’t. On second thought, send Bud after the doc and have Charlie come with me. Just in case I need him.”

“You got it.” He turned to leave then swung back again. “How ‘bout the cattle?”

“They don’t matter right now. Once we get these two to the sheriff and take care of Angel, you and the men can return and bring them back to the pasture near the spring.” He leaned over Angel and signaled Nate to come close. “Help me lift her.” He turned to his foreman. “I can’t lose her, Nate. I’ll string up that low-down rustler myself, if she dies.”

“Hold onto your faith, Travis. God hasn’t failed you yet, and I don’t think He’s going to start now.”

Travis waited for Charlie to dismount in front of the ranch house, then slipped off his horse, keeping his arms around Angel. Charlie stood on the other side, balancing her until Travis drew her into his arms.

Travis lifted his voice in a shout. “Libby. Maria. We need you out here.”

The front door banged open, and Libby ran across the porch. “What’s happened? How bad is she?”

“She’s been shot. Lost a lot of blood. It’s not good, Lib.”

Libby gasped. Her fingers came to her mouth, and she straightened. “All right. Let’s get her inside to her bed.” She turned to the gaping boy standing on the steps. “James. Ask Maria to heat water and then find clean rags. Tear up some of our towels if you have to, but make sure we have plenty.”

Maria came out as James bolted back inside. “
Dio mio
! Oh please, God, help us!” A sob broke from her lips, and she seemed to wilt against the nearby post.

Travis cradled Angel in his arms and made his way past Maria. “Hurry, now. There’s no time for tears if we’re going to save her. Help Libby.”

Maria nodded and held open the door. The next minutes passed in a haze as Travis carefully laid Angel on her bed. Libby waved him from the room. “We’ve got to take her clothes off, Trav, and wash the dried blood from the wound so we can see what we’re dealing with.”

Travis waited outside Angel’s door, pacing up and down the short hall. It felt like a lifetime but must’ve been only thirty minutes later when Libby stepped out of the room. Travis swung toward her, fear warring with hope in his chest. “Well?”

Libby took his hands and pressed them between hers. “I can’t tell much, but it doesn’t appear that the bullet hit any vital organs. Did you send for the doctor?”

“Yes. Bud went after him. I don’t know what’s taking them so long, but they should be here soon.” He stalked to the front door. James’s puppy set up a frantic yapping outside on the porch and, moments later, Travis heard horses traveling at a rapid gait up the lane. He stepped onto the porch and patted the dog while keeping an eye on the road. “Good boy, Dakota. You might make a decent watch dog, yet.”

Bud and the doctor reined their horses in at the rail and swung from their saddles. The doctor untied his bag from behind the cantle. “Bud tells me Miss Ramirez is hurt again. Gunshot, is it?”

“Yes. She got shot trying to save our cattle from a band of rustlers.”

The doctor labored up the steps and headed for the front door. “I know where her room is. I’ll send your sister out with a report once I know anything.” He bustled into the house, letting the door bang shut behind him.

Angel woke to the smell of blood and dirt. Memories rushed back almost faster than she could field them. The capture by Hinson. The cattle drive. Travis and the cowboys coming up behind the herd and opening fire. Hinson’s look of purpose and arrogance as he sighted down his gun at her heart. The sting of the bullet as it penetrated her body and she fell from her horse. Sinking into unconsciousness knowing the outlaw was nearby…

Where was she now? She rolled her head against something soft. Not the ground. She tried to touch it, but her arm wouldn’t move. Teeth-grinding pain shot through her shoulder, and she moaned.

“There now, honey, don’t try to move. You’re home.” Libby’s voice, soothing and comforting. “Can you open your eyes?”

Angel struggled to comply and finally fluttered her lashes a couple of times, trying to focus on the person hovering above her. She licked her lips. “Libby?” The question came out with a croak.

“Shh.” Libby smoothed the hair off her forehead. “You’re safe. You need to rest.”

“Travis?”

“He’s safe as well. All the men came home.”

Angel plucked at the covers with her free hand. “I don’t want to see him yet. Please.”

“Whatever you say, honey. Don’t fret now.”

“Hinson?”

Libby puckered her brow. “I don’t know who that is.”

“The outlaw leader—“ Angel struggled to speak and tried to swallow. “Who stole Travis’s cattle. Is he dead?”

“No. They captured him and took him to the sheriff’s office, along with another one of his men.”

Angel sank against the pillow and moaned. She’d only winged the man when she’d taken a shot at him but had prayed he’d be killed in the fray. He’d spill his guts to the sheriff to save his own hide. It was only a matter of time until she landed in jail.

Libby reached for a glass on the table next to the bed. “Here. Drink.” She slipped her hand under Angel’s neck, lifted her head, then eased her back against the pillow. “No more talking. The doctor says you’re going to recover, but he still needs to get the bullet out. You’re weak from blood loss and need to stay in bed a few days, but otherwise, you’ll heal.”

“How long has it been?”

“Just a few hours.”

Angel nodded and closed her eyes, then opened them a little. “Thank you.”

Libby smiled. “For what?”

“For caring about me.”

Sometime later Maria exited Angel’s room carrying a pan of red-tinged water. Travis took it and hefted it outside the back door, then reentered the kitchen. “Does Doc need more?”

“No. He is done dressing the wound.” Maria sank into a chair and wiped her forehead with the back of her sleeve. “Such agony that young one went through as the doctor probed for the bullet. But she did not speak a word—just clenched her teeth and closed her eyes.”

“She’s awake?” Travis wanted to race down the hall and see for himself, but he clamped down on his emotions. He had no idea what her condition was or when it might be safe to see her.

“Sí. But the doctor tells Libby that Angel must rest and not be disturbed.” She laid gentle fingers on his sleeve. “I am sorry. I see your worry. You care for her, no?”

“I do. Very much.” Travis patted the wrinkled hand. “I love her, Maria, and I asked her to be my wife, but she turned me down.”

“But why? I have seen her eyes when she looks at you. I thought— perhaps…”

He shrugged. “So did I. She said she doesn’t care for me in that way, and she’s returning with you to Italy.”

“Ah. That is the first time I have heard this, Signor. It would not be the right thing for her to do.”

He raised his brows. “You wanted her to come live with you.”

“Sí. But not at the expense of her happiness. She runs from something. I have felt that for some time now. Maybe it is fear. Maybe it is love. I do not know. I think it will be up to you to find out.” She smiled and stepped away. “I go to help Smokey with the meal, and later I will sit with my granddaughter.” Her bright eyes sparkled. “I do not know how that man ran his kitchen before I came.” She tsked over the last words and disappeared into the kitchen.

Libby opened Angel’s door and ushered the doctor out before her. “Thank you for coming. You’ll stop by again in the morning?”

“Certainly.” He turned to Travis. “I should take a look at that graze on your head.”

Travis held up his hand. “I’m fine. A bit of a headache is all, but Libby will tend to it.”

“That’s a plucky young woman.”

“So Signora de Luca told me.”

The doctor nodded and shifted his bag in his hand. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” He strode to the door and stepped outside without looking back.

Libby moved up alongside Travis. “There’s something you need to hear.”

“Oh?” Travis wrenched his thoughts from Angel and focused on Libby. “What’s that?”

“Angel said something rather strange.”

Travis’s senses went on alert. “Strange how?”

Libby hesitated and twisted a strand of hair between her fingers. “She knew the outlaw’s name that you captured. Did you tell her?”

“No.” Travis frowned, trying to think back. “She was unconscious when we discovered their names. How would she know Bart Hinson?”

“I don’t know. I told her he’d been captured, and she seemed to wilt.”

He stepped away and headed down the hall. “That does it. I’m getting to the bottom of this.”

“Wait, Travis.” Libby’s stern voice hit him square in the back.

He halted and did a quarter turn. “What?”

“Angel told me she doesn’t want to see you.”

His heart plummeted. “Did she say why?”

“No. She simply asked that you not come anytime soon. I think it’s important you respect that request.”

“Fine.” He spun on his heel and stalked past her.

“Where are you going?”

“It’s high time I paid a visit to the sheriff. Maybe this Bart Hinson can shed some light on Angel’s behavior.”