Redemption's Edge (13 page)

“Perhaps we should consider it.” Luke rode alongside his brother a few days later, watching the ranch hands circle up the cattle in a nearby pasture.

“What?”

“Taking the sheriff job until they can find someone else.”

Dax cocked an eyebrow and cast him a disbelieving look. “Is there a reason you think we should take on more work?”

“I’m not looking to take on more work, but this is something we’re trained to do and the town needs help. We could split it up.” Luke tipped his hat lower on his forehead, shading his eyes from the intense sun. “It may be something we should think about a little more.”

They rode in silence, combining the small herds into a large pasture until the sun began to set over the Territory Range. There were mountains in the eastern states, long ranges of unending forests and clear lakes. Yet neither Dax nor Luke had ever seen anything to rival the size and majestic beauty of the mountains in the western region.

“Have you selected men for tonight’s watch?” Luke slid off Prince and picked up a foreleg to inspect a hoof.

“Bull and Ellis are staying, along with several others. I think it would be a good idea if you and I circled the outer perimeter to keep watch for a while.”

“Out of sight?”

“That’s right.”

“I’d sure like to catch those doing the shooting. You think anyone else besides Tolbert is behind the attacks?”

“Hank doesn’t know of anyone else who’d attempt something like this. There’s a large ranch on the other side of Tolbert—too far away from this property to make any sense to pursue. Another good-sized ranch lies to the west of us. It’s owned by two brothers Hank’s known for years. He swears there’s no chance either would be involved in what’s going on. The other ranchers have small spreads and not enough men. His money’s on Tolbert, the same as ours.”

“What about Drake? Could he be working on his own?”

“Perhaps. He sure as hell would like to see us back in Texas. The man’s got a real temper. It got him into trouble several times under my command. He’s fearsome in a fight, but doesn’t know how to let it go afterwards. Tends to bring his mean streak back into camp. He has a history of gathering followers, those who don’t possess the brightest minds. He’s also the type others hire to carry out actions too dangerous or too beneath them.” Dax scanned the area once again and wondered if Drake could be working on his own without direct instruction from Tolbert.

“Did you recognize any of the men riding with him?”

“A couple were in my unit. Disappeared the same time he did. I would’ve ordered the lot of them shot if I’d had the extra men to track them down.” Dax signaled to Bull, letting the man know he and Luke were leaving to take positions on the outer perimeter. He looked at this brother. “You call it.”

“I’ll head up there, take up a position near that ridge.” Luke pointed toward a rocky outcropping a couple hundred yards away.

“I’ll be opposite you.” Dax turned Hannibal, continuing to watch the men and cattle, as something nagged at him about the whole situation.

He didn’t know what bothered him the most. Tolbert and his henchman, Rachel’s request and his subsequent refusal to help the town, or the woman herself.

She’d weighed on his mind each day and night since she’d ridden off after his poor attempt at explaining his decision not to call on her. He’d wanted to assure Rachel his change of heart had nothing to do with her, at least not in the way she may have thought. She’d responded quite different from the way he’d expected, leaving before he had a chance to explain.

He kept thinking of the gleam in her eyes when he’d asked to call on her. She’d been eager to see him again. He remembered all of it. The feel of her against him as they rode to town, the disappointed look she’d cast him when her uncle stepped outside. Every detail replayed over in his mind.

Then the mention of King Tolbert. It had been as if someone had thrown cold water over him, and with it, a dose of reality. Dax wanted her, no doubt about it. At the same time, he believed his stay in Splendor would be short and he understood, without hesitation, that Rachel Davenport would not be a short-term woman. No. She’d be someone a man could get hooked on, marry, and build a life around. None of those were part of his future.

Dax dismounted, settled under a stand of pine, drew out his rifle, and leaned against a boulder. The position gave an excellent view of the pasture below, as well as the majestic skyline of the Territory Range. He could just make out Luke’s form opposite him. He glanced up at the darkening sky and thought more of Rachel, wishing he could find a way to purge her from his mind.

Chapter Seven

For hours, Rachel had failed to fall asleep. The combination of too many thoughts rambling through her head and worry over the town made it difficult for her to relax. Her tired body drifted off more than once yet, each time, something woke her.

She felt herself sinking into sleep again, then gave up, tossed her thin blanket aside, and walked to the window, opening it enough to let a cool breeze wash over her. She stood, her nightdress billowing as soft waves of air entered her room.

A quiet knock sounded. She turned, watching as the door to her room cracked open just a few inches, enough to make out the figure of a man. She stifled a gasp, wondering, hoping she knew the identity of the intruder. He strode toward her and stared down, letting his hands rest on her waist.

“You’ve been waiting for me.” He let his gaze wander over her, his body tightening at the sight.

Rachel locked on the face she dreamed of each night and nodded. “Yes.” The word came out as a soft whisper. “How did you get in here?”

“Does it matter?” He let his hands move up her arms in an intimate caress. “Do you think of me often?” His gentle, southern voice washed over her, drawing her eyes to his full lips, hovering inches from hers.

She didn’t answer, her heart hammering in her chest as he closed the distance between them and began to caress her lips with his. She let the sensations build, wanting him to do more, yet he held back.

“I’ve wanted this since I first met you.” He lowered his head once more for what she’d been waiting…

“Rachel? You going to sleep the morning away?”

She jolted and sat up, rubbing her eyes as she noticed the bright sunlight filtering through her drawn curtains. Morning. She’d had another dream. The same one about Dax she’d had almost every night. Still somewhat disoriented, Rachel threw off the covers and trudged to her nightstand, splashing water on her face and scrubbing hard in an attempt to rid her thoughts and mind of the man. Although it had been several days, it still stung the way he’d told her in that calm, yet still commanding manner of his, he regretted his request to call on her.

In her world, men did not ask to call on a lady, then tell her they no longer had an interest. Behavior such as that was unthinkable.

What galled her the most was the realization that his lack of interest bothered her so much. He’d changed his mind, and rescinded his request—nothing more. It wasn’t as if he’d broken off an engagement or anything of note. All he did was imply she no longer appealed to him.

Rachel groaned, dropped the brush on the dressing table, and covered her face with her hands.

She hurried to the kitchen, smelling fried bacon and seeing a stack of flapjacks waiting on a plate. Her uncle stood at the wood stove, concentrating on his task. It was the same stance she saw each time a new patient came into the clinic—thoughtful and questioning.

“You all right?” Rachel asked as she stood on tiptoes to place a quick kiss on his cheek.

“Tired. Couldn’t sleep. I kept thinking about the situation in town and our lack of a sheriff.” He turned toward her, looking down into her eyes, pleading. “It would relieve me a great deal if you’d leave Splendor and go home. Your idea of approaching the Pelletiers made sense. If they won’t do it, we need to face the fact it may be too dangerous for you to stay.”

She took a seat and spread butter across the flapjacks before covering them in syrup. She cut a bite-sized stack, speared it with her fork, and took the mouthful. “Oh, these are great. Just perfect.” She cooed again before cutting another bite.

“You’re changing the subject, young woman. Don’t think I don’t know it.” He quirked an eyebrow at her.

“I’m not ignoring the danger, just trying to find a solution.” She savored another mouthful, then set down her fork. “What about Mr. Brandt? Perhaps he’d consider being the sheriff.”

“The blacksmith?”

“I’ve heard he earned a reputation during the war as a hard fighter, quiet, determined, and quick. Some say he was a hero.”

“You’re speaking of the man who runs the livery, correct?”

“Yes, why?”

“No reason. He’s so withdrawn, quiet. I guess I figured he’d gotten out because he didn’t have the stomach for it. Where’d you hear about him?”

“From Timmy at the general store. He said his father would take great exception to him passing along confidences, but he thought I should know in case we had trouble.”

“Timmy is a smart lad. Even
he
recognizes danger.”

“Uncle Charles, I know there are instances where lives are threatened and people die. You’re here and haven’t made the decision to leave. I have no plans to leave, either. You’ll need to accept it.” She stood and rinsed her dirty plate. “Besides, the number of patients you see increases each week as word spreads there’s a doctor in town. You need me.” She poured a cup of coffee and scrunched her face as she sipped at the tepid brew. “Ugh, I don’t know how you can drink this awful stuff.”

“I’ll have you know I learned how to make authentic western coffee from the sheriff before he was killed. Even the cook at the boardinghouse said the sheriff made the best coffee around.”

She handed her cup to her uncle. “In that case, I won’t throw it out. I’ll give it to you.” She walked toward the door. “I guess it’s time to check the supplies in the clinic. You know how busy it seems to get as soon as we’ve had a few hours of quiet.”

“Do not think our discussion about you leaving is over, Rachel, because it isn’t.”

Her mouth twitched at his words. She had no plans to leave. He could do all the complaining, rationalizing, and arguing he wanted. It wouldn’t have any effect. She pushed open the back door to the clinic, then methodically opened and closed drawers and cupboards, jotting down supplies they needed. Most of the time, they were able to purchase them at Big Pine, the territorial capital southeast of Splendor. It took a full day by wagon to get there and one more to get back. They’d start at first light and wouldn’t reach their destination until after dark. Charles never lingered to enjoy the entertainment available in the larger town, always concerned about the need to return home and not leave their neighbors without a doctor. At close to four hundred residents, Splendor seemed small, but Rachel always had to remind herself that many outposts had less than one hundred inhabitants, making Splendor one of the larger towns in the Montana Territory.

A sharp rap at the front door drew Rachel’s attention, alerting her she hadn’t unlocked the entrance.

“Good morning, Mr. Henderson. What can I do for you?”

“Is the doc in, Miss Rachel?”

“He’s in the house, but I can go get him.” She started to turn when his voice stopped her.

“Actually, it’s one of my girls. She’s got some kind of fever. Maybe you could come over, check her first to see if she needs to see the doc.”

Rachel liked Amos Henderson, the owner of the Wild Rose Saloon, even if she disagreed with the role of his female workers. From what she’d heard, he treated the girls well, kept his place clean, and didn’t abuse them like some establishment owners did.

“I’d be happy to look at her but, the truth is, she’ll most likely need to see my uncle.”

“That’s fine. I just think she’d be more comfortable speaking to you first.”

She grabbed a shawl and followed Amos to the saloon and up the side stairs to the rooms above. He stopped at one of the doors and knocked.

“Tilly, you awake?” Amos pushed the door open enough to see the bed. Tilly lay covered, soft moans escaping, followed by racking coughs.

Rachel rushed to her side. “She has a fever.” She pulled back the covers, not expecting the sight before her. “Mr. Henderson, perhaps it would be best if you left Tilly and me alone.”