Stronger Than the Rest (18 page)

“We met this morning. They concur with the path we’ve taken, at least for now. I’ll meet with them again once we understand what Walsh is doing.”

“Fair enough,” the associate replied.

The boss stood and grabbed his coat. “I’ll be in touch.”

******

Connor watched Walsh pull out a thin cheroot and light it. He found himself wondering, yet again, what Ira was involved in that could spell danger. “I take it your time in San Francisco proved fruitful.” It was a comment, not a question.

“Yes. If all goes well it could double, maybe triple that part of my business.” He leaned back in his chair and took a long drag from the small, square-cut cigar.

“And what part of the business is that?”

Ira thought a moment and had decided to answer when a sharp rap on the door interrupted him.

“Sorry Mr. Walsh, but we need Connor downstairs. Some man insists that he’ll only speak with him.” Nelson held the door open as Connor left.

“Did he give you his name?” Connor asked Nelson as they made their way to the saloon below.

“No. Asked if you worked here and demanded to see you.”

Connor scanned the crowd. There were two or three new faces, but no one he recognized. “Which one is he?”

“Over there,” Nelson pointed to a short, heavy-set man wearing a wrinkled suit and covered in dust. It was apparent he’d been traveling.

Connor walked up to the stranger and extended his hand. “I’m Connor.”

The man took a look at Connor then swallowed the last of the whiskey in his glass. “Ah, good, Mr.…” but his words were cut off as Connor took hold of his arm and led him outside through the door behind the bar. Once he had him settled in the back alley Connor let go of his arm and stepped back.

“No last name, just Connor.”

“Then how do I know if you’re the right man?” He pulled out a handkerchief and rubbed it across his face, then shoved the dirty cloth into an inside pocket of his jacket. He glared at the tall man before him.

“Tell me what it’s about and I’ll tell you if I’m the right man.”

“This is most unusual.”

“Make an exception.”

He seemed to deliberate for a moment before deciding it was best to do as Connor asked.

“My name is Chester Mayfield. I work for Alexander McCann.”

“Then I’m the right man. What do you have for me?”

“It’s about your sister. We may know where she is.”

It took a moment for the words to penetrate Connor’s brain. Meggie, his sister. He’d been searching for Meggie for eight years—had been close more times than he could count. Connor was far past getting his hopes up.

“I want to hear what you know, Mr. Mayfield, but not here and not now. Meet me tomorrow morning at this restaurant on the other side of town. Anyone can help you find it.” He scribbled a name on a scrap of paper.

“Tomorrow, then,” Mayfield took the paper and started down the alley to the street beyond.

Connor watched him leave, wondering if he’d made a mistake in not completing the meeting now. His experiences in the past had led to nothing but dead ends. It was doubtful this information would be any different. No, the meeting with Mayfield could wait until tomorrow—he had other work that needed his attention.

******

Cold Creek, Colorado

Drew and Tess sat across the supper table from each other. It had been hours since the episode in the bedroom, yet Tess was still unable to slow her racing heart or contain her embarrassment. She didn’t regret what had happened, not for a minute, but the words she had said as she left made her face grow hot each time she repeated them in her mind.
What could I have been thinking?

“Good evening, Tess.”

She glanced across the table to see Drew’s heated gaze boring into hers. Tess recognized the look and her body responded.

“Good evening, Drew” she answered in a husky voice that brought a knowing look from him. She cleared her throat and searched for calm within a body that felt as if a tornado had blown through it. “I, uh, trust you had a good day.”

“The best I’ve had in a long time. It seems I’m discovering new things every day. How about you, Tess? Did you discover anything new today?”

He was teasing, she knew, but she had no experience in this type of situation. It had been her first kiss, her first time in a man’s arms. He was right, she decided. It had been a day of discoveries, yet Tess understood she’d only experienced them to a small degree. The thought both thrilled and frightened her.

“Why, yes, I’m sure I did.”

Neither noticed that the table had quieted at their exchange. Most everyone else—Grant, Eleanor, Alicia, Niall, Kate, Amanda, and Will—looked at each other, but no one spoke.

Jericho was the first to break the silence.

“I must thank you again for the wonderful food, Mrs. Taylor. I can’t think of a time when I’ve had better.”

Tess closed her eyes and said a silent word of thanks to Jericho.

Eleanor’s eyes moved from the Tess and Drew to her other guest. “Why thank you, Mr. Jericho, but I can’t take the credit. Maria is the person you should thank. I just help out when she needs it.”

“Then I’ll be sure to do that,” Jericho replied.

A knock pulled everyone’s attention to the front door.

“I’ll get it.” Grant opened the door to find the sheriff waiting, hands in his pockets. “Frank, come in. I’m surprised to see you out our way this time of night. We’re just sitting down to supper. You’ll join us, of course.”

Frank followed Grant into the dining room and was surprised to see Will and the others. “Will, it’s good to see you again.” Frank extended his hand.

“Same goes here,” Will replied and made the remaining introductions.

“Well, I finally get to meet the oldest MacLaren. Don’t know how you managed to let your younger brothers survive into manhood,” Frank joked.

“There were times it wasn’t easy,” Niall agreed. “Thank God we had Aunt Alicia. If not for her, who knows how we all would have ended up.”

An hour later they’d finished dessert and were still discussing the events at the Bierdan ranch the night before. News hadn’t reached them until Frank arrived to ask for their help in canvassing the area for the men who’d ridden out.

“No problem, Frank. Let us know what you need and we’ll get to it.” Grant looked at Niall and Will. “You two in?”

“Yes, sir,” each responded.

“I’ll do whatever I can,” Drew said. He wasn’t about to share his progress at this point, but he needed to be of use in the search for the men who were terrorizing the area.

“Looks like you’ll have three MacLarens plus my men. Not bad.”

Another knock disrupted the conversation. Grant opened the door. “Well, I’ll be damned,” he said and extended his hand. “Looks to me, Frank, like you’ll have four MacLarens plus my men.”

Jamie walked in to see the roomful of people. Will and Niall began to laugh, and Drew sported a full grin.

“Did I miss something?” he asked Grant.

“No, son, your timing is perfect. Have a seat. We’ll get you some food while Frank explains what’s happening.”

It was late when the men walked into the den for whiskey. Everyone else had retired but they wanted to lay out a plan for the following day. All thought it was just a matter of time before the thugs who’d plagued the Langdon’s and now caused havoc at the Bierdan ranch would turn on Grant and the others, especially now that the Langdon land was combined into the Big G.

The Bierdan spread was now considered the most vulnerable. There was no reason to believe the sale would stop the actions of Luther and his men. Except, if what Frank said was true, Luther was now wounded. They needed to locate him before he started vandalizing and killing again.

“Any idea where they might hole up?” Niall asked Frank.

“There is one place, but it only makes sense if Luther was somehow connected with the cattle rustling that went on a few months ago. Don’t know for sure that I can find it, but it’s worth a try. It’s an old cabin up in the mountains north of the Bierdan ranch.”

Grant rubbed his forehead in concentration, trying to recall possible locations. “Two other places I can think of,” Grant said. “One is a line shack on my property. Another is an old cave that used to be the entrance to a mine, long since abandoned. But that’s a long shot.”

Niall looked at Frank. “Why don’t I go with you to check out the old cabin? Jamie and Grant can ride out to the old line shack. What about the cave, Grant?”

“It’s on the other side, quite a ways from the other two places. Not hard to find if you know its location, but most have forgotten about it. A wagon could make it without a problem.” Grant said, suspecting that the mine would be where Drew would go.

“Will, Mr. Jericho, and I can check the mine.” Drew refused to be left out.

Niall’s narrowed eyes and pursed lips told Drew how his oldest brother felt about him being involved. Will just looked at Drew, his face a mask.

Jamie noticed the others’ reactions. “That’s a good idea, Drew. I’d suggest each group include a couple of Grant’s men. They know the area plus extra guns would be welcome if someone runs into this Luther fella.”

Drew looked toward Grant.

“That works for me. I’ll let Jake know. He can select which of my men go with each group. Tomorrow morning, first thing, we’ll start.” Grant wanted to push the search before Luther had a chance to regroup. No one had any idea how many men they might run into. It made no sense to take chances.

******

Denver, Colorado

Connor stood propped against a wall, arms crossed, and surveyed the occupants of the bar. Pierce was at one end, Nelson at the other. All had been quiet since Connor shot the cowboy who’d threatened Pierce. No one wanted a repeat any time soon.

He tried to keep his focus on the patrons, the gambling, and conversations—anything to stop his thoughts of Meggie. She’d been sixteen when she had failed to return from her job as a maid, and it had been his fault. He was supposed to meet her each night after her shift was over, but he’d been held up at his job on the docks. The overseer refused to let him leave, and forced Connor to work far into the night. When he’d made it back to their cramped room there was no sign of her. That night everything about his life had changed, again. He never stayed in one place more than a few months, never again had a home. His whole purpose focused on finding his sister. But too many dead ends, false leads, and flat out deceits had made him cynical, cautious. Even so, he could still sense a tiny amount of hope at the prospect that Mayfield might have some useful information.

“Connor?” He looked up to see Nelson walking toward him. “Ira wants to see you.”

He pushed from the wall and made his way up the stairs. Ira had worked without stopping since his return from San Francisco, but had yet to provide Connor with any further details of the trip—and Connor needed details.

“You wanted to see me?” Connor asked as he closed the door and took a seat.

“Yes. Whiskey?” At Connor’s nod, Ira poured another shot and handed the glass to his guest. “You asked me earlier about my meeting in San Francisco and expressed an interest in the business I’m negotiating.” Ira took a sip of the golden liquid and let it make its way down his throat. A slow, soothing burn.

“You seemed pleased with the potential. What’s it about?”

“Money, Connor. Lots of money.” He finished the drink and placed the glass carefully next to the half full decanter, deciding whether or not to indulge further. He decided to wait. “I have an import business. Products come in from Canada for my buyers in California. Purchases by these new customers will almost triple the orders to my supplier.”

“And the merchandise?”

“Let’s just say it is a highly sought after product in some circles, used for a variety of purposes, and carries a very high profit.” Ira’s evasive answer irked Connor.

“Are you saying it’s illegal?”

“In some locations, regulated in others, even disdained by those who don’t understand its value—physical and mental.”

Physical and mental. What did that mean?
Connor wondered. Ira spoke in riddles that made no sense.

“How so?”

“My product brings peace of mind. It can change lives.”

“What the hell does that mean, Walsh?” Connor was tired of the theatrics. He wanted specifics.

But Ira had finished. He wanted to throw out just enough to get Connor interested, but not enough for him to grasp the full impact of the import business. At least not yet. “We’ll meet again tomorrow, Connor, and I’ll tell you more.” Ira looked at his watch and reached for his overcoat. “I’m late for a supper engagement.”

Chapter Sixteen

Cold Creek, Colorado

“I’m going with you.” Hands on her hips, Tess glared at the man in front of her.