Stronger Than the Rest (25 page)

He walked over to the MacLarens. “Thank you. I wish there was more I could do to show my gratitude.” He shook each hand, then stepped back.

“No thanks needed, Mr. Ibarra. We’re glad to have helped,” Drew said, expressing the thoughts of everyone.

“Let’s go, men.” Grant tipped his hat once more to the Ibarras. He hoped he and his men found Drago and Luther before they harmed anyone else. At least the MacLarens had put a hole in the size of their gang. Now only six were left.

******

“I’m so glad all of you came. It’s been the nicest day I’ve had in a long time.” Eloise hugged each of the women, sorry to see the day end.

“It’s been a wonderful day for all of us. I’m hoping we’ll be able to see you again before we leave for Fire Mountain,” Amanda said as she picked up her riding gloves. They’d stayed later than intended. She was glad the ride home wouldn’t take long.

She grasped the handle of the front door, pulled it open, and almost walked into a tall, bronze-skinned man standing at the threshold. Her eyes must have shown her surprise.

“Sorry to have frightened you, Miss….?”

“Uh, Amanda. Amanda MacLaren.”

“Ah, a MacLaren. How nice to meet you.” He extended his arm and for the first time Amanda noticed it held a gun. A gun now pointed at her. “Please, step back into the house, Amanda MacLaren.”

She walked backyards a few feet and ran into Kate, who’d come up behind her. “What’s going on?”

“Another beautiful woman. I am a lucky man today.” The stranger pointed the gun toward the front room. Two other men followed him and began to check each room in the house.

The women turned as a loud crash came from the kitchen. Amanda and Kate’s eyes shot to where Tess and Eloise had been talking and heard a man’s voice.

“Move into the front room, ladies, and don’t say a word,” the harsh voice commanded. Tess and Eloise walked through the doorway, a large, brutal looking man behind them, pointing a gun at their backs. Another man stepped into the kitchen and closed the door, leaving their last comrade to watch the horses.

“Well, it appears we are very lucky indeed.” Drago told the others. “Did you seen anyone else?”

“One, but he is no longer a concern to us,” Luther sneered.

Eloise gasped at the knowledge that another of her men may have been murdered by these men. Jeff had debated whether or not to leave just the one man today. Eloise had insisted one was enough. She’d been wrong.

“Which of you is Mrs. Bierdan?” Drago asked.

Each looked away from him or let their eyes fall to the floor, but no one spoke.

“Let me remind you ladies who holds the gun. I’m sure you’re all aware that I have no qualms about using it.” His cold stare washed over the women. “Now, which one of you is Eloise Bierdan?”

“I am,” Eloise said in a calm voice that masked her inner fear. She glared at the man but didn’t back away.

Drago studied the four and made a decision. “Take these three into separate rooms and tie them,” pointing to Amanda, Kate, and Tess. “And gag them. This one will stay here.” He focused his gaze and gun on Eloise.

Luther and two others escorted the women away from the front of the house. Tess was deposited in a downstairs bedroom while Amanda and Kate were securely tied to bedposts in rooms above.

Drago sat in a chair across from Eloise.

“Where are all your ranch hands? Surely there is more than the one that Luther found?”

Eloise raised her chin and glared at the foul creature before her. “They’re wranglers. Where do you think they are?”

He let her comment go. “So, they are gone for the entire day. You and your friends are alone.” It was a statement.

Eloise said nothing.

“You are a very stubborn woman, Mrs. Bierdan. You have no husband, no experience in ranching, yet you continue to hold on to a ranch you know you will lose. Why?” No one had suspected the young woman would be so difficult to persuade. Her determined nature and strong will had held her fear at bay. She never even asked how much Walsh was willing to pay. Drago had to admire her spirit even though he knew she’d make the right decision—or disappear.

Eloise stared at her captor, not understanding how anyone would think she’d react to threats and killings by giving up. She knew few people in this part of the country who responded well to intimidation.

Eloise knew Jeff and her other men were working at the far end of the ranch today, sorting and branding cattle, and checking for disease. He’d told her it would be a long day. She could only pray that they’d finish early and return. Her mind buzzed with anything she could say or do to stall for time. “You have me at a disadvantage. You know my name but I don’t know yours.”

“Ah, my apologies. My name is Sebastian Drago.”

“And you work for?”

“I work for myself, Mrs. Bierdan, and my partner.” Drago bent to rest his forearms on his thighs, the gun still pointing her way.

“And is your partner Ira Walsh?” She’d reasoned it could only be the other buyer from Denver. No other buyer had surfaced and she was convinced that neither Grant Taylor nor Louis Dunnigan would use the tactics of men such as the one who sat before her.

Drago ignored her. He stood and walked to the small cabinet that contained two decanters and a bottle of whiskey. He holstered his gun, certain Eloise would not try anything stupid while her friends were his hostages. Drago poured a drink and threw it back, then poured another. “You have not answered my question. Why stay when you will lose the ranch anyway?” This time his eyes trailed over her, making their way up her dress to her chest, and settling on her face with an appreciative gaze.

The scrutiny made her skin crawl. She stood and walked to within five feet of the repulsive man. She couldn’t force her body to move closer.

“It’s my land, Mr. Drago, and my decision whether or not I sell. It’s too bad your partner had no patience, because, as you say, I may very well lose the ranch. But I assure you, if I sell, it won’t be to men like you or Walsh.” Eloise had no idea where the words came from. She was angry, outraged at what these men had done. The lives they’d wasted and damage they’d caused.

He set the glass down, never taking his eyes from her. The menace in his face sent chills up her spine and she forced herself not to back away. To her astonishment, he laughed. It was a sinister sound, not the type of laugh that caught others and made them join in. No, this was a laugh of disbelief, threatening in its harshness, by a man who thought she would cower under his threats.

Drago walked up to within inches of her and stared into her eyes.

His eyes are soulless—blank and predatory,
Eloise thought as she worked to not glance away.

His hand snaked up, wrapped around her neck, and squeezed. She grabbed at his wrist, arm, anything that would loosen his hold. Eloise wasn’t a match for his strength. Her efforts made his fingers tighten further until she was unable to draw a breath.

Drago’s grip relaxed and he pushed her away. Eloise stumbled backwards, falling to the wood floor. He stared down at her but made no effort to help her stand.

“You are an ignorant woman. One that I will enjoy humbling later. But for now, I want you alive.” He walked to the hall and called for Luther to bring one of the other women into the room. “It is much easier to make a decision when friends are around, don’t you think?”

Luther walked in pushing Tess in front of him. Her hands were still tied but the gag had been removed.

“Sit, Miss…?” Drago asked.

Tess looked at Eloise, who now stood a few feet away and nodded. There was no point in keeping their names a secret. He’d use force to learn them.

“Tessa Taylor.”

Surprise registered on Drago’s face. “So you are Grant Taylor’s daughter?”

She ignored him, tried to take a step back, and bumped into Luther’s solid chest.

As Drago considered this, he heard the back door open, then close. Two more men entered from the kitchen.

“I thought I recognized your horse, Drago,” Ira Walsh said and looked at the two women. Greg Stiles moved to the side, surveying the room.

“There are two more upstairs, tied and gagged,” Luther offered.

“And what are your plans for them? You cannot kill four women and expect to walk away.” Ira poured drinks for him and Stiles.

“You’ve known me too long to think I would simply kill these beautiful women. No, we will get what is needed then find more useful ways to fill their time—and ours.”

Drago introduced the two to Ira. Knowing the connections between the Taylors, MacLarens, and Gordon Bierdan, the man was surprised that a Taylor was in the home.

“Who are the other women?” Walsh asked.

Drago looked at Eloise.

She clenched her hands in front of her and cleared her voice. “Amanda and Kate MacLaren.” As soon as she’d said the names she knew it was a mistake. The glee in Walsh’s eyes was hard to miss.

“Outstanding, Drago. Your choice in women is excellent.” Ira sat down to enjoy the liquor and crossed one leg over the other. “Where are all of our men?”

“The MacLarens discovered us at the Ibarra ranch. Some of the men were killed, but six of us got away. Luther and I saw a group of men from the Big G ride towards the Ibarra’s. It should take them awhile to clean up the place and return to their ranch. That’s when they will realize their women have not returned. Even so, we have plenty of time,” Drago chuckled, understanding the meaning behind his partner’s question.

Ira turned to Stiles. “Bring my saddle bags into the kitchen.”

Drago was sure he knew what was coming. It was one of Ira’s dirty secrets, known to few.

When Stiles returned, Ira left for the kitchen, drew water into a pan, and began to heat the liquid. He walked to a cabinet and pulled down two cups before opening a saddlebag and extracting a pouch. He opened it and reached in to snatch some of the substance inside. He placed the pulp in the hot water and stepped back. A few minutes later he strained the liquid into two cups and added the sugar he’d found in a cupboard. Ira tasted one—perfect. He grabbed the other cup and strolled back to where the women were seated. They would, of course, have no idea what was about to happen.

Chapter Twenty-Two

It had been a long day. Everyone was exhausted. The men took care of their horses before trudging into the house and removing their gun belts. Eleanor and Alicia sat, working on needle point, Eleanor drinking tea and Alicia a cup of coffee.

“Where is everyone?” Drew threw his hat on a nearby chair and stretched his arms above his head, enjoying the feel of standing and moving at will. He looked toward the dining room but saw no one. There wasn’t the female chatter that usually greeted everyone when they walked in.

“Amanda, Kate, and Tess left this morning to visit Eloise Bierdan. We expected them early afternoon.” She walked up to Grant and placed a soft kiss on his cheek. “Did everything go all right?”

“Turned out okay but could’ve been disastrous for the Rosados and Ibarras. Luther and his men were using the Ibarra ranch as their headquarters—were holding the two families hostage. Drew, Will, and Niall forced them out, killing a few in the process.”

“There were six we missed. One was Luther and another named Drago. They rode south. Don’t know where they are now,” Drew added and accepted the drink Niall offered him.

Will stood back, looking pensive. Something wasn’t right. “You say the ladies left this morning?”

“Yes, around nine,” Alicia replied, noting the concern in her nephew’s eyes.

“It’s no more than an hour each way, even if they took the road and not the back trails. That means they’ve been visiting Eloise for over eight hours. That seem right?” Will persisted.

Eleanor looked to Grant. “That’s a long visit, yes.”

“What are you getting at, Will?” Niall asked.

“Something doesn’t feel right. We know Luther and Drago rode south. These men work for Ira Walsh, and Ira wants Eloise’s land. It wouldn’t be hard for them to backtrack, head west, then north to the Bierdan place.”

“Let’s go,” Drew snapped as all of the men grabbed their guns and left at full speed for the Bierdan ranch.

******

“Got a message for you, Sheriff.” The telegraph clerk walked into Frank’s office and plunked the paper down on the desk. “Should’ve gotten it to you this morning but got busy. Sorry about that.”

Frank picked up the telegram from Louis Dunnigan and scanned it briefly. It was short and clear. “Shit,” he ground out and thought of Eloise. “Eddy,” he called to his deputy, “I’m riding to the Bierdan ranch. You handle things here.”

Sweat beaded on his forehead as he pushed his horse into a full run. The message had been ominous in what it didn’t day.
Walsh and Stiles riding to Cold Creek. Sebastian Drago already there. Be prepared.

Drago. Frank didn’t believe he’d met a more evil man. He’d run up against him twice while a Colorado Ranger and once as a U.S. Marshal. Could never make any charges stick. The man was as slick as slime.