Wildfire Creek (5 page)

“I’d better go.” He walked around the stairwell to the back door.

“Luke?” He turned to look at her. “Thank you.”

Ginny took a deep breath, closed the door, and turned to check on Mary. Tucked under two blankets and rolled up into a ball at the head of the bed, her sister appeared so tiny and fragile. At five years of age, she was considered small. Most thought her to be closer to three—until she started to talk.

Suzanne Briar had taken to Mary right away, encouraging her to talk and read the children’s books that had belonged to the daughter she’d lost in a snowstorm years before. Ginny could see the comfort Suzanne got when she was around Mary, and she felt fortunate the three had become friends. Suzanne provided a room and meals in return for Ginny helping in the kitchen and cleaning rooms.

She’d told Amos that Suzanne needed her just three days a week. In truth, Ginny helped clean each morning and worked in the kitchen at dinner. Several days each week she helped Mary with school lessons until her shift at the Wild Rose started in the late afternoon. Some days all she wanted to do was drop down on the bed and sleep. When those days came, she’d pull out the wooden box from under the bed and count the twenty dollars she’d already saved since their arrival several months before. She knew it wouldn’t seem like much to most people but, to her, it felt like a fortune.

Ginny sat on the edge of the bed and rubbed her eyes. It wouldn’t be long before she’d have to grab the cleaning bucket and start upstairs. Just two rooms needed cleaning today—a light load. Then she’d start helping Suzanne in the kitchen. In between, she’d check on Mary and make sure she ate something.

Careful not to disturb her sister, she lowered herself back on the bed, rested an arm across her eyes, and thought of Luke. She didn’t know him well. Besides tonight, the only other times she’d been around him was at his brother’s wedding, the times he came into the Wild Rose, and once or twice at the boardinghouse restaurant. He’d been friendly, never crossing any boundaries, and told her if she needed help with anything to let him know. Suzanne said he and Dax were just that way—willing to help those who needed it. She didn’t know why he’d taken such an interest in Mary’s illness, but she wouldn’t dismiss his kindness. Ginny just wished she didn’t find him so attractive. In all her life, she’d never been attracted to a man. Not until Luke.

She’d never had a beau, had never even wanted one, and now was not the time to start. The responsibility of raising Mary sometimes seemed overwhelming. Over the months in Splendor, she’d come to the realization there’d be no man in her life, which suited her just fine. At five, it would be a long time until Mary was old enough to start her own life. By then, Ginny would be well past the marrying age. She’d be a spinster, but Mary would be all right.

From what she’d heard about Luke, he worked hard and played harder. More than once, the girls upstairs at the Wild Rose had commented about what a shame it was that he never took them up on their many offers. Instead, every few weeks, he traveled to Big Pine for a few days. Ginny hadn’t thought much of it until Belle, one of her friends at the saloon, explained the reason for his trips. Or at least what the girls chose to believe. Why he traveled to Big Pine still held no real interest to Ginny.

On her sixteenth birthday, her mother had informed her that men had needs. Before marriage, they satisfied it with willing women. Afterwards, the wife took on the responsibility. Her mother spoke as if it were just another chore, rather than something a woman would enjoy. Ginny had never put much stock in marriage after that. Being a spinster didn’t bother her a whit.

Luke still fascinated her, though. She’d heard he sometimes worked for the Pinkerton Agency and had spied for the South during the war. Both sounded dangerous, as well as exciting. Ginny would like to get to know him better just to hear his stories. She figured there must be some wonderful tales tucked away in his head.

“I don’t understand it. More flour and sugar are missing, as well as another chicken.” Hank tossed his hat on a nearby chair and took a seat next to Rachel in the kitchen. “The shed is locked and no one’s heard any commotion from the horses or chicken coop. How is someone able to slip in without us knowing?”

“You’re certain we haven’t used more than you counted?” Rachel sipped her coffee and grimaced. No matter how much sugar or milk she added, the bitter taste still assaulted her.

“I am. I’ve been keeping track ever since supplies started to go missing a couple weeks ago. Besides the foodstuff, they’ve taken three chickens, plus I don’t know how many eggs.”

They both looked up as the back door pushed open and Luke entered. “Coffee?” He looked at the stove and, seeing the pot, grabbed a cup.

“Nice to see you decided to come back,” Hank said, still cranky over the missing supplies.

Luke narrowed his eyes, taking a seat next to the older man and not responding.

“How’s Mary doing?” Rachel asked and saw Luke’s confused expression. “Bull told us about her and Ginny. He figured you were staying at Uncle Charles’, so he put Prince up at Noah’s livery.”

“I figured it must have been Bull. Noah found me walking around this morning and flagged me over.” He tasted the coffee, then set his cup down. “Mary’s better. The fever’s broken and her color’s improved. At least it was when I carried her to their place at Suzanne’s.” Luke settled back and let his long legs stretch out in front of him. “They live in a small room at the boardinghouse.”

“Yes, I know. She’s come to the clinic a couple times when either she or Mary haven’t felt well. I worry about them sometimes.” Rachel rinsed her cup and set it next to the sink.

“Why?”

“She’s real stubborn. It’s hard for her to accept help. And God forbid anyone should offer money or take care of a debt for her.”

Luke grimaced.
Well, what Ginny doesn’t know won’t hurt her…or me
, he thought as he stood to leave. “Guess I’d better find the others and get busy.”

“There’s a few with each herd. Some of them are breaking horses behind the barn,” Hank said. “I believe I’ll check everything once more. Make sure I didn’t make a mistake.” He stepped outside and started for the shed.

“What’s he talking about?” Luke asked.

“Flour, sugar, and another chicken are missing. It’s got him confounded. You know how meticulous he is about keeping track of all the supplies and amounts needed for a ranch our size.”

“He have any ideas?”

“He didn’t say. I’m wondering if the Blackfoot, or possibly Sioux, are sneaking in at night. It might explain why they were on our land when you got injured.”

“We’re a little too far west for the Sioux, and I’d be surprised if the Blackfoot would steal when they know we’ll trade with them. Besides, most Indians tend to steal cattle, not supplies.” Luke shook his head. “All the same, I can’t think of anyone who might be stealing. I’d best be going.”

Rachel heard the door slam shut. Dax had ridden out to the herd earlier, leaving her a Saturday to do whatever she wanted. She never had much chance to socialize with other women. Maybe she’d ride into Splendor and check on Mary, then visit with Ginny and Suzanne. It wasn’t any of her business, of course, but Rachel had a strong urge to talk with Ginny and learn more about the young woman and her thoughts about Luke.

Chapter Three

“I thought I’d find you up here.” Gabe Evans, Splendor’s sheriff, slid off his horse and walked toward the unfinished cabin his friend, Noah Brandt, had been working on for weeks.

Noah looked up from preparing the window frame. “Lots to do before the weather sets in. I expect about three weeks of fair weather before the first snow.”

The warm winds of summer had already given way to chilly nights and brisk breezes. As he took off his coat and threw it across a tree stump, Gabe guessed three weeks might be optimistic.

“What do you want me to do?”

Noah shot a look at his closest friend, a man he’d known since childhood. Gabe had been a colonel in the Union Army during the war, while Noah had risen to the rank of major. They’d planned to open a business together in their hometown of New York after the war, yet neither felt quite ready when Lincoln announced Lee’s surrender at Appomattox. They’d wandered out west, Noah settling in Splendor a year before Gabe made his way back to the small town and, out of exasperation and guilt, accepted the sheriff’s position.

“Help me frame out the last two windows, then we’ll finish chinking.”

They worked alongside each other for hours, stopping for an occasional drink of water or to swallow down some hardtack and jerky. Noah sometimes brought more substantial food. Today, and for as long as the weather held, he planned to work hard, taking little time to eat. As the day wore on, the men stepped back from the house and looked it over, gauging the workmanship and what needed to be fixed.

“You’ve done a fine job.” Gabe clasped Noah on the shoulder. “She’ll love it.”

Noah shot him a look. “Who?”

“Miss Abigail. That
is
who you’re building this for, isn’t it?”

Noah snorted at the thought. Someone as fine and beautiful as Abigail Tolbert wouldn’t think of setting foot in a cabin such as his. The young woman who’d so completely captured his heart would never be his. Her father, owner of the biggest ranch in this part of Montana, would never allow her to marry a mere blacksmith. No. She’d marry some fancy gentleman from Big Pine. At close to twenty thousand residents, she’d have quite a few to choose from, and all more financially successful than him.

“This cabin is for me. No woman will ever cross the threshold.” He stalked toward the bucket of water and took one more drink. “You ready to ride back?”

“Let’s clean up, grab supper at Suzanne’s, then see what’s happening at the Wild Rose.”

“Sounds good.” Noah mounted Tempest, the horse he’d owned since before the Civil War. He looked over his shoulder once more before following his friend toward Splendor.

The cabin had been built on several acres not too far from town. It stood on land the Pelletiers had given Noah in thanks for his part in freeing Rachel, Doc Worthington, and two neighboring ranchers from an outlaw gang determined to kill Dax and Luke. Without the quick and accurate work of the ex-Union sharpshooter, Rachel and the others may very well have become victims. Instead, Noah’s expertise had been the deciding factor in their victory.

Dax and Luke had offered to help him build his cabin, providing him whatever he needed. He’d refused flat out, giving no explanation. In fact, until today, he’d waived off Gabe’s help. He wouldn’t have accepted if the weather wasn’t about to change.

“Did I tell you some of my supplies have turned up missing?” Noah asked about halfway to town.

“You mentioned jerky missing.”

“When I got to the cabin this morning, a blanket, a tin of hardtack, and a tin of jerky were gone.”

Gabe thought this over. He’d had complaints of food missing from Frank and Hiram Frey, widowed brothers who lived a few miles from Noah’s land. Dax had mentioned stolen chickens, eggs, and supplies. The three properties shared a common boundary and all rested against the base of Redemption Mountain. For years, Noah’s land had been known as Sunrise Ridge, due to the magnificent sunrises visible from the site. The location gave him good southern exposure and protection from the strong northern winds.

“The Freys and Dax have mentioned missing supplies. At first I thought it might be a Blackfoot raiding party.”