Safe in His Arms Page 15

  Until sanity returned. She stiffened and sighed. There could be no future with him. He must have sensed the way she regained her senses, her logic. He pulled away, but only a few inches. His breath still whispered across her face, and it took all the strength she had not to pull him close for another kiss.

  His eyes were quizzical and a little hurt when she scooted off his lap. “W-We should get to bed. Chores will come early.”

  He stood. “Can we talk about what just happened?”

  “No.”

  “We’ll have to sooner or later, Margaret. I have things to say to you.”

  She fled to her bedroom before she was tempted to let him whisper sweet words in her ear. She wasn’t strong enough to resist them.

  TWENTY

  Daniel hadn’t slept much. He kept trying to follow the trail between Paddy’s death and Lewis’s disappearance. And he kept replaying the kiss over and over in his mind. He had no doubts that he wanted Margaret in his life forever. The trick would be convincing her. He could tell her the truth about why he was here, but she was such a literal, truthful woman that he feared she might accidentally give him away. The kiss had revealed the depth of feeling she had for him, whether she was ready to admit it or not. Life would never be the same for him after last night.

  “Good morning,” he said, entering the kitchen. The enticing aroma of pancakes and maple syrup made his mouth water, and the ranch hands merely grunted as they shoveled food into their mouths.

  Margaret didn’t look at him as she flipped the pancakes. “Morning.”

  So it was going to be like that today. “Why are you cooking this morning?”

  “Vincente was a little under the weather. A bad cold, Inez said. She was sneezing too, so I told her to go back to bed.” She put a plate of pancakes on the table. “Have a seat.”

  He slid into the chair and pulled the plate of food closer to him. “Looks good.”

  She put the last plate on the table and sat in the chair next to him, the only one left. She inched away and he had a perverse desire to scoot close enough that their shoulders touched. He swallowed a swig of coffee to fortify him for the day ahead. The two of them would be cleaning out the barn today. The proximity would be torture when all he wanted to do was repeat last night.

  The other ranch workers didn’t say much as they ate. Their chairs scraped on the floor as they got up and gathered their things for the day’s work. Daniel tried to decide what to say to Margaret, but the right words wouldn’t come.

  It was going to be a long day.

  She pushed her plate away and got up. “Calvin, when you get supplies in town, would you ask the sheriff to pay me a visit? I want to tell him about the attack yesterday.” Could he really have wanted to hurt her father?

  “I can do that.” Calvin had been staring at Margaret with a longing expression.

  She glanced at Daniel. “Ready to clean the barn?”

  “Just about.” He swallowed down the last of his coffee, then followed her to the front porch.

  Dawn was pinking the sky when they stepped outside. The air was fresh and clean with the scent of dew. She said nothing as she led the way to the barn. Cattle moved in the pasture to the west of the buildings. Chickens pecked in the dirt, and a rooster crowed somewhere. He jogged past her to shove open the barn door.

  She brushed past him. “Thanks, but I could have done it. I don’t want anyone coddling me.”

  She was as prickly as a sticker bush this morning. He opened his mouth to force a discussion about last night, then closed it. Best wait until he could be honest with her.

  He grabbed a pitchfork. “Where do you want me to start?”

  “The horse stalls in the back. I’ll work in the pigpens.”

  Just as well they were in separate areas of the barn. It was hot, smelly work, but he made quick inroads as he forked the manure into a wheelbarrow and emptied it in next year’s garden plot. He took a break at midmorning and went to the springhouse to fetch a pail of cold water. When he carried it to Margaret, she thanked him without looking at him.

  “Would you quit looking at me like that?” she said when she handed back the tin cup.

  She was so adorable he couldn’t help the smile that sprang to his lips. “Like what? Like I’d like to kiss you again? It’s true.”

  Her cheeks flooded with pink, but she glanced over his shoulder. “The sheriff is here.”

  “That won’t save you forever.” His heart lightened when she couldn’t hold back a slight smile.

  He followed her out to meet the sheriff. Daniel watched her as she stood there with the glow of the sun on her cheeks. The dungarees and tucked-in shirt didn’t hide her curves. She was all woman and all heart. He had to be patient. When this was all over, he could woo her properly. Once the full truth was out.

  He joined Margaret as Sheriff Borland dismounted. “Sheriff, you’re out early.”

  “I heard someone shot at the two of you.”

  “Calvin must have gone straight to your office,” Daniel said.

  “He did. And I’m concerned. I stopped to look around at the ambush position and found plenty of shells. Looked like two men. Found some blood too.”

  “I winged one of them. He was still in his saddle when they rode off, though.”

  “So I should be on the lookout for a wounded man. Any idea where you hit him?”

  Daniel shook his head. “I heard him yell but it was too dark to see. They left right after that.”

  The sheriff glanced at Margaret. “Any idea who the men might be?”

  “Daniel has a theory that one of them might be Calvin. He had a grudge against Pa for hiring Daniel, and h-he’s a little sweet on me.”

  The sheriff looked grim. “I’ll have a talk with him.”

  “Thanks,” she said.

  “And I’ll ask Doc to keep an eye out. If the man is wounded, he’ll need some care.” He stared hard at Margaret. “You mind my words, Miss Margaret. I don’t want you out wandering the property alone. Not even here in the barn.” He held up his hand when she frowned. “Someone seems to be after your family. First your pa, then Lewis. I don’t want you to be next.” He glanced at Daniel. “See to it.”

  “I will.”

  “Let’s talk to Calvin now.” The sheriff walked toward the barn and motioned for Calvin to join them.

  Calvin’s expression was wary as they approached. “I didn’t see nothin’. And I’ve got work to do.”

  Margaret didn’t smile. “You made no secret that you were mad at Pa and that you hated Daniel. Where were you yesterday?”

  “Rounding up strays on the other side of the river.”

  Daniel didn’t like the arrogant twist to the man’s mouth. “By yourself? Can anyone vouch for you?”

  Calvin balled his fists. “You’d like to pin this on me, wouldn’t you?”

  Before Daniel could answer, the man launched himself in the air. His fist smashed into Daniel’s mouth. Pain exploded in Daniel’s head and he tasted blood on his lip. Without thinking, he grabbed Calvin and bore him to the ground.

  The sheriff grabbed Daniel and pulled the two apart. “That’s enough.”

  Calvin jumped to his feet and dusted off his pants. He glared at Daniel but said nothing.

  Margaret stepped between them. “I want you gone, Calvin. I can’t trust you. Pack your things and don’t come back.”

  Calvin’s face worked. “I’ve worked for you fifteen years. You got no cause to fire me. I’m a good worker.”

  “My decision is final. Get off my land.”

  He practically snarled, then jammed his hat on his head and stalked off.

  Borland watched him go, then mounted his horse. “I’ll let you know if I find out any new information. I’m heading to the river now to look for evidence of who killed Lewis.”

  “If he’s dead,” Margaret said.

  “Yes.” Borland’s voice held no conviction.

  When the sheriff was out of earshot, Margaret flipped
her braid over her shoulder. “I don’t need someone to look after me.”

  “Everyone needs someone to have his back. I’ve got your back and you’ve got mine. So no heroic feats to impress someone with your bravery. You don’t need to do anything for me to love you.”

  Had he just said that? He quickly turned toward the barn and grabbed his pitchfork on the way back inside. There was no way he was ready to talk about his feelings. Not until this was over.

  MARGARET REPLAYED DANIEL’S words over and over in her head. Could he possibly love her? She didn’t want to think about it. The world was full of women who believed the lies men told them. Weak women who refused to see past a handsome face. She wasn’t going to be one of those women.

  Unless he could change. Was it possible? She mulled over the idea. Following Jesus was all about change, and Daniel’s spirituality seemed genuine, strange as it was. Maybe she could help him start a new life. Leave crime behind.

  The next morning Margaret was still full of resolve to save Daniel from himself. She didn’t know why she hadn’t thought of it sooner. He just needed a little help to extricate himself from his life of crime. She did her chores and lurked around to see what Daniel was up to, but he spent the entire day branding calves and working in the barn just like most every other day. The entire week went by without any deviation from his normal schedule.

  On Thursday word came of another bank robbery, this one in Clarendon. Was Daniel involved? Margaret hoped it wasn’t so, but she hadn’t been able to tail him every minute. He’d looked tired yesterday, so maybe he had been up all night running with his gang. She wished she could be sure. She had to watch him more closely.

  By Saturday Margaret was about ready to give up. When did he sneak away to do what he came here to do? After supper she played checkers with him in the parlor for a while, then went to her bedroom. Maybe she needed to shadow him at night. She’d tried a couple of nights ago, but she had fallen asleep before she saw anything suspicious. Her bedroom window looked out on the bunkhouse, but so far that had been no advantage. There was so much work to be done on the ranch that she was exhausted by bedtime.

  If Daniel was involved in the robberies, how did he find the energy? She had to admit he was no slacker during the workday. Tonight she was determined to find out. She put on some britches and sat in the chair by the window with the lamp unlit. The night dragged by and her lids grew heavy. She finally slept, then awoke with a start. The moon shone in through the curtains, and she peered outside to see what had disturbed her. Only the sound of crickets reached her ears. Maybe she should just go to bed. No one was stirring tonight.

  Then a shadow flitted by her window, and she drew back, her throat tight. Daniel’s unmistakably tall figure joined another man at a dark corner of the barn. Their whispers didn’t reach her open window, though. She had to hear what they were saying.

  She tiptoed down the hall and let herself noiselessly out the kitchen door. Sneaking around the edge of the house, she sidled up to the bunkhouse until she was close enough to overhear. She hoped he wasn’t up to anything criminal. Against all odds, the more she got to know him, the less convinced she was that he was a thief.

  “We’re ready to move in tomorrow,” the man’s voice said. It was the same man she’d heard through her window once before. “You ready to act?”

  “I reckon.”

  “You don’t sound convinced. We’ve come too far to back out now. You getting cold feet?”

  “I just don’t want anyone hurt, least of all Charlie.” Daniel’s voice was low.

  “If everyone does what they’re told, no one will get hurt. I know you want your baby brother out of the way first, but this job is more important than what you want.”

  “And if they don’t do what they’re told?”

  “Then they’ll suffer the consequences. Don’t tell me you’re getting soft after all these years. I want to make them pay, and you’d better not get in the way. I’ve gone out on a limb for you all I’m going to.”

  “I know, Richard, and I appreciate it. Not many friends would do what you’ve done for me. I won’t let you down.”

  “You’d better not,” Richard growled. He clapped Daniel on the back.

  “What time do I meet you tomorrow?”

  “Midnight. I’ll be at the cottonwood tree at the road that leads to the river.”

  “I’ll be there,” Daniel said.

  So will I. She would save Daniel from himself, and save his little brother, Charlie, too, if she could. She tiptoed back to the house and went to her room. She had to carefully plan what she should do. The sheriff could help her, but the thought of betraying Daniel made her wince. Maybe she was wrong about what was going on, but what did that man Richard mean about making them pay? That didn’t really sound like robbery. It sounded worse.

  She prayed Daniel wasn’t planning on murdering someone. This was such a hopeless muddle. He didn’t seem like the kind of man who could do the things he seemed to be doing. If only she could be sure. If she had the courage to act, tomorrow would reveal it all. She resolved to find that courage somewhere. Tomorrow she would do what had to be done even if it hurt her.

  TWENTY-ONE

  Moonlight glimmered through the trees as the minutes ticked by. In the distance a coyote yipped. Margaret wrapped her coat tighter around her body and pressed farther into the shadows of her hiding place. Where was he? Her ears strained to hear soft footfalls, but so far the only disturbance in the area had been the frogs.

  Her breath fogged the air. This morning the temperature had finally taken a plunge and ushered in an almost winter coolness. Margaret longed for the warm temperatures of a few days ago. But at least the cold had quieted the sound of the crickets. She would be able to hear better.

  A noise came through the trees. Someone cleared his throat, then she heard a rustle in the leaves. She peered around the trunk and saw the familiar set of Daniel’s shoulders as he rode his horse into the clearing. Sucking in her breath, she barely moved. Moments later another rider joined Daniel. They talked for a moment, but she was too far away to hear the conversation. Then they both turned their horses’ heads and left the clearing.

  She was going to lose them. Margaret bounded to her feet and made her way to where she’d tethered Archie. She mounted and followed Daniel and the other man. Careful to stay well back, she nearly lost them at the turnoff to Miller’s Canyon. At the last second she realized they’d taken the turn. So the crooks were holed up in the canyon.

  She shivered, more from excitement than from the cold. It felt good to be doing something instead of just waiting in fear to see what Daniel was planning. Tightening her jaw, she squinted through the gloom.

  A figure leapt from behind a rock, and Archie reared. Caught off balance, Margaret struggled to stay seated in the saddle, then a hand caught the reins and jerked her horse’s head down. The man’s eyes glittered in the moonlight behind the mask he wore. Terror held her motionless, and then her shock-induced inertia faded and she placed the pointed toe of her boot squarely in his chin. Leaning down, she jerked the reins out of his hand.

  With a muttered oath, he fell onto his backside. Margaret didn’t wait to see if he was hurt. She dug her heels into her horse’s flank and raced away over tumbled rocks, sage, and cactus. The wind caught and tugged at her hair, and her breath came fast in her chest. He would be right behind her—with his cohorts. Bending low over her horse’s neck, she urged him to go faster.

  She galloped over a hill and into a small valley. A series of campfires dotted the area. She pulled on the reins and slowed her horse to a walk. She listened but could hear no sounds of pursuit. Maybe she’d lost him. A nearby stand of trees looked safe. She dismounted and led her horse into the dark recesses of the grove and tethered him to a limb. She took out her rifle and stepped into the clearing again and crept toward the flickering firelight.

  Raucous laughter spilled from the men clustered around the fire. She searched their faces but
saw no sign of Daniel. Maybe these weren’t the bank robbers at all. Her gaze traveled from face to face. Who else would be hidden in this valley? They were much too rough-looking to be mere cowboys. They all wore six-shooters slung low on their hips, and the reek from their whiskey bottles made her wrinkle her nose. Cowboys would already be asleep after an arduous day of work. These men showed no signs of any inclination for sleep as they played poker and drank straight from their bottles.

  “Well, well, what do we have here?”

  Margaret spun around at the harsh growl behind her. A burly man of about forty had a revolver pointed at her. His expression was cold as his gaze swept over her, then his eyes widened as he realized she was a woman. A leer tugged at his mouth.

  Her heart sank. This wasn’t going to end well.

  CHARLIE TOSSED HIS cards into the pile. “I’m done.” He was ready for bed since Golda had retreated to her tent.

  “A woman! Hey, fellers, see what I just caught.” Frank had a woman roughly by the arm as he dragged her toward the clustered men.

  Charlie shot to his feet. “Is the law with her?” He squinted in the firelight, and his gut clenched when he saw her red hair. “Hey, she’s the O’Brien gal.”

  The woman’s eyes widened when she saw him and recognition swept over her face. Her eyes pleaded with him. She must know who he was. Her eyes signaled Help me.

  He shuttered his gaze and stepped back. What could he do? The men were all older than he was and had more authority. What was she doing out here? Was Daniel somewhere close too?

  “Let go of me!” She struggled to get loose from Frank’s grasp.

  Charlie glanced around at the other men. They all wore expressions of eager anticipation, and he knew her arrival had provided them a break from boredom and routine. What would they do with her? Dread congealed in his stomach as he watched her try to break free.