How to Lasso a Cowboy (25 page)

“How in the hell does he get away with it?”

“Fear,” the older man said. “People who cross him die. I'm ashamed to say that I haven't said anything. But I'm the only doctor in twenty-five miles. If I die, other folks will, too.”

“And if people don't sell?”

“Can't prove it, but some of us believe he's responsible
for the rustling. We don't think for a moment it's your brother and young Mitchum.”

“Is there any federal official who is honest?”

“There's a federal marshal in San Antonio. I hear he's pretty honest. Hearsay is he's had some run-ins with Delaney.”

“Who else is still here? What other families?”

“The Knoxes. They didn't have any sons and are not tainted by Confederate service. Both daughters are back home. Widowed. One in the war, one by outlaws. Then there's Old John Carey. Gary and Morgan Simmons.”

“They're still bachelors?”

“Yep. No one in their right mind would marry them. They're ornery as hell. Never did go off to war. Said it wasn't their fight, but that doesn't seem to matter to Delaney. Their horses keep disappearing as well as cattle. Then there's John and Mary Andrews. They are barely holding on to their ranch. I hear tell Delaney just raised their taxes.”

“How many have lost cattle?”

“All of them, I'd say. And more.”

She walked in then, letting them hear her footsteps. The voices stilled and both men looked awkward.

She held out the dollar in her hand. “Thank you for coming.”

He nodded.

“I'll walk you out, Doc,” Seth said with a familiarity that she had never had with the Texas doctor. He'd always been reserved, though he had come immediately when she'd called him.

She knew they weren't just exchanging pleasantries. She felt suddenly very cold as they walked out.

Frustrated at her exclusion, she sat at the edge of her father's bed.
Laudanum. Quinine.

Why hadn't her father told her?

Her heart beat faster again, but this time it had nothing to do with the hard, lean cowboy. This time it was pure fear. Her father was all she had in the world. Her father and Howie.

There was Marilee, but she would leave soon with Seth.

She would sit here until her father woke, then she would ask her questions.

SETH
stopped next to the doctor's buggy.

“Who is the marshal you mentioned?”

“Name's Evans. Talk is he's honest even if he is a Yankee. I've heard him talk about Delaney. I think he would love to arrest him.”

“I think I saw him when I first came into town. He was in the saloon.”

“Probably sniffing around. There's been a lot of shootings in this area.”

“He would go against a senior army officer?”

“An arrogant army officer who doesn't think much of U.S. marshals and shows it? I think Evans would relish it.”

“I would like to talk to him,” Seth said. “How bad is McGuire?”

“His heart's failing. I don't think he will live much longer. How did you come to take that bullet out?”

“I was there when he came in.”

“And what were you doing there?”

“Miss McGuire was attacked yesterday. Whoever did it is obviously trying to frame my brother and his friends.”

The doctor raised an eyebrow. “That was yesterday. You aren't sweet on her, are you?”

“She's caring for my sister. I came to see Marilee.”

The doctor stared at him for a long moment. “I don't like these carpetbaggers any more than you, but I don't want to see that young lady hurt.”

“I don't, either,” Seth said.

“You are playing a dangerous game, boy.”

“I'm hardly a boy now.”

“No, you take after your father. You think things through. But be careful. Delaney doesn't look it, but he's clever.”

“Thanks for your help.”

“These are my people, Seth. I was here when they were
born and I've mourned with them when they've buried their people. I sewed up your brother after your father was killed. Isn't right what's happening. Isn't right at all.” He stepped into his buggy. “I'll go see Marshal Evans. Set up a meeting. He might trust me more than a rebel captain. I suspect you have other things to do.”

“Major,” Seth corrected with a small smile. “Ex-major.”

“Your father hadn't heard. He was damned proud of you.” He paused, then added, “I can ride over late this afternoon, stay overnight. I'll be stopping over to see Mr. McGuire tomorrow. Probably around suppertime.”

“Thanks, Doc. Good seeing you again.”

The doctor touched his hat in response. “Give my regards to your brother.”

SETH
first made a trip to the ranches of those families named by Doc Pearson.

He knew them all. They had attended church with his family.

All were faced with eviction. Most of their cattle had disappeared. When they reported it, they were told that the culprits were their former neighbors—Dillon Sinclair and several local men—who were at large.

They didn't believe it. They all knew Dillon. He'd been wild as a kid but there hadn't been a dishonest or vicious bone in his body.

He judged each one, then settled on Gary and Morgan Simmons. Neither had a wife or children. They had a few cattle but their main business had been cutting horses.

“It will be dangerous,” he warned. “But I won't do it if the marshal doesn't agree.”

“Our folks are buried out there in back,” Morgan told him. “We didn't have no stake in this war, and we didn't go. Delaney has no cause to take our property. But now he says he's ‘conscripting' our horses for next to nothing. Says he has that right, and he's threatening new taxes if we
complain. We can't pay no more and he knows it. Ain't many of us left 'cept old man Carey, Tom Knox, and John down the crik. Might as well die protectin' it. Ain't gonna live forever anyhow.”

Gary concurred with his brother, his answer emphasized by going over to where a shotgun hung on hooks. He took it down and fondled it like a man fondled his lover.

“Go into town,” Seth said. “Talk to the banker about a loan. Tell him you're gathering cattle from area ranchers and you need the money to hire some hands to drive them to San Antonio. Explain that the army here is paying too low a price.”

A smile spread over Gary's face. “Delaney can't let that happen. If army inspectors find out exactly what he's paying the ranchers for cattle, or find out they can get them one hell of a lot cheaper, they will start to wonder about the major, mebbe even ask for bills of sale.”

“He will have to go lickety-split after the cattle,” Morgan finished for him.

“I would think so,” Seth said. “Hopefully, we will have a U.S. marshal waiting for his men. Rustling's a hanging offense. They will talk.”

“But where will we get cattle?”

“Let me worry about that. It might take a few weeks, though.”

“As long as we git rid of the bastard and git a fair man out here. When you want me to go to the bank?”

“A week. By then I might be able to round up some cattle.”

“Should we ask where?”

“No.”

“Just let us know,” Morgan said.

IT
was dusk when Seth reached the natural canyon. As before, he made sure he wasn't followed. He didn't think he would be. Delaney had been surprised to find him at the ranch.
He hadn't had time to get back to town and bring help before Seth had left. There was no way he would know where Seth went after their encounter.

He had no doubt that Delaney had probably sent out men to find him. His presence at his former home had obviously been disconcerting. So must have been Elizabeth's defense of him.

They would probably be waiting for him to return now.

But he had to pull together the strings of his plan.

He felt eyes on him as he neared the approach into the valley. He wasn't surprised when a rider moved in next to him and paced his horse to Seth's.

“Colorado.”

“In the flesh. What in the hell are you doing here?”

“I need some help.”

“Someone could be following you.”

“I've been on the losing side of a war for four years, the first two as captain of scouts. I can evade the best of trackers.”

Colorado didn't say more as they wound through the narrow opening into the valley and to the decrepit cabin.

His brother sat on the porch, whittling. He rose lazily, gave Seth a tight smile. “Still free, I see.”

“Delaney's not happy with that situation.”

“Have you seen Marilee?”

“Several times. She's safe enough for now. And happy, I think. As happy as she can be considering what she witnessed.”

“I miss her.”

“We will get her back. I promise.”

“Do you have a plan?”

“It's forming. How many cows do you have here?”

“Not many. We have to be careful.”

“Branded?”

“Some. Not all.”

“What are the brands?”

Dillon named several nearby ranchers. One belonged to the Knox family.

“Where did they come from?”

“A friend of Delaney named Richmond. His herd is growing proportionately to those being depleted. He hadn't had time to change the brands. We intend to get them back to the rightful owners.”

“We have another use for them now,” Seth said and outlined the plan.

Colorado and Dillon listened in silence.

“I don't like it,” Colorado said. “It depends on a marshal. How do we know he's not in league with Delaney?”

“Doc vouches for him. I plan to take his measure before saying anything.”

“We don't have any choice,” Dillon said. “Another six months and there won't be a Texan left in this area.”

“And Delaney will have our ranch.”

Dillon stiffened. “What do you mean?”

“McGuire was gunned down early today. I know it wasn't you, but I hear they're blaming everything else on you. They will probably add that to the list.”

“Hell, it wasn't none of us. We stay hunkered down during the day.”

“It was probably Delaney. He wants to marry McGuire's daughter, probably retire from the army with the best spread in Canaan. He can then scoop up other parcels at his leisure. He's draining them of all their assets. They won't have any choice but to sell or be foreclosed.”

“What do you need?” Dillon said.

SETH
waited until near daybreak before approaching the ranch house that once belonged to his family.

He had seen the men stationed around the house. All appeared to be peacetime soldiers. Lazy. Undisciplined. Two were asleep. Two others had laid their rifles several feet away. All were unconscious now, tied with their own belts and the severed reins of their horses. Of the four, three had seen nothing. The last had only seen a man in a mask similar to those used by Elizabeth's attackers.

Seth then moved swiftly to the back of the house, found an open window, and slid through it.

He'd seen a light in the house from a distance. Her father's room. Seth wanted to make sure he was out of danger, that Delaney had not paid another visit.

Seth moved lightly to McGuire's room, pausing at the door to listen for voices. There were none. He gently opened the door.

And came face-to-face with the wrong end of a pistol.

 
HE STOOD STILL
. He usually stood still when confronted by someone holding a pistol.