How to Lasso a Cowboy (27 page)

Dillon accompanied him partway, then veered off to a position where he could watch the road. If more than one rider approached, he would fire two warning shots.

Seth hid Chance in a clump of trees half a mile from the ranch house, then found a tree about an eighth of a mile from the house and climbed up into it, found a comfortable perch, and waited.

An hour later, a lone horseman wandered in, dismounted, and sat on the porch of the house. Seth recognized him as the man in the saloon but still he waited thirty more minutes. He had learned to be cautious.

He finally lowered himself through the branches and dropped to the ground, taking his pistol from its holster as he landed.

Aiming it at the lawman, he approached.

The man watched him without blinking. He didn't stand. He didn't go for his gun, or the rifle lying on the steps beside him.

“Use your foot to push the rifle off the step,” Seth said.

The lawman obliged and started to stand.

“Don't!” Seth said.

The lawman settled back down. “Sinclair?”

“Yes.”

“You've stirred up a hornet's nest.”

Seth ignored the comment. “Doc says you're honest.”

“I try to be.”

“Did he tell you what's going on around here?”

“Enough to bring me here.”

“The army has authority over civil authorities.”

“That's true. However, if I bring malfeasance to the army's attention, they have to acknowledge it. I know who to take it to. If you have proof.”

“I want you to help me get it. Doc says you have your own doubts about Major Delaney.”

“I've heard rumors,” the lawman said. He held out his hand. “Tom Evans.”

Seth hesitated. It could be a trick. He would have to switch his pistol from his right hand to the left. There would be a split second . . .

“If I didn't want to hear you out, I would have men crawling all over here,” Evans said.

“And I wouldn't be here.”

Evans gave him a thin smile. “I didn't expect you would. Now, can I stand so we can go inside?”

“I would rather stay out here where I can see.”

“Have it your way. Doc told me some of what he thinks is happening. I want to hear your side.”

Thirty minutes later, Evans rose. “I have about six deputies I trust completely, as well as an officer from headquarters. He doesn't care for Delaney either. But we have to catch him actually rustling the cattle. He has important friends.”

“When?”

“Four nights from now. Tell me where, and I'll be there.”

Seth nodded his head in acknowledgment. “It could go wrong, you know. Why are you willing to risk your badge for this?”

“I fought in the war too. Other side. But it's over, dammit, and I don't like anyone misusing power for their own gain. That's not what I fought for. That good enough for you?”

“Good enough,” Seth said.

He watched as Evans mounted and rode out.

He had taken measure of the man and knew Doc had been right.

BEFORE
he could leave, Abe rode in.

Gary Simmons had been ambushed while returning from the trip to the bank. He was at Doc's, badly injured.

Seth knew immediately it was his fault. He had baited Delaney, and Delaney had responded faster than he'd thought.

It was too late to go after the marshal.

“Something else,” Abe said. “Miss McGuire sent a note by Howie.” He held a crumpled envelope in his hand.

Seth took it and read it quickly.

Father improving. He understands what D is doing. He wants to speak to you. Howie says the ranch is still guarded, but he can take care of it tonight
.

Seth held it for a moment, inhaled the faint scent of roses. Her scent.

Then he took a match from his pocket, struck it, and burned the note. He did not want anyone to find it on him.

THEY
were asleep. Different guards, but just as obviously careless.

Whatever Howie had given them, or done to them, he had done it well.

Seth had waited until dark, then approached his former home. After finding the soldiers asleep, he moved around to the back and went in the window as he had before.

He checked Michael McGuire's room first, found him asleep and alone, and then checked the other rooms. He found her reading. She was fully dressed, but her hair hung down free, tendrils curling around her face. She was uncommonly appealing.

She looked pleased to see him. “Hello,” she said shyly.

“Hello.” He felt like an awkward schoolboy.

Her smile was blinding.

His heart jumped. His throat constricted.

“How's your father?” he said after a moment's pause.

“He is walking now. He still hurts but there's no infection.”

“His heart?”

“It's bad. He finally told me about it. It's why he kept trying to force Delaney on me. A bad husband in his view was better than my being alone. I don't believe he thinks that now.” She paused. “I heard about Mr. Simmons from Howie.”

He nodded.

“I know you have some kind of plan. My father wants to help. I do, too.”

He sat down then. He had been thinking about canceling the whole plan.

And now she was offering a new opportunity.

He didn't want to endanger her. Yet both her and her father were in very grave danger already. The last few weeks had shown how much. The McGuires would be perfect to implement the plan. They'd been brought here by Delaney. They had been loyal to the Union. Their motives could not be questioned.

“You and your father could leave Canaan,” he said. “That would be the safest thing for you.”

“I don't want safe. I want to belong here.” Her chin lifted and her eyes blazed. “Someone tried to kill me and my father. We both want to know who, and why.”

“What about Marilee?” he asked.

“What if she had been with me the day I rode into town? She could have been thrown out of the buggy,” Elizabeth countered. “And you're not safe until Delaney is gone. Neither you nor Dillon.”

He sat down and took her hand. She was like his mother. Strong and resilient and determined.

“We are putting together a small herd of cattle,” he said. “We put out the word that some local ranchers will take them to San Antonio to sell directly to the army instead of going through Delaney. According to some folks, the army has been paying top dollar for cows Delaney purchased for practically nothing, or that he rustled. He must have forged bills of sale and probably bribed the purchase agent as well. He can't afford to let the army know what he paid for them. Nor can he afford to let a herd of cattle be offered for half of what he's been charging the army.”

Her hand tightened in his. “But how—”

“A U.S. marshal is aware of the rumors but hasn't been able to catch him. We want to offer Delaney an opportunity to rustle cattle. Right in front of the law.”

“Where will you get the cattle?”

“Better you don't know. No one will be hurt. They will be repaid for their cattle.”

“What can we do?”

“I think I'd better talk to your father.”

EVANS
and his men waited in Seth's former home, in the stand of cottonwoods along the river, and in the barn. Some two hundred cattle lowed and complained in the pasture between the house and the river.

Dillon and Colorado had brought them halfway from the hidden canyon. Morgan Simmons, Knox, John Andrews, and Seth had met them there and drove them on to the ranch. Most had been rustled by Delaney and his men from local ranchers and still wore those brands.

But Seth didn't want Dillon and his friends involved. They were already wanted for other charges. They had done their part.

After bringing in the cattle, Seth waited with Michael McGuire who sat up in a chair, his arm in a sling. Both of them had pistols at their side. Elizabeth had a shotgun nearby.

Elizabeth had taken Marilee to the Findley home earlier and asked if Marilee could stay the night. It was the one place away from home where she didn't feel threatened. Elizabeth had told the Findleys that she couldn't take care of Marilee and her father as well.

Miriam Findley had readily agreed.

Evans and three fellow marshals sat at a window watching. A man in Union blue, a captain, was with them. Their horses were already saddled in the barn.

Seth paced restlessly. Abe had been charged with spreading the news that McGuire had joined the effort to take cattle to San Antonio and they would leave at dawn.

The lights were quenched.

One man, another deputy marshal, leaned against a fence and lit a match. It would appear strange to rustlers if the herd were not guarded.

One hour passed, then another. Elizabeth made coffee and offered the waiting men fresh bread. Seth's gaze continued to wander back to her.

She was so damnably pretty. And had so much grit. He
became giddy every time he watched her. If there had not been so many in the house, he would repeat their kiss, want more, so much more. If they weren't caught in this conflict, he'd ask for more.

But they were not alone . . . and they were fighting for their lives.

And after this . . .

After this he didn't know.

He still had to clear his brother. He had to earn a living. . . .

“Someone's coming,” one of the marshals said in a low voice.

Both Evans and Seth went to the window and peered out.

Figures on horseback began to move toward the cattle.

“You stay out of it now,” Evans told Seth. “Take care of these folks and let the law deal with Delaney.”

Evans and his men slipped through the same back window Seth had used. Just then the barn door opened, and three more marshals emerged on horseback, each holding the reins of two saddled horses. Seth watched from the house as the marshals mounted the horses just as a gunshot started the cattle running.

He wanted to be with them. But the marshal was right. Better to let the law take care of Delaney so that no false charges could be made later.

More shots rang out. Seth saw one horse go down with its rider, and another rider fall. Cattle stampeded. Minutes went by, then more. Shots grew more distant.

Then he heard a noise behind him and he swung around, his pistol in his hand. A man in a mask stood at the back, near the same window the deputy marshals had used. Blood stained his trousers. It must have been his horse that went down.

The man grabbed Elizabeth and held his pistol close to her head.

He wasn't wearing a uniform but Seth recognized Delaney from his build, the arrogant way he moved, even with a bullet hole in his thigh.

“You did this,” he said to Seth.

Seth stood still, waiting. Watching for an opening. His heart pounded as anger and despair swept through him.

“Miss McGuire will see me safely away,” Delaney said, reaching out and taking her arm.

She stood calmly, staring at Seth. With trust.

Fear dried his mouth as he watched Delaney threatening Elizabeth, the gun at her temple. He had to think. He swallowed down everything but resolve.

“You're right, Delaney. I did do this. All myself. You are not nearly as smart as you thought you were. Arrogant men are foolish men.” He shifted subtly, balancing himself to move fast if need be. “There are a number of deputy marshals out there as well as one of your own army friends. They know a lot, and they will know more when they capture your men.”

“You are also a coward,” Michael McGuire said suddenly from behind him. “A yellow coward. Hiding behind a woman. A snake isn't any lower.”

Delaney's eyes flickered from one man to the other, then dismissed McGuire and focused on Sinclair.

“Put your gun down, Sinclair, or I'll shoot her. Now.”

There was something insane in his voice that made Seth believe him. The marshals should be back soon. Very slowly he leaned down and put his pistol on the floor.

Delaney watched him so intently, he seemed to forget McGuire, or perhaps he didn't consider the older man a threat. Once Seth's gun was lowered, Delaney swung his pistol toward him, his finger on the trigger.

Two shots rang out simultaneously.

Fire lanced through Seth's side as he fell to his knees, reaching for his gun. He knew where the other shot had come from. Delaney would turn on McGuire now.

He saw Delaney swing his gun toward McGuire, saw Elizabeth hit his arm to spoil his aim.

Seth swept up his gun from the floor and started firing.