Sunrise Ridge (Redemption Mountain Historical Western Romance Book 3) (21 page)

“If they were smart, they wouldn’t have robbed me. I’ll keep searching until I find and hang them. Are the men bringing the herd in closer?”

“Yes, sir, and I’ve doubled the watch.”

“Good. I want you to select five men to ride out with you and me tomorrow. We won’t return until we’ve found the rustlers and brought them to justice. Understood?”

“Yes, sir.” Masters let himself out, swinging onto his horse and taking off at a run toward the herd.

Tolbert knew Sheriff Evans expected him to report any rustling and let the law handle it. He scoffed at the notion Evans and his friends could handle the gang any better than Tolbert could with a few select men. And his method wouldn’t cost the taxpayers any money. He’d find and lynch them, leaving their bodies for the animals to dispose of, saving the town the expense of a trial and burials.

He’d never been a man to wait for justice to happen. He sought his own, believing one man’s determination could accomplish more than a group of men without purpose.

Tolbert opened a cabinet, removing his rifle and enough shells to last through any confrontation. Next, he took out a matching pair of revolvers and ammunition. He set both on the table as he grabbed his gun belt from a nearby hook. Most of the ammunition would be stored in his saddlebags, along with his other gear. Although he owned no land to the west or south, he knew the area well. Hidden canyons and valleys covered that section. You needed to know where to look, and he did.

Pacing to the window, he gazed toward the barn, noting it needed a fresh coat of paint after the long winter. He stroked his chin, making a decision he’d been pondering since Abby chose to stay in town, ignoring his appeals to return to the ranch.

He sat down at his desk and pulled out paper. Grabbing his fountain pen, he began to write. His last will and testament was in order and kept in his safe across the room. There was no need to make more than one change regarding his property. Every other item he owned—land, cattle, buildings, money—would go to Abigail. As angry as he felt about her decision to stay in town, he wouldn’t exclude her from her rightful inheritance. However, he did feel a strong compulsion to clarify how he wanted the ranch to continue if anything happened to him. He wrote for an hour, noting all he’d been considering the last few weeks.

Finishing, he signed and dated the document, set the pen aside, and folded the paper, securing it in his safe.

Chapter Sixteen

Gabe walked down the boardwalk toward his office, already hearing the sounds of a possible fight starting at the Dixie. The sun still hung above the western mountains, not allowing day to give way to evening. The end of a week always brought out those who needed to cut loose. Figuring it would be a long night, he pushed open the door of the jail, seeing Cash and Beau inside.

“No more reports of missing cattle around Big Pine, and nothing here since the last raid at the Frey ranch. Maybe they’ve left the area.” Gabe dropped the latest telegram from Sheriff Parker on his desk, then sat and tilted his chair back on two legs.

“Is that what you believe?” Cash leaned against the door, his arms crossed.

“No. My gut tells me they’re waiting, believing we’ll think they’ve taken off and won’t be as vigilant.”

“Do you still plan a search?” Beau leaned forward, more than ready to stop sitting around. He wanted to head out, track down Drake and his men, hold them accountable for their actions. It didn’t matter to him if they found the cattle or not. He believed Cash’s assertion Drake was responsible for the deaths of his relatives on their Louisiana farm, as well as the bank robbery in Splendor. It would be difficult to find a single redeeming quality in the outlaw or any of his men.

“I’ve sent word to the Pelletiers and Tolbert to meet us here at dawn tomorrow with as many men as they can spare. We’ll start at the spot where we tracked the two men, then split into groups to cover as much ground as possible.”

“And the town?” Cash turned a chair around, straddling it while resting his arms on the back.

“Same as before. Dax will bring men, leave a couple in town for protection. It’s doubtful—”

The door slammed open, Lena Campanel rushing inside. “Sheriff, you have to come right away. Nick’s got himself into a mess with a group of drunk cowhands from the Tolbert ranch. They were roughing up one of our girls—” She didn’t finish before all three men took off at a run. Following, she watched each draw their guns before stopping outside the swinging doors, looking over the top to the scene inside.

Two men held Nick while two others alternated landing blows to his face and chest. It didn’t appear he’d last much longer.

“Cash, you take the right. Beau, you’re on the left. I’ll go straight in. Ready?” Gabe crashed through the doors, followed by Cash and Beau, all firing warning shots into the ceiling. “That’s enough.” His voice bellowed through the saloon as the three trained their guns on the men surrounding Nick.

“Guess they didn’t hear you,” Beau said as one man drew back, ready to send another fist into Nick’s face. Beau didn’t wait, but aimed and fired. The man screamed and tumbled to the floor, grabbing his ruined knee. “You all heard the sheriff. Step away from Barnett before I get angry enough to shoot another of you.”

The men dropped their arms, letting Nick slide to the floor as they scrambled to do as Beau asked. Lena dashed behind Nick and knelt down, using both hands to help him to a sitting position.

“How’s Deborah?” Nick choked out, grasping his chest as blood trickled from a cut near his eye.

“The girls have her in the office. They’ll take care of her while we sort this out.” She used a hanky to absorb the blood dripping from his chin, then pressed it to the corner of his eye.

He tried to stand, but fell back, wincing in pain. “My ribs hurt like hell.”

“Don’t move until I can get help. No sense making it worse.” She glanced behind her to see Noah push past Cash and Beau as they escorted the four men outside.

“Everyone all right?” Noah asked as Gabe collected their weapons, then nodded toward Lena and Nick.

“I’ve got to lock the men in cells, then I’ll be back.” Gabe cradled the weapons before disappearing outside.

 Noah crouched down next to Nick. “Need some help?”

“Yes. I think he’s got some cracked ribs.”

“I can speak for myself, Lena.” Nick grimaced, clutching his arms to his chest.

“Lena, get the doc while I help him up.” Noah took Lena’s place at Nick’s back, threading his arms under his. “This is gonna hurt.”

Nick was a tall man, but Noah had him by at least four inches and twenty pounds. In one smooth move, Noah lifted him onto his feet, bracing a hand to his back. Nick leaned forward, then rose until he stood almost erect.

“Damn,” he muttered. “It’s not often I let drunk cowhands get the best of me.”

Gabe crossed the street as Doc Worthington and Lena rushed into the saloon. By the time he walked back inside, the doc already had Nick’s shirt open, exposing abrasions already turning black-and-blue.

“They got you good, Nick.” Doc pressed two fingers to several spots, asking Nick to cough each time. “I feel three cracked ribs.” Doc studied his face, glad the flow of blood near his eye had stopped. “The cuts on your face aren’t serious. Your ribs are the worst.” He looked up at Noah and Gabe. “I’ll need you two to help Nick to the clinic.” Doc stood and watched as the men braced Nick on either side. “I’ve got to wrap your ribs with adhesive plaster. It’ll help with the pain when you breathe. ‘Course, nothing will help if you have a coughing fit.”

They didn’t have far to go, but Nick cursed under his breath with almost every step.

“Take him into the treatment room. Noah, stay with Nick. I’d rather you two wait in the front.” He nodded toward Gabe and Lena.

“But—” Lena began.

“Are you his wife?” he asked, his brow lifting.

She placed her hands on her waist. “You know I’m not.”

“Then Noah will do. I need someone strong who can help when I apply the adhesive.” He didn’t wait for Lena to respond as he closed the door behind him.

She rounded on Gabe, her face flushed. “He has no right to keep me out of there. Can’t you do something?”

“Afraid not. The doctor’s in charge here. Seems we’ll both have to wait, as he asked.” He lowered himself into a nearby chair, stretched out his legs, and crossed his arms.

“I should be in there with him.” She dropped into a wooden chair, gripping her hands together in her lap.

“Since you’re not his wife, the doc may be trying to spare you from seeing Nick with his shirt off.”

Lena snorted as the corners of her mouth tilted upward. “It’s not as if I’ve never seen him without a shirt.”

“Oh?” His left eyebrow raised a fraction.

She glared at his implication. “We grew up together, shared swimming holes, and took care of each other when one of us got hurt. I’ve seen him shirtless any number of times.”

“Guess you aren’t going to see him shirtless this time.” Gabe grinned before tilting his hat forward to shield his eyes.

“You’re going to sleep?”

He pushed the hat back up a fraction to look at her. “Thought I would. Unless you’re determined to talk.”

Lena’s eyes narrowed in irritation as she pursed her lips, then stood, crossing her arms as she walked to the window. A moment passed before she spun around. “Why don’t you go to the jail, keep your prisoners company? I’m sure it would be more to your liking.”

Gabe sat up, accepting a quick nap wasn’t going to happen. “I need to speak with Nick, get his version of what happened.”

“
His
version? It seemed clear when you caught the men holding and beating him. What more do you need?” She swiped an errant strand of hair from her face, pacing to within a foot of him. “Two of them were roughing up Deborah. He stepped in to break it up and the four attacked him.”

“You saw all of it?”

“I did.”

“Good. Then his story should match yours.”

Before she could say more, the door to the treatment room opened and Noah poked his head out. “Gabe, the doc says for us to help Nick to the boardinghouse. Says he shouldn’t go back to the saloon tonight.”

“I’ll go with you.” Lena brushed past Noah to see Nick closing his shirt over the bandages wrapped around his chest. “How are you?”

“I’ve been better.”

She moved to him, resting a hand on his shoulder. “It could’ve been so much worse.”

“Guess so.” He slid off the table to the floor, placing a steadying hand on Lena’s arm. “I’ve got to get back in case more of the group from Tolbert’s ranch start another brawl.”

“Doc says you’re to go to the boardinghouse.”

“Like hell,” he ground out.

“You’re not much good the way you are. Why don’t you do as the doctor says? I can manage.”

“She’s right, Nick.” Gabe stepped into the room. “Noah and I will help you to Suzanne’s. I’ll ask Cash and Beau to keep watch at the saloon, make sure nothing else happens tonight.”

“I can’t ask others to do my job,” he growled, shaking off their attempt to help him from the clinic.

“You’re not. I am.” Gabe motioned for Noah to stand back, figuring if Nick wanted help, they’d know it soon enough.

Nick stopped twice, leaning on the side of the building to rest, then would start again. Suzanne had already heard about the beating and made up the one downstairs sleeping room she had. Ginny Sorenson and her sister, Mary, used it before Ginny married Luke. She kept it vacant for emergencies such as this.

Noah waited until Nick settled in the vacant room before joining Abby in the kitchen, explaining what he knew about the brawl. The two had just finished supper at Suzanne’s when they heard gunfire. He’d pushed from the table, warning her not to follow until he’d discovered the source of the noise.

“Some of your father’s men were pushing one of the women around. Nick tried to stop them. Guess they didn’t appreciate his interference. Lena fetched Gabe, and between him, Cash, and Beau, they broke it up, arrested the men.”

“And they’re all from my father’s ranch?” Her brows furrowed as she considered this.

“Appears so.”

“He wouldn’t condone what they did. Has anyone sent for him?”

“Don’t know. Word travels fast, though, and several more of his men were in the saloon when Gabe hauled the others to jail. I’m sure he’ll hear about it soon enough and ride in to pay the fines. You know, he’ll want to see you.”

Abby shrugged. “As long as he doesn’t try to talk me into leaving town.” She’d grown tired of explaining her reasons for keeping her job and remaining at Suzanne’s. He would never understand and accept her decision. She glanced up as Gabe walked in and tipped his hat to her.

“Would you care for coffee, Sheriff?”

“No, thanks. I’m heading back to the jail to send Cash and Beau to keep peace at the Dixie tonight. Nick told the same story as Lena. He wants to press charges, which is his right, but the circuit judge isn’t expected for a few weeks.”

“Lena still with Nick?” Noah asked.

“She’ll probably stay a while longer. He didn’t want to rely on Cash and Beau to do his job, but he seemed relieved knowing they’d be watching over Lena and the girls. I’ll see you in the morning, Noah.”

“What’s happening in the morning?” Abby poured more coffee in Noah’s cup, her forehead creased into a frown.

“We’re riding out to search for Drake and the missing cattle. Dax, Luke, and your father agreed to send men to help.” He looked up to see the worry etched across her face. “We’ll be leaving men in town this time so Drake doesn’t try to rob the bank again.”

She nodded, although Noah sensed the tension radiating from her.

“C’mere.” His chair grated on the old plank floor as he scooted back, reaching his hand toward her.

She grasped it, letting him settle her on his lap, wrapping an arm around her waist.

“It will all be fine, Abby. I doubt Drake is dumb enough to try the bank a second time.” He leaned forward, brushing a kiss along her neck, inhaling her unique scent.

“It’s not me I’m worried about.”

A slow smile lifted the corners of Noah’s mouth. “Nothing will happen to me.”