Sunrise Ridge (Redemption Mountain Historical Western Romance Book 3) (34 page)

“We can combine the herds today and be back here before sunset, boss. Who do you want with Miss Tolbert?”

“Pick two men who’ve been at the ranch the longest, known her a while, and will do what’s needed to protect her. You and I should be here.” Dirk glanced at the men riding out to the herd and those still finishing breakfast.

“How long do you think before they try for the cattle?” The same as everyone else, Mal wanted to stop the last of Drake’s men.

“I don’t know. Could be as soon as tomorrow, depending on where they’re holed up and if they bring the rest of the stolen cattle with them.”

“That’d be darn stupid if you ask me.” Mal tossed the rest of his coffee on the ground and stood.

Dirk grinned. “No one ever said these rustlers were smart.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

It took both Luke and Bull to hold Dax back during the screams. They’d come and gone throughout the early morning hours until he couldn’t take any more and decided to storm into the house.

“Not until Doc says it’s all right for you to be with her.” Luke gripped his arm tighter while Bull blocked the doorway.

“Sit down, boss. She’s still screaming, which means she and the baby are fine. Doc’s got Ginny and Lydia in there with him. Relax. The baby will come when he’s ready and not before.” Bull didn’t budge, waiting for Dax to give up and sit down.

Dax heaved a deep breath, clasped his hands behind his head, and turned toward the barn, walking until he came to a stop next to the porch railing. “Never again.”

“What’d you say?” Luke asked.

“When this is over, I’m never going through this again.” He dropped his arms to his sides, then crossed them over his chest right before a loud wail came from inside the house. He spun around, but didn’t step forward, his face a mixture of elation and panic. A moment later, Doc Worthington walked out looking as beat as Dax felt.

“Is she…? Is Rachel…?”

“She and the baby are fine, Dax, and she’s asking for you.”

He didn’t wait another moment before rushing inside and into the bedroom, stopping on the threshold, his breath catching in his throat. Rachel rested against a stack of pillows, a blanketed bundle in her arms, a smile on her face as radiant as he’d ever seen.

“Come over here and meet your son.” Her voice sounded raw, yet Dax saw joy in her face.

He swallowed, taking a few hesitant steps forward before looking down at a small red face and squinty eyes. Rachel pulled the blanket away to reveal two tiny fisted hands.

“What do you think?”

“I think you’re incredible,” he whispered, his eyes riveted on her face.

“No, I mean about your son, Patrick,” she laughed.

“Patrick…” he breathed out. They’d decided if they had a boy, he’d be named after the man who bequeathed them Redemption’s Edge—Dax and Luke’s fellow Texas Ranger, Pat Hanes.

“Here. You should hold him.”

Dax lifted his arms, palms out, and took a step back. “Oh, no…”

“Oh, yes. He’s a tiny baby and doesn’t weigh much. You’ll be fine.” She held the bundle out to him, her eyes bright.

Dax steeled himself and bent forward, reaching out for Patrick and letting Rachel slip him into his arms. He cradled him to his chest, staring at his own flesh and blood, and something inside shifted. Raising his head, he looked at Rachel, his son’s mother, and knew he had everything he ever wanted right in this room.

“I can’t tell you how much this means to me, Mr. Brandt. All these men taking their time to fix up the house.” Sarah handed him a plate of chicken and biscuits, glancing over her shoulder at the house.

“Thank you, Miss Murton. Each man said yes right away. They’re here because they want to make you feel welcome.”

“Well, I do feel welcome. My cousins told me I’d love it here. I already do.”

Taking the last bite of his meal, Noah noticed a small cloud of dust rising from the north edge of town, preceded by three riders. “Looks as if you might meet a few more of your neighbors.”

“Morning, Noah. Doc Worthington mentioned you might need help fixing up that abandoned house for the new teacher.” Bull reined up next to him and dismounted, followed by Travis and Tat, another longtime Pelletier ranch hand. “We decided to see if that was right and share some news.”

“He’d be right about needing the help.” Noah made the introductions and told the three what still needed to be finished. “What’s the other news?”

“Rachel had the baby. A boy. They named him Patrick after Pat Hanes.” Bull’s smile spread across his face.

Noah’s smile matched Bull’s. “How are they doing?”

“She and the baby are fine. Dax may need some time to recover, though.” Bull laughed, then scanned the work on the house. “Seems you’ve made a lot of progress.”

“It’s moving along. With your help, we might be able to finish today.” Noah nodded toward a wooden box a few feet away. “You can grab whatever tools you need from the box over there. I’m taking the wagon to pick up some more lumber.”

“I’ll go with you.” Bull climbed onto the wagon next to Noah for the short trip to the other end of town. As the town grew, the original one room supply shop had tripled in size over the last year. Residents no longer had to make the journey to Big Pine and back for windows, stoves, and other materials. “I hear Miss Murton is cousins with Ty, Gil, and Mark.”

“That’s right. They contacted her about the opening for a teacher. Seems like a real nice lady. Tell me about the baby.”

Bull’s face lit up at the mention of the new Pelletier. “He’s a tiny thing, that’s for certain. Red, crinkly face and hands. Dax brought him out of the bedroom for a couple minutes.”

“It’s fitting they named him after Pat.” Noah pulled the wagon to a stop and set the brake.

“I agree. I’ve met few men as good as him.” Bull and a few others worked for Pat, then stayed on when Dax and Luke acquired the ranch. It had been a good decision for all of them.

They had just finished loading the wagon and prepared to climb aboard when Gabe strode up, holding a telegram.

“Got word from Sterling. There’s been another raid at a ranch near Big Pine.”

“When?” Noah asked.

“Three days ago. He’s been out with a posse, trying to find the rustlers.”

“Any luck?” Noah asked, already tensing at the knowledge the rustlers hadn’t left the area.

“Not according to this.” He held up the telegram. “I plan to ride out to the Tolbert place and let them know what I’ve learned. Bull, can you go get word to Dax and Luke? You folks need to be prepared.”

Bull nodded, then looked at Noah. “I’ll help Travis and Tat for a bit, then ride out.” Bull climbed up on the wagon.

“I’m going with you to Tolbert’s. I’ll unload these supplies at Miss Murton’s house, then get Tempest.”

“No need, Noah. Cash is riding out with me and Beau’s staying in town.”

“I’m going—with you or on my own,” Noah growled, jumping up next to Bull and slapping the reins.

“Heard you aren’t courting Abigail any longer.”

Noah tossed a disgusted look at Bull. “Well, you heard wrong.”

Bull nodded. “That’s good news.”

Noah cursed under his breath, pulled the wagon to a stop, and turned toward Bull. “Now I need to convince Abby to give me another chance.”

Bull slapped him on the back, snorting out a laugh. “Hell, Noah, the entire town knows how you feel about her, and her feelings for you. That woman wouldn’t care how many mistakes you make. She’d still marry you.” He glanced at Tat and Travis. “I’d better help the boys, then get back to the ranch. You tell Miss Abigail hello for me.”

Noah watched him grab a hammer and some boards from the back of the wagon before joining Travis. He looked over his shoulder, spotting Gabe ride Blackheart out of the livery. He needed to join him.

“Wait for me.” Noah dashed past him, saddling Tempest in record time.

Gabe, Cash, and Noah road at a brisk pace, cutting the normal travel time almost in half in their rush to alert Abigail and Dirk. Noah didn’t slow much when they reached the ranch house, dismounting and running up the steps to pound on the front door.

“Abby? Abby, are you in there?” When he got no answer, he pounded again until the door flew open.

“What in the world are you doing, Noah Brandt?” Fanny Dobbins stood on the other side, her hands resting on her ample hips.

He ripped off his hat and bowed a little. “Sorry, Miss Fanny, but I need to speak with Abby or Dirk. It’s urgent.”

“Well, Miss Abigail rode out at dawn with one of the men. She told me she may not be back for a few days.”

“And Dirk?”

“He’s been gone a few days already. I think she may be riding out to meet him and the other men.” She watched as his face become tense, his hands fisting around the brim of his hat.

“Do you have any idea where?”

She rubbed her forehead. “Well, let me think. Dirk mentioned the herd on the eastern border. They might be there, but I don’t know for sure.”

Noah slammed his hat back on his head and turned toward Gabe and Cash. “We need to ride to the pasture on the far eastern border.”

“Do you know how to get there?” Cash asked.

“I do.”

He took them on a straight path north, then east, his fear growing with each mile. It wouldn’t be uncommon for Abby to join the men during the workday. After all, as the ranch owner, she had a lot to learn and needed to gain the respect of her cowhands—not as a woman, but as their boss.

The sun touched the tops of the mountains behind them as they rode around a large stand of pine and into a clearing devoid of cattle or ranch hands. Noah took off his hat and swiped a sleeve across his forehead.

“Where to now?” Gabe asked, pulling out his canteen, taking a drink, then passing it to Cash, then Noah.

“If Fanny is right, they’ll be another mile or two ahead.” Noah handed the canteen back to Gabe and settled his hat on his head. “If not, then we keep riding until we find the herd.”

They didn’t need to change direction. Riding through the other side of the clearing, they spotted cattle a mile away in a vast pasture, men circling on horseback. The sounds of bawling and bellowing increased the closer they rode. Two riders broke from the circle and rode toward them. Noah squinted, recognizing Dirk, but not the rider with him.

Wearing slacks, a hat pulled low on his head, the other man appeared more slender and without the height of most cowhands. As they got closer, Noah squinted, then cursed as he spotted hair flying behind the second rider. Abby. He should have known. She rode the same horse the day he’d taken Hasty to her ranch.

“What brings all of you out here?” Dirk asked as he and Abby stopped, her eyes catching Noah’s for a brief moment before shifting away.

“I received a message from Sheriff Sterling in Big Pine about more rustling over there.” Gabe tipped his hat to Abby, ignoring the fiery glare Noah shot him.

“Guess I should’ve sent word to you. We spotted Archie Swaggert and another man around the herd. Most of our men are here, circling the cattle and rotating watch at night. If the gang comes, we’ll be ready.”

Noah nodded toward Abby. “And her?”

She shifted in the saddle as her eyes came up to fix on Noah’s, anger sparking. “I would think that would be obvious, Mr. Brandt. I’m here because I own the ranch.”

He moved Tempest forward until he sat within a foot of her, his gaze boring into hers. “Go home, Abby. Let your men handle this.”

“As long as the cattle are in danger from rustlers, I’m staying.” Her intense gaze never broke from his.

“You aren’t prepared to deal with rustlers. You don’t even know how to shoot a gun.” Noah’s voice hardened at her resistance.

Abby glared back at him. “Of course I do.
You
taught me.”

“One lesson isn’t enough for what may await us. Go back to the house, Abby. You shouldn’t be here.” Noah’s voice rose, as did his annoyance at her refusal to listen. He wanted to protect her and keep her safe. He wanted…

They both turned at the sound of muffled laughter behind them. Cash and Dirk shifted, looking anywhere except at Noah and Abby as Gabe cleared his throat.

“Why don’t Cash and I follow Dirk to the herd? You two join us when you’re ready.”

“I’m ready now.” Abby began to turn Joker around when Noah reached out and grabbed her reins.

“Hold up a minute, Abby. We need to talk.”

“There’s nothing more to say. I’m staying and nothing you can say will change my mind.”

Noah’s jaw tightened, but he dropped the reins. She wasted no time catching up with the others, leaving him to work out his frustration on his own.