The Iron Horseman (5 page)

Levi
pulled his mount to a stop and helped Cadence down from the saddle before
getting down himself. “Here, hold these, will you?” He handed Apollo’s reins to
her and took a few carefully placed steps toward the mare. She looked up at him
and nickered softly. Levi reached out for her reins, which dangled on the
ground and into the edge of the water, patting her neck and mumbling something
Cadence couldn’t hear. It didn’t take long for him to coax the animal back to
where she stood.

“Why
don’t you ride Apollo back and I’ll take this old girl here.” With a gentle
nudge of her nose into Levi’s face, it seemed the ‘old girl’ approved. Levi
laughed—a great sound.

“Why
do they call you the Iron Horseman?” she asked. “It seems you are anything but
iron-like with horses, so I assume it has something to do with your job since
I’ve heard steam locomotives referred to as iron horses.”

Her
question evoked a wide smile in his tanned features and a loud guffaw erupted
as he tossed his head backward with obvious amusement. Cadence’s heart did a
little flip-flop inside of her chest. She couldn’t remember ever having seen a
man with teeth so white or a smile that lit up such a beautiful face so fully.
She felt the heat rise in her cheeks again at the thought.

Still
chuckling, Levi collected himself enough to look at her. “I’m afraid, my lady,”
he said with a slight bow, “that is a story for another day.” He pulled himself
up onto the mare. “We should get back.”

Cadence
climbed up into the saddle on his horse and clicked her tongue. “I’ll race you
back,” she called over her shoulder as she quickly urged Apollo into motion.

“Oh,
no you don’t,” she heard Levi call from behind her.

Cadence
couldn’t help the wave of giggles that erupted from the pit of her belly as
blood rushed through her body, leaving a tingling sensation in its wake. Apollo
was powerful. No wonder Levi had chosen him.

The
wind whipped through her loose hair and she scolded herself for leaving her hat
back at the livery. It would take a long time to get a brush through her hair
tonight, but right now, it didn’t matter. She was having more fun than she’d
had in a long time.

The
sound of Levi’s whistles and hollering had quieted. Cadence dared a glance
behind her only to find that he was nowhere to be seen. A slight twinge of
worry crept into her thoughts and she considered turning around until she saw
Levi to her far right galloping up the middle of the street from the other
direction toward the livery. She quickly inched her already bunched dress up a
little higher on her legs to give her more room, leaned down closer to the
saddle horn, and squeezed her knees into the impressive gelding’s flanks. With
the livery focused in her sights, she raced toward the building with reckless
determination.

As
she approached the livery’s front gate, Levi whizzed past her and she watched
with amazement as he dismounted at a run directly in front of the livery while
the horse was still moving. Too late, Cadence realized she was running out of
road. She pulled herself up with a tightening of the reins, but the sudden
change caused Apollo to rear.

Within
seconds, she found herself flying backward. She closed her eyes until she
landed fully on her hind end. Thump.

Ouch.

She
opened one eye and then the other. Levi raced toward her, all playfulness
erased from his handsome features. She’d been lucky she hadn’t killed herself.

“You
were lucky you didn’t kill yourself,” Levi breathed her thoughts as he reached
down and scooped her up from the ground.

A
smile played with Cadence’s mouth.

“Are
you all right?” he asked quietly, his brows crumpled together and his face
stoic.

Cadence
was strangely touched by his concern, then she remembered why it had happened
in the first place.

“You
ride with the circus or something? I couldn’t take my eyes off you.” Heat
flooded her cheeks and she wanted to crawl into a hole. “I mean…” What could
she say? “You can, um, put me down now, Mr. Redbourne. I am not hurt. Well, my
pride maybe, but I am fine.”

Levi
laughed as he set her back on her feet. “It was just a little trick I learned
from my cousin, Lucas.”

“Is
he as addlepated as you evidently are?”

“I’m
not sure anyone is, really. Well, maybe one person.”

“Oh,
yeah? And who might that be?”

“That,”
a resonant voice from behind them boomed, “would be me.”

Cadence
turned around to find an exact replica of Levi Redbourne approaching from the
direction of the hotel along with another man equal in height and stature, but
with a shade lighter hair.

“Tag,”
Levi breathed out with a grin. Without looking back at her, he made the
distance between him and his double in a few short strides and they embraced.

Curious.

Levi
shouldn’t have dismissed the idea of his brother being in town so readily. He’d
just chalked it up to wishful thinking. But, folks had been acting strange
toward him all morning. The firm grip his brother had on him felt wonderful. It
had been way too long. When Tag released him, he pulled Cole into a tight hug.
It was so good to see them both.

“Hey,
baby brother,” he said to Cole, “I’m surprised they could pull you away from
that stallion long enough to get you out this direction.”

“He’s
done,” Cole beamed. “It didn’t take long. I rode him here.”

Levi
hadn’t seen him in the livery.

“He’s
out running the pasture behind the stables.”

Levi
couldn’t help the grin that broke across his face. He pulled Cole in again for
another hug and lifted him off the ground. He couldn’t have been more proud.

“You’re
a natural.”

“You
can put me down now,” Cole said through short gasps for air. “I want to meet
your lady friend.”

Cadence
. He’d nearly
forgotten. How was that even possible?

Levi
realized the scene he was making. Three Redbourne-grown men already gained
enough attention, they didn’t need anymore.

“And
who, might I ask, is that lovely woman you had all wrapped up in your arms over
there, Levi?” Tag motioned with his chin toward Cadence, but didn’t wait for an
answer. He walked over to where the young beauty was still brushing the dirt
from her backside as she led Apollo toward the stables.

Levi’s
neck grew warm.

Where
are your manners?
he could hear his mother saying and quickly pushed the devilish thoughts from
his head.

Keep
it in check, Redbourne.

He
caught up to Tag.

“This
is little Cadie Walker,” Levi said as they approached the livery door. “My
friend Eamon’s daughter. You remember? The railroad Pinkerton I brought home
for a visit last summer?”

Miss
Walker flashed him a look full of daggers.

“You’re
Cadie?” Cole extended his hand to hers and pulled it up to his lips. Levi
rolled his eyes. It was odd to see his baby brother, now a man, trying to
impress a girl. Besides, Cole was all show. He hadn’t even been home to meet
Eamon. He’d been in Silver Falls, Colorado visiting his best friend.

“My
name is
Cadence
,” she said coolly, looking at Levi, “and yes, Eamon
Walker is my father. You are obviously some relation of Mr. Redbourne here.”
She motioned with her head, but did not look at him. “Twins.”

Tag
laughed. “We,” he swooped his arm in front of him and took a bow, “are
Mr.
Redbourne’s
brothers, ma’am. Cole and Taggart.”

“It
is my pleasure to meet your acquaintance.” She dipped her head in a slight bow,
her hand still in Cole’s. Levi had to fight the urge to swipe it away. Not that
it should matter to him any. Still, he couldn’t help the relief that washed
over him when she slid her fingers from his brother’s grasp.

“So,
what is Eamon’s daughter doing in a little town way out here with the likes of
you?” Tag elbowed Levi in the gut, then directed his attention to Cadence. “I
thought you were supposed to be living back East somewhere.”

“Chicago,
actually. I am moving out here to be closer to my father and to help him run
the homestead.”

“Wait,
Eamon is giving up the agency?” Tag asked.

“He
purchased some land in Bryan,” Levi informed them, “where he’s building a
homestead. I think he wants to have a place to hang his hat. He won’t be a
Pinkerton forever.” Levi still didn’t understand his friend’s reasoning. Eamon
had a home in Chicago where his wife, son, and until recently Cadence still
resided. Although his wife had made it perfectly clear that she had no
intention of moving west.

Cadence
shrugged. “He thinks I’ll find a husband out here where the odds are better
than ten to one.”

Levi
felt the color drain from his face.

“Don’t
worry, Mr. Redbourne,” she placed a hand on his chest, “I have no interest in
my father’s plans…except for the homestead, of course.” She smiled. “Chicago
was stifling—especially under my mother’s constant watch.” She turned to his
brothers. “I’ve only just met Mr. Redbourne this afternoon when he…rescued me
from a runaway horse.”

Tag
and Will both nodded knowingly. Levi groaned. He would never hear the end of
this.

“What
a lucky day for us,” Cole said with that dimpled grin that always seemed to
charm the ladies.

“Will
you be riding the train with us to Bryan?” Cadence asked Tag, ignoring Cole’s
attempt.

“‘Fraid
not. We’ve got work to do,” Tag answered.

“What
are
you fellas doing all the way out here?” Levi managed to ask, still
reeling from the events of the last five minutes.

“We
heard you were causing some kind of trouble out here and thought we’d drop by
to lend a hand.” Cole laughed as he clapped Levi on the shoulder with a
chuckle.

Levi
turned to Tag.

“Business,”
Tag said matter-of-factly. “Dad bought a new stud for the ranch from a breeder
in Cheyenne. So, we drove a small herd of cattle up to one of our buyers, but
the horse won’t be ready until tomorrow morning. A Mr. Dowdry saw us as we rode
back into town. He stopped me.” Tag smiled. “It didn’t take long before we
realized he thought I was you. When we explained, he told us you’d given him a
second chance with a new life as the owner of the mercantile here in Flat
Plains. He told us he believed you’d be around ‘til Thursday.”

“Since
we can’t pick up the stallion until tomorrow, we decided it would be worth the
extra trip for the chance to catch up with you,” Cole cut in. “This one,” he
ruffled Tag’s hair, “just isn’t the same without you around.” Their younger
brother was as tall as them, seemingly still growing, and he wouldn’t let
either of them forget it. “He really has become such a bore.”

Tag
hit Cole’s arm with the back of his hand.

“I
can’t remember the last time he made me laugh,” Cole said with a hint of
amusement. “You really have to consider coming home. It’s just not the same
there without you—not nearly enough shenanigans to be had.”

“I
should be home for Christmas.” Once the transcontinental line was complete,
Levi imagined it wouldn’t be long before he would be able to start visiting
home more often. The journey across country would only take a few days. He
glanced at his brothers, genuinely glad to see them. “Have you had any supper?”
Levi asked with a grin. “Miss Emaline makes a wonderful fried chicken plate.”

“We
picked up some of her vittles an hour or so ago.”

“Of
course you did.” He remembered Ms. Emaline’s confusion.

“I
think we’ve mixed up quite a few people in this little town of yours too.” Tag
glanced around the main street and Levi’s gaze followed. A small group of
townsfolk stared and murmured amongst each other.

“Well,
I’ll be.” Mrs. Cavanaugh bustled over the boardwalk and down onto the street,
pushing her way through the small crowd. “I knew it. I wasn’t seeing things
after all, Levi. There
are
two of you.”

Levi
laughed heartily.

“Mrs.
Cavanaugh, this is my brother, Tag.”

“I’m
older,” Tag said with a smirk.

“By
three minutes,” Levi retorted.

“That’s
all I needed.” Tag loved the fact that he’d had a head start.

This
time it was Mrs. Cavanaugh’s turn to laugh. “I’m making up some hot potato soup
and rib cutlets tonight for supper. You’ll both come, won’t you?”

Tag
and Cole stood up straight.

“Yes,
ma’am,” the brother’s answered in unison. Levi could imagine each of them
licking their lips at the idea of a home-cooked meal after a few days on the
trail.

“It’ll
be good to have boys in the house. If only for the night.” Seemingly satisfied,
Mrs. Cavanaugh turned to leave when she caught sight of Cadence. Levi thought
the older woman must have recognized her because she threw her hands in the air
and rushed to the spot where Miss Walker still stood.

“My
heavens. Aren’t you just the prettiest little thing? Did you arrive in town
with these men, my dear? Which one of these strapping young cowboys belongs to
you?”

Levi
contained a chuckle at the worried look on Mrs. Cavanaugh’s face. A woman of
Miss Walker’s age would not be traveling alongside two grown men without a
chaperone unless she was married to one of them or related.

Cadence
looked back and forth between the Redbourne brothers and Mrs. Cavanaugh.

“Cade
Walker, ma’am. I’m afraid I’m just here for the night as I arrived on the
supply train.”

Visible
relief washed over the older woman. “Where ya headed, darlin’?”

“Bryan
area. My father has a place there.”

Levi
was sure by the barely contained exasperation on Cadence’s face that she was
tired of explaining herself to others.

“Levi
here is leaving on the train tomorrow,” Mrs. Cavanaugh nodded knowingly. “I see
you two have already been acquainted.”

The
woman would have him married to any girl who could smile right if he wasn’t
careful.

“Well,
where is your traveling companion, dear?” Mrs. Cavanaugh asked.

Miss
Walker smiled kindly at the older woman. “It’s not too much farther to Bryan.
I’m on my own.” She placed a hand on Mrs. Cavanaugh’s. “But don’t you worry.
It’s fine,” she cooed. “My father is a Pinkerton. He taught me well. I can take
care of myself.”

Levi
didn’t doubt that. An image of the dead snake back by the river flashed through
his mind and he smiled to himself. If it had been Hannah, his baby sister, all
seven Redbourne brothers and their father would have been called out to handle
the situation and she would have been bit long before they’d gotten there.

“I’m
sure you are a very capable young woman,” Mrs. Cavanaugh told her. “Do you have
a place to stay tonight?”

“Yes,
ma’am. I’ve arranged for a room at the Day’s End Hotel.”

“You’re
a smart little gal, aren’t you? Well, you’ll be joining us for supper as well,
you hear?” Mrs. Cavanaugh patted Miss Walker’s hand and let go with a curt nod
of the head. “Levi knows where we live,” she said as she turned and walked back
across the street and disappeared into the small crowd.

“We
haven’t been this spoiled in a long time,” Cole said as he stepped up next to
Levi.

They
all chuckled in agreement.

“Well,”
Cadence said, her hands on her hips, “I guess I’ll see you fellas tonight.” She
brushed past them and stepped up onto the boardwalk, heading toward the Day’s
End.

“Do
you think mama would approve?” Cole asked, pointing with his chin toward the
retreating Miss Walker, a wry grin gracing his features.

Levi
slugged him playfully in the side. “Not for the likes of you. Besides, I
thought you were going to go to school overseas.”

“For
her, university could wait. Or, I could just marry her and take her with me.”

“Like
hell.” Levi realized he’d spoken the words aloud.

All
three of them laughed.

“Fire!”
someone yelled from down the street.

Levi
looked up to see swirls of black smoke rising from the newest building in the
town’s square. The bank.

There
was no mistaking the acrid scent of pinewood burning. Shouts rang down the
street. The few men in town ran down the dusty road past Cadence and toward the
hotel. She glanced back at the livery, where she’d left the Redbournes, but to
her dismay they were already gone.

“Seems
there’s a fire at the bank,” a newly familiar, deep, resonant voice sounded
behind Cadence and sent a chill gliding down her arms and over her skin. A
reluctant smile touched her lips as Levi grabbed a hold of her hand and pulled
her with him down the boardwalk. When they reached the Day’s End, he let go of
her hand and pulled open the door.