Unexpected (17 page)

There wasn’t much going on
at the ranch, but he was certain Cogan was still on the range somewhere. He always had a man watching the place and Elroy reported that he rode out early that morning, to check the fences most likely.  Smart move, he’d had his men cut several last night on his orders. He couldn’t expect Elroy to do a damn thing without his gun hand, so he used him as a messenger and a watch man.  He should have killed him after the first failure, but he still seemed to have some use, and he was loyal.

Even though he had six men with him
now, there was still something about that Cogan Reid that worried him a little. It made him think that six men weren’t enough. When he got the telegraph that morning, it just confirmed his suspicions.  He gritted his teeth in silence. 

Regardless of who Cogan was, it wasn’t going to stop him from having Josie.  He just had to get rid of Cogan first.

“Boss?” All six of them waited in silence for Butch’s next orders. An hour had gone by and Elroy couldn’t take it anymore. Were they just going to sit there all day?

Elroy had heard from his brother about Butch’s reaction to Miss Hamilton’s upcoming marriage.
The reaction had frightened Deak, and Elroy told him to grow up. Yet, he was shocked as the rest of them.  She never showed any interest toward the young men in town, or even her former ranch hands.  He’d always thought her heart was as cold as ice.  However, that didn’t stop him, or the others, from bragging what they were going to do to her when, and if, they got her alone.  Well, that was before Butch told them that she was his. 

Now Elroy knew he wasn’t the smartest man around, and he also knew he wasn’t good to look at.  The only way he could get laid, was pay for it.  Yet, he’d been scheming ways to try and get her alone for himself.  Yes, he was scared of Butch, but a woman like Josephine could make a man take all kinds of risks.  As for his boss, he was silent most of the day and it was obvious even to a simple minded man like himself, that Mr. McAllister was very
very angry.  Finally to his relief his boss spoke.

“Chances are Cogan’s going to be fixing fences well into the night.  You tell the bo
ys, I don’t want his body found,”  he said.

“Yes sir.” He pulled on the reins to turn his horse to go find his brother and Clancy.

“Elroy.”  Butch called his name without taking his eyes off the ranch.

He reined
his horse back.

“Get Doyle to do it.”

“Yes boss.”  Elroy wished his gun hand was working.  He wanted a piece of Cogan for shooting it in the first place.  He’d been practicing with his left, but it was terrible.  He even had trouble taking a piss without leaking on his boots.

Butch kept peering through the binoculars as the sound of receding hooves reached his ears.  Doyle was a great find.  He had skills with his gun and was an expert marksman.  He needed to find someone to match Cogan’s talent, and he may not be as good, but he was adequate enough to get the job done.
  He was also mean and eager to prove himself. Butch liked those qualities in his men.  It took him some time to find him and he came highly recommended.

Just then he caught sight of Josephine.
  She came around the side of the house holding a woven basket.  He knew she loved her mother’s garden and kept up the passion.  She probably had fresh picked vegetables in it.  He knew a lot about her because he’d spent a lot of time watching and learning about her.  He also knew her hair smelled like lavender and felt like fine silk.  Her skin was as smooth as honey.  She was a finely cut sapphire in a bowl of dull gems.  In the last year she’d grown into a fine specimen of woman hood. Her body was exquisite.  She put all women he’d known to shame with that small waist and well-rounded hips. Her breasts alone would make a man beg for her attention.  They were perfect, perk, and he knew they would fit his hands nicely. 

He wasn’t a stupid man, and knew he was obsessed with her
, but Christ, who could blame him?  He collected beautiful things, and Josephine was definitely that.  He remembered years ago she was gangly and slender, now she was filling out perfectly, but even then, he knew exactly how she would look as she matured.  He watched suitor after suitor get turned away. They weren’t the only ones.  He tried himself, but she just never accepted his flattery or his advances.  Actually, she seemed quite disgusted that he’d even tried. It angered him because most women he knew would have fallen all over him for that.  Most women he knew were insecure and easy to manipulate. Josie was different, she was intelligent and confident.  Surprisingly, that turned him on.  He wanted her as bad as he’d ever known.

Her hair was down and unbound, and it was quite long.  He could envision himself wrapping his fingers in it while he made her submit to him.  In the last month he’d only been sleeping with his red-headed blue-eyed whores, but it wasn’t working.  He’d
envision Josie while he plunged into them but the satisfaction was unfulfilled no matter how he made them beg.

They were paid to beg, paid to submit.  Josephine would fight him and he ached for it.

When she went in the house, he finally lowered his binoculars and decided it was time to head home.  There was some planning to do and he would anxiously await word that Cogan was dead.

It was too bad it didn’t turn out the way he expected.

Chapter
Five

Cogan heard the approaching riders while he twisted the wire of the fence back into place as easily as manipulating straw.  Most cowboys used rawhide gloves, but he didn’t need anything of the sort.

He sat back on his heals assured
that would be the last of the cut wire.  He’d also gone and checked the herd and, as far as he could tell, none had gotten free.

He lifted his head to the sky.
It was late into the evening; the sun had all but set, but there were thunder clouds moving in and the definite smell of humidity in the air. The wind had picked up too. They were in for a good storm.

His attention shifted to the landscape.

Deak and the new guy had been trailing him at a distance most of the day and didn’t bother to keep hidden. Not that hiding would have prevented him from knowing.  They were about as subtle as a stampeding herd. It was done purposefully to intimidate him.  Good luck with that.  The last time he was intimidated was before he hit puberty.

He stood up and stretched his back.  His stallion was grazing some twenty yards away.  He suddenly lifted his head as the noise of the approaching riders hit his ears.
eHHHHH;waei[\

He snorted.

“Don’t worry boy.  They can’t harm us.”  Cogan stated out loud.

They were about
a two hundred yards off behind a slight hill in the landscape when they reined up.  Cogan’s eyes lightened to absorb more light and see more clearly.  It was then he saw them dismount and one of the men retrieved a rifle.  The man then ran up to the top of the mound and laid flat. 

Cogan’s brows rose.  Well, hell, they were going to try and kill him.  Then what?  Hide the body so the townsfolk wouldn’t know.  Butch had bigger balls than he thought.  He turned and whistled to his stallion
who immediately trotted toward him.  In a matter of seconds he had his own rifle drawn, but whoever that was across the distance was a pretty good shot.  It was something he hadn’t counted on.

Cogan wasn’t lying to Josie when he said he’d been shot before.  It hurt like hell every
time and this was no different.  In fact, it probably hurt a little more due to the high powered rifle the marksman used. The impact actually knocked him back off his feet.  His stallion reared, and before the animal’s feet touched the ground, he told him to go home.  He was thinking his horse would take the next bullet.  He was right.  He heard the report of a rifle again, but his stallion was already at a safe distance, all out, head low and running into the wind.

Cogan
was on the flat of his back in the field grass.  His hand moved over the bullet wound in his abdomen. Warm blood was spilling out everywhere.  It was big hole.  “Ah shit.”  He struggled to flip onto his stomach and lifted his head up to see the two men in the distance stand up, mount and start riding toward him. Obviously they thought he was dead.  Well, by rights, he should be. He arched and rose up on four limbs.
Poor bastards
, he thought as his eyes fluctuated, dilated and turned pale amber.

***

It was getting late into the evening, and Ryker started to worry.  Cogan should have been home by now. He made his way out onto the porch and into a chair after supper to wait.  That was three hours ago.  Hattie came out with an expression of sympathy and a fresh cup of hot coffee.  He thanked her and waited by himself.

Maybe he should have saddled up his bay and went searching, but he wasn’t in any shape to get in a saddle yet. 
Just as he thought that, the thunderous noise of hooves pounding dirt hit his ears. At first he thought it was Cogan returning, but the stallion was riderless. He knew from his own observations and from what Josie had told him, that Cogan coveted that horse.  There was no way it would leave his side. 

It was quite dark out because of the thunderclouds and the blanket of night, but there was no mistaking
the magnificent stallion when he raced into the yard and just stood there looking at him.  Ryker stood up and went down the stairs.  The horse allowed him to approach even though he was breathing heavy and frothing from the mouth and chest. He’d been running hard to get home. Still, he wasn’t frightened or anything. He shouldn’t be surprised.  The horse was pretty much thunder proof. He was sure it would take a hell of a lot to scare him. He was well trained. “Where’s Cogan boy?”

The horse snorted and tossed his head just as an arch of lightening scorched the sky and the rain started to fall.

“Christ.” Ryker surveyed the night. There was no way he’d find him tonight, and if he did, chances are he could be already dead.  Ryker took the stallion’s reins and led him toward the barn.  The least he could do is settle the horse.  He’d head out at first light and see if he could find the man that saved his life.    Then there was that other issue—Josie.

He never said anything to her about her feelings showing toward their newest ranch hand, but he knew
there was something starting between them.  She was not his to control and he knew sooner or later, he’d have to let her go off and get married.  He also wasn’t too sure that this whole marriage idea between them was so much of a sham.  Cogan was a hard man, but he looked at his sister differently.  One thing was certain, if he was interested in Josie, he’d get no argument from Ryker.  That was the type of man that could handle his strong willed sister and he was man enough to take care of her the way she needed. He already knew he’d have to tie her down so she won’t go looking for him.  If he or she did, there would be one more body, assuming Cogan was dead.  Yet, he wouldn’t give up faith that he was still alive.  He thought about the horse he’d stripped of Cogan’s gear before he rubbed him down and gave him a warm bed of straw and a bucket of fresh water.  It wasn’t easy because of his useless arm, but he was relieved that he was able to at least do something now. It showed that he was improving. But the horse—now that he thought of it—he doubted very much he’d leave Cogan’s side if he was injured or dead.

Then he turned toward the house and let out a long slow breath
thinking of his sister.  This wasn’t going to go well.  He walked across the yard in the pouring rain, no hurry to get out of it to speak to his sister.

“Ryker, we can’t leave him out there!”
She waved an arm toward the open door.  The screen door was closed, but the thunder and lightning was competing feverishly outside.

“Josie, you know that man is perfectly capable of looking after himself.”

“Not if he’s wounded! My God, he could be alive and waiting for help!” Her face was flushed with emotion.

Ryker’s eyes easily saw this and knew he was right about his sister’s feelings.  As for Cogan, h
e doubted that very much.  Cogan was fully used to looking after himself. Chances were, if he was still alive, he’d put himself in a situation to last the night and sent his horse home.  At first he thought the same as Josie, that the man was wounded or dead, but after he’d thought about it, he knew that horse would walk on his hind legs if Cogan told him to.  He’d sent him home for a reason.  Otherwise that big stallion wouldn’t have left his master.  He’d see him with him a few days ago. Cogan had him in the coral, no reins or saddle and that horse was moving like he was still suited up.  Both of them were enjoying themselves.  Ryker had a fantastic view from his bedroom window.  He could have watched that magic all day because he’d never seen anything like it.  It wasn’t just his horses.  The ranch dogs never barked at him, ever.  They did at everyone else when they were coming in the yard, including himself even in greeting, but not Cogan.  They followed him around like he was a messiah, tails wagging, looking for some way to please him. Josie was right, the man was keenly gifted with animals.  “Cogan will hold on until morning.”

“You don’t know that!” She was frantic and at the moment didn’t care if people could see her concern.

Ryker crossed his arms across his chest as much as the sling would allow and lifted his chin to look down on her with an authoritative stare. “You
will
stay home Josephine.  No one is going out tonight.  I’ll ride out at first light and look for him,” he stated firmly.