Maybe, if she didnt make a sound, Cal wouldnt know she was here. That was the best course.
Guess I owe you five hundred when you leave. Not pleased about that, horseman, but I am grateful to you for solving that problem for me.
I see. A man with a reputation for fine horseflesh wouldnt want an Indian pony mating with his expensive broodmares.
Glad you see my point. I wont forget about the five hundred. You got the animal strung up? We got a cougar problem. Wouldnt hurt to set a couple of the men up with guns and use the carcass to draw the cat out. Id be most obliged.
Obliged? That was a civilized way of saying it. A moneyed way of dealing with a problem. Disgust soured Dillons mouth, leaving a bad taste he couldnt tolerate. He liked to avoid confrontations when he could. Most situations werent worth fighting over.
Obliged? That was a civilized way of saying it. A moneyed way of dealing with a problem. Disgust soured Dillons mouth, leaving a bad taste he couldnt tolerate. He liked to avoid confrontations when he could. Most situations werent worth fighting over.
Some were.
He took a breath, remembering the woman in the other room, and kept his tone low so he wouldnt scare her, but serious. Deadly serious. I have trouble seeing how the boys will be able to do that.
Oh? Tired, are they? I suppose tomorrow night will do as well. Perched at the top of the impressive cherry-wood staircase, at one with the shadows, Cal might have figured he looked intimidating.
Dillon braced his feet and planted his hands on his hips. Nope. As I see it, tomorrow night aint going to work, either.
Whys that?
Two reasons. The first being the men arent back yet. Theyre still out there looking for that Indian pony. Defiance strengthened the horsemans baritone and it rang like winter thunder.
Katelyn crept to the doorway, keeping out of sight. She could see a sliver of the horseman, the jut of his elbow and the steeled length of his upper arm. The rounded tip of his right boot.
But she could feel his presence like a swiftly approaching storm, the crackle in the air, the sting of anticipation and the bridled force.
Whats the other reason? Cal demanded.
Katelyn knew what the horseman would say. The money wasnt enough-he wanted more than five hundred. She knew how men worked. He and Cal would argue about it, trade insults, show their tough sides and Dillon would hand over the stallion hed caught and had hidden for the right amount of cash.
Why was she listening? She ought to take her tea, creep up the backstairs and never think of the horseman again. He was no different from her stepfather or from those other hired men who were riding by the light of the moon, hunting a wounded stallion for their own gain. It was a shame.
The real reason I cant do it is simple. Hennessey grabbed the knob of the newel post and his glare was an unmistakable challenge. I didnt catch the stallion.
What do you mean? You were right there. I wounded him. He couldnt have outrun you.
Hes a tricky devil.
Oh, so thats how it was going to be. Hennessey was planning to bargain now, get the price he wanted first, then bring in the stallion.
Nauseated, Katelyn turned away, her step a whisper on the boards, her disappointment as heavy as an anvil. She didnt want to hear anymore.
I dont give a damn how clever that piece of dog meat is! I want you to bring me that stallion.
Katelyn froze. What had happened to the stallion? Her pulse hammered through her chest, a staccato beat that coursed through her veins and she waited, aching with the faintest hope the animal had escaped.
Cant do it. Sorry, sir.
Katelyn felt dizzy with relief. Or maybe it was the extreme emotions warring in her. Pride in the injured stallion for eluding the horseman. How strong and brave of him. Fury at Hennessey for hunting the horse in the first place. He was a son of a bitch, thats what he was. A strong man hurting the weaker, the more vulnerable. The very nature of man made her sick and she padded away, careful to remain quiet.
Then get the hell back out there! Cals fury echoed in the silent rooms. Out! Now.
Wont do it. There was no apology in the horsemans words.
Hope returned. What did he say? The stallion was alive?
I wont allow that stallion to be harmed. Not if Im standing. When I hired on, we made a deal, Willman. I told you, no harm. I wont inflict it. I wont stand for it. Only a coward hurts an animal.
He stood like an errant knight at the base of the stairs, washed in light, framed by darkness, a solitary soldier that fought for all that was right.
It was fanciful, Katelyn knew, but shed been wrong. Dillon hadnt hunted the stallion, and the power of it left her trembling. Her chest filled. Her eyes burned.
Shed been mean to him. Again! Remembering his fumbling attempt to speak to her in this kitchen, and how shed expected the worst of him, she covered her mouth with her hands. Shed been wrong. Shed been wrong about the stallion. What about the man?
No, Willman, Hennessey was saying, his rage a controlled, quiet warning. Not for all the money you could beg, borrow or steal to pay me. Its time to end our business.
Cals swearing tirade made Katelyn wince, but it didnt seem to intimidate Dillon. He did not shrink or cower, but faced Cal with confidence.
If you cant find the greenbacks, I will take my salary in trade. Ive got my eye on three of your broodmares. Ill be happy with that.
Why you greedy bastard. You take those horses, thats theft, and Ill have a noose hanging around your neck. We still hang horse thieves in this county.
Taking what you owe me isnt theft. Any jury will agree.
Who needs a jury? Youll do the job I paid you to do.
Then pay me what you owe me, or Ill make you get out that noose. Youre not man enough to get it around my neck.
Fine. Ill be rid of you, but that wont save the stallion. Cal stormed down the stairs and pushed past the horseman, knocked him hard in the shoulder as he passed.
Hennessey didnt move. The blow didnt register. He stood like a granite mountain, as if nothing could harm him.
He was the only man shed ever known who would stand up to her stepfather.
A door squeaked open at the far end of the hall. Not the door to the library, where her stepfathers safe was hidden, but her bedroom door.
No, not the jewelry. Horror filled her as the air was pulled from her lungs. Her hands flew to her throat as she gaped, fighting to breathe. Her plans died before her eyes as her stepfather approached, holding something that winked and glittered in his outstretched hand.
Here. Take it. Its all I have. It ought to be worth a few hundred. A drifter like you couldnt be worth more.
Im not interested in a ladys jewelry. I told you, I want greenbacks, or Ill take the mares. Its your call.
Katelyn sank to the floor, her face in her hands. This couldnt be happening. How could she have forgotten to move the jewelry? It was because of him, the horseman. Hed been the sight that drew her from the room, making her forget everything but him. It wasnt fair. Not after all shed been through.
I cant let you have the mares, Hennessey. They are all thats keeping me solvent. If I had the money in hand, Id pay you. Cal closed his fist, crushing the necklace in his cruel hand. I have a fine house, with many treasures here. Surely I have something you might want?
I have no use for a fancy painting or expensive candlesticks. You have until morning to come up with the greenbacks, or Ill take this matter to the sheriff.
No, wait. There is something you can have. I know you want her. Ive seen the way you look at her.
Katelyns hands slid from her face. Her head jerked up, seeing at the same time the cruel triumph curling Cals upper lip and the horror on the horsemans.
You would sell me your daughter?
Shes my stepdaughter and of no use to me. Take her. She cooks, she cleans, shell warm your bed. Surely thats worth three hundred dollars.
Chapter Five
Dillon couldnt believe it. Was he hearing the man right? Or imagining it? Men didnt sell their daughters.
Chapter Five
Dillon couldnt believe it. Was he hearing the man right? Or imagining it? Men didnt sell their daughters.
Not good men, he amended. It hadnt been the first time hed seen such a thing. From penniless farmers to gamblers desperate to stay in a poker game, hed seen it. Are you really that low of a bastard?
At least Im not a worthless drifter. Take her and go. Willman gathered up what remained of his dignity, shoved the string of gold and diamonds into the pocket of his fine black-striped house robe and disappeared up the stairs.
I despise that man. Dillon jammed his brim low, pivoted to face the door and caught the faint shadow of her face through the dark kitchen. Hed forgotten she was there, that shed heard everything.
He stopped, torn. Did he go to her? And if he did, did he reassure her? Or offer the one thing he knew she wanted, the chance to escape this house?
And if he did, why would she want the likes of him? As soon as she was well, he had no doubt thered be men knocking at the door. Gussied up in their Sunday best, with their hair slicked back and their manners in place for the chance to court lovely Katelyn.
He heard a whisper of fabric, the hush of a footstep, and she was gone. Somewhere in the back of the house a floorboard groaned beneath her weight. She was going pretty fast. Guess thats your answer, Hennessey. She doesnt want the likes of you.
Fine. Hed wait until morning to settle the matter. He wasnt about to treat a woman like goods to be bartered. Except it sure would be something to have a wife.
Then youd have to talk to her. Kiss her. Figure out what to say at the supper table. He may as well try to jump to the moon. His few attempts at conversation with Katelyn had to make her think he was a bumbling fool.
And now, the sort of man who would buy her.
It just went to prove his philosophy in life. The problem wasnt with the horses but with the owners. Every single dad-blame time. The longer he was at this, the crazier it seemed folks were.
Maybe it was time to settle down. Hed been thinking of it hard on and off over the past year. Missing the land he owned. Missing a sense of permanence.