A Heart Divided (33 page)

“Me neither. The pieces are starting to come together, but something still doesn’t fit just right.” He paused. “I’m thinking that once we’ve got Spence in custody, maybe we should look a little closer at Allis.”

Cord smiled grimly. “I was thinking the very same thing.”

The ranch house came into view. Apprehension rippled through Cord. Would things go easy for a change, and they would find Spence still there? And would Sarah somehow sense he’d once again had doubts about her?

He had such mixed emotions about so many things. The only saving grace in this confused muddle was the fact that, at long last, the issue of the cattle rustling and who all the participants actually were seemed to be fast coming to an end. Life might finally get back to normal. He was more than ready for that. Indeed, he dearly yearned for it.

As the three men drew up before the big house, Nick, accompanied by Emma, Pedro, and Danny, wheeled himself out onto the front porch. An air of weariness dogged him, but his brother’s eyes were clear and calm as he met Cord’s gaze. Cord dismounted, tied his horse to the hitching post, and climbed the steps.

“If this is a welcome home party, my wife seems to be missing,” he said with a prickle of unease. “Where’s Sarah?”

Nick and Emma exchanged a troubled glance. “You just missed her by an hour or so. She found some of our stolen cattle and headed out to get them with Spence and a couple of hands.”

Cord looked at Gabe. “This isn’t good.”

“No, it isn’t.”

“What’s going on?” Nick demanded. “Is Sarah in danger? I was asleep when she got home after going to town to get me some more laudanum, but she assured Emma she’d be all right. And Spence told Emma he’d be sure to take good care of Sarah.”

“I just bet he will,” Cord growled. “Seems Spence might be involved in the cattle rustling, likely from the start. Or so Allis claims.”

“Allis?” Confusion lit Nick’s eyes. “What does Allis have to do with all that? And when did you have time, since just getting home, to come up with this?”

“It’s a long story,” Cord said, waving aside further explanation. “Do you have any idea where they went?”

“I do.” Danny stepped forward. “On the way home, a wheel came off the carriage. Sarah went to find it. Maybe that’s where you should start looking.”

Cord nodded. “We saw the carriage. I recognized it as ours and was wondering what had happened to it.” He turned to Gabe. “We need to get back there pronto. Will you do me a favor and put away the livery horse, then saddle up my gelding? While you’re doing that, I’ll go roust out the rest of the hands from the bunkhouse.”

“Will do.” Gabe tied up his horse, then grabbed Cord’s rented mount and signaled his deputy to join him.

“You might be outside for a while,” Emma said. “After you get the hands going, I suggest you come back and get dressed in warmer clothes. In the meanwhile, I’ll start making sandwiches and such for you men to take with you.”

Cord smiled in gratitude. “Thanks, Emma.” He started down the steps.

“What can
I
do, Mr. Cord?”

Halting in midstride, Cord swung back to where Danny stood, his blue eyes dark with worry. He supposed he could’ve sent both the boys away before they discussed the issue at hand, but Danny had been involved from the start. He would’ve figured out something was wrong pretty quickly.

Climbing back up the steps, Cord crouched down before his little brother-in-law and took him by the arms. “I’m glad you asked, because I’m going to need someone back here to help Nick keep things running. Can you do that for me?”

Danny solemnly nodded. “Sure can.”

“Okay, then. First thing, can you wheel Mr. Nick back inside, then get him to help you and Emma make those sandwiches? And will you and Pedro make sure all the chores get done tonight and maybe even tomorrow, if we’re not back by then? I know none of that is as exciting as going after the stolen cattle and finding Sarah, but I’ve got to know someone’s back here while we’re gone, making sure the ranch is still running. And it’s a big responsibility.”

The boy’s chest visibly swelled with pride. “I can do that, Mr. Cord. I’ll do my part.”

“Good. I really appreciate that, Danny.” Cord stood. “Now, I need to get the hands going.”

“And I need to get everyone making those sandwiches.” Danny walked to where Nick still sat and began to guide the wheelchair toward the front door.

Nick met Cord’s gaze and grinned. Cord returned the gesture, then spun about and headed down the steps and toward the bunkhouse. As he strode along, his smile faded. Time was of the essence, if they were to pick up the trail before it got too dark. If Spence had shown his hand once Sarah had led him to the cattle, there was no telling what might happen.

He didn’t know Spencer Womack as well as he’d once thought. And that made the man—and what he might do to Sarah—very frightening indeed.

“So, what are you planning on doing with the cattle?” Sarah asked, hands tied, seated in front of Spencer Womack on his horse.

It was starting to get dark. Luckily, tonight was a full moon. With all the snow, the mountainous terrain would be reasonably illuminated. Just in case she could manage to slip away sometime tonight, she thought it wise to find out as much as she could about his plans.

“Don’t you think it might be better to wonder what I’m planning on doing with you, little lady?” he replied with a cynical chuckle. “Aren’t you afraid I just might dump you over some cliff and be done with you?”

“Only if you want to be charged with murder, rather than just an accessory to murder in the death of Edmund Wainwright.”

“You’ve been listening to that fancy lawyer husband a bit too much.” Spence gave a derisive snort. “‘Accessory to murder’ now, am I? Well, only if Cord catches me, which he won’t.”

“Well, we’ll have to see about that, won’t we?”

“Oh, you won’t be seeing anything. You’re not going to be with us much longer.”

Fear stabbed at her.
What’s Spence planning now?

“So you’ve reconsidered letting me go, have you?” Sarah inquired coolly, though her heart was pounding in her chest. “Probably one of the smarter things you’ve done lately.”

He laughed, and the sound wasn’t friendly or warm. “We’ll see if Cord thinks so, when he finds out I’m dumping you off at your father’s.”

“My father?” She twisted in the saddle to look back at him. “You know where my father’s hiding?”

“Sure I do. How do you think I got messages to him about the best time to hit Wainwright’s herd?”

“But it’s so far away from here . . .”

“You think so? But then, backtracking for several hours could lead anyone to think that, couldn’t it?”

Yes, it could
, Sarah thought.
And considering how protective Noah has become of Papa, quite understandable too.

“So, how soon will we be there?”

Though she had mixed feelings about reuniting with her father and, considering she was now Cord’s wife, wondered what kind of reception she’d receive, odds were it was still a safer place to be than remaining with Spence and his two shiftless partners. When the time came, she’d just have to find some way to convince Noah to take her back home.

He grimaced. “At the rate we’re going in this dad-blasted snow, probably another half hour before we reach the turn-off to their hideout. And then maybe another half hour before we reach their shack.”

The snow Spence was so bitterly complaining about, Sarah thought, would likely be his undoing. It wouldn’t be long before Nick figured out something was up. Then he’d either send for Gabe Cooper or set the rest of the hands out to search for them. And men on horseback, with no cattle to herd, could cover ground a lot faster than the rate they were currently going.

Spence would be wiser, now that his treachery would soon be discovered, to hightail it out of the area just as fast as he could. His greed, in the form of thirty head of cattle, however, was going to be his downfall.

“Your father especially isn’t going to be very happy with you, is he?” the foreman asked slyly. “Once he finds out you married a Wainwright, I mean.”

“He knew I was going to marry Cord. Or didn’t he tell you that?”

“We don’t talk much these days, Jacob and I. Not since he took sick, and your yellow-bellied brother decided he didn’t want any more of helping me rustle Wainwright cattle.”

Sarah shrugged. “Sounds like Noah finally found the sense you still seem to be lacking.”

Spence snickered nastily. “Well, we’ll see. You’d just better hope your brother’s on your side.”

Unease fluttered through her. “Why’s that?”

“Last time I talked with your father, he sure seemed like he was falling deeper and deeper into that madness of his. And he swore to me, if he ever got hold of you again, he was going to kill you rather than allow you to further shame the family by consorting with the Wainwrights.”

20

They caught up with Spence and his two men about midmorning. With ten rifles aiming at them from an overlook, the three rustlers, trapped in a small bowl with the cattle, surrendered without a fight. And, as Cord and Gabe then headed down to disarm the three men, Cord’s anger grew apace with the closing distance.

Sarah was nowhere to be seen. That terrified him. Though he’d never imagined Spencer Womack to be a cold-blooded killer, he’d never thought the man would steal his cattle either. If the lowlife had harmed one hair of Sarah’s head . . .

No sooner had they pulled in their mounts than Cord leaped off his horse and stalked over to Spence, who stood with his two partners, hands in the air, their guns on the ground several feet from them. He reached out and grabbed the other man by the front of his coat.

“Where’s Sarah?” he snarled. “You’d better tell me some good news, or I swear I’ll beat your face to a pulp and not spare a moment’s regret!”

Abject fear flared in Spence’s eyes. “I didn’t hurt her. She’s safe enough.”

“Cord . . .” From behind him, he heard the warning note in Gabe’s voice. He dragged in a deep breath.

“What do you mean, ‘safe enough’?”

Spence shrugged. “First, let go of me. Give a man some breathing room.”

His former foreman was in no position to make any demands, and Cord almost pointed that out to him. Instead, he fought a mighty battle with his temper, finally getting it back under control. What mattered now was finding Sarah, safe and sound, not teaching Spencer Womack a much-needed lesson. That could wait until later.

He released his stranglehold on the other man and took a step back. “Spit it out, Womack. Answer my question.”

Spence took a moment to rearrange his jacket. “She’s with her father and brother,” he replied at last, not meeting Cord’s icy stare. “I didn’t see the point of taking her with us. Had enough on my hands with the cattle.”

Disbelief, mixed with a fair amount of horror, filled Cord. “You took her back to that crazy old man? There’s no telling what he might do to Sarah, now that we’re . . .”

The faintest glimmer of a smile curled one corner of Spence’s mouth. Cord saw red. He lunged at the man, slamming a fist into his jaw.

Spence dropped like a rock, knocked unconscious. The other two ranch hands, arms still in the air, jumped away in fright. Gabe grabbed Cord’s arm and yanked him backward.

“Okay, Spence deserved that and more,” the sheriff said, his voice dropped low for Cord’s ears only, “but he’s out cold now, and I’m not going to let you beat up on a helpless man. So cool down, Cord, and do it fast!”

His chest heaving with fury, Cord managed to back away of his own accord. Shame filling him, he rubbed his abraded fist with his other hand.
Forgive me, Lord.

“Sorry,” he said, shooting Gabe an apologetic look. “Old habits die hard. And I lost it when I realized Spence knew exactly what the consequences to Sarah might be, and still took her to her father.”

“Yeah, I figured as much.” His friend glanced dispassionately at the man now lying prone in the snow. “Still, if you kill him, you might have a very hard time finding out where Jacob Caldwell’s holed up. In case that thought didn’t enter your mind a minute or so ago.”

“No, I’m afraid it didn’t.”

Cord knelt beside Spence, turned him over, and began to rub snow on the man’s face in an attempt to waken him. After a time, Spence groaned, and his lids fluttered open.

“Wh . . . what happened?” He groaned again, one hand rising to his rapidly reddening jaw.

“I hit you.” Cord grasped him by the arm and pulled him to a sitting position. “I didn’t much like your evident malicious intent in taking Sarah to her father. I’m going to give you a chance to make up for that, though.”

Spence eyed him warily. “How’s that?”

“You’re going to take me there. Now.” He jerked the man to his feet, then immediately had to grab him by both arms to steady him.

“I don’t . . . don’t think that’s such a good idea,” Spence mumbled “Once I show you the hideout, who’s to say you might not finish me off?”

“It’s a definite consideration.” Cord’s mouth quirked wryly. “But, since I’m not currently inclined to kill you, and I won’t want you around to complicate things, the deputy will accompany us. When I’m done with you, he can bring you back to town.” He turned to Gabe. “Does that meet with your approval?”

“All but the part of you going in to face the Caldwells on your own. That could be tricky.”

“I think I can handle a sick, crazy old man and his son.”

“Normally, I’d agree, but you don’t know what Jacob might try.”

Cord sighed and shook his head. “No, I don’t. But it’s my wife he’s got, and it’s time to end this feud once and for all. And that, Sheriff Cooper, is exactly what I intend to do.”

Later that afternoon, Sarah gazed past the tattered remnants of the flour sacks that served as a curtain and out the window of the miner’s shack. She hadn’t slept much since Spence had unceremoniously deposited her on her father’s doorstep around midnight, then rode off. At first, her father hadn’t even been inclined to take her in. Thankfully, her older brother had finally prevailed on him to give her shelter, promising they’d deal with everything in the morning.

She’d spent the rest of the night on the hard floor before the hearth fire, her hands and feet tied so she wouldn’t escape. But at least she’d been warm, Sarah consoled herself later that day as she’d sat by the window, watching for signs of rescue she knew would surely be forthcoming. And, despite Spencer Womack’s dire predictions to the contrary, her father had yet to kill her for her transgressions.

All that matters is staying alive. Staying alive until help comes. Staying alive for Cord.
Her gaze slid protectively to her belly.
And staying alive for our baby.

The consideration of telling her father of his grandchild-to-be had briefly crossed her mind. For a fleeting moment, the hope that his knowing the Caldwells, through her and Cord’s child, might someday inherit the ranch had lured her into imagining he might find comfort—and acceptance—in her marriage. But only for a fleeting moment.

No sooner had he awoken and set eyes on her than Jacob had commenced ranting at Sarah about her betrayal and slatternly ways. And, the more he talked, the angrier he became, until a murderous light glowed in his eyes. Sarah soon gave up trying to reason with him and backed as far away from him as she could get in the close confines of the little cabin.

Only Noah’s intervention finally saved her from her father attacking her. Noah’s intervention and her father’s failing health. His strength soon dissipated, and he had to lie down or literally collapse where he stood.

So now Sarah sat across the room from where he lay on his bed, watching him sleep, his face ashen, his chest struggling for each breath. For a fleeting moment, she wondered who might survive the other. Her heart clenched with pain and pity. Pain for the man whom she’d once cherished with all her being. Pity for the empty, angry, bitter shell that was now left of him.

Help me, dear Lord
, she prayed, her eyes filling with tears,
to forgive him
.
To love him for Your sake, if no longer for his own. And, if it’s Your will, help me to find a way to make him see, to understand, to let go of his unhappy vendetta and find some peace before he dies.

“You hurt him, and deeply so, you know.”

She whirled around in her chair, unaware that Noah, his arms laden with a load of wood, had walked in the front door. She must be more tired than she thought, not to have heard her brother’s approach. Sarah sighed.

“I never meant to. Whether you believe that or not, I never meant to.”

“Oh, I believe you.” As he spoke, Noah strode to the hearth and, as quietly as he could, deposited the wood. “I’ve never thought it was all your fault, this estrangement between you and Pa. Far from it.”

Sarah shot a quick glance back at their father before once more meeting her brother’s gaze. Jacob slept on.

“Then let me go, Noah,” she said, her voice cast low. “I don’t feel safe with Papa anymore. And if he should go into another one of his rages while you happen to be gone . . .”

Her brother held up a silencing hand. “He won’t hurt you, Sarah. No matter how he rants, how bad his madness gets at times, he still knows you’re his daughter. And, deep down, he still loves you.”

“Do you really think so?” She sighed again and slowly shook her head. “I’m not so sure. Not anymore. These days, I don’t think anything’s more important to him than—”

From outside, high up on the trail leading down to the cabin, a voice hailed them. Sarah’s heart skipped a beat. The voice . . . it sounded like—

She turned in her chair to look back out the window. A form, tall, broad-shouldered, and oh, so very familiar, was walking his horse toward them.

With a foul curse, Jacob Caldwell stirred, shoved to his elbows, then motioned for Noah to help him from the bed. Together, the two men made their way to the window.

The old man’s gaze narrowed. As he appeared finally to recognize their visitor, his face mottled in rage. “Get my rifle, son,” he rasped, leaning forward to grip the windowsill for support. “My prayers have been answered. Today, I get to kill another Wainwright. And, once he’s gone, the only one left between me and the ranch will be his useless, crippled brother.”

Just as soon as Noah and her father exited the house, Sarah glanced frantically around the room, searching for anything to use to cut herself free. Unfortunately, no one had conveniently left a sharp knife around, and there was no glass object she could break to use as a shard to saw through her ropes. With a sigh, she hobbled to the hearth. Fire seemed her only option.

She picked up a long stick from the pile of wood Noah had dumped nearby and stuck it into the flames. It took what seemed an eternity to heat up enough, but she was finally able to use its glowing tip to set both her wrist and then her ankle bonds afire. Her high, leather riding boots, she well knew, would protect her from much of the heat of the burning ropes about her ankles. Her wrists, however, wouldn’t be so well protected.

The searing flames built rapidly to a painful intensity. Sarah had to grit her teeth as the ropes began to smolder then burn. She pulled hard against the wrist bonds, hoping to aid the fire. Tears welled in her eyes.