Sunrise Ridge (Redemption Mountain Historical Western Romance Book 3) (11 page)

“Just in time for supper,” Suzanne said without turning from the counter where she piled roast, potatoes, and gravy on a plate, setting it aside, and doing the same with another. “Sit down and I’ll prepare one for you.”

Abby hung her coat on a hook and walked to the stove, inhaling deeply. “I’d rather wait and eat with you, unless you have other plans.”

Suzanne snorted. “The only plans I have are to clean up and get off my feet when all the customers leave.”

“Good, I can help. Who are these for?” Abby grabbed the two plates brimming with food.

“The couple next to where Nick is seated.”

Abby nodded. She’d seen Nick Barnett in the bank earlier and knew the saloon owner rented a room from Suzanne so he wouldn’t be forced to stay upstairs night after night, listening to the sounds of the soiled doves and their customers in adjoining rooms. She smiled at him as she passed his table, setting the food down in front of a man and woman she’d never met.

“Please let me know if you need anything else.” Abby glanced around, noting everyone else seemed deep in conversation or content to eat in silence.

“How is your job going, Miss Tolbert?” Nick asked as his gaze caught hers.

“Very well, Mr. Barnett. Of course, I’ve only been there two days.”

Nick found her self-effacing nature in sharp contrast to her father, although she’d never be considered a wallflower or timid.

“Clausen seems to be a fair man. I’m certain you’ll do well.”

She bent closer, as if sharing a secret. “Yes, he is somewhat unusual. I believe I might be the first female he’s hired to handle money.”

Nick’s laugh drew the attention of other diners, causing Abby to straighten, a light blush creeping up her face. “That’s certainly good news, Miss Tolbert.” His laugh settled into a warm smile.

“Well…I’d best get back to the kitchen and help Suzanne.” She could feel her heated cheeks all the way to the kitchen. She didn’t know why her openness bothered her. He’d never say a word to Mr. Clausen, she felt certain of that, but Abby hadn’t expected her comment to spark such an amused reaction. Of course, Nick seemed to be a little more understanding of the few choices open for women. Gossip was he made sure any woman who worked in his saloon wanted to be there and already had experience. He turned away any female who came to him with her virginity intact—at least those were the rumors.

After the last diner left and Nick returned to his saloon, Abby and Suzanne shared a quiet meal, neither feeling the need to fill the silence. Abby’s thoughts shifted between Noah, her father, and her job, still not quite reconciling the changes in her life over the past few weeks.

Her father had contained his anger at her new living arrangements and job while inside the bank. She held no illusions about what to expect when she visited him for Sunday supper. He’d push to bring her home with the purpose of sending her away again, this time under the watchful eyes of his men. She would be as resolute in her right to choose. Although necessary, it would be a miserable encounter. It was time King Tolbert learned his daughter had dreams of her own and would no longer be controlled by a domineering father.

Chapter Nine

“Whoa.”

Gabe watched from outside the jail as the stagecoach pulled to a stop near the livery. Seemed as if every stage coming through required Noah’s expertise to repair a problem before they could head out. He had to hand it to his friend—Noah picked the right business and right town to ply his trade.

Gabe ambled down the boardwalk, passing the Wild Rose and stage office before stopping to watch the passengers debark. A woman and two small children stepped off first, the boy and girl running into the arms of a man Gabe recognized as the new owner of a ranch south of town. Similar to many others, he and his family had been uprooted by the war. Rather than rebuild, they’d chosen to travel west, see what the frontier held for them.

He was about to turn back to the jail when a gloved hand settled on the stage door, followed by a flowing dark blue traveling skirt.

“I’ll help you down, ma’am.” The driver held out his hand. The woman grasped it in hers and, holding a parasol in the other, stepped onto the uneven street, her face turned away from Gabe.

He strained to get a look at her as she thanked the driver and tried to tip him. He waved off the money, looking a tad insulted, then turned to speak with Noah, who stared at the woman the way a man does when he’s spotted something beautiful. Gabe could see him touch a finger to his forehead in salute.

“Ma’am,” Noah said in a low drawl before turning his attention to the stage driver.

The woman bent to pick up her bag, looking over her shoulder before making a complete turn and walking toward Gabe. Thinking back, he’d realize his whole world shifted at that moment. She was tall with ample curves and an olive complexion enhanced by rich auburn hair. As she stepped closer, he could see her brilliant blue eyes. When he took a step forward, a familiar voice came from behind him.

“Lena,
ma chére
.” Nick Barnett pulled her into a warm embrace before grabbing the bag from her hand. “How was your trip?”

She slipped her hand through his arm. “Ah,
mon cher
. It is always the same,” she laughed. “Long, dusty, and bumpy.”

Nick started toward the saloon before spotting Gabe. “Sheriff Evans, may I present my business partner, Magdelena Campanel. Lena, our sheriff, Gabe Evans.”

“Miss Campanel, it’s a pleasure.” Gabe tipped his hat, finding it difficult to shift his gaze away.

“Thank you, Sheriff. I’ve been looking forward to this visit for quite some time.”

“Come, Lena. I’ll show you the saloon, then take you to your room at the boardinghouse.” Nick nodded at Gabe as they strode away, a knowing smile tilting his mouth upward.

Gabe tipped his hat as they left, letting a whoosh of air escape his lungs.

“Stunning. I don’t believe I’ve seen anyone quite like her.”

Gabe’s head swiveled to see Noah standing beside him. He’d been so absorbed in watching Miss Campanel, he hadn’t heard him walk up.

“Who is she?”

“Nick introduced her as his business partner.” Gabe stood in one spot, unable to move until the two disappeared into the Dixie.

“I’ll be darned. Never thought his partner would be a woman.”

“Neither did I.” Gabe’s words rasped out, as if something had caught in his throat.

Noah’s narrowed gaze took in his friend. He had more self-control around beautiful women than any man Noah had ever known. It was obvious Miss Campanel sparked something in Gabe he’d never felt before.

“Don’t you have someplace to go, someone to arrest?” Noah joked, slapping him on the back in open amusement.

“What? Uh…yeah. Guess I’d better get back to the jail.”

Gabe forced his feet to move until he tossed his hat on the desk and slumped into a chair. As soon as she’d turned toward him, it felt as if someone had landed a heavy blow to his gut, knocking the wind from his lungs. He couldn’t remember ever being this affected by one glance from a woman.

He scrubbed a hand over his face, deciding the edgy feeling had more to do with missing lunch than the beautiful Miss Campanel. It could also be due to the fact he hadn’t had a woman since he’d accepted the position as Splendor’s sheriff. He smiled at the thought of Dolly, the saloon girl in Big Pine, who’d taken care of him before he’d ridden to Splendor. He grabbed his hat and headed toward the new restaurant a few doors away, deciding a quick trip to Big Pine might be just what he needed.

“You gotta do something, Sheriff. We’re missing another twenty head.” Hiram Frey and his brother, Frank, had spotted Gabe as he’d left the restaurant and followed him into the jail. They and several ranchers east of them had already lost several head to rustlers over the last month, even though all posted extra men.

“Have you or your men seen anything to help figure out where they might be taking the cattle or how they’re getting to them?” Gabe knew there was little he could do as one man, but he’d be willing to deputize others if they had some idea where to start looking.

“They’d be foolish to head west and get caught in the mountains. North is the Pelletier ranch, and east the cattle would have to travel past Splendor. My guess is south, down past the smaller ranches.” Frank Frey leaned against a wall and pulled out one of his cheroots, twisting it between his fingers.

“Don’t know about that,” Hiram said. “The mountains might be the right place to hide cattle until you could get enough to herd them south to Denver. There are so many places to hide in those mountains, it would take a hundred men to ferret them out.”

Gabe scratched his chin as the brothers continued to debate where the rustlers might be keeping the stolen cattle. He required more men for this type of search and that meant approaching the local ranchers, such as the Pelletiers and King Tolbert. What he needed was someone like Cash Coulter, an expert tracker. A close friend of Dax and Luke Pelletier, the bounty hunter left Splendor almost a year before, chasing men he believed responsible for the deaths of family members. It might be time for Gabe to send out some telegrams, see if he could locate Coulter and convince him to return.

“I need more men for this. At first light tomorrow, I’ll speak with Dax and Luke, then Tolbert to see if they’ll provide some men. We need to get an idea where the rustlers are holding the cattle before gathering a large enough herd to drive to Denver. You two have any men you can spare?”

“Maybe two, but no more than that. We’re always short of men.” Hiram glanced at Frank, who nodded. “Frank and I’ve been discussing going to Big Pine, bringing back some men who’d be willing to work for room and board, maybe a little pay, and help us locate this gang. What do you think, Sheriff?”

He didn’t believe they’d get many interested in making the day’s ride to Splendor, but he’d be willing to try. “Keep your men posted. I’ll talk to Tolbert and the Pelletiers tomorrow, then ride to Big Pine. I need to speak with Sheriff Sterling about this and some other matters. Maybe I’ll be able to persuade a few men to ride back with me. Any chance you’d be able to keep any of them on afterwards?”

“Might be able to do that,” Frank answered. They lived further out than most ranchers and always had a hard time keeping good help.

“All right. I’ll let you know what I learn.”

Gabe spent the evening packing what he needed for the trip, speaking to Clausen and a couple others to let them know he’d be gone a few days, then had supper with Noah. Whenever Gabe left town, Noah became the official substitute sheriff, which kept the city leadership happy, even if Noah held no great love for the position. At least there’d be someone to go to if trouble started.

As the sun rose over the eastern mountains the following day, Gabe rode out of town, figuring how best to find the rustlers while looking forward to some personal time at a certain saloon in Big Pine.

Abby stashed her lunch under the work counter and counted the money in the drawer. Sally Phelps, Mr. Clausen’s longtime secretary, grabbed her keys and prepared to open the doors. She was an older widow, perhaps the age of Abby’s father, and had worked at the bank since Abby was little. Most days at least one customer stood outside, waiting to meet with Mr. Clausen or handle bank business. Today, a group of four men milled about outside, causing Sally to hesitate.

“Abby, would you mind coming over here a moment?”

She walked out from behind the teller counter to peek through the window where Sally stood, watching the group outside. Wiping dirt from the glass, she gasped at the sight of one man who looked familiar.

“Do you recognize any of those men?” she asked Abby.

“One looks like a man who used to work for my father. I can’t be certain until I get a better look, but I wouldn’t be comfortable letting him in the bank until Mr. Clausen returns.”

Sally hesitated. They’d never missed opening the bank on time. She glanced at the clock, then back at Abby.

“Why don’t you go get Mr. Brandt? Mr. Clausen told me he’s taking Sheriff Evan’s place while he goes to Big Pine for a few days. Perhaps he can be inside when we open, keep an eye on them.”