Sunrise Ridge (Redemption Mountain Historical Western Romance Book 3) (30 page)

Disappearing behind the gate to the stables, he grabbed a bucketful of supplies. He pulled out two brushes, one for each hand, sweeping them in easy strokes along Hasty’s neck, withers, and back, then along a strong thigh. He repeated the process on the other side before cleaning his hoofs. It didn’t take much time. The horse hadn’t been ridden in weeks, causing a pang of guilt to pass through Noah. He had four horses—Tempest and Hasty, who he never planned to sell, and a couple others he had every intention of trading or selling, whatever came along first. Too bad Dirk wouldn’t take one of them.

“Anyone back there?”

Noah tossed the brushes aside and moved in the direction of the voice, recognizing Gil Murton.

“Good to see you, Gil. Thanks again for letting the posse camp out at your ranch.”

“Heard the jury found Drake guilty. Did they recover the herd?”

“Gabe received a telegram from a sheriff in Idaho. He and his deputies cornered them not long after they crossed the mountains. Several of the outlaws got away, but they’ve got some in custody. Don’t know what’s going to happen now.”

“At least they won’t be coming back our way.” Gil turned, nodding toward a woman a few feet away. “I rode into town to pick up my cousin who came in on the stage.” He motioned for her to step up beside him. “Sarah, this is Mr. Noah Brandt. Noah, my cousin, Miss Sarah Murton. She’s from Ohio. The town hired her as our new school teacher.”

“Congratulations, Miss Murton. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Likewise, Mr. Brandt.” She looked around at the tools, pots, and gear hanging inside the smithy where they stood. “You have a quite a business here.”

“Oh, it’s not much, but it pays for my food.”

Gil’s rumble of laughter filled the air. “Don’t let him fool you, Sarah. He owns this, the livery in back, and the tack shop next door. We’d better head over to the bank and meet with Mr. Clausen.” Gil glanced at Noah. “He’s the one who sent Sarah the offer and money to come here. I believe she’ll be staying at Suzanne’s until the town can build her a house.”

“You know, there’s an abandoned house that Ginny Pelletier thought of buying before she married Luke. I believe the bank owns it. You might ask Clausen about it. If he agrees, I’m sure I could round up a few men to get it fixed.”

“Thanks, Noah. I’ll mention it and let him know my brothers and I will help. Guess we’d better get going, Sarah.”

Toby passed them as they walked out, letting his gaze follow her. “Who’s that?”

“Our new school teacher. The last one moved to Big Pine and got married right after school let out for the summer. I’d say the town did a good job finding someone so fast.”

“She have a name?”

“Sarah Murton. She’s Ty, Gil, and Mark Murton’s cousin. Something you wanted?”

“Dirk Masters picked up the tack and ordered more. He wants it next week.” Toby shoved his hands in his pockets and shuffled his feet.

“You got something else on your mind?”

He let out a sigh. “He asked if I’d work on you a little to see if you’d reconsider selling Hasty. Seems Miss Tolbert won’t take any other horse and is willing to pay whatever you ask for him.”

“Dirk asked you to talk to me?” Noah found it hard to believe the foreman would try to finagle Toby into being a go-between.

“No, not exactly. He mentioned it, saying he hoped you’d change your mind. Seems he hates disappointing her after all she’s gone through the last few weeks. Thought it best to mention it to you.”

“Fine, you’ve mentioned it. Now you can head back to the shop and get started on the new order. I’ll be over in a bit.”

Noah stoked the forge, looked at the pile of broken tools that needed fixing, and grabbed one. As he turned the tool in his hand, he thought of Abby’s desire to own Hasty. The thought of selling him didn’t set well with Noah. Given more time to think it over, he might change his mind, but not today.

“What are your plans now?” Gabe didn’t take his eyes from the telegram he’d received from Sheriff Sterling in Big Pine as he spoke to Cash and Beau. They’d stayed through the trial and hanging, then spent time at the ranch with Dax and Luke.

“We’ve been talking about where to go next. Any suggestions?” Cash’s meaning was clear. As bounty hunters, he and Beau needed to identify their next outlaw. Gabe’s stack of wanted posters would be their best source of information.

Gabe pulled the posters from a drawer and tossed them toward Cash. “You can look through these, but I may have another idea for you.”

“Yeah? And what’s that?” Beau took a seat, starting to flip through the images of suspected murderers and thieves, setting aside those who’d last been seen within the closest states and territories. They hoped to stay in this region. Although they traveled all over to hunt the men they sought, both talked of making Splendor their base, maybe buy some land and build homes.

“This telegram is from Parker Sterling. Appears there is more than one set of rustlers.” He held it out to Cash who read it, then passed it to Beau.

He read it twice, shaking his head. “This makes no sense, unless it’s a new gang. I swear we tracked just one set of rustlers. Not once did we get the impression more than one gang operated in the region.”

“Maybe they’re new to the area. Or they could be from around here, heard what Drake did, and saw an opportunity to take over where he left off,” Cash said.

“Or they could be some of the men who escaped capture in Idaho—remnants of Drake’s original gang.” Beau handed the telegram back to Gabe. “What are you thinking?”

“It doesn’t much matter who they are or how they started. Sterling needs help, and so will Splendor if they move this way. It’s doubtful a bounty has been set as no one knows who’s behind the thefts.” He rubbed a hand at the back of his neck as he thought through the possibilities. “I suppose you could be sworn in as deputies.”

“You mean work for you?” Cash smirked. He hadn’t reported to anyone since before his service in the Confederate Army, where he’d met Beau.

“Or Sterling. Makes no difference to me as long as you’re willing to help find and arrest the gang.”

“Think about it, Cash. Regular pay. Plus, we get to wear a badge, right?” Beau flashed a broad smile at Gabe. “Might be worth considering until we decide what’s next for us.”

Cash paced to the window, looking out on the crowded street and so many unfamiliar faces. He thought he’d met a good many of the residents during his two visits to Splendor. It seemed to him the town grew more each day, chipping away at the services supporting it.

Gabe could use a regular deputy, maybe two. He worked seven days a week, and people sought him out twenty-four hours a day. Time off came when Noah kept watch on the town while Gabe rode to Big Pine for some rest…and play. Cash heard they hired a new teacher, but the school itself begged for more space. Students sat three abreast at desks meant for two. Suzanne’s boardinghouse remained the one place travelers could stay so they wouldn’t have to bed down on the ground. The thought of how this town would continue to grow and thrive excited Cash in a way he never expected. He felt the need to be a part of it, at least for a while.

“All right, but we work for you, not Sterling.”

Gabe reached into a drawer and tossed a couple badges on the desk, followed by a bible. “Now, this book isn’t required for you to take the oath, but it doesn’t hurt. Hold up your right hands and repeat after me…”

“Sorry, Miss Tolbert. Brandt refused to sell the horse. He offered two others, if you’re interested.” Dirk held his hat in his hands, fingering the brim.

“Thank you for asking him. I know you did all you could to change his mind.” Noah’s refusal didn’t surprise her. Somehow, Abby expected him to decline any offer coming from her, even though he knew how much she cared for Hasty. At least he’d been kind enough to let her ride him whenever she asked. Noah had provided her the freedom she’d never experienced living with her father.

“I can try again when I pick up the last order of tack. He may change his mind. Or maybe you could ride in with me. He might soften if the request comes from you.”

Abby snorted, putting a hand over her mouth to stifle the unladylike sound. “I’m afraid my presence may make it worse. He might refuse to take any further orders for tack and saddles, then we’d have to ship in what we need from Big Pine.” She let out a sigh and turned toward the stack of papers on her desk, knowing she needed to get back to reviewing them. Instead, she changed subjects. “How is our new bull doing?”

A bark of laughter escaped Dirk’s lips. “Keeping busy.”

“That animal was the last purchase my father made for the ranch. He had high hopes that bull would create the next generation of cattle.”

“I can’t argue with him. He’s a fine animal and your father paid a high price for him.”

Ernest walked in from the kitchen, holding what appeared to be a cookie in one hand and coffee in the other. He stopped when he spotted Dirk.

“Mr. Masters, I didn’t know you’d returned from town. Were you successful in obtaining the horse?”

“Afraid not, Mr. Payson. I’ll keep trying. I’d better get back to the men.” He nodded before settling his hat on his head and leaving Abby alone with Ernest.

“Perhaps if I talked to Brandt—”

“No…thank you. I’ll not badger him about selling Hasty. If he decides to sell, I’m certain he’ll come to me first.” She didn’t believe it, though. Abby suspected he’d sell Hasty to about anyone so as not to see her ride into town on him. “I’ll ask Dirk to cut out a suitable horse from the remuda. We should still be able to travel to Big Pine within the week.”

“You’re certain you want to ride and not take the wagon?”

“Of course. I’m looking forward to being away without having to read and reread documents from sunrise to sunset. I keep thinking we’re through, then you bring me another stack.” She lowered herself into a chair and stared at the stack of papers.

Ernest chuckled as he brushed crumbs from his hands. “Those on your desk are the last.” He sat across from her, steepling his hands below his chin, as if in prayer, then lowered them to his lap. “You’ve done a remarkable job, Abigail. I know your father would be proud of what you’ve accomplished, how hard you’ve worked to understand the extent of his businesses. Many men wouldn’t be able to grasp the complications of his holdings.”

She knew he meant his words as a compliment, yet her responsibility to the ranch and other businesses had driven a wedge between her and Noah. Why couldn’t he understand she couldn’t walk away and leave it for others to handle?

“Thank you, Ernest. I do believe I’ve made considerable progress since we began. It will be good to get the trip to Big Pine behind us.” She stood and grabbed her bonnet. “I believe I’ll speak to Dirk, then have a look at the horses available. Perhaps I’ll find one even better than Hasty.” She knew the odds were against it.

“I’ll come with you.”

“I’d rather go alone, if you don’t mind. I’m certain you’ll find work to keep you busy while I’m gone.” Abby dashed out, not expecting him to follow as she disappeared through the front door and into the sunshine. The warm rays beat down on her as she lifted her face, hearing the chicks in the nearby tree.

As a child, she’d roll a barrel under the tree and climb up to see the nests, moving fast so her father wouldn’t see. He did walk out of the barn once as she hurried to draw both legs up onto a large limb and hunkered into a ball. Abby had held her breath and watched, wide-eyed, as he walked past, not once looking up. Her mouth quirked up at the corners at the memory. Each day brought a little less pain when she thought of her father. She wished the same were true of Noah.

“Are you looking for me, Miss Tolbert?”

“I am, Dirk. If you don’t mind, I want to select a horse from the remuda.”

“Of course. Come with me.” He grabbed a halter, then waited for her to catch up before taking long strides around the barn, past the first corral and to the second one, where a herd of about twenty horses grazed. “Do you know much about these horses?”

“Nothing, except the ranch hands use them for their work.”

“Unless they have their own horse, which is common with our men. We use these when we drive the cattle to market or if a horse comes up lame.” He opened the gate, holding it as Abby followed him inside the corral. “These aren’t green broke. Every one of them is an experienced cattle horse, so you shouldn’t have much work to do.” He pointed toward a buckskin with black mane and tail, grazing about twenty feet away. “That’s Joker. As solid as any horse on the ranch and takes an easy rein. He’d be my first choice for you. Next to him is Clem. He’s older, not as spunky, but dependable.” Dirk took a step further into the corral before Abby reached out a hand to stop him.