turned to the other man. “Doctor?”
“Johansen,” the man coughed. “I hope the patient is still alive after…all this way.”
“He’s alive. Please follow me.”
The doctor sighed and kicked his mount’s sweat-streaked barrel. The tracker reined his seal-brown stallion alongside Hierro.
“I guess Tally made it back all right,” he said.
Tally. Eli bristled at the informality but took care not to show his annoyance. “Mr. Bernard arrived with his brother a few hours ago,” he said.
The tracker laughed. “You keep your secret from the doc, but don’t bother with me. I already know the lady pretty well.”
Eli clenched his fists on Hierro’s reins. “I doubt that, Mr. Kavanagh.”
“Tally talked about me.”
“She mentioned hiring a tracker in Tombstone.”
Kavanagh clucked his tongue. “Don’t hardly do justice to what we’ve been through together. And who’re you?”
“Elijah Patterson, range boss of Cold Creek.”
Kavanagh’s pale eyes glittered with the last of the day’s light. “The man who disappeared looking for André. Tally said you’d probably be here.”
Eli held his emotions in check. Neither Tally nor Kavanagh could know anything of what was in his heart unless he let them see. “I was looking in the Valley. Miss Bernard found her brother in the mountains.”
“Good thing I was in Tombstone to help out,” Kavanagh said, “or Mr. Bernard would be panther meat about now.”
“I’m sure you lent your assistance with no thought of gain for yourself, Mr. Kavanagh.”
Kavanagh laughed. “I reckon you’re the one who runs off any varmints that trouble the Bernards.”
“I have that privilege.”
“And I look to you like one of them varmints.” Kavanagh made no display or open threat, but Eli knew a man of his nature would pack at least one gun and probably a selection of knives for good measure.
“Miss Bernard hired you. I don’t usually question her judgment.”
“That’s right loyal of you, Patterson.”
“Are you of the opinion that Miss Bernard doesn’t deserve loyalty, Mr. Kavanagh?”
The tracker scowled. “Tally asked me to deliver the doc to her door, and that’s just what I’m doing.”
“Then your services are no longer needed. You’ll be paid what you’re owed and put up for the night. I advise you not to bother Miss Bernard. Am I clear, Mr. Kavanagh?”
“I understood Tally’s fancy talk, and I understand yours.”
“Then we have no quarrel. I’ll see you at the bunkhouse.” He fell back to join Johansen, who was nearly falling off his horse. Eli guided the doctor toward the lanterns Miriam had put around the yard to light the travelers’ way. Bart and Federico had come in from the range; they looked after the horses, while Pablo proudly carried the doctor’s saddlebags into the house. Miriam took the doctor in custody a moment later.
Kavanagh was almost to the door before Eli could stop him. Eli blocked the threshold and folded his arms across his chest. “You’ve got no business in the house,” he said. “You’ll bunk and eat with me and the men.”
The tracker stood a few inches shorter than Eli, but his stare was as potent as a punch to the gut. “I don’t take orders from you,” he said.
“You take them or get on your horse and ride out now.”
“No, Eli. It’s all right.”
Tally brushed past him from the doorway. She’d kept on her hat and dusty clothes so she could introduce herself to Johansen as André’s brother, but it was obvious to Eli that she was desperately in need of rest.
“Mr. Kavanagh,” she said, stepping between the two men, “thank you for your quick return with the doctor.”
Kavanagh nodded brusquely. “You all right?”
“I’m fine. The doctor…he needs some time to examine André. There’s not much more any of us can do but wait.”
“I was telling him that he can get his grub with the men tonight,” Eli said. “I’ll pay him off, Miss Tally. No need for you to trouble yourself.”
“It’s no trouble, Eli. We’ll all eat in the bunkhouse so that André can rest undisturbed.” She turned to Kavanagh. “Is there anything else you need, Mr. Kavanagh?”
Eli looked with bemusement from Tally to the tracker. Kavanagh had scarcely moved since Tally had appeared, but his hard face bore the addled expression of an outlaw bronc who’d been saddled and ridden around the corral before he could even think of putting up a fight. Tally had done that to him with a few quiet words.
“I can see you’re done in,” Kavanagh said after a long hesitation. He fiddled with the brim of his hat and pulled it low over his brow. “I’ll go see to Diablo.”
“I’ll ask Pablo to give him and the doctor’s horse an extra ration of oats. Good night.” She smiled at Kavanagh and returned to the house. Kavanagh didn’t try to follow.
“Do you think you can find your way to the barn?” Eli asked pointedly.
“I found Tally’s brother,” Kavanagh said. “Don’t you ever get yourself lost, Patterson.”
“I won’t, Mr. Kavanagh.” Eli waited until Kavanagh turned on his boot heel and strode toward the barn. Miriam came to stand beside Eli, following his stare into the darkness.
“He did what he promised,” she said.
“That may be. But he’s no good, Miriam. When I was in the army…we hunted men like him. I know a killer when I see one.”
“Then why didn’t he hurt Tally when he had the chance?”
Hurt. Miriam had been “hurt” more than once, and no one had less reason to forgive than she did.
“I don’t know,” he said. “I don’t know why Tally trusted him in the first place. But that man is not in this for a few dollars. He’s got too much interest in Miss Tally. Or something else at Cold Creek.”
Miriam rested her cheek against Eli’s arm, and his heart gave a painful thump. “You don’t have enough faith, Elijah. There’s good in every man. And there’s a reason this one was sent to Miss Tally.”
Eli covered her hand with his. He couldn’t deny Miriam the comfort of her faith. He, too, believed in certain supernatural powers that could neither be seen nor touched. “I’ll be watching him until he leaves Cold Creek.”
“Don’t
