She must be in shock still.
Then he shoved it aside. She’d labeled him a liar. He should expect no less from a Chaucer.
Sliding smoothly to the ground, he waited for the rest to catch up, anticipating their reaction to the proof. The officer perused his surroundings with keen interest. He wondered what misdeeds the man might’ve committed to have robbed him of his rightful rank; a man of his age and experience was not a mere army private for no reason.
The Chaucer brothers’ hungry gazes gobbled up his land, Theodore in particular wearing a too-confident expression. Taller and leaner than the other two, he had sandy hair that set him apart from his siblings. The second eldest, Brett, was shorter, broader and less aggressive, but still a pain. Reid was Gideon’s least favorite. Cocky. Short fused. Unpredictable.
Once out of the wagon, Mrs. Montgomery handed the boy off to Reid and strode for the wooden stake sticking out of the ground beneath a hackberry tree. The sweep of her full black skirts through the tall grass frightened a pair of cottontails that scurried in the opposite direction. She was oblivious, however, to all else save that stake.
Too bad she was in for a disappointment.
But when she yanked it out of the ground and read the name, the satisfaction and relief flashing across her expressive face did not indicate disappointment at all. Confused, Gideon walked toward her as if in a dream, his feet reluctant to carry him where he wanted to go.
“It’s Drake’s,” she said in a triumphant whoosh, holding it up above her head like a torch.
“I knew it.” White teeth flashed in Brett’s face as he looped an arm about her waist and whirled her in a circle.
Pulse sluggish, thoughts muddled, Gideon extended a flat palm. “Let me see that.”
Laughter fading, Brett lowered her but didn’t release her. Her big brown eyes locked on to him, and the brief moment of rejoicing leached from her countenance. She extended the stake without a word.
He took it. Studied the scrawled letters.
Montgomery, Drake Sutton.
“This can’t be right.” Stunned, Gideon stared at the hole in the ground. Cast about the surrounding ground for answers. Where was his stake?
Wellington asked to see it.
“I don’t understand.” Gideon numbly passed it to the officer.
Wandering to the steep bank where his opponent had lost control of his horse, he rehashed the events of that day. There’d been only the two of them. Land rush rules stated that once a man’s stake of possession was planted in the 160-acre tract of his choice, he had to hold that claim and defend it against other settlers. Leaving to fetch help meant Gideon had risked losing his plot. He hadn’t been able to ignore a dying man’s need, however. He hadn’t hesitated to make the right choice.
His brothers, Elijah and Clint, had accompanied Alice. Clint had gone to alert the authorities, and hours later Theodore and Brett had arrived to confirm the deceased man’s identity and take the body for burial.
Returning to the group, he addressed Wellington. “My stake was here when I left. Montgomery must’ve somehow removed it and replaced it with his own before he died.”
“That’s preposterous!” The widow pushed out of her brother’s arms. “You honestly expect us to believe a dying man cared one way or another who got this land? Drake would’ve conserved his energy. He would’ve waited for help to come. He certainly wouldn’t have risked aggravating his injuries.”
Staring down at her, he pulled in a bracing breath. “I understand you’re hurting right now—”
“Don’t patronize me, Mr. Thornton.” She faced off against him. “I know all about you and your family, how you cheat and scheme your way through life, not caring who you trample on your way to the top. I know exactly what happened here the day my husband died.” Lifting her chin, she condemned him without a trace of evidence. “You saw an opportunity to steal the land and you took it. In your arrogance, you didn’t even bother to change out Drake’s stake with your own. You didn’t expect us to challenge you, did you?”
Gideon opened his mouth to speak. No words came out. First she’d called him a liar. Now she was accusing him of being a thief? Outrage churned in his gut. The independence he’d dreamed of for so long, worked so hard for, was suddenly in jeopardy.
All because of this woman.
* * *
Evelyn wasn’t about to let this mountain of a man intimidate her. “This land belongs to me and my son. It’s Walt’s rightful inheritance. I won’t let you take that away from him.”
Bringing his face near hers, the man bared his teeth. Glacial gray eyes impaled her. “This is my land.” He jammed a thumb to his broad chest. “I’m not simply going to hand it over to you.”
Gideon Thornton spoke slowly and with great deliberation. But beneath the facade of control, she detected the smoldering anger in him, a river of molten lava scrambling to be unleashed. Taller than her by a good three inches, he had a powerful body that looked as though it had been carved from stone and hands that could no doubt easily hoist her into the air and carry her to parts unknown. He was one impressive male.
All right. Maybe she was a smidge intimidated. She’d never let it show, though. Had learned her lessons early. Growing up with three brothers had toughened her, forced her to fight tooth and nail for everything she’d ever wanted. Though she’d sometimes bemoaned her lot—was one sister too much to ask?—there were times her experience came in handy.
This was one of those times. One of the most important. This land meant independence. A future for her and Walt. No way was a Thornton going to rip it from her grasp.
“I’d appreciate it if you’d cease with the name slinging.” With his face this close as he spoke, she couldn’t ignore the overall impression of wolfish magnificence. The chiseled cheekbones, strong nose, firm mouth. Eloquent brown brows—the only refined feature in his wild appearance—framed cold, glittering eyes the color of rainy skies. From the dark scruff along his hard jaws and chin, it was clear he’d misplaced his straight razor. “I’m neither a liar nor a thief,” he said through clenched teeth. “Your parents and brothers have fed you a pack of lies about us.”
“My parents were God-fearing, decent people.” Unlike your traitor of a father.
As if he’d read her mind, his brows slammed together. Whatever stinging retort he’d had planned was cut off by Theo.
“Private Wellington, you’ve seen the proof. Kick this trespasser off my sister’s property.”
Wellington held up a hand. “I can’t do that.”
“Why not? We have the stake. Surely—”
“I don’t have the authority to settle your dispute. At this point it is my responsibility to suggest you work together to reach a compromise.”
“Compromise? You have no idea what you’re asking.” Theo shook his head. “I wouldn’t give a Thornton the satisfaction.”
“Then your
