to sound so regretful.
“You might as well come right out and say you consider it foolish for him to show any leniency.”
“Yeah, well, he hasn’t had to fight you every mile of the ride.”
“You tricked me.”
He groaned. “I thought you might like a meal. There’s little in way of supplies at the cabin.”
“I’m awful hungry,” Belle whispered.
Red considered her options. They were pretty unappealing. Either hide in the bushes while Ward waited, determined to take her to the ranch, or admit defeat. Either way, she was destined to go to the ranch.
“Let’s get out of here,” she whispered to Belle, and they scrambled from the bushes. She drew herself up tall and straight. She’d go to the gallows, she’d face her punishment. But no one would see a shadow of fear on her face.
“We’re ready.” She marched back to the trail where the horse munched on grass. Stupid animal. If it had run like a horse was supposed to, they would be far away now.
Ward swung to the ground and came to assist her back to the saddle.
She grabbed the saddle horn and pulled herself up without assistance, but as she reached for Belle, Ward swung her up. Red didn’t wait for Ward, but headed straight for Eden Valley Ranch and whatever justice Mr. Gardiner would mete out.
She kept her attention on the trail as they edged downward, passed empty corrals, clattered over a wooden bridge and turned toward the big house. But with each step forward her enthusiasm and determination weakened.
Ward drew abreast of her. “He isn’t going to let you hang.”
“I guess not. Who would look after Belle if he did?” Did she manage to keep a defensive note in her voice?
“I expect Linette would give her a home. She’s given Grady one.”
Red had seen a little boy previously but assumed he was Linette and Eddie’s son. “Good to know someone would show my sister some Christian charity.”
Ward sighed long and loud. “Linette is a very sweet, patient woman.”
He didn’t need to say what he really meant. That Red wasn’t. But before she could point out that it was hard to be sweet and patient under her particular circumstances, the cowboys poured from the building she knew to be the cookhouse. They didn’t make a sound.
“They’re staring.” Belle sounded scared.
“Guess their mamas didn’t teach them it was rude.” She kept her attention fixed straight ahead.
The door in the house up the hill opened and Eddie stepped out, Linette on one side and a little boy on the other. They waited as Ward escorted her toward them. They stopped ten feet from the watchful trio.
Ward swung from his horse. Red would have dismounted on her own, but her skirts made it awkward at best and with Belle pressed to her back, impossible. So she allowed Ward to grasp her by the waist and assist her. It meant nothing that his hands were steady, and his shoulders where she was forced to rest her hands, solid. As soon as her feet touched the ground she sprang away, brushing her skirt clear up to her waist trying to flick away the feel of his touch.
Ward’s eyes narrowed as if realizing what she did. Then he quirked one eyebrow and lifted Belle down so quickly she didn’t have time to protest. But she skittered over and grabbed Red’s hand, burying her face in the brown cotton of Red’s borrowed dress.
“It’s okay, honey. You’re safe with me,” Red assured her.
“With me, too,” Ward said, his voice so quiet she could almost persuade herself she didn’t hear. Just like she could almost believe he wasn’t more than a bit offended that she tended to put him in the same category as a man like Thorton. Not that she really thought he was. But still, he was a man and she and Belle were at his mercy and that of his boss. She intended to be cautious around them.
“I see you found them,” Eddie said.
“You have a child.” Linette sounded every bit as sweet and patient as Ward said she was and it almost made Red want to weep.
Ward turned to his boss. “This is Belle, Red’s sister. They both need a home. You have your horse and saddle back so if you’re okay with that, I plan to take them to my cabin.”
Linette sprang forward and grabbed his arm to shake it. “You’ll do no such thing. It’s isolated up there. They’ll stay here with us.” She reached for Red’s arm, but Red backed away.
Isolated sounded about right to her. “That’s very generous of you, but we’ve already accepted Ward’s offer.” Once Linette heard where Red had spent the last few months, she’d want her as far away as possible.
“I won’t hear of it.” Her eyes flashed determination.
Ward neglected to say his sweet, patient boss’s wife was every bit as stubborn as Red. Red allowed herself a moment of admiration for the woman before she rallied her arguments.
“Belle’s been through a difficult time. I think she needs some time alone to get over it.”
Linette studied Belle, who buried her face in Red’s skirts. Each breath released on a shudder. “The poor child.” She nodded as if she’d made up her mind. “If you think she needs time alone, then you can live in the little cabin across from the cookhouse.” She pointed to the place.
In the dusky shadows, Red saw a tiny log cabin facing the roadway that ran through the midst of the ranch buildings but tucked into a cluster of trees that went on and on to the river. It was almost tempting to live where she could dream of finding friends. But once they knew the truth, no one would accept her. Better to be isolated.
Linette, guessing at Red’s resistance, spoke to Ward. “I won’t hear of her living alone in your cabin.”
Red turned to Ward as well. “We had an agreement.” She kept her voice low, but knew from the flash in his eyes that he understood she wanted to jerk every word from her mouth and spear him with them.
Linette appealed to her husband. “Eddie?”
Eddie cleared his throat and spoke to Red. “I don’t know what your circumstances are, but in the future if you are in trouble and need help, I hope you will come and ask rather than steal a horse.”
She’d forgotten the threat of hanging. “I apologize. But I had to rescue my sister.”
“In that case...” He seemed to consider his next words. “I won’t seek justice, seeing as the horse and saddle have been returned, but I think you owe it to Linette and I to accept our offer.”
Linette grinned like the decision had been made.
Red sent a silent appeal to Ward, who shrugged.
“Can’t argue with the boss’s wife,” he said.
Red seemed to have little choice in the matter. But she vowed it would be temporary. Only until she
