Safe in His Arms

EIGHTEEN





The house was quiet with everyone in bed. Daniel should be there himself, but he sat in the kitchen with the kerosene lamp casting flickers of shadows on the walls. A sense of danger had fallen over him ever since Paddy’s death. Daniel was certain it wasn’t an accident. There had been no accidental fall.

A piano key plunked and the sound echoed into the kitchen. Someone else was up. Carrying the light, he went down the hall to the parlor. The lamp atop the piano illuminated Vincente’s face. He was about thirty-five with black hair and eyes that seemed to take in everything. He ran the house with his mother, which had seemed an unusual arrangement to Daniel, but it worked for the household.

He stopped playing when he saw Daniel. “I hope I did not wake you.”

“I was in the kitchen. Where did you learn to play like that?”

“Mrs. O’Brien taught me when I was a boy. She was very kind to me.”

“You came with your mother when she first started working here?”

The man nodded. “I have lived here for most of my life.”

So the fellow had been here when Stephen left. “I’m disturbed by Paddy’s death, as I’m sure everyone is. Did he have any enemies?”

“You believe it was not an accident?”

“Don’t you? Someone hit him on the head.”

Vincente’s hands fell away from the piano. “I had not heard that. I had hoped that he fell and hit his head.”

“I wonder if someone has been searching for the stolen bonds.”

Vincente smiled. “You speak of the stagecoach robbery.”

Daniel couldn’t figure the man out. He played the piano, worked quietly beating rugs and cooking in the kitchen, and Daniel had seen him soothing pregnant mares in the barn. Inez had raised a strong and interesting man.

“What did you hear about the robbery?”

“Are you here to look for the bonds?” the man countered. “I believe the treasure is a myth.”

“I only heard about it a few days ago. I’m simply curious if the rumor could have anything to do with Paddy’s death.”

Vincente placed his fingers on the ivories again and played a few notes. “We have seen drifters now and again who ask about the bonds. I have seen them in some of the caves and along the river. They have found nothing. I do not believe there is anything to find.”

“Because Stephen took them with him, or because he didn’t have anything to do with the robbery?”

The music grew louder. “Stephen was innocent of the accusations.”

“You’re sure?”

“I am certain. He was not that kind of man.”

“How do you know?” Daniel didn’t mean to sound surprised, but it slipped out.

“We were childhood playmates and friends as adults.” Vincente’s hands stilled. “The members of this family have always treated me with respect and friendship. We abandoned the employer-employee relationship long ago. If it was ever there.” He stared at Daniel. “You yourself should have seen that by now. You and the rest of the workers eat at the table with the family.”

“True enough.” Daniel had not worked at a ranch before, so he’d had no idea if that was usual behavior. Evidently it was not.

“Paddy was very good to me. Paid for my schooling and allowed his wife to teach me the piano. I will miss him.”

“About Stephen?”

Vincente roused from his reverie. “Stephen was not even in Oklahoma when the theft happened.”

“Where was he?”

“Enlisting in the cavalry without his father’s knowledge.”

“Does Margaret know any of this?”

Vincente shook his head. “Not before today. Margaret questioned my mother before bed.”

“If there’s no treasure hidden on the property, then why was Paddy killed?”

“I do not know. If he had any enemies, I am unaware of them.” Vincente rose from the stool. “Did you know Lewis left?”

“I knew he’d planned to leave.”

“Margaret asked me to find him, but no one in town had seen him.”

Daniel frowned, uneasy. “He never made it to town?”

Vincente shrugged. “I do not know. But he was not at the stagecoach station.”




MARGARET WIPED DUST from her face and swatted a fly with her hat. It had been a long morning in the saddle, and she was ready for water and some food. She dismounted beside the Red River and tied Archie to a bush, then knelt by the water. She splashed it on her face and wiped her skin with a handkerchief. She stood and pulled out her lunch, a roast beef sandwich.

Her lagging energy surged when she saw Daniel riding her way. He’d been on the other side of the pasture for most of the day. Not that she’d watched for his broad shoulders, of course. She had too much work to worry about what he was doing.

She shielded her face with her hand and waited until he dismounted. “Is there a problem?”

“Nope.” He walked to the river and splashed water on his face. “Just needed a break like you. You’ve been avoiding me for two days. It’s time you aired your grievances.”

“I have no grievances.” She took a bite of her sandwich so she didn’t have to say more.

He pulled a handkerchief from his back pocket and wiped his face. “I didn’t come to look for some stolen bonds. When Lewis mentioned it, it was the first time I’d heard the story.”

She wished she could believe him. Oh, how she wished things were different! If only he were the kind of man he appeared to be—honest, hardworking, kind.

“What are you thinking?” His gaze searched hers.

She looked away. “Did you bring your lunch? I can share my sandwich if you didn’t.”

“I brought it.” He grabbed a sandwich from his saddlebag. “Let’s sit under the cottonwood.”

She should make an excuse, but heaven help her, she wanted to sit and listen to his deep voice. The air was ten degrees cooler in the shade, and there was a patch of grass around a rock near the water. She settled on it and took a bite.

“Any word from Lewis?” he asked.

She shook her head. “No one in town has seen him.”

“Maybe he headed for the train station instead.”

“The trip would have been much farther. Unless he wanted the time to think about what to say to his fiancée and her father.”

Daniel dropped onto the grass beside her. “I talked to Vincente about your brother.”

“This is not your business! You just told me you didn’t come here for the bonds.”

“I didn’t. But I was curious about the rumor and wanted to find out if there was any truth to it.”

“So you could get the bonds too?”

“Too? What does that mean?”

She tossed the rest of her food to the birds. “Nothing.”

He stared a moment, then shrugged. “I’m trying to find out what happened to your father, Margaret. There’s something going on at the Triple T. First your father was assaulted, the barn burned, then your pa ends up dead. Now your cousin is missing. We have to figure out what’s going on.”

“Why do you care?”

He leaned over close enough to tuck a dangling lock of hair behind her ear. “I’d do most anything to keep you safe.”

She should look away from his intent gaze, but she found it impossible. She wet her lips, but no words came to mind. Had anyone ever looked at her like he did? It was like he saw past her skin to her thoughts and feelings.

She finally managed to look away. “You think it has something to do with the missing bonds?”

“I did. Not since talking to Vincente. He says your brother wasn’t even in Oklahoma when the stagecoach robbery took place. He was signing up for the war.”

She peeked at him to make sure he wasn’t upset she’d steered him away from talking about anything personal. “He’s sure?”

“So he says. I believe him. He seemed close to Stephen.”

“He was. They were like brothers. Inez brought him here when he was a baby.”

“Vincente says a bounty hunter showed up from Oklahoma, and your pa paid him off and sent him on his way.”

“Well, someone knows. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have heard the rumor. Where did you hear about it anyway?” He was frowning at something past her shoulder. She turned to look too. “What’s wrong?”

He jumped up. “Is that Lewis’s horse?”

She followed him toward a familiar bay mare. The horse was still saddled. “Lewis?” she called. He had to be around here somewhere. He wouldn’t just let his horse wander by itself. A bird sang in answer to her call, but she didn’t see Lewis.

Daniel grabbed the horse’s reins and tied them to a shrub. “Look here.” He held out his hand, smeared with red.

“He must be hurt. Lewis!” She shouted as loudly as she could and began to run along the river.

Maybe the horse had thrown him and he’d been bleeding when he tried to remount. Vincente hadn’t found Lewis in town. Maybe he never made it there. She was about to turn and hike across the pasture when something red caught her eye where the river started to bend. She rushed toward the splash of color, but Daniel passed her and reached it first. His body blocked her view, but she saw him stiffen.

She reached him and was almost afraid to look at what he held in his hand. “What is it?”

He turned and held out a red shirt. “Does this belong to Lewis?”

The shirt was familiar. “Yes.”

His face was grave. “Why don’t you sit down while I look around.”

“I’ll help you. I’m not squeamish.” Her words were brave, but her stomach churned. She didn’t want to find Lewis’s body. “He might have taken it off.”

“Sure.” Daniel’s words lacked conviction.

He would think her a weak-willed female who couldn’t face facts. Lewis wouldn’t take his shirt off. He was fair-skinned and would be burned by the heat of the summer sun in a few minutes. And they’d found blood.

She hiked her chin. “Comanche?”

“Unlikely. More likely that an outlaw accosted him.”

And left him for dead. Lewis had to be here somewhere. “You take the pasture. I’ll walk along the river.”

His warm fingers closed around her arm. “Stay within shouting distance. And take your gun.”

At least he wasn’t trying to force her to stay back. This was her land. If someone had come onto her property and shot her cousin, it was her responsibility. She nodded and walked back to her horse to get her rifle. He did the same and tugged his Winchester free from the saddle.

“Be careful.”

“I will.” Her heart warmed at the concern in his voice.

She walked along the river, following its curves and jogs. There was a fork just ahead, and she wasn’t sure which way she should go. The decision was made for her when she reached the spot because on the right side she saw a saddlebag half submerged in the muddy water.

“Daniel, here!” She pulled the waterlogged leather from the river and flipped it open. The only item remaining in it was a photograph damaged by the water. It was of Lewis with a young woman. She was pretty, with full lips and bright eyes.

Daniel reached her. “What is it?”

She held it wordlessly out to him. Her eyes burned, and she swallowed down the lump in her throat.

“He would never leave this,” Daniel said.

“No. Let’s keep looking. He has to be here somewhere.” She had to find her cousin. He was all the family she had left. Please let him be alive, Lord. Maybe the robbers had taken his money and left him. He was probably lying out here praying for someone to find him. And she would find him.

Calling his name, she ran down the river until her lungs burned and she had to bend over and gasp for air. There was no more sign of Lewis or his belongings. She crossed the river at the shallowest spot. The muddy water soaked her britches to the knees. Perspiration trickled down her neck, and she paused to wipe it away, then trudged back to where she’d left Archie. He’d pulled his lead loose but stood munching on grass.

When she met up with Daniel, the sun was low on the horizon. She read the discouragement in his shoulders and mouth.

“I didn’t find him either.” He held up a boot. “I found this, though.”

“It’s Lewis’s.”

She wouldn’t cry. She wouldn’t. But she found herself sobbing against Daniel’s rough shirt. She was alone in the world now.