McKettrick's Choice - Linda Lael Miller [129]
“What about the Indians?” Lorelei asked. “Aren’t they coming?”
“You make it sound like you’re giving a party and they’re invited,” Rafe observed, grinning. He stooped, retrieved her rifle and handed it to her. “They’re not real sociable, as a rule.”
Lorelei laid the rifle carefully in the back of the wagon.
“Better unload that first,” Rafe said. “Otherwise, John might hit a bump in the trail and find himself missing an ear.”
Lorelei sighed. “There are so many things to remember, I can’t keep track of them all,” she fretted.
Rafe took care of the rifle, dropped the bullets into the pocket of his leather vest. “You ever think of settling down somewhere besides Texas?” he ventured. “Say, the Arizona Territory?”
Puzzled, Lorelei studied his face. He didn’t look as if he were teasing. “Do you have Indians there?”
“Apaches,” Rafe admitted. “But they mostly leave us alone, up north. Cause more trouble around Tucson.”
“Why would I travel all the way to the Arizona Territory?” Lorelei asked. “I have my ranch.”
Rafe sighed, let his gaze follow his brother, now mounted on that fancy Appaloosa again, getting ready to spout more orders. She hadn’t even had a piece of chicken yet.
Rafe’s meaning finally hit her.
She put the back of one hand to her mouth. She’d thought her secret was safe after all. Now, she knew it wasn’t. “Did he tell you about last night?” Her voice was very small.
“He didn’t have to tell me,” Rafe said, and reached out to squeeze her shoulder. “I know that look, when it’s Holt wearing it.”
“I’m such a fool,” Lorelei whispered, unable to meet Rafe’s gaze.
Rafe lifted off her hat and planted a brotherly kiss on top of her head. “Be careful,” he said. And then he replaced her hat and walked away.
Before Lorelei could move at all, he was back on his horse, riding off to join Holt.
You ever thought of settling down anywhere besides Texas? Say the Arizona Territory?
He didn’t have to tell me. I know that look…
Be careful.
Just a few words, but Lorelei knew she’d be the rest of the day sorting them through.
Mr. Cavanagh helped Melina carefully up into the wagon box, then opened the tailgate for the dog.
Lorelei caught Seesaw’s reins, tossed them up over his neck and put her foot in the stirrup. The saddle seemed even higher off the ground and harder than before, and there was a wide stream ahead, waiting to be crossed. If she didn’t drown doing that, well, there were still the Comanches.
She straightened her spine, drew a deep breath and kicked Seesaw into motion. Did she ever think of moving to the Arizona Territory? Land sakes, she had all she could do to survive Texas.
CHAPTER 34
AFTER TWO DAYS of hard travel, they’d reached the outskirts of Laredo, unscathed. By Holt’s reckoning, that was a miracle; the Comanches had made themselves visible, always at a distance, but for some reason he couldn’t fathom, they had yet to make a move. Instead of easing his mind, this made him skittish, on a gut level, where words and thoughts didn’t reach.
They were waiting, those Indians. Watching. And they wanted him to know it.
Right outside of town, Holt paid a local rancher for grazing and precious water, and kept the herd corralled as best he could. On the evening of September ninth, when Lorelei and Melina were safely housed in town with Heddy, Tillie and the baby, he rounded up John, Rafe, the Captain and Frank Corrales for some serious palavering. Mac Kahill had done his best to get in on the meeting, but Holt didn’t want any wild cards. The cowboy had done his work ably, served as a ramrod with that sorry bunch of new wranglers Holt and Rafe had virtually scraped up off various saloon floors, but Holt still didn’t trust the man enough to make him privy to his plans.
“These cattle, here,” John said, when they’d all hunkered down in a circle, like Comanche warriors at a powwow, “they may end up with the Cavanagh brand on them, Holt, but they’re really yours. Bought and paid for.”
Holt was having a devil of a time keeping his mind on business. It had