The Fire in Ember - DiAnn Mills [103]
Bob tipped his hat. “Sure thing, Mrs. McBride. I understand your apprehension.”
They left her standing in the barnyard, her arms crossed over her chest like a soldier on guard duty. Although Mrs. McBride and Mama didn’t share the same size, they shared the same fears for their families and the same stubborn courage. He’d seen it in Ember too. Those qualities were what counted when adversity stood on its haunches, bared its teeth, and growled.
John led the way to where he believed Sparky McBride was cutting timber. As the two men neared the area, a tree crashed to the ground. The two sunk their heels into the sides of their mounts and headed toward the fallen tree in the foothills.
They found Sparky and his young son, who had carrot-colored hair like his father, tightening rope around a previously downed tree and hitching it to the wagon.
“What brings you up here?” Sparky said, with a firm grip on the horse’s bridle. “Don’t suppose you found my cattle.”
“Wish we had good news,” Bob said. “But looks like trouble is trailing some of us.”
“Who?”
John took heed of what he said in front of Sparky’s young son.
“Someone stole my stallion and Victor Oberlander’s prize mare. Have you had any more problems?”
“Not at all.”
John pointed to the tree he and Bob had heard crash against the earth’s floor a few moments before. “Want some help, trimming some of the branches and hooking it up to your wagon?”
Sparky nodded. “I never turn away another pair of arms.”
Bob and John dismounted and walked with Sparky and his son toward the tree. Any other time, he and Bob would be on their way, but John sensed in Sparky what they’d seen all morning—folks needed reassurance that Bob and John were there to establish order. And if calming a family’s fears meant taking time to help a father and son, then so be it.
“Who do you think is behind all the trouble?” Sparky said, his tone hushed while his son walked several feet ahead of them.
“Oh, John and I think Simon Farrar’s brothers are still working the area and possibly the ranch hands from the Wide O who disappeared weeks ago.”
“Makes me wonder if the fellow in custody is the one leading the gang.”
John hadn’t considered another gang leader before. What would it take for Simon to take orders from someone else?
Sparky glanced ahead at his son, who’d stopped in his tracks. “What is it?”
John followed the rancher’s gaze and gripped his rifle. Could be a bear … a wolf … or a man.
“Poppy, the tree fell on a man. He don’t look so good.” The boy swung his attention back to Sparky. “A skunk must have been here too, ‘cause the smell is awful.”
Hours after John had left, sadness still settled like a heavy blanket upon Bert and those she loved. Rowdy had yet to regain full consciousness. Bert thought she understood the grim feelings. Perhaps a person might have a chance to defend himself, but a horse and a dog depended on man to do the caring. At least, that’s the way she felt, as though she were somehow responsible.
She hadn’t thought Clint or Lester could stoop as low as Simon, but their involvement made sense. In the past, she’d been consumed with staying out of Simon’s way. While she avoided her older brother, had she ignored Clint’s and Lester’s decay?
“What do your brothers look like?” Evan said. He’d announced earlier they’d all stay home today and work on last minute tool and building repairs before school started.
Bert questioned the logic of talking about her brothers … But like Simon, they could ride onto the ranch and deceive any of the boys. “Clint’s the shorter one, and he’s not as tall as Mark. He has broad shoulders, and he’s strong. Never says much. Lester took after Simon. He’s thinner, taller.”
Talking about Clint and Lester dredged up old memories, but in forcing herself to relive them, she might think of something that could help the law. “Guess I’ve been stupid thinking they weren’t smart enough to carry on after Simon was gone. But if Simon was riding with someone else, then who? Hard for me to believe Simon would take