The Fire in Ember - DiAnn Mills [108]
“I could use some coffee and pie from the hotel,” John said. “Haven’t seen Bess in a while either.”
Bob chuckled. “I have a few ideas about why this meetin’ was called too. What about you, Wirt?”
“Let me form my thoughts before I say anything.”
Mama remained quiet as the group made their way toward the hotel. John wished Ember was walking beside him. But she’d stayed at the 5T where she’d be safe.
At the hotel, they talked to Bess and ordered pie and coffee. John studied Bob’s and Wirt’s faces. He hesitated to speak his mind without evidence.
“John, something’s eating you,” Bob said. “I want to hear it.”
John leaned in closer. “Oberlander offered me a generous price for the ranch.” He nodded at Wirt. “Anyway, I turned him down. But his interest in the ranch after I’d just purchased acreage from him got me to thinking. Then I learned a few things from Ember about Simon.” He shook his head. “Is it me, or does it seem suspicious that Oberlander suddenly has a generous heart?”
Bess returned with cups and a fresh pot of coffee. “Here, now I won’t be bothering you folks by filling cups. Your pie comes next.”
John smiled up at Bess and watched her swish back to the kitchen while he waited for one of the others to comment.
“I heard in Denver the railroad will be expanding out here more than what the folks here have seen.” Wirt lifted the steamy brew to his lips.
“Is that so?” Bob said, barely above a whisper. “Are you saying my partial homestead will be worth a lot more money than it is now?” Sarcasm topped his words.
Mama gasped and touched her lips. “Are you men suggesting Mr. Oberlander is taking advantage of these people?”
John leaned back in his chair and juggled the thoughts burning into his mind. “What if he is behind all the cattle rustlin’ and murder?”
Bob shook his head. “I don’t think so, John. You’re climbing your own mountain with this one. I wouldn’t put it past him to buy up land so he can make a fistful of money when the railroad brings more business to Rocky Falls. And I’ve heard rumors that more gold ore’s been discovered. But Victor Oberlander is not a killer.”
“I have to agree,” Wirt said. “Look at what happened to his mare. And he had more cattle stolen than the other ranchers, and …”
“My point,” John said. “Does it matter how many of his cattle were rustled or his mare stolen if he knew where they were?”
“But not murder,” Bob said. “He may be a horse’s a — “ He glanced at Mama.
“John, you’re wrong,” she said. “Not murder. Why, he’s been in church ever since he moved here.”
“What if,” John began, “he was trying to court you to get his hands on our ranch?”
Bess approached them with a tray of pie slices.
“Think about it.” John reached up to take a generous slice of custard pie from Bess’s tray. If he was wrong, he’d gladly concede to Bob, Wirt, and Mama. But if he was right, then all the problems, questions, and suspicions made sense.
“What did Ember tell you about Simon?” Wirt sliced his fork into the pie and popped it into his mouth.
“He made two trips here. One was business and when he returned from the second trip, he rode Oberlander’s mare. He told Ember the horse was a gift.”
Wirt studied a second bite on his fork. “And what are you thinking?”
“I’m only relaying what she told me.” John needed to find proof for what he guessed those sharing pie and coffee with him would call folly.
Over three weeks passed, and school started for Aaron, Mark, and Davis. Evan would be leaving at the end of the week for Fort Collins to begin his studies. Bert scattered feed around the barnyard and watched the chickens flock around her skirts. A chilling wind that matched her mood made her wish she had her shawl. The last of September should not be chilly, and she realized the cold inside her was from the unrest in the community. The mountains were alive with color. The deep reds and golds and oranges held their own beauty, even though they’d be covered in snow in short order.
Her attention swung to the road. She longed for John to return home from