The Fire in Ember - DiAnn Mills [120]
Oberlander peered into Clint’s face. “I’ll contact a lawyer in Denver about Simon once these cattle are branded and driven back to my herd.”
“How long will it take to get him out of jail?”
Now Bert more clearly understood what had been going on. Stealing John’s cattle had given them some assurance of getting Simon free.
“Have no idea. Might take more money on your part.”
“But you said you’d handle it all.”
Oberlander laughed. “I said I knew a lawyer who had the means of freeing him. If he wants more money than what I’ve paid him, then you two will have to take care of it.”
Bert’s gaze flew to Clint. His face tightened, and he bit down on the corner of his mouth. For sure, her brother was making his own plans.
“You take care of things here, and I’ll do my part,” Oberlander said. “We don’t need Bob Culpepper, Wirt Zimmerman, and Parker Timmons out looking for John. I’ll set up a diversion in town to buy you some time.”
“You won’t get away with this,” John said. “Folks already suspect your hand with this. Hired guns put you at the top of the list.”
Oberlander shook his head and chuckled low. “You should have let me marry your mother, and none of this would be happening. Blame yourself, John Timmons. I would have treated her like she deserves, much better than that poor excuse of a US Marshal.”
“Right. Then you could have added our ranch to yours without so many killings.”
“You got into the middle of things when you stopped Leon from hanging this girl.”
“Does that mean you gave the mare to Simon?”
“I’m not stupid. He stole it thinking it would cause me to keep my side of the bargain. Simon had no idea who he was dealing with when he took Queen Victoria.”
“So all of this has been about adding acreage to the Wide O?”
“Land’s about to double. The stone quarry has more business than it knows what to do with, and gold’s been found. Breeding good horseflesh and adding to my herd of cattle means more money for me.”
“You’re getting rich at the cost of the men you’ve murdered?”
Oberlander shook his head. “I didn’t kill those men.”
“But you ordered it,” John said. “Makes you just as guilty.”
“Money buys whatever I want.”
Bert studied Oberlander’s hard features. Not while John has breath in him.
“You’ll be stopped,” John said. “If not by me, another man will make sure justice is served.”
“Big talk for a dead man.” Oberlander’s words were laced with bitterness. He whirled around and pointed at Clint with his rifle. “See if you can follow orders.”
Oberlander disappeared from the mouth of the canyon. Clint barked orders at the other men and stomped toward a wagon that held branding tools. Ember drew in a ragged breath and turned to John.
“I’m so sorry.”
“I’m the one who’s sorry for what I’ve been thinking about you.”
She couldn’t blame him, not when she hadn’t given him a reason to trust her. “Clint threatened all of you if I didn’t leave with him.”
“I know that now.”
She had to make sure he knew all of the truth. “I didn’t help them steal a single cow. They made me ride with them so it would look like I lied to you.”
His eyes moistened, and seeing his emotion moved her to shed one tear after another for all the trouble she’d caused. “I’ve been such a fool. Not trusting you. Doubting why you’d disappeared.”
“If I’d given you a reason to trust me, then perhaps I could agree.” She wanted to say so many things before their lives were forever changed. “Maybe I can convince Lester to let you go.”
John’s eyes narrowed. “We’re in this together. Both of us will walk away from these men.”
She shook her head. “You don’t understand. I give up.”
“Where’s your spunk? Your faith?”
“Faith? I left it at the 5T.”
“Then you’d better find it ‘cause faith is the only thing that will save us now.”
Anger swelled in her. “Do you think God’s going to send an angel in here with some flaming sword?”
“Nope.” His jaw tightened. “But he could send a posse.”
She stopped her unfaithful thoughts. “You’re right. I’m just scared.