The Fire in Ember - DiAnn Mills [27]
Leon swore, and anger ripped across his face. Oberlander continued to laugh. “Enjoy the joke. We all were duped. Isn’t that right, John?”
John hadn’t revealed all of what happened when they learned about Bert, but he found no harm in laughing about it.
“I don’t like anyone making fun of me.” Leon wiped his hand across his mouth. “Least ways a horse thief and a woman.”
“Easy,” John said. “It’s done with.”
“And I’ll not take lip from the likes of you either. Just ‘cause you’re a deputy and have a ranch, you think you’re better than the rest of us.”
“Leon, that’s enough.” Oberlander made his way to the man’s side and laid a hand on his shoulder. “You’ll not insult a man I’m doing business with.”
Leon shrugged off the hand. “He’s …” The curses echoed around them.
“We don’t talk like that around here.” John would have ordered him off his land if not for Oberlander.
Fury torched Leon’s eyes. “I’ll talk any way I take a notion.”
Oberlander stiffened. “Get back to the ranch and gather up your gear.” His voice came out like a growl. “Soon as I get back, I’ll get your pay. Then I don’t want to lay eyes on you again. You’ve been given too many chances as it is, and I’m finished with you.”
“You haven’t seen the end of me, Timmons. None of you have.” Leon stomped away without another word, swung up onto his horse, and rode out.
“Should have gotten rid of him a long time ago,” Oberlander said. “Sorry you had to witness that.”
“I understand. Some of our responsibilities aren’t the pleasant kind.” Still, threats weren’t made to be ignored, and John would keep his eyes open for trouble.
“I’m thinking it won’t be the last either of us see of Leon. We’re smart men to take heed to a hothead.”
Oberlander must have other reasons to distrust Leon. John’s thoughts swept back to Bert’s near hanging. Did Leon know more about the missing mare than he let on?
Did Bert fit into this?
CHAPTER 12
From the garden, Bert recognized the weasel-looking man with Mr. Oberlander and John. Leon Wilson. She shuddered. He’d tried to hang her and nearly succeeded. If not for the old man they called Ted, she’d be rotting in an unmarked grave. When Ted had ridden off, she believed he’d given up. But within minutes, he’d raced back with John. Like a hero in the stories Gideon used to tell her, John had shot through the rope that was tossed over a tree branch and tied around her neck. Perfect aim. If she lived one hundred years, she’d never forget what he’d done.
Leon and Simon were so much alike. Of course, her other two brothers, Clint and Lester, weren’t much better. She shouldn’t be thinking about the worst. Except preparing for things to go wrong was what kept a person alive. Too many times she’d been left to the mercy of her brothers who used her as a means to look good in their own eyes. Never again. She’d made it six months and somehow survived. She wasn’t about to give up now.
Bending to the bushes of peas, Bert snatched up the fat pods and dropped them into the basket. What should she do? Continue living with the dear family who treated her like one of their own or leave? She could light out tonight and put a lot of distance between her and the Timmonses by morning. Leah had baked bread earlier, and a juicy ham simmered with beans. There’d be plenty left over …
Stealing … They’d all believe what Leon claimed. No, she’d not take a thing that didn’t belong to her. The Timmonses had been too kind. The only thing she’d take were the memories of how a real family was supposed to love and treat their own.
Shoving aside the depressing thoughts — and she had plenty—Bert moved down the row of peas. Think of a song. Something to take your mind off Simon and Leon. Escaping into her mind usually worked when she felt powerless over the circumstances around her.
Angry voices seized her attention, and she spun around to find out what was going on. Leon had let John and Mr. Oberlander know he didn’t have much use for either of them. Bert held her breath. Sounded like Leon wanted to fight