The Fire in Ember - DiAnn Mills [34]
Mark frowned. “I thought we were doing a good job.”
John laughed. “You are. But a reminder never hurts.”
“Who’s going to watch after Ember?”
The sound of Evan’s voice when he mentioned her name cut through John’s heart. I can’t let him think his feelings aren’t real. “She’ll be fine. Mama talks to her, and that’s probably all she needs. I want you two to hear exactly what the marshal has to say, so when Mama asks, you have the right answers. No surprises or exaggerations of the truth.”
Bob rode up and dismounted. After exchanging “Mornin’s” and Mark getting him a mug of coffee, he eyed John. “We got trouble.”
“Figured as much. What’s happened?”
“Possible cattle thieves.” Bob took a gulp of the coffee. As strong as Mark made it, the brew would part his hair—what he had left. “Two ranchers have missin’ cattle. About fifty head total.”
John remembered Leon’s threats and wondered if any Oberlander cattle were missing. He didn’t want to consider Leon, but he had to. “What are the plans?”
“Question the ranchers involved again. Call on some of the other ranchers to see if they have the same problem. Check out a few nearby canyons cattle and horse thieves have used in the past.”
John nodded. “Who reported the stolen cattle?”
“Sparky McBride and Walt Breacher.”
Neither one had large ranches. “That’s a lot of livestock for them to lose. Did either see anything unusual? And did either of them question if the missing cattle were due to Sunday’s storm?”
“Both ranchers made the discovery on Sunday after the storm. Breacher sent ranch hands out looking, but horse tracks indicated they were rounded up and driven south. Then it rained again, and they lost the trail. McBride reported the same kind of thing.”
“But somewhere in the canyons south of here?” Which could be in a number of secluded areas. “Unless the thieves are driving them to Denver.”
“Chances are they haven’t had time to change the brand. Any of yours missing?”
“Not to my knowledge.” John moistened his lips. Bert. Surely she wasn’t involved in this. He hated to accuse anyone without proof … but she had been caught riding Oberlander’s mare. “I’ll ride back to the ranch and then head to Rocky Falls. I’d like to talk to Victor Oberlander. See if his place is all right. He fired one of his hands, and that man could be behind this.”
Bob rubbed his chin with his knuckle. “I’ll ride with you as far as your place. I’d like to talk to the boy you saved from a hanging a few weeks ago.”
“How’d you know about that?”
“Word gets around. He might know something.”
Evan cleared his throat, but John refused to look his way. “The boy was a girl, and she’s been right here ever since,” John said. “We can both talk to her.”
“Where’d she come from?”
“She hasn’t said, and I don’t have a last name either.”
Bob stared out toward the snow-capped mountains as though pondering John’s information. “Sounds suspicious to me. Could be she’s working with somebody.”
“She said she didn’t steal the horse.” Evan’s shaky voice gave away his loyalty.
“They all say they’re innocent, son,” Bob said. “If you’re looking down a hangman’s noose, you’ll say anything to save your neck.”
John silently agreed with Bob. He cared for Bert, but he wasn’t naïve enough to believe she couldn’t be involved in illegal activity. Could things get worse? “I’m ready to ride. We can talk to Bert, then I’ll get my gear.” He swung his attention to Evan. “You’re in charge. You and Mark check on the cattle again before riding back to the house. If any are missing or you see something suspicious, send Mark or Aaron into town. Don’t get involved in a shootout. Once the job here is finished, head home. I shouldn’t be gone but a day or so.”
Within the hour, John and Bob stood on the front porch while Mama and Bert sat on the rocking chairs. The girl’s face blanched, and she refused to answer most of Bob’s questions.
“I hope you realize you’re putting yourself at the top of the list of suspects.” Bob leaned against the porch post. “Missy, folks don’t take to cattle and horse thieves.