The Fire in Ember - DiAnn Mills [37]
Oberlander took a healthy drink from his cup. “I think we both know the answer to that.”
“Leon Wilson didn’t take too kindly to you firing him.”
“It got worse. We had more words, and he knows better than to ever come near my property again.” He set the cup on a small table. “Any of yours gone?”
“Not to my knowledge. I’m having my brothers check the summer pastures.”
The look on Oberlander’s face revealed the same thing John suspected. “We got ourselves two possible thieves—Leon and that gal staying at your place. Since Leon tried to hang her, I don’t think the two would be working together. He’s most likely out for revenge since I fired him, and he decided to add a few heads to his herd.” Oberlander added coffee to his cup. “Not sure Leon’s part makes sense with cattle missing from different ranchers. Have you learned anything about Bert?”
“Nothing. She refuses to talk about herself. Culpepper questioned her too.” John’s thoughts stayed fixed on the possibility of Bert’s involvement. If she was in custody, Evan might think twice about his feelings. But that was wrong—John didn’t have evidence to arrest her. Neither did he want to. If only life were simple. If only the sight of her didn’t cause him to think about a family of his own. “She’s been at the house the whole time. Works hard too.”
“Never met a lawbreaker yet who didn’t try to outsmart his — or her—victims.” Oberlander stared into his cup. “I’ll show you where the cattle disappeared. Some of my men are out looking for those—” He stood. “I know you disapprove of cursing, and most times I do too unless there’s a no good thief taking what belongs to someone else. You have my word on this. When they’re caught, I’ll hold the hangman’s noose myself.”
John wasn’t about to lecture about cursing or the law. Victor Oberlander knew the difference between right and wrong.
The two men rode out across the Wide O’s acreage, through a sprinkling of pine, and on through more green pasture, steadily climbing to higher ground where the trees grew thicker. Their horses picked over the brush and the stones of a clear gurgling stream. Chipmunks scampered and birds flew from the tree-tops as though they sensed trouble on the horizon. In the distance, the variegated shades of green led on to the foothills, but that wouldn’t be where the thieves had taken the cattle. They’d have driven the livestock to where the cattle could be hidden in canyons.
Oberlander drew in his reins. He pointed to the northeast parcel of land that now belonged to the 5T. “That’s where they drove the cattle across.”
“Right after the storm,” John said. “Looks like they were waiting for just the right time.” He pondered a moment on the situation. “If the thieves were looking to cast the blame on someone like Bert, seems to me they’d leave my ranch alone.”
“Makes sense. For that matter, someone could accuse you or Evan.” He wiped the sweat beading on his forehead. “Let’s keep our eyes and ears open to see if that rumor starts. If the rustler is local, he’d start the talk.”
“Right. Do you know where Leon is? Or if he has family in these parts?” John wanted to talk to him in a bad way.
“He’s from down near Silverton. If he knows what’s good for him, he’ll disappear. By the time I’d gotten back from delivering the mare, he was drunk—mean drunk.”
“I’ll send a wire. He has it in for both of us.” John considered Leon seizing the opportunity to take his vengeance out on the 5T … his family … or Bert. He couldn’t ignore the likelihood. Neither could he run scared. He had a job to do.
With John gone, Bert was free to run. The thought ate at her like varmints picking at Miss Leah’s garden. For her own good, Bert needed to hightail it out of Colorado and head south to Texas where she wouldn’t need to worry so much when winter blew its cold winds.
Every time she remembered the agony in Leah’s weeping when John left, Bert wanted to break down too. Leah … the strong mother who raised her boys with a mixture of love and real life had been devastated. Bert had started the trouble in this