The Fire in Ember - DiAnn Mills [38]
She stared up from breaking green beans to the small corral where Racer and Queen Victoria kept company. The mare was a constant reminder as to why she had weeks left to work out her indebtedness. She paused to calculate how far she’d get before John came after her. And she had no doubt he’d ride night and day until he caught up to her. He’d be terribly angry.
Aaron talked nonstop about the cattle thieves, and he blamed Leon, reminding them of the greasy man’s threat. Aaron also wondered why their ranch had been spared. The longer Aaron talked, the more nervous Bert grew.
According to Marshal Culpepper, other ranchers hadn’t reported missing cattle. Aaron didn’t know for sure; he’d wait for Evan and Mark to report back. The 5T could be minus a few head too.
If the culprit had been Simon and he knew Bert was staying with the Timmons family, he’d have taken their livestock before the other ranchers'. Surely her worries about her brothers’ involvement were unfounded. She’d seen the results when Simon got even with a person, and his vengeance meant a dead body. And in this case, it would be hers.
She dropped a handful of crisp broken green beans into a huge crock. If she left now, John might be too busy to come after all. She relaxed a bit. That made sense. She had to get away before Simon found her, before —
“What are you thinking about?” Miss Leah reached for a handful of fresh beans from the basket and placed them in her lap to trim and break.
“Nothing really. Why?”
“You’ve sighed a few times, and I wondered what was ailing you.”
Bert felt Leah’s intense gaze. She’d been under that scrutiny more than once today. She couldn’t blame Leah for being distrustful. The woman had been so kind to her. “I was thinking on what I’d do after I’m finished here.”
“It’ll be nearly winter.”
Freezing to death didn’t sound like a good way to die, and she wasn’t ready to simply give up without a fight. “I understand a body just goes to sleep.”
Leah blanched. “When you freeze to death?”
Bert shuddered. “Yes.”
“I’ve been thinking you might find a job in Rocky Falls. Possibly earn some money to help you make your way in the spring.”
If Simon hasn’t found me by then. But the winter snows would stop him too. She shook her head.
“Why not?”
Bert tossed a questioning look. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t listening.”
“I suggested working in Rocky Falls until spring. Then you could plan your future.”
“Sounds like a good idea.” Bert let her thoughts end there. She had to leave. No matter how much she wanted to be a part of this dear family, her dreams also had her far beyond her brothers’ reach. Too many times she’d postponed the journey, but her selfish ways could get someone hurt.
CHAPTER 16
John left the Wide O near twilight. Urgency filled his gut to find the cattle thieves before the ranchers found them and had a lynching. He wondered if his brothers had discovered some of their own cattle missing. Being a part of the problem cast the blame on someone other than Bert. He never thought he’d wish some of his livestock gone. For all he knew, Bert could be a part of a gang. If he had his doubts about her, then what would a crowd do once they had a reminder she was caught riding Oberlander’s mare?
John understood the way men reacted when they’d been wronged. He couldn’t think of anything worse than trying to stand down angry men with retribution on their minds and a noose dangling from a tree. God-fearing men who lost control were just as deadly as a gang of outlaws.
His ponderings came full circle back to Bert. John could handle bad news and deal with the fact he might have grown fond of a woman set up to deceive him, but what about Mama and Evan and his other brothers? Who was he trying to fool with his bravado? Bert made his knees weak and his mouth dry. How could a man let a woman get under his skin in three weeks and one day?
He patted the gelding’s neck. At least his horse didn’t have woman problems or lawbreakers or family responsibilities. Sure would be nice to talk to