The Fire in Ember - DiAnn Mills [8]
When Mama and Aaron stepped into the bedroom, John took a deep breath. “While I was riding to see Victor Oberlander about some business, one of his ranch hands rode my way and said a hanging was about to take place. Said Leon and a couple of other ranch hands from the Wide O had found a boy riding Oberlander’s prize mare. Remember when Leon rode over here a few months back and asked if we’d seen her? Anyway, Leon had been drinking and had the noose around the kid’s neck. I stopped the hanging and took care of Oberlander getting his mare back. The kid looks bad ‘cause Leon roughed him up a bit.”
“Where’s he from?” Evan said, taking a step closer to the bed. “I’ve never seen him around here.”
“Me either,” Aaron said. Mark echoed the same.
John had hoped his brothers knew the kid. “He said his name was Bert but wouldn’t tell me anything else.”
“Sure was stupid to steal a man’s horse and then ride across his ranch with it.” Evan stood beside Mama, watching every move she made.
Bert stirred. “I didn’t steal it. I wouldn’t take something belongin’ to someone else.”
John’s patience was about to run out. “As I said before, if you aren’t going to tell me why you were riding the mare, then don’t deny stealing it.”
“Give him time.” Mama threw a frown John’s way. “He’s just a boy.”
Bert winced when Mama touched a wet cloth to his face.
“Easy. You’re safe here. My name’s Leah Timmons, and I need to clean you up so I can see how badly you’re hurt.” She stiffened. “The nerve of Leon punching you like that.” She flashed her anger at John. “I hope you gave him a taste of your tongue.”
“I did, but I sure thought about laying a fist alongside his jaw. Guess it was enough to save this one’s scrawny hide. Doesn’t matter. Once he’s feeling better, he’s working off the hundred dollars it cost me.”
Startled, Mama straightened, wet cloth in hand. “What hundred dollars?”
“Oberlander wanted compensation for being without his mare. Claimed three hundred dollars as his price, but we settled on one hundred and breeding the mare to Racer. I had the choice of either paying him or leaving the boy there for Leon to put to work.”
Mama tilted her head. “You did the right thing, John. I’m sure Bert knows he owes you his life.”
“More like I had too much sun and was touched in the head.” John fought the urge to say a few more things but swallowed his ire. He still had to find a way to purchase Oberlander’s land before Evan’s birthday.
“I think the good Lord had you right where He needed you.” Mama returned to wiping the grime from Bert’s face.
John heard the chuckles behind him and leveled a seething look at his brothers. “You’ll think it’s funny when you’re teaching him how to mend a fence.”
“How about mucking stalls? Doesn’t take a smart person to do that.” Mark glanced at Bert. “I’ll show him how to hold a shovel.”
“Mark, since you have all the answers, you can brew a cup of ginger tea,” Mama said. “It’ll make this tiny fellow feel better.”
John stuffed his hands into his jean pockets. The day had been a waste, and it was barely noon. “Why don’t one of you boys fetch Davis and you get to eating? We need to finish the fence.”
They shuffled out without further comment. No doubt the entertainment had worn thin in view of their stomachs. Mama continued to clean Bert up and apply witch hazel to the cuts and swollen areas. John could tell by the way she moved her mouth that she was mentally forming her words for what would come next.
“What haven’t you told me about this boy?”
Looking at Bert, cut and bruised, John felt sorry for him. “I wish I had more to tell. Leaving him at the mercy of Oberlander’s ranch hands was akin to murder.”
“I agree.”
He glanced down at Bert, wondering what filled the boy’s thoughts. “I plan to talk to Marshal Culpepper about him. Other than finding an orphanage, not much else I can do.”
“Except have him work off his debt.”
“Right.”
“John, if he didn’t steal the horse and he’s alone, then he needs taking care of. If he did steal, then he needs to learn there