Guarding the Mountain Man’s Secret (Brothers of Sapphire Ranch #7)

Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

D ecember, 1870

Rock Creek, Montana Territory

The late-afternoon sky stretched in a canvas of rich blue as Clara Pendleton guided her horse along the trail. What a blessing to be on this journey rather than living in luxury back East with a man she’d never loved—a man she’d feared. Papa had approved her breaking the engagement and leaving town, but would he pay for their decision?

All she could do was pray and put him in God’s care.

The surveyor’s mount ambled in front of her, Mr. Goodwin’s lanky body swaying with each step. Ahead of him rode grumpy Mr. Tillman and Mr. Holloway, hired by the railroad to lead this motley surveying crew.

She glanced back at Uncle Hiram, who met her look with that warm smile that deepened the creases around his eyes. He rode these mountains like he’d grown up in them, not on his Virginia farm. He’d been the one to put her on her first horse, though, when she’d gone to stay with him as a young girl while Papa took Mama to one of her many expensive medical treatments. Uncle Hiram’s farm had been like heaven to her girlish cravings for adventure. All her life, Uncle Hiram had been the steady presence that settled her.

Behind him rode the final member of their group, Mr. Whitaker. He always took up the rear when they traveled, probably to spot every movement each of them made. The man wore suspicion like a pair of trousers.

The land around them tilted upward as they ascended a hillside covered in pine trees and rocks that crunched under their horses’ hooves. The ground here wasn’t nearly as rugged as some places they’d ridden this past week. In those spots, she’d needed to focus all her attention on staying seated while her horse navigated rocks and steep slopes. But up ahead, the trail leveled out again, and she'd be able to enjoy the view without worrying about tumbling off her mount.

Even now, she could see mountain peaks through the trees, rising to the west with snow-capped peaks. Such majesty. What would it be like to live here year round?

Her fingers tingled, itching to pull out her sketch pad and draw this terrain. But first things first. Once they reached the top of the rise, she’d mark these details on the map she kept rolled up in her saddle bag.

Every day since she’d left home to meet up with Uncle Hiram and the rest of these men, she’d thanked God for giving her the courage to not marry Nathaniel MacGregor. Even if her decision meant Papa lost his job at the factory owned by Nathaniel’s father.

Surely the man wouldn't punish her father for something she’d done. At least that was what Papa had assured her—over and over again after she’d called off the wedding.

Papa couldn’t afford to lose his position as foreman at MacGregor’s Upholstery. As hard as he worked and as much as she and her stepmother had tried to cut costs, they had no savings. One injury, one lost paycheck, would leave her father and Sarah with scarcely enough to survive the week.

He’d said that was his concern, not hers. That she should come work with Uncle Hiram if she wanted. She’d taken him at his word, and even though she still worried, she’d not once regretted coming here. Spending time with her uncle, seeing new country every day—she loved it all. Even living out of her carpet bag for weeks on end wasn't so bad. It certainly beat becoming Mrs. MacGregor.

At the front of the line, Mr. Holloway straightened in his saddle, raising his hand for a halt. “Do you hear that?”

Along with the others, she reined in her mare, then strained to listen. A pounding noise. Like rock against rock. Or maybe against metal. A steady rhythm.

She scanned the mountainside ahead of them. They’d not seen anyone since leaving their camp beside the main road that morning.

Mr. Goodwin shaded his eyes with his hand. “Yessir. You think someone’s mining this far away from the creek?”

Mr. Holloway’s mouth formed a grim line. “Keep your guns ready.”

She touched the pistol tucked into her waistband. She wouldn’t shoot a man, but Holloway and even Uncle Hiram had insisted she carry the weapon. Just in case she met with a wild animal, though Holloway had said such a small charge would only anger a grizzly. That if she met with a bear, she should aim at the sky to call for help. Surely a gunshot would be more than an irritant, though, even to the fierce bears that were said to inhabit this land.

Mr. Holloway started his mount walking again, and she nudged Rosie forward when their turn came.

The pounding grew louder as they rode up the sloping trail.

Then it ceased, and Holloway’s hand shot up for them to halt once more.

"Who are you?" A man’s voice sounded ahead, much closer than expected, and she rose up in her saddle to see over those riding in front of her.

A stranger stood in the trail ahead, beside a rocky cliff. Because of her obstructed view, she only saw the man’s head—a shock of brown hair and a handsome face, though younger than she’d expected. She spied intelligence in his eyes even from this distance.

Mr. Holloway’s voice was strong. "We're a surveying crew, sent by the railroad. Do you own this property?"

“My family does.” The stranger eyed them warily as he shifted. The movement brought a bit more of him into view, including the rifle held loosely in his muscular arms. "What business does the railroad have here?"

Mr. Holloway kept his tone even. "We've been commissioned to survey the area around the Mullan Road, to assess its suitability for a new rail line. If the railroad wants to proceed, they’ll contact the owners later."

A scowl twisted his handsome features, crinkling lines between his brows. "This land isn't for sale."

Mr. Holloway gave a slight smile, pulling out the manners he used only in these situations. "I understand, and you can say as much then. Our job is only to survey and map the terrain.” He glanced up and down the slope. “Any place you recommend for a good spot to camp? We’ll only be here a couple nights, then we’ll move on.”

The stranger tipped his head to the side. Was he thinking of running them off the land? That hadn’t happened to them yet, though she’d worried a few homesteaders would attempt to. Finally, he pointed west toward the creek at the bottom of the slope they’d just climbed. "Back down there's a level bit on the other side of the creek, not far from water. It'll serve well enough for a camp."

Mr. Holloway dipped his chin. "Much obliged. We'll be on our way, then."

As the group turned their horses downhill, she couldn't resist another glance at the stranger. This time, he met her gaze directly, curiosity flickering in his warm eyes. She offered him a friendly smile, something she would do for anyone she met.

After a moment's hesitation, the corners of his mouth lifted, and he gave a polite nod.

A niggle of pleasure wove through her. She doubted she’d ever see this man again.

Who was he? He appeared a little older than her eighteen years, but the way he stood with that rifle in hand made him look like he belonged in this mountain wilderness. As though he knew every crack and crevice and could scale them if he chose.

Had he grown up here? What was his story?

She likely wouldn’t get a chance to learn any of those answers, so she shifted her focus back to navigating the rocky terrain. She had work to do, people counting on her. She couldn’t be distracted by a handsome face.

H ow could he be so careless?

As soon as the group moved on, Miles Coulter eased out a breath.

Strangers on the ranch.

And they nearly caught him unaware.

He’d been testing out the latest version of the jointed pickax he’d designed—a modification of one he’d seen in Canvas City—when he barely caught the sounds of horse hooves on rock. He managed to drop the tool and scoop up his rifle in time to face them as they rode around the bend in the trail.

Surveyors. From the railroad. What would his brother Jericho say about that? He’d not like it.

At least they weren’t Mick’s men, come to exact revenge on their brother Gil. Thank the Lord, Mick’s daughter escaped the man’s evil clutches with their help, but they still watched out for any sign of his thugs.

Even if Miles suspected these surveyors were presenting a ruse, the woman with them couldn’t be one of Mick’s guards.

He pictured the woman’s pretty young face. She’d been a surprise, for certain. She wore a fancy bonnet like the ladies in town did, and a dark blue dress that looked soft and shiny. An unusual sight in a group of men like that. Too fancy to be their cook.

She must be married to one of them. A surveyor’s wife willing to brave the wild frontier to be with her man.

Usually, a thought like that would make him chuckle. Or even scoff. But a fellow lucky enough to have a lady like her…well, he should count his blessings.

Speaking of which, where had he dropped his ax? There, half buried in the dirt. He reached for the tool and swung it over his shoulder, then started for the house. He’d need to tell the others right away.

When Miles entered the yard, Gil stood in front of the barn, saddling one of the two-year-old geldings. “How’d your invention work? See anything unusual out there?”

How long would it take for his brother to stop looking over his shoulder for Mick’s men? It had been weeks already since Gil and Jude brought Jess home with them, with the help of Two Stones. Of course, Gil had taken quite a beating in the process. Broken ribs took months to fully heal. But he probably lingered close to the house now so he’d be ready to protect Jess should her father’s guards come after them.

Miles leaned the pickax against the barn wall. “Met riders.”

Gil straightened. “Who?” Worry filled his gaze, though concern rarely left his expression these days. He reached for his rifle.

“Not them,” Miles said, answering the question he hadn’t asked. “Surveyors, they said. For the railroad. I don’t think they have anything to do with Mick."

“How could you know?” The words were a challenge, barked with anger that Miles chose to ignore. “That man is devious.”

“They had a lady with them." The image of her slid into his mind, and he caught himself just before saying how pretty she was. That detail had nothing to do with whether the men were surveyors or Mick’s henchmen, and in his state, Gil didn’t have the patience for frivolity.

“How many were there? Where are they now?”

"Five men and the lady." Miles kept his tone steady, though Gil questioned him like he didn’t know to point the strangers away from the house. "I sent them across the creek to camp. Figured Jericho would feel better with them farther away from the house and the strawberries." No one needed to find the strawberries —their family code word for the sapphires they mined and did their best to keep secret. Mick had found out about them, though, and his lackies stole nearly a wagon full.

If only his brothers had been willing to let that go and move on. Sampson would still be here. His brother and best friend was gone, left in the night to join Mick’s underground mining crew.

The idea burned in Miles’s gut.

Sampson wouldn’t have joined the enemy. Not ever. His brother must be trying to make things right on his own. Sampson had already said he thought Mick’s men found out about the sapphires by following him back to the ranch after a trip to town.

If only Sampson would have let the rest of them help. No single man could overcome the web of evil Mick McPharland had constructed.

Gil's frown deepened. "I don’t like strangers on our land, even if they are who they claim to be."

It wasn’t as if Miles had invited them. He bit back his frustration. “You sound like Jericho.”

The frown turned to a glare. “You’ve never met Jess’s father. He’s more cunning than the snake in the Garden of Eden. We can’t be too careful. Just because a woman is with them doesn’t make them safe. Think of how they treated Jess, Mick’s own daughter.”

Miles sighed. "I know. But it didn't seem right to turn them away when night's coming on soon. Especially with a woman in their group."

As answer, Gil brought two fingers to his mouth and released a shrill whistle that echoed through the clearing.

Jericho and their nephew, Sean, were down the mountain helping Jonah build his new cabin. They’d be listening though. All of them were on edge these days.

Dinah, Patsy, Jess, and Lillian spilled out of the house, coming to hear what brought on the whistle. Jericho’s wife—a talented doctor—Dinah would want to make sure things were ready for whatever they faced.

Patsy was Jonah’s intended, and Jess would likely soon be Gil’s. And Lillian… He couldn’t call her his favorite niece anymore, not since two more youngsters had joined the extended family here on the ranch. But even though at thirteen she looked more young lady than girl, she still laughed at his jokes and warmed something special inside him when she called him Uncle Miles .

Before he and Gil could update the womenfolk, the sound of hoofbeats thundered. A minute later, Jericho, Jonah, and Sean rode up the slope from the direction of Jonah's cabin.

Another figure appeared on the trailhead leading to Eric and Naomi’s cabin, moving slower on foot. Eric—Dinah’s brother-in-law and an honorary member of the family. Looked like all the men were here except Jude.

He was likely on his way.

"What's going on?" Jericho reined in his horse, his sharp gaze moving between Gil and Miles.

As Miles repeated what he'd told Gil, Jericho's jaw tightened.

"And you just let them ride off to camp on our land?" Jericho shook his head. His oldest brother’s fear got the better of his good sense at times.

Miles stiffened. “What would you have me do with them? Run off five men and a woman at gunpoint? Or bring them to the house so you could interrogate them?”

Jericho huffed. “What railroad do they work for? Where did they start surveying and what path are they taking? When you ask for details, you get a better idea of whether they’re making up the story or not.”

Miles fought the urge to roll his eyes. “Then maybe you better go ask those questions.”

Jericho gave a curt nod. "Who’s going with me? We’ll have a word with our uninvited guests."

Miles’s middle tightened, but he strode through the barn door, calling over his shoulder, “Let me saddle a horse. I’m coming.” Jericho could ask what he wanted to the men in the group, but Miles might need to make sure he treated the lady with respect.

Jonah and Jude volunteered to come also. Good.

His eldest brother would never intentionally offend someone who didn’t deserve it, but Jericho tended to be a bit overzealous when protecting his family. Especially when the threat of Mick’s retaliation loomed over them all.