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

Chapter 5

CHAPTER 5

T he next day, Miles had to keep his mind on the task at hand, not let his thoughts roam to the pretty lady back at the house.

“C’mon, heifer. You’re almost there.” Miles fanned his hat in a steady motion as he guided his mount behind the straggler, pushing the animal through the woods to catch up with the rest of the herd in the east pasture.

Jude was already there with the main group, and Sean rode on the other side, following the dawdlers there.

Snow would begin its frigid grip on the mountains any day, and this east pasture gave the cattle a lot more protection from the wind than the north pasture where they’d been grazing.

The heifer lowed in protest but finally picked up her pace, crashing through the underbrush. At last they broke through into the open pasture where the rest of the cattle grazed, their breath clouding in white puffs against the icy air. He was more than ready to get back to the house and a warm fire.

And Clara. He couldn’t deny a bit of pleasure at the thought of seeing her pretty smile.

He nudged his horse toward where Jude had dismounted and stared at something on the ground.

"What do you make of this?" Jude’s voice crashed through the image of those sparkling green eyes.

Miles followed his brother's gaze down.

A bloody carcass lay in the grass, mostly bones and hide from what he could see at a distance. As his mount joined Jude’s, the details came all too clear.

A cow head lay at one end of the body, leaving no doubt what kind of animal this had been. But the carcass hadn’t been ravished in the way wolves would have left it. No, the hide had been sliced cleanly with a knife. The legs mostly intact. The innards piled to the right of it.

Someone had butchered their cow.

And it’d been killed so recently that wolves hadn’t even come to clean the carcass yet. Today maybe? Yesterday at the earliest.

Bile churned in Miles’s middle. Who would have done this? The only strangers anywhere around were the surveyors, and they had no need of meat.

The Salish tribe to the west were the only other neighbors within a few hours. And they were longtime friends. If any of them were hungry, they knew to come to the house. Though in truth, the people were well established with sturdy homes and abundant food.

Had another band come into the area? One who didn’t realize—or understand—that cattle were owned by the local rancher, not fair game for any hunter?

He turned to Jude. “You think there’s a new tribe in the area?”

Jude gave a “hummph” that sounded more like a growl. “A new tribe of surveyors.” He lifted his gaze to scan the cattle grazing to their left. “They’re eating our food, aren’t they? That’s not enough for them? They need our livelihood too?”

Miles could only stare at his brother. “You think they did this? Why would they?” Jude was usually the level-headed one. The brother who thought before speaking and always gave plenty of grace, even when it might not be deserved.

Jude turned to mount his horse. “Who knows why any man does what he does. Afraid their supplies’ll run low. Worried about bein’ snowed in. Maybe the railroad doesn’t give ‘em enough to eat decently so they have to poach food along the way.”

He settled in the saddle as Sean rode up, but Jude locked his gaze on Miles as he spoke. “I don’t know the reason, but I wish they’d asked us first. I’m starting to think maybe Jericho is right. Having strangers on the ranch just causes problems.”

Miles frowned as he mounted his own horse. Not Jude too. Jericho had always kept them too guarded from the outside world, but Jude had been more level-headed. Surely, the surveyors wouldn’t stoop to butchering one of their cattle without permission. Not after the Coulters had been so welcoming, providing them a place to set up camp and even sharing meals with them.

It didn't make sense.

He didn’t really know the men, but he couldn’t bring himself to believe Clara would be part of a group who would consider this all right. And whoever killed this cow hadn’t even tried to hide it.

As they rode back toward the house, a tense silence stretched among them, broken only by the crunch of hooves on the frosty ground. The trees were spread far enough apart to let them all three ride abreast.

His mind churned through who besides the surveyors might have killed their stock. He finally voiced the only other possibility that made sense. “We should look around for a new tribe that might have come to the area. Maybe ask Two Stones if he’s seen anyone.”

Jude didn’t answer, just kept his mouth in a thin line.

“I’ll go ask Two Stones,” Sean spoke up.

Jude slid him a look. “Let’s talk to Jericho first. It’s possible these are Mick’s men, planning an attack.”

At nearly eight years old, Sean had become a solid hand with the cattle and horses, but he wasn’t quite ready to head off on a two-hour ride to the Salish village by himself. Not with so many strangers around—surveyors for sure, and maybe also natives from who knew what tribe.

When they reached the house, Jude and Sean headed to the barn to see if Jericho’s horse had returned yet. He and Jonah had been pushing hard to get Jonah’s cabin dried in before the first snow. Jonah hoped to live there by the first of the year.

Which meant a wedding would be coming soon, for Jonah surely wouldn’t wait long to tie the knot with Patsy once he had a home ready for her. The two of them were perfect for each other, and Jonah deserved to finally have his own house. Especially since the last cabin had been burned down by Mick’s men before he could move into it.

Miles dismounted and tied his gelding to the post near the door. He might be riding again soon, depending on what Jericho decided, but he’d like to talk to Clara first.

He stepped inside, the warmth a welcome contrast to the biting chill outside. Clara, Jess, and Lillian worked around the cookstove and work counter. Clara’s golden brown hair was a bit darker than Lillian’s flaxen braid, but the two looked like they could be sisters, the older teaching the younger.

She fit here.

He swallowed the strange knot that thought created in his throat.

All three women looked up as he entered, but it was Clara’s gaze that lit bright enough to capture his focus. She was such a pretty thing. Like sunshine, she brightened everything around her, clearing away the dark worries in his thoughts.

He couldn’t help a bit of a grin as he approached. “Something smells good here.” The words came out automatically. They were working by the cookstove, after all. But now that he spoke them, a rich, savory scent wove through the air. His belly pinched in anticipation.

Lillian grinned. “Clara’s teaching us how to make carrot pie, and we’re making enough for us all, the surveyors too.”

Miles raised his brows. "Carrots? In a pie?"

Clara's cheeks flushed a pretty pink. "It's a recipe my family likes. I usually just use any foods I have on hand. The carrots give it a lovely golden color and a subtle sweetness. I thought your family might enjoy trying something new."

"I'm sure we will." He met her rich green gaze and lingered there. She had a way of drawing a fellow in.

Jess wiped her hands on her apron. "What brings you in so early? Gil said you were moving a herd."

Reality splashed over him like snow from an overhead branch. "We got the herd settled in the east pasture. But we found something." He hesitated. Should he ask Clara privately? Likely, the others would learn soon enough. Gil would tell Jess, then they’d all talk about it at the dinner table. No need to tiptoe around the topic now. "A butchered cow. Fresh. No more than a day old at most."

Jess's eyes widened. "Butchered? By whom?"

Miles shook his head. "We don't know for certain. Jude thinks…" He glanced at Clara, hating to say it. "He’s wondering if it could be the surveyors."

Clara’s eyes went wide. "No. They wouldn't do that." Then her brows lowered, like she was thinking through something. “Is there a reason he thinks they did it?” She shook her head, as though clearing her mind. “Not our group, I’m sure of it. We buy our supplies in towns along the way. Besides, I'm cooking for them here, and most of what I'm using is your family’s anyway. They’re not low on supplies."

That was what he’d been thinking too. "Would they take the meat if they found an animal already dead?"

She tipped her head, her frown deepening. “Surely, they would have come to the house to let you know.”

“I guess I need to see what Jericho thinks. Jude went to find him.” He glanced at Jess and Lillian. “Have you seen him ride in yet?”

Lillian gave a quick shake of her head. “You’re the first one back. I think the rest are all still at the new cabin.”

He turned and strode toward the door. “I’ll head over. Jude and Sean are probably already riding that way.” Since Jericho, Jonah, and Eric were working there today, they’d all be able to meet and talk this through. Everyone except Gil, who’d stayed close to the house and barn for days, not willing to leave Jess. There was too much concern her controlling, criminal father would come after her.

When Miles led his horse down to the barn, Gil met him at the doorway, a pitchfork in hand.

Gil motioned to the trail to Jonah’s new cabin. “Jude and Sean went to talk to Jericho.”

Miles eyed his brother. “They told you what we found?”

Gil’s jaw flexed as he nodded. “It doesn’t sound good.”

“I’m going after them to see what Jericho wants to do. You coming too?”

Gil shook his head. “I can’t leave the house unprotected. I don’t trust McPharland.”

Miles glanced up to the cabin he’d just left. “The girls could come with us.” It’d take longer than he wanted to wait to get horses saddled for them, but he’d do it before leaving the women unprotected.

“I’ll stay here.” Gil’s tone held no sign of wavering. “Have someone ride back and tell me what’s happening.”

Miles turned and mounted his gelding. “Will do.” After everything Gil went through to get Jess free of her father’s iron fist and to the safety of the ranch, he couldn’t blame him for wanting to ensure she wasn’t forced to return to her father’s caves.

A fter a quarter hour’s ride, Jonah’s new cabin came into view through the trees as Miles pushed his mount into a trot. The others had already gathered, Jude and Sean standing by their horses in the midst. Each man’s face held a serious expression, their postures on high alert.

Jude must have shared the news already.

Jericho turned to Miles as he approached, but when he spoke, his words seemed to be for everyone. “We need to search the ranch. All of it. See if there’s anyone else on our land besides those surveyors.” His voice tightened. “See if anything else has been taken.”

Miles’s gut tightened. What if more animals had been killed? What if it could be proven the surveyors did it?

God, that can’t be right, can it? Surely Clara hadn’t brought this threat to them. She wouldn’t willingly travel with no-good ruffians who stole from the people who hosted them. He couldn’t believe that of her.

Jericho was already assigning sections for them to search. “Jonah and Eric, ride south of the cabin. The entire stretch from the edge of the south pasture up the slope to that rock tower. From the cabin all the way to where the creek cuts through the edge of our property.”

He pointed to Jude. “You and Miles go east from the rock tower all the way to the northeast corner, where the north pasture starts. Two Stones and I will ride from there down to the creek and past it to where the surveyors are camping. Report back at the house, then someone can go out and check the eastern slope.”

“What about me?” Sean piped up. “You want me to ride the east slope?”

One corner of Jericho’s mouth tipped. “I need you to guard the house with Gil. We’re putting two men in each spot, so I’ll rely on you to be the second fellow there.”

Sean straightened. “Yes, sir.”

Jericho turned to his wife, Patsy, and then Jude. “Might be good if you all head up to the house with him. Until we know what we’re dealing with, we should all stay close.”

Dinah looked at Eric. “I’ll get Naomi and the children too.”

He dipped his chin. “Thanks.”

As the others retrieved their belongings and horses, Jude mounted and rode to Miles. “Ready?”

“Let’s go.” The two of them would be searching the same area where they’d found the dead cow, so they’d be most likely to find another sign of strangers around that spot. Maybe find a trail.

They couldn’t overlook anything. Not the scattered ashes from a campfire, not leaves or dirt sprinkled over with blood from a fresh kill, not even a hoof or footprint. They had to find the truth for everyone’s sake. His family and Clara’s too.