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

Chapter 10

CHAPTER 10

M iles's heart raced as he leapt up from the work table. “What’s happened? What’s wrong?”

"There's smoke.” Sean sucked a breath. “Hurry."

Miles bolted toward the door, throwing a glance toward Clara as he moved. She wore as much worry in her expression as he felt. “I’m coming.”

The snow had tapered to a few scattered flurries. A group gathered up the hill in front of the cabin. He started toward them, but slowed when he realized Clara was trying to keep up.

Dinah and a few of the other women stood with the men ahead, so Jericho must not be worried about them being in danger outside.

Miles shifted his focus to where a thin stream of smoke rose into the gray sky, curling up above the trees to the north.

He reached the group and stood beside his oldest brother. "Any guesses?" He kept his voice low.

"Looks like it’s near the north pasture.” Worry furrowed Jericho’s brow. “And it's the opposite direction from the surveyors’ camp."

Sean piped up. “You gonna see who it is?”

Jericho gave a sharp nod and scanned the others gathered there. “Jonah, you wanna go with me? Probably best on foot so we can keep quiet.”

“Let me refill my shot bag and I’m ready.” Jonah glanced at Patsy, who didn’t look eager for her man to walk into danger. He leaned in and spoke quietly in her ear, and whatever he said must have been magic words. She stood a little straighter, her expression shifting to determination. She almost looked like she planned to accompany them.

But she gave Jonah a solid nod. Then he leaned in and kissed her, and Miles tugged his gaze away quick. There was far too much of that happening in broad daylight these days.

His gaze caught on Clara, who was watching him, something like a smirk on her face. One side of her mouth quirked higher than the other, drawing his focus to the spot. Now she had lips that might be worth kissing.

The moment the thought slipped in, he swatted it away. She was a friend. Someone he simply enjoyed being around. And she’d be leaving in days. He’d best keep thoughts of kissing tamped down.

Jericho and Jonah strode away through the snow, disappearing down the trail to Eric and Naomi’s. That would be the easiest route to the north pasture.

Silence settled over the rest of them, broken when Dinah spoke. "I suppose we ought to head in for the midday meal. It’s ready."

Miles glanced at Clara with raised brows. “You hungry?”

"I could eat. And I should pack up food to deliver to the survey camp afterward."

He did not relish the thought of her venturing out, even with him at her side. Too much danger lurked in the shadows of the woods she’d have to ride through. He cleared his throat. "I can take the food. You stay here where it's safe."

Her brows drew together, a flicker of defiance in her eyes. "I can handle myself, Miles. It's my responsibility."

"I know you can." He softened his voice. "But please, let me do this. For my own peace of mind." He held her gaze, willing her to understand.

She hesitated, then relented with a sigh. "If you don’t mind. Can you also bring back any new measurements or sketches they have for me?"

"Of course." He forced a smile. "I'll be your official courier."

Inside, the aroma of stew and fresh bread enveloped them. The women had cooked up a feast, as usual. Despite the unease that had settled over the ranch, the promise of a hearty meal lifted some of the tension from his shoulders.

He and Clara found their seats at the long table, surrounded by the chatter of his siblings and their families. As he reached for a slice of bread, his gaze drifted to the empty chairs where Jericho and Jonah usually sat. Keep them safe. Give them wisdom and bring them back quickly.

Beside him, Clara ladled stew into her bowl and her uncle’s on her other side. Hiram still looked pale, but as he watched his niece the affection in his gentle smile, matched the way she spoke of him.

She was a special woman. Even in the midst of uncertainty, she maintained a quiet grace.

Miles forced his focus back to his own meal. He had to keep his thoughts from wandering down dangerous paths.

As the bowls emptied, Jude said, "I’ll go with you to deliver the food to the camp. It’d be better not to go alone.” Sitting across from Miles, he must have overheard the conversation.

Relief eased through him. “That would be good. I was going to wait to leave after Jer and Jonah come back.”

“Got it.”

They finished the meal quickly, and while Clara packed the food for the survey crew, Miles and Jude bundled up. She handed over the bundles she’d prepared, and he and Jude headed outside to ready their horses. Surely, his older brothers would return any minute. Had they found the stranger who’d built the campfire? Did the man run, and if so, had they pursued him?

When the horses were saddled and the food secured in their saddlebags, Miles waited outside with Jude, Dinah, Patsy, and a few others, scanning the edge of the woods his brothers had disappeared into.

At last, a single figure jogged into the clearing. Jonah.

Miles held his breath as he watched for a second form.

Jericho didn’t appear.

He sent a glance at Dinah, who was gripping her skirts with white knuckles, eyes straining. Actually, her entire body strained, leaning forward as though barely keeping herself from dashing into the woods to find her husband.

Naomi stepped beside Dinah and wrapped an arm around her sister’s shoulders. Had she been outside already, or had God brought her out just in time to be the strength Dinah needed?

Tension hung so tight in the air that breathing had become a challenge.

When Jonah came close enough to be heard, he called out, “Jericho’s fine.”

Miles released a long breath, then inhaled clean air. Where was he then?

Jonah stopped beside Patsy, wrapping an arm around her as he addressed the rest of them. “We found the fire, but no one was there. Looked like they'd left not long before we arrived. Jericho decided to hide nearby and wait. See if they come back. We thought it’d be harder for two of us to keep hidden, so he’s the only one watching for now. If he doesn’t return in an hour, I’ll go out and take his place."

Dinah's shoulders sagged with relief, but worry still clouded her eyes. "How long will you watch if the man never shows up?"

"A few hours at most. If no one shows, we'll figure out our next move." Jonah gave Dinah's arm a reassuring squeeze. “Jericho knows what he's doing."

Miles exchanged a glance with Jude. There was nothing they could do to help here, and they needed to get moving if they wanted to reach the creek-side camp and return before dark.

They moved to their horses, and as Miles tightened his girth, Clara stepped from the house with another small sack.

“Here’s the bread. Please be careful out there." Her green eyes met his, filled with concern.

Their fingers brushed, and a tingle slid up his arm.

"I will." He forced himself to turn away.

He and Jude mounted up.

Clara stood with the other women, her golden-brown hair whipping in the cold breeze.

Miles nudged his horse forward, Jude falling in beside him. His mind churned the details about the strange happenings on the ranch. The slaughtered heifer. The stranger sneaking toward the house. The smoke.

The surveyors.

A thought slipped in. “Do you think the smoke might be a distraction?” He slid a look at Jude. “Maybe they’re trying to lure enough of us away from the house?”

The idea tightened in his chest. With him and Jude gone, and with Jericho staking out the fire, they’d left it down three men.

Jude’s frown told Miles he was considering that. “Possibly.” He reined in his horse, and Miles did the same, both glancing back the direction they’d come.

“Should we go back?” He hated the thought, especially when he’d promised Clara he would deliver this food for her. She might try to accomplish the errand herself if he didn’t.

“Maybe I should.” Jude met his gaze. “You all right going on alone?”

That was a better plan.

Jude turned back, and Miles kept his gelding moving steadily downhill, focusing his senses on the sights and sounds around him. All seemed quiet, save the usual chirping of the few birds that stayed in these mountains in the winter.

After a quarter hour’s ride, he crossed the creek, and Holloway rose from beside the fire to meet him. It looked like he was alone. What was he doing here by himself?

Miles reined in his horse, dismounted, and started to untie the food bags. "Afternoon. I've brought the food Clara made." The moment her name slipped out, he wanted to call it back. He should have called her Miss Pendleton. This man might not fancy the idea of his mapmaker getting close to the locals.

Holloway’s sharp eyes scanned the trail behind Miles. "Where is she?"

Miles handed the sack that held a pot of stew with the lid tied on. "We had a bit of a situation back at the ranch. Thought it best to keep the women close to the house for now." He glanced around. "Where are the others?"

"Working." Holloway took the sack and peered inside, a smile curving his mouth.

Something about the look seemed almost sinister, though the man was surely just eager to eat. Still, Miles’s gut tightened. He turned back to unfasten the smaller bag.

"Everything all right at the ranch?"

Miles focused on the leather knot. Should he tell what had happened? Maybe this would be a good chance to ask some questions. "We’ve seen a few signs there’s someone on the land who doesn’t belong.” He shot the man a hard look. “Someone else, that is.” When he had the bread bag free, he carried it to where Holloway was positioning the pot in the coals of his fire. “Where are your men working today?”

Surprise flickered in the older man’s eyes. He gestured vaguely to the south. "They're down in that big valley the creek runs through. Got a lot of ground to cover today."

That was nearly opposite from where they'd seen the smoke. "Do your men ever start campfires when they're out working? I can imagine they might have wanted to get warm during the snow this morning."

Holloway fixed him with an odd look, his bushy eyebrows gathering. "Waste time on a campfire? They’d better not. They're hauling heavy chains and equipment, keeps them plenty warm."

That made sense. And Holloway seemed sincere. “All right then.” He glanced around the place. “Miss Pendleton wanted me to bring back the measurements and sketches you have for her.”

Holloway rummaged through a stack of papers and charts piled beneath a rock on a nearby stump. He gathered a few sheets and slid them into a stack of empty pans that must have been from yesterday's meal. "This is what we have so far." He held out the pans to Miles.

Miles gripped the metal, but Holloway didn’t relinquish it, fixing him with a probing look, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Is there a reason Miss Pendleton didn't come with you? Seems she’d be safe enough with an escort."

Was that suspicion or curiosity in his eyes? Guessing the first, he chose his words carefully. "There’re strangers on our land. Until we know who they are and what they want, we’re going to make sure the women are safe. All the women. Obviously, you don’t want harm to come to your mapmaker."

The intensity of Holloway’s stare didn't waver. " I trust you'll keep us informed. Wouldn't want any trouble interfering with our work out here."

"Of course. I’d best be getting back before I lose the light."

"Certainly." Holloway took a step away, but his eyes remained fixed on Miles. "Tell Miss Pendleton I look forward to her next visit. Her contributions to this project have been…invaluable."

Something about the man's tone made Miles's gut tighten even more, but he only turned to secure the pans in his saddle bags. Then he swung up on his horse, more than ready to put some distance between himself and the survey camp.

As he rode away, Holloway's gaze bore into his back like a physical weight. A shiver skated down Miles’s spine that had nothing to do with the icy wind whipping at his face.

He urged his mount into a brisk trot, scanning the surrounding trees for any signs of movement. All the while, questions swirled. Had Holloway been truthful about his men's whereabouts today? The direction he'd indicated was a good way off from that mysterious campfire. But something in his expressions had been…odd.

Was he hiding something, or had he simply become a bit daft from so many months in the wilderness?

Miles couldn't shake the feeling that the surveying project was somehow tangled up in all of this. He just couldn't see the connecting threads. Not yet.