Chapter 8 #2
Zach was about to swing off his horse and go into the house when Amelia appeared in the doorway.
“You’re home early.” He’d told her not to expect him until dark. “But supper is almost ready.”
“I’ll be a bit yet. I need to check on things.
” Reassured by seeing his family safe and sound, he circled the barn and pasture.
Finding nothing amiss, he rode a wider circle.
Nothing appeared out of place. Smiling, he led the horse to the barn.
As soon as the animal’s needs were tended to, he went to the house.
Tomorrow, he’d leave Chuck and Slim cutting hay and go check on the herd.
Poppy ran to him. “Hello, Uncle Zach.”
The words tumbled together, but he understood and chuckled. Nice to be greeted so sweetly.
She grasped his hand as they entered the house. A breeze blew through the open windows and screened door, but even so, heat hovered in the kitchen. The table was set. Pa sat at his place, anxious to eat. But Zach’s gaze didn’t linger there. It went beyond to enjoy Amelia’s welcoming smile.
Not until they were all seated around the table, the blessing had been asked, and the food served, did he ask how things had gone. He dipped his head in Pa’s direction.
“It was a pleasant day.” Amelia let her gaze circle the table. “For all of us.”
He took that to mean Pa hadn’t wandered or grown aggressive, and Kat hadn’t tried any cowboying. He’d better deal with that mustang before Kat got it in her head to do it.
“How did haying go?” Amelia’s question brought his attention back to her, though it hadn’t gone far.
He told about cutting the coarse grass, about the birds that flew up ahead of them, and about cutting around the tiger lilies. But he didn’t say anything about Chuck and Slim’s warnings.
Pa appeared to follow every word, then surprised Zach by asking, “How long do you figure before it’s dry enough to stack?”
“A few more days of cutting, then with hot weather, we can start bringing it home.”
“Good. Good.” The way Pa eyed the slice of bread made Zach wonder if he meant that or the haying.
After the meal, he returned to the corrals and leaned over the fence to talk to the mustang. “Someday soon, you’ll learn to trust me. Even like me.”
Soft footfalls shushed through the dry grass. Kat approached, then leaned her arms on the top rail. “I could save you some trouble if you let me break the horse.”
His stomach clenched so hard and fast he feared he would lose his supper. “Why would it save me trouble to have to deal with your bruised and broken body? Or worse?” The words were little more than a growl. He grabbed her elbow. “You stay away from this animal. You hear?”
“Don’t be a bully.” She jerked away and stomped past the garden.
Zach growled. How was he to be here protecting his sister, making sure Pa didn’t wander away while seeing that the hay was cut and dealing with Sobel and his intent to drive Zach off the range?
“Free range,” he muttered as if to remind Sobel of the fact.
Ranchers allowed their cattle to graze freely, rounding them up in the fall and sorting out the calves.
By the time he made his way back to the house, Poppy was upstairs asleep, but Pa was missing. His neck tensed.
“He’s gone to bed,” Amelia explained as she settled in a rocking chair on the porch. “Cooler out here.”
Kat hadn’t returned.
Zach pulled up a chair next to Amelia’s. “We need rain, but now I’m hoping it holds off until we get that hay stacked.”
Dusk settled in as Chuck and Slim returned.
They cared for their horses, pumped cold water, and ducked their heads under the stream.
Seeing Amelia on the step, they poured water over their shirts.
They’d have taken the shirts off except for her presence.
Waving and calling a greeting to Zach, they went to the cookhouse.
“Kat should be back.” Zach moved to the edge of the step and scanned the yard.
“I think I saw her going past the barn toward your ma’s flowers.”
“I wish she wouldn’t wander around so much.” Especially after the warnings the men had given him.
“Zach, she has to deal with things her own way.”
Amelia’s soft words eased his worry. Was he looking for danger where there was none? He settled back on the chair. “It helps to know you’re here while I’m gone.”
“I’m glad.” She shifted to look at him. “When I wrote you, I said I would help you in every way I could.”
“Beats me who wrote those letters and why. Not that I don’t appreciate your help until the Dakota farmer marries you.” That little twinge in an unfamiliar place behind his heart meant nothing.
For a moment, she didn’t respond. “Did you notice the letters were posted from the fort? And I sent my replies to a number there? As if whoever it was wanted to remain anonymous to those at the post office. Of course, that desire now makes sense. Seems little happens without everyone knowing.”
Kat ambled around the barn. Zach leaned back, watching her. “Looks like she’s coming from the flowers.”
Amelia laughed softly. “Maybe she’s like your ma and finding comfort and strength out there.”
“Kat isn’t the least bit like Ma. She was sweet and gentle. Kat is all claws and hisses.”
Another sweet laugh from Amelia. “She’ll surprise you someday.”
“I hope it will be in a nice way.”
Zach couldn’t be in three places. Sobel and his harassment called the loudest. Four days later, leaving the men to finish haying, he announced he meant to go to the herd and would stay until he felt things were going well.
Gil could manage cooking for the haying men as long as he didn’t find a bottle, and no one brought him one.
Amelia had proven capable of keeping Pa safe. Surely, she could do the same with Kat should his little sister decide to do something rash.
He rode toward the river where, out of necessity, the herds would be found.
Stopping on top of a hill where he could watch without being noticed—at least for a few minutes—he leaned over and studied the cowboys. He recognized each one. Relieved that all seemed peaceful, he rode down to join them.
“Where’s Morgan?” he asked when he noticed the foreman’s absence.
“He’s dealing with Sobel’s men.”
The information, plus the hard note in the cowboy’s voice, sent tension across Zach’s shoulders.
“What’s going on?”
“Sobel’s crew is always finding cows without a rider nearby and driving them away.”
“What will it take for that man to realize I’m not giving in and leave us alone?”
The cowboy’s laugh lacked amusement. “The man intends to have his own way by hook or by crook.”
Zach spent the day riding from one cowboy to another, encouraging them.
Morgan returned. “I saw dust to the north. Guessing it’s more cows being turned aside. That man just won’t quit.”
“Let’s bring them back.” Zach and Morgan rode that direction. As they approached, two unfamiliar cowboys galloped away. It didn’t take more than a pinch of brains to know they rode for Sobel.
They turned the cows back with no problems. The animals knew where the water could be found.
By dark, they returned to the others. Zach joined them around the campfire for the evening meal. Normally, only two cowboys would take night duty, but Morgan said he’d been leaving at least four guarding the herd.
“That means the men are going short on shut-eye,” Zach said. “I’ll take a shift tonight.”
Morning brought Sobel and four of his men riding into camp. He didn’t bother with a greeting.
“Good morning. What can I do for you?” Zach stood, a tin cup of coffee in hand. He didn’t offer the man any.
Sobel’s smile was cold. “Boy, what are you doing out here? Shouldn’t you be home playing nursemaid?”
Zach managed a dismissive shrug, though angry words raced as far as his mouth. “I’m here taking care of my business.”
“And who’s minding your business back home? Your addled Pa? Your wild sister?” He chuckled without amusement. “Oh yes. You brought in a sweet young thing. Can’t be much older than that sister of yours. But I bet she’s good for certain things.”
The man had the most evil laugh.
Morgan’s hand on Zach’s arm stopped him from striking Sobel.
Sobel reined about. “Boys, we got work to do.” They rode east to where the bulk of his herd scattered across the dry grass. Sobel and one of the men turned aside.
Zach saw their intent. Some Bar T cows grazed up the distant hill.
“Saddle my horse.”
In minutes, a cowboy led his horse to him, and with Morgan at his side, they rode to intercept the pair. Seeing Zach and Morgan racing toward them, the two spurred their horses to a gallop. They yipped and yelled, spooking the cows in every direction.
Zach was certain he heard their laughter as the pair rode away.
He and Morgan gathered the cows, a job that took all morning. They returned from camp to learn that five separate times, a bunch of cows had been scattered.
Day after day, Zach helped gather stampeded cows. At least the main herd hadn’t been affected, but Zach was downright tired of it. Sobel was always visible somewhere in the distance as if he wanted Zach to be sure he understood who was instigating this. As if anyone else would.
And then he didn’t notice Sobel.
“When was the last time you saw him?” he asked Morgan.
“Not since yesterday evening. Maybe he’s given up.”
“I’m going home.” He reined around and made his way that direction.
Sobel’s absence bothered Zach more than his presence had.