Johanna Lindsey - Brave the Wild Wind

“I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this.”

“Never mind about that. Just tell me what the trouble is.”

“It has to do with the man who killed Thomas Blair.”

“Blair was your first husband?”

“Yes.”

“Who killed him?”

“The man is called Laton Bowdre. I met him in Cheyenne a couple of weeks ago, before I came out here to the ranch. I had gone to see Mr. Crawley at the bank, the man who sent Thomas’s letter to me. I thought he could explain to me why Thomas had changed his mind after all these years.”

“Didn’t the letter explain it?”

“Not really.”

“And did the banker understand?”

“No. He did tell me, though, that Thomas had a considerable debt with the bank.”

“You think that’s why he made you Jessica’s guardian, because he didn’t think she could handle it alone?”

“It’s possible,” Rachel said thoughtfully. “I do know he wouldn’t want her to lose this ranch. That’s all I’m sure of.”

“Christ,” Chase growled. “How are you supposed to help her? You don’t know anything about ranching.”

“Oh, Thomas didn’t expect me to run the ranch, only to see that no harm comes to Jessica before she’s twenty, or married, whichever comes first. He felt she wasn’t ready to pull her own reins, as he put it, that she would need guidance, a restraining hand, for the next few years. I’m quite sure I wouldn’t have gotten that letter if he’d died two years from now. Mr. Crawley said the letter had been at the bank for the last four years. Thomas was worried about Jessica because she’s so young. As for the ranch, Jessica runs it—and from what I’ve seen, she knows what she’s doing.”

“You’re not serious!”

“I only wish I weren’t.” Rachel’s voice held a touch of bitterness. “But Thomas had ten years to work with her, to teach her all there is to ranching. And worse.”

“Worse?”

“You’ll see what I mean when you meet her. But as I was saying, I met Mr. Bowdre at the bank. Mr. Crawley introduced us. Of course he expressed his regrets—most insincerely, I might add—and explained what had happened. It seems there was a card game in one of the saloons, and Thomas bet a ridiculous amount, sure he had the winning hand. But he didn’t, and he accused Bowdre of cheating. Thomas went for his gun, but Bowdre got to his gun first and shot Thomas.”

“What does the sheriff say?”

“He says that’s the truth. There were a dozen witnesses, and I talked to several of them. They all say the same thing. It was a fair fight. However, the question of whether Laton Bowdre was cheating was never really answered, and it’s too late now. The problem is, he still holds Thomas’s marker. A gambling debt is as good as gold in these parts.”

“As a dabbler at cards”—he grinned sardonically—“I can’t say I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Well, that’s what’s so awful. He wants his money, and Jessica doesn’t have it. I really think he would have demanded the ranch if she hadn’t confronted him about the marker in front of witnesses, forcing him to give her time to pay the debt.”

“How much time?”

“Three months.”

“And what does Jessica say about this?”

“She’s not concerned. She says she’ll take care of Bowdre after the fall roundup. She has contracts for the ranch beef with several of the mining camps up north.”

“Then what’s the problem, Rachel?”

“It’s this Laton Bowdre. Sounds like a sly weasel—at least, that’s the impression I got.” Rachel worried at her lip, then confessed, “I really don’t think he wants the money, Chase. I think he wants this ranch.”

“So you think he might do something to stop Jessica from paying him off?”

“Yes. What he could do, I have no idea. And maybe it’s all my imagination. But I would feel so much better if you would check on him, see what kind of impression you get.”

“Of course,” Chase agreed readily. “But why don’t you just take care of the debt and get it out of the way? You can certainly afford to.”

“You think I don’t want to? I tried to give Jessica the money, but she threw it in my face. She won’t accept anything from me.”

“Why?”

Rachel laughed bitterly. “Her father hated me, and he taught her to hate me, too. And she does it very well.”

There was silence for a moment, and then Chase said, “When do I get to meet this stubborn female?”

Jessie didn’t wait to hear the answer. She moved back up the hall and slipped into her bedroom. She grabbed a few things, then went back to the kitchen and took the whole loaf of bread, leaving the house silently.

She was in a seething rage. How dare they talk about her? How dare Rachel call in a stranger to mess in her business? Stubborn female? The bastard! Let him go to Cheyenne and snoop around. Let him come back and report to Rachel. Then let him get the hell out of Jessica’s life. But she wouldn’t be around to meet him. She wouldn’t be back until he was gone.

LATE that night Rachel became anxious over Jessica’s absence. She had already asked Chase to check the outbuildings, but he had returned alone, shaking his head. Jessica kept strange hours, but she had never been so late before. Her mother began to imagine all kinds of terrible possibilities.

She went in search of Jeb, Chase following her. He was getting annoyed with this elusive daughter who had, apparently, no concern for anyone’s feelings.

They found Jeb in the stable nursing a sick colt. He gave the clear impression of not wanting to be bothered by them. Chase was certain that Rachel was only wasting her time, for he had asked the old man earlier if the girl had returned. Jeb had answered tersely that it was plain to see she wasn’t there.

“Jeb, please, if Jessica is here—” Rachel began.

“She ain’t. She came in, saw you had company, and rode off again.”

“Rode off? For how long?”

“Can’t say.”

“Well, when did she leave?”

“Couple hours ago.”

“She should be back soon, shouldn’t she?” Rachel asked hopefully.

Jeb didn’t look up once. “Don’t reckon so.”

“Why not?”

“She was pretty fired up when she took off— like she used to get when she’d fight with her pa. I don’t reckon we’ll be seein‘ the little gal for a week or two, at least.”

“What?”

Jeb finally glanced up at Rachel. She seemed so stricken that he relented. “If it were last year, she’d probably be gone only a few days, ‘cause she used to go to the Anderson homestead about ten miles from here. She’d go there to spite her pa because he refused to allow her any more schoolin’. Mr. Anderson was a teacher back East.”

Rachel was surprised. “Then she did continue her education?”

“I reckon so.” Jeb chuckled. “But as I was sayin‘, she might’ve gone there last year, but the Andersons went back East.”

“Then what’s the point in mentioning it, Mr. Hart?” Chase demanded.

Rachel put her hand on his arm to stop him, having learned that Jeb Hart went about saying things in his own way. He never volunteered information, and when he did get to talking, it was a long, drawn-out affair.

“Never mind that, Jeb,” she said quickly. “If you could just tell me where you think she might have gone.”

“She didn’t say,” he answered brusquely, returning his attention to the colt.

“Do you have any idea where she went, Jeb? I’m worried sick.”

“It won’t relieve your mind none if you know,” he warned.

“Please, Jeb!”

He hesitated, then shrugged. “She’ll likely be visitin‘ her Indian friends. And she won’t come back until she’s ready.”

“Indians? But are they... will she be safe with them?”

“I reckon she’ll be as safe with them as she would be anywhere else.”

“I didn’t know there were Indians near here,” Rachel muttered absently, thoroughly confused.

“There aren’t. They’re a good three, four days’ ride from here, dependin‘ on how much of a hurry she’s in.”

“You’re not serious!” Rachel gasped, her eyes widening. “You mean she’ll be traveling alone for three or four days, camping out alone?”

“She’s always done it.”

“Why did you let her go?” Rachel demanded, fear making her sound sharper than she meant to.

But Jeb said simply, “You can’t stop that gal from doin‘ somethin’ she’s set on doin‘. Ain’t you found that out yet?”

Rachel turned to Chase, her blue eyes pleading.

“Will you go after her? I can’t stand to think of her out there alone. She’s only been gone a few hours, Chase. You could find her tonight.”

“Rachel—”

“Please, Chase.”

Looking into those enormous blue eyes, there was no way he could refuse. He sighed. “I’m not the best tracker, but I’ll find her somehow. Now where is this Indian reservation she’s heading for?”

“That would be the Shoshone reservation, wouldn’t it, Jeb?” Rachel said. She didn’t wait for him to answer. “It’s northwest of here. You shouldn’t have to go very far, though. She wouldn’t ride all night, would she, Jeb?”

This time she waited for Jeb to answer. He was looking at them as if they were crazy. “I reckon she’ll bed down somewhere for the night.”

“There, you see,” Rachel said to Chase. “If you just follow the mountains north, you should be able to find her easily.”

“Just don’t expect us back before morning, Rachel. She’s got a couple of hours on me.”

“No matter how long it takes, I’ll feel better just knowing you’re out looking for her.”

Jeb watched the stranger saddle up and ride out. Nice piece of horseflesh, he admitted grudgingly. Too bad the poor creature would be riding days on end for no reason. Well, it wasn’t Jeb’s fault they assumed Jessie’s Indians were reservation Indians. He hadn’t felt obliged to set them straight. His loyalty was to Jessie, no one else. He knew Jessie wouldn’t like being followed. Wasn’t she in a fit because of that man? Wasn’t he why she’d left?