He sat down and took her hand. She was like his mother. Strong and resilient and determined.

“We are putting together a small herd of cattle,” he said. “We put out the word that some local ranchers will take them to San Antonio to sell directly to the army instead of going through Delaney. According to some folks, the army has been paying top dollar for cows Delaney purchased for practically nothing, or that he rustled. He must have forged bills of sale and probably bribed the purchase agent as well. He can’t afford to let the army know what he paid for them. Nor can he afford to let a herd of cattle be offered for half of what he’s been charging the army.”

Her hand tightened in his. “But how-”

“A U.S. marshal is aware of the rumors but hasn’t been able to catch him. We want to offer Delaney an opportunity to rustle cattle. Right in front of the law.”

“Where will you get the cattle?”

“Better you don’t know. No one will be hurt. They will be repaid for their cattle.”

“What can we do?”

“I think I’d better talk to your father.”


***

EVANS and his men waited in Seth’s former home, in the stand of cottonwoods along the river, and in the barn. Some two hundred cattle lowed and complained in the pasture between the house and the river.

Dillon and Colorado had brought them halfway from the hidden canyon. Morgan Simmons, Knox, John Andrews, and Seth had met them there and drove them on to the ranch. Most had been rustled by Delaney and his men from local ranchers and still wore those brands.

But Seth didn’t want Dillon and his friends involved. They were already wanted for other charges. They had done their part.

After bringing in the cattle, Seth waited with Michael McGuire who sat up in a chair, his arm in a sling. Both of them had pistols at their side. Elizabeth had a shotgun nearby.

Elizabeth had taken Marilee to the Findley home earlier and asked if Marilee could stay the night. It was the one place away from home where she didn’t feel threatened. Elizabeth had told the Findleys that she couldn’t take care of Marilee and her father as well.

Miriam Findley had readily agreed.

Evans and three fellow marshals sat at a window watching. A man in Union blue, a captain, was with them. Their horses were already saddled in the barn.

Seth paced restlessly. Abe had been charged with spreading the news that McGuire had joined the effort to take cattle to San Antonio and they would leave at dawn.

The lights were quenched.

One man, another deputy marshal, leaned against a fence and lit a match. It would appear strange to rustlers if the herd were not guarded.

One hour passed, then another. Elizabeth made coffee and offered the waiting men fresh bread. Seth’s gaze continued to wander back to her.

She was so damnably pretty. And had so much grit. He became giddy every time he watched her. If there had not been so many in the house, he would repeat their kiss, want more, so much more. If they weren’t caught in this conflict, he’d ask for more.

But they were not alone…and they were fighting for their lives.

And after this…

After this he didn’t know.

He still had to clear his brother. He had to earn a living…

“Someone’s coming,” one of the marshals said in a low voice.

Both Evans and Seth went to the window and peered out.

Figures on horseback began to move toward the cattle.

“You stay out of it now,” Evans told Seth. “Take care of these folks and let the law deal with Delaney.”

Evans and his men slipped through the same back window Seth had used. Just then the barn door opened, and three more marshals emerged on horseback, each holding the reins of two saddled horses. Seth watched from the house as the marshals mounted the horses just as a gunshot started the cattle running.

He wanted to be with them. But the marshal was right. Better to let the law take care of Delaney so that no false charges could be made later.

More shots rang out. Seth saw one horse go down with its rider, and another rider fall. Cattle stampeded. Minutes went by, then more. Shots grew more distant.

Then he heard a noise behind him and he swung around, his pistol in his hand. A man in a mask stood at the back, near the same window the deputy marshals had used. Blood stained his trousers. It must have been his horse that went down.

The man grabbed Elizabeth and held his pistol close to her head.

He wasn’t wearing a uniform but Seth recognized Delaney from his build, the arrogant way he moved, even with a bullet hole in his thigh.

“You did this,” he said to Seth.

Seth stood still, waiting. Watching for an opening. His heart pounded as anger and despair swept through him.

“Miss McGuire will see me safely away,” Delaney said, reaching out and taking her arm.

She stood calmly, staring at Seth. With trust.

Fear dried his mouth as he watched Delaney threatening Elizabeth, the gun at her temple. He had to think. He swallowed down everything but resolve.

“You’re right, Delaney. I did do this. All myself. You are not nearly as smart as you thought you were. Arrogant men are foolish men.” He shifted subtly, balancing himself to move fast if need be. “There are a number of deputy marshals out there as well as one of your own army friends. They know a lot, and they will know more when they capture your men.”

“You are also a coward,” Michael McGuire said suddenly from behind him. “A yellow coward. Hiding behind a woman. A snake isn’t any lower.”

Delaney’s eyes flickered from one man to the other, then dismissed McGuire and focused on Sinclair.

“Put your gun down, Sinclair, or I’ll shoot her. Now.”

There was something insane in his voice that made Seth believe him. The marshals should be back soon. Very slowly he leaned down and put his pistol on the floor.

Delaney watched him so intently, he seemed to forget McGuire, or perhaps he didn’t consider the older man a threat. Once Seth’s gun was lowered, Delaney swung his pistol toward him, his finger on the trigger.

Two shots rang out simultaneously.

Fire lanced through Seth’s side as he fell to his knees, reaching for his gun. He knew where the other shot had come from. Delaney would turn on McGuire now.

He saw Delaney swing his gun toward McGuire, saw Elizabeth hit his arm to spoil his aim.

Seth swept up his gun from the floor and started firing.

Delaney went down.

Elizabeth staggered away from him, her eyes wide and stunned.

Ignoring the pain in his side, Seth strode over to Delaney. He leaned down and checked the pulse in his neck, then pulled the mask from him.

He was dead.

He took Elizabeth in his arms, cradling her. She was safe. That was all he needed at the moment.

And the man he thought he hated had saved his life, and he had saved McGuire’s.

TWOhours later, Evans appeared. He saw the body on the floor and raised one eyebrow.

Seth stood with him in the main room, bandaged and shirtless. It was amazing, he thought, how Elizabeth’s doctoring could soothe the pain.

She had offered him some laudanum, which he had refused, and then taken her father to his room. She had not emerged yet.

“He apparently was shot in the first few minutes of the ambush,” Seth explained. “He tried to take Elizabeth hostage.”

“I imagine the army won’t be too upset,” Evans said. “Better than a messy courtmartial.”

“I want my brother cleared.”

“I doubt that will be too difficult, especially if you swear to be… discreet about what happened here.”

“Some people are owed their land back. And cattle.”

“I’ll see what I can do.”

“Thanks.”

“I’ve been wanting that bastard for a long time,” Evans said. “You ever need a job…”

“I might take you up on that,” Seth said. He still didn’t have anything. No money, no land, no cattle.

“Anytime. All right to leave the cattle here and let people come pick up what’s theirs?”

“I don’t think the McGuires will object.”

“Then good night, or is it good morning to you? Don’t forget that job.”

Seth nodded and Evans left.

Weary, he sat down in a chair. When Elizabeth was finished with her father, he would say good night. He would return to the valley and tell Dillon what had happened. He and his friends would have to remain hidden for a bit longer, then…

Elizabeth suddenly emerged from her father’s room. She looked oddly uncertain and held something in her hand. She offered it to him.

He took it and glanced at the text. “The deed to the ranch,” he said, a lump lodging in the base of his throat.

“Papa and I want you to have it. It’s yours.”

“And you and your father?”

“We will find a place.”

He had learned in the past few days how much this land meant to McGuire as well as to Elizabeth.

He reached out and touched her cheek. “I thought I wanted it more than anything. I was wrong.”

She watched him with those wide hazel eyes. Waiting.

“I want you more than anything. Perhaps we can… share.”

She still waited, eyes questioning.

“A partnership,” he struggled. “Oh hell, what I mean is, well, I want you to marry me.”

She looked stunned. He realized then how much she had been willing to give up for him. Her home, her livelihood. She had never expected…

But then neither had he.

Where had he heard that once you saved a life, you were responsible for it forever?

He smiled. The devil had a very strange sense of humor.

Or was it the angels?

“Will you?” he asked her, realizing that he hadn’t quite managed the question very well.

She reached up and touched his mouth with her hand as if still disbelieving the words, then stood on her tiptoes to kiss him.