Bobbi Smith (4 page)

“I think you’ll be wanting these before we ride out,” she told him, holding them up for him to see.

“Just hang them on a branch there. I’ll get them when I’m done.”

She did as she was told, then went to sit in the shade on the bank nearby.

Hawk kept Angel in the water for a while longer, then finally started to lead her out of the stream.

“That should be long enough for right now.”

“Then we’d better get going. I’m sure my pa’s worrying about me.”

“Why?”

“I told him I wouldn’t be gone long when I rode out, and if we walk Angel back, it’s going to take us a while.”

Randi started over to the tree to get his shirt when she heard the sound of horses coming.

Jack and the men had just topped a low rise when Jack caught sight of what looked like a Comanche warrior leading Angel out of the creek. Terror and fury seized him, for he saw no sign of Randi. He was certain something terrible had happened to her.

“We got trouble, boys!”

Jack drew his gun and galloped full-speed toward the creek. He was ready to fight off an Indian raid. He was desperate to find and rescue his daughter.

Randi looked up to see her father and several of the ranch hands charging their way. She forgot all about getting the shirt and hurried over to stand with Hawk.

“It’s my pa,” Randi warned Hawk as she waved to let them know everything was all right.

Jack was racing toward the warrior when Randi unexpectedly appeared beside the Indian. She didn’t seem to be hurt in any way and was actually waving to them.

“What the hell . . . !” Jack raged in confusion. He was thrilled to see that she was unharmed, but he had no idea who the Indian was or why Randi was with him. He pulled back on his reins to slow his assault.

“What’s going on, boss?” Wade asked, riding up beside him. He was as confused as Jack.

“I don’t know, but I’m going to find out right now.”

He slowed his charge even more, and his men did the same.

Randi went forward to meet them as they finally reined in on the creek bank.

“What the hell is going on?” Jack demanded. He glared down at his daughter and then looked over at the man leading her horse out of the stream.

Up close now, he could tell this man was no warrior, but there was no mistaking his heritage. He didn’t know who the stranger was, but whoever he was, he had no business being around his daughter in such a state of undress.

“Pa, it’s all right.” Randi quickly came to Hawk’s defense, and she was relieved when her father and the hands holstered their guns. “This is Hawk Morgan. He’s helping me with Angel.”

“Helping you with Angel?” Jack snarled, looking over at the horse. “What’s wrong with Angel?”

“She’s injured her fetlock,” Hawk spoke up.

“Hawk was riding in when he saw I was in trouble. He stopped to help me.” Randi told herself she wasn’t really lying to her father. She was only trying to make their situation more acceptable to him. She knew how bad his temper could be.

This wasn’t quite the way Hawk had expected to meet Jack Stockton for the first time, but he appreciated Randi’s quick thinking.

Randi continued, “Hawk said if Angel stood in the creek for a while, it would reduce the swelling in her leg. He took her in for me. That’s why he has his shirt off.”

“Well, put your shirt back on,” Jack ordered sharply. He dismounted and went to take a look at Angel’s foreleg for himself.

Randi quickly got the shirt and handed it over to Hawk. Hawk wasted no time getting dressed.

“That’s an ugly gash.” Jack looked at his daughter accusingly. “Just how fast were you riding for her to injure herself this way, young lady?”

“Too fast, Pa,” she admitted.

Jack straightened up and looked over at the stranger who’d come to Randi’s rescue. He was fully dressed now and looked considerably less like a savage. The sight eased Jack’s anger. “I appreciate you helping my daughter.”

“I was just glad I came along when I did,” Hawk answered, and he realized to his own surprise that it was the truth.

“So, Morgan, what are you doing here on the Lazy S?” Jack asked, still a little suspicious. He couldn’t be sure this fellow wasn’t one of the thieves who’d been plaguing the ranch lately, stealing stock.

Hawk understood Stockton’s suspicion of him. He hastened to reassure him. “Harry Spiller, up in Dry Springs, is a friend of mine. He said you were looking for some help, so I came down to see about working for you.”

“You know Spiller, do you?” Jack’s gaze narrowed assessingly as he studied the other man. He found it hard to believe Harry would have sent a half-breed for the job, but then . . .

“I’ve known him for some time. I’ve got a letter from him in my saddlebag. He said you’d want to see it.”

“He was right. I do. I’ll take a look at it when we get back up to the house.” Jack’s doubts about the man were eased when Morgan mentioned the letter. He was relieved, too, that the man had been smart enough not to say anything more about his real reason for coming to the Lazy S. So far, Jack hadn’t told anyone, not even Randi, about the request he’d made of his friend in Dry Springs.

“Rob,” Jack called to his ranch hand, “bring Angel back. Randi, you ride with me.”

“Yes, Pa.”

Hawk got his hat, then mounted Bruiser.

Randi cast a quick glance Hawk’s way as she swung up behind her father. The complete change in Hawk was surprising. Fully dressed and wearing his Stetson, he no longer appeared the fierce warrior of her first impression. Now he seemed to fit right in. He looked like a ranch hand—but she had to admit to herself that he was a very handsome ranch hand.

Though Jack was grateful Morgan had stopped to help Randi, his mood remained troubled as they rode toward the house. If Spiller had recommended the man, he knew Morgan had to be good, but he had his misgivings about hiring a half-breed. There wasn’t a lot of love in the area for anyone with Indian blood. Jack himself had lost many friends to murderous raiding parties through the years. He just hoped Morgan could fit in and do his job without drawing too much attention to himself.

While Jack managed to put his concerns about Morgan aside for the time being, he could not as easily dismiss the memory of seeing Randi standing beside a half-naked stranger. Her explanation of how the scene had come about had been logical, but that didn’t make it right.

Randi could have ended up in a lot of trouble today. She was almost a full-grown woman. She was a Stockton. She had a reputation to uphold. He was going to have to have a long, serious talk with her when they got back home.

Hawk was impressed when he got his first look at the Lazy S’s main house. The large two-story home had a porch on three sides. There were numerous outbuildings and corrals. All were a testimony to Jack Stockton’s success as a rancher.

“Beautiful place you have here,” he complimented the rancher.

“Thanks. It’s taken years of hard work and sacrifice, but it’s been worth it. My goal is to make the Lazy S the biggest, best spread around.”

“You’re well on your way.”

“We’re getting there,” Jack replied. “Morgan, you come with me up to the house. I want to take a look at that letter you said you had from Spiller.” Jack was careful not to say “sheriff.” He looked at his foreman and added, “Wade, you let me know when Rob shows up with Angel, all right?”

“Sure thing, boss.” Wade left them, riding off toward the stable to go back to work. He wondered if the boss was seriously thinking about hiring on the half-breed. He hoped he didn’t. He didn’t want any trouble in the bunkhouse.

Jack, Randi, and Hawk reined in before the main house and dismounted.

“Randi.”

She recognized the seriousness of her father’s tone and looked his way respectfully. “Yes, Pa?”

“You stay here at the house. Don’t go running off. As soon as I’m finished with Morgan, I want to talk to you.”

It was an order, not an invitation.

She nodded.

“Let’s go inside,” Jack directed Hawk, and he led the way.

“I appreciate your help with Angel today,” Randi told Hawk as he held the door for her to enter the house ahead of him.

“I’m just sorry she was injured,” he said, taking off his Stetson as he went inside.

“Me, too.”

“Let’s go into my office,” Jack said, interrupting their conversation.

Hawk followed the rancher into his office. Jack shut the door firmly behind them.

Randi stood there in the hall only a moment longer, staring at the closed door; then she went on to the kitchen to let the housekeeper know they were back.

“Let’s see that letter,” Jack directed.

Hawk handed him the envelope he’d retrieved from his saddlebags before they’d come inside.

“Have a seat while I take a look at this.” Jack settled in at his desk.

Hawk sat down in the chair facing the desk and waited in silence while Jack read Sheriff Spiller’s letter.

“So Spiller thinks you’re good enough to catch these bastards.” Jack looked up at Hawk when he’d finished reading. His expression was hard as he looked him over. “Are you?”

“Yeah, I’m good enough,” Hawk answered, looking him straight in the eye.

Jack respected Spiller’s opinion, and it was obvious Morgan was confident of his own abilities. “All right, since Harry recommends you so highly, I’ll take a chance on you. You’re hired. I want these rustlers stopped. They’ve been hitting the Lazy S regularly for the past six months now, and I’ve had enough. Do whatever you have to do to find them—and stop them.”

“What do you know about them?”

“Not much. The rustlers have been working mainly off the south range. I’m almost beginning to think someone on the ranch is involved in it, but I can’t prove anything—and that’s the problem. That’s where you come in.”

“Is there anyone in particular you suspect might be involved?”

“No.”

“All right. Then I’m just another ranch hand.”

“Good. I won’t even tell Randi or Wade. For now, only the two of us will know what you’re really up to.”

“That’s fine. I will need to get a look at the layout of the ranch, though, particularly the south range, since that’s where they’ve been working.”

Jack nodded in agreement. “And you let me know if you see or hear anything—anything at all that might help us. I want these rustlers caught. Nobody steals from the Lazy S and gets away with it.” His anger and outrage were real.

Hawk realized all too clearly that Jack Stockton would make a formidable enemy. Whoever was stealing from him wasn’t very smart, and that, Hawk knew, was his first clue.

“You go on and find Wade. He’s the foreman. He’ll help you get settled in at the bunkhouse,” Jack directed.

“If I do learn something, how do you want me to get the information to you?”

“Don’t worry. I’m always around, and no one will think anything about us talking. I’m always after the men, making sure they get their work done. You won’t have to look very far to find me.”

Hawk stood to go. Jack got up, too, and followed him out into the hall.

“Miranda!” he bellowed. Without a word to Hawk, he turned and went back into his office.

Hawk was surprised to learn that Miranda was Randi’s real name. It was a pretty name, and it suited her. Judging from her father’s tone, though, if Randi was as smart as she was good-looking, he knew she wouldn’t waste any time showing up in his office.

Hawk left the house to seek out Wade and begin his work on the Lazy S.

Randi had been in the kitchen with Wilda, their housekeeper, when she heard her father’s shout. Knowing there was no avoiding his fury, she girded herself for what was to come.

“Sounds like he’s ready for you,” Wilda said, giving Randi an understanding and sympathetic smile. Randi had just explained to her how the stranger had stopped to help her, and how her father had found them together at the creek taking care of Angel’s injured fetlock.

“More than ready,” Randi said grimly.

She left the kitchen and made her way down the hall, going to stand in his office doorway.

“You wanted to talk to me?” Randi asked, already knowing the answer.

“Yes,” he said tersely, not bothering to get up from behind his desk.

Randi went in and sat down before him.

Jack sat for a moment, glowering at her. Then he stood up and walked over to close the door. He moved behind his desk again, and his expression was troubled as he stood there looking down at her.

“There are a few things you need to think about,
young lady,”
Jack stated firmly.

Randi met his gaze straight on as she awaited his pronouncement.

“When I rode up to the creek today and saw you with Morgan . . . Why, the man was half-naked!” He paused, still disturbed by his impression of what he’d seen.

“It was all innocent!” she exclaimed, her tone defensive. “I was just glad for his help.”

“I understand that, but I don’t ever want you to put yourself in that kind of a compromising position again.”

“Yes, sir.”

“If it had been someone else riding up who’d seen the two of you together that way . . .” Jack was determined to emphasize his point. “You are a young woman with a reputation to uphold. Do I make myself clear?”

“Very.”

“Good.” He nodded, satisfied that she would not repeat this mistake.

“So did you hire Hawk on?” she asked.

“Yes, but I’ve still got my doubts that it’s the right thing to do. Some of the boys aren’t going to be very happy about having to work with a half-breed.”

“We already know Hawk is good with horses. Look at the way he helped me with Angel.”

“That doesn’t mean things will work out. Keep your distance from him.”

“If he’s one of our ranch hands, how am I supposed to stay away from him?”

“You’re a smart girl. Figure it out.”

Randi knew when to pick her fights. “Yes, Pa.”

“All right, go on and get out of here. I’ve got work to do.”

Jack watched Randi in silence as she left the office and closed the door behind her. He loved his daughter dearly, and just the thought that something might have happened to her earlier today had left him desperate to know she was safe. It hadn’t helped matters any when he’d found her with Morgan, but as it was, everything had turned out all right.