Brazos Bride (19 page)

He sensed her relax against his side. “What happed to my head? Feels like a blacksmith is hammering horseshoes in there.”

“
Do you not remember? We explained yesterday.”

“
Reckon my thinking is muddled. I get flashes, but it doesn’t make sense.”

“
First, Doctor Ross sewed up your scalp where the bullet gouged. He admitted the aunts had already done a fine job treating your injuries.”

“
Must account for the headache.” He raised his hand to his head. “Hurts like a sonofab...gun.” His probing fingers found the knot on the back of his head. “Dang, there’s a goose egg back there.”

“
When you passed out, your head hit a stone. The doctor said a blow only a tiny bit lower would have killed you.” She leaned on her elbow and a grin tugged the corners of her mouth upward. “Zach disagreed. He said you are too hard-headed to die from a head injury.” She sobered. “Oh, I was so frightened! Zach only tried to lessen my fear.”

He gently tugged her beside him. “True, though. All us boys been hit on the head more times than we can count. Naturally thick skulls, I reckon, so don’t you worry. We’re a hardy lot.”

Her hand blazed a trail where it rested on his chest. As she spoke, her fingers twirled his chest hairs. He knew she wasn’t teasing, didn’t realize the effect her touch created. He stilled, willing her to remain beside him, touching him. He bent the leg nearest her to prevent her noticing the result of her touch.

He hadn’t lied. This moment of heaven, of having his dreams at least partly realized, was worth being shot. If she never shared his bed again, she was here beside him for this instant.

He caressed her arms, then turned her face upward and leaned to brush his lips against hers. “That’s a proper good morning.”

“
Then I shall remember to greet Joel and Zach the same way.” Sparkles of mischief shone in her beautiful eyes.

“
No, you won’t. Not unless you want me to shoot my own brothers.” How wonderful to see laughter shining in her eyes! She had looked near death when they wed, and already healing had begun.

“
Were you not afraid you would encounter your brothers in the War?” She gasped, “Forgive me, I should not have asked.”

“
For however long, you’re my wife and have every right.” He exhaled at the pain her question aroused. “Running into them was my greatest fear. I thank God we fought in different states.”

“
I thank God with you. You are fine men and I would not have wanted you to make that choice.”

“
There was no choice. I would die before I shot one of my brothers.”

“
That I know.” She patted his hand where it rested on her shoulder. “Is that why you do not want to shoot at anyone? I mean, is this because you were in the War?”

“
War’s experience would have been enough to sour me on killing forever. But no, it was when I was a Texas Ranger.” He paused, hoping to block the memory that haunted him. He took a deep breath before he continued. “We were rounding up a gang that had robbed a bank and a stage. One of the bunch refused to surrender and fired at us. I fired back.” He scrubbed his hand across his face, wishing he could erase the recollection. “What looked like a man turned out to be a young woman dressed in men’s clothes. I never would have shot at her if I’d known.”

He turned toward her. “Do you mean you have begun to care for me a little?”

Before she could answer, a soft knock interrupted. Maria entered carrying a

tray, followed by Lizzie.

So much for being alone.

Chapter Twenty-one

From his saddle, Micah peered around as he and Zach rode warily along a brushy trail. He tried to shift his hat to shade his eyes from the sun’s glare without pressing on his bandage. “This is a big ranch, but by now we should have found clues to where the cattle are disappearing.”

“
We’ll find them.” Zach rode as if he and the horse were one. “You should have stayed indoors a couple more days.”

“
I’m fine.” A bald-faced lie. His head was a gourd ready to explode.

“
Riding out here is sure better than skirt sitting, Glad Joel’s stuck with Hope today.”

“
Stuck
with her?” Micah bit out.

“
Now, don’t get riled. Hope’s a fine lady and tries to set Joel and me at ease.” Zach scratched his chin. “Keeping watch without alarming her gets tiresome. Whew, I swear I’ve stared at the pages of that dadblamed book when it’s been my turn at the house, but I couldn’t tell you anything about the story.”

“
Can’t believe that. You always lose yourself in a book once you start reading.”

“
Couldn’t afford to let myself get interested in Verne’s story, even though it seemed like it’d be a good one. I’d turn a page now and then so Hope didn’t realize I was always on alert. Guess I’m more comfortable riding the range than sitting around while you and Joel get to hunt for bad guys.”

“
I see what you mean. I want Hope to
feel
safe, but she sure as hell isn’t. At least, not yet.” Micah had that sensation again...prickles on his neck. Was he in someone’s crosshairs? “Zach, you get a notion someone’s trailing us?”

“
Thought about it. Had an itching between my shoulder blades. You?”

“
Yep, like the day I was shot.” Micah peered around, but saw nothing out of place. He spotted a flock of turkeys grazing among the trees ahead, a good indication no one waited there.

“
You have a plan?”

“
When we get to this outcropping of rocks, you keep going and I’ll peel off behind them. If someone’s trailing us, I’ll catch him.”

At the massive pile of boulders from a long ago landslide, Micah turned behind them and waited, hidden from view by anyone coming up from the rear. He didn’t have long to wait before he heard the creak of leather and horse’s hooves. He saw the shadow before the rider appeared.

“
Hold it right there.” Colt drawn, he guided his horse forward. “Eduardo? Damn it, you egg-sucking coyote. I should have known it was you. Get off your horse.”

Eduardo dismounted and held his hands out from his body. He glared at Micah. “Go ahead and shoot. That’s what you are good at, gunning down innocent men.”

“
One more time, you no account loafer, I
did not
shoot your uncle!” Micah dismounted and walked toward Eduardo, then retrieved the man’s weapons.

“
You are the one who wanted Montoya water, and now you have it. If not you, then who?”

“
That’s what we’re trying to find out. You know damn well your uncle agreed to let me have access to the river.”

Zach rode up and climbed down. “Caught him, I see.”

Ignoring his brother, Micah holstered his revolver. “What’s your excuse for tracking us?”

“
As if I need an excuse to follow the man who wants my cousin’s ranch. If it were not that you wear the bandage from your injury, I would teach you a lesson.”

Micah took a step forward and braced his legs. “Yeah? I’ll never be too hurt to take you on, you sorry polecat. Time I did the teaching.” He drew back to swing a punch.

Zach stepped between them with his arms outstretched. “All right, you two. Step back and let’s clear the air. Eduardo, why were you following us?”

Shooting a scowl at Micah, Eduardo said, “Figured you two were up to no good. That you are the ones stealing Hope’s cattle. I intended to catch you in the act so I could report to Sheriff Ryan.”

Hearing that riled Micah even more. “We’ve been trying to find where they’re held so we can spot who’s rustling them.”

Zach spread his hands. “Sounds like we’re after the same thing. How about combining forces?”

“
You crazy?” Micah pointed at Eduardo. “He’s the one who stands to gain from Hope’s death.”

Eduardo’s lip curled in a sneer. “You accuse me when you are the one who would inherit her ranch?”

“
I didn’t poison her or her mother. Your parents had every opportunity.”

Eduardo’s eyes widened. “Poison? What are you saying?”

Zach the peacemaker interceded. “It’s true, Eduardo. Someone was poisoning Hope. She believes the same thing happened to her mother. That’s why my family is staying with her and Micah and why our aunts are doing all the food handling.”

Eduardo’s brow furrowed and she shook his head. “No, no. How could this be true? Dr. Ross, he says she has a wasting disease. She only speaks from wishing.”

“
It
is
true, you sorry--“

Holding up a hand, Zach interrupted Micah, “Now that she’s wed my brother and our aunts are cooking and serving the meals, she’s gaining weight and strength.”

“
I knew nothing of poison.” Eduardo resettled his sombrero on his head. “It is true her strength to ride her horse three days ago, that surprised me. But poison? How can this be?”

“
Her food or her tonic was tainted.” Zach looked at Micah. “We asked our aunts to cook for Hope so she eats only what we know is safe.”

“
Incredíble
. If not you, then who would do such a thing?”

Micah pointed a finger at Eduardo’s chest, wishing it were a gun. “Your parents had plenty of opportunity. I reckon they figured a way to inherit her land. And your father covered his ass when he said if she died he’d hang me.”

“
You lie! Can Hope believe this horrible thing? My parents love her as their own daughter. She is like my sister.”

Zach held up his hand. “Easy now. She believes that keeping your parents away until the culprit is caught will protect them.”

“
Gracias a Dios
!” Eduardo glared at Micah. “But you, you should not have accused my parents. For that I owe you a pounding.”

“
Listen, you good-for-nothing dandy. I’ll pound you into the ground.” Micah stepped forward, ready to wipe the smirk off Eduardo’s face.

Zach stepped between the men again. “Stop this. Best put this behind you and shake hands.”

Micah stared at Eduardo, who glared back.

Zach said, “Micah! Do. It. Now.”

Giving in to his brother’s demand infuriated Micah, but he finally offered his right hand. After a few seconds’ pause, Eduardo shook on the agreement. An uneasy alliance to say the least, Micah thought.

Zach lowered himself to a boulder. “All right, let’s work out a plan. Eduardo, you know this ranch pretty well?”

“
Not like ours, but I have searched every inch of this land for clues to where the cattle are hidden. Only a few at a time could be taken without leaving many clues. But where they are, I do not know.”

“
Damn, that’s too bad. I was hoping you had an idea of places where they could be corralled temporarily.

“
Sí,
I know many places where cattle could be held for a short time. But there they are not.”

Micah looked at his brother then back at Eduardo. “We considered that spread across the Brazos. Who owns that land?”

“
It should belong to Hope and my family. It’s on the ranch of my...how do you say
mas abuelo
?”

“
Great grandfather?” Micah looked at Zach for confirmation.

Before Zach could answer, Eduardo nodded. “
Sí
, the land belonged to my great grandfather, Cesare Montoya.”

Micah counted up the generations and years they represented. “That far back? How did he keep it from the Indians?”

“
He was a younger son in Spain and must seek his fortune. He came with his men to explore. When he found this river, he stopped.”

Zach frowned. “But that was back when there were no Europeans here. How’d he keep his scalp?”

Eduardo shrugged. “I am told he had great charm. He must have because he married Aiyana, the daughter of a powerful Comanche chief. My great grandfather allowed the tribe beef and a peaceful campsite in exchange for safety.”

“
Still, he must have had plenty of sand and savvy to keep his hair.”

“
Verdad
. He was
un grande hombre
. Mexico conceded our land to us.” He grimaced as if he spoke of a recent pain. “But then after the War--I mean the last one--we fought hard even for what we have on this side of the Rio Brazos.” His face shadowed in sorrow. “We lost the land across the river. Many palms we had to grease even for what we kept.”

“
Whose cattle have I seen grazing across the river?”

Eduardo shook his head. “This worries me. The owner does not live there. He died several years ago, and no branded stock should be there. Should not be any at all.”

“
Let’s ride over there and take a look around.” Micah said. “If someone drove the stolen cattle over there, where would they cross?”