Colin's Quest (8 page)

Sarah’s grim smile was all the response Geneen received as she left.

“Come, dear. We’ll get you settled, then make tea. Tomorrow will be soon enough to decide what you want to do.”

“Are you certain this is the trail, Colin?” Quinn rode Warrior, his five-year-old stallion, in circles, looking for the landmark Angus had told them about.

Colin didn’t answer as he and Brodie did the same, trying to locate the rock with a whitewashed arrow.

“Here it is.” Brodie slid from Hunter, walking his gelding toward a large boulder hidden by bushes. Pulling them aside revealed a white arrow, the word Oregon crudely written below. “Uncle Angus was right. What say we ride another hour, then camp?”

“We can get an early start tomorrow,” Colin agreed, turning Chieftain northwest.

All on the same day, Colin, Quinn, Brodie, and Blaine had gotten their horses from a local rancher who’d decided to sell his small place and move to Oregon to be closer to his daughter. Angus had negotiated a purchase for the land and animals. It had been a good outcome for everyone.

As the sun fell behind the mountains to the west, they sat around a fire, eating hardtack and jerky. Tomorrow, they’d take a day and hunt for game, hoping to replenish their supplies until they reached Mindell, the last town before reaching southern Oregon.

“Who’s the girl you were talking to at church before we left?” Quinn glanced at Brodie as he tossed a few twigs on the fire.

“Which one?”

“The one I didn’t recognize,” Quinn smirked. “Dark hair, round face.” He prided himself on knowing all the eligible young women in town. He had no plans to court or do anything else with a local girl, but he enjoyed flirting as much as any man.

“Louisa…Linda…Lillie…that’s it. Lillie. Her family bought the old Miller place west of town. She’s the same age as Jinny, so I introduced her.” At eighteen, Brodie’s younger sister had boys surrounding her wherever she went.

“I’m afraid you’re going to have your hands full with her,” Quinn said, standing to stretch. “How about some cards?” Pulling a deck from his saddlebag, he shuffled, then dealt.

“You hear from…” Brodie’s words trailed off as Colin put a finger to his lips, his eyes shifting to his left. Brodie nodded, setting his cards down. “Long day in the saddle. Gotta stretch.” Moving to a crouch, he rolled, pulling his gun the same instant as Colin and Quinn.

“Whoever’s out there, come out now.” Colin’s hard voice rang through the quiet night, signaling the others to spread out. A rustling noise, then footfalls had Colin up and running, followed by Quinn and Brodie. It didn’t take them long to spot and overtake the three fleeing forms, tackling them to the ground.

“What do you think you’re doing sneaking up…” Colin’s words died in his mouth as he turned the person over, long, golden hair spilling out of the hat. “What the hell?” he murmured, hearing the same bewildered curses from Quinn and Brodie when they discovered they’d wrestled two girls, and not boys, to the ground.

All hell broke loose as the three kicked and screamed, clawing at their captors, attempting to break free.

“Calm down. We aren’t going to hurt you,” Colin hissed at the hellion who shot him a furious gaze. He could feel her relax and loosened his hold, regretting it an instant later when she tried to knee him in the groin. “Dammit, stop that.” Still straddling her, he grabbed her wrists, holding them above her head.

For the first time, he got a good look at her face. If it weren’t for the dirt and foul temper, she’d be a pretty little thing.

“How you boys doing?” Colin asked Quinn and Brodie, giving her a warning glance as he hauled her to a standing position.

“She’s a feisty one, but I have her,” Quinn replied, cursing as the girl’s foot connected with his shin.

“Stop scratching me,” Brodie ground out as he hauled his captive up, pulling her arms behind her, then marching her toward the others. Wiping an arm across his brow, he studied the three girls. He guessed the oldest to be seventeen or eighteen. The others looked younger.

“What are you girls doing out here alone?” Brodie asked.

“None of your da—”

Colin yanked the oldest girl’s arm before she could finish. “None of that, lassie. Now, answer his question.”

Her eyes shooting daggers at him, she tried to break his hold, only to find herself yanked against his hard chest.

“That’s enough. You’ll not struggle any longer.” Pulling her after him, Colin walked to Chieftain’s saddle, grabbing his rope, then wrapping it around her wrists. Setting her beneath a tall pine, he did the same with her ankles, then stood, watching as Quinn and Brodie tied the other two. Separating the girls by several feet, the cousins huddled together, talking in soft voices.

“What are we going to do with three lassies, Colin?” Quinn swiped at the blood on his cheek where he’d been scratched. “I always thought if a lass scratched me it would be for a much different reason.” His joke fell flat as they turned to watch the girls struggle with their restraints.

“Well, we can’t take them with us.” Colin watched the one he’d wrestled with, seeing her shoulders slump. “I wonder how long it’s been since they’ve eaten.”

“One way to find out.” Brodie pulled hardtack from his saddlebag, walked over, and offered it to one of the girls.

She hesitated a moment before nodding.

Kneeling down, he held it to her mouth, then quickly pulled his hand back. “You bite me and there’ll be hell to pay.”

It took almost an hour of feeding them by hand before the girls shook off further food and quieted. They’d learned nothing about them, not even their names.

“What now?” At a loss, Quinn crossed his arms.

Colin ran a hand down his face. “We’ll check the ropes one more time, then get some sleep. We can decide in the morning.”

“Aye. Maybe they’re fairies sent here to muddle our brains and they’ll be gone by morning.” Quinn continued to stare at them as if he thought they might actually disappear right before their eyes.

Colin laughed, slapping him on the back. “Aye, laddie. It might just be so.”

Chapter Five

“The girl will
not
be disrespecting me so, Robena.” Dougal paced in front of his desk, his hands fisted on his hips, cursing with each step.

“Calm yourself, Dougal. You’ll not be going into town to bring her home today.”

He stopped, his mouth agape as he stared at his wife. “And why is that?” he hissed out.

“It’s been one day. You gave your word to Reverend Olford to let Sarah stay with them until you both have time to calm your tempers.”

“She’s a brazen lass, defying me the way she did. Her actions cannot go unpunished.”

“Ach. Sarah is not a wee lassie you can scold for not behaving. She’s a grown woman. You shouldn’t have taken her birthday and turned it into a spectacle for all to see.” Robena would never have talked to him like this in front of others. In public, she played the dutiful wife, accepting his commands. In private, however, she didn’t hide her feelings, even though her pleas often had little impact on her husband.

“As long as she lives under my roof, she’ll do what I say. I’ve made an agreement with Wes. I’ll not go back on my word.” Slamming out the door, she watched him storm to the barn.

She breathed out a relieved sigh. Robena knew her husband didn’t see the flaws in his thinking. He never did. She wouldn’t blame her daughter if she never returned home to live under the brutal thumb of her da.

“Ma?”

Robena turned at the sound of her youngest daughter’s voice. At sixteen, Isla was quiet and studious, making her the opposite of twenty-one-year-old Geneen, who’d always been headstrong and would rather be out riding her horse than doing her lessons. Sarah fell somewhere in between. The oldest, she’d always enjoyed reading and had wanted to become a teacher—until Dougal informed her he had no money for extra schooling. Undeterred, she schooled herself, borrowing books, hiding them in her saddlebags. Like Geneen, she loved to ride and would often disappear for hours after completing her chores. Dougal considered her a good shot, learning to handle a rifle and shotgun as soon as they left the trail and founded their ranch near River City.

Now she’d left, and Robena had to wonder when she’d see her oldest child again.

“Are you certain it’s what you want, Sarah?” Bessie Olford asked as they sat at the breakfast table after her husband had left. Four days had passed since her father’s announcement of the agreement with Wesley, but Sarah’s resolve not to return to her home hadn’t faltered.

“Yes, Mrs. Olford. I couldn’t be more certain. I’m determined to be out from under Da’s rule.”

“What of Wesley?”

“I have no interest in him. None. I’ll wait as long as needed for Colin.” She sighed, touching the brooch on her dress. “He’ll not come here to find I’ve married another.”

“You’re certain the feelings you have aren’t just a young girl’s fantasy? If you decide on this path, make sure you’re in love with him and not waiting out of a sense of obligation.”

Sarah’s face softened, recalling their last moments together. She’d loved him with all her heart then and those feelings had never wavered. “I love him, Mrs. Olford. I’m certain of that. Of course, if I do stay in town, I’ll need to find work and a place to live.”

Sipping her coffee, Bessie thought of how hard it would be for a single woman to find respectable work in River City. Though the town had grown to over two thousand people, it still offered few opportunities for women. Except…

“Would it be all right if I stayed a few more days?” Sarah didn’t want to impose, yet she had no other options.

“Yes, yes. Of course, dear,” Bessie answered, waving her hand in the air, her thoughts already shifting. “If you’ll excuse me, I just remembered an errand for my husband.”

Sarah’s brows drew together in a combination of surprise and amusement at Bessie’s quick departure. Washing the dishes left on the counter, she dashed upstairs, grabbing her bonnet and reticule. Checking herself in the mirror, she adjusted the brooch. She’d never had a chance to wear it in public before, afraid her father would guess its meaning. Now she could do what she’d promised Colin. Stepping outside, she lifted her face to a bright, cloudless sky and smiled.

She bit down on her lower lip. Her father would be beyond angry when he learned what she’d done, but Sarah couldn’t bring herself to care. As she walked, a thought crossed her mind. Dashing across the main street, she entered the general store, waving to the owner as she headed straight toward the dresses.

An hour later, she emerged, arms laden with packages. She’d collected items needed for living on her own, including a few cooking supplies, which would be delivered to the reverend’s home. Hearing a shout as she stepped into the street, Sarah turned as a rider barreled down on her.

“Watch out, Sarah!” Bessie’s voice reached her in time to get her terrified body moving.

Her eyes wide in fear, she dropped her packages and jumped away, tripping over a step, landing on her behind.

“Are you all right, dear?” Bessie helped her to her feet, then whipped around, trying to find the maniac who’d almost run Sarah down. “I don’t see the fool. Did you recognize him?”

Shaking her head, Sarah straightened her dress and bonnet, then stepped back on the street to collect her packages.

“Let me help you.”

She glanced up at the sound of the unfamiliar voice, ready to reject his help, then stopped. Something about him looked familiar, but she couldn’t quite place where she’d seen him.

“Um…thank you.”

“That was a fool act. Did he hurt you?”

“No. I’m a little shaken. Nothing more.”

“If you show me where you’re going, I’ll carry these packages for you.” Not raspy, or deep and smooth, but somewhere in between.

Turning to look at him, she crossed her arms, head tilted. “Do I know you, sir?”

“In truth, yes, you do, although I doubt you’ll remember. I’m Caleb Stewart. My family and I were on the same wagon train as you and your family.”

Sarah’s jaw dropped. “Oh my. Yes, I do remember you, Mr. Stewart. It’s been so long and you have, well…you’ve…”

“Grown taller?” he prompted, a smile touching the corners of his mouth.