Colin's Quest (9 page)

Laughing, she nodded. “Yes, you have.” When she’d first met him, he’d been as thin as a bean pole. Now he had wide, muscled shoulders and strong hands. His dark blond hair touched his collar at the back. Although his hard, chiseled features weren’t exactly handsome, his face held a certain warmth and sincerity, making him more than easy to look at.

Both turned at the sound of Bessie clearing her throat.

“Are you going to introduce me, Sarah?”

“Oh, I do apologize. Mr. Stewart, this is Mrs. Olford, our minister’s wife. This is Caleb Stewart. We came west on the same wagon train.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Olford.”

“Mr. Stewart. Are you planning to give Sarah back her packages?” Bessie’s brow quirked upward.

“He’s offered to carry them to the house for me, if that’s all right with you.”

Bessie glanced between the two, making a quick decision. “Of course, dear. And you’ll stay for cake, Mr. Stewart. I’ll not take no for an answer.”

Cocking one eye open, Colin lay in his bedroll, hoping Quinn might be right and the girls would have disappeared during the night. Letting out a weary sigh, his gaze locked on the oldest of the three. She stared back at him, her anger no less evident than the night before. Sitting up, he rubbed his eyes, then stood.

“Quinn, Brodie, up with you.” Strolling behind a bush several feet away, he took care of his business. Looking up at the early morning sky, he knew their plans to hunt might need to be changed until they figured out what to do with the girls.

“We need to decide what to do with them, Colin,” Quinn said as Colin returned to the camp.

“I say we get ourselves ready, give them some food, then continue on our journey. We can’t be sidetracked by three young lassies.” Brodie rested his hands on his hips, glancing over his shoulder at the girls.

Colin agreed, but it didn’t seem right to leave them out here without protection. “We can’t leave them here alone. We need to find out where they’re from and what happened.”

Cursing under his breath, Brodie’s eyes narrowed. “And what then? Do we take them home? Seems they either ran away or they have no home to go back to. Why else would they be out here alone?”

“Guess we won’t know until we ask.” Colin grabbed the water pouch, crouching in front of the oldest girl. “Have a drink, then you and I are going to talk.”

Glaring at him, she took a sip of water. “I need some privacy.”

Untying the rope around her ankles, he helped her stand, giving her time to get her wobbly legs to adjust. He guided her to a cluster of bushes.

“There.” He made no move to leave.

“You can’t stand there.”

“And why not?” He crossed his arms, his eyes sparking in amusement.

“Fine. If you want to watch, go right ahead, but I need my hands free, unless you want to undress me, too.”

He knew she taunted him, but she was also right. Stepping forward, he turned her around, loosening the rope on her wrists, then adjusting it so one end still held firm to her arm. The other end he held tight, like he would a lead line on a horse.

“All right. Go do your business.”

By the time they walked back, Quinn and Brodie had finished doing the same with the other girls, with one difference—Brodie had learned their names.

“Coral, Opal, and Pearl.” Brodie nodded from the oldest to youngest.

Colin stooped next to Coral, lifting her chin with a finger. “Where are your folks, Coral?”

Her eyes shot open in surprise, then closed. “Don’t know.”

He stifled a curse. “Where’d you come from?”

She looked up at him, her eyes pleading. “Don’t send us back, mister. Please.”

The fear in her eyes surprised him. She’d been so strong, so determined. Now he saw a scared young woman with nowhere to go.

“Don’t send you back to where?”

“Crocker.”

Colin, Quinn, and Brodie had ridden through the town of Crocker three days before, taking as little time as possible to do their business, then leave. It didn’t seem like much to outsiders, maybe a hundred people and a few stores. Most saw it as a stop for settlers to replenish supplies rather than a place to lay down roots. And those perceptions were close but not completely accurate. The MacLarens knew what most others did who lived anywhere near the Nevada border town. Crocker was a haven for some of the worst criminals in the western United States.

“Why don’t you want to go back?” Colin wondered why anyone would choose to raise their children near a town lacking any sense of right and wrong. In his mind, there could be only one reason—their kin were a part of the lawless element of Crocker.

Coral didn’t answer.

He tried again. “Are these your sisters?”

She nodded. “Opal and Pearl.”

“Will you run if I take off your ties?”

Jutting her chin out to him, he saw the spunk return to her face. “Yes.”

Pinching the bridge of his nose, Colin stood. “I’m guessing you try everyone’s patience,” he murmured before motioning for Quinn and Brodie to follow him.

“They’re sisters from Crocker.”

“That answers why they ran. I sure as hell wouldn’t stay there if I had another choice.” Quinn settled fisted hands on his hips, staring at the girls. “It’s three days behind us.”

“Three days ride, then three days back to this spot. We’d lose almost a week.” Brodie didn’t like the idea of losing the time or leaving the girls in such a miserable town.

“They don’t want to go back. They’re running from someone, but Coral won’t say who or why.” Slamming his hands in his pockets, Colin looked at the sky. They were wasting time. “We’re going to Mindell for supplies. We’ll leave them at the church, pay the minister to keep them until we return.”

“Please tell me you aren’t suggesting we take them to the ranch with us.” The idea didn’t appeal to Quinn at all. He wanted them out of their lives, not more deeply ingrained in them.

“I’m hoping the minister can find a home for them so by the time we ride back through, they’ll be settled.”

“Colin, I never thought I’d say this, but you’re daft. No one is going to take three sisters. The best we can hope for is they each find a family. Might be best to leave them with the law in Mindell. They can sort it out.” Brodie wanted another answer, but he knew the choices were few.

Quinn scrubbed a hand down his face. “I understand you want to help them, Colin, but hell, they aren’t our problem. I’ll go along with taking them to Mindell and either leave them with the law or the church, but that’s where it ends.”

Colin and Brodie knew he was right. There was a reason for their trip, and it didn’t include being responsible for three young girls.

“All right,” Colin responded. “We’re agreed then. They ride with us to Mindell. We’ll start with the church and hope that’s the end of it.”

“Are you living around here, Mr. Stewart?” Bessie set a slice of cake in front of him, along with a cup of coffee.

“Please, Mrs. Olford. I’d appreciate it if you and Miss MacGregor would call me Caleb.”

Bessie nodded as Sarah leaned forward.

“Then you’ll have to call me Sarah.”

His mouth curved up at the corners. “To answer your question, my family has a ranch a little bit north of here.”

“How come we’ve never seen you in church?”

Caleb chuckled. “Oh, we go to church. Ma would have our hide if we didn’t, but it’s the one in Slade. We get most of our supplies and Pa conducts his business there. It’s closer than riding to River City.”

“What brings you here, Caleb?” Sarah picked at her slice of cake. The presence of a person who experienced the same hardships as her family during the trip west reminded her of Colin. Without thinking, her hand fingered the brooch. The feel of it always gave her comfort.

He leaned forward, resting his arms on the table. “It was time I headed out. I waited until my brothers and sisters were able to help our folks. If I didn’t leave now, I worried I might end up staying in Slade the rest of my life.” He pushed his empty plate away. The Stewarts had been in this country several years before the MacLarens made the journey. He’d always had a strong urge to see more of it. “I was born shortly before my family came to America. When they decided to move west, I wanted to stay behind, see more of the country. I couldn’t then, but now…”

Sarah cocked her head. Most people she knew stayed close to where they were raised, preferring what they knew to the unknown.

“Where do you plan to go?” Sarah let go of the brooch, dropping her hand to her lap.

“I thought I’d work here for a spell, maybe through winter, then move on. The next town south is Mindell, but I’m not quite ready to start for it yet.”

“Well, you speaking of finding work reminded me of my morning. In truth, I may have good news for both of you.” Bessie had already made up her mind she liked Caleb. Maybe if he got a good job, he’d stay. They could use people such as him.

“What news, Mrs. Olford?”

“Well, I spoke with the head of our town council this morning. He confirmed our teacher is leaving and we’ll need a replacement.”

Sarah’s heart beat so hard, she thought it would burst from her chest. “And what did he say?”

“He’s asked to meet with you. I believe he might offer you the position.”

No longer able to contain her excitement, Sarah jumped up, hugging Bessie. “I’ll never be able to thank you enough, Mrs. Olford.” She swung her gaze to Caleb. “It’s always been my dream to teach. I can scarcely believe it.”

“Now, Sarah, you still must meet with the men who will make the decision. Although, I do believe you have an excellent chance.”

“When would they like to meet with me?”

“Tomorrow morning. They’d like you to be there right after breakfast.”

Sarah’s heart began to slow. Settling herself back in her chair, she took a large bite of cake, following it with a swallow of lukewarm coffee. Looking at Caleb, she smiled, then set down her fork.

“And what news might you have for Caleb?”

Bessie shifted in her seat, turning toward him. “You may not have heard of Fergus Bell, but he owns the largest ranch in River City. Hundreds of acres. He’s always looking for men and made it a point to mention it to my husband, Reverend Olford, at last Sunday’s service.”

Sarah’s enthusiasm dropped at the mention of Wesley Bell’s father. Everyone knew Wes served as the foreman and would take over for his father one day. She hated the thought of Caleb working around him. She wouldn’t, however, pass her concerns onto Caleb. He needed work and no one in the area paid better than the Bells.

“She’s right, Caleb. The Bells always need good men and pay well. And it’s not too far a ride from town.”

“Sounds good. Tell me where it is and I’ll ride out there tomorrow.”

“We can do better than that. My husband and I are going out there tomorrow anyway. You can follow us.” Bessie pushed from the table, picking up plates, waving off Sarah’s offer to help. “Why don’t you two young people take a walk? Sarah, you can show Caleb our town. Maybe he’ll decide to make River City his home.”

Chapter Six

Mindell, California

“You understand, I cannot promise you anything. We are a small congregation with few people and little money to feed three more mouths. Our children are gone, so my wife and I will take care of them until you return. If families haven’t been found for the girls by then, they’ll have to go back with you.”

Tightening his grip on the brim of his hat, Colin cast a quick glance at his cousins, who flanked Coral, Opal, and Pearl. They’d convinced the girls to clean up as best they could, even though little could be done with their soiled clothes.

“Whatever you can do would be appreciated, Reverend. We won’t be back through here for at least two months. Is that acceptable?”

“Yes, young man, as long as you promise to return. There’s only so much I can do for them.” He looked at his wife, who eyed the girls with the same wariness Colin had felt when he first saw them. The reverend turned toward her, indicating with a nod for her to show the girls inside.

“Come, girls.” Without waiting, the older woman started inside, not noticing the three didn’t follow.

“Go on with you, lassies.” Quinn settled a hand on Coral’s back, encouraging her to follow the woman.