Love Finds You in Sundance, Wyoming (23 page)

“Sí. But you could be one day.” She gathered Angel’s hand in her own. “I want you to come to Italy with me. I know many good families—old families with young men who would fall at your feet. You would be the Bella of Venice. I would present you in a wonderful coming-out party. You would marry and give me great-grandbabies to love in my twilight years.”

Angel swallowed the lump in her throat. She’d grown to care for this scrap of a woman who was her only link to her mother. But move to Italy? Leave everything? Her mind balked at the idea. She’d just congratulated herself on how smooth her life was going. Moving halfway around the world wasn’t an option. But Grandmother had desires and needs. Could she deny this woman the one thing that would make her life complete?

Another thought ignited. If she left, there would be no danger of exposing her past. No one would know she’d been present when a Texas Ranger had been killed, or she’d ridden with a band of outlaws stealing a herd of cattle. Hope surged, and she gripped Grandmother’s hand. She could start a new life and discover the places where her mother played as a child.

Angel’s heart thudded to her toes. Travis and Libby. How could she leave the people she’d come to care for? She shook her head. It couldn’t be done.

“Angel?” Grandmother lightly pressed her fingers again. “What is it? What are you thinking?”

“I don’t know what to say. I’d never thought about you leaving, or going with you. I guess I just assumed.”

“I would stay forever, mia?”

“Yes.”

“I have thought of that, as well. I like this country—and the people who live in this place.” She flicked her wrist. “I came to find you and planned to return to my homeland immediately, but instead, I stayed. Partly because you needed time to know me, but also because I am drawn to the vastness and beauty of your country.”

“Then stay, Grandmother. Stay and live here forever. We could still visit Italy.”

“You would not return with me?”

Angel gently loosened her grip and sat back in her chair. “I’m not sure I could leave all that I know here, but I don’t want to lose you. It feels like I’ve finally found my roots and am beginning to learn who I am—where I came from—and I don’t want to let you go.”

“Come, mia. I would not force you to stay. You could always return to your magnificent country if Italy does not please you. Will you think on it?”

Angel considered the request and slowly nodded. Confusion mixed with excitement swirled in her mind. “I will, but I can’t promise I’ll say yes.”

Travis rubbed the base of his back. He’d spent parts of the past three days shoeing and trimming horses. Shoeing was one chore he didn’t enjoy. He shaded his eyes against the sun’s glare as the rolling beat of hooves reached his ears.

Nate galloped down the lane leading into the ranch yard and slowed his horse as he neared the barn. “Boss, I got bad news.”

Travis tossed his hammer into the wooden box by his feet. “I’ve had a feeling something was coming. It’s been too quiet.”

“Yeah, I know what you mean. And I’m glad I left James behind today.” Nate swung down from his lathered horse and tossed the reins over the hitching post. “I found shod hoofprints on the east side of the ranch that don’t belong to any of our horses.”

“Ah-huh.” Travis waited, knowing more was coming.

“Cows are missing, Boss. Mostly two-year-olds and a few older.”

Travis balled his hands into fists. “Cattle thieves, or did the stock wander to another pasture?”

“That’s what I thought at first, until I stumbled on the tracks. Me, Charlie, and Bud followed ‘em for a mile or so till we hit a rocky patch. The tracks are old, at least a week, so trailing them won’t be easy. There are thousands of prints on this ranch, and the men were careful to hide their trail whenever they could.”

“I’ll talk to the sheriff. See if there’s been any report of rustling in the territory over the past couple weeks. Looks like we’d have heard news of it.” He took off his hat and wiped the sweat from his brow. “You think the Sundance Kid has taken to rustling as well as robbing trains?”

Nate shook his head. “Doubtful, Boss. Not on this small of a scale, anyhow. At least, there’s been no word that I know of.”

“We always lose a few beef per year to the Lakota tribe, but I can’t see them taking a herd.”

“Naw. Besides, they don’t ride shod horses, and we rarely see them around here since the battle with Custer a few years back. I think we’re lookin’ at some low-down rustlers. I can send Arizona to our closest neighbor and see if they’ve been hit.”

“Good idea. Tell him to hit the trail. I’ll head for town.”

Travis rode down the main street of town, veering around a wagon loaded with grain bags and crates, and barely avoiding a child who darted away from his mother. He reined to a stop, stepped down from his horse, and tossed the reins over the rail in front of the imposing brick courthouse. He needed to get to the bottom of this, and soon. Stepping onto the boardwalk, he entered the front door and made his way toward the back of the building to the sheriff’s office. He gave a quick rap on the door and entered.

Sheriff Jensen looked up from a stack of papers on his desk. “Travis?” He stood, extended his hand, and waved at the chair across from him. “Have a seat. I’m glad you stopped in. I planned on taking a ride out your way today or tomorrow.”

Travis groaned. “Not more problems with James?” He’d hate to have to take the puppy back if he discovered the boy had gotten into trouble.

The sheriff tipped back in his seat and shook his head, a rueful smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Just the opposite. I caught the little renegades who caused the trouble and scared the truth out of ‘em. James has never been part of the mischief. There’s a new boy who lives on the edge of town that bears a striking resemblance to your nephew. Same size, age, and hair color, but that’s it. Just wanted to lay your fears to rest and assure his ma James hasn’t done anything bad.”

Travis let his breath out in a whoosh. One less thing to worry about—Libby would be thankful. “Thanks, Sheriff. Good to know.”

“So that’s not what brought you to town today?”

“No.”

The sheriff leaned forward and propped his forearms on his desk, his gaze leveled at Travis. “I’m listening.”

“My foreman rode in this morning from working the eastern edge of my ranch. Cattle are missing, and they found tracks of shod horses they didn’t recognize. They followed the trail but lost it in a rocky patch. He thinks the rustlers split the cattle and took them different directions, hiding their tracks along the way.”

“Huh. This the first time you’ve had a problem?”

“Yes. I wanted to alert you. Any other ranches hit?”

Sheriff Jensen shook his head. “Not that I know of, but I’ll check. The West is growing, and it was bound to happen sooner or later. Men are always trying to get rich on someone else’s hard work.”

Travis pushed to his feet. “Thanks, Sheriff. I sent one of my hands to my closest neighbor.”

“Good. We’ll talk later.” He walked Travis to the door. “The last thing we need is another Hole-in-the-Wall bunch of outlaws camping in our backyard. We’ll root ‘em out before they get a toehold.”

Travis swung into the saddle and reined his horse around. He certainly hoped so. His herd had grown over the past three years and had achieved a size where he could enjoy a little financial freedom. That could change in a heartbeat.

“Travis. I nearly forgot.” The sheriff lifted his voice above the sound of a stagecoach rolling past.

“Yes?” Travis stopped his stallion and turned sideways.

“There’s been a gent asking about your new hand, Miss Ramirez.”

“A gent? You get his name?”

Sheriff Jensen scratched his chin. “No, come to think of it, I didn’t. Said he’s her brother or cousin or some such. Got back from a long cattle drive and found her missing. Guess he’s been trailing her for some time now.”

Travis sucked in a sharp breath. Angel had never shared she had a brother, or a close cousin for that matter. Why would she withhold that information? His mind raced with the possibilities, and his hands grew clammy. This stranger came at the same time as the cattle disappearing. Could that be why she’d never mentioned this relative? “Did he tell you where he’s camped, or did you point him to our ranch?”

“Nope. Something about him didn’t set right. I told him I’d look into it. See if I could find any mention of a young woman of that description.”

“So you don’t believe he’s related to her?”

“Didn’t say that. He may be, but he had a shifty look about him— not trustworthy, if you know what I mean.”

“Yeah.”

“I’ll let you be on your way. Tell Miss Ramirez if you’re of a mind to.”

“Thanks, Sheriff.” Travis touched his horse with his spur, his mind awash with possibilities—none of which he liked.

Angel rode into the ranch yard bone-tired and heartsick. She’d not been in time to save a calf from a cougar attack and hadn’t been able to find the cat. Mountain lions were private, oftentimes solitary creatures that kept out of sight as much as possible. It could take her days to hunt him down, and she dreaded the thought. This cat was more than likely the same one who clawed her arm. He didn’t seem to have much fear of man, and she didn’t like the idea of cornering him.

She swung down from her horse and slipped the reins over Bella’s head. Her mare moved with a weary gait and Angel’s heart contracted. Bella had been overused since arriving here, and as much as she hated to do it, she’d better ask Travis for another mount.

The sound of running steps swung her around. No longer did she reach for her gun, but she hated being caught off-guard. “James. Something wrong?”

“Yeah.” His eyes were alight with excitement. “We’ve been robbed!”

“What?” Angel reached for the rifle secured in the sheath next to her saddle and withdrew it. “Are they still here? Where are the men? Is your mother all right?”

James’ face fell, then he broke out in chuckles. “I didn’t mean the house. Nate came home and told Uncle Travis that some of our cows are missing.”

An icy chill swept over her body. The thought of anyone stealing cattle made her physically ill. Especially cattle belonging to Travis. “Is your uncle in the house?”

“Uncle Travis went to talk to the sheriff. He should be back soon. It seems like he’s been gone a long time.” He swiveled on his heel and dashed away then turned back. “I gotta help Ma with something. See you later.”

Angel made her way into the barn, stripped Bella’s gear, and rubbed her down. The hushed atmosphere and contact with her horse quieted the anxiety created by James’s words. No sense in worrying about something she knew little to nothing about—at least not until she spoke to Nate or Travis. Then she could start worrying.

The pastor’s words from last Sunday floated into her mind. He said something about the lilies and the sparrows. She struggled to remember. Oh, yes. That God clothed the lilies in splendor and fed the sparrows, so He’d take care of us, as well. She’d never known God cared about things like that. And the pastor proclaimed there was nothing too big or too small for God.

“Is that true, God? I’d really like to know.” She whispered the words, and a gentle peace enveloped her. Did Bella sense the hovering presence of Someone else in the barn? “You feel that, girl?” She patted her horse’s neck. “Do you suppose that’s God?”

The peace deepened and tears sprang to her eyes. “I want to trust You, really I do. I’d like to know You the way Libby and Travis do, but I’m not sure what to do. Maybe You could help me if You have time?” She almost felt foolish speaking the words but something kept nudging her forward. “Thank You. Amen.”