Redemption's Edge (22 page)

She glanced behind her. “No. He’s speaking with Mr. Clausen and, well…Mrs. Briar needed the help.” She looked around Noah to see a beautiful stallion in a back stall. “Oh my.”

“He belongs to a friend of mine. Gabe Evans. Gabe raised him from a colt. Handsome, isn’t he?”

“More than that. He’s one of the most stunning animals I’ve ever seen.” She walked toward the horse, admiring the lines and strength of the stallion’s muscles. “He’s quite tall and, well…sort of devilish-looking, don’t you think?”

“That he is.”

Abby turned at the sound of the unfamiliar voice behind her.

“Miss Tolbert, this is Gabe Evans. He owns Blackheart. Gabe, this is Abigail Tolbert.”

“Oh, what a perfect name for him. Blackheart.” She turned back to the magnificent horse who’d given a loud snort at the sight of Gabe walking into the livery.

“He thinks I’m here to take him out. He’s never been a patient beast.” Gabe stood beside her, admiring the pretty young woman who showed no fear at being close to the impressive creature.

“And will you? Take him out, I mean?”

“In a while. I want to ride to the Pelletier ranch. Do you know them?”

“Yes. I’ve met Dax Pelletier, but not his brother.”

“You’re welcome to ride along.”

Noah’s eyes shot to Gabe, who didn’t notice the scowl warning him he may have made a mistake.

“Thank you, but I’m in town with my father. In fact, he’s waiting for me at the restaurant.” She looked up at Noah standing on her other side. “It’s good to see you again, Mr. Brandt.”

“It’s my pleasure, Miss Tolbert. Stop by whenever you’d like.” Noah’s gaze trailed Abby as she made her way across the street to join her father. If he had any dreams left, she’d be it.

Gabe knew the look a man showed when he wanted a woman, and Noah wanted Miss Abigail Tolbert. He knew his friend wouldn’t act on it, though. He’d convinced himself no woman would want him if she learned what he’d done during the war. Gabe knew his friend was wrong, but acknowledged everyone had to make their own choices. Noah had made his.

“Why don’t you court her? She’s a beautiful young woman who doesn’t hide her interest in you.”

“No. She deserves someone far better. You know as well as me I’m not fit for any woman.” Noah swallowed hard, wishing he had something to offer a woman like Abby.

Gabe clasped his friend on the shoulder. “You may think that, but I don’t. Someday, you’ll realize what you did during the war has nothing to do with the man you are.” He grabbed Blackheart’s blanket and saddle. “I’m off to see the Pelletiers. You want to ride out with me?”

“Too busy today.”

“I’ll be back for supper.”

Noah focused on his work, then set his hammer down and glanced up as Gabe rode from the livery. The thought his friend, the ex-colonel, would be a much better match for Abigail crossed his mind. Hell, anyone would be better than him. He wrapped his large hand around the hammer and started back to work, the lamb stew and cornbread Abby had brought to him forgotten.

Gabe headed north, following the directions Noah gave him to the Pelletier property. Billows of dust followed a herd of cattle a couple miles out of town. He recognized Dax as one of the men working the herd and rode to join him.

“Moving them to another pasture?” Gabe brought Blackheart alongside Dax.

“Bought these from the Murton family. Tyson’s got a family on the way and needs cash. Luke and I need the cattle.” Dax looked over his shoulder, and satisfied nothing seemed amiss, turned back to Gabe. “What brings you out here?”

“Curious if you’ve had any other trouble.”

“Not yet. I’m expecting it, though.”

“Tell me about Drake.” Gabe had figured out a history existed between Dax and Drake, and he guessed it went back further than their time in Splendor.

Dax gripped the saddle horn with both hands and leaned back, eyeing the man next to him and deciding how much to say. It had become a personal matter between him and the deserter. No officer respected or trusted a man who left others to die in his place.

Gabe stayed silent, waiting for Dax.

“He was a sergeant in my division. Hell of a fighter, but an unstable leader. He couldn’t leave the hostility on the battlefield. He’d bring it back to camp and take it out on his men. One almost died. The decision had been made to bust him to corporal. He disappeared the same night.”

“Deserted?”

“That’s right. Happened the night before an important battle and I needed every man. I sent in a replacement, a friend of mine, to lead his unit. He died fighting in the sergeant’s place.”

“Anything could’ve happened. The man’s death wasn’t your fault.”

Dax cast him a quick look. “True, except the man I sent in was already too injured to fight. I’d originally ordered him to stay at the rear due to wounds in an arm and leg. He shouldn’t have been in the battle at all.” He rested his steady gaze on Gabe. “A few weeks ago, Drake showed up at the ranch. It’s the first I’d seen him since he deserted.”

Dax went on to tell him about the shooting of Hank Wilson and the scattering of his cattle.

“Have you spoken with Tolbert?”

“I’ve confronted him. He’s adamant no orders to shoot anyone came from him.”

“Bull wants to split off part of the group and take another trail back. You okay with that?” Luke slowed Prince down to keep up with this brother, Bull pulling up next to Dax on the opposite side and nodding a greeting to Gabe.

“I’m good with it. Luke, this is Gabe Evans.”

“Gabe.” Luke reached across Dax to shake the outstretched hand. “Dax told me about how you helped out during the attack. We’re all obliged to you.” He turned in his saddle at the sound of gunfire. “Get down!”

Another shot rang out, grazing Dax’s arm and hitting Bull. The big man muttered a curse as he fell from his horse.

Luke and Dax took off toward the shots, Gabe sliding off his horse to kneel next to Bull, using his hands to stem the flow of blood. He looked up when more rounds echoed through the valley, but saw only Dax and Luke riding back to join him.

Luke slid from his horse and dropped to Bull’s side, checking his pulse, while Dax tore a piece off his shirt and wrapped it around his injured arm.

Gabe glanced up. “He has a pulse. We need to get him to the doc—now.”

Luke pulled an old shirt from his saddlebag and used it to protect Bull’s wound.

“It will take too long to get a wagon from the ranch. He’ll have to ride.” Dax spotted Bull’s horse, rode after it, and grabbed the reins.

It took all three of them to get Bull into the saddle and tied down, throwing a blanket over him. Luke swung up behind him.

“I’ll go with them.” Gabe paced Luke, while Dax stayed behind to check on the other men.

Just like before, cattle were scattered. Besides the nick to Dax’s arm, Bull appeared to be the only casualty.

“I’ve got this if you want to head to town, boss.” Ellis had the look of a man ready to explode. “If those bastards come back, we’ll be ready for them.”

“Circle up the cattle and post the men around. Send some of them to the other herd. No telling where those riders will go next.” Dax turned Hannibal around and took off to catch up to Luke and Gabe.

Luke almost lost Bull twice, the big man’s weight shifting even though ropes secured him to the saddle. Gabe stood by his side a moment after reaching the clinic, untying the ropes and helping Luke slide Bull off.

“Doc!” Luke threw one of Bull’s arms over his shoulder, while Gabe did the same on the other side. “Doc!”

“I’m coming.” The clinic door opened as the two men struggled to get Bull inside.

“Gunshot,” Luke said.

“Oh, my God,” Rachel murmured when she saw who’d been shot. She grabbed clean cloths, bandages, hot water, and a bottle of whiskey from the cupboard.

They lifted Bull onto the table as blood continued to flow from the wound.

“We’ve got him now. You boys wait outside.” Charles spared them no other thought as he put all his concentration into saving the man on the table.

Luke and Gabe had just closed the door behind them when Dax burst in and started for the back room. Both men blocked his path.

“Doc says to wait out here.” Luke didn’t move until his brother nodded. “You need to get that tended to.” He nodded toward Dax’s bandaged arm.

“It’s nothing.” He’d forgotten about his injury, his concern focused on Bull, his anger on those who’d shot at them.

An hour passed, then another without word. They didn’t speak or leave, each dreading the door opening to be told Bull hadn’t made it. Almost three hours later, an exhausted Rachel appeared to tell them their friend had survived—for now.

“Honestly, I don’t know what kept him alive. I thought we’d lost him more than once.”

Dax walked up and placed an arm around her shoulders. She leaned into him, absorbing his strength, finding comfort in his touch. Before she realized it, he’d pulled her around in front of him with both arms circling her, his chin on the top of her head, her head resting on his chest.

“That’s good news, Rachel.” His soft whisper sent chills through her body, and she wished they were in a place where she could look up and accept the kiss she knew he’d offer. She pulled back and, for the first time, noticed his blood-soaked shirt.

“You’re hurt.” Without another word, she ushered him into the room where Bull lay unconscious so she could treat his wound.

A moment later, Charles came out and turned his attention to Luke and Gabe. “He’s resting. I don’t believe he even knows how hard he fought to stay alive. By all medical definitions, the man should be dead.”

“Can we see him?” Luke asked.

“For a minute, then you’ll need to leave.”

The three stood next to the bed while Rachel finished securing a clean bandage to Dax’s arm.

“Any idea who did this?” Charles asked.

“I’ll wager the same men who attacked us coming back from Big Pine.” Gabe ran a hand through is hair, frustrated and tired.

“Whoever it is, the sons of bitches will pay.” Luke glanced toward Rachel. “My apologies, ma’am.”

She turned toward Luke. “I understand and feel the same.”

“What now?” Dax asked Charles.

“We need to keep Bull here. Rachel and I will take turns watching him. You three might as well head out. No sense all of you sitting around.”

“I’m staying. I’ll keep watch on him while you and Rachel rest.” Dax’s stern features told more than his words. It didn’t matter what they said. He wasn’t going to leave.

“I’ll find out if the others saw anything and make sure the herd gets settled. We’ll need to rebrand right away. I don’t want any mix-ups.” Luke grabbed his hat and looked at Charles. “Thanks, Doc.”

“He’s not healed yet.” The doctor turned his weary body back toward the room where Bull lay unconscious.

“Like you said, he shouldn’t have made it this far,” Luke called over his shoulder.

Gabe looked between the brothers. “You understand the bullet that hit Bull may have been meant for one of you.”

Rachel shot a look at Dax.

“I’ve thought of that. We won’t know until we’ve caught the men who shot at us.” Dax’s hard voice rang with command.