Stained Snow (2 page)

“We’ll be fine, Will,” she said, patting his arm.

He stepped back down off the porch and walked beside his stepfather toward the barns. William didn’t know what Patrick wanted, so he waited for the other man to speak. They were only halfway to the first barn when Patrick asked, “What’s going on, Will?”

“What do you mean? Everything’s fine.” It would be. They’d find out who killed those people, whether Thomas or a stranger. They’d make sure he was no longer a threat. He wouldn’t bring his aging parents into it.

“I’ve known you for nearly twenty years, Will. I raised you. I know when you’re troubled, and when you’re lying right to my face. Don’t do it.”

Patrick was right. He’d never been able to lie to his stepfather, no matter how hard he tried. “I found two bodies back behind the barn this morning. Right on the edge of the ranch.”

Patrick stopped, his face paling. “What do you mean two bodies? Dead cows again? Has he moved on to horses?”

William never thought he’d be so relieved to have someone else validate his suspicions about his brother. “Neither. Two men I didn’t recognize. I brought the sheriff out. He’s checking to see if anyone in town knows them, but he doesn’t think Tommy did it.”

“He doesn’t know him as well as we do. He’s left you alone for the last few years. What’s he doing back here?”

“That’s what I’d like to know. He hasn’t been by to see Ma at all, has he?”

Patrick shrugged. “Not that I know of. The round up kept me away, too. I don’t know if she’d tell me if he had. She doesn’t want to believe it of him either. He’s her son, too.”

“It’s not like I’m the one who tried to kill him.”

Patrick put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed. “I know that. Even she knows, but she feels split. She still loves you, too, Will.”

William glanced toward the house, the woman in question waving them up. “Looks like dinner’s ready.”

“We’ll talk more about this later, Will.”

“Not much to talk about,” Will said. “If the sheriff doesn’t do anything, I’ll go after him myself. I won’t let him hurt my family.”

Chapter 2

North of Lay, Colorado

May 5, 1887

Maggie Barnes stood at the door and looked down toward the barn. She couldn’t see Thomas, but he was inside. He’d told them last night he’d be riding out after breakfast this morning. She’d seen the relief in her father’s eyes.

She would have figured he’d be happy to have more hands on the ranch. Ever since her brother, Henry, rode off to join the Army a dozen years ago, and died two years after that, she’d had to help him with a lot of difficult tasks. Another man around the ranch would put an end to that.

Thomas usually didn’t tell them ahead of time when he was leaving. He’d just be saddling up in the morning. It meant something else that he warned them.

It meant he wasn’t coming back.

She wrapped her arms around her body even though the sun was warm today. She still felt a chill. Even though it came from inside her, she couldn’t stop rubbing at her arms as if to warm them. He was riding away, for more than the couple days he was usually gone.

He’d promised to take her to San Francisco, to Denver. Maybe even to New York City. Now, he was leaving her behind. She wanted to ask him why, but feared what the answer would be. That these last weeks hadn’t meant anything to him. At least not what they’d meant to her. They must not, if he could ride away.

He wasn’t taking her with him.

She should turn away, get the kitchen cleaned up. Her father had already ridden out to check on the round up. Most of the hands were there with him, including Adam. He’d been her friend since he’d come here with his father nearly a decade earlier. She hardly remembered a time when he wasn’t around, even though his father had moved on a couple years before.

The few hands remaining behind had gone out to check the fence lines before they brought the cattle back from the breaks. It would be just her left once Thomas rode off. She’d been alone on the ranch before and never been lonely. Why did she already feel that way?

Instead of attending to the chores she still had to finish, Maggie stepped out into the yard. She clasped her hands together as she neared the barn. Horses pawed the ground inside. She smelled the hay her father tossed down for them before leaving. Thomas’s voice drifted out as he saddled his horse.

She watched him for a moment. Tall and skinny, but none of his moves were wasted. He always seemed so aware of everything around him, so she wouldn’t have much time to look at him. It might be the last time she could.

He lifted the saddle over the horse’s back, his muscles bunching under the fabric of his shirt. She’d felt the muscles of his arms and shoulders under her hands, the strength of them when he’d held her wrists over her head and moved inside her.

Her face flamed at the thought of it. A proper woman wouldn’t even be thinking about that. She supposed she wasn’t one of those. Her mother hadn’t been when she ran off with another man, leaving her husband, young son, and infant daughter behind. That wiped away her own shame. She loved Thomas. She wouldn’t feel this way about their love.

She took a step forward, and he whirled around, his hand already reaching for his gun. Her heart raced even when he dropped his hand back to his side. The guarded look didn’t leave his eyes. “What are you doing out here, Maggie? I already told you I can’t stay.”

She took another step closer even though her throat had gone dry. “I know you won’t stay. I wanted to see you before you left.”

At that, he took a step forward and raised a hand to the back of her neck. “Did you think I would leave without saying good-bye?”

She wasn’t sure exactly what swirled through his eyes. Desire, regret, or maybe something darker. She barely controlled a shudder before she said, “You haven’t any of the other times you left.”

Now, something else came into his eyes, shame maybe. She waited for him to say this time was different. She hoped he didn’t, as it would only confirm her fears. Instead he pushed his hat back on his head and brought his mouth down to hers. Hard and a little rough, the kiss sent a rush of sensation through her. It always made her a little ashamed, the way she reacted to him. The pleasure drowned that out.

He pushed her back against the wall of one of the stalls, one hand still at the back of her neck, while the other slid up her chest to caress her breast through the layers of her dress and underclothes. She dragged in a breath as his mouth moved to latch onto her neck. He dropped the hand from her neck, and it moved between them, as he unfastened his trousers then lifted her skirts.

Maggie cried out when he pushed into her, but he covered her mouth again. The press of their bodies kept her skirts up, and she grabbed onto his shoulders. Her back smacked against the boards behind her, and she’d be lucky to not have any splinters. Then, she didn’t care.

When he pulled away, she was left unsatisfied. She supposed that was how it was supposed to be.

Thomas turned away as he fastened his trousers again. “I really need to go.” He picked his hat up from where it had fallen on the ground before turning back. “I will come back for you, Maggie. I’m not sure I can stay away.”

“Why do you have to go at all?” she asked, stepping up to him.

He wouldn’t meet her eyes. “I just do. I have a few things I have to take care of. Then, I’ll be back.” He kissed her again, and she strained toward him, wanting to satisfy this need for him. But, he stepped away.

Maggie bit her lip, not wanting to cry in front of him. He turned away and stepped up into the saddle. She waited for more promises but they didn’t come. Instead he pulled on the reins and turned the horse, riding away.

Maggie sank down onto the straw when he’d ridden out of sight. Tears streamed down her face. He never even looked back. She didn’t know how long she stayed there before she finally found her feet and brushed the straw and dust from her dress. She couldn’t let her father find her here. She still had chores to do. That wouldn’t change whether Thomas ever came back or not.

Chapter 3

Lander, Wyoming Territory

May 5, 1887

William finished fastening the second horse into the wagon traces. “There’s no reason for you to go, Anna. I’m picking up some supplies then I’ll be back. I shouldn’t be gone a full day.” He didn’t look up as he checked each of the straps, but she huffed, and he couldn’t fight back a smile.

“Will, I hardly ever get to go to town. Sometimes, I feel like I’m stuck here. I want to see some people, talk to people. Sometimes I miss living back at the fort with Daddy and Charlotte. We hardly hear anything out here.”

William hated the quick spurt of guilt for taking her away from all she’d had at Fort Steele before meeting him. They’d had this discussion before. She insisted she didn’t regret it, just that she missed some things.

“I don’t know if it will be safe,” he insisted.

“How is it safer for us to stay out here by ourselves than it would be with you? He’s not going to attack us in town. He’s not stupid, Will. That’s why being with you would be safer. He won’t come at you from the front. It’s been weeks with nothing. He’s probably moved on again.”

William shook his head. His brother was good at laying quiet. He acted like everything was fine then suddenly lashed out. William had felt the sting of a sudden attack enough times. “Doubt it. He’s waiting.” Waiting for William to let his guard down, which he didn’t plan to do. “You’re not alone here. None of the men will let anything happen to you.”

“Which men? The foreman old enough to be my grandfather who can barely walk straight in the morning? Or the boys barely old enough to have left their mother’s lap? How will they protect us if they’re out riding fence? They can’t be here and taking care of the cows.”

“I’ll make sure at least one or two always stay here with you, but I’m not going to let him get you.”

“Then let us go with you. We’ll be safe with you, Will.”

He was running out of arguments. She apparently wasn’t. “You told David the next time you went into town, you would take him with you. If you go back on that now, he’ll be hurt.”

William sighed and ran a hand through his hair before putting his hat back on. “Fine. Go get him. You two can visit while I get what we need.”

“Thanks, Will.” She slipped her arms around his waist, and he held onto her for a moment, setting his chin on top of her head. Sometimes he wondered if he didn’t love her so much, maybe he would be able to say no to her more. He stepped back. “Go on. I want to get going soon.”

She hurried up to the house, calling for David as she neared it. He shook his head and turned back to his horses. When had he been able to say no to either of them? Maybe she was right. It would be safer to be with him than alone. The last thing he wanted to do was leave them alone.

He’d have to talk to the sheriff and find out if he’d made any progress on tracking Thomas down or finding who else might have been responsible for those deaths. If he hadn’t found anything, he might have to leave his family alone while he took care of it himself.

His jaw clenched as he tightened the last strap and gave one of the horses a pat on the neck. He didn’t want to do it, but he would if it meant keeping his family safe.

#

William guided the horses down the trail, the mountains in the distance, snow still covering the peaks of them. That snow could still come down here, but he hoped it didn’t. Cottonwood and juniper trees gave way to brush and shrubs as they neared town.

He didn’t slow the team until they approached the main street. Once they were in front of the mercantile, he pulled the horses to a stop and stepped down from the wagon. After tying the reins to the hitching rail, he rounded to the other side and held out his hand to help Anna down from the seat. David jumped down from the back before William even turned toward him.

He stood beside Anna for a moment. “I don’t know how long it will take to get everything together. I have a few other things to see to while we’re in town as well. You and David have time to do your visiting.”

Anna brushed her lips across his cheek before leading David away. He watched them for a moment before he headed into the mercantile. They’d be safe here in town. He didn’t need to worry.

He still did.

He stepped into the store, his gaze scanning the mostly open room. Shelves along the back wall and a couple short aisles on the side. The wall behind the counter filled with the little items. The smell of leather mixed with something perfumed. He certainly preferred the leather.

The storekeeper greeted him as William stepped up to the counter and gave him the list of supplies he’d made out. As he expected, it could take a couple hours to put it together, so he headed down toward the livery stable. He didn’t need anything in there, except to talk with the hostler, Al. The man was good friends with Patrick and owned horses he didn’t keep at the town’s stable. Horses his stepfather bred his own horses to, with good results. That was what William wanted.

He stepped into the barn and took a moment to take in the smells and sounds of the horses around him. It had always been one of his favorite things about ranch life; the horses. He smelled the hay the horses chomped on, heard the snorts and neighs of each of the horses. He started through the barn and called out for the hostler. “Al, it’s William Jensen. Are you in here?”