WM02 - Texas Princess (29 page)

but Liberty had insisted. She’d fal en for Stel a’s tears and pleas about wanting to help.

Travis poured himself a cup of coffee and sat back down. “Forget about Stel a for now.

What happened in town?”

“I col ected the supplies and got out as fast as I could.” Sage took a deep breath.

“Before I made the second bend in the road home, I realized I was being fol owed. I thought about turning around. I thought if I red off a few shots 225

someone from the post could stil hear me, but I had no guarantee anyone would come. That early most of the men were working.”

“How many fol owed you?” Travis wanted details.

“Four, maybe ve. I decided my best chance was to outrun them. But it didn’t take me long to realize they were gaining on me. A mile from the bridge, I heard shots. At rst I thought they were trying to get my attention, but the third shot hit the back of the bench a few inches from my elbow. I panicked and reached for the rie. The wagon wheel hit a hole at the last curve and I bounced right out.”

No one said a word. They al waited.

Sage rubbed her bottom. “I hit hard, but I think I’m just bruised. I rol ed away from the wagon, landing in brush. The riders went right past me. As soon as they made the bend, they must have seen the wagon was empty and had no trouble stopping it. They hadn’t seen me fal out because I could hear them swearing as they ried through the bed looking for me. By the time they started backtracking to look for me, I’d cut across the bend in the road and was hiding in a stand of oak not far from the wagon.”

Liberty tried to calm her heart. Sage was al right, she reminded herself. She’d come out of it unscathed.

Sage continued, “One man rode back to where I fel out and found my hat. He yel ed for the others. I couldn’t see much but I think they must have climbed off their horses to search for me in the brush. I didn’t take the time to backtrack and check. I ran for the wagon. I didn’t even take time to pick up the reins. I just wiped the horses once and they took off toward home. I crawled beneath the bench just in case the men got close enough to re off a shot.

“Two of Grandfather’s scouts were at the bridge ready and waiting. They must have heard the shots. The minute I crossed, they stepped onto the bridge, their feet wide apart, ries on their shoulders like they were a gate closing.

“Since I didn’t hear gunre from behind, I guessed the gang fol owing me thought twice about taking them on.”

Travis agreed. “They thought a woman alone was fair game when they started, but maybe they gured we’d hear shots red at the bridge. Two Apache might not stop them, but it was sure to warn us. Either way, I’m glad you made it in. Until Tobin gets back we need to al stay together.”

Teagen cut in. “Tonight I’l bring the mare about to foal in from the range. Then I agree, we al stay here. It could have been drifters nishing off a night of drinking by trying to scare you, or down-on-their-luck cowhands thinking you had money for the taking—”

Sage nished his sentence. “Or men wanting to cause me harm because I’m a McMurray.”

Teagen shook his head. “We haven’t had trouble for years.”

Martha stood. “Wel , we’re going to have a house ful coming. Somebody better bring in those supplies.”

The brothers left to fol ow her orders. They might run the ranch, but Martha ran the kitchen.

Liberty got Sage a cup of coffee and added a shot of whisky from the bottle she’d seen Tobin put behind the our tin. “Did you recognize any of them?”

Sage shook her head. “I came and went from the back door of Elmo’s place, but the horses tied out front, where men sit and drink, were mostly broken-down nags. I’m surprised they could gain on my wagon.”

Rainey laughed. “Spoken like a true McMurray. Ignore the people, but take a good look at any horses.”

“That’s our business.” Sage smiled. “Any word from Tobin?”

Rainey shook her head as she helped unpack the rst box of supplies. When Sage tried to help, they al pushed her back toward her chair.

The clothes she’d brought Liberty were plain but wel made. Liberty thanked her as if they were the nest styles from Paris. Martha seemed more interested in the fty pounds of sugar and Rainey loved the material for the chairs. By the time the supplies were unpacked, the women had moved on to other topics.

Liberty noticed Sage motion Teagen to the corner of the kitchen and pass him what looked like a letter.

She rst thought it might be news from her father. If something had happened to him, Sage might want Teagen to break the news to her. But neither of the McMurrays looked in her direction as they talked.

When Liberty nal y got the chance to ask about the letter, Sage smiled. “Years ago, when the boys closed the ranch off, Mrs. Dickerson insisted on sending out messages of what books to buy with the grocery order. Teagen acted like he resented her interference, but he ordered the books. After a few years, he began dealing with a bookstore in Chicago, and he became friends with Eli Coleman, the owner. They write back and forth every few months.” Sage giggled. “Eli is Teagen’s only friend, probably because he lives too far from the dragon to smel the smoke and see the re.”

Liberty agreed with a laugh and they went back to work.

The rest of the day passed quietly, but every hour Tobin was gone worried her. By dawn the next morning, Liberty felt sick with panic. Surely he could have caught the kid in two days. Something had to be wrong.

She guessed everyone else felt the same, but no one voiced their fears. The men took turns guarding the house and the women sewed new covers for the chairs.

About the time Rainey convinced Liberty that al the excitement was over, they heard hurried footsteps storming up the steps.

“Sage!” Teagen yel ed. “Come out here. Come armed. Rainey, run to the barn and get Travis.”

Rainey swung Duck into her arms and bolted for the back door without hesitation.

Sage grabbed one of the ries racked by the back door.

Liberty did the same. If there was going to be a ght, she planned to be part of it.

She’d stepped one foot outside when she almost col ided with Teagen. “Stay inside,”

he ordered.

“No,” she answered, staring straight at him.

To her surprise, the big man backed down. “Then stay in the shadow of the porch wel out of sight.”

“Yes sir,” she whispered, surprised that he’d conceded.

From the porch they saw a buggy bumping its way toward them.

Teagen lifted his rie to shoulder level and asked, “Any idea who is coming to cal ?”

Sage studied the old buggy. “It looks like Mrs. Dicker-son’s rig. But she’s never come to the ranch.”

“The schoolteacher?” Liberty asked.

Both the McMurrays nodded as the buggy pul ed closer. Liberty had no problem making out the bonnet and shawl of a woman wel past her prime.

Teagen waved at Liam, who moved back into the bunkhouse, taking his rie with him.

Then Teagen and Sage moved to the yard as Mrs. Dickerson rattled to a stop. Teagen helped her down. “Welcome, ma’am, I don’t believe we’ve ever had the pleasure of a visit.” He’d said the right words, but his tone was cold.

For a short lady, she did a good job of looking down her nose at him. “I’ve never had the need to cal , Teagen. Until now.” She fanned herself with a starched handkerchief made mostly of lace.

When Travis and Rainey met them halfway between the buggy and the house, she looked the couple over careful y as if about to reprimand them for being tardy.

Final y, she turned her pale blue eyes to Travis. “How is that leg of yours? I heard you were laid up with it for months, but obviously my information was wrong. You look t.”

She smiled. “I also heard you nal y made use of those law books I suggested you boys buy years ago.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Travis smiled at the widow and introduced his wife before adding, “What brings you al the way out here, Mrs. Dickerson?”

Sage stepped between her brothers and offered her hand to her teacher. “First, Travis, we’l invite Mrs. Dickerson in and insist she have a drink and refreshments.”

Mrs. Dickerson patted her hand. “You learned wel , my

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child. And I’l accept your offer. Would you believe I was almost run over on the road by a gang of no-goods? Frightened me and my horse near to death.”

Liberty glanced over at the horse. In truth, he did look near death, but she had a feeling he left town that way.

Once they were in the main living room of the house, Sage introduced her only teacher to everyone. Mrs. Etta Dickerson made a fuss over Travis’s new bride, Rainey, saying how proud she was that Travis found such a lovely girl to marry. Though she’d only had Travis attend school four years before his parents died and the boys cut the ranch off from everyone, she knew him to be bright and she took a great deal of pride that he’d become a lawyer.

Liberty smiled, guessing Mrs. Dickerson was not only the town teacher but also the town historian. Someone who kept up with everyone.

When Mrs. Dickerson turned her attention to Liberty, she said, “You must be Miss Liberty Mayeld. I’ve read about you in the Austin paper.”

Liberty curtsied as politely as if she were at a bal . “I’m pleased to meet you, Mrs.

Dickerson. Sage told me about al you taught her, from her ne needlepoint to her understanding of politics. You’re a treasure in the wilderness, Mrs. Dickerson.”

Liberty noticed Teagen raised his eyebrow. He’d never seen her play the role she’d been born to. Liberty wanted to laugh.

Mrs. Dickerson straightened with pride. “I do what I can. I’m just a poor widow in this rough country trying to earn a living.”

Martha brought in tea. “Sorry it took me so long. I had to wash the dust off the pot.”

She clanked the tray on the table and disappeared.

Liberty grinned remembering how Tobin told her Martha didn’t like the McMurrays much, and strangers not at al .

Al the women took their seats as if it were a formal tea and Sage poured. The two men stood near the windows and declined any tea. They looked uncomfortable, and Liberty had no doubt this was the most women they’d ever had in the ranch house, or on the property for that matter. They looked as if they stood in the middle of one of Moses’s plagues.

It took ve minutes, but Teagen nal y got in a question. “And why are we honored with your visit, Mrs. Dickerson?”

Mrs. Dickerson sat down her cup. “Much as I need the income from a boarder, I’ve come to ask you to take Miss Stel a back or put her on the next stage heading to Austin. When I decided to drive out here, I wanted to make sure Miss Liberty wasn’t being held, as Stel a suggested, against her wil .” She looked at Liberty. “I assume you are not.”

Liberty smiled. “I am not. I’m a guest here.”

Mrs. Dickerson nodded. “I thought that from the rst.” She glanced at the two big men.

“I’ve had both these boys in class and I’d reason their younger brother is cut from the same cloth. They’d never do any of the crimes Stel a hints at to al in town who wil listen. Now I’ve seen it with my own eyes, I can no longer al ow Stel a to stay under my roof. It wouldn’t be right.”

Teagen laughed. “You’re one ne woman, Widow Dickerson. You wouldn’t consider marrying me, would you? If I looked a lifetime, I’d nd no woman with such high standards.”

The old woman blushed. “If you were twenty years older, I’d consider taking you on as number four.”

Everyone joined in the laughter as Teagen added, “Wel , Mrs. Dickerson, you may be the only woman I ever ask. I welcome you to stay a while, and when you leave I insist on seeing you safely home.” This time his words were warm and honest.

Mrs. Dickerson continued to blush. “I’l stay a while, thank you. I’d love to visit with Miss Liberty. It isn’t often one gets to discuss politics with an insider.”

Liberty guessed the McMurrays wanted to make plans, and like Mrs. Dickerson, she was an outsider. So Liberty stayed in the great room with the old teacher entertaining her with stories from Washington while Travis and his wife, Teagen, and Sage moved to the study.

The widow told her of the social life in what was becoming a town. The church was almost built, a hotel would be operating ful y by the end of the year, and there was talk of building a real schoolhouse so Mrs. Dickerson wouldn’t have to teach students in her parlor.

Liberty couldn’t help but admire the widow for coming out to warn them. Behind her proper stature was a woman of deep values. She didn’t just teach right from wrong, she lived it.

“How’d you get past the guards?” Liberty asked since ve armed ambushers hadn’t even tried.

“I told them to get out of the way, I had important business.” Mrs. Dickerson chuckled.

“When I use my teacher voice, few argue. Once a drunk turned left instead of right and ended up on my porch instead of Elmo Anderson’s place. I ordered him to do his alphabet on a slate. He got al the way to
R
before he worked up the nerve to run.”

Martha brought in cookies and tiny sandwiches made with apple jel y.

When Liberty thanked her politely, Martha nodded once and disappeared back into the kitchen.

They ate and Mrs. Dickerson complimented each dish as if it were fancy. Liberty tried to keep the conversation though she wished she could hear what the McMurrays were talking about in the study. Whatever plans they were making, Liberty had no doubt a few of them would affect her.

Final y, the door opened, but when the family returned Liberty could guess nothing from their faces.

Travis picked up one of the little sandwiches and stared at it as if trying to gure out what it was. Teagen popped a couple of cookies in his mouth and asked Mrs.

Dickerson how many students she had this fal .

Liberty guessed the family must have gured something out, for they al seemed far calmer than before.

When nal y the teacher stood to leave, she insisted on hugging them al good-bye.

With Teagen as an escort, Mrs. Dickerson drove off.

Liberty stood on the porch and watched the buggy bump down the road to the bridge.

She could hear Travis and Sage talking about what they planned to do about the ambush as soon as Tobin returned.