wandered off. Mr. Reuben is mighty worried. You wouldn’t happen to know where I could find her?”
Miss Caroline Larson folded her arms across her chest and stood. The defensive posture contradicted her words. “I have no idea where Julia is. I haven’t enjoyed her company since before Reuben started trying to marry her off to the most unsuitable of suitors.”
“I see,” Gideon said, rubbing his hand across his jaw. “Any idea where she might have headed?”
“No. None at all.”
He stood. “Well, I guess I best try the place up the road. Seems I’ve taken enough of your time.”
She eyed him warily as he mounted his horse. He started to turn to leave, when he noticed the fresh tracks headed north up the road—the opposite direction of town and the most likely destination for anyone traveling from their ranch. He paused, turning his face back towards her.
“Noticed your brother ain’t training any horses today.”
“Papa sent him out on an errand,” she replied too quickly.
She knew something. He was sure of it. He was also sure he wouldn’t get much more from her. Whatever she knew she was holding on to something fierce. No matter.
Turing the horse back to the Star C, Gideon covered the ground quickly. After tying his horse to the rail, he sought out Colter in his office.
“Didn’t find her at Larson’s,” Bates said. “But, I did find that the younger son was gone. And there were some tracks headed north from their property.”
“Adam is gone?” Reuben failed to hide his surprise at this announcement. He never thought Larson would be bold enough to help her flee.
“Yup.”
Reuben remained silent for a few moments, gathering his thoughts. If Julia fled with Larson headed north, it was clear they were planning a permanent move. But where? And why north? Nothing readily came to mind. Heading west would have made much more sense. He would have assumed they were headed to Will.
Reaching into his desk drawer, he pulled out the stack of cash, stopping short. The stash was much smaller than last night. His blood boiled. That shrew! She stole his money!
When he pounded his fist down on the top of the desk, Bates flinched. He was ruined. Completely and utterly ruined. With most of his financial resources drained and with Julia gone, he would be a dead man. Norton or one of his creditors was sure to take payment with blood if he failed to produce it in currency.
His one last hope would be if he could find Julia in time.
“Bates, I want you to take this,” he said holding out far too much of his precious money. “Find her and bring her back. If you do, I will make it worth your while.” He lied. He had nothing left with which to pay the man, though he played poker enough to have developed a strong and believable façade.
Bates nodded his agreement as he took the offered money.
As Bates left his office, Reuben hoped he would find Julia soon. He was running out of time.
Chapter 6
Colter Ranch, Arizona Territory
September 9, 1864
Hannah stretched as the first rays of light streamed through her bedroom window. As she moved, Will draped his arm over her waist and slid her toward him. She felt his breath tickle the nape of her neck.
“Good morning, Mrs. Colter.”
In the week since their wedding, he greeted her the same way every morning. She smiled as he kissed her neck. Smelling bacon frying, Hannah tried to get up, but Will held her in place.
“I need to get up and start your breakfast.”
“Mmm. You smell good.”
“Will, I mean it.”
“Let Rosa see to it. I want to keep you here a bit longer.”
Swatting at his hands, she remained firm. “I don’t want Rosa to cook us breakfast. I want to do that. It’s my kitchen.”
Releasing his hold on her slowly, he sighed. “I don’t see why you’re upset about it. Rosa gets paid to cook and clean for everyone on the
Miss Caroline Larson folded her arms across her chest and stood. The defensive posture contradicted her words. “I have no idea where Julia is. I haven’t enjoyed her company since before Reuben started trying to marry her off to the most unsuitable of suitors.”
“I see,” Gideon said, rubbing his hand across his jaw. “Any idea where she might have headed?”
“No. None at all.”
He stood. “Well, I guess I best try the place up the road. Seems I’ve taken enough of your time.”
She eyed him warily as he mounted his horse. He started to turn to leave, when he noticed the fresh tracks headed north up the road—the opposite direction of town and the most likely destination for anyone traveling from their ranch. He paused, turning his face back towards her.
“Noticed your brother ain’t training any horses today.”
“Papa sent him out on an errand,” she replied too quickly.
She knew something. He was sure of it. He was also sure he wouldn’t get much more from her. Whatever she knew she was holding on to something fierce. No matter.
Turing the horse back to the Star C, Gideon covered the ground quickly. After tying his horse to the rail, he sought out Colter in his office.
“Didn’t find her at Larson’s,” Bates said. “But, I did find that the younger son was gone. And there were some tracks headed north from their property.”
“Adam is gone?” Reuben failed to hide his surprise at this announcement. He never thought Larson would be bold enough to help her flee.
“Yup.”
Reuben remained silent for a few moments, gathering his thoughts. If Julia fled with Larson headed north, it was clear they were planning a permanent move. But where? And why north? Nothing readily came to mind. Heading west would have made much more sense. He would have assumed they were headed to Will.
Reaching into his desk drawer, he pulled out the stack of cash, stopping short. The stash was much smaller than last night. His blood boiled. That shrew! She stole his money!
When he pounded his fist down on the top of the desk, Bates flinched. He was ruined. Completely and utterly ruined. With most of his financial resources drained and with Julia gone, he would be a dead man. Norton or one of his creditors was sure to take payment with blood if he failed to produce it in currency.
His one last hope would be if he could find Julia in time.
“Bates, I want you to take this,” he said holding out far too much of his precious money. “Find her and bring her back. If you do, I will make it worth your while.” He lied. He had nothing left with which to pay the man, though he played poker enough to have developed a strong and believable façade.
Bates nodded his agreement as he took the offered money.
As Bates left his office, Reuben hoped he would find Julia soon. He was running out of time.
Chapter 6
Colter Ranch, Arizona Territory
September 9, 1864
Hannah stretched as the first rays of light streamed through her bedroom window. As she moved, Will draped his arm over her waist and slid her toward him. She felt his breath tickle the nape of her neck.
“Good morning, Mrs. Colter.”
In the week since their wedding, he greeted her the same way every morning. She smiled as he kissed her neck. Smelling bacon frying, Hannah tried to get up, but Will held her in place.
“I need to get up and start your breakfast.”
“Mmm. You smell good.”
“Will, I mean it.”
“Let Rosa see to it. I want to keep you here a bit longer.”
Swatting at his hands, she remained firm. “I don’t want Rosa to cook us breakfast. I want to do that. It’s my kitchen.”
Releasing his hold on her slowly, he sighed. “I don’t see why you’re upset about it. Rosa gets paid to cook and clean for everyone on the
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