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Authors: Clari Dees
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who’ll be able to point us in the direction we need to go for you to catch him,” Jonah said, turning his horse to face Wyatt.
“Who?” Curiosity filled Wyatt’s voice.
“Him.” Jonah glanced up briefly before bowing his head, and Wyatt felt peace descend and frustration melt away as he listened to the former master sergeant bend his knee before the Master of Heaven, asking for God’s wisdom and guidance in the task before the marshal.
He echoed the prayer in his heart and uttered a hearty Amen when Jonah finished. “Thank you for realigning my perspective, Sergeant. You were always good at that, if I recall.”
“I did straighten out a few smart-mouthed lieutenants in my time. Although I must say, I had less polishing to do on you then some I ran across. Your mother’d done a pretty good job already.” Both men chuckled as they headed back.
Riding into the ranch yard, Wyatt cast a glance at the lowering sun. “Miss McIsaac is going to be champing at the bit to get back into town.”
“If she hasn’t already left.” Jonah grinned.
“I told her to wait—that I’d ride back with her. I don’t want her, any woman, out on these roads alone, at least until we catch this fella.”
Jonah snorted. “I’ll be much surprised if she waited around more than a few minutes after you threw that order at her.”
“Why didn’t you say something earlier? Stop her from going in alone?”
“Figured it was about time you learned you can’t bark orders at a woman as if she’s a soldier. It just don’t work. Besides, Boss man has a standing order. When someone sees her ride out, which is frequently, they are to let the bunkhouse cook or Ms. Maggie know and then follow Meri to make sure no one bothers her. Boss man couldn’t cure her of riding alone, something he loves to do himself, so he makes sure someone is always keeping an eye on her. I think she figured out his little scheme a long time ago, but as long as they stay out of her way, she tolerates it.”
The men stopped their horses in front of the main house and a sturdy, dusky-skinned woman, black braids wound in bands around her head, stepped onto the porch carrying a tray with a pitcher and several glasses. “Thirsty? I have fresh lemonade here,” she said in a lightly accented voice.
“Yes’m, Ms. Maggie! Sounds great! Captain Cameron, meet the real ramrod of the McIsaac ranch, Maggie Running Deer, the McIsaac’s housekeeper.” Jonah took the tray and set it on a table between several comfortable-looking rocking chairs. “Ms. Maggie, the new marshal of Little Creek.”
Wyatt doffed his hat and bowed slightly to the woman. “Nice to meet you, ma’am. Is Miss McIsaac ready to head back to town?” He took the glass of lemonade Jonah handed him and swallowed half of it in a single swallow, choking when he heard the woman’s answer.
“She left a couple of hours after you rode out. Barnaby rode in, and after talking with him, she tossed a bag on Abe and took him and Sandy back to town.”
A sly grin appeared on Jonah’s face, but he refrained from saying I told you so .
Wyatt hastily swallowed the last of the tangy drink before setting the glass down. “Thank you, Ms. Maggie. That hit the spot.”
“Sit down, Captain, and take a load off.” Jonah disposed of his own glass. “I’ve got to put a few things in my saddlebags before we head to town.” Thanking Ms. Maggie, he headed for the barn leading the two horses.
Wyatt quelled the urge to rush back to town and slowly sat down. Miss McIsaac had, by now, probably already arrived back in town, but his hands itched to give her a good shaking—the little scamp. Instead he controlled his impatience and accepted the refilled glass Ms. Maggie handed him before heading back to her baking.
One of the cowhands he had met earlier ambled up leading the horse he’d ridden from town, along with another saddled horse, and tied them to the rail in front of the house. “Jonah’ll be ‘long
“Who?” Curiosity filled Wyatt’s voice.
“Him.” Jonah glanced up briefly before bowing his head, and Wyatt felt peace descend and frustration melt away as he listened to the former master sergeant bend his knee before the Master of Heaven, asking for God’s wisdom and guidance in the task before the marshal.
He echoed the prayer in his heart and uttered a hearty Amen when Jonah finished. “Thank you for realigning my perspective, Sergeant. You were always good at that, if I recall.”
“I did straighten out a few smart-mouthed lieutenants in my time. Although I must say, I had less polishing to do on you then some I ran across. Your mother’d done a pretty good job already.” Both men chuckled as they headed back.
Riding into the ranch yard, Wyatt cast a glance at the lowering sun. “Miss McIsaac is going to be champing at the bit to get back into town.”
“If she hasn’t already left.” Jonah grinned.
“I told her to wait—that I’d ride back with her. I don’t want her, any woman, out on these roads alone, at least until we catch this fella.”
Jonah snorted. “I’ll be much surprised if she waited around more than a few minutes after you threw that order at her.”
“Why didn’t you say something earlier? Stop her from going in alone?”
“Figured it was about time you learned you can’t bark orders at a woman as if she’s a soldier. It just don’t work. Besides, Boss man has a standing order. When someone sees her ride out, which is frequently, they are to let the bunkhouse cook or Ms. Maggie know and then follow Meri to make sure no one bothers her. Boss man couldn’t cure her of riding alone, something he loves to do himself, so he makes sure someone is always keeping an eye on her. I think she figured out his little scheme a long time ago, but as long as they stay out of her way, she tolerates it.”
The men stopped their horses in front of the main house and a sturdy, dusky-skinned woman, black braids wound in bands around her head, stepped onto the porch carrying a tray with a pitcher and several glasses. “Thirsty? I have fresh lemonade here,” she said in a lightly accented voice.
“Yes’m, Ms. Maggie! Sounds great! Captain Cameron, meet the real ramrod of the McIsaac ranch, Maggie Running Deer, the McIsaac’s housekeeper.” Jonah took the tray and set it on a table between several comfortable-looking rocking chairs. “Ms. Maggie, the new marshal of Little Creek.”
Wyatt doffed his hat and bowed slightly to the woman. “Nice to meet you, ma’am. Is Miss McIsaac ready to head back to town?” He took the glass of lemonade Jonah handed him and swallowed half of it in a single swallow, choking when he heard the woman’s answer.
“She left a couple of hours after you rode out. Barnaby rode in, and after talking with him, she tossed a bag on Abe and took him and Sandy back to town.”
A sly grin appeared on Jonah’s face, but he refrained from saying I told you so .
Wyatt hastily swallowed the last of the tangy drink before setting the glass down. “Thank you, Ms. Maggie. That hit the spot.”
“Sit down, Captain, and take a load off.” Jonah disposed of his own glass. “I’ve got to put a few things in my saddlebags before we head to town.” Thanking Ms. Maggie, he headed for the barn leading the two horses.
Wyatt quelled the urge to rush back to town and slowly sat down. Miss McIsaac had, by now, probably already arrived back in town, but his hands itched to give her a good shaking—the little scamp. Instead he controlled his impatience and accepted the refilled glass Ms. Maggie handed him before heading back to her baking.
One of the cowhands he had met earlier ambled up leading the horse he’d ridden from town, along with another saddled horse, and tied them to the rail in front of the house. “Jonah’ll be ‘long
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