Read Online Xenia’s Renegade by Agnes Alexander - Free Book Online
Authors: Agnes Alexander
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Territory?”
“An uncle of ours is in trouble and we came out here from Richmond, Virginia, to see if we can help him,” Mea Ann said. “He’s been accused of something he didn’t do and we want to help him prove it.”
Xenia sat back. “Now, Mr. Eldridge, you’ve heard about us. If you don’t mind, please tell us about yourself and how you happened to show up here in the desert in time to help Ty catch those outlaws.”
“I’ll be glad to tell you. I was on the way back to Deer Meadow when I was ambushed by those two outlaws. One was injured, but not bad enough to keep him from helping his partner dry gulch me.”
Xenia frowned. “I’m not sure I know what dry gulch means.”
He grinned. “It means they jumped me because I wasn’t paying enough attention to what was going on.” She nodded and he went on. “After they got the best of me, I didn’t put up much of a fight because I knew Ty was on the stage and he’d be able to help get me out of the situation.” He chuckled. “As you can see, he did—and without anybody else getting hurt. Now the two culprits are tied to the back of the stage and are on their way to Deer Meadow and jail.”
Mea Ann looked at him. “It seems you and Ty are close friends as well as cousins, Mr. Eldridge.”
“We are, but I have a request.”
“And what is that?” Xenia asked.
“It sounds as if you’re close enough friends to Ty to call him by his first name. I’d be honored if you’d call me Wilt.”
“We’d be happy to do that, wouldn’t we Xenia?”
“Of course.”
Mea Ann turned back to Wilt. “Then you must call us by our given names, too.”
“I’d be delighted to, Mea Ann.”
The baby whimpered. “Oh, dear. I think he’s hungry.”
Wilt looked around. “Do you have anything to give him?”
“I think we have a couple of bottles of milk left. Would you check the sack at my feet, Xenia?”
Xenia pulled out a bottle. “You’re right. There’s one more. I hope it will last until we get into Deer Meadow so we can milk the cow again.”
“It should last,” Wilt said. “We should be there in about three hours or so. Of course, with the horses and the cow tied behind the coach, we might be a little later.”
“That should be fine. We’ll be able to get there before we run out.” Mea Ann stuck the bottle in the baby’s mouth.
Wilt couldn’t help being intrigued by the way the woman took care of the baby. A baby that looked as if it should be in the lap of an Indian woman, not a pretty blonde from Richmond, Virginia. Yet, she looked so natural with the child. It was if they belonged together, and always would.
Xenia interrupted his thoughts. “Tell us about Deer Meadow, Mr.—I mean, Wilt. What size is the town, and are the people friendly there?”
“It’s not near as big as Tucson or Santa Fe, but it’s big enough to supply the ranches that surround it. I guess there are two to three hundred people in the area.”
“That sounds nice. Is there a hotel where my sister and I could find a room?”
“The Deer Lodge is the only one in Deer Meadow. A business man was about ready to open another place, but something happened, and it never opened.”
“I’m glad to hear there’s at least one in town. Today has been trying, and we’re looking forward to a relaxing bath and a good night’s sleep.”
“Do you live in Deer Meadow, Wilt?” Mea Ann broke into the conversation.
“I live on a ranch about eight miles to the west of Deer Meadow. It’s on the road heading to Yuma.”
“Does Ty live there, too?” Xenia asked.
“Yes, Ty lives on the ranch, too. We own it jointly.”
Xenia looked surprised. “For some reason, I thought he was more of a renegade. The type to wander about and…well, whatever.”
Wilt laughed. “He’s been called a renegade, but that’s because he’s such a good rancher. Usually, men like us are not considered good at anything except taking advantage of people and taking what we
“An uncle of ours is in trouble and we came out here from Richmond, Virginia, to see if we can help him,” Mea Ann said. “He’s been accused of something he didn’t do and we want to help him prove it.”
Xenia sat back. “Now, Mr. Eldridge, you’ve heard about us. If you don’t mind, please tell us about yourself and how you happened to show up here in the desert in time to help Ty catch those outlaws.”
“I’ll be glad to tell you. I was on the way back to Deer Meadow when I was ambushed by those two outlaws. One was injured, but not bad enough to keep him from helping his partner dry gulch me.”
Xenia frowned. “I’m not sure I know what dry gulch means.”
He grinned. “It means they jumped me because I wasn’t paying enough attention to what was going on.” She nodded and he went on. “After they got the best of me, I didn’t put up much of a fight because I knew Ty was on the stage and he’d be able to help get me out of the situation.” He chuckled. “As you can see, he did—and without anybody else getting hurt. Now the two culprits are tied to the back of the stage and are on their way to Deer Meadow and jail.”
Mea Ann looked at him. “It seems you and Ty are close friends as well as cousins, Mr. Eldridge.”
“We are, but I have a request.”
“And what is that?” Xenia asked.
“It sounds as if you’re close enough friends to Ty to call him by his first name. I’d be honored if you’d call me Wilt.”
“We’d be happy to do that, wouldn’t we Xenia?”
“Of course.”
Mea Ann turned back to Wilt. “Then you must call us by our given names, too.”
“I’d be delighted to, Mea Ann.”
The baby whimpered. “Oh, dear. I think he’s hungry.”
Wilt looked around. “Do you have anything to give him?”
“I think we have a couple of bottles of milk left. Would you check the sack at my feet, Xenia?”
Xenia pulled out a bottle. “You’re right. There’s one more. I hope it will last until we get into Deer Meadow so we can milk the cow again.”
“It should last,” Wilt said. “We should be there in about three hours or so. Of course, with the horses and the cow tied behind the coach, we might be a little later.”
“That should be fine. We’ll be able to get there before we run out.” Mea Ann stuck the bottle in the baby’s mouth.
Wilt couldn’t help being intrigued by the way the woman took care of the baby. A baby that looked as if it should be in the lap of an Indian woman, not a pretty blonde from Richmond, Virginia. Yet, she looked so natural with the child. It was if they belonged together, and always would.
Xenia interrupted his thoughts. “Tell us about Deer Meadow, Mr.—I mean, Wilt. What size is the town, and are the people friendly there?”
“It’s not near as big as Tucson or Santa Fe, but it’s big enough to supply the ranches that surround it. I guess there are two to three hundred people in the area.”
“That sounds nice. Is there a hotel where my sister and I could find a room?”
“The Deer Lodge is the only one in Deer Meadow. A business man was about ready to open another place, but something happened, and it never opened.”
“I’m glad to hear there’s at least one in town. Today has been trying, and we’re looking forward to a relaxing bath and a good night’s sleep.”
“Do you live in Deer Meadow, Wilt?” Mea Ann broke into the conversation.
“I live on a ranch about eight miles to the west of Deer Meadow. It’s on the road heading to Yuma.”
“Does Ty live there, too?” Xenia asked.
“Yes, Ty lives on the ranch, too. We own it jointly.”
Xenia looked surprised. “For some reason, I thought he was more of a renegade. The type to wander about and…well, whatever.”
Wilt laughed. “He’s been called a renegade, but that’s because he’s such a good rancher. Usually, men like us are not considered good at anything except taking advantage of people and taking what we
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