Page 10
“Y ou riding out to check your uncle’s herd?”
Rebekah whirled with her hand to her chest, sucking in air.
Her uncle’s horse, Mabel, tossed her head.
Brushing her hand along Mabel’s forelocks helped still the clanging of her own pulse.
No one was supposed to be here this early.
But there sat Ed atop his horse, leaning against his saddle horn with one arm as he pushed his hat back with his other.
She’d thought he’d be tied up at his place after picking her up in town yesterday.
He knew good and well she wasn’t going out to check the herd. She shot him her best glare.
Rebekah stepped toward the corral fence, not wanting to answer him.
Grasping the colorful saddle blanket as she turned back to the horse gave her a reason to keep her focus on Mabel.
She spread the blanket, smoothing it over Mabel’s back before turning to answer him.
Nothing in her wanted to give him the truth, although she half suspected he knew.
Why else would he be here this morning before he’d even had enough time to do the McGraw chores?
“I’m riding to the doctor’s office to interview the injured rancher. Then I’m going to stop by the marshal’s office for a statement.” Rebekah caught sight of Ed’s scowl as she moved to where the saddle sat atop the corral fence.
“You really think that’s a wise idea?” When she didn’t reply, his eyes scanned the field and then the property only to land on the woodpile next to the barn where she’d left the axe stuck in a chunk of wood. She’d been working out her frustrations on the wood.
His eyebrow quirked.
Rebekah heaved the saddle, but the cinch toppled off from where she’d temporarily placed it on the saddle horn, so she set it down to reposition it.
“I have an obligation to the citizens of Calvin and the surrounding areas to print the stories of interest. Others could be in danger.” She heaved again, this time landing the saddle on the horse without incident.
“And to cover the stories properly, I need all the facts.”
Her fingers worked to fasten the cinch, even as she darted her best I dare you to stop me stare at Ed. He dismounted, moving slowly in her direction as if he intended to do just that.
“You’re latching that wrong.” Ed pointed a finger at her saddle.
Rebekah jutted her chin. “Ed McGraw, I think I know how to put on a?—”
But he was right. Heat flared at her neck as she hurried her trembling fingers to correct her mistake.
He’d not get a thank-you out of her for his meddling.
He wasn’t even supposed to be here. She managed a peek at Ed, who twisted his lips up like he wasn’t even expecting her thanks.
Yanking the cinch up tight, she finished fastening it, then straightened her shoulders.
“Why don’t you go away? Go home.” She waved a hand toward the road. “You’re always complaining about too many chores to do.”
She reached to unhook the stirrup from the saddle horn, letting it hang. But before she had the chance to hoist herself into the saddle, Ed stood at the front of Mabel, holding the bridle.
He let out a long sigh. “I’m going with you.”
“No, you are not.” Rebekah slid her foot into the stirrup, then swung into the saddle.
“Yes, I am.” Ed flew toward his horse, mounting it in one leap like a well-trained horseman in pursuit of a dangerous criminal in one of those dime novels she loved.
But she was no dangerous criminal in need of pursuit.
Rebekah swung her mount in the opposite direction only to be blocked by Ed’s quick moves on Lightning.
His boot nudged past hers as he moved as one with his horse.
She used to think his horse’s name ridiculous.
Apparently, she’d never been around when Ed used it for cutting cattle.
But she refused to be treated like cattle either.
She made another quick move on Mabel only to hear the shuffling of horse hooves and the breathing of their mounts. Lightning blocked Mabel’s path to the road on the side, leaving Ed sitting so close atop his horse that the shadow of his broad shoulders fell across her.
“I don’t need a nanny. I’m not a child.”
“You’re acting like one.” His knee nudged into hers.
In her frustration, Rebekah let loose a deep, guttural growl.
Ed broke into a grin. Infuriating man.
Then he grew serious again. “I don’t want to be the one to tell your uncle you got yourself killed chasing after a story.”
“I’m not going to get myself killed.” She’d not tell him there’d been a muddy footprint yesterday a little way down from the break in the fence line. Or that she hadn’t slept for worrying about what it meant. “Fine.”
“Fine, what?”
“Fine, you can come with me.”
“Thought you’d never ask.” He reined his horse around to follow her.
It fell into an easy trot behind hers.
“If you follow me around, I’ll look like I’m not capable of doing my job.
” How dare he make her appear fragile and helpless?
No one would take her seriously as a reporter if she were hiding behind Ed McGraw.
She turned back to let loose the most intense stare-down she was capable of. “I’ll never forget this, Ed McGraw.”
“Just add it to the grudge you’ve held against me for the last fifteen years. It’s not like I expect your forgiveness now.” Ed’s mumblings wrapped around her as she turned her attention back to the road.
“It’s not like you ever asked for it. Even after completely humiliating me,” Rebekah snapped. She urged her horse forward.
That moment as a twelve-year-old, when she’d stood in front of the class to read her story aloud, washed over her. She’d never imagined the teacher would ask her to read her story to the class that day.
Rebekah had pushed up from her desk, her hands slick as she’d clutched the papers with her story scrawled in her own hand. The one with the dashing young hero. She could only hope she’d wrapped him in enough embellishment that no one would recognize their classmate, Isaac McGraw.
Her voice faltered as she read aloud, praying no one would notice the similarities. But Ed chuckled.
His body shook as a full-blown cackle escaped while Rebekah tried to read on. And then the whole class erupted into a rippling mass of laughter. Rebekah wanted to hide, to run from the room and never return.
“Ed McGraw.” The teacher rapped the desk with her ruler to silence the class. “What do you find so amusing?”
“The words. Like the hero is so great.” Ed’s words had been barely audible for his choking laughter. “It’s just Isaac. Everybody knows that.”
Her horse blew, the sound jolting her out of the memory. School had never been the same after that. But what did Ed care? He’d never so much as breathed a hint of an apology. What right would he have to expect her forgiveness?
* * *
I’ll never forget this, Ed McGraw.
Ed’s stomach knotted. Was Rebekah really still that hurt about what had happened so long ago? She’d gone unusually quiet, but it hadn’t stopped her from insisting they go see the doctor, the injured man, and the marshal. A whole day lost trying to keep her out of trouble.
Ed had to give it to her—she’d been determined in her interviews, never backing off. If only the clues they’d garnered were actually valuable. He’d been mulling them over the whole ride back.
“A man with a straw-colored hat.” His saddle creaked as he shifted to avoid an overhanging branch.
He thought better when he talked things out.
Especially when he was dead tired after riding up to the little cabin last night to talk to Isaac about the letters only to find the cabin empty.
Isaac must have been camping close to where he was riding herd on the cattle, especially with the threat of wolves.
Never mind Rebekah’s annoyed glance in his direction. She should remember from when he used to work his sums in class. He’d always worked them out loud, even if he had to mumble to keep from getting in trouble with the teacher.
“Face covered by a bandanna.” Ed hadn’t heard the marshal mention anything particular about the bandanna.
The horse’s hooves clomped along the dirt road.
Sure would be handy to have Isaac around right now.
He had more experience with hunting down criminals.
Not to mention how nice it’d be to pass the letter-writing business off to him.
Maybe then Ed could focus on making his own dreams a reality.
Rebekah leaned farther to one side of Mabel, as if scanning the ground.
“Coulda been young or old.” Ed slowed Lightning to keep in step with Rebekah. Yep, it’d be nice to have his marshal of a brother around right now, but when Isaac didn’t want to be found, there was nothing to be done about it.
She leaned to the other side now, craning her neck all around, head down.
“Rode a brown horse.” He pulled up on the reins as he grasped to work it out. There’d been nothing specific. No motive he could see. “The bandit could have been anyone. Seems like he just beat up the man for what cash he had on him. Does that even make sense? For so little?”
“Mmmm.” Sunlight played with the curls around Rebekah’s profile, almost creating a sort of halo as she appeared to scour the ground.
“You aren’t really expecting to find any clues here, are you?” Ed nudged Lightning forward again. “The marshal said for you to stay out of it. I agree. Leave the investigating to law enforcement. It’s their job.”
“This is my job too. As a reporter.” She lifted her gaze, and her lashes caught the sun like her hair did.
For one vulnerable moment, he didn’t want her in the middle of a criminal investigation for no other reason than he wanted to protect her.
Without even a thought of the promise he’d made to Vess.
Her shoulders slumped. “There’s nothing here.”
“That’s what I told you.”
Table of Contents
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4
- Page 5
- Page 6
- Page 7
- Page 8
- Page 9
- Page 10 (Reading here)
- Page 11
- Page 12
- Page 13
- Page 14
- Page 15
- Page 16
- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19
- Page 20
- Page 21
- Page 22
- Page 23
- Page 24
- Page 25
- Page 26
- Page 27
- Page 28
- Page 29
- Page 30
- Page 31
- Page 32
- Page 33
- Page 34
- Page 35
- Page 36
- Page 37
- Page 38
- Page 39