Page 39 of Riches Beyond Measure (Golden State Treasure #3)
Thirty
Both cowhands brought up the rear as they rode into town.
Soon Hardy was shackled in the jailhouse. The doctor had tended his wounds, given him laudanum for the pain, and left. Tomorrow he’d be facing a murder trial. Because it was Sunday, the trial had been delayed a day. Then Hardy, if found guilty, would be summarily hanged.
And a conviction was likely since Rombauer was stretched out at the undertaker’s with a bullet in his chest, and there’d been witnesses nearby who would testify as to the truth of what happened.
Cord and Annie rode for the Two Harts now, both still on edge.
Their cowhands rode along behind them. Cord had noticed Annie pick up the two parts of the dagger off the floor, put it back together, and drop it in her reticule.
He was glad he hadn’t thought to ask for the dagger back.
She’d had something to fight Hardy with, and it’d made all the difference.
As they rode into the ranch yard, Cord saw Josh striding out of the barn. He waved the riders over.
“I thought you’d be coming from the south,” Josh said. “Did you ride back to town before heading home, because there’s a shorter—”
Cord wasn’t sure what Josh saw in their expressions, but he stopped talking and went straight to Annie. He plucked her off her horse and hugged her.
Annie, her voice shaking, explained, “Hardy and Rombauer followed us to the Benteen place.”
“It’s the Westbrook place now,” Cord reminded her as he dismounted.
Annie gave him a small smile. “The Westbrook Ranch,” she corrected.
The cowhands who’d ridden home with them took the reins of the horses and started for the barn.
“Thanks for helping,” Cord told them.
“Mrs. Westbrook did all the hard work.” The hand tugged on the brim of his Stetson, and the pair turned toward the barn.
“What happened? Did they hurt you?” Josh grasped her shoulders and held her out to get a better look at her.
Cord heard the door of the ranch house open and noticed most of the family streaming out.
“Hardy’s in jail in Dorada Rio. Rombauer is lying at the undertaker’s, the result of Hardy firing a stray bullet. We’re expected in town tomorrow for Hardy’s trial.”
Josh gave Cord a narrow-eyed look. “You’re leaving out a lot of details.”
“I’ll tell you everything,” Annie said, “but I only want to tell the story once.”
The family surrounded them.
“Hardy ambushed Annie,” Cord began, running quickly through the details. “He wanted that conquistador dagger, which as it turns out is hollow and full of diamonds.”
Annie held out her reticule with the top open. “I’ve got the dagger here.”
Cord continued, “Hardy stole the armor and kept the dagger, and he was hoping to find more just like it. During the struggle with Annie, Hardy shot Rombauer dead, we assume by accident. There’s a good chance Hardy will hang tomorrow for his crimes.
Miraculously, those two didn’t put a single mark on any of us. ”
He saw his grandpa in the crowd, lines of worry deep in his face. Cord went to him and patted the older man on the shoulder. “I’m okay, Grandpa. Thanks to Annie, I was never in real danger.” Cord looked at his precious wife. “Just Annie was.”
“Well, I’m glad you’re all back home now, and everyone’s all right,” Grandpa said.
Cord nodded. “Let’s all go inside. I could use a hot cup of coffee and something to eat.”
“The summer is fading,” Annie said. She and Cord were walking arm in arm. Going for walks after they tucked Caroline into bed was their habit now. She cherished these moments alone with him at the end of each day.
“I can see a bit of yellow in the aspen trees,” he said. “The whole mountainside will be a blaze of color in a month’s time.”
Annie loved the way he held her. She loved his voice. She loved his strength and his musical talent. In fact, she loved everything about him.
“I had special plans for today over at the Westbrook Ranch,” Cord said. They shared a smile as they walked on, taking the trail west toward Dorada Rio.
“We never did get to have our picnic lunch, did we?”
Cord shook his head. “Soon,” he promised. “You know, I told you I loved you the day I proposed marriage, but what I feel for you is growing into something more beautiful every day. You know how I love music, don’t you?”
Annie nodded. “I don’t think anyone could play as beautifully as you do without loving it.”
Cord leaned down and kissed her tenderly. “You hum in my veins. You’re like a chorus of angels. You’re the music of my life, Annie. You and I and Caroline together strike a perfect chord of harmony.”
A smile spread across her face as he compared her to music. “You could not have found a better way to speak of your love.” She stretched up and kissed him as daylight turned to dusk.
The night sounds hushed around them. Crickets chirped. An owl called out. A pair of nightingales sang in the distance. The soft breeze of a California evening brushed past them, and the scent of the pines and the fresh country air were like music to Annie’s soul.
“We’ve spent too much time searching for treasure around this ranch.” Annie reached up and brushed the dark hair off his forehead. “I hope we’re done with that now. I hope we can settle in to raising cattle.”
“In the end, our searching led to gold and diamonds, historical artifacts, and learning some fascinating history. Yet none of that could ever bring us one more bit of happiness than we already have. Holding you in my arms, Annie, I want nothing more—not as long as I have you.”