Page 10 of The Forever Cowboy (Noble Ranch #1)

A strange tremor worked through his chest. All this time he’d been blaming Violet for ruining their relationship. What if he’d had some responsibility in the demise too? What if he’d played a much greater role than he’d realized?

Had he done something to unknowingly push her away?

He hadn’t thought about that possibility before.

Even if his actions hadn’t alienated her, he had to admit he hadn’t facilitated openness with her.

If he had, wouldn’t she have felt more comfortable coming to him and talking about what was wrong instead of running away and hiding all that she felt?

Sterling stared at Mr. Berkley for a moment longer, the tremor spreading throughout his body. Yes, he’d been blaming her for everything and hadn’t considered how he may have been insensitive or callous to her.

“If you loan me the money,” Mr. Berkley said, the desperation back in his voice, “I’ll make sure Violet marries you this time.”

Sterling shook his head. “No. I don’t want Violet back, especially not like that.” Like a piece of livestock going to the highest bidder. “The truth is, you’ll have to figure out how to pay off your debts on your own, without my help, and definitely without Violet’s.”

Mr. Berkley’s shoulders slumped. “Of course. You’re right. You’re right.”

“Then you agree that pressuring your daughters to work at the dancehall is despicable?”

Mr. Berkley nodded, almost sadly. “Yes, it’s quite despicable. And I shouldn’t have agreed to it.”

“That’s right.” Sterling prayed the man was sincere. “You’ll call off the deal?”

“I have to. It’s not fair to my daughters.”

“You need to rip up that offer.”

“Of course.”

“Good.” Sterling released a tight breath, the tension starting to ease from his muscles. Maybe he was helping Violet today by getting Mr. Berkley to recognize the error of his ways. Hopefully, now she would be able to return home and be safe.

He still wasn’t sure where she’d gone off to. But once he tracked her down, he’d reassure her that her father was apologetic and wouldn’t hand her over to anyone in a scheme to pay off his debt.

Without another word to Mr. Berkley, Sterling turned and made his way back to his horse.

The clouds gathering in the west were turning darker and more ominous. Where had Violet gone? That was the bigger issue at the moment, especially with snow on the way. The other issue was whether or not he ought to keep looking for her or let her go.

Certainly, after coming to town, he’d done more than his fair share. It was time to get back to work and put her from his mind.

Sterling tried to stick to his resolve. Once he was home, he kept busy.

But he couldn’t lock his thoughts of her away.

They refused to be contained. By mid-afternoon, he explained the situation to Beckett and sent him into town to find out who Claude was.

Sterling had wanted to go himself but knew he’d only raise suspicions if he went to town twice in one day.

Beckett was all too willing to go since he was expecting a letter from his mail-order bride.

All the while the ranch foreman was gone, Sterling’s mind wouldn’t rest, and his worry over Violet wouldn’t go away, especially as the clouds blew in and snow began to fall.

When Beckett finally returned in the late afternoon, Sterling met him in the ranch yard, which was covered in at least an inch of fresh snow, with flakes still falling fast and the sky growing steadily darker.

“Is she home yet?” Sterling didn’t waste time with a greeting.

“Hello to you too.” Beckett removed his hat and thumped it against his leg to dislodge the snow. Then he slapped it back on and gave Sterling a stern look. “Yep, I’m fine. Thanks for asking.”

Sterling didn’t care if Beckett was assuming he still cared about Violet. He supposed it did look like he was obsessed with her today. But he was only doing what any God-fearing and kindhearted man would do. He was helping the less fortunate.

“Did you find her?” Sterling persisted.

“No one’s seen a hair of Violet or her sister all day.”

“What about Claude?” Sterling fired off the question. “Who’s he?”

“He owns the Red Cap Saloon.”

Sterling had never heard of it. Then again, he didn’t go to town often and had lost count of all the new saloons that had opened over the past couple of years. “What else?”

“Apparently, he’s got a big place with several gaming rooms at the back of his saloon.”

“And he has dance girls?”

Beckett’s expression hardened. “He’s got just about any kind of woman you could want, if you get my meaning.”

Sterling silently cursed. He didn’t want Violet or Hyacinth anywhere near such a place.

“Heard this Claude’s a nice fellow until he gets crossed. Then he gets meaner than a bobcat in a gunny sack.”

That wasn’t good news for Mr. Berkley. But the fellow would have to work things out with Claude without involving Violet and Hyacinth. That’s all there was to it.

Still in his saddle and covered in snow, Beckett opened the flap of his saddlebag. He pulled out a package wrapped in brown paper and tossed it to Sterling.

Sterling caught it.

“From Clementine.” Beckett nudged his horse toward the barn. “She said it’s your favorite.”

Sterling sniffed the bundle, catching a whiff of the rich scent of chocolate and pecans with caramel.

Clementine was the little sister of his best friend Maverick Oakley. She’d just married the livery owner, Grady Worth, and had opened her own candy shop.

“Said you might need some cheering up.”

“Why?”

Beckett snorted. “Reckon everyone thinks you’re going crazy now that Violet’s back in town.”

“I’m fine.” He ground out the words.

“Course you’re not going crazy,” Beckett called over his shoulder with an eye roll. “Not at all.”

Sterling huffed, the white puff mingling with large snowflakes. Okay, maybe he was going slightly crazy.

He crossed through the fresh snow to the house to put the candy away. Was he also hoping Violet would be back?

As he entered the quiet house, he expelled a frustrated breath, knowing she wasn’t there and that he shouldn’t be wishing she’d show up again. Regardless, he made his way into the kitchen, lit a lantern, and added more fuel to the kitchen stove.

He opened the candy from Clementine and sank his teeth into one of the delicacies.

With the coming of evening, he missed his family and their meals in the dining room together.

Since he was alone, he’d taken to eating at the bunkhouse with the men.

In fact, he didn’t have much food in the house. Just a few staples in the hutch.

His gaze drifted to the shelf, and he paused his chewing. Empty.

What had happened to the coffee beans, molasses, crackers, lard, and flour?

Had Violet and Hyacinth taken the food? What other explanation was there?

Of course, he hadn’t noticed when he’d come into the kitchen earlier in the day, because he’d been too focused on trying to find the women. But now there was no missing the fact that the two had helped themselves to the food.

Why? Because they had a place to go? Somewhere they could cook their own meals?

His mind spun with the implications. Were there any homes in the area that were sitting empty?

The little piece of land with the strawberry farm that Clarabelle Oakley—now Clarabelle Meyer—owned was being rented to Thatcher Hoyt. Thankfully it was only a couple of miles away, because they needed a veterinarian now more than ever before.

There weren’t any vacant homesteads or houses in the area that Sterling knew about. Unless Violet had heard of one that he hadn’t.

“Where did you go, Violet?” he whispered into the silent kitchen as melting snow dripped from his boots and coat.

She wouldn’t have been able to go too far without a way to get around. Unless…

Sterling stalked across the kitchen, out the back door, and made a direct line for the shed.

The flakes hit his face, and a cold breeze tried to slither down the collar of his coat.

He stopped at the shed, tossed open the door, and peered at the wall where he kept the skis, half a dozen pairs lined up by size.

His pulse leaped. Even in the dim lighting, he could see that two of the spots were empty. Two of the shorter pairs that his sisters had always worn were gone.

Victoria and Hyacinth had taken the food and the skis.

He’d gone skiing with Violet last winter, had taught her how to navigate in the snowy foothills and even how to ride the slopes downhill. In fact, the day he’d proposed to her, they’d skied out to the miner’s cabin…

His thoughts came to a crashing halt. Was that where she’d headed?

It had to be. She knew the way well enough. And it wasn’t too far.

He let his body sag with relief. He’d solved the mystery of her disappearance finally.

A gust of frigid air hit him in the back and nearly knocked his hat from his head. At the same moment, it sent an icy warning through him.

The way to the cabin often became impassable for weeks at a time after particularly heavy snowfalls, which meant Violet and Hyacinth could end up trapped there.

Even after some melting, the trails were still difficult for even the most experienced skiers such as himself.

If the women had any problems or ran short on fuel or food, they would attempt to leave, which could end up being deadly.

He had to get to them before that happened.

He glanced over his shoulder to the sky and the falling snow.

Darkness was creeping upon the ranch, and the snow didn’t show any signs of letting up.

If he had any chance of reaching the cabin tonight, he had to leave right away.

Doing so would be risky, especially since the wind seemed to be picking up.

He might find himself in the middle of a blizzard in the dark and could take a wrong turn, lose his way, get hurt… or worse.

With a shake of his head, he stepped into the shed and reached for his skis. No matter the danger to himself, he was going after the women right away.