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Chapter Three

B ernadette angled her hat so that it better protected her from the noonday sun.

The trees that were popping up more frequently did help a little to protect her eyes, but they weren’t enough.

Maybe after days of being in a cave, her eyes were more sensitive to the sun.

She leaned forward and patted her steed’s neck.

The poor thing didn’t have anything for its eyes.

It had to deal with the bright sunlight on its own.

She straightened up in the saddle and renewed her grip on the reins.

Gail and Lucas rode next to her, but they didn’t say anything.

Maybe they noticed the tension between Blaze and Zeke, too.

She wished she’d been there to hear what Blaze and Zeke had argued about.

She was certain that she’d been the reason for their dispute.

At one point, Blaze had even glanced in her direction.

She’d quickly looked away before he realized she’d been staring at them.

When it was safe, she watched them again.

Blaze, being a half foot taller than Zeke and a lot more muscular, seemed to tower over Zeke.

But Zeke hadn’t let that stop him from standing his ground.

If Zeke weren’t so incompetent with rescuing people, she would have been impressed.

Bernadette took a look at Blaze and Zeke. She couldn’t tell, but it appeared as if they were both trying to lead the group without going so fast that they would leave the three behind.

Gail closed the distance to her and whispered, “Did you ever have gentlemen fighting over you in Pennsylvania?”

“Do you really think they’re fighting over me?” Bernadette whispered back.

“What else would they be fighting about?”

Bernadette wished she could come up with another reason for the tension, but she couldn’t. It was obvious that Zeke was attracted to her. Why pretend she didn’t notice?

“I bet it’s flattering to have two gentlemen fighting over you.”

“I’m betrothed to Blaze. I don’t know why Zeke doesn’t understand that.”

“I’m sure he understands it. He’s not stupid. He just thinks that he’s the better choice.”

“After what happened at the cave, I don’t know how he can think that.

I had to make Zeke go into the cave to help Blaze.

” Aggravated, she shook her head. “I’m still not happy with him for it.

I wish he wasn’t joining us on this search for Lee and Wilson.

” A part of her even wished that they had never come across the map that would take them to the bandits.

If Squiggy hadn’t gotten a hold of it, she could be on her way to a comfortable ranch by now.

Sleeping outdoors and roughing it wasn’t for her.

“Believe me, Lucas and I don’t want to be here, either. We were hoping to be back on the train to Pennsylvania by now.”

Bernadette gave her an apologetic smile. “I’m glad you two agreed to come along. I didn’t want to stay by myself in town while waiting for Blaze to apprehend the bandits.”

“Are you upset that he wanted to go after them before marrying you?”

“No. He has a strong sense of right and wrong. He told me about some of his life while we were waiting for you and Lucas to come to the cave. I think as soon as he learned Lee and Wilson burned down an orphanage, he couldn’t turn down the opportunity to go after them.”

“Lucas arranged for you to marry a wonderful man. I don’t think you can do better than Blaze.”

“I can’t. Blaze is the best man out there. That’s why I agreed to wait.”

“You’re right. He’s worth waiting for. Putting up with Zeke for a short time is worth a lifetime with Blaze.”

Noting the way Gail grimaced as she said Zeke’s name, Bernadette asked, “What did Zeke do to bother you?”

“He treats me like I’m dumb.”

Bernadette hadn’t noticed him doing that. In fact, she didn’t recall Zeke saying much of anything to Gail. “How did he do that?”

Gail paused for a moment then sighed. “Well, I guess he doesn’t do it so much now, but when Lucas and I were on our way to find you, Zeke would watch over me while I made eggs, and then he told me that California is to the west of us while Pennsylvania is to the east of us.”

“He didn’t know that you knew where California and Pennsylvania are in relation to Arizona?” Bernadette asked in surprise.

“Apparently not, or he wouldn’t have taken the time to explain it to me.”

Bernadette didn’t know what to say to that. She and Gail had received the same education back home, so she knew that Gail was well-educated. “Did Lucas hear him say that?”

Gail nodded. “At first, he thought Zeke was joking.”

Bernadette shook her head. On top of being a coward who tried to make himself sound larger than life, Zeke was also rude.

She glanced at Zeke. He was talking to Blaze and gesturing to a mountain in the background.

Blaze pointed in a different direction. She couldn’t tell if they were arguing or just pointing out different parts of the landscape.

Either way, she didn’t see why they had to put up with Zeke.

“Why don’t we leave him behind when we get to the next town?” Bernadette suggested. “Blaze can handle Lee and Wilson without him.”

Gail bit her lower lip. “I would love to leave Zeke behind, but he knows where Quartzsite is.”

“I’m sure Blaze knows where it is, too.”

“You misunderstand. I don’t think we need Zeke to lead us to Quartzsite. I just think he’ll follow us there if we try to leave him.”

Bernadette considered Gail’s words and realized she was right. For whatever reason, Zeke seemed to be bound and determined to go after Lee and Wilson. There was no doubt Blaze was going to be the one who actually managed to apprehend the outlaws. She could only hope Zeke didn’t get in Blaze’s way.

Zeke knelt by the stream as he filled his canteen.

Another day was coming to a close. The remaining sunlight lit the small stream that wound its way through the terrain.

The soil wasn’t the best for pockets of streams like this, and yet, this stream survived out here.

The stream offered what it had without asking anything from those who used it.

He heard laughter and turned his gaze to the camp.

Lucas was holding Gail close to him. Lucas even kissed Gail’s cheek when Bernadette and Blaze weren’t looking in their direction.

Bernadette and Blaze were sitting a small distance from each other, but he could tell they were enjoying each other’s company.

Zeke felt a sting pierce his heart and turned his attention back to the stream.

He didn’t know what was harder to watch.

Was it the fact that the four got along well without him?

Or was it that Bernadette was in love with Blaze?

He had to keep his focus where it belonged.

One day, he wanted to be a sheriff. To do that, he had to be worthy of the badge.

It wasn’t enough to speak as if he deserved the badge.

He needed to act the part, too. A good sheriff protected people.

A good sheriff helped out whenever he could.

Like the stream in front of him, a good sheriff gave without expecting anything in return.

Decision made, he rose to his feet. He placed the canteen by his bedroll then gathered his leather sack.

The group grew quiet as he approached. He pretended not to notice.

Just because he’d caught some kids laughing about him when he was younger, it didn’t mean these four had been doing the same thing.

“I thought I’d make supper tonight,” he forced out. “I forgot to mention it sooner, but I did pick up some gingerbread before we left town. You add that to the beans and biscuits, and you have a real treat.”

He noted the way Bernadette’s nose wrinkled and realized her version of a treat did not include beans and biscuits, even if gingerbread was added to it. He glanced at Gail and saw the same reaction from her. Lucas didn’t seem bothered by it, but Blaze shook his head.

“I already told everyone I’m making supper this evening. I have my own biscuits. I’m going to make cheese and bacon sandwiches. For dessert, I’ve already started making an apple pie,” Blaze told him.

“Where did you purchase an apple pie?” Zeke was sure there hadn’t been any available in the town. And even if there had been, there was no way they could carry it in a sack.

“I didn’t purchase it. I’m making it with the ingredients I bought.”

“That sounds wonderful, Blaze,” Gail said.

Bernadette offered a nod and turned her adoring eyes in her intended’s direction. “It does. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.”

Blaze smiled with pleasure at the compliments. “I had to learn how to cook when my ma got sick while we still lived in Colorado. A local woman came by to help us out and taught me secrets to not only preserving food properly, but she also taught me how to make do with very little.”

“I’m starting to think there’s nothing you can’t do,” Lucas told Blaze in a way that let Zeke know that he, too, thought Blaze was the most impressive man to walk his way through Arizona.

And that one stung the most since Zeke had thought Lucas was the one person in the group who thought of him as a friend.

“Believe me, there are times when I wish I hadn’t needed to learn everything I did,” Blaze said. “It would have been a lot easier if I’d had a life like most other people.” He directed his gaze to Zeke. “You’re welcome to join us. I have plenty.”

Zeke knew he should say yes. The person in the group the others admired most was making the offer.

It would probably get Zeke into a better situation than he was currently in with them.

He didn’t enjoy feeling like the fifth wheel on a wagon.

But his appetite was greatly diminished now.

There was no point in having Blaze make food that would go uneaten.

“Waste not, want not,” as his ma liked to say.