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A boot slammed into his side and his body exploded in pain. The man kicked him a couple more times. Ben felt ribs snap and moaned, a raw animal sound.
White-hot pain pierced his shoulder then rough hands seized him, pushing hard. He had no strength to resist. They rolled him over an edge and Ben tumbled down a hillside, battered by brush and stones. His misery ended when his head hit something with enough force that agony consumed him and he lost consciousness.
Fingers pressed against the rifle stock hard in a painful, numbing grip, Evie stepped forward, moving past the hat that she couldn’t bring herself to pick up. Her gaze studied each stump and bush for any sign of her husband. Minutes passed like an eternity. Reality pressed upon her, ruthless. The land that surrounded her appeared empty of all but small wild creatures.
By the distant tree line, a couple of deer meandered along. Some small brown rabbits played by a rotting log. A turkey vulture flew by so close her nose wrinkled at its stench. Unsure of what to do next Evie started to turn around to head back home, and then stopped cold.
Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted distant puffs of dust on the previously deserted road. Rhythmic beats of horse hooves against the earth soon disturbed the quiet. Wind swayed tall blades of roadside grass on either side of her. Evie brought a hand up, shaded her eyes and spotted a rider. The image roused hope. She wanted to believe it was Ben, safe and sound, on his way home.
Apprehension swept over her when it became clear the rider wasn’t alone. Evie could make out three, none with a mount that had Sugar’s coloring. With the realization that Ben wasn’t one of them, another possibility occurred to her.
It could be the men from yesterday.
Alarm rooted her to the ground. Her mind screamed run but her feet refused to move. Nausea churned her stomach. Her legs threatened to buckle. Yet Evie stood, a statue, the entire time it took for them to reach her.
As they neared, it became clear she’d never seen these men before but the sight of strangers brought little relief. They slowed then stopped only feet in front of her. Evie kept a calm façade even as her heart raced. Expressions serious, they didn’t look lost and the only destination on this section of the road was her home.
“Gentlemen.”
“Mrs. Rolfe?” The stocky older man in the center wearing a dusty dull white hat moved his horse slightly forward.
Evie cradled the firearm against her mid-section. “Yes?”
“I don’t believe we’ve met. I’m William Talbert.”
“Mr. Talbert.” Nerves sharpened her tone. “Did you know some of your men harassed me last night?”
“I’m aware of that ma’am.” He dismounted with the ease of a man who’d spent a lifetime in the saddle. “And I don’t hold with craven behavior. I let those boys go as soon as I found out what they’d done. It won’t happen again.”
Evie inclined her head, acknowledging. “Thank you.”
“It was the right thing to do.”
“And you rode out here just to let me know?”
“No.” Anger threaded into his voice as he stepped away from his horse. “I’ve business with your husband.”
His long strides ate the distance between them. With each thud of footfall, her anxiety intensified. Evie inched back, keeping space between them.
“Please stop.”
“If you’ll just-”
“I said.” Her stance wide, Evie brought the rifle Ben had insisted she learn to shoot, and shoot well, up to brace against her shoulder. The firearm wobbled in her hands for a second then steadied. “Stop.”
Mr. Talbert stilled. He raised both hands chest high, palm out and spoke in a tone pitched to soothe. “Ma’am there’s no call for that. Put it down.”
“Not another step.” Evie issued a firm command.
The other men started to protest. Mr. Talbert made a sharp gesture and they fell quiet. “Easy now, there’s no need to get upset. I just want to talk to him.”
“Not today.” Evie stalled as she bore the weight of his steady gaze. Like a cornered animal, she felt trapped. Her grip on the smooth wooden stock tightened until her knuckles gleamed white, a finger hovering over the trigger. “Come back tomorrow.”
“No, he will explain himself today.” His tone was firm.
Her lips parted but no words emerged. Evie couldn’t admit she didn’t know where Ben was, that would reveal she was here alone and she couldn’t ask them for help. These men had reason not to wish her husband well. Seconds stretched into almost a full moment of silence while she tried to decide what to do.
Unexpectedly the sound of another rider interrupted the tense standoff. Evie flicked a glance in the direction of the noise. On a dappled gray horse, a lanky man, the tallest she’d ever seen, wearing a battered black hat, was easy to identify even at a fair distance.
“You asked the sheriff to ride out?”
“I just want to keep things civil ma’am.”
“By threatening me?”
“I haven’t.” His jaw tight, his words came out clipped. “Nor will I.”
Evie wasn’t certain she believed him but with the lawman closing in fast, she made a gesture of good faith. She lowered her weapon, pointing the muzzle to the ground. They waited the few moments in awkward silence until Jim Green joined them.
The sheriff positioned himself between Evie and the other mounted men. His fingers tugged the brim of his hat. “Mrs. Rolfe.”
“Sheriff Green.”
“Though it’s a fine day for a walk.” His voice was studiously polite. “Perhaps we should head back to your place. Mr. Talbert and your husband can settle matters there.”
“I’m afraid that isn’t possible.”
“Ma’am?”
“Ben isn’t home. In fact I’m worried he-”
“Where is he?” William Talbert demanded.
“I don’t know. He-”
“Do you know what that horse he sold me did?”
“He threw your son.” Her face stiff and hot, Evie spoke in a soft tone. “I’m truly sorry. I-”
“Your husband conned me.”
“I-”
“My son could’ve died.”
“Again, I’m so sorry but Ben-”
“I’ve no tolerance for lies.”
“Mr. Talbert I don’t-”
“Mrs. Rolfe-”
“Kindly have the good manners to let me finish a sentence.”
He jerked his hat off to hit it against his thigh. “Ma’am.”
“Thank you.” Slow, even breaths eased her agitation. “I don’t know where Ben is.” She held up her free hand when Mr. Talbert started to open his mouth and shook her head. “I don’t but with the sheriff as my witness I give you my word, if it’s possible, I’ll make things right.”
“He should face me like a man.” The older man’s contempt a barb, she flinched. “Not hide behind your skirt.”
“I think you should accept the lady’s offer.” The sheriff’s calm voice of reason entered the exchange.
Seconds passed before Mr. Talbert muttered, “fine.”
“I need to speak to the sheriff first.” Without waiting for agreement, she looked up at the lawman and at last gave voice to her gut-wrenching fear. “Something has happened to Ben. I … ”
Her throat closed. Evie couldn’t continue. Her emotions reactive and raw, tears threatened. She bit down on her bottom lip, struggling to keep control. Sheriff Green dismounted and put a hand on her shoulder. She drew in a shaky breath.
“Ben rode off and I … ” Evie pulled away. “I … ”
“Easy ma’am, take your time.”
“After a time I heard…” Evie paused, drew in a breath. “I thought I heard an argument out here. I came out and … ” She shook her head unable to continue, stepped back and gestured to what she’d found.
His face a blank mask, Sheriff Green studied the scene for a moment. “You go on home now and I’ll take a look around.”
“But I-”
“Can you settle things peacefully with Mr. Talbert?”
“Ah yes but-”
“Trust me ma’am, I’m good at my job.” As he walked past Mr. Talbert to his horse, the sheriff addressed him. “Would you escort Mrs. Rolfe home?”
“I will.”
“I could use the help of your men.”
Mr. Talbert frowned, agreeing in a dry tone. “Of course.”
Evie watched the three men fan out. She trusted Sheriff Green. He’d tried to work out a fair resolution when the Blakes’ claimed the wild horses Ben had caught and trained were theirs all because he’d been mistaken about the property boundaries. It wasn’t his fault the judge, a relative of Daniel Blake’s wife, had ruled against her husband.
Her chest ached with intense pressure. Ben didn’t share her good opinion. He blamed everyone who worked with the law as much as the crooked justice for his loss. And for some reason her husband believed that he was about to be arrested. Time would tell if she’d done the right thing sending the sheriff after him.
“Mrs. Rolfe?”
Her eyes burned with unshed tears. Evie knelt down, picked up Ben’s hat and pressed it to her stomach. Although she wanted to believe he was fine, the bad feeling in her gut persisted.
“Yes.” Distracted, her tone was polite, perhaps a little flat.
“Shall we?”
Evie nodded then turned around, starting back toward her home without waiting for a response. “What do you want?” She winced as her question emerged sharp, boarding on rude. “Sorry.” She took a breath then tried again. “What would make us square?”
In a terse tone, Mr. Talbert made his position clear. “I return the horse. You return my money.”
“How much would that be?” The sum he named caused her heart to skip a beat. A lump formed in her throat. “I’m not sure I have that.”
“I understand your husband spends a lot of time at The Bucking Pony.” His tone softened, now holding a note of pity.
Her cheeks heated. “What if you kept the horse?”
“It’s not worth what I paid.”
“I wasn’t suggesting that it was.” Evie cleared her throat, swallowing the urge to cry. “I was thinking we could work out something for the difference?”
They walked without speaking for a couple of minutes. The quiet undisturbed save for sounds from the horse Mr. Talbert led. Leather creaked, metal jingled and hooves delivered soft thuds against the ground. He took so long to respond her belly hurt.
At last, he answered simply, “That’s acceptable.”
“Thank you.” Unwilling to risk saying anything that might change his mind, she held her tongue until they reached her home. “Please excuse me a moment.”
Evie entered the cabin, leaned the rifle against the wall beside the door and moved to a shelf by the fireplace. Doubt crept in. She paused a second. They’d always kept their money in the large clay jar. Inside should be some of the money Talbert had paid for Spice and she hoped Ben had left her some coins from the bag she’d seen that morning. One hand crushed her husband’s hat as she reached out with the other, removing the lid.
Empty. She tried to ignore reason but the stark truth sank in slowly. His hat fell from her nerveless fingers.
Ben had left her with nothing.
Anger and frustration rose up and muted the worry. Evie wanted to scream or kick something hard yet did neither. The effort to restrain emotion caused her to tremble. It wouldn’t do for Mr. Talbert to see her throw a fit through the open door.
Pride stiffened her spine. Shoulders back, chin up, Evie stepped back out into the harsh light of day. She looked over at the animal that grazed only yards from the barn. Her eyes closed a second. She owned little of value other than Daisy.
“Would you consider taking the cow?”
“The cow?”
His incredulous tone caused anxiety to well up. Rigid with tension, Evie broke out in a cold sweat. She forced words out past stiff lips, shame ashes in her mouth. “I’m sorry. She’s about all I have. I could throw in a couple of chickens.”
“No.” He studied her awhile. “The cow will be fine.”
Mouth dry she gave him a quick nod then marched over to the barn. She grabbed a halter and a length of rope. The cow stood placid while she readied her to go. Minutes later Evie handed Daisy over to Mr. Talbert as she blinked rapidly to hold back tears.
“I’m very sorry about your son, Mr. Talbert, about everything.”
“I believe you are. Your husband on the other hand…” He swung up into his saddle. “Well ma’am, out here we consider a man only as good as his word.”
Evie winced at the verbal jab but remained polite. “Thank you for accepting the trade.”
