I glare at Yance
and his stubborn-set face. Despite the stern expression, his eyes
hold a sense of urgency and sorrow. I couldn’t blame him, nor the
rest of my brothers standing around us.
They were innocent.
But—somehow—there
was too much stupid, false evidence against them. All of
them.
And it was forcing
them to run. Something they wouldn’t dream of doing—they
were too proud.
I attempted to
swallow back the tears like the tough ranch girl I tried to be,
daughter of the late reigning ranch lord and sister to seven
steel-backed cowboys. The wild ways of the West had taken Papa just
a year before, and now it seemed I would lose my brothers as well.
A blasted tear
escaped. I was never good at hiding my emotions.
But I wanted to be
brave. I wanted to fix this. What would I do without them? I
couldn’t run the ranch on my own. I couldn’t protect our assets
of cattle, pastureland, natural springs, and rich soil. This was our
kingdom. Even with our faithful hired hands, how could I keep it all
together and promise safety and good pay with the land-hungry
neighbors all around?
And when would I
see these dear faces again?
Yance, and his
gentle, chocolate eyes. Ben’s hearty laugh. Marsh, and his bear
hugs. Dan’s gift for music. Anders, and his way with horses.
Zach’s incredible woodwork. And Leo’s listening ears. Of them
all, I felt closest to Leonel, who was two years older than me, the
youngest.
The tears were
flowing freely now. But I didn’t care. I felt each of my brothers
gather around and wrap me in their arms. They didn’t say much.
But no one had to. I could practically taste the urgency and tension
in the air. It wasn’t every day one’s brothers were accused of
murder. And all seven of them to boot. I didn’t think I’d
ever understand how that happened. But I knew their story, and I
trusted them with all my heart.
Finally, someone
broke our circle. But I’d never forget how safe and loved I’d
felt in the midst of it. I brushed my tears away with the sleeve of
my dress, twisting my apron in my hands and determining in my heart
to be strong.
“Be careful,” I
began, my voice shaky at first, but gaining that façade
of confidence I wanted them to hear. “And don’t worry about me.
I will manage—you can be certain of that, if anything. But
please—be safe. The Navajo won’t take kindly to
trespassers—no matter how friendly you’ve been to their chief.”
Leo squeezed my
hand, stopping them from strangling my poor apron. “We’ll be
fine, Lizzie,” he said softly, and the others murmured assent. But
I watched Yance, who seemed to be taking this the hardest. As the
eldest, I’m sure he felt torn in his big-brother job of
protector—to help his brothers, or to watch over me. But we all
knew it wasn’t I who faced danger. Still, the sense of
helplessness was threatening to drown us all.
They had to go.
Nothing but a noose waited for them here—and I was keeping them too
long. Even the safety of our secret cove and the tranquil canyon
where we found current refuge would soon be discovered as the lawmen
tore our ranch apart searching for innocent men.
Anger began to boil
in my veins.
I would prove their
innocence.
Somehow.
Or die trying.
▲▲▲
Railroad
millionaire, Griff Morrow, had traveled across the entire country
from the East to West coast, but only one Wild West flower caught his
eye in all those miles of track and townships. And she was walking
toward him.
Lizzie Swann.
From the rumors
around town, her large homestead was in danger of collapsing. Until
now, he had assumed the references to a Miss Swann and her failing
ranch were that of an older woman, mature in her years, and the
subject of scorn because she wouldn’t accept any decent offer for
her land. Already neighboring ranchers were pushing cattle onto her
borders—the greedy scum. And if he were to believe the gossip,
she’d lost half of her hired men due to unseemly accidents. It
seemed someone wanted her property, and they were using fear to get
it.
But this was no
elderly maid. Lizzie Swann was young and lovely, Griff observed,
slightly surprised. Long, brown hair flowed in soft waves down her
back framing an oval face with large hazel eyes. Her figure was
slender and lean, but he could see from the way she held herself she
had a strength all her own.
Her eyes were what
caught his attention. He imagined they held a sparkle when she
laughed, but all he could see now was an underlying sadness.
Talk of her
brothers was most likely the cause of her suffering. It had been two
weeks, but the murder was just as fresh in the minds of the townsfolk
as if it had happened yesterday. One hardly made it two steps
without catching a conversation tied to the crime of the year. He’d
been here all of a week and was sick of it. Underneath the shadows
in Lizzie’s eyes, he sensed she was as well.
He stood to his
feet as she approached his table. “Sir,” she began, her voice
soft and gentle to his ears. “I must speak with you if you’ve a
few moments to spare. Your foreman
said I’d find you here.”
“Miss Swann,”
he said in greeting, then gestured to the empty seat across from him.
“Please sit,” he offered, and helped her into the chair before
taking his own once again. “May I order refreshment for you? A
coffee perhaps?”
Her eyes widened,
and she began to protest, “Oh! No, I couldn’t—”
“Please. I
insist,” he added with a grin. He flagged a waitress and put in
the order before turning back to her. Lizzie was clasping and
unclasping her hands in a nervous manner, and he couldn’t help but
catch her blush as she glanced at him and looked away.
Their coffees came
quickly and once her fingers were wrapped comfortably around her cup,
he gave her his undivided attention. “Now, Miss Swann. How may I
be of service?”
She took a
tentative sip, then placed her cup back down with a clink.
“I’ve a business proposition, Mr Morrow, and I do hope you’ll
consider it.” The sorrow returned to her pretty features as he
watched her thoughts cloud her face. She continued, her words coming
faster, “I have heard much of your reputation, sir, and know that
first and foremost you are an honest businessman, and I wish to—to
offer you the deed to my ranch and all the property and equipment it
includes.”
Griff blinked,
caught unawares. But she went on.
“I can’t do it
without my brothers. And the longer time passes, the more I lose. I
trust not a one of those other ranchers offering me ‘reasonable’
offers—my hired hands are practically terrified to set out to work
each morning because of Madam Hotch’s men, and I cannot ask them to
continue when their lives could be in danger. The sheriff—”
Lizzie’s voice hitched, softening further to a whisper. “The
sheriff turns a blind eye to their activities and won’t listen to
me…”
Griff listened
quietly until her last sentence faded and all one could hear was the
clinking of dishes in the hotel’s restaurant. If there was one
thing he was known for, it was that he was a deep thinker. And no
decision he ever made was on impulse, no matter how great the
bargain. It was the key to his success in the railroad business.
And would continue.
“Please, Mr
Morrow, will you buy my ranch? I made a promise to my brothers and
it’s one I intend to keep. But I cannot do so while worrying about
my home and the people and property entrusted to it.” She hadn’t
touched her coffee again, but had returned to wringing her hands.
“If you like, I will show you the property this afternoon, or
tomorrow even.” She met his eyes more directly this time, in
anticipation.
“I am not one for
hasty decisions, Miss Swann—”
“Please, call me
Lizzie.”
He nodded
acknowledgment. “But I would like to see the property, Miss Lizzie.
From what I’ve heard, I’d say you are sitting on the best bit of
land for hundreds of miles.”
A smile tugged her
lovely lips. “You would be correct, Mr Morrow. It’s my little
kingdom, but it’s nothing without my brothers.” And just like
that, her smile transformed.
He leaned forward,
resting his elbows on the table, and hoped his voice held the
compassion he wished to convey. “I don’t know the details, Miss
Lizzie. But I listen and I listen well. And if your brothers are
anything like what these folks say, then they’re no murderers.
We’ll look at the ranch this afternoon and I’ll sign the deed
directly afterwards. And should all come out well in the end,
perhaps someday you’ll be asking to buy back your little kingdom,”
he said with a smile. Her features lit up, proving him right. Her
eyes did sparkle when she smiled. The thought of wanting to know her
better flitted through his mind.
She ventured to
grasp her coffee mug just as a blush graced her cheeks. For some
reason, it flattered him he was the cause.
“May I ask what
you intend to do once ownership is transferred?”
She sobered
immediately, and a different kind of spark came to her eyes. “I’m
going to prove their innocence.”
He nodded
thoughtfully. Wouldn’t he do the same if his brother was
falsely accused of a crime? He didn’t know the Swann brothers, nor
the whole of this entire mess, but something didn’t sit right, no
matter what one heard. “How?”
She smiled as if
she possessed the biggest secret in the world. “I have a lead.”
