had another episode of rustling, and I came out to see how you are doing. And to be honest, I am also suggesting that you may have taken a bigger bite than you can swallow.”
“So you are willing to come to my rescue, right, Marcus?”
“In a matter of speaking. Just think about it, Kitty. If you sold everything to me, just the land mind you, I’m not interested in the house, you can keep the house, why, you would have enough money to live comfortably for the rest of your life.” Kincaid chuckled. “That would show the Wellingtons back in England that neither one of us need them.”
“And you would do what? Get rid of the horses and raise cattle?”
“You have to admit, that raising cattle is a lot more practical,” Kincaid said.
“I appreciate the offer, Marcus, I really do,” Kitty said. “But raising horses was a dream that Tommy and I had together. If I don’t follow through with it, I would feel as if I had let him down.”
“I’ve only got one more thing to say,” Kincaid said. “I happen to know that you have a considerable loan against this place. I am sure that you know that if you can’t pay off the loan, you are going to be faced with losing everything. And I’ll tell you the truth, Kitty, I don’t see any way on earth you are going to be able to pay that loan.”
“I have no intention of defaulting on the loan. I will pay it.”
“How?”
“I’ll pay it,” Kitty said.
“By July fourth? That is when your loan is due, isn’t it? July fourth?”
“Yes.”
“That’s just over a month from now.”
“What if I am a few days late with my payment? It isn’t going to make that much difference,” Kitty said.
“What makes you think that?”
“Think about it, Marcus. The bank wants the money I owe them. They don’t want the ranch. Anyway there’s no problem. I have a contract to sell some horses in Chicago. Once I deliver those horses I will have more than enough money to pay off the loan, and I’ll have the property, and the horses, free and clear.”
“You have a contract to sell horses in Chicago?”
“Yes.”
“But even so, how many horses can you sell in Chicago?”
“My contract calls for five hundred.”
“Five hundred? That’s a lot of horses. Who would buy five hundred horses?”
“The U.S. Army,” Kitty replied with a satisfied smile. “So you see, Marcus, there is no problem. I will get the bank paid off.”
“In time?”
“Yes, in time. That is, assuming I have no problems in getting the horses to Chicago.”
“Ahh, well, therein is the rub. Kitty, I don’t want to be the naysayer here, but just what makes you think you are going to be able to get your horses to Chicago? You haven’t even been able to protect them when they are on your own property.”
Kitty walked over to a table and picked up a copy of
“About the shootout over in Wyoming? Yes, I read it. What about it?”
“Read the last sentence,” Kitty said. “The one that says Matt Jensen is a friend of what is right, and a foe of those who would visit their evil deeds upon innocent people.”
Kincaid read the sentence, then he laughed out loud.
“What is so funny?” Kitty asked.
“Do you really think Matt Jensen, this—hero—will come to your rescue, wearing shining armor and riding on a white horse?” Kincaid asked.
“Well, not the shining armor, and maybe not even the white horse. But yes, I really think he will come to help me.”
“What makes you think that he save the day?”
“Because he is Matt Jensen,” Kitty replied.
Marcus Kincaid left the house then, laughing out loud at Kitty’s innocent naivete about someone she had only read about in the newspaper.
Chapter Six
George Gilmore was a small man, five feet three inches tall, and weighing but 120 pounds. What he lacked in size, though, he made up for in intelligence, having graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with full academic honors. After graduation he read for the law, and was now a practicing attorney in Medbury, Idaho.
At the moment he was standing in the entry hall at Coventry Manor, having been summoned by Kitty
