them in the back pasture to cool down, then moved MacHugh outside to an empty corral so he could get some exercise, and headed for the main house. He was ready for a cool drink and was smiling in anticipation. 'Where's Mary Rose?' he called out. 'Inside,' Douglas called back.
Adam had dismounted and was just opening the gait to the corral when Harrison walked past him. He stopped to speak to him. 'After supper tonight, I'd like to talk to you and your brothers.'
'All right,' Adam agreed. 'What do you want to talk about?'
'I'll explain later,' Harrison hedged. 'I don't want Mary Rose to listen in.'
Adam nodded. He unfolded his shirt and put it on. The two men walked together. Adam looked thoughtful. Harrison was a little surprised he didn't ask more questions.
'It's hot out, isn't it, Harrison?' Cole remarked. 'It sure is,' Harrison answered before he realized whom he was talking to.
Harrison increased his pace until he was almost running.
'What are you doing here?' he demanded in a near shout.
'I live here,' Cole replied.
'Where's Eleanor?' Harrison asked.
'Isn't she with you?' Adam asked from behind.
'She was supposed to be with Cole,' Harrison answered. 'What happened? Did you take her back to town and leave her there?'
Even as he asked the question, he knew it wasn't possible. Cole wouldn't have had enough time to take Eleanor back to Blue Belle and then make it home before Harrison.
Unless he'd taken a shortcut.
Harrison jumped on the possibility. 'She's inside, isn't she?'
Douglas smiled. Cole tilted his chair back, propped his booted feet up on the rail, lowered the rim of his hat, and closed his eyes.
Harrison turned to Adam. The eldest brother looked appalled.
'She isn't inside,' Adam announced. He turned his attention to Cole. 'I swear I'm going to tear the hide off your backside if anything happened to her. Were you supposed to bring her home?'
'Yes,' Cole admitted without opening his eyes.
Adam reached the bottom step and stopped. Harrison sat down on the top step. He decided he'd let Adam deal with the problem. He would have better luck getting answers out of Cole.
'What happened?' Adam asked.
'She's all right,' Cole said.
'Don't you realize the dangers up there? Are you completely out of your mind? For the love of God, there are wild animals roaming about. What could you have been thinking?'
'She won't hurt any of the animals. Don't get all lathered up, Adam.'
'That isn't funny,' Adam snapped.
Harrison began to smile, but Adam gave him a hard look and he quickly forced a frown. He knew Eleanor had to be all right. Cole wouldn't have left her to fend for herself up there, and once Harrison had gotten over his initial surprise, he realized that fact. Adam would realize it, too, as soon as he got over being angry. Cole was just having a little sport with all of them. Harrison would let him have his laugh and then find out where he'd hidden Eleanor.
'The animals won't bother Eleanor,' Cole assured everyone. 'Relax, will you? I'm having my break. Adam, did Travis tell you he spotted those five missing steers up on the short ridge? I'm thinking about going after them in a little while. Travis can go with me.'
'I'll go with you,' Harrison volunteered. He wanted to keep as busy as possible so he wouldn't have to think about the meeting tonight.
'What for? You can't help,' Cole told him.
'Of course I can help,' Harrison argued. 'Show me what you want me to do, and I'll do it.'
'Where have I heard that before?' Cole said dryly.
'What have you done with Eleanor?' Adam demanded once again. He came up the stairs and sat down next to Harrison. The oldest brother must not have been overly concerned about their houseguest, however. His gaze was centered on MacHugh now. The stallion was prancing around inside the corral.
' Harrison, would you mind if I rode MacHugh?' he asked.
'I don't mind. MacHugh might. You're welcome to give him a try.'
'Cole, are you about ready to answer me?' Adam asked. He kept his attention on MacHugh while he waited for his brother to answer.
'Dooley's looking out for her. I ran into him on my way past the creek. I gave him a dollar to keep his eye on her until I feel like going back.'
Harrison grinned. 'Exactly when will you feel like going after her?' he asked.
'In a spell,' Cole promised. 'It's real peaceful now, isn't it?'
Travis came outside with bottles of beer for all of them. He handed one to Douglas and then gave Harrison one.
'Isn't that Dooley coming down the hill?' Douglas asked the question. He squinted against the sunlight in an attempt to get a better look. 'Yes, I do believe it is Dooley.'
Adam leaned forward. 'By God, it is Dooley, and he's alone. Cole, if anything happens to Eleanor, you're responsible.'
'Adam, do you want a beer?' Travis asked.
The worry about Eleanor was temporarily put on hold. He accepted the bottle and took a long swallow.
'It goes down real smooth, doesn't it?'
Travis nodded. 'I bartered for a dozen bottles. Sure tastes good.'
'I hope Mary Rose doesn't come outside. She's bound to notice Eleanor's missing,' Douglas said.
'If she asks, we won't tell her anything,' Travis said. He leaned against the post and let out a yawn. 'She thinks Eleanor's in her room. Let her go on thinking it.'
'I don't think she'll want to talk to Eleanor for a long time,' Douglas predicted.
'Why not?' Adam asked.
'She's still mad at her,' Douglas said. 'Eleanor called Mrs. Morrison a fat cow.'
'Dear Lord. I hope Mrs. Morrison didn't hear her,' Adam said. He shuddered over the mere possibility.
'I don't see how she couldn't have heard,' Douglas said. 'She was talking to the woman and said it to her face.'
Adam shook his head. 'Looks like we're going to have to go to Hammond to get our necessaries.'
'Eleanor will apologize,' Cole predicted. 'I'll bet she's almost ready to change her ways.'
'What was she doing when you took off?' Travis asked.
'Throwing rocks and screaming. The woman's got quite a colorful vocabulary.'
'Afternoon, Dooley,' Douglas called out. 'Do you want a beer?'
'I sure could use me one,' Dooley replied. He climbed down from his mount and strutted over to the stairs. Harrison had never noticed how bowlegged the man was before. Dooley walked like he was carrying a pickle barrel between his knees.
The old man sat down on the steps between Adam and Harrison. He took his hat off, wiped his brow with the back of his arm, and then said, 'It surely is warm for winter, ain't it?'
'It's June, Dooley,' Cole informed him.
Harrison patiently waited for one of the brothers to find out what had happened to Eleanor. No one said a word. They were still busy appreciating their beverages. Harrison assumed the drink was a rarity for them because of the scarcity.
Dooley was licking his lips in anticipation of the treat he was going to get. Harrison finally broke down and asked the question for the others.
'Dooley, weren't you supposed to be watching out for Eleanor?'
'Yes, sir, I surely was.'
'Then why are you here?'
'I couldn't take it no more. She was making so much noise my head started in pounding. She didn't spot me
