Surely there was.
To hold on to her sanity, she had to believe the cattle could be recovered. Poor Davie was so worried. She had him reading the entire stack of Missouri Kid stories.
After perusing one, she was convinced there was no harm in them. They were terribly far-fetched but she had to agree they were entertaining. Last she checked, he was reading aloud to Jimmy and Susie.
She swept all the floors then scrubbed the floor in the kitchen and entry. Then she polished the furniture in the front rooms. The house smelled like beeswax and the oil she used on the baseboards. After replacing the mint and cloves she used in the kitchen to repel bugs and mice, she was exhausted. Just as well or nerves would have had her pacing the floor.
Instead, she summoned the energy to get supper cooking in the oven. Without a clue when Bret and Moose would return, she elected to cook plenty. They might bring the sheriff with them when they finally arrived.
She couldn’t put out of her mind the tender way Bret acted when she’d found the cattle were gone. His arms around her had been comforting. She longed for them now, needed him to reassure her that things would work out. She prayed they would and that Bret and Moose and the sheriff and any of his deputies helping would be safe.
***
Bret tensed at every sound. For all they knew, it might be days before anyone else came. Except for the sheriff on watch, Bret and his companions waited in the shade. He was tired of the tension and his bottom was tired of the rock seat. The hot sun reflected off the rocks and raised the temperature at least ten degrees.
If whoever was expected to bring provisions to the three criminals below arrived, would he or they realize others were watching? Bret and his companions had been careful to leave their horses in cover and had positioned themselves in hiding.
Sheriff Haney returned. “Someone’s coming.” He crouched behind a boulder.
Bret swatted an ant from his arm and stretched on the ground with a good view of the criminals. When he’d planned his trip, he’d never dreamed he’d be chasing rustlers. Now that he was, he figured this qualified as a grand adventure.
Their success here meant too much to Charlotte’s welfare for them to fail. She had taken care of him when he was defenseless. With horror he recalled her explanation of what would have happened had she and her sons not rescued him.
Moose hunkered down near Bret. “Get ready for some action.”
“I’m ready and I’m tired of waiting around for some crook to show his face.” Bret peered at the horseman approaching. “It’s Arp. He’s Winfield’s so-called foreman.”
The sheriff motioned for them to be quiet.
Arp rode up to the rustlers’ camp. He untied a gunny sack from his saddle and dropped it to the ground. “Boss sent you this.”
One of the rustlers stood. “How long do we have to stick around here? I have reasons to go into town.”
Arp took out the makings and rolled a smoke. “Your girl will wait, Snyder. If she don’t, she wasn’t yours to start with.”
The man called Snyder braced his legs and looked ready to draw his revolver. “Listen here, I find out you been trying to beat my time, Winfield won’t be able to save your hide.”
As if he hadn’t noticed the threat, Arp lit his cigarette then tossed the match to the ground. “Settle down, will you? You want to get caught in parson’s noose go ahead. I intend to remain free with no strings tying me.”
A second man gestured behind them. “This canyon’s about grazed out. Either the cattle have to be moved in a week or so or you’d best bring in feed.”
“Boss figures he’ll have the Widow Dunn’s ranch in no more than two weeks. Soon as she and her tribe are moved out of the house, we’ll move these cattle back to that ranch. Plenty of grass there.”
The statement made Bret see red. His dissatisfaction must have been obvious to his friend.
Moose laid a hand on his arm. When Bret looked at him, Moose shook his head.
Bret turned back to the drama below. He might be green but he was smart enough to realize the sheriff wanted to capture Winfield in the act. That knowledge didn’t prevent Bret from wishing they could round up the rustlers now and take them to jail.
The sheriff waited until Arp had been gone for half an hour before signaling them to go to the horses.
Once there, the sheriff spoke quietly, “Let’s ride for the ranch. Walk your horse until we’re a ways from here. No use in letting them know we overheard arrangements.”
They rode directly to the ranch. Charlotte and the children came out onto the porch.
Charlotte’s face was etched with pain. “No luck?”
Bret dismounted and hurried up to her. “We have good news.”
Hope sparked in Davie’s eyes. “Really? Please wait until I take care of your horses before you tell everything.”
“Sheriff, I’ve cooked plenty for supper. Please, you and Rick join us.”
After exchanging glances with his deputy, Sheriff Haney dismounted and looped his reins around the rail. “I’m grateful. Sure was glad to have those sandwiches you sent but it’s been a long time since we ate them.”
Bret admired the gracious manner Charlotte had of making guests welcome. She had to be worried half out of her mind because they’d returned without the cattle even though he’d told her they had good news.
He hurried to catch up to her. “We found your cattle.”
She whirled to face him. Hope shone in
