“Yes to both questions. Wait and let the sheriff explain. I simply couldn’t let you wonder any longer.”
“Thank you. We’ve been so worried. The day has seemed at least forty-eight hours long.”
Susie poured coffee for everyone except her and Jimmy, who drank milk.
Charlotte set food on the table in record time. After she’d ladled out bowls of stew and set two skillets of cornbread on the table she joined them.
Sheriff Haney explained how they’d found the cattle and what they’d overheard. “Mrs. Dunn, you can’t get upset by what we heard.”
“That’s where you’re wrong, Sheriff Haney. I am very upset. Winfield plans to steal our home after he’s already stolen our cattle and killed Ike, Stubby, and Quirt. I’ll bet Winfield went to the bank today to push for buying our mortgage note.”
The sheriff explained, “I intend to catch him in the act of checking on the cattle.”
“That may make sense to you, but I don’t understand why you didn’t arrest the men you saw there today and drive our cattle back to this ranch where they belong.”
“If I had arrested those men today, there’s no way I could prove Winfield was involved. He’d say he didn’t know what his men were doing and that he was innocent of any involvement. I want to catch him as well as the men who work for him.”
Moose nodded and sopped the last of his stew from the bowl with a chunk of cornbread. “I’d sure like to see some of Winfield’s cattle. I reckon there’s some changed brands on his beeves.”
The sheriff rubbed at his neck. “Like I told you, I haven’t heard of any other ranchers losing cattle in this county. I don’t remember where he came from. Seems like it was down close to Waco.”
Bret took another piece of cornbread. “How long ago did he buy his ranch?” He slit the bread and inserted butter.
Sheriff Haney frowned. “Can’t recall exactly but think he came a few months before Mrs. Dunn arrived.” He looked at Charlotte. “Has that been about three years?”
“I came three years ago next month. Elwood Winfield was already living on his ranch then but he wasn’t a problem until later.”
The sheriff leaned forward. “Problem? What kind of problem and why the devil wasn’t I told?”
Charlotte stood and refilled coffee cups. “I guess I should have said he was a pest. He kept trying to get Ike to sell the ranch to him. Nothing Ike said would discourage the man. Even though Ike hated to make an enemy of Winfield, he finally told him not to ask again or he’d shoot him on sight.”
She raised a hand palm out toward the sheriff. “He wouldn’t have but we were so tired of him pestering Ike. We knew he was responsible for some of the mischief around the ranch but we had no proof.”
Bret asked, “What kind of things happened?”
“Fences were pulled down a few times. Once the creek was dammed with brush we were supposed to think happened naturally. The backup flooded a cornfield at the wrong time which meant Ike had to buy corn for the pigs and chickens. That sort of thing. Nothing life-threatening, just constant annoyances that created more work.”
She sent Davie and Jimmy a scolding glare. “That’s why the boys weren’t supposed to be riding far from home the day they found you, Bret. Thank heavens they disobeyed that time, but you can understand why I wasn’t comfortable with them being far from the house.”
“Of course I can see why—especially when your husband had recently died. No one could blame you if you’d kept them right here around the house and barn.” Bret winked at Davie. “I have to admit I’m sure glad they chose that day to rebel.”
Davie shook his head. “But we didn’t intend to disobey. We were cutting up and racing our horses and just didn’t pay close enough attention to where we were.”
Jimmy’s eyes were round as saucers. “Mama, we didn’t mean to, honest. We were just having fun.”
“Boys, not noticing where you are is very serious. You know you have to pay attention all the time. You could bring real trouble on yourselves otherwise. We’ll talk more about that another time.”
Charlotte put her hands on her hips. “What do you men plan to do about resolving this mess of a situation?”
The sheriff stood. “Mrs. Dunn, you’re going to have to trust us. Rick and I will come up with a plan and bring a few more men to help us when the time comes. We’ll make sure Bret and Moose are part of the action. Appreciate the meal but right now, Rick and I need to be on our way.”
Chapter Sixteen
Charlotte was too frustrated to settle down. She paced the floor while Susie and Jimmy did the dishes.
Bret stepped in front of her. “You’re disappointed but this will work out soon. The sheriff and his deputy heard enough to know who’s behind all your trouble.”
“I’m worried, Bret. I can’t help having a bad feeling about this. Too much can go wrong before the sheriff returns.”
He tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “He seemed to me to know his business. Don’t you trust him?”
She caught her breath, surprised at his touch. How she would have loved to lean against him. “I’ve no reason not to trust him. He hasn’t found the men who shot Ike and our two ranch hands but I know he tried. At least… I think he did.”
Moose stood near the kitchen door. “He seemed like a trustworthy man to me. He and Rick did what I would have done. Doesn’t do any good to capture the little guys and
