Bret climbed on his horse and followed the rustler.
They rejoined the others. The rustlers were handcuffed and the sheriff was ready to head to town.
Moose rode by Bret. “Still don’t have Winfield. I sure hope he doesn’t slip through this somehow.”
Bret looked at his friend. “Man I shot is willing to talk in hopes of saving his neck. If he does, I’d be willing to bet some of the others will, too. Winfield is done for this time.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Bret and the other three set off toward Palo Pinto with the five handcuffed men. When they reached the jail, Bret stayed on his horse. “I’m worried about what Winfield will do now.”
Moose wiped his face with his handkerchief. “He’s bound to find out soon that Arp and the other four men are in jail.”
Sheriff Haney herded the criminals into the jail. “You two better go on. Rick and I’ll head that way soon as I get these men locked up.”
Bret and Moose turned their horses and loped toward the ranch. He worried the entire way and prayed Charlotte and the children were unharmed. He didn’t remember the last time he’d prayed. The Good Lord was probably surprised to hear from him.
He and Moose slowed their horses as they approached the ranch in case there was a trap waiting for them there. As they walked their horses into the yard, they spotted the two tied men.
One called, “Help us, you gotta help us. My hand is bleedin’ and hurts like a sonofagun.”
The second one whined, “You men help us. Careful, that woman and her boy are crazy.”
The door opened and Charlotte and Davie came onto the porch.
Bret rushed to her and clasped her shoulders. “Are you and the children all right?”
She leaned her head against his chest. “Except for the fact I aged ten years tonight I’m fine. Thank heaven Davie is so dependable.”
Moose stood with his hands on his hips and stared at the scene in the yard. “Can’t help noticin’ there’re two big snake carcasses in the yard and a tow sack. I’m willin’ to bet there’s a connection to those two fellas.”
Charlotte explained with Davie adding to her story. “They each need a doctor but there was no way we could get them to town.”
Davie scowled in the men’s direction. “I don’t care if they bleed to death or rot. They deserve it.”
Charlotte pulled away from Bret and wrapped an arm around Davie’s shoulders. “We can’t sink to their level, Davie. We have to be compassionate.”
Inside, she wanted to agree with her son. Likely the men would be hanged or at least sent to prison for attempted murder.
Bret pulled both Charlotte and Davie into his arms. “You two are amazing. The sheriff will be here soon. We caught five of the rustlers but they’ve moved your cattle to Winfield’s ranch. One of the rustlers is willing to talk to save his neck. Now the sheriff will have plenty of evidence to arrest Winfield.”
“You found all of our cattle?”
“Not yet, sweetheart, but we know where the last ones rustled are now. You’ll get them back. I hope we locate the others, too.”
Charlotte took Bret’s hand. “It’s almost daylight. Come into the house and I’ll fix your breakfast.”
Moose looked at the two hogtied men. “Y’all go ahead. Reckon I’d better watch over those two.”
Charlotte grabbed his arm. “Not here in the open. You don’t know who’s watching.”
The four of them went inside. She showed Moose to the chair she’d used in the dark parlor. “With such a full moon you can see the two well enough. I have their weapons but I didn’t check their boots for hideout guns or knives.”
Moose sat in the chair. “Don’t see how they could get to anythin’ without chokin’ in the attempt.”
“I’ll get a meal started and fix enough for the sheriff and his deputy. Do you think he’ll bring a posse?”
Bret shook his head. “He didn’t say but I wouldn’t be surprised. He plans to arrest Winfield and any of his men still there.”
Davie tapped Moose on the shoulder. “I’ll watch those men so you and Bret can stretch out on the pallets or go find a bed. You can send Jimmy in here. I figure you two are plenty tired.”
Bret lay on the quilts. “Sure feels good. Hope I won’t be too stiff to get up when the sheriff arrives.”
“I ain’t stupid enough to look a gift horse in the mouth.” Moose followed Bret’s example. “Ah-h-h, this is much better.”
***
Charlotte started coffee boiling in her largest coffeepot. When she checked on the men, both were sound asleep. Davie caught her gaze and stuck his fingers in his ears at Moose’s snoring. She couldn’t keep from laughing.
After taking ten steaks from the cool space, she started them frying. Those were all she had available without going to the smokehouse and cutting more. She didn’t want to do that this morning. She’d cut these the previous afternoon. If there were many men, she and the children would skip eating until the men had left.
She also started potatoes and onions frying together. Making biscuits didn’t take long so she had those in the oven in only a few minutes. She was grateful for her modern range with the warming shelf above it.
After lining up eggs to fry, she set the table with butter, syrup, jam, as well as milk and sugar for those who used it in their coffee. She mixed flapjack batter and started turning out flapjacks and stacking them on a plate resting on the warming shelf.
The sheriff arrived with Rick and two other men.
When she heard the horses, she woke Bret and Moose then went to the door. “I have a meal
