Sheriff Haney wiped his feet before he entered. “Looks like Bret and Moose came back just in time.”
Bret called, “That’s what we found waiting for us. Davie and Ch… Mrs. Dunn had those two tied up.”
The sheriff chortled. “If that don’t beat all. Those the two who made the mess yesterday?”
She fried eggs. “They are. Brought two rattlesnakes this time but we took care of those, too. I shot them, Davie buried the heads.”
“Mrs. Dunn, you know my chief deputy, Rick McNabb. This two are Reginald Gilbert and Mark Hickham, who are deputies when I need extra help.”
Charlotte glanced over her shoulder. “You’ll excuse me if I keep cooking eggs. I know you men are in a hurry.”
While she fried eggs Bret poured coffee and Moose helped move food to the table then both joined the other four seated men.
The men passed the food around, not saying much as they ate.
She took a cup of coffee to the parlor. “I’ll watch while you go eat with the men. You earned a good meal.”
“Thanks, Mama.” Davie headed for the kitchen.
Sheriff Haney waited until her son was seated. “Well, Davie, since you’re the one who found the wanted poster on the man we knew as Arp, I reckon you’re due the reward.”
“Really? Thank you, Sheriff Haney! I never expected a reward but that’s great.”
Bret glanced around the table. “Could you men help Moose and me get those two hogtied polecats into the wagon in the barn? Then I can lock the barn and they’ll be safe.”
Sheriff Haney cut the last of his steak from the bone. “Sure, good idea. No point Mrs. Dunn losing sleep watching them.”
Charlotte was happy Bret had that idea. She sure was tired. “Maybe you could put their horses in there, too.”
Bret smiled at her. “We’ll get all signs of them locked in the barn. You won’t have to even think about them.”
“I was thinking if someone came looking for them there shouldn’t be any sign of them to give away the fact they’d been caught. Maybe you should gag them while you’re at it.”
Bret nodded. “I think you’re right.”
Sheriff Haney grinned at her. “Mrs. Dunn, I sure hope you don’t ever take to crime. You’re too thorough and clever to ever be caught.”
“Thank you, Sheriff Haney, but I’m staying on the right side of the law. I’ll sure be relieved when this whole mess is resolved.”
Thirty minutes later, the men rode toward Winfield’s ranch to arrest the man and any other people working for him. Charlotte set the dishes in the sink and hurried to get them clean. Then she set the three steaks left on the warming shelf along with the few biscuits remaining. Those men definitely had been hungry.
Even though it was full daylight now, she’d rather sleep than eat. After extracting the children’s promise to remain inside the house, she went to her room. She snuggled in bed, confident that the dogs would alert them if they had more prowlers.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Bret’s nap and a good meal had helped revive him. The sun was well above the horizon as they rode to Winfield’s ranch. Bret had to admit he was curious about how and where the man lived.
The large house was made of stone. Not quarried blocks of stone like the jail, but those that littered the landscape. In spite of the unusual appearance, the house was appealing. He guessed it would have at least five or six bedrooms.
As they rode closer, Winfield strode onto the front porch. “Stop right there. You’re trespassing. My men have you covered so you’d better turn around and go elsewhere. In fact, you can go to the devil.”
Sheriff Haney didn’t move. “Elwood Winfield, you’re under arrest for rustling and attempted murder.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Sheriff. You have no evidence and no jury would convict me on speculation.”
“That’s where you’re wrong, Winfield. We have plenty of evidence. Five of your men are in jail right now, including Arp.”
Winfield couldn’t hide his surprise but he quickly recovered. “Why, what have those men done?”
Sheriff Haney rode closer. “You know very well so come peacefully. Nothing to be gained by resisting and getting men killed. I am taking you in today.”
Suddenly, Winfield fired two quick shots at the sheriff, missing by a long ways, as he dropped behind a long planter that was almost three feet high and filled with pale purple flowers.
Winfield yelled, “No one is taking me to jail.”
Bret and his companions dismounted and took cover where they could find it. Bret zig-zagged to drop behind a water trough.
In addition to Winfield, Bret counted four men shooting at them. One was popping out from the barn, another from what looked like a bunkhouse, one from a corner of the house, and one from another corner of the house.
The sheriff repeated, “I’m coming after you, Winfield. You are under arrest.”
Moose looked at Bret and gestured toward the house. “I’ll take the one on this corner and you take the one on the other corner.”
“We’ll see who gets his man first. I’m ready to be through with this adventure.” Bret dashed to take cover behind a wagon.
The men from the posse concentrated on the barn and bunkhouse. The sheriff focused on Winfield. Bret winged the man he was trying to capture.
The man threw down his gun and raised his hands. “Don’t shoot.”
In a frantic rush, the sheriff came around the side of the house. “He’s disappeared.”
Moose appeared with the man he’d captured. “Winfield probably went inside.”
Sheriff Haney was adamant, “No, I was watching the door carefully. He didn’t go through the front door or get off the porch. He just disappeared.”
“Sheriff, would you take
