“You’re too attached to these three brats to refuse.”
“You’re obsessed with this ranch. You’re mad if you think the law would allow you to keep it after all the people you’ve murdered and talk about killing.”
“Oh, I expect there’ll be some trouble justifying my actions but I’ll have the bodies to prove how you sold the ranch to me and how it angered your friends and they shot you. Of course, I’ll have to shoot them to defend myself, alas too late to save you.”
“No one will believe you. The children….” Her eyes widened. “You fiend, you plan to murder the children regardless, don’t you? Have you no conscience?”
She had to be sure her first shot counted. He was too close for her to have a second shot. From her periphery, she noted the children had moved close together.
“A conscience is for fools. I go after what I want. A lot of people have learned that over the years.”
“Including Ike.”
His expression left no doubt he thought her stupid. “He had his chance to sell and so did you. What a shame neither of you saw an opportunity when it was presented to you.”
She heard galloping horses come into the yard.
Winfield smiled. “Now things are about to get interesting.”
She took careful aim and fired. Her hands shook so she missed his heart but hit the hand holding the gun.
He shrieked and dropped the revolver.
Bret burst through the kitchen door and Moose came in the front door. Each man had his revolver aimed at Winfield.
“Charlotte, are you and the children all right?”
“Now we are.” She backed away and opened her arms to the children. They rushed to her.
Winfield cursed.
Bret backhanded him. “Don’t use that language around women and children.”
“Fool woman’s crippled me.”
Moose laughed. “Won’t matter where you’re going.” He used his neckerchief to tie Winfield’s hands behind him.
A horse galloped into the yard. Seconds later the sheriff rushed inside with his revolver drawn. “I figured he was on his way here. That fancy tunnel came out inside the barn. Nice to see you took care of him for me.” He holstered his gun and took out his handcuffs.
Davie broke away from Charlotte. “Sheriff, he was gonna kill all of us and try to make it look like Bret and Moose killed Mama and us kids and then Mr. Winfield killed Bret and Moose in defense. He figured people would believe him.”
Charlotte had to sit down again. “First he planned to make me sign over the ranch deed to him.” She examined the hole in her dress. “I fired through the pocket.”
Bret laid his hands on her shoulders. “We’ll get you new dresses, Charlotte, as many as you want.” He knelt in front of her. “Are you sure you’re all right? You’re awfully pale.”
Tears ran down her cheeks. “I-I missed. I aimed for his heart and only hit his hand. If I’d missed completely, he would have killed me and either you or one of the children. He almost won.” She couldn’t stop crying.
Bret stood and pulled her into his arms. “Don’t cry, sweetheart. You knocked the gun from his hand. Sheriff Haney will take him to jail for trial. Everything will be all right now.”
Moose stood behind Bret. “I reckon we’ll find the rest of your cattle on Winfield’s ranch. One or two of his men will tell the sheriff all he needs to know.”
The sheriff jerked Winfield to his feet. “Those two fellas still in the barn?”
Davie nodded. “They were when I milked the cows.” He looked at the floor. “I should have given them something to drink but I was still too mad at them.”
Moose clapped Davie on the shoulder. “Don’t blame you, Davie.” He nodded to the sheriff. “I’ll hitch the team to the wagon and you can load Winfield in with his buddies.”
Davie wrapped some cookies in a napkin. “You can eat these on the way to town, Sheriff Haney. I’ll carry them to the wagon for you.”
“Thanks, Davie. I never leave here hungry.”
Charlotte pulled away from Bret. “Let me cook breakfast, sheriff. It won’t take long.”
“Thanks, but Mabel will be worrying about me. She’ll be nervous with all those prisoners in the jail.” He pushed Winfield ahead of him.
“Mama, can I go with the sheriff and drive the wagon back home?”
She wiped her eyes with a handkerchief. “Not this time, son. I’m still too nervous to let any of you out of my sight.”
Looking from one child to another, she forced a smile. “I’m proud of you. Most children would have been crying and carrying on. You were very brave.”
Susie shook her head. “I was too scared to cry.”
Jimmy puffed out his chest. “I knew Bret and Moose would save us.”
Davie ruffled his brother’s hair. “Mama, I knew you had a revolver in your pocket. And I figured Bret and Moose were on the way.”
Moose ducked his head in the back door. “I’ll ride to town with the sheriff and drive the wagon back to the ranch. Anything I need to get from town?”
Charlotte looked at him. “Just come home safe.”
A wide grin split his face. “I intend to. Home sounds real nice to my ears.” He closed the door behind him.
Bret took Charlotte’s hand. “Sounds real nice to me, too.” He looked at the remaining cookies on the sheet then at the children. “Looks like there’re enough left for each of you to have two cookies. Why don’t you take them to your room so I can talk to your mother?”
Charlotte had never seen her three disappear so fast.
Bret led her to the parlor couch. He sat and pulled her beside him. “I know you haven’t known me long but sometimes
