The noonday sun hung high in the sky as it beat down on Thomas’ neck. He’d been riding all morning to try and track down Ian Summers. Several of the miners and ranchers he met along the road had mentioned a young man fitting Ian's description just up ahead.
He quietly climbed out of the saddle and lead his horse to a scant patch of bushes near a campsite under a tree. Crouching behind the bushes he surveyed the area. A single tent was pitched under the tree next to a dead fire, and he recognized Ian’s horse grazing on some shrubbery in the distance.
He fastened his horse’s reins to a bush and quietly crept towards the tent.
He paused as he reached the back of the tent and heard rustling coming from within. His heart was pounding in his ears. There was definitely someone inside.
As he poised to confront anyone who came out, the fabric of the opening shifted. Thomas crouched lower. A wide-brimmed hat poked out. He held his breath as the rest of the hat emerged.
A figure bolted out of the tent, running full speed towards the horse grazing in the distance.
Thomas leapt to his feet and gave chase.
Ian was fast, but not fast enough as Thomas caught up to him and tackled him to the ground, tumbling in the dirt as they scuffled. Thomas managed to gain the upper hand and pinned Ian to the ground.
“Let go of me will you!” Ian struggled.
“Stop! I only want to talk!” Thomas held him in place as the man tried to break free. “They are going to put Rosaline in jail for something she didn’t do!”
Ian stopped struggled and stared up at Thomas in shock. “I thought the plan was to frame you?”
Thomas let go of his hands and fell back onto his knees, letting Ian straighten up.
They looked at each other as they breathed heavily.
Ian squinted as he looked at Thomas then wiped his brow on his shoulder. The sun was beating down hard. “They said if I planted the package in her belongings you would step in and confess, sending you to jail and leaving Rosaline with no other choice but to go back to this Mr. Dingle something.”
Thomas frowned. “Do you mean Diedrick?”
“Yea that’s him. Never met the man myself. I work for Higgs.”
“The thought crossed my mind to confess in her place, but since the gems were found in her belongings in the presence of a federal marshal, there was no way around it.” He looked directly at Ian. “You are the only hope she has.”
Ian raised his hands. “Just a minute there, friend. I have myself to look after, and if you’re thinking I’m going to confess you better think again. Not only is my employer a very powerful man, I hear this Diederick fellow isn’t to be trifled with.”
Thomas clenched his jaw and balled his fists. “Your confessions will put both of them in jail. I’m sure you will be able to incriminate them in far more than just framing Rosaline.”
“You don’t know how far the influence of men like Higgs and Diederick reaches partner.” He began to stand. “I’m sorry for your plight, truly I am, I can see that you care deeply for Rosaline.”
“I love her,” Thomas said unwaveringly.
Ian hunkered back down. “Wasn’t it just supposed to be a marriage of convenience? That’s what I heard around the ranch and in town anyway.”
Thomas looked past him at the hills in the distance. “It just happened, I never intended to love her, but I do and I can't lose her.” He looked back at Ian as tears glistened in his eyes.
Ian let out a long whistle. “That’s a right pickle then isn’t it.” He pushed himself up from his knees and strode towards his tent. ‘Sorry partner, can’t help you with this,” he called over his shoulder.
Thomas stood and shouted after him. “She was your friend Summers. She cared about you and you are going to walk away and let her go to jail for something she didn’t do!”
Ian paused stopped walking.
“She believed you are a good person,” he lowered his voice. “Are you going to prove her wrong? Did you truly not feel anything for her? I thought you were fond of her.”
Ian placed his hands on the back of his head and let out a heavy sigh. “Fine.” He turned back to Thomas. “Let's talk.”
Thomas followed him back to the campsite and watched as Ian lit the fire and placed an old kettle over it.
He sat on a stone facing Thomas and clasped his hands between his knees. “Look, I do care for Rosaline quite a bit, she’s a lovely lady and a good friend. I would even go as far as to say that she’s one of the best women I have ever had the pleasure of knowing.”
