Clint raised an eyebrow.“Claiming?”
It was Russ who answered.“Jack doesn’t have a daughter.”
Clint turned back to Russ.“She’s an impostor?”
Randall hesitated.“I was married once.… I wasn’t aware there was a daughter.…” Randall turned to Russ.“I’m going to Casey Springs and make some inquiries, send some telegrams.”
“What should I tell the men?”Clint asked.
Jack Randall put a hand to his face as if to protect it from other revelations.He suddenly looked old and tired.“I don’t know.”
Clint brushed away the faintest sympathy.“You’d better take my horse then.I’ll take the buggy back to the ranch.”
Randall’s blue eyes met his.They were filled with a gratitude that hit Clint like a hammer stroke to the stomach.“Thank you.”
“What about Mr.McClary?”Clint asked.“Will he be going with you?”
Randall shook his head quickly, and again Clint had the impression that Randall disliked McClary.Then why was he a guest?
“You and Nate are in charge,” Randall said.“I don’t know how long I’ll be gone.I’ll have to wait for some telegrams.”
“I’ll ask the men to be patient about their pay,” Clint said.
Randall’s gratitude was hard to accept.Clint had never been a devious man.He didn’t like the role now, dammit, but he nodded.
Randall started to walk out.“It’s the roan,” Clint said.
Randall nodded as if sleepwalking.“Thanks, Clint,” he said quietly, and disappeared out the door, leaving Clint and Russ standing together.
“What are you going to do, Russ?”
The sheriff shook his head.“They could be any damn place, including north of Casey Springs, though I don’t think so.The robbery is in Sheriff Quarles’s jurisdiction, not mine, but still, I think I’ll do some looking around in the mountains.If they really are after Randall alone, they’ll be up there someplace.”
“It doesn’t make sense,” Clint said.
“No,” Russ agreed.“But somehow they knew the stage would be heavily guarded this time.”
Clint’s stomach clenched.The implication was clear, and Russ was not a stupid man.There were a limited number of men who knew Russ Dewayne and his sons planned to accompany the stagecoach today.Clint was among them.
But there was no suspicion in the man’s eyes.Instead, he smiled suddenly.“Why don’t you come to supper tonight?Kate’s a damn good cook.And I’d like to get your ideas on this.”
Very much surprised by the invitation, Clint couldn’t concoct a reason to refuse.He nodded.
“Seven,” Russ said.
“Seven,” Clint agreed, hoping his voice didn’t convey the sickness he felt in his belly.
Chapter 13
Shea headed the horse into the woods, but she had no idea which direction to take.The valley seemed ringed by ridges and walls, but there had to be an opening.She remembered climbing the day that she was brought to the cabin, and then descending, so she headed toward the highest ground.The horse remained reluctant, continuing to try to turn its head toward the direction of the cabin, and it took all her determination to keep him going in the direction she wanted.
She heard the sound of water, and she knew they were near the waterfall.She didn’t remember hearing it when Ben had taken her here, and started to turn in another direction until she thought of the horse.She wondered when the last time was that the horse had had something to drink.
She decided to head for the waterfall.There, she dismounted, and holding the reins rightly, led the horse to the pool.It drank slowly, and she stretched out on the bank to splash cool water on her face.She needed all her wits about her.
The horse suddenly acted skittish, almost jerking the reins from her hand.She rose and tried to mount, but the horse was shying away, trying to get loose.
And then she heard an agonizing cry from somewhere in the woods, followed by a roar of rage.The first cry was almost that of a child.Pain was evident in the sound, and she felt herself tremble.Something was very wrong.She wished she’d taken the gun Rafe Tyler had been wearing.
