He shifted his focus back to the trail ahead and the difficult navigation, sidestepping carefully down through the rocks.
She expelled another breath that was warm and much too distracting. “When we get back to your ranch, I’ll send Hyacinth over to High C Ranch to talk to Hazel about staying with her.”
Staying with Hazel probably would be for the best.
Even though he’d vowed he would make amends to Violet and help her out of the situation with her father, he couldn’t have her stay at his ranch with him, could he? Her presence there would cause all kinds of pesky gossip and rumors. And after the failed wedding, he’d already been the center of conversations enough for one year.
“I’ll see if Alonzo is available to drive Hyacinth over.”
“I’m sure she would like that.” Violet’s arms loosened just slightly from around his neck, or maybe he was imagining it.
She was quiet the rest of the way down the hill, which was for the best so that he could concentrate on not falling. When they reached level ground again, he went back for the sled. At his return, he helped situate her back on it with the bags wedging her in. Then they began crossing the last field that separated the ranch from the foothills.
As they drew closer to the house, one of the ranch hands spotted them and called out. A minute later, Beckett was on his horse and riding toward them. As he drew up, something in the young man’s face set Sterling on edge.
Had the vaccine started killing off the cattle in addition to the blackleg? How many more livestock had died in the few days he’d been gone?
“What’s wrong?” He halted and tipped up the brim of his Stetson.
Beckett twisted a piece of hay between his teeth, as he usually did. He took in both Violet and Hyacinth before settling his gaze on Sterling. “Glad you made it there, boss. Was worried.”
The conditions hadn’t been great when Sterling had set out for the cabin, and he was sorry for having worried his friend. But he’d had little choice. “Violet hurt her ankle. Otherwise we’re none the worse for wear.”
“Good.” Beckett’s attention drifted again to the women, first to Violet then to Hyacinth, where his gaze stayed for a few seconds too long.
“How are things here?” Sterling almost didn’t want to ask the question, and he braced himself for the answer.
“For the cattle?” Beckett nodded toward the field closest to the barns, where the steers were mostly clustered around mounds of hay from among the fodder they grew and stored forthe winter months, when snow made grazing difficult. “Only one more died after you left.”
The tension inside Sterling snapped loose, and he almost sagged in relief. “Then the vaccine is working?”
Beckett gave a curt nod. “Thatcher has over half the herd vaccinated, and so far they’re all doing just fine.”
“No signs of problems in them?”
“Not a one. We owe Thatcher a huge debt. He’s been here every day from dawn to well past dusk doling out the shots.”
“That’s mighty nice of him.”
“He’s a good veterinarian and a real good man.” Beckett’s voice, with his thick Southern drawl, trailed off as though he had more to say—news he didn’t want to speak around the women. Something else was wrong.
Sterling’s muscles tensed.
Behind him, Violet sniffled, then sneezed.
He propelled himself forward again. “Let’s get the women inside. Then we can talk some more.”
Beckett shifted his horse around so that he was plodding alongside Sterling. “Not sure if you should take the women to the house, boss.”
“Why not?”
Beckett leaned in and dropped his voice. “The house was ransacked two nights ago.”
“What?” Sterling stumbled over his skis and nearly fell. As he straightened, he stopped and glanced around with a new sense of alertness, this time taking in the distant snowy fields they used for alfalfa, the split-rail fences, the two grain silos, the barns and bunkhouse and storage sheds. The large house stood a short distance apart, showcasing his family’s status and wealth. Everything seemed in order as it should be.
“Someone broke into the house.” Beckett spoke a little louder.
“I heard you the first time.” Sterling glared at the man and then nodded at the women.
