“It was my parents’ land.” Morning Fawn’s voice firmed like oak. “My sister and I have a right to it.”
Devon stretched back and ran his fingers through his thick waves of hair. “That may be, but until we get Federal troops in this area of Texas, the local courts aren’t going to side in favor of a woman married to an ex-Yankee cavalry officer, especially one originally from Texas who acted as a spy and saboteur against the Confederacy. If anything, your cousin’s presence could pose a potential threat.”
Ben frowned. “What kind of threat?”
Morning Fawn puffed her cheeks. “We don’t expect a warm welcome from any devoted Rebs who recognize us.”
“We figured the frontier is fairly safe. That we’re not likely to run into any who recognize my face, and I don’t advertise my name around Weatherford. Garret signs the accounts and handles any business transactions.” He interlaced his fingers with Morning Fawn’s. “I made the front page of the papers back in January 1864. Branded as a wanted man and a traitor to the cause.”
“And yet you came back to Texas?” Ben cocked his eyebrows.
“We’re not going to allow anyone to keep us out of Texas.” Devon threw back his shoulders. “This is our home.”
“The East is entirely too citified.” Morning Fawn turned up her nose. “Besides, we wanted to partner with my sister and Mr. Ramsey.”
Ben lifted his head. “I won’t make any mention of you to LeBeau. But when I return to Weatherford, I’m going to rid that man of any notion he has of courting Miss Scott.” His hand curled into a fist. “And if you ever need any help defending yourselves against him or anyone else, you just let me know. Your whole family has been more than kind to me.”
Driving the cattle to market would take weeks more. Time for that weasel of a doctor to make inroads with Cora.Dear Lord, don’t let it be so. Please guard her heart till I return.
CHAPTER 28
The simmering sun slipped behind the western canyon walls, leaving the expanse of cacti, sage, and scrub brush in shadows. Sunset at last, but there’d be no rest. Ben’s tongue felt like cotton, and his cracked lips stung with every twitch. His eyes burned. A night and three days without water for the cattle, and even with rationing, the riders and the horses had drained every barrel and canteen to the dregs earlier this afternoon. They’d driven the cattle through the night. No sense in trying to stop. The night before, the animals had walked and stomped about, requiring everyone to be in the saddle in order to prevent a stampede.
Riding at the left point, Ben gripped his reins and coaxed his gelding onward. The mass of cattle groaned behind him, their eyes sunken, skin tight across their ribs, and tongues hanging. Goodnight’s man, Juan, rode point on the right, while two hired hands, Dan and Henry, kept to the sides of the middle. Fighting to keep the stragglers moving, Devon and Morning Fawn brought up the drags. They’d already had to put a bullet in almost a dozen head who’d either wobbled to the ground or turned to fight, crazed with thirst.
In the distance, dust flew as Eagle Ed rode toward them.
Ben loped his horse to meet him. “You find the Pecos?”
Ed removed his hat. Ten days’ worth of grime coated the trail guide’s face. His sweat-soaked hair lay plastered to his head. “No, but I caught sight of Castle Canyon. That means we’re close. I’m betting we’ll reach the river before sunrise.”
“We’d better.” A sigh rattled through Ben. He could only pray that this man’s wealth of knowledge was at least half of what he claimed it to be. “The cattle won’t stand much more of this.”
“We’ll get there. At least most of them will.” Ed unscrewed the cap on his canteen.
Ben’s eyebrows shot up. “You still have water?”
Ed worked his jaw and recapped the lid. “No. Just dreaming of a drop.”
Ben narrowed his gaze but pressed his lips shut. No use starting a confrontation with the man who knew the most. “Why’d you come back? Don’t we need someone out looking?”
Ed swiped his mouth. “Wanted to give you a choice. When these cattle catch the scent of water, and they can do that from miles away, there’s liable to be a stampede.” He rubbed his nose. “Either you can take our canteens and ride ahead scouting, or you can stay here and keep them from going wild.”
Ben scrubbed a hand over his jaw. “I don’t know anything about the area.”
Ed puffed his chest out. “You know less about cattle. I figure you can follow the stars. Plus, on your return, you’ll be able to hear us from miles off.”
Ben glared at the man. Ed was under his hire. He could order this seasoned cowhand to ride out for water, but if he did that, and the cattle stampeded? “What about Juan or Dan? They’ve ridden with Goodnight. They could help me keep the cattle in line.”
“Whatever you say, boss man.” Ed tapped his hat back to his head. “But I’m the best cowhand of the lot.”
Ben ground his teeth. Juan was hardly more than a kid, and Dan wasn’t much better. Devon was an excellent rider, and so was Morning Fawn, but they weren’t cattle experts, and neither was Phillips. “All right. Bring me the canteens.”
Canteens swinging from his saddle, Ben rode ahead, praying for direction and grace.
Close to midnight, he jaunted his gelding down the side of a slope into the moonlit limestone walls of Castle Canyon. A cool breeze rippled across his parched skin. Water. Pebbles and sand flew as he skidded the gelding down to the canyon floor. The horse sensed the water, too, and picked up speed.
Less than an hour later, Ben dropped his knees into the mud flats of the snake-like Pecos.Thank God. Water at last. He dipped his hand in and tasted. Tolerable under better circumstances. Tonight, it tasted almost like molasses. While his horse quenched its thirst, Ben swallowed his fill, careful not to overindulge, and filled the canteens. He looped the strings around every point of his saddle possible. An owl hooted from a lone scrub oak.
