No rider traveled the open land, and as far as he could tell, all looked peaceful around the ranch buildings. The calf wasn’t in the corral next to the barn. Perhaps they’d had extra milk from yesterday and, with Rosemary sick, they’d decided to wait until morning to come for more. Yet even as he tried to convince his mind that scenario was plausible, his gut clenched tighter.
As soon as his horse descended the rocky slope to level ground, he pushed the gelding into a canter. When he reined down to a walk at the edge of the ranch yard, the door to the house opened and Miss Rosemary stepped out.
Not sick. Tension thrummed tighter through his entire body. Was something even worse wrong?
As he leapt to the ground, another man stepped from the house, about Miss Rosemary’s age and dressed like a trapper, though he wore no beard.
Tanner kept his rifle in hand and left his horse to stand as he moved forward. Miss Rosemary didn’t look worried, so maybe she and her sisters weren’t being held hostage by this stranger. The fellow eyed Tanner as though he thoughtTannermight be the threat.
That would be the case only if this man intended to harm the sisters.
Why would they have let him in the house? Rosemary possessed a great deal of wariness and a decent amount of common sense. She wouldn’t invite a strange man in. He must’ve forced his way. Tanner adjusted his grip on the rifle so he could raise and aim in a heartbeat if he needed to.
“Mr. Mason. I guess we forgot to come for the milk today. Thank you for bringing it.” Her voice sounded direct as it always did, but not thick with tension. Yet they’d forgotten about the milk? Perhaps he’d only known Miss Lorelei a short time, but he couldn’t imagine her ever forgetting something so vital to the care of her young charge.
“Is everything all right here?” He shot a look at the man so Miss Rosemary would take his meaning.
Her brow wrinkled, and she glanced at the fellow. The sight of him didn’t ease her expression. “My sister and her husband have returned from a journey into the mountains. And more has happened. A man was killed over that white buffalo.”
Tanner’s jaw went slack. “Killed? Who? Are any of you hurt?”
His gaze shot to the corral again. Two horses stood near the barn, heads drooped as they dozed. All seemed quiet.
The others must be in the house then. Miss Lorelei and Miss Faith and perhaps White Horse. And the other sister? He rested his focus on the man once more. “You’re the brother-in-law?” No wonder he acted as though he belonged here.
He gave a single, decisive nod. “Riley Turner. You’re from the new trading post?”
“I am. Tanner Mason. My partner has gone back for more supplies.” He should take this chance to shake the man’s hand, to prove himself friendly and encourage him to bring his furs to the post.
But his business was not his uppermost concern right now. He turned back to Miss Rosemary. “Are any of you hurt? What did that man do?” He had to bite his tongue to keep from asking specifically about Miss Lorelei. Knowing her, she might well have placed herself between the stranger and the calf.
She shook her head. “We’re all well. It’s just ... been a troubling day.” She looked past him to his horse. “Did you bring the milk?”
He nodded, but his body didn’t want to turn and retreat long enough to gather it.
“Bring the flask inside, please. The girls have the evening meal ready. You should eat with us.” As she turned and strode toward the house, an odd sensation swept over him, like the ground shifted beneath his feet.
He glanced at Riley Turner, who was still watching him.Not so much wariness now in his eyes. Mostly curiosity, it seemed.
After retrieving the pouch of milk from his saddle and settling his horse where the animal could graze, Tanner started toward the house.
The door opened before he reached it, and his heart pulsed faster as he searched to see who met him at the entrance. Miss Faith. He managed to keep from showing his disappointment.
“Come in.” She nodded to the man just behind her. “You met Riley, I take it. Come meet Juniper. They brought news.”
News? Even more than the fact that a man was killed here?
As his eyes adjusted to the lanterns lighting the inside, his gaze swept the room until it found Miss Lorelei. She sat on a mattress pushed against the far wall. The woman beside must be her sister, who was stretched out on the bed as though she were ill.
Lorelei met his gaze with a gentle smile and motioned for him to approach, though she made no move to rise. He stepped nearer but stopped far enough away to remain respectable. Hopefully. He’d never been inside a house with no interior walls to hide where the women slept. They had no privacy from visitors, though they likely didn’t invite others inside often.
Hopefully.
Miss Lorelei’s gentle voice drew his focus from his thoughts. “Mr. Mason, I’m honored to introduce our sister, Mrs. Riley Turner. Though I’m sure you could call her Juniper, if you like.”
It didn’t at all feel proper to call her by her given name, so he only nodded and said, “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Mrs. Turner offered a smile, though her face looked pale. “My sisters are thankful you’ve become our neighbor.”
