“Then the sheriff would’ve already been here. Nothing gets past Darcy.”
George had a point, and Josie’s heart sunk. That meant it was far more likely he’d left town. She couldn’t put a voice to that fear, choosing instead to let the worry stew inside while George waited.
“Go on in,” she said quietly. “I’m going to sit out here a while longer.”
He sighed. “All right. Have it your way. I’m off to bed.”
And with that, the door shut and Josie was alone—a mere tiny being existing in the expanse of grass and dust and velvety night sky. The aching fear clawed its way up into her throat until she choked on it.
Josie sank onto the porch steps, letting the tears fall. She’d been right. He hadn’t truly wanted her. He’d wanted this ranch—or more accurately, a ranch he could own and run in peace. The man who’d wanted to buy it had proven too much of a hassle—more than he’d cared to deal with—and so he’d left. Finnegan had been right after all.
Her heart hurt as it hadn’t since she’d lost her father last year. It was as if that scar had finally healed over only to be torn open again with Arlen’s betrayal. The tears dripped onto the knees of her trousers, and she hiccup-sobbed. She was a slip of a girl who went about in men’s clothing, had a mouth that only spoke what she thought, and possessed none of the feminine niceties that men appreciated. What had ever made her think that Arlen had cared for her as more than a means to an end?
She wasn’t pretty, she wasn’t demure, and she wasn’t polite. Not a man in the world would want her.
The knowledge lodged itself deep into her heart, and it hurt. Oh, how it hurt!
“I am stronger than this,” Josie whispered as she swiped the tears from her eyes. She’d survive. She always had before. Grief hurt, and it hurt deep, that much she knew.
And for now, all she could do was move forward, one step at a time.
She rose from the steps and made her way inside, hoping George had already gone to bed. His door was slightly ajar, and as she passed it, she laid a hand on it. She had her brother. And perhaps one day he might marry, and then she would have a sister here. And of course, she had her land. She need never feel lonely so long as she remembered what was important.
The door opened a little farther under the pressure of her hand. Josie withdrew it and went to pull the doorknob to close it again when a canvas sack caught her eye. She tilted her head, studying it for a moment.
It was Arlen’s.
If he’d left, he’d done so without his belongings.
Josie backed out into the dark parlor. The lamp sat on a little end table by the settee, and she took it up now and lit it. The flame sparked to life, lighting up the small room from end to end.
And there, in the corner by the fireplace, sat Arlen’s rifle.
Josie furrowed her brow. Heneverwould have left without that. Which meant he didn’t leave, not for good.
A wave of relief so strong she had to brace herself against the wall soared through her. She’d let that awful Mr. Finnegan’s words get into her head instead of trusting Arlen. And if he hadn’t left her, then . . .
Josie’s chest tightened. He was in trouble.
No.It could be as George had said and he’d simply stayed too late and was now asleep at the Landrys’ or elsewhere in town. She set the lamp down and tried to force her mind to think rationally. She could wait until morning and see if he came riding up to the ranch.
But if he was in some sort of trouble, morning might be too late.
Her heart knew the answer, even as her mind warned her of the danger. She couldn’t leave him to face any kind of threat alone, especially not when it concerned her property. And if she got to town and all was well, all she would lose would be some hours of sleep.
And that was something she could live with.
Mind made up, she fetched her coat and hat, scribbled a message to George on a torn piece of brown paper that had previously wrapped purchases from the mercantile, and then went to the barn for Gretchen. Turnip followed her, panting happily.
“Stay here,” she ordered him as she mounted Gretchen.
Turnip sat obediently. And Josie made her way out into the night, praying over and over that all was well and her midnight ride would be for nothing at all.
