Chapter Fifteen
It was midafternoonwhen Wade and the others returned from Cañon City with the missing cattle. And he immediately knew something was wrong the second the house came into view.
As the ranch hands continued to herd the cattle to the south pastures, Wade’s gaze darted between the unknown white horse in the corral and Kristiansen running toward him. He dismounted by the corral just as Kristiansen reached him.
“We had trouble last night,” his foreman said as Wade began unsaddling the horse.
Wade breathed out. His gut feelings were rarely wrong. He only hoped it hadn’t been anything too devastating, particularly since they’d just gotten the cattle back. “What happened?”
“You ain’t going to like this one.”
Wade paused. “Whathappened?”
Kristiansen shifted uncomfortably. “Well, seems someone got into the house last night. Near about scared Mrs. Pierce to death. She’s all right, though. I went after them with a few of the men, but we lost their trail at the creek.”
Wade stared at him. “They were in thehouse?”
“Yes, sir. I should’ve posted men around back—that’s how they came in—but—”
“It’s not your fault,” Wade said through his teeth as he removed the saddle from the horse.
Kristiansen looked as if he’d dropped the weight of heaven and earth from his shoulders. “I’ll take care of that if you want to go in and see to your wife.”
Wade uttered his gratitude and handed Kristiansen the saddle. He covered the space between the corral and the house in no time, and only as he reached for the door did he remember the white horse in the corral. Kristiansen hadn’t said anything about a visitor. Then again, Wade hadn’t asked.
As the door closed behind him, he heard the murmur of feminine voices from the vicinity of the kitchen. The conversation stopped as he made his way to the rear of the house—as if they’d heard his presence—and then Hazel’s face appeared in the doorway.
“You’re home,” she said with a grateful smile.
If he hadn’t been preoccupied with the visitor and all Kristiansen had conveyed to him, Wade would have reveled in that smile. Instead, he let its presence warm him for just a moment before asking Hazel if she was all right.
She stepped back into the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron. “I imagine Lars told you?”
When he nodded, she continued. “I’m as good as can be expected. There was no harm done. I was just telling Maggie about the entire experience.”
Wade followed her gaze to the lady sitting at the kitchen table. Mrs. Trenton, he realized. He’d only seen her a few times, despite her husband’s ranch being his closest neighbor.
And that was for good reason.
“Good afternoon, Mrs. Trenton,” he said, keeping his voice formal and distant. “May I ask what brings you here?” He ignored the curious look Hazel was giving him and focused on Mrs. Trenton.
