Soft footfalls shushed through the dry grass. Kat approached, then leaned her arms on the top rail. “I could save you some trouble if you let me break the horse.”
His stomach clenched so hard and fast he feared he would lose his supper. “Why would it save me trouble to have to deal with your bruised and broken body? Or worse?” The words were little more than a growl. He grabbed her elbow. “You stay away from this animal. You hear?”
“Don’t be a bully.” She jerked away and stomped past the garden.
Zach growled. How was he to be here protecting his sister, making sure Pa didn’t wander away while seeing that the hay was cut and dealing with Sobel and his intent to drive Zach off the range? “Free range,” he muttered as if to remind Sobel of the fact. Ranchers allowed their cattle to graze freely, rounding them up in the fall and sorting out the calves.
By the time he made his way back to the house, Poppy was upstairs asleep, but Pa was missing. His neck tensed.
“He’s gone to bed,” Amelia explained as she settled in a rocking chair on the porch. “Cooler out here.”
Kat hadn’t returned.
Zach pulled up a chair next to Amelia’s. “We need rain, but now I’m hoping it holds off until we get that hay stacked.”
Dusk settled in as Chuck and Slim returned. They cared for their horses, pumped cold water, and ducked their heads under the stream. Seeing Amelia on the step, they poured water over their shirts. They’d have taken the shirts off except for herpresence. Waving and calling a greeting to Zach, they went to the cookhouse.
“Kat should be back.” Zach moved to the edge of the step and scanned the yard.
“I think I saw her going past the barn toward your ma’s flowers.”
“I wish she wouldn’t wander around so much.” Especially after the warnings the men had given him.
“Zach, she has to deal with things her own way.”
Amelia’s soft words eased his worry. Was he looking for danger where there was none? He settled back on the chair. “It helps to know you’re here while I’m gone.”
“I’m glad.” She shifted to look at him. “When I wrote you, I said I would help you in every way I could.”
“Beats me who wrote those letters and why. Not that I don’t appreciate your help until the Dakota farmer marries you.” That little twinge in an unfamiliar place behind his heart meant nothing.
For a moment, she didn’t respond. “Did you notice the letters were posted from the fort? And I sent my replies to a number there? As if whoever it was wanted to remain anonymous to those at the post office. Of course, that desire now makes sense. Seems little happens without everyone knowing.”
Kat ambled around the barn. Zach leaned back, watching her. “Looks like she’s coming from the flowers.”
Amelia laughed softly. “Maybe she’s like your ma and finding comfort and strength out there.”
“Kat isn’t the least bit like Ma. She was sweet and gentle. Kat is all claws and hisses.”
Another sweet laugh from Amelia. “She’ll surprise you someday.”
“I hope it will be in a nice way.”
Zach couldn’t bein three places. Sobel and his harassment called the loudest. Four days later, leaving the men to finish haying, he announced he meant to go to the herd and would stay until he felt things were going well. Gil could manage cooking for the haying men as long as he didn’t find a bottle, and no one brought him one.
Amelia had proven capable of keeping Pa safe. Surely, she could do the same with Kat should his little sister decide to do something rash.
He rode toward the river where, out of necessity, the herds would be found.
Stopping on top of a hill where he could watch without being noticed—at least for a few minutes—he leaned over and studied the cowboys. He recognized each one. Relieved that all seemed peaceful, he rode down to join them.
“Where’s Morgan?” he asked when he noticed the foreman’s absence.
“He’s dealing with Sobel’s men.”
The information, plus the hard note in the cowboy’s voice, sent tension across Zach’s shoulders.
“What’s going on?”
