Ramon tossed restlessly in the deep feather mattress. He had slept off and on, weakened by loss of blood, his condition growing worse in the hours since his return to Las Almas. By mid-afternoon of the following day, a fever raged through his bloodstream and he passed in and out of consciousness, only dimly aware of his surroundings.
Jose brought word of his condition to Carly, who wrung her hands and fought back tears, who paced and fretted, but knew she dared not leave the rancho. Not with Sheriff Jeremy Layton waiting for her in a chair in her uncle’s study.
He came to his feet when she walked in, frowned at the slight limp she tried to conceal, then gave her a polite nod of his head.
“Real sorry to hear about your uncle, ma’am.”
“Thank you, Sheriff Layton.”
“I know this isn’t a very good time, but there’s a couple of questions I need to ask.”
She sat down in the chair next to him, straightening her full black bombazine skirts around her. “Of course. I’ll be happy to help any way that I can.” Adjusting the prim white lace on hercuffs, she tried not to look as nervous as she felt. “What is it you wish to know?”
The sheriff returned to his seat. “I’m gonna be real straight with you, ma’am. Your uncle had a mighty strong suspicion your husband was involved, some way or other, with the outlaw who killed him. He figured maybe the don was passing information, possibly even rode on some of his raids. I thought maybe that had something to do with the reason you left him and came back here.”
“I’m afraid I don’t know what you mean.”
“What I’m saying is if the don was involved in something you didn’t approve of, maybe that was the reason you wanted the marriage annulled.”
So he knew about the proceedings her uncle had started. Then again Jeremy Layton seemed to know just about everything.
Carly forced her eyes to his face. “Actually, I had already decided to go back to my husband before my uncle was killed. The truth is I never should have left him in the first place.”
“I know it ain’t exactly my business, but it would surely set my mind to rest if you would tell me why you did.”
She fumbled through her mind, groping for an answer he would believe—one that didn’t involve Angel de la Guerra. “I—I, to be honest, Sheriff Layton, I was jealous. I discovered my husband had been keeping a mistress—before we were married, of course. My feelings were hurt, I suppose. Now, well, we’ve straightened the whole matter out. The woman no longer plays a part in my husband’s life, and he has convinced me I’m the only woman he needs.” She straightened in her chair. “I’m sorry to disappoint you, Sheriff, but my husband does not now, nor ever has had anything to do with the outlaw El Dragón.”
The sheriff unwound his long lanky frame and stood up. “Well, then, I guess that puts this matter to an end… long as there ain’t no more trouble.”
“What about the others? Won’t you and the vigilantes be going after them?”
He shook his blond head. “I figure they’re miles from here by now. Without their leader, I don’t think they’ll be back.” He smiled. “Glad to hear you and the don have worked things out. The truth is, I’ve always kinda liked him.”
“I’ll give him your best,” she said, also standing up.
Jeremy Layton plucked his wide-brimmed felt hat from the back of the chair. “Guess… the way things turned out… we’ll never know the fellow’s real name.”
“You mean the Spanish Dragon?”
He nodded. “Nobody round here seems to know him. Leastwise if they do, they ain’t sayin’. Then again, maybe it’s better that way.” He gave her a probing look Carly didn’t dare respond to, then twirled his hat in his hands as he headed for the door. “I suppose now that Fletcher’s gone, you and the don will be livin’ here at del Robles.”
Carly’s head came up. She stopped and stood stock still. “What did you say?”
“Seems only logical. Place is yours now.”
“Rancho del Robles is mine?”
He nodded. “Sure is, ma’am. That was something Fletcher Austin made no bones about. He said anything ever happened to him, del Robles belonged to you. He told me more than once that you were his only kin.”
“Yes… I suppose I am. Things happened so quickly, I hadn’t even thought about it.”
“I’m sure he took care of it nice and legal. Might be something in his desk. You get a chance, you go through his papers. ’Course one of them fancy lawyer friends of his up in SanFrancisco will probably be handlin’ the details. Whatever the case, I’d bet my last gold eagle, the place belongs to you.”
Carly just stared at him, hardly able to absorb the words. “Thank you, Sheriff Layton. I’ll make a point to do as you suggest.”
Rancho del Robles was very likely hers. Good heavens, she could hardly believe it. And yet she wanted to—more with each second that passed.
***
