Page 59 of Colorado Bride

Ben arrived back home and parked the buckboard by the kitchen while he unloaded the uneaten food.

His mother was at the counter, kneading dough.

“Where is Emily?She should be learning from you.”

“I haven’t seen her.Maybe she took off—for good.”

“Mother.Emily is not leaving.You had better get used to that fact if you want to stay living here.”

His mother said nothing.Just smiled.

If he thought her mood anything but normal, he didn’t let on.He finished unloading the wagon and then pulled it down to the barn.Stopping beside the building, he unhitched the horses and took them inside.He put them in their stalls and then got the lantern.

When he lifted the lantern, he saw a piece of paper pinned to the wall with a nail.

Ben,

I’ve got your little wife.Come to my place and bring two thousand dollars.I know you keep that much in the safe on the ranch, so no need to go to the bank.I’m not asking for the world, just a part of what should be mine, then I’ll disappear.

Rory

Ben narrowed his eyes and crumpled the note, wishing it was Rory’s head.How long had she been gone?His mother had to know Emily was missing—she was much too happy not to know.

He saddled a horse and rode at full gallop out of the yard and then took the first right turn toward the mountains.Nathan Ravenclaw’s place was on the way.He’d stop and see if Nathan would join him.He needed someone to keep him from killing Rory.

The cabin was made of logs held together with some sort of mud.A small window to the right side of the door, covered with a scrap of curtain was the only light in the room.

Against the right wall stood a cot.In the middle of the back wall was a large fireplace with a hook for pots and in front of the fireplace sat a small table and two ladder back chairs.The ‘kitchen’ was against the left wall and consisted of three long shelves.

“Lovely home you have here.”

He was lighting the fireplace and had his back to her.

“It’s a place to get out of the rain.You don’t have to like it.You won’t be here long enough to care, assuming my big brother wants you back.I’m supposed to kill you, but I don’t ken to killing no woman, so I’m just gonna wait for Ben to come get you and give me my money.Then I’ll be gone and that woman can kill you herself for all I care.”

“You mean Melissa or Doris?”

“Miz Doris?Nah, she don’t like you either but she’s not the one I bargained with.Sounds like you best watch your back little lady, cause that makes two that don’t care for your presence.Melissa Mills seems to want Ben after all and after I get my money from Ben, she can have him.”

“I knew Doris didn’t like me, but I didn’t know Melissa hated me, too.I’m glad you don’t want to kill me.”

“I’m not a killer, but I didn’t tell Melissa that.”

“How will Ben know about the money and where to bring it?”

“Ben knows where I live.He sort of lets me take the cows I want.I think he feels sorry for me, but that’s all right.He can feel as sorry as he wants, as long as he brings the money.I left a note for him in the barn.”

“What makes you think Ben wants me enough to pay ransom?”

“Oh I figure he does.He don’t want to have to go through all the trouble to get another bride.‘Sides you’re kinda pretty.You’re the kind of girl a man can get himself lost in.As a matter of fact, if I was a different kind of man, I might get lost in you myself.”

He came closer.Close enough she could smell the stale tobacco odor in his clothes.Fear closed its ranks around her.Memories of Mr.Slidell, when he’d groped her came back, but she wouldnotlet fear rule her.

Rory sniffed and then closed his eyes and sniffed her again.

She kept her voice level and mild.

“But you’re not that kind of man.”