Page 61 of A Steadfast Heart
Chapter14
“You expecting trouble?” Ed guided his horse close to Solomon’s flank. His free hand rested near the stock of his rifle.
Drew scanned the land, looking for anything out of place. Nothing. A nice spring evening with enough clouds to ensure a beautiful sunset. “No reason to.”
“That wasn’t an answer.”
A breeze blew through. Drew forced himself to relax, then pulled his hat off to better enjoy the cool wind. The day had been hot. Finally, he faced his brother. “Just be ready for anything.”
They followed the creek into a small clearing perfect for Isaac’s cabin. But they had to finish Ed’s first. Soon they left the trees behind and crossed onto Tate land. Strange. He should be able to see smoke from their cabin from here.
Ed eyed the empty sky. “You think Quade forced them out like he did with the Fogelsons?”
Drew reached for his canteen and took a sip. “Could be sick.” He nudged Solomon into a trot. If the Tates weren’t able to tend their fire, they might need Kaitlyn to send supper, and darkness was approaching.
If they were sick, that was. Not another victim of Quade.
He stopped himself from reaching for his water again. Worry, not thirst, dried his mouth.
Three cows topped a rise in front of them. Moving fast. Why weren’t they with the herd in the good grazing? He looked at his brother, who appeared as confused as Drew. More cattle topped the ridge. Drew undid the strap over his rifle. From the corner of his eye, he saw Ed do the same.
They rode toward the stragglers and drove them into a bunch, then directed the cattle over the hill back the way they had come. Drew paused at the crest. What on earth? That looked like his entire herd. Four riders pushed them toward him. He pulled his rifle from its scabbard and laid it across his saddle, where it would be easier to use if he needed it. He couldn’t spare his brother a glance, but Ed would follow his lead.
He stopped Solomon at the front of his herd and waited as two of the hands rode up to meet him. One had a concha hatband, and the other wore a black hat. Drew wrapped his reins around the saddle horn. Solomon responded to leg aids as well as to neck reining, and Drew might need both hands. Black Hat’s eyes narrowed, and he moved one hand to his rifle.
Drew kept his hands a foot from his own gun. With it across his lap, he had enough of an advantage. No need to provoke them further. “What are you doing with our cattle?”
Conchas pulled to a stop next to his friend. “Your cattle was on our boss’s land. You’re lucky we didn’t shoot them where they stood.”
Black Hat signaled his friend to settle down. Okay, so he was in charge.
Ed pulled up beside Drew. “This land belongs to the Tates.”
Black Hat shook his head. “Not anymore.”
Drew’s stomach roiled, but he’d deal with the implications of that statement later, when he and his brother weren’t outnumbered. He pressed his left leg into Solomon’s side, turning him a few degrees to the left to give him a good view of Conchas trying to sidle around to their blind side. He rested his hands on his rifle.
Black Hat scowled at Conchas. “Don’t be a fool, Riley. Get back in front where everybody can see everybody. We’re just returning McGraw’s herd. No need to go looking for trouble.” He turned back to Drew, his eyes serious, his posture tense.
The man was expecting problems. But maybe not hoping for them?
Drew lifted his hand off his weapon. Black Hat’s shoulders relaxed, and he moved his hand from his rifle and raised it into the air. His other two riders stopped behind the herd.
Drew didn’t drop his guard. They were still outnumbered, and none of these men looked afraid of a fight. “When did the land change hands?”
Black Hat’s gaze was steady and a bit sad. “Seems Tate ran into some trouble with the land office. His improvements didn’t make the cut.”
Lightning sidestepped, and Ed brought him back under control. “He had a house and a lean-to. Phillips had already checked in with the Tates once. The final inspection was only a formality.”
“Phillips ain’t in charge no more.” Conchas sneered, his hand moving back to his rifle. “His word don’t count for nothin’ now.”
Drew intentionally relaxed his shoulders. Conchas might be a buffoon, but Black Hat didn’t seem to miss much. No sense giving him any clues to work with. “So Duff isn’t honoring past agreements?”
Conchas raised a scornful eyebrow. “Tate didn’t have any evidence that Phillips ever came out here.”
Drew forced his eyes not to squeeze shut and suppressed a wince. Ernie Duff had tried to misplace papers that showed the town owned the lot the school sat on. He’d failed that time. Evidently, the Tates hadn’t been as lucky. “And their improvements didn’t rate an extension?”
Conchas spat a stream of tobacco juice. “Duff don’t agree with extensions. Not for anybody. This is Quade land now.”
