Page 8 of Follow the Lonesome Trail
She reached across the bar and put her hand on his arm. “Please.”
Everyone in the saloon held their breath.
Carter took a deep breath and squared his shoulders. “No. I will not be railroaded this way. Now, if you people had come to me one at a time, rather than as a lynching mob…”
A middle-aged woman stepped forward. “They tried that already.” Her bright yellow bonnet contrasted fiercely with her black shawl and dress. “If your daughter asking won’t get you to do the right thing, then perhaps this will.” She slipped her shawl off, revealing a bright metal star pinned to her dress. “I’m Sheriff Albright, and I order you to return these people’s rightful property.”
“Sheriff Albright?” Carter spluttered. “You aren’t serious.”
“Have you ever known me not to be serious?” she demanded, fists on her hips. “I am the duly elected sheriff, serving the good people of Carter’s Run by upholding the laws of this town, this territory, and this nation.” She shook a finger at the bartender. “And if you think there’s some law that says a woman can’t be a sheriff, you’re welcome to find it and show it to us. But meanwhile, unlock that safe, or I’ll throw you in jail for obstructing justice.”
Hansen grinned. When Mrs. Masterson—Julia—had suggested they elect a new sheriff to make sure the proceedings against Carter were carried out legally, the entire population had agreed only one person had the kind of gumption it would take. The Widow Albright hadn’t been hard to persuade to pin on that badge.
The bartender heaved a theatrical sigh. “All right, I’ll open the safe for you. But I’ve a mind to leave this town. It wouldn’t be long before you’ll be begging me to come back and take charge.” But his smooth, persuasive voice had lost its charm.
“Hmph.” Sheriff Albright took the key and faced the townsfolk. “I’ll take two citizens with me as witnesses. We want this all done legal and proper.” The new sheriff led two men around the bar and into a small office, shooing Carter before her.
Hansen hadn’t believed this would work. He’d been prepared to ride off and leave the gold O’Rourke had left for him, rather than get in some kind of fight with a stranger over it. He shook his head ruefully. Maybe he should have spent more time in towns and learned what townsfolk were capable of.
Saul Hansen closed his fingers around the little leather bag filled with gold. It was heavy, solid, real. He had no clear notion of what gold dust was worth, but it must be hundreds of dollars.
Julia Masterson asked, “What do you plan to do with it?” They stood together in front of the doctor’s house. All around town, people chatted happily, sharing smiles and laughter as they rejoiced at having their money back under their own control again.
“Oh, I don’t know.” He kept his face angled away from her a bit. If he could read her expression, he might not be able to say what he’d planned. “I could put it in a bank. I hear they got one of those down in Missoula now.”
“You could.”
“Or I could spend it all on riotous living. A man could play a lot of poker and drink a lot of liquor on this much gold.” He chuckled to show he wasn’t serious.
She laughed. “I suppose you could.”
“Or I could buy some cattle.”
“Cattle?”
He looked at her fully now. “Cattle. I hear there’s land around here that’s good for ranching.”
“So there is.” She smiled. “It so happens, I know of a widow with a ranch that has no stock. But it’s in pretty good shape otherwise. She might let you build up a herd on her land. Provided you pay rent, of course.”
“Ahh, rent. And here I thought you were proposing marriage.”
Julia laughed. “Well, not just yet.” She blushed. “But, you’re a fur trapper, Mr. Hansen, not a rancher.”
“I’ve been a lot of things. And…the name’s Saul.”
“You’ve thought about this a great deal in a short time, Saul.”
“I’m still working out the details. But I think the basic idea is sound. And I think O’Rourke would like the idea of us. Working together, I mean. After all, you took care of him when he got sick. Only right if the gold he left me helped you out too.”
“You haven’t even seen the land.”
“No, that’s true. I suppose I ought to see it first. Then find out how much this gold is worth. Find a herd someone will sell. Fetch my belongings from my old cabin. It’ll take some time.” Hansen gazed at peaks towering beyond the edge of town. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned living in the mountains, it’s that time spent doing a thing right is never wasted.”
“I’ve learned that raising children too.” Julia held out a hand. “All right, partner. Let’s go hitch up my wagon. If I’m going to show you around our ranch, I’d better bring the boys, too. They never miss a chance to ride out there.”
Hansen shook her hand. “Suits me.”
“You don’t mind about the boys? They can get underfoot.”
