Page 60 of Fool's Gold

"If that cowboy hurts you, I'll kill him," Pipi vowed.

"Don't worry, Pipi, I know exactly what I'm getting into."

Sarah paid the taxi driver and watched him pull out of the driveway. She looked around the grounds, but didn't see anybody.

Of course, she realized. Today is Sunday, and most of the men would be in town.

She walked toward the house, hoping to find Rafe inside. She couldn't wait to see him and tell him she loved him, and she was back for good.

A loud noise coming from the barn made her stop, then change course. Rafe was already up and doing chores.

She ambled over to the outbuilding. As she drew nearer, she heard two men's voices. They sounded angry, but she was too far away to make out what they were saying. One voice was Rafe's, but she couldn't place the other one. She cautiously steppedforward, not wanting to intrude. Her eyes adjusted to the dim light as she walked to the open doorway.

She gasped at the sight that greeted her. Tab Whittacker stood with his rifle pointed at Rafe.

What was going on? Tab was supposed to be under arrest for attacking her. Unless they got the wrong man? She took a quick sidestep into the shadows and listened.

"You're lying, Halliday," Tab hissed. "I know she's dead."

Rafe stood in a loose stance, his feet apart as if ready to dodge a bullet. But Sarah knew he'd never make it at this close range.

She had to do something to save him, but what?

"No, you're just incompetent," Rafe said coolly. "You're probably the one that tried to shoot us and missed."

A horse nickered. Umbriago was in the next stall.

Could she? She really had no choice.

"Missed, my ass," Whittacker shot back. "I was trying to wing her and scare her off. When I aim at a target, I don't miss."

"So, it was you who set up Travis?"

Whittacker sneered. "You're finally catching on, Halliday. It was easy. I knew he was spying on you for Blackthorn, so he was the perfect fall guy. I slipped the rifle out from under his bunk. The kid didn't even know it was missing."

"And you shot the wolves," Rafe said grimly. "Was it Blackthorn's idea?"

"You still don't get it, do you? I did it all. Blackthorn's just a loud-mouthed idiot. It was so easy to push his buttons and get him all riled up against you. You always did give him too much credit. You should have looked to your own backyard for trouble."

"Yeah, and I would have found a yellow-bellied coward."

"Why you..." Whittacker took a step forward, then stopped. "Uh-uh, jerk. I ain't gonna be that easy. You ain't gonna get me rattled."

"But why did you wait until now to try to destroy me? And why pick on Sarah?"

"I was biding my time, but I couldn't wait no longer. You were fixin' to sell part of the ranch to set up your dude ranch. It ain't right to break her up."

Sarah cautiously inched toward Umbriago, whispering soothing sounds at him the way she'd heard Rafe do. If the horse shied, they were both in big trouble.

Umbriago stood steady, eyeing her calmly.

Whittacker was certifiable. She had to intervene before he killed Rafe.

She stepped up on a rail on the side of the stall and grabbed the horse’s mane gently. She eased a leg over his bare back, all the while whispering, "Good horse," whether to soothe the animal or herself, she didn't know.

Whittacker bragged, "Why pick on Sarah? I knew you'd be easy pickings if she walked out like last time. So, that was my first step. I shot the wolves, but she didn't leave. So, I winged her. Hell, I even tried to warn her off, but she wouldn't listen. I had no choice but to kill her."

"Like I said, Whittacker, you missed."

---