Dorothy Garlock - [Colorado Wind 03] by Wind of Promise Read Free Book Online Page B

wrist.
    “Don’t be scared. I’m not one of them you’re looking out for.” He released her hand, but stood close behind her, his other hand on her shoulder pressing her down. “I’m mighty glad you’re not a screaming woman, Vanessa.”
    “Who are you?” Fear almost choked her.
    “Remember that puffed-up jackass back in Dodge?” There was laughter in his voice. “The one you ran off with the shotgun after you clobbered the boy with the shovel?”
    “I remember. What are you doing here?”
    “I came to tell you your mules are gone.”
    “What?” She jumped up and whirled to face him. All she could see was a dark shadow against the wagon.
    “Don’t get all het up and go off half-cocked. I passed a camp over by the river and saw three horses and four mules. I figured the mules were yours.”
    “You’ve been following us!”
    He chuckled. “Yes and no. I saw your outfit this afternoon. There’s no mistaking that wagon. I doubt there’s another like it this side of the Mississippi. I couldn’t believe you were stupid enough to strike out with only one other wagon.”
    “So you tagged along to see what happened,” she said caustically.
    “I’m in no hurry so I lagged behind a bit. I saw you meet up with some real fine . . . ah, gentlemen. I smelled the bacon you had for supper and saw that there were three women and two men in your party. I figured to leave early and go on ahead of you. Then I saw the mules. Tell me, Vanessa, what the hell are you folks doing out here by yourselves?” There was harsh impatience in his voice now.
    The familiar way in which he used her name made her temper flare. “That is none of your damn business, sir!”
    “I didn’t expect a civil answer from you. Do you have any coffee?”
    “No, and I’m not making any. I’m going after those mules.”
    “You’re doing no such thing. You’re not doing anything until I’ve had my coffee.”
    “Well! I’ll not have a . . . a sneaking nighthawk coming in here telling me what to do!”
    “Vanessa?” Ellie stepped down out of the wagon. “Who’s out there?”
    “It’s all right, Aunt Ellie. It’s that—”
    “It’s the puffed-up jackass from Dodge, ma’am.”
    “Stop saying that!” she hissed, and his chuckle made her clench her teeth in barely suppressed fury.
    “Landsakes! What’s going on!”
    “Vanessa’s in a stew because I slipped up on her,” Kain said. “I made enough noise to wake the dead. I thought sure she’d turn around and shoot me, but she sat there and let me walk up on her. I’m not surprised they stole the mules right out from under her nose.”
    “Stole the mules? Oh my goodness! What will we do?”
    “I’ve not decided. I’ll have to study on it. Name’s DeBolt. Kain DeBolt.”
    “How do you do?” The polite lady, under any circumstance, Ellie offered her hand. “I’m Mrs. Hill, and this is my niece, Vanessa Cavanaugh.”
    “Vanessa and I have met.”
    “Did I hear ya say the mules is gone?” John Wisner’s voice preceded him out of the darkness.
    “Two black, a gray and a brown,” Kain said.
    “Our mules!” Vanessa blurted angrily.
    “Of course. The thieves figured they’d kill the men when they went to get them.”
    “Kill the men! Why on earth would they do that?” Ellie asked.
    “For you women. Your fancy outfit is worth something, but three women are worth more. There would be one for each of them and when they tired of you, they could always sell you to rawhiders or plains scavangers. They took the mules so the men would come armed. Nobody much asks questions out here, but that army platoon that passed could be somewhere up ahead. They’d just say the men rode in shooting, made a fight of it and they had to defend themselves.”
    “Oh my goodness!” Ellie was shocked by his blunt words. Her hand grasped the side of the wagon for support.
    “I’d appreciate a cup of coffee, Mrs. Hill.”
    Ellie breathed deeply, squared her shoulders and moved to a