Ride The Wild Range Read online

  Finally, I felt his grip loosen, and I straightened up and wiped my eyes.

  I tried to keep my feelings inside. Crying wasn't allowed. Papa had always said it was unmanly. But I didn't believe that now. Because right then, I was pretty sure Jacobi and I were both leaking a little water from our eyes, and there never was a stronger, better man than Jacobi Kane.

  I understood in that moment, it took more of a man to acknowledge his deepest emotions than to push them back under the cover of darkness. It took a man to do the things that had to be done, no matter how hard they were to live with afterward. Sometimes, even the best of men had to take some time to find their way in this world. And, maybe it took some of them longer'n others to do that.

  Jacobi and I had both been lost. It wasn't that we'd forget what had come before, with Red Eagle and the killings and such. But havin' each other now meant one true thing. We were both strong, but stronger together than alone, rattlin' around in the big ol' world. Now, we had us a home. And there was no way either one of us would have thought of letting Red Eagle win.

  Chapter 18

  Late June, 1876

  Fort Worth, TX

  Everything was going too good. It had been the best eleven months of my life in a lot of ways, since we'd got our little ranch going. I believe that's why it all took a turn for the worse. Seems like sometimes, it just doesn't pay to be too content, 'cause you end up paying for it. I'd found me a place to be happy, and people to be a second family to me, once my own had been taken from me. But, like I said, when things start looking up, somethin's bound to happen.

  We'd finally made it back to Fort Worth after Jacobi had rescued me from the Apaches. Jacobi and Laura had married, and we'd bought us a cabin and become a family, with another member on the way any day now, since Laura was in the family way.

  This was one of those hot days in late June, when there wasn't any cooling off anywhere. A noise grabbed my attention as I was finishing up the repair of one of the fence posts. I stood out in the big corral, watching the riders come. Marshal Eddington I spotted right off, on account of him and me not gettin' along too well. It had been nearly a year since I'd told him where the cow ate the cabbage that night in the hotel right here in Fort Worth. I wasn't about to just stand there and let him talk about Jacobi the way he tried to. He found that out, right quick.

  He had several other lawmen with him today. I could see their badges shining in the noonday sun. Their faces were grim and not one of them smiled as they drew to a stop in the road beside the fence where I stood.

  Marshal Eddington nodded at me. "Boy. Got any idea where we might find your pa?"

  Jacobi wasn't really my pa. But that was part of the big whopper I'd told the marshal that night when he'd accused Jacobi of stealing my reward money for killing Red Eagle and turning in his scalp to prove it. Only way to collect the five hundred-dollar reward. So that's what we done. Then when Eddington accused Jacobi of taking part of the money, I had to say something. The only thing I could think of right quick was to tell the marshal Jacobi was my father. I'd even signed my name in the hotel registry William Kane rather than William Green. I figured it would be a lot easier if everyone thought Jacobi was my father – and I was right.

  I looked up at all the men with the marshal. There must have been something mighty serious that brought them out to our little cabin on the fringe of Fort Worth. Five lawmen, and the marshal made six.

  "He's in the barn," I said, jerking a thumb over my shoulder.

  "Go get him, will you?" Without waiting for a response from me, the marshal looked around at the other men and finally gave an oily smile. "We'll just head on to the house and see if Miss Laura might have a pitcher of tea made."

  "She's not feeling well," I said in a cold voice. "And she won't want horse shit all over the front yard. Y’all can tie your horses here—" I patted the fence rail, "if you want to get down and stretch your legs while you wait."

  The shocked silence from the men let me know they hadn't appreciated my language or attitude, but I didn't give a hoot. It had been worth it to see Eddington's eyes go wide, the words stolen from his mouth. I was sure Jacobi would say something to me about it once they were gone. He'd have to, 'cause it hadn't been proper. But I knew he didn't like Eddington any more than I did.

  I heard them muttering behind me, but I never looked back, and I didn't run like I was in any big hurry, either.

  I stuck my head in the open barn door. "Jac—Pa?"

  "Back here, Will. It looks like Miss Elizabeth Bennett's time is here."

  I hurried to the back stall where Miss Elizabeth Bennett, our newest mare, lay looking up at Jacobi with dark, trusting eyes. I'd never seen a mare foal before. My father had not been a rancher. He'd farmed, and had no desire to deal in horseflesh. I was filled with excitement. This foal was out of Arrow, the horse I'd taken from Red Eagle, a beautiful, solid black stallion.

  I stood beside 'Lizzy'. I knew from what Jacobi had told me before that the birthing would most likely be a long process.

  "Marshal Eddington's out there with five other lawmen to see you," I said, watching his big hands stroke Lizzy's neck.

  He glanced up at me. "What's going on?"

  "I don't know. But I told 'em not to hitch up at the front door on account of Laura's not feeling too well." Something in my tone made his face change. Well, he'd find out soon enough. Probably be the first thing ol' Marshal Eddington would tell him.

  "Is that all?"

  "I told 'em she can't stand the smell..."

  He watched me for a moment longer.

  "...of horse shit."

  "Will." He rose from his haunches, towering above me. "You stay here. We'll talk about this later." He started for the door and I took a deep breath, almost relieved. But, at the doorway, he turned back and said, "On second thought, you come with me. You may need to make an apology. This won't take long, either way."

  * * * * *

  I hurried to keep up with his long strides as we walked back toward the rails of the corral. He was quiet, and I knew he was looking at the faces of the men, trying to figure out a clue as to their reason for being here.

  As we got close, Eddington nodded. "Kane."

  "Marshal. What brings you out this way?" By the way he got right to business, I knew he didn't intend to be out here long. He was anxious to get back to Miss Elizabeth Bennett, but more than that, he just plain didn't like Eddington.

  "I'd like to introduce you to a special law enforcement group that's been appointed to go in search of Red Eagle's old band of cronies and wipe them out."

  Jacobi remained quiet as Eddington began the introductions. I could see in his eyes he already understood what this was about, and he wasn't having any part of it.

  "Deputy Marshal Trask and his partner Deputy Marshal Kelly from Indian Territory jurisdiction—"

  "Hello, Aldous." Jacobi cut him off right quick, letting him know he didn't need any introductions from him. He nodded at Marshal Trask, then at Marshal Kelly. "Dean, how are you?"

  "Jacobi," Trask answered. "We're hopin' to have your company to ride along with us."

  "Sheriff Kilmore from Woodward, just west of here," Eddington went on, as if Jacobi and Trask hadn't spoken. He nodded at the two younger men to his right. "You might already know my deputies – Levi Johnson and Alan Richards."

  Jacobi smiled. "I know everyone here, Oscar. Guess maybe you didn't realize I was a U.S. Deputy Marshal a few years back up in I. T. Aldous and I partnered up many a time." He looked at Trask, ignoring Marshal Eddington. "What does hunting down these Indians have to do with me?"

  Before Trask could respond, Eddington shifted on his horse, his mouth hardening as he finally looked at me once more. "As your boy was so quick to tell me a few months back, Kane, you rescue people from those damn bastards better than anyone alive. In brief, we need your services." He stared hard at Jacobi.

  Jacobi's lips turned up in the way that let me know he liked the idea of Eddington
having to ask him for something – something he was going to refuse. After a few seconds, he looked down as if he were thinking about what Eddington had said.

  "Well?" The marshal was in a hurry, it seemed, but he should've known better than to try to force an answer from Jacobi.

  "No," Jacobi answered in the thoughtful way he had sometimes. "Not this time, Marshal."

  "No? What – Kane, these murdering bastards have been raiding and killing people in settlements from New Mexico Territory to just a few miles from here! You have to help!"

  "I said no, marshal. Those days are over. I've got this place to look after, my boy, my wife – with a baby on the way...and a mare who's foaling right now. So, if you'll excuse me—"

  "Jacobi – if I might..." Marshal Trask gave Eddington an apologetic look for taking over the conversation. "I'd like to say, we could certainly use your help in this. It's well known that you're the man who can make short work of Laughing Wind and those red devils who ride with him. They always seem to be one step ahead of us. I'm ready to go home, too."

  "I can appreciate that, Aldous."

  Trask pushed his hat back on his head and his look turned almost angry for a moment. But he forced himself to relax as he saw the answering flash of heat in Jacobi's eyes. "I'm damn tired of chasing these bastards."

  Jacobi nodded. "That's why I don't wear a badge," he said. "Not anymore." There was an underlying message in his words that even I understood. It was plain to all the men. Jacobi had chased the last Indians he was going after. He'd settled down, and right now, I knew the coming baby and Laura's health was what concerned him. He wasn't about to leave with the new baby due this month. This wasn't his fight anymore.

  "You used to. And you were good at it."

  Jacobi stiffened beside me. I felt it, he was standing so close.

  "Yeah," he answered, "but like I said, those days are over." There was a finality to his tone that only a fool would ignore. No one said anything, and the silence was awkward for a few seconds. Then, Jacobi gave them a nod. "It was nice seeing you all. I wish you the best of luck. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to get back to the barn."

  Marshal Eddington was furious. His face turned a bright shade of red and his lips were a thin line that almost disappeared in his thick jowls. "You might want to speak to your boy about his manners, Kane."

  Jacobi just gave him a big ol' grin. "See to yourself, Marshal. I'll take care of my own."

  He laid a firm hand on my shoulder, silently urging me ahead of him, back toward the barn. Eddington and the others galloped away. Only when the sound of the hoof beats receded into the distance did he stop walking and watch the six figures and their mounts grow smaller as they approached the bend in the road that would obscure them from our view completely. He didn't say anything, but I could see the thoughtful look in his expression that I knew well. That look was like an arrow in my chest. He'd told Marshal Eddington no, but by his expression, I knew he was still considering it. And that scared me more than anything had since the day the Apaches took me.

  Chapter 19

  Miss Elizabeth Bennett's foal came just before suppertime. It had been a long afternoon for all of us, but longest, I figured, for Miss Lizzy. She looked mighty proud of her new baby boy.

  We'd all gathered around there in the barn as the foal was born. Laura got all teary-eyed and Jacobi took a minute to hug her up and dry her eyes with his bandana. She usually wasn't so quick to cry, but lately it had gotten worse. Jacobi always knew the right thing to say and do to get her back to her old self again. He said once the baby came, she wouldn't be so easy to cry. He said he sure would be glad when the baby was here.

  "Y'all come on," Laura said softly, watching Miss Lizzy lick her little one. She turned toward the door as Jacobi let go of her. "I've got supper ready. It'll be getting cold."

  "Run on and wash up, Will," Jacobi told me. "I'll be along directly."

  Laura and me were walking toward the house kind of slow, 'cause one thing that Jacobi had told me about a woman in the family way was, they don't ever go anywhere in a hurry. They have to move slow.

  She put her arm around me and smiled down at me. "You sure look hungry, young man."

  "I am," I assured her. I opened the back door for her, and she passed through.

  "Thank you," she said, dropping a light kiss on my head. I didn't mind. It made me think of my mama, and how she would have probably done that same thing if Papa hadn't frowned on it so.

  I washed up and came to the table. I swiped a warm biscuit to hold me until Jacobi came in. Laura just smiled and sat down at her place. "How did you come along on that fence repair in the corral?"

  "Got it done just when Marshal Eddington got here."

  "Eddington?" Her brows rose, and concern filled her expression. "It's okay, 'cause he's not goin' with them," I hastened to add. Jacobi had warned me against worryin' Laura, in her condition.

  "Going where, Will?"

  "To hunt for that red bast – uh, devil, Laughing Wind – and his men." I took another biscuit just as Jacobi came through the back door.

  Laura turned quickly as he entered the room, and her smile faded. "Marshal Eddington was here today?"

  Jacobi washed up and then sat down. He reached for the plate of fried chicken, taking a piece and putting it on his own plate before passing it to Laura.

  "Yeah...he and some other peace officers. They're tracking Laughing Wind. Invited me to go along with them to find him."

  I bit into my chicken leg. Nothing had ever tasted so good.

  "And?"

  That was a tone Laura didn't use very often and it got my attention as well as Jacobi's right quick. It was like she was scared of what he might answer.

  He stopped right in the middle of spooning the gravy over his potatoes. "Well, I told him no, of course. You know I'm not going to leave you – now."

  Laura looked relieved, but something still bothered her.

  Jacobi saw it, too, because he added, "I made a promise to you, Laura. I intend to keep it."

  "What was it?" I asked between bites.

  Jacobi looked at me and the seriousness left his face. He laughed, but the glance he shared with Laura let me know that was private, between the two of them, and I felt myself turning red.

  Laura reached over to pat my shoulder. She always had a way of making things okay, and I figured that was one reason Jacobi had married her.

  "Jacobi promised to be here when the baby comes."

  "Can't very well do that if I'm off chasing Apaches, now, can I?" But his tone was thoughtful.

  "You...made another promise, too, Jake." Laura's voice was soft, and it trembled slightly, but she didn't look away from him as he raised his head slowly. "You made a promise to Deborah, and to Becky and Dalt, before I ever came along."

  "Yeah. I haven't forgotten." Tension tightened his broad shoulders. He looked back down to his plate and began to eat once more.

  Laura reached over to place her hand on his arm, and it was like I wasn't even there with them anymore. They only had eyes for each other, and I knew there was things unspoken between them I couldn't know or understand.

  "Are you sayin' I should've taken Eddington up on his invitation?"

  Laura's eyes got all watery then, kind of like she might cry over what he asked her. But she shook her head. "No. I'm letting you know that if you feel like you need to go with them, I want you to do that. Will and I, we'll be fine."

  For once, I knew it was best to just be quiet. I ate my third biscuit and finished up my creamed potatoes without anybody saying anything about me bolting my food. I had some thoughts of my own about what might happen, but Papa had always said my face was an open book, so I kept my head down and busily ate my supper.

  "It's tempting, Laura. So long, I've thought about it – but revenge, somehow, has given way to more important matters... You, Will, the new baby...even this place of ours gives me a kind of peace I hadn't known before."

  Something in his
tone made me look up. He was talking straight, being honest – but from the way he sounded, it was almost a surprise to him to learn that the thirst for vengeance was somehow slipping away.

  Surely, though, he had not forgotten how evil, how brutal Red Eagle and Laughing Wind had been. They had killed his family, and mine, as well. And that was something I would never forget. I figured right now, if I'd had me a chance, I'd go after ol' Laughing Wind myself. I was happy here with Laura and Jacobi, but that didn't mean I'd forgot about what came before, like it didn't matter. It did matter, and it always would. The only thing that might ease the feeling some would be knowing that those Apaches who were responsible for killing Mama, and Papa, and Lisbeth were dead. Knowing that they paid for their evilness.

  "Jake, it's not just revenge. You were a lawman too long to just forget what called you to that line of work in the first place."

  "And what would that have been?"

  The teasing note was back in his voice, but Laura didn't respond that way. She was serious, and there was no getting her distracted when she used that voice. I knew, because I'd seen him try it before. It hadn't worked then, and it didn't work now.

  "The fact that you are a good man. You don't want to see anyone get hurt. You're a protector."

  "Like Will told Eddington in the hotel that night." He studied his biscuit before he bit into it.

  Laura looked at me real quick, like she'd only just remembered I was there with them. "Yes." She turned her attention back to Jacobi. "Will was right about every bit of it. You can do things those other men can't."

  "I don't want to leave you with the baby due any day." As an afterthought, he added, "And they can do what I do. It's just the tracking they need help with."