Chapter 16
“Mr. Masters!”
A female voice roused Blade from his grieving. He blinked and realized Belinda was carrying him down Prosperity’s Main Street.
From the door of her mother’s store, Abigail Farber hailed him again. “A wire just came in for you. Marked urgent.”
He guided his mare forward, leaned down, and accepted the sealed paper.
“I hope it’s good news,” she said cheerfully.
He glanced at the sender’s address. News from his father was never good. “I’m sure it is, Abigail. Thank you.” He tucked the paper into his shirt pocket, tipped his hat, and steered his mare toward the hotel. He needed coffee, hot and strong, preferably laced with whiskey, before he left Belinda at the livery stable.
Vi Miller stepped through the doorway of the hotel and spread her arms. Short and buxom, she was still a hugger. “Blade Masters.”
Plastering his business smile on his face, he dismounted. “You came a long way. How’d you find me?”
“Kile read a notice in the Kansas City Sentinel asking for anyone who knew about you. We said we knew you, but refused to say how unless we got tickets to where you were. Didn’t think Mr. Vance would agree, but he did. And, here we are.” She looked pleased as punch.
“Kile’s with you?”
“He rode up top with the stage driver. Had the time of his life.” She leaned close and patted his arm. “You look like you could use a belt. Let’s go inside.”
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Ginny Dunn frown. He could only imagine what she’d overheard when Stormy’s fathers were in town.
A strapping dark-haired boy strode down the stairs.
“Kile? Last time I saw you, you were half this size. You’re a man now.” Blade clapped the boy on the shoulders.
“I’m sixteen,” Kile said. “Finished my schoolin’, too.”
“Good for you. I told you, you could do it.”
In the open dining room, Vi lifted a blue enamel pot and poured three cups of coffee. She reached into her skirt pocket, pulled out a silver liquor flask, and fortified two cups. “Come and sit,” she called.
Blade followed Kile to the table. Thankful for what he was about to receive, he turned a hard, wooden chair around, straddled the seat, and lifted the cup to his lips.
“My husband passed six months after you bought our ranch, Blade. I’ve been tending the saloon while Kile finished school. He dreams about ranchin’ like his Pa, and I figured wherever you were buying land, it would be good. Dottie Cookson bought me out.”
Vi poked him in the ribs. “She still talks about you, too. Says she shouldn’t have let you get away.”
Blade grimaced. Dottie had never had him, though she’d tried hard.
Reminiscing was the last thing he wanted to do right now. He checked his shirt pocket. The wire from his father was still there. “Kile, this is cattle country. You won’t want to run sheep here.”
“Yes, sir. Three ranchers this morning said the same thing. One was named Hawkins. Mr. Vance from the Land & Loan offered to show us his spread. I was hoping you could come along. Ma trusts you.”
“I’m sorry, Kile. I can’t. My advice is to rent a carriage and drive out by yourselves. Zed Hawkins and his family are expert ranchers.” Blade downed his coffee and stood. “Their land is not coming up for sale—no matter what Jonathan Vance tries to tell you. Thanks for the drink, Vi. You were right. I needed it.”
She refilled his cup and slid it forward. “One for the road.”
Blade hesitated. Right now, he felt worse than when Candy had tricked him. If he drank what Vi had just poured, sorrow would overwhelm him. He’d found the life he’d been searching for, and then ruined his chance of ever living it.
Running Bear, who’d called him ‘my little brother,’ had threatened him with a carbine. Zed and Brownie no longer trusted him. Stormy had given back his ring.
He had no one to blame but himself. He’d always been cocksure, so certain he could convince anyone of anything. So like his father.
He sat back down and pulled the wire from his pocket. He turned it over and over in his hands, and then handed it to Kile. “Tell me what it says.”
Kile broke the seal. “Edward Peabody presented affidavit authorizing substantial draw. Looks forged. Your account now frozen. Sam Masters.”
Vi gasped. “The notice we answered about you was posted by a Peabody Investigations. Is he a friend?”
“Never met him.” Blade tapped his mug while his mind whirled. His father wouldn’t unfreeze his account unless he presented himself in person. He’d spend his last coins on a stall for Belinda in Olin Olsen’s livery and in renting a horse to take him to Yankton, but he’d managed worst situations before.
Edward Peabody was a bigger mystery. Who was he, and what was he after?
Blade looked across the table. Vi and her son didn’t arrive by chance. Someone had hired Edward Peabody to find them, then paid their way to Prosperity. Someone who wanted to discredit him to the Hawkins. Someone who wanted their ranch and their daughter as badly as he did.
Jonathan Vance.
He’d underestimated the land broker, another sign of his overreaching self-confidence. But, he was better than Vance. He actually loved Stormy. It was time to fight to win.
“Vi, where did you put the money from selling the saloon?”
“In your father’s bank, just like you taught me.” She snorted. “I’m no fool anymore.”
“Good. I’m headed to St. Louis right now. Can you afford to stay here at the hotel until I get back?”
“Sure, Blade. You made sure of that.”
“Kile, I’m leaving Belinda here. You and your ma can use her.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive. To move fast, I’ll have to hop freighters.”
Kile’s eyes widened.
Blade motioned for them to lean in close and lowered his voice. “Look around and see what might be coming up for sale. If you find a ranch you like, wire me at the bank. I’ll help you negotiate.” He stood and squared his shoulders. “Let’s keep this between us. I’ll get back as soon as I can.”