Chapter Thirty-Two
Jenny didn’t rise from bed until late morning. She felt groggy, getting little sleep. Not long before dawn, Heath’s wandering hands had awoken her, one playing over her breasts, while the other delved between her thighs, his fingers rousing her desire. His lips found hers at the same time he lifted her leg, draped it over his arm and entered her, gliding easily through her wetness. He’d built her up quickly then, until she cried out her pleasure, with him following shortly thereafter. Too soon, he kissed her goodbye, telling her to go back to sleep as he slipped from their warm cocoon of covers to head up the mountain in the bitter cold dawn.
She’d fallen easily to sleep again, but felt guilty for being a slugabed when she climbed out of bed hours later. She bathed in tepid water by the fire, yearning for a fine bathroom with piped-in heated water like at the big house. Come spring, Heath had promised. He’d also promised a conservatory with plenty of room to grow her herbs in the dead of winter, and a fine piano in the parlor where she could play and he could relax and enjoy it. They had already picked out the perfect spot to build, located on a small rise not far away, with a spectacular view of the western mountains.
After making the bed, picking up the clothing tossed about from the night before, and making herself a small breakfast of leftover biscuits and tea, she was out of things to do. Will, who had stayed at the ranch house last night, was well into his school day by now, and Heath was off investigating the trespassers up the mountain. What she wouldn’t do to have either of those tasks on her agenda. Pulling on her heavy winter garb, she decided to take a walk out to the stables. As soon as she opened the door, a brisk wind cut through her. Despite layers upon layers of wool, she was instantly chilled to the bone. She had no idea how George and Luke had endured a night outside in this weather.
Dipping her chin into her collar, she stuffed her hands in the pockets of her coat and stepped off the porch. With the wind making her eyes water, she looked at the ground to find her way. She hadn’t taken more than a dozen steps before large black boots entered her line of sight. Her head popped up surprised at the identity of the large man that matched the large boots. She smiled, although behind the scarf he surely couldn’t tell it.
“George,” she called happily, but her smile faded at the look on his face. “What now?” she asked, dreading the answer.
“More strangers at the farm this morning, Miz Jenny,” he replied, slightly out of breath. “They had guns.”
“Did you tell Heath? Or Aaron? Wait, I thought you were helping with the search. Are Heath and the other men back?”
“No, ma’am. I went home to check on ma early this mornin’ and had to stay behind ‘cause she had a small setback.”
“Oh, no, George, is it like before?”
“Nowhere near as bad, but Miz Janelle said it might be this way for a spell. I was out behind the barn gatherin’ wood when I heard ‘em comin’. They steered clear of the house, so I hung back. I hid behind the woodpile, hopin’ to learn what they were up to. There were five of ‘em, besides, and I was unarmed.”
“I understand perfectly, outmanned and outgunned. It would have been foolish to take them on,” Jenny agreed, shivering and rubbing her hands up and down her arms in the icy wind. “Did you hear anything, or see where they went?”
“They were in the barn for a bit, then left, cutting through the back pasture. Afore they went, I heard ‘em talking about shooting first and asking questions later. One man was cussin’ and saying something about being robbed blind by a swindler named Harper. That was your last name before you married Mr. Heath, wasn’t it, Miz Jenny?”
Jenny’s mind reeled. She should have guessed her vile uncle would be twisted up in this mess. He didn’t seem the type to walk away from something he thought belonged to him.
“They mentioned getting their money back with silver. I never heard nothing about no silver in Wyoming.”
“We’ve got to get word to Heath.” She rushed past George, who fell into step behind her. “Calvin should be in the stable.”
“I checked there first. No one’s there except two young’uns. They said the men all rode up the mountain a few hours back.”
Jenny glanced back at him, frowning.
“I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t want to leave ma alone with armed outlaws riding free on the farm, but I needed to tell someone.”
“I’ll stay with your ma, George. You ride up the ridge and find Heath or one of his brothers and tell him what you told me. They could be in serious danger from five armed men.”
“Four men; one was a girl.”
She turned, blinking in surprise. “A girl outlaw?” It was rare, but not unheard of. Yet, Jenny couldn’t imagine a girl riding around with rough men, living on the run, always in danger. “Are you sure? Maybe it was a small man.”
“Nope, it was definitely a girl, but not dressed like any girl I’ve ever seen. She wore pants and a gun belt. I wasn’t for sure at first, but one of the men knocked her hat off. She was pretty and had long black hair, clear down to her butt.” Realizing what he’d said, he turned red. “Pardon the language, Miz Jenny.”
George was nothing if not polite. Jenny waved off his apology, having heard much worse from the ranch and stable hands when they didn’t know she was about, and from Heath, last night in bed being a prime example. “Think nothing of it, George. Let’s go. How did you get here? Where’s your horse?”
“I let it loose so the outlaws wouldn’t know anyone was staying at the farm.”
“So how did you get here?”
“I ran.”
Jenny gaped at him. “It’s at least five miles to the farm.”
“When I got tired, I walked a spell, then ran some more.”
She shook her head as she started toward the stables, finding new things to admire about George every day. “Let’s saddle us a couple of horses and head out.”
“If you got a gun, Miz Jenny, you better fetch it,” George suggested wisely, “in case they come back.”
That stopped her dead in her tracks. Once more she did an about face and rushed back to the cabin. Her light breakfast had turned heavy, lying like a rock in the pit of her stomach. Worry for Heath and all the men foremost in her mind, she picked up a rifle from the gun rack mounted just inside the door. As an afterthought, she pocketed handfuls of shells, stuffing in as many as they could hold. She put up a good front as she walked back outside and rejoined George, as if it were a common everyday event for her to walk around with a Winchester repeating rifle under her arm. Truth was she’d never handled a gun, much less fired one. As for loading it, she hadn’t a clue where to begin, but she was reasonably intelligent. How hard could it be? Once she got to the farm, she’d figure it all out.
As they walked to the stable, a shiver shot down her spine. It wasn’t from the cold, but from apprehension, as a sense of impending danger descended like a lead weight. She said a quick prayer, feeling in her bones that this wasn’t going to turn out well in the end.