A Cowboy at Heart (20 page)

Wiley took his hat off and smoothed his balding scalp. “Yeah. A man’s got to be pretty low to do that.”

Jesse arched an eyebrow. “You talked to Sawyer?”

The sheriff shook his head. “I just came from Littlefield’s spread. The man who shot you lit out of here right after. They ain’t seen or heard from him since. Scared of the law, they say.”

“Left?” Jesse figured as much. A man who would shoot another man in the back wouldn’t hang around long.

“Littlefield said he was feeble. You know.” The sheriff tapped the side of his head with a finger. “Bucket’s half empty. He’d hired him on out of pity, but if he’d known the boy was dangerous, he would have sent him packing long before.”

“What about Woodard? Did you happen to see him while you were there?”

“I did. He told me what happened. Said he witnessed the whole thing. Said you two exchanged a few heated words, and then Sawyer drew on you after you turned away.”

“Did he explain why he rode off and left me for dead on the ground?”

The older man’s expression grew solemn. “No. The way he told it, you were shot but still on your horse and riding for home. He said he was sure you’d make it, seeing as how it wasn’t that far.”

“He’s lying. I hit the ground.” He pointed to the head wound. “Fell on a rock and knocked myself senseless.”

Wiley’s hand rose to his lips while he thought. “I don’t hold with leaving a wounded man without help, but there ain’t no law against it. Woodard didn’t strike me as a charitable sort.”

Jesse almost laughed at the idea. “No, I wouldn’t call him charitable.” He sobered. “Littlefield is trying to run my Amish friend off his land. He’s strung wire and cut off his water rights. You saw the fence.”

Wiley nodded. “But that’s not the way Mr. Littlefield tells it.”

“I’m sure it isn’t.”

The sheriff’s eyes narrowed, and his jaw hardened.

So
that
was the lay of the land. Littlefield had gotten to him.
Probably not a bribe, because Wiley didn’t look like the kind of man who would take part in an underhanded scheme, but he’d been won over to Littlefield’s camp. Maybe nice manners and polished words impressed him. Jesse knew the cattle baron was capable of both.

“Every day a couple of his boys ride by trying to scare the family. The have the womenfolk upset, not to mention the extra work they’ve added.”

“There’s no law against riding on your own land.”

“No, there isn’t,” Jesse agreed. “But we can’t stand by and let them terrorize the family. Right now they have to haul water to the stock; that’s mighty hard to swallow when they were accustomed to having their private water supply.”

Apparently Sheriff Wiley wasn’t willing to discuss the point further. He straightened. “Well, I wouldn’t worry none. The fella that shot you is long gone, and the water rights—well, that’s something the Switzers will have to talk to Littlefield about. He seems like a reasonable sort. Surely they can come to some suitable agreement.”

Jesse’s gaze swept the house, the garden, barn, and beyond, where Jonas toiled behind the plow. “This place has been here for years. Littlefield’s house is so new the roof hasn’t even seen a good rain yet. How can his claim be valid?”

“Look, I don’t know about land boundaries and the like. That’s up to the folks involved.” He placed the hat back on his head. “I’d say they’ll get it worked out.”

Jesse clamped his mouth shut. Though he was so frustrated he could snarl, he’d better not antagonize the lawman. They might need him before this thing was over.

Sheriff Wiley mounted his horse. “Oh, I nearly forgot. Mr. Littlefield asked me to convey his hope that you’re feeling better soon. He said to let him know if there’s anything he can do.”

He can move that fence
. But Jesse held his tongue. The sheriff kneed his horse and took off in the direction of the road.

So much for his help. If anything was done about the matter, Jesse would have to do it.

ELEVEN

K
atie’s father circled his buggy in front of Leo Stolzfus’s barn and stopped near a group of black-clad, bonneted women. Noah, Leo’s sixteen-year-old son, came forward to help first Katie’s mother down from the front bench and then Katie. She allowed herself to be lifted from the back bench by large hands that nearly encircled her waist, and she awarded the young man a smile of gratitude when he set her on the ground. With a tug to straighten her skirt and a quick check to be sure her church bonnet was in place over her hair, she hurried to join the ladies and leave the way clear for the next arrivals.
Fader
flicked the reins and the horse lurched toward the barnyard, where many identical buggies already formed neat rows. As he pulled away, another horse trotted into his place.

Katie found herself surrounded by young women.

“We heard an
Englisch
man is staying at Jonas Switzer’s house.”
Interest gleamed in Edna Eicher’s wide eyes. “And that he was
shot
with a gun.”

“And we heard you were there,” said Bertha Schrock.

Charity Wagler, whose thin frame and gangly height showed signs of matching those of her older brothers, bent at her waist to lean close to Katie. “Is it true? Did you see him being shot?”

“I see you have been listening to gossip.” Katie pressed her lips into a disapproving line. “What you do not see with your eyes, do not witness with your mouth.” It was one of
Maummi
Switzer’s favorite proverbs.

“
Ja, ja
,” answered Bertha, unimpressed. “But is it true?”

“No, it is not true.” Three sets of shoulders sagged with disappointment before Katie continued. “’Tis true he was shot, but I was not witness to the shooting. I merely tended his wounds, along with
Maummi
Switzer.”

Their interest flared once again.

“I heard my papa say that a rich
Englisch
man intends to drive Jonas Switzer off his land.” Charity’s eyes rounded with dismay. “If he succeeds, the rest of us may soon lose our homes as well.”

“Is it so, Katie? Is Jonas refused access to his land by a fence?” asked Edna, clearly distraught at the idea.

“
Ja
. That much is true.”

Silence fell on them as the women exchanged worried glances.

“I heard the
Englisch
man who was injured is a cowboy, and that he intends to fight rather than let Jonas’s land be stolen from him.” A grin appeared on Bertha’s face. “Is he handsome, this cowboy?”

Something in the line of buggies waiting to unload their passengers caught Katie’s eye. A tall figure wearing a light-colored
oblong hat, which stood out from the round, black hats Amish men wore to church like a duck egg in a hen’s nest. No, surely that was not Jesse. He could not possibly be coming to an Amish church meeting. When she last saw him three days ago he could barely sit upright in a chair for more than a few hours without sleeping. Yet there was a young boy about Butch’s size seated next to this man, and that was Jonas on the front bench, and
Maummi
Switzer beside him. A flutter began deep in her stomach. Jesse was not Amish, and she knew he was skeptical of Amish practices. Why, then, come to church? Perhaps this was an attempt to please his host? Or—the flutter increased—perhaps he’d come to see her.

“Well?” Charity interrupted her thoughts. “Is he handsome, this cowboy?”

Katie wiped damp hands on the rough fabric of her dress. “You may judge for yourself. There he is.”

They turned in time to see Jonas’s buggy approach. Edna drew in a breath, and delight sparkled in Bertha’s eyes.

“
Ja
,” whispered Charity. “Not at all hard on the eyes, for an
Englisch
man.”

The buggy rolled to a stop and Noah came forward to lift
Maummi
Switzer down. On the other side, Butch hopped to the ground and came around the rear. Katie noticed he wore a new pair of broadfall trousers that fit him much better than his old ones. His shirt was of
Englisch
style, and his hat was a miniature of Jesse’s. The boy came to a halt on this side of the buggy and looked up, waiting for Jesse to climb down.

He moved slowly and, she noted, used his left arm to grip the buggy’s side as he lowered himself to the ground. His right arm he kept protectively close to his body. When his feet were firmly on
the ground, he waved at Jonas and watched him pull away. Then he turned, his expression guarded and his eyes darting around the crowd, whose attention was fixed on him. Katie felt a wave of compassion. No doubt he was embarrassed, being let off up front with the women, but she could see by his slight waver that he was not yet fully steady on his feet. Though the barnyard where the buggies were left during the meeting was not far, if he’d had to walk the short distance he may have collapsed from the strain.

His gaze fell on her. A slow smile transformed his expression, and she knew there could be no other reason for Jesse’s presence at an Amish church meeting. He had come to see her. An answering warmth spread through her insides, and a smile broke across her face. The buzz of women’s hushed whispers sounded in her ears. Their silent exchange had been noted. She could not muster the urge to care.

Butch had also caught sight of her and rushed forward.

“Katie! I’ve been looking after him like you told me. He’s walking more and more, and last night he even took Rex out for a ride!”

She tore her eyes from Jesse to smile down at the boy. She had not seen him this animated since he first arrived at the Switzer farm. “You have done well, Butch. And look at you.” She made a show of examining his new clothing. “I see that
Maummi
Switzer’s needle has not been idle.”

Butch started to reply, but at that moment he became aware that they were the center of attention. His cheeks reddened, and he mumbled something about his old clothes being fine for farm work. Then he returned to Jesse’s side.

Jesse apparently noticed the staring eyes of the women. He put
on a wide smile and spoke in a voice intended to be overheard. “Good morning, Katie Miller. I’ve come to show you what your efforts have done. I’m almost good as new, thanks to you.” His gaze slid toward
Maummi
Switzer. “Both of you.”

The older woman peered up at him through narrowed eyes. When her gaze shifted to Katie, the younger woman kept her expression calm and ignored the speculation she saw there.

But
Maummi
Switzer’s attention was nothing compared to the penetrating stare of
Fader
Miller. Katie felt the hot fury of the man’s scrutiny all the way across the yard from where he stood near the door of the house. Even from this distance she could see anger in his rigid posture, in the hands fisted at his sides.

Maummi
Switzer had noticed as well.

“Butch, do see you those boys yonder?” She pointed to a corner of the yard where a small cluster of children had gathered. “You will enter with them. Jesse, wait there for Jonas.” Her finger switched to a place not far away, near the entrance to the barn. “He will show you where to sit.”

Jesse turned a confounded look on her. “You mean I can’t sit with you?” Though he did not add the words or look in her direction, Katie knew he wanted to say, “And Katie?”

Maummi
Switzer looked scandalized at the idea. “With the women?
Neh
! Go with Jonas, and mind you stay awake.”

With a quick glance toward the bishop, she hooked an arm through Katie’s and marched into the midst of the group of women. As she was dragged away, Katie spared a backward glance. Jesse and Butch stood close to each other, staring after them with lost expressions. She flashed Jesse a quick smile before a half dozen black bonnets blocked him from view.