A Heart Divided (32 page)

“So, you’re certain this is where you first heard the cattle?” Spencer Womack asked an hour later as he reined in his mount and looked to Sarah. “Seems a mighty strange spot to try to hide stolen cattle. Don’t you think so, boys?”

Stan Bevins and Roy Taylor grinned and nodded. “Sure seems so to us, boss,” Roy, the older and more scruffy of the pair, replied.

She decided to ignore their shared smirks and patronizing manner. They’d eat their words, she told herself grimly, just as soon as they reached the top of the next hill. Not that she cared, really, what any of them thought.

Spence she’d never cared much for, though Cord and Nick seemed to think he was a good enough worker. The other two hands had been recent hires, former prospectors who’d never struck it rich or even found enough to make a living until they’d been taken on two months ago at Spence’s recommendation. She supposed, though, not everyone would be pleased just because she was now Cord’s wife. It was certainly evident Spence wasn’t impressed. And his attitude was likely rubbing off on some of the hands as well.

“I couldn’t agree more that it’s a mighty strange spot to hide cattle,” she said, meeting the foreman’s skeptical gaze with a steady one of her own. “But I know what I saw. So why don’t we just head on out again? The cattle are penned just over the next hill.”

The going was steep and slippery, but they finally made it to the top of the hill. For a long moment, the three men were silent. Then Roy, the more loquacious of the two hands, sighed, rubbed his jaw, and looked to Spence.

“What do you want to do now, boss? Now that she knows where the cattle are?”

“Oh, I’m not too worried about her knowing,” the foreman replied as he leaned over and quickly pulled Sarah’s rifle free of its scabbard. He then cocked it and pointed it at her. “She’s a Caldwell, after all. It won’t be hard to pin the stolen cattle on her.”

Her gaze riveted on the rifle barrel now aimed at her, Sarah struggled to make sense of the sudden turn of events. Could it be? Had Spence been involved with the cattle rustling all this time? But, if so, why?

“So, what are you going to do, Womack?” she asked, forcing the words past a dry throat even as she willed her mind to clear and find some way out of this rapidly worsening mess. “Shoot me and pin the blame on me and my family? The blame that has been yours all along?”

He chuckled, the sound so malicious it sent a premonitory shiver down Sarah’s spine. “Well, maybe in the beginning it was all my doing. By myself, though, I didn’t dare take too many cattle. But once the real ringleader took over . . .”

“Yeah, I know,” she said with a sharp laugh. “My father’s been in charge of everything for a while now, hasn’t he?”

“No, not at all.” Ever so slowly, he gave a shake of his head. “He’s just been a scapegoat to pin it all on, and divert attention from the real culprit. It’s always been someone else. Someone a whole lot smarter and with just as much to gain, if for an entirely different reason. Someone who I’ve finally decided isn’t worth any more of my time and effort.”

His gaze darkened, turning flinty and hard. “Seems she’s been leading me on all the while, and never meant to marry me. Seems all she’s ever wanted was revenge against Cord and, even more especially, revenge against you.”

As Sarah stared at him, the implications of Spence’s words took on a form, person, and finally a scene outside the Wildflower Café. A scene of Spence and Allis, arguing, then her slapping him and stomping off. She couldn’t help a small gasp.

“Allis? You’re talking about Allis Findley, aren’t you?”

Anger sparked in his eyes. “You really aren’t all that surprised, are you? After all, when has Allis ever thought of anyone but herself?”

19

The stagecoach came to a shuddering halt before Ashton’s stage station. Only Cord’s innate good manners prevented him from being the first out of the nine person coach. As it was, the other passengers seemed to take forever in unloading. At long last, though, he climbed from the large conveyance.

He inhaled a deep breath of fresh mountain air, so glad to be home. The meeting with the other rancher and his lawyers had gone well. Indeed, far better than he’d expected.

The rancher had agreed to quarterly payments. While in Denver, Cord had also taken the opportunity to telegraph his two partners in New York City, offering them a very reasonable price to buy him out of their joint legal practice. His partners had needed a day or two to talk things over, necessitating Cord remaining in Denver a bit longer than he’d originally planned, but they’d finally wired him, accepting his offer. The use of the extra money from his share of the practice would easily cover the payments for the two bulls through the next year, plus begin whittling down some of the ranch’s other debts.

Before then, Cord hoped to have the issue with the rustlers solved once and for all, and the ranch back in the black. Things were finally starting to look up. He couldn’t wait to tell Nick and Sarah the news. He couldn’t wait, as well, just to reunite with his new bride.

Humming a little tune, Cord retrieved his satchel and headed for McPherson’s. He wanted to share the good news with his old friend and pick up a gift for Sarah before heading to the livery stable to rent a horse. He had another couple hours of daylight left. An hour, no more, and he’d be on his way home.

“She’s sure to like that,” Dougal observed a half hour later as he rang up Cord’s purchase of a matching set of shell side combs with sterling silver ornamentations for Sarah’s hair. He carefully wrapped each comb in paper, then placed them in a bag.

“Come into a bit of money, have ye?” The old man handed Cord the bag.

“Not just yet, but soon, Dougal. Soon.” Cord grinned. “And my debts to you will be the first I’ll pay off.”

“Och, I wasn’t hinting at aught, lad. I know ye’re good for the money ye owe me.”

“And I appreciate that, old friend. Even so—”

The bell over the mercantile’s front door tinkled as a blast of cold air heralded the entrance of another customer. Both men’s heads turned. One look, and Cord’s heart sank. He barely contained a groan.

It was Allis Findley.

As soon as she caught sight of him, her frowning expression immediately brightened. “Oh, Cord, darling!” she cried, hurrying over. “Just the person I’ve been
desperately
needing to see. How fortuitous to find you in town.”

Now that he was a married man, Cord didn’t see any reason for Allis desperately needing to see him about anything, much less continuing to call him “darling.” But he was too much a gentleman to voice such thoughts. He did, however, take a step back when she reached out to link his arm with hers.

“Nice to see you too, Allis.” He paused, held up the bag Dougal had just given him, and smiled at the older man. “Thanks for the good company and service, my friend. I’ll be sure to stop by next time I’m in town.”

“Oh, are you already on your way out, darling?” Allis’s lips puckered in a carefully practiced pout. “But I
so
need to speak with you about a
most
disturbing matter.”

For the life of him, he couldn’t imagine what Allis would think disturbing enough to concern him, but he indicated the front door. “I’m on my way to the livery. I intend to head home just as soon as I rent a horse, but you’re welcome to talk with me on the way.”

“Wouldn’t it be a
far
more comfortable and enjoyable time if we visited over tea and pastries at the Wildflower Café?”

“More comfortable, to be sure, than braving the cold,” Cord said, “but I’ve been gone ten days and I want to get home. So, this little talk can either wait until some other time, or you can walk with me to the livery. Take your pick.”

A look of annoyance crossed Allis’s face. She quickly covered it with a brittle smile.

“Suit yourself, then, darling.” She smoothly fell into place beside him, this time managing to capture his arm with hers.

“Er, Allis,” he said, immediately pulling free, “I’m a married man now. I don’t think it’s appropriate to be seen walking arm in arm down Main Street with another woman.”

“Well, you might just change your mind,” she softly muttered, “once you hear what I have to say. But, for now, I’ll respect your wishes.”

Behind him, Cord heard Dougal softly chuckle. “Good-bye and good luck, lad. I’m thinking ye’ll be needing it.”

From over his shoulder, Cord shot his friend a jaundiced look, then opened the front door. Once they were outside, he turned to Allis.

“Okay, spit it out. What’s the news you absolutely can’t wait to tell me?”

She hesitated, glancing around to make sure no one was headed their way. Then she stepped close and laid a gloved hand on his arm.

“It’s about Spencer Womack. He’s been courting me, you know?”

He sighed. He wasn’t in the mood for any of Allis’s games.

“That’s been the rumor. What about it?”

“I’ve always had my doubts about him, but for a time I encouraged his suit of me.” She glanced down, then up at him through her long lashes. “I’d hoped it would make you jealous.”

“Allis . . .” Cord said warningly.

“Well, it doesn’t matter anymore, does it?” She patted his arm, then pulled her hand away. “I finally decided he wasn’t the man for me and told him I’d no longer favor his continued intentions.”

Relief filled him. If that was Allis’s big news, then they were done.

“I’m sorry to hear that. I’m sure Spence will be devastated. And that said, I really need to get to the livery—”

He turned to go when Allis sharply halted him. “Cord. Wait. There’s more. A
lot
more.”

Cord rolled his eyes, then slowly looked back at her. “What, Allis? What more is there to tell?”

“He’s been involved with the Caldwells all this time. In the rustling of your cattle.”

For a long moment, all he could do was stand there, staring at her. His thoughts raced.
Spence, involved in the rustling? But why? And if Allis is lying, what are her motives for implicating an innocent man?

“Why would Spence steal from us?” Cord finally asked. “He has a decent paying job and seems content with the work. Even more to the point, if he was rustling cattle, why would he tell you?”

“Spencer thought to win my heart and hand by getting more money. And he figured you’d blame the Caldwells for any cattle stolen, and never suspect him.” She shrugged. “I suppose it just seemed the easiest and quickest way for him.”

Cord’s gaze narrowed. “And how exactly did you find all this out, Allis? Why would Spence share such incriminating information with you?”

“He’s not the smartest man around, darling.” She gave a tinkling little laugh. “
Surely
you’ve noticed that?”

“I’d think he was smart enough not to tell the woman he was courting that the money he was lavishing on her was ill-gotten gains.”

“Oh, he wouldn’t admit it at first, darling, but I finally wheedled the truth out of him.” Allis paused, eyeing him with the avid intensity of a mountain lion getting ready to pounce on its next victim. “There’s more. Not only did Spencer implicate the Caldwell men, but he swore to me that, from the start, Sarah has also been involved.”

“Sarah?” Cord gave a derisive laugh. “Come on, Allis. Considering your feelings for my wife, do you seriously think I’d believe that?”

“Believe what you want.” Head held high in what he suspected was a great show of affront, she took a step back from him. “Just consider this. How is it that, save for that one time, no one was ever able to catch any of the rustlers? Or even figure out why the thieves always seemed to know how to avoid all the traps set for them?”

Anger flared in him, and Cord didn’t know if it was at Allis for daring to say what she’d just said, or at himself, for the immediate ripple of doubt and dismay her accusations stirred. He had thought he’d excised the last, lingering misgivings he’d had about Sarah, but apparently he hadn’t.

The admission shamed him. His wife deserved better than that.

“Maybe because Spence knew and was able to warn the other rustlers?” Cord managed to choke out. “After all, most times, Spence was involved in the planning.”

“Yes, most times. But not all, I’d be willing to wager.” She cocked her head, challenge in her eyes. “Am I right?”

She was indeed right. There had been a few, a very few, times when Nick and he hadn’t included anyone else in their plans until the very last minute. But he wasn’t about to admit that to Allis. Besides, there were other ways to get information to the rustlers, even at the last minute.

“It doesn’t matter, Allis,” Cord replied, the conviction growing with each word that left his lips. “I love and trust Sarah. Nothing you can tell me will make me doubt her.”

“Then be a fool!” She gave a toss of her head. “It’s your life and your ranch. Just mark my words—the words of a good and true friend—the day Sarah Caldwell turns her back on you, once and for all, and goes home to her real family. Just mark my words, and don’t come crawling back to me when you’ve lost everything!”

With that parting salvo, Allis pivoted about and flounced off in high dudgeon, leaving Cord to stand there, staring after her.

“I don’t have a good feeling about this,” Gabe Cooper said twenty minutes later as he, Cord, and his deputy headed toward the ranch. “Even taking what Allis says with a grain of salt, I don’t think she’s crazy enough to make everything up.”

“Crazy?” Cord glanced over at his friend. “I’ve never thought Allis was crazy, just rather calculating and self-absorbed.”

“Oh, I meant driven crazy with heartbreak over losing you, of course.”

Cord scowled at the good-natured ribbing. “And you seriously think Allis was in love with me? Come on, Gabe.”

The sheriff shrugged. “Oh, I don’t know. Reckon she was as much in love with you as with the idea of being the wife of a successful Eastern lawyer. I wouldn’t be surprised if she didn’t harbor dreams of attending fancy New York City balls on your arm.”

“Well, her dreams would’ve been cruelly dashed. I’ve sold my share of the law practice. I’m staying put on the ranch.”

Gabe chuckled. “Why doesn’t that surprise me? I always knew you loved that ranch. And the life here in the Rockies.”

“Then you knew a lot more than I did, and for a long time before I finally figured it out.”

“Yes, I am pretty astute about those kinds of things.”

“Before you dislocate that arm patting yourself on the back,” Cord said, shooting his friend an amused look, “just remember you weren’t any more quick about tying Spence to the cattle rustling than I was.”

“Guess the Caldwells were just so easy to blame it all on.”

“Yeah.” Frustration warred a bitter battle with shame, and Cord didn’t know which of the two to claim. “An enterprising person could very easily manipulate the situation, couldn’t he? I just never thought Spence clever enough to see all the possibilities.”