Bran (Prairie Grooms, Book Six) (13 page)

Apple lay back down a second time but still couldn’t get to sleep. Who knew how long it would be before disaster struck her precious Bran?

“Precious?” she whispered. When did he become precious?

Of course she knew. It hadn't been on the first kiss, nor the second, but when he kissed her a third time… she was gone, and had no hope of returning. His lips captured her heart faster than a bullet, and the only thing that kept her from realizing the fact until now, was her puzzlement over how he managed to walk away that evening without a scratch on him. She thought sure something would have happened! Unfortunately, something did.

Apple was starting to fall in love.

But now what was she going to do? If she fell in love with him, and the curse was real, did that mean they were both fated to die? Or would it go after poor Bran with a vengeance? She had to know! Of course her logical mind said that sort of thing couldn’t possibly happen. But then, when had Apple’s mind ever been that logical?

She could always go back to her original plan, that of leaving Clear Creek, and the sooner the better if her gut was right. She somehow knew that trouble was brewing for the deputy.

Apple shivered with the thought. The odd feeling of impending doom had been intermixed with the pleasure of being in his company on the porch swing. But it had been squashed the moment Bran kissed her the first time. Swept to the side on the second kiss. Forgotten about on the third, and after the fourth … well, she was more concerned with the fact Sadie stood on the porch glaring at them than anything else.

There was no help for it, she was just going to have to figure out a way to get into town and spend more time with the man so she would know for sure if the curse was real. But how was she going to do that? How in Heaven’s name was she going to be able to spend
that
much time with him?

Another idea hit her. She sat up yet again. “Oh, but I couldn’t! It’s just too outlandish!” And yet, it would work …

“Fine, then, I’ll do it!” First thing tomorrow morning, she’d find a way into town, and get herself arrested.

Thirteen

Getting arrested proved to be a much harder task than Apple first thought. For one, none of the men were around to take her into town. Two, any thoughts she might have had of riding Juliet into Clear Creek were quickly dispelled when she found out the horse had gone lame, no thanks to her, so that was out of the question. Of course, she could always walk to town, but how long would that take? There was only one way to find out. “Belle, I'm practicing my numbers,” Apple announced when she came into the kitchen. “How many miles is it to Clear Creek from here?”

“About three or so, I’d say.”

Apple scribbled it down on a piece of paper she’d brought with her. “And if a person were riding a horse at just a walk, how long would it take them to ride to town?”

“Not long whether it's a horse or a wagon. About an hour, maybe less.”

“And if a person were to walk…”

“It really wouldn't take them much longer,” said Belle.

“Really? I would think it would take at least an extra half an hour.”

“I suppose it would depend on the person's shoes, how fast they can walk, and whether or not they made any stops along the way.” She stopped kneading bread dough and stared at Apple. “Why are you asking all this, again?”

“I'm practicing my numbers, I have to keep up my intellectual endeavors.”

Belle raised one eyebrow at her. “Intellectual endeavors? And would these endeavors also include book reading?”

“Of course.”

“I see, well we do have some fine books in the study. I don't know if you knew they were there.”

“I did, but I thought practicing my numbers would be more handy right now. I haven't had to do it for a while.”

“Why don't you get some extra practice in and measure me out some flour,” suggested Belle.

Apple got up and did as she asked, especially since she didn't want Belle to suspect anything. After all, if she was going to walk to town, she'd have to time it so that no one would know she'd left and have a chance to go after her. Not that any of them could, what with the only horse in the barn having gone lame, but she wasn't about to take chances either.

Almost an hour passed before she was done helping Belle bake the first batch of bread. She stretched then glanced at the hallway. “I think I'll go up to my room and take a little nap.”

“That actually sounds like a good idea. I think I'll do the same while this batch of dough is rising.”

“Where's Sadie?” Apple asked, remembering it wasn't only Belle she'd have to watch out for.

“She took Honoria over to Edith and Jefferson's cabin for a visit. She'll be back soon, I'm sure.”

Apple bit her lower lip in indecision. Should she leave now, or wait until after lunch when Sadie would put Honoria down for her nap? Of course, after lunch
she
might want a nap! Better to leave now…

“Are you going upstairs?” Belle asked, snapping her out of her plotting.

“Yes, in a minute. I… I have to use the privy.”

Belle yawned. “All right, just be sure you close the kitchen door all the way when you come back in.”

“I'll do that,” said Apple as she followed Belle into the hall. When they reached the staircase Belle went up as Apple grabbed her shawl off the coatrack. She then went back into the kitchen, grabbed a few biscuits left over from breakfast, put them in her apron pocket, and headed out the kitchen door. A blast of cold wind hit her and she shivered. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea, but then, once she got walking she was sure she'd warm-up. Yet, what was she going to do if she happened come across one of the men? What was she going to tell them? She hadn't thought if that before.

“I know, I'll tell them I was looking for ‘His Majesty’, that will work!” Feeling her excuse would more than satisfy any interrogation from Colin or Harrison, Apple picked up her pace and hurried up and over the rise, leaving the Triple C behind her. Now all she had to do was figure out how she was going to get arrested. It was a good thing she’d have at least an hour to think of something.

“Let’s see now,” she mused as she walked along. “I can't do anything too drastic, just enough to get to spend some time with him.” Of course the further she walked, the more she thought about her plan, and the more she thought about her plan, the more she realized that it wasn't a very good one. If she did something bad enough to get her arrested, then wouldn't Bran be upset with her?

The thought brought Apple to stop. “What a ninny I am! How do I come up with these things?” She continued to mutter under her breath to as she glanced at her surroundings. She'd walked long and far enough to be at least a mile or more from the ranch, and noticed a faint trail off to her left. It had to be the one that led down ‘His Majesty’ and Clear Creek. Apple sighed to herself and shook her head. “I can't believe I almost went through with it! But now she also had no reason for being there, yet since she was where she was, she decided not to waste the moment.

So, Apple started down the trail that led to ‘His Majesty’, partly because she needed to walk off her own embarrassment, and because she really did want to see the tree every one talked about. Besides, who knew how long it would be before Bran or anyone else would have the time to take her. She’d take a peek and be back before Belle even woke up from her nap.

Apple picked her way down the trail as it descended into the canyon and was astounded at the beauty surrounding her. The leaves had turned to fall colors and many of them lay on the ground around her, carpeting the trail and meadow below with various shades of orange, brown and red. She marveled at the sight, and then looked across the meadow when she was halfway down the trail, and saw him. ‘His Majesty’. “Good Heavens,” she breathed. “Look at the size of him!

Feeling energized by the beauty around her, Apple hurried along the rest of the trail to the meadow below. It was indeed a beautiful place, and Apple could easily picture a magnificent castle at the opposite end of the meadow, or perhaps across the creek. She then imagined a drawbridge being lowered down next to ‘His Majesty’. Apple giggled at the thought and approached the mighty tree with reverence. “My, but you’re a big one, aren't you?” she said as she reached the massive trunk. It was then she noticed the pool beneath the tree’s branches. If it wasn't so cold she’d be tempted to go for a swim, but as it was, she could only dream about what it would be like to immerse her body into the cool water on a hot summer’s day. An image of Bran O'Hare splashing alongside her in the creek popped into Apple’s head. The thought made her shiver.
Where did that come from?
  Tears pricked the back of her eyes.
Wishful thinking, that's where.
Swimming in Clear Creek with Bran O'Hare was a thought she couldn't afford to have, at least not yet. Not until she knew for sure she wouldn’t be the death of him.

“Well, what do we have here?” a voice rasped behind her.

Apple spun to the sound. A man stood there, another right behind him. How did she not hear them approach? But of course she knew, she'd been so wrapped up in her daydreaming and the sound of the bubbling creek, that she didn't notice. “Who are you?” she blurted.

“Question is, who are you?” the first man asked.

Apple quickly took in their attire. They weren’t the best -ressed chaps, but they weren't the worst either. “I live here,” she told them. “Which means that you’re trespassing.”

“Live here?” one asked. “You mean to say you’re one of them Cookes?”

“No, I'm not a Cooke. I'm a Sayer.”

“A what?” asked the second man as he now stood next to his companion.

“She means Cooke isn't her last name, you idiot,” the first man said and backhanded him on the chest.

“Oh,” said the second man. “So your last name is Sayer?”

“I just said that!” Apple huffed.

“That means that you’re not part of the Cooke family,” the first stated. “You visiting them or somethin’?”

“You didn't answer
my
question,” she said and took a step back. “Who are you?”

“We ain’t nobody,” said the first man.

“What are you doing out here?” she asked, her voice demanding.

“Well ain’t you a high and mighty thing? What gives you the right to talk to us like that?” complained the second man.

“I apologize if I sounded overly stern, but you… frightened me, sneaking up on me and such.”

The men exchanged a quick look. “Well, shucks ma'am, we didn't mean to do that. But you know, it ain’t safe for a…” he looked her up and down… “pretty young thing like you to be wandering around out here all by yourself.”

“Yeah, especially if you belong to the Cooke family. Do ya?”

“They’re my cousins, so of course I belong to them,” said Apple with a raise of her chin.

The men exchanged another glance. “You hear that?” the first one asked. “She
is
part of the family…”

“Nah, she’s just sayin’ that for fun,” remarked the other.

“Yes, I most certainly am,” insisted Apple. “Now that we've established that fact, I'd best be going and so had you. If my cousins find you on their property, they might not be too happy.”

“We totally agree little lady,” said the first one. “In fact we’ll escort you out of this here canyon.”

“Why… that's very kind if you,” she told them. If it wasn't for the twist of fear in her gut, she might have relaxed, but as it is… “However, I can find my own way home.” She started to walk off but one of them grabbed her arm, and yanked her back.

“But we know a shortcut. Why don’t you come along with us and we’ll show it to you?”

Apple tried to struggle free from his grasp, but it was too tight. “I said I can find my own way home, now unhand me!”

The second man grabbed her other arm. “Now we done just told you we know a shortcut, so why don't you settle down and let us show it to you?”

At that point, Apple knew she was in danger, and did the only thing she could think of considering her circumstances. She screamed.

* * *

Bran had a little over a mile to go before he’d reach the Triple C and Apple. She was all he could think about since the night before, and he couldn't wait to see her again, even if it meant putting up with the Cooke brother’s scowling faces. But how else was he going to call on the woman if he didn't just show up? It's not like he could send Harlan out with another note, especially since he told Bran that morning he and Henry were going to scout the tree line near the caves, it being a favorite hideout spot for outlaws.

Bran continued on and wondered what he would say to Apple when he saw her. He'd been on his absolute best behavior the night before, and did his darndest to remember how to act in front of a lady, which, of course she was. An English lass used to balls, parties, and a social status he couldn’t begin to aspire to. What she saw in a lowly deputy such as himself he had no idea, but he was glad she did. The more he thought about their situation, the more he realized he'd be a very lucky man to have her at his side. He smiled at the thought and rode on.

He whistled an Irish tune, one of his favorites when he heard the scream.

“Whoa,” he called to Grady, stilled in the saddle, and listened. Where had it come from? Maybe if he hadn't been whistling he could better tell. His horse snorted with impatience and tried to walk forward. “Grady, stop it,” he hissed.

Another scream.

This time, Bran had no doubt. He also had a gut feeling he'd heard that scream before. He looked to his right, and sure enough there was the trail that led down to ‘His Majesty’ and the Cooke’s Canyon. He kicked Grady and they were off, racing to the trailhead and then down into the canyon. For a brief moment he didn’t wonder if Harrison and Colin were putting their plan for mayhem into action. But if they were, why didn’t he know about it? No, someone was in real trouble.

Within minutes he reached the bottom and quickly scanned the area. He didn't see anyone during his descent and figured they had to have either hiked up the creek, or down it. He wouldn't know until he took the time to look around for signs of their trail. He galloped across the meadow, brought Grady to a stop, and jumped off. Scanning the grounds near ‘His Majesty’, he noted several sets of footprints near the water's edge, one of them smaller then the rest.
A woman.
Judging from the other footprints there were two, maybe three men, and it looked like there'd been a struggle. She probably tried to fight them off.

He grabbed Grady's reins and began to follow the trail up the creek, but soon noticed that the woman's footprints had disappeared, only the men's remained. They must've picked her up and were now carrying her. But Bran knew that the trail narrowed up ahead, and it would make for slow going. He should be able to catch-up to them easy enough. Unfortunately, he wasn't going to be able to take Grady with him, and would have to leave the horse behind. The trail through the young trees along the creek bank was too tangled for a horse the size of his to traverse.

He tethered Grady to a small tree and set out. He hadn’t gone far when he noticed the footprints ended. He also saw that the water here was much shallower. “They carried her across the creek,” he said to himself. He looked around but saw no one. Just to make sure, he went up the creek a short distance to see if he was right, and sure enough, there were no sign of footprints. They did cross! He'd been near this spot at the last town picnic, and knew that on the other side of the creek was a trail that opened wide enough for two horses. It wound its way up the other side of the canyon to the prairie beyond. Colin told him it was created by their own cattle coming down to the creek to drink. Unfortunately, that meant that whomever he was tracking could be long gone in a matter of moments if they had horses waiting for them on the other side. He had to hurry.