Liberty Belle (31 page)

Where was Wade? With her mind on him, she returned to the kitchen. She had wondered about inviting him over for dinner. At Hattie’s Sew and Sew, some of the women said they’d wooed their beloved by making them tasty meals. Libby frowned. Not likely he’d want a meal of biscuits. She’d spent an entire morning learning how to make the fluffy bread. Not likely she could learn to cook an entire meal in a day.

Giggling, the children scooted into their seats.

Libby put her hands on her hips and tried to look stern, but the joy of her pupils overwhelmed any desire for the same strict ways of their father. “You two better be working.” She checked their assignments and praised her pupil’s fine work. “Continue what you’re doing for a few more minutes, and I’ll tell you a story.”

She stepped away from the children and gazed out the window. There must be a way to cause Wade to notice her. Want her. She turned toward her pupils.

Jane’s curls bounced as she shook her head, reminding Libby of her friend Betsy Sue.

When Betsy Sue had her hopes on Roy Hamilton, she’d done something about it. Although the man liked Betsy Sue, he wouldn’t take the step and ask her to marry him. The girl told Libby that she helped him
decide
by pretending not to be interested in him. Even to the point of being mean to the poor boy. After a week of Betsy Sue’s plan, he proposed.

Libby fixed the plan in her mind, drew in an excited breath, and stared at the mountains. She’d ignore Wade.

###

Wade helped Mark pan for gold. He hadn’t seen any yellow rock but prayed the boy would soon find some. After a backbreaking morning of stooping over cold water, Wade understood that the gold wasn’t going to be easily coaxed out of the stream.

Dan fished while they panned.

“Come and get it.” As if an answer to and unasked prayer, the mountain man saved the day. Apparently, Dan had more luck than he or Mark.

Wade picked at the fish on his plate. He snuck a look at Mark and inwardly groaned at the sadness that still darkened the boy’s eyes. Hopefully time would heal the hurts. A dove cooed from the tall trees bordering the creek.

Wade drank in the peaceful sound. Was it only the other day he’d thrown a rock at the bird? He smiled as he checked his heart and realized the vile anger had disappeared. He stared at the tan-colored bird fluffing its feathers and wondered how he could have ever wanted to hurt such a peaceful bird.

Regrets hounded him, but not the same gut-punching ones he’d endured before. Now hope smoothed over the pain. Hope that he’d truly changed. The Lord may need more time to clean him up, but, at least it was a start.

Wade winced.
Libby.
He had to see her. Try to help her understand why he ran from her. Let her know how he cared for her. He stood so quickly his plate fell to the ground, spilling the fish onto the dirt.

Dan grabbed the trout and brushed it off. “Waste of a good meal. What’s bitin’ you?”

“I need to go to Denver.” Wade knew the boy would be disappointed, but he owed Libby an explanation. He hoped for her forgiveness, and more. “Let’s pack.”

The boy didn’t move. “I don’t want to go now. We need to find gold. Can’t I stay with Dan?”

“No. Besides, I told Sweeny I’d work on some of the customer’s horses.” Wade paced in front of the fire.

Dan stood and blocked his path. “Mark can stay with me until you get your
business
straightened out.

Wade stopped. “Business?”

A wry grin escaped beneath the bushy fur on the mountain man’s face. “By your manner, I’d say it’s woman business. Someone named Libby?”

Wade saw the same grin on the kid.

“Yes, siree. You can’t fool ole Dan. Mark told me about her. How you kissed her.”

Wade sent the boy a puzzled glare.

Mark chuckled. “Mr. Wade, I was sick, not blind.”

With a finger pointed at the boy, Wade couldn’t help but grin. “Not polite to tell about another man’s doings.”

“Mark and I will hunt us some gold.” Dan looked him straight in the eye. “Might be good for his soul. The mountains have a way of healing a sore heart.”

Wade’s gaze flipped to the boy. “Mark, you sure you want to stay?”

“Yes, sir. Dan said there’s some hot springs that might be good for my leg.” The boy’s smile faded. “You will come back? We are still partners?”

Wade sat Mark on his shoulders and walked toward the tent. “You bet I will.” He set Mark down and knelt to the boy’s eye level. “I believe the Lord made us partners.”

Mark threw his arms around Wade’s neck and squeezed.

Returning the hug, he realized how much the boy did mean to him. Sending a glance skyward, he wondered if this was more of the Lord’s doing. Whatever it was, he liked the peace.

“Okay, partner. I better leave so I can reach Denver by tomorrow. You find us some gold.” Wade stood and winked at the boy, but his mind was already on the trail. Already imagining Libby in his arms.

Mark looked up, hope shining in his eyes. “Me and Dan’ll find gold. Maybe silver, too.”

“You do that.” Wade grabbed his bedroll, saddle, and bridle.

In his ambling gait, Mark ran to Dan.

Lord, me and You are going to have some words about that boy’s leg. He believes You’re going to heal him. I want to see it happen. And soon.

Wade saddled Fuego and rode to Dan and Mark. “I’ll give this horse a good ride and be in Denver by tomorrow noon. I’ll come back as soon as I can.”

A deep chuckle rumbled from Dan’s chest. “I bet your little lady will be waitin’ for ya. Me and the boy’ll be fine. You watch yourself. Keep your gun ready cause there’s robbers in these woods.”

Wade tapped the stallion. The horse charged through the meadow as if he understood the need to hurry. Not since his family’s death had hope in anything good filled his chest. Now, hope, peace, and even love flowed in him.

Libby.

With each hoofbeat, his heart pounded her name.

If only she’d have him.

Chapter 31

Wade flicked the reins and urged the stallion into a steady lope. If he’d judged the distance and time right, he’d be off the steep incline before dark. He’d better be anyway. The narrow path on rocky terrain spelled danger during the day. At night, the loose rocks would make the going treacherous, but the pressing need to make sure Libby was all right drove him beyond careful.

With the past put away, he was a new man. He was no longer afraid God would take those he loved. He was free to let Libby know he cared for her. A groan shuddered through him. Was she safe?

 Even as the horse trotted across the field, she invaded his mind. Her hair was dark like the comfort of night. Eyes a sparkling green. Velvet soft skin, along with her tender heart, and fiery spirit, she possessed all any man could ever want.

So what was she doing in this wild country? Southern belles didn’t run off by themselves. She’d never told him why she left home. Maybe the humiliation of being jilted. What a fool that man had been. But then hadn’t he practically done the same thing? An action he intended to make right. He just hoped he wasn’t too late.

The trail steepened. He slowed the stallion, careful to keep close to the hillside. The sun slipped behind the mountains, subduing the earth in shadows of gray and increasing the need to hurry from the treacherous slope.

He rounded a bend and squinted as a stiff breeze blew dust in his face. Fuego snorted. Wade rubbed the horse’s withers to calm the animal and gazed skyward. The hills, trees, and advancing night blotted his view to see if a storm was brewing. Rain would turn the dirt into slick mud.

He lifted his gaze heavenward. “Keep the storms away and protect Libby. Amen.” The low rumble of thunder echoed in the distance. Wade shook off the doubt. Thunder wasn’t rain, and the air held no scent of moisture.

Another distant boom or two but no drops later, Wade reined the sorrel off the steep grade and onto the wider trail leading to Denver. He recalled a nearby stream that would make a good place to camp for the night.

Moonlight slipped between the branches of the trees. He’d have to stop soon. Fuego had worked hard to get him this far, and he owed the horse a night’s rest. Wade wondered if he’d gotten off the path when he heard the gurgle of rushing water.

He tensed as a worrying niggle in the back of his neck scratched a warning. Wade recalled the riders that had charged over the trail on the way to Mark’s claim. He stopped the horse and listened. A night bird sang a lullaby. Frogs and crickets chirped their call. Nothing out of the ordinary, but he’d learned to heed that itch. As sheriff, it’d kept him from the wrong end of a bullet more than once.

He nudged the stallion across the creek into a circle of trees away from the path. After taking care of the horse, Wade settled down for the night. Gun loaded and by his side, he drifted into a tired slumber.

###

Hoofbeats thundered on the beaten path and jerked Wade out of a fitful sleep. Pistol drawn and ready, he ran to Fuego and covered the stallion’s muzzle to keep the horse quiet. The faint light to the east promised dawn’s arrival, affording him a glimpse of riders. Quick to retreat behind the trees, he listened and waited. He was thankful he’d not struck a fire and chose to eat a cold supper. Whoever they were, they hadn’t seen him. He patted the sorrel’s sleek neck and covered his muzzle to quiet the animal.

He’d bet his badge they were up to no good. Wade frowned. That is if he hadn’t thrown it down. His grimace was short-lived as a grin settled on Wade’s lips. Badge or no badge, he felt like a lawman again. Sweeny had mentioned Denver needed deputies.

Wade leaned against a sturdy pine. Now that he’d made peace with God and the past, his future was wide open. He was no longer under the hate that had blanketed his mind like a black fog stealing his hope.

Would Libby be content as the wife of a lawman?

Fuego nickered.

“Easy, boy.” Wade ran a hand down the horse’s back. Fuego would sire fine colts. Wade stared at the stallion, and his old dream of raising horses came alive. He’d put a stake on the meadow where Mark’s claim was located.

He’d have to build a cabin. Might be years before he’d have a house nice enough for Libby. Would she wait? Help him start his ranch?

Wade chuckled. He was way ahead of himself. For all he knew, she preferred her the southern gentleman employer she’d bragged about. Wade shook his head. Who was he fooling? Rowen had the kind of house and reputation she deserved.

A ray of sunshine winked through the leaves. He’d waited long enough. He saddled the horse and rode on toward Denver. No rush this morning. He didn’t want to run into those riders. The deep hoofprints showed the men were in a hurry. Four horses by the tracks.

Wade reined Fuego to a stop. He’d reached a clearing and didn’t want to make himself an easy target. Besides, if he waited, he’d be able to see the riders on the trail below. He dismounted. After a few minutes, a man on a bay trotted into view, followed by another on a tall black. Then one on a bay with a blaze. Where was the fourth rider?

Fuego sidestepped and pawed the ground.

He backed the horse into the brush.

A movement well behind the three riders caught his attention. The fourth rider rode on a big gray. A lookout? Finally, the man kicked the horse into a lope and caught up with the other three.

Breathing easier, Wade nudged the stallion forward. The men were an easy hour ahead of him. If they were going to cause trouble, he needed to take a different route to beat them into Denver.

He reined Fuego into the woods and found a faint deer path that drifted downhill. A long shot but his only chance to catch the men. Battling briars and low branches, he pushed the stallion, urging him down the steep trail. The path continued until he came to a narrow ledge.

Wade dismounted and led the horse along the rock-strewn trail. After what seemed like hours, the path opened into a meadow with Denver just beyond. There was no sign of the riders.

Wade wiped the sweat out of his eyes. The air hung warm and heavy as if holding its breath for the coming trouble. Scanning the land, he kept in the shade of the brush that grew along a small stream. He’d wait.

The sun rose high in the sky. Time passed and with it his resolve to remain hidden. The men hadn’t done anything wrong. But as soon as the thought passed through his mind, that warning itch reasserted itself. Wade was about to urge the stallion from the creek when just below him, the rider on the gray trotted out of the cover of the trees. The man rode to a large house, and if Wade wasn’t mistaken, that house was Terrence Rowen’s.

###

Thinking of Wade kept Libby from eating any of the biscuits she’d made that morning. The day crawled toward the noon hour and her ride into town. Adjusting her hair for the tenth time, she gazed out the window and waved at her mountain. She wasn’t sure if it had a name or not, but she’d claimed the peak as hers and named it Providence.

She anticipated seeing Wade. Even now thoughts of his kiss sent her heart skipping. She loved that man. Twisting a curl around her finger, Libby gave an excited laugh as she thought how she would ignore him. And then wondered if she could.

After a few minutes of scheming, she grinned. She’d visit the paper and send word to Tobias that she needed a ride to Terrence’s later in the day. She’d let Wade make the first move. He’d not see her go running to him.

“Miss Libby, you ready?” The gruff voice spoke more a command than question.

She grabbed her reticule and opened the door. “Mr. Cookie, thank you for driving me.”

The older man stepped on the wheel and then to the ground. With a groan, he shuffled to her. “Jest how long you expectin’ to be in town? I got dinner to think about.”

She allowed him to help her into the wagon. “Don’t worry. If you drop me off at the newspaper office, I can find a ride home.”

The man grunted. Whether from the effort of climbing into the buggy or from a grouchy attitude she couldn’t tell. Mr. Rowen didn’t seem to know how to hire adequate servants.