Sweet Savage Heart (59 page)

Mace knocked on her door and she let him come inside. “What’s wrong, Rana?” he asked solicitously. “You’ve been in here a long time. Why don’t you come back to the party? It’ll be over soon. Has anyone said or done anything to upset you?”

“No, everyone has been kind to me,” she replied sadly. “Why haven’t we heard from Travis? How can I laugh
and smile when he could be injured or in danger somewhere?”

Mace grasped her hand and squeezed it gently. Smiling, he encouraged, “You haven’t known him as long as I have, Rana. I’ve seen him get out of pits and traps no other man could have escaped. He rescued you from the Indians, didn’t he?” he reminded her.

“This time he is dealing with the Hunkpapas,” she argued.

“But last time he defeated them,” Mace returned.

Rana walked to her window and looked outside. “That was long ago and another helped him escape. What about those two men who attacked him before my grandfather found him nearly dead?”

“But your grandfather did find him, Rana, and saved his life, just like you saved his life when he was shot.”

“That is what I mean, Mace. Each time someone helped him. This time he rides and faces evil alone. Something is wrong.”

“Sometimes a man needs help, Rana, and other times he must face his challenges alone. I know he’s all right and he’ll return soon. You must have courage and faith. I promise you, there’s a good reason he hasn’t contacted us. You and Travis believe in the Great Spirit. Do you honestly think He would let you two be defeated?”

“The Great Spirit is a mystery. Sometimes His will does not match ours. Sometimes He does not answer prayers, or does not answer them as we wish. If He answered all prayers, my Indian people would not be suffering and dying at the hands of the whites. There are many things I do not understand.”

“Locking yourself in this room and worrying yourself sick isn’t going to change things, Rana. Come back outside and try to enjoy yourself.”

As this conversation was taking place in Rana’s room, Harrison Caldwell and two of his men were approaching
Nathan’s stable on horseback. When they reached their destination, they reined in their horses and arrogantly waited for Nathan to come and speak with them. A hush fell over the wedding party and all eyes focused on the malevolent rancher. Nathan glared at the offensive man, angry at his bold intrusion. He told the others to ignore them and to continue with the happy celebration while he went to see what Caldwell wanted.

“What can I do for you, Harry? You can see we’re busy,” Nathan remarked coldly as his contemptuous gaze swept over the man who was trying to destroy his existence. “Surely you didn’t expect an invitation to Cody and Mary Beth’s wedding?” he scoffed pointedly.

Harrison laughed. “Somebody left one of my corral gates open last night and some of my horses got loose. If you find any strays, I’d appreciate your sending them over with one of your hands.”

Nathan frowned. “If I have any extra time after fighting off these filthy rustlers and fence cutters, I won’t use it to round up your horses. Why don’t you send your new gunslingers out to gather ‘em up?”

Harrison chuckled again. “If you’d hire yourself a few good men, you wouldn’t be having so much trouble, Nate. I heard your men were robbed on the way home from Sedalia. Is that why you’re being so nasty and inhospitable? Are you broke? If you wish, I could make you a personal loan, with… say… this ranch as collateral? Or anything else of value you might own,” he suggested, looking over the group of revelers for Rana.

“You dirty bastard! Get your ass off my ranch and take your men with you! I’ll die before letting you and your kind run me off my land. Our fight isn’t over yet; I’ve still got eleven days to pay off my loan, you vulture.”

“There’s no way you can come up with that much money by a week from Thursday, so give it up, Nate. I’m a rich and powerful man; I’ll make you a good offer. If
you wait ‘til the auction, I’ll be the highest bidder and you won’t have anything left. You’re a fool not to bargain with me now, old friend. You don’t want that beautiful granddaughter of yours thrown out in the cold, so to speak.”

Nathan warned, “Leave my little Rana out of this! Lord’s always provided for us in the past, and He’ll do so this time.”

“I wouldn’t count on Him answering your prayers any time soon, Nate. I’m your only hope, and you aren’t being very polite or grateful.”

“And I won’t be, no matter what happens around here. You’ve been gobbling up ranches for years, but you won’t get mine. Mighty strange that the ranches that have trouble are the ones you want. Somebody’s got to stop your greed, and I pray it’ll be me.”

Harrison eyed Nathan intently, then decided Nathan couldn’t have had anything to do with the daring robbery at his home.
Robbery?
Harrison’s warped mind echoed the ironic term. A man couldn’t actually steal his own money. If Travis Kincade had been around, he would have known who to blame. But he had seen and handled the money since Travis’s departure. Or had that cunning devil really gone? Harrison scolded himself for being so foolish. Travis would have to be gone; after all, he had sent Clarissa a telegram a few days before from Springfield, Missouri.

No, Harrison concluded, Nathan wasn’t in on the theft of his own cattle money. He had no one with the skill or daring to pull off such a job, and he appeared too genuinely scared about losing his ranch to have that money back in his possession. This mysterious matter would need more study and investigation. The only person with access to his safe… No, surely his little bitch of a daughter wouldn’t dare trick him!

“If you’re finished staring at me, Harry, git off my
land. It ain’t yours yet, and it won’t be if I can help it.”

Harrison’s eyes drifted to the party in Nathan’s front yard. He saw Rana leave the house with Mace Hunter. Gracefully she descended the steps on his arm, looking exquisite and delicate in a stunning gown. She appeared a little nervous, as if she did not wish to join the party and was being coerced into it. Perhaps crowds and strange occasions alarmed the Indian princess. She glanced toward the stable where he was still sitting astride his horse. She smiled and waved a greeting, then her cheerfulness faded suddenly as Mace spoke to her. She glanced his way again, a curious look on her face. Evidently Mace had disparaged him. After he took over this ranch, he would see to it that Mace Hunter couldn’t find another job for a hundred miles!

Mace guided her over to the bride and groom, but she kept peering at him past the cowboy’s sturdy body. She looked as if Mace had told her something that she could not quite believe and accept, and as if she were trying to determine the truth simply by looking at him. He wanted to believe that it troubled her to think those unknown charges could be accurate. Then Todd Raines captured her attention with his smiles and chatter. Harrison grinned sardonically, deciding that Todd was as smitten with Rana now as the younger Todd had been with her mother. Too bad, because Marissa had actually started falling for the handsome cowpoke years ago…

“No need to go studying Mary Beth now, Harry. It’s too late. She’s married to Cody Slade, and out of your filthy reach.”

“Oh, I wasn’t eyeing that little country lass. Who could notice her with Rana Michaels standing there? She’s a beauty, Nate, a real beauty, more so even than her mother. Be seeing you around soon,” he remarked, tipping his hat and riding away.

The celebration had ended and everyone had gone but Mace whom Nathan had asked to stay. Nathan told Rana he wanted to have a word with her, and now he paced the sitting room briefly before halting to look at her. He shook his head and exhaled loudly between parted lips. “Rana, I thought we’d explained to you about Harry. I don’t want you smiling at him or going near him or being nice to him. Otherwise you might have him craving you as much as this ranch. He’s bad, girl, real bad. He’d just as soon hurt or kill a woman as a man. Please, girl, steer clear of him.”

“Your grandfather’s right,” Mace added. “Everyone noticed how friendly you were to him. In these parts, Rana, a man—or woman—is known by the company he keeps. You’re new here, so people will wonder why Nathan Crandall’s granddaughter is friendly with his enemy.”

Rana looked from man to man, then smiled mischievously. “You must not worry. I will not be kind to him again; it was only to trick him. He will think you and grandfather told me bad things about him today. I did not wish him to see that I know the truth about him. He rode here to see how grandfather would look and behave today. You fooled him. I fooled him. He will think another stole the money.”

Before Rana could take a breath and continue, Nathan asked in confusion, “Stole what money? What are you talking about, girl?”

“The money he stole from you, Grandfather. It was taken from his safe last night, from the saddlebags with rattlesnakes on them.”

Mace stared at her oddly and inquired, “How could you possibly know about a robbery at Caldwell’s place?”

“I took the money. It belongs to Grandfather. It is hidden in a room above us. He wished to see if you would act the same today. He does not suspect that you have the money or that I took it. Who would think a young girl
could sneak into his home and take the money?”

Nathan and Mace were gaping at her. Mace argued, “That isn’t possible, Rana. You couldn’t have gotten off this ranch last night, or gotten into Caldwell’s safe.”

Rana laughed. “You forget, Mace Hunter, I was trained as a hunter and warrior.” Without boasting, she related how she had stolen off the ranch, onto Caldwell’s, into his office, and into his safe to carry out her daring scheme, then explained how she had secretly returned home. “Come, I will show you the money,” she offered.

In the attic, Nathan gaped at the money in the same way he had gaped at her earlier. “This isn’t possible, girl.”

She hugged him and vowed, “It is, Grandfather. I did not take the saddlebags with rattlesnakes because he would have noticed they were gone. I can show you where he hides the branding irons to steal your cattle. You must not let your voice and face tell him you have the money, or he will try to take it again. You can save the ranch, Grandfather.”

Mace quickly counted the money, and the amount matched that which had been stolen. “It’s all here, Nate. By Heaven, she actually did it!” he remarked in astonishment as the reality settled in on him.

She nodded and confessed, “Yes, it is so. I was very frightened, but I took no chances. It is done and the danger is past.”

“Took no chances?” Nathan scoffed. “Girl, you could have been arrested or killed. Why did you pull something crazy like this?”

She looked into his troubled gaze and replied softly, “Because I love you, Grandfather, and I do not wish you to lose this land that you love. He is our enemy and must be defeated. We have not heard from Travis. I feared he would not return with the gold before your time was lost. I did not wish to anger you, only help you.”

Nathan embraced her tightly. “I know, and I love you too, girl,” he murmured in a choked voice. “But I could have gotten both you and Travis killed trying to help me get money to save this ranch. I love this place, Rana, but not as much as you two. Harry must have checked those saddlebags this morning and found my money missing.” Suddenly Nathan laughed. “I bet he’s as mad as a cat with his tail stuck in the door. And with Travis gone, he won’t suspect a thing.”

“He will if you start acting cocky,” Mace warned. “You and Rana will both be in danger if he discovers you have that money back.”

Nathan nodded in agreement. “I’ll hold it ‘til the last minute before I settle that loan. Now I can pay the boys, Mace.”

“Not yet, Nate. If you go spreading money around, you might as well admit to Caldwell you have the money. The boys will wait.”

Nathan handed Mace some cash. “I’ll give you a little money just in case somebody needs a few bits. We’ll leave it hidden up here in case Caldwell decides to have some of his boys check my safe. I think I’ll leave it unlocked so they won’t blast it open.”

Mace suggested, “Now that you’ve got the money and know where those branding irons are, we could start looking for the McFarlands and Kellys. We’ll need some witnesses to support our evidence.”

Nathan nodded in rising excitement. “You handle everything for me, Mace. We don’t want Harry getting too nervous now that he’s lost this money, so we’d best lie low and keep on like we’ve been doing. As for you, girl, don’t go near Caldwell or his place again.”

“I will stay away from him, Grandfather, and I will not be nice again. But there is more you must know,” she began, then told them about her visit to the Caldwell ranch several days earlier.

Mace looked over the exquisite girl who deceptively appeared so fragile. “You utterly amaze me, woman. Travis isn’t going to believe this when he gets home.” Mace chuckled. “No, I suppose he will; he’s seen you in action before. At least we don’t have to worry about you taking care of yourself or helping out.”

“I must look like nothing more than a weak woman to all others. No one must see or guess my skills, for they may be needed again.”

“You’re right. Besides, who would believe the truth? Any chance there’s another woman like you around?” Mace asked and they all laughed.

Clarissa returned from visiting and eating with friends after church. She was all smiles, thinking that after only one more Sunday, she would sweep into that church as the owner of a vast Texas cattle empire. She halted abruptly at the parlor door to question her father’s expression.

“You know anything about the money missing from my safe?” he asked bluntly to shock her into exposing herself if she were guilty.

She was taken by surprise and bewildered. “What are you talking about, Papa? You know I never take money from the cash box without your permission.”

“I’m not talking about the cash box, Clarissa. Nathan’s money is missing from those saddlebags in the safe.”

“Missing? But how, Papa? The safe is always locked.” Her gaze widened, then narrowed. “You aren’t suggesting that I took it?”

“I don’t know what happened to it, but it’s gone. I was going to use a little of it to pay Monroe and Hayes this afternoon. I opened the flaps to find pillows from my settee stuffed inside them. All I know is, the money was there last Saturday.”