Sweet Savage Heart (63 page)

The letter was signed, “Marissa Crandall, September, 1856,” and had obviously been written during her final visit home before her tragic death. Rana read the letter again, trying to recall or understand the words that were strange to her. A variety of emotions coursed through her, but hatred and scorn were not among them.

Long ago, she had been as willful and selfish as her mother had been. She, too, had trampled on the feelings of men who had chased her. She had played with their feelings and rejected them unkindly. She knew what it was to love someone at first glance and touch, for it had been that way with Travis Kincade. How sad that she had truly loved and wanted Todd Raines, and he did not know it. She recalled how she had desired Travis that first night and wondered if that was how Marissa had felt, or thought she had felt, about Harrison Caldwell. How tragic that that mistake had led to another, more tragic one, for Marissa would not have taken her friend’s place if it had not been for Harrison. Rana could not judge Marissa, for who could say what she might have done had Myeerah’s life and safety been endangered? People were not invincible or perfect; only the Great Spirit was so.

She thought about Raymond Michaels and hated him even more. He deserved to die for using a helpless woman! If he had still been alive, she would have hunted him down and slain him herself.

She thought about Harrison Caldwell, who had begun the cycle of anguish that had caused her mother’s torment and death. Now he was trying to destroy her grandfather—no, her father. He would pay for his evil, she vowed with fierce determination.

Her thoughts drifted to Clarissa, and she raged at the woman’s maliciousness and spite. She mentally went over their conversation and wondered how much the
woman knew about Marissa and her. Clarissa had said she knew “secrets about her, and you” and that Rana would never guess who her real father was. Rana prayed Clarissa did not know this destructive truth, but she feared she did. That wicked woman had pretended to be Marissa’s friend, and possibly her mother had told Clarissa things without meaning to do so or because she had trusted her. If Clarissa held this awesome secret in her possession, what would she do with it? And had she revealed it to Harrison? Now she understood why Clarissa feared her father’s attraction to her and what she meant when she said, “It isn’t you he sees and desires!” Raymond had told Clarissa many secrets about them, but did she know about Nathan?

Nathan… She called his image to mind. Her father… Yes, she had his eyes and favored him. She could never tell him the truth, for it would destroy him to learn he had mated with his own child. How that secret must have tormented her mother. Yes, Marissa would have done anything to protect those she loved from its damage.

Travis… She desperately wished he were here to comfort her. What would he think about her mother’s evil deeds? What if Clarissa spitefully told him everything? She was Nathan’s daughter… How would he feel about that relationship? He loved her and she loved him, and she would tell him when the time was right, for such a secret could be harmful if it were kept from him, or if it were told to him by Clarissa.

Rana went to sit by the hearth. Lifting the candle, she burned the letter and note, then burned Raymond’s picture. She took needle and thread from her sewing box and carefully repaired the doll, then laid it gently on her bed, understanding now why Marissa had left it behind. Finally she returned to the closet and concealed Marissa’s hiding place. For now, she would do nothing
with Marissa’s “treasures.”

Lost in thought she walked aimlessly around her room. Soon she realized that tears were rolling down her cheeks. Perhaps the Great Spirit had ended Marissa’s suffering and removed Raymond’s threat and evil, yet Clarissa’s evil and threat remained. If she made an obvious move toward either Travis or Harrison, the woman might be tempted to wreak her evil vengeance. Rana doubted that Marissa had slept with any man around here other than Fargo, for she recalled that name from her bad dreams. At least Nathan and Todd had been protected from Marissa’s secrets, and she would see to it that they remained so. Rana had been raised and trained to slay enemies and to seek justice or revenge. She vowed she would find a way to punish Harrison, Clarissa, and Fargo.

It was late when Nathan returned from Dallas with the papers that made Travis free to marry her. They agreed to keep them a secret until this difficult matter with Harrison was settled. Fortunately, Nathan was too busy and distracted by the damming of the river to notice how oddly Rana was looking at him and behaving. She had accepted him as her father in her heart and mind, and that reality did not trouble her. She smiled at him and hugged him tightly before he left to meet with Cody and Mace, knowing she could never call him “father.”

On Sunday morning, Nathan and many of the others went to church to pray for strength and deliverance from the evil that had befallen them. Chores were being left undone as most of the men were assigned to guard duty around the ranch. Nathan had told them at a large meeting early that morning that Travis was on his way
home, and he assured them that things would return to normal in another week.

Later that afternoon, Bart Davis married his brother’s widow. Some might have disagreed with their decision as it came so soon after Darby’s death and burial, but Rana did not. In the Indian camp, when a warrior was slain, a woman quickly took another husband to protect and to support her and her family. Bart and Lettie had been close friends for years and it seemed the best thing for all concerned.

On the Circle
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Ranch, Harrison was still reeling from what Clarissa had told him the day before. He did not know what to do with or about the astounding information. But to make certain Rana would not be injured accidentally, he ordered all attacks to cease for the present. Matters would be settled Thursday, the first of August, the day Nathan’s loan was due. If Nathan could not come up with the money, Wilber Mason’s MidTexas Bank would foreclose on him Friday.

Clarissa sat at the dinner table, furtively observing her father. She had all of them right where she wanted them. Soon it would be over and everything would be hers. She smiled malevolently as she recalled her talk with Rana. Maybe she would visit her again, tell her that Nathan was her father, and threaten to expose them. If they gave her any trouble, she would. After all, there was no way Rana and Nathan could learn that Marissa was not really Nathan’s daughter. She was the only one who knew that Marissa had not slept with her own father, as the troublesome slut had died believing!

On Wednesday, another false telegram came for Nathan and Clarissa from Travis, saying he was supposedly in Springfield and on his way home. The distance from Springfield was such that it appeared Travis would not return to the ranch in less than a week. This telegram delighted Clarissa because she felt everything would be settled in her favor by the time Travis arrived; then she could use her holdings and information to obtain her ultimate desire: him.

Because of the July heat, the poisoned water holes, the lack of rain, and the dammed river, the situation was becoming critical on Nathan’s ranch and there was little fresh water for his cattle and horses. If not for the wells and the windmills, the people would soon have been suffering also. Mace ordered the men to dig trenches and to carry water to them to keep the animals alive until something could be done about the water supply. He also ordered guards posted on the windmills and wells, for he was very much aware of the consequences if Harrison ordered them poisoned or burned.

On Thursday, Mace helped Nathan sneak into town
inside a large box in a wagon. At the livery stable, they left the wagon and horse and stole out the back way to get to the bank without being seen by anyone Harrison might have posted as a lookout. Fifteen minutes before closing time, Nathan entered the bank to see Wilber Mason and was shown into the bank president’s office.

He sat before Wilber’s desk and stared at the man, who squirmed nervously in his chair, not wanting to do what he knew he must. “I’m sorry, Nate, but you know I can’t extend that loan,” Wilber began anxiously. He hated to see this good man broken, but he was helpless.

Nathan smiled oddly, then asked, “Tell me,” Wilber, have you already made arrangements for the auction and drawn up the papers to hand my ranch over to Harry?”

Wilber Mason flushed a deep scarlet and looked down at his hands, which were writhing from his tension and guilt. “You know I would help you out if I could,” he stated apologetically.

“You can help me, Wilber. You can cancel that auction and tear up Harry’s offer,” Nathan replied calmly. He began withdrawing packets of money from his jacket, shirt, and hat. He counted them and placed them before the astonished banker. “That should settle my debt, and you can deposit the rest of this money into my account. You do still want my business, don’t you?”

Wilber’s mouth dropped open and his eyes widened. “Where did you… get so much… money?” he stammered in surprise.

“From an old friend,” Nathan responded, then grinned. “I do have some good friends, Wilber. Relax. There’s nothing you can do but take the payment and inform Harry of his misfortune. He’ll be furious, but he can’t blame you.”

Wilber’s gaze met Nathan’s. Suddenly a broad grin lit his face and he laughed heartily. It was obvious the banker felt great relief and joy. Without counting the
money, he took his pen and Nathan’s loan papers and marked them with large, dark words: “PAID IN FULL, August 1, 1867. Wilber Mason, President, Mid-Texas Bank.”

As Wilber handed Nathan his copy, he looked at the rancher and warned, “Be careful, Nate. Harrison is determined to get your ranch. There’s no telling what he’ll do when he hears about this,” he remarked worriedly, tapping the money and papers with a warning finger.

“I know, Wilber, but I wish men like you wouldn’t help make it so easy for him. It’s hard to stand against evil when you’re standing alone. Harry’s judgment day is coming; mark my words.” He picked up his papers and walked out as Wilber hung his head in shame.

Nathan returned to his ranch and made his way around it, paying his hands their salaries and adding small bonuses for their loyalty. He warned each one to be especially careful tonight, for Harrison would soon be aware of his defeat.

But Nathan could not know that Harrison had other things on his mind. The man hardly reacted when the bank teller arrived with the shocking news. Somehow he had expected it to happen and he suspected it had to do with the cattle money vanishing from his safe, a mystery that still annoyed and baffled him. Apparently Nathan had hired a clever man who was working secretly to foil his plans, the unknown hireling who had stolen the money from under his nose and had thwarted the boys’ attack on the Rocking
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women. He knew Nathan was still in trouble, and he was confident he would eventually destroy him and take everything he held precious. After all, Marissa was not Nathan’s daughter; therefore, Nathan had no claim on Rana. How he wished Marissa
had waited for his return years ago and had married him. Perhaps something had frightened her into fleeing swiftly. If he hadn’t been so cruel to her on her final visit home, perhaps she would have confided in him that last night and he could have saved his love and his child. The problem was how to get his daughter without hurting her emotionally. Harrison desperately wanted the child whom Marissa had borne him, the girl who was her mother’s image and his only rightful heir…

At two o’clock Friday afternoon, Travis galloped into town like a man pursued by demons. He hurriedly dismounted and rushed into the bank, demanding to see Wilber Mason. Inside Mason’s closed office, Travis dropped his saddlebags on the desk and emptied them of numerous pouches that were bulging, as Mason promptly learned, with gold nuggets. Travis loosened the drawstrings on several to expose their contents and declared, “There’s your money, Mason. And don’t you dare tell me it’s too late to pay off Nate’s loan. You handle it personally and deposit the rest in Nate’s account. Be quick and give me those papers. I’m exhausted and I want to get home.”

Wilber looked from the shiny, valuable gold to the rugged man whose clothes were rumpled and dusty and who hadn’t shaved for at least a month and probably hadn’t bathed in that length of time. He did look exhausted and agitated. Apparently he had slept and eaten little in the past weeks, facts that the gauntness of his face and body confirmed. “Where have you been, Kincade, and where did you get all this gold?”

“From an old friend,” he replied sullenly, using words that echoed Nathan’s of the day before. “Hear me well, Mason; if you’ve set any foreclosure and auction plans in motion, you’d best end them here and now or you’ll
answer to me, and I’m not talking very nice these days. Now settle up Nate’s account so I can be on my way.”

“Evidently you haven’t spoken to Nathan,” he stated and smiled.

“I’ve been out of town since the fourth. I came straight here before you and Crandall got too busy stealing Nate’s ranch.”

“Like you’ve been stealing gold to save it?” Wilber probed.

“Not a nugget of this is stolen; it’s all mine. I’ll tell you what, Mason; if you hear of any gold robberies, you can notify the sheriff to investigate me. I’m sure he’ll do a better job on me than he’s done on all the crimes going on around here. All he’ll find out is the gold is mine. Get busy ‘cause I’m tired and hungry and mean.”

“You can keep the gold or deposit it here, but you—”

Travis nimbly dodged around the desk, seized Mason’s coat, and yanked the startled banker from his chair. Almost nose to nose, he warned, “Don’t rile me, Mason. I said mark his debt paid.”

“Nate’s already paid off his loan!” Wilber shrieked. As Travis’s hand loosened its grasp and Wilber sank weakly into his chair, he stammered, “I… I swear, Kin… Kincade. I’ll show you the papers. He paid it all and deposited more money. Said he got it from an old friend, just like you did. Came in yesterday, a few minutes before closing time. I handled the transaction myself, but his ranch still isn’t safe. He’s had some big trouble while you were gone.”