20

Justin led a group from the ranch into church on Sunday.

Well, he didn’t exactly lead, because Cole rode along, strong and straight. And when Cole was in on something, he liked to think he was the leader. Because Justin felt a little sorry for his healing big brother, he didn’t squabble over who was in charge.

They didn’t make good time, as Justin didn’t want to push Cole in any way, yet his brother held up just fine. Justin was so pleased to see him looking so good, it was all he could do to keep from smiling right at him. Which would be so strange that Cole would think Justin had gone pure mad.

Sadie and Heath rode along, as well as most of their cowhands.

Justin planned to talk some more to Ramone after the service. Alonzo would be there because he visited his father as often as possible. That was just as well, because Justin didn’t want to be accused of being hard on a weak old man.

He wanted to be mighty hard on Ramone—he just didn’t want to be accused of it. So Alonzo’s presence would make Justin behave.

Angie was in church, sitting with Mel and her pa and ma, and a crowd of hands from the Blake Ranch. They were sitting toward the front, and Angie was fidgeting and turning around like she was plagued with an itch.

She saw him come in and whispered to Mel, then got up and came over to him right in front of everyone. “I need to talk to you after church.” Her voice was so serious and earnest that he was sure this had something to do with the troubles at the ranch. “I have to say some things you might need to know.”

Then she turned around and rushed back to her seat so quick Justin couldn’t grab her. He’d have dragged her straight outside and demanded to hear what she had to say right then, even if they missed a few minutes of the service.

That woman had a knack for tormenting him, and there was no denying it. Now he had to pay attention to the sermon while his brain was hopping around wondering what in the world that woman had found out.

If today hadn’t been Sunday, which brought the family to town, he was sure as certain she’d’ve come riding out to the CR again, and alone just like before. The woman didn’t have a lick of common sense.

Of course, she was worried about them and wanted to help. And heaven knew, with Maria’s death and Ramone staying here in town, there might be things to find out.

Right then the pastor called for everyone to bow their heads in prayer, or Justin might’ve gotten up and made a scene by hauling Miss Angie outside.

Justin waited outside the church, feeling as impatient as a longhorn bull kicking at the gate to a green pasture. From the way Angie was hurrying, he knew she’d come as fast as decency allowed.

She rushed up to him. He’d stayed behind while the rest of the family walked on toward the street.

“What is it?”

“I was asking Mel about how dangerous it is to ride out alone.”

“Angie, I told you—”

“Stop!” Angie shoved the flat of her hand right at his face. She stopped a bare inch from his nose. “Let me ask you this.”

Justin clamped his mouth shut. That was what he wanted, for her to talk, so he needed to give her the chance.

“Mel said she rides alone all the time, just not at night.” Her hand came up again before Justin could start on the many differences between a tough western woman like Mel and a city girl like Angie. “What I want to know is, if someone’s interested in a revolution, why would they ignore other big ranches? You saw the same map I did. They put the Xs only on the land grants. I want to know if you think the Blakes could be in danger, too. Yes, the land grants are maybe the easiest to steal because they have ownership problems that can be twisted and questioned, but I wanted to warn Mel about the dangers of her riding out alone, and I wasn’t sure if you wanted me to tell anyone about the exact sort of trouble you’re having. And I also want to know why they’d ignore holdings like the Blake Ranch.”

That stopped Justin from saying whatever nonsense he was no doubt going to say. He had noticed that he usually said whatever was the worst possible thing when he talked to Angie. Every time he did it, he swore to use more sense next time, and then he’d just go right ahead and mess up again.

He caught her arm and said, “I think we need to ask your questions to my family. But I think you’re right. We should warn the Blakes.”

He didn’t have to drag Angie anywhere, because she headed for where the Bodens stood faster than he did. It warmed his heart. She really did care about his family.

John was standing nearby, so Justin waved him over to listen, too. Justin had Angie repeat her worries to Cole, Sadie, and Heath.

When Angie finished, Justin said, “I’ve never thought a thing of Mel riding around alone. She’s as tough as any man.”

“There’s nothing manly about Mel.” Cole sounded gruff, like for some reason what Justin said annoyed him. But it was nothing every man, woman, and child—Mel included—hadn’t said about her all her life. Maybe Cole wasn’t as healthy as he let on.

“I think we need to warn the Blakes. It’s not just women who might be in danger. No one should be riding alone. Are there other ranchers around who should hear this tale?” Justin’s eyes narrowed as he thought of a few. “It’s been my inclination to handle this ourselves. And I especially thought so when we’ve been trying to find out who’s been spying on us.”

With her arms crossed, looking worried, Sadie said, “But now that we know it was Windy, and he’s lost his position to pass on news about us, we owe it to our neighbors to warn them.”

“It looks like most of the other land grants are already beyond helping.” Justin saw Mel and her folks, Jack and Myra, heading for their horses. “The folks in charge of them are working with our enemies. But plenty of regular ranchers are still in charge of their own places. Pa and Ma would be mighty disappointed in us if we didn’t warn their old friends of possible danger.”

He jerked his head at the Blake family. “Let’s go talk to them now.” Justin led the way.

The rest of his family followed along. Angie stuck with them too, which seemed right to Justin, and he questioned himself as to why.

The Blakes knew a lot of it, because Mel had talked plenty to Sadie and Angie. But Angie admitted she had hesitated to share Boden private business with even someone as trustworthy as Mel. Justin admired a woman . . . well, come to that, any person who thought before they spoke.

When they were finished, Jack said, “I didn’t even realize that your pa’s injury was an attack. And there have been two more shootings?”

“Out at the ranch, both Heath and I were shot on separate occasions,” Cole said. “But there were three shootings. You’re not counting Miss Maria from the orphanage. We consider the attack that killed her to have been aimed at Justin. And she definitely had evidence in her possession that makes us think she was part of this.”

“Are you sure they were after Justin or had they become worried that Maria might tell all she knew and ruin their plans?” Jack asked.

Cole and Justin looked at each other and both shrugged.

Justin said, “I can tell you for sure that whoever started shooting at us might’ve been after me, but they didn’t give a hang if Maria got hurt. It was full daylight and she was standing right beside me. The first shot seemed to be aimed at me. She jumped in front of me. I took that to mean she knew men were after me, and she was willing to die to save me. It was a mighty brave way to die.”

Jack looked at his daughter with one arched brow. “You knew all this, Mel?”

Myra chimed in, “And you didn’t tell us there was such danger in the area?”

Mel had a swagger that she couldn’t control. She didn’t look one speck repentant. “The way I understood it, the trouble was all aimed at the Bodens, and they wanted to handle it quietly. So I didn’t pass on details. Now that they’re talking about it, I’ll be glad to add anything I’ve learned, although some of this was new to me. So Angie and Sadie were holding some of the details back.” Mel’s blue eyes narrowed as she looked from Angie to Sadie.

Sadie grinned. Angie wrung her hands. Justin wondered if that was because Angie had to work with Mel every day.

“One thing’s for certain,” Myra said as she rested her hand on Mel’s back. “You mustn’t ride out alone anymore. We can’t be certain that these outlaws, whether they are after a revolution or just land thieves, won’t come for our family, too.”

“But Ma, I’ve been riding the trail to town alone for years.”

The Blakes left for home on their guard, and Justin heard Jack adding his own voice, very sternly, to Myra’s new rule.

As they saddled up, the glare Mel gave Angie, who she clearly blamed for limiting her freedom, was a little scary. Justin hoped it didn’t scare Angie right back to Omaha.

Once the Blakes rode away, Justin turned to the group. “We’re going to have a talk with Ramone now. Angie, you searched Maria’s room. I want you to come along with us. I’m not letting Ramone lie to me again, and if he denies Maria had that map, you can tell him exactly where you found it.”