TY GAZED AT EMMA OVER the breakfast table. “Something bothering you? You’ve been unusually quiet this morning.”
She nibbled her lower lip, then huffed out a breath. “I didn’t know childbirth was so…painful.”
Uh-oh.
He put his cup down and focused on her. “And?”
She met his steady gaze. “Sarah said this morning she didn’t even remember the pain now, which seems kinda farfetched to me.” Her cheeks turned a lovely shade of pink. “What she said reminded me of the first time…” She straightened her back and continued. “She told me afterwards it was all worth it and she’d do it again.”
It suddenly occurred to him, he had no idea how she felt about actually having a child, though he told her up front, he wanted one.
He needed to know if she would have his child. “Do you want children, Em?”
Her hands were hidden under the table but he guessed them to be clasped tightly together. “Well, I admit that yesterday, I had my doubts.”
“And today?” He held his breath as he waited. He wanted a child in the worst way, but if she didn’t…
A shivering breath preceded her answer. “When I saw Henry hold little Abby, the look on his face…” She swallowed and her jaw clenched. “I pictured you like that, holding our child…” Her laugh was dubious. “I’ll probably be a mess the whole time, but, yes I do.”
He released a heavy sigh. “So do I.”
Her silky voice held a healthy dose of sensuality and humor. “Well, if we don’t have one soon, it won’t be for lack of trying.”
Delight surged through him. “I love you, Red.”
“I love you, too,” she replied softly.
“Any coffee left?” asked Henry as he stumbled into the kitchen. “I’m dying.”
“On the stove,” said Emma, “and some bacon and eggs.”
He grabbed a cup and joined them at the table, yawning fiercely before taking a drink. “Abby was awake every two hours last night.” He turned to Emma. “Is that normal?”
She snorted. “How should I know?”
“You’re a woman.”
His matter-of-fact statement apparently struck her as funny since a gentle laugh rippled through the air.
“Yeah, well, you could write a book on what I don’t know about being a woman.” She laughed again, a happy, musical laugh that made the men smile in return.
Ty hated to leave Emma, but knew he needed to get back. “When do you want me to come get you? Tomorrow, the next day?”
She looked at Henry. “When will your housekeeper be back?”
“Tomorrow.” He shook his head. “She’s going to be upset about missing the birth, but her mother was sick so she needed to go.”
“Day after tomorrow just in case she’s late.” She grinned at Henry. “You’ll be tired of bacon and eggs by then, since that’s all I know how to cook.”
“But you make great coffee.” He refilled his cup and left the room.
Ty reached the ranch shortly after lunch and found Rafe sitting in his rocker on the porch. “Was worried something went wrong. I expected you back yesterday.”
“Everything’s fine.” He looped the reins around the post and stepped on the porch. “Sarah had a little girl late yesterday. Emma’s staying till the housekeeper gets back.”
“They doing all right?”
“Yeah. Doc said everything’s fine.” He took the chair beside him, wondering how to ask the question buzzing around his head like a fly for the last two days. Elbows on his knees, he clasped his hands in front.
“Out with it, Boy,” said Rafe as he watched him closely. “Whatever is stuck in your craw, just spit it out.”
“A while back, you told me you never intended to go through with willing the ranch away if Emma didn’t marry; it was all a bluff.”
Rafe stiffened and his voice sparked with edginess. “That’s right.”
Ty met the old man’s direct gaze. “I saw the paper the night we decided to marry. Frankly, it was part of the reason I did it.” He shook his head. “She was devastated. I had to do something.”
The older man leaned forward, face drawn tight. “What the hell are you talking about? Saw what?”
“The amendment to the will. I didn’t actually remember seeing it until a couple of days ago.” He rubbed his hands across his thighs. “I didn’t trust my recollection, so yesterday, before we left, I looked at it again.”
“I don’t know what the hell you saw, Tyler, but I never made any changes to my will!”
Ty studied him a moment. “Be right back.”
A few minutes later, he returned and handed him the envelope with the will inside.
Rafe barely glanced at the will when he saw the second document. “What’s this?”
“An amendment to your will setting out the stipulations for Emma to marry.” Ty barely contained the anger in his voice.
“I don’t know anything about this and for damn sure I never signed it!” Rafe’s face reddened and his breath came in rapid puffs.
Concern for the older man tempered Ty’s anger. “Okay, okay…don’t get worked up.”
Rafe took a deep breath. “Where did you get this?”
“Emma showed it to me the night we decided to get married. Like I said, it was part of the reason for our decision.”
“You married my girl for this ranch?” Rafe’s voice shook with anger. “That’s all she is to you?”
“Hell no!” Ty worked at control. “I told her no matter what happened between us, this is her place. Period. I wanted a wife and family. A home.” He took a deep breath. “I still do.”
Rafe sank back in the chair. “Thank God. I’d hate to have to make her a widow.”
Ty let his remark slide as he processed a more vital question. If he didn’t sign it, who did? And why? He reached for the document still clutched in the old man’s hand. “Obviously, Walker wrote this up. The question is why? And who signed it?”
His frail shoulders drooped and his voice sounded tired. “When I got real bad, he was here one day talking about what happens to Emma when I’m gone. It made me think hard about things.”
“And he suggested this?” He held up the paper.
He nodded. “More or less. He talked about her being left alone and how much work was involved in running this place, and how the men wouldn’t work for her after I’m dead. Stuff like that.” His cheeks reddened and he looked at Ty. “I know what you’re thinking, boy, that I would force my girl to take someone she didn’t want. But you’re wrong.” He blew out a heavy breath. “I reckon I went a bit too far doing that advertisement and all, but she wouldn’t give the time of day to any man around here.” His face grew red and a short coughing spell interrupted his comments.
“Need some water?”
“Rather have whiskey.”
Ty raised a brow, but went inside and returned with a glass.
Rafe downed the contents, sputtered once, and then looked at Ty, his blue eyes clear and direct. “I never told him to do that. Never.”
Ty believed him, so the burning questions remained: Who did? And why?
Rafe cleared his throat. “What now?”
“I’m going to talk to him,” said Ty firmly, “If I don’t like his answers, I’ll talk to the sheriff.”
He caught a slight movement from the corner of his eye and turned to see Leo standing at the edge of the porch, expression unreadable. How much did he hear? Does it matter?
“Thought I heard someone ride up.” There was an edge to his voice he couldn’t hide. “Want me to take care of your horse?”
Ty’s instincts went on full alert. “No, thank you. I’ll take care of him later.”
A curt nod and he turned toward the barn.
“You ain’t going to see him alone,” stated Rafe in a tense, clipped voice that forbade discussion.
“If Walker’s behind this, he broke the law. Which begs the question, how many others has he broken?”
“All the more reason for you to take someone with you.” He looked around. “Take Wally or Leo.”
Ty’s first instinct was to refuse, but going alone was risky. For whatever reason, he didn’t trust Leo, probably because he knew how the young cowhand felt about Emma. Wally was young, but solid, and stuck with Emma when she needed someone and the reason they kept him on as a full-time hand afterwards.
“I’ll take Wally. Where is he?”
“He went into town. José needed some supplies.”
“I’ll catch up to him there.” He started for his horse and paused. “I think I’ll put the papers back in the safe for now.”
A few minutes later, he was ready to ride.
“Tyler.”
He stopped at the old man’s sharp call.
“Be careful.”
He gave a curt nod and rode off.
The trip into town took less than an hour, but the good luck ended there. Walker was nowhere to be found, and the sheriff wasn’t in his office.
A brief stop at the saloon to see if anyone knew when the sheriff would return proved fruitless as well. Wally was there talking to one of the working girls and he just nodded at the boy and left.
He didn’t like not being able to finish this business, but it couldn’t be helped. Disappointed, he got back on his horse and headed for home.
Diablo showed his displeasure at setting out again so soon by refusing to cooperate. If Ty wanted him to go left, he went right. If he urged him to go faster, he slowed down.
“You worthless piece of horseflesh!” grumbled Ty as he struggled to keep the unpredictable horse on the road. “I ought’a put you out of my misery.”
On the heels of that outburst, Diablo suddenly reared and took off like the hounds of hell were after him. All Ty could do was hold on.
A mile or so later, the devil horse stopped so fast Ty nearly went flying over his head. The animal blew hard and his legs trembled.
Suddenly alarmed, Ty bent forward, rubbing the horses’ sleek neck as he prepared to dismount. “Easy boy, easy. What’s wrong?”
The horse staggered slightly, throwing Ty off-balance and he slid to one side. Otherwise, the bullet that zipped past his ear might have killed him.