Blue stilled his reaction. “Can’t say I have.” He hoped he sounded disinterested. It wasn’t difficult to sound sincere. Clara wasn’t a woman who needed help as her father said. She was strong and resourceful. “I’ll take some peppermints.”
Macpherson poured some into a bag. “Enough?”
“That’ll do. Thanks.” He tossed a few coins on the counter and popped a mint into his mouth as he strolled from the store, intending to give the impression he had not a care in the world.
As soon as he was out of sight of the store, he ducked down an alleyway and leaned against the wall of the nearest building to still his racing heart.
Her father had come in on the stage. No doubt she had seen him and run. How? Where? Rufus might know.
Blue wasn’t used to running, but he would have won a footrace in the next few minutes as he made haste to the livery barn.
“Rufus. Where are you?”
The man moseyed from one of the pens. “Hold your horses, Blue. Ain’t never seen you in such a lather about anything.” He squinted at Blue. “How come now?”
“Never mind assessing me. Did you happen to see a woman and two girls this afternoon?”
“Seen ’em and rented ’em a wagon.”
“You did?”
“Yeah. I was just as surprised as you. I wondered if she knew what she was doing, but she assured me she did. Spunky thing.”
“Stubborn, too. She say where she was going?”
“Thought you’d know seeing as you took her there yourself.”
“Would you mind refreshing my memory?”
“Why, to Eden Valley Ranch.”
Thank goodness. She’d be safe there. “How long ago did she leave?”
Rufus scratched his chin and considered the position of the sun. “Can’t rightly say, but I’d guess an hour ago, more or less.”
Blue’s breath whooshed out. She would be safely there by now, surrounded by Linette’s care and the protection of everyone at the ranch.
He wouldn’t be able to relax until he saw for himself. “Thanks, Rufus.” He hurried from the barn.
“You make sure my horse and wagon get back here safe and sound.”
“Will do,” he called over his shoulder. Not wanting Mr. Creighton to see him riding away, he ran toward the river, then turned toward the church.
Within minutes he had his horse saddled again and hit the road out of town.
All the way to the ranch, he kept his eyes peeled for any sign of a wagon. Not that he expected to see one. She’d surely be there by now. He rode directly to the big house and jumped down to rap on the door.
Linette opened it. “Blue. I didn’t expect to see you today.”
“Is she here?”
Linette looked startled. “Who?”
“Clara and the girls. Are they here?”
“No. Is she supposed to be?”
His mind blanked. Not a thought. Then it exploded into hundreds of questions and scenarios. “Yes. No. I don’t know.” He swung back on his horse and raced out of the yard.
She wasn’t at the ranch. She wasn’t in town. He had seen no sign of her on the road. Where were they? The question wailed through his head and hammered at his eardrums.
Only one horrifying thought made sense. Harv Winch must have fed him a bunch of horse apples to distract him. There was no brother. He was here, hired by Mr. Creighton.
Blue’s insides turned to steel. If Harv had Clara and the girls, he would regret his actions.
Blue galloped his horse to the man’s campsite. “Harv. Harv Winch, show yourself.”
The man unwound from the shadows. How did he manage to blend in to the landscape so completely? It sent shivers up and down Blue’s spine.
“Thought I’d seen the last of you,” Harv said.
“Where are they? What did you do with them?”
Harv’s expression changed not at all. Just when Blue thought he wasn’t going to answer his questions, Harv said, “Might this be the ‘them’ you were concerned about earlier?”
“You know it is.”
“You’re barking up the wrong tree.”
Blue stared.
“Have a look around if you don’t believe me.”
Realizing he was wrong about the stranger, he shook his head, swallowing back his aggression. “There’s no point.” He knew the man was telling the truth. He reined away and galloped back to the trail.