Part 21 (1/2)

”Shot.

I think he found out some- thin' he shouldn't have. ”

Cynthie told them to bring the body into the house. Winn wanted to help, butall he could do was hold the horses for them. Greg stayed beside him,clutching his leg. When Peter came back for the horses, he said Jeremiahwould ride into town and get the sheriff. Winn nodded to Peter and, takingthe child's hand, went back to the house.

Cynthie met them at the kitchen door and led Greg away to clean him up forbed. Louie had been coaxed into having something to eat and Winn sat down atthe table with him. Louie looked at the younger man and didn't wait for himto ask.

”There's been cattle stolen off Mrs. Franklin's land. I don't know if youheard about that or not. I was out there loo king for evidence of old camps.Found a couple, too. They might mean nothin', but whatever Emery foundmeant something to somebody. He was lyin' near a camp that looked to havebeen deserted in a hurry. My guess is he caught somebody in the act.”

”Changing brands?” Winn guessed.

”Did they leave anything behind that would tell you anything about them?”

Louie was quiet, and Winn wondered if he might have nodded or shaken hishead. He listened to Cynthie's light footsteps on the stairs.

”I'll tell you later,” Louie said and took a gulp of coffee.

Cynthie entered the kitchen.

”I better take care of the body tonight,” she said.

”The sheriff will want to see him first. I'll wait and help you,”

Louie said.

Cynthie shook her head.

”He'll want to talk to you and then you better turn in. You've had a longday.”

Winn knew there was no way he could help so he didn't offer, but he resolvedto stay with her for company at the very least. He took the coffee Cynthieoffered. Peter came to the front door with Emery's best clothes and offeredto sit up with the rest. Cynthie thanked him but firmly sent him off to bed.She returned to the others and they sat drinking coffee and talking quietlywhile they waited for Jeremiah to get back with the sheriff.

It was completely dark by the time they arrived. Cynthie lit a lamp in thefront room while Louie let the sheriff in. Winn stood by and listened to theother two men talk, and Cynthie came to stand near him.

Louie didn't tell the sheriff anything he hadn't already told Winn except thelocation of the camp and how he and Emery had separated in an effort to covermore ground. Whatever it was Louie had found, he was keeping it from th.e.s.h.eriff as well as his boss.

The sheriff watched Louie go through the man's pockets and asked about kin.Louie knew of a brother but they hadn't been close, and Emery himselfprobably didn't know where to reach him. The sheriff said, in that case, histhings would belong to Mrs. Franklin.

Cynthie cleared her throat.

”We'll worry about that later,” she said.

Winn wanted to put an arm around her and pull her close so she could leanagainst him. She sounded small and frightened. She was close enough totouch, but he didn't dare.

In a few minutes the sheriff was ready to leave. Louie renewed his offer to help, but Cynthie refused. After promising to be back after a few hours'sleep, he left Cynthie and Winn alone.

”I think it'll be quiet enough now that you can go to bed,” she said.

Winn shook his head.

”I'll stay if you'll let me.”

Cynthie sighed with relief.

”Thank you,” she whispered. She knew the task would be hard enough to face

without being alone, as well.

She removed the poor man's dirty and b.l.o.o.d.y clothing, calling occasionally on

Winn to help her lift him. She washed the body the best she could, and began dressing him for burial.

”I didn't know him very well,” she said as she worked.

”He hasn't been here as long as Louie or Jeremiah, and he usually kept to

himself.”

Winn heard a tremor in her voice and stepped closer to her. He knew strong

men who would get squeamish doing what she had to do. What would he do ifshe fainted?”Somebody who loved him should be doing this,” she said.Winn reached out and touched her shoulder. ”Wouldn't it be harder on them?””I don't know.” Cynthie's hands were trembling and she gripped them tightly together.

”It's hard when it's someone you love but... I wish... I should have...” Shestarted to sob, and Winn turned her into his arms.She twisted her fingers into his s.h.i.+rt and gave in to the tears.Winn pulled the silky head against him and caressed the narrow back. He wanted to comfort her, to

stop the heartbreaking little sounds that she

m.u.f.fled against his chest.

At the same time, he wanted to hold her forever, amazed at the wonderful feeling of having her in his arms.

Eventually the tears were spent and she was no longer shaking. He bent to

kiss the top of her head. ”Feel better?” he whispered.She nodded against his chest but didn't pull away. He kept his arms aroundher, waiting for a sign from her that she wanted him to let her go. Hewanted to touch her for as long as she would allow it.

”This doesn't have anything to do with him.” Her voice was so soft he barely heard her.