Part 24 (1/2)

Melody was certain she'd never been so tired in her life, not even after a day of working in her aunt's fields. Her plan had worked exactly as she'd hoped. Lantz never questioned why she would be out by herself at night looking for signs of the rustlers. In his mind, being raised outside of Texas was excuse enough for doing any number of stupid things. Throwing herself upon his protection as though he were a gallant knight riding to her rescue had made him forget he was furious at her. He was once more the all-powerful male, she the helpless female. Though it galled her pride, she played her role to the hilt.

The only scary time came when they found the cowhand Chet had tied up. She told them she'd only helped the rustlers because they'd threatened to shoot her. The other cowhands accepted that as a perfectly reasonable explanation. The fellow with the sore head seemed inclined to question her until Lantz told him to shut up.

Lantz was escorting her home. Finally. She'd spent most of the night listening to him rant and rave about rustlers and that Luke was never around when he was wanted. ”You've got to promise you won't go riding out alone again,” Lantz said.

”I promise,” Melody replied. ”I just hope Belle hasn't been up all night worrying.”

After Lantz's hands had captured some of the horses, he had sent the crew after the herd and he took Melody back to his ranch. She had wanted to go straight home, but Lantz had been certain she needed to rest before she'd have the strength to ride in a buckboard back to the Spring Water.

She hadn't enjoyed seeing Blade again. He had been just as angry and sarcastic as she expected. He seemed to have gotten it into his head that she had changed her mind and now wanted to marry his father. A declaration that she wouldn't marry Lantz if he were the last man on earth wouldn't suit her plans right then. It wasn't easy, but she kept quiet. Blade's barbs continually p.r.i.c.ked her conscience and her pride until she climbed into the buckboard to return to the Spring Water.

”You ought to get you a proper foreman,” Lantz was saying. ”You don't want a gunfighter. Anyway, I'm going to kill him, so you'll have to get somebody else. I'll send one of my men over until I can find somebody for you.”

Melody decided not to reply. It would do no good to remind Lantz that Blade had started all the trouble.

She would have asked Chet to leaveat least to hide for a few weeksif she thought he'd pay any attention to her. But he wouldn't. Now she didn't want him to go, at least not until she could find out if he loved her. She didn't know what she'd do if he didn't. She didn't know what she'd do if he did. The whole concept of marrying a gunfighter was entirely beyond her comprehension. But that was part of the problem. No matter what Chet said or did, she couldn't think of him as a gunfighter. He'd not only risked his life for them, he was staying around, risking it longer, just to make sure they were safe. And he hadn't killed anybody. Wasn't that what gunfighters did? They worked for money, didn't care who was shot as long as they got paid, and left the minute their job was done, regardless of what happened to anybody else.

”I'm surprised you didn't faint when they caught you,” Lantz said.

”They didn't want to hurt me,” she told him. ”They just wanted to use me in case you caught them.”

”The rotten cowards. I can't believe anybody from Texas would do anything so terrible.”

”They probably came from New Mexico or Arizona.”

Lantz missed the sarcasm. She decided she'd better watch her tongue before she ruined a successful ploy.

”Will your men have much trouble finding your cows?” she asked.

”It will depend on how many those sneaking b.a.s.t.a.r.ds ran off. I knew I should have brought Luke with me. Blade is strong enough to take care of himself now.”

She had heard more than enough of Blade's anger at having Luke act as his bodyguard. Blade, too, was determined to kill Chet at the first opportunity. It seemed as though all she'd been able to do was make half the men in Concho County determined to kill the man she loved.

”They won't steal another cow from me, by G.o.d,” Lantz swore. ”As soon as I drop you off at the Spring Water, I'm going to get all the ranchers together. We're going to outfit a posse and keep them on the trail until they find those b.a.s.t.a.r.ds and hang every one of them.” Melody felt cold dread in the pit of her stomach. She doubted Lantz or the other ranchers would distinguish between scattering a herd and rustling them, not when the man doing the scattering had already been marked for death.

She was relieved to be nearing the ranch. But this could be the most dangerous moment yet. Who would be there? What would they say when they saw Lantz bringing her home?

The worst possible person to deal with the situation was the first out of the house. Belle came fluttering down the steps acting as though she hadn't a brain in her head, babbling incoherently, and throwing herself on Melody as if she'd been brought back from the dead.

”Chet told me everything,” she whispered in a startled Melody's ears. ”Just agree with everything I say.”

Next Belle released Melody and flung herself at Lantz.

”You're an angel of mercy, our good shepherd, our knight in s.h.i.+ning armor,” Belle trilled. ”Thank G.o.d you found her.” She put her arms round Lantz's waist and hugged him until his eyes threatened to pop out of his head. ”We thought she was dead. I had the boys up all night, but we couldn't find a trace of her. Even Chet had begun to fear we'd never see her alive again.”

By this time Bernice and Neill had come out of the house to add their bit to the scene. Even Sydney came to the door.

”Run saddle a horse and go after Chet,” Belle said to Neill. ”Tell him to bring the men in. Lantz has found Melody, and she's perfectly safe.” She and Bernice both began to flutter around Melody, effectively separating her from Lantz, moving her quickly toward the ranch house.

”You must have been horrified.”

”Terrified.”

”I'm sure I would have fainted dead away.”

”Did one of those murderers dare to lay a hand on you?”

”Lantz, you must go straight to the sheriff and tell him to organize a posse and go after those murderers at once. No telling who they might decide to kidnap next.” Belle shuddered eloquently. ”No woman can feel safe in her bed until they're behind bars.”

”They'll be hanged,” Lantz said, ”every man jack of them. I'll see to it myself.”

He started to tell them exactly what he meant to do, but again Bernice and Belle started talking at the same time. Neill and Sydney disappeared.

”She must go straight to bed,” Bernice said.

”And be given nothing but thin soup until she regains her strength.”

”Poor child must be running on nothing but nerves.”

”I don't mean to sound ungrateful,” Belle told Lantz, ”but you'll have to go away immediately. I must put my stepdaughter to bed at once.”

”I'll come by tomorrow to see how she's doing,” Lantz said.

”Certainly, but you must not expect to see Melody,” Belle said. ”She's suffered a terrible shock. I doubt she'll feel strong enough to see anyone for at least a week.”

Melody didn't dare turn around to see Lantz's expressionshe was afraid the smile on her face would give her awaybut she was certain he looked shocked and incredulous. So was she. She couldn't believe the silly, helpless Belle she'd known for the last six months could have created such a masterful charade. It was far better than anything she could have done. Melody managed to maintain her pose until she was inside the house. Then she started to giggle. It was the release of tension as much as anything else.

”How did you know what to do?” she demanded as soon as she'd recovered her power to speak.

”Chet told us what happened,” Belle said. She sank down on the sofa and started fanning herself. ”I think I'm going to faint.”

”Don't you dare,” Melody said, sitting up straight. ”After the way you've behaved since Sydney was shot, I'll never believe you're a fainting, silly female again.”

”Is that what you thought me?” Belle said, seeming only mildly interested.

”You know it was. Now where is Chet, and how did he know what was going on?”

”I'm here,” he said, stepping into the parlor from the dining room. ”I knew because I followed you.”

Melody sat up with the abruptness of a released spring. Here was the man she loved. Despite facing certain death if he were caught, he'd followed her to make sure she came to no harm. But she should have expected that. He'd been risking his life for her and her family ever since he arrived.

She'd always thought he looked incredibly handsome. Now he looked tired, dusty, worried, and more handsome than ever. She struggled to make her breathing relaxed and even. There was no hope of calming her racing heart. ”You didn't need to do that,” she said. ”I was perfectly safe.”

”Of course he should have done it,” Belle said, getting to her feet. ”He couldn't leave you to the good graces of that man.” She shuddered again eloquently. ”And to think I once wanted you to marry him. I have to check on Sydney. He shouldn't have been out of bed. He'll be wanting his dinner, I'm sure. Still nothing but soup for him, Bernice.”

Bernice left the room. Belle paused in the doorway. ”You're not to do this again. I don't think my heart can stand it.”