ranch.”
“Much obliged, Mr. McCutcheon.” Ward’s blue eyes swung from one face to the next. “Where do I find a cup?”
As their new hire walked away, Roady rounded on Luke. “Are you loco? What’s gotten into you?” He shook his head, disgusted.
Luke followed him to the edge of the campsite. “If there’s a diamondback around, I want him out in the open where I can see him, not hidden under a rock ready to strike.”
Roady didn’t reply.
Word spread. All the men knew who Ward was, and Lucky was no exception. Luke watched the old man stand back and let Faith’s brother-in-law serve himself. Normally the cook would have jumped right in to help, making a newcomer welcome.
“Where you from?” Luke asked, going over to Ward. Roady followed.
Ward raised his cup and took a sip, tasting the coffee. “Nebraska. Small town called Kearney. Ever heard of it?”
“No.” Luke watched him. Ward’s eyes slipped from face to face of each the camp’s men, and it never once strayed to Faith’s wagon half-hidden just beyond Lucky’s. Curious, for a man so…concerned. “I suppose you know Faith’s relation. The one she’s going to live with,” Luke probed.
“Relation? She don’t have no relation. Her pa died shortly after she married Samuel. He’s the only relative that I know about.” Ward took another sip of coffee. “I wouldn’t know who you’re talking about.”
“Penelope Flowers,” Luke threw out.
Ward choked. Wiping his mouth with his shirtsleeve, he turned and glanced at Faith’s wagon. In a sad and serious voice he whispered, “That’s what she told you, then? PenelopeFlowers is her aunt?” His tone was full of concern, as he shook his head in disbelief.
“That’s what she said,” Luke confirmed. Though he’d expected it, he didn’t like the direction this conversation was headed.
“Penelope Flowers is her cow. Been a good milker for years, but I wouldn’t go so far as to call her kin,” Ward joked, looking from Luke to Roady, his lips quivering as he tried to hide back a smile. “Although, Faith did seem quite attached to the old thing. Just maybe they are related!”
Luke’s anger grew, but he refused to appear anything but nonchalant. He didn’t know what galled him more—Faith’s lie or the fact that Ward was having fun at her expense.
Ward meandered casually over to the campfire and refilled his coffee cup, a frown marring his face. “This is exactly what I’ve been worried about.” He sat down, making himself comfortable. “Faith’s always had a fanciful way about her, making things up and such. Always harmless, mind you. She’s not let-tin’ on, but I think she’s takin’ Samuel’s death real hard. Dreaming up things that just aren’t true. It worries me—her taking care of the young’uns and all.”
Roady pitched the remainder of his coffee into the crackling flames. “I’m turning in,” he said curtly.
Matt and Mark, who stood quietly nearby, followed suit. They looked questioningly at Luke, then headed for their bedrolls.
“Do you want me to take a watch?” Ward asked.
The last thing Luke wanted was this man up when everyone else was asleep. But he didn’t want to show his hand just yet. “You bed down with the others, I’ll wake you later.”
“Thanks again for givin’ me a chance. I know I’m a stranger and all.”
Luke watched him go. Either Ward was a damn good liar or Faith was. But then, what about her and Colton’s reactions? Those hadn’t been an act, he’d bet the ranch on it. So, whatactually was going on here? Determined more than ever to find out, Luke looked to the wagons. Was Faith still awake? Only one way to be certain.
Faith heard Luke approaching. She waited for him to knock, but he didn’t. What was he waiting for? Her temper flared. She’d heard bits and pieces of Ward’s conversation about poor Samuel and how hard she was taking his death. With a pounding heart, she clasped her hands together to keep
“Much obliged, Mr. McCutcheon.” Ward’s blue eyes swung from one face to the next. “Where do I find a cup?”
As their new hire walked away, Roady rounded on Luke. “Are you loco? What’s gotten into you?” He shook his head, disgusted.
Luke followed him to the edge of the campsite. “If there’s a diamondback around, I want him out in the open where I can see him, not hidden under a rock ready to strike.”
Roady didn’t reply.
Word spread. All the men knew who Ward was, and Lucky was no exception. Luke watched the old man stand back and let Faith’s brother-in-law serve himself. Normally the cook would have jumped right in to help, making a newcomer welcome.
“Where you from?” Luke asked, going over to Ward. Roady followed.
Ward raised his cup and took a sip, tasting the coffee. “Nebraska. Small town called Kearney. Ever heard of it?”
“No.” Luke watched him. Ward’s eyes slipped from face to face of each the camp’s men, and it never once strayed to Faith’s wagon half-hidden just beyond Lucky’s. Curious, for a man so…concerned. “I suppose you know Faith’s relation. The one she’s going to live with,” Luke probed.
“Relation? She don’t have no relation. Her pa died shortly after she married Samuel. He’s the only relative that I know about.” Ward took another sip of coffee. “I wouldn’t know who you’re talking about.”
“Penelope Flowers,” Luke threw out.
Ward choked. Wiping his mouth with his shirtsleeve, he turned and glanced at Faith’s wagon. In a sad and serious voice he whispered, “That’s what she told you, then? PenelopeFlowers is her aunt?” His tone was full of concern, as he shook his head in disbelief.
“That’s what she said,” Luke confirmed. Though he’d expected it, he didn’t like the direction this conversation was headed.
“Penelope Flowers is her cow. Been a good milker for years, but I wouldn’t go so far as to call her kin,” Ward joked, looking from Luke to Roady, his lips quivering as he tried to hide back a smile. “Although, Faith did seem quite attached to the old thing. Just maybe they are related!”
Luke’s anger grew, but he refused to appear anything but nonchalant. He didn’t know what galled him more—Faith’s lie or the fact that Ward was having fun at her expense.
Ward meandered casually over to the campfire and refilled his coffee cup, a frown marring his face. “This is exactly what I’ve been worried about.” He sat down, making himself comfortable. “Faith’s always had a fanciful way about her, making things up and such. Always harmless, mind you. She’s not let-tin’ on, but I think she’s takin’ Samuel’s death real hard. Dreaming up things that just aren’t true. It worries me—her taking care of the young’uns and all.”
Roady pitched the remainder of his coffee into the crackling flames. “I’m turning in,” he said curtly.
Matt and Mark, who stood quietly nearby, followed suit. They looked questioningly at Luke, then headed for their bedrolls.
“Do you want me to take a watch?” Ward asked.
The last thing Luke wanted was this man up when everyone else was asleep. But he didn’t want to show his hand just yet. “You bed down with the others, I’ll wake you later.”
“Thanks again for givin’ me a chance. I know I’m a stranger and all.”
Luke watched him go. Either Ward was a damn good liar or Faith was. But then, what about her and Colton’s reactions? Those hadn’t been an act, he’d bet the ranch on it. So, whatactually was going on here? Determined more than ever to find out, Luke looked to the wagons. Was Faith still awake? Only one way to be certain.
Faith heard Luke approaching. She waited for him to knock, but he didn’t. What was he waiting for? Her temper flared. She’d heard bits and pieces of Ward’s conversation about poor Samuel and how hard she was taking his death. With a pounding heart, she clasped her hands together to keep
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