Rebellion in the Valley by Robyn Leatherman Page B

other men, however, would not allow
Duffy’s disposition to wound their spirits as they cut jokes and
ate a hearty breakfast before climbing back on their horses for the
important task at hand.
    P
    Puma Canyon lent for a calming ride as horse
hooves clamped down over the compacted narrow trail. Orange and
yellow leaves fell from aspen and birch limbs and into the creek
down below in the embankment; chances of the cat living along these
large boulders and drinking from that creek were not only possible,
but probable. Eyes darted from boulder to creek several times over
the course of the morning until the man who rode next to Tobias
began holding his face at a sharper angle, his forehead pulling
together more often and his jaw clenching.
    Finally, the man felt the need to break the
group’s silence.
    “I’m sure we’re getting closer now, I smell
it.”
    Tobias nodded. “I’m with you on that one;
keep your eyes open and fixed, boys. Boss, looks like you’re gonna
have that pelt after all. Maybe even by the end of the day if she
cooperates with us. Then we can all get back to the ranch and
Hailee.”
    Once the words tumbled out, there was no
taking them back. His glance caught Bruce nodding his head at the
mention of his daughter.
    “I do believe you’re right,” he beamed.
“Let’s get this job done and get home, boys. More than a few days
from my little girl makes a distracted hunter.”
    Tobias understood the sentiment and nodded,
wiping sweat from his brow with an absent-minded motion.
    Duffy observed Tobias from a few horses back;
something brewing there, he just knew it. The man looked a bit too
nervous for his liking when he mentioned the boss’ daughter; Duffy
cocked his head, narrowing his gaze on Tobias.
    He’d suspected something going on between
those two when he walked into the barn and caught them standing all
too cozy. That little moment sparked his curiosity, but now he was
positive those two young 'uns were keeping a secret.
    He would find out what that secret was and
put a stop to it, by gosh! Wasn’t nobody gonna take what he wanted,
and Duffy had a mind to have that ranch.
     

Chapter 11
     
    “G in,” she stated. “Again.”
    Richard slumped over in mock disgrace,
covering his eyes with the cards still left in hand.
    “Okay. Let’s make it best out of ten rounds
instead of five; you’ve already whipped me three of those and I
can’t let no little girl be fer whippin’ this old man at a friendly
game cards, of all things,” he winked.
    Shuffling the deck, he glanced up at the girl
and then shuffled once more-just to be sure. When the old cook
began to file through his own cards, he scowled and made a sour
face.
    “Good thing we aren’t betting anything
tonight - I’d be losin’ my socks!”
    She giggled and flipped down two pairs.
    “What? Already? You’re killin’ me, girl,” he
teased only half-heartedly.
    “We could always leave the game for later,”
she suggested.
    “Deal,” he stretched both arms overhead. “And
I don’t mean the cards, either. This old man needs a break.”
    “Me, too,” she nodded. “You know what I’ve
been thinking about all day?”
    Wincing as he hoisted himself up off the
chair, the man placed a palm against his hip and grunted as he
forced himself to stand completely erect.
    “Don’t know what you’ve been thinking about,
but I’ve been spending a mighty long time thinking about the days
when I jumped off my seat without having to make old man faces,” he
poked his tongue out playfully. “Let’s put on a pot of water and
get some potatoes peeled while you tell me what’s been on your
mind.”
    “I’ve been thinking I need to keep my mind
occupied,” she glanced back to him as she reached into the cupboard
for the large cooking pot. “And it sure would be nice to actually
have all my yarn put back before I start a project so you people
don’t have to listen to me complain all winter, don’t you
think?”
    Teasing, he