protect from rocks, sticks, and cactus on the long walk.
A throbbing pain circled her head. The years of sitting and sewing left her out of shape for hiking. The high altitude had forced her to stop several times during the night to rest and gulp air into her burning lungs. The moon had been out for a little while, but the hike had taken her much longer then she’d anticipated. The crisp air kept her awake and moving. Besides, she was determined to put as much distance between herself and Mike as possible.
In the pre-dawn hours she heard the distinct rattled of a wagon and hid in the trees as it went by. Two men rode to town. If Lady Luck was with her today, they were Mike’s cowboys. He had told her about the rascally pair. That would only leave the cook to avoid, an easy task.
Kathleen rolled her shoulders and massaged the tight muscles at the base of her neck. Was her land really that valuable? She knew enough about ranching to question why anyone bothered with her small track. It wasn’t some massive chunk of land and out here. Several acres were needed just to sustain one cow. Maybe it was in the middle of Mike’s holdings.
With a grimace, Kathleen tugged her boots back on, flicked a glance in every direction and slipped from tree to tree as she made her way to the corral. No smoke rose from the chimney and so far no dogs barked. The place seemed to be deserted.
Like a good Apache, she stood still and listened. Nature hushed when disturbed. Birds twittered overhead, the scamper of tiny feet rustled the pine needles, and two playful squirrels chased each other around a trunk.
Cautious where she placed her feet, Kathleen picked her way to the barn. Tack in hand, she slipped outside, scanned the area, and headed to the horses. A horse, black as coal, trotted up to her and nudged her hand, looking for a treat. “Sorry, boy, I don’t have anything.”
Once he was tethered to a sturdy tree branch, Kathleen went in search of food and a blanket. Inside the house, everything was neat, clean, and, although smaller, reminded her of the home she lost in Arizona. Wooden floors, no curtains to hide the view, a rock fireplace, and home-built furniture. A tear escaped her eye.
In the next room, a lone bed stood out from the center of the far wall, made up with blankets tucked neatly and a couple of pillows. Mike’s bed. She shuddered. Stupid of her but his harsh words about her not inspiring him cut a deep gash in her soul. Was she really that undesirable?
And why did she care what the man thought of her? He was a thief and had threatened her. The money Hawkins had loaned her was enough to pay a judge for an annulment. If she could bring herself to trust one. So, Mike’s opinion didn’t matter.
Kathleen yanked the blanket off the bed. Mike could freeze tonight. She stomped to the kitchen, snatched some food off the cupboard and left.
After she tied the supplies onto the horse, she retrieved her bag and glanced back at the house. She chuckled, lifted out the will, and went back inside. Wouldn’t Mike be livid when he learned she’d hidden the will right under his nose? She slid the document under his dresser.
Outside once again, she tossed a glance in every direction. She would love to see her ranch if she had any idea where it was. But that could spell disaster. Mike would probably look for her there. Not a chance she intended to take. She faced north and frowned. It was going to be difficult to find a way through these mountains.
At the crack of dawn, Mike sat at Aunt May’s again and beat a rapid tattoo with his thumbs on the coffee cup. Where the hell did Kathleen go? He hadn’t expected to find her waiting like a docile wife, in the room last night, but still . . . Where could she be? He’d ended up sleeping in the chair, because anytime he stretched out on the bed, memories of the terror in her eyes haunted him.
He wanted to get an early start to Santa Fe.
Mike glanced up as his hands, Juan and Hank,
A throbbing pain circled her head. The years of sitting and sewing left her out of shape for hiking. The high altitude had forced her to stop several times during the night to rest and gulp air into her burning lungs. The moon had been out for a little while, but the hike had taken her much longer then she’d anticipated. The crisp air kept her awake and moving. Besides, she was determined to put as much distance between herself and Mike as possible.
In the pre-dawn hours she heard the distinct rattled of a wagon and hid in the trees as it went by. Two men rode to town. If Lady Luck was with her today, they were Mike’s cowboys. He had told her about the rascally pair. That would only leave the cook to avoid, an easy task.
Kathleen rolled her shoulders and massaged the tight muscles at the base of her neck. Was her land really that valuable? She knew enough about ranching to question why anyone bothered with her small track. It wasn’t some massive chunk of land and out here. Several acres were needed just to sustain one cow. Maybe it was in the middle of Mike’s holdings.
With a grimace, Kathleen tugged her boots back on, flicked a glance in every direction and slipped from tree to tree as she made her way to the corral. No smoke rose from the chimney and so far no dogs barked. The place seemed to be deserted.
Like a good Apache, she stood still and listened. Nature hushed when disturbed. Birds twittered overhead, the scamper of tiny feet rustled the pine needles, and two playful squirrels chased each other around a trunk.
Cautious where she placed her feet, Kathleen picked her way to the barn. Tack in hand, she slipped outside, scanned the area, and headed to the horses. A horse, black as coal, trotted up to her and nudged her hand, looking for a treat. “Sorry, boy, I don’t have anything.”
Once he was tethered to a sturdy tree branch, Kathleen went in search of food and a blanket. Inside the house, everything was neat, clean, and, although smaller, reminded her of the home she lost in Arizona. Wooden floors, no curtains to hide the view, a rock fireplace, and home-built furniture. A tear escaped her eye.
In the next room, a lone bed stood out from the center of the far wall, made up with blankets tucked neatly and a couple of pillows. Mike’s bed. She shuddered. Stupid of her but his harsh words about her not inspiring him cut a deep gash in her soul. Was she really that undesirable?
And why did she care what the man thought of her? He was a thief and had threatened her. The money Hawkins had loaned her was enough to pay a judge for an annulment. If she could bring herself to trust one. So, Mike’s opinion didn’t matter.
Kathleen yanked the blanket off the bed. Mike could freeze tonight. She stomped to the kitchen, snatched some food off the cupboard and left.
After she tied the supplies onto the horse, she retrieved her bag and glanced back at the house. She chuckled, lifted out the will, and went back inside. Wouldn’t Mike be livid when he learned she’d hidden the will right under his nose? She slid the document under his dresser.
Outside once again, she tossed a glance in every direction. She would love to see her ranch if she had any idea where it was. But that could spell disaster. Mike would probably look for her there. Not a chance she intended to take. She faced north and frowned. It was going to be difficult to find a way through these mountains.
At the crack of dawn, Mike sat at Aunt May’s again and beat a rapid tattoo with his thumbs on the coffee cup. Where the hell did Kathleen go? He hadn’t expected to find her waiting like a docile wife, in the room last night, but still . . . Where could she be? He’d ended up sleeping in the chair, because anytime he stretched out on the bed, memories of the terror in her eyes haunted him.
He wanted to get an early start to Santa Fe.
Mike glanced up as his hands, Juan and Hank,
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