Last Chance Cowboys Read online

  Collins squinted at him as if trying to decide how much to tell him. “Maybe we can make a deal,” he said, his voice raspy.

  “What kind of a deal?” Trey didn’t trust the man, but if there was a chance some more of Nell’s and Lottie’s sheep were still alive, that would be the best possible news—especially for Lottie and her boys.

  “Talk to your brother-in-law about having the court go easy on me, and maybe…” His words were slurred, and he passed out before he could complete the sentence.

  “Gotta get going,” a soldier said.

  Trey nodded and watched the wagon rumble away before heading for home. Along the way, he thought of nothing but where Pete might have stashed those sheep. Or maybe he’d been lying to use hope as a bargaining chip. Tomorrow, he would ride over to Pete’s place, have a look around, and find out if any sheep were there.

  * * *

  Nell was the first to spot Trey. She hurried across the courtyard to meet him, her heart racing as she prayed he was not injured. To her relief, he grinned when he saw her and ran to meet her. He caught her in his arms and lifted her so that she rested against him. They kissed, and she pulled back to study him, tracing his features as if that would tell her what she needed to know.

  “Are you hurt?” she asked. “Because Jess said—”

  “I’m fine, Nellie, just fine.” He set her down and wrapped his arm around her as they walked back to the house. A ranch hand took charge of Trey’s horse, and, hands on hips, Juanita watched from the doorway.

  “Have you had anything to eat?” she asked when Trey and Nell reached the house.

  “A piece of jerky,” he replied. “I was countin’ on you saving me something.” He grinned at the housekeeper.

  “You know I did. You smell like a wool blanket that’s been left out in the rain, and you need a shave.” She touched his cheek on the pretense of examining his whiskers, but Nell wasn’t fooled. Like her, Juanita needed to assure herself he was safe and home. “Go get yourself cleaned up, and see that your wife takes a rest. She’s been worried sick.”

  “I’ll help,” Lottie said as she followed Juanita into the kitchen.

  Trey looked at Nell. “I’m sorry, Nellie. I thought Jess would assure you I was in no danger.” His eyes widened with concern. “Jess made it back, didn’t he?”

  “I’m in here, little brother,” Jess shouted from the front of the house. “No thanks to you. Did they arrest Collins?”

  Trey crossed the hall so he could speak face-to-face with his brother. “Yeah. They also have several of his cowhands in custody.”

  “It’s over then,” Jess said, and he squeezed Addie’s hand.

  “Not quite,” Trey replied. “Pete hinted at the possibility that not all the sheep were stampeded over that cliff. I think he saw an opportunity and took some to a place where he could go back for them later and sell them at market. If there are more than the ones we were able to round up, that could be good news for Lottie.”

  Nell drew in a breath. “You mean Lottie and the boys are not ruined?”

  “Now, don’t get your hopes up too high, darlin’,” Trey said. “Pete could have been bluffing, hoping to make a deal.”

  “Or he could just be the meanest son of a gun in these parts,” Jess added. “Could be he wanted to raise hopes and then when there were no sheep, he’d have the last laugh.”

  Addie shushed him and turned to Nell. “It would probably be best not to mention the possibility to Lottie until we’re sure,” she said. “Your sister-in-law is still in a pretty fragile place, and the closer she gets to seeing her son in court, the worse it will get for her.”

  “I won’t say anything, but we have to know.” She turned to Trey. “Not right away, of course. You need your rest.”

  “I’ll go first thing tomorrow,” he assured her.

  “Take our shepherds with you. They know how to track, and if anyone can find those sheep, they can.”

  Behind them, Nell heard Juanita let out an exasperated huff. None of them had heard her enter the room, but now they gave her their full attention. “If the four of you are done solving the problems of the world, maybe Trey could have his bath and a hot meal?”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Trey said, and as he passed her on his way to the bedroom, he leaned down and kissed her cheek.

  “Get away from me. You smell to high heaven.” But she was smiling as she returned to the kitchen.

  Nell followed Trey down the hall. While he undressed, Eduardo brought pails of hot water and filled the tub for him. Once he had sunk into the steaming bath with a sigh of pure exhaustion, Nell washed his hair and sat on the edge of the copper tub to shave him. With each pass of the straight razor, she revealed more of his handsome face and thought how blessed she was to have married him.

  “How’s the baby?” he asked, pressing his wet hand to her stomach.

  “Fine.” She hesitated, afraid to jinx their good fortune.

  Trey pushed himself to a sitting position in the tub. “Fine, but?”

  “No, truly. We are both doing well. I’m just a little superstitious. I mean, with Calvin—”

  “I’m not Calvin,” Trey said softly.

  “I know.” She hated upsetting him, so she changed the subject as she finished shaving him. “Joshua noticed all the family portraits you’ve done and is curious when you might do one of him—and me.”

  Trey chuckled. “How do you know I haven’t already started?”

  “Truly? When can we see them?”

  “Go get my sketchbook while I dry off and put on some clean clothes. It’s in the library.”

  Nell had seen the sketchbook, had even seen Trey working on a sketch when he left their bed late at night and needed to think. But on the rare occasions when she’d wandered into the library, she noticed he closed the sketchbook and set it aside before turning to her and holding out his arms to her. So she had never asked to see the work. But now with permission granted, she laid the thick pad on the table and opened it. Inside were pages of drawings of her, of Joshua, of her with Joshua. She spread them out on the long library table and studied each one. In every portrait, she was looking directly out of the page—presumably at the artist—and smiling. Sometimes, the smile was tender, a lifting of the corners of her mouth, and other times, she was almost laughing. He’d made one drawing of her reading with Joshua and another of the two of them sitting outside in the courtyard while he sketched them through the window.

  “Got a favorite?” Trey asked, buckling his belt as he padded barefoot into the room.

  “I love them all. Oh, Trey, when did you do these? I don’t remember posing for them.”

  “Did most of them from memory at night after you were asleep.” He pointed to one. “This was that day we spent collecting piñon nuts.”

  “You have such a gift.”

  He fingered a drawing of her alone. “Yeah, I do at that.” He dropped the sketch and took her in his arms. “I have you.”

  She rested her cheek against his chest and closed her eyes. He was home safe, and the danger they had all been in had passed. They were going to be all right.

  And then she thought of Lottie—her husband dead and one son possibly on his way to prison. “Trey, we have to find those sheep,” she said softly. “Lottie’s future depends on it.”

  “I’ll start hunting for them first thing tomorrow,” he promised as he kissed the top of her head. “But tonight, I don’t want to think about anyone but my family—you, Josh, and that baby.”

  She wrapped her arms around his neck and drew him closer. They were kissing when Nell heard Addie clear her throat.

  “Sorry to barge in, but if you two don’t come eat something, I’m afraid Nita might explode.”

  Trey laughed and took Nell’s hand as they headed for the kitchen. “Can’t have that now, can we?”

 
As they passed in the corridor, Addie whispered, “Remember not to overdo.” It was a warning, but it was also the first time since Javier’s death that Addie had reached out to her.

  Nell paused and squeezed her friend’s hand. “I’ll be careful,” she said. “Besides, as long as you’re there, this baby is going to be just fine, right?”

  Addie grinned, and it was the smile Nell had come to cherish—a smile shared between two women who could count on each other to be there through anything that might come.

  “Try keeping me away,” Addie said. She glanced at Trey. “Seems to me this baby might be in need of a godmother. I’d like to apply for the job if it’s open.”

  “You’re hired,” Trey replied. “Pay’s not much but—”

  The rest of his words were drowned out as Nell hugged Addie and the two women squealed with joy.

  * * *

  Juanita sat up late that night, and for once, it was not because she was worried. She simply wanted to drink in the relief of knowing Trey and Jess were both safe. Hopefully with the arrest of Pete Collins and his men, the troubles that had plagued them all for months now were finally over. Us versus them…those people… Was it just possible that the two sides had finally come to their senses and realized people were people, regardless of how they made their living? Was it too much to hope that maybe someday people would not judge each other by the color of their skin or where their ancestors had come from? Maybe someday. Not in her lifetime, but maybe in Trey’s or his child’s.

  “That baby will be here before we know it,” she said as Eduardo joined her. When they were alone like this, they spoke in their native language. Trey and Nell’s baby—a child to be raised right here on the ranch.

  “And you’ll be spoiling it and then fussing because the kid doesn’t listen.” He patted her hand as he sat in the rocking chair next to hers.

  “Keeps me young,” she replied with a smile. “I think Nell will be a fine mother. The way Joshua has turned out is a good omen.”

  Eduardo lit his pipe, drew on it, and blew out the smoke. “I know you were worried when Trey married her, Nita, but she does seem to be working out just fine.”

  Juanita snorted. “You make her sound like hired help, a cowhand you might have doubted who has proved himself worthy.”

  “She’s strong, I’ll give her that. Not many I know could have come through what she’s had to endure without bending—or more likely, breaking.”

  “She’s got one more test ahead—this baby. She lost three before.”

  “She seems all right.”

  Juanita shrugged. “Still, Addie’s worried. I can tell.”

  “And you?”

  She released a heavy sigh. “We need children on this ranch, Eduardo. Life—we need life and liveliness and laughter. Things are changing so fast, and I don’t like it. I want it to be the way it was.”

  “And we both know that isn’t possible.” He took hold of her hand and continued to smoke his pipe as he gazed out into the darkness. “You know Nell being here means that boy will be coming around as well.”

  Juanita didn’t have to ask who he meant. Neither of them had been able to look at Ira Galway during the time he’d been at the ranch. They were polite as was their duty, but this was the boy who had killed Javier, and Juanita knew it would take a minor miracle for her to ever be able to look directly at him without showing the anger she felt toward him.

  “I know he and his brother and mother will likely be coming around. I don’t have to like it, but we must find our way to peace, or this never ends.” She heard the front door open and close and saw Trey walk away from the house to the cemetery. It was a walk Juanita had watched him take every night he was home in the months that had passed since Javier’s funeral, sometimes with Nell, more often alone. The low wrought-iron gate squealed in protest when he opened it. He touched the markers for his parents’ graves and then knelt next to Javier’s tombstone.

  “There’s Trey,” Eduardo murmured as if she wouldn’t have noticed.

  “He still blames himself,” she said. “He shouldn’t, but he does.”

  “Maybe it just gives him some peace to be there,” Eduardo suggested.

  “I hope so,” she whispered. “He reminds me of his father more and more every day.” She stood. “You should go with him tomorrow to look for those sheep.”

  “Already planned on it,” Eduardo said as he tamped out his pipe. “Got a good feeling about that.”

  * * *

  The following morning, Trey packed his saddlebags with jerky and other provisions he, Eduardo, and the shepherds were likely to need as they began the search for the missing sheep. He refused to consider that there might not be any sheep at all, but even so, the search would be long and tedious.

  “The shepherds suggest we start at the Galway ranch,” Eduardo said. “We can start where the sheep were grazing that night, and since we know where some of them died, that might give us a direction.”

  Trey nodded.

  But when they reached the Galway ranch, they saw a detail of soldiers escorting Ira to a wagon. Lottie and Spud were standing on the porch.

  “What’s going on?” Trey asked as he came alongside the wagon and soldiers.

  “Judge Ellis is holding court at the fort,” one of the men said. “This one’s case comes up first thing tomorrow.”

  Trey shifted his attention to Ira. “How are you holding up?”

  The boy was scared, but he put on a brave face. “I’m all right, but Ma—”

  “Eduardo, go send word to Seth and Jess to meet us at the fort as soon as possible. Then bring Nell and Juanita here—and Josh as well. We’ll be staying here until the trial is over.” He calculated the distance between the fort and the Galway property and figured they could make the trip back and forth in just over an hour. When Eduardo rode away, Trey reached down and covered Ira’s shackled hand with his. “Stay strong,” he said softly.

  Ira nodded, but he was shaking with fear. As the wagon surrounded by soldiers on horseback pulled away, Ira looked back at his mother and brother and tried to wave.

  “Lottie?” Trey dismounted and approached the porch. “I’ve sent for Nell.”

  Lottie kept her gaze fixed on the wagon carrying her son. She was dry-eyed, and it occurred to Trey that with everything she’d been through, there were no more tears.

  “Spud, you think you can handle the chores on your own for the time being?” he asked.

  “Yes, sir.” He glanced at his mother and then strode toward the barn, a boy who moved like he knew it was time to be a man.

  Trey climbed the steps to the porch. “What did the soldiers tell you, Lottie?”

  She shrugged. “Just that the judge had arrived and the trial would start tomorrow.” She continued to stare at the now deserted trail. “I didn’t give him anything to eat. He’s had nothing since breakfast.”

  “They’ll see he’s fed at the fort,” Trey assured her. Gently, he led her inside. He was out of his element, not knowing what to do. “Can I get you anything?”

  “I’ll make us some coffee,” Lottie said, leading the way to the kitchen. “We can wait for Nell together.” She pumped water for the coffee before adding, “And then we can all go to the fort.”

  The way she said it, Trey knew there was no point arguing.

  * * *

  Juanita was unusually quiet as they made the trip to Lottie’s place. Nell noticed that any comment Eduardo made to her was answered with a shrug or a noncommittal grunt. While Juanita sat on the wagon seat next to her husband, Nell sat in back with Joshua. Her son lay on the bare boards of the wagon bed, his head in her lap, his hat covering his face.

  “Lottie must be beside herself,” Nell observed.

  “Hmm,” was Juanita’s reply.

  Nell couldn’t stand the silence, so she spoke the thoughts tha
t crowded her mind. “Ira is so young.”

  “Sí,” Juanita agreed.

  “I can’t help thinking if that were Joshua, how would I feel?”

  No response. Nell dropped her attempts at conversation and stroked Joshua’s hair. She had almost dozed off herself when Juanita made an announcement that brought her wide awake.

  “I would like to speak at the trial,” she said. She turned so that she could look back at Nell. “Do you think they would allow that?”

  Nell was speechless with surprise. “I…what would… You weren’t there,” she finally managed.

  “It was my son who died that day, my son who was there but cannot speak for himself.”

  Fear grabbed Nell by the throat and held her paralyzed. If Juanita spoke out, would that not makes matters worse for Ira? Nell struggled between her respect and admiration for Javier’s parents and her need to do what she could to protect her nephew.

  Juanita was still staring at her, still awaiting some form of agreement—or disagreement.

  “We’ll see what Trey says,” Nell said, her voice barely a whisper.

  Juanita snorted and waved a dismissive hand. “We’ll see what the judge says.”

  When they arrived at Lottie’s house, Nell was surprised to see her sister-in-law standing on the porch, wearing her best dress and hat and clutching a carpetbag that was clearly filled and heavy. Trey was outside the barn, speaking with Spud and the shepherds.

  “Refresh yourselves if need be,” Lottie said the minute they were close enough to hear. “You’re welcome to stay in the house, or you can come with me, but I am going to the fort.”

  Trey walked toward them, his eyes on Nell. “You and Josh should stay here with Nita and Eduardo. Spud is going to need help managing things and—”

  “I’m going to the fort,” Juanita interrupted.

  Trey glanced from Lottie on the porch to Nita in the wagon. He removed his hat as he approached the wagon. “Nita, it would be best if—”

  “Don’t try and stop me, Trey. This trial is as much our business as anybody’s.”