The Lone Cowboy of River Bend. Lori Connelly

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ for the men standing near the corner of The Trail’s End Saloon.

      “You hide away because you’re a lily-livered coward.”

      His jaw clenched, but he allowed the taunt to go unanswered, unwilling to show how the slur bothered him. The ugly charge had joined the gossip regarding him in recent weeks. His suspicion about the man’s involvement deepened.

      “Trouble?” Matt asked when Nate joined him and Marshal Evans.

      “Just Randy being Randy.”

      The marshal studied Nate briefly then looked beyond him. “Personal issue?”

      “Likely.” Nate offered a measured response. He was slow to warm to people and had only met Gus on a handful of occasions.

      Matt, on the other hand, knew the marshal well and was more forthcoming. “Randy Haze likes to stir things up. I suspect he’s one of the people behind the rumors we talked about.”

      “Like the one saying you need to be kicked out of office?” Gus turned, facing Nate squarely. “Was he bad-mouthing the sheriff?”

      “No.”

      “What was his beef?”

      “Just trying to rile me.”

      “A troublemaker?”

      “Doubt he’ll cause you any headaches.” Matt drew the other lawman’s attention. “He probably came for the hanging and Nate had the bad luck to run into him.”

      “That’s over.” Tone crisp, Gus straightened his hat. “I’ll have a word with Haze, get him headed out of my town.” He nodded to Matt. “Thanks for the update. I’ll see you next week.” Then he directed another nod at Nate. “Rolfe.”

      “Anything new?” Matt asked, as they watched Gus personally speed the process of returning Randy’s weapon then engage the man in conversation.

      “Same as last time. Trying to provoke me.” Nate gestured toward the corral some yards away, eager to get his horse and head out of town. “You ready to-”

      Suddenly Haze stomped off, heading in the direction of the livery. Fresh impatience flooded Nate. Unwilling to suffer a second encounter with Randy, he became a statue, tracking the other man with a hooded glare until he entered the building.

      “Hell.”

      “Best to avoid him,” Matt cautioned.

      “I do. The man does not like me.”

      “Because of Faith?”

      “I guess.” Nate stepped out into the street, restless. “But why? She chose him.”

      “Some men never warm to their wife’s first love.”

      Nate kicked a rock. “Keen observation, Lawman.”

      “I aim to please.”

      Randy walked outside, leading his bay horse before Nate could reply. The shopkeeper looked at them and smirked before swinging up into the saddle. Without further incident, he rode away, heading out of town on the road leading to Fir Mountain.

      “Let’s get out of here.” Nate didn’t wait for agreement. On edge, he needed to move. His long strides ate the short distance to the corral.

      “What’s your rush? If we hurry we’ll catch up to Haze.”

      “I need to get out of this town to where I can breathe.”

      Nate didn’t pause, moving quickly past the split-rail fence and into the livery, not stopping until he reached the stall with his horse, Jack. With swift, sure movements, he readied the gelding for travel. Matt followed his lead, whistling, while he worked in the next stall. The men were back outside and mounted within minutes. They rode out of Silver Falls City at a brisk walk, an appropriate pace for moving through the outskirts of a heavily populated town, yet frustratingly slow, in his opinion.

      “You told Evans you’re suspicious of Haze.”

      “And you’re wondering why?”

      “Last time we talked, you weren’t.”

      Several seconds passed. They continued forward, following a worn pathway through a stand of fir trees leading to a rougher, less-traveled road than the one Haze had chosen. Nate held to the slow pace, waiting for a response. After some time he almost prompted his friend but one look at Matt’s solemn expression caused him to hold his tongue.

      “I had a long talk with Mercy.”

      A sinking feeling settled in his gut after the sheriff finally spoke. His friend had seen Faith’s little sister in the company of Miss Collier often but Nate couldn’t believe she had any part in spreading the nasty rumors. She’d always been sweet to him.

      “I don’t think-”

      “She said Miss Collier encouraged gossip about you. Mercy tried to rein it in but others sympathized with the woman.”

      “Why? I spoke to her once.” Nate was succinct.

      “I hear she has an artful way with the truth.”

      “What does this have to do with Haze?”

      “I’ve reason to believe he learned about Ben and told her.”

      Nate’s hand tightened on the reins. He resisted the urge to put his heels to his mount and let a long, hard ride bring calm. “New rumors?”

      “No.” Tension filled Matt’s voice. “The original ones. The rustling started when he showed up in Fir Mountain. Speculation about his past. Stirring distrust without making an accusation.”

      “Allowing people to draw the obvious conclusion.”

      “Then repeat it as truth.”

      Nate shook his head, too frustrated to speak. There was no evidence his cousin had been an outlaw in Cedar Ridge but the fact that the Nash brothers had stalked Ben and his wife all the way to Oregon cast suspicion. The possibility haunted the man since he couldn’t confirm or deny it. An injury caused him some permanent memory loss before they’d moved. Only family members, Matt, Sean, Matt’s deputy, some Idaho lawmen, and a judge knew there was a chance he had a criminal past. Of that group, just those closest to him lived in Fir Mountain. It felt unbelievable one of them let the information slip.

      Yet, one of them had, to Haze of all people.

      Troubled, Nate squeezed his knees tighter, urging Jack to a faster pace. He’d met Ben for the first time last spring and believed his cousin had been honest, openly sharing concerns about his past with them from the start. He’d proven to be a hard, dependable worker on the Bar 7 and a good friend.

      Matt had inquired about the Idaho crimes at Ben’s request but there was no evidence of his involvement. Only one witness ever caught a good look at the robbers and he’d identified the Nash brothers. Since they were already set to hang, the sheriff from Cedar СКАЧАТЬ