Lori Connelly - The Outlaw of Cedar Ridge

“Where is he?” William Talbert demanded.

“I don’t know. He-”

“Do you know what that horse he sold me did?”

“He threw your son.” Her face stiff and hot, Evie spoke in a soft tone. “I’m truly sorry. I-”

“Your husband conned me.”

“I-”

“My son could’ve died.”

“Again, I’m so sorry but Ben-”

“I’ve no tolerance for lies.”

“Mr. Talbert I don’t-”

“Mrs. Rolfe-”

“Kindly have the good manners to let me finish a sentence.”

He jerked his hat off to hit it against his thigh. “Ma’am.”

“Thank you.” Slow, even breaths eased her agitation. “I don’t know where Ben is.” She held up her free hand when Mr. Talbert started to open his mouth and shook her head. “I don’t but with the sheriff as my witness I give you my word, if it’s possible, I’ll make things right.”

“He should face me like a man.” The older man’s contempt a barb, she flinched. “Not hide behind your skirt.”

“I think you should accept the lady’s offer.” The sheriff’s calm voice of reason entered the exchange.

Seconds passed before Mr. Talbert muttered, “fine.”

“I need to speak to the sheriff first.” Without waiting for agreement, she looked up at the lawman and at last gave voice to her gut-wrenching fear. “Something has happened to Ben. I … ”

Her throat closed. Evie couldn’t continue. Her emotions reactive and raw, tears threatened. She bit down on her bottom lip, struggling to keep control. Sheriff Green dismounted and put a hand on her shoulder. She drew in a shaky breath.

“Ben rode off and I … ” Evie pulled away. “I … ”

“Easy ma’am, take your time.”

“After a time I heard…” Evie paused, drew in a breath. “I thought I heard an argument out here. I came out and … ” She shook her head unable to continue, stepped back and gestured to what she’d found.

His face a blank mask, Sheriff Green studied the scene for a moment. “You go on home now and I’ll take a look around.”

“But I-”

“Can you settle things peacefully with Mr. Talbert?”

“Ah yes but-”

“Trust me ma’am, I’m good at my job.” As he walked past Mr. Talbert to his horse, the sheriff addressed him. “Would you escort Mrs. Rolfe home?”

“I will.”

“I could use the help of your men.”

Mr. Talbert frowned, agreeing in a dry tone. “Of course.”

Evie watched the three men fan out. She trusted Sheriff Green. He’d tried to work out a fair resolution when the Blakes’ claimed the wild horses Ben had caught and trained were theirs all because he’d been mistaken about the property boundaries. It wasn’t his fault the judge, a relative of Daniel Blake’s wife, had ruled against her husband.

Her chest ached with intense pressure. Ben didn’t share her good opinion. He blamed everyone who worked with the law as much as the crooked justice for his loss. And for some reason her husband believed that he was about to be arrested. Time would tell if she’d done the right thing sending the sheriff after him.

“Mrs. Rolfe?”

Her eyes burned with unshed tears. Evie knelt down, picked up Ben’s hat and pressed it to her stomach. Although she wanted to believe he was fine, the bad feeling in her gut persisted.

“Yes.” Distracted, her tone was polite, perhaps a little flat.

“Shall we?”

Evie nodded then turned around, starting back toward her home without waiting for a response. “What do you want?” She winced as her question emerged sharp, boarding on rude. “Sorry.” She took a breath then tried again. “What would make us square?”

In a terse tone, Mr. Talbert made his position clear. “I return the horse. You return my money.”

“How much would that be?” The sum he named caused her heart to skip a beat. A lump formed in her throat. “I’m not sure I have that.”

“I understand your husband spends a lot of time at The Bucking Pony.” His tone softened, now holding a note of pity.

Her cheeks heated. “What if you kept the horse?”

“It’s not worth what I paid.”

“I wasn’t suggesting that it was.” Evie cleared her throat, swallowing the urge to cry. “I was thinking we could work out something for the difference?”

They walked without speaking for a couple of minutes. The quiet undisturbed save for sounds from the horse Mr. Talbert led. Leather creaked, metal jingled and hooves delivered soft thuds against the ground. He took so long to respond her belly hurt.

At last, he answered simply, “That’s acceptable.”

“Thank you.” Unwilling to risk saying anything that might change his mind, she held her tongue until they reached her home. “Please excuse me a moment.”

Evie entered the cabin, leaned the rifle against the wall beside the door and moved to a shelf by the fireplace. Doubt crept in. She paused a second. They’d always kept their money in the large clay jar. Inside should be some of the money Talbert had paid for Spice and she hoped Ben had left her some coins from the bag she’d seen that morning. One hand crushed her husband’s hat as she reached out with the other, removing the lid.

Empty. She tried to ignore reason but the stark truth sank in slowly. His hat fell from her nerveless fingers.

Ben had left her with nothing.

Anger and frustration rose up and muted the worry. Evie wanted to scream or kick something hard yet did neither. The effort to restrain emotion caused her to tremble. It wouldn’t do for Mr. Talbert to see her throw a fit through the open door.

Pride stiffened her spine. Shoulders back, chin up, Evie stepped back out into the harsh light of day. She looked over at the animal that grazed only yards from the barn. Her eyes closed a second. She owned little of value other than Daisy.

“Would you consider taking the cow?”

“The cow?”

His incredulous tone caused anxiety to well up. Rigid with tension, Evie broke out in a cold sweat. She forced words out past stiff lips, shame ashes in her mouth. “I’m sorry. She’s about all I have. I could throw in a couple of chickens.”

“No.” He studied her awhile. “The cow will be fine.”

Mouth dry she gave him a quick nod then marched over to the barn. She grabbed a halter and a length of rope. The cow stood placid while she readied her to go. Minutes later Evie handed Daisy over to Mr. Talbert as she blinked rapidly to hold back tears.

“I’m very sorry about your son, Mr. Talbert, about everything.”

“I believe you are. Your husband on the other hand…” He swung up into his saddle. “Well ma’am, out here we consider a man only as good as his word.”

Evie winced at the verbal jab but remained polite. “Thank you for accepting the trade.”

“There seemed little other choice.”

Heat crept up her neck.

“I could stay until the sheriff comes back, if you need.”

Composure held by a thread, she forced a stiff smile. “That won’t be necessary.”

“Are you certain ma’am?”

“I’ll be fine, thank you.”

“Very well.” Despite his clipped tone, his brown eyes reflected not the irritation she’d expected, but pity, which felt worse. “Good day Mrs. Rolfe.”

Tense, she watched William Talbert ride away at a slow pace set to accommodate Daisy. Although Evie sensed he’d honor their deal, she didn’t breathe a sigh of relief until he disappeared from view. In time, she hoped his anger would fade and they could mend fences someday.

Hours passed. Evie mucked out stalls, tended the chickens, washed dishes and swept the floor. Unable to be still, she then trudged down to the creek and retrieved the sun-dried laundry. She folded clothes, put them away, hung the basket and repaired her clothesline. Even with every conceivable chore completed, she couldn’t relax. She paced outside the window in front of the cabin as the day cooled.