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“I can’t.”
“Why? Don’t we all have the power to make our own choices?”
“Sounds good and noble. Doesn’t always work.”
“Why not? Brand, what it is you are running from?”
His gaze jerked to hers. He must deny any reason for running. Even more than that, he must deny any reason for wanting to stay. He’d been foolhardy to linger as long as he had.
“Dawg is a very fine animal, but a man needs more than a dog.” Sybil swallowed hard. “Brand, would you stay if I asked you?”
He scrubbed his lips together. Pulled his gaze toward the wall. He dipped into the reservoir of strength and shook his head. “Don’t ask. I can’t stay.”
“Can’t? Or won’t?”
“Same thing either way. I’ll be heading off in the morning.”
She sank to the floor beside his dog and petted him. “What will happen to Dawg?”
“He’ll come with me. As you pointed out, he’s my only companion.”
“You could have more. So much more.”
Brand couldn’t face the pain and disapproval in her eyes. He ached for what she offered. But the Duggan gang was too close.
If only he could stop running.
But as long as he was a Duggan, he might as well dream of finding gold in his pockets.
Sybil reached for the empty plate. He didn’t want her to leave, but what was the point in asking her to stay? Every minute in her company made it that much harder to walk away without a backward look.
Brand saddled his horse at first light. Dawg limped after him, whimpering. “It’s okay, old boy. I won’t make you walk.”
Other cowboys went in and out of the barn, ready to start their day’s work. Dawg growled halfheartedly and Brand simply ignored them.
Cal grabbed a saddle, shot him a challenging look. Brand let it slide off him. Always some young buck wanting to prove something. Let him go ahead and prove whatever he thought he must. Brand wouldn’t be around to dispute Cal’s accomplishments.
He led his horse from the barn, lifted Dawg in front of the saddle and swung up behind him. He pulled the dog close, holding him gently.
He cast one last glance up the hill to the big house. A shadow flickered past a window. Was it Sybil? Just in case, he touched the brim of his hat. Goodbye, sweet girl. Thanks for trying to get me to stay.
“I’ll show you who’s boss.” Cal’s harsh words drew Brand’s attention.
Cal rode a little black gelding Brand had green broke the first day. Only he jerked on the reins, sawed the bit in the horse’s mouth. Brand would have called out a warning, but it was too late.
With a wild snort that signaled both pain and protest, the horse lowered his head and gave a back-cracking buck that sent Cal over his head into a mud puddle. His mount snorted and raced to the far corner.
Cal scrambled to his feet. Several cowboys watched him, but Cal zeroed in on Brand. “You.” He jabbed his finger in his direction. “You got paid good money to have these horses ready to ride. And this is what we get?” He stomped off.
Brand called to him. “You’re not handling the horse right. You’re too hard on his mouth.”
Cal shook a fist at him and stalked away.
Brand felt the study of the half dozen cowboys. Yes, the horses were ready to ride. But only if handled with a little common sense. However, the black gelding would now think he could unseat any rider.
Band watched the horse trotting around the corral, and considered his options. If he left now, he would surely be out of Pa and Cyrus’s reach in a few days. However, he could not, in good conscience, leave Eddie with a horse that couldn’t be ridden. Another day. No more, he vowed.
Would Sybil realize he hadn’t left, and pay him a visit?
“I’ll take care of that horse,” he announced, and returned his horse and dog to the barn.
He spent the morning working with the horse, teaching it to obey him. He positioned himself so he could see the big house. But the sun was high overhead before he caught a glimpse of Sybil. She stepped outside, the sun pooling in her hair. She scanned the pens and corrals until her gaze stopped on him. Had she seen him?
She shielded her eyes from the glare of the sun and continued to look in his direction. Then she picked up her skirts and hustled down the hill, not slowing her steps until she reached the rail fence. “Eddie said you were still here.” Her voice was breathless.
