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Brand had little choice. “What do you want?”
“Show us where the rancher keeps his money.”
Brand did some fast thinking. “It’s where you’d least expect it.”
“Yeah? And where would that be?”
“’Fraid I can’t tell you, because then I have nothing to bargain with, do I?”
Cyrus snorted. “You ain’t got nothin’ anyways.”
“Suit yourself.” Brand leaned back on his heels and waited.
Cyrus gave him a look fit to curl the toes of a new pair of boots. The others shifted and made impatient noises.
Pa sighed. “Seems you two better work this out. Cyrus, hear what he has in mind.”
Cyrus grunted, which Brand knew was as much of a yes as he could expect.
“I’ll take you where the money is kept on the condition you release Sybil and see her safely home.”
Cyrus shrugged. “Sure. Why not?”
Brand knew Cyrus’s promise meant nothing, but Pa believed in keeping his word to his family.
Brand turned to him. “Pa?”
The old man considered for a moment, looked at Sybil straining at her ropes. “You have my word to release her once we get the money. But you better not be up to any funny business.”
Brand wished he could think of something clever. But he couldn’t. All he could hope for was to lead the men away and wait for a blinding bit of insight before they realized he had no idea what he was doing.
Two of the men saddled the horses and brought them forward.
Seeing Brand about to leave, Dawg whined.
“Come.” Brand spoke to the dog and headed toward Sybil.
Cyrus stepped in his way. “What do you think yer gonna do?”
“Leave my dog behind. Last thing we need is him barking and giving away our presence.”
“So tell him to stay.”
“Sometimes Dawg don’t listen too good.”
“A bullet between his ears would make him obey.”
“Dawg might alert us if anyone approaches the camp.”
Cyrus considered the idea, the wheels turning with maddening slowness. “Okay. Leave him here.”
“That’s what I aim to do. I’ll order him to watch Miss Sybil.” Dawg, with his injuries, might not provide much protection for Sybil, but it was the most Brand could offer. He called Dawg to follow him across the clearing to her side.
“Stay,” he said to Dawg, and the animal lay by Sybil.
She gave him a pleading look. “Don’t do this.”
“I have to do what I have to do,” he whispered in reply.
Cyrus, who had been busy organizing the men, noticed Brand still at Sybil’s side and chortled. “Trying to steal a little kiss?”
Brand straightened, his back to his brother, his eyes clinging to Sybil. “This is goodbye.” He allowed himself a second of enjoying her face. No doubt it would be the last time he saw her. Once Cyrus and the others figured out he didn’t know where there was any money, they’d shoot him on the spot. He could only hope and pray Eddie or someone would rescue Sybil before then.
The best he could hope for was to buy her time.
They left Sybil tied to the tree, Dawg at her side and a grizzle-faced man, Jock, to watch her.
“I ain’t gonna stay here and be caught by no posse,” he groused.
Cyrus leaped from his horse and grabbed the man’s shirt. “You’ll be here when we get back or I’ll hunt you down and shoot you like a mad dog.”
It wasn’t until they’d ridden back to the faint trail along the edge of a hill that Brand knew what he must do. It was the only thing that offered any hope of success. He reined toward Edendale, praying as he had never prayed before, likely as his ma had once prayed for her husband and stepson. He prayed for help from any source. He prayed that no one would be hurt. He prayed fervently that Sybil would be released unhurt.
He didn’t know the man who had been left to guard her. Jock. Dirty-looking and dirty-smelling. Brand’s jaw clenched at the thought of the man going near Sybil.
“Where are we heading, little brother?” Cyrus demanded. “The ranch is that direction.” He pointed to the left.
“Told you the money wasn’t where you’d expect it.”
Cyrus’s look dripped warning. “You better not try and fool us.”
