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“You got any plans for what to do when we find him?” Aaron asked, trailing in his wake.
Asa looked pointedly at Elizabeth. “Why don’t we save this discussion for after we wash up?”
Elizabeth rolled her eyes. Did they think she couldn’t figure such a thing out for herself? “I repeat, gentlemen. I am not deaf and dumb.”
Asa snagged his gun belt off the hook. “Never said you were darlin’. Just can’t see the sense in standing here chatting,” he wiped his sleeve across his cut lip, “bloodying up your nice floors.”
“And I could use a smoke.” Cougar gave his unlit cigarette a disgusted look. “Got this poor thing so soggy, it’s about useless.”
Elizabeth looked at Aaron. “Do you have an excuse?”
He merely smiled and jerked his thumb over his shoulder. “Yup. I’m with them.”
She sighed. As if there was any doubt.
United in their misplaced need to protect her, they left the house. She watched as they strolled purposefully to the pump. No doubt all sorts of plots were being discussed outside her earshot. She bit her lip and frowned. Asa may have been right, Jimmy might have the knowledge to hurt the ranch, but there was something about the whole set-up that didn’t ring true. Jimmy was a behind-the-back sort of snake, but he’d never struck her as a long-term thinker. He tended to act on impulse and pay the price later. In other words, all brawn and very little brain.
As soon as the thought hit her, so did an image of Brent. He’d been short on brawn, but very, very good at manipulating people. No matter how logical the men’s reasoning, she couldn’t shake her feeling that they’d misplaced their faith, putting too much emphasis on brawn when they should have been looking for brain.
With a sigh, she headed for the kitchen. They’d be back for breakfast, and, when they did, she’d bring up the subject again. As she pulled out the frying pan, she planned her arguments. Her intuition was telling her she was right and she wouldn’t give up until she made them see the possibility.
Chapter Twenty-One
She was going to kill him. Elizabeth tugged on her gloves, adjusted her bonnet, and grimaced as her corset bit into her side. Killing Asa was certainly justified for him forcing her to wear the contraption again, but, today she was going to kill Asa for slipping off the ranch and sneaking into town like a thief with Cougar and Aaron. Theirs was a partnership based on honesty. If he thought she was going to let him sully it with sly protective measures, he had another think coming.
She opened the door. Cold wind nipped her nose. She sighed, unpinned her wrap and grabbed her wool pelisse. Just as she reached to close the door, she paused and reconsidered. A woman had to be prepared. After retrieving and closing her reticule, she marched down the steps and got into the buggy. Willoughby snorted his protest at being out on a day like today.
“Take it up with Asa!” she informed him as she snapped the reins over his back. “Right now, you just get me to town.”
He plodded across the yard. She sighed. At this rate, she’d be too late for dinner, let alone to talking sense into her husband. Clint came out of the barn. He removed his hat and asked, “Heading into town now?”
“Yes, if I can get Willoughby to pick up the pace.”
His grin was a smooth motion of his lips. As free and easy as his personality. He slapped Willoughby on the haunch. “He does hate the cold.”
“He’ll have to get over it.”
“I imagine he’ll see it your way.”
She sighed. “I hope. Thanks for hitching him up.”
“No problem.” His expression became serious. His hat twirled in the lazy rhythm she associated with the man. He watched it spin. It loped through three revolutions before he said, “Boss man was kind of funny this morning. Seemed almost like he was saying his goodbyes instead of good morning. Boys and I were wondering if you planned on bringing him back with you?”
“Kicking or screaming, in one piece or four, I’m bringing him back.”
He looked up. His mouth twitched while his eyes crinkled at the corners. “Begging your pardon, ma’am, but Old Sam said I was to ask if you made any promises, whether it was Miss Coyote speaking or Mrs. MacIntyre?”
She straightened her shoulders and tightened her grip on the reins. She looked up at the Guardians and let her gaze sweep across the plains. Wherever she looked, it was Coyote land. Bought with blood and sacrifice. Not the least of which was her own, but there wasn’t going to be any more sacrifice for this land. She was going to keep it, but, through brains, not sacrifice. There’d been enough of that. In her life as well as Asa’s.
