Slim adjusted his hat. “He keeps Morgan riding from one end of the valley to the other trying to keep ahead of his shenanigans.”
“Know that, too. He’s dead set on running me off my place and taking it over.” Bitterness pooled in the back of Zach’s throat.
“He ain’t against turning us against ya either.”
Chuck and Slim both regarded Zach with dead-serious expressions.
Zach swallowed another mouthful of water and wiped his mouth, taking time to consider the words before he spoke. “Is he succeeding?” How many of the men would prove traitorous?
“Not us, Boss. We been working for your pa since before he had to stop. And we’ll stand by you, too. All the old hands will.”
“Thanks.” It was a warning to be careful around the new hires. “You fellas would let me know if there’s something I should be aware of, wouldn’t you?”
They both nodded. Chuck added, “I suggest ya watch your back.”
The warning sent a spasm across Zach’s shoulders. “You mean to keep a close eye on the cows?” Were his home and family targets?
Chuck adjusted his hat. “Never trust a snake.” He picked up his scythe and returned to work.
The afternoon passed with agonizing slowness. A large portion of the grass lay flat and fragrant when the sun dipped toward the mountaintops. The day had proven productive. It was too early to stop but?—
“Boys, keep working. You got me worried about things. I’m leaving to scout around.”
“Yeah, Boss. Good idea.”
Not encouraging words, but they drove Zach to ride home at a lope. Smoke drifted from the cookhouse chimney, suggesting Gil prepared a meal. Pa sat on a chair parked on the porch. Kat played with Poppy. Only one more to account for.
Zach was about to swing off his horse and go into the house when Amelia appeared in the doorway.
“You’re home early.” He’d told her not to expect him until dark. “But supper is almost ready.”
“I’ll be a bit yet. I need to check on things.” Reassured by seeing his family safe and sound, he circled the barn and pasture. Finding nothing amiss, he rode a wider circle. Nothing appeared out of place. Smiling, he led the horse to the barn. As soon as the animal’s needs were tended to, he went to the house.
Tomorrow, he’d leave Chuck and Slim cutting hay and go check on the herd.
Poppy ran to him. “Hello, Uncle Zach.”
The words tumbled together, but he understood and chuckled. Nice to be greeted so sweetly.
She grasped his hand as they entered the house. A breeze blew through the open windows and screened door, but even so, heat hovered in the kitchen. The table was set. Pa sat at his place, anxious to eat. But Zach’s gaze didn’t linger there. It went beyond to enjoy Amelia’s welcoming smile.
Not until they were all seated around the table, the blessing had been asked, and the food served, did he ask how things had gone. He dipped his head in Pa’s direction.
“It was a pleasant day.” Amelia let her gaze circle the table. “For all of us.”
He took that to mean Pa hadn’t wandered or grown aggressive, and Kat hadn’t tried any cowboying. He’d better deal with that mustang before Kat got it in her head to do it.
“How did haying go?” Amelia’s question brought his attention back to her, though it hadn’t gone far.
He told about cutting the coarse grass, about the birds that flew up ahead of them, and about cutting around the tiger lilies. But he didn’t say anything about Chuck and Slim’s warnings.
Pa appeared to follow every word, then surprised Zach by asking, “How long do you figure before it’s dry enough to stack?”
“A few more days of cutting, then with hot weather, we can start bringing it home.”
“Good. Good.” The way Pa eyed the slice of bread made Zach wonder if he meant that or the haying.
After the meal, he returned to the corrals and leaned over the fence to talk to the mustang. “Someday soon, you’ll learn to trust me. Even like me.”
