AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Rhine said, “I thought that was why you were here.”
“No. Geronimo escaped the reservation last night. I’m riding around to alert everyone.”
They stiffened with shock.
“The army says he left with about sixteen warriors, a hundred women, and nine or ten children. They figure he and his people won’t get far, but the last time it took the army, what, almost three years to run him to ground. I’m not holding my breath that he’ll be found soon.”
Rhine voiced what Portia had been thinking. “He and his people could be anywhere by now.”
“Yes, and the army wants all the local sheriffs in on the hunt. Which means I can’t muster a posse to track down the men who killed Farley and Buck, at least not right away.”
“Can you spare one of your deputies?”
“No, I can’t.” His voice was sincere as he continued. “If times were different, I could deputize you—but I can’t. Some of the folks around here would have my head and my badge if I did.”
Eddy’s voice was cold. “So these murderers get off scot-free?”
O’Hara looked decidedly uncomfortable. “No. I’ll send out a Wanted bulletin, and if you can find someone I can deputize, I will. Nothing says Rhine and the others can’t join the posse, but the deputy has to be White.”
Rhine’s reply was terse. “Understood.”
Portia knew the sheriff dealt with people of color as fairly as he was able but the restrictions were still bigoted and senseless.
“Sorry, Rhine.”
“As you stated, these are the times. Thanks for stopping by.”
After the sheriff’s departure, there was winter in the green eyes that assessed Portia and Eddy, but they were well aware that there was nothing they could do.
Eddy looked to her husband. “Do you know anyone Zeb can deputize?”
Rhine blew out a sigh of frustration. “Not off hand, and with Geronimo on the loose, no one’s going to want to leave their family to lead a posse.”
Portia agreed. People in the area were terrified of the Apache, and because of the desperate situation the Apache were facing, the fear was justified. The prospect of Parnell and his band of killers escaping justice for want of a posse left her both saddened and infuriated. “The Jakes party will be leaving in the morning. They were overwhelmed by the killings.”
“I understand,” Rhine said. “Let them know we’ll wire them a return of their funds.”
“Do we tell them about Geronimo?” Portia asked.
Eddy seemed to think it over. “On the one hand they deserve to know, but on the other hand I don’t want them scared witless with worry they’ll be killed in their beds on their last night here.”
Rhine made the decision. “We’ll tell them. My worry is Regan. When she gets back from her mail run this afternoon I want her to stay close to home until we get word on Geronimo’s whereabouts.”
Portia agreed. More than likely the old war chief and his people were heading to the Mexican border to seek safety in the mountains they once called home, but as Rhine told the sheriff, they could be anywhere and she didn’t want her sister accidentally crossing their path.
Eddy asked Rhine. “So what do we do about the posse?”
He shrugged. “I’ll figure something out. Now that I don’t have to ride for the sheriff, I’m going to go out to the ranch and see the damage. I want to find out if any arrangements have been made to transport the bodies to Tucson and if Kent’s learned anything new about what happened.”
Portia hoped he had. “Are you going to rebuild?”
“Yes, but after what happened today, we might want to rethink the dude ranch portion of what we offer our guests. I know the killings today probably wouldn’t happen again, but word’s going to get around and people might rethink visiting if they’re afraid.”
Eddy said, “Or reservations will climb from those hoping to witness that type of violence.”
Portia knew they were both right and she was concerned. If guests stopped coming, not only would her family’s life and income be affected but the lives and welfare of their employees would be impacted, too.
Rhine’s voice brought her back to the conversation. “Whatever we decide, I will be holding on to that land. The more Tucson grows the more valuable it becomes. We could always lease out the ranch house after it’s rebuilt.”
