Dixie Moon Read online

  “That’s why you have Cash and Beau as your deputies.” Bull glanced over at Cash and his friend, Beauregard Davis. They’d both fought for the South, then turned to bounty hunting after the War Between the States ended. For now, they’d made the decision to stay in Splendor, taking a break from chasing thieves and murderers.

  “If the strike is big and word gets out, even those two might not be enough.”

  “It may turn out Carlyle’s talk is bigger than the gold he’s found. This may be a bunch of hoopla about nothing.”

  Bull might be right, but Gabe’s instincts told him otherwise. “I’m going to grab some food before it’s all gone. You?”

  “I think I’ll head over toward where Lydia is helping with the children. See if she needs any help.” Bull cast Gabe a woeful glance, hoping he hadn’t given too much away. For months, he’d been trying to hide his feelings for the oldest of the orphans who’d escaped a Crow camp and hidden in one of the caves scattered throughout Redemption Mountain.

  “You ought to say something, Bull. Let her know how you feel.” Gabe clasped Bull on the shoulder.

  Bull shoved his hands in his pockets. “Someday maybe. I’ve got a lot to do before I make any firm decisions.” He flashed a grim smile before heading toward Lydia.

  Gabe continued watching the people, trying to cast subtle glances at Lena, now deep in conversation with Rachel and Ginny. He’d wanted her from the first moment she got off the stage and their eyes met. Tall and slender, with auburn hair and bright blue eyes, she’d sparked feelings he’d never experienced before. She’d come to Splendor to join Nick, who’d already built the Dixie into a thriving saloon with games of chance not found at the Wild Rose.

  Rumors were that Nick and Lena were like brother and sister, not a couple as some imagined. Gabe hadn’t made up his mind on the subject, preferring to use the possibility they were involved as a barrier to his feelings. Believing she and Nick were together made Lena less of a temptation.

  Gabe’s attention shifted as the sounds of shouting from the town below wafted up the hillside. He could make out a crowd of men standing outside the Dixie, arms flailing as if in an argument.

  “What’s going on down there, Gabe?” Cash nodded down the hillside.

  “Don’t know, but guess I’d better find out.” Setting his empty glass on a table, he swung up on his horse, Blackheart, taking the short trail to town. He reined to a stop at the sight before him, Cash, Beau, and Nick pulling up alongside.

  “What the hell?” Nick slid off his horse and pounded up the steps to the doors of his saloon, then turned toward a group of perhaps fifteen men, all talking at the same time. “What’s going on here?”

  A short, wiry man of indeterminable age stepped forward, shaking a fist at Nick. “We been waitin’ hours for this place to open. Whoever heard of a saloon closing in the middle of a Saturday?”

  “We got money to spend,” another yelled, “and we aim to do it here.”

  “Gentlemen, the saloon has been closed to celebrate the marriage of two good friends. But seeing as how you’re aching to spend your money, why don’t you come on in and we’ll accommodate you.” Nick nodded to Gabe, then disappeared inside, followed by the men who’d congregated out front.

  “Beau, I think it would be best to head inside ourselves to find out where these men got all the money they’re so eager to get rid of.” Cash slid from his horse. “Gabe, you may want to go check on Lena. You know she won’t stay at the party for long without Nick.” He didn’t wait for a response before stepping into the saloon, followed by Beau.

  Gabe watched them disappear inside, knowing Cash and Beau could handle any overzealous drinkers or hotheaded gamblers, then reined Blackheart around. He agreed that Lena wouldn’t stay long once she discovered Nick had left. Halfway up the hill, he spotted her half-running, half-stumbling down the path.

  “What do you think you’re doing?” Gabe jumped from the saddle, grabbing her by the arm as her feet slipped out from under her on the rocky slope. Hauling her up to stand a few inches away, he glared at the confusion on her face.

  “I’m going to the saloon, of course. Dax mentioned you’d heard shouting and rode down with Nick. I need to find out what’s happening.”

  “Did you forget you fainted dead away not too long ago? As I recall, Doc told you to take it easy.” He didn’t loosen his grip as he spoke. If anything, he drew her closer to him.

  “I feel fine. Did you forget it’s my saloon, too? Now, let me go.” She pulled free as he released his grip.

  “In that case, I’ll take you the rest of the way.” Before she could protest, he grasped her waist in both hands and lifted her onto his horse, then boosted himself into the saddle in front of her. “Put your arms around me and hold on.”

  He could feel her hands tentatively slip around his waist, as if she wasn’t sure about touching him. Impatient, he grabbed her hands, pulled them tight, and nudged Blackheart down the hill.

  “I understand your concern, but Nick handled it fine without you,” he commented over his shoulder. “Cash and Beau stayed with him, so there’s nothing to worry about.”

  He could feel her scoot closer, leaning toward his ear. “I do appreciate your reassurances, Sheriff, but you’ll have to excuse me if I feel the need to make certain for myself.”

  He smiled to himself, knowing her sugary voice mocked him. It didn’t matter. His efforts were more focused on controlling his body’s reaction to having her nestled behind him…the whiffs of her rosewater-scented hair, the softness of her body as she brushed against his back. It was a relief when they reached the Dixie and he slid from the saddle, then helped her to the ground.

  “Thank you, Sheriff.”

  It didn’t surprise him when she dashed into the saloon without waiting for his response. He considered following her inside, then thought better of it. From the quiet, it appeared Nick, Cash, and Beau had everything under control. Besides, he didn’t need to be looking after a woman already tethered to another man—whether she accepted it or not.

  He climbed back on his horse, looking forward to rejoining his closest friend and his new wife as they continued their celebration when the doors of the saloon slammed open and a man came flying outside, landing with a groan on the hard ground. Gabe watched the man flail a moment before righting himself, standing, and marching back up the steps with a determined look, coming to a stop at the sight of Cash in the doorway.

  “It may be best for you to call it a day and head back to your camp.”

  “I ain’t going nowhere, Deputy. Not until I win back what I lost.”

  Gabe had to hand it to the man. He stood a good eight inches shorter than Cash and was about half his girth. It took guts to stand up to anyone who held that much weight on you.

  “I don’t believe that’s going to happen today. From what I saw, you already lost all you brought. Seems you’re going to have to find more gold if you want to continue to gamble.” Cash started to turn, then stopped at the man’s laughter.

  “Hell, I didn’t strike no gold. I just work for the man who did. He handed out money and told us all to go celebrate.”

  “That so? And who is this man?” Cash asked, believing he already knew the answer.

  “William Randolph Carlyle. He’s some duke or something from England. From the way he talks, it sounds like he’s got money to burn. Says the gold strike is nothing compared to what he already has.”

  Gabe cast a look at Cash, his curiosity about Carlyle elevating even more than when Lena had such a strong reaction to his name.

  “And where’s this Carlyle fellow?” Cash glanced inside, as if he expected to find him at a table.

  “Oh, he didn’t come into town with the rest of us.” The man scratched his stubbled chin. “He’s a strange one, that’s for sure."

  ~~~~~

  Chapter Two

  “Do you think we should ride out and meet this Carlyle fellow?” Beau asked the following Friday when news of the s
trike had died down. He’d returned from checking on some missing cattle at a small ranch southwest of town, finding the strays a mile away in a dead-end canyon. Gabe wouldn’t normally have sent him out, but the spread belonged to an elderly couple who worked the place by themselves.

  “No need. He’ll come to town soon enough. Noah’s got the only miner supply store for miles, the same holding true for the general store and anything else he’s going to need. I’m surprised no one in town has met him yet.” Gabe whittled on a small piece of wood as he sat in a chair outside the jail, watching the comings and goings on the main street as the sun began to touch the western ridge. He never knew what to expect on Friday and Saturday nights. Most of the cowhands came to town on Saturdays after six long days in the saddle. Others celebrated on Fridays.

  “I think someone has.” Cash leaned his chair back on two legs, his arms crossed.

  “Who?” The knife stalled in Gabe’s hands.

  “Lena. I don’t believe her reaction had anything to do with the heat. I’d bet a month’s pay she knows Carlyle.”

  Gabe continued to whittle, showing no reaction. He agreed, believing she knew and feared the man. In his mind, that made Carlyle a threat.

  “Well…what do we have here?” Cash stared toward the south end of town, watching a man bob up and down in the saddle, holding his black bowler hat with one hand, gripping the reins in the other.

  Gabe glanced up, then stood as the man stopped in front of them.

  “Hello, gentlemen. I wonder if you can tell me where I might find Mr. Horace Clausen.”

  “I’m Sheriff Evans. And you are?” Gabe looked the man over, guessing him to be no more than thirty.

  “Delbert Utley. I’ve come at the behest of Mr. Clausen, as well as Mr. Ernest Payson of Big Pine.”

  “Well, then, why don’t you follow me to the bank and I’ll introduce you to Mr. Clausen.”

  “I’d greatly appreciate it, Sheriff.”

  Gabe could’ve just pointed out the bank and gone back to watching the main street. Instead, he journeyed past the gunsmith, barber shop, general store, and the new restaurant that opened several months before, presenting a small amount of competition to Suzanne Briar’s boardinghouse restaurant. Passing an empty storefront just before the bank, Gabe stopped, waiting for Utley to dismount and join him.

  “You’ll find Horace in here.” He followed the man inside, nodding a greeting to Mrs. Sally Phelps, the bank secretary, and Abby Brandt, Noah’s wife, who’d been working at the bank for several months.

  “Good day, Sheriff. What can I do for you today?” Sally asked, smiling at Gabe.

  Gabe didn’t have a chance to explain before Horace walked out of his office.

  “Hello, Sheriff.”

  “Horace. This is Delbert Utley. He says you’re expecting him.”

  “Indeed I am,” he answered, extending his hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Utley. I’m Horace Clausen, president of the bank.” He glanced at Gabe. “Mr. Utley is planning to open a law practice in Splendor.”

  Gabe looked him over once more, not sure he’d put his trust in someone who looked this fresh out of law school. “That so?”

  “Oh, yes. I’m delighted with the prospect of putting what I’ve learned from Mr. Payson to use in my own practice.”

  With no attorney in Splendor, Ernest Payson had ridden in from Big Pine to help Abby Brandt settle her father’s affairs when he died. The town had long been looking forward to someone opening a local practice.

  “Then I guess we’ll be seeing quite a bit more of each other, Mr. Utley.” Gabe turned away, strolling to Abby’s window as the other men made their way to Clausen’s office.

  “Who is that man, Gabe?”

  “A lawyer sent by your friend, Ernest Payson. Delbert Utley. He’s going to open a law office in town.”

  “Mr. Clausen did mention that to me. I think it’s wonderful news. It will be so much easier to work with someone from here, rather than having to travel to Big Pine to see Mr. Payson.”

  Upon the unexpected death of her father, Abby had inherited a vast fortune. Although wealthy, she continued to work at the bank, preferring to be a part of the daily activities of the town and meeting the new residents, who usually stopped at the bank when they first arrived.

  She leaned forward, lowering her voice. “You know, Mr. Clausen is also expecting another gentleman to arrive any day now. He ran a newspaper in Missouri and plans to start one here.”

  “A newspaper, huh? Guess I never thought of Splendor as having enough going on to justify one.”

  “The town is growing at a rapid rate, and the gold strike could entice many more people to the area. For some time, my father had believed we were ready for one. Although, I think he wanted someone he could control regarding territorial politics and his ideas of how the area should expand.” She’d come to terms with her father’s gruesome death, as well as their differences. “Mr. Clausen says the man and his family should arrive any day.”

  “I’ll watch for them. I’d better be heading back to the jail. I’ve got a couple of the Pelletier men in there. Men who worked your father’s ranch before he died. I doubt it will be long before Luke and Dax clean out the riffraff and hire a few new ranch hands.”

  Abby nodded. For several reasons, she’d sold the ranch to the Pelletiers, creating the biggest spread in the western Montana territory. Dax and Luke had added hundreds of acres to their already expansive ranch, as well as some men she didn’t expect would last long under the new owners.

  “Time to close up, Abby,” Sally called from her desk, grabbing the keys and locking the front door.

  “I’ll walk you to the livery.” Gabe leaned against the counter and waited for Abby to lock the money in the safe.

  “I’m ready.” Abby closed her shawl around her shoulders as they stepped out the back door. The path led behind the stores toward Noah’s blacksmith shop and livery at the other end of town. They’d gotten no more than ten feet when the sound of shouting followed by gunfire had Gabe dashing between two buildings toward the main street, Abby following behind.

  “Stay here,” he warned her as he stepped onto the boardwalk, waiting as Cash and Beau joined him.

  Drawing their guns, they stopped cold at the sight of two wagons overflowing with men shouting and firing their weapons into the air. One wagon pulled to a stop in front of the Wild Rose saloon, the other outside the Dixie saloon. Laughing and slapping one another on the back, the men disappeared behind the swinging doors, leaving Gabe, Cash, and Beau staring after them.

  “What the hell was that?” Beau holstered his gun. The three men looked around to see if other wagons followed.

  “We’d better find out. Beau, you and Cash head into the Rose, and I’ll go check the Dixie.” He watched as they followed the miners inside, then turned to Abby, who held up her hand.

  “Don’t worry about me, Gabe. I can get myself to the livery.”

  Nodding, he crossed the street. Hearing piano music at the Dixie, Gabe slid his revolver into the holster and pushed through the doors. All the tables were full. The girls who worked there scurried around, taking drink orders and offering other types of private entertainment.

  “Gabe, over here.”

  Nick motioned from his spot at the end of the bar and signaled his bartender, Paul, for another beer. Always watchful, he never let his eyes wander from the crowd of celebrating miners as he waited for Gabe to join him.

  “Do you know what’s going on?” Gabe asked, accepting the beer and turning toward the raucous crowd.

  “From what I’ve heard, all the men who came in on the wagons work for Carlyle. The man with the long red beard at the table closest to the piano told Paul the more they dig, the wider the vein spreads.”

  “Have you met the man?”

  “Carlyle?”

  Gabe nodded, sipping his whiskey.

  “I’m not certain. A man named Carlyle frequented our saloon in New Orleans, but I won
’t know if it’s the same man until I see him.”

  “Cornelius, at the assay office, said he came in on Monday, had the gold tested and filed his claim. He got the impression Carlyle planned to ride back to town soon. Seems we’ll all be able to get a good look at him then.”

  Nick took in the information without any noticeable reaction. Gabe wondered if Lena’s response would be the same.

  “Is Lena going to be around tonight?”

  “She’s here every night, Gabe. You know that. As long as the girls work, she feels the need to be here and watch out for them.”

  “Even with you around?”

  “I keep an eye on the gambling and take care of the drunks and sore losers. She handles whatever comes up with the girls. We both deal with the men who get too rough with them. I can’t tolerate a man who’s violent with women. They have no place in the Dixie.”

  The sound of a chair scraping against the wooden floor, then falling to the ground drew Gabe’s and Nick’s attention. At the same time, one of the miners at another table reached out, pulling a girl onto his lap, planting a sloppy kiss on her mouth. The girl pushed away, smiling as she stood and straightened her dress.

  “You want any more of that, mister, you’ll have to buy a spot upstairs.” Winking at him, she turned away, looking over her shoulder to see the man toss his cards on the table and follow.

  The other table didn’t fare so well, escalating as two men squared off, one pulling his gun.

  No one paid attention to Gabe shouting for them to back away—until he accompanied it with the sound of his gun discharging into the ceiling.

  “You want to set your gun on the table and back away?” he asked, Nick coming up alongside him with his gun pointing at the half-crazed man.

  “Hell no. That man there cheated, Sheriff, and I aim to get my money back from him.” The man took a step backward, still holding his gun.

  Gabe glanced at the other gambler standing on the opposite side of the table, showing no fear. In fact, he looked almost bored as he stared at the man hell-bent on shooting him. Short and slender with a thin mustache and black felt derby sitting squarely on his head, he stood his ground, not going for the weapon which hung low on his left side.