Nate's Destiny Read online

  “Be sure you do.” Marcus closed the door behind him, stopping the wind from chilling the shack even more.

  Grabbing the extra blankets, Nate spread them over his still shaking body. Within minutes, he began to relax, his muscles slackening as his body warmed. This was when he allowed himself to think of Geneen MacGregor, Sarah MacLaren’s sister, the woman he’d left behind at Circle M.

  Two weeks before, he’d spotted Quinn, Blaine, and Heather MacLaren, along with Caleb Stewart having breakfast at the only restaurant in Settlers Valley. Keeping well out of sight, he’d watched them leave, riding north along the Feather River.

  Marcus solved the mystery of their arrival when he mentioned elderly rancher Archie Galloway selling his spread to a young cowboy who’d worked for Circle M.

  A few days later, he’d been stunned to see Geneen and a few more MacLarens ride into town. Nate had watched in silence as they gathered in the church to watch Caleb and Heather wed. He’d hidden in the shadows, unable to keep his gaze off Geneen. Now he spent a good deal of his time figuring out a way to continue working for Marcus without her, Heather, or Caleb discovering him.

  He’d thought of moving on, not taking the chance of being seen before he rid his body of the drug he continued to crave. Two things stopped him. Few men were eager to hire someone with an almost useless arm, and most towns of any size included a population of Chinese, the suppliers of the opium he forced himself to avoid.

  He woke each day, his mind still craving the vile substance, even if his body had begun to grow accustomed to living without it. Several strong cups of coffee laced with a small amount of whiskey helped tame the hunger still circling in his head.

  Doc Vickery in Conviction, the town closest to Circle M, had warned him he might never completely lose the mental craving for the drug. Nate had scoffed at the assertion, believing if his body didn’t need it, neither would his head. He’d been wrong.

  Until the day came when opium no longer held any power over him, he’d stay as far away from Geneen as possible. And if she discovered him living in Settlers Valley, Nate would do and say whatever he had to in order to keep her away from him and his demons.

  Highlander Ranch

  Geneen leaned the shovel against a stall, breathing a deep sigh of relief. She’d been mucking out the barn for the last two days, undeterred by the amount of work.

  At eighty, Archie no longer had the strength to handle the everyday chores of running a ranch. He’d focused his time and energy on keeping the animals fed and the cows milked. Mending fences, cleaning stalls, and basic repairs had gone unattended for what appeared to be years.

  More than two weeks had passed since the wedding, and between Caleb, Heather, and Geneen, they’d accomplished a great deal. So much, the young couple hoped she wouldn’t return to Circle M in the near future.

  After Nate left Circle M, she’d felt adrift, unable to focus on a future without him. For the first time in months, she felt needed.

  “How are you doing in here?”

  Spinning around, Geneen smiled at Heather. “Just finished. I’ll head into the house in a bit to start supper.”

  Removing the saddle and bridle from Shamrock, Heather let the mare into the pasture behind the barn. Returning to stand next to Geneen, she crossed her arms, leaning a shoulder against a stall.

  “Caleb received a telegram from Uncle Ewan. He wants to know if we’ll be riding back to Circle M for Christmas. Archie said he’d be doing fine here alone.”

  Lifting a brow, Geneen brushed her hands down the pants she wore around the ranch. “What do you want to do?”

  Heather shrugged. “I miss the family, but I’ll be doing whatever Caleb thinks best. This is a bigger ranch than I thought and there’s a lot needing to be done. What would you be thinking?”

  Pacing a few feet away, she looked out the barn door to the hills in the distance. “The first Christmas in your new home is important. I know Sarah will understand if I stay here with you.”

  Chuckling, Heather pushed away from the stall. “Aye. Your sister is the most understanding lass I know. You being happy is what means the most to her.”

  Geneen turned toward her, a relaxed smile on her face. “Then we’ll be here for Christmas. We can travel to Circle M in the spring.”

  “Aye. That’s what Caleb is thinking. We’ll be moving part of the herd south to join with their cattle when they make the drive to Sacramento. He thinks the three of us can move what we have without trouble.”

  Nodding, Geneen shoved a strand of hair from her face. “It depends on how many head Caleb decides to take. I heard at the general store there are some men looking for work.”

  “Mr. Kamm at the livery told Caleb the man working for him has some experience. He might be interested in extra work.”

  Geneen’s brows knit together. “I didn’t know he had someone else working for him.”

  Heather shrugged. “Caleb didn’t, either. The lad must be working in back. Mr. Kamm also said there’ll be a dance in town this Saturday. I’m thinking we should all go. It would be good to meet more of our neighbors.”

  Letting out a slow breath, Geneen grabbed the shovel, carrying it to the tool closet in the barn. “Why don’t you and Caleb go? I’d be happy to stay here and keep watch on the ranch.”

  Heather shook her head and laughed. “Nae, lass. You love to dance. We’ll not be leaving you behind.”

  Groaning, Geneen shoved her hands into her coat pockets as she walked out of the barn toward the house, hearing Heather hurry to catch up to her.

  “I know what you’re thinking, and I’m not interested.”

  A slight grin tipped up the corners of Heather’s mouth. “And what would I be thinking?”

  “You and Caleb want me to meet someone, forget about Nate.”

  “It would be good for you, lass. You’ve not heard from him in months. Nobody has. He could’ve left the state and ridden back east, maybe back home to Pennsylvania.”

  Geneen bit her lower lip, her chin rising in defiance. “Jinny didn’t know if Sam would return, either, but she waited for him.” The mention of Heather’s cousin and what she went through waiting for the man she loved to return to Conviction caused them both to sober.

  “‘Tis true. But Sam knew where to find Jinny. Nate would be having no idea you’re with me and Caleb in Settlers Valley. Besides, I’m not thinking of more than you having some fun. For all we know, there’ll not be any handsome, single men at the dance.”

  Geneen snorted. They both knew that was a lie. She and Heather had already met a few single ranch hands during their visits to town, and she had no doubt several would be at the dance. If only she could rid her thoughts of Nate.

  Geneen had been drawn to him from the first day they’d met, not long after he’d taken a job as one of Brodie’s deputies. Her gaze had taken in the determined set of his jaw, eyes that missed nothing, and his defensive stance, daring anyone to think less of him because of his missing left arm. He’d compensated well for the loss of the limb.

  Already an accomplished rider, his skills handling a horse increased, as did his expertise with a six-shooter and rifle. He’d taken a job as a lawman in Abilene before continuing his journey west. That experience, plus the fact he’d fought off three men when he first arrived in Conviction, made a huge impact on Brodie, influencing his decision to hire Nate.

  She and Nate had become close, sitting next to each other at Sunday suppers and church. He hadn’t hesitated to ask her to dance at the community shindigs, monopolizing her time, becoming surly when other men asked to cut in. Those had been good times, until the pain in his left arm drove him to the opium dens in Conviction.

  Bringing him to Circle M helped rid his body of the need for the insidious substance. But no matter what she and the MacLaren family did, nothing rid Nate’s mind of the crushing need for opium. One morning, he’d packed what little he had, saddled Nomad, and rode off, telling no one of his destination or possible return.
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  That was the last anyone saw or heard from him.

  “You’re right. I’d like to attend the dance, even if the only single men are as old as my father.” Shrugging out of her heavy coat, Geneen hung it up before entering the kitchen to pull out what she needed for supper.

  Heather moved next to her, placing a hand on her arm, then smiled. “That’s the spirit, lass. You have a few days to figure out what we’ll be wearing.”

  “Me?” Geneen squeaked. “Jinny is the one good at dressing us, not me.”

  “Well, she’s not here,” Heather chuckled. “It’s not as if we have much to choose from.”

  Cutting the meat, Geneen glanced over her shoulder. “We’ll both decide. If needed, we’ll go to town and buy ribbons for our hair.” She paused, thinking of the last time she’d received a new ribbon. It had been from Nate. A present for her birthday. Shaking off the melancholy too often ruling her days, Geneen drew in a slow breath, focusing on the meal she prepared. “Perhaps we’ll even find new hats.”

  “Nae, lass. You’re the one to wear them. I look foolish with my hair going in all directions.”

  Geneen shook her head. “It’s easy to remedy, Heather. We’ll buy new hats and I’ll fix your hair. You’ll look so different, Caleb won’t even recognize you.”

  Opening a tin, she pulled out an oatmeal cake and took a bite. “Aye. That’s what worries me.”

  The kitchen door opened. Caleb walked inside, his hands caked in mud. “What worries you, sweetheart?” He walked up to his wife, meaning to put his arms around her.

  Holding up her hands, Heather backed away. “Ach. You’ll not be touching me with those hands.”

  Looking at them, as if he hadn’t noticed all the dirt, he shrugged, moving to the sink. “What has you worried?”

  Brushing cake crumbs from her mouth, Heather wiped her hands down her pants. “We’ve been talking of going to the dance Saturday night.”

  “And what to wear,” Geneen added.

  Drying his hands, Caleb’s brows drew together. “You’ll wear one of your dresses. What else?”

  Glancing at Heather, Geneen burst into laughter. “How clever of you, Caleb.”

  “What did I say?” He looked at each of them in genuine confusion.

  “She’s jesting with you, love.” Heather picked up an onion and began to peel the skin. “We’ve not much to choose from and would like to go to town for ribbons and perhaps new hats.” Her brows drew into a frown. “If we’ve the money for them.”

  All three knew the low funds they lived on each month. It would change after they’d driven the first herd to market in the spring.

  Geneen shook her head. “It was a foolish idea, Caleb. Heather and I have all we need to look splendid for the dance.”

  Bending down, he placed a kiss on Heather’s cheek. “We’ve the money for hats. I’ve got to see Mr. Kamm about repairing the harness. The breast collar is broken and I don’t have what I need to fix it. How about we ride in tomorrow morning? You can get what you need while I meet with Mr. Kamm.”

  Standing, Heather wrapped her arms around his neck. “That would be grand. We’ll be at the general store when it opens.”

  A soft smile played across Caleb’s face as he looked down at her. “That we will.” Kissing her quickly, he left the kitchen, drawing in a deep breath.

  He’d make certain his wife and Geneen got new hats and whatever ribbon they wanted, even if it meant growing the account at the general store to an unreasonable amount. If he could only afford one ranch hand, they’d be able to make twice the progress. Someone who might agree to a clean, warm place to sleep and meals, waiting for their wages until spring. Scrubbing a hand down his face, Caleb climbed the stairs, his mind reeling from all the work needing to be done.

  Chapter Two

  Settlers Valley

  Nate stilled at the sound of the familiar voice coming from the front of the livery. He’d recognize Caleb Stewart’s deep tone and slight brogue anywhere. Unlike most of the MacLarens, few would even recognize his Scottish roots, believing him born in America rather than the Highlands of Scotland. The same was true of Sarah and Geneen. Their brogues were so modest, they were seldom noticed.

  “I’ve got the new ranch sign you ordered. I’ll have my hired man bring it out.”

  Nate’s breath hitched at Marcus’s offer. He needed to disappear out the back, hoping his boss would assume he’d taken a break to use the facilities. Caleb discovering him in Settlers Valley wouldn’t be wise for anyone.

  “Save it for my next trip. I didn’t bring the wagon.” Caleb held up the broken harness.

  Marcus took it from his hand, examining the damage. “Ah, I can see why you’d leave it at the ranch. My man can have this repaired in a few hours, if you have the time to wait.”

  Caleb shook his head. “I’ve got too much work to do. I’ll ride back on Friday. The women want to attend the dance on Saturday night, and it wouldn’t do to have them all dressed up and riding their horses.” He smiled on the last, seeing an understanding nod from Marcus.

  “My sister, Esther, wants to go. I’m not much for dances, but she doesn’t get to enjoy herself much anymore.” Studying the harness once more, he set it aside. “I’ll make certain this is ready for you on Friday.”

  “Thanks, Mr. Kamm.”

  “I’m not an old man, Caleb. My name’s Marcus.”

  Caleb grasped the hand held out toward him. “Marcus it is then. I’ll see you Friday.”

  Nate poked his head around the outside corner of the livery, watching as Caleb mounted Jupiter, reining him toward the other end of town. A strange pain sliced through him as his friend rode away. Not for the first time, he cursed his luck at the Battle of Brandy Station.

  The Union Army surgeon had encouraged him to be thankful for his luck. If the cannonball had been a few inches to the right, Nate would’ve died. In his mind, if it had been a few inches to his left, he’d have his left arm and his beloved horse would still be alive. And he wouldn’t be fighting the cravings for a remedy that eased the pain but inflicted havoc on his life.

  “Nate. Caleb Stewart brought this in to be repaired.” Marcus held up the halter. “I told him it could be ready Friday.”

  Pushing his regrets aside, he took the halter, studying the broken leather. “I can have it fixed by then.”

  “Good.” Turning to leave, Marcus stopped, looking back at Nate. “There’s a dance Saturday night. Most everyone in town will be there.”

  Nate waited, looking up when Marcus didn’t continue. “I’m not planning on going.”

  “You might want to reconsider. There will be some fine-looking women who want nothing more than a night of dancing.”

  Snorting, Nate held up the stub of his left arm. “I don’t do much dancing anymore, Marcus.”

  “Even I know you don’t need a full arm to dance, Hollis. Fact is, you don’t have to dance at all. You can do like me and just talk to a few people.”

  A wry grin turned up the corners of Nate’s mouth. “Esther will expect me to ask her to dance.”

  Crossing his arms, Marcus studied him a moment before his features relaxed. “She’ll not embarrass you, if that’s what worries you.”

  “I’d never worry about Esther embarrassing me. My worry is about embarrassing her. It’s a chance for her to meet someone good, a man who’ll be able to give her a good life. That man isn’t me, Marcus.”

  “Hell, I’m not asking you to marry my sister. We’ve already had that discussion. All I’m talking about is you joining the rest of us to meet some of the townsfolk. Might do you some good.” He looked at the ground, shaking his head, then glanced back up. “I’d best get back up front.”

  Nate hung his head as Marcus closed the door behind him. No matter what his boss said, he knew he’d never attend the dance. Hearing Caleb say Heather and Geneen would be going didn’t provide an incentive. Instead, the knowledge she’d be so close, yet still so far from his grasp only drove the knife
deeper into his chest.

  The same as Esther, Geneen deserved someone whole, complete, who could provide what he never could. Not until he drove the desire for opium from his mind, which he’d begun to believe would never happen. The days ran together, one bleeding into the next with little to distinguish them.

  Nate had few options. Not many men were like Marcus, willing to hire someone with the use of one arm. An expert horseman, crack shot, and capable of defending himself with his right arm only, Nate found himself in the position of constantly having to prove his abilities. Prove his worth to a doubting world. Worse, he had to confirm his worth to himself, make it through each day without going crazy from depriving his mind of the opium it demanded. It was a life he had to face alone.

  Shouts from the front of the livery had him dropping the tool he held and hurrying through the door. Standing inches from Marcus was a slender man of average height, his face twisted in anger, a finger of his right hand jabbing his boss in the chest. For an instant, Nate wondered how long it would take for Marcus, much taller and more muscular, to swat the man’s hand away before landing a blow to his chin.

  “I’ll have the work to you when it’s ready, Leland, and not an hour before.”

  The well-dressed man glared at Marcus, inching closer. “I know what we agreed, but I need it now, Kamm. I’m willing to pay you double if I can have it by tonight.”

  Rubbing his brow, Marcus shook his head. “It isn’t possible. You’ve given me a new design for your dredge, one I’ve never built before. I’m halfway there and planned to have it finalized by Tuesday.”

  Leland huffed out a frustrated breath. “That’s almost another week.” He ground out the words as if they were painful to say.

  “Which is what we agreed. Do you want it quick or right, Leland?”

  “Both, dammit. If you can’t do it, I’ll take my business elsewhere.”

  Marcus’s gaze narrowed on the owner of the richest gold mine on the Feather River. “You’re welcome to find someone else. You paid me half in advance, which is how far I’ve gotten. You can take the plans and what I’ve done. We’ll call it even.”