She gripped his forearm with a strong, slender hand. “It was Mr. André who failed her first. Now go help Miss Tally and let me get back to my work.”
She rushed inside, leaving the faint comforting scent of flour behind her. Pablito dashed up to Eli and tugged at his sleeve. “Can I ride Hierro, Eli?”
Now you hide behind a child, Eli thought as he scooped the boy up onto the saddle. But he was glad for Pablito’s incessant chatter, especially when Tally made the last turn away from the creek and past the outermost corral. Eli met the wagon, letting Pablito stay on Hierro’s back while he carried André into the house.
Miriam gave Tally a firm hug in the doorway and spoke softly to her friend. Tally answered, but Eli didn’t hear her words. André felt like skin and bones in his arms. He didn’t stir even when Eli laid him down on his bed.
“Thank you, Eli,” Tally said. She touched his arm and knelt at her brother’s bedside.
“Do you know how this happened?” Eli asked, sick in his belly.
“Don’t you be bothering her with questions,” Miriam said. She put a basin of steaming water on the side table. “You’re just getting in the way, Elijah Patterson.”
He knew she was right, but he lingered for a few moments, watching André’s face for some sign of awareness. “I’m sorry, Miss Tally.”
But she was lost in her own worries, and Miriam had no time for him. He left the room and the house, swung Pablito down from Hierro’s back, and rode for a certain hill where a man could see most of the valley and the road along Cold Creek. At dusk he glimpsed a funnel of dust and then two riders approaching at a steady lope.
He met them half a mile from the homestead and quickly took stock of the newcomers. The older man bowed low over his horse in exhaustion, but the younger sat erect in the saddle, and his stare was that of a born predator. This was the tracker Miriam had spoken of with such wariness.
Eli turned to the other man. “Doctor?”
“Johansen,” the man coughed. “I hope the patient is still alive after…all this way.”
“He’s alive. Please follow me.”
The doctor sighed and kicked his mount’s sweat-streaked barrel. The tracker reined his seal-brown stallion alongside Hierro.
“I guess Tally made it back all right,” he said.
Tally. Eli bristled at the informality but took care not to show his annoyance. “Mr. Bernard arrived with his brother a few hours ago,” he said.
The tracker laughed. “You keep your secret from the doc, but don’t bother with me. I already know the lady pretty well.”
Eli clenched his fists on Hierro’s reins. “I doubt that, Mr. Kavanagh.”
“Tally talked about me.”
“She mentioned hiring a tracker in Tombstone.”
Kavanagh clucked his tongue. “Don’t hardly do justice to what we’ve been through together. And who’re you?”
“Elijah Patterson, range boss of Cold Creek.”
Kavanagh’s pale eyes glittered with the last of the day’s light. “The man who disappeared looking for André. Tally said you’d probably be here.”
Eli held his emotions in check. Neither Tally nor Kavanagh could know anything of what was in his heart unless he let them see. “I was looking in the Valley. Miss Bernard found her brother in the mountains.”
“Good thing I was in Tombstone to help out,” Kavanagh said, “or Mr. Bernard would be panther meat about now.”
“I’m sure you lent your assistance with no thought of gain for yourself, Mr. Kavanagh.”
Kavanagh laughed. “I reckon you’re the one who runs off any varmints that trouble the Bernards.”
“I have that privilege.”
“And I look to you like one of them varmints.” Kavanagh made no display or open threat, but Eli knew a man of his nature would pack at least one gun and probably a selection of knives for good measure.
“Miss Bernard hired you. I don’t usually question her judgment.”
“That’s right loyal of you, Patterson.”
“Are you of the opinion that Miss Bernard doesn’t deserve loyalty, Mr. Kavanagh?”
The tracker scowled. “Tally asked me to deliver the doc to her door, and that’s just what I’m doing.”
“Then your services are no longer needed. You’ll be paid what you’re owed and put up for the night. I advise you not to bother Miss Bernard. Am I clear, Mr. Kavanagh?”
“I understood Tally’s fancy talk, and I understand yours.”
“Then we have no quarrel. I’ll see you at the bunkhouse.” He fell back to join Johansen, who was nearly falling off his horse. Eli guided the doctor toward the lanterns Miriam had put around the yard to light the travelers’ way. Bart and Federico had come in from the range; they looked after the horses, while Pablo proudly carried the doctor’s saddlebags into the house. Miriam took the doctor in custody a moment later.
Kavanagh was almost to the door before Eli could stop him. Eli blocked the threshold and folded his arms across his chest. “You’ve got no business in the house,” he said. “You’ll bunk and eat with me and the men.”
The tracker stood a few inches shorter than Eli, but his stare was as potent as a punch to the gut. “I don’t take orders from you,” he said.
“You take them or get on your horse and ride out now.”
“No, Eli. It’s all right.”
Tally brushed past him from the doorway. She’d kept on her hat and dusty clothes so she could introduce herself to Johansen as André’s brother, but it was obvious to Eli that she was desperately in need of rest.
“Mr. Kavanagh,” she said, stepping between the two men, “thank you for your quick return with the doctor.”
Kavanagh nodded brusquely. “You all right?”
“I’m fine. The doctor…he needs some time to examine André. There’s not much more any of us can do but wait.”
“I was telling him that he can get his grub with the men tonight,” Eli said. “I’ll pay him off, Miss Tally. No need for you to trouble yourself.”
“It’s no trouble, Eli. We’ll all eat in the bunkhouse so that André can rest undisturbed.” She turned to Kavanagh. “Is there anything else you need, Mr. Kavanagh?”
Eli looked with bemusement from Tally to the tracker. Kavanagh had scarcely moved since Tally had appeared, but his hard face bore the addled expression of an outlaw bronc who’d been saddled and ridden around the corral before he could even think of putting up a fight. Tally had done that to him with a few quiet words.
“I can see you’re done in,” Kavanagh said after a long hesitation. He fiddled with the brim of his hat and pulled it low over his brow. “I’ll go see to Diablo.”
“I’ll ask Pablo to give him and the doctor’s horse an extra ration of oats. Good night.” She smiled at Kavanagh and returned to the house. Kavanagh didn’t try to follow.
“Do you think you can find your way to the barn?” Eli asked pointedly.
“I found Tally’s brother,” Kavanagh said. “Don’t you ever get yourself lost, Patterson.”
“I won’t, Mr. Kavanagh.” Eli waited until Kavanagh turned on his boot heel and strode toward the barn. Miriam came to stand beside Eli, following