“If you’ll just-”
“I said.” Her stance wide, Evie brought the rifle Ben had insisted she learn to shoot, and shoot well, up to brace against her shoulder. The firearm wobbled in her hands for a second then steadied. “Stop.”
Mr. Talbert stilled. He raised both hands chest high, palm out and spoke in a tone pitched to soothe. “Ma’am there’s no call for that. Put it down.”
“Not another step.” Evie issued a firm command.
The other men started to protest. Mr. Talbert made a sharp gesture and they fell quiet. “Easy now, there’s no need to get upset. I just want to talk to him.”
“Not today.” Evie stalled as she bore the weight of his steady gaze. Like a cornered animal, she felt trapped. Her grip on the smooth wooden stock tightened until her knuckles gleamed white, a finger hovering over the trigger. “Come back tomorrow.”
“No, he will explain himself today.” His tone was firm.
Her lips parted but no words emerged. Evie couldn’t admit she didn’t know where Ben was, that would reveal she was here alone and she couldn’t ask them for help. These men had reason not to wish her husband well. Seconds stretched into almost a full moment of silence while she tried to decide what to do.
Unexpectedly the sound of another rider interrupted the tense standoff. Evie flicked a glance in the direction of the noise. On a dappled gray horse, a lanky man, the tallest she’d ever seen, wearing a battered black hat, was easy to identify even at a fair distance.
“You asked the sheriff to ride out?”
“I just want to keep things civil ma’am.”
“By threatening me?”
“I haven’t.” His jaw tight, his words came out clipped. “Nor will I.”
Evie wasn’t certain she believed him but with the lawman closing in fast, she made a gesture of good faith. She lowered her weapon, pointing the muzzle to the ground. They waited the few moments in awkward silence until Jim Green joined them.
The sheriff positioned himself between Evie and the other mounted men. His fingers tugged the brim of his hat. “Mrs. Rolfe.”
“Sheriff Green.”
“Though it’s a fine day for a walk.” His voice was studiously polite. “Perhaps we should head back to your place. Mr. Talbert and your husband can settle matters there.”
“I’m afraid that isn’t possible.”
“Ma’am?”
“Ben isn’t home. In fact I’m worried he-”
“Where is he?” William Talbert demanded.
“I don’t know. He-”
“Do you know what that horse he sold me did?”
“He threw your son.” Her face stiff and hot, Evie spoke in a soft tone. “I’m truly sorry. I-”
“Your husband conned me.”
“I-”
“My son could’ve died.”
“Again, I’m so sorry but Ben-”
“I’ve no tolerance for lies.”
“Mr. Talbert I don’t-”
“Mrs. Rolfe-”
“Kindly have the good manners to let me finish a sentence.”
He jerked his hat off to hit it against his thigh. “Ma’am.”
“Thank you.” Slow, even breaths eased her agitation. “I don’t know where Ben is.” She held up her free hand when Mr. Talbert started to open his mouth and shook her head. “I don’t but with the sheriff as my witness I give you my word, if it’s possible, I’ll make things right.”
“He should face me like a man.” The older man’s contempt a barb, she flinched. “Not hide behind your skirt.”
“I think you should accept the lady’s offer.” The sheriff’s calm voice of reason entered the exchange.
Seconds passed before Mr. Talbert muttered, “fine.”
“I need to speak to the sheriff first.” Without waiting for agreement, she looked up at the lawman and at last gave voice to her gut-wrenching fear. “Something has happened to Ben. I … ”
Her throat closed. Evie couldn’t continue. Her emotions reactive and raw, tears threatened. She bit down on her bottom lip, struggling to keep control. Sheriff Green dismounted and put a hand on her shoulder. She drew in a shaky breath.
“Ben rode off and I … ” Evie pulled away. “I … ”
“Easy ma’am, take your time.”
“After a time I heard…” Evie paused, drew in a breath. “I thought I heard an argument out here. I came out and … ” She shook her head unable to continue, stepped back and gestured to what she’d found.
His face a blank mask, Sheriff Green studied the scene for a moment. “You go on home now and I’ll take a look around.”
“But I-”
“Can you settle things peacefully with Mr. Talbert?”
“Ah yes but-”
“Trust me ma’am, I’m good at my job.” As he walked past Mr. Talbert to his horse, the sheriff addressed him. “Would you escort Mrs. Rolfe home?”
“I will.”
“I could use the help of your men.”
Mr. Talbert frowned, agreeing in a dry tone. “Of course.”
Evie watched the three men fan out. She trusted Sheriff Green. He’d tried to work out a fair resolution when the Blakes’ claimed the wild horses Ben had caught and trained were theirs all because he’d been mistaken about the property boundaries. It wasn’t his fault the judge, a relative of Daniel Blake’s wife, had ruled against her husband.
Her chest ached with intense pressure. Ben didn’t share her good opinion. He blamed everyone who worked with the law as much as the crooked justice for his loss. And for some reason her husband believed that he was about to be arrested. Time would tell if she’d done the right thing sending the sheriff after him.
“Mrs. Rolfe?”
Her eyes burned with unshed tears. Evie knelt down, picked up Ben’s hat and pressed it to her stomach. Although she wanted to believe he was fine, the bad feeling in her gut persisted.
“Yes.” Distracted, her tone was polite, perhaps a little flat.
“Shall we?”
Evie nodded then turned around, starting back toward her home without waiting for a response. “What do you want?” She winced as her question emerged sharp, boarding on rude. “Sorry.” She took a breath then tried again. “What would make us square?”
In a terse tone, Mr. Talbert made his position clear. “I return the horse. You return my money.”
“How much would that be?” The sum he named caused her heart to skip a beat. A lump formed in her throat. “I’m not sure I have that.”
“I understand your husband spends a lot of time at The Bucking Pony.” His tone softened, now holding a note of pity.
Her cheeks heated. “What if you kept the horse?”
“It’s not worth what I paid.”
“I wasn’t suggesting that it was.” Evie cleared her throat, swallowing the urge to cry. “I was thinking we could work out something for the difference?”
They