Page 16 of Wild Spirit Revival

Rebecca stepped closer to Molly, her voice low and urgent. “This won’t be good. Eli and Gray were firm in their orders for no one to approach the stallion.”

Molly nodded, her instincts kicking in despite her growing unease. Whatever was coming, it was big enough to interrupt Joshua’s attempt with the stallion.

She glanced back at the corral, where he still held the rope around the stallion’s neck, his face a mask of resignation and growing irritation. Nathan and Parker had moved to flank him, their stances protective.

Molly squared her shoulders, lifting her chin as she always did when facing a challenge. She wouldn’t allow herself to cower before the intensity of Elijah Beckett.

“Miss O’Sullivan,” Elijah called out as he reined his horse to a stop and dismounted. “I believe it’s time for you to leave.” His voice, clipped and terse, had her stiffen.

She felt her temper flare. “I beg your pardon. I’m here at the invitation of your brother and sister-in-law.”

His jaw tightened. “This is family business. You won’t want to witness what may happen next.”

“I’m not some delicate flower to be shooed away at the first sign of trouble, Mr. Beckett.”

As the tension mounted, Molly wondered what exactly might happen next.

Joshua loosened the rope around the horse’s neck, letting it drop to the ground as the stallion dashed away. Nathan and Parker exchanged a quick glance before stepping closer to Joshua, their bodies taut with tension.

“Eli,” Joshua called out, his soft voice carrying a hint of steel.

Elijah’s eyes flashed as he strode toward the corral. “Breaking the stallion isn’t your job, Josh. Besides, we’ve got bigger problems.”

Parker snorted, his impatience getting the better of him. “What type of problems?”

“Rustlers,” Elijah spat, the word suspended in the air between them. “They hit the south pasture sometime in the last two days.”

Joshua’s grip on the now coiled rope slackened. “How many?”

“At least fifty head,” Elijah replied. “Maybe more.”

Parker blew out a breath, his earlier bravado replaced by a grim resolve. “Who would dare?”

Elijah’s gaze swept over his brothers, landing on Molly. His expression hardened. “That’s what we need to find out. And we can’t do that with… distractions.”

Molly bristled at the implication. “I’m not leaving, Mr. Beckett. This is something people, unaware of these issues, would be interested in learning about.”

Joshua intervened, his calm voice a stark contrast to the tension surrounding them. “Leave her be, Eli.”

Elijah’s nostrils flared, a battle raging behind his eyes. The stallion, sensing the discord, blew loudly and stomped its hooves.

Then, with a barely perceptible nod, Elijah relented, knowing they had to focus on the missing cattle and not on a city woman out of place on the ranch.

Before he could respond, a distant rumble of hoofbeats echoed across the ranch. All eyes turned toward the sound, a new wave of tension washing over the group.

“Riders coming,” Parker muttered, his hand now firmly on his pistol.

Molly’s heart lurched as she watched the Beckett brothers form a protective line in front of the women.

The thundering hoofbeats grew louder, dust billowing on the horizon as a group of riders approached. The Beckett brothers stood shoulder to shoulder, a united front against the possible threat.

Recognizing the lead rider, Elijah’s voice cut through the tension. “Relax, boys. It’s the sheriff. It looks like Jubal Whitton and Tripp Lassiter are with him.” He was surprised to see Deputy Whitton and their friend, Tripp, riding with him.

The broad-shouldered man Molly had spoken with earlier at breakfast reined in his horse a few yards from where they stood.

“Eli,” Sheriff Gaines called out. “We need to talk.”

Chapter Seven

---