Page 24 of Wrangling Her Heart
He could talk to Hiram about renting the room at the livery if a cowboy from the saloon hadn’t stumbled over to claim it. That would give Tillie some place to sleep. Rex could just curl up in the back of a wagon. It wouldn’t be the first time he slept in one. He only needed a blanket and some straw, and he’d be fine. He was more worried about Tillie.
“How long has she been in there?” he wondered.
“Two minutes longer than the last time you asked.”
Rex slowly turned his head to look at Whit, who sat comfortably next to the stove. His brown pants were wrinkled from wear, and a small stain marked the corner of his light-colored shirt. He took a sip of coffee as he flipped through the newspaper, his eyes scanning the pages. Rex’s mind raced as he tried to make sense of what he had seen in the woods earlier that day. It couldn’t have been Whit, could it? He must be imagining things.
Rex turned back to the window, the gears of his mind grinding against his worry for Tillie and his suspicion about Whit. The mercantile was empty, so there was no sound but the rattling of the newspaper. Soon that stopped and he could hear Whit’s boots crossing the floor.
“Rex,” Whitney said, standing beside him with a solemn expression. “I gotta tell you something important.”
Rex tore his eyes away from the window for a moment, trying to focus on his brother’s words. “What is it, Whit?”
Whitney scratched the back of his neck nervously. “Look, I... I’m gonna disappear for a bit. Just make sure Ma doesn’t worry too much, alright?”
“Disappear?” As Rex turned to face his brother, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of foreboding creep into his tired brain. Part of him wanted to ask what was wrong, but another part feared the answer; and he didn’t want to deal with any more problems. He was torn between wanting to protect his brother and wanting to protect himself from any more emotional turmoil. “What are you talking about, Whit?”
“Never mind that now,” Whit muttered, waving a dismissive hand. “Just let Ma know, will you?”
“Fine,” Rex sighed, looking back out the window. “You know Ma’s leaving for Boston tomorrow? She’ll be gone until the newyear.” He craned his neck to look down the main street. Whit’s boot tapped against the wood floor. There was no one on the street, which was odd for that time of day. Rex turned his eyes back to the doctor’s office.
“Boston? Ain’t that far?”
“You know, she has been talking about going home for years.” Rex glanced at Whit, noting the deep lines etched into his brother’s face and the dark circles under his eyes. He looked exhausted, like he hadn’t slept in days.
“Her home is here, with her family.”
“I think she hopes to find Evangeline out there.” Rex winced and reached a hand up to the right side of his head, massaging where a dull ache started pulsing.
Whitney’s eyebrows rose at the news. “Are you taking care of the ranch while she’s gone?”
“Of course,” Rex affirmed. “Speaking of Thanksgiving, will you be back in time for dinner? Or do I need to mention that to Annie, too?”
Whitney hesitated, his eyes darting away from Rex’s questioning gaze. “I don’t think so. I got some things I need to take care of.”
“Alright. Anything else?”
Whit leaned closer and lowered his voice. “Yeah. There have been some unsavory characters spotted around town lately, so be careful? And don’t believe everything you hear about me.”
“What does that mean? Are you in trouble?”
“Trust me, Rex.” Whit’s voice strained with emotion. “You don’t want to know.”
“Seems like trust is scarce these days,” Rex muttered.
“Remember, don’t believe what you hear.” Whit glanced outthe window and Rex could see a shadow in the alley between the doctor and the marshal’s office. “I gotta go. Love you, brother. I love the family, too.”
“Take care of yourself, Whit. May God watch over you until you come home.”
With a nod Whit took a hat and overcoat that were laying on the bench and headed into the frigid air. Rex watched his brother as he untied his horse and effortlessly swung his leg over the saddle. It wasn’t until Whit passed in front of the window that Rex realized the outer garments were the same as the man he saw on the ridge.
When he shifted his gaze back to the doctor’s office, Tillie was already in the street. Her eyes scanned the surroundings, a frown tugging at her lips.
Why hadn’t she stayed where he told her?
As if sensing him watching her, Tillie glanced towards the mercantile, but then turned and headed for the livery instead. Rex’s heart clenched with worry—what was she planning?
Anxious thoughts raced through his mind as he followed Tillie, her hurried steps increasing his suspicions. He couldn’t shake the feeling that both Tillie and Whitney were keeping something from him. He prayed silently for guidance as he tried to focus on their current task, but Whit’s cryptic words kept echoing in his head. What was his brother involved in, and could he trust Tillie not to harm his family?
