Page 31 of Wrangling Her Heart
“Wait here.” Everett disappeared inside the house.
Rex turned to his companion, Baxter, with a look of confusion on his face. He raised his hands in a helpless gesture, but before he could speak, the door swung open once more. Ingrid Chapman stood at the door. Known as Marmee, she was the matriarch of the Chapman family, and Verna Hartman’s best friend.
“I don’t know why that boy has no manners,” she said, opening the door. “Come inside. Coffee’s hot.”
Rex shifted nervously from foot to foot as he approached the intimidating woman in front of him. “Ma’am, we just need to see Weston and his sons.” He couldn’t help but shrink under her intense glare, feeling like he was five years old again. Clearing his throat, he added, “Yes, ma’am. Come on, Baxter.”
They made their way to the large room where everyone was sitting. At the table, Weston and Orrin Briggs were sitting, sipping coffee, and eating pie.
“Weston, these boys are here to see you. Sit down, Rexford. Baxter. I’ll get you coffee and a piece of pie.” Ingrid moved towards the stove in the corner.
Rex and Baxter exchanged uncomfortable glances before they both took the offered seats. The hardwood chair beneath Rex’s rough palms had become worn and smooth from years of use. His heart hammered in his chest as he locked eyes with the Chapman brothers. Five men known for their fierce loyalty and even fiercer tempers.
“Thank you, ma’am,” Baxter muttered, his voice hoarse. He took the coffee cup Marmee handed him with a faint nod butdidn’t touch the pie.
Weston was the first to break the silence, his gruff voice rumbling across the room like distant thunder. “What’s so important that you’ve come over here without the rest of your kin?” His weathered face was unreadable, dark eyes boring into Rex’s.
“There’s a man named George Youngerman,” Rex began, his voice steady despite the tension knotting his shoulders. “He’s been orchestrating a plan to destroy this ranch.” The words hung heavy in the air, a stark declaration amid the smell of coffee and freshly baked pie.
The room erupted into a cacophony of incredulous laughter and sharp questions, the Chapmans clearly not believing him. Rex held his ground, letting the chaos swell around him before he lifted a hand to silence them.
“I saw George meeting with the Richards gang, and I have it on authority that they are looking for a reckoning.”
“I told you to leave this alone, boy,” Briggs said.
“You know about this, Orrin?” Weston asked.
“Yes, but you have nothing to worry about.”
“Do you think they are looking for my grandson?”
“We can protect our family,” Caleb said, looking at his wife Lydia. Rex’s sister Vangie left her son, Hart, with Lydia for safekeeping. Lydia brought the boy to Nebraska for protection. While traveling with Caleb’s cattle drive, they fell in love and Hart became the piece that forever connected the Chapman and Hartman families.
Rex shifted his weight in the seat, trying to block out the noise of the heated argument in the room. He regretted coming here and sharing this information with them. Suddenly, a loud and urgent knock echoed through the room, causing everyone tofreeze. The knock came again, more insistent this time, breaking the tense silence.
“Oh, for land’s sake,” Marmee said. “I’ll get the door.”
“Ingrid, you stay there,” Weston commanded. “I’ll get the door.”
He stood and walked by his wife, planting a kiss on her forehead, before disappearing to open the door.
Reverend Billings entered the room, followed by Weston. The preacher looked troubled, his usual warm smile replaced by a furrowed brow and tight lips.
“I was looking for the marshal, but maybe you can all help me.”
“What is it?” Orrin asked, sitting up in his chair.
“Esther is missing.”
“Missing?” Marmee said, lifting her fingertips to her lips. “When did this happen?”
“It happened between last night and this morning.”
Rex stood to offer his seat to the reverend. “Did anyone see anything?”
“I don’t know. Someone mentioned that they saw her talking to someone yesterday, but that was it.”
“Who was it? Did they know who it was?” Orrin asked.
