Page 45 of Inventions of the Heart

CHAPTER

FIFTEEN

WE GAINED NOTHING FROMTHE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS.”Jilly was storming aloud as they rode toward the Two Harts.

“Mama will talk to Governor Booth. Zane will post a sentry every night. I got married. Those are gains.” Michelle glanced at Zane, felt the blush when his eyes met hers, and looked away.

Michelle wasn’t about to discuss anything else that had been gained.

They’d been pushing hard toward home. Odd to think of a ranch as home. Michelle mentally shook the oddness away. She had to get used to it.

Jilly rode on Michelle’s left. Zane on her right. Mama, Caleb, Laura, and Nick had left for Sacramento that morning, so it was just the three of them.

Michelle noticed Zane was watchful as they rode. He probably should have kept his men in town last night, but Annie had thought she needed to be home for Caroline, and she couldn’t go alone.

“Jarvis being released adds to the danger, but we won’t let that stand,” Zane said. “The sheriff obeyed the papers given to him by the judge. But Margaret will go to the governor, and before the week is out, that judge will be kicked out of his office and a new man named. Stockwood will arrest Jarvis again.”

That was the part of this that wasn’t going to be easy. They’d had him. Now they had to get him again, and his father, Horace Benteen, wasn’t going to be nice about allowing it.

“And we’ll see him locked away. Old Man Benteen will be kicked out of Annie’s ranch, and she should sell it and move back here and live with us, Michelle.”

“What are we going to do about the gold, Zane?” Michelle asked.

She saw his shoulders square, and his jaw tightened as he prepared to argue about it with her again.

“I think you should set the two men who married the Hogan sisters and maybe Shad to running it,” Michelle said.

Zane jerked as if his saddle had sprung up a nail. He turned to look at her in amazement.

She shrugged. “I could run it, and run it well, and Jilly with me.” She looked at her sister, and Jilly jerked her chin down in one hard nod of agreement.

“But it’s just not safe.” Michelle frowned as she said it.

“No, no, I mean, yes! Yes, you’re right. It’s not safe. But I’ve been telling you for a long time it wasn’t safe.”

“I’m not stupid, Zane. Believe it or not, I’m really smart.”

That got a grin out of him. “So I’ve been told and told and told.”

“Before, when we were worried about another mob likethe one that came to Purgatory when our mission group was working there, well, I just didn’t think that would happen again. Surely word got around that none of those shacks were still standing, which were what brought people up there. I didn’t think that was a real danger. But I can’t do it with men on the prowl from Benteen’s crowd.”

Nodding, Zane said, “Shad could maybe do it. And Bo and Jesse. Bo and Jesse even live out there. The Hogan sisters seem very sensible. They would probably keep the men from going mad with gold fever.” He looked intently at Michelle. “There are plenty of ways for you to help with the mining operation, though. There is a lot of managing that doesn’t require you to be out there. I’d appreciate having your organizational skills.”

Michelle bobbed her chin. “I could do that. I’d be great at that.”

Zane frowned back at Dorada Rio, now far in the distance.

“What’s the matter?” Michelle twisted in the saddle but saw nothing. “Did you forget something you wanted from town?”

“I didn’t exactly forget. I just didn’t know I’d needed something.”

“Needed what?”

“More cowhands.”

“Can you trust anyone in town not to be on Benteen’s payroll?”

Zane was quiet for a moment. “I wonder what happened to all Annie’s hired men. Maybe we can get the word out that they’d be welcome here. I suppose I need to send another rider to town. But I’m not sure just how I’d reach theright men. Chances are they split up, rode away hunting a new job.”

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