Zeke stepped in front of Beti. “I will say this once. So pay attention.” The men dropped their arms, grins rising their lips as he continued. “If I see ye near this lady or any other lady, ye will wish ye had made another choice.” In a low voice he told Beti to go inside. Beti complied with Nell at her heels.
Talky watched Beti move away. The second man put his hands in his pockets.
“We ain’t done nothing wrong.”
“Nowhere near her.”
Zeke waited until he heard Beti’s steps on the porch before he followed her toward the ordinary. She hunched down by the door and rewarded her dog with hugs and praise before removing a rope from the dog’s neck.
“I didn’t realize ye tied the dog at night.”
She stood when he gained the top step. “I don’t.” She handed the piece rope to him. “Someone tied Nellie.”
“And someone cut her loose,” Zeke said examining the rope.
He looked into her face searching for any signs of duplicity. Her eyes were hidden in the thickening shadows of the porch.
“I thank ye for coming when ye did.”
Relief washed through Zeke. No one was more glad than he was that he’d arrived on the scene when he did. He really did need to get that dog a steak. Right after he figured out who would cut the dog loose and not go so far as to come to the woman’s aid.
He wanted to take Beti in his arms as he had done just days ago to satisfy himself that she was unharmed, but there would be time for that later. “How do ye fair? Did they harm ye?”
“No.”
“Do ye know what those men want?”
“No. I do not.”
“Tell me about ye father.”
What color she had regained after her encounter fled her face. Fingers came up to fiddle with the tape that held her rifle.
“What do ye wish to know?”
“Some men told Edwards that ye father was the pirate, Red the Black.”
She dropped onto the half-log bench by the door, her rifle sliding to rest at her side. She gathered her hands in her lap.
Keeping her face toward the floor she said, “I suppose I should be relieved.”
This was going to take a while. Zeke took the space next to her on the bench. In halting phrases, she told the story of her father and his retirement to a hostile town. Of coming to Kemp’s Landing and the men in Morgan’s store. White hot fury melted into deep blue worry the depth of which he’d not experienced before. Innocence seemed to come from her heart as she told the story.
“I am sorry I lied about my name, although it is only a half truth. My mother was Sigrid, and I am her daughter.”
“So, ye plan is to move out to a place where no one knows ye or yer name?”
“Aye. To live life on my terms. Like everyone else.”
“Someone told me recently that everyone has limitations. Ye just have to adapt and be content.”
“And I will, just as soon as I get to Kentucky. I’m going to build my homestead and stay there. Are we not, Nellie?” The dog perked up at her name, and Beti ran fingers through the scruff at the neck.
“And ye think that will make ye happy.”
“Aye.”
“And what if more men come after this fictitious treasure.”
“I held my own today.”
“With a little help from Nellie.” He offered his hand, and the dog licked his palm.
“Aye. Nellie comes.”
“There are people in there who know ye real name now.”
An exasperated sigh ran through her lips. “I shall just have to deal with it.”
Thirteen
Or not. She could just retrieve her work basket and slip back to her wagon and leave in the morning. Just where she would go, she could work out later. There’s always plenty of time when one waits on sheep.
Beti hauled a deep breath into her lungs. Thus fortified, she stepped into the ordinary. Zeke stayed with Nellie. She didn’t trust her with anyone else at this point.
Aggie and Alice waited at the entrance to the room that quieted when she crested the doorway. Aggie came up to her right side.
