Where the Heart Leads Read online

  Satisfied, she grabbed her reticule, glanced in the newly hung oval mirror and frowned at her reflection. Gabriel was going to see her today, and she didn’t feel ready for it. There just wasn’t any way to stop it.

  Oh, the girls might try, but she wasn’t going to fool herself. Avoiding Gabriel was a waste of energy. Instead she was going to fortify herself, so that he would never guess how deeply he unsettled her.

  Determined, she opened the door. A man was tethering her mare to the rail. She skidded to a stop.

  “G-Gabriel?” His name seemed to stick in her throat.

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean for you to catch me here. I get the feeling you’d be fine with not seeing me again.” His smoky baritone rumbled over her, friendly with a hint of something deeper, something she couldn’t put her finger on.

  Was it apologetic, perhaps? Well, he should be.

  “I promised Seth that I would look after you this morning, get your mare hitched up since you had so much to do helping the girls.” Gabriel’s maturity only made him all the more attractive. “I had planned to be gone before you came out of your house, but your horse had her own ideas.”

  “Yes, Buttons has always been a good judge of character. Doesn’t she like you?”

  “Apparently not.” The docile old mare pulled back her lips, displaying her large and menacing horsy teeth.

  “Good, Buttons.” Aumaleigh swept down the stairs to praise her dear mare. “Well, your obligations as the groom’s best man are done. It’s been nice seeing you, Gabriel, but I’m in a hurry.”

  “Of course.” He tipped his black Stetson in a gentlemanly fashion. The familiar movement stirred up a memory.

  Seeing him in the moment, standing there in the morning sunshine and seeing him also in the past at the same time. The girl she’d once been, remembered.

  But the woman she was now—the one who’d had her heart broken by him—wanted to give him a big push. Maybe he would fall backwards in the mud, new suit and all. Then she would drive off as if he’d never mattered to her one bit.

  Okay, perhaps she had more built up animosity than she’d realized.

  “I’ll let you be on your way.” He went to his black gelding standing patiently in the yard. “Isn’t it funny? Who would have thought that after all these years we’d be neighbors?”

  She blinked. Neighbors? What did that mean?

  “You know the ranch next door?” Gabriel mounted up, a natural in the saddle. Back straight, wide shoulders squared, at ease as he gestured across the field to where the peak of a weathered red barn could be seen above the trees. “I bought it.”

  “Wh-what?” She crinkled up her forehead in thought, trying to marshal all her cognitive abilities, but her brain refused to function. “No, that’s not right—I mean, Tyler would have told me. You’re only visiting—”

  “No, afraid not. I’m here to stay.” Gabriel wheeled his horse down the driveway, riding into the east, into the sun, leaving her staring after him like a fool.

  He was her neighbor? He was going to live in the same town? She would have to pass him on the road, see him in town, maybe shopping at the mercantile.

  No, I can’t do it. I just can’t. Panic wrapped around her, making her stomach ache. She blinked into the sun, looking after him but he was gone, lost in the bright golden rays. She wanted to reach out, drag him back and demand why he was doing this.

  But she knew. It was because of Josslyn. Gabe and Joss had repaired the rift in their relationship. It wasn’t as if she could fault Josslyn for that, but Joss was her best friend. She could have given a warning, even mentioned it casually. Say, you know the man who refused to marry you when you asked him to? The one who wasn’t man enough to say no to your face? Well, he’s moving to town. Just wanted you to know.

  Aumaleigh shook her head. Come to think of it, no wonder Josslyn hadn’t said anything. There was no good way to bring that up either. None at all.

  Well, it is what it is. She climbed into her buggy, set her bag on the floor and gathered the reins. As she steered Buttons down the road, her anger began to grow. Why had Gabriel come here after all this time? Did he have to move next door, of all the places in the world?

  She was in a good mood to turn her buggy around, drive up to his house, bang on the door and give him a piece of her mind. He’d been the one who wanted to leave her behind back then. Why was he hanging around now?

  She ground her teeth together. There ought to be a law. Former fiancés needed to keep their distance. He’d wanted another life, and he’d gotten it. Why did she have to be reminded of the mistakes she’d made?

  Because that’s what this was going to do to her. Every time she ran into him, spotted him down the street or across a store, she was going to be reminded of the biggest failure of her life.

  If only she could borrow Magnolia’s snake stick and chase him out of town with it. That would show him. The image of her chasing Gabriel down the road made her laugh out loud.

  “Losing your mind?” a friendly voice called out. “Laughing for no reason is one of the first signs.”

  “Oh, I have a good reason,” Aumaleigh assured Sheriff Milo Gray who’d pulled his paint gelding onto the side of the road, giving her plenty of room to pass.

  That’s when she noticed she was exactly in the middle of the road. She’d been too angry to see anything, much less a lawman coming her way.

  “I’m guessing our new town resident is to blame.” He seemed understanding, which was a good trait in a sheriff and in her future nephew-in-law. “I’ve heard all about it from Iris. Don’t you worry, we’re on your side.”

  Heard all about it? Did that mean everybody knew? And had thoroughly discussed it, all the while leaving her in the dark? Ooh, now she was mad again.

  The subject of Gabriel Daniels sure struck a nerve. Best to take a deep breath, get rid of this anger and go back to her normal, non-angry way of handling things. “What are you doing out and about today? Shouldn’t you be getting ready for the wedding? You’re supposed to be Iris’s date.”

  “True, I can’t deny that, but I’ve decided to work today.” The amiable smile died on his handsome, chiseled face. He was pure lawman, forged steel and integrity. “I’ve got all my deputies on duty today. We’re going to make sure this town stays safe from our neighborhood vandals.”

  “That glint in your eye tells me you have a good idea who it is.”

  “I’m pleading the fifth on that. Have a good time at the wedding and save a piece of cake for me.”

  “I’ll try, but maybe you should swing by the reception just in case.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind.” With a chin jut of farewell, Milo rode off, a man sure of his purpose.

  Aumaleigh urged her mare a few more feet to park in front of the bakery. She’d slip inside and grab the wedding cake, boxed and ready for the reception. She didn’t notice a man ease around the corner of the building and into the shadows.

  Determined not to fall victim to any more bouts of anger at Gabriel, she hummed to herself while she left Buttons at the hitching post and let herself into the bakery.

  Chapter Four

  Junior Klemp had a bad feeling. He clutched the crock that once had held a very tasty stew the oldest McPhee sister had given him. It was a humiliation that she’d mistaken him for a homeless, vagabond sort and given him bread too, but her kindness stuck with him. There had been more times than he could count that he’d gone hungry in his life.

  He set the crock and left it on the back door step. There. His obligation was over and done with. He’d never told his brother, Giddy, where the food had come from. Giddy didn’t care about things like that.

  But Junior’s stomach had been twisted up in a terrible knot ever since. All because of his nerves. He was afraid Giddy was going to ask him to do something against Miss Iris. His brother was a mean one. Too much like Pa could get, when he was crossed.

  Yep, it was a dilemma. Junior blew out a troubled sigh as he watched the
sheriff from a distance. The blasted lawman stopped in the middle of the side street to exchange words with one of those bothersome volunteer deputies. The whole town was swarming with ‘em.

  The sheriff’s words bugged him. That hoity-toity Aumaleigh McPhee had said in that superior voice of hers, that glint in your eye tells me you have a good idea who it is.

  I’m pleading the fifth, the sheriff had answered. Junior’s heart skipped a beat. Was it possible? Did Milo Gray know what he and Giddy had done?

  To make matters worse, now there were three of them. Another deputy had ridden up with a serious look and a gun on his hip.

  Junior’s bad feeling turned worse. He crept out, staying in the shadows against the building. What were the lawmen talking about? What if they were really after him and Giddy?

  “Young man?” An uppity, genteel lady’s voice called out to him.

  Blast it! Hatred burned fire-hot, but he managed to face her with a pleasant smile. “Good morning, Ma’am.”

  “Good morning. You know my nieces, don’t you?” Aumaleigh McPhee might be acting friendly, but two bits said she was really looking down her nose at him. She set a big bakery box on the floor of her buggy. “Are you coming to the wedding today? I’m sure they would love to see you at the reception too.”

  “I was considering going.” It wasn’t the truth, but a good lie was a useful thing. He and Giddy had planned on replenishing their liquor supply, along with taking a few comforts from that stately Montgomery family home on the nice side of town. “Guess I’ll see you there.”

  “The girls will be glad.”

  Looking at her phony smile nearly made him blow up right there. How dare she look at him like that, like she was the nicest lady in the world when she’d done what she’d done to his pa. She’d inherited the land, lock, stock and barrel, when a piece of it had been promised to Pa.

  And that would have made a chunk of the Rocking M Ranch his and Giddy’s. It was their inheritance, which was the same as their property. Think how hard Pa had worked for that old bat, Maureen, wearing his fingers to the bone while she lied and cheated him, keeping all that money to herself? And most of it was Aumaleigh’s.

  For now.

  “Have a good day, Ma’am.” Those words nearly killed him. He fisted his hands, staring at the tear in his boot. His sock poked through. It was getting worse.

  “Say, you’re walking without your crutch.” Aumaleigh had turned back to him, studying him from the height of her buggy seat. “Good for you. It must be wonderful to be on the mend. Do you know Oscar? He’s been in the same situation you are.”

  “I’ve seen him around,” Junior frowned. Oscar had been the reason he’d feigned having a lame leg, getting the idea after seeing how Rose had taken sympathy on the man. Although it had been a mistake. He’d been wrong in thinking that gaining sympathy would be the way to get in good with the McPhees.

  It never got him any closer to their money, and now he was torn. Torn up inside because of Iris.

  “Oh, hi there, Wade.” Aumaleigh called out to the deputy.

  Junior bowed his head. The lawman offered a friendly hello as he rode by. And reminded him something was up. That bad feeling in his gut was still there.

  Something wasn’t right.

  The uppity old McPhee woman drove away. Funny how she didn’t drive a sparkling new buggy or a fine-stepping horse. No, her vehicle was in good repair but had a lot of miles on it, and her mare was old and slightly sway-backed. Certainly nothing of quality.

  She’s filthy rich. Giddy’s words troubled him. It had to be true if she had the ranch. And just because he’d developed a soft spot for Iris didn’t mean he had one for the rest of the McPhees.

  He and Giddy were gonna get Pa’s fair share one way or another.

  That Aumaleigh was gonna regret pulling a fast one on Pa. Just you wait and see.

  “What’s going on there, young fellow?” A sociable voice interrupted his thoughts.

  He blinked, realizing he was standing in the middle of the boardwalk in plain sight of the horde of lawmen gathering in front of an empty store front, that was in the middle of a remodel. The sheriff led the pack of a dozen men, riding fast and hard out of town.

  Heading in the direction of their miserable little cabin.

  Junior’s blood went cold.

  “Did you come by thinking we’d be open?” the chubby postman asked amiably. “We’re closed for a few more hours yet. I’m just slipping out to get me some coffee. Come back closer to opening time and I’ll let you in early. Mostly because I’ll be heading off to Rose and Seth’s wedding.”

  “Right, thanks,” Junior said absently, walking off, staring at the tail end of the horses carrying the lawmen out of sight.

  Giddy was at home alone. Junior took off, running across the street, even knowing the shortcut through the hills wouldn’t get him there in time. But he had to try and save his brother.

  “Hey!” The postman shouted out after him. “Your leg is healed! Good for you!”

  Junior kept running.

  “For a while there, I wasn’t sure this day was gonna happen.” Gabriel kept his voice low as they stood at the front of the church.

  “Neither did I,” Seth confessed, looking fine in his suit and tie. The boy didn’t look nervous. No, he looked absolutely certain.

  Gabe knew how that felt. He’d once stood before an altar, more than ready to take his vows and looking forward to the life to come. That was one adventure he wouldn’t have missed for the world.

  “You’re going to do just fine, you and Rose.” Gabriel knew it beyond all doubt. “From here on out and this day forward, your only job is to love her. Just love her. That’s all. That’s everything.”

  “That’s my plan.” Seth gave a wide grin. “Glad you could be here, Uncle Gabriel. But you didn’t have to move out here and buy a place just on my account.”

  “Now you’re teasing me, kid.” Gabriel chuckled and shook his head. He caught sight of the full church behind them as folks settled into the last available spaces on the pews.

  That’s when the ground shifted and the sunlight falling through the stained-glass windows brightened. Aumaleigh McPhee stood behind the archway, giving the bride one last hug before making her way down the aisle.

  “Wow, she’s more beautiful than ever,” Seth breathed. “I can’t believe my eyes.”

  “I know how you feel.” Air wedged sideways in Gabriel’s chest.

  How did Aumaleigh get more stunning over time? She wore a blue dress the same shade as her bluebonnet eyes. Her porcelain, heart-shaped face was dear to him, but time had changed it, drawn tiny lines around her eyes and softened the high cut of her cheekbones and the point of her chin.

  Maturity looked good on her. She was more sure of herself, almost stately as she took her place in the second aisle on the bride’s side of the church, next to some ladies he didn’t know. Pain clutched his chest. She wouldn’t look his way.

  She had to have seen him. He was hard to miss standing front and center alongside the groom.

  The minister cleared his throat. “Are we ready to start?”

  “Yes,” Seth answered and took Rose’s hand in his.

  Gabriel blinked. He’d missed Rose walking down the aisle, he was likely to miss more if he kept watching Aumaleigh. The past was so long ago. But was it long enough?

  If he’d been able to get over her refusing to marry him, couldn’t she move past it too?

  He would have to figure out a way to help her do that.

  Junior leaned against the rough bark of the Ponderosa pine, breathing hard. He pressed his hand against the stitch in his side. His lungs burned. Sweat rolled down his face. He hadn’t pushed himself that hard in a long time, and it was all for nothing. He was too late.

  Down below through the boughs of evergreens, he could see Pa’s cabin. A ring of horses surrounded the building, standing patiently while two armed deputies patrolled the grounds. What were the chances Giddy h
ad heard them coming and gotten out in time?

  Maybe next to none.

  There he was—that blasted sheriff strolling out the cabin door. “The fireplace is going. The cup of coffee is still steaming.”

  “Yep, we just missed them.” A big, brawny man strolled out. It was one of the McPhee sister’s husbands, the former bounty hunter. “There’s only one set of tracks out the back door. I’ll grab a few men and follow them.”

  “Take as many as you need.” The sheriff frowned. “But don’t you have a wife waiting for you? She’ll want you to dance with her at Rose’s reception.”

  “Dancing isn’t my strong suit.”

  Whatever the men said next was lost on Junior. The back of his neck prickled—like he wasn’t alone. His hand flew to his holstered revolver before he recognized his brother creeping through the underbrush.

  “Shh!” Giddy held a finger to his lips. “I covered my tracks but one sound and it’ll give us away.”

  “Right,” Junior whispered back, so long it was less than a whisper. “Glad to see you, Giddy, I thought—”

  “Shh.” Giddy didn’t even seem to care. His attention zeroed in on the men below. “There they are, the rats. That’s our stuff now. They have no right.”

  Giddy’s hands shook and he fisted them, like a man doing his best to stay in control. “I could just—just—”

  That bad feeling was back, burrowing in Junior’s guts. “C’mon, we gotta go.”

  Self-preservation kept him hiding in the shadows, leading the way among the ferns and moss, running while they had a head start. There was no going back. The sheriff was gonna figure out who they were, and he was going to see all the stolen stuff.

  Now he was a man on the run, and Giddy too. How were they gonna make Pa proud now?

  The wedding service was over and she hadn’t had a single run-in with Gabriel. So far, so good. Aumaleigh grabbed the silver serving tray. There was only the meal left to go. She could do this. She just had to stay on the opposite side of the manor house from him, and she’d be fine.