Maybe he wanted to turn from his life of crime. Margaret’s heart beat quickly, and she leaned forward. “You believe in unconditional love?”
He touched her cheek. “Why do you think you’re so unlovable, Margaret?” he asked softly.
Tears flooded her eyes. They were supposed to be talking about him, not her. “Look at me. I’m too tall and gangly. My hair is too red. There are lots of reasons men don’t find me attractive.”
“You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met. And even if you weren’t, God sees beyond the blazing glory of your red hair and the strong children you would raise up. He sees the fierce caring of your heart and the loyalty you give to those you love. He sees the tender heart inside that’s crying out for love and approval. He gives it to you freely, Margaret. As I—” Daniel broke off abruptly.
Was that really how God saw her? It would be so wonderful to rest in that love, to feel safe there. And what else had Daniel been about to say? She swallowed hard. “I wish I could believe you.” She couldn’t think with his thumb running over her jaw.
“Don’t believe me. Believe God. He tells you in the Bible how much he loves you. You don’t have to take someone else’s word for it.”
Daniel was an enigma. How could a bank robber be standing here talking to her about God’s love? And he’d threatened her father. None of this made sense.
“Who are you, really?” she whispered.
His hand dropped from her cheek, and he stepped back. “Just a man trying to do his best in this world. One who has things in the past he would change if he could.”
“Is that why you’re here? To change those things?” She held her breath waiting for his answer, her heart pounding in her chest as though it might burst.
“I can’t tell you any more. Let’s just say I’ve got more in my past to haunt me than you can imagine. But God loves me in spite of it all, just as he loves you. When are you going to let him take that chip from your shoulder? When will you let go of that guard you put around your heart to keep out everyone, including God?”
“I don’t keep people out.”
He laughed. “How many close friends do you have, Margaret? Lucy is it, isn’t she? And it’s because she forced her love and friendship past that wall.”
Maybe he had a point, but she wasn’t about to admit it to him. What did he know of the pain of constant rejection, the agony of never fitting in with other people? It was all very well to sit in judgment of her, but he’d never walked in her size-nine shoes when all the other women wore size five. He’d never had to listen to the titters of other girls as they giggled behind a door when Margaret sat alone along the wall at every dance she’d ever gone to because no man liked a woman to tower over him.
She was an eel in a pond full of goldfish. And it was God’s fault. That was the crux of the matter, she suddenly realized. Why had he made her unlovable to the world? She wouldn’t do that to a child of hers, so why had he done it to her?
Daniel studied her face. “Have you ever thanked God for giving you the advantages he has?”
“Advantages?”
“All those things I’ve already mentioned. You’re tall and strong, loyal and brave, kind and loving. You stand out in a crowd and you’re a leader. He wouldn’t trust those qualities with just anyone. He must love you a great deal.”
She blinked at the thought. Could the things she thought were curses actually have contributed to her character? She would have to ponder that. She shook her head again at the way Daniel seemed to understand spiritual things. She didn’t understand him, and she was beginning to think she never would.
He looked back toward the church. “Looks like the service is over. I reckon your pa will be looking for us.” He offered her the support of his arm.
“How did you learn all this?” she blurted out. “You’re a criminal.”
He smiled, and the sadness in his smile broke her heart. “Someday maybe I’ll tell you,” he said softly.
ELEVEN
The landscape was dark and moonless. So dark Daniel lifted his lantern to light his way to the springhouse. When a shadow moved, he paused. “Richard?”
“I’m here.” His Stetson low over his face, Richard stepped into the circle of light cast by the lantern.
Daniel glanced back at the house. Nothing moved there. The faint sound of piano music tinkled through the open window. Inez’s son, Vincente, had been puttering around on it, so everyone should be occupied in the parlor. “Did Charlie show up last night?”
“He did. I got there just before he left.”
Daniel heard an odd note in Richard’s voice. “When can we meet?”
“He’s changed his mind. Says he’s happy there. He’s guessed you want him out of the gang, and I think he’s afraid you’ll persuade him in spite of his determination.”
Daniel pushed his hat away from his forehead and exhaled. “What aren’t you saying?”
“I saw Golda leave before I got there. She kissed him.”
Daniel suppressed a shudder. She’d been one reason he left the gang. “That woman is a snake.”
“She’s got her good points.”
“I don’t know what they’d be.”
Richard put his hand on Daniel’s shoulder. “You’re bitter. It’s understandable after your experiences with her. But Charlie is young and impressionable. I overheard her asking about you. I think she’s using him to get to you.”
“Poor Charlie. He has no idea how to deal with a woman like Golda.”
“You didn’t either, but you learned.” Richard’s hand left Daniel’s shoulder.
Daniel didn’t like to remember how young and stupid he’d been once. It shamed him to think of the things he’d done for Golda. She’d reeled him in without any trouble at all. If Daniel didn’t fix this, Charlie would follow in his shoes.
“I have to see my brother.”
Richard shrugged. “I’ll try again, but right now he’s saying no.”
“Then I’ll go there.”
“What, you’ll just waltz into camp? That won’t go over well.”
“They’re expecting me to show up with bank information.”
“But you have no information for them, and the big heist isn’t for another month. Frank has too good of a nose for you to mess with the plan. He’d smell a rat right off.”
“You have a point.” Frank Munster sensed things he should have no way of knowing. It was uncanny. If Daniel tipped his hand, Frank might take it out on Charlie too. Daniel heard that once Frank had put a gang member in the line of fire, then had the rest of the men pull back so the fellow was killed. Daniel never heard what the poor chap had done to get on Frank’s bad side. But it was never a good place to be.
“Be patient. I’ll talk to Charlie again.” Richard gestured toward the blackened barn ruins. “Any idea what happened there?”
“One of the hands dropped a lantern while searching for the intruder who hit Paddy.”
“Any idea who hit him?” Richard asked.
Neighbors from all over were due to descend on the ranch in a few days to rebuild the barn. “Not a clue.”
“A man like O’Brien doesn’t build an empire like this without ruffling a few feathers. What about the nephew?”
“Lewis?” Daniel had to stop and ponder the thought. “I can’t see him doing it. He seems to love his uncle.”
“He’s set to inherit when O’Brien dies. Maybe he didn’t want to wait.”
“Anything is possible, but I don’t think Lewis is our man,” Daniel said.
“What about the daughter?”
“You don’t know Margaret. She’s loyal and loving.”
Richard had been pacing. He stopped and stared at Daniel. “You like the girl.”
“Sure I like her. She works like a field hand on the ranch. Pretty too.” Though pretty was too tame a word to describe Margaret’s striking beauty.
“I’ve only seen her from a distance. Dressed like a man but striking.”
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“Just because she’s had to be. It’s practical to wear britches to work in. She’s never had a mother around to teach her. She’s all heart, though. If her father were in danger, she’d lay down her life for him.”
Richard’s teeth gleamed in the lamplight when he smiled. “I never heard you talk about Golda like that.”
“Golda is a cobra. Beautiful but deadly. Margaret is a flower. The closer you get, the more beautiful she is.”
“Kind of poetic. Now I know you’re smitten if you’re talking like that. I wish you well, Daniel. It’s time you quit chasing danger. I don’t want you to end up in the calaboose.”
Daniel grinned. “You haven’t given up danger yet.”
“If I found a woman like your Margaret, I might.” He took out a packet and began to roll a cigarette. “I’d better get back. I’ll let you know what Charlie says. Don’t do anything until you hear from me. We’ve got too much riding on this to have something go wrong now.”
“All right.” Daniel walked with him to where his horse was tethered. “Tell Charlie it’s imperative that I talk to him.”
“Hear anything from your pa?”
Daniel had been trying not to think about his father. “Nothing. I wrote a letter last week. There hasn’t been time to get an answer.”
“How much time does he have?” Richard’s voice held sympathy.
“Time enough, I hope. But that’s in God’s hands.”
“And your sister?”
“She should be there by now. My aunt is there as well. I expect she’ll write me when she gets the letter.”
“That might sway Charlie more than anything.”
“I hope so. There isn’t much time. Not for my father and not for Charlie to extricate himself from this mess.”
Richard mounted the horse and touched the brim of his hat. “Stay out of trouble.”
“Always.” Daniel watched him ride away and hoped he could follow the admonishment. He’d give it a few days, but if Charlie wouldn’t agree to a meeting, Daniel would have no choice but to force the issue.
THE NEXT FEW days sped by as the ranch geared up for the March roundup. Daniel saw to having the men distribute hay bales to the fields for the cattle, checked the repair of the buildings, and got things ready for the roundup. Branding would take about a week, and he wanted to get it done before any bad storms hit. So far, they’d been lucky, but the rolling thunderstorms were a way of life in Texas. The days had been uncharacteristically warm, and he paused astride his horse to wipe his bandana across his sweaty face.
Margaret had worked hard these past few days as well, but he’d managed to keep his distance, even though he wanted to be around her, to listen to her throaty laughter, to see the sun glisten on her red hair. She despised him, though. He needed to find out how much she knew about his operation, but he was almost afraid to probe too deeply for fear he would discover she knew more than was good for her. And that was stupid of him. Forewarned was forearmed.
It bothered him he might have to consider her an enemy when all he wanted to do was get closer to her. But his life wasn’t quite ready for that. He had to get this job done first. He sighed. It wouldn’t be over too soon for him. Charlie would change his mind about seeing him, and he had to be on his toes when the word came to move.
The air pressed down on him in a nearly unbearable cloak of heat and humidity. High clouds had begun to build in the southwest, and Daniel frowned. They could be in for a bad storm. The air had that quality to it. It would bear watching.
The stock milled restlessly too, another sure sign of inclement weather. He dug his heels into his gelding’s flanks and turned toward the job at hand. Cutting calves from their mothers, he herded them toward the corral where the other animals waited. Tomorrow they would start the branding, a job he didn’t look forward to.
Margaret was sitting on the fence around the corral when he got his small band of calves safely into the yard. Dust streaked her face, and the humidity had caused her red hair to spring to life with curls that had escaped the braid. She looked like she had a curly halo around her face, and he grinned at the sight.
She scowled at him. “What are you smiling at?”
“I like your halo. It suits you.”
Her frown deepened. “What halo?” She cautiously reached up and touched the top of her head. She grimaced at the way her curls stood out from her head, then sighed and put her hand down. “I give up.”
“You done for the day?”
She nodded. “I was about to go in and get cleaned up for supper.” Her face froze, and her mouth dropped open as she stared at something behind him.
Twisting in the saddle, he turned to see a heavy black thunderstorm bearing down on them. Then the thunder rolled toward them. The herd milled restlessly as lightning flashed.
“We’ve got to stop a stampede!” Margaret shouted.
Daniel nodded. “You go east. I’ll go west,” he yelled. “Round up any hands you see to help.”
“They’ll know and be on their way.” She jumped on her horse and galloped toward the cows.
Daniel watched her for a moment as she moved among the cattle, distracting them from the storm and herding them out from under the trees. She was a remarkable woman. There had not been a trace of fear on her face when the lightning started.
He shook himself from his reverie and began to move the cattle. A particularly vicious bolt of lightning struck a tree near the largest group of stock. Their eyes rolled in terror, and they grew more restless. Daniel could feel the imminent stampede beginning to build as they turned and started toward the east pasture.
Margaret! He turned in his saddle to look for her. She was right in the middle of the path and would be trampled. A cow near him bawled in terror as the thunder and lightning intensified, and then Daniel’s worst fears materialized. Three cows near him started on a run. Soon others joined them, and the mindless rush began to spread.
He shouted for Margaret to get to safety, but it was impossible to make himself heard over the sound of the wind and thunder. He turned his horse’s head and raced toward Margaret. Just before he reached her, she realized her danger. Her face whitened as she saw the wave of cattle coming her way. She shouted something, and he thought it was his name.
Just as he reached her side, her gaze locked onto his. She held up her arms, and he jerked her onto the saddle behind him. Archie galloped off, his eyes rolling wildly with terror.
She pointed toward a hillside. “Get a wiggle on!” she shouted in his ear.
The cattle would not be able to run over the boulders and would turn and run around them. But he was not at all sure they would reach the safety of the mass of stones in time. As the stampede grew nearer, the thunder of the cattle’s hooves was louder than the rumble overhead as lightning flared.
Urging his horse forward, they made the final few yards, then he and Margaret tumbled from his horse.
Daniel grabbed Margaret’s hand, and they ran for safety. Diving into the ravine behind the rocks, Daniel and Margaret tumbled headlong among the stones and cacti. He tried to protect her from the worst of the fall, but she cried out once or twice. When they hit bottom, he pulled her into the safety of his arms and buried his face in her neck. If the cattle ignored the rocks and trampled them, he wanted his last moments to be spent with her close. The dust of the melee washed over them as they huddled behind the boulders.
When no sharp hooves struck them, he raised his head and peered over the top of the boulders. Just as he’d hoped, the cattle skirted the outcropping and thundered past in moments that seemed to last forever.
When the dreadful roaring of cattle’s hooves subsided, a cold rain began to pummel them. Daniel raised his head and stared down at Margaret. Her eyes were closed, and blood oozed from a cut on her forehead. He sat up and pressed his fingers to her throat. Her heart pounded beneath his fingertips. Thank you, God. He didn’t know what he would do if he lost her.
He ran gentle hands ove
r her arms and legs. Nothing seemed to be broken. She started to stir as the cold rain hit her face. He’d never seen a grander sight than her lids beginning to flutter.
She opened her eyes and blinked. “Are we dead?”
“I don’t think so. I hurt too much to be dead.”
Her eyes widened and she sat up. “You’re injured?” Her gaze wandered over him.
Her anxious voice did wonders for his ego. She cared more than she allowed herself to admit. “Just cuts and bruises. Do you hurt anywhere?”
“My face.” She touched the cut on her face, then pulled her hand back and stared at the blood on her fingers. “Is it bad?”
“Just a small cut. We were lucky.”
“I hate stampedes.” Her green eyes were the only color in her face.
“I kind of like them.” He got up and brushed water off his pants. “You have to admit it’s exhilarating to face one of them and live.”
“Some people aren’t as lucky as we were.” She took his hand and allowed him to haul her to her feet. “My mother wasn’t.”
“Your mother died in a stampede?”
Her hair hung in wet curls around her face. She nodded and tears stood in her eyes. “When I was three. She was out helping with roundup just like today. Pa tried to reach her to get her out of the way, but he was too late. I don’t think he’s ever gotten over it.”
Daniel’s heart ached for the hurt little girl he saw in her eyes. “I’m sorry. No wonder you were scared.”
She tossed her head, but the terror still lingered on her face. “Don’t feel sorry for me. These kinds of things are supposed to make me stronger, right?” She brushed herself off. “We’d better get to the ranch house and see if everyone is all right.”
He found his horse, now grazing calmly, and helped her mount, then swung up behind her. Her head reached his chin, and he could smell the scent of whatever she used to wash her hair. She held herself rigid, and he could feel the way she leaned away from him. “Relax,” he murmured. “I won’t bite.”
But she continued to lean forward with her eyes straight ahead. How could he ever get past that wall she’d built around her heart?