Free Ambush Valley by Dusty Richards Page B

rest of his crimes. She said they all four had raped her and took turns after that. She was all alone out there—helpless. Then they pistol whipped that rancher—”
    He leaned his head back on the leather couch and closed his eyes.
    â€œThis man who wrote this saw you doing it and he thought they deserved it.”
    â€œIt might have been a woman.”
    â€œYou’re right. We will never know.”
    â€œJust as well.”
    She leaned over and kissed him softly on the lips. “Poor Raphael, I was mad he couldn’t ride on to help you, but he obeyed the law. Didn’t he?”
    â€œYes, he also did what I asked him to do. Shot Mrs. Smart a deer. He did and so did I when I came back so she had some more food.”
    â€œI will listen close to see if I can learn anything else about that matter. You had a right to be mad.”
    â€œI guess Sims was upset, maybe about something else. I’d like to know that too. My infringing on his business, perhaps.” He noticed Monica coming in the room and sat up.
    â€œI am sorry to bother you two,” Monica said. “I have some smoked ham, yams, and fresh green beans. Would that suit you two for supper?”
    Marge waited for his answer.
    â€œThat would be fine—but I need to—”
    Marge pushed him back into the couch with the flat of her hands.
    â€œI’ll stay for supper,” he said in defeat.
    â€œThank you,” Monica said melodically and went back in the kitchen.
    Marge looked at the ceiling tile for help. “You can stay here instead of falling off Mingus Mountain in the dark.”
    â€œI have a ranch to run.”
    â€œYou won’t do anything tonight relevant to your operation that can’t wait until the morning when you get there.”
    â€œI smell like a horse.”
    â€œI personally like horses.”
    â€œNot sleeping with them.”
    â€œWe can go down and run you under a sheepherder shower after dark. How does that sound?”
    â€œYou sound delighted that I’ll freeze to death.”
    She glanced over her shoulder. “Then I can bring you back to life. Won’t that be charming?” They both laughed.
    â€œHow do all your ranch women like the Arizona Territory?”
    â€œYou can ask them when you meet them.” He held his hands up. “I won’t touch that with a ten-foot pole.”
    They twisted around and kissed facing each other. He pushed the curls back a little from her face. He’d never realized her height before he went back to Texas. Why not? He’d tried to keep her distanced back then—he’d owed Kathren that much even if it didn’t work out and she couldn’t come because of her parents’ failing health. He’d danced with Marge the year before, but if they’d asked him how tall she was he’d have said five-eight. She was six foot tall. What else did he know? She had a heart of gold. Well educated and after she read that letter to the editor, she accepted it as him. He’d worried about that and was ready to defend it. Didn’t have to. She was grown-up enough to know what he’d done and why. She sounded like she knew someone had to do that to protect others. That was important to him.

    Over supper, they talked about the weather. How his bunch came too late to do much gardening. She offered to share her ample supply. He told her to work that out with the girls. Then he thought about Hoot as the cook. He’d have to have a mess for his men and let the women work out of the house part. They’d held off telling him about what they thought of it. He chuckled, refilling his plate with the fresh-picked green beans.
    â€œWhat is so funny?”
    â€œHoot is the cook down there. At home the women fed the family and crew. I am going to have to separate them before they kill one another.”
    â€œDid they complain?”
    â€œNo, but Hoot threatened to quit. I talked him out of