wasnt anyone he knew.
Thank you. Sage unfolded the note. Weve got both boys. You and the marshal come alone if you want the boys alive. She couldnt let Mrs. Slader know the contents. If Leah found out, she might not be able to handle the news.
Mrs. Slader nodded at Parker. Youre looking better, Marshal, but you need a few days in bed. Without waiting for a response, she slipped back out the door and left Parker and Sage alone.
Sage waved the note. Unfortunately, our suspicions were right. The McCaws have Davis and John. Were to come alone if we want them alive. She walked to the window and looked out at mountains to the west. I have no idea what connects you, me, Charles, and possibly your brother to the McCaws, but we needto figure it out soon. They want us to follow, so the trail will be easy for me to pick up.
Silence clung to the air while she watched a couple of the Slader boys wrestle in the street.
The only connection I see is were all working to keep the likes of him and his gang away from law-abiding people, Parker said. Aiden McCaw is a smart man, real smart, and hes manipulated his brothers since the war to get what he wants.
Ive heard they were a part of Quantrills Raiders during the war and then set out along the same path afterward.
I heard the same thing, Parker said. We know he wont hesitate to carry out his threat. I just wish I knew what he wanted.
For the next hour Parker slept, and Sage thought a lot about Charles and their relationship. Some of her musings were about Aidens continued talk about her husband, the man she loved beyond reason, the man whod left her alone for weeks at a time. Uncertainties about Charless loyalties and a possible association with the McCaw gang clawed at her heart. The man whod said he owned a second ranch in Colorado, but didnt. His killers insisted he had their money. Could he have neglected to tell her about other things too?
If voicing those shadowed memories helped put the McCaw gang behind bars and find those two boys, then shed tell Parker all she could remember. Even if it meant she learned Charles wasnt a man of integrity.
Deep in thought, she slowly realized Parker was awake and staring at her. Aiden mentioned Charles, my deceased husband, on more than one occasion, like he knew him.
Wasnt he killed several years ago?
Seven. No one ever found who did it. Ive searched wanted posters and descriptions of outlaws for years, but it is as though the men disappeared. But Ill never forget what they looked like, especially the man who killed Charles. She stared into Parkers eyes. Aiden McCaw wasnt with them. No redheaded man rodeonto our ranch that day, but the rest of his gang could have been involved. Ive no idea of the physical features of Aidens brothers. The more she remembered about Charles and the day he died, the more the scars of her heart cut deeper.
Ive heard of your search for his killers.
Aiden said Charles wasnt his right name. How can that be? Charles and I grew up in the same area. I knew him from the time we were children. But if Aiden thinks he is someone else, it may have something to do with whats going on. He says he knows who killed Charles, and its caused me to think he might have ordered it. He also knew Charles spent a good deal of time away from our ranch.
Parker stared at her, obviously mulling over what shed said. Where did he go?
Sage held her breath, her mind weighing how much more she could tell without emotions overcoming her. He told me he had a second ranch in northeast Colorado, and he was often gone to check on it. After his death, I contacted the land office and learned he didnt own any land there. Hed lied to me.
Did you ever ask to go with him when he traveled to this ranch?
I did, but he thought it wasnt a good idea.
The look on Parkers face was the same look that other folks gave her when she explained why she stayed home. Papa asked to go with him once, but Charles refused. We lived in southern Colorado and raised
Thank you. Sage unfolded the note. Weve got both boys. You and the marshal come alone if you want the boys alive. She couldnt let Mrs. Slader know the contents. If Leah found out, she might not be able to handle the news.
Mrs. Slader nodded at Parker. Youre looking better, Marshal, but you need a few days in bed. Without waiting for a response, she slipped back out the door and left Parker and Sage alone.
Sage waved the note. Unfortunately, our suspicions were right. The McCaws have Davis and John. Were to come alone if we want them alive. She walked to the window and looked out at mountains to the west. I have no idea what connects you, me, Charles, and possibly your brother to the McCaws, but we needto figure it out soon. They want us to follow, so the trail will be easy for me to pick up.
Silence clung to the air while she watched a couple of the Slader boys wrestle in the street.
The only connection I see is were all working to keep the likes of him and his gang away from law-abiding people, Parker said. Aiden McCaw is a smart man, real smart, and hes manipulated his brothers since the war to get what he wants.
Ive heard they were a part of Quantrills Raiders during the war and then set out along the same path afterward.
I heard the same thing, Parker said. We know he wont hesitate to carry out his threat. I just wish I knew what he wanted.
For the next hour Parker slept, and Sage thought a lot about Charles and their relationship. Some of her musings were about Aidens continued talk about her husband, the man she loved beyond reason, the man whod left her alone for weeks at a time. Uncertainties about Charless loyalties and a possible association with the McCaw gang clawed at her heart. The man whod said he owned a second ranch in Colorado, but didnt. His killers insisted he had their money. Could he have neglected to tell her about other things too?
If voicing those shadowed memories helped put the McCaw gang behind bars and find those two boys, then shed tell Parker all she could remember. Even if it meant she learned Charles wasnt a man of integrity.
Deep in thought, she slowly realized Parker was awake and staring at her. Aiden mentioned Charles, my deceased husband, on more than one occasion, like he knew him.
Wasnt he killed several years ago?
Seven. No one ever found who did it. Ive searched wanted posters and descriptions of outlaws for years, but it is as though the men disappeared. But Ill never forget what they looked like, especially the man who killed Charles. She stared into Parkers eyes. Aiden McCaw wasnt with them. No redheaded man rodeonto our ranch that day, but the rest of his gang could have been involved. Ive no idea of the physical features of Aidens brothers. The more she remembered about Charles and the day he died, the more the scars of her heart cut deeper.
Ive heard of your search for his killers.
Aiden said Charles wasnt his right name. How can that be? Charles and I grew up in the same area. I knew him from the time we were children. But if Aiden thinks he is someone else, it may have something to do with whats going on. He says he knows who killed Charles, and its caused me to think he might have ordered it. He also knew Charles spent a good deal of time away from our ranch.
Parker stared at her, obviously mulling over what shed said. Where did he go?
Sage held her breath, her mind weighing how much more she could tell without emotions overcoming her. He told me he had a second ranch in northeast Colorado, and he was often gone to check on it. After his death, I contacted the land office and learned he didnt own any land there. Hed lied to me.
Did you ever ask to go with him when he traveled to this ranch?
I did, but he thought it wasnt a good idea.
The look on Parkers face was the same look that other folks gave her when she explained why she stayed home. Papa asked to go with him once, but Charles refused. We lived in southern Colorado and raised
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