How to Lasso a Cowboy by Jodi Thomas

Author:Jodi Thomas [Thomas, Jodi]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: General, Fiction, Romance
ISBN: 9781101214749
Amazon: 0515137715
Publisher: Penguin
Published: 2004-05-25T07:51:12+00:00

Chapter Twelve

SETH STAYED AT the hideout, going out at dusk with

his brother and the other three men who rode with him.

Each night they gathered a few more animals, herding them

back into the valley.

Information was coming from newly hopeful ranchers.

They spied on the army details and reported to Abe. Abe’s

son reported to someone else who, in turn, met Colorado at

a specified place. If cattle were sold or rustled, Seth knew

about it nearly immediately, and the cattle were quickly

liberated before anyone could change the brands.

Five days after McGuire’s shooting, Doc arranged for

Seth to meet with the marshal he’d mentioned. They met

at the home—the old Keller place—Abe had offered him.

As far as either Doc or Abe knew, Delaney was unaware

that Seth used it.

Dillon accompanied him partway, then veered off to a

position where he could watch the road. If more than one

rider approached, he would fire two warning shots.

C O M I N G H O M E

195

Seth hid Chance in a clump of trees half a mile from

the ranch house, then found a tree about an eighth of a mile

from the house and climbed up into it, found a comfortable

perch, and waited.

An hour later, a lone horseman wandered in, dis-

mounted, and sat on the porch of the house. Seth recog-

nized him as the man in the saloon but still he waited thirty

more minutes. He had learned to be cautious.

He finally lowered himself through the branches and

dropped to the ground, taking his pistol from its holster as

he landed.

Aiming it at the lawman, he approached.

The man watched him without blinking. He didn’t stand.

He didn’t go for his gun, or the rifle lying on the steps beside

him.

“Use your foot to push the rifle off the step,” Seth said.

The lawman obliged and started to stand.

“Don’t!” Seth said.

The lawman settled back down. “Sinclair?”

“Yes.”

“You’ve stirred up a hornet’s nest.”

Seth ignored the comment. “Doc says you’re honest.”

“I try to be.”

“Did he tell you what’s going on around here?”

“Enough to bring me here.”

“The army has authority over civil authorities.”

“That’s true. However, if I bring malfeasance to the

army’s attention, they have to acknowledge it. I know who

to take it to. If you have proof.”

“I want you to help me get it. Doc says you have your

own doubts about Major Delaney.”

“I’ve heard rumors,” the lawman said. He held out his

hand. “Tom Evans.”

Seth hesitated. It could be a trick. He would have to

switch his pistol from his right hand to the left. There

would be a split second . . .

“If I didn’t want to hear you out, I would have men

crawling all over here,” Evans said.

196

P A T R I C I A P O T T E R

“And I wouldn’t be here.”

Evans gave him a thin smile. “I didn’t expect you

would. Now, can I stand so we can go inside?”

“I would rather stay out here where I can see.”

“Have it your way. Doc told me some of what he thinks

is happening. I want to hear your side.”

Thirty minutes later, Evans rose. “I have about six

deputies I trust completely, as well as an officer from head-

quarters.

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