Page 57 of Colorado Bride

ChapterNine

Rory Schroder watched the ranch from high on a hill.He was far enough away he wouldn’t be noticed by the working men.He waited for his chance.Waited for Ben to leave.Whether he was headed for Golden or Timbuktu, Rory didn’t care as long as he left alone.

Finally his vigilance paid off.On the third day of his vigil, Ben left with the buckboard…and his cowboys.Rory knew the time for round up had arrived.Ben wouldn’t be back until late tonight, but Rory would be patient.He’d just have to wait a little longer for Ben to get his note.

Rory rode into the ranch yard and directly to the barn.There he left the note on the wall behind the lantern.Ben was sure to find it when he got home and needed the lantern.Rory got a second horse and saddled it.Leading that horse, he rode to the kitchen door.He tied both horses to the hitching rail before he knocked.

An improbably voluptuous blonde woman answered.

“Can I help you?”

“Yes, ma’am.”Rory pulled his gun.“You can come with me.Put on your coat and no screaming.I’d really hate to hurt you.”

Her eyes widened and she put up her hands and backed away from him.When she spoke her voice was softer.“You don’t need to do this.Why take me?Ben will give you what you want.Please, please don’t force me to come with you.”

“Ben’s had plenty of time to get me what I want.Now he’ll just have to suffer like I have.”

She moved her hands to cover her stomach.“How have you suffered?Who are you?”

“I’m Rory Schroder and I should have had a share of everything Ben has.See we had the same pa.But my ma was just a little bit on the side.Miz Doris was the legitimate wife, so Ben was the rightful heir and inherited everything.What’s your name?I don’t want to call you Ben’s wife all the time.”

“I’m Emily.”She wondered when she’d get the chance to use her gun on him

“Well, Emily, button that coat.No one is coming to help you.And if you’re thinkin’ Miz Doris will help, she won’t.Melissa told me this is Doris’s idea.”

“Melissa and Doris put you up to this?Why am I not surprised?Since I don’t have any choice, I’ll come with you.I’ve no desire to be shot.”

He waved his gun and jutted his chin toward the door.

“Good idea.”

Outside Rory held the reins of the second horse as he helped her into the saddle.

“I don’t know how to ride, Mr.Schroder.”

“That don’t matter.I’ll be leading the horse.All you got to do is hang on.If move with the horse, you’re less likely to fall off.”

They rode out of the yard.Emily was doing her best to hang on to the horse.She had both hands gripping the saddle horn.

She turned and looked over her shoulder at the house.No one was coming.No one knew what had happened.Then she saw her.

From the upstairs window, probably in her bedroom, Doris watched them leave.

Emily was sure if she could see that far, she’d glimpse a smile on Doris’s face.

She turned back and concentrated on moving with the horse, getting the animal’s rhythm, trying hard to remember everything Ben taught her.

Winds were rising as they rode and she was glad to have her sheepskin coat.She was sick to her stomach to know that Doris really hated her so much that she’d have her kidnapped and presumably murdered.She didn’t believe that ‘Rory’ was just going to let her go.

By the time they reached the destination, she was riding the horse pretty well.

“You’re a quick learner or you was lying to me about not knowing how to ride.”

“I wasn’t lying,” she lied.“I’ve never ridden a horse like that before.Your advice to move with the animal was good.”

She dismounted in front of a small cabin.Cows roamed the meadow around the structure.

“What will you do with me now?”