Kathleen Morgan - A Heart Divided

Colorado Rockies, late July 1851

A giant, blood red moon rose in the blackened sky. The air lay still, warm, and heavy with moisture from an impending storm. Cattle in the stock pen bawled loudly, milling about until dust blanketed them in churning, choking clouds. Yet, as sweltering as the eve was, the hand clasping the revolver shook with an apprehensive chill.

Swathed in shadow, the man dropped the empty liquor bottle and dug into his trouser pocket, extracting a rumpled handkerchief. Its time for that reckoning, Wainwright! he snarled as he mopped his sweaty brow. Time to settle up, you lowlife, lying varmint. Whatever comes of this night, youve only got yourself to blame.

He stuffed the handkerchief back into his pocket, checked his revolver one more time, then stepped from the shelter of the barn. Staggering toward the small cabin, he fumbled as he tried once, then twice, before successfully cocking the gun.

Wainwright! the man croaked out the word, his voice raw and whiskey belligerent. Get your sorry hide out here. Youre not getting my ranch without a fight.

For a long moment, all was quiet. Then an oil lamp flared brightly within the dwelling and the sound of muffled voices spilled from the open windows. Footsteps echoed on the pine plank floors.

The front door swung open. Light streamed out onto the hard-packed dirt to puddle before the little house.

A mans tall frame filled the doorway. One hand gripped a rifle. Behind him the form of a woman, heavy with child, moved.

Who is it, Edmund? she murmured anxiously. What does he mean? Was this his ranch?

Not now, Mary, her husband growled, never taking his gaze off the disheveled man standing but fifteen feet away. Gently, he pushed her back inside. Let me handle this.

Its over, Caldwell! Edmund Wainwright then cried. I won your place fair and square. Now, its mine. Get on with your life, and let me and my family get on with ours.

Itll never be over! Jacob Caldwell bellowed back. Were ruined, me and my wife, and you tell me to get on with my life? Why, you blackhearted, cheating card shark! It wont be over until one of us is dead. Now, come on out. Fight me like a man.

Youre drunk. I wont fight a drunk.

Caldwells trigger finger jerked convulsively. A shot cracked through the air, the sound echoing down the valley and out to the mountains as the bullet spent itself just shy of the porch.

Come on out, you lily-livered coward, or Im coming in to get you!

Have it your way, then, you whiskey-besotted fool, Edmund Wainwright roared. If youre so set

A movement at the far edge of the cabin caught Caldwells eye. He swung toward it, stumbling. Inadvertently, his finger once more squeezed the trigger.

Again, the sound of gunfire exploded in the air. This time, though, it was followed quickly by a childs scream.

Nicholas!

Wainwright lunged from the doorway, his rifle clattering onto the porch as it fell from his grasp. Hes shot you, he cried as he ran to where his son now lay crumpled on the ground. That crazy fools gone and shot you!

In stunned disbelief, Jacob Caldwell lurched back. He stared at the sight of his enemy kneeling now to gather up the bleeding child into his arms. Unbidden, a crazy impulse to fire pierced his drunken fog.

Do it. Youve got nothing to lose. If the boy dies ...

Lightning slashed across the sky. A womans scream tore through the air, the onrushing crack of thunder adding its own spine-chilling emphasis. Caldwells hand froze in its upward swing.

He stood there for what seemed a lifetime, then shoved the revolver into the back of his trousers. As I said before, Wainwright, he muttered as he staggered into the blackness from which hed first appeared. Whatever comes of this night, youve only got yourself to blame.

Rain began to fall in loud, splattering plops. Caldwell paid them no heed. As he hurried away, though, another cry rose on the wind that had swiftly followed in the wake of the storm.

A womans cry... one that suddenly changed from agonized sorrow to a keening, physical anguish.

1

Colorado Rockies, early September 1878

I cant, Papa. I just cant!

Sarah Caldwell turned a pleading gaze to the unkempt man squatting beside her, hiding in the shadow of the Wainwright bunkhouse. For an instant, their glances locked.

He stared back, a hard, implacable look in his eyes. The faint ember of hope that her father might relent, even at this late a moment in their unlawful plan, died.

She looked to where her two older brothers stood behind them. Calebs and Noahs features mirrored the same ruthless determination. Sarah inwardly sighed.

Theyll follow Papa in this, just as they go along with most every other fool scheme he cooks up.

Please, Papa, she said, trying one more time. I-Ive changed my mind. Stealings wrong no matter how much we need the money. And now you want me to do... do this? I cant. I just cant.

His gnarled hand jerked her to him. Oh yes you can, girl! His lips hovered inches from her, and his low-pitched voice grated against Sarahs ears like gravel over a washboard. It couldnt get any better than this. Wainwright and most of his men are gone on the fall roundup, and there cant be more than a servant or two in the main house. And the only able-bodied man left on the ranch is that hand over yonder. I didnt bargain on him being so close by, but whats done is done. Besides, well be back in no time.

But Papa, that wasnt the plan

Her fathers grip tightened. Sarah, no more, do you hear me? Weve all got to play our part. And theres nothing so hard in doing what comes natural. Do you want Danny to die, just because you wont dirty your purty little hands?

At the reminder of her seven-year-old brother, Sarahs gut clenched. With a strength that surprised even her, she twisted free of her fathers grasp.

A grudge, twenty-seven years of soul-rotting enmity, had brought them to this. Though she and her brothers hadnt even been born when it had all begun, the consequences dogged their lives as relentlessly as they did her fathers. It didnt matter that she wanted no part of it. They were family. And family stuck together through thick and thin.

She expelled a rueful breath. Have it your way then, Papa. Ill do it, but only because of Danny. Ill do it this once, but never, ever , again.