A Horsewoman for Harlan by Barbara Goss (the top 100 crime novels of all time TXT) 📕

and gave him a wink.  “I know a man, a very rich one.  He lives in Lawrence, not far from Topeka.  He’s half Cherokee, and he breeds and shows horses.  He knows his horseflesh.”

“Will we ever go back to the ranch or Hunter’s Grove?”

“Now, why would we want to do that?” T. J. asked.

Troy shuffled his feet with his head down.  “I’m sweet on a saloon woman there, and I thought we’d be going back.”

“There’s someone I’m sweet on, too, in Russell, so we might go back, but I’d first have to find out if the law there is on to us or not.  They might not suspect who stole the horses.  If that’s the case, I’m planning on stealing more horses and maybe the sweet horsewoman, too.”

Troy grinned.  “I’ll be rich enough to persuade Sadie to marry me.”

“Very rich,” T. J. said.  “Now, let’s get the horses to Lawrence.”

Elise noticed Harlan’s coolness, and it made her angry.  She had no idea T.J. was a crook, and hadn’t she single-handedly rescued Millie besides?  Just when she’d become fond of him, this had to happen.  There were no more walks or any one-on-one conversations with him.  Millie was, of course, the bright spot in her days.

They were sitting on a rock overlooking the creek studying some of the plants when Millie blurted out, “Why don’t you and my papa like each other anymore?”

Elise was quick to answer since it had been constantly on her mind.  “He blames me for bringing T.J. to the ranch.”

“But T.J. wasn’t the one who kidnapped me.”

“Yes, but he was being paid by T.J. and his friend to do it.  Then, while we were out hunting for you, they stole the horses, just as they'd planned.”

“But you didn’t know he was an outlaw.”

“I know, Millie, but I ought not have talked to a stranger on the train, no less practically invite him to our ranch.”

“Is the law just going to let them get away with it?” Millie asked.

“The sheriff sent quite a few men after them.  They got Swanson to tell them they were headed for Topeka.   I pray every night they catch T.J., and getting our horses back would, perhaps, soften your papa up.”

Millie sat for a while, playing idly with a shiny stone before saying, “I have a confession to make.”

“What?” Elise wasn’t sure what the child would say next, but by the way Millie had said it, she knew it wouldn’t be good.

“I wanted you to become my mama.”

Elise sat frozen for several moments.  “You what?”

“I want you to be my mama.  I love you, Elise.”

Elise blinked back tears while hugging Millie.  “I love you, too, but it’s impossible for me to become your mama.  Your papa has already adopted you.”

“I wanted you to marry him.”

Elise froze in her hug with Millie.  “Oh, sweetheart, you can’t plan something like that.”

Millie pulled away and asked, “Why not?”

“Well, let’s have a talk about relationships.”

Millie drew up her legs and wrapped her arms around them.  “All right.”

“A marriage is performed when a couple fall in love, and they want to spend the rest of their lives together.  Like isn’t strong enough of a bond—it has to be love.  Your papa doesn’t love me. In fact, right now, he sort of dislikes me altogether.”

“But Elise, I think he liked you a lot before that happened.  I could tell by the way he looked at you and smiled.  I just know it.”  Millie frowned.  “It’s that scoundrel T.J. that spoiled everything.”

“He sure did.  I’m sorry I told him where I would be staying.  I don’t blame your papa for being angry.  He almost lost you, as well as his best and most valuable horses.”

Millie cocked her head at Elise. “You miss Papa, don’t you?”

“Don’t be silly.”

“You aren’t as happy as you once were.  I think that’s one of the things Papa liked about you,  Elise—you brought so much joy into our home.”

“Thank you, Millie.”

“Didn’t you love my papa just a little?”

“I wouldn’t call it love.  Love needs time to nurture and grow, but I did—do—like him a lot.  He’s a good man.  I know why you’re so proud of him.”

“Elise, do you wish he’d stop being angry with you?”

“Of course, I do.  I love my job, and I love living here.  I have a feeling that I'll be looking for another job after the auction.”

“Oh, no, Elise, that can’t happen.  You can’t let that happen.  You will be my mama someday.  I just know it because I pray for it every single night.”

Harlan rode into town every morning to find out if there was any news about T.J. and his friend.  So far, nothing.  As for Swanson, he was locked up in a cell.

Nothing was the same around the ranch.  Millie was sullen and moody, Martha was polite, but she seemed to hold back her judgment.  He could tell by the way she pressed her lips together most of the time to remind herself to keep her opinion to herself. Elise was also quiet and kept herself busy, training one horse after another.  He wondered if she was anxious to get her job done so she could leave.  Surprisingly, the thought put a lump in his throat.  No more Elise?  She’d become a fixture in the family.  He knew Millie adored her, and Martha, as well.  So, that made him the villain... or so he felt.  Millie and Martha looked at him differently, and Elise didn’t look at him at all.  He didn’t think she was angry with him; he thought she felt guilty.  The house was void of its usual laughter and liveliness.

Now, he realized he shouldn’t have taken it out on her.  How did one undo a mistake