Rocky Mountain Dreams & Family on the Range by Danica Favorite (summer beach reads txt) 📕

stared at him. “You’re telling me that right before the big rockslide, you heard a boom?”

Joseph nodded. “Yes. Lightning must’ve struck and loosened the rocks.”

“I don’t think so. It would do that to a tree, maybe, but boulders? A slide that big had to have come from something like dynamite. Your story sounds a lot like what miners have described as being caught in when they’ve set the dynamite wrong.”

The concern on Wes’s face brought the chill back to Joseph. “It did sound different from the lightning strikes, now that you mention it.”

Wouldn’t Slade have known the difference? “So why didn’t Slade come back to see if I was all right?”

He’d told himself it was because the situation was so dangerous, but wouldn’t a man of God, the right-hand man of the preacher who’d assigned him to take care of Joseph, have checked?

Betsy’s eyes narrowed. “I’ll tell you why. Because Slade’s dirty. The preacher doesn’t see it, because he always sees the best in everyone. I’m telling you, Slade is the worst of them all.”

Wes nodded, his lips drawn in a thin line. “You can tell a lot about a man by how he takes care of his horse. Slade’s ruined many a good animal. I don’t like to speak ill of anyone, but I have to agree. If I were a betting man, I’d go all in on the notion that Slade caused that landslide.”

It just didn’t seem right. Not with how highly Frank regarded the other man. “Has he been in any trouble? Done anything that would make you think...?”

Wes shook his head. “Nothing that could be proven.” He frowned. “Not even enough that I could go to the preacher with. It just seemed like I’d be speaking ill of someone without cause.”

Unfortunately that didn’t do any of them any good with Annabelle and Nugget at stake. Surely he wouldn’t hurt Annabelle. Not since they’d made up.

“He wouldn’t hurt Annabelle, though, would he? I mean, everyone says—”

“Don’t trust him with her,” Betsy said too quickly. “We learned real quick at Miss Betty’s to be busy when Slade came around. He liked doing things, bad things, and the more the girl cried, the better he liked it. I’m telling you, he might put on a pleasing attitude in public, but that man likes hurting people.”

Betsy didn’t need to go into detail for Joseph to feel sick.

“Why would he finally show his true colors now?” Joseph looked at the two, hoping that there was some way they could be wrong. That all of this wasn’t true. Because if it was, Slade was on his way back to the camp with no one there to protect Nugget and Annabelle.

Wes looked at him intently. “Because you must’ve been close to finding the silver. I always thought that your pa’s death was suspicious. He was having an assayer come all the way up from Denver, so why would he get drunk and accidentally fall into a ravine the day before?”

Because his pa had always had a weakness for the drink. “Maybe he was celebrating prematurely.”

Or maybe, based on Slade’s evasive answers, he was pushed.

“Slade was trying to talk me into selling the claims to a land agent.”

“Who’d he recommend?”

“He didn’t say.”

But with the strong hints that Slade gave, Joseph was sure he’d probably had someone in mind. He’d almost been convinced to go ahead and do it. And maybe, had Slade been patient enough to not try to kill him, Joseph would have.

Now, knowing what he knew, Joseph had no choice but to see it through.

First, though, he had to find a way to keep Annabelle and Nugget safe.

Chapter Nineteen

Gertie had decided that Annabelle’s foot wasn’t healed enough to help with the laundry or much of anything else. Probably not a bad thing, considering that if she stepped on it just right, tears still sprang to her eyes. So she’d brought the children to collect wildflowers. Still within sight of the camp, but far enough that Annabelle could have a moment’s peace while two little girls scampered in the meadow and picked flowers.

Annabelle had found a nice rock to sun herself on, and the girls’ laughter was enough to almost lull her into a nap. Not that she’d do such a thing, of course. Especially since every time she closed her eyes, Joseph’s smile haunted her.

Fortunately any other flight of fantasy in regards to the man too handsome for his own good was interrupted by Gertie’s dinner bell. She held out her hands to the little girls. “I believe we have enough flowers to decorate the table. Let’s take these back to Gertie to see what we can come up with.”

The little girls gathered their baskets and took Annabelle’s hands. Except Nugget’s grasp seemed a little less firm than usual.

Gertie’s cabin was within eyesight. “Caitlin, could you bring the baskets to your mother? Nugget and I will be right there.”

Caitlin nodded solemnly, then scampered off. Annabelle knelt in front of Nugget.

“What’s wrong, sweet pea?”

She wrapped her arms around Nugget, who remained stiff and didn’t return the embrace. Annabelle kissed the top of the little girl’s head.

“You’re going away.” Nugget finally looked up at her, tears streaming down her face.

“Where did you hear that?”

Nugget sniffed. “Your pa was telling Caitlin’s ma. Then I heard you telling Joseph.”

Annabelle rubbed Nugget’s back. She should have been happy at the victory of finally being able to leave, but all it did was make her feel as miserable as the tears running down the little girl’s cheeks. “So are you, remember? Joseph is going to take you to meet your other brother and sisters. You’re going to finally be a family.”

Light shone in Nugget’s eyes. “You’re coming with us?”

“No.” Annabelle shook her head. “It wouldn’t be proper. But I know they’re going to love you.”

“What if they’re mean?” Nugget asked in a tiny voice. “Who will protect me?”

Annabelle closed her eyes. Please, Lord. You don’t answer prayers for me, but could You please honor this little girl?