Only 06 - Winter Fire

to have to make some more chairs,” Case said, holding a plate of beans as he stood near the fire. “But first I’m going to cut planks for that floor I promised Sarah.”
    She almost dropped the plate of beans she was handing to Morgan.
    â€œWatch it,” Morgan said, rescuing the food.
    â€œSorry. I’m not usually so clumsy.”
    â€œYou have a right. You’ve been through a lot lately.”
    She looked into Morgan’s dark, compassionate eyes and smiled wearily.
    â€œNot as much as you or Hunter or…” Her voice frayed. “I don’t know how to thank you.”
    â€œNone needed.”
    â€œPlease take those reales .”
    Morgan started to refuse as he had the other times the subject came up, but Case cut him off.
    â€œI’d do it if I were you,” he said. “That pretty girl you left behind would look more kindly on the man who set off on a cattle drive and didn’t come back for nearly a year, if that selfsame man had some silver in his pockets.”
    Morgan’s grin flashed whitely. “It’s not money my woman is looking for coming down that dusty trail back to her.”
    â€œYou saying that a gold ring and a little ranch of her own wouldn’t make her smile?” Case asked.
    â€œThere are other ways of making Letty smile.”
    Ute snorted and stood up stiffly, setting aside his already empty plate. Favoring his right knee where a ricochet had left a bruise the size of a fist, he turned to Morgan.
    â€œNueces,” the old outlaw said, “don’t you make me ride all the way to Texas just cuz you’re a stiff-necked son of a bitch.”
    Morgan blinked and looked rather warily at Ute.
    â€œMeaning?” he drawled mildly.
    â€œMeaning,” Ute said, “that what Sarah wants, I get for her. You either take that damned silver with you or have me hunt you down in Texas with a bad temper, a loaded gun, and two saddlebags full of reales .”
    â€œTake the silver,” Hunter advised, standing up.
    â€œWould you?” Morgan retorted.
    â€œIf the choice is silver or Ute camping on my tail, I’ll take the silver.”
    Morgan grinned. “Colonel, you’ve got yourself a deal. You take half and I take half.”
    â€œWait, I didn’t—”
    â€œOr would you rather have me camping on your tail,” Morgan continued, talking over Hunter.
    â€œHe’s got you,” Case said to his brother.
    Hunter muttered something under his breath and then turned to Sarah.
    â€œMa’am, you have better things to do with that silver than give it away.”
    She shook her head.
    â€œConner?” Hunter asked a bit desperately.
    â€œI always do what my sister says,” he said with a wide-eyed innocence that made Ute snicker. “Just ask her.”
    â€œHell,” Hunter said.
    He shot Case a glittering look, then forgot whatever he was going to say.
    Case was fighting a losing battle against a smile. The sight of it amazed his brother.
    â€œDivide up the silver,” Hunter said absently to Morgan. “I’m hitting the trail at first light tomorrow. Elyssa will be wanting to know that Case is alive.”
    â€œShe’ll be a lot more relieved to know that your sorry hide is whole,” his brother retorted.
    Hunter just grinned.
    â€œWould it be too much trouble for you to see me to the nearest stage or railhead?” Sarah asked.
    The silence that followed her words was thick enough to sit on.
    â€œConner could do it, but he won’t be comfortable riding a horse for a few days,” she continued calmly. “Neither will Ute.”
    â€œWhat are you talking about?” Case demanded.
    â€œTaking a trip.”
    â€œIf it’s getting the silver to a bank you’re worried about, I’ll haul it myself.”
    â€œThank you. It saves me worrying about it.” She turned back to Hunter. “If you want to get back to Nevada as fast as you came here, I can sleep in the saddle. I won’t slow you down.”
    Hunter looked toward Case. Though there was no expression on his brother’s face, his eyes were narrowed as though in anger or pain.
    â€œTalk it over with Case,” Hunter said. “Afterward, if you still want to ride out with me, I’ll see you safely to any place you like.”
    â€œThat won’t be necessary,” she said. “Just as far as the nearest—”
    â€œAnywhere,”