The Widow of Rose Hill (The Women of Rose Hill Book 2), стр. 76
She sent him a look of confusion. “I don’t understand what this has to do with me. After the war started, I had to sell off our cattle. That’s why our pastures were available when Alexander approached me and inquired about leasing them.”
“From what I understand,” he said, choosing his words carefully, “the cattle Lopez brings to Rose Hill do not stay long before they’re moved again.”
“Yes, that’s right. I gather he has more animals than his property can accommodate. With our pastures overgrown and unoccupied, it made perfect sense for him to make use of them.” Her eyes shot wide. “Has someone stolen Alexander’s cattle?”
Irritation rolled through him, although it was not directed toward Natalie. Lopez had her completely duped. “No, the cattle Lopez is grazing on Rose Hill grass are perfectly safe.”
She studied him, her fine brows drawn into a V. “Then who do you hope to arrest and for what crime?”
“Natalie.” There was no way to soften the blow. “I believe Lopez is the cattle thief.”
It took a moment for his words to sink in. Her eyes rounded. “Surely you jest!” Her voice echoed in the still night.
“I do not.” He glanced at the darkened house and placed his finger across his lips as a reminder for her to keep her voice down.
“That is preposterous,” she said, softer but with just as much fervor. “I’ve known the man for over a year. He pays me to let his cattle graze in our pastures. I highly doubt a thief would do that.”
“It wouldn’t surprise me if a thief who stood to make thousands of dollars selling stolen cattle didn’t mind losing a little money in order to keep a widow in the dark about his crooked business practices.”
She stared at him for several long moments. Levi prayed she could hear the truth in his words. Although he didn’t have hard evidence Lopez was the thief, he felt it in his gut. And if there was one thing he’d learned in four years of war, it was to trust his gut.
“I know you don’t like Alexander.” She shook her head, her disappointment apparent. “But to accuse him of stealing cattle is beyond the pale.”
He’d feared he would have a difficult time convincing her. “Don’t you find it strange that he’s constantly moving animals in and out of Rose Hill land? His men are heavily armed with far more gun power than is necessary for simply watching cows eat grass.”
“I don’t know a thing about cattle, but I’m certain he has a perfectly good reason for both.”
“Such as?” He wanted her to think this through for herself.
“Well, he could … perhaps he …” She sent him a look of irritation. “I have no idea, but I simply can’t believe Alexander is the thief you claim he is.”
“Think about it. A widow with a large plantation is exactly the cover a thief would need to keep his ill-gotten animals safe before moving them north. There was no shortage of Texas beef during the war, which tells me men like Lopez were all too happy to drive cattle north to sell, despite their origin in a Confederate state.”
Her brow remained furrowed. “A business associate of my father-in-law sold beef to the Union. He was hanged by Confederate sympathizers. I doubt Alexander would have risked such a terrible fate for the sake of selling some cows to the Yankees. You have the wrong man, Colonel. You would do well to keep searching.”
The stubborn woman wouldn’t believe him until he had Lopez in chains. “Just promise me you’ll be careful should he show his face at Rose Hill. Trust me when I say you will thank me after I’ve arrested him and sent him to Austin for trial.”
“We shall see.”
“Yes, we shall. Goodnight, Mrs. Ellis.” He stood and stomped down the steps to his waiting mount. Riding away, he recognized that jealousy had been the sole reason for his churlishness. He’d come to warn her, not to win her love. Lopez had been a guest at Rose Hill for over a year. His business was stealing cattle, not harming widows and small children. Still, the thought of Natalie having feelings for the criminal made Levi all the more determined to see that man behind the bars of a Union Army prison.
Turning his mount in the direction of Langford Manor, he slowed the animal to a docile walk. The sliver of moon offered meager light to aid his trek home, and despite Levi’s vexation with a certain widow, he wouldn’t ride recklessly and endanger his horse and himself. He looked up to the starlit sky, a plan forming in his mind. He would take a full company of men and surround the pastures on all sides, effectively cutting off any escape routes. Catching Lopez with the stolen cattle would be difficult, but Levi would settle for apprehending his men and the animals. A search party could locate Lopez once they had the confessions of his cowhands.
Frustration rolled through him. Why couldn’t Natalie see the truth? It was so completely obvious. Did she have feelings for Lopez? Is that why she couldn’t admit what was right in front of her face? Well, he would have to—
The cocking of a gun echoed in the still night.
An explosion rent the air in the next moment, and something slammed into the back of Levi’s shoulder, knocking the breath out of him. His horse reared and bolted into a gallop. Levi barely hung on.
“Get him!”
Lopez’s voice.
The wooded area that lay between Rose Hill and Langford Manor emerged from the shadows ahead. Levi steered the horse into the thick brush, and the terrified animal raced in despite branches that must have torn at its legs. The crashing sound behind him told