A/N: Well, here's chapter four! Read it and Review…and then tell your friends about it!
Long Lost Lover
Chapter Four
Ben and Hop Sing were the only ones in the house when Carlos finally came out of the bedroom and shut the door quietly.
Hop Sing poured another cup of coffee and Ben slid it in front of the chair beside him. Carlos ambled over and sat down, seemingly in a bit of a daze.
"Did she wake up at all?" Ben asked.
Carlos nodded and wrapped his fingers around the coffee cup.
"And?"
"She has been through so much. Besides the fire."
"Yes, the fire. How did she escape?" Ben's eyebrows raised.
Carlos sipped on the coffee. "She and her papa had an argument and she snuck out of the house. She fell asleep by the lake. When she returned, everything was gone and she was too upset and out of her mind to find me, or anyone else." Carlos sighed and looked at Ben, frustration in his eyes.
"It's incredible that she survived." Ben paused. "And yet so awful about her family." he said sympathetically. "Why didn't she try to find you sooner?"
"She heard of my injuries in the war and thought be to be dead."
Ben nodded, waiting for Carlos to continue. When he didn't, Ben surveyed the younger man.
Carlos had never been a big talker. When a situation occurred, Carlos was always the one in the background, listening and taking everything in. If he had a suggestion, it was either never heard or announced in private.
Now, as Ben watched him, Carlos seemed to be deep in thought, and from his posture, the thoughts seemed to be troubling.
"Carlos?"
Carlos looked up from staring into his coffee.
"Did she tell you how she got shot?"
Carlos shook his head. " No. But, Ben, she seems to have changed so much. When she first awoke, she pulled a gun on me, with complete fire in her eyes, as though she would have shot me if I'd so much as blinked."
Ben's eyes widened as he glanced at Hop Sing. "Really?"
"Yes, Ben, and…" he trailed off, knowing both men were thinking of the way the woman was dressed.
Footsteps pounded on the porch steps as Ben replied. "Are you saying…" he was cut off as Little Joe burst through the door yelling, "Pa! Someone's comin'!"
"Well, who is it, Joseph?"
"I don't know, but Adam said it sorta looked like that Marshall that was lookin' fer Isabella, when she first came back."
Ben opened his mouth to reply, but Carlos lurched from his chair and stepped towards the door in fury.
"Carlos!" Ben stood and grabbed Carlos by the arm. "He can't be here for Isabella. That was settled, remember?"
Carlos didn't reply as he jerked his arm from Ben's grasp and walked out the door.
Ben followed him closely, worried about what he'd do. Hop Sing closed the door behind them, standing on the porch to watch.
Adam walked toward the porch, coming from the horse pasture. Hoss stood in the barn doorway, and Little Joe jumped off the porch to stand near him.
As the horse and rider came closer, Ben's jaw tightened. It was definitely Marshall Collier.
No one in Eagle Station had any particular fondness for Marshall Jake Collier. After his determination to take in Isabella for murder, then trying to take Ben in her place, Collier wasn't on most peoples' good list.
Ben's eyes trailed to the left to look at Carlos, who stood on the porch still, but rigid and ready to move in a heartbeat.
Oh, great. Ben stepped off the porch at the same time as Adam. Collier rode up and pulled the bay to a stop. Adam took the reins and the Marshall dismounted.
"Collier, what brings you up this way?" Ben asked, trying to keep his voice even.
"It ain't that greaser's sister, if that's what you're wonderin'." Collier replied, spitting in the dirt as he glanced at Carlos. Ben looked back with a warning, but Carlos didn't move.
Ben turned back to Collier. "Marshall, we're running late this morning. Please get on with it."
Collier scanned the ranch yard, watching each person there as well as looking for something. "I'm trackin' an outlaw. I tracked the horse to the woods back there. But this mornin' the horse tracks ended."
"Well, Marshall, I assure you, no outlaws have been seen on this property today, and neither have their horses." Ben took a breath. "So, if you'll kindly be on your way, I'm sure you'll be able to find him."
"It ain't a him."
"Excuse me?"
Collier rubbed his nose. "It's a woman I'm trackin'. She escaped from prison awhile back…"
Ben forced himself not to look at Carlos. "What was she in for?"
"Murder, robbery, horse stealin', you name it, she did it."
"Well, nonetheless, no one here has seen a woman outlaw around here. So, Marshall, if you'd please excuse us…"
"I got orders to search for her," Collier pulled out a piece of paper from his coat pocket. Ben tried to stay calm. "And this here paper says I've got the right to search your house."
Sorry guys, I know it's a cliffhanger…but I couldn't think of a better way to end it. Review, and I'll update sooner.