Never Alone

Chapter Six

It was just starting to get dark and Nick was starting to pace the floor of the McKinley home. His voice rang throughout the Widow McKinley's home as he barked, "I don't like this! Jarrod should have been here by now!" A thousand possibilities ran through his mind as he made the statement, none of which were acceptable. Heath was just as worried, only he was not so loud about it. When they heard a horse approaching, both men rushed to one of the front windows on either side of the door. The Widow McKinley rushed to the other and stood behind the chair Whispering Pine occupied. She stood there with her arms pressed against the back of it watching Nick and Heath flank either side of the window frame with their guns drawn.

"It's about time!" Nick bellowed; relieved as he saw Jarrod and another rider riding up to the house and stepped out the front door.

"Hello, Nick." Jarrod said as he tied Jingo to the hitching post and hurried the stairs, "Let's talk inside." That was something Nick might have fought only he didn't have a chance. Jarrod and the man with him were already inside by the time he finished greeting his brother.

Once Nick was back inside and had the door shut, the men started talking. Jarrod, Heath, Nick and now the three deputies the Sherriff had assigned the protection detail sat down at the table to fill everybody in. "I'll send Kathleen a telegram first thing in the morning," Nick argued. Jarrod had said he could leave anytime he wanted. However, Nick felt not only obliged, but was not comfortable about leaving his brothers down an extra gun. "It's not like any of us planned this trouble. Sooner or later, those men are going to attack this place again, evidence found or not."

Jarrod looked at Whispering Pines and asked, "Do you know where your father and Mr. Barnes hid the evidence they gathered?" Jarrod hoped the girl had some insights. If she did, a whole lot of time could be saved and most likely more lives.

The young girl shrugged her shoulders, "I have good idea. I want look, to find, bring evidence with me. Not able get it, fire in main house, too many men around, have get away first. Find help," she replied haltingly, in broken English, but the men understood. Jarrod looked at his brothers and back at what might very well be his niece. He confused everyone but his brothers when he looked at Whispering Pines and asked, "Are you Shoshone?" While she did not know why he asked, Whispering Pines nodded in the affirmative.

"You'll excuse me," Jarrod looked at his brothers, the other men and the Widow McKinley, "Seeing how she struggles so with English, this conversation would go much faster if I spoke in her tongue." Smiles spread upon his brothers' face; they'd been right thinking that's why Jarrod has asked the question he had. Soon Jarrod was engaged in one very serious talk with the young woman.

Because they didn't speak Shoshone, everyone in the room assumed Jarrod and Whispering Pine were simply discussing the situation on hand. That being the case, all present started in surprise when pure joy leapt up onto the young woman's face as she let out one very loud cry and started hugging Jarrod. What on earth had he told her? While her actions startled them, his words dropped them to the floor. "She's my niece." He beamed with pride.

"Your what?" Nick asked as he, and the rest of the group stared at in disbelief. Jarrod quickly explained exactly what had happened in the saloon and what he'd heard. "I saw no reason to mention the fact that Raging River's Friend was four years older than I was; it didn't seem important. Apparently, he married shortly after I left. She was his only child as her mother died in childbirth." He then went back to talking to Whispering Pine in Shoshone. "I do not remember your mother, more than likely I knew her, she must have been very beautiful, as was my wife, Bright Stars. You have picked up the families traits, including their bravery." He spoke in their native tongue once more and smiled at the young girl.

While Jarrod and his niece talked, Nick kept an eye out the window while he, Heath and the rest of the men had their own conversation. That was easy enough to do as Jarrod and Whispering Pines had moved into another room.

Nick continued to peer out the window, constantly scanning the yard. "This sitting and waiting for the birds!" Nick slammed his fist down up on the windowsill, something that made only the other men jump; Heath didn't start in the least.

"We haven' just been sittin' and waiting, Nick." Heath gently reprimanded. Ya been helpin' Widow McKinley here and we've," he said referring to the deputies and himself, "have been poking 'round and askin' questions." While the conversation between the men in the McKinley home continued another one was taking place in the home of the grey haired, bombastic and greedy Mr. Anderson.

"We can't just keep doin' nothin'!." Peter Logan was standing in Mr. Anderson's study starting to wonder just how stable his boss really was. If the man wanted the ranches so badly, why didn't he just go offer to buy the Barnes place from the man's son? It's not like the man living in California wanted anything to do with a ranch. Not knowing their man in the jail cell had told the Sherriff just about everything Peter Logan didn't see why Mr. Anderson's offering to buy the Barnes place would raise any suspicions. After all, the place was empty. As far as Peter was concerned, his boss was wasting time having men watch the place. As far as the McKinley ranch went, he and the men could attack it again, under the cover of darkness, after all, a few ranch hands were not match for him and his men.

"You're not being patient enough." Mr. Anderson barked as he glared at the man he'd hired to help spearhead this little operation he had. "That ranch ain't goin' anywhere anytime soon. My sources say it won't even be legally turned over to any of Mr. Barnes's son for another two weeks. We can offer to buy it then. Right now, we need to figure out what that dead Injin and his friend found out. What evidence exists and where the hell it is! Word is they hid it before you bushwhacked them. Now either come up with some ideas of where to look, do what I'm paying you for or get out of here!" He bellowed.

The round between Mr. Anderson and his foreman wasn't the only round being fought. Nick and Heath were having a round of their own after Jarrod and Whispering Pines came back into the room and told the group what they were going to do. "Are you insane!" Nick exploded, "I don't care if it is dark now. The two of you going to back to the Barnes ranch to retrieve hidden evidence is just plain stupidity, especially when she's not absolutely sure where it's at! Do you know how dangerous that is?"

Jarrod raised his hand as a signal, "Stop the rampage, Nick. Look, we're only searching the guest house and a couple of other places. It's not like we'll be searching the whole ranch."

"It won't take long for Anderson's men to figure that out either, Jarrod," scoffed Nick.

"That's exactly why the Scott and Hugh are coming with us, even if I prefer my brothers. The Widow McKinley has already been told the two of you would be here to help her." Jarrod spoke firmly and with a stance that said he wasn't changing his mind. "Nick, we have to have that evidence. Besides, I told you, we'll plant false evidence first, evidence that will point to the fact that 'the rest of the evidence is being held here. After we do that we'll come back here and wait." He paused, "Can't you see? We have to force them to make a move, a move that is on our time frame not theirs."

Nick folded his arms. While he could see Jarrod's point, he didn't like it. "What does the sheriff say about this little plan of yours? Have you told him about it?"

Jarrod shrugged his shoulders and chose his words carefully, not wanting Nick to continue exploding, "We argued over some of the details and came to an understanding; he's agreed to the plan. He's waiting in town for the word to come here. Now," he put his hand on his young niece's upper arm, "We have to get going while it's dark. Now you stay real close to me. I don't like taking you back there, it's a risk, but we have to get that evidence tonight; that is, if we can, and you do not leave my sight."

Whispering Pines nodded. "I wish I know," she paused as she tried to remember the word Nick had just used, and then said slowly, "where it was absolutely."

"You'll do just fine, but no brave heroics this time. Any sign of trouble and you have my permission to leave and get back here as soon as possible. You got it, young lady? said Jarrod gave her the same look he gave all his siblings when he changed to "Pappy mode".

Nick raised an eyebrow and Heath smirked at Jarrod's quick transition into Pappy voice. "Boy Howdy," thought Heath, "she is family!"

Jarrod then looked at his brothers and the others in the room before leaving and said, "I'd take turns standing guard if I were you."