Chapter Fifteen

After Tyrell had told Paul of his revised plans (plans that no longer included getting the land, but money and revenge) the two brothers had gone over to the saloon to have a few beers and talk, though they'd sat in the farthest corner and kept their voices low. Afterwards, they'd saddled their horses and ridden long and hard to get to their cabin that sat up in the hills, passing by and around more than one tree. Now, miles away from everyone, the two brothers were in the cabin they had built and going the rounds when it came to how to handle the land that their Great Grandfather Adam had given away, and the fact the law said the old man had every right to do it, as he was very much of a sound mind.

"If you'd just listened to me in the first place!" Tyrell pounded his fists on his leg in order to avoid causing any amount of noise, as he glared at Paul. "We'd at least be living in the old man's house instead of having to watch Heath and Marissa live there and having to go this other route to get some sort of inheritance!"

Paul knew that. He also knew Tyrell wasn't saying…he now wanted someone to pay for their loss instead of putting in an appeal and fighting the judge's decision. "Don't worry about the land! Let's just stick with your revised plan!" He shouted back as he added, "No matter what, Maggie cannot be hurt; do you understand?" He looked at his brother and stressed his words. "I'm very serious about that."

"Why? Because she's our cousin and a woman?" Tyrell sneered as he made a rather childish face. He had never cared about what should be or shouldn't be.

"Exactly!" Paul shocked Tyrell as he spoke the word louder, clearer and with more seriousness than he'd ever spoken anything else. Paul could see by the angry by the hateful look that came into the man's eyes, but he didn't care. As bent out of shape as he was over losing in court, he had yet to hurt a blood relative or a woman, and he wasn't going to start now. "I'm going along with your plan because she'll remain alive; that cannot change!"

Knowing Paul well enough to know he would not budge, Tyrell rubbed the back of his neck and paced from one living room wall to the other. He was trying to remain calm enough to follow through on his plan.

~oOo~

Maggie, who had spent the morning baking, walked over to the barn where Duke McColl, who was helping out while his son was out sick, and some other ranch hands were working. They were both surprised when she handed them a plate of sandwiches made out of fresh bread. "Didn't Heath tell you I was going to bring the two of you lunch?" she asked.

Yeah, he did." McColl said as he thanked her and took his sandwich. "I told him it wasn't necessary though." He wasn't surprised when Maggie informed him that she was aware of that, and then told him to stop arguing and eat his lunch. "You've all been so good to ensure our safety while we waited to go to court and, now, you still insist on sticking close by…just in case. We wanted to show our thanks." She might have said more, only she, McColl and the other men were shocked beyond measure when Tyrell and his brother rode through the front gate.

"What do you want?" Maggie asked as she stiffened and, without thinking, stepped closer to McColl. McColl automatically took a defensive stand.

"Relax," Paul held up both hands as he stopped his horse. "We're not here to do anything, but talk."

~oOo~

By the time Heath and Nick had finished rounding up the cattle that needed to be moved to another pasture, Heath was more than ready to get home to Maggie and a good home cooked meal. "Come to the house before you head home, Nick." Heath shut the gate that prevented the cows from escaping. "Maggie said; she'd have steaks ready by the time I got home, and she hinted quite strongly that she'd make sure there was one for you.

While he didn't really feel like it, Nick mounted his horse and began riding along side Heath. "All right, guess it's about time we got to relax a bit." As they rode, Nick found himself thinking again of the past and of the time he'd had with Iris.

"It's cooked just the way you like it." Iris set a plate that had some rice, vegetables and two thick steaks on it in front of Nick. It was the first time he'd actually been to Adam's house for supper and the first time he'd tasted Iris' cooking, as Iris' mother was out of town visiting friends.

Nick had been quite pleased to find out the food tasted as good as the cook looked and said as much…after Adam had left the room. Iris had blushed and thanked him.

Nick looked over at Heath and inwardly sighed. While he was thrilled things had worked out for his brother and Maggie, he found himself fighting a bit of childish jealousy. He knew he wasn't really justified, as he had practically slammed the door shut when it came to finding, and courting, someone since Iris.

"You okay, Nick?" Heath asked as he continued pushing Charger forward and glanced at Nick; his brother looked so far away, and Heath figured he knew why.

"Yeah," Nick answered as his mind turned from Iris to the Hamilton brothers. He couldn't believe they hadn't filed an appeal or tried anything to get even with him and the family yet. "Just thinking is all,"

"Iris or the Hamilton's?" Heath knew it had to be one of the two. However, before Nick had a chance to answer him both brothers pulled up on their reins rather hard. Heath's house had just come into view. Every window in the house looked as if they'd been busted, the front door was off its hinges, two of the ranch hands who had been left to watch the place lay on the ground as if they were dead, and McColl was in front of the barn struggling to get to his feet, his one hand held to the side of his head.

Heath raced to the yard and flew off his horse, as did Nick. While Nick ran to McColl, Heath ran into the house calling out Maggie's name. In the meantime, McColl was talking to Nick.

"I only saw the two of them at first...and they acted friendly enough, wanted to make peace with Maggie." McColl told him how, after Paul and Tyrell had dismounted some shooting started and everyone, including Paul and Tyrell had dodged for cover. "Before I knew it someone was hitting me over the head, and I blacked out."

"She's gone!" Heath came running out yelling.

Nick cursed. Since there was no Paul or Tyrell around, he knew full well who ever had started the shooting was working with the Hamilton men. "Her cousins and their friends have her. I just know it!" Nick stated bluntly, as he turned to head for his horse. Heath did the same. Neither one of them were going to wait around and find out what Maggie's cousins had in mind. They were going to rescue her and then make her cousins pay.

"Wait," McColl hurried to stop Nick and Heath. "Let me gather some men, we can help you look for a trail to follow."

Heath didn't have to look. He knew exactly where the men would take her, as his wife had talked about her cousins' cabin many times…and Heath knew right where it was. He told Nick and McColl as much. "Will you go get the sheriff while the ranch hands are gathered?" Heath asked Nick and then added, "McColl and I will do as he just suggested and then meet you at the bottom of Wildflower hill." Wildflower Hill was actually the road that led up to the Hamilton's cabin; it had received its name from the late Adam Hamilton.

"Do ya really have to ask?" Nick threw him a 'I can't believe that question came out of your mouth' look as he mounted his horse. He was riding off before Heath could say another word.