Chapter Sixteen

A/N I never specified which area of Wyoming Macklin and Eugene are supposed to be in. Since it's been YEARS since I was in that state-and even then it was only one spot, for a week-I turned to my husband for help. Since the story demands mountains, it's now set in the western part of the state.

Also, I am starting to sense at least one death, if not two, in the story. Let's pray like crazy it's just the bad guy/guys.

~oOo~

Macklin, who had intended to head straight for the old abandoned cabin he'd taken over the first time he travelled to Wyoming, instead turned off a side road that ran along the side of a mountain dotted with tall brown pine trees. He might not have, but the nagging feeling he was being watched would not leave. Macklin hoped that, by taking this alternate route, he could actually shake whoever was following him.

For his part, Eugene was in no hurry to confront Macklin and was simply doing what he could not to lose the man's trail, while leaving an easy enough trail for his brothers to follow. That wasn't easy as tracking was Nick and Heath's forte not his. Still, he had managed to find the trail the couple of times he'd lost it. As he thought about his brothers, he didn't know whether or not to sigh or laugh. He had, while waiting for Macklin to leave the boarding house, sent another wire to Jarrod telling him of his plans. His brother's reply rang in Eugene's ears as he once again followed the trail Macklin had left, in spite of trying to cover his tracks.

"Don't be stupid STOP Wait in Lovell STOP We are coming STOP"

However, Eugene didn't feel like he could wait. He felt strongly he had to continue trailing Macklin even if he did hope to avoid actually confronting him until Jarrod and the others were able to join him. That being the case, Eugene left another coded message at the livery stable. He also left the same note with the boarding house just in case the gentleman at the livery stable forgot to give his three brothers the message. Eugene knew the risk he was taking. Then again, Macklin had never met him. In fact, from what Jarrod said, Macklin didn't even know the youngest Barkley even existed.

"I noticed your name was not on his list of my family members when he came to my office. I would have said something, but he was so intent on explaining why the government needed my help with Alderson's case that I didn't want to interrupt. I would say I'm sorry, only it didn't seem to matter at the time." Jarrod's words to him rang in Eugene's ears once more.

"Well, dear brothers," Eugene said as he followed Macklin's trail off the mountain road and down to a creek and began forming a backup plan…just in case he did run into Macklin, "The fact that Tyler Macklin has never met me might be a good thing even if I am in disguise at the moment." He then, after realizing Macklin had entered the creek and was taking his horse downstream in it, turned his horse in the same direction and continued his journey.

~oOo~

Victoria opened the front door and stepped outside. She could see Hannah standing near the edge of the porch watching Nick, Jarrod and Heath ride away. As Victoria walked up to her daughter-in-law, she wasn't surprised to see extreme anxiety in Hannah's eyes. "She's my wife and will be for a very long time I hope; there will be no annulment." The words her middle son had spoken to her shortly after his arrival home from the lodge repeated themselves in her mind. "They'll be fine. They have each other's backs." Victoria said as she stood next to Hannah.

Hannah did her best to smile, though she was extremely concerned. She had been since Nick told her about Gene's telegram. "Macklin knew what was coming." Hannah turned her head slightly and looked at her mother-in-law. "He knew my sister's death had been ordered, along with the others. He could …." She paused, choking on the words that wanted to come out of her mouth, ones she didn't necessarily want to hear.

"My boys are grown men more than capable of taking care of themselves." Victoria said as she watched Jarrod, Nick and Heath disappear from view. "As is Gene, even if he's younger."

Hannah knew her mother-in-law spoke the truth. Still, she found fear gripping her heart. "I never wanted to bring trouble to your home, to your family."

Victoria sighed when she saw pure pain and guilt fill Hannah's face, especially her eyes. "I may be concerned for my sons. However, I do not blame you for this trouble, nor do they. You didn't bring it. Men like Charles Crown and, apparently, Tyler Macklin did." Concerned was putting it mildly, but the Barkley matriarch didn't want her new daughter-in-law to think that she was being held responsible for another person's actions.

Hannah did her best to smile, though it was hard as she thought on Nick and his brothers going to Wyoming and Gene already there. Her mind also wandered to sister-in-law and Chad still in Texas. "We could send for Audra and Chad, but I don't think it would be very wise." Nick stood in their bedroom talking to Hannah. "So far, all of the reports that Jarrod has received from the Pinkertons have confirmed one thing…all questions concerning Chad have been focused on Wyoming and California." He then reassured her if he, or his brothers, had any reason to believe Audra or Chad were in danger in Texas, they'd make sure to get word to their friends to get them out of that state.

"Just come home safe," Hannah held onto Nick for all she was worth. "You and your brothers, please,"

"My head tells me I'm not to blame; however, watching them ride away…with no guarantee of what's coming…" Hannah lifted her hand and rubbed her forehead. "It's hard to get my heart to believe it."

Victoria gave her a sympathetic hug and nodded towards the garden, suggesting they go on a walk to simply relax. It was a suggestion Hannah gratefully accepted. She needed to do something besides worry about her husband and brother-in-laws.