Devils on Horseback: Nate Read online

  Oh, Da. Elisa realized the man she had loved all her life wasn’t really her father. He’d only been her stepfather. No wonder Elisa didn’t take after him like Daniel did. She wondered if he’d known who had sired her. Her family was not her family and never had been.

  Too many unanswered questions crowded and jostled around in her brain. She sat up slowly, easing her head upright. Nate’s kind dark eyes met hers, full of worry and love. It was enough to make her start crying all over again.

  “What would you do if you found out the man you hated was your father?” she asked.

  An indrawn breath and a couple of hisses met her question.

  “I know you’re upset—” Nate sounded too sympathetic.

  She laughed shrilly. “Of course I’m upset. Now tell me what was in my mother’s will. Don’t think I forgot about that last document you’ve got.”

  Nate looked down at the paper clutched in his left hand. “Are you sure?”

  “I’d rather hear it all at once. Better to have salt in the wound in one great big pile than a grain at a time.” When her chin started quivering, she bit her lip to the point of pain.

  Get it done, Elisa girl.

  “Now get on with it,” she ordered.

  “The will is dated five years ago, before the war began. It states that since Melissa is a benefactor in Samuel O’Shea’s will that should she die, her daughter Elisa Marie, inherits her portion. Also, the bank account in Houston also belongs to Elisa Marie, the balance in 1860 was six-thousand, eight-hundred dollars.”

  The redhead Jake whistled while Gideon’s eyebrows rose. The angry Lee looked angrier, while Zeke looked unaffected. Nate’s hand shook so much the paper rattled. He turned to look at her.

  “I couldn’t find a copy of O’Shea’s will in Bellridge. I’m not sure why unless it was drawn up in another town. However, your mother had a bank account set up for you. I checked and there were regular deposits up until a year ago. The current balance is over eight thousand dollars.” Nate cleared his throat. “If I were to hazard a guess, I think your mother received monthly stipends from your fa— from Mr. O’Shea that she deposited in your name. Perhaps she was planning on gifting you the funds when you got married.”

  “What are stipends?”

  “It means your daddy paid your mama blood money to keep her trap shut about his bastard daughter.” Lee looked as smug as he sounded.

  “Shut up, Lee. Can’t you for once see that someone else is in pain besides you?” Nate’s voice was low and dangerous. “If you say another word, I swear to God I’ll beat you into next week.”

  “Stipends are monthly payments, Elisa,” Gideon said. “I think Nate’s right about why and who. Apparently they stopped when your mother passed away.”

  That made sense. She couldn’t have deposited any money if she didn’t receive it. Did that mean O’Shea wanted her mother dead? Elisa had always suspected that he’d killed her. Perhaps this was the first step in finding out why.

  “I think he murdered her,” Elisa forced out.

  “Who was murdered?” Gideon responded first.

  “My mother. O’Shea’s blood runs as cold as a mountain stream. There’s no way he’d just give her money. She probably got it to keep quiet about me. He’s a rich son of a bitch. Maybe he thought I’d try to take all his money.” The possibilities of why were endless. Elisa had trouble accepting the fact that he was her father, even with the proof literally staring her in the face.

  “Before we get into the details, let’s discuss what we agree on, then we can plan what we need to do.” Nate met everyone’s gaze in turn. “Are we all agreed that the sale of the Taggert land was illegal, the bill of sale forged and that Samuel O’Shea is no longer our employer?”

  Everyone gave their agreement, even the angry, foul-mouthed Lee.

  “Good. The next question is, what are we going to do about it?”

  * * * * *

  After talking for over an hour, they were no closer to deciding on the plan than when they started. Elisa finally no longer looked pale, and started looking like a red rose, an angry red rose. She and Lee butted heads constantly, and when Nate stepped in to stop it, he got his head bitten off by both of them.

  Gideon forced them to take a short break from arguing. Nate walked to the stream with a fire-breathing Elisa. He could practically feel the heat coming off her skin. As they approached the spot where they’d first come together, his body heated.

  He watched the gentle sway of her hips beneath the baggy pants. Elisa’s scent teased his memory and the passion burned inside him to kiss her, touch her, join with her. It didn’t seem the appropriate time, but he couldn’t stop the thoughts from racing through his head and his body from reacting.

  “What are you doing?” she snapped.

  “Nothing. I just…I’m sorry. I don’t seem to be able to stop it.”

  Her sharp gaze softened as she perused his rigid stance. “What are you thinking?”

  “I’m thinking this is where we first, ah, came together.” He glanced at the tree behind her.

  “Mm, that’s not what was on my mind, but now that you mention it.” She ran a finger down his shirt. “I remember that day pretty well.”

  He shivered even in the heat of the afternoon. “Me, too.”

  She leaned forward and he pulled her close, the soft voluptuousness of her curves filled his hands. He hardened rapidly as her belly provided a sensual rest. Memories of what she felt like without her clothes made his palms itch.

  “This isn’t the best time to do this.” He groaned.

  “When has it ever been? Hell, my da heard everything the last time.”

  Nate shut his eyes to block out the image of Sean Taggert listening to them. It’s a wonder the man didn’t run him down with a shotgun. He wondered how much Elisa had told her father, whether he knew about their first encounter.

  The possibility made his head hurt.

  “What’s wrong?” She nibbled on his neck, little bites that made goose bumps rise on his skin.

  “Your father knows?”

  She shrugged and pressed her breasts harder against his chest. “He’s not angry. Da is a fair man. He just wanted to be sure you were honorable.”

  Nate’s heart thumped. His feelings for Elisa were growing faster than a wildfire. To know that she and her father had discussed his honor put another angle on it.

  “What did you tell him?”

  She raised her eyes to his. “Kiss me.”

  An irresistible command. Nate lowered his head and when their lips met, he ceased to think at all. Soft, strong lips moved beneath his. Breaths mingled and tongues slid. Her stiffness melted beneath the heat generated by their bodies and mouths.

  “Jesus Christ, what the hell are you doing, Nate?”

  Lee’s voice shattered the haze that had enveloped them. Nate stared into Elisa’s now angry eyes.

  “None of your business, Lee. Now leave us alone.”

  “Right. You’re over here practically fucking this woman who tried to kill Gideon and I’m supposed to leave?”

  Lee grabbed Nate’s arm and the next minute turned into a blur of fists and cursing. He found himself on the ground grappling with Lee. All the fury, the hurt, the agony of the last four years that had been locked inside him exploded. He should’ve been surprised how well Lee fought for a one-armed man, but he wasn’t. They had lived so long on the edge of darkness that it didn’t take much to turn them into animals.

  “Stop it, both of you!” Elisa shouted and yanked at his hair.

  Nate ignored her and delivered a sharp uppercut to Lee’s jaw. With a grunt, Lee head-butted him and Nate saw stars. It was a fierce battle peppered with fingernails, fists, feet, knees and teeth that nearly consumed him. Nate didn’t remember feeling the absolute immersion in a fight since the beginning of the war.


  The fight didn’t end until a bucketful of cold water hit him in the face. The water was a shock and he completely let go of Lee and rolled to the right. He sputtered and spit out the muddy water. Someone grabbed his arms and yanked him away from Lee, who coughed beside him.

  Nate stared up into a disappointed-looking Gideon.

  “I sure hope you two got that out of your system because if we’re going to fight O’Shea together, we need to stop fighting each other.”

  Nate glanced over at Lee who was in his brother’s grasp.

  “Same goes for you,” Gideon snapped.

  Nate felt like a balloon that had a pin stuck in it. It wasn’t a pop, the air slowly leaked out and then his fury was gone, carried away on the breeze. He glanced at Elisa who stood on the bank of the stream, arms folded, eyebrows tented. Then he noticed the bucket at her feet. So that’s who got them wet.

  “Serves you right. Your friend here, he’s got the right idea. I’m done fighting with y’all. I’m ready to fight together instead.”

  After shaking off the excess water, Nate walked back to camp with Elisa beside him.

  “You know that wasn’t very nice.”

  “It’s what I would’ve done to two dogs that were fighting. What’s the difference?”

  Nate couldn’t answer that because she was right. They had acted like two dogs fighting. He had at least a dozen, if not two dozen, stings, bruises, cuts and throbs all over. He’d been surprised that Lee hadn’t said anything to the rest of the Devils about catching Nate and Elisa kissing.

  Even if it had been childish and foolish, and he felt like he’d been in a fight with two men for all the fierceness Lee brought with him, for some strange reason, Nate felt better. Like a cork had popped and released the pressure. Maybe Lee felt the same way, which is why he hadn’t revealed what he’d seen. Either that or he was saving it. It didn’t matter to Nate if Lee told or not since everyone knew about his relationship with Elisa now.

  “Company.” Zeke’s voice made everyone stop cold at the edge of the trees.

  “Shit. Jake.” Gideon spoke so low Nate barely heard him. “He can’t see you. Go hunker down somewhere, we’ll give you the signal when he’s gone.”

  Nate had no idea if Nessman planned on arresting Jake again, but they couldn’t take any chances. With nary a rustle of sound to give him away, Jake disappeared.

  “Who’s that?” Elisa asked.

  “Trouble.”

  “I figured that. Friend of yours?”

  Elisa put her hand in her pocket, and he knew for a fact she had a small derringer in there. He’d felt it when they’d been pressed together. Nate had been right—she had amazing instincts.

  Nate grimaced. “Not even close. He’d like to see us all hang.”

  He stepped forward, tucking Elisa’s arm into his. “Stay with me on this.”

  She nodded tightly.

  “Good evening, Captain Nessman. What brings you out here?”

  Nessman stood, reins in hand, next to the fire. He watched them approach. Nate glimpsed a flash of the fervor that drove the captain, the reason he was so dangerous. He honestly believed what he was doing was the true and correct thing to do. He believed.

  “Apparently that idiot sheriff allowed my prisoner to go free.”

  “Your prisoner?” Nate frowned. “Why, Captain Nessman, what are you talking about?”

  “Don’t play games with me, Marchand. I arrested that redheaded thief in the store. He was supposed to be in custody. Apparently a pair of tits distracted the sheriff and now the thief is on the loose.” Nessman made a grand show of looking at all of them. “Funny, I don’t see him here.”

  “If you’re referring to Mr. Sheridan, he isn’t here. I wasn’t aware there were any pending Army charges against any of us. How could he have been your prisoner?” Nate kept his voice steady, his enunciation crisp.

  “While technically he wasn’t arrested by the Army, he was taken into custody by me.”

  “Hmm, I see. If the sheriff released him, then I’m assuming the arrest was an error.” Nate looked down at Elisa. “May I introduce you to Miss Elisa Taggert?”

  Elisa took off her hat and her riotous hair tumbled down. The surprise on Nessman’s face was absolutely priceless. He’d obviously dismissed her, hadn’t given her a second glance, assuming she was man based on her clothing.

  Nessman swept off his hat. “I beg your pardon, ma’am. Captain Elliot Nessman, U.S. Army, at your service.”

  Elisa, bless her wicked heart, nodded regally. “You’re forgiven.”

  For some strange reason, Nate wanted to giggle. “Miss Taggert is actually under duress, Captain, and needs assistance.” He glanced at Gideon, who with one gesture approved of the plan. “It appears that a local landowner is attempting to illegally seize her father’s property.”

  Nessman’s eyes narrowed. “What property?”

  “The Taggert ranch. It lies just east of here. For the last year, Mr. O’Shea has been attempting to seize control of it.”

  “Don’t you work for O’Shea?”

  “Technically, we did, but not anymore.”

  Elisa expelled a breath, perhaps of relief, perhaps of frustration, he didn’t know. She squeezed his arm and Nate knew she was behind him.

  “After some careful research, we’ve determined that Mr. O’Shea forged a bill of sale. In fact the sale was made by the wife of the legal owner.”

  Nessman’s frown grew deeper. “Are you saying that he made up a bill of sale in the name of a person who didn’t even own the property?”

  “It’s more than likely that he assumed her husband was killed in action and that she was on the deed.”

  Elisa confirmed his assumption. “He was missing for six months.”

  O’Shea had seen his opportunity and grabbed it. Nate wasn’t sure why yet, but he was damn well going to find out.

  “Why am I supposed to believe a bunch of thieves and outlaws?”

  “We’re not outlaws. We were pardoned.” Nate unclenched his jaw, reminding himself that if they wanted the Army’s help, they had to play nice with Captain Nessman.

  “Well I haven’t pardoned you. I’m certainly not going to believe the load of shit that you’re trying to feed me. Whoever signed it was probably one of those saloon girls and I’ll bet every one of those documents is forged.”

  “Actually the gentleman at the hall of records in Bellridge, the county seat, has stamped them. They are not forged.” Nate’s temper warred with his desire to remain calm.

  “More than likely one of you is good at making seals.” Nessman’s nasally northern accent echoed through the field. “Since I know you’re not going to tell me where your friend Sheridan is, listen carefully. You will hand him over to me or I’ll make sure all five of you will swing within two days even if I have to stage it myself.”

  He mounted his horse and with one last triumphant glare, Nessman rode off toward town.

  “I guess we can’t count on the army’s help, can we?” Nate smiled at Elisa. “I’m sorry, honey. He’s, ah, well, he doesn’t like us very much.”

  “Really, I couldn’t tell. No matter. I think we can take O’Shea down without that fool’s help. Besides he probably has too much starch in his drawers to be any good with a gun anyway.”

  Gideon and Zeke laughed along with Nate, and he even heard a snicker from Lee. That was good. They all needed to be together to defeat a common enemy. United they stand, divided they fall. It was time to get united.

  Chapter Eleven

  Elisa returned home with a tiny flame of hope burning in her heart. While she didn’t consider herself a damsel in distress, having five strong men behind her was a damn comfortable feeling. She never expected she’d actually convince Nate that O’Shea was a bastard. However, she should have known he’d find evidence of it.
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  Truth was, she’d doubted him, but now her heart and her mind had finally come to an agreement. Elisa trusted Nate. She spurred Midnight to a gallop and raced over the familiar ground while the wind whistled past. They were finally, finally going to beat O’Shea at his own game, legally. Elisa ignored the voice inside her that kept screaming that he was her father.

  When Elisa crested the hill, the breeze brought something besides comfort. The sharp tang of fresh blood, an unmistakable smell.

  Every inch of her body was instantly on alert. She leaned down and whispered in Midnight’s ear, “Easy, boy, we need to be quiet.”

  Unfortunately, if whoever had spilled the blood was still in the field below her, they had likely already heard her. If she was smart and careful, she could get close without them knowing. When she left, Da had been watching the herd. It was still at least an hour or two before Daniel was due to relieve him.

  Elisa wished she’d had the foresight to tell Da about the special call she and Daniel had been using. A hoot owl, one long, three short. It was a long shot, but she did it anyway.

  “Hoooooooooo, hoohoohoo.”

  The silence screamed in her ears. True silence. She didn’t hear any cicadas, no crickets, no night creatures at all. Something was very, very wrong. Elisa slid off Midnight and armed herself with knife and pistol.

  “Stay,” she whispered to the horse. For being such a fancy horse, he obeyed like a well-trained cow pony. She’d trained Midnight herself since her eighth birthday. He wouldn’t move from the spot.

  Elisa slithered through the dew-covered grass slowly, inching her way along, like a dog following a scent. She was glad the wetness masked her approach, not a whisper of a sound to give her away. Blood thundered past her ears as she crept forward. The smell grew stronger and she veered slightly to the left then reached out.

  A sigh of relief threatened when she recognized it was a cow. Anger soon followed when upon examining the cow, she realized it had been left to die in the field after its neck had been slit open. She’d known the second that she’d scented the blood that something was wrong. With the discovery of the cow’s carcass, it meant the trouble was worse than she thought.