Part 30 (2/2)
Tyler almost grinned. ”I left her with my brother. Her friends should be back by now.”
”You had some visitors at your cabin,” Willie said, taking a noisy sip of the hot coffee. ”They stayed two, three days from what I could gather.”
”The three killers?”
”Don't know if they was killers, but there was three of them. Made themselves at home.”
Tyler waited, knowing Willie had more to tell.
”Didn't go off together,” Willie said finally. ”Two of them headed south. I figure they're headed for Mexico. Money lasts longer down there.”
”And the other one?”
”Big fella riding a big horse. Couldn't miss his tracks.”
”Where did he go?”
”Can't tell for sure, but if I was to make a guess, I'd say he was headed to Albuquerque.”
Tyler had known it was coming. He had lain awake for several nights wondering what would set him off. He didn't have to wonder any longer.
”Then I guess I'd better head for Albuquerque.”
”Sort of figured you might. Want some company?”
”No need. Hen's still there. Besides, if she's with the Cochranes, there's not much I can do but warn her.”
”That all you going to talk to her about?”
”What else is there?”
”That's not for me to say,” Willie said with a scornful snort. ”I wasn't holed up with her in a cabin alone for nearly two weeks.”
”It was only nine days, and Zac was there all but one.”
”Plus two more on the road.”
”Nothing happened.”
Willie sipped noisily. To Tyler, the noise seemed like a derisive commentary.
”Why aren't you working your own claim?” Tyler asked.
”It turned out worthless. I'm looking for another likely place.”
”I'll make you a deal. You work mine while I'm gone, and I'll give you a quarter of anything you find.”
”A third,” Willie countered.
”Okay.”
Willie didn't look excited. ”A third of nothing is still nothing.”
”Let's have a look,” Tyler said.
Willie was a good deal less skeptical when he got a look at the rock. ”You can't go off chasing killers now,” he exclaimed. ”This could be a big strike.”
”I knew I had to go as soon as I saw you top that ridge.”
”I might try to steal your claim.”
”I'd hunt you down and kill you.”
”I might take any gold I find and head for Mexico.”
”They don't ask questions about scrawny, ugly bodies in Mexico.”
Willie laughed. ”Go on. I knew you was in love with that gal the minute I set eyes on the two of you.”
”And you came all this way to offer to watch my claim so I could go after her.”
”Something like that.”
”Well you're wrong about me being in love with her, but you're right I can't let her wander around without knowing that killer is still on her trail.”
Tyler didn't even know if Daisy would want to see him. She probably felt this Guy fella was all the protection she needed. But Tyler couldn't feel comfortable with that until he got a look at Cochrane. Whether Daisy wanted him in Albuquerque or not, he was going to make sure she was all right.
”When can I expect you back?” Willie asked.
”Four or five days. It shouldn't take me long. Once I've told the Cochranes and the sheriff what they're up against, no reason for me to stay.”
But as Tyler headed toward Albuquerque, he knew he had at least one more reason to prolong his stay. He had to be certain Daisy was in love with Guy Cochrane. He couldn't let her marry him if she wasn't.
Chapter Twenty.
”Mama says it's time you let Guy announce your engagement,” Adora said to Daisy.
Adora had come to Daisy's room to have a comfortable chat before going to bed. She nestled in the chair next to Daisy's bed to keep warm.
”I told Guy I wasn't up facing all those people,” Daisy said.
”Just an announcement, silly. You can hide in this room for the next year if you like. We'll protect you.”
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