Bitter Creek's Redemption

Four months to the day Ralph died, another cold-eyed stranger rode up to the livery stable. Eagle went out to take hold of the horse’s bridle. The steel dust grey threw its head in the air and danced away.

“Easy there.”

Something in the man’s voice caused a shiver to race down Eagle’s spine. Honey drawl coated the words, telling of Deep South roots. Only one person in the area had sounded like that. His wait was over. Someone had come for Ralph Ramsey’s horses.

Squaring his shoulders, Eagle glanced up and met the coldest ice-blue eyes he’d ever seen. The man studied him for a moment before dismissing him, turning to look over his shoulder at the town. While Eagle held the stallion still, the rider swung down.

“Be careful. He doesn’t like people and he’ll take a chunk out of you if you’re not paying attention to him.”

Eagle nodded and started to lead the horse toward the stable. The rider kept pace with him, and Eagle stumbled, nerves getting the best of him. The horse jerked up its head, startled by his clumsiness.

“Maybe I should take him.” The stranger’s voice held a hint of amusement.

Irv came around the corner of the barn, and Eagle shook his head. He didn’t want his boss thinking he couldn’t do his job. After putting the horse into the biggest stall, he looped the reins over the top of the wall and worked on getting off the hand-tooled, custom-made saddle.

“I was wondering if you could tell me where I might find Ralph Ramsey or how to get to his place.”

Eagle’s head shot up, but he saw that the man was asking Irv, not him. His boss’s beady eyes narrowed even more and interest flared in them. Shit, Irv spied for both Buffert and Tansford, so the news someone was looking for Ralph would reach their ears within minutes of the man leaving the livery.

Eagle bumped the stallion, causing the horse to kick out and nail the wood behind him. The stranger whirled around and glared at Eagle. Moving his gaze back to the saddle in front of him, Eagle gave a small shake of his head. He hoped that would be enough to stop the man from asking any more questions for now.

“Be careful, you stupid Injun.”

He dodged enough for Irv’s blow to glance off his shoulder instead of taking the full brunt of it. He let his anger roll away as well. Dealing with Irv was easy. Eagle ignored the insults and abuse hurled his way. The only thing he wouldn’t allow was letting Irv abuse the horses. He’d taken many a beating by stepping in to save one of the animals.

“I saw the restaurant a little ways up the street. How’s the food there?”

The change in subject and the thickening of the man’s drawl told Eagle that his signal had been read correctly.

“Jake makes some of the best food in the territory, stranger. My name is Irv Johnson. I’m the owner here.”

Peeking from under his lashes, Eagle saw Irv holding out his hand to the stranger. The man just stared at Irv until he was forced to drop his hand or continue to look like a fool.

“I’ve been riding for the past couple of weeks to get here. If you could direct me to either a boardinghouse or the hotel, I’ll leave you two to your work.”

The stranger swung around like a striking snake, and Eagle jumped, not expecting to feel those cold eyes on him again.

“Take care of him, and I’ll be back later.”

Eagle risked meeting those icy eyes and nodded.

“We’ll treat him like he was our own,” Irv boomed.

“Somehow that doesn’t inspire confidence in me.”

Both Irv and Eagle watched the man stroll from the barn and, when he was out of earshot, Irv spit.

“Arrogant bastard. Wonder why he’s interested in Ramsey’s place. Bet Buffert and Tansford would be willing to pay for this information.”

Eagle said nothing, figuring his boss wasn’t really talking to him.

Irv turned toward him. “Go through the man’s saddlebags and let me know if you find out who he is.”

Grunting, Eagle let his boss think he was agreeing to that. There was no way he was going to snoop around that man’s stuff. He’d gotten the impression the stranger wouldn’t hesitate to kill him if he thought Eagle had done something to invade his privacy.

Irv wandered off, and Eagle pulled out the currycomb to brush down the stallion. The man’s warning about the horse stayed in his mind and he didn’t let his mind wander...