Page 21 of A Redemption Mountain Christmas
Gabe Evans greeted each man as they filtered into the jail. They were town leaders, including Stan Petermann, Horace Clausen, the bank president, Nick Barnett, Noah Brandt, and Silas Jenks, the owner of the lumberyard. He got right to the reason for the meeting.
“Gentlemen, we need to discuss protection for Splendor. I’m sure you’ve all heard about the Crow raiding party attacking the wagon train.” They all nodded. “It’s likely they’ll target more settlements in the area. Possibly make a raid on the town.”
Horace cleared his throat. “What’s our next move then, Gabe? We can’t allow them to ransack our town.”
“We need to increase security around Splendor. I’ll speak with my deputies about adding to the number of men on night patrols. Nick, Noah. What do you think about setting up a town militia?”
“We’ve done it before,” Noah said. “Most of those men are still around.”
“Nick?”
“Noah’s right, Gabe. There are still a lot of men who fought in the war around here. Maybe a little older, but I wouldn’t bet against them when it comes to fighting for their town.”
The group turned when the door opened, Spencer Haglund rushed in, breathing hard.
“Spencer, what’s wrong?” Gabe asked.
“Crow war party hit the ranch at first light. Broke into the root cellar, stole some supplies. Bull tried to stop them and got winged by a bullet. Rachel patched him up.”
Horace and Stan erupted into concerned murmurs. Gabe held up a hand for quiet. “Is everyone else safe? Are the Crow still there?”
“No, they rode off when the men opened fire. Dax sent me to warn the town. We’re all right for now.”
Gabe let out a relieved sigh. “A wagon train was attacked east of town late yesterday. Quite a few casualties. We took several to the clinic. Clay and Drake got to work on them. The female doc, Eliza Gladstone, is helping them out. It was a good thing she was in town. We’re talking about ways to fortify the town. You’re welcome to join us. I’d like Dax and Luke to know what is going on here.”
Spencer hesitated, thinking of the woman he’d treated so poorly yet couldn’t stop thinking about. “I’ve got a quick stop to make first. It won’t take long.”
He hurried back outside before Gabe could object. He leaped onto his horse and made for the clinic, his heart pounding. What would he even say to Eliza? Shaking his head, he decided the words would come when he saw her. Stopping in front of the clinic, he didn’t attempt to dismount as he rethought the reason for wanting to see her.
After a few more moments of anxious hesitation outside the clinic, Spencer reined his horse around and headed back to the sheriff’s office, leaving his business with Eliza unfinished for now.
Entering the jail, he saw Gabe and the others studying a map spread out on the desk. Gabe glanced up.
“We’re organizing patrols and planning for our best shooters to watch from various locations in town. The Crow raiding party attacked the wagon train last night, then the Pelletier ranch this morning. They’re roving, looking for opportunities.”
“They seem to be targeting places where they can steal food,” Nick said.
“Dax believes lack of food is why they tried to raid the ranch,” Spencer said, rubbing the back of his neck. “What doesn’t make sense is there’s still plenty of game, and only the shallowest streams and rivers are frozen. They shouldn’t be starving this early in the winter.”
“I’ve got to agree with you,” Noah said. “It doesn’t figure, yet that’s what they’re doing. The Crow don’t seem to be attacking to kill off people and take hostages. There were no deaths at the ranch or from the raid on the wagon train. The only death was an elderly man who died when his heart gave out.”
Gabe nodded. “Whatever the reason, we need to be prepared.”
When they were finished, Spencer mounted his horse, Cicero, and reined around toward Redemption’s Edge. Reconsidering, he turned back, deciding once more to speak with Eliza.
As he approached the clinic, his stomach twisted in knots. Knowing about her selfless actions with the injured travelers stirred something in him—respect, admiration, and something more he dared not name.
He reined to a stop outside the clinic. Through the window, he caught a glimpse of Eliza tending to a patient. Her dark hair was pinned up, with a few loose strands framing her face. The sight made Spencer’s heart constrict.
What was he doing here? Eliza likely wanted nothing to do with him. He was a simple cowboy, while she was a highlyeducated, independent woman. Still, he didn’t want the hostility between them to continue.
Taking a deep breath, he dismounted and looped Cicero’s reins over the hitching post. His boots sounded on the wooden steps as he approached the clinic door.
As his hand reached for the handle, the door swung open. He found himself face to face with Eliza, whose eyes widened in surprise. For a long moment, they simply stared at each other.
“Doctor Gladstone,” he said, his voice rough. “I wanted to talk to you, if you’ve got a minute.”
She gazed at him steadily, one hand on the doorframe. Spencer shifted under her scrutiny, wondering if she would turn him away.
