Page 68 of At Love’s Command

Darla—the housekeeper, if Matt remembered correctly from the letter Josie had shown him—moved to Burkett’s side and slipped her arm through his. “Casting blame’s not gonna help Jo. But if what I heard young Johnny announce when he rode in is true, these men can. Let’s hear them out. Together.” She looked up at Matt, then shifted her gaze to include Preach. “Come on up to the house, fellas. I’ve got coffee on.”

“We don’t got time for coffee,” Burkett protested. “Jo’s out there—”

“Where, exactly?” Darla’s tone sharpened. “Do you know where she is right now, Thaddeus?”

Burkett had a good dozen inches on the little woman, but he was the one looking intimidated. There were definitely more feelings at play with these two than mere respect between employer and employee.

Burkett straightened. “I know where she’s gonna be.”

“Tomorrow,” Darla qualified. “You know where she’s going to be tomorrow at three in the afternoon. You have no earthly idea where she is right now. You can afford thirty minutes to hear these men out.” She pulled her arm from his and turned to lead the way to the house. “You might even learn something.”

A path opened for her as men hopped out of her way.

“Aggravatin’ woman.” Burkett mumbled the complaint under his breath, but it carried no heat. In fact, were Matt a betting man, he’d lay odds there was affection lacing the remark.

Burkett shot a glare at Matt. “Come on, then.”

No affection in that statement. Just iron and grit.

Matt stepped forward in compliance, opting to save his words for what was to come. It would be a tale as hard to hear as to tell.

“Albert. Eddie.” Burkett waved at the two older hands. “Y’all come too. Best you know what you’re gettin’ yourselves into.”

The men returned their rifles to the boots on their saddles and made to follow their boss.

Burkett pivoted so that he walked backward, gesturing to Nick. “Spafford boys, give those rented nags some water and rub them down. Johnny can take ’em back to town with him when we’re done here. Saddle four of the three-year-olds for these fellas to ride. I ain’t about to be slowed down by substandard horseflesh.”

Nick moved to take the reins of Preach’s mount. “Yes, sir.”

Preach shot a half-grin at Matt. “I always wanted to ride a Gringolet mount.”

Burkett sidled close to Luke, nearly matching him in height if not in breadth. “Fail to prove yourself worthy of the horse you ride, and you’ll be the one put out to pasture when this is over.”

The murmured threat only widened Preach’s smile. He elbowed Matt in the side. “I like him. You could do worse for an in-law.”

Burkett reared back, his shocked expression quickly hardening to something much more sinister.

Matt bit back a groan. Preach was gonna pay for that. Not that his friend cared. His eyes danced with so much laughter, it was a miracle they stayed in his head.

“One battle at a time,” Matt said through a tight jaw, lengthening his stride as if he could outrun the fuse Preach had just lit. “Let’s focus on getting Josie back first and deal with the rest later.”

“Her name is Dr. Burkett to you, soldier.” Josie’s father’s voice rumbled like a thundercloud ready to fling lightning at the mere mortal who dared speak of his daughter in familiar terms.

They didn’t have time for this.

Matt spun to face the older man. “Look. My intentions toward your daughter are honorable. That’s all you need to know at this point. If you want to come after me with tar and feathers later, fine, but right now there are bigger threats at play.”

Before Burkett could reply, Matt swiveled forward and marched up the steps to the house’s back porch, where Darla stood grinning at him as she held the door wide. She and Preach could start up a hoedown with all the humor frolicking around on their faces. Making a point to avoid the housekeeper’s eyes, Matt set his jaw and strode into the kitchen.

It took only moments for the men to gather around the kitchen table. Burkett sat at the head with his hands flanking him on either side. Matt took a chair at the opposite end, and Preach settled in beside him, leaving a place open for the housekeeper, should she decide to join them after she finished pouring coffee for everyone.

Burkett ignored his freshly filled cup. He planted his forearms on the table, leaned in, and glared straight at Matt. “Darla told me about the letter she wrote to Josephine. Why don’t you pick up the tale there and fill in the missing pieces?”

Matt nodded and proceeded to give a bare-bones report of how Josie had tracked them down and hired the Horsemen to rescue her brother. How she’d insisted on accompanying them. How he’d insisted she remain out of harm’s way in Chatfield while they hunted Taggart’s gang. He recounted the rescue of Charlie, emphasizing the strategy they employed, the number of men Taggart had at his disposal, weaknesses they’d observed, and areas where the outlaws had proven competent adversaries. There was no need to describe the danger inherent in the mission. Burkett was a military man. He understood.

After listening intently without interruption, Burkett suddenly flattened his palm against the tabletop. “Hold up, Hanger. If the rescue was successful and Jo was safely in Chatfield, how did she come to be taken?”

Matt shared a look with Preach. How much to say?