She waited until the two riders began to slow. Seasoned riders, not greenhorns. They rode like they’d been born on horses. They were young men—one appeared to be a half-breed. No, they both were. Brothers, she concluded—and plenty easy on the eyes, she mused appreciatively. One had fairer hair and eyes as warm as honey, but the resemblance was clear in their carriage and muscular build. The darker-haired one with the brooding eyes was older. He’d be the one for her to work.
They slid off their horses and left the reins loose over the saddle pommels. The horses stayed in place like obedient dogs, not even looking to munch the grass. Horse trainers, she thought. Cheyenne, looks like.
“Afternoon, miss,” he said. The younger man merely nodded, then looked over her wagon. Lenora could tell they’d been raised with manners—her favorite kind of sucker. “C’n we offer some help here?”
“Why, I’m grateful! I fear I’m losing a wheel, and I don’t have a spare.”
She noticed the younger one give her a slight glare of disapproval. Maybe he felt she was a foolish, helpless woman with no sense, traveling alone in the frontier. The older brother showed only a polite, kind expression. Yes, both were plenty easy on the eyes, but they were a mite young for her. Still . . .
The two men eyed her wheel and talked quietly.
“We really don’t have time for this, LeRoy,” the younger told his brother. “We have to get to Burlington before dark.”
LeRoy scolded his brother with his eyes. “Look, if you can find something to prop up the wagon with, I can fix this—enough so she can get to Evans. I’ve got some wire in my saddlebag. That’ll work in place of the pin.”
Lenora smiled demurely at the younger man. “And what’s your name, Cowboy?” She resisted the urge to sweep the stray strands of unruly dark-gold hair from his face. He was sure a sweet one—a lot prettier than old, dead Hank. She would just love to run her long manicured nails through that mane.
“Name’s Eli Banks, ma’am.”
“Oh, please,” she said with a pout, while watching LeRoy rummaged through his saddlebag. “Ma’am sounds so old! Call me . . .” She sucked in a breath, then coughed. She couldn’t very well use her real name, now, could she? “. . . Stella.”
The young man merely nodded, then wandered around looking at the rain-soaked ground—ugly, bleak desert potholed with prairie dog tunnels. Lenora enjoyed watching the way he moved, his strong back and well-toned arms evident under his cotton shirt. By the time LeRoy had returned to the wagon, Eli had found a broken plank of wood, something that looked to have been part of an old cabin or other building.
“Where are you two boys off to in such a hurry?” she asked as they worked to prop up the wagon so that the wheel hung loose.
LeRoy cast her a quick glance, then focused on wiring the wheel back on. He knelt beside the wagon. “We’re joinin’ a posse that’s being organized in Burlington—that’s just west of here a bit.”
Lenora stiffened. “And . . . who are y’all going after?”
“Didn’t you come from Denver City?” Eli asked, standing and facing her, his brows furrowed in suspicion. “You must’ve heard about the Dutton Gang, and the jailbreak.”
“Jailbreak! No, I hadn’t heard.” She narrowed her eyes. “How did you know I came from Denver?”
Eli shrugged as if the answer was obvious. “C’n tell by your horse. How weary he is. And the color of the dirt caked on his ankles. You’ve been ridin’ him pretty hard.” A streak of ire crossed his features. “Seems you’re in a hurry too. Need to get someplace before dark?”
LeRoy nudged his elbow into Eli’s rib. Maybe he thought his brother was being rude. But Lenora only gave them both an innocent smile, admiring the Indian powers of observation the younger brother showed. He clearly had some worthy tracking skills. “Well, yes, I was in Denver City. Visitin’ my sick sister. But she’s better now. And I’m . . . headin’ home now.”
LeRoy turned his attention back to the wheel. Lenora stood in polite silence, making it clear she had nothing more to say. More mean clouds gathered overhead, and she longed to get out of her damp clothes and take a nice hot bath. But simple pleasures would have to wait.
Eli grunted and watched his brother. In a moment, LeRoy got to his feet and brushed his hands on his leather chaps.
“All set. I’d go easy until you get to Evans. The wheel’s in good shape, but you’ll need a new linchpin.”
“And be sure to rub down that horse. And don’t give ’im cold water to drink when you get there,” Eli added in a lecturing tone.