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originate from the soil like other diseases. Other cattle brought it, and from what Zeke said, it was extremely contagious. That was the part that perplexed Cooper, because he hadn’t bought any new cattle.
    He’d had a plan from the first day of how best to grow his herd and stuck with it. He always kept his bloodline clean and only sold cows when he needed money to stay afloat or to prevent overgrazing. In five years, he’d doubled the number to over five hundred.
    So why this disease and why now? If only he had checked the brand on the initial dead cow before he set it ablaze. Maybe it hadn’t belonged to him. Maybe it had wandered onto his land.
    Or maybe someone had deliberately run a sick cow onto the Long Odds. No, it couldn’t be that. He didn’t have any enemies.
    Though didn’t he, what with someone forging his name and writing letters to the lovely Delta Dandridge? Maybe it was the same damn person. Awful strange that both things happened on the exact dadgum day.
    He took off his hat and shoved a hand through his dark hair, racking his brain for the name of someone who might want to both embarrass and destroy him.
    There had only been one man who fit the category, but Cooper had killed the sorry no-good jackal. Tolbert Early hadn’t given him any choice.
    The memory of that day still haunted Cooper. The night he shot Early he’d become his father’s son, the thing he’d sworn he’d never be. Now the die was cast and he couldn’t change it. He cursed and jammed his hat back on his head.
    â€œWe got a lot of work to do. Might as well get to it,” he said to his faithful buckskin. “No use wastin’ time.”
    Or fretting about the past.
    The remainder of the day, the men feverishly worked to inspect as many of the herd as possible. Before Cooper knew it, the sun glowed a fiery red ball low on the horizon.
    Thank God, they hadn’t found any more sick cattle.
    Cooper turned to his men. “Let’s call it a day and head to the house.”
    â€œNow, that’s a right good idea,” Zeke agreed.
    Again, Rand was waiting for them on the porch. It didn’t take long to discover the reason—seemed he was busting a gut to find out what had happened between Cooper and the lady Dandridge. Snoop that his brother was.
    â€œI’ve got far more serious worries than a woman who’s trying to leg-shackle me.” Cooper told him about the disease infecting his herd. “It’ll be a miracle if I don’t lose everything I’ve worked for.”
    â€œYou think it’s deliberate?”
    â€œNot saying that. Not ruling anything out, though. But it had to either be a sick cow wandering onto Long Odds land or someone dumping it into the midst of my cattle.”
    â€œPays to keep an open mind,” Rand agreed. “Anyone have a grudge against you?”
    â€œOnly one.”
    Rand nodded. “Tolbert Early.”
    â€œYep. And he’s dead, so that leaves me at zero.”
    â€œI’ll keep my ears open at the saloon. If I hear of anything, I’ll holler.”
    â€œAppreciate it, Rand.”
    â€œOne of us has trouble, we all have it.” Rand laid a hand on Cooper’s shoulder. “We’ll figure this out. You’re not in it alone. Brett and I have your back.”
    Cooper gazed at the distant horizon as though, if he tried hard enough, he could see the trouble that rode toward him. The only thing was, trouble usually snuck up on a man from behind when he least expected it.
    A deep sigh filled the night air. “Have you taken to chewing tobacco, Rand?”

Four
    Delta arrived at Abercrombie’s Mercantile early the next morning, ready to work.
    John Abercrombie stared in icy silence as she set down the lunch bucket Mrs. King had made for her and briskly pulled an apron over her head. After several long seconds, he spoke. “Frankly, didn’t expect to see hide nor hair of