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if not, try to stop those horses from shipping.”
    Alex groaned. “It never occurred to me they might still be coming. I’m headed to town first thing in the morning. I’ll get a wire off, check with the assay office, and maybe stop to see Parson Moser or Elizabeth. I wouldn’t mind getting someone else’s opinion.”
    “Good idea, dear. You could use a friend right now.”
    Alex hugged the older woman and held her close for a moment. “I love you. Have I told you that lately?”
    Martha patted her shoulder and smiled. “I think you have, dearie, but I do enjoy hearing it. You be careful. One accident in our family this year is enough.”

Chapter Four

    Alex rode Banner, her Morgan-Mustang cross, into Last Chance and pulled him to a stop at the fir-sided telegraph building. She swung down and shook out her split skirt, then tossed the buckskin’s reins over the hitching rail and stepped into the small office for the second time in as many days.
    Rob raised his head and a confused look clouded his face. “Miss Travers?”
    Alex leaned her palms on the table and smiled. “Sorry to keep bothering you, Rob. I need to send a wire. Do you still have the address for that breeder my father contracted with?”
    “Sure do. I keep all those important records.” His narrow chest swelled with pride. “I’m a government employee, you know, and I do my job right.”
    “I’m sure you do it wonderfully.” She smiled at the beaming man. “I’d like to send a wire to that same address. Would you copy it for me?”
    “Certainly, Miss Travers.” He reached for a pad and pencil, adjusted his eyeglasses, and poised the pencil above the paper. “Go ahead.”
    “Hmm, let’s see…” She pursed her lips and thought for a moment. “Ben Travers dead. Stop. Are stallion and mares paid? Stop.” She tapped a finger against her lips. “If not, halt shipment. Stop. Please advise. Stop. Alex Travers.”
    Rob finished scribbling and raised serious eyes. “I’ll get that right out. You goin’ to be in town for a while, case an answer comes back?”
    Alex nodded and stepped toward the open door. “Yes. I’m stopping by the church to speak to Parson Moser and then the dry goods store to see Elizabeth Anders. If the reply doesn’t come today, I’ll be back tomorrow.”
    A dreamy smile covered Rob’s face. “Miss Anders?” He sighed. “She’s a lovely lady.”
    Alex bit back a grin. “She certainly is. Thank you, Rob.”
    She stepped eagerly onto the boardwalk. A conversation with her parson and a meal with Elizabeth were just what she needed. She reached for her horse’s reins then hesitated. It wouldn’t hurt Banner to stand tied for an hour or two. She patted his neck and swung away from the rail. The church was a short walk, and the exercise would do her good.
    She tapped on the office door near the back of the church building. “Parson Moser, would you have a few minutes?”
    The door swung open and Bill Moser’s portly form stood framed just inside. “Certainly, my dear. Come in and have a seat.”
    Alex spent the next few minutes sharing her predicament with her parson, who listened attentively and sympathetically. Unburdening her load felt good. Leaning back in the overstuffed chair, she asked him, “So what do you think, Parson?”
    Bill Moser linked his hands behind his graying head. “I’m not quite sure. It doesn’t sound like Ben to do something irresponsible. I can’t imagine him sending for those horses without paying for them first.” He twisted his mouth to the side and sighed. “You’ll more than likely get word that the horses are paid in full.”
    “If Papa promised to buy them, I’d rather see them paid for than not. But while I’d love to introduce new blood into our herd, I can’t say it’s the best time, with Papa gone and the gold missing. Of course, maybe I can locate the spot where he found the gold.” She shook her head. “But the country surrounding the ranch is rugged, with