A Promise to Believe in (16 page)

Gwen had finished packing for the trip and had just brought her small pack downstairs when Dave Shepard knocked on the door and poked his head in. “Howdy, Gwen.”

“Come on in, Dave. What’s going on?”

“I’m afraid it’s your sister.” He took off his hat and ran his hand back through blond hair. “Lacy is causing trouble with some of the area ranchers.”

“In what way?” Gwen put her pack down and straightened.

“Yes, in what way?” Beth asked as she came in from the dining room.

Dave looked rather sheepish. “I’d just as soon talk to Gwen alone, if you don’t mind.”

“Well, I do,” Beth said, placing her hands on her hips.

“I do, too,” Lacy said, following in behind Beth.

Dave looked to Gwen. She felt sorry for him, but there was no way either of her sisters were going to leave now that he’d announced a problem with Lacy.

“Okay.” He turned his back on the girls and faced Gwen. “Sheriff wants you to keep Lacy from going out to the area ranches and snooping around.”

“Have you been doing this, Lacy?” Gwen asked.

“I just figure if the sheriff won’t do his job, then I will,” Lacy said, defending her position. “It’s not my fault Dave and his boss are lazy.”

“If you can’t keep her home,” Dave continued, “Sheriff Cummings said we’ll have to arrest her for trespassing.”

“Just let him try,” Lacy said, coming to stand in front of the six-foot-three deputy. “It’ll take more than you, Dave Shepard. You’d better bring an army if you plan to arrest me.”

“I’ll bring as many gentlemen as I need,” Dave promised, leaning down until they were nearly nose to nose.

Gwen watched as Lacy gave him a smirk. “But if only gentlemen are allowed, you’ll have to stay behind.”

He pressed forward, causing Lacy to bend backward to avoid his touching her. “I’ll bring hardened criminals if it means settling you down. Why can’t you just be a lady like your sisters?”

“Oh!” Lacy gasped and stepped back. She was nearly at a loss for words and stormed from the room. “I’ll show you!”

Dave couldn’t seem to leave well enough alone. “Why don’t you learn knittin’ or quiltin’? That would keep you too busy to run around stickin’ your nose in where it doesn’t belong.”

“If I were you, Dave,” Gwen said softly, “I’d leave now. There’s no telling what she’s gone to fetch. There is a rifle in the kitchen, you know.” Beth nodded and threw a glance over her shoulder.

He blanched ever so slightly. “I guess I have overstayed my welcome. Just see that she stays home, Gwen. Otherwise, I’m afraid she’ll get hurt.”

“She’s coming with me to Virginia City and Norris,” Gwen told him. She pushed him toward the door. “That ought to keep her plenty busy for at least a few days.”

“I heard Lacy is going with you and Gwen,” Nick said.

Hank looked up from securing the last of his gear to the saddle. “You heard right.”

“I don’t envy you.” Nick laughed and moved to finish saddling Gwen’s horse. “Lacy Gallatin is pretty worked up about finding her pa’s killer. I don’t know how much good she’ll be to you on this trip.”

“At least it’s not Beth going along.”

Nick frowned, and Hank could see there was something in what he’d said that bothered the younger man. He checked one more time to make sure his cinch was tight enough. This whole saddling thing was new to him, and while he’d practiced every day since acquiring the animal, Hank was far from expert.

“Beth’s a good woman. She’s not anywhere near the trouble her sister can be.” Nick straightened and pushed his dark brown hair back.

“Well, she’s given me a fair amount of grief, and I’m just as glad to have her stay here. Maybe having her hands full with the extra work will keep her from pulling any pranks.”

“Beth?” Nick shook his head. “I don’t know that I would ever believe her capable of that. She can get her dander up—”

“Seems to me all of the Gallatin women are good at that,” Hank replied. He gave Nick a smile. “I’ve never met women with more gumption and determination.”

“I’ll second that,” Simon said, joining them. “The Gallatin girls are strong. They have to be to make it out here.”

“And then after all their pa put them through . . . He used to really regret that.”

“What did he put them through?” Hank asked.

Nick shrugged. “Oh, just things like workin’ ’em hard, movin’ them from place to place all the time. They never had a real home after their ma died, until Gallatin House.”

“How did their mother die?” Hank found himself suddenly wanting to know everything.

“Childbirth, I think. They don’t talk that much about her.” Nick came to where Hank stood and nodded. “You’re gettin’ better. Looks tight enough to keep you going.”

Hank pulled several coins from his pocket and handed them to Nick. “Thanks for your work. If I find what I’m looking for in Virginia City, I may not be back this way.”

“Well, good luck to you,” Nick said, taking the money.

“You’re takin’ all your clothes in those saddlebags?” Simon asked.

Hank looked at the bags and shook his head. “Some of my clothes have met with . . . well . . . an accident. At least, that’s how Miss Beth Gallatin describes it.” He moved toward the door, and Major jumped up from where he’d waited near the front of the stall. “We’ll be back shortly for the horses.”

Hank and Major were just crossing in front of Rafe’s Saloon when the owner himself made an appearance.

“Howdy, stranger.”

“Hello,” Hank said, nodding.

“You’ve been around these parts for a spell now, but you’ve not come to see me.”

“I’ve had no business with you.”

Rafe frowned. “I’m Rafe. I own this here saloon and den of pleasure.” He laughed. “I figure everyone has business with me.”

Hank shook his head. “I’m afraid not. I’ve no use for your type of business.”

“So what is your business, mister?”

“Just that.
My
business.” Hank narrowed his gaze and stared hard at the man, as if challenging him to suggest otherwise.

“It’s a small town. Just lookin’ out for it and the people who live here,” Rafe said. He stuck his thumbs in his waistband and rocked back on his heels. “I’m kind of the self-appointed mayor.”

“I doubt anyone other than you sees it that way,” Hank said with a smile. “Nevertheless, I assure you that my motives are pure, and my deeds are not to cause harm to any of . . . your people.”

“Then why not share a drink and a bit of fun?”

“Because saloons are not my idea of fun.”

Rafe let out a grunt. “I suppose you’re one of those do-gooder Christians like the Gallatin girls. Can’t abide for folks to enjoy themselves.” He turned and stomped off into the saloon, leaving Hank to stare after him.

Hank shook his head. Rafe had completely misjudged the situation. Hank was neither a do-gooder, nor a Christian.

CHAPTER TWELVE

The skies were still streaked with light when Beth came to check on Nick’s leg. The days were growing longer and longer, and Beth liked that she could still tend to business well into the evening.

Nick was focused on the work before him and didn’t even hear Beth’s approach. She thought he looked quite handsome as he deftly handled a piece of iron. She couldn’t make out what he was doing exactly, but his dark hair fell over his left eye in such a way that she wished she could push it back.

“Hello.”

Nick looked up mid-stroke. “What are you doing here? Kind of late, isn’t it?”

“I finished my work and figured to check on you. Patience is minding the house.”

Nick put his things aside and wiped his hands on his apron. “Sure glad she decided to come stay with you. I wouldn’t have felt good about having you there alone.”

“I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself.” She hoped her tone betrayed her irritation that he would think otherwise. “How’s your leg? I came to check on your progress.”

“You don’t need to worry about it,” he said with a grin.

“I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself.”

She crossed her arms. “Sometimes, Nick Lassiter, you are a very difficult man.” Turning to go, she hoped he’d call her back or maybe come after her. She wasn’t really mad at him, but neither could she allow him to sass her. She deserved respect.

“Can’t take your own medicine, eh?” he said, joining her on the walk back to Gallatin House.

“I was just being neighborly,” Beth said, sounding more put out than she felt.

“But I can’t be?” he questioned.

They walked past Rafe’s, and Beth could see there was some activity going on inside. Cubby waved from the front door, where he sat polishing a spittoon.

“Evenin’, Miss Beth,” he called. “Howdy, Nick.”

“Cubby,” Nick replied and nodded.

Beth poured on the sweetness in her tone. “Hello, Cubby. How are you doing? How’s your arm?”

Cubby raised his left arm and circled it around. “Much better. Thanks for the liniment. Pa said I probably just strained it carrying those barrels up from storage.”

“Glad to help,” Beth replied. “Glad, too, that you don’t take offense like some when I ask after your injury.”

This clearly confused Cubby, but he only lowered his arm and went back to work. Beth made her way to the porch with Nick at her side.

“That was a bit uncalled for, don’t you think?” Nick asked.

“I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Beth said in the same sweet tone.

“You know very well what I’m talking about. I didn’t take offense because you asked about my leg. I just didn’t want you frettin’ over it. It’s healing just fine. There’s a large bruise, but otherwise, I’m perfectly well. Does that satisfy you?”

Beth took a seat on one of the porch benches and smiled. “I’m glad to hear that you are doing well.”

He sighed and went to sit on the porch rail opposite her. “If you care so much about me, Beth Gallatin, why won’t you let me court you?”

Beth hadn’t been prepared for this line of questioning. Nick and Simon had each asked to court her on different occasions, but Beth had always refused them. They knew why.

“You know very well why I won’t court you.”

“Because I have an occasional beer?”

“That and other things.”

Nick shook his head. “I just don’t see that an occasional beer hurts anyone.”

“An occasional whack over the head with a tree branch doesn’t hurt anyone all that much, either,” Beth’s sarcastic tone was not lost on the man.

“It’s not like I go get drunk at Rafe’s. I never do that. I never have.”

“You don’t have to defend your actions to me, Nick Lassiter.” Beth got up and moved to the porch swing. She sat down and kicked out her feet to get the swing rocking. “You must feel guilty, since you need to so adamantly explain your actions.”

Nick pushed off the rail and came to stand in front of her. “I don’t feel guilty for havin’ a beer. I just don’t understand why that keeps you so uppity in regards to courting me.”

Beth shook her head. “It isn’t just the beer. You aren’t a Christian.”

“And what makes you say that? I don’t get drunk. I don’t cuss. I help people when I can and do good when I get a chance. There isn’t a church around here for quite a few miles, or I would probably go every Sunday ’cause I like to hear good preachin’.”

“But those things don’t make you a Christian, Nick.”

“Just ’cause I don’t go around carryin’ a Bible and prayin’ all the time doesn’t mean I’m not a Christian.”

“Yes, but the fact that you think being good can save your soul implies to me that you don’t really understand. You need to trust Jesus. Believe in Him, repent, be baptized, turn from your wicked ways, and live for God.”

“And I suppose one of my wicked ways is drinkin’ a beer once in a while?”

Beth shrugged and let the swing slow to a stop. “I didn’t say the beer was necessarily evil, in and of itself. A beer sitting in a mug doesn’t do anything wrong or right. But the effect of that beer could cause a great deal of harm once it’s ingested. You’ve seen it, and so have I. It’s most likely the reason my father was killed.” Beth’s voice broke with emotion she hadn’t anticipated. “They were drinking that night, Nick. You know they were.”

Nick sat beside her, and the porch swing suddenly seemed very small to Beth. He reached for her hand, and she looked away, not quite sure what to do. She didn’t want to offend him by pulling away, but neither did she want to encourage him with false hope.