A Worthy Pursuit (22 page)

He’d be driving the team the rest of the way to Hawk’s Haven. Give Goliath a rest, and maybe even find a creek to wash up
in. Charlotte wasn’t the type to arrive somewhere disheveled, and he could probably stand to rinse the dirt out of his scrapes.

“Stone Hammond!”

Charlotte’s outraged voice had him spinning around to face her even as his hand reached for his gun.

“What?” He scanned the area for a threat. None presented itself. He looked back at her.

“You’re bleeding!” she accused. She marched up to him and started categorizing his paltry wounds. Out loud.

“Quit your fussin’, woman. Nothing’s serious. It’ll keep until we find a stream to wash up in.”

“We have a canteen.” Then she started throwing out orders. “Stephen, lower the tailgate so Mr. Hammond can sit down. John, fetch the water. Lily, unpack one of my petticoats. I’ll need to tear it into strips.”

“Bossy female,” Stone grumbled as she forced him to take a seat. He glared at her. She glared right back. Man, but he liked that about her, the way she stood up to him. And if he was honest with himself, he rather liked the fussing, too.

One mountain at a time, Hammond
.
One mountain at a time.

21

The arched entrance to Hawk’s Haven loomed over Charlotte’s head later that afternoon. The children exclaimed over the hawk outline burned into the wooden sign, but Charlotte gained no comfort from the symbol. As if she needed another predator stalking her and her charges. Dorchester and Franklin were quite enough, thank you. Not to mention the unknown others Franklin was apparently offering reward money to. How many men like those they’d just encountered waited to pounce? A shiver coursed through her, and she leaned a little closer to Stone as he turned the team down the drive toward their final destination.

A cry from a real hawk echoed in the air. Charlotte’s gaze snapped to the sky, but she saw nothing. It was just a bird, she told herself, yet gooseflesh rose on her skin anyway. She rubbed it away with a brutal hand over her sleeve. She didn’t have time for such foolishness.

Stone turned to look at her, concern lining his brow. “You all right?”

She forced a smile. “Fine. Still a little skittish, I guess.”

“Understandable.” He gave her one of his lopsided grins, the kind that made her stomach turn flips. “But we’re safe now that we’re on Hawkins’s land.”

Charlotte nodded. She knew that. She just wasn’t sure how long that safety would last. Stone had assured her that Jonah Hawkins was a good man. Daniel Barrett had vouched for him, and apparently Stone’s friend didn’t hand out praise lightly. Yet that was no guarantee he’d welcome them onto his property. Daniel Barrett might owe Stone his allegiance, but Jonah Hawkins could turn them away in a heartbeat, especially if he suspected trouble followed them.

“Ooooh, Miss Lottie, I can see the house,” Lily squealed. She stood in the wagon bed behind Charlotte’s right shoulder, her hands gripping the driver’s seat for balance. The more excited she grew, the more she bounced, and the more she bounced, the more the wooden seatback thumped against Charlotte’s spine. But Charlotte didn’t have the heart to reprimand her. After the harrowing adventure they’d survived, the girl deserved to bounce and squeal as much as she wanted.

“He’s coming, Miss Lottie! I see him.” The rattling on the back of Charlotte’s seat intensified.

“Where? I don’t see anything,” Stephen grumbled.

“There!” Lily jabbed her arm straight forward, nearly scraping the side of Charlotte’s chin. “A horse. Heading this way.”

“That could be anyone.” Stephen’s voice sounded beleaguered, but Charlotte caught him leaning over the side to look.

“It’s not just anyone,” Lily insisted. “It’s Dead-Eye Dan! I know it is.”

Stone chuckled softly. “That’s him.”

Charlotte cast a quick, reproving glance at Lily. “Remember what we talked about last night. You are to address him as Mr. Barrett. We don’t want to offend or embarrass our host.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Charlotte turned forward on the seat and started smoothing wrinkles from her skirt. She lifted a hand to check her hair but stopped when Stone scowled at her.

“You look fine,” he groused.

And didn’t that boost a lady’s confidence? Dark frowns always enriched a compliment. What had gotten under his skin in such a short time? He’d been smiling at her not two minutes ago. Why did he care if she wanted to tidy her appearance? It only made sense to look her best when meeting the man who had the power to either offer them shelter or send them packing. First impressions were important. Unless . . . No. Surely not. She darted a sideways glance at the man beside her. Surely he didn’t think she was trying to . . .
attract
Mr. Barrett? The idea was laughable. Why, she hadn’t tried to attract a man’s attention in nearly a decade. And why would he care if she did?

Her pulse fluttered as the obvious answer tantalized her. She glanced at Stone again. He was smiling now and raising a hand in greeting. Foolish spinster. Of course the man wasn’t jealous. He was probably just annoyed by her wiggling. Ordering herself
not
to feel disappointed by that conclusion, Charlotte pasted a polite smile on her face and turned her attention to the man approaching.

The dark red of his beard caught the sunlight as he squinted at her with icy blue eyes, taking her measure, no doubt. Charlotte stiffened her spine and raised her chin as Stone reined in the horses.

“Dan, you old rascal. Good to see you.”

Let him look all he wanted. She’d not apologize to him or anyone else for what she’d done to protect Lily. And who was he to judge, anyway? He looked more like an outlaw than a ranch hand, armed nearly as extensively as Stone, minus the
ammunition belt and the gun strapped to his back. He did carry a second rifle, though, one long gun slung on each side of his saddle. Only a man accustomed to trouble packed that kind of arsenal.

Or one
expecting
trouble.

Charlotte swallowed. He had every right to scrutinize her. In fact, she should probably be thankful that Stone had a friend with such obvious . . .
talents
 . . . they could turn to for assistance. Combing down her hackles, she exhaled and forced her hands to unclench in her lap.

“Charlotte.” Stone’s voice drew her attention back to him. His eyes held hers, connecting, encouraging. “May I present Daniel Barrett? Dan, this is Charlotte Atherton.”

Mr. Barrett touched the brim of his hat and dipped his chin a fraction. “Ma’am.”

So stoic. So hard. Did he resent her being there?

“Mr. Barrett.” She bent her head to him. “I hope we are not inconveniencing you with our arrival.”

“No, ma’am.”

She waited for more, but the man didn’t seem inclined to offer reassurances.

“I’m Lily.” The words burst from the girl as if the dam holding them back had suddenly given way. “And I’ve read all your books. Do you think I could get your autograph later?”

The man’s gaze shifted to Charlotte’s left, and his veneer cracked. His mouth twitched and his eyes widened with . . . apprehension? Surely not. What could this hardened warrior possibly fear from a tiny child? Yet his horse shook its head and sidestepped as if sensing his rider’s anxiety.

“Easy, Ranger.”

“
That’s
Ranger?” Lily’s excitement grew palpable. “The same Ranger that beat the door down with his hooves to save you
from burning to death after Billy Cavanaugh locked you in that barn and set it afire? Wow! Can I pet him?” She scooted past John and Stephen in order to get closer to the edge of the wagon bed and reached out a hand toward the dancing horse. “Maybe you could give me a ride later. Mr. Hammond let me ride Goliath with him once. I know how to sit real still and not kick my legs . . .”

Daniel Barrett wheeled his horse around and aimed him back toward the ranch. “I’m . . . ah . . . going to make sure everything’s ready back at the cabin, Stone. See you there.” He nudged Ranger to a trot then a canter and disappeared from sight.

“Way to go, Lily. You scared him off,” Stephen huffed.

“Did not!” Lily planted her hands on her hips. “Dead-Eye Dan’s not scared of anything. He was just in a hurry. Wasn’t he, Mr. Hammond?”

Stone peered over his shoulder. His laughing gaze landed on Charlotte for a brief moment before continuing on to Lily, but in that moment, the humor glowing in his amber eyes lifted her spirits as nothing else could.

“That’s right, squirt. I imagine he’s gonna let you, Miss Lottie, and the boys stay in his cabin while he and I bunk with the hands. He probably rushed off to pack a bag of clothes and stuff to take to the bunkhouse so he won’t disturb you later.”

Stephen crowded in next to Lily. “I want to sleep in the bunkhouse. I’m no baby that needs to stay with the women and children.”

“You’ll be staying with me, Stephen Farley,” Charlotte answered before Stone could be tempted to give the boy his way. “I’m the one responsible for you while your parents are away, and I’ll not have a bunch of foul-mouthed cowhands corrupting your morals while we’re here.”

“But Miss Lottie . . .”

“Don’t argue with your teacher, boy.” Stone’s deep voice cut off Stephen’s protest. “You’ll have plenty of time to hang out with the cowpokes during daylight hours. Nights will be better spent in Dan’s cabin, where it’s quiet. Believe me. I’d trade places with you if I could. Now settle back down.” He flicked the reins over the team and set the wagon back into motion. “Dan’s cabin is the first outbuilding on the right. See if you can spot it.”

The children started shouting and pointing and bouncing, the commotion deafening. But when Stone turned to her and winked, an altogether different commotion stirred inside her. Heavens, she needed to get control of herself. She bit her lip to keep from smiling at him and concentrated on the image of a calm lake swallowing the pebbles that rippled her surface until serenity once again prevailed.

She might trust him to see to Lily’s safety, but allowing herself to develop feelings for the man would be disastrous. At least now that she’d recognized her susceptibility, she could be on her guard.

When Charlotte turned away from him and added several layers of starch to her spine, Stone’s smile relaxed into a more thoughtful posture. Had his wink offended her? Seemed like a little thing to get her dander up about. No, there was something else bothering her. Something deeper. Not that he had a clue as to what it was. Shoot. He could fit what he knew about women in a bullet casing and still have room for the gunpowder. Better spend his energy focusing on what he did understand—protecting his charges. As soon as he got everyone settled, he’d bring Dan up to speed on the situation with Franklin and Dorchester. His friend needed to know the threat housing them could pose.

When they reached the cabin, Stone maneuvered the wagon around the corner so the back would be closer to the door, then he set the brake. He hopped down and turned to offer Charlotte assistance only to find her climbing down on the far side. The woman definitely had a bee in her bonnet about something.

Shrugging off her rejection, he strode to the back of the wagon, untied Goliath, then led his horse to the hitching post next to Ranger while the kids started scooting the bags and trunks toward the tailgate. He’d just made the porch when voices from inside shot through the open door to halt him in his tracks.

“I told you to get out of my cabin, woman. It ain’t proper for you to be here.”

“What
ain’t
proper is for you to inform me we’re having guests a scant twenty minutes before they arrive and then refuse to let me house them in an appropriate manner. Women and children, Daniel? They should be in the house with me, not out here in a bachelor’s cabin.”

“They’re staying here, and that’s final, Etta. You don’t know Stone the way I do. This isn’t a pleasure visit. He brought them here because trouble’s on their trail. With your father away on business, it falls to me to make sure you’re safe. The more distance there is between you and them, the better I like it.”

“Oh, for heaven’s sake! You’d think I was a porcelain doll, the way you treat me. When will you realize that I can do more than sit on a shelf and look pretty?”

Light footsteps clicked against the floorboards in a rapid staccato an instant before a tiny woman appeared in the doorway, tossing fuming daggers over her shoulder in what Stone could only conclude was Dan’s direction. Stone bit back a grin. Seemed he wasn’t the only ex-bounty hunter with woman problems.

“Oh!” The comely female startled when she finally noticed him on the porch. Her anger disappeared in a blink as an inviting smile softened her features. “You must be Mr. Hammond. Welcome to Hawk’s Haven.”

Stone dragged his hat off his head and dipped his chin. “Thank you, ma’am.”

“I’m Marietta Hawkins. I’m sorry my father is not here to greet you as well, but be assured that you and your party are welcome to stay as long as you—”

A blond-headed whirlwind blew past and latched herself onto Miss Hawkins’s hand. “Is this really Dead-Eye Dan’s house? I can’t wait to see inside.”