Brighter than Gold (Western Rebels Book 1) (21 page)

She damned the traitorous blood that rushed to her cheeks. “Absolutely!”

“Yes, because you despise me, isn’t that right? I am an overbearing cad, if memory serves me, and you desire only to sever all contact between us—forever.” He spread his hands wide in a gesture of anticipation. “Dare I hope that you’ve changed your mind?”

“Certainly not!”

“Well, it’s been three days, which in some matters could be defined as forever, don’t you think? Your interest in my ‘busy schedule,’ as you put it—by which I assume you mean the time I’ve spent with the charming Miss Barnstaple”—he gave her a devilish grin—“prompts me to hope that you might have had a change of heart.”

Katie was furious. How dare he laugh at her? “Mr. Adams,” she said, mustering her iciest tone of voice, “let me assure you that I have not experienced a change of heart where you are concerned. I wish I could completely erase you from my life, past and present.”

One of his eyebrows flicked upward slightly. “Those are cold words, Kathleen.”

“I mean them.” Pride threatened to choke her.

“In that case,” he replied, turning back to the platen, “you won’t need to clutter your mind with thoughts of my social activities. Since there is nothing between us whatsoever, it’s only natural that I should seek female companionship elsewhere.”

“My only concern is for Miss Barnstaple’s welfare,” Katie said, bristling. “You have a way of infecting unsuspecting females with the stench of scandal.”

Jack kept his eyes on the platen as he worked, but his voice was hard. “You’re on the edge, my dear. Watch your step.”

Returning her attention to the papers on Gideon’s desk, Katie found that her hands shook and she could hear the pounding of her heart. Frantically, without giving thought to what she was doing, she arranged everything into piles. When Jack walked back across the office, approaching the desk, Katie didn’t look up. She prayed he would leave without another word.

“Let me know when you’re ready to print,” he said tonelessly. “I want to be certain that it’s working properly.”

“You needn’t bother. Besides, what do you know about printing presses?” She heard the tremor in her voice. “Just because you found a platen for this press, that hardly makes you an expert! I’m sure that I know more about it than you ever—”

His bronzed hand shot out to grip her forearm. “Why don’t you hold your tongue for a change? You haven’t the slightest idea what I do and do not know. I went to a lot of trouble to get that platen up here, and I’ll be damned if I’ll let you order me to stay away from it!”

Katie struggled to free herself, but his fingers were like steel on her flesh. “Let go of me, you savage! I’ll have Gideon tell you himself if that’s what it takes to keep you away!”

“Fine. You do that.” Jack’s eyes flashed. “Oh, and one more thing, Miss MacKenzie. Stay clear of Aaron Rush. Write about the church social and your latest recipe for soup, but if you value your life, you won’t write any more about Rush and his mine.”

“Get out!” she cried.

Jack released her then and strode out the door, which banged shut behind him. Katie threw a bronze paperweight at the door, fighting an urge to weep. She hated Jack so much, her heart threatened to break.

* * *

“What I need, is
proof!
” Katie declared, setting a piece of lemon custard pie in front of Gideon.

When he picked up his fork, the pain in his shoulder made him wince. “If only I hadn’t tried to lift those pots the other day....”

“Helping Abby again? Your newfound chivalry will do you in yet!” She was smiling, but there was a note of frustration in her voice. “Oh, Gideon, I wish you were well—well enough to come back to work at the
Gazette.”

“Yes, of course, so do I.” This wasn’t entirely true, for he was reveling in the days spent with Abby, though still uncertain what these new feelings meant. “Now, tell me, what’s all this about ‘proof’?”

“I need to find some evidence that Aaron Rush has been threatening and blackmailing people to get their land, just as he and Van Hosten did to get hold of people’s claims in the past. If I’m going to write an editorial exposing him, I must have some facts to back up my allegations—”

“Katie, I don’t think that would be a good idea.” Gideon strove to sound calm, looking around the saloon to make certain no one could overhear them. “Jack was telling me that it would be wise to lie low for the time being and just keep an eye on Rush. He thinks that—”

“Don’t bore me with Mr. Adams’s thoughts on this or any other subject!” she cried. “He delights in interfering in my life, even going so far as to poke his nose into the activities at the
Gazette.
That’s one of the reasons I miss you so much, Gideon. If you were there, he wouldn’t be able to meddle because you would be able to test the new platen yourself.”

Gideon stared, nonplussed. He still hadn’t decided what to make of the animosity between Katie and Jack, but one thing was clear: although Katie had seemed to be living on the brink of frenzy these past few days, she was more
alive
than at any time since Brian’s death. Now, watching her get up to pace between the table and the bar, Gideon took a careful breath.

“I know you won’t enjoy hearing this, but I like Jack and I appreciate the interest he’s shown in the
Gazette
. Do you have any idea how much trouble he went to getting that platen all the way up here? Not to mention the fact that it didn’t cost me a cent—”

“How could he charge you for something you didn’t order?”

Gideon tilted his head in a gesture of mild admonishment. “Now, Katie...”

“Well, it’s true,” she muttered.

“I think you’re being unfair to the man.”

She whirled around, eyes flashing. “Hasn’t it occurred to you that I might have reasons? That perhaps
he’s
been unfair to me?”

“Obviously, since you haven’t shared the facts behind your quarrel with Jack, I am unaware of anything beyond the unreasonable attitude you have toward him. As for myself, I like him and I trust him. Furthermore, I have asked him to do what he can to help at the
Gazette
in my absence, and he was kind enough to agree.” Gideon met Katie’s furious gaze, adding, “He agreed in spite of the fact that it must be distinctly unpleasant for him to have to deal with you.”

Her mouth fell open in shock. “Unpleasant for
him
? How can you say such a thing? Gideon Henderson, I thought you were my friend!”

“I am, but that doesn’t mean I have to condone your behavior. I am also the editor of a newspaper, which I would like to see resume production in my absence. Jack apparently has worked on a paper in the past, and I am grateful for whatever expertise he can contribute.”

Katie’s cheeks were pink with frustration. “But you certainly can’t mean to let him dictate what we’ll print!”

“I have respect for the man’s judgment. If he feels that it would be dangerous to print negative editorials about Aaron Rush at this time, I think it would be wise to take that advice. At least for the time being.”

“Well, I don’t! Have you forgotten that my father is dead, partially as a result of Rush and Van Hosten?” she exclaimed. “That’s the trouble with people in this town—they’ve been too cautious for too long. Whatever happened to freedom of the press?”

“I haven’t forgotten about Brian, or all the others who have opposed Rush and Van Hosten and been harmed as a result... including me! Aaron Rush is a powerful man, Katie, and it may be that other means besides confrontation will have to be employed to bring him down.”

“In the meantime,” she insisted, “the townspeople of Columbia need to be informed of his methods before anyone else is bullied into selling valuable property. Don’t look so worried, Gideon! I won’t print anything without proof.” Turning on her heel, she started toward the saloon door, calling to Lim behind the bar, “I have to go out for a while.”

When she pushed open the door, she nearly collided with a man on his way in. Katie glanced at him and kept on going, calico skirts flying.

Jack Adams paused for a moment to watch her departing figure, then continued on into the saloon. He nodded to Gideon, then inclined his head toward the saloon door. “I don’t think she likes me,” he murmured, his tone dry.

The younger man sighed. “Katie isn’t especially fond of me either right now. Do you have a moment to sit with me, Jack? I thought we ought to talk....”

Chapter 15

October 15, 1864

A soft breeze ruffled the leaves of the cottonwood trees surrounding the recently completed St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church. It was a plain but handsome wooden building with turrets and a tall square tower that housed a copper bell that had been shipped around Cape Horn. Hauled the rest of the way to Columbia by mule freighter, the bell had just arrived a few days ago and now pealed joyously in the sunlight, urging the townspeople to come and worship God.

Katie was in need of church this morning. The last three days had been confusing and frustrating, to say the least. It felt good now to be buttoned into a prim white blouse, Mary MacKenzie’s cameo pinned at her neck and her bible clasped tight in her hand. With Abby beside her, she walked from Jackson Street up the grassy slope to the church. Both of them were preoccupied, but Abby suddenly broke the silence.

“Oh, Katie, I nearly forgot! It doesn’t make any sense to me, but Lim asked me to tell you that your friend Tsing Tsing Yee’s egg is missing. Do you know what that means?”

“Missing?” Katie stopped for a moment, stricken. “Does that mean stolen?”

“I don’t know. Mr. Yee told Lim that he went to get it out last night and it was gone. Was it an egg that he wanted to eat?”

“No, no, it was a very valuable piece of Chinese art,” Katie replied distractedly. As they walked the rest of the way to church, she remained preoccupied, held by the conviction that here at last was a chance to prove the full extent of Aaron Rush’s villainy. It seemed obvious to her that Rush had stolen the egg, not merely out of greed, but also as a means of pressuring and frightening Tsing Tsing Yee into selling his store and the land under it. Horrid man! Katie raged silently. If she could find evidence that he had taken it, or better yet, if she could recover the egg, she could use the
Gazette
to demand that he be punished and forced to leave Columbia.

A familiar voice broke into her reverie. “Good morning, Miss MacKenzie, Mrs. Armitage. Have you met Miss Barnstaple? She’s new to Columbia and longs for some female friends.”

Katie pivoted to behold Jack Adams and Maggie Barnstaple standing under a large blue spruce. Maggie’s chestnut hair was coiled at the base of her neck, and she carried a pagoda-style parasol that matched her stylish green-and-pink silk gown. She and Jack made a handsome couple, Katie was forced to admit. Clad in a well-tailored gray suit, immaculate white shirt, and pearl-gray silk waistcoat with a matching tie, he looked every inch the gentlemen. Jack was also the most compellingly attractive man Katie had ever seen. That realization made her dislike him more than ever.

“How do you do, Miss Barnstaple?” she inquired politely.

“I’m very well, thank you,” Maggie replied. “It’s a pleasure to meet you both.”

“Welcome to Columbia,” Abby said with a warm smile. “Did you have a long journey?”

“Very long. I came from New York.”

“Goodness!” Katie feigned surprise. “Why ever would you want to travel all this way?”

Maggie flushed prettily. “I came to visit my aunt, Miss MacKenzie.”

Deciding not to press the issue, Katie said, “No doubt you have found a kindred soul in Mr. Adams, since he is also new to Columbia and in need of friends. Well, we should be going in now. So pleased to have met you, Miss Barnstaple.”

Maggie Barnstaple watched the two young women enter the church, then turned to Jack. “My goodness! I think that Miss MacKenzie is in love with you!”

“Do you indeed?” Jack chuckled softly. “She would be the first person to set you straight.”

“Well, of course—because she doesn’t know it yet.” Maggie ignored his exclamation of laughter. “I recognize all the signs. I was that way when I first met Peter, when I thought that he was unattainable. Of course, even after his divorce, my parents saw to it that I still couldn’t have him.”

“But you mean to wait it out,” Jack put in. “Women are very stubborn when it comes to matters of the heart. Have you never thought that you might just as easily fall in love with someone else?”