Brighter than Gold (Western Rebels Book 1) (5 page)

“Consider yourself employed, Miss Abby!” Brian declared, refilling her glass.

Her large round eyes pooled with tears, and she leaned against Jack’s arm in relief. “You’re all so kind. Jack’s visit yesterday was like a miracle. He’s saving my life....”

“Yes, Mr. Adams ought to be a candidate for sainthood,” Katie murmured, looking away. She didn’t like the way she was feeling or acting, but kindness and charity seemed beyond her at the moment, and she was convinced that somehow Jack Adams was responsible. Certainly she’d never behaved like this before! He seemed to have the ability to needle her in ways that weren’t apparent to anyone else, which infuriated her all the more. Katie glanced back at him now and found him watching her. He gave her a barely perceptible wink, then returned his attention to Abigail Armitage, who beamed up at him with frank adoration.

“Now then, Miss Abby,” Brian said, “when would you like to start work?”

“I’d be glad to begin today if someone can teach me what to do.” Shyly, she looked toward Katie, who averted her eyes and began polishing the bar again.

“Unfortunately, I have an article about the Griffin to finish for the
Gazette
today, but I’m sure my father would be happy to instruct you,” Katie said stiffly.

“Did I hear you mention the Griffin?” demanded an angry voice from across the saloon.

All four turned their attention to the tall, thin, well-dressed blond man who walked up to the bar. His mouth was set in a hard line that was accentuated by a jutting nose and cheekbones. Small, deep-set pale blue eyes stared at each of them in turn.

Brian splashed whiskey into a shot glass and set it on the bar. “Good morning, Mr. Van Hosten. Beautiful day, isn’t it?” He cleared his throat. “Uh, my daughter was just sayin’ that she’s composing a piece about the Griffin for the newspaper. She works there, you know.”

Harold Van Hosten smiled thinly, downed the whiskey, then inquired, “It will come as no surprise to you, Miss MacKenzie, to learn that I am rather interested to hear if any progress has been made toward discovering the Griffin’s true identity or his whereabouts.”

“None as far as I know,” Katie admitted. “My story merely explores various possibilities of identity and motive—who he might be and why he turned to this way of life.”

“If you hear anything, even a rumor, I would appreciate it if you would come to me. I’ll be glad to reimburse you for your trouble. As long as that outlaw is at large, my very life is in danger.”

Katie wanted to say, “Not to mention your money!” but instead replied politely, “I appreciate your concern, Mr. Van Hosten, and I’ll remember what you’ve said.”

“Good.” He drained his second whiskey, looking at Jack and Abby over the rim of the glass. “You’re Adams, aren’t you? I think we were introduced a few months back.”

“That’s right.” Jack’s voice was low, his gaze even. “It was at the Wells Fargo office in Sonora, I believe. I trust you had a pleasant journey that day?”

“On the contrary, I was robbed by that cursed Griffin!”

Jack’s brows lifted. “I’m sorry to hear that. It was fortunate for me that I took the stage to Sacramento instead.”

“The criminal only took
my
valuables. It’s a vendetta of some sort, but I assure you that I mean to even the score! Rush and I are posting a reward that should bring out a Judas among the miners who revere, and doubtless protect, that outlaw.” His blue eyes glittered coldly, then he blinked, regaining his composure. “I seem to recall that you were in search of a profitable claim to work, Adams. Any luck?”

“Not the sort I’d hoped for. I’m here to investigate a claim I heard is up for sale a few miles east.”

“Well, such pursuits are risky business at best these days. If you’re disappointed again, come and see me at the mine office. I might be able to provide more reliable employment.”

The smile that curved Jack’s mouth didn’t quite reach his eyes. “That’s very generous of you.”

“Pragmatic, my good fellow,” Van Hosten replied coolly. “You’re strong and able-bodied, but those qualities are easy to come by here in the foothills. What is harder to find is a man with a quick mind. You’re intelligent. I can see it in your eyes.”

“You’ll understand if I don’t demur.” Jack’s voice was dry.

Brian was growing increasingly uneasy as he listened to this conversation. It worried him to think that Jack might go to work for Rush and Van Hosten. Glancing over at his daughter, he saw that she was watching the two men with an expression of open contempt. He decided that a distraction was in order.

“Mr. Van Hosten,” he interrupted, “I’ve neglected to introduce you to Columbia’s newest resident and
my
newest employee! This is Mrs. Abigail Armitage. Miss Abby, say hello to Mr. Harold Van Hosten, one of our most prominent citizens!”

She smiled at him warily and extended her hand, which Van Hosten lifted lightly to his lips. After amenities were exchanged, he murmured, “Armitage... that name sounds familiar....”

“I believe that you were acquainted with my husband, Ben, Mr. Van Hosten. He worked in your mine. You may recall that Ben staked a claim of his own near Springfield, and it looked very promising. I believe that you were quite interested in purchasing it from him, but he refused, and shortly after that he was... killed in an accident in the mine.” Abby’s rouged lips trembled as she spoke.

Van Hosten put some coins on the bar and stood up. “Of course, I do remember your husband, Mrs. Armitage,” he said absently. “He was a fine man, a good worker. Mr. Rush and I were saddened by his death. Unfortunately, mining is hazardous, and I know that Ben was aware of the risks. You have my sincere sympathy, madam, and my best wishes for the future.”

Abby could only nod, after which Van Hosten made his farewells and strode out of the saloon. Longing to soothe the obviously distraught young widow, Brian poured more sherry.

“Thank you,” she whispered. Her tiny hand shook as she lifted the glass to her lips.

Katie felt the stirrings of genuine compassion. Ignoring Jack and her father, she reached over to touch Abby’s arm. “I have to go to the
Gazette
for a few hours, but I’ll return here later this afternoon and help you learn what will be necessary to perform your job. All right, Abby?”

“You’re very kind.”

“I thought Miss Abby might stay in that spare room upstairs,” Brian remarked. “The bed’s good, and there’s a balcony overlooking Main Street. With a few female touches, it ought to do quite nicely. Why don’t you let me show it to you, m’dear, and you can freshen up if you’d like, and lie down for a bit.”

Jack stood up. “Abby’s things are still at the Wells Fargo office. I’ll go get them.”

To her dismay, Katie found that he was walking behind her out of the saloon, and she could feel him watching the gentle sway of her hips. Out on the dusty street, she whirled to face him.

“I wish you would stay away from me!”

Jack feigned surprise. “I thought I
was
doing that! You can’t accuse me of lurking, either, since I announced my intention to leave.”

Katie was unnerved by the way his eyes danced as they stared into her own. “I can’t bear your proximity,” she said, then turned and walked away.

Jack kept pace. “That’s unfortunate, since we’re heading in the same direction. And I had the impression that you had something on your mind that you might wish to say to me....”

Goaded to the breaking point, Katie stopped. “All right,” she replied in poisonously sweet tones, “I’ll tell you.”

“Good!” He broke into a grin and she narrowed her eyes in return. “I’m sure you’ll feel better afterward. Why don’t we just step over here under a tree so that we don’t attract a crowd.”

When Jack’s fingers closed around her arm, as if to guide her, Katie wrenched free and walked ahead of him to the shelter of the spreading branches of a tree of heaven.

“Here I am,” Jack invited, standing before her, “a willing target. Please begin.”

“I don’t mind if I do! First of all, you needn’t look as if my anger is cause for amusement.”

“I’m sorry. I’ll try to do better.” He strove to settle his features into a mask of sobriety.

“And
I am well aware that you are presently being nice only to entertain yourself!” When he blinked in mild surprise, Katie was unaccountably pleased. “Everything you have done today, Mr. Adams, has made me furious! I feel a great deal of sympathy for Mrs. Armitage, and she seems to be a good person, but you had no right to manipulate my father into providing employment for her!”

“Was that what I did?”

“It certainly was! Oh, you were very canny, like a cat with a mouse, explaining the situation to my father in such a way that he was bound to agree! He is kind, warm-hearted, and impulsive, as well you know, for you have been the recipient of his generosity yourself. But, if you were a person with any scruples, you would not have played upon his good nature to achieve your own ends!”

Jack’s brows arched slightly. “And what might those be?”

She wished he would be quiet and just listen to her. Casting about for a response, she exclaimed, “I’d rather not sully my mind with the sordid possibilities.”

Unable to contain himself, he gave in to husky laughter, eventually taking a breath and murmuring, “I’m sorry; I couldn’t help it. Sometimes the things that come out of your mouth are simply delightful!” He smiled down at her angry countenance. “Is it so difficult for you to believe that my motive was simply to help Abby?”

“Perhaps it was in part, but I also know that there is more to it,” Katie said stubbornly.

“Do you imagine that I did it to aggravate you?”

That was precisely what she thought, but when he said it aloud it sounded ludicrous. “Of course not! But you had no right to interfere in the business of the saloon. We have worked hard to establish a certain reputation for quality—unlike the establishments in Columbia which cater to a more... lascivious clientele. Now that reputation will be at risk!”

Jack leaned against the tree trunk and folded his arms. “Your father is only at risk to make more money than he’s seen lately. Abby likes men, and they’ll like her—therefore, they’ll come to the saloon to see her.”

“You can try to whitewash this, but the fact remains—”

“That you’re jealous. You’ve been the only female in that saloon, and even though you claim to be above feminine vanity, the fact remains that you’ve gotten all the admiring looks from the men without having to curl your hair or wear a pretty gown or lower yourself to wearing powder and rouge.”

Katie longed to slap him, but the curious glances of passersby held her in check. “I do not wish to discuss this matter any further, Mr. Adams. Obviously you are far too rude to listen to reason or admit that you have erred.”

“It seems I am quite hopeless,” he replied agreeably. “Are we finished?”

“Not quite!” Her eyes were flashing, her delicately sculpted cheeks were rosy, and she was breathing hard. The conviction that Jack appreciated even the physical effects of her fury only made Katie angrier. “I also would like to inform you that, if I did not already have enough reasons to disapprove of you, your conversation with Harold Van Hosten gave me another.”

The laughter went out of Jack’s eyes. “Indeed?”

“It was unpleasant enough to see you being polite to a man I have told you is corrupt, and who you know may well have been responsible for the death of Mrs. Armitage’s husband. But when you began discussing the possibility of going to
work
for him, I was filled with revulsion!”

Jack opened his mouth to speak, then seemed to think better of it and sighed instead. A muscle in his jaw tensed before he finally replied evenly, “Unlike the Griffin, whose courage you so admire, I cannot wear a mask in the presence of Van Hosten. I must introduce myself by name and show my face, which I happen to be quite fond of. I haven’t forgotten Ben Armitage’s death; it holds a lesson, reminding me what is necessary to stay alive. If that makes me a coward, then so be it.”

Katie steeled herself against the spell of his eyes and his soft, serious voice. “We have nothing left to say to each other, Mr. Adams.”

Slowly, he reached out and smoothed a stray curl from her brow. Gentle irony infected his voice as he murmured, “Somehow, Miss MacKenzie, I doubt that....”

Her heart thudded and she tried to swallow. Pressing her lips together, Katie turned away. She had gone only a few steps when the pull of his eyes caused her to pause for an instant, but then she continued walking, not looking back until she was safely inside the white frame office of the
Columbia Gazette.
Leaning against the door, she pressed shaking fingers to her burning cheeks.

“Odious, odious man!” she whispered. She had no idea why Jack Adams stirred up such vehement, conflicting emotions within her, but she wished fervently that he had never come into her life.

Chapter 4