Carol Finch (20 page)

“So you are claiming that Vanessa sought you out to discredit Karissa’s name, see her imprisoned for murder and machinate her escape to make her appear guilty of the crimes you committed?” Rafe gritted out.

Harlan nodded. “Vanessa threatened to expose my part in the first robbery assault and lay all the blame at my feet if I didn’t meet the rest of her demands. She was blackmailing me into doing her bidding and assured me that she wielded enough power with you to see that I was court-martialed and jailed. I wanted no part of this, but she insisted she would make my life miserable if I didn’t help her rush through this marriage so she would have the financial security that came with your name.”

Harlan smiled triumphantly as he stared at Rafe. “In return for my cooperation, I expect to serve my reduced sentence in the military stockade.”

“What cooperation?” Rafe asked sardonically. “I don’t recall offering to bargain with you in exchange for your statement.” He glanced briefly at Micah. “Did you hear me agree to reducing the sentence of robbery, murder and kidnapping, Captain Whitfield?”

Micah shook his head. “No, sir, you specifically requested that I bear witness to Harlan’s interrogation and
acknowledge
his statement. You did not ask me to agree to reduce his sentence in exchange for information.” He smiled devilishly at Harlan. “You should have been paying closer attention, Corporal. My recommendation will be the same as Commander Hunter’s. I think you should hang thrice.”

Furious outrage registered on Harlan’s face when he realized he’d been outsmarted. When he bounded to his feet, Rafe decided to presume the prisoner was trying to
escape. He doubled his fist and delivered a blow that carried enough impact to send Harlan stumbling backward over the chair that broke to pieces beneath his weight.

Rafe glanced sideways when he heard Karissa crawling from bed. She was the picture of vindictive fury as she snatched up the broken chair leg and whacked Harlan on the head.

“That’s for accosting my brother, you miserable, lowlife excuse for a human being!” she spat at him.

When she lifted the makeshift club, presumably to thump Harlan again for good measure, Rafe jerked the chair leg from her fist. Her green eyes spewed fire as she transferred her anger from Harlan to him.

“Why do you get to have all the satisfaction, General?” she muttered bitterly.

Despite the outrage and frustration that was pulsating through Rafe, he couldn’t help but smile at the wild-haired spitfire. Even when she was looking and feeling her worst she had too much spunk and spirit to stand aside and allow him to handle the situation.

“I get to have most of the fun because I’m the commander,” he reminded her. “Furthermore, I don’t want to see you waste the strength you have regained on this miserable, lowlife excuse for a human being, as you so accurately described him. Save it for Vanessa. I would think you’d enjoy being on hand when I place her under arrest.”

Karissa wilted back to the edge of the bed and regarded him for a curious moment. “You aren’t going to slap her dainty wrist and let her off scot-free? Her father, I understand, is a close friend of your father. I thought the
privileged
were always granted special privileges.”

“Rules are rules,” Rafe reminded her. “Vanessa
broke the law and she’ll pay for it.” He glanced at Micah. “See that our prisoner is crammed in the stockade with the other offenders. Karissa and I are going to have a word with Vanessa.”

Karissa sniffed resentfully. “You can have one word with her if you like, but I have plenty of things to say to that prissy witch.”

“And you’re mistaken if you think I’m going to miss
that
confrontation,” Micah added as he hurried over to yank Harlan to his feet. “You’ll need another witness for the interrogation. Give me five minutes to lock up Harlan and throw away the key.”

After Micah had hustled Harlan from the room, Rafe walked over to run his hand through the wild tangle of hair that cascaded over Karissa’s shoulders. “I feel responsible for what has happened to you and you have my solemn promise that I will make it up to you.”

She swatted his hand away. “You owe me nothing,” she insisted, refusing to meet his gaze. She squared her shoulders and elevated her chin. “All I want is to see Vanessa receive her just deserts. Then I want to return to my brother’s homestead to begin my new life that had to be put on hold because of this fiasco.”

She frowned at him in annoyance. “And will you please stop dragging me into conversation,” she grumbled. “With this pounding headache I keep forgetting than I’m not speaking to you ever again.”

“Karissa,” he murmured as he squatted down in front of her. “I’m sorry. I really wasn’t doubting your word—”

She cut him off with the slashing gesture of her hand. “Let’s face the truth, General. You have never taken my word as truth and you don’t think I’m in the same
class as you.
My
truth isn’t as credible as yours and it will never be.”

“That’s not—” The door flew open before Rafe could deny her bitter accusation.

Out of breath, Micah buzzed into the room. “To save time I handed Harlan over to Lieutenant Johnson. Let’s go talk to Vanessa. I can’t wait to hear her try to explain her way out of this conspiracy.”

When Rafe reached out to help Karissa to her feet, she made a spectacular display of avoiding his touch.

Rafe noticed that she didn’t object when Micah curled a supporting arm around her waist and ushered her from the room. Rafe had predicted it was going to take some doing to return to Karissa’s good graces. Saving her life and seeing justice served apparently weren’t enough to secure his forgiveness. Her wounded pride, apparently, was more valuable to her than her own life.

He followed the twosome from the officers’ quarters, across the parade grounds and up the steps to Vanessa’s room. He quickened his step to reach the landing, determined to be the one who placed Vanessa under arrest. No way did he want Karissa to think that he was granting his ex-fiancée preferential treatment because of their family connections and her social status.

Rafe barged through the door without knocking and stopped in his tracks when he realized Vanessa had packed her belongings and left.

“You didn’t give Vanessa advance warning, did you?” Karissa asked Rafe accusingly.

“And you accused
me
of doubting
your
word?” he muttered. “Seems the pot is calling the kettle black.”

“At least I didn’t—”

Micah stepped between them. “The two of you can
squabble later. Right now I want Vanessa apprehended. Are you coming with me or not?”

“We’re coming,” Rafe and Karissa said simultaneously as they reversed direction and breezed by Micah to retrieve horses and begin the search for Vanessa.

V
anessa had flown into instant panic when she realized Harlan had been captured. She had gathered her belongings hurriedly, crammed them haphazardly into her trunk and dragged it down the steps in her haste to leave the fort.

While Harlan was transported to the infirmary and Karissa was toted to Rafe’s quarters, Vanessa had sneaked around the perimeter of the fort, clinging to the shadows.

She considered it a stroke of luck that she had been able to confiscate one of the unoccupied carriages that had been sitting outside the post trader’s store. Vanessa had managed to exit through the front gate without drawing attention to herself and then headed for Reno City, hoping to reach the stage station that was north of the boomtown.

She had almost made it to town when she heard the clatter of hooves behind her and saw the silhouettes of three riders hard on her heels. Swearing colorfully, she snapped the reins over the horse’s rump and increased speed. She shrieked when the carriage hit a rut that nearly catapulted her into the air.

Pulse pounding in alarm she uprighted herself on the seat and plunged through the darkness. When the carriage rattled down the steep slope toward the creek, crashing through thick underbrush, Vanessa tried to stamp on the brake. But it was too late. The horse and carriage plunged into the creek and came to an abrupt halt. Her forward momentum sent her flying from the seat. Yelping, she ricocheted off the horse’s rump and landed midstream with a splat.

Clothes dripping wet, her expensive kid boots filled with mud and water, Vanessa tried to flounder ashore. She glanced around wildly, trying to find a place to hide, but the three riders descended on her before she could dive for cover.

Micah lit the torch he had brought along and held it overhead to cast light on the stolen buggy. Rafe nudged his steed forward and halted beside Vanessa, who looked the worse for wear after her unsuccessful escape attempt.

Karissa experienced a long-awaited sense of satisfaction as she appraised Vanessa’s soiled, soggy gown and noted the muddy smudges on her cheeks. Her blond hair had come unwound from its sophisticated coiffeur and dangled off one side of her head. The prissy socialite, who had stared condescendingly at Karissa during their previous confrontations, didn’t look so haughty and aloof at the moment.

“Vanessa, you are under arrest for the conspiracy to commit robbery, murder and abduction,” Rafe told her gruffly.

Vanessa flashed him an arrogant smirk. “Don’t be ridiculous. I have done nothing wrong.”

“Harlan Billings says otherwise,” Micah contradicted
her as he walked his mount downhill to dislodge the carriage from the mud.

“And
you,
being nothing but a half-breed bumpkin, would take the word of some no-account soldier over mine, wouldn’t you?” she huffed indignantly then turned back to Rafe. “Harlan was trying to sabotage your credibility as a military officer. He also sent me a telegram in Virginia, informing me that you were involved with this trollop.”

She shot Karissa a disdainful glance. “All I did was arrive here to protect my interests and see that our wedding took place. Harlan approached me when I first arrived and offered to ruin your mistress’s name and reputation if I would pay him for his efforts. Naturally I was upset when I discovered you were keeping your whore in your quarters, practically flaunting her in my face!”

Rafe frowned pensively as he listened to Vanessa present her rendition of the story. He wasn’t sure who was the biggest liar, Vanessa or Harlan.

“Because of my annoyance with you I reacted rashly and agreed to Harlan’s scheme to force this woman from your life. But to my shock and outrage Harlan insisted upon blackmail payments. He threatened to go to you with his twisted account of the incidents if I didn’t pay him for his silence. In fact, I paid him with the money you gave me after I depleted my funds,” she added pointedly.

Rafe swore he saw a sardonic twist to her lips when she made that last remark. He suspected Vanessa had derived wicked pleasure in knowing that Rafe was the one who had financed this scheme against Karissa.

“I have no idea what that devious scoundrel has been doing since our first few encounters, but all
I
have been
doing is trying to organize the marriage our families arranged and hope you would come to your senses and realize our wedding should take place.”

“According to Harlan,
you
paid
him
to see Karissa accused of murder and facilitate her escape so she would look guilty,” Rafe muttered. “He also claims
you
blackmailed
him.
Are you denying his accusations?”

“Of course I’m denying it. That is preposterous!” Vanessa erupted. “And this is all
your
fault, Rafe. This whole affair would never have happened if you had honored your commitment to me. And don’t think for one minute that I’m not going to inform my father, and yours, of the humiliating disgrace you put me through when I return home!”

“You aren’t going anywhere until this matter is cleared up,” Rafe insisted. He dismounted then slogged through the stream to grab her arm. Although she tried to resist, he shepherded her toward the buggy that Micah had returned to higher ground.

“I am the victim here,” Vanessa sputtered as Rafe handed her into the carriage. “All I did was try to honor our parents’ wishes. And you call yourself a man of honor?” she sniffed sarcastically. “You tried to cast me aside for that nobody of a female who isn’t worthy to be my servant, much less my rival for your attention! How dare you choose that ill-mannered harlot over me!”

“That’s enough, Vanessa,” Rafe snapped. He looked sideways, expecting to see Karissa hunched dejectedly in the saddle after overhearing the insulting remarks. But she was nowhere to be seen. It was as if she had vanished into the darkness. “Micah?”

Micah shrugged as he shot Vanessa a disgruntled glance. “I’m sure Karissa heard more than enough.
Can’t blame her for quitting this place to avoid bad company. I’d like to do the same thing myself.” He walked over to grab Sergeant’s reins. “You can handle the situation from here, Rafe. I’ll lead your mount back to the stables while you’re transporting the prisoner.”

When Micah extinguished the torch and rode away, Rafe climbed into the carriage. “It makes no difference that you and Harlan are accusing each other of relying on blackmail to coerce each other in this conspiracy,” Rafe said as he pointed the buggy toward the garrison. “You are both guilty and you are not above serving time for your part in these crimes.”

Vanessa reared back and gaped at him. “Serve time? You cannot be serious! One word from you and I can be on my way home. That’s one of the many advantages of being born and raised in our elite social class. In exchange for your leniency I won’t hold you to the marriage,” she negotiated frantically. “I will simply find someone else who can support me in the manner to which I’ve grown accustomed.”

If Rafe had the slightest inclination to go easy on Vanessa, it vanished when she insisted that the upper crust of society was exempt from obeying the law. “You won’t have to worry about financial support,” he assured her. “You’ll be taking an extended holiday, compliments of the U.S. government. I’m told the lodging and rations in prison are tolerable, though far below your customary standards. You broke the law, Vanessa. Now you’ll pay the consequences. Rules, after all, are rules.”

Vanessa switched tactics by bursting into blubbering tears. In between her theatrical sobs and sniffles, she begged and pleaded with him to show mercy on her because of their fathers’ long-standing friendship.

Rafe couldn’t work up much sympathy for this
woman who had tried to sacrifice Karissa’s life for her selfish benefit. He might never be able to compensate for the hurt and anguish Karissa endured during this ordeal, but he would see to it that Vanessa and Harlan paid to the full extent of the law for trying to ruin Karissa’s life.

And because he was indirectly responsible he would see to it that Karissa didn’t suffer more hardships in this new territory, Rafe vowed. Maybe he didn’t deserve her forgiveness, but he damn well intended to make her life easier. It was the
very least
he could do for her.

“Oh, thank God, you’re back, Kari!” Amanda erupted in relief. “Clint and I have been worried sick!”

Karissa noticed the lack of color in Amanda’s face before being engulfed in her sister-in-law’s loving hug and her brother’s consoling embrace. They bustled her into the tent and situated her on the edge of their bed.

“Did the authorities catch the awful person who set you up for murder?” Amanda questioned as her hand moved restlessly over her swollen belly. “And why would anyone in his right mind believe you were capable of such a brutal act?”

Well, at least there were
two
people around here who had unwavering faith in her, Karissa mused. At least here she was respected, welcomed and wanted. In fact, her ordeal seemed to have been excessively stressful for Amanda. If her difficulties with Harlan and Vanessa caused complications with Amanda’s pregnancy, Karissa would never forgive herself.

When Clint and Amanda demanded an explanation, Karissa presented the boiled-down version of her ordeal and finished by informing her family that the two guilty parties had been apprehended. She didn’t bother to men
tion that she had serious doubts about whether Vanessa—being a prominent figure in Eastern society, the daughter of some highfalutin general—would serve a prison sentence. Rafe wouldn’t permit his former fiancée to spend time in a penitentiary, she predicted cynically.

“I’m so grateful your commander has cleared your name,” Amanda gushed.

“I keep telling you that he isn’t
my
commander. He’s not my anything!” Karissa snapped more gruffly than she intended.

Karissa chewed herself out royally when the last of the color drained from Amanda’s face. As much as Karissa needed rest to recover from her exhausting week, she decided Amanda needed it even more. The poor woman looked as if she needed to lie down and sleep for a full day.

“Commander Hunter
did
save your life,” Clint reminded her. “I hope you thanked him properly for it.”

Karissa couldn’t remember if she had—and didn’t care if she hadn’t. Rafe had offended her pride and dignity. She definitely remembered
that.

“Did
you,
for one moment, doubt my innocence?” she asked Clint and Amanda.

“Certainly not,” Amanda quickly assured her as she sank down on the side of the cot.

“How can you even ask that?” Clint said, affronted.

“Well, the commander didn’t believe me,” she nearly shouted in frustration.

Clint smiled wryly. “Ah, so that’s why you’re in a snit. The man had the audacity to question your honor, while trying to investigate the murders impartially. And you, of course, took offense, didn’t you? Sometimes, big sister, you let your pride get the better of you.”

“Well, it obviously runs in the family,” Karissa
sniped defensively. “You have certainly done your share of brooding and sulking because Amanda and I have been handling the responsibilities while you’re on the mend.”

Clint winced. “Yes, well, that’s Baxter pride for you. It’s more hindrance than help.”

“Don’t you think it was Commander Hunter’s place to ask the difficult questions in order to get to the truth?” Amanda asked gently. “Isn’t it his responsibility to listen to all sides of the story? He is the symbol of law and justice in this new territory, isn’t he?”

“Yes, he is,” Karissa said begrudgingly. “But now the ordeal is over and, from this day forward, I don’t plan to break any of his laws. There will be no reason whatsoever for me to have future dealings with the man. Now if you don’t mind, I would like to bed down for the night.” She heaved an exhausted sigh. “I’ve had a trying week and Amanda looks as if she could use a good night’s rest, too.”

Karissa surged to her feet, ignoring the head rush that assured her she hadn’t fully recovered from the painful blows Harlan had delivered to her head. “I’ll camp out by the creek, as usual.”

“You will do no such thing,” Amanda contradicted, and Clint seconded. “You will sleep on the bed and we’ll make a pallet on the ground.”

Karissa smiled faintly. “Believe me, considering what I’ve been through, sprawling out on a pallet under a canopy of stars sounds as luxurious as a feather bed. But I do appreciate your concern and, most of all, your votes of confidence in my innocence. That means more to me than you can possibly know.”

Karissa stretched out on her pallet a few minutes later and heaved an exhausted sigh. She was going to have
to reconstruct the barriers she’d used to protect herself from hurt and disappointment. She functioned much better when she expected nothing and relied only upon herself. She would focus on turning this homestead into a true home for Clint and Amanda and then she would bid them farewell and wish them all the happiness they rightfully deserved. She would find herself a job—somewhere—to support herself.

And
that
was the rest of her life, she told herself realistically. She had achieved her goal when she raced into Oklahoma Territory and claimed the free land for Clint and Amanda. Problem was that, in the process, she’d gotten her heart trampled by a man who was so far above her social standing that it was laughable.

But she was a survivor, always had been. She would get over Rafe and she would be her old self again.

Karissa knew she’d be doomed to disappointment if she was foolish enough to hope for anything more than to build a roof over her head and keep food on the table.

This was as good as one could expect from life, she told herself sensibly as she drifted off to sleep. Wishing otherwise would not make it so.

Karissa swore she had only been asleep for an hour when her brother jostled her awake. “Kari,” Clint whispered urgently. “I know you desperately need your rest, but I think Amanda has gone into labor.”

Karissa was on her feet in a single bound. “It’s too soon,” she muttered as she raked her tangled hair from her face and stared uphill toward the lighted tent.