Chastity (9 page)

    A sound outside the door interrupted Reed's angry thoughts. He went still when he heard a soft knock.

    Well, well…

    Reed waited as the door slowly opened to reveal a tall, slender female outline held in dark relief in the doorway.

    It was Chastity Lawrence, all right.

    Chastity was momentarily at a loss. She had not expected to find the Reverend Reed Farrell sitting up in bed, his eyes clear and his gaze focused. Her stomach tightening in a way she had become familiar with when facing him head-on, Chastity realized that Sally had been correct. The reverend
was
a handsome man. Relieved of that hideous beard, the sun streaked color of his hair appeared lighter and his eyes more blue. His even features, more clearly revealed, were indeed comely, and the line of his jaw was strong. Looking at him, Chastity realized in a surprising flash that although she had spent the last two days tending to this man in a manner far more intimate than she cared to acknowledge, she was truly seeing him for the first time. He was younger than she had realized. He had less the look of a fanatic and more the appeal of

    Chastity caught herself short on that thought.
Appeal?
This man who had the disposition of an adder?

    Dr. Carr was right. She needed rest.

    Holding that thought as she hesitated in the doorway, Chastity began, "You needn't concern yourself, Reverend. I don't intend to stay. I lost my glasses and I thought they might be somewhere in this room."

    "Come in."

    Chastity did not move.

    "Come in, please."

    Please?

    "I don't blame you for looking surprised. A fever is no excuse for bad manners. I hope you'll forgive me."

    Chastity was stunned into speechlessness. Was this truly the same man she had left in that bed a few hours earlier? Realizing that the light from the hallway allowed her the advantage by shadowing her startled expression, Chastity took a few tentative steps into the room. She scrutinized him more closely as he continued,

"I don't remember the last few days too clearly, but I do remember some things. I remember you said you were embarrassed that the doctor   assumed you were my wife. Don't worry about that. I'll be on my feet in a few hours, and then I'll"

    "What did you say?" Chastity interrupted, "Dr. Carr told you that you could get up
today
?"

    "I didn't say that."

    "You said"

    "I said I'll be getting up soon. As a matter of fact, I was about to get up when you knocked on the door."

    Chastity gasped. "You mustn't do that! You've seen your wound! If it worsens, you could"

    "There are some things I need to do."

    "Surely they can
wait,
whatever they are."

    "It's a matter of priorities."

    "Your health should be your first priority."

    The reverend did not reply.

    "What could be more important than your health?"

    "I have to speak to someone here in Sedalia… about the mission."

    "The mission…" The determination that had entered the reverend's expression was familiar. Chastity continued, "I can understand that you're anxious to get to the mission, but Sally said they've been waiting for Reverend Stiles's replacement for quite a while. Another week shouldn't make that much difference."

    
"Reverend Stiles… yes."
Reed paused,
then
plunged ahead. "I was given some of his reports. I'm supposed to meet someone here in Sedalia who's connected with the Indian Agency. I need to talk to him about some special needs at the   mission. He's on his way back to Washington, and if I miss him, I'll lose my chance."

    "Oh…" Chastity looked deep into the reverend's clear eyes. His fervor was obvious. Seeing the dedication in his gaze, she walked a few steps closer to his bed. She paused, looking down at him soberly.

    As Chastity Lawrence stepped out of the shadows toward him, Reed restrained a gasp of surprise. Gone was her severe hairstyle and hideous black dress. Instead, her hair was fastened loosely at the back of her neck in a mass of gleaming red-gold ringlets from which small, curling tendrils escaped to tease the fair skin of her cheeks. Without her glasses, the faultless line of her brows and the incredible length of her brown lashes were visible to him for the first time and her features were smaller and more delicate than he remembered.

    Reed swept her further with his gaze. The blue dress she was wearing complemented her delicate coloring and displayed surprising feminine curves. It was a vast improvement over her former attire, but he knew he could not blame his failure to react to Chastity's womanly appeal solely on the way she had been dressed. It was clear that he had been more ill than he had realized, and that his powers of observation as well as his judgment had been impaired. Also clear was the reality that under other circumstances, that deficiency could have proved fatal.

    Aware of the importance of his next words, Reed said cautiously, "My meeting with the fellow from the Indian Agency is important." He paused for effect. "The children at the mission are suffering…"

    Chastity blinked revealingly. Reed could almost see the images of needy children flickering across her mind as he continued, "I hoped to be able to put an end to some of the hardships at the mission with his help."

    Chastity broke her silence at last, protesting, "But surely you understand that all your effort will be for naught if your wound should worsen."

    "That could happen, I suppose."

    "It
will
happen if you don't follow Dr. Carr's advice."

    "I have to try."

    "But… but…" Green flecks stirred deep in the soft brown of Chastity's eyes. "Surely someone else can locate this man for you and tell him to come here to meet with you."

    
"If he hasn't already left Sedalia."

    "Oh, I'm sure he hasn't. He couldn't if he understood the importance of your work."

    Reed felt victory within his reach. "He understands, but his time is valuable."

    "Perhaps Sally could help you."

    No, he didn't want that. Sally was too wise to be taken in by a story he was inventing moment by moment. He responded with a shake of the head and an apologetic grimace. "No, I don't   think so. Sally's a nice person, but her appearance is misleading."

    "Oh." He could see that Chastity silently concurred, and he could see the struggle that waged behind her sympathetic gaze when she glanced at the clock on the nearby dresser and then shook her head. "I wish I could help, but my train is leaving in fifteen minutes."

    Startled by her response, Reed repeated, "Your train?"

    "Yes. I'm on my way to Caldwell, Kansas. It's important. I… there's someone waiting. I mean…" She glanced at the clock again.

    So, there was someone waiting for Chastity Lawrence in Caldwell. He wondered why he hadn't realized there would be. He replied, "You came back for your glasses."

    "Yes."

    "I
haven't
seen them."

    Discomfort flashed in Chastity's eyes. "Do you mind if I look for them?"

    "No."

    Growing increasingly weaker, Reed closed his eyes. He listened to the sounds of Chastity's movement around the room. He opened his eyes again when the sounds ceased.

    "They're not here." Chastity paused. "So, I suppose I'll be saying good-bye."

    He couldn't let that happen. He responded, "I have a favor to ask of you before you do. If you could get my clothes” He motioned toward the pants and shirt hanging on a hook in
the  corner
" and put them on the end of the bed for me."

    
"Your clothes?
You don't intend to get up…"

    Reed did not respond.

    "You can't get up until Dr. Carr says it's safe."

    "Chastity…" He paused, deliberately evoking a sense of friendly intimacy by using her given name for the first time. "Don't worry about me. Your train is leaving."

    "But"

    "I'll take care of what has to be done."

    "Dr. Carr can find someone to help you."

    "Your train is leaving…" He looked at the clock. "In ten minutes."

    "Dr. Carr knows everybody in town. He's sure to know where to find the fellow you're looking for."

    "Finding him isn't the problem. There should be a message at the telegraph office telling me where to meet him. I'm feeling much better. I can make it."

    
"At the telegraph office?
You intend to walk there? Do you realize how far that is from here?"

    "I'll make it."

    "No, you won't."

    "Yes, I will."

    "No, you won't!"

    He saw the moment of capitulation coming.

    His satisfaction diminished as a new bout of weakness assailed him, Reed closed his eyes. He felt a soft palm on his forehead and opened his eyes again to see Chastity leaning toward him,   her smooth brow knit with concern. He smelled the scent of roses.

    ''You're too weak to meet him. Surely you see that."

    "I have to
try
."

    Chastity hesitated only a moment longer before replying, "I'll go for you."

    "But your train…"

    "There'll be another train tomorrow. I can't leave without my glasses, anyway. What's the name of the man you're supposed to meet?"

    "I can't let you"

    "What's his name?"

    "Edward Jenkins."

    Chastity nodded.

    As she turned toward the door Reed added, "
A word of warningsome people around here have
strong feelings about the Indians. For that reason, Mr. Jenkins travels incognito. He doesn't know you, so he might not acknowledge who he is. It might be best if you just went along with anything he says."

    Chastity nodded again.

    Incredulous, Reed stared at the door as Chastity pulled it closed behind her. The ease with which he had manipulated her astounded him. He had never met a more gullible woman! Whatever had that fellow in Caldwell been thinking when he allowed her to travel alone?

 He didn't like this one bit.

    Leaning casually against the side of a building, Ed Jenkins squinted against the glare of the late afternoon sun as the red-haired woman left the telegraph office and made her way back up the street. He tipped his hat down low on his forehead, his gaze intent. Something was wrong. He had been waiting for two days for Farrell to make contact with him. He had just about given up when the red-haired woman showed up at the telegraph office asking for any messages left for Reverend Reed Farrell.

    
Reverend
Reed Farrell?

    Jenkins unconsciously sneered. He had heard plenty about Reed Farrell, and from all that he'd heard, the fellow was more adept at planting   outlaws than converting them. He had also heard that Farrell worked alone.

    Observing the red-haired woman more closely, Jenkins straightened up slowly and started after her. For all he knew, Will Morgan had figured out that he was in town and was using this woman to lay a trap for him. That would be just the kind of thing Morgan did. He was good at fooling people, at making them believe in him just like Sonny had believed in him. There was nothing he had been able to say to Sonny to make him see through the promises Morgan had made to him before it was too late.

    The red- haired woman turned out of sight on the street, and Jenkins walked faster. He turned the corner in time to see her walk through the entrance of the Biltmore Hotel. He paused to survey the street. He wouldn't put anything past Morgan.

    The red- haired woman disappeared around the curve of the staircase as Jenkins entered the lobby. He scrutinized the area carefully,
then
started up behind her, only to feel a hand on his arm stay him.