Circle Eight: Vaughn (22 page)

The wagon arrived and the men unloaded the lumber silently. The next month would be excruciating as they rebuilt what was lost. She would do the best she could to keep the peace but there was a limit to her power. She was ashamed to admit to herself she wanted Vaughn there. Not only did she miss him, but his natural charm put everyone at ease.

As each day passed by, Elizabeth grew more worried, more hurt and wondered if she would survive a broken heart.

Vaughn stared at the bars of the cell and cursed long and loud. Two months. Two goddamn months he’d been stuck in the Houston jail waiting to be released. Son of a bitch Layton had arrested him for fraud only a few hours after Elizabeth had left. Since then Vaughn had rotted in jail, having no contact with the outside world. He only hoped Winnie was all right. No one had been allowed to visit him or even speak to him.

He had carved a notch on the wooden cot frame for each day he’d been there. Sixty days had now passed. Elizabeth must hate him and he wouldn’t blame her. He had proposed marriage, sent her on her way home and then abandoned her.

Vaughn pressed his forehead against the metal bars and gritted his teeth. Layton had taken away the one thing in Vaughn’s life that had been good and honest. Painfully honest at times. He would give anything to feel Elizabeth’s sharp words fall on his head. Damn but he missed her.

The sound of a key in the tumblers echoed through the cell. Vaughn swung around, eager to get his daily interrogation over. Layton however, wasn’t there. It was Winnie.

She smiled and held up the key. “I don’t know how long he’ll be gone. Your horse is behind the jail. Go.”

Vaughn stared at her. She was breaking him out of jail? “What’s happening?”

“I’ve been trying to find you since they took you from the house. I pretended to faint and Layton went for help. You need to go now. Your future wife will be wondering where you got yourself off to.” Winnie’s tear filled eyes made his own sting. “Someday we’ll see each other again.”

“What happened with Troxler’s estate? Did you get your money back? How are you?” The questions spilled from his mouth.

“I received nothing. The law seized everything once they discovered the extent of his crimes. It turns out he swindled most of the society men and ladies more than once. Most had been too embarrassed to admit the crimes. He had enough blackmail information to keep himself in gold for life.” She looked sad but strong. “I didn’t want anything from him anyway. I’ve been trying to get to you since then. Layton is a tough nut to crack.”

Vaughn pulled her into a hug. “I don’t deserve a friend like you.”

“You definitely don’t deserve to be close to me. You stink.” She wrinkled her nose and pushed him away. “Please go as fast as you can. I need to go back to my faint before Layton returns.”

“Good-bye, Winnie. You are a hell of a woman.”

“Go before I change my mind.” She locked the door after he’d walked out. “God speed, my friend.”

Vaughn forced himself to move. He ran through the building to the back door and peered out, pleased to see his horse, Rebel, waiting, saddled and ready. She had even left a jacket and hat for him to don along with plump saddlebags. Good thing, too, because what he wore had turned to rags and smelled of weeks of sweat.

As he rode through the streets of Houston, he told himself to keep a steady pace. After he reached the edge of town, he kicked his horse into a gallop and rode as fast as he could away from the city that might have destroyed his future.

Layton had been convinced Vaughn had known more than he admitted about Troxler’s operation. The truth was, Vaughn had deliberately kept himself ignorant of the business. He enjoyed the con and the thrill of the chase. Boyd hadn’t been interested in a partner and Vaughn didn’t want to be one. No doubt the law hadn’t found any evidence against Vaughn, but as Winnie said, Layton was a tough nut to crack.

Without an attorney or evidence to support his innocence, Vaughn had been caught in the machinations of a man who had neglected to stop the biggest crook in Texas history. A tiny woman with one shot in a pistol had done it. Embarrassing and frustrating for a man of the law. Now that same woman had tricked him, releasing Vaughn. He hoped like hell she wouldn’t be charged with a crime.

Knowing her, she would feign innocence and possibly another fit of the vapors. She was tough as hell and so smart. She had overcome so much to be the strong woman he respected and loved like a sister. Vaughn would find her again one day and repay her for all she’d done for him. The two women in his life had shown him what it meant to do for others, what a true soul and heart entailed.

They humbled him.

As he rode toward the Circle Eight, he ran through the explanations in his head, but none of them sounded like the truth. She would have a hard time believing him. After all, she’d only known him for two weeks. What she knew was he was a swindler who had cheated the Gibsons, along with others. Vaughn wouldn’t blame her if she hated him. That wouldn’t stop him from trying to convince her to marry him. Nothing mattered now but getting to Elizabeth.

“You’re what?” Aurora stared at her, her eyes wide. Elizabeth’s blacksmith sister-in-law had been back at the Circle Eight for the last month. Some of her shop had survived, including the forge Caleb had built for her and the anvil. They needed new hinges, hundreds of nails and all kind of metalwork for the new house and barn.

Elizabeth stared down at her belly and spread her hands across her womb. “I believe I’m going to have a baby.”

“Holy shit.”

“That’s the truth. Holy shit.” Elizabeth leaned against the freshly assembled wall of the barn, the smell of new wood filling her nostrils. Her stomach quivered but she managed to control the nausea somehow.

“This is from the husband to be who never followed.” It wasn’t a question. Aurora was smart and strong, her closely cropped hair and muscular, if petite form, were a study in contrasts.

“I can’t tell my brothers. They will hunt him down and kill him.” Although her heart and soul ached for what she’d lost, Elizabeth had no desire to see Vaughn dead. Of course if she saw him again, she might shoot him herself. She had the Martha’s pistol tucked in with her meager possessions. If necessary, she would load it and use it.

“You’re going to have to tell them eventually.” Aurora pointed at Elizabeth’s belly. “That little critter is going to grow bigger.”

“I don’t want to tell them yet.” Elizabeth didn’t know what she would do about the baby but she already loved it. The child was made in love, a tiny piece of Vaughn and her fused together to create a person. How could she not love their child?

“Are you sure you’re pregnant?” Aurora looked skeptical.

“Yes, I believe so.”

“How long has it been since you had your courses?” Aurora slipped into interrogation mode.

“More than two months.”

“Have you been sick?”

“Not every morning but certain smells make me want to vomit.” Elizabeth pointed at the fresh wood. “Like this.”

“Hmm, what about your breasts?” Aurora was as plain speaking as Elizabeth was. It was one of the reasons she loved her sister-in-law.

“They’re sore.” Elizabeth resisted the urge to cup them. The soreness had grown worse each day. She hoped it wouldn’t remain so the entire pregnancy.

“You’re definitely pregnant.” Aurora’s pronouncement was meant for Elizabeth’s ears but Caleb happened to walk up at that moment. His gaze snapped to his sister.

“Pardon me? You’re pregnant?” His tone was low but dangerous.

Elizabeth contemplated lying but knew she wouldn’t be very convincing. No matter what happened she would love her child.

“That’s none of your business.” She walked away but her brother was right on her heels.

“You’re wrong. You don’t have a husband, Ellie. It’s completely my business and Matt’s. We are responsible for you.” He was obviously speaking through clenched teeth.

“You are not responsible for me. I am.” She walked faster, trying to escape his overbearing attitude.

“You’re a female. You have nothing that men don’t give you.”

Elizabeth rounded on her brother, fury pulsing through her. She had never felt so angry at him in her life. “How dare you? I have everything without a man giving it to me. I am smart, I am good with numbers and I can and will raise my child myself!”

Silence met her words. Somewhere nearby a bird chirped but all work had ceased. All of the men stared at her with a combination of horror, disbelief and anger.

At that moment, Benjy shouted. “Rider!”

Thankful to have the attention removed from her, Elizabeth shaded her eyes to look at whoever was approaching. Her stomach quivered as he came closer.

She knew that horse.

She knew the rider.

Vaughn.

Vaughn didn’t expect to see an entire group of men standing around as he rode up. Elizabeth stood in the middle of the yard. The freshly built house appeared to be nearly done, while the obviously new barn shone in the sunshine. The smell of new wood permeated the air.

His gaze found hers and he drank in what he saw. She wore a plain homespun blue dress and her hair was back in a braid, swaying against her back as she shook her head. Pain and disappointment mixed with anger on her face.

“Mr. Montgomery.” Her formalness didn’t surprise him but Tobias did. He stepped out from the group of men and walked to Vaughn’s mount. “Tobias, I didn’t—”

Gibson yanked him off the horse and plowed his fist into Vaughn’s chin. Stars exploded in his head and he hit the ground hard, knocking the breath from his body. Tobias snarled at him and then stalked away.

“Well, that was unexpected.” This was from another one of the men. “I can’t wait to hear this one.”

“Tobias! You had no right to do that.” Elizabeth’s fists clenched.

“I sure as hell did. He deserved it.” Tobias walked back to the house, picked up a hammer. Soon the sound of pounding nails echoed in the air.

“He deserved it.” Nick repeated, glowering with his arms crossed. “This is the missin’ future husband, fucking son of a bitch.”

Another one of the men, no doubt a brother since he had the same eyes as Elizabeth, picked Vaughn up from the ground.

“You could’ve done better, Ellie. He smells like cow shit and looks like he’s been rolling in it.” The man’s eyes narrowed. “Gibson stole my right to pound you, stranger. Don’t think you’re done here.”

Vaughn stood on his own feet and managed not to fall. Riding hard for days had been hell on his body. Layton had fed Vaughn next to nothing and he’d lost at least thirty pounds in two months. Weakness was humiliating, but a few days of beef jerky, peaches and ham from Winnie didn’t make him well. It helped to stop him from falling out of the saddle and alive, but not much more.

“Look at him. He’s skin and bones.” Elizabeth finally came close to him, then slapped her hand across her nose and mouth. “Oh my God. He smells.”

Vaughn smiled. “You look beautiful, Ellie.” Her cheeks were pinkened and freckles dotted her nose. Her skin had a light honey tone. She never looked so wonderful. “I’ve missed you.”

Damned if he didn’t pick that moment to fall flat on his face. Blackness swept through him and snatched his words, his apology, his declaration of love. Damn it.

“Did he faint?” Benjy peered at Vaughn. “I’d have never thought he was the type.”

Elizabeth sighed. “You have no idea.” The repetition of the first time they’d met was not lost on her. This time she had people to help move him. “Bring him to the tent.”

She didn’t know what to think of Vaughn appearing after two months. He looked horrible and smelled worse. She almost puked on him when she’d caught wind of his scent.

“Benjy, heat up some water, please.” Elizabeth watched as Matt and Caleb carried him to the tent. More than once her brothers accidently dropped him in the dirt on the way. She didn’t yell at them. Hell, she wanted to kick him herself. She gathered a few rags and clean towels.

It was time to make Vaughn presentable.

An hour later, he was clean but still unconscious. His beard had grown, but it had been matted with filth. She found clean clothing in his saddlebags and after protests from her brothers, let them dress him. Although they volunteered, she was fairly certain they made sure the actual dressing was as rough as possible.

Elizabeth sat on a stool beside the cot and watched him sleep. His face was gaunt and he had deep dark circles beneath his eyes. Where had he been and what had happened to him? She wanted answers but at the same time, she wanted him to ride away. Then she changed her mind and wanted him to hold her.

Aurora poked her head in the tent. “This is him?”

Elizabeth nodded, her chin cupped in her hands. “This is him.”

“Kind of scrawny and I heard he had an inch of dirt on him.” The blacksmith eyed Vaughn. “I’m not sure I see what you did but then again, I can’t imagine why Caleb thinks I’m pretty. Love is blind.”

“You are pretty. I wish I had your strength and your eyes, not to mention your height.” Elizabeth made a face. “I hate being as tall as most men.”