Last Promise (15 page)

“I can do it for you, Colt,” L. B. said as she stood to leave.

“Nonsense, dinner is about ready and we want you to join us,” Victoria said.

L. B. looked at Mary Ann and George. She didn't want Victoria and Colt to feel the need to invite her to stay when they had other visitors. She knew firsthand how straitlaced people got their nose out of joint if anyone as much as spoke to her. “I need to get back.”

“I was just going to put dinner on the table and I won't hear of you leaving. We promise not to keep you too long,” Victoria insisted.

“Listen to my wife, L. B., she won't take no for an answer.” Colt walked out the door to find T. J.

“This is so nice of you.” L. B. couldn't believe how kind the McBride women were to her.

“We'd love to have you,” Promise added, taking a tiny sip of whiskey. She couldn't wait for Jake to return so she could tell him she'd drunk some whiskey.

“Indeed, and Promise has made a lovely dessert,” Victoria said.

Mary Ann was worried about Luke's safety. She prayed nothing would happen to him before he received Colt's message. Hopefully, he hadn't been spending time with Arina, not only for his safety, but she worried that the woman would lure him into her bed. She was so lost in her thoughts that she absently took another drink of whiskey. The second sip wasn't nearly as bad.

“May I help you?” Mary Ann asked Victoria.

“I would love your help. Promise can keep L. B. company while we take the platters to the table.”

Once they were out of the room Mary Ann told Victoria that Luke hadn't told her about someone taking a shot at him.

“I'm sure he didn't want to worry you,” Victoria replied. “The McBride brothers do not discuss their troubles.”

“I feel terrible for the way I have treated him. I thought he had an intimate relationship with Arina.”

“No, there is nothing between them. He felt it was his responsibility to look out for her since she was his partner's wife. He told us he didn't even know her very well, and he was as surprised as everyone else at her forward behavior.”

“I didn't understand. Luke seems to have so many women he's interested in, and I thought he was a rake.” It felt good to share her feelings with someone.

Victoria smiled at her. “Luke has a lot of women chasing after him, that's a fact. And he has a soft place in his heart for women, but his character would never allow him to betray a friend.”

“He frequents the women at the saloon.” Mary Ann whispered her comment out of respect for the lady in the parlor.

“Many men visit the saloon.”

“I mean upstairs,” Mary Ann clarified.

Victoria understood what Mary Ann was talking about. “I see. Many men have done the same thing before they were married.” Victoria remembered how she felt knowing Colt had visited the saloon before he met her. Victoria had even met the woman Colt had
visited
at the saloon before she came to Wyoming.

“Even Colt and Jake?” Mary Ann's hand flew to her mouth, she didn't know what made her ask such an impertinent question. “I'm sorry. It was utterly rude of me to discuss such a private matter.”

Victoria glanced at the glass in Mary Ann's hand. There was only a small amount of whiskey left in the glass so that probably accounted for her loose tongue. But she wasn't offended, she'd often discussed the same subject with Mrs. Wellington. “I don't mind your question and the answer is yes, even Colt. I can't speak for Jake.”

“Oh, my. Didn't it upset you to know that he was . . .” Worried she would offend Victoria, she didn't finish her question.

“To be sure! But that was before I came to town. He was a single man and well, he wasn't the first man to visit women at a saloon. But when we decided we cared for each other, he put an end to whatever type of relationship he had with the woman at L. B.'s.”

Mary Ann was surprised by Victoria's honest admission. “From my bedroom window I can see into the upstairs windows of the saloon. I saw Luke upstairs with a woman.”

Victoria was beginning to understand Mary Ann's mixed emotions about Luke. “I wouldn't worry about such things if you have an interest in Luke. Once he realizes he's found the woman he doesn't want to risk losing, he will stop frequenting the saloon. Colt said the women who work there need to earn a living, and as long as the men weren't married, he saw nothing wrong with visiting them.”

Mary Ann appreciated Victoria's candor. She would never have felt comfortable discussing such a personal matter with anyone else. Her mother would have fainted if she'd ever broached a personal subject. “Thank you for explaining this to me.” While she might not agree with Colt's point of view about the saloon women entertaining men, she shouldn't judge Luke. They weren't married, they didn't even have a relationship, implied or otherwise. He'd wanted some kisses and whatever else she was willing to offer. Plain and simple.

Victoria hugged Mary Ann. “I'm glad we are friends. It's difficult to find friends here. I'm sure things were different in England.”

“Yes, it was easier to make friends, but I'm not sure the friendships were as meaningful. We were always socializing and having teas, but we certainly never discussed anything so personal.”

Mary Ann proceeded to tell her about her life in England and the reason she came to Wyoming.

“Your parents must be worried sick about you,” Victoria said. She would have been distraught if her boys left home and she didn't hear from them.

“I wrote to Mother and told her where I am. Actually, I'm surprised Father hasn't made his way here. I have a feeling I will see him soon.”

“He wouldn't really make you marry that man, would he?” Victoria was appalled that Mary Ann's father had treated her so shabbily. She couldn't imagine being married to a man she didn't love.

“He most certainly would insist I marry Edmund.”

Victoria thought of her husband's favorite saying, and thought it worth repeating to Mary Ann. “Let's not borrow trouble, he may not even come here.”

Chapter Fifteen

 

Luke read Colt's telegram to Jake and Cole. “I guess we have an answer now. It doesn't look like we can prove Arina's involvement, but we have more information than we did.” He'd already found out from the mine supervisor, Tom Sparks, that the gossip around town was Arina had been entertaining other men after she married Sam. Tom conveyed he'd heard a lot of rumors about her, and he understandably wasn't a fan of the woman. Every man Luke had spoken with told him Sam had been troubled for months, but he hadn't confided in anyone. Luke figured Sam was troubled because he was aware of his wife's philandering. If he'd been in Sam's position he didn't know what he would have done. He voiced his thoughts to Jake and Cole. “Maybe she wanted to replace Sam with another man.”

“Are you thinking it could be Creed Thomas?” Jake asked.

“Possibly. As far as I'm concerned everyone is a suspect in Sam's death.” He knew Arina and Thomas had arrived back at the ranch, but he hadn't seen her yet. “It might be time for a confrontation with Arina.”

“Now that you have all the documentation on the ranch, it wouldn't hurt to let her know that you are sole owner of the mine now and have a will, so she will gain nothing by having you killed,” Cole offered.

“Yeah, we need to tell her before she has a chance to hire someone else,” Jake agreed.

“If she was willing to hire someone to kill you, it's reasonable to think she hired the person who killed Sam,” Cole mused.

“Yeah,” Jake agreed.

“Now all we have to do is prove it,” Luke told them.

* * *

“Luke, how nice to see you again,” Arina said when she opened the door. Luke wasn't surprised she was wearing one of her silky figure-hugging robes even though it was nearly noon. It certainly didn't prevent her from answering the door and inviting three men inside. She acknowledged Jake and then turned her attention on the third man she hadn't met. “I don't believe we've met.”

“No ma'am, I'm Cole Becker.”

“Luke, why haven't you introduced me before?” She thought this man was every bit as handsome as Luke.

“I figured you had enough men in your quiver,” Luke responded.

“Where's Thomas?” Jake asked. He hadn't liked Arina from the start, and he wasn't going to waste his time with her.

“I'm sure he's out on the range, did you need to see him?”

“Not really, just trying to keep track of him,” Luke said.

“Why don't you have a seat?” She walked across the room to the sideboard and grabbed the whiskey bottle. “Can I get you some whiskey?”

“We won't be here long.” Luke came right to the point of their visit. “I'm aware that you hired a man to shoot me.”

“What?” She whirled around to face him and put her hands on her hips. “I did no such thing! What are you talking about?”

Her robe parted just enough with her movements to make them all take a look. She was good at feigning her innocence and using her assets to redirect attention, Luke had to give her that. She should have been on stage.

“The cowboy described you perfectly,” Jake added.

Her cold eyes met Jake's. “Well, where is this cowboy?”

“He's in jail in Wyoming,” Cole told her.

Luke could see why Jake and Cole had been successful U.S. Marshals. They were as smooth as she was in the cat-and-mouse game.

She actually smiled at them. “Then bring him here and see if he recognizes me.” Her words sounded like a challenge.

“We might do that, or we might take you back to Wyoming,” Cole said.

“It depends on what we find out here about Sam's death,” Jake said to her. “You might as well tell us what happened. You have my guarantee we will find out sooner or later.”

She turned around and poured herself a full glass of whiskey. “I'll tell you the same thing I told Luke, I don't know what happened to Sam.”

“I've heard gossip around town that you hadn't been faithful to Sam even before he disappeared,” Luke said.

She swirled the whiskey in her glass before she took a drink. “I told you, Sam knew I would see other men; I've made no secret of that.”

Luke could tell she wasn't embarrassed to have this conversation with them. “Were you discreet, or did he know?”

She shrugged. “Well, I never came out and told him, if that is what you are asking. As I said, I told him I wouldn't advertise it on the street. I could have gotten a job in a saloon if I wanted everyone to know.”

Luke didn't understand her heartless attitude. Sam had given her respectability and he was a kind, decent man, and this was how she showed her gratitude. He'd never thought he'd feel like he could smack a woman, but at that moment he was sorely tempted. “It doesn't seem to bother you much that your husband was shot in the desert and left to the animals. I was told there was little left of him to identify.”

Arina looked at him, void of emotion. “He's dead. I'm alive. I have a life to live.”

Jake could appreciate the anger he heard in his brother's voice. He knew it was difficult for Luke to believe that a woman could be so ruthless. Jake saw Arina for what she was, a cold-hearted, evil woman. She wasn't the first woman he'd seen who was completely without conscience, but he had a feeling she might be the most cunning. It'd serve her right to hang. “Before you make plans to finish the job that cowboy started in Wyoming, you should know that Luke has full control of the mine and he has a will. It will not benefit you in any way to kill him.”

Arina drained her glass and slammed it on the table. “Are you finished?”

“One more thing. Who's been in your bed besides Thomas?” Luke asked.

The question didn't ruffle her. “I told you I've been discreet.”

“You might as well tell us, Arina. Jake and Cole were U.S. Marshals and they will find out.”

“I have nothing else to say.” She turned and led the way to the front door.

“I never thought I would want to see a woman hang, but I might make an exception in Arina's case,” Luke said as they were riding away from the ranch.

“I wonder what made her marry Sam in the first place if she didn't want to settle down,” Cole said.

“Sam was a good man and he didn't deserve someone like her. I have a hard time believing that he would agree to her seeing other men,” Luke told them.

“It doesn't seem logical any man would agree to his wife bedding other men,” Cole said.

“Yeah.” She wasn't the kind of woman Luke would have married, but obviously Sam saw something he liked. If Sam had been lured by her body, he sure as heck wouldn't have accepted another man touching her. “Unless we have a witness willing to come forward, I don't know how we will ever find out what happened.” The only thing that cheered Luke was knowing Arina would have a lot to answer for when she met her Maker.

* * *

After breakfast the next morning, Luke, Jake, and Cole met with U.S. Marshal Rafe Colston, who had just arrived at Jake's request.

Jake outlined the situation to Rafe. “I think the only thing we can do is start talking to the men in this town to find out if the gossip is true. If she has a lover maybe she slipped up and said something that might incriminate her.”

“There is always the chance a man was working with her,” Cole said.

“She sounds like a woman one of our guys has been tracking for a few years. She was a soiled dove in Santa Fe. Everyone said she was very young and beautiful,” Rafe offered.

“What did she do?” Luke asked.

“She married a much older man who was to be her ticket out of the saloon. It seems like married life didn't agree with her either. She poisoned the groom three months after they said their
I do's
. Somehow word got out that the sheriff was going to question her for murder and she took off. She didn't even get the old man's money.”

“How long ago did this happen?” Luke asked.

“About four years ago,” Rafe replied.

“How old was this gal?” Jake asked.

“About seventeen when she married the old man,” Rafe told them.

“That's young to be a murderer,” Luke said.

“That's not all. She's supposed to be one heck of a shot,” Rafe said.

Luke glanced at Jake. “Do you think Arina could have shot Sam? They said he'd been dead for some time.”

“The woman we talked to yesterday is cold enough to shoot anyone,” Jake replied. “I wouldn't turn my back on her.”

“I agree,” Cole said. “She could have killed him before she left for Wyoming.”

“If the woman we've been searching for is Arina, she's dangerous, particularly if she's done this twice,” Rafe suggested. “I'll send a telegram and see if we have a photograph of the woman from Santa Fe, or get a better description other than a
beautiful woman.
”

“Arina is beautiful, at least until you get to know her. Let's keep this information to ourselves. Until we find out if she is the woman from Santa Fe, we don't want her taking off,” Jake said.

The men nodded their agreement. Rafe headed toward the telegraph office and Luke, Jake, and Cole decided to speak to Tom Sparks again to see if he could shed some light on Arina's lover.

* * *

“I hate to give you a name on just hearsay,” Tom told them.

Luke gave him a level look. “Tom, this is all we have to go on right now. I want Sam's killer.”

“We need to find out if she may have said something which would incriminate her,” Jake explained.

Tom ran his fingers through his hair. While he didn't like carrying tales, if this was the only way to find out what happened to his friend, he felt it was his duty to help. “There was gossip that she was real friendly with the circuit judge and the sheriff. I also heard there was another man, but no one ever mentioned his name.”

“Do you think the sheriff or the judge would be involved with her?” Luke asked.

“At one time I would have said that it was real hard for me to believe, the judge is a fine man. But more than one man I trusted carried that tale and swore it was the truth. I just don't know about the sheriff,” Tom said. “It's a real shame, Sam was good to that gal.”

“Did you ever see her with anyone else?” Luke asked.

“Nope,” Tom responded. “What I couldn't figure out, if the gossip was true, is why did she marry Sam in the first place?”

“Good question,” Luke said.

* * *

When Luke, Jake, and Cole reached town to meet up with Rafe, they were side-tracked when they spotted Arina and Creed Thomas walking out of the church. “Look at that. You think the church will still have a roof?”

“Doubtful,” Jake said.

They reined in beside the couple as they were getting into a buggy. “You getting baptized, Arina?” Luke asked.

Arina laughed. “Not hardly. We just got married.”

Her response left them momentarily speechless. Luke was the first to comment. “This is kind of sudden, isn't it?”

Thomas put his arm around Arina's waist and pulled her close. “She's honored me by becoming my wife. I know it's sudden considering Sam's death, but after we were together in Wyoming, we decided we loved each other.”

Luke exchanged a glance with Jake. Creed Thomas wasn't their favorite person, but they didn't think he deserved someone like Arina. “You're a brave man.”

Thomas looked up at the men. “I know what you're thinking and you're right. Both of us have a past we're not proud of. You know better than anyone that I was trouble, but I swear I've changed. Arina's changed, too.”

Arina pulled his face to hers and kissed him. “That's right. You're all the man need.”

Luke wondered if she'd said the same words to Sam.

She looked directly at Luke when she said, “Sam was too old for me and you know it's the truth.”

“That's your truth.” Luke took a long look at Thomas. He inclined his head in Thomas' direction and said, “He's at least twenty years older than you.”

“You'd never know it,” she shot back.

No one had to ask what she meant by the comment.

Thomas and Arina rode away like a normal newlywed couple. “I wonder if she married him because of the marital communication law,” Jake said.

“What's that?” Luke asked.

“It's a law which says a man or wife cannot be forced to testify against their spouse even if they have incriminating evidence against them,” Jake told him.

“If that was her reasoning she's even smarter than I thought,” Cole said.

“Hopefully, we can outsmart her,” Luke said.