Lone Star Lover (11 page)

Wade stood at the bar, one boot on the brass rail. He lifted his glass of whiskey, threw his head back, downing the entire shot. Then he set it back down, and indicated to the bartender that he wanted a refill, even though the bottle had been left within his reach. “What brings you to these parts?” he asked Jake, his dark eyes appearing neutral, but the man clearly missed nothing.

“Can’t say. I banged my head up pretty good. Don’t remember how, or what I was doing here.” Jake took a cautious sip of the harsh liquor. “The doctor says it could still come to me.”

Wade toyed with his replenished glass. “Not much of a drinking man, I see.”

“Sometimes.” Jake shrugged. “But like I said, my head is messed up enough.”

The other man almost smiled. Instead, he brought the whiskey again to his mouth, but this time sipped slowly. “A wise man knows when to put the bottle down.” He pulled over a stool and sat near Jake. “Don’t see too much of that around here.”

The bartender didn’t look happy. He gave Jake a sour look, which made him wonder if he’d just passed some kind of unspoken test. Mostly to annoy the jackass bartender, Jake pulled up a stool, too.

Wade set down his glass, and shrugged out of his coat, made from some kind of animal skin, though not leather. The unexpected dose of reality sent a chill down Jake’s spine. He was out of his element and had to watch his speech and mannerisms. Even if he slipped up and they thought he was a city slicker from back East, that could still be bad for him.

He concentrated on his whiskey, his mind racing while Wade got rid of his coat. The other men couldn’t be far behind. They’d all be curious, most of them territorial. Having this chance to get to know the head guy was the best scenario Jake could’ve hoped for.

“You know what’s for supper?” Wade asked the bartender. “If you don’t, go find out.”

Jake turned from his whiskey so he could see Lloyd’s face, but his gaze snagged on the dull silver badge pinned to Wade’s shirt. A circle with a star in the middle. Jake barely made out the word
Texas
scratched out at the top of the circle, but it didn’t matter. He recognized the old Ranger’s badge. The style hadn’t changed, only the wording.

Excitement, awe, disbelief all converged inside of him. If he hadn’t gotten it that he’d somehow landed back in 1800s Texas, he would have now. This was the real deal. He knew quite a bit about Ranger history. Hell, as a kid he’d been to the museum dozens of times, heard his father and grandfather tell the same stories over and over throughout the years. They not only talked about their own experiences as Rangers, but passed on tales they’d heard as boys.

He picked up his whiskey and finished it off.

Wade pushed the bottle toward him. It was only then that Jake realized the Ranger had been staring at him.

Jake pulled himself together. Later, he’d reminisce, and wrack his brain for any mention of a Captain Wade Gibson from the history books. Right now he had to stay sharp. He picked up the bottle and poured himself half a shot he had no intention of finishing.

“You’re still hurt,” Wade observed.

Jake didn’t know where that had come from. Unless the emotion that had spiraled through him had translated into a look of pain on his face. He decided not to respond.

Wade frowned. “I saw you favor your side when you pulled Lloyd over the bar.”

“I’m still healing.”

The other man nodded, a hint of admiration in his eyes. “Even banged up, you know how to handle yourself. You stay cool, too. That’s good. You hungry?” His gaze shifted toward the back of the saloon, in the direction the bartender had disappeared.

“I could eat.”

“Hey, Lloyd,” the Ranger yelled. “What the hell are you doing? Killing the goddamn cow?”

The bartender hurried toward them carrying a plate of food. “Cook made chicken and dumplings, boss. Unless you’d rather he fry you up a steak—”

“Give it here.” Wade took the plate from him. “Go get another one, and don’t be stingy with the chicken,” he said, frowning at the thick white goulash before setting it in front of Jake.

Lloyd swore under his breath, loud enough for Jake to hear, but not Wade. “I don’t expect there’s gonna be enough food for the boys if you aim to start giving away handouts.”

“What did you say?” Wade speared the man with a menacing look that stopped him in his tracks. “I don’t reckon I took your meaning.”

“It was nothing, boss.” Lloyd hurried toward the back of the saloon.

Wade chuckled, taking obvious pleasure in belittling the man. “Damn pussy. Good thing for him he keeps a good bar,” he said, leaning back, stretching his arms above his head, and yawning. “Sure am looking forward to trading in my bedroll for a bed tonight.”

Jake picked up the fork that was sitting on the plate. “I heard you’ve been busy lately.”

“Meaning?” he asked in a suspicious voice.

“Going after those rustlers.”

“What would you know about that?”

“Nothing much. I heard the women talking.”

Wade snorted. “They got better things to do than yapping about matters that don’t concern them.” The man eyed Jake with new interest. “Maybe you’re one of them rustlers and don’t remember.”

“Could be,” he said, mostly to catch Wade off guard, which he noticed, was exactly what he did. Jake smiled. He read people well, it was part of his job, and he surmised Wade was the type who needed to be kept guessing. Once he was bored, he’d be likely to throw Jake to the coyotes. “But that doesn’t feel right. I’m not a rustler.”

“When it comes to making a few quick pieces of silver, a man would do a lot of things.”

“True enough.” Jake forked a piece of chicken and put it in his mouth. It had turned out to be good luck that Wade had seen the incident with Lloyd. Now Wade knew he wasn’t a pussy, as he liked to put it, and he might be guessing that Jake would be willing to hire out muscle. That being the case, the captain might be more forthcoming with what was going on around here.

“I kind of like you, Malone. I’d hate to find out you’re on the wrong side of the law.” A slow smile spread across his face. “Then I’d have to shoot you.”

“Shit.”

Wade threw his head back and laughed. “You fast with a gun?”

“Don’t know about fast, but I hit what I aim for.”

Lloyd returned at that moment with a heaping plate of food that he set in front of Wade. “Anything else, boss?”

“The boys will be in shortly. They’re tired and hungry. Make sure their food’s hot and ready.” Wade twisted around and eyed the two drunks at the corner table, and then scanned the rest of the empty tables. “Where the hell is everybody?”

“It’s still early. There’ll be a crowd. Don’t you fret none.” Lloyd threw a towel over his shoulder and slid Jake a look that was more curious than malicious, which made Jake nervous.

Wade shook his head with disgust, and then holding his fork like a shovel, dug into his food. He had to be starving. In the next three minutes, he barely stopped for air. But he did look up when from behind them, voices rumbled from off the street. A few seconds later the saloon doors creaked open.

“That was quick,” he said to the four men who filed in, wearing dusty coats and scuffed boots. “Leon, you’d better have taken care of those horses this time.”

The guy with the bulbous nose grunted, his agitated frown going from Jake to the plate in front of him. “They all been watered and getting rubbed down at the livery now.”

A shorter man with blond hair and a red handlebar mustache pulled off his gloves. He barely looked at Jake. His gaze went straight up to the balcony where the women stayed, and he smiled.

“Not until you have a bath, Ned. Then you can knock on my door.” It was Lola. Jake recognized her accent even before he glanced at the mirror behind the bar and saw the reflection of her leaning over the balcony, wagging a finger at the blond man.

The last two men pulled up stools on the other side of Wade. The one with the long greasy brown hair and sporting a dark beard sniffed his armpit, made a face and then ordered a beer and shot.

“Christ sake, Moses, you gotta stick your nose under there to know you smell like a damn hog?” The ruddy-faced man shook his head in disgust. “Go get a bath before you eat.”

“Shut up.”

Wade scowled and dropped his fork with a clatter. “All of you shut up. Where’s Corbin?”

The two men sitting at the bar shrugged.

At the mention of Corbin’s name, Jake tensed. Naturally he knew he’d run into him again at some point. But he wished he could’ve had more one-on-one time with Wade first.

“Whoever sees him first, you warn him I don’t want him getting too drunk to ride.” Wade picked up his fork again and resumed eating, ignoring the stares of disgruntled disbelief coming from the men on his right.

Behind them, one of the other men said, ”Captain, you don’t mean tonight.”

Halfway to Wade’s mouth, the fork stilled, and he stared menacingly into the mirror behind the bar. The tic at his jaw worked overtime as his eyes found the guy named Ned. Wade didn’t say a word. He didn’t have to.

Ned looked away as he shrugged out of his coat. Like Wade, he had a badge pinned to his shirt. Jake quickly checked the other three even though he already knew what he’d find. They all wore the star. These disgusting excuses for Rangers—for men. The idea made him sick. But he couldn’t allow himself to be distracted. He’d come off as a tough guy, and opened the door to join their ranks. He was in perfect position. There was obvious dissension, which was great timing for him to create discord among them.

Keeping his game face on, he focused on his food. He needed to stay on point, and not let Lloyd or any of the other men get under his skin. Wade was clearly looking for someone with a cool head, tough, smart enough to think for himself and get a job done, yet not challenge Wade’s authority. No problem for Jake. If he were careful, and treated this like just another undercover assignment, he could pull this off. Find out what was going on. Intervene if necessary. Maybe change the mottled history of the Rangers.

That overwhelming thought unsettled him. It was more than he could absorb right now. At this point, he had to stay present, and not even think about Rebecca. Because if he did, if he replayed the conflicted expression on her face when he’d bullied the bartender, then he was seriously in danger of screwing the whole thing up.

She started to turn away from the window when she saw someone leave the saloon and cross the street. It looked like Kitty coming toward Doc Davis’s but Rebecca held her breath until the figure wrapped in a cloak came closer and she was certain it was her friend.

Kitty opened the door, letting in a blast of frigid air. “Holy Mother of God, it’s cold out there.” She shivered and pulled her cloak tighter around her body. “If you don’t mind, I could use some of that coffee you’re heating.”

“Is everything all right at the saloon?” Rebecca hurried to fill a cup, her anxious gaze staying on Kitty. She seldom left the saloon once night fell. Too many customers needed drinks and company.

“Everything is fine. Better than fine. Thanks, honey.” She wrapped her hands around the warm cup and took a quick sip before adding, “Your Jake has made quite an impression on Wade. The two of them have been sitting at the bar since Wade showed up. Even ate dinner together.”

Rebecca frowned, not sure how she felt about that. It was good that Jake wasn’t in trouble with Captain Wade for laying his hands on Lloyd, but she still hated that Jake would have anything to do with the Ranger.

“What’s that look for?” Kitty gave her a quick frown while on her way to check on Mr. Otis.

She hesitated. Although Kitty had never admitted her fondness for the captain, Rebecca knew they’d known each other for a long time, and she’d seen the yearning in Kitty’s eyes. “Are all the Rangers at the saloon?”

“I haven’t seen Corbin or Vernon yet. Which suits me just fine.” Kitty felt the man’s cheek.

“Do you think he has a fever?”

“No, he feels all right. You’ve got that fire going pretty good. I think that’s got him warm. You have any trouble getting some water down his throat?”

Rebecca shook her head. “Doc Davis showed me how to do it real slow. He told me Mr. Otis opened his eyes for a while. I’m hoping he does again.”

Kitty smiled, something she didn’t do often, and it was a wonder how much younger she seemed. “That’s good news. Did he say anything?”

“No. Just made a funny noise. Doc Davis said it’ll be a while before he can actually talk with all the damage done to his throat.”

“Poor fella.” Kitty touched the man’s shoulder before turning back to Rebecca. “Now, I reckon you want to hear about your Jake.”

She felt the heat sting her cheeks. “He’s not my Jake,” she murmured.

Kitty chuckled. “I wouldn’t put a wager on that one.” She took another sip of her coffee, walked over to glance out the window and then turned to Rebecca. “Good that Wade likes him, since he doesn’t cotton to most people. I think he’ll hire him on before long.”

Rebecca forced herself to smile. “He needs work,” she said glumly.

“I know how you feel, but don’t you see? With the money he makes and the little bit I have saved, he can take you away from here.”

Rebecca widened her eyes. Kitty had money saved? Captain Wade wouldn’t like that. “Why don’t you leave?”

Kitty sighed, her gaze drifting off to someplace in her mind that was hers alone. “I can’t.”

“Why not?”

“It’s too late for me, honey. Whoring is all I know. I’ve been doing it since I was fifteen.”

A sadness weighed Rebecca’s heart. Not only because of what Kitty said, but because she’d plainly given up. “What if you go someplace where no one knows you?”

She shrugged. “No matter where I went, no man would want me. I’d be considered an old maid and end up spreading my legs like I’ve always done. Better the devil you know, my mama used to say.” Kitty patted her arm. “Wade ain’t so bad when we’re alone. I wouldn’t have been able to keep you away from the men for as long as I have if not for him. He lets me have my way from time to time.”

Her words did not make Rebecca feel any better. How could she ever repay this woman’s kindness?

Kitty pressed her red-painted lips together. “But once the railroad men start coming…” She shook her head. “Unless Doc Davis needs you, it won’t be easy.”

Rebecca shuddered. “I won’t be here,” she vowed aloud. “I’ll steal a horse if I have to.”

“It won’t come to that, honey. My money’s on Jake. He’ll take care of you. He’s a good man.” She pressed a hand to her belly. “I know it right here.” She glanced at Mr. Otis, and then toward the window. “I’d better be getting back and tell everyone the good news about Otis. You let me know if he wakes up again.”

Rebecca went to get the door, while Kitty wrapped the cloak tighter around herself, making sure the hood covered her ears and hair. She gave a nod, and Rebecca opened the door, flinching at the icy wind that slapped her face. January was usually cold but this was awful. The thought of taking a horse and riding in this weather gave her a chill. But knowing what would happen if she stayed made her want to weep.

After going to the window and watching Kitty slip safely through the saloon doors, Rebecca went to warm her hands at the fire. There was no choice for her. As much as she trusted Kitty’s judgment, there was no way to know if Jake would help her, or if he could even be trusted. If he had gained Captain Wade’s favor, would he want to leave Diablo Flats? If he did, and took her with him, would he end up feeling burdened by her? Would a taste of the money Captain Wade sometimes threw around change Jake?

A depressing thought suddenly struck her. She abandoned the fire and sought the stool in case her legs gave way. Had they told Jake the truth about her? If they were drinking and were friendly-like, any one of the men could have warned him about her. Feeling sick to her stomach, she bent over, praying the nausea would pass.

She was so caught up in her misery, she almost didn’t hear the soft moan. Didn’t know if she’d heard anything for sure. She straightened, and stared at Mr. Otis. Although his lips didn’t move, she heard the sound again, a quiet moan that had to be coming from him.

And then he slowly moved his head, and opened his eyes.

She swallowed hard, and pushed to her feet. “Mr. Otis?”

His eyes drifted closed, but only for a second and then he stared right at her, fear flickering before his lids lowered again.

“I’ll get you some water.” She wished Kitty were still here. He’d recognize her and not be afraid.

His lips parted, the movement painfully slow, as if he wanted to speak. Another low moan was all that came out.

“My name is Rebecca,” she said, bringing him the cup. “Doc Davis isn’t here right now, but you’re in his sickroom. How about some water?”

He turned his head away and stared at the wall.

She knew he had to drink. It had been hard trickling water into his mouth, slowly, so that he wouldn’t choke. Doc Davis had told her that if he came to, it was real important to get him to drink as much as he was able to swallow on his own.

“Mr. Otis?”

The man stubbornly refused to look at her.

She set down the cup, knowing what she had to do. “Mr. Otis, I’ll be right back,” she said, as she lifted her shawl from the coat rack. “I’m going to run over to the saloon and get Kitty. You know Kitty, right? She was here a few minutes ago. Maybe you heard her voice?”

He seemed to relax a bit, but she decided not to force him to drink. Kitty had asked her to report if he woke up again, and Rebecca would feel better having her friend here to help. She wrapped her shawl around her shoulders, assured him she wouldn’t be long, opened the door and shivered when the chilly air hit her. She truly wished she had a warm coat. Trixie was closest to her size and she’d been kind enough about sharing her clothes, but she hadn’t had a coat to spare. It wasn’t a problem now, not when she went outside only to run back and forth between Doc’s and the saloon, but when the time came for her to ride away from here, without a coat, she’d end up freezing to death within a few hours.

The thought made her shiver again as she paused outside the door and looked up and down the street. For a second, she thought she saw someone slip down the alley next to Doc Davis’s living quarters, but decided it had to be her imagination. The only one who used the alley was the doctor and he was miles away by now. Only one couple appeared to have braved this frigid bleak evening, and they were about to enter Isabella’s boardinghouse at the far end of town.

She pulled the wool shawl tighter around her shoulders and kept her face down from the sudden brisk wind as she hurried across the street. Loud laughter and piano music spilled out from the saloon, but she hoped it was early enough that the men weren’t too drunk yet. All she needed to do was get Kitty’s attention. Jake would be there, too. He’d help if she needed him.

Drawing in a deep punishing breath, she pulled the icy air into her lungs. She didn’t know Jake, she reminded herself, not really. What she did know for sure was that there was more than one side to a man, not all of it good. Jake was no different. She had to stop looking to him to rescue her. If she were to survive, she needed to rely on herself.

Lifting her chin, she pushed the doors open. With so much noise, no one heard the hinges squeak. The place was as crowded as she’d ever seen it, with men playing cards or drinking and talking at tables. Ruby was easy to spot with the tall blue feather sticking out of her hair, but Kitty was nowhere in sight.

Hoping to spot Kitty’s red hair, Rebecca scanned the men at the bar, and saw Jake. He was sitting with Captain Wade, who said something that made Jake laugh. The scene left her heartsick. How could he keep company with the likes of the Rangers? How easily he seemed to become one of them. His behavior only proved to her that men were thorny creatures, sweet one minute, and prickly the next.

Anxious that she couldn’t find Kitty, she stepped tentatively into the room. The smell of liquor and sweat made her stomach turn. At the end of the bar she saw Trixie with her arms draped around a tall thin man. If Rebecca could get her attention, she could at least leave word for Kitty.

Clutching her shawl to her breasts, she lowered her head to avoid eye contact with anyone, and hurried toward Trixie.

“Well, looky here.” A man as big as an oak tree blocked her way. “Ain’t seen you before. I like yeller-haired women.”

His arm snaked out and he clamped his hand hard around her wrist. “Let me buy you a whiskey, little darlin.’”

Rebecca gasped. “No, thank you.”

He laughed, his foul breath nearly suffocating her. “I got me a shy one.”

“Please.” She twisted her hand but his grip was too tight. “I have to see Kitty.”

“You come with me, and we’ll find Kitty together.” He laughed, along with a group of men sitting at the bar.

“Come on, Ralph.” Trixie sidled up to him, pursed her lips temptingly and placed a hand on his arm. “Let her go. She’s busy tending to Otis at Doc’s place.”

He shook her off. “Mind your own damn business.”

“Yeah, Ralph, come on. Let her go.”

Rebecca’s heart did a flip.

It was Jake, right next to her, his mouth curved in a faint smile, that deadly glint in his eyes that she’d seen earlier focused unblinkingly on the other man. The two of them stared at each other for several seconds, and then the man named Ralph released her.

“Come here, Trixie,” he said, hooking his beefy arm around her shoulders before steering her toward the stairs.

“You ought not interfere with the customers and the whores,” one of the Rangers sitting at the bar warned Jake under his breath. “Unless you’re aiming to make Wade spitting mad.”

Jake shrugged, his gaze on Rebecca’s face. “You have news about Otis?”

She’d almost forgotten why she’d come. “Yes, he’s awake.”

“Is he talking yet?” Jake asked.

“No, not to me. That’s why I want Kitty to come.”

“Kitty?” Jake’s voice rose over the crowd. “Anybody know where Kitty is?”

Feeling calmer now with Jake so near, Rebecca skimmed the nameless faces, until her gaze locked with Captain Wade’s. He’d swung toward them, his back to the bar, and he was staring right at her. Another Ranger whispered something in his ear. Captain Wade gave a small nod, as he slowly, purposefully shifted his attention to Jake, his mouth curving in a crafty grin. She felt sick. Not for herself. She would leave this place, no matter what it took, but she didn’t want to cause trouble for Jake.

“I think she’s in the back.” It was Ruby. “I’ll go get her.”

Rebecca expected the captain to stop Ruby, but he didn’t say a word. Just lifted the whiskey to his lips and tossed his head back.

“I’ll go sit with Mr. Otis and wait for Kitty,” Rebecca murmured, shrinking back toward the door.

Jake pressed a hand to the small of her back. “I’ll go with you.”

“You can’t.”

“Why not?”

She glanced toward Captain Wade, glad that she could no longer see his face. “He won’t like it.”

“Tough. Let’s go.”

They stepped out into the cold, and though Jake had no coat himself, he drew a protective arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. By the time they got to the sickroom door, Kitty had run out of the saloon with only a shawl.