Maureen McKade (12 page)

“Okay.” Johnny rubbed his backside and grimaced. “That’ll be time enough for my butt to get better.”

“We’ll see you Sunday, then.” Jake glanced at Kit and tipped his hat, “Kit.”

She drew her son back and together they watched Jake leave.

“It wasn’t Mr. Cordell’s fault, Ma,” Johnny said with uncanny perception.

Kit wrapped her arm around Johnny’s shoulders. “I know that, sweetheart.” She paused. “Do you miss having a father?”

Johnny glanced down and kicked at the ground with his boot toe. “Sometimes,” he admitted in a tiny voice.

Kit’s heart knotted at the anguish in his single-word reply. “Did you think I’d be angry if you told me you wanted a father?”

He shrugged his thin shoulders. “I dunno. Maybe.” He lifted his gaze to her. “You never talk about him. Didn’t you like him?”

Moisture hazed Kit’s vision. “I liked him very much, and I know you’d like him, too.”

“Is he dead?”

A few lies came to mind, but Kit couldn’t deceive her son. “No, he’s alive.”

“Then where is he? Doesn’t he like me? Is that why he doesn’t live with us, because he doesn’t want me?”

Kit struggled to come up with answers to his rapid-fire questions. “He never knew about you. Your mo—I didn’t tell him because I didn’t think he was ready to be a father.”

“Why?”

“Because he said he wasn’t the settling-down type, and I respected that.” She felt as if she were sinking in quicksand, unable to do anything but continue to be sucked down. Squatting beside Johnny, she met his bewildered eyes. “Not having a father has been hard on you, hasn’t it?”

He stared at her a long minute and laid his smooth palm against her cheek. “It doesn’t matter. I got a real good ma.”

Kit hugged him, hiding her sheen of tears.

It
did
matter. If she was a good mother, she’d do what was best for Johnny and give him the father he desperately craved: the man he already idolized.

Chapter 9

E
aster morning dawned bright and cheery, with a clear azure sky to greet Jake as he readied himself for the church service. Staring at his image in the small mirror hung crookedly on a wall, he tried to straighten the black string tie about his neck, but had little success.

“Why am I doing this?” he asked his reflection. “I haven’t set foot in a church in ten years. Dinner wasn’t contingent on my going to Easter service.”

Still, Jake had vowed to make a new start after his binge. Swearing off alcohol, he’d put his energies into his law practice. He’d already negotiated a business contract for the mercantile owner; he also had four clients for whom he’d drawn up wills. His biggest case had involved a broken window and the fourteen-year-old boy who’d thrown the rock. Unfortunately, it hadn’t gone to court, so Jake still hadn’t gotten any courtroom experience. However, he had enough to keep him busy.

Attending Sunday service would be another step in rebuilding his reputation.

Giving up on his tie, he pulled his black broadcloth jacket over his snow-white shirt. He grabbed his Stetson and left the room only to nearly bowl over his petite landlady in the hallway.

“Sorry, Freda,” he apologized.

“Why are you dressed up?” she asked curiously.

He surveyed her brown print dress and the practical rust-colored hat perched on her head. “Same reason you are.”

Surprise flickered across her unlined face. “To church you go?”

He nodded. “Kind of shocked myself.”

“Yes.” Her shrewd eyes narrowed. “Kit and Johnny will be there.”

Jake smoothed a finger over the worn material of his hat. “I know. She invited me over for Easter dinner.”

“Surprise me not.”

“Would you like me to walk you over to the church?”

She shook her head, a pink flush staining her cheeks. “Patrick will be here soon.”

Jake shook his head in mock disappointment. “So Patrick is my competition—I should’ve known.”

“Friends only we are.”

“And a bee doesn’t buzz, either.” He laughed. “Why, Freda, I do believe you’re blushing like a schoolgirl!”

She slapped his arm lightly. “Off to church you go.”

Still chuckling, Jake strode outside and fell in step with the small throng of people moving toward the stee-pled building at the edge of town. He greeted the men and tipped his hat to the ladies, hiding his nervousness behind a pleasant facade.

At the door to the church, he paused with hat in hand. His palms were moist and he questioned his reason for being there. Was it only Kit who drew him to the place of worship, or did he really want to reacquaint himself with God?

Hell, he didn’t know. Mumbling an apology for his silent curse, he backed away from the entrance.

“My goodness, did you hear that thunder?”

Startled, he found himself gazing into teasing blue eyes behind glass spectacles. His perusal swept down Kit’s cream-colored dress with little pale blue flowers scattered all over like a field of bluebells. He’d never seen her in anything but trousers, and the transformation stunned him.

“I didn’t hear no thunder, Ma,” Johnny remarked, puzzled. He looked skyward. “There isn’t even any clouds.”

Jake laid a hand on Johnny’s shoulder. “Your ma was just trying to be funny.”

“And succeeding quite well,” Kit said, laughter brightening her voice.

Jake tossed her a don’t-bet-on-it look and turned to the boy. “How’s your backside?”

“All better. And I’m ready to ride Treasure. This time I promise I won’t fall off.”

“I think Treasure’s the one who should be promising not to throw you,” Jake said. “You look downright dapper in that suit, Johnny.”

He wrinkled his nose. “Ma made me wear it.”

Jake took her hand and threaded it through the crook of his arm. Extending his other hand to Johnny, he said, “Shall we?”

“I don’t think—”

“Don’t think,” Jake said firmly. “It’ll be fine.”

Stiffening her spine, Kit allowed Jake to lead her and Johnny into the simple chapel. He passed the back row where she usually sat. Keeping her eyes focused on the altar, she looked neither right nor left. Condemning gazes scorched her, and she wished she’d hadn’t invited Jake to attend Easter service. She didn’t want him to experience the repercussions of being seen with her.

As if reading her thoughts, he squeezed her fingers
gently. She glanced up at him and he smiled encouragingly.

Jake Cordell gallantly swept the imperiled young woman up in his virile arms and dodged the shower of bullets that kicked up dust around his feet. He spotted shelter from the lead rain that poured down upon them from the evil Chaney gang. He dashed toward the sanctuary, the woman’s slight weight hardly noticeable
.

Sinking behind the rocky outcropping, Jake lowered the woman gently to the ground. “Don’t worry, ma’am; you’re safe here
.”

“
Why do they want to kill me? What have I done?” she asked, her voice trembling with wretched despair
.

“
You stood up to them,” Jake replied. “I’ll stand with you, ma’am, and make sure no harm comes to you
.”

She sighed a breathy little sigh and snuggled tightly against his muscular torso. She trusted him, her hero, Jake Cordell
.

“Is this okay?” Jake asked uncertainly.

He’d escorted them all the way to the front. She blinked. No, it wasn’t okay, but they couldn’t turn around without garnering even more attention.

“Fine,” she whispered, keeping her gaze directed forward so she wouldn’t have to see the stares that pierced her back.

Kit sat with Johnny between her and Jake like they were a real family. The irony of the situation brought a bubble of laughter up to Kit’s throat and she swallowed it before it slipped past her lips.

Then the Reverend Wellensiek entered and the hushed conversations ceased. He took his place at the front of the room, glanced around at the gathered congregation, and blinked when he spied Jake. After sending him a welcoming smile, the minister began the service.

Although she tried, Kit couldn’t seem to concentrate
on his words. She studied Jake out of the corner of her eye, and remembered the kiss they’d shared. Her face grew warm, and she shifted on the hard plank seat. She’d tried hard to forget the desire he’d invoked within her, and she thought she’d succeeded. But her wayward thoughts told her otherwise.

Jake turned toward her and caught her studying him. Knowing her cheeks flamed scarlet, she fought to concentrate on the words from the pulpit. How could she be thinking such scandalous thoughts, in church no less? Besides, the desire had been one-sided—for Jake, it had simply been a gesture of gratitude.

After what seemed an eternity, the final hymn was sung and the congregation dismissed. She stood and glanced at Jake.

“You seemed to be woolgathering,” he said in a low, teasing voice.

“I was just reflecting upon the scriptures.” She sent God a quick petition for forgiveness.

“What were they again?” he asked with too-innocent a look.

Caught in her lie, she thought quickly. “So you didn’t listen?”

“Touché, Miss Thornton.” Gallantly, he extended his arm. “Shall we?”

One look at his devilishly handsome features dashed her objections. “Thank you, kind sir.”

Outside the church, Johnny joined a couple other boys to play a quick game of tag.

The minister greeted Jake and Kit with a cordial smile. “Hello, Miss Thornton.” He extended his hand to Jake. “And Mr. Cordell, it’s nice to see you have returned to the flock.”

“At least for a visit, anyhow,” Jake amended. “I’m not sure how God feels about ex-bounty hunters.”

“You were doing the work of the Lord, bringing criminals to justice for their evil deeds.”

“You sound like you’re quoting one of Jake Cordell’s dime novels instead of the Good Book, Reverend.”

The minister’s self-conscious smile creased his narrow face. “Perhaps I was, but I’m sure I’ll be forgiven for my misdeed.”

Kit cleared her throat. “It was a wonderful service, Reverend Wellensiek.”

“Thank you, Kit, and I must say it was nice to see you at the front instead of hiding in the back as you usually do.”

“That was Jake’s doing,” she replied.

“I hope he does it every Sunday.”

“Karl, come speak with the mayor and his wife,” Engelbertina Wellensiek said, tugging on her husband’s arm.

“Have you met Jake Cordell, Bertie?” the minister asked.

“I’ve seen him about town,” she replied with a tone that would’ve frosted the devil’s tail. “Come along, Karl, the Walterses don’t have much time.”

“Excuse me, folks. Have a happy Easter,” the Reverend Wellensiek said, as his stout wife pulled him away.

Humiliated by Mrs. Wellensiek’s insulting behavior toward Jake, Kit stalked toward her wagon.

Jake grabbed her arm before she’d gone far. “Hey, where are you going so fast?”

“I have to get home and check on our dinner.” She glared at Bertie and the mayor. “Besides, if I stay here, I may do something that will only add more fuel to Bertie’s gossip.”

Taking her chin between his thumb and forefinger, he turned her face toward him. “Don’t let that old battle-ax get to you. I’ve met too many clucking hens like her
to be insulted by her pettiness.” He forced his voice to be light, though anger thrummed through him. Seeing Kit upset stirred his dormant sense of protectiveness. “If you want, I’ll call her out.”

She laughed and grasped his hand. “Thanks, Jake, but I don’t think that will be necessary.”

He squeezed her fingers gently. “Your wish is my command, madam.”

“You said the exact same thing to me fourteen years ago.”

In his mind, Jake saw the chubby little girl with the same sky blue eyes that peered at him now. “I’m surprised you remembered.”

“Would you be shocked to learn I still have the bandanna you gave me to wrap around my knee?”

He studied her a moment, bewildered. “Why?”

She began to walk toward her wagon, and he fell in step beside her. “You were my hero, Jake.”

“
Were?
”

“Little girls grow up.”

Sweeping his gaze down her figure, he smiled. “I’m glad they do.”

She blushed and called to her son. Red-faced from his game, Johnny joined them.

“Good morning, Kit,” David Preston greeted. He leaned close to the boy. “Hello, Johnny.”

The boy said hello and then turned his head away, waving a small hand in front of his nose. Jake coughed to smother a chuckle.

“And Mr. Cordell. I didn’t realize you were a church-going man,” Preston said with infinitely less warmth.

“I didn’t see you in there,” Jake said.

“David is an agnostic,” Kit interjected.

“Egg-what?”

Preston smirked condescendingly. “Agnostic, Mr.
Cordell. Surely a big-time Yale lawyer like yourself would know what that means.”

“It means you prefer your eggs sunny side up, right?”

Preston’s face reddened with anger, while Kit fought her laughter. Johnny didn’t try to restrain his giggles.

The newspaperman turned away from Jake to face Kit. “Will you and Johnny join me for dinner at the cafe?”

“It’s Easter, David,” she replied.

“You don’t have plans, do you?”

“As a matter of fact, she does,” Jake interrupted. “I’m going over to her place to have dinner with her and Johnny.”

Preston’s shoulders stiffened, but Jake couldn’t see his face.

“Is that true?” he demanded of Kit.

She nodded. “That’s right.”

“Why are you doing this? I thought you understood what kind of man Cordell is.”

Jake grabbed the reporter’s arm, gaining his undivided attention. “Maybe you should tell me what kind of man I am.”

Kit leaned close to Jake, and the flowery scent of her hair filled his senses. She laid her palm on his rigid forearm. “Let him go.”

He’d have preferred to beat the hell out of him, but Kit’s imploring voice cooled his temper. He pushed Preston away, and the dandy stumbled, stepping in a pile of fresh horse droppings.

Preston glared at Jake and looked back at Kit. “See what I mean?”

Lightning flashed in Kit’s eyes. “You deserved it for making such a fool of yourself, David.”

The reporter shook his head. “You’re making a mistake, Kit.”

“Maybe, but it’s my mistake to make.”

Preston’s lips flattened and he hurried away, dragging his foot as he tried ineffectually to scrape the smelly mess off his leather shoe.

Kit stared after him, a pensive expression on her delicately sculptured face. “He’s changed.”

“Does that mean he won’t come around anymore?” Johnny asked hopefully.

Kit ruffled her son’s burnished hair. “Probably. Do you mind?”

He wrinkled his nose. “Nope.”

“Smart boy you got there, ma’am,” Jake said with a wink.

“Takes after his father,” she retorted.

Abruptly she turned away, but not before Jake noticed the color drain from her cheeks.

“We’d best get home and get dinner ready,” she said stiffly. “Are you going to ride over?”

He nodded. “I’d like to run over to my room and change out of this suit first.”

“Don’t be late, or there won’t be any food left,” Johnny exclaimed as he climbed up into their wagon.

“I’d better hurry then,” Jake said. “I’d hate to miss out on your ma’s cooking.”

Kit urged her team into motion, and Johnny turned to wave.

Jake returned the gesture absently. The mention of Johnny’s father had seemed to upset Kit, and for the first time, Jake wondered about the man. He must have been a smooth talker to get into her bed.

If Jake ever met the son-of-a-bitch, he’d give him a taste of his fists. Any man who deserted a woman who carried his child was as worthless as a bucket of spit.

Especially when that woman was Kit.

“Charlie and Ethan are coming, Ma,” Johnny shouted.

“I think the horses down in the south barn heard you,” Kit teased.

The boy grinned unrepenitently and grabbed a slice of still-warm bread, taking a monstrous bite from it. “When’s Mr. Cordell gonna get here?” he mumbled.

“Pretty soon. Did you sweep off the porch, like I asked you?”