Redemption's Edge (26 page)

Ellis and Rude masked their amusement, each glad to see him grumbling and carrying on as before.

Rachel stood back, watching Luke and wondering if she should ask after Dax. She hadn’t seen him since the night he’d told her she held no place in his future. Each time she remembered his words, the pain in her chest flared, then settled near her heart. She knew it would lessen over time—all wounds did. What hurt most was her belief she’d meant something to him, yet he’d shown no signs of it when he’d told her of his plans to leave. She believed if Dax held any feelings for her, he would’ve asked her to join him. He didn’t and, of course, she probably would have refused. Her uncle needed her here, in the clinic that had become his life. Regardless, it would’ve been nice to hear the words. At least she’d know he felt something for her and hadn’t just been passing the time during his stay in Splendor. She slumped against a nearby wall, feeling the pain tighten across her chest once again.

“It seems I’m always thanking you. For me, for Hank, and now for Bull. I don’t know what the town would do without you.” Luke stood close by, his eyes studying her face. He knew it wasn’t his place, but the pain he saw in her eyes wiped away the caution. “He told you he’s leaving, didn’t he?”

“Yes,” she breathed out. “As soon as he settles the details with you.”

“Ah, the details. I wouldn’t count on us working out anything soon. We have many details to discuss.”

Luke could see the pain pass over her face and anger surged through him. He loved his brother, would risk his life for him, but he knew Dax was making a huge mistake. Luke had choices, too, and he’d decided the world would freeze over before he bought Dax out and allowed him to dump everything, including Rachel Davenport.

“You ready, boss?” Ellis asked. They had begun to help Bull up, Rude under one arm and Ellis under another.

“I’m not helpless.” Bull swore under his breath as his legs almost gave out under him.

“Now you just concentrate on moving one foot in front of the other, boy. Rude and I will do our part so you don’t topple over.” Ellis’s breath already came in labored gasps as he took on more of Bull’s substantial weight. “You get the door, boss.”

It took a little while before Bull lay in the wagon, a blanket pulled up to his chest. Luke climbed up and glanced behind him. “You okay back there?”

“I’m fine. Let’s get out of here.”

“Thanks, Doc. You and Rachel worked a miracle.” Luke slapped the reins.

Rachel stood on the wood walkway and watched the wagon disappear around the bend. She thought of Luke’s words and wondered if there might be more to Dax’s leaving than either man had said.

Luke didn’t sound pleased with his brother’s decision, which didn’t surprise her. From what she’d seen, they were close. Too close for Dax to leave Luke behind. Perhaps the man she’d fallen in love with might be stuck in Splendor a little while longer.

“Where are you headed?” Dax took in Luke’s shiny boots and slicked back hair. The look reminded him of the nights before the war when his brother used to attend one social event after another.

“To supper and the Rose.” Luke spared Dax a cursory look. “You’re welcome to join me.”

“You eating alone?”

“No.”

Dax’s gaze leveled on Luke. “That so? And who’s joining you?”

“Miss Davenport.” Luke didn’t turn his head or give any indication he believed the announcement of his supper partner would cause a stir. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Dax stand and walk toward him in slow, measured steps. He turned a fraction to see Dax’s fierce stare bore into him.

“You asked Rachel and she agreed?” His voice vibrated with anger directed at Luke, at Rachel, and himself.

“She did.”

Dax strode away, arms slack at his sides, trying to understand why it affected him so. He’d made his decision, been upfront about his intentions, and walked away from Rachel. Although they’d never made any kind of commitment, never spoken of love, Dax felt the pain as much as he’d feel a bullet to his chest.

“Join us. You don’t need to stay here alone.” Luke walked up beside him. “It isn’t as if I’m courting her. It’s supper, nothing more. Afterwards, we’ll walk her home, then go to the Rose, have a few drinks, and play cards.”

The offer tempted Dax. He’d thought of little else except Rachel for the last few days. He tried to convince himself he’d made the right decision and his interest in her would pass once he left Splendor. It wouldn’t take long for Rachel to realize his decision was for the best and move on. With her intelligence, beauty, and kind heart, some good-looking cowboy would scoop her up in no time. His body bristled at the thought. He swallowed a lump in his throat and tried to convince himself what he felt for her couldn’t have been love. He wanted and desired her more than any women he’d ever met. Love took time, grew over the years—didn’t it? It had been a few short months. If it wasn’t love, why couldn’t he rid her from his thoughts and purge her image from his mind?

“You go ahead. Enjoy yourself and try to make it home sober.” Dax clasped Luke on the shoulder and turned away.

“You look stunning.” He shouldn’t have been surprised. Rachel darn near took his breath away. She wore a blue evening dress and styled her hair to rival any east coast beauty.

“Why, thank you, Luke. Come in for a minute. I’m serving up my uncle’s supper.” She turned toward the kitchen, while Luke made himself comfortable in the front room.

“Hello, Luke. How’s Bull doing?” Charles walked from the back and shook his guest’s hand.

“He’s a beast.”

Charles laughed and took a seat.

“I mean it. He’s a real bear. Gripes all the time, won’t let anyone help him, and insists he can do everything himself. Hank caught him in the barn yesterday and you should’ve heard the yelling.”

“Who won?”

“Hank.” Luke smiled as the vision of Bull sulking back to the bunkhouse and slamming the door flashed across his mind.

“Are you ready?” Rachel asked as she set her uncle’s supper on the table.

“I sure am.” Luke’s eyes roamed over Rachel and he silently cursed his brother for being such a fool. It would serve Dax right if someone came along and snatched her up before he came to his senses.

They made their way down the street, the sun still glowing over the tips of the nearby mountains. Rachel waved at a few people finishing up their day. She saw light coming from the livery and knew Noah Brandt hadn’t stopped working.

“That man never rests.”

“Who?”

“Noah Brandt. He starts his day before anyone else is up and works late, way beyond most of us. There’s something about him…” Her voice trailed off as she thought of the man everyone saw as a mystery.

“Are you interested in him?”

“Me? No, not in the way you mean. He’s so private, yet one of the nicest men you’ll ever meet—if he’ll open up and talk with you.”

Luke let the information settle in. He knew Gabe and Noah were close, yet he’d met Noah just a couple times. Once when they’d visited King Tolbert. He’d been silent as he took in every word during the meeting, his sharp eyes missing nothing. Luke agreed with Rachel. There was a lot more to Noah than he wanted people to see.

“Here we are.” He opened the door to Suzanne’s restaurant and followed Rachel inside.

“Good evening. Follow me.” Suzanne led them to a table by the window. “Where’s your brother?”

“Sulking at home. I invited him to come along.”

“What a shame, a good-looking man like him alone.” She shot a quick glance at Rachel, who averted her eyes.

They got settled, ordered the night’s special, and looked out the window toward the glow of the fire in the livery.

“You said you invited Dax to come. He refused?” Rachel had tried not to ask, but her good sense surrendered to the pull of her curiosity.

“He didn’t refuse as much as decline.” Luke told himself he didn’t want to get in the middle of whatever had happened between the two of them, yet the sadness in her voice wrestled with his restraint. “I’m not sure what’s going on with him. There’s something weighing on him, dragging him down, but he won’t talk about it.”

“He told me his life is in Texas, not here. Sounds pretty simple to me.”

Luke thought about it a moment, believing the cause to be more complex. He chose not to share his concerns with Rachel right now. “You may be right. It could be a simple desire to live somewhere else.”

Two hours later, he walked her home, recognizing how much he’d missed going out with a lady. It had been quite a while since he’d cleaned himself up and spent an evening discussing whatever came to mind with a beautiful woman, not worrying about the next battle or what outlaw may be coming up behind him.

“Thanks so much for this evening, Luke. I had a wonderful time.”

“The pleasure’s mine, Rachel.” He made a slight bow, then cast her a vague smile before turning to leave. “Don’t give up on him. He hasn’t left yet.”

Rachel stayed by the door and watched him leave, his last words playing over and over in her mind. No, Dax
hadn’t
left. He still had to work out the details with Luke or find another buyer for his half of the ranch. That didn’t mean he wouldn’t leave. Rachel had thought about Dax day and night, lying awake in bed while trying to find a way to rid him from her mind. She’d come to accept that no amount of hope would get him to stay. He’d fixed his sights on Texas, a vast state with unlimited opportunities. This small town in Montana couldn’t be more different than the big southern state on the border of Mexico.

No, Dax Pelletier would never be a true part of Splendor, never claim the town as his own, never be happy with someone like her. He’d arrive and leave as most did—seeking a dream hundreds of miles away where she held no place.

Chapter Fourteen

Big Pine, Montana

“We’ll stay here tonight.” Duff Mayes slid off his horse, casting a look at his brother and cousins before walking up the steps toward the hotel in Big Pine. “I need a bath and food. Then a drink.” He nodded toward the saloon next door.

“How long are we staying?” Whitey Mayes had grown increasingly frustrated over the two weeks it had taken them to reach Montana. He wanted to reach Splendor, kill the Pelletier brothers, and get back to their Texas ranch. The trip had already taken up too much time.

“We’ll leave in a couple days. Splendor should be a day’s ride from here.”

“Why wait? We need to get this over with.”

The glare Whitey shot his older brother had no impact on Duff. Over the years, he’d learned to ignore most of Whitey’s ramblings. They used to come to blows over them. Now he let him fume.

“I want to talk with the sheriff, maybe a few others, and find out if anyone has heard of the Pelletiers. We need to know what we’re riding into.” He continued through the entrance toward the front desk and ordered rooms.

Duff signed his name in the register, threw a couple of bills on the desk, then glanced at the clerk. “Big Pine have a sheriff?”

“We’re the territorial capital. Of course we have a sheriff. Parker Sterling.” He pointed down the street in the direction of the jail.

“Thanks.” Duff grabbed his saddlebag and started up the stairs, tired and as ready as Whitey to get this over with and head home. What worried him, caused him to be more cautious than normal, had everything to do with what he’d learned about the two Texas Rangers they hunted. It didn’t seem to matter to his brother that both were ex-Confederate officers and had excellent reputations as Rangers, even though they’d been with the agency a short time.