Sarah's Heart (18 page)

“Don’t be.” Sarah
squared her shoulders and followed Wolf’s example. She sat taller in the
saddle, her head high and her eyes forward. “They should be apologizing to you.
You’ve done nothing wrong. They’re just lucky my pistol is packed away.”

Wolf chuckled.
“Like you could ever shoot anyone.”

He’d no sooner
spoken than gunfire rang out. Bullets struck the dry street in front of their
horses, sending pellets of dirt splattering into the air. Sarah’s breath seized
as Wolf reached over, grabbed her reins, and urged Scout into a run. Star
followed behind while Sarah gasped in fear and hung tight to the saddle horn.
Why was someone taking pot shots at them?

Chapter Seventeen

Wolf and Sarah
rounded a corner onto a side street. The gunfire ceased. Sarah’s pulse pounded
and her hands trembled. Wolf slowed their mounts to a walk and handed Sarah’s
reins back to her. “Damn drunks and their shenanigans. One of these days
they’re gonna kill someone.”

Sarah’s mouth fell
open; she was speechless for a moment. “Are you telling me that someone shot at
us to amuse themselves?”

“All it takes is one
of the locals from the saloon to show how big and brave he is, and then
everything snowballs from there. Didn’t you hear the laughter?”

Sarah brushed her
hat off her head and raked nervous fingers through her hair. “I couldn’t hear
anything over my heart trying to bang its way out of my chest. If we weren’t in
danger, then why did you bolt?”

“I didn’t say we
weren’t. Drunks aren’t exactly the most accurate shots. I didn’t want to hang
around and take a chance that one of us might get hit.”

Sarah dismounted on
wobbly legs. She released a pent-up breath and glared at Wolf. “Now I’m really
mad. That just plain takes the cake of stupid stunts.”

He slid from Scout’s
back. “I wish your welcome to town had been a tad warmer, but this is what
happens when you hang out with half-breeds.” His full lips pulled into a frown.

Slapping her hat
back in place, she kicked at the dirt. “It shouldn’t happen to anyone without
reason. Good lord, they could’ve actually killed us.” She cast a nervous glance
at the corner.

“Don’t worry, you’re
safe now. No one is coming after us. The drunks had their fun.” Wolf took the
reins from her. “We aren’t far from Maggie’s boarding house. It’s just a few
doors from the livery. I’ll make sure the horses are tended to and then I’ll
introduce you. I’m sure you and Maggie will get on fine.”

“What about you?”
She held her breath, fearing his answer.

“I’ll spend the
night, but ride out early tomorrow morning. I need to find work. Right now I’m
a partial land owner, but if I don’t come up with the rest of the money soon….”

He planned to leave
and she wasn’t ready. “I can help! I know how much that land means to you. It’s
the least I can do after you’ve saved my life. I’ll find a job….” She wanted to
tell him there wasn’t anything she wouldn’t do for him. But she didn’t dare.

Wolf brushed against
her as he led the horses forward. “I didn’t do anything that anyone else
wouldn’t have done. I just happened to be the one passing by at the right
time.”

His touch warmed
her, sending a flushing sensation creeping up her arm and blossoming onto her
chest. “But you saved me!”She bit her bottom lip, wishing he would rescue her
again. She was drowning in emotions she couldn’t show—and guilt over leaving
him to die.

He shook his head.
“You’ve given me your thanks and that’s enough. Now, let’s get these horses
taken care of so you can meet Maggie.”

Sarah waited outside
the livery stable and gazed across at the buildings along the alleyway. Unlike
the neatly tucked storefronts on Main Street that beckoned with bold lettering
and window advertising to possible patrons, the businesses hidden away on the
side thoroughfare had little decoration but looked to be run by merchants with
a steady flow of traffic. In front of the hauling company, employees loaded a
buckboard, and inside the large open doors of a wagon company, despite it being
almost dinnertime, a man sawed tediously at a long piece of wood. Passing
horses and carriages tossed up dust that tickled Sarah’s nose. She sneezed,
sending her hat sailing off her head and hanging down her shirtfront, held only
by her rawhide tie. Her stomach rumbled with hunger.

“Are you ready?”
Wolf’s voice took her by surprise.

She quickly patted
her weathered head covering back into place and nodded. “I can’t wait to meet
your friend.”

“Maggie’s place is
so close I can smell her cookin’.” He took Sarah’s arm and escorted her across
the rutted road, between riders passing in opposite directions. She’d never get
used to the piercing glares she received simply for being in Wolf’s company.

Wolf led her around
the corner, across another alley, and up onto the porch of a large white
two-story. The house fronted the street, with no yard, merely a wood plank way
beneath a carved sign that identified the establishment as ‘Maggie’s Place.’ A
smaller one beneath indicated there were ‘rooms to let’.

Wolf opened the
front door, tinkling a bell that announced them, and showed Sarah inside. The
room smelled of lemons and spice and something delicious. Hardwood floors
sparkled along the edges of a large braided rug upon which a settee, two
chairs, and two side tables with lamps sat. Wide windows allowed the streaming
sunlight through tied back curtains, and everything blended together in colors
of beige, yellow and blue. Immediately, Sarah felt comfortable and encouraged
that she and Maggie shared the same housekeeping traits. Mother had always said
that cleanliness meant godliness.

A woman rounded the
corner, wiping her hands on her apron, a wide grin blossoming on her
cherub-like face. “This lady’s far too pretty to be in the company of a
scoundrel like you.”

Sarah’s cheeks
warmed at the compliment.

Wolf stepped forward
and planted a kiss on Maggie’s cheek. “Maggie Smith, meet Sarah Collins. Sarah,
this is the wonderful woman I told you about.”

Just as Wolf
described, her hostess appeared middle-aged, plump and had an infectious smile.
Sarah extended her hand, but to her surprise, the older woman gathered her in a
bear hug, then held her at arm’s length and backed away. “Any friend of Wolf’s
is a friend of mine.” Maggie winked one of her sparkling brown eyes then turned
her attention to Wolf.

 
“So, where’d you find such a pretty little
filly?”

“It’s a long story,
and one we can share over dinner.” Wolf inhaled, crinkling his nose. “Do I
smell pot roast?”

“That you do. I’ve
got rooms made up for the two of you where you can stow your goods and wash
up.” Maggie paused for a moment, her brow arched. “I’m assumin’ you do want
separate ones?”

“Uh…yes… yes of
course.” Sarah’s hand massaged her flushing neck to keep the color from flaming
her cheeks. “We’re just friends.”

Desire to be more
stabbed at her heart, but she and Wolf were temporary traveling companions and
nothing more. He’d made it clear he wanted nothing other than friendship by
intimating that romance was foolish and something for which he had no time. No
matter she’d love to share his room—his bed—and body.

 
She stiffened at her bold thoughts then
admitted to herself she’d finally found someone she could spend forever with,
but he wasn’t inclined to keep her from becoming an old maid. A sigh of
disappointment curdled inside her.

“The rooms are the
last two on the right hand side. Wolf, you take your regular one and show Sarah
to the other. I need to check and see that dinner isn’t burnin’.” Maggie
waddled off, glancing over her shoulder. “I only have one boarder at the
moment, so there’ll be plenty to eat. You know I always cook for an army.”

Her final word left
a bitter taste in Sarah’s mouth. Maggie surely wouldn’t cook for the uniformed
men who’d arrested wolf if she’d seen what they did to him.

* * *

The three sat around
the yellow gingham covered table, empty plates in front of them. Wolf leaned
back and patted his stomach. “That tasted delicious as usual, Maggie.”

“Thank you. But I
must say I enjoyed the conversation more than the food.” She looked at Sarah.
“I can’t believe what you went through, you poor thing. It must have been
absolutely awful feelin’ like you were going to die, not once, but twice.”

Sarah laid her
matching yellow napkin aside. “I hope I never face anything like it again. I
owe my life to Wolf.” She reached over and patted his hand.

He rolled his eyes
and yanked away like she’d burnt him. “Please, Sarah. I’ve already told you
that you don’t owe me anything. I only did what was right.”

Maggie chuckled.
“Once you get to know him better you’ll find he doesn’t take to compliments.”

Sarah drew her hand
back into her lap and clasped it with her other one. “I think I’ve already
figured that out.”

The back door
slammed and all heads turned. Sarah’s eyes widened at the tall, light-haired
stranger, dressed in a beige business suit. Her gaze wandered from the dark
brown bowler on his head to shoe tips that shone almost as brightly as Maggie’s
kitchen floor. Blue eyes twinkled from beneath his brim.

He removed his hat.
“Sorry I’m late, Miss Smith. I do hope I didn’t miss dinner.” His smile
revealed dimpled cheeks, giving him a boyish appearance.

Surprised, Sarah
found
herself
captivated and leaned forward, head
tilted.

Maggie stood and
gestured to a chair. “Please sit. We’ve finished, but there’s still plenty of
meat, potatoes and carrots. We even left you a couple biscuits.”

She moved to the
cupboard and took out another place setting, glancing back at the table. “Sarah
and Wolf, this is Mr. Jonathan Montgomery from New York.”

He clicked his heels
and gave a light bow to Sarah before taking the seat at the end of the table.
“Very nice to meet you, Miss Sarah, and you, too, Mr.…Wolf was it?” His nose
wrinkled as if he smelled something offensive.

“That’s right. Like
the animal.” Wolf barely cast a glance at the man.

“A very unusual
name, wouldn’t you say?” Mr. Montgomery flicked his napkin open and placed it
across his knees.

“Not for someone
raised by Indians. My name is actually Gray Wolf, but I shortened it.”

“Hmmm.”
Jonathan ladled vegetables onto his plate.

“Wolf is actually
only half Indian,” Sarah chimed in. His father was white, and….”

“And you, Miss
Sarah, where do you hail from?” The New Yorker was obviously not interested in
Wolf’s history. His eyes sparkled in her direction.

“I’m originally from
Missouri,” she stopped short of re-telling the
unpleasant wagon train story, “but not Independence.”

He held his knife
and fork properly, slicing through a piece of beef. “So, do you live here in
town?”

“No, I’ve only just
arrived and am seeking employment.” Sarah tensed, realizing this was an awkward
time to discuss money matters. “I’m hoping Miss Smith will allow me to stay
here while I look.” Sarah smiled up at her hostess, who gathered dirty dishes
from the table.

“Maggie! Please…
being called Miss Smith makes me feel older than I am. And of course you’re
more than welcome here.”

“Let me help you.”
Rising, Sarah picked up her plate and utensils, noting that Jonathan’s gaze
followed her. She squirmed beneath his bold stare.

At the table, she
claimed the condiments the boarder wasn’t using. “So, Mr. Montgomery, what
brings you to town?”

He leaned back in
his chair, dabbing the corners of his mouth with his napkin. “Nothing exciting,
I fear. I’m just here to locate adequate acreage for an investor. Mr. Asa
Whitney, author of “Project for a Railroad to the Pacific believes in the
strong possibility that Independence
might become an established stop over. He has appointed me to find a perfect
place for a train station.”

A furrow deepened in
Wolf’s brow. “And where exactly are you looking?”

“The nice people at
the local financial establishment have shown me a few parcels for sale, but I
have my eye on one piece that may or may not be available. It seems the buyer
still has to make the final payment. The banker tends to believe the man is a
low-life and doesn’t stand a chance of furnishing the needed funds, so I plan
to stick around and hope they’re right.”

Sarah’s gaze jerked
to Wolf. He glared at Jonathan with eyes narrowed and steely, but remained
silent. The strong jaw she admired had tightened into a rigid line, and his
nostrils flared with each breath. Tension hung in the air like a morning mist.
Sarah inhaled and waited for a reaction.

Chapter Eighteen

Jonathan Montgomery
pushed his empty plate away, wiped his mouth, and tossed the napkin on the
table. He turned his attention to Sarah again, knotting Wolf’s insides with
anger. “Miss Collins, perhaps you might like to take a ride with me tomorrow so
I can show you the area my client is considering. We can pass by the Kenton
House construction site on