The Texan and the Lady (23 page)

He lifted the sheet in his fist and looked around. Nothing had been disturbed since he’d left. No one had been in the room.

The blood could mean only one thing. He’d taken Jennie’s virginity. But that couldn’t be possible. She was True’s mother. How could she have lived well into her twenties without another lover when she’d come so easily into his arms? No woman loved with such passion her first time.

She hadn’t protested. She hadn’t manipulated. She’d come into his arms like a woman taking a lover, not a virgin learning of life.

He tried to remember what she’d told him. Had she said that it was her first time? Had she told him things he hadn’t taken the time to believe?

Austin wadded the sheet into a ball and tossed it in the corner. He had to talk to her. For once he had to know the truth.

WHEN AUSTIN STEPPED from the back room, Jennie smiled up at him as she served a large helping of roast to Link. “Did you find out any news?”

For a moment he didn’t know what she was talking about. Surely she didn’t want him to mention the spot of blood in front of everyone in the room.

Link saved him from answering. “Only a few tracks, miss.”

Spider Morris pinched a bite of roast off the platter when he thought Jennie wasn’t looking. “We haven’t got any proof it was Buck Lawton and his men, but have you seen what’s going on outside?” He pointed toward the door with the stolen meat.

Austin’s gaze followed the sheriff’s. Several wagons filled with supplies and families were moving down the main street. “What’s up?”

“Everyone’s decided it must be the outlaw gang, and they’re all leaving. It’s amazing how in one day everyone decided he’s got a relative in some nearby town he needs to visit for a few days.” Spider scratched his whiskers. “Those that can’t think of anywhere to go are over at Salty’s place drinking away their troubles.”

“But if it is Buck, won’t they even stay here and stay sober to protect their homes?” Austin asked, knowing the answer as well as Spider did.

“Nope. That’s what they claim we’re here for.”

“Well, none of us at the Harvey House are leaving,” Audrey mumbled between bites. “Town folks or no, the trains will still be coming in and there will still be people to feed. Besides, I have a theory about running from trouble. It has a way of following you, so you might as well face it on home ground.”

Spider began unloading rifles from the rack behind his desk.

“I thought you didn’t believe in shooting outlaws.” Austin watched the old sheriff.

“These aren’t for shooting, son,” Spider said. “I plan to put them in a few windows so if the Lawton gang does hit town, they’ll think I have extra backup.”

“You think they’ll come here first?”

“If they know Barkley’s still alive, they’ll come here first. For some reason Lawton has singled him out as the first one to die.”

Before Austin could ask why, shots rang out from far down the street. Women screamed and horses bolted. Austin and Morris were across the room and onto the porch before the air stilled. Link was only a step behind, still holding his soup spoon in his hand.

Chapter 21

W
hen she heard the round of gunfire, Delta raised the derringer Colton had given her.

Colton’s fingers tightened around her other hand. “Hand me my guns,” he ordered in a voice weak with pain.

“No,” Delta whispered back. “I’ll protect you. I can shoot. You’re in no shape to hold a weapon, much less aim one.”

A smile crossed his pale face. “Thanks for the diagnosis, but I want you to leave. This isn’t your fight.”

Delta knew she could no longer keep her lie from him. The poor man was very likely dying because of her, and he didn’t even know why. “Correction. It’s not your fight,” she whispered. “When I came here, I was running from my stepbrother. He must have followed me and decided to murder you before he killed me.”

“Don’t try to make me believe some story, Mary Elizabeth. You’re a poor liar. Give me the gun and get out of here while there’s still time. The man who shot me last night would like nothing better than to shoot you, too.”

“I’m not leaving you to die because of me.” Delta didn’t believe him. Why would anyone want to kill him? The man who attacked them had to have been her stepbrother.

“You have to get somewhere safe. You’re still not strong from the wreck two weeks ago.”

“No!”

Colton shook his head slightly. “I know you have no family, so there is no use in trying to make up a story.”

“Mary Elizabeth had no family. I have more than I want.”

Colton closed his eyes. She wasn’t sure if it was because of what she’d told him or due to the pain. How would this strong, quiet man react to having been used? Delta didn’t want even to guess, but she couldn’t take her gaze from his face. She’d never seen a man so strong-minded. Even weak and near death he was determined to send her to safety and fight alone, as she guessed he had all his life.

Another round of gunfire rattled the air like thunder. Slowly, with determination in his black eyes, he looked at her. “It’s you who doesn’t understand,” he said above the noise outside. “The man who shot me last night is an outlaw named Buck Lawton who’ll stop at nothing to see me dead.”

“But why?” Delta couldn’t imagine anyone hating Colton so completely.

“Because,” Colton clenched his teeth. “Because I killed the woman he loved.”

A cry escaped her lips before she could stop it. She couldn’t bring herself to believe any man would do such a thing. “Are you sure? Maybe it was an accident. Maybe he blames you unjustly. Maybe you only hurt her or thought she was dead.”

“No.” Colton’s eyes were even darker and colder than before. “She was dead. I buried her the next morning. She was my wife.”

The air suddenly left the room. Delta pulled her hand from his grip, dropped the gun and ran. She didn’t want to believe what he’d just told her. How could a man kill his own wife? Somehow she’d found a man even more evil than her stepfather.

As she rushed from the cell, she collided with Sheriff Morris. The old man managed to hold onto his rifle while she spun him around. “Steady, girl.” Spider held her tightly for a moment, until they both had their footing.

“Colton just told me …” Delta couldn’t bring herself to repeat the horror she’d just heard.

The old sheriff didn’t seem the least alarmed. “Easy now. I reckon Colton told you whatever he thought he had to to get you to let go of his hand and get to safety.”

“But …”

“But whatever it was he said to hurt your feelings, you can patch up later. Right now you’d better get in the back with the other women because all hell’s fixing to break out.”

“All hell’s fixing to break out in this office if you think you’re shoving us in the back room!” Audrey lifted two rifles and handed one to Jennie. “Can you use this?”

“I can learn.” Jennie stared at Austin, leaving no doubt that she did not consider the subject of her staying up for discussion.

Another round of gunfire sounded from the street, along with Link’s shout. They all took a step toward the door as the boy bounded in. “There’s not any trouble. The gunfire was just Amos from north of town. Doc just delivered twins to him and his wife!”

Everyone in the room lowered their guns a few inches and took a breath.

“Then the trouble’s over,” Audrey said. “Maybe the town folks will settle down.”

Spider Morris nodded his agreement but didn’t move to replace the rifles. “It wasn’t Amos who shot Colton on the road last night, so I’d say the trouble’s not over, but at least this scare might help the town’s folks to come to their senses and stop running like frightened groundhogs at the sound of thunder.”

“Maybe.” Austin didn’t sound hopeful.

Spider cradled his rifle and moved through the door. “I think I’ll go have a word with the new father and try convincing him to buy a round of drinks while leaving his gun in my custody.” The old man glanced at Austin. “You stayin’ here?”

The question was casual, but Austin understood the importance of words not said. “I’m staying right here with Colton until we have some idea who shot him.”

Jennie set down the rifle without looking at Austin. “Mrs. Gray told me that the jail is no place for the likes of a fine gentleman like Colton Barkley. She said if he’s able to be moved, we can get a room ready for him at the Harvey House.” She looked from Austin to Delta. “What do you think?”

Both glanced around the room. With the building’s two entrances and windows all around, the jail would be almost impossible to guard if someone attacked it. Austin remembered seeing several private dining rooms downstairs at the Harvey House with no windows at all.

“We’ll move him as soon as Audrey gives the word,” Austin decided. “Tell Mrs. Gray to make him up a room downstairs.”

Jennie gathered up dishes in a large basket. “I’ll go tell her.”

She didn’t wait for a reply, but hurried from the office. As she walked back to the Harvey House, she didn’t notice the weight on her arm. All she could think about was the way Austin had looked at her when he’d returned from the back room.

Every moment except the few when they’d thought they might be under attack, Austin had stared at her like he expected her to run at him and try to scratch his eyes out. Had he really thought she’d be angry with him about last night, when it had been she who’d gone to him?

Jennie was so deep in thought, she didn’t notice the man sitting on the steps of the hotel until she was within six feet of him.

She was almost at the bottom step when he stood and drew her attention. At first glance he seemed like someone she knew but couldn’t place. Average height, barrel-chested, hairless.

“You Jennie Munday?” he shouted in a tone void of all manners.

Jennie hesitated, recalling the night she’d spent almost in this very spot looking for such a man. The night of the wreck. The night she’d carried a gun in her pocket and had been ready to shoot on sight. But she didn’t have a gun now.

Carefully she weighed her options. She could run for the back door and probably get away. She could scream. Surely someone inside would hear her and come running. Why had she packed Delta’s pocket pistol away with the rest of her things?

“I may be,” she answered, the only sign of nervousness her death grip on the basket. “Who are you?” She asked the question even though she already knew the answer.

The man shoved his large chest out farther and replied, “I’m Ward Hall, and I’m thinking you’re the woman I’ve been waiting to see.”

“What do you want?” Jennie could feel her teeth starting to rattle.

“I’ve been following my dear lost sister for over three weeks now. Stopped at near every town along the tracks. I know she got off somewhere. Finally found a fellow who remembered seeing a little woman in a wine-red coat getting on the train leaving Kansas City bound for Florence.”

“I don’t think I’ve seen such a coat. Maybe she moved on further down the line.” Jennie tried to sound convincing.

“No, miss, she stopped here.”

Jennie forced down a swallow. “What was her name?”

The huge man took a step down and answered, “Delta Criswell, but I think she registered here at the Harvey House as Delta Smith.”

Jennie looked at her feet as the man took another step. “If you’re Jennie Munday or Audrey Gates, my sister was your roommate when she first came here. I saw it on the hotel employee count.”

She finally looked up. “Did Mrs. Gray tell you that?”

The man smiled, showing most of his yellowed teeth. “She didn’t. Thought she’d put me in my place by telling me no in her high and mighty manner. But I outsmarted her. I waited until she got called away and looked for myself. I ain’t no fool. I went to school long enough to learn to read.”

Relaxing some, Jennie knew that once she told Delta’s lie, this horrible man would go away. “I don’t know a Delta Criswell, but I did meet a Delta Smith. She was injured in the train robbery that happened the day we got to Florence. She was very ill but lived a week before she died.”

The huge man jerked back as though she’d struck him with her words. “Dead! She couldn’t be dead!”

Jennie took the opportunity to move past him. “I’m sorry, but if Delta Smith is your sister, we buried her over two weeks ago. I could get someone to show you the grave if you like.”

“That can’t be!” He stormed at her as if he’d been wronged personally by her announcement. “I saw her here, myself, last night at the dance. She was dancing and walking in the dark with some tall gentleman like she was a lady and not soiled trash.”

Jennie stood her ground even when he leaned close enough to her to sour the air with his breath. “There was no Delta Smith, or Criswell, at the dance last night.”

“I should know what my own sister looks like!”

She took a step back. “I remember Delta Smith saying she had no kin. No brothers or sisters.”

Ward swore and spit in the flower bed beside the porch. “Well, maybe I ain’t no blood kin. But my pa married her ma, or at least he was planning on it. We was just one happy family before Delta run off in the night.”

Jennie knew he was lying, but she couldn’t tell him so without giving too much away. It was better if he didn’t know how well she knew Delta’s problem. “If you’re the only kin she had, we packed her belongings away in a small trunk hoping we’d have some word from family.”

Ward’s whole hairless face lit up. “Well, why didn’t you say so?” He tried to hide his delight. “Not that I’m not real sorry to hear about my dear sister, but if you have her things, at least I can take them home to her mother as a comfort during her loss.”

If it hadn’t been for the greed in his eyes, Ward would have almost looked as if he cared about Delta and her mother. But Jennie could see his hands opening and closing in anticipation of the trunk.

Jennie didn’t want to allow the man back into the hotel, but she had to move him off the porch before Audrey brought Colton over. She might convince him he didn’t see his sister the night of the dance, but if Delta came walking up the steps in daylight, the lie might be harder to get him to swallow. Jennie had to get him away from the front of the hotel and fast.