The Texan and the Lady (30 page)

Cupping her chin hesitantly, slowly, very slowly, he lowered his mouth to her lips. The kiss was light, tender against her mouth. “Thank you, Delta, my wife.”

He rolled back on the pillow and relaxed with his arm pulling her close to his side.

Delta smiled as she touched her lips where he’d kissed her. He might think he had no love to give, but she’d bet Colton Barkley had a great deal. For the first time in her life she felt wanted. He had given her a home and her baby his name, and she’d given him her heart.

Chapter 27

A
ustin McCormick combed the countryside for three days looking for any trace of the man who’d kidnapped Jennie. He found the old farmhouse with Delta’s jade cape partially burned in the fireplace, but no barrel-chested man. As the days passed, all signs of the storm disappeared except the coldness left around Jennie’s heart.

Every time Austin tried to see her, one of the others waylaid him. Delta asked him to come to Colton’s room the day after the kidnapping. Without tears she held her husband’s hand and told Austin the truth about who she believed kidnapped Jennie. She confessed to trading places with Mary Elizabeth, but Austin figured if this fact didn’t bother Colton Barkley, it wasn’t anyone else’s concern. A name on a grave in this country weathered away faster than a cowboy’s memory of home on a Saturday night in Dodge. Besides, from what she’d told of Ward, Austin couldn’t blame her for hiding.

When Delta left the room, Austin and Colton talked about who they considered the true threat to folks in these parts—Buck Lawton. Spider Morris had heard word that he was holing up not more than thirty miles from town, waiting for his chance to strike. The tracks Link followed the day of Colton’s shooting had turned into many, lending credence to the belief a gang was watching the town.

Austin felt like he had two rattlers within striking distance and only one bullet in his gun. No matter which way he turned, he left the path open for attack. The Texan was willing to bet Lawton’s reason for not moving into town had something to do with Colton, but the pieces didn’t fit together.

He worked from dawn to long after dark, always on edge. Any moment trouble might stampede in without warning.

Almost a week after the storm he caught himself arguing with his own shadow as he made rounds. What bothered him more than any outlaws was the fact Jennie wouldn’t even see him. He’d reasoned that she might be afraid he’d confront her with lying. But, hell, they’d both known she was doing that long before Ward Hall came along. Or maybe she’d had such a bad time that night, the sight of any man bothered her. Austin didn’t like to think about that being the case.

“Gun shy,” he mumbled as he stepped into the only lighted place in town after dark, Salty’s place.

Moses looked up from cleaning the tables with a rag dirtier than most floors and smiled. “Evenin’, Marshal, want a drink before you call it a night?”

Austin nodded. “Only one.” He’d need to be stone sober when trouble hit.

“You bet.” Moses hurried across the empty room and poured a shot of whiskey. “Did I hear you say gun shy when you walked in?”

Downing the drink, Austin said, “I guess I was thinking out loud about how some folks get so afraid of something, they don’t go on with their lives.”

Moses appeared to understand, but Austin guessed it was a charade he’d developed for business reasons and to hide the vacant space beneath his bowler hat.

“You know, Marshal, I knew a man once who almost got scalped by Indians when he first came west back in ‘52. Ever’time he’d get within a hundred feet of an Indian, he’d start sweatin’ and shaking and fearing he was dying.”

Interested, Austin leaned closer. “How’d he get over it?”

“Changed his attitude and that’s a fact.” Moses spit a brown string of tobacco within three inches of the spittoon. “Married a Quaker widow who outweighed most buffalo I’ve seen. She already had a wagon load of the ugliest brats this side of the Mississippi. From what I hear, she never tired of reminding him how much less of a man he was than her first husband. Now ever’ time he sees an Indian, he don’t sweat or shake at all, just smiles and prays it’s time to meet the maker.”

Austin couldn’t hide the smile that tickled across his face. “Thanks for the drink and the company, Moses, but I’d better be heading back.”

Moses bobbed his head in agreement and picked up a broom he used mostly for swatting wasps in the summer. He leaned on the stick for support. “Good night, Marshal.”

When Austin stepped out the door, a small shadow fell into place just behind him. “Evening, True,” Austin said without turning around.

“Henry said I’d find you here.”

“I thought Henry left town with his folks,” Austin said.

“Oh, he did, but like most of the town folks, he came back ‘cause he was afraid he’d miss something. I think he figured I would have all the fun.”

True’s voice lowered. “Henry thinks you might be drinking too much, but I told him it weren’t none of our business long as you were able to shoot straight.”

Austin slowed his steps to match True’s. “Tell Henry next time you see him, since you seem to be the only one who does see him, that he’d best mind his own business.”

“Oh, I do tell him that, but he is just downright nosy sometimes. Like take tonight. I was thinking of finding you early and helping you make rounds, but Henry wanted to stay at the hotel and hear what everyone was talking about.”

True waited until Austin asked, “And what was everyone talking about?” He wasn’t really all that interested, but True’s coloring of everything never failed to entertain him.

“They were all discussing whether or not Colton and Delta should go back to the ranch. Finally Colton storms in a voice loud enough to wake a few dead people that he doesn’t care what they all say, he’s taking his wife and going home. I think all the women mothering him at the Harvey House are getting to him.”

Austin turned and faced True. “A man’s got a right to do what he thinks is best for his family.”

“Yeah, but that ain’t all. Next, Delta invites Jennie to come and recover.”

“Colton allowed this?” Austin knew Colton had sense enough to object. With Buck’s gang hiding out somewhere between town and Colton’s ranch, the trip would be risky at best.

“He started to object, but Delta put her hand on his arm and he turned to mush right before my eyes. Some men’s brains seem to rattle loose from all sense and fall plum out of their heads when a woman touches them. I never thought it would happen to a strong man like Mr. Barkley.”

“You’ve a great deal to learn.” Austin smiled and turned toward the Harvey House. If Colton planned to leave, the marshal needed to know what time.

True shrugged. “He told Audrey he’d send Link after half his men to ride in with them, and the ranch house will have guards day and night.”

“I imagine Audrey had a few objections.”

“She started to, but that big farmer, Wiley, interrupted us about that time, and her brains fell out, too. I swear it must be some kind of brain-rotten plague going around town. I hope I don’t catch it.”

“You will.” Austin laughed. “When you’re older.”

“I don’t think so. The minute I noticed my mind starting to slip, I’d hightail it to Alaska or somewhere. I’d rather freeze to death than make a fool of myself over something Jennie’s books call love.”

“Jennie’s books?”

“Yeah, they’re something. Delta’s all the time making me read them. I’m getting where I know enough words that sometimes a string of them make sense. Jennie loves that stuff about heroes and villains out in a place called the Wild West.”

Austin looked at the lights of the Harvey House. “You mean those dime novels where the good guy always saves the heroine from the bad guy?”

“Yeah,” True answered, running up ahead toward the house. “Hope Audrey had enough brains left to leave me a slice of apple pie out on the stove before she went walking with Wiley.”

“The good guy saves the girl,” Austin whispered to himself. “Damn!” That’s just what he hadn’t done. Maybe Jennie couldn’t look at him because he’d let her down when she really needed him. He not only hadn’t rescued her, he’d killed her belief in him as a hero.

Austin realized that even though he doubted there were any more heroes, he had to make Jennie believe in them once more.

Chapter 28

J
ennie watched for signs of trouble. She kept telling herself she was safe as they moved along the road to Colton’s ranch. Both the driver and Colton carried rifles over their laps, and ten men road alongside the buggy and supply wagon. Even Austin and Link scouted ahead. Yet she couldn’t seem to stop shaking.

By the time the small party reached the ranch, Jennie was exhausted from waiting for trouble to strike. The day loomed dark and gloomy like her mood, and she wished she’d stayed behind at the Harvey House.

Colton’s place was huge, with barns and corrals surrounding the ranch house and looking more like a small fort than a home. The rancher’s strength seemed to grow as he rode onto his own land.

As he slowly climbed from the buggy, several men stopped their work to welcome him. His wave was short, but his smile genuine. “Now, don’t make a fuss over me!” he shouted. “I’m mending. To tell the truth the bullet was worth it when you think that I was able to talk a woman into marrying me. Some of you met her as Mary Elizabeth, but I’ve decided to call her by her nickname, Delta.”

Delta smiled with pride at the consideration he gave her.

“I’m not going to try and tell you folks there may not be more trouble,” Colton continued. “Any of you who feel you need to can move to town until this trouble is over, with no hard feelings on my part.”

The men glanced at one another. If Colton Barkley was willing to bring his wife to the ranch, they didn’t plan to leave.

A man who looked so much like Lincoln Raine he could only have been his father walked to Colton’s side and silently paid his respects by tipping his hat first at Delta then toward Colton.

“Work goes as usual, Sam.” Colton didn’t waste time with small talk. “But double the guard along the fence lines. Also, have men riding the ridge every two hours.”

Jennie followed their gaze and saw a jagged ridge running along the top of the breaks about a hundred feet north of the buildings. A man on that point could see for miles.

Austin stepped to the other side of Colton, agreeing with the rancher’s plans after being introduced to the foreman.

Colton’s voice suddenly lowered. Jennie barely heard him whisper, “Get me inside while I can still walk.”

Link’s father and Austin put their arms beneath Colton’s coat and walked him into the ranch house. No one but Jennie noticed that Colton’s feet dragged through the dirt the last few feet.

The rest of the day was a maze of activity for Jennie. She helped Delta tend to Colton, who didn’t even bother to complain when they put him in bed and brought a tray for lunch. He ate only a few bites before falling asleep with his spoon still in hand.

Delta carefully slid the spoon away. “Tough guy,” she whispered to Jennie.

“He’s made of strong stuff to live through the shot he took. I only wish I were as brave.”

Delta touched her shoulder. “You are. I think of you as a courageous and true friend.”

Jennie laughed. “I only wish I were. I know I’m safe, and Ward can’t hurt us with all these people around, but I still can’t sleep at night. I lay there thinking of him waiting just outside the window.”

“I know,” Delta agreed. “That’s why I always carry a gun in my pocket.” She pulled out the derringer Colton had given her. “If I ever see him again, I think I’ll shoot first and say hello second.”

Jennie smiled. “Sounds like a good plan to me, but I can’t see myself carrying a gun. The night I kept one in my pocket while helping with the train wreck victims, I kept thinking about what if the thing went off by accident and shot off a few of my toes.”

Delta fought to keep her laughter quiet. “That would end you dancing at the next ball.”

Jennie shook her head. “Who knows? It might help. I can just see the farmers fighting over who gets to dance with Jennie-three-toes next.”

Both girls were still giggling when the door opened.

Sam looked apologetic for interrupting. “Sorry, ladies, but there’s trouble over on the north pasture. Someone’s cut the wire.”

“Please don’t wake him unless it’s necessary.” Delta ushered Sam back out the door and onto the porch, where the marshal and several men waited.

“I figure I know what he’d say.” Sam finally found his voice. “Take some men and get it fixed.”

“Then do it.” Delta’s tone told the men her worry was with her husband’s health and not cattle.

“Yes, ma’am.” Sam stepped off the porch, yelling for the men to be ready to ride in ten minutes.

“You going with them?” Delta asked as she turned to the marshal.

“No,” Austin answered. “I thought I’d saddle up and ride around the place. Spider seemed sure Lawton would strike here first, so if it’s no bother, I think I’ll hang around a few days.”

“No bother.” Delta smiled. “I know Colton was relieved to hear you were riding out with us. I’ll have a room ready for you, and supper’s at sunset.”

“I’ll be back,” Austin answered as he turned and followed the men toward the main barn. He wanted to be back for supper not so much because of the food, but because he hoped to see Jennie. She couldn’t go on acting like she could see right through him, or he’d go mad.

His efforts proved wasted, for when they sat down to dinner, Jennie was missing. She’d told Delta she was tired and needed to retire early, but Colton figured her absence had more to do with Austin.

Because Colton sent the cook with a chuck wagon out to his men on the north pasture about mid-afternoon, Delta cooked and served the meal. Unless the weather turned bad, the ranch hands would stay on the range until the job was done, rather than waste half the daylight riding to and from the job.

Colton insisted on sitting at the table. He hid his pain well from all but Delta. As she sat beside him, he talked of his work as if Delta understood every detail.