The Texan's Bride (18 page)

“You may be right,” Strickland agreed, nodding thoughtfully. “If they fail to turn up during the search of the town, I’ll send some men toward Louisiana at first light. In the meantime, I want you to ride out to Gallagher’s place and see if they were foolish enough to return there. If so, bring them in. I personally want the pleasure of questioning them.”

Parker chimed in, “What about the Gallagher girl, boss? We after her too?”

Strickland opened his mouth to speak, but Branch didn’t give him the chance. “She’s mine, Sheriff. I made a deal with the Regulator boss before I took this job. You can talk to him, we have an agreement. A man might say I paid for her.”

Strickland scowled, but nodded. “As long as she’s not part of this crime, she’s yours, Kincaid.” He looked down and casually brushed a smudge of dust from his shirtsleeve. When he lifted his head, his eyes glowed with a promise. “Of course, now that I’ve seen the lady dance—as they say, all’s fair in love and war.”

Branch grinned. “You’re just a romantic at heart, boss, what can I say?”

“You can say you are on your way out of town.”

“Yessir.”

Branch led him to the door and breathed a silent sigh when the other men also stepped outside. Strickland headed back toward the jail after telling Parker and Wilson to search Thorn’s mercantile. Branch turned to the men and said, “Looks like I’m haulin’ tail. Which reminds me—before I go anywhere, I believe I’ll finish what I started in church. After all, the boss can’t complain about a man getting religion, can he?”

With a couple of lecherous grins, Parker and Wilson left Branch to his business. Relief replaced the tension in his body as he reentered the church.

John Gallagher held Branch’s own gun pointed straight at Branch’s heart.

In exasperation, Branch flung up his hands and exclaimed, “Now what!”

Katie never noticed the gun as she flew across the room and wrapped her arms around Branch’s neck. “I knew it. I knew you wouldn’t betray us. Thank you.” She pulled his face down to hers and kissed him. “Thank you.” She kissed him again. “Thank you.” She kissed him three more times.

Cracking a rueful grin, he grabbed her wrists and peeled her off. “Sprite, as much as I enjoy your appreciation, we seem to be facing another problem at the moment.”

Katie stared up at him and blushed. He pushed her behind him, placing himself between Katie and the gun.

John watched his daughter’s embarrassment become confusion as she followed Branch’s gaze and caught sight of the gun. Of course he’d altered his aim the instant Katie ran to her hunter, but he didn’t lower the Colt. Just shifted it a bit. Kincaid had nowhere to run.

“Da?” Katie said, crossing her arms and tilting her head.

He spotted a green dancing shoe peeking from beneath the hem of her dress, tapping furiously.

“Katie-love, I’m thinking the time has come for your man to answer for his actions.”

“What are you talking about, Da? He saved us! He could have turned us over to Sheriff Strickland, but he didn’t. That should prove to you that he hasn’t forsaken the Gallaghers—it has to me!”

“Then you trust him?”

“Do you know what? I think I do.”

“Good.” John nodded once. “I do too. Branch Kincaid has looked out for the Gallaghers since he blew into the inn on that norther. He’s a good man. I’ve always thought so. But ’tis a fine thing you should think so too.”

He paused significantly before adding, “A wife should believe in her husband.”

CHAPTER 10

SHADDOE’S AMUSED CHUCKLE ECHOED through the absolute quiet of the church. Then the others, except for Branch, burst into speech.

Daniel Gallagher said, “But, Da, Katie’s not his wife.”

Keeper frowned and clucked his tongue. “Mr. Kincaid ain’t gonna like this at all.”

“Go get the padre, Daniel,” John commanded his son.

Katie shook her head back and forth so fast, John thought she’d shake her teeth loose. “No, Father. You’re not going to do this to me.”

John looked at her and nodded sadly. “Yes, I am, love. I’m sorry as I can be, but this is the way of it. I realized the moment I allowed the sheriff to see my face that our plans must be changed. You cannot stay here with no man to protect you, and I do not want you coming with us.”

She braced her hands on her hips. “Well, thank you so much for making me feel wanted, John Gallagher. Fine, I won’t go with you. But I don’t need a man, I can take care of myself!”

“No, child, you cannot, not alone. It’ll be a difficult trip that may last for years—we won’t be able to return as long as Strickland is sheriff and the Regulators are in power.”

He kept the gun trained on Branch as he insisted, “Life in the Territory is harsh, Katie, and you deserve more than you would find there. I promised your sainted mother before she died that I’d see you found your way to civilized society. Well, perhaps Nacogdoches is not what she had in mind, but it certainly is not Indian Territory. You know that you are not getting any younger, girl. You need a husband and babies to bounce on your knee.”

For a second, something showed in her eyes, something alive and filled with pain, glittering as she fumed, “Da, I cannot believe you are saying that to me!”

“John, you need not go to such extremes,” Shaddoe in interjected, his dark eyes scrutinizing Branch. “I shall be glad to give Kathleen babies if she prefers to travel with us.”

Branch’s mouth thinned as his jaw tightened, but he remained silent, his gaze fastened on the Paterson Colt.

Katie’s voice rose to a hysterical squeal, and she attempted to step around him. “This is ridiculous, Da. I want you to give Branch back his gun this minute!”

“Hush, Sprite.” Branch blocked her with his arm and pushed her back behind him. “Don’t forget there may be Regulators within listening distance.”

A shiver ran down John’s neck when Branch looked up, his topaz eyes cool and intense. He had the look of a mountain cat ready to spring. “Put away the gun, old man,” he said with a touch of asperity in his tone. “There’s no need for it. I’ll be glad to take care of Kate, only it’s goin’ to be on my terms.”

Well, now, this was something John had not anticipated. Could it be that Kincaid was finally willing to admit his feelings for the girl? He motioned with the Colt for Branch to continue.

Kincaid hesitated just a moment as though weighing a decision. Then he casually dropped onto a wooden pew and pulled Katie down beside him, saying, “Care if I sit down?” He yawned exaggeratedly. “Jeez it’s getting late. I don’t know about y’all, but I could use some shuteye.”

“Kincaid,” Gallagher warned.

Branch linked his fingers with Katie’s and said, “Sprite, one thing your father didn’t consider was just how it’d make me look if you up and left with him and Daniel. You heard what Strickland said here tonight; you heard what I told him. If you disappear now, it’ll be obvious you had a hand in this business, and hell, if that’s the case, I might as well pull freight with you. I’m not ready to leave Nacogdoches yet.”

Gallagher scratched his head just above his ear. The boy had a point. Wasn’t he a fine one, though, talking to Katie as if she were the one who was making decisions here tonight. He almost grinned. Branch Kincaid wasn’t the least bit threatened by him, and he was taking the time to prove to Katie why she should remain behind. The boy was smart. He’d make her a good husband. “I see what you mean,” John said, lowering the Colt. “That didn’t occur to me.”

“Obviously,” Branch drawled. He brought Katie’s hand to his mouth and kissed her knuckles, speaking directly to her. “Kate, there’s a simple way to solve this problem, and it doesn’t involve a gun and a priest. Y’all know, of course, that I’m roomin’ at Nacogdoches House? Well, I happen to know that the widow who runs the boardin’ house is lookin’ for a new place to live. It seems that she didn’t inherit the house from her husband; it was actually the Craig family home and went to the old man’s sister when he died. Anyway, just last week the Widow Craig’s sister-in-law and her family moved back to town after bein’ chased off their land out west by the Comanches. Martha and her in-laws don’t really cotton to one another, and she’s anxious for a new home. I feel certain she’d be tickled half to death to move out to Gallagher’s and help you run the inn.”

John rubbed his whiskers with his palm. This wasn’t turning out like he’d planned. He wanted to see the girl married. “It wouldn’t be safe without a man around to help.”

“You are right about that.” Branch nodded. “What about Rowdy Payne and his boy? Rowdy can get around good enough to run the tavern, and Andrew is a strappin’ lad—he can manage the outdoor work.”

“Well, I don’t know,” John said. Rowdy Payne was a widower who had lost a foot to Mexican grapeshot during the War for Independence. He and his son supported themselves by plaiting and selling the finest of braided rawhide quirts out in front of the post office in the Old Stone Fort in Nacogdoches.

Branch added, “I’d be sure to drop by and check on the place ever so often. It’ll be fine, John, trust me.”

Katie leaned forward, gripping the back of the church bench in front of her, her face beaming. “Da, it’s perfect! Mrs. Craig’s a dear, and I’d love having her at the inn. In fact, I think she’s a little sweet on Mr. Payne. She’s done a lot for us, Da, and if she’s needing a place to run to, well, remember what you said about being neighborly? Besides, we need to keep the inn going—don’t forget our debt to Mr. Trahern.”

“I’m not sure, Katie-love.”

“There is one more thing.” Branch glanced at Shaddoe and said offhandedly, “You won’t have to worry about Kate getting man-hungry and takin’ up with an Indian.”

Shaddoe laughed. “Your hunter is a jealous man, Kathleen.”

Katie rolled her eyes and John snapped, “Maybe what I’m worried about is her taking up with you without benefit of marriage, Kincaid.”

“Now, John, why would you worry about something like that?”

“Oh, I don’t know. Perhaps it was the laundry day you brought me daughter your clothes—all of them. Or maybe the fact she came home from a walk wearing naught but your shirt. Just maybe you should take my Katie to wife because you’ve already taken her to your bed.”

“Da, that’s not true!” Katie whispered fiercely.

John waved a hand, dismissing her argument. He looked at Katie, allowing his love and his sorrow to live in his eyes. “The reality of this night is that I must leave you, colleen. The future is uncertain, and it all but breaks my heart in two to think of going without knowing for certain that you will be all right. You’ve seen so much pain in your young life, and all I want is to help you avoid any more.”

As he looked at his beautiful daughter sitting there beside the man he believed she loved, a knowledge engulfed him, a thought so strong and sure that he glanced around the church half expecting to see a vision of an angel or saint who had whispered in his mind. He’d not see his Katie again. His voice was gruff when he said, “I cannot leave this place without Branch Kincaid’s word that he will keep you safe.”

“But, Da, I’ll be fine on my own. I don’t want Branch forced to do something he doesn’t want to do.”

“Sprite, the last time I was forced to do anything, I was knee-high to a mosquito hawk.” Branch stood and gently took the gun from John, replacing it with his hand. His golden eyes glowed with honesty and determination. “You have my word as a gentleman that I’ll see after her, John.”

John paused, then said hesitantly, “I’d prefer just as a man, I’m a thinkin’.”

A wry smile twisted Branch’s lips. “My word as a Texian, John Gallagher.”

He nodded. “Accepted.”

“This is all absurd, but if it makes you feel better, then splendid,” Katie said, rising from the pew and going to her father. She wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her face against his chest. “I love you, Da. I’ll be fine, I promise.”

“Are you sure, Mary Kathleen?”

“Yes, Da. I’m sure.”

His chest expanded and he slid his arms around her, holding her fiercely, protectively. A deep, abiding love flowed between them. So full of emotion was he, that when he framed her shoulders with his arms and opened his mouth to speak, he choked on his words.

With his eyes like windows to his soul, he swallowed hard and stroked her cheek with his thumb. “Very well, then.” Tears ran in rivulets from his eyes as he added, “I love you, my daughter. I shall love you throughout eternity. Have a happy life, colleen.”

“Come now, we must hurry,” Shaddoe said, his voice gruff with emotion. “I have our horses hidden in the forest near the old Cherokee trail that leads west. Few around here know of it, and we should be safe enough if we waste no more time.” He nodded to Branch. “For the vaccine I am in your debt, Kincaid. Watch over Kathleen for those of us who love her.”

“I will.”

Katie kissed both Daniel’s and Keeper’s cheeks and Shaddoe’s lips. “Until next time?” she asked him shakily. “Next time.”

She hugged her father, her eyes streaming with tears. “God go with you all.”

A BARN owl hooted in the distance as Branch led a silent Katie toward the Widow Craig’s rooming house. They kept to the shadows, hoping to avoid contact with anyone who might challenge her presence on Nacogdoches streets that particular night. The last thing Katie Starr needed right now were questions.

They reached the boardinghouse and he climbed the first porch step when Katie abruptly halted. “No. I want to go home.”

Hell, he thought, she looks downright pitiful. “Darlin’, we both need some sleep. I’ll take you home in the morning, I promise. But right now there’s a nice soft feather mattress waiting for us upstairs.”

She shook her head. “I want to go home now.”

“Aw, Kate, be sensible. Neither one of us has enough energy to stay atop a horse for ten minutes, let alone make a three-hour ride. Let’s just get a few hours’ shuteye and then we can head out. We need to talk to Martha anyway.” He tucked an errant strand of hair behind her ear. “You liked that idea, didn’t you, her moving in with you?”

“Yes.”

“Come on, honey. Let’s go up.”