The Texan's Reward (37 page)

know that he was alive. I heard the sheriff and his deputy were searching for him last night and feared bad luck

had final y found him.”

“If you don’t mind me asking, what did you and the ranger talk about during your strol ?”

Farrow straightened. “Despite his anger toward me in the past . . .” The fat man swallowed. “Which I believe is

based more because I asked for your hand in marriage than anything else, I hoped, due to our pending business

deal, to become both your friend and the ranger’s.”

Jacob leaned back from the doorway and decided this lawyer was the fattest chameleon he’d ever seen. How

can Farrow show up acting all nice when the last time he called they almost had to run him off the place?

Marla handed Jacob a cup of coffee, then pulled a stool close to listen. The ranger didn’t miss that she leaned

her arm on Harrison’s back as she tried to see through the crack in the door. Harrison didn’t seem to notice, but

he hadn’t jerked when she touched him, either.

Nell’s voice drifted through the opening. “I wasn’t aware we had a pending business deal, Mr. Farrow. I’m

worried about my friend, and if you have any information about him, I would greatly appreciate anything you

can tell me. The sheriff and a man named Kelly have already been out looking for a boy Dalton may have taken

from the jail last night, but I’m afraid I’m very much in the dark about what is happening in town.”

“My news may not be good, I fear.” Farrow patted her hand in sympathy, then took another cookie. “But I

rushed to tell you all the same in an effort to show my good faith as a friend.”

Nell sat so stiff in her chair she could have been made of steel. “Please, go on. Do you know if he’s alive?” She

gave no hint that she’d kissed her ranger minutes ago and knew full well that he was alive.

Farrow moved his cup to the table. “To my knowledge, Miss Nell, he’s breathing. He was seen leaving a

barmaid’s quarters not an hour ago. My source was several feet away, but he reported the ranger smelled both

of liquor and perfume. He looked as if he’d just awoken with his hair wild and his clothes wrinkled. The two of

them must have had a wild night.”

Something tumbled in the kitchen, but Nel ignored it. The happiness over Jacob being alive was cracked by the

fact that he’d spent the night with another woman.

Nel considered where the information was coming from. It made no sense. Jacob wouldn’t neglect his duty. He

wouldn’t have abandoned Hank for a night of drinking and womanizing.

Nell lifted her head. “I don’t believe you, sir.”

Farrow shook his head. “I was afraid of that. You’re welcome to check it out for yourself. The barmaid’s name is

Pearlie, and she lives back behind a little saloon run by a man named Dave Digger. I questioned Dave, and he

wouldn’t tel me anything, but I could see it in his eyes. A lawyer is trained to tell when a man is lying, and I’d

stake my reputation on the fact that Digger knew where Jacob Dalton spent the night.”

“I think I’ll wait to hear Jacob’s side of the story. I’m sure it will not be the same.”

Farrow reached in his briefcase and pul ed out a gun wrapped in rags. “I found this a few feet from the woman’s

door along with a broken whiskey bottle. Your ranger must have stumbled on his way into her bungalow last

night.”

Nell took the Colt and turned it over in her hand. She didn’t offer to give it back. “Is that all you came to tell me, sir?”

“No, Miss Nel , I wish to offer you my protection. I feel it would be my honor and duty to do so.”

Nell almost laughed. “Your protection?”

“Yes. You see, I believe you have fallen into the clutches of evil men, and I wish to be of help.”

“Evil men? You’re starting to sound like Brother Aaron.”

Farrow didn’t see the humor. “I’m accustomed to recognizing the criminals among us. In my profession they are

a necessary unpleasantness we must deal with.”

He stood and straightened his vest as if preparing to face the court. “I have it on good authority that Brother

Aaron has been run out of more than one town for being drunk while standing at the pulpit.” Farrow paced

before her, his hands locked behind him. “I checked some of the places he listed when he asked to preach last

week at the church I’ve been attending while I’m staying in town. Not al spoke highly of the preacher.”

He walked a few feet away, then turned back, shaking his head as if he hated passing along such sad news. “I

make it my business to learn about people. Your bookkeeper, miss, has only recently been released from prison.

Your housekeeper is an old hooker, and I believe your cook may have poisoned more than one man.”

Now Nel did laugh. When she could catch her breath, she asked, “Is that al , Mr. Farrow?”

He seemed surprised at her request. “I’ve made inquires into your new nurse, but find nothing except that she’s

buried three husbands. Which I find suspicious, but not, in itself, damning.”

“And me, Mr. Farrow? Did you find out anything about me?”

He nodded. “According to several in town you were a wild child after your mother died, but I’m willing to forgive

that. Most folks said they didn’t know you very wel , that you kept to yourself. And I think you’l be glad to know

that everyone I talked to said how sorry they were that you were confined to a wheelchair. I believe that if you

would be so kind as to entertain the possibility of a marriage between us, my standing and name would offer

you a comfortable place in the community.”

Nel couldn’t bring herself to thank him for what he thought she’d find good news. She changed the subject.

“And you, Mr. Farrow? How spotless is your past?”

He didn’t answer.

“You see, I don’t need to do much checking on you. I can read most of it in your eyes. You let your uncle die

alone and then decided you wanted his land. You think because you practice law that somehow al ows you to

play with the courts and with people. You like finding dirt on folks and don’t much care how accurate it is. As for

my standing in the community, I find I’ve become quite comfortable standing outside looking in.”

“I’ve come here to help you.” He stiffened. “A woman like you would be wise to accept my offer of protection.”

“Why?” she asked calmly.

“Because I wish to be your friend, and in time I think you would find me a proper choice as husband. I know we

got off on the wrong foot, but things can change. I can be a great help to my friends.” A threat flavored his

words with warning. “A woman alone, like yourself, needs protection.”

Nell called for Gypsy. “Mr. Farrow, we may become friends in time, but trying to destroy my friends’ reputations

wil not be the path. I bid you good day.”

She saw the anger in his eyes she’d seen once before. A fury so complete it seemed to overtake him for a

moment. He was a man who was losing control and who insisted on always having his way. She suspected his

high-and-mighty world in Dal as had crumbled, and this was the last place where he could make a stand.

Nell made a promise to herself that she’d never be alone with Walter Farrow again. If he ever snapped, she

wasn’t sure how far he might go to get his way. He reminded her of a spoiled child hidden in a man’s body. She

wouldn’t have been surprised if he’d stomped his foot.

Gypsy hurried out from the kitchen and opened the front door without taking her eyes off Farrow.

“We’l talk again,” he said as he nodded once and passed through the open door.

Gypsy fol owed him out and stood on the porch until he was out of sight.

“What are you doing?” Nel asked as Gypsy stared down the road.

“I wanted to see if he hopped along when nobody was watching. I swear he’s the biggest toad in Texas.”

Nel smiled and rol ed toward the kitchen door. “You can come out now!” she yel ed. “I know you’re in there.”

Jacob, Harrison, and Marla all piled out like they’d been leaning on the door.

Before Jacob could do any explaining, Nel pointed to the dining table. “Everyone sit down, please.” She glanced

back at Gypsy. “You, too. I want to talk to everyone at once.”

Jacob took a chair as he threatened Walter Farrow under his breath. Harrison pulled Marla’s chair out for her

and took the next one in line. Gypsy plopped on the last seat.

“I have one question.” Nel stared at Jacob first. “Did you spend the night in a barmaid’s room?”

“I can . . .”

“Just answer the question,” Nel snapped.

“Yes,” Jacob answered.

She raised her hand for silence before he could add more.

“Mr. Harrison, have you been in prison?”

“Yes,” Harrison answered directly, offering no further explanation.

Nell didn’t miss the fact that she seemed the only one at the table surprised by the revelation. She moved to

Marla, and her voice softened. “Did you ever poison anyone?”

The cook shook her head.

“I didn’t think so,” Nel whispered. “At least he was wrong about one of my friends.”

“What about me?” Gypsy resented not even being asked. “I heard what he said about me. He cal ed me an old

hooker.”

“And were you?” Nel said, paying Gypsy her due.

“No,” Gypsy shouted. “I was young when I made my living on my back.”

Nell smiled. “It seems I have a wild gang here.”

Jacob watched her closely. To his shock, she didn’t seem angry about any of the news. “Aren’t you going to ask a

few questions?” He was ready to defend himself and Harrison at least. Gypsy and Marla’s stories were nothing

new.

“No.” Nell rolled away from the table. “We’ve got far too much to do today. I understand why Harrison left

prison off his letter of reference, and I’l murder you later. Right now, we’ve got to get you out of sight. It’s going to be hard enough to hide Hank here without you hanging around.”

Jacob fol owed her to the study. Strange, he was al ready to be mad at her for believing he’d slept with Pearlie.

Either she didn’t believe he’d real y spent the night in the barmaid’s room, or she didn’t care. One frustrated

him, the other confused him.

Nel broke into his thoughts. “If Farrow, or one of his spies, saw you this morning, then it won’t be long until

Kel y knows you’re in town. And if he thinks you’re in town, he’l reason that you wil be here. Or at least come

by on your way out.”

Jacob nodded, taking his Colt from her lap, muddy rag and al .

Harrison followed them in and leaned over the map still spread out. “I have an idea.” He pointed to a place on

the map colored in red, meaning it belonged to Nell. “Here at the house won’t be safe. Someone with a spyglass

could see you from a mile away. But here, no one would find you.”

Nel and Jacob looked at where he pointed.

“Stockard’s old place?” Jacob asked.

“There’s a cabin there on a hil . No one would sneak up on you. It would be al right for a few days until Kel y

gets tired of looking and decides you must have taken the kid on to Fort Worth alone.”

Jacob shook his head. He didn’t want to leave Nel and the others. To his surprise, Nell agreed with Harrison.

“Jacob, he’s right. You know you’d never be able to stay in this house for days. Someone could spot you even if

you walked to the barn. But if you laid low until Hank was able to travel, no one would guess he’d be here. The

best way to keep Hank safe is for you not to be near.”

Jacob didn’t like the plan. He’d never hid out from trouble in his life. But he couldn’t take Hank anywhere in his

condition. They were right, Jacob realized. He had to vanish.

“Kel y may be watching the roads, but I could bring supplies down to you when Nel takes her exercise in the

river.” Harrison planned out the details. “It’s about halfway between here and the Stockard place. There’s

enough cottonwoods down by the water that no one would notice you riding in or me leaving supplies.”

Nel added, “The place we stopped at yesterday was far enough away from the road not to be spied on. From

the hil where the preacher sat, anyone could see for a mile or more. You could meet us there if you liked and

not worry about being seen.”

“How long?” Jacob asked knowing there was no answer.

“A week at the most,” Nell guessed. “I’ll tell Brother Aaron to go to town every day and follow Kelly around.

Then we’l know when he leaves. Once he’s gone, it should be safe for you to return. No one comes out but the

sheriff, and he helped with the disappearance of Hank, so he won’t tell anyone.”

Harrison mumbled, “Having the preacher be Kelly’s new best friend will probably encourage the head of the

posse to book early on the next train.”

Jacob ran his hand through his hair in frustration. “I’ll leave when it’s good and dark.”

Every bone in his body told him not to leave Nell, but he saw no other way. Harrison was right; for once the best

way to protect her might be for him to leave.

THE REST OF THE DAY, JACOB FELT LIKE HE’D BEEN locked in prison. Sun shone through al the windows, but he

was trapped inside. It wouldn’t be safe for him even to sit on the porch. Besides Kelly, Walter Farrow might have

lookouts watching for him to appear at Nel ’s place. If anyone knew he was at the house, they’d reason the boy

would be there also. Jacob felt like he could handle Kelly or Farrow dropping by, but they might bring a mob of

townsfolk with them, and then someone might get hurt.

He could almost see Walter standing in the saloon yelling that a killer was still in their town and it was up to the

citizens to do something about him. He’d go into detail about how Hank was one of the men who’d pul ed