Ana Leigh Read online

  After last night, they had a lot to talk out. He figured he still held something of an upper hand—even if that hand was getting a little weak to lift. He couldn’t believe she’d go through with a crazy scheme like trying to outshoot outlaws.

  She came out the door looking as fresh as a morning glory, and wearing that big hat she liked to wear, her hair loose down her back. The more he saw her, the more he wanted her. Like it or not, they were involved, all right. No use in crying over spilled milk.

  “It’s a shame an armed guard is necessary to get a few eggs,” she complained as they rode along.

  Ordinarily he’d enjoy the ride sitting next to her, but wondering if any moment someone would take a shot at them kept him on the edge of his seat.

  “I’m sure those outlaws you associate with are behind these incidents. Matter of fact, I don’t know why I should trust you, since you’re one of them.”

  “Rosie, I am not an outlaw.”

  “You’re the next best thing to one—a drifter.”

  “Are you going to carp the whole damn trip?” he asked. “Why don’t you just relax and listen to the birds chirping?”

  “Are you always so crotchety in the mornings, MacKenzie?”

  “I love mornings!”

  She shut up. He knew her grousing was just trying to cover up her nervousness. And if Tait was behind the shootings, she had every right to be nervous. He had it in for these Harvey Girls—particularly Rose. And if Rayburn was linked to Tait in this cattle rustling, as he suspected, Rose would be in even greater danger.

  He fretted on that thought until they reached the Wilson farm. The barn doors were closed and barred when they drove up.

  “I’m surprised Calvin and Effie didn’t come out to greet us,” Rose exclaimed. She climbed down from the wagon and walked up to the house. “Mr. Wilson? Mrs. Wilson?” She knocked on the door. When there was no answer, she looked at Zach and shrugged. “They must be gone.”

  “Would they go away without telling you?” he asked.

  “Not likely; they know we come every morning. Come to think of it, I didn’t see them at the celebration, either.”

  Zach began to feel uneasy. He climbed down from the wagon. “Maybe they simply forgot to tell you they were going away.”

  “I don’t think so. They’re too considerate to make us ride out here on a wild-goose chase.”

  “There’s no smoke coming out of the chimney.”

  Rose looked up at the roof and nodded. “You’re right. Do you suppose they’re ill?”

  “Let’s find out.” Zach turned the doorknob, and when the door opened, he stepped in. He recognized the stench at once. Lord knows he’d smelled it enough times. “Dear God,” he murmured. The old man was in a chair, his head slumped on the table. He’d been shot in the back. His wife lay on the floor in front of the fireplace. “Don’t come in here, Rose.”

  His warning came too late. She’d already entered behind him. “Oh, no-o-o,” she shrieked, and raised her hands to her mouth in horror. He put his arms around her and tried to shield her from the sight.

  Zach led her outside and held her for a long moment. “Can you stay here, honey, while I examine them?” She nodded, sobbing softly.

  He went through the useless task of checking their pulses, but knew by the dried bloodstains on the floor that they’d been dead for a while.

  “Wha-what should we do?” she asked when he rejoined her.

  “There’s nothing we can do for them, Rose, except go back to town and report it.”

  “You mean just leave them like this?”

  He slipped his arm around her shoulders and led her to the buggy. “Honey, we can’t do anything now. It’s a matter for the sheriff.”

  Rose was desolate with grief. “I don’t understand how anyone could do such a heinous thing to those two dear people. Do you think it was Indians?”

  “The Indian wars have been over for years out here.”

  “Then who, Zach?”

  The image of Jess Tait’s face sprang to his mind. “Evil’s not exclusive to a particular skin color, Rose.”

  “I just don’t understand such evil. How can anyone be that merciless?”

  “Some people are just born that way. None of us has the luxury of determining what course our life will take.”

  Appalled, she asked, “Are you defending the likes of anyone who would commit such an act?”

  “Of course not. But there will always be men like that—the Jess Taits of the world.”

  “Do you think Tait did this?”

  “I don’t know, Rose,” he said soberly.

  She turned on him angrily. “But knowing how he is, you’re still willing to associate with him. That makes you as guilty as he is.”

  “Guilt by association? Be fair. Sometimes the circumstances in a person’s life lead him to make choices that aren’t always the best. You chose Sturges, didn’t you? I chose Tait. We end up having to live with the results of those choices for a long time.”

  They rode in wretched silence the rest of the way back to Brimstone.

  * * *

  Sheriff Bloom and his deputy, Jed Wringer, were seated in front of the jailhouse when Zach pulled up; neither of them got to their feet when he told them of the deaths of the Wilsons.

  Bloom was a squatty, bowlegged man with a belly that bulged over his gunbelt, owing to a preference for food and cold beer and an aversion to physical activity.

  Jed Wringer, who happened to be the nephew of Bloom’s wife, was physically the opposite: tall and skinny, he looked like a good wind could blow him away.

  It was safe to assume that neither man would ever die in the line of duty.

  “Me and Jed’ll have a ride out to take a look,” Bloom said.

  “And just when do you intend to do that, Sheriff?” Rose asked, exasperated that neither one had moved since informed of the deaths.

  “Well, since Cal and Effie are dead, there ain’t much I can do ’cept bury ’em. We’ll ride out there after lunch.”

  “Aren’t you going to form a posse, Sheriff, and try to track down whoever murdered them?” Zach asked.

  “You said they looked to have been dead for some time. Reckon whoever killed them is long gone. Most likely that gang of cattle rustlers.”

  “The Wilsons didn’t have any cattle to rustle, Sheriff Bloom. They raised chickens!”

  “I knowed they raised chickens, Miz Dubois,” he replied with a disgruntled look. “That don’t mean them rustlers couldn’t have killed them.”

  “Or maybe a fox stealing into the coop did it,” Rose said sarcastically.

  “Sheriff Bloom, you have a responsibility to this community. Two law-abiding citizens have been brutally murdered, and you aren’t making any attempt to pursue the culprit.”

  “Told you, Miz Dubois, they wuz most likely killed by cattle rustlers. Every rancher around these parts been out lookin’ for ’em. If Rayburn and his crew can’t track ’em down, what makes you think I can?”

  “Because I don’t think they were killed by cattle rustlers!”

  He gave her a condescending look. “Now, now, Missy, no call to get worked up. You go back to slinging hash and leave this kind of work to men.”

  Seething with anger and frustration, Rose clenched her teeth to keep from screaming as Zach drove to the livery. “I can’t believe the ignorance of those men! They didn’t seem the least bit disturbed about the Wilsons’ deaths. I intend to tell Mr. Harvey that Brimstone is no place for a Harvey restaurant.”

  When informed of the Wilsons’ deaths Everett Billings expressed his regrets, but Rose thought he seemed more concerned that they didn’t have any fresh eggs for breakfast. Or maybe the events of the past few days had just driven her over the edge. Regardless, his attitude only added to her irritation.

  Word of the murders spread through the community and throughout the day, the few law-abiding citizens stopped by to hear the story firsthand from Rose.

  The next mornin
g the Harvey Girls trudged to work, more leery of Brimstone than ever before.

  Zach had disappeared shortly after they’d returned to town yesterday, and as much as Rose yearned to speak to him, she was relieved when the gang didn’t show up for breakfast.

  However, she was pleasantly surprised when Stephen Rayburn arrived on the lunch train. Rose was reminded of how handsome and distinguished the rancher was when he came in and sat down at one of the tables. Since they had to get the customers fed and out of the restaurant in thirty minutes, she didn’t have time to do much more than say hello.

  Stephen remained behind when the other customers departed, and Rose sat down at his table. “Welcome back, Stephen.”

  “It’s good to be back, Rose. I missed you.”

  With a guilty start, she realized she hadn’t missed him at all. Zach had monopolized her free time.

  “I came to an important decision, Rose. Unfortunately, I must get to the ranch, but may I call on you Saturday? I have a question to ask you that will affect both of our lives.”

  “I’d like that, Stephen.”

  He was going to ask her to marry him—her hopes had finally come true. But oddly, rather than feeling jubilant, she was struck with depression.

  “Then I’ll call for you Saturday afternoon at two o’clock,” he said. “Until then, my dear.” He kissed her hand and hurried away.

  Rose walked to the door and saw Stephen ride away with the Lazy R riders. Zach was among them.

  Chapter 15

  The following day seemed like eternity before two o’clock finally arrived. Rose knew Stephen would propose to her; whether or not to accept his proposal was the most important decision she’d ever make in her life.

  Though once she would have rushed gladly to meet this moment, her steps slowed as she neared the boardinghouse’s drawing room. Forcing a smile, she entered.

  Stephen rose to his feet. “Rose, my dear, you look as lovely as ever.”

  “Thank you, Stephen.”

  “The minutes passed like hours since last we met.”

  “For me as well.”

  At least her reply was an honest one, even though their reasons differed.

  “I thought a carriage ride would be pleasant and allow us some privacy.”

  “That’s fine with me, Stephen. And the good news is that because of a breakdown, the dinner train has been delayed two hours. I don’t have to rush back so quickly.”

  She regretted her words the moment they slipped past her lips. They indicated more encourgement than she felt.

  “Then this would be a good time to show you the Lazy R. We have plenty of time to drive out to the ranch and get you back in time to go to work.”

  Rose remained quiet on the ride out, merely nodding and smiling as Stephen kept up a light conversation.

  The ranch house was white with black shutters. Well kept, it was comfortably furnished, but clearly inhabited by a bachelor.

  “Your home is very nice, Stephen,” she remarked, when he finished showing her around.

  “I have a Mexican woman who comes in and cleans once a week, but the house needs a woman’s touch to make it a home. And that’s what I want to talk to you about Rose. Since my wife’s death, I’ve been a lonely man. I’ve devoted my time to becoming successful and have accumulated a great deal of wealth, but it doesn’t mean anything if one doesn’t have anyone to share it with. I want to travel and see more of the world, but I need a companion, Rose. I’m not getting any younger.”

  She still wasn’t ready for this! “Nonsense, Stephen. You’re still a handsome figure of a man. I’m sure any woman would—”

  “I don’t want just any woman, Rose. I want you. From the moment I saw you, I knew you were the woman I want to share the rest of my life with. Will you marry me, Rose?”

  Rose took a deep breath. “I’m flattered, Stephen, but we barely know one another. Other than casual meetings in town, this is only the second time we’ve spent time together.”

  “I didn’t become successful by being indecisive, Rose. I know what I want when I see it. And I want you.” He withdrew a ring from his vest pocket. “I know this was presumptuous of me, but I bought this ring for you when I was in Dallas.”

  Astounded, Rose stared at the gold band circled with diamonds.

  “Marry me, Rose, and make me the happiest man in Texas.”

  “I don’t know what to say,” she replied honestly, her heart pounding. “I’ll need time to think about it before giving you an answer.”

  “Of course,” he said, returning the ring to his pocket. “But please spare me the anguish of too long a wait.”

  “I promise, Stephen.”

  Rose wasn’t being coy or playing the coquette; thanks to Zach, she was no longer certain she could marry just for money.

  Stephen reached for her hand. “Come, my dear, we still have time for me to show you a little of the ranch.”

  Hand in hand, they strolled down to the barn. There were several horses in stalls, and a few more in a corral outside. Both barn and corral were neatly painted with whitewash, as were the bunkhouse and other outbuildings.

  “How old is this ranch, Stephen?”

  “Two years.”

  “I’m very impressed. Everything looks barely used.”

  “I take pride in appearances, Rose.”

  “How big is the ranch?”

  “A hundred thousand acres.”

  “My goodness. Do you raise anything other than cattle?”

  “No, just cattle, my dear.” He changed the subject. “Rose, do you like to travel?”

  “I haven’t done much, so I really can’t say.”

  “When we marry, I’d like to sell the Lazy R and travel abroad for a few years, see the foreign capitals of the world. Would you like that, Rose?”

  “It sounds wonderful.”

  Forced to eke out an existence her whole life, Rose couldn’t imagine what it would be like not to have to work from sunrise to sunset. To visit the mysterious places she’d only seen pictures of or read about in books. How easy it would be simply to say yes to him.

  Instead she said, “I think we’d better get back to town, Stephen.”

  “Of course.”

  They returned to the carriage and were just pulling away when Tait and his gang rode up.

  “Did you move those cattle, Tait?” Stephen asked.

  “Yeah, it’s done,” he said, with his usual unpleasant manner.

  “I’m taking Miss Dubois back to town. After I return there are some matters I’d like to go over with you, so stay close. Boys, you’re the first to know: I’ve asked Miss Dubois to become my wife.”

  Her gaze sought out Zach; his expression was inscrutable. Tait, on the other hand, looked fit to kill.

  One by one the men nodded and congratulated Rayburn, except for Zach.

  When it was his turn, he said, “Congratulations, Miss Dubois.”

  “It’s customary to congratulate the groom, Zach,” Stephen said. “You wish the bride happiness.”

  “Is that so?” Zach shoved his hat to the top of his forehead and looked at Rose. “I’d say in this case, congratulations are due all around.” He wheeled his horse and rode to the bunkhouse. The other men followed.

  Zach’s remark stung as much as the salty tears Rose held back. Dammit, what had he ever offered her? “Stephen, I’ve made up my mind,” she said suddenly. “I will marry you.”

  “Rose, I’m so happy.” He pulled the jeweler’s box out of his pocket and slipped the ring on her finger. “Saturday, I’ll give a party in town to announce our engagement.”

  Then he took her in his arms and kissed her hungrily. His lips were firm and warm, but his kiss failed to curl her toes, to set her heart to hammering, or send excitement spiraling through her body.

  As they rode away, she glanced over to the bunkhouse. The lone figure of Zach stood in the doorway watching them.

  In the week since she’d agreed to marry him, Stephen had spared n
o expense in making arrangements for the party, including renting the Harvey restaurant to announce their engagement. Once the dinner hour had ended that evening, Billings had begun the preparations for the party.

  Kate pulled the curtain aside and glanced out the front window of the boardinghouse. “Well, your future husband’s just arrived, so I guess we better leave.”

  Rose walked over to see that Stephen Rayburn and the Tait gang were tying their mounts to a hitching post near the Harvey House.

  Her gaze immediately sought and found Zach MacKenzie. He looked handsomer than ever in a black vest and pants, his tanned face a devastating contrast against the white shirt tied at the neck with a black string tie.

  She turned her gaze to Stephen Rayburn, remorsefully realizing she should have done that first. He wore a light gray suit that looked very expensive, tailored to his broad shoulders and well-muscled body. Then her glance swung back to Zach. She hadn’t seen him since the day she agreed to marry Stephen. It seemed like a lifetime ago.

  “I wonder who’s watching the ranch?” Kate said.

  “What do you mean?”

  “With this current streak of cattle rustling, I’d have thought Mr. Rayburn would leave that gang behind to guard his herd. Isn’t that why he hired them?”

  “Maybe he figures by bringing that motley crew with him, the cattle will be safer.” With a shrug, Rose turned away from the window. She took a final glance in the mirror, then stretched out her arms and spun around. “Well, do you think I’ll pass inspection?”

  Not only had she and Kate taken extra pains with her hair, but Rose had spent practically all she’d saved in the past two years on the dress all the girls had been working on every free minute.

  Appliquéd with beaded lace, the bodice of the ruby gown of silk organza had a fitted waist, a low, ruffled neckline, and cap sleeves set off her shoulders. The small train of the skirt was appliquéd in matching lace.

  Stepping back, Kate tapped her chin in deep cogitation. “Hmmm, it still needs something. Perhaps your apron would help.” Laughing, she linked her arm through Rose’s. “You look gorgeous. Poor Mr. Rayburn—he’s at his wit’s end to begin with. Wait until he sees you in that dress.”