A Love to Cherish (16 page)

“So you spent the night in Casey’s bed,” Naomi surmised. Belle thought it amazing the way Naomi could get down to the heart of the matter in so short a time.

Belle averted her eyes. “I was injured; Casey insisted I rest in his room until morning.”

Naomi stifled a smile. She had said all she was going to say on the subject. “You look exhausted. Go on up to your room and rest, I’ll send a lunch tray up to you later.”

Before Belle could reply to Naomi’s suggestion, the clatter of the brass door rapper announced a visitor. Belle looked at the clock on the mantel and shrugged. “It’s a mite early but I’m not one to turn away business.”

A maid opened the door and Casey Walker stepped inside. He strode across the hall into the parlor. His gaze settled on Belle and did not waver as he briskly walked toward her. Belle felt the impact of his hot gaze and her knees nearly buckled beneath her. He looked so big and virile and handsome. And he had loved her with so much passion last night. She felt her flesh burning with the memory.

“I need to speak with Belle alone, Naomi,” Casey said when he reached the two women. His gaze never left Belle’s.

“It’s up to Belle,” Naomi said, looking askance at Belle.

“It’s all right, Naomi, I’ll talk to Casey.”

“Go on into my office, it’s more private there. My girls will be wandering downstairs soon.”

Belle nodded and led the way into Naomi’s
private office. “How did you know where to find me?” Belle asked once they were alone.

“I went to the hotel first. They told me you’d checked out. I knew there was only one place you’d go.”

“I thought we said everything there was to say last night.”

“Why did you leave without a word?” He studied her bruised face and was sorry he hadn’t killed the two men that hurt her. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine. I left because I didn’t want to engage in another tireless round of arguments. Thank you for rescuing me.”

Casey reached inside his jacket and pulled out Belle’s reticule. “Here, you left without this. Your money is all there.”

Belle’s eyes widened in shock. “I thought the men got away with it last night.” She hugged it to her breast. “Thank you, Casey, you don’t know what this means to me. I didn’t mention it last night because I thought it was gone. Is that all you wanted? To give me my purse?”

Casey ruffled his fingers through his hair as he stared at her. Belle wondered why he appeared so upset. “Is something wrong?”

“You could say that. I received a telegram. The missing witness has been found and I’m needed in Arizona. My brother has been granted a new trial and I need to be there for him.”

Belle felt as if the rug had been pulled from beneath her. She studied her hands. “There is nothing keeping you in San Francisco.”

Casey spat out a curse and roughly raised her chin until their eyes met. “Dammit, Belle! I don’t want to leave but I have to.” He cursed again. “I want to stay
and help you, but I can’t let my brother down. I’ll be back, I promise.”

“Of course.” Belle’s heart felt like it was breaking. Her body felt heavy and lifeless. Surely she didn’t expect Casey to remain now that his job was finished, did she? “You don’t owe me anything, Casey Walker. Your brother needs your support, go to him.”

“Promise you won’t do anything foolish while I’m gone,” Casey pleaded, desperately needing assurance that she’d be safe until he could return to her.

Belle merely stared at him. He grasped her shoulders and shook her roughly. “Promise me, damn you!”

“I’ll make no such promise. I’ll do what I must for Tommy’s sake.”

Frustrated beyond bearing, Casey kissed her with searing fervor, again and again, until they were both breathless. He wanted to do more than kiss her, but this was neither the time nor the place. His stage left in less than an hour.

“I have to go, Belle. But I
will
return, and I
will
get Tommy back for you.”

He kissed her again. Hard. Then he strode out the door without looking back.

T
he days following Casey’s departure were difficult ones for Belle. Naomi and Wan Yo were a comfort, but they couldn’t help solve any of Belle’s problems. Or ease her heartache. Tommy was out of reach and even Casey had deserted her. Casey’s leaving shouldn’t make her feel as if she’d been abandoned but it did, and she couldn’t understand why. He had used her, betrayed her, and then abandoned her. Oh, she knew his brother needed him, but she still couldn’t help feeling utterly alone and defenseless.

Belle didn’t want to miss Casey. He had promised to return, but she was afraid to set too much stock in his words. It wouldn’t be the first time he had lied to her. He had made her care for him then betrayed her trust. Despite knowing that, she had still allowed him to make love to her after he rescued her from that vile pair of Sydney Ducks. It had seemed so right, so wonderful at the time. Oh, God, she needed Casey. Just to know he was nearby …

But he wasn’t nearby. McAllister still had Tommy and she had no one to rely upon but herself. Each
day she left the Pleasure Parlor and walked to the McAllister house, hoping for a glimpse of Tommy. She had walked up and down the block so many times in the past several days she knew how many blades of grass grew between the cracks in the sidewalk. Twice a man called at the house and gained entrance. She had no idea who the man was, for she didn’t get a good look at his face.

Once she thought she spied Tommy in an upstairs window but when she waved, the shadowy figure disappeared and she was no longer sure it was Tommy she had seen. One time the bodyguard came outside and chased her away from the front gate. She usually lingered in the vicinity until dark before trudging back to Naomi’s.

Then one sunny day Belle saw Tommy leave the house with his grandfather, nursemaid, and bodyguard. They hurried the boy down the front walk and into a waiting carriage. Belle saw them from across the street and rushed heedlessly into the road to hail them. McAllister saw her and whipped the horses into a fine lather, nearly running her down in the process. Her bad ankle gave beneath her and she fell, calling out Tommy’s name. He must have heard her, for his pale face appeared at the back window. He started to wave and then someone pulled him down so she could no longer see him.

Belle lay in the road, sobbing as if her heart were breaking. They couldn’t do this to her. She was a good mother. She didn’t deserve this kind of treatment.

“Are you hurt, lady?”

Belle looked up into the eyes of an elderly, poorly dressed man with thinning gray hair and piercing, almost colorless gray eyes. A concerned frown
puckered his brow as he endeavored to help her to her feet.

“I’m not hurt, thank you,” Belle said as she rose unsteadily to her feet and dusted off her torn skirt.

“Why did McAllister try to run you down?”

“You know him?”

The man’s sallow face assumed a wistful expression and his eyes dimmed with memory. “Not anymore. He could have killed you. Why?”

“It’s a long story. It’s getting dark, I should go home.”

“Can I help you?”

“I’ll be all right, thank you, Mr …”

“Hopkins. Harry Hopkins. Are you sure I can’t help you?”

“I’ll be fine, it’s only a short walk back home.” She certainly didn’t want Mr. Hopkins escorting her to Naomi’s. What would he think?

She turned and limped away, looking back over her shoulder only once. Harry Hopkins was gone, having disappeared as mysteriously as he had appeared. During the walk home Belle came to a decision. She couldn’t go on this way. She had to see Tommy.

Belle hoped to slip up to her room without being seen, but Naomi had been watching for her. She met Belle at the foot of the stairs and pulled her into her office.

“What the hell happened to you? Look at you, you’re covered with dirt, and your dress is torn beyond repair.” Her eyes narrowed. “Who hurt you?”

“I slipped and fell,” Belle lied. She knew if Naomi learned the truth, she’d feel obligated to involve herself in this battle and McAllister could ruin the
madam with little effort. Belle had to fight McAllister on her own.

“Sure, and I’m a society matron,” Naomi said, rolling her eyes. “Why won’t you let me help you?”

“There is nothing you can do. My father-in-law is a powerful man.”

“When Casey comes back he’ll find a way,” Naomi said with firm conviction.

“
If
he comes back. He’s lied to me before.”

“Don’t give up, honey, something good is bound to happen soon.”

Belle sighed. “You’re right, something is going to happen. I’m tired, Naomi, I’m going upstairs. You have duties and I’m keeping you from them.”

Just then a commotion broke out in the parlor, and one of the girls burst through the door to report to Naomi. Naomi gave Belle an apologetic shrug and left in a flurry of petticoats. Belle peeked out the door, saw that the hallway was empty, and quickly closed the door. It wouldn’t do for her to be discovered rummaging through Naomi’s belongings. She went quickly to Naomi’s desk, opened the top drawer on the left, and immediately found what she was looking for.

Lying atop a sheath of papers, the gun Naomi used when her bouncers needed help evicting troublesome customers gleamed wickedly in the dark recesses of the drawer. Handling the gun gingerly, Belle checked the chambers, saw it was fully loaded, and slipped it into her pocket. Then she quietly left the office, hurrying to her own room to make her plans.

While lingering outside McAllister’s house, Belle had learned several helpful facts. The bodyguard made rounds twice a day around the perimeter of
the property—at ten in the morning and seven in the evening—and the front door was usually left unlocked in anticipation of the bodyguard’s return. After the evening rounds he locked the front door and then took supper in the kitchen. He wasn’t seen again in the front part of the house for an hour or better, allowing Belle sufficient time to gain entrance and confront McAllister. All she had to do was choose a time when McAllister was home.

Belle waited until Saturday night, when customers began arriving at Naomi’s earlier than on weekdays. By six o’clock Naomi was too busy to notice Belle leaving through the back entrance. The weight of Naomi’s gun rested comfortably in her pocket. Wan Yo took note of her departure, but was so accustomed to seeing Belle leave at odd times of day and night that he paid her little heed.

Belle walked as fast as her lame leg would allow, arriving at the McAllister house shortly before seven o’clock. She crept around to the back and noted that McAllister’s horse and carriage were in the carriage house, which meant he was home. So far so good, she thought as she made her way to the front of the house and positioned herself behind a flowering hibiscus to wait and watch.

Kellerman exited the front door right on schedule. He walked to the gate, looked up and down the street, checked the front windows, then walked around the side of the house to the back. Belle moved with alacrity the moment his back was turned. Her steps were surprisingly agile as she raced toward the front entrance. Suddenly she had second thoughts about the gun she carried. Breaking into a man’s home with a loaded gun was both
stupid and dangerous. Removing the gun from her pocket, she emptied the chambers onto the front lawn. Then she turned the doorknob and ducked through the front door. She never noticed the slouched figure watching from across the street.

Inside the foyer she frantically searched for a place to hide until Kellerman returned from his rounds and went to the kitchen for his supper. She found what she was looking for in a large statue located in a dark corner. She scooted behind it and pulled her skirts around her scant seconds before Kellerman reentered the house and locked the door behind him.

The sound of Kellerman’s heavy steps rang in her ears as he plodded past her down the hallway. Belle peeked out from behind the statue as Kellerman opened a door, poked his head inside and called out, “All’s secure, boss. I’m going to take my supper now.”

Belle heard a muffled reply but not the words. Not that it mattered. She knew McAllister was home and now she knew where to find him. She waited until Kellerman’s footsteps could no longer be heard before leaving her hiding place. The foyer was cast in shadows both menacing and welcome as Belle tread quietly toward the door behind which she expected to find her ruthless father-in-law.

Before her courage failed her, she turned the knob and entered the room. She closed the door quietly behind her and stood in the shadows, staring at T.J. McAllister.

“Back already, Kellerman? Did you forget something?” McAllister asked without looking up from the evening paper he was perusing.

“It’s not Kellerman and you’ve got something that’s mine.”

McAllister started violently. “How did you get in? Where is Kellerman?”

“Eating, I would assume. As to how I got in, where there’s a will there’s a way.”

“Well you can just twitch your little butt out of here. This is Saturday night, you should be at Naomi’s turning tricks.”

Belle blanched. “You must really hate me.”

“You can’t begin to know how much. Get out of here.”

“I want Tommy.”

He gave a bark of laughter. “You can’t have him.”

Belle shoved her hand into her pocket and felt the weight of the gun. “You’re wrong. You and I are going upstairs to get him right now.”

“You’ve got guts. I’ll give you that much, but you’re beginning to bore me, Miss Parker.”

She curled her fingers around the gun and slid it out of her pocket. “Maybe this will persuade you.”

McAllister stared at the gun, then at Belle, and realized she was dead serious. “What do you intend to do with that?”

“You’ll find out if you don’t let me see Tommy,” she threatened. “I’m desperate. I have no life without my son.”

McAllister gave a nervous laugh. His gaze didn’t waver from the gun in Belle’s hand. “Put that thing down before you hurt someone.”

“You have every reason to be afraid, Mr. McAllister,” she warned. “You’ve taken everything from me, I have nothing to lose. Get up, we’re going to find Tommy.” Her finger caressed the trigger.