A Promise to Believe in (29 page)

The trio made their way downstairs to find Lacy and Dave, nose to nose. Dave shook his finger at the young woman as he let her know exactly what the problem was.

“You’re wearing my patience thin!”

“I have no idea what you’re so fired up about, Dave Shepard, but if you don’t lower your voice, I’ll throw you out of here.” Lacy put her hands on her hips and stood her ground.

Dave shook his finger at her as if reprimanding a wayward child. “You may think you’ve got the strength to take on the world, but I’ve got news for you.”

“You’ve got nothing for me that I want to hear,” Lacy said, surprising Gwen and the others by pushing Dave back a step. “Don’t think you can come in here and bully me about.”

“I have a complaint about you—a
formal
complaint.”

“Oh, I do hope you have the proper clothes to wear for such an event,” Lacy countered. “I’ve never seen you dressed in anything other than work clothes. Even for church.”

“I didn’t know you were keeping an account of my wardrobe, but right now that’s neither here nor there,” Dave replied, raising his voice. “You were in Rafe’s Saloon.”

Gwen gasped and stepped toward her sister. “Is that true?”

Lacy never even turned to face Gwen. “It’s true, and no one’s business but my own.”

“It’s my business.” Dave folded his arms. “You know you aren’t allowed in there. Rafe has a policy about not admitting women to the bar.”

“I didn’t go to the bar. I went to the tables around the bar.”

“You know what I mean.”

Lacy shook her head. “I doubt anyone really knows what you mean, Mr. Shepard.”

“Then let me illuminate the matter for you.”

“What’s going on?” Hank asked as he strode through the front door. “I could hear you two yelling at each other from outside. I thought perhaps the place was under attack.”

“Mr. Shepard is on the warpath,” Lacy declared. “He really should check into joining up with one of the Indian nations.”

“I’m gonna show you
warpath
,” Dave said, moving toward her.

“Whoa. What is this all about?” Hank questioned again.

Gwen was thankful to see Hank. For reasons she would just as soon ignore, she was comforted by his appearance and moved toward him. “Lacy went to Rafe’s the other day.”

“The other night. The night when a bunch of the boys from a neighboring ranch just happened to be there,” Dave corrected.

“Hank already knew about it, and he didn’t lose his mind over it like you are, Deputy Shepard!” Lacy kept her gaze fixed on Dave. “I wanted to see if any of them knew who might have killed our father. There’s no crime in asking questions. Not that I’d expect any of you to understand that.”

Gwen looked at Hank. “You knew about this?”

“I did. Lacy and I talked about it, and I had high hopes that she would give up her pursuits.”

“You should have told me, Hank.”

“No, he shouldn’t have,” Lacy protested. “I’m a grown woman, and I’ll do as I please.”

At this, Gwen stepped forward and took hold of her sister’s arm. Lacy didn’t want to turn but finally conceded. She met Gwen’s gaze. “You have to stop this, Lacy. Pa is dead, and there is nothing we can do to bring him back.”

“I know I can’t bring him back, but we owe him justice,” Lacy protested. “You seem quite content to forget it ever happened, but I can’t. Pa was murdered, and no one wants to help me prove it.”

“We
can’t
prove his murder,” Gwen told her sister. “There are just too many factors. Why not just let it go—and let Pa rest in peace?”

“Because he can’t rest in peace so long as his killer is on the loose.”

“What kind of theology is that?” Hank interjected. “Can God only give eternal rest to a man or woman whose death is completely understood?”

To everyone’s surprise, Lacy’s eyes filled with tears. “None of you understand. You never have. You’re perfectly willing to take the easy way out and forget it ever happened. Well, I can’t.” She turned toward Dave. “You go ahead and ignore the truth. Folks won’t be safe in this area, but it won’t be your problem.” She turned back to her sister. “And you. Why don’t you forget about sending Beth and me back East and go yourself? You don’t care about us, and you certainly don’t care about Pa. You only think about what’s best for you.”

With that, Lacy pushed past Dave and Hank and ran out of the house. Gwen felt as if a band were tightening around her chest and she couldn’t contain the tears streaming down her face. How could Lacy believe she didn’t care about anyone but herself?

“I think it would be best if Simon and I leave,” Nick suggested. “We can unload the wagon for you, Hank. Night, Gwen. Thanks for supper.”

“You’re welcome,” she whispered.

“Gwen, you know Lacy didn’t mean it,” Dave said, reaching out to touch her arm. “She’s just speaking out of her fear. Fear that she’ll never know the truth. Fear that once she does, it still won’t give her the comfort she seeks.”

“He’s right,” Hank said, stepping forward. “Lacy is desperate to ease the pain she feels, and hunting down your father’s killer seems to be her only comfort. I apologize for not telling you, but I honestly didn’t want to add to your worry. Lacy seems determined to pursue this until someone pays.”

“I’ve done all that I could,” Gwen said, sniffing. She wiped at the tears, but they only seemed more determined to fall. “I know I was a poor substitute for our mother, but . . .” She sobbed and buried her face in her hands. She had no idea Lacy hated her so.

“You’ve done a good job, Gwen. That’s easy to see,” Dave said softly. “I’ll speak with my mother. Maybe she can talk some sense into Lacy. Maybe she can help her to understand your sacrifice.”

“I don’t care about that. I don’t . . . care about what I’ve given up. I only . . . care that I . . . that I . . . not bring my sisters harm. I want . . . I want . . . them . . . safe.”

“But you can’t guarantee that,” Hank said, coming alongside her.

“Lacy needs a firm hand,” Dave said, meeting Gwen’s teary gaze. “And frankly, I’m gonna give her one across her backside if she doesn’t straighten up.”

For some reason, this struck Gwen as funny. She smiled and her tears began to slow. “I’m sure you’re just the man for the job,” she murmured.

Hank laughed, and Dave shrugged. “We’ve all got our unpleasant duties,” he told them.

This made Gwen laugh. She wiped at her eyes. “I’m sure my sister wouldn’t take well to such an idea. Even Pa said it was best to leave well enough alone where Lacy was concerned.”

“Your sister is half wildcat. She doesn’t worry about protocol or her reputation. She just charges in without thinking, and one of these days she’s gonna get hurt.”

Gwen sobered. “I know. I’m not happy about her behavior, Dave. I just don’t know what I can possibly do about it. She’s a grown woman.”

“And well I know it. So do those other rowdies who frequent Rafe’s. Not to mention Rafe and Wyman. Your sister is going to get herself in a world of trouble if she doesn’t stop this nonsense now.”

“It’s not really nonsense to want to see justice for our father,” Gwen said defensively.

Hank interrupted. “I think it might be best if one of us had a talk with the cowboys who were at the bar the night Mr. Gallatin was shot.” He looked to Gwen. “Maybe it would settle Lacy down if she could see that we were actually making an effort to learn the truth.”

“But I’ve been
trying
to learn the truth,” Dave said, shaking his head. “They were drunk. There were at least eight men, all shooting off their guns. I’ve talked to the men, as well as to Rafe. No one even saw Mr. Gallatin in the midst of things until he was dead on the street. Some of them don’t really even remember that. I just wish Lacy could understand that I’ve done my job. She’s making it really hard for me, and now Rafe has filed a complaint with the sheriff and is demanding she be arrested if she tries to enter the saloon again.”

Gwen heard the anguish in his voice. “I understand, Dave. Maybe getting herself arrested is what it will take. Maybe it will teach her a lesson. I just don’t know.”

“Well, I know good and well that if those men find Lacy alone, they’ll teach her a lesson of their own.”

Gwen shuddered. “I pray that doesn’t happen.”

Dave nodded. “I do, too.” The clock on the mantel chimed the hour. “I need to get going.”

“Tell your folks hello for me,” Gwen said as she followed him to the door.

“I’ll do just that.”

She waited until he’d mounted his horse and headed down the road before closing the door. When she turned, she found Hank watching her. His gaze caused warmth to spread up her neck and cheeks.

“I’m sorry you had to be a part of that.”

“You do realize that it may happen more and more, now that you’re without a man to watch over you and your sisters.”

Gwen met his eyes and lost herself in their blue depths for a moment. He seemed so concerned that it touched her. “I know this is a difficult territory, but we have people who care about us and watch over us. The Lassiters are good to check on us, and more people are coming to the area all the time.”

“But more people may only mean more trouble. You spoke of sending your sisters back East, but what about considering the possibility of all of you moving?”

“I can’t go. I’d never let Rafe have Gallatin House.”

“What if someone else wanted to buy the place?”

Gwen shook her head. “I don’t know of anyone, and I don’t know that it would make a difference. I just don’t know what I should do about anything. Even if we found a buyer, I wouldn’t know where to go or how to get there. The girls and I have a good income with the stage stop, but I don’t know that we could duplicate this success elsewhere.”

“I could help you,” Hank suggested. “I have friends who could offer their assistance, as well.”

“Friends in Boston?” Gwen asked. It was unsettling to think about Hank leaving them soon.

“Yes, Boston is a large city and could offer a variety of opportunities.”

“But a woman alone in the world will always find her opportunities limited. You know that well enough. You’re here because of your mother’s need.”

“That’s true, but my mother is without the ability or youth to make her way alone. You and your sisters are very talented. You’re smart and young.”

Gwen smiled. “You are kind to say so, but we both know the truth of it.”

Hank raised a brow. “Which is?”

“Without husbands or male relatives, we will always be somewhat of a burden to society. The proper thing for a woman to do is to marry—whether love figures in or not.” Gwen suddenly felt embarrassed by this declaration and moved toward the stairs. “If you’ll excuse me, I should check on Beth.”

Hank reached out and took hold of her arm. “What did you mean by that?”

Gwen tried to be nonchalant about her comment. “Only that women have very little say in what happens to them. No one really cares what we want. . . . or what we need.”

“I care.” Hank spoke soft and low, while his fingers gently stroked Gwen’s forearm.

For a moment, Gwen lost herself in his gaze. She easily remembered the kiss they’d shared and wished against her will that he might kiss her again. She very nearly suggested such a thing when a bell rang out.

Gwen tried to pull her arm from Hank’s grasp, but he wouldn’t let her go. “That’s Beth. I should see to her needs.”

“But what about your needs, Gwen?”

She felt her heartbeat quicken. “I . . . uh . . . I don’t know what you mean.”

He pulled her into his arms and kissed her gently. Gwen was just losing herself in the moment when he pulled back. “Open your eyes.”

She didn’t want to. There was a part of her that hoped she was dreaming and could just go on doing so. Dreams weren’t as dangerous as wakeful emotions.

“Gwen,” he whispered. She could feel his breath upon her face. She trembled as his finger traced her cheek. “Look at me.”

This time she opened her eyes. The intensity of his gaze caused her knees to go weak. Had he not been holding on to her, Gwen wasn’t at all sure that she could have remained standing.

“Tell me what you need, Gwen. What would make you happy?”

The bell rang again, breaking the spell. Gwen straightened and drew a deep breath. “I have to go.”

She hurried up the steps, afraid to delay or look back. Afraid, because if she saw the same desire in Hank’s face that she felt in her heart, she might completely forget about Beth and tell him exactly what she needed.

Lacy sat on a rock by the river, not caring that the light was long gone or that a wild animal might appear to cause her harm. She felt overwhelmed by her feelings. She’d never meant to say such mean things to Gwen. She honestly didn’t believe her sister was capable of being selfish, yet she’d accused her of just that.

Why did life have to be so complicated? Why did Dave have to be so mean? He only wanted to boss her around and make her miserable. He seemed to get some kind of strange pleasure in making her feel weak and stupid.

“I have a task to see through to completion,” she said aloud. “I feel confident that I’m supposed to seek out Father’s killer. But why must everyone stand against me? They treat me like a child. Like an addle-minded little girl.”