Ana Leigh (4 page)

Crocheted doilies adorned the arms and backs of chairs in the tiny living room, and needlepoint cushions covered the kitchen chairs. An embroidered sampler thanking God for His blessings hung on the wall, and braided cotton rugs were laid strategically on the floor. Pride and effort had gone into the construction of the handmade cabinetry and pieces of furniture.

Rose sighed. It might be a small house, but it was a huge home.

“Did you hear tell about the trouble last night?” Calvin asked when they were seated around the table.

“Trouble?” Rose asked.

“Over at the Lazy R. Steve Rayburn rode past this mornin’ on the way into town. He said rustlers drove off part of his herd last night and killed both of his cowpunchers.”

“How horrible!” Kate exclaimed.

“Yep. Wonder if it’s got somethin’ to do with the strange light folks claim to see in the hills. Maybe we got an outlaw gang living up there.”

Rose thought of Tait’s gang. Could they have rustled the cattle? If so, it must have been either very early or very late, because it’d been almost ten o’clock when Zach MacKenzie had shown up at the restaurant.

“Have there been any other cattle rustled recently?” Rose asked.

Calvin shook his head. “Not that I’ve heard tell. Guess we’ve been lucky till now.”

Rose asked the question that was foremost on her mind. “What time did this happen?”

“Didn’t ask Rayburn, but I reckon durin’ the night, ’cause there was only a couple wranglers watchin’ the herd he’d rounded up to ship out next week.”

“They’ve got to get some decent law in here,” Effie interjected. “That Sheriff Bloom ain’t no help.”

“I agree with you,” Rose said. “The town’s full of unsavory characters, and the streets are wild.”

“What is this talk about a mysterious light in the hills?” Kate asked.

“Effie and me ain’t seen it, but some folks claim they have. I’m thinkin’ of ridin’ out and takin’ a look at it for myself.”

“More ’n likely it’s someone minin’ or somethin’ like that, Cal,” Effie said.

“What would he be minin’ for, Effie? Ain’t nothin’ of value up there.”

Rose’s instinct began racing. She couldn’t help thinking that Tait and his gang were involved.

The girls left shortly after, each with a jar of Effie’s apple butter. Rose drove the team on the return trip to Brimstone.

“Just think, Cal and Effie have been married for over fifty years. That’s so inspiring,” Kate gushed.

“So is a mountain, but that doesn’t mean I want to climb one for fifty years.”

“Oh, you don’t fool me for one minute, Rose Dubois. You’re not as superficial as you try to make people believe. After meeting Cal and Effie, how can you doubt the importance of marrying for love?”

“I agree the Wilsons are a precious couple, Kate. But the thought of living fifty years with the same man makes me more determined than ever that he’d better be a rich one,” Rose countered.

Chapter 4

B
y the time Rose reined up at the rear of the Harvey House, Brimstone had come to life. As with so many of these lazy Western towns, most of the business activity occurred in the morning before the heat of the day closed in; then the town appeared to slumber in the afternoon, and woke again in the evening, rowdy and boisterous.

Everett Billings hurried out of the kitchen door for the eggs, reminded them that the morning train was due shortly, and went back inside.

“We’ve only got a half hour to change,” Kate said on the way back to the livery.

“I’ll drop you off at the boardinghouse; it’s on the way. There’s no need for both of us to have to rush.”

As soon as Kate jumped down, Rose continued on. The street seemed busier than usual, and she slowed the team for several children crossing in front of her. She glanced over and saw Jess Tait and his gang leaning against a hitching post—Zach MacKenzie wasn’t among them.

Rose attempted to speed up, but Tait stepped out and grabbed the bridle of one of the team. “Look what we got here, boys. If it ain’t Miss Smarty Ass herself.” His fat lips protruded in a smirk from amidst his bushy beard. “I’ve been meaning to look you up, sister.”

“Kindly release the horse, Mr. Tait. I’m in a hurry,” Rose said.

“Zat right? Hear that, boys: Miss Smarty Ass is in a hurry.”

Zach rode up just in time to hear the end of the conversation. “Let her be, Jess. The whole town’s watching you.”

Tait snorted. “Like I care. Since you’re in such a hurry, sister, I’ll give ya a little help.”

Before Rose guessed his intent, Tait yanked the reins so hard that she lost her grip on them. Then he drew his Colt and fired several shots in the air. Rose screamed as the team bolted and she fell across the seat. Out of control, the driverless buggy lurched down the street, the reins flapping like a whip at the heels of the horses.

“You damn fool!” Zach shouted at Tait. He goaded his horse and galloped down the road in pursuit of the buggy.

Amidst cries and shouts, people scattered in all directions, trying to avoid being trampled or struck by the careening buggy as the horses raced down the street, trailing a cloud of dust behind them. Another rider had joined the chase by the time Zach caught up.

Tossed and slammed about, Rose struggled to keep from being thrown off the buggy that threatened to overturn any minute. She managed to get a grip on the seat, then watched, horrified, when Zach leaped from his own horse onto the back of one of the team. Within seconds, he succeeded in halting the buggy.

Rose managed to regain her seat and was adjusting her disheveled clothing when the other rider galloped up and dismounted.

“Are you hurt, miss?” he asked worriedly.

“I don’t think so.” Her trembling legs managed to support her when he assisted her off the vehicle. People began to close in around her, and the solicitous stranger put a firm hand on her elbow and led her over to a bench in front of the general store.

“Sit here and catch your breath,” he said in a concerned tone.

“Thank you.” Her trembling had ceased, and she drew several deep breaths in an effort to regain her control.

Her gaze swept the crowd and fell on Zach MacKenzie. He was standing alone near the buckboard, looking at her with a strange expression on his face. She remembered the strength in the arms that had held her last night, and at that moment, she wanted more than anything to feel them around her again and draw the comfort of his strength. Zach MacKenzie was the last person she’d ever expect to become her knight in shining armor, but he’d ridden to her rescue at the risk of his own life. Had he fallen, he very well could have been trampled to death.

It would be hard for her to ignore that truth in whatever might lie ahead between them.

Zach nodded, touched his finger to the brim of his hat, then turned away. As he led the horses toward the livery, her gaze continued to follow the tall figure until he disappeared.

“Are you certain you don’t need a doctor?” the stranger asked.

“No, I’m fine now.” Smiling, she added, “Thank you for your help, Mr. . . .”

“Rayburn. Stephen Rayburn,” he said, removing his hat.

“I’m grateful, Mr. Rayburn. And I’m Rose Dubois.” She stood up. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to change my clothes and get to work.”

Stephen Rayburn stepped back. “I insist upon escorting you to your lodging, Miss Dubois.” He grasped her by the elbow again.

As they walked back to her boardinghouse, Rose tried to remember where she’d heard his name before, then she recalled that Cal Wilson had mentioned it earlier.

“I understand you had a misfortune earlier as well, Mr. Rayburn.”

“Yes, cattle rustlers killed two of my men.”

“How tragic. Did they leave families behind?”

“No.” He smiled slightly to soften his words. “Most cowpunchers don’t have families, Miss Dubois. You must be new to the West.”

“Just to Brimstone. I’m a Harvey Girl. I’ve been in New Mexico for the past two years, but I admit I still have a great deal to learn about the West.”

“A Harvey Girl. No wonder I don’t recall seeing you before.”

Rose took a long look at Stephen Rayburn. He didn’t have Zach MacKenzie’s devastating handsomeness, but he wasn’t unpleasant-looking, either.

He appeared to be in his late thirties, with light hair and green eyes. His face was on the rugged side: aquiline nose, clean-shaven angular jaw, and a neatly trimmed mustache above narrow lips.

She stood almost eye to eye with him, which would make him just slightly taller than her own five feet eight inches, and he had a lithe, trim build which he carried with a sense of authority. Stephen Rayburn was clearly a man used to giving orders—not taking them. But his demeanor was gentlemanly. And she didn’t fail to notice that he was very well dressed—no dusty jeans or worn boots. His clothes looked tailor-made, his boots and Stetson expensive.

Rayburn must have sensed her interest, because he turned his green-eyed gaze on her. “And where are you from, Miss Dubois?”

“New Orleans.”

His smile flashed whitely against his deep tan. “A fabulous city. Whatever would tempt you to leave it for a town like Brimstone?”

“It must be my adventuresome spirit, Mr. Rayburn.”

“If you permit me saying, that makes for a very intriguing combination with that red hair and those lovely blue eyes of yours, Miss Dubois.”

Rose would have to be blind not to see the interest in his eyes. Could it be she had finally met her rich rancher? With her luck, he was probably married already. However, this was neither the time nor place to ask.

“Here we are,” she said lightly, having reached the boardinghouse. “Thank you again, Mr. Rayburn.”

“The pleasure was all mine, Miss Dubois.” He tipped his hat and walked away.

Her curiosity continued to dwell on him as she changed hurriedly into her uniform. But by the time she started to pin up her hair, she’d slipped back into thoughts of Zach MacKenzie and the look in his eyes as he’d watched her with Stephen Rayburn. What was behind that look? It couldn’t have been jealousy. Zach MacKenzie didn’t look like he’d have a jealous bone in his whole body—his whole manly body.

A train whistle reminded her of the need for haste. She pinned the bow to the back of her hair and hurried out the door. Hooting and puffing steam, the morning train had just rolled into town.

By the time Rose rushed through the kitchen door, the train’s passengers were already seated. Everett Billings gave her a disapproving glance.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Billings. I had an accident.”

“Apparently not a serious one, Miss Dubois, since you appear to be uninjured. We will discuss it later,” he said, and handed her the two plates he was about to carry into the dining room.

Kate had already filled the coffee cups at Rose’s tables and had served them compotes of fresh fruit. Rose gave her a grateful smile, put the plates of egg soufflé and chicken livers down in front of two of the customers, then hurried back to the kitchen for more.

Until the advent of the Harvey Houses, an unfortunate traveler had been subjected to a box lunch, bitter coffee, and such fare as salt pork and beans or a tasteless stew served on a tin plate at way stations. After paying for a meal in advance, he’d often had to rush back onto the train before even being served.

Fred Harvey had changed all that. Since opening his Harvey restaurants along the route of the Santa Fe, he’d made it the preferred railroad for travelers. Now for a mere seventy-five cents a meal, a passenger was offered fine cuisine served in the style of gracious dining.

For the next thirty minutes, Rose didn’t have time to think of rich husbands or dark-eyed cowboys, as she made certain all her customers were fed and satisfied before the train departed.

She heaved a sigh of relief and sank down on a chair when the train finally pulled out of the station.

“You look tired, Rose,” Kate said, and took a chair next to her.

“I am. I didn’t sleep well last night.” She’d tossed and turned, thinking about Zach MacKenzie. “And this day’s already been exhausting though it’s not even halfway over.”

The other girls joined them as Rose began to relate her harrowing experience with the runaway team.

“Jess Tait should be arrested,” Aubrey Jeffreys declared.

“My goodness, you could have been killed,” Melanie Clemens said indignantly, her blond curls bouncing with every word.

“Not only Rose, but some innocent bystander as well,” Kate added.

“If there is an innocent bystander in this town,” Andrea Reynolds challenged. The dark-haired waitress from Chicago was a little more worldly than the other three girls.

“Well, the important thing is nobody was injured,” Kate said, patting Rose’s hand.

“Ladies, ladies, this is no time for a kaffeeklatsch,” Everett Billings reminded them, entering the room. “The eastbound train will be coming through in three hours.” He clapped his hands to get them moving. “There’s work to be done.”

“Mr. Billings, Rose was almost killed this morning,” Aubrey stated, her bright blue eyes still wide with shock.

“Killed! Oh, dear, Miss Dubois, was that the accident you mentioned?”

“That horrible Jess Tait’s responsible,” Melanie informed him, shaking her head so severely that her blond curls threatened to bounce off her head.

Talking all at once, Andrea, Melanie, and Aubrey proceeded to tell Billings of the incident. When they finished, the manager looked contritely at Rose.

“Miss Dubois, I have no objection if you’d like to take the rest of the day off to recover.”

“That’s very kind of you, Mr. Billings, but I’m fine now.”

“I still say that Jess Tait belongs behind bars,” Aubrey reiterated.

The bell tinkled as the door opened, and the women jumped to their feet. Rose stared, appalled, as Jess Tait crossed the floor trailed by his gang, and they all sat down at one of the tables.

“The nerve of that man!” Andrea hissed through clenched teeth. “I’m going over there right now and tell him what I think of him.”

“No.” Rose’s hand on the young girl’s arm stopped Andrea from doing so. “It’s my table, honey, and I have a few words to say to that bully.”

Rose picked up the coffeepot and walked over to the table. The men quieted, as if waiting to hear whatever she intended to say.

She filled their coffee cups and when she got to Jess, he warned, “You try that same trick with that coffee that ya did yesterday, and you’ll get more than a fast ride in a wagon. How’d ya like that little ride I gave you, sister?”

“Mr. Tait, I consider you a dangerous man, and if there was any decent lawman in this town, you’d probably be long dead by now. As it is, it’s just a matter of time before you end up in that condition.”

“Oh-h-h, I’m so scared,” Tait said. “Hear that, boys? Sounds like the bitch is threatenin’ me.”

Rose smiled sweetly. “Not at all. I can wait. I’m the patient type.”

“Well, I’m not,” Zach said. “So how about some breakfast, Redhead? What’s on the menu today?”

“An egg soufflé and chicken livers.”

“Sounds good,” Zach said.

Jess and the others ordered the same. Rose went into the kitchen to place their orders, and when she came out, she saw Stephen Rayburn seated at one of her tables.

“Good morning again,” she said.

Rayburn smiled up at her. “I’m told this restaurant serves the best food in town.”

“You heard right, Mr. Rayburn.”

“If the food is half as sweet as the waitresses who serve it, it must be true.”

“Why, Mr. Rayburn, how nice of you to say so.”

“Looks like I’ll have to hire a beautiful waitress in my diner, so you don’t run me out of business.”

“You own the diner in town?” she said, surprised. “I thought you were a rancher.”

“I am, but I have other investments.”

“Are you going to order our breakfast and find out for yourself how good the food is here?”

“I certainly am,” he said.