Carol Finch (12 page)

Although he was hesitant to leave Karissa alone, for fear other claim-jumpers would descend upon her, he needed to keep surveillance so that other settlers weren’t victimized. “My men and I will have a long afternoon, riding herd over the area,” he said as he swung into the saddle. “Keep that pistol handy, in case someone else decides you look like an easy mark.”

“Clint and Amanda should be here soon,” she assured him as she glanced west. “I’ll bring Sergeant back to you this evening.” She glanced fondly at the horse. “I’m going to let him graze our property to his heart’s content and give him the chance to rest before I return him. And Rafe?”

He stared down into her animated face and felt another corner of his heart crumble. “Yes?”

“I wish I could repay you.”

“You already have,” he murmured as he memorized the radiant expression on her face. Damn, he was going to miss this lively female like crazy.

Rafe nudged his mount and trotted away. Seeing Karissa’s smile of pure delight was worth more than he dared to admit aloud. So he kept it to himself and rode off to protect and defend other settlers who encountered disputes over their claims.

When Clint and Amanda arrived an hour later, Karissa watched her brother stare across the rolling hills that tumbled into the heavily timbered, spring-fed creek. These would provide lumber for their new home and a
fresh water supply. It was the first time she had seen Clint smile since the day before he had been thrown from the gray mare and landed in a broken heap. She swore she would tangle with that pesky claim-jumper all over again if she could bear witness to this expression of pride and elation that settled on her brother’s face.

“My God, you did it, Kari!” Clint whooped as he awkwardly climbed down from the wagon then hobbled around to help Amanda to the ground. “This place looks like paradise.”

Beaming in satisfaction, Karissa nodded. “That’s exactly what I thought the first time I saw it.” She gestured to the rise of ground to the east. “I can envision a house tucked up against the hill to block the cold north winds of winter and provide a spectacular view of the creek.”

Amanda clapped her hands together in delight. “That would be perfect! Oh, Kari, this is incredible! How can we possibly thank you enough for braving that wild stampede and staking this marvelous homestead?”

When tears sprang from Amanda’s eyes and trickled down her flushed cheeks, Karissa strode over to give her an affectionate hug. “I’ve been properly thanked already. Together we can make this land our new home.” She looked over Amanda’s shoulder to stare meaningfully at her brother. “No more wandering from town to town like vagabonds and gypsies. We can put down roots, raise cattle and sheep and plant crops.”

Clint smiled, nodded then drew in a deep breath and admired the land. “Home,” he murmured appreciatively. “A place to call our own.”

Amanda wiped away her tears then blinked in shock. “Kari, what in the world happened to your cheek!” She brushed her fingers over the welt then jerked back her
hand when Karissa winced. “It looks as if someone struck you.”

Karissa shrugged nonchalantly. “I had a run-in with a claim-jumper, but Rafe…um…Commander Hunter came by to send him on his way. We will have to take turns standing guard tonight so no one tries to sneak in to steal our claim again. I predict there will be a great number of disgruntled settlers who weren’t able to stake a claim and have become desperate enough to resort to drastic measures.”

“At least that’s one duty I can handle around here,” Clint said as he hobbled to the back of the wagon to drag out the tent. “Kari deserves a good night’s rest and so do you, Amanda. I’ll keep the night vigil.”

Together the threesome pitched the tent near the location on which they hoped to construct their home. Together they built the campfire to enjoy their first meal at their new homestead. Karissa couldn’t remember the last time she had felt so content and happy. Well, except those few times when she had become the recipient of Rafe’s mind-boggling kisses.

She quickly stifled the thought. She had no future with Rafe. But at least she would have the pleasure of helping Clint and Amanda build their house and stock their pastures. For a time, this would be her home, too.

Karissa refused to spoil her grand mood by wondering where she would settle after Clint and Amanda had a roof over their head, crops in the field and cattle grazing the lush pastures. For now, she was simply going to live for the moment and savor her dream of making a fresh new start with her family.

Under the pretense of patrolling the area to settle disputes over claims, Harlan made his rounds to collect his
fees for pointing settlers in the right directions. In addition to helping Vanessa with her plot to secure her marriage—and blackmailing the snippy chit—Harlan had discreetly accepted money to aid a handful of men in locating plots that would provide fertile soil and an abundance of water.

He had insisted on half of his payment before the Run and now he intended to acquire the balance due. Most of his secretive business associates were so elated to have staked prime land they handed over the money without batting an eye. However, there was one persnickety old goat who balked at paying Harlan his fee.

When Harlan made the mistake of threatening to use the power of his position with the army to block the legal registration of the deed for the land Arliss Frazier acquired, the rascal sniffed arrogantly. When Arliss lifted his pudgy hand, three armed men appeared from the underbrush to take aim at Harlan’s chest.

“Now then, Corporal,” Arliss said in gloating satisfaction, “you can ride off the land my friends claimed for me or we can bury you down in the ravine. As it turned out, I wasn’t able to claim the adjoining piece of property, as I’d hoped. A feisty red-haired female and an intimidating soldier forced Chester Gentry to run for his life.”

Arliss gestured toward the thin, wiry man who stared at Harlan from the barrel of a shotgun. “You’ve been paid more than enough for land I claimed. Since I wasn’t able to claim the property I wanted most,
you
actually owe
me
money.”

Harlan silently seethed when he realized it was that pesky Karissa Baxter—with the help of Commander Hunter, no doubt—who had staked the claim that Arliss wanted most.

Wouldn’t you know that witch would be involved? For the life of him, Harlan couldn’t figure out why Karissa hadn’t been charged for robbing the crippled man he had knocked over the head. Probably slept with every man who accused her of thievery, Harlan decided bitterly. She had resisted
his
sexual advances, but she had undoubtedly used her charms to get off scot-free.

“Take yourself off, Corporal,” Arliss said with an impatient flick of his wrist. “I have arrangements to make with my unwanted neighbor. That piece of property she claimed has the best source of water. I need that land to develop a stage station and trading post that will sit halfway between the town plotted to the north and the one plotted to the south.”

“A word of caution,” Harlan said with a smirk. “I know the woman in question and she is difficult to deal with.” He glanced at Arliss’s scraggly henchmen. “And one more thing—I’ll be back to collect my due when you don’t have your thugs to protect you. In fact, I might just tell the commander at the fort that I witnessed underhanded dealings. You might find yourself stripped of the property you did manage to claim—with
my
help.”

Arliss snorted at the threat. “Blackmailing me into paying you will force me to explain your involvement, Corporal. You could find yourself demoted or court-martialed before you know what hit you.” His face contorted into a sneer. “Just try to cross me, Harlan, and I’ll make you regret it—in spades!”

Muttering curses, Harlan retreated, refusing to turn his back on Arliss and his henchmen for fear of being pelted with buckshot. That sneaky bastard had backed Harlan into a corner. Well, Arliss might have won this round, but Harlan never had been able to tolerate being out
smarted. He would have his revenge—and the rest of his money. Arliss Frazier could damn well depend on it.

Just before dusk, Karissa saddled the plodding gray mare, grabbed Sergeant’s reins and headed for the fort. She sincerely hoped she could return Rafe’s horse without having to see him with his fiancée.

Although Karissa kept telling herself that her infatuation with Rafe was a waste of emotion, his memory would forever be attached to the thrilling moment when she had claimed the homestead. He had been there to share her elation. He had prevented that sneaky claim-jumper from stealing her property. He had also been there to offer his swift horse and his pistol for her protection.

“Since when did you become a hopeless romantic?” Karissa muttered at herself as she rode northwest. She was the farthest thing from a fairy-tale princess, even if she had begun to perceive Rafe as her Prince Charming. “He doesn’t belong to you, nor you to him. Accept that and get on with your life.”

After bolstering herself, Karissa reached the garrison. There was only a skeleton crew of soldiers on hand to greet her. Most of the cavalry was still patrolling the new territory. She had nearly made it around the perimeter of the parade grounds to reach the stables when Vanessa Payton, dressed in one of her eye-catching gowns, walked from the officers’ quarters. Damnation, talk about lousy timing, Karissa thought glumly. This was one individual she preferred not to encounter.

Vanessa broke stride when she noticed Karissa. She looked down her nose at Karissa’s faded cotton gown and sniffed disapprovingly at the very idea of a woman
straddling a horse. Her gaze narrowed when she realized Karissa was leading Rafe’s prize gelding.

“You have nerve,” Vanessa sneered as she closed the distance between them. “I don’t even have to ask how you repaid my fiancé for the use of his horse. I distinctly remember telling you that I never wanted to lay eyes on you again.”

“Believe me, Vanessa,” she countered, “nothing would make me happier, either. I have enemies for whom I have developed fonder affection.”

Vanessa thrust back her shoulders and emitted a hissing oath that condemned Karissa to a place where the hottest of climates prevailed.

Karissa thought it was a crying shame that a woman who looked like a grounded angel, with her vivid blue eyes and shiny blond hair, had been cursed with a vile personality. Of course, Rafe wouldn’t be privy to Vanessa’s waspish tongue and condescending glares. He probably had no idea that Vanessa was a full-fledged witch in hiding.

In her opinion, the one true lady in the area was Amanda Baxter, who was an eternal optimist and rarely had an unkind word to say to—or about—anyone. Amanda should be the one who was dressed in elegant finery, sporting expensive jewels and receiving preferential treatment.

Karissa smiled wryly, picturing Vanessa in
her
rightful place as a harried, gray-haired old hag who spent the better part of her days croaking incantations over her boiling caldron, burning her tongue on her hot brew and flying around on her broom.

“And what can you possibly find so amusing?” Vanessa snapped as she jerked Sergeant’s reins from Karissa’s hand. “You have no pride and no shame. Just look
at you, a working-class harlot who isn’t good enough to polish Rafe’s boots, much less share his company.”

Karissa had been insulted and called frightful names a few times in the past. She had been mocked and ridiculed because of her father’s lowly reputation as a vagabond and gambler. But she had shrugged it off, assuring herself that she was nothing like her father, who had proved to be a weak, selfish individual. But it hurt to hear that she wasn’t worthy of Rafe’s affection, much less his friendship.

If she didn’t harbor affection for Rafe, she knew Vanessa’s cutting words couldn’t have touched her. Hadn’t she told herself a thousand times in the past that the only way to prevent being hurt was not to let someone close enough to touch her carefully protected emotions?

“Leave this garrison before Rafe returns,” Vanessa demanded hatefully. “If you ever come here again, I will make your life more miserable than it is already. Rafe and I will be married in less than a week. The arrangements are under way and I don’t want you to go near him ever again!”

The news threw Karissa off balance. She knew Rafe would soon be wed, but not
that
soon! The impending reality was worse than a hard slap in the face—and Karissa had suffered from stinging blows twice recently. But neither of them hurt as deeply as knowing Rafe would be forever beyond her reach when he married this pretentious chit.

“He deserves better than you,” Karissa said.

“For certain, he deserves far better than the lowly, ill-bred likes of you,” Vanessa retaliated scornfully.

When Vanessa called to one of the soldiers to take Sergeant to the stables and have him washed down to remove the offensive stench, Karissa winced at the snide
insult. Turning away from Vanessa’s loathing glare, she trotted through the gate. Only then did the tears of frustrated humiliation flow freely.

God! She’d gone from the pinnacle of excitement after the Land Run to the blackened pits of rejection in the course of one day. And why hadn’t she lowered herself to exchange a few more stinging insults with Vanessa? Why had she sat there and taken that demeaning tirade and allowed her to have the last word?

Karissa’s shoulders slumped as she rode through the darkness. Perhaps she really was nothing more than a gambler’s daughter—and a lousy gambler at that. Karissa decided that even in a newly formed territory you couldn’t outrun your heritage or your past. You simply were what you were. She was going to have to make peace with that, she decided as she swiped at the infuriating tears of self-pity.

Karissa inhaled a cathartic breath and squared her shoulders as she trotted through the darkness. She had to put all whimsical thoughts of Rafe behind her and get on with her life. Clint and Amanda cared about her, needed her, and she cared about them. She was going to devote her time to building a home and acquiring money to purchase seed for crops. And she was
not
going to harbor delusions of Rafe Hunter being anything except one of the many fleeting acquaintances who passed through her life.