Charlene Sands (8 page)

Stunned, she blinked, then blinked again, awareness quickly dawning. It took only a second for Kate to realize what Cole had done. He’d seduced her to teach her a lesson…to prove his point. And she’d fallen right into his trap. Tears misted and anger surfaced. She shoved him away with all her might. “Get away from me, Cole.”

Cole didn’t appear remorseful at all. He stood his ground and glared at her. “If you plan on running a
saloon, you’re gonna have to learn something about protecting yourself.”

She flamed with anger now, burning hotter than a branding iron. “You’re a snake, Cole Bradshaw.”

“True enough. But I bet you’ll think twice now about that gun of yours. It’s not the gun that keeps you safe. You’ve got to keep your wits about you, Kate. At all times…no matter what. That’s your best protection.”

Kate braced both hands on her hips. She shouted with the fury she felt inside, “The only one I
need
protecting from…is you!” She reached for the lantern and stormed out of the saloon, her pride hurt but her heart breaking. She had to get away from him, before he saw the devastating effect his little “lesson” had had on her.

She headed for home, hearing his footsteps from behind. Once she reached her doorstep, she whirled around. Cole stood at her gate, running a hand through his hair, watching her. There was no regret in his eyes, just a powerful glint that met her gaze candidly. He still had her shawl, absently wrapped up on one arm. He gestured with a brief nod toward her door.

Good Lord, he was seeing her home safely. The irony was laughable. He’d nearly destroyed her with his kiss and he worried about her safety? Didn’t he know the best thing he could ever do for her was to leave her be?

Kate slammed the door as hard as she could and bolted it shut. Only then did she burst into tears.

C
ole did a double check of his gun and rifle, making sure that both were loaded and ready, then mounted his mare. With a slight nudge of his spurs, his horse took off at a brisk walk heading for the far end of the county and Ely Morgan’s spread.

He passed Kate’s house on his way out of town and witnessed her in the front yard, tending to a rosebush. She bent her head to sniff a newly bloomed yellow rose and their eyes met. Cole tipped his hat in greeting. She turned away, giving him a fine view of the back of her pretty head.

Cole drew in a deep breath and returned his attention to the road. Damn, if Kate wasn’t the most infuriating woman he’d ever encountered, jeopardizing her own safety on the street late at night. Why, if he’d been another sort, she might have found herself in a much worse predicament than meeting up with him. He’d been sworn in to protect the citizens of Crystal
Creek. Was it so bad if he saw fit to teach Kate a lesson about protecting herself?

Of course, he hadn’t expected the
lesson
to go so far. Cole still smarted from holding her in his arms and sharing a kiss that had kept him awake most the night. He’d only meant to get close enough to whip the blasted gun out of her pocket, but being near Kate was intoxicating. The more he had of her, the more he wanted.

A scowl pushed the edges of Cole’s mouth down. He rode on, deep in thought, pondering his future. He’d best decide what to do about Meggie’s care mighty soon. Either he’d find another housekeeper, or he’d have to marry.

Fact is, Cole wanted to settle down. He wanted a family. Always had. But finding the right woman, now that took some doing. And having Mary Kathryn Malone come back to town when she did managed to make his decision all the more perplexing.

Twenty minutes later, Cole reined in his horse when he reached the Morgan house. He dismounted and ground-tied his mare. Ely came out onto his porch to greet him.

“Morning, Ely. Heard you had some trouble out here yesterday.”

“That we did, Sheriff. Cattle rustlers. They ran off with fifty head, but it might have been plenty more if one of my men hadn’t spotted them. He was going for help, but they caught up to him and one man knocked him out with his gun.”

“He okay?”

Ely nodded. “Got a knot the size of Texas atop his head and they robbed him right down to his boots. But he’s a lucky devil. They could’ve shot him, just as easy. He’s resting up in the bunkhouse if you want to speak with him.”

“I do.”

Ely led him to the bunkhouse and introduced him to Tim O’Shay. “Hey, Tim, Sheriff Bradshaw has some questions for you. You feel like talking?”

The young cowhand sat up on his bunk and nodded. “Yeah, my head’s clearing some now.”

“Okay, I’ll leave you folks alone. Stop back at the house later, Sheriff, and Rosa will fix you a cold drink.”

“Thanks, Ely. Appreciate it.”

Cole took the information from O’Shay. The man couldn’t give him much. All the rustlers wore black and had on kerchiefs to disguise their faces.

“Can you recall anything else? Anything unusual about them or their horses?”

“No,” Tim said, shaking his head. “Except I think one of the men had a scar on the side of his face. I couldn’t see much of it though. The kerchief he wore covered up most of his face, but it sure looked like a slash mark from the eye down.”

Air rushed through Cole’s lungs, fast and deep. “Right side or left?”

O’Shay thought for a moment. “Looking at him, the scar was on his right side.”

“Sloan.” Cole’s heart pumped fast now. His insides churned. If it was the same man, Cole would find him. He’d find the last man responsible for his brother’s murder.

“What?” asked O’Shay.

“I can’t be sure, but back a couple of years, three brothers named Sloan came riding through the farms outside of Crystal Creek. They killed my brother, his wife and others. We caught up with two. One was shot and the other hanged right after his trial. One of the brothers is still missing. According to the poster I got up on the wall at the jail, the man has a knife wound on the side of his face.”

“That so?”

“If it’s the same man, consider yourself real fortunate. He’s a known killer.”

O’Shay rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah, guess getting a bump on my head ain’t so bad then. ’Course, they took everything on me, right down to my high-stitched boots.”

“I’m going to ride out with Ely and see where they ambushed you. I’m hoping someone else saw them. I’ll do some investigating and see what I can turn up. You take care now.”

“Right, Sheriff. I’ll be right as rain by tomorrow.”

Cole left the bunkhouse and marched up to the house. After sharing a tall glass of iced tea and some blueberry pie with Ely’s family, both men rode out to the spot where the thievery was committed. They followed a trail up to the river. Cole’s lead went cold
from there, but he wasn’t going to give up. He’d spend the rest of the afternoon riding to the surrounding ranches, investigating and warning the ranchers. The last thing he wanted in his county was more violence.

Cole knelt down beside his brother’s grave, wiping away dry leaves that had accumulated there. He’d picked a batch of poppies from alongside the path leading back to town and set them between Jeb and Lydia’s headstones. “Got me a lead today on the last rotten Sloan brother. I’m gonna find him, Jeb, I swear.”

A soft wind blew by, lifting Cole’s hat a bit, reminding him to take the dang thing off. “Okay, I got the message,” he said, looking toward the heavens. He pulled his hat from his head and set it down near the flowers. “Didn’t mean no disrespect.”

Cole chuckled, more from bitter pain than amusement, the harsh sound echoing in the deserted cemetery. “You always were one for doing the smart thing, weren’t you, Jeb?”

Cole sighed, thinking back on Jeb’s influence over him when they’d been younger. He’d always looked out for Cole, always wanted what was best. Jeb didn’t have it easy back then, being just four years older than Cole and assuming all the responsibility of raising him. He’d done right by him, guiding him the best way he could.

He’d convinced Cole in his teen years to get in
good and tight with Patricia Wesley, because he’d need every darn advantage he could get to make sheriff. And Jeb had been right. Edward Wesley had helped Cole get elected.

The man had great influence in Crystal Creek.

Cole knew what Jeb would say today. He’d encourage Cole to marry Patricia. It’d be the
smart
thing to do. “Hell, Jeb, I know it in my head. And I want to do right by Meggie, too. She needs a mother to raise her proper and all. Patricia’s a fine woman, well mannered and schooled. But I’ve got to be sure. And right now, nothing’s for sure. ’Cept, Meggie’s a sweet young girl. I love her like my own. You and Lydia…well, you’d be proud. I won’t let you down on this, Jeb. It’s a promise.”

Cole stayed a while longer, needing to somehow connect with his brother. They’d been more than brothers, they’d been friends. Being orphaned so early had brought them closer than most brothers. Cole never believed he’d lose Jeb at such a young age. His death still caused an ache in his heart.

At least he had Meggie.

Thank the dear Lord for Meggie.

Cole glanced at his pocket watch. It was time he headed to town. It’d been a long day and he still had to check in with his deputy before going home. Cole mounted his horse and left the cemetery in a cloud of dust, all the while wishing he had a wife waiting for him at home. He’d take her into his arms and she’d
help ease the pain that life all too often offered up on a platter made of cold and hard stone.

That afternoon, Kate walked with Nora toward the livery after spending hours working on velvet curtains. It was good that Nora had come over this morning. Being with her and getting busy with the sewing had taken Kate’s mind off Cole and the terrible way they’d parted last night. Kate hadn’t slept a wink, but she’d stopped her crying quickly. One thing Kate knew without a doubt was that crying never solved anybody’s problems. Her mama had taught her that at a very young age. “Fix what needs fixing,” she would say. “And if it’s not fixable, don’t dwell, just move on.”

That’s what they’d done when the saloon had burned down. Louisa had tried her best to “fix” the problem, and when she had realized the futility in that, she’d packed up and moved on.

Well, Kate doubted she could fix her problems with Cole. But she could fix up the saloon. That’s why Nora’s generous offer to help with the curtains had come at just the right time. “Nora, thank you for all your help today. The curtains are going to be real pretty when we’re through.”

Nora agreed. “They are coming out so lovely. I can’t wait to finish them off with those tassels.”

“You’ve done nearly all the work. I wish I knew more about sewing.”

“You’ll catch on, Kate. And you did a fine job of stitching today.”

“I poked a hole in my fingers three times.”

Nora smiled. “I know. But it just takes practice. I’ll come by again later in the week and we’ll finish them.”

“You practically did all the work yourself. I’m going to have to help more next time. How’d you learn so much about sewing anyway?”

“Oh, well, when I was a girl, we were very poor. My mother took in sewing to put food on our table. The farm wasn’t doing too good, and then my father took sick. So, all of us girls helped with the sewing. With my mother, there were four of us helping out. We worked into the night sometimes and we’d often compete to see who’d get the surest, most straight stitching.

“I always made my own clothes. That’s why, when I married Abe, he insisted on buying me new store-bought dresses.” Nora’s face beamed with happiness. “To own a ready-made dress had always been a dream of mine when I was young.”

“And now, you have store-bought dresses, a wonderful man, a nice house to live in and a new little babe on the way. I can’t think of another soul who deserves it more.”

“I can. You do, Kate. You deserve all the happiness in the world.” Nora cast sympathetic eyes her way. She bit her lip, before asking, “What’s wrong? We haven’t been friends all that long, but I believe I
know you fairly well. You’ve been quiet and…sad today.”

Kate sighed and shook her head, taking her mother’s advice. She couldn’t fix what was wrong, so she wouldn’t dwell. And she certainly didn’t want to burden her new friend with her troubles. “I’m a little anxious, is all. And I haven’t been sleeping too well, lately. Don’t worry, Nora. It’ll pass.”

Nora took her hand and squeezed gently. “I’m sure of it, too. But if you need a friend, you know where to find me.”

Kate nodded. “I appreciate that, Nora.”

They had reached the livery and were ready to part when an amazing sight struck them. Jethro Cable rode up on his horse, wearing the biggest darn frown Kate had ever seen, and directly in front of him on the saddle in all of her riding finery sat Patricia Wesley. Her mood appeared equally sour.

Kate and Nora both giggled at the sight. “I’ve never seen my brother-in-law looking so irritated,” she whispered. “If anyone can put Jethro in such a mood, it’s that girl.”

Kate watched Jethro dismount then reach up to help Patricia down. She swatted his hands away as soon as her high-priced shiny leather boots hit the ground. “Leave me be, Mr. Cable. Haven’t you done enough damage for one day?”

Nora spoke up, stepping forward. “What happened, Jethro? And where is Miss Wesley’s horse?”

Jethro was collecting his thoughts, ready to answer
when Patricia ranted, “The horse is gone, thank goodness! He nearly killed me.”

Jethro ignored Patricia and answered, “We were out for a riding lesson, when Miss Wesley’s horse got spooked. It took off running and, well, Miss Wesley didn’t know how to hold up on the reins—”

“I held up on the reins, Jethro. That horse wasn’t about to stop, no matter what. I was lucky enough to hold on for dear life!”

Jethro’s face contorted. “I caught up to you right quick, didn’t I? Got you onto my horse safely. You didn’t get so much as a speck of dirt on your fancy suede riding suit. And the horse will be back on his own accord. Right about feeding time.”

“I certainly hope not.”

“It ain’t his fault, Patricia,” Jethro said. “You panicked and the horse sensed it.”

“Oh, that’s ridiculous.”

“It’s not ridiculous. Ask Nora. She knows I’m talking the truth.”

Nora’s eyes went wide and her expression sobered. She clearly did not want to be thrust into this conversation. “Oh, well, Miss Wesley, if Jethro says so, I’d believe him. I’ve never known another man as knowledgeable about horses. Jethro’s got a way with them, you see. And it was sure a good thing he was around. Sounds like he saved you a bumpy ride.”

Kate chuckled silently. Nora had a way with words. She was so glad she had a friend in her. When Kate
had woken up this morning, she didn’t think she’d see a smile today, much less any laughter.

“Still, I don’t believe these riding lessons are working out. I’d like a refund on the lessons I’ve paid for in advance.”

Jethro’s pride appeared bruised. Judging by the look that he shot Patricia, Kate couldn’t tell which emotion he felt strongest—anger, irritation or a heavy dose of pure male stubbornness. He shook his head. “Sorry, we don’t give refunds.”

Patricia looked as though she’d burst a vein in her head. “What? Why father paid you handsomely for six lessons. The only one I had nearly killed me today.”

“You were never in any real danger.” Jethro wouldn’t allow Patricia to disparage his good name. Kate knew him to be a fair and decent man who prided himself on his ability with animals. “I wouldn’t let anything happen to you,” he said softly.

Something flashed between the two then, when they looked at each other. “Oh,” Patricia said quietly.

There was an awkward silence until Nora spoke up again. “Why don’t you just try one more riding lesson, Patricia? If you’re not satisfied, I’m
sure—
” she said, piercing Jethro with a sharp brown-eyed gaze “—Jethro will give you a refund. Doesn’t that sound fair?”

Patricia glanced at Jethro again. She shrugged. “I suppose.”