Charlene Sands (16 page)

Often Tess marveled at how one man could have built a town to such rising success. Hoyt had been proud of his business accomplishments, but he’d also been brokenhearted that he’d lost his son’s love. Tess ached for both of them and their loss.

Clint was stubborn and prideful and there seemed to be no changing his mind. But she loved him with everything she had inside.

At times she feared her love for him, but after the wonderful night they’d spent together she felt more confident that Clint would come around. He looked at her with tenderness now, and the gleam in his eyes proved more joyful than guarded.

Maybe in time she could ease his pain and bitterness. And maybe he’d give up his plan to destroy the Double H. She held on to that hope as she sashayed down the street.

“Lady, lady,” a man called out from the narrow alleyway between the saloon and the dry-goods store. “Help me, help me. It’s my leg.”

The man was down, curled with pain, grabbing his right knee. She rushed to him and bent. “Oh, dear, what happened?”

In a swift move, he took her shoulders, bounded up, lifting her from her bent position. He jammed her body against the wall.

“Oh!” Startled, Tess lost her bearings for a moment.

“Mrs. Hayworth, is it?” He transformed from a man in agony to one with an ugly snarl on his face and sinister black eyes. “I think
not.
I know who you really are—the bitch who killed her own brother. You’re Theresa Metcalf, passing yourself off as a respectable widow.”

He grabbed her arm and pulled her farther into the alley. She glanced back for help, but they were encased in dark shadows now and well hidden.

“What do you want?” She’d raised her voice, hoping someone would hear.

He cupped her mouth with his hand. “Shut up and listen!” he hissed under his breath, casting glances down the alley. “Or you’ll be sorrier than you know.”

He yanked her arm and she cringed with pain. “I want cash. Ten thousand to start. And you’ll pay up. Unless you want everyone to know who you really are. You see, I’ve been biding my time here, checking things out. You passed yourself off as the innocent Miss Tess Morgan from Oklahoma,” he said, his voice mockingly sweet. “You nabbed a rich old man. But the deceiving widow Hayworth’s gonna make me a rich man now—or else I’ll tell the whole town you’re nothing but a lying, cheating, murdering whore. What’d they think of the sweet widow Hayworth if they knew that an outlaw’s blood runs in your veins? Theresa Metcalf picked up a weapon and shot her brother dead.”

Tess shook, her entire body trembling. She struggled, but he had a lock hold on both arms now. “Who—who…are you?” she managed to ask.

“I rode with your brother. I’ve seen you a time or two with—”

“Let…her…go.”

Both turned in the direction of the menacing voice.

Clint came out of the shadows, wielding his gun, his face red with fury.

The man looked at Tess. “Ten thousand,” he said before shoving her backward against Clint and rounding the corner of the alley, then disappearing.

Clint grabbed hold of her, keeping her from stumbling. His strength eased her fear and braced her from injury. But when he turned her around, he pinned her down with dark eyes, his expression masked and unreadable. “Is it true?”

Had Clint heard it all? It didn’t matter. She was tired of the secrecy. The lies had to end now. She would tell him everything. She closed her eyes and nodded.

“Go to Laura’s house. Stay there. I’ll be back.”

“What are you going—”

But Clint had already taken off, racing down the alley and turning the corner, chasing the blackmailer.

“Be careful,” she whispered, crisscrossing her arms to keep her shivers of panic down.

Rusty had ridden with dreadful, ruthless men. Tess prayed for Clint’s safety.

Please, God, keep him from harm.

Clint would know the entire truth about her now.

All she could do was go to Laura’s house as he’d asked.

And hope he’d return to her.

Tess stood at the Larson front porch on wobbly legs. The blackmailer had frightened her, but Clint’s unreadable expression just minutes ago had frightened her even more. She didn’t know what Clint was thinking, but he’d said he would come for her, so she clung to that notion. Drawing a steadying breath, she knocked on Laura’s door.

She heard soft footsteps, then Laura opened the door, holding little Abby. “Dear Lord,” she said after taking one look at her. “What’s wrong?”

Tears filled Tess’s eyes. She couldn’t utter any words.

“Come in,” Laura urged, “and tell me what happened.”

Tess followed her into the parlor.

“Just let me set Abby into her cradle, she was a bit fuss—”

“No, please, Laura. Let me hold her. I really need to hold her.” Tess put out her arms.

Laura stared at her. “Sure.” She gestured toward the sofa and Tess sat down. “Aunt Tess wants to hold you,” she said to her child softly before carefully handing Abby to her.

Tess took the baby in her arms as tears spilled down her cheeks.

“You’re scaring me, Tess.” Laura sat beside her, dabbing at her face with a handkerchief with gentle care. Then she pressed the cloth into Tess’s hand.

“I don’t mean to.” She dried her tears, refusing to give in to them again.

“I know the feeling. I’ve cried enough tears to fill a rain barrel these past few weeks.”

“Are you feeling better?” Tess asked, realizing that her friend had troubles of her own.

Laura spoke honestly. “A little. It’s a bit better now. Tom’s been a saint, but I’m not quite myself yet.”

“I’m so terribly sorry you had to go through this.”

Laura
never
told a lie. Laura was an honest, upright person. She hadn’t lied her way through her life. She hadn’t wielded a gun to shoot and kill her brother. Laura would never deceive the man she loved.

But Theresa Metcalf had done all those things.

And now Clint had gone after a horrible man. If anything happened to him, she’d never forgive herself. She couldn’t live knowing her lies could cost Clint his life.

“Oh, Laura,” she began, “I’m in love with Clint. Deeply in love.”

Laura’s face lit with hope. “I’m happy for you.”

“I wish I could be happy. It’s impossible. An outlaw who rode with Rusty recognized me in town today. He lured me into an alley and tried to blackmail me. Clint heard it all.”

“Oh, dear.” Laura put her arm around her shoulder. Tess welcomed the comforting touch. “Did he hurt you?”

She’d been shoved against the wall, her arms clamped by his viselike grip, and frightened to death. “Some. But I’m all right. Shaky.” She attempted a smile to console her concerned friend.

“I’m terribly worried,” she confessed, rocking little Abby and finding comfort in that. “Clint went after him. He had fury in his eyes. I think he was more furious with me than the outlaw. I’m afraid of what he might do.”

“Clint can take care of himself. He’ll come back for you.”

“I’m praying so.” She looked at the sleepy baby in her arms and calmed a little. “I’ve really made a mess of things,” she whispered.

“You did what you had to do,” Laura reminded her. “You were honest with Hoyt. And I know you’d planned on telling Clint the truth when the time was right.”

“I wanted to tell him for a long time now. But I couldn’t trust him…he’s still so bitter about his father. I didn’t think he’d have any forgiveness for me either.”

“Tell him that, honey. Tell him what’s in your heart.”

“I will,” she said, determined now. “If he gives me a chance.”

Half an hour later, with the baby sleeping comfortably in the cradle, Tess paced back and forth in the parlor as each passing moment Clint hadn’t returned brought her dread.

Memories rushed forth of her encounter with Rusty on the last day of his life. Fear, anger and trepidation all came back to haunt her now. Since coming to Hayworth, she hadn’t experienced that kind of pure, agonizing alarm. Dismayed, she had the same bad feeling about today.

Laura brought tea and biscuits with her special apricot preserves into the room. She set the tray down. “Sit. Have something to eat.”

Tess’s hand went to her stomach. Her jittery nerves wouldn’t allow her to touch a bite. “Laura, I don’t think I can—”

A brisk knock at the door stopped her in midsentence. She froze. Her heart pounded. She stared at Laura.

Her friend smiled. “Sounds like a strong knock. Clint has come for you.”

Laura walked to the door, turning to give Tess a nod of encouragement. She opened the door. “Clint, we’ve been worried about you. Come in.”

“No. I won’t come in. No disrespect intended. I only came for T-Theresa.”

Tess closed her eyes briefly. Clint was all right. She thanked God for that. But he’d asked for her by her given name—Theresa—in a curt, angry tone.

Tess walked to the door to look at him. He held his hat in his hand while speaking to Laura. Still wearing a bruise or two on his face from chasing down the palomino last night, but other than that he looked as handsome and healthy as ever.

Laura turned to give her a hug, whispering, “Tell him, Tess. Everything.”

Tess held her embrace for long seconds. “I’ll try.” She looked at her friend. “Thank you,” she said before turning to leave with the man wearing a stony, cold expression.

A man who refused to look at her at all.

C
lint clicked the reins to the buggy she’d left in the field by the cemetery, his horse tied to the back. “Smiley Brown is behind bars.”

Thank God.
Smiley,
the man who snarled like a snake and probably would sooner be poked in the eye than cast a genuine smile, had been apprehended.

“Thank you.”

“I didn’t do it for you.”

The quick, hurtful reply only confirmed his obvious anger.

“I’m going back to question him with the marshal after he’s had time to stew in that jail cell. He’s under suspicion for the crimes on the Double H.”

That notion hadn’t occurred to her. It gave Clint another reason to be irate. Tess’s lies had brought this man here. He’d admitted to being in town for a while, finding out what he could about her and the Double H. He could very well be behind the disruptions at the ranch.

Tess made several attempts to talk to Clint during the ride back to the ranch, but he cut her off abruptly, refusing her gratitude or her explanations. Knowing his quick temper, she thought it better to give him time to cool down. She held her tongue on the buggy ride home, though she wanted so desperately to explain everything to him now.

Once they arrived, Clint stopped the buggy by the barn and jumped down without casting her so much as a second glance.

Randy rushed up, giving Clint a curious look before helping Tess. “Afternoon, Mrs. Hayworth.”

“Hello, Randy.” She smiled briefly to the young ranch hand, though everything inside her quaked with sadness and regret. It had been a tumultuous day, filled with heart-wrenching emotions. Although she wished the circumstances were different, Tess was glad the truth was out. Clint was infuriated now, but she hoped to explain everything to him and make him understand why she’d done what she had.

Hoyt had understood. He’d accepted her explanations and helped her become a stronger woman.

But Clint wasn’t his father. He may never accept her explanation. Or trust her ever again.

“Can I do anything else for you, Mrs. Hayworth?” Randy asked, his young face filled with question.

“No, thank you,” she said softly and turned from him to walk inside the house.

Deflated and fatigued, Tess walked to the staircase and sat on the second step. She put her head in her hands and sobbed quietly. Her tears had flowed at Laura’s house, and it seemed now she couldn’t hold them back another moment longer.

As a child, crying had been like an addiction to her. Once she began, she had trouble stopping. She’d hide in the corner of her room, hugging her blanket to her chest, and sob until her face was all wet and every drop had been used up. She’d muffle the weeping, fearing her father might hear and come barging into her room.

She didn’t want to give in to the tears today. She knew they wouldn’t solve her problems, yet she couldn’t stop the moisture from pooling in her eyes and dropping down her hot cheeks like a rain shower.

Everything inside poured out of her until she had nothing left. She didn’t feel any better. The release had only exhausted her more.

She sniffled and wiped her face with the handkerchief Laura had given her.

The front door slammed. Startled, she snapped to attention.

Clint strode into the foyer and stopped when he spotted her. His face twisted with disgust. “You married my father under false pretenses. By rights, you have no claim to anything Hayworth. Not even the name. I want you off this property. You have until tomorrow.”

She rose instantly. “Your father knew the truth about me. I told him everything.”

“Can you prove it?”

“You don’t believe me?” she asked, indignant.

“Why would I believe anything you say? You’ve been lying to me since I met you.”

“Clint, let me explain.”

“No.” He shook his head. His gaze burned through her. “I’m not a sick old man like my father. I know who you are now. I won’t believe a word coming out of your mouth.”

He crossed the foyer to come face-to-face with her, his voice harsh, his expression cold, but there was injury in his eyes. “I wasn’t wrong about you when we first met. You’re a lying, whoring cheat, an outlaw just like the brother you shot to death.”

“Oh!” Appalled at his vicious attack, she stumbled back on the step. She grabbed hold of the banister for support.

“You played the grieving widow really well,
Theresa.
”

“You’re wrong about me! I cared about Hoyt. I care…about you!”

“You fooled my father without bedding him, but when I didn’t come around, you let me take you. Over and over. And, honey, you were good, so good that—”

“Enough!” Tess had to put a stop to this. She’d heard more than enough. Clint had stunned her with his brutal accusations, but she wasn’t a victim anymore. She wouldn’t allow his ranting to destroy her. “Don’t say another word. I’ll leave, but not because you want me gone. I’m leaving because I don’t think I can live here with you another second. You’re a bitter man, Clint Hayworth, and you think you’ve never made a mistake. But I’m telling you now you’ve just made the biggest one of your life.”

His eyes flickered for a moment. He drew air into his lungs. Then he whispered, “Just go, Tess. Unless you want the entire town to know who you really are.”

“You’d tell them?”

He nodded. “If I have to.”

She lifted her chin, turned her back on him and climbed the stairs with determined steps, refusing to show him any more vulnerability. She had a measure of pride left.

Yet deep inside she ached with overpowering regret.

Clint grabbed his gear, saddled up Midnight and rode the mare hard, steering her deep into Hayworth property. He’d ride until he had to make camp at one of the line shacks out on the range. He didn’t want to return to the house until the widow was gone. Tomorrow couldn’t come soon enough.

Finally he’d come to give Tess his trust. He’d come to think he’d been dead wrong about her. But she wasn’t the woman she’d claimed to be. He couldn’t abide her deceit and lies.

He’d fallen in love with her.

And she’d betrayed him.

He’d been a fool once again. He doubted the anger and pain he experienced would ebb anytime soon. There was nothing she could say or do to convince him of her innocence. She’d manipulated every situation. He’d been taken in by a willing female with big blue eyes and a body that made him ache just looking at her. She’d been clever, playing the innocent, bedding him and giving up her virginity to gain her end. She’d managed to dupe him into believing she was who she claimed to be.

Clint pressed Midnight to race faster. He bent low in the saddle, eager for the fading sun to set fully and the night to claim his body and mind when he slept.

After a time he reined in Midnight to a slow gait. Off in the distance he heard sounds. Not usual night sounds of owls or coyotes or whispering tree branches but something different. He dismounted and tethered his mare, then walked on foot toward the sound. With a hand on his gun, he came up behind a man taking an ax to the line shack, destroying what was left of it. He found most of the boards holding up the shack in a haphazard heap, looking much like a stack of fire logs ready to be lit.

Clint startled the man. “It was you all along.”

Sonny turned abruptly, ax in hand, with sweat pouring from his brows. He cursed and tossed the ax aside.

Clint cursed right back at him.

“It’s not what you think, Clint.”

“I doubt you can talk your way out of this one, Sonny. I had my suspicions, but you were really the last person I thought would bring harm to this ranch. Tell me the truth. Were you behind all of it?”

Sonny winced. Then nodded slowly.

Furious, Clint’s temper flared. He couldn’t get Tess off his mind. How she’d almost died at Sonny’s hands. He shouldn’t give a damn now, but he did.

Clint rushed him, grabbing his shirt collar and pulling him up until they were nose to nose. “You left Tess out on the range to die!”

“No, no. Not that. That was an accident. I was only fixing on breaking up a line shack and then I saw the wolf. I shot it. I didn’t see her horse rear up and throw her. I swear to you I didn’t.”

“Like hell. I don’t believe you.”

“No one was ever meant to get hurt. I wouldn’t have put that gal in danger for the world.”

“Why not? She in on it with you?”

Sonny gave a quick shake of the head. “No, it was all my doing. She had nothing to do with it.”

Clint released him and Sonny sagged back on wobbly legs. The man looked painfully weary and overwrought. At this point Clint didn’t know what to believe. “Was it revenge? My father didn’t name you in the will, is that it? You hated him, too?”

“I never hated your father. He was my best friend. We grew old together here in Hayworth.”

Clint grunted. “He didn’t leave you anything for your trouble.”

“He paid me handsomely through the years. Enough so that me and the missus plan on moving off Hayworth land once I carry out Hoyt’s last bidding. I gave him my word I’d stay on to see this through.”

“I’m losing my patience, Sonny. Unless you want a fist in your jaw, quit talking in riddles.”

“It was your father’s idea, Clint. He asked this of me and I…couldn’t refuse him.”

“I may hate my father, Sonny, but even I can’t believe he’d want you sabotaging the ranch. He loved this place too much.”

“He loved you more.”

Clint stared at him, his mind clicking, spinning ideas in his head.

Sonny sat on the pile of wood that used to be the line shack. “Sit down, Clint. And wipe that snarl off your face.”

Clint didn’t argue. He sat.

“Listen, your father and me quarreled about the wisdom of this, but Hoyt insisted. He made me promise. He said if you were to come back here, I was to make trouble on the ranch.” Sonny reached into his pocket and lifted out a piece of crumpled paper. “He gave me this list.”

Clint grabbed the list and began reading.

“Make equipment disappear, burn down the feed shed, cause a water leak in the tank, tear down fences, rustle cattle over to Granger Holloway’s place.” Clint stopped reading the list. All of the things that had happened on the Double H recently were listed, and there were a few more “crimes” to come. Still puzzled, he looked at Sonny for answers. “Did my father take a hard blow to his head?”

Sonny lifted his lips, the first sign of relief he’d seen on his face. “The day he died your father was alert and in control of his mind as he’d ever been. He spelled out everything I was to do, and in what order. He gave me detailed instructions. He wanted this all to start shortly after his death so it wouldn’t look too suspicious when you arrived.”

“He couldn’t know I’d come.”

“He didn’t for sure. But he’d hoped.”

Clint shook his head in disbelief.

“He did it for you. He knew you belonged on the Double H. He knew you loved this place. And he also knew you’d probably never see him alive again. He’d tried several times to reach you, Clint. You refused to see him.”

“I know all that. What I don’t get is why’d he put you up to this? That’s saying if I buy your story—which is still debatable.”

“It’s true, Clint. My loyalty has always been to this ranch. Your father knew doing this would be hard for me. But, you see, he’d been overly generous with me through the years, in ways I won’t describe to you now. But trust me when I say I owed him his dying wish.”

“To sabotage the ranch?”

Sonny nodded. “To keep you here.”

“To keep me here?”
Clint’s voice lifted in astonishment.

“He knew you’d never walk away while the Double H was in trouble. He wanted you to become invested in the ranch. He felt you belonged here. He wanted you to have the ranch, Clint. He owed that much to you.”

Clint’s anger boiled just below the surface. He spoke through clenched lips. “He destroyed my family…for this ranch. He hurt my mother, broke her heart and drove his only son away.”

“Everything he asked me to do here was for you. In his own way, Hoyt is telling you what you meant to him.”

Clint drew oxygen into his lungs several times, trying to make sense of this. “That cagey bastard.”

“Maybe he was, but he loved you. That’s why he only willed you half the ranch. He trusted Tess would never allow you to sell the ranch. He’d asked for her promise and she kept that vow.”

“He shouldn’t have trusted her with anything. She’s a liar and a cheat.”

The sun had fully set now and only a few stars lit the sky. The summer air had cooled considerably, but Clint still boiled.

Sonny scratched his head. “I know about her past, Clint. That’s one other thing Hoyt confided in me. He loved her. And he trusted her even though she’d come to the Double H under false pretenses. He understood her motives and accepted her.”

“So at least that part of her story is true.”

“There’s more.”

“Hell, I think I’ve heard enough.”