Circle Eight: Vaughn (19 page)

“I’m going to check on Winifred.” Nicholas disappeared up the stairs before anyone could object. Benjy stayed put, staring at Jeb and Will, who were only a few years older than he was.

“We need coffee. I’ll get to makin’ it. I think it’s gonna to be a long night.” For the first time since he’d met the ornery Tobias, the other man was making sense.

“Maybe the boys could go check to make sure all the animals are taken care of.” Vaughn thought perhaps it would be good to give them something to occupy them. Waiting was not something young men did well.

“Get to it then.” Tobias spoke and Will and Jeb jumped.

Jeb looked back at Benjy. “You’re Ellie’s brother, right?”

Benjy nodded.

“Then let’s go. She’s been ordering us around like she’s our sister too.” That apparently convinced the younger Graham and he followed the Gibsons out to the barn.

That left Vaughn alone with Tobias. It had been hours since he discovered Elizabeth’s sore mouth. He had a bone to pick with Gibson and now was as good a time as any. As Tobias stoked up the stove and put coffee on, Vaughn bided his time at the table, waiting.

“You could help, you know.”

“I could but I won’t.” Vaughn was pleased to see Gibson scowl. The other man had stepped into territory that didn’t belong to him.

“You’re a lazy, good for nothing swindler.”

“I beg your pardon. I am a hard-working swindler. I convinced you, didn’t I?”

“Lied to me right and left is more like it.”

“At least I didn’t try to steal your woman out from under your nose.”

Tobias paused, his anger deflating. His gaze skittered away to the corner of the room. Guilt.

“I didn’t try to steal her.”

“Are you saying you didn’t kiss her? And hurt her?” Vaughn’s anger reared its head again. Not that Elizabeth belonged to him, but she did.

“No, I ain’t saying that.” Tobias paused, his hands on his hips. “I did kiss her but I didn’t mean to.”

Vaughn snorted. “You can’t kiss someone and not mean to.”

“Pops gave her my mother’s locket because he liked her. I ain’t never known him to take to a woman. I know she’s special and she makes me think maybe someday a woman might want to be my bride.” Tobias shrugged. “I said I was sorry to her.”

The locket was news. He had no idea she had it. Then again, he also had no idea she’d carried Mrs. Dolan’s pistol all this way and hadn’t used it. Elizabeth was a conundrum, but damned if he didn’t love her. She kept him guessing, wondering what she would do next. He’d not met a woman who didn’t fit into any mold before. She forged her own trail, leaving a blazing path for him to follow.

“It’s not enough.”

“It was for her.”

“It’s not for me.”

“She don’t belong to you.”

“Yes, she does.”

“You are a goddamn son of a bitch.”

“Yes, I am. And I will be showing you just how much until you get her family’s ranch rebuilt.”

Tobias’s harsh expression cracked. “I shouldn’t’ve done that. I didn’t want to hurt the old woman inside. Jeb made sure she got out.”

“She died, you know.” Vaughn didn’t tell him the news to be mean. He needed to know.

“Shit.” Tobias sat down heavily and ran his hands down his face, the whiskers scraping against his palms. “I didn’t mean to kill nobody.”

“She was old, according to Nicholas. She survived the fire, but not being outside for so long. I think Elizabeth is still working on accepting it.” Vaughn almost felt sorry for Tobias, who looked miserable.

“Hell, I would hate me if I was her.” Tobias put his forehead against the table with a thump. “Her whole family is gonna hate me. I reckon they already do.”

“They’ll work on forgiving you when you help them rebuild.” Vaughn had no idea if it were true. He had nothing to work from. Of all of them, he had no family. Winnie was the closest thing and she wasn’t blood.

“Maybe, but I ain’t gonna blame them if they don’t. I’ll do what I need to, though. I owe them that.” Tobias looked at Vaughn with an ancient expression of grief. “I done what I done for Pops.”

At that moment, Vaughn understood what Gibson did. Finally. Seeing Winnie again reminded him that family might not be related. She was his sister, even if they weren’t blood. He would do anything for her. Of course he felt the same way about Elizabeth, at a deeper, more elemental level.

This was family.

“I understand.”

Tobias cocked his head with a frown. “You sound like you’re tellin’ the truth.”

Vaughn chuckled. “I am.”

“Maybe Ellie is good for you.”

“She is the best for me. I can’t imagine anyone else by my side.” Vaughn was giddy with something he guessed was joy. He had to tell Elizabeth how he felt before he lost his nerve.

“Then you best get steppin’.” Tobias went to the stove. “I’ll get the coffee poured.”

Vaughn rose and went in search of Elizabeth. He had a declaration of love and a proposal of marriage to deliver.

From the doorway, Elizabeth watched Nicholas with Winnie. He was speaking to her in soft tones, murmurs of encouragement, as he wiped her face with a cool cloth. She was still asleep, or rather unconscious, after losing so much blood. Her coloring was not good and she didn’t need to explain to Nick how dangerous the first day was after a wound like that.

He had developed an attachment to Winnie in only a few hours. Elizabeth had never seen the like. Nick had been something of a loner, a sarcastic pain in the behind who took great delight in bothering his sisters. Now this. It was a change in him she could hardly countenance.

“Do you need anything?”

He didn’t even glance at her. “No, thank you. I will sit with her tonight.”

“We can take shifts.”

“I can stay up with her.” He was as stubborn as the day was long.

“You look ready to fall asleep yourself. When was the last time you slept?” She stepped into the room and peered at him in the warm lamplight.

“A couple days ago. It doesn’t matter.” He appeared ready to drop.

“Yes, it does. If you get sick, then I have two people to nurse. And you know how much I despise nursing, almost as much as cooking.” She was pleased to see the corner of his mouth quirk up in amusement.

“And you sure do hate to cook.”

“I do like to eat, though.” She sat on the edge of the bed. “Why don’t we make a pallet for you on the floor. Then you can sleep within reach of Winnie and I’ll watch over both of you?”

He looked at her and shook his head. “I’m supposed to be the older brother, not the other way around.”

“Sometimes sisters know more than brothers.”

“And sometimes they’re just annoying.” He yawned long and hard enough to make his jaw pop.

“That’s it. I’m going in search of blankets for you.” Elizabeth left the room and found a chest in one of the guest rooms that had piles of blankets and quilts. She took enough to make a comfortable place to sleep and left the room, then ran smack into a big body in the hallway.

Both of them bounced off each other, due to the pile of linens, and landed on their behinds on the hard wood floor. Her teeth clacked together and she was lucky she hadn’t bit her tongue. A manly groan sounded from the other side of the blanket disaster.

“Jesus, Ellie, you know how to keep me on my toes.” Vaughn sat up and looked at her with a pained expression. “Ouch.”

She shook her head. “You shouldn’t sneak up on me like that.”

“I was coming to talk to you but didn’t want to make a great deal or noise and disturb Winnie.” His explanation was logical but that didn’t help her sore bones. “What are you doing with all these blankets?”

“Making a pallet for Nick. He’s about to fall asleep on his feet so I told him to sleep on the floor while I watch over Winnie.” She watched while Vaughn struggled to his knees and leaned over the pile to kiss her.

“I think I like this.” She didn’t wait for him to reply before she kissed him back.

He grinned. “I could get used to this.”

“What are you doing up here? I thought you boys were being nice downstairs.”

“Tobias and I found a peace. We’ll rub along together well enough from now on.” He didn’t elaborate and at the moment, Elizabeth didn’t need or want to know more. She was already overwhelmed by everything else.

“And you decided to come upstairs.” She started to gather the blankets. “You could help me.”

“I’d rather tell you I love you.”

The words echoed through her. Hands trembling, she met his gaze. The big grin on his face told her he wasn’t pretending this time. “You love me?”

“I think I’ve loved you since the moment I woke up in that bedroom on the Circle Eight and heard your voice, felt your touch. You were and are everything I’m not. You’re strong, capable, beautiful, and you amaze me every moment I’m with you. How could I not love you?” He took her hands in his. “I love you, Elizabeth Graham. Will you marry me?”

Elizabeth’s heart pounded against her ribs while her stomach did flip-flops. She looked at this man who held her heart. He’d taught her pleasure and passion, along with what life was like outside of a small ranch in Texas. She never expected to fall in love, especially with a man who had made his way in the world swindling people.

He wasn’t perfect and her family might not ever like him but none of that mattered. Inside, she saw the person he was and she loved the him on the inside. The man who had callused hands and a callused heart.

“Yes, I think I will.” She watched his smile broaden.

“Anything else?”

Elizabeth narrowed her gaze, enjoying the power over him. “What else is there?”

He grabbed her and pushed her into the pile of blankets until she was cushioned from the world and in his arms. “You are deliberately torturing me.”

“And if I am?” She put her arms around his neck. “What would you do?”

“I would kiss you until you admitted that you loved me.” He kissed her cheeks, then her eyelids, her forehead and chin. She closed her eyes, reveling in the sensations. It didn’t matter that they were on the floor of Winnie’s house or that anyone could discover them. Her sister Olivia would chastise her. Elizabeth didn’t care. For the first time in her life, she was free.

When he finally reached her lips, she melted into his embrace, tingling from head to foot. She opened her mouth to his, reveling in his questing tongue tangling with her. There was nothing and no place in the world she would rather be than right there, in Vaughn’s arms, kissing him, loving him.

“Well, what do you have to say for yourself?” He released her mouth and kissed his way up her jaw. “I’m still waiting for a response.”

“The what else?”

He chuckled against her skin, a warm puff of air, of life. “Yes, the what else.”

Elizabeth gathered up all her courage and opened her eyes. As she stared into his dark gaze, she saw all that she could be, all that she wanted, all that she loved.

“I love you, Vaughn Montgomery, or whatever your name is. Now and for always.”

He closed his eyes and pressed his forehead to hers. “Thank God.”

She laughed and kissed him hard. He wrapped his arms around her and held her so tight, she didn’t know where she ended and he began. Their hearts thumped in rhythm together, as one. She breathed in his scent, this man who would be hers for the rest of her life.

“What in the name of all that’s holy are you doing?” Nick’s voice boomed down the hallway. “Did you set up camp out here?”

Elizabeth laughed as Vaughn tried to extract them from the tangle of blankets and quilts. The more they tried, the more they lost their grip on everything. Nick growled above them and Elizabeth could hardly hold in the joy in her heart.

Everything would be all right. She had found love.

The law arrived two hours later. Everyone gathered in the parlor as Vaughn spoke to them in his reassured, confident way. Elizabeth thought she might puke on her brother’s shoes. Winnie was alive, but she could not survive if they put her in a jail cell.

“Please come in.” Vaughn led them into the room. There were two men, both wearing dark-colored jackets, a silver star pinned to them, sporting wide-brimmed dark hats. They looked to be two horsemen of the apocalypse.

“Evening, folks.” The one on the right spoke. “Pardon the intrusion so late in the day.”

Elizabeth glanced at the clock on the mantel, surprised to see it was already midnight. A new day for all of them. Her brothers sat on either side of her on the settee while Tobias and his brothers lurked in the corners.

“This is my wife, Elizabeth, and her brothers, Nicholas and Benjy. Over there are her cousins, Tobias, Jeb and Will.” Vaughn lied as smooth as grease to the law.

“I’m Layton. This here is Williams. We won’t take up too much of your time.” The one who did the talking gestured to his partner. “We’re here to investigate the death of one Boyd Jeremiah Troxler at Madison’s restaurant. Which of you were present?”

Vaughn spoke. “I was there with Elizabeth having dinner with Mr. Troxler. Her brothers arrived shortly before the shooting.”

Layton made a non-committal noise and continued to stare at the group. “From the other witnesses, a Miss Winifred Watson, who I now understand is Vanessa Troxler, daughter of the dead man, arrived with two men and a pistol.”

They were all silent so Elizabeth spoke up. “Winnie did not arrive with them. They happened to get to the restaurant at the same time. My brothers did not know Winnie until tonight.”

“Is that why you’re all here at her boarding house? Because you don’t know her?” Layton’s voice hardened.

“I’ve known her for ten years.” Vaughn lounged against the archway, as though this wasn’t a tense interrogation. “She is my friend. When my wife and I came to town, of course we stayed with her as did her family.”

A simple explanation but full of holes. Elizabeth hoped Layton didn’t peer through any of them.

“What are you all doing in Houston?”

“We married a short time ago and have not had the pleasure of telling everyone of our marriage. Ellie and I are spreading our happy news together with her brothers.” Vaughn smiled at her and she saw the love in his eyes. She couldn’t help but smile back.

“And the cousins?”

“They live within a few days’ ride. We haven’t seen each other in quite some time. I thought it would be nice to see them.” Elizabeth could tell a tale, much to her surprise. Perhaps the threat to people she cared about helped her find the strength to do so.

“You weren’t at the restaurant?” This Layton directed at Tobias.

“For a short time to let her know we were in town, then I left and came back here.” Tobias didn’t have a single inflection of any emotion in his voice.

Layton looked at each of them in return. Williams must have been there for muscle because he didn’t perform a single bit of investigating.

“That all matches with what the witnesses told me.” Layton peered at Elizabeth. She stared back with as much gumption as she could muster. A Graham had a heart and soul of steel. “What happened when the guns came out?”

“Winnie was angry and waved the pistol around. Troxler pulled a pepperbox pistol from his coat and shot her. Her trigger finger slipped as she fell.” That’s how it happened, or could have anyway.

“Her trigger finger slipped? She shot him through the heart.” Layton raised one brow.

“Lucky shot.” Elizabeth shrugged. “Point of fact, Mr. Layton, she did not shoot first. It was self-defense.”

Layton’s stare bored into her until she thought she might actually squirm on the pretty settee. “True enough. That’s what I concluded. I’ll need a formal statement from Miss Watson, or Miss Troxler, whatever she’s calling herself.”

“Miss Watson is recovering from being shot, losing blood and enduring surgery to repair the damage.” Elizabeth got to her feet. “She will be available in two days’ time. Until then, I would ask you to leave. I believe we are all in need of rest.”

An amused glint shone from Layton’s eyes. Two fingers touched the brim of his hat. “True enough, Mrs. Montgomery. You know if you weren’t already married—“

“But she is.” A bite had taken hold of Vaughn’s tone. “And nobody is taking her from me.”

Nicholas grumbled under his breath but fortunately the lawmen didn’t notice. Layton was too busy chuckling at Vaughn’s bantam rooster pose.

“We’ll take our leave then. Thank you for your cooperation, folks.” With one last look for Elizabeth that she didn’t quite understand, Layton and his partner left.

After the door closed, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Elizabeth looked at her hands, surprised to see them shaking. They had told a portion of the truth, perhaps not everything was entirely accurate, but it was enough that she refused to feel guilty. Winnie hadn’t shot first and that was the vital piece of that story.

Vaughn ran his hands through his hair. “That was unpleasant.”

Elizabeth shook her head. “They were only doing their job. I’ve had two Texas Rangers in my family. Believe me, they didn’t believe everything we said but they had the truth about the shooting.”

Vaughn made a face. “Two Texas Rangers?”

Nick laughed without humor. “Two, and they will kick some sorry ass if anyone messes with Elizabeth.”

“I don’t plan on messing with her. I plan on marrying her.”

Nick looked surprised. “Marrying her? Shouldn’t I have a say in this since Matt’s not here?”

“Absolutely not.” Elizabeth frowned at her brother. “I am a woman grown and can make my own decisions about my life.”

“I don’t think that’s right.”

“I’ve already made up my mind and nothing is going to change it.” Elizabeth got to her feet. “Now, I’m going upstairs and checking on Winnie.”

She walked out of the room with her back straight and shoulders back, but her stomach quivered with the power of the emotions churning inside her. There hadn’t been a moment to catch her breath or consider whether her decisions were the right ones. Her heart told her she’d done the right thing while her mind told her she should have considered all consequences first.