Comanche Haven (The Loflin Legacy: Book 1) (40 page)

Her husband – she’d brought him nothing
but pain and suffering for his efforts. He’d given his solemn vow
to protect her and was paying a very high price for it now. Would
he want her so badly after this?

Darkness descended over the land.
Restless and uneasy, Celia paced the confines of the room. There’d
been no word from Jake and the men from Shooter Creek. As far as
she knew, Brannon and his men were still at large. Their
disappearance hung like an ugly fog over the safety of everyone
involved. She had to stay put and take care of Seth, but her mind
raced with the danger that lurked in the shadows. The Texas Rangers
had the authority to apprehend the Comanche any way they could. She
knew without a doubt that Broken Horse and Red Bear were in danger.
While both of them were out there somewhere, neither of them knew
the trouble they faced. She might be in danger as well, but if she
could just get word to them. Trying not to lose hope, not to
succumb to the despair that was worming its way into her conscious,
she stared hard out the window. With her arms wrapped around her
chest, her mind drifted to a time long past and she saw Seth’s
reflection looking back at her. He was younger but the blue eyes
and the devil-may-care grin were still the same.

“
Celia, don’t worry, I’ll be
back.” His steely blue eyes bore into hers out of his youth filled
face. “Remember the hill overlooking the Creek where we’ve spent so
much time?” His grin was fresh and addicting. “When I get home,
we’ll find a spot up there to build a house.”

She nodded with a trembling smile.
Their time together that fateful summer was almost over.

“
Don’t forget, you promised
me lots of kids.” His wicked grin flashed. “I want lots of them. I
can see them now, running around, causing all kinds of mischief
while you and I sit contently on our porch and watch.” He leaned
over and drew her chin up so he could kiss her. “Wait for me – I’ll
be back. I promise, Little One…” Then, he was gone.

She reached out and touched the
window’s cool surface gently. Blinking back tears, she looked into
the glass pane and once more found only her face reflected in the
lamplight. It was only a dream. Glancing over at the still form
lying in the bed, her mind relived those terrible minutes
immediately following the gunshots…

Tears rolled down her cheeks unheeded.
With fresh pain riding high in her throat, she swallowed hard and
gripped the velvet drape at the window. She loved him
still.

“
Celia?” Ty stepped quietly
into the room. His voice held gentle concern for his sister-in-law.
“Celia, are you okay? I came to check…”

Without a word, she turned from the
window and went into his arms. The need for comfort overpowered
her. Sobs racked her weary body. “Ty, it’s my fault. It’s my
fault.” Gulping air between words, she burrowed into Ty’s chest. “I
should have left and none of this would’ve happened.”

“
Now don’t go blaming
yourself. None of us knew this was going to happen.” Ty laid his
chin on top of her bent head. “Don’t worry, everything’s gonna be
just fine. Seth’s as stubborn as a jack-ass and he’s going to pull
through. You’ll see.”

Celia blinked at the tears. Knuckling
back the dampness on her cheeks, she sniffed loudly and accepted
the handkerchief Ty offered. With a weak smile, she dapped at her
eyes. Ty’s handsome face was there and she reached up smoothing the
strands that had fallen. His jet-black hair pulled back in a
leather thong, his usual mood of wearing it when he worked, framed
his features to a tee. She had only seen it loose around his broad
shoulders one time, during the burial of her father. “You are going
to make some lucky woman a fine catch one day, Mr.
Loflin.”

Ty took the opportunity to smile
wickedly as he mimicked a southern gentlemen’s voice. “Well now,
ma’am, that’s a right nice proposal, but I’ll have to take some
time to think on it.” His low southern drawl brought a bigger smile
to her face.

Laughing gently, she placed her hand
against his chest and shoved playfully, “You’re the devil himself.”
She stepped back and braced her hands on her hips. “Tyron Charles
Loflin, you know perfectly well, I wasn’t referring to
me.”

Her acknowledgement of his teasing
brought a smile to his face. “Well a fella can dream, can’t he?” Ty
cocked his head and reached out to cup her chin in his big fingers.
“My brother is one lucky fella,” he assured her with
sincerity.

Celia’s mouth relaxed into a smile
despite herself.

“
I glad to get a smile out
of you.” His eyes were full of comfort. “That’s better. You’ve done
all you can and it’s going to be enough, you’ll see.” Nodding his
head in the direction of the bed, he continued matter-of-factly.
“You better get some rest, girl. When the bear wakes up, he’s gonna
be mean. You’ll need all your strength to deal with his ornery
ass.”

She followed Ty gaze over to where his
brother’s body lay very pale and fevered. “Since you’re back, I
guess the men had no luck.” Her eyes tracked back to Ty as she
asked, “How are you doing? That’s quite a knot you have
there.”

Brushing aside her concern, Ty made
light of the bruising along his temple. “Oh, I’ll live. We brought
in a couple of Brannon’s men for questioning. It’ll take more than
dealing with a crazed Texas Ranger to do me in.” Ty gave her a
quick wink. “Besides, his cohorts didn’t realize how hard my old
skull really is. I’ve been thrown by my own broncs and hurt worse.”
With another grin, Ty tapped his finger to her chin. “Now…I want
you to get some rest, and let me take over for a while.”

She nodded. Stepping to the bed, she
reached out and brushed the damp hair from Seth’s forehead. She
sighed. “Ty I just wish there was something else I could
do.”

“
You’ve done all you can for
now. Celia…” He reached out turning her to face him once more.
“Cole has those two locked up until we find out exactly who they
are.” His insistent look brooked no question. “In the meantime,
you’ve got to get some rest. I promise I’ll come and get you if
there’s any sort of change. Okay?”

***

Slipping in as quiet as a mouse, Maggie
closed the door to the room next to Casey’s. She carried a tray of
tea and English biscuits. Settling them on the table in the sitting
room, Maggie proceeded to fill two cups with tea.

The tinkle of china and slosh of tea
roused Celia from the light sleep she’d fallen into. “Have we heard
anything from the sheriff?”

“
No, there’s been no word.”
Maggie glanced at the bed. “Did you get some rest?”

“
Yes.” Celia sat up and
stretched out a kink in her back. Rising, she went to the balcony.
With a slight frown, she watched the street below. It was growing
light with the first rays of sunshine peaking over the horizon. “I
wonder what will happen to Brannon if they find him.” She turned
back to Maggie.

“
Well, I would say that
depends on whether or not he’s actually Brannon, now wouldn’t it?”
With a small lump of sugar in her tea, Maggie stirred and watched
Celia. Maggie patted the settee. “Come and sit with me, dear.”
Offering Celia a cup, Maggie eyed her. “You’ve been at this vigil
for some time now. Don’t you think it’s time you took a break?
Perhaps get out for some fresh air – visit Rose at the
Mercantile.”

Celia shook her head. “No, I can’t. He
needs me here. I need to keep talking to him. The doctors back east
were convinced that coma patients could still hear and the
communication helped bring them back quicker.” Celia set down the
tea she hadn’t touched before walking back to the window where a
soft morning breeze had kicked up. “Oh, Maggie,” she waved her
hand, “All this is my fault. You know this would never have
happened if I’d left after my father’s death.” Her features tensed.
Her hand fisted at her mouth as her fingers trembled. She wouldn’t
cry she told herself. Instead, she turned from Maggie staring out
at the street blindly.

“
There now, dear.” Maggie
shook her head gently. “Who could’ve known this mad man would be
lurking about and cast an eye your way.” Rising, she came to
Celia’s side and wrapped her arms around her. “I won’t hear any
more such nonsense from you, do you hear me?” Giving her a hug,
Maggie released her. “Here, come and sit. Have some
tea.”

Seated with tea in hand, the incident
filled day played back in her head. Brannon was crazy. He’d come
storming out into the street like hell’s on fury. She could still
see his eyes. Still see the cold hatred in them. Fear, rip and hot
had constricted her air as she watched helplessly. Seth had faced
unspeakable danger because of her. Pangs of guilt wormed their way
into her already shaky confidence.

“
Maggie, when Seth wakes up
and everything is all right with him, will you…,” Celia dropped her
eyes to her hands and then fisted them once, releasing the tension
in her as best she could. “Will you help me leave?” The sadness she
saw in Maggie’s face was something she couldn’t help, she
mused.

“
Child, what are you
saying?”

“
I’m saying I need to leave
here, to take this trouble and leave. Maybe if I do, then he can go
back to his life without constantly looking over his shoulder.”
Celia dropped her head. “I can return to Charleston and see about
getting my old job back.” Taking the older woman’s hands in her
own, Celia tried to convince her.

Maggie didn’t say anything for a
minute. “What about your marriage?” Reaching out, she traced
fingertips along Celia’s cheek. “What about what Seth
wants?”

“
Maggie, be reasonable. He
doesn’t need this.” She turned toward the bed. Her words came out
in a whisper. “He’d be better off without me.” Looking again into
Maggie’s compassionate face, she straightened once more. “Besides,
the marriage was nothing more than a ploy to keep me safe.”
Realization at what she’d said came too late. Her eyes widened
before she dropped them to her lap.

“
I don’t believe that for
one minute. Seth has feelings for you, feelings that confuse him,
feelings that maybe he doesn’t understand, but they’re there all
the same.” Maggie smiled confidently for Celia.

With a pat of the hand, Maggie reminded
Celia so much of her own father and how he’d always known the right
of things.

“
I diapered his bottom when
he was a baby. I wiped his nose and dried his tears when he was a
toddler. I watched him grow into a brave and good-hearted man,
despite his father’s tirades. Deep down under all the cocksureness
and pride, he’s a good man. Celia, give him time. I don’t think
you’ll be disappointed.”

She considered Maggie’s words, smiling
inwardly as she thought of how Maggie’s opinion was most probably
biased. She couldn’t blame her for that. She simply said no more
about it. When the time came, she would be the one to have to make
a decision.

Maggie took her hand and drew her out
of her head again. “It’s not good for a body to go without so much
rest. I’ll take over from here and I want you to go back and lay
down for a spell. Do you kin?”

Celia stood up and stretched her back
as she smiled for Maggie’s benefit. “I kin. You’re a dogged woman,
Maggie McVey. I’ll do as you wish. Does Casey need
anything?”

Maggie’s grin was broad. “No, Charles
Harrison is with her. I believe she has everything she
needs.”

It took a moment for her mind to follow
the implication of Maggie’s words. “Charles?”

Maggie nodded, “Yes, Charles Harrison.”
Taking a sip of tea, she cut Celia a sidelong glance. “You see, not
everything is as proper would have it.”

The mischievous grin Maggie sent her
had Celia shaking her head. No, everything wasn’t as proper would
have it. “Has Ty said anything about what the men from Shooter
Creek found?”

“
Ty spoke with Jake. He said
the posse still hasn’t found a trail yet.”

Celia sighed. “I wished this was
over.”

“
Charles told me that your
court order came through. You won’t be forced to go after your
cousin. It will bar Brannon, or whoever he is, from coming around
you as well.”

“
I understand why the Texas
Rangers would want my cousin, but if Brannon is an impostor, why
would someone who really isn’t a Ranger want him so
badly?”

Wondering aloud, Maggie glanced at
Celia with pursed lips. “Maybe it isn’t your cousin they’re after.
Perhaps it’s you, love.” Her brow arched. “Didn’t Seth say there
were rumors that the man we know as Brannon had been selling women
to the Mexicans?”

“
It was rumored, yes.” Celia
paused. “Perhaps it is me he’s been after all along.”

After Maggie left, the possibility that
Brannon wasn’t a Texas Ranger but an outlaw who saw slave trading
as his ticket to greater wealth worked its way into Celia’s head.
If so, wouldn’t it be feasible to lay a trap and possible catch the
bastard in the act?

Lying across the bed, Celia closed her
eyes. She could see the plan in her mind. Details would need
working out. Could she enlist the help of any of those around her?
That point stumped her already exhausted brain and soon she floated
away on a soft, cloud void of all conscious effort.