Come the Spring (27 page)

There was also another reason he didn't want Cooper to take Grace with him, but one Daniel would never admit. While he trusted Cooper to do his job, he didn't want to let Grace out of his sight. In his mind, no one could protect her as diligently as he could. There was also the fact that he was drawn to her, and it was his hope that by the time they reached the stopping point in Red Arrow, he would have gotten over his bizarre and unexplainable infatuation.

Daniel stayed in Rockford Falls that night and slept in a chair outside of Grace's door. He went downstairs early the next morning, but didn't plan to leave the town until late that afternoon when the coach arrived.

Grace had other ideas. Daniel had just returned from the bathhouse, where he'd washed and changed into clean clothes, and was standing on the veranda
talking to Dr. Lawrence when Grace came down the stairs. Dressed in a pale pink skirt and matching blouse, she carried her white gloves and hat in her hands, and went directly to the manager's desk to inform him that she was leaving. Sloan trailed behind her, carrying her valise.

Daniel didn't like the crowd in the lobby. Folks were checking out of the hotel, and it was chaotic. He quickly went to Grace's side and ordered her back upstairs.

“You can rest until this afternoon when the coach arrives.”

“I don't wish to rest any longer. I feel fine,” she insisted. “Have you changed your mind about taking me to Texas?”

“No.”

“I didn't think so, but I was compelled to ask. We need to talk, Daniel.”

“Upstairs.”

“No, not upstairs. Now, right this minute, then I expect you'll take me off to jail.”

“I'm taking you to Texas,” he whispered as he half dragged her into a corner.

“Sheriff Sloan just told me they're holding a man in Blackwater and they think he's one of the gang. Is that true?”

“Yes.”

“Then why didn't you tell me?” she demanded. “I never would have…”

“You never would have what?”

“I lied to you,” she cried out. “I'm not your witness. I only said that I was to protect Rebecca and Jessica. It was wrong and I'm sorry. Please don't be angry with me. Will I have to stay in jail long?”

“You aren't going to jail,” he muttered.

“But I lied to an officer of the law.”

“The three of you have done nothing but lie,” he said. “I honestly don't know who to believe.”

“I'm telling you the truth now. I wasn't there.”

“At this point I don't care if you were there or not. The judge has ordered all three of you to Blackwater, and that's where we're going as soon as the coach arrives.”

“Why are the others going?”

“I just explained that Judge Rafferty wants all of you there.”

“Will he put me in jail for lying?”

The thought of her behind bars was so outrageous, he lost some of his anger.

“You've got bigger things to worry about than jail. Come on. You're going back upstairs to wait in your room until the coach gets here.”

She shook her head. “If I must go…”

“You must.”

“I don't want to wait for a coach. Can't we go by horseback? The sheriff told me it would be quicker because we could take some cut throughs.”

He smiled. “Shortcuts,” he corrected.

A stout, elderly woman was pushing her way through the crowd toward Grace. Daniel noticed her out of the corner of his eye and moved to put himself in front of Grace.

“I beg your pardon,” the woman said. “Please get out of my way. I wish to speak to Lady Winthrop.”

Grace gave Daniel a little nudge and stepped forward. “Good morning,” she said.

The woman made an attempt at a curtsy. “It's an honor to meet you,” she said. “My name is Winifred Larson,” she added with a blush. “And I couldn't help but notice your lovely hat. Could you tell me where you purchased it? I would like to get one just like it. Would you mind if I looked at it more closely?”

Grace smiled and handed the hat to Winifred. The straw brim was covered in lace and flowers, and there were two purple plumes feathering up and out on one side.

“It's exquisite,” Winifred declared. “I must have one just like it. I have a purple dress, you see, and it would be lovely with it.”

A tall, thin man with a receding hairline came over to join them. She quickly introduced him. “This is my husband, Lionel,” she said. In a loud whisper she told her husband to bow to Lady Winthrop.

“That isn't necessary,” Grace said.

“Do you mind telling me where you purchased this divine creation?” Winifred asked again.

Grace explained. “I purchased the basic straw hat, but I decorated it.”

“Then there's not another one in all the world like it?”

“I know where this is headed,” her husband interjected with a chuckle.

Grace didn't understand. “Excuse me?”

“When Winifred gets a notion she wants something…”

“May I buy it from you?” Winifred blurted out. “To own a Lady Winthrop creation would be so thrilling for me. I simply must have it. How much will you take for it? Will five dollars do?”

Grace was incredulous. She glanced at Daniel to see how he was reacting and smiled because he looked genuinely puzzled.

“Actually, Mrs. Larson, I hadn't considered selling…”

“If it's an original, Mother,” Lionel whispered loudly, “you've got to offer more.”

“Yes, yes, you're right. Ten dollars then. Will that do?”

Daniel decided it was time for him to interfere. Grace's face was turning pink, and he figured she was embarrassed.

“I don't think the lady wants—”

“Sold,” Grace blurted out. “For ten dollars.” Lionel quickly paid her. She tucked the money into
her pocket, told Winifred she hoped she enjoyed the hat, and then bid them good-bye.

“Shouldn't we go to the stables now?” she asked Daniel.

From the glint in her eyes, Daniel knew she was determined to get her way. “You're in no condition to ride a horse. You should sit inside a coach and try to rest.”

“I don't need to rest.”

He still felt compelled to argue with her for several more minutes before giving in. In the back of his mind, he kept thinking that if they took the shortcuts and didn't follow the winding roads, they could possibly reach the train station in time to board the late afternoon train. If they didn't make it in time, the next train wouldn't come through until the following morning.

He stood there, hesitating, as he studied her. Her hair was down around the sides of her face, and he gently lifted a silky strand away to look at the bruise near her temple. It didn't look as bad as it had last night.

His fingers trailed down the side of her face. “Are you sure, Grace?”

She gently removed his hand. “I'm sure.”

He was staring intently at her, and she thought he might be looking for a sign of weakness from her. She straightened her shoulders, smiled, and suggested once again that they get going.

“Is there time for me to stop by the wagon? I must get another hat,” she explained. “A lady should never appear in public without her head covered. It just isn't done.”

“Then why did you sell the one you had?”

“Daniel, it was ten whole dollars.”

He grinned. “It took you by surprise, didn't it?”

“Not really,” she admitted. “It's the third hat I've sold since I arrived, and I didn't even try,” she added.
“The poor ladies here don't have the shops we have in London. They must order through the catalog, but quite often what they think they're buying and what they get are two different things. It can be very disappointing.”

“I'm sure it can be,” he said dryly.

She laughed. “Hats are important to ladies, but not to men. Isn't that right?”

“Come on then,” he said. “The wagon was moved to the stable. You can get another hat out of your boxes there.”

He took hold of her arm and tried to go out the front door. She pulled away.

“It would be rude to leave without saying good-bye to Jessica and Rebecca.”

“They've already left. Jessica went with Cole yesterday to take Caleb to a friend's house, and Rebecca left with Marshal Cooper. You'll see them again in Red Arrow,” he explained as he picked up her valise, grabbed hold of her arm, and headed out the doorway again.

“Are we going to run to the stables?”

He immediately slowed down. Once they were outside, his full attention was directed on the street.

“Do you think we'll be able to catch up with Jessica or Rebecca?”

“No.”

“It would have been nice to sit with them on the train.”

“Even if we took the same train, I wouldn't let you sit with them.”

“Why not?”

“I'll explain later,” he hedged.

She pulled her arm away from him. “Daniel, it's rude to look away when you're speaking to someone.”

He smiled over the censure in her voice. She sounded like a teacher explaining simple manners to a little boy. “Grace, I'm trying to make sure no one
takes a shot at you, but if you would rather I looked at you…”

“No, no, I would rather you watch the street. Do you think there's someone waiting to shoot me?”

“Besides me?”

“That isn't funny.”

They arrived at the stable a moment later. The wagon was in the back, and Grace went through the crates until she had found three more hats to take with her. She stuffed two inside her valise and kept the third one with her. Daniel made her stand away from the door while he went to ready his horse.

The owner, a short, squat man with a thick neck and a round belly, came forward to introduce himself. He had a sincere smile and smelled of horses. “My name's Harry, and I'd shake your hand, Miss, but it's real dirty. Can I be of assistance?”

She smiled at the eager young man. “Yes, you may be of assistance,” she replied.

“The lady needs a sound horse,” Daniel called out. He was saddling his own horse, a beautiful gray stallion with a surprisingly calm disposition, but he was also keeping a watchful eye on Grace.

She looked completely out of place. “Pink fluff,” he whispered. The woman belonged in a fancy parlor, dressed the way she was in that ridiculously feminine hat and those impractical leather slippers. Harry sure did like her though. The man had a rapturous look on his face and kept trying to edge closer to her. Probably because she smelled so good, Daniel thought, but he didn't care what Harry's reason was. He wanted him to back away.

“How about getting the lady a horse, Harry?” Daniel called out, his tone just as sharp as he intended.

“Your husband sounds a might possessive,” Harry whispered before turning to Daniel. “I'll fix your woman up with the best I got.”

A few minutes later, Harry came strutting forward leading a swaybacked gelding that Grace suspected had lost all of his teeth. The poor thing was obviously on his last legs.

She took one look at the sorry beast and politely declined. “No, thank you.”

Harry rubbed his jowls while he considered which of the other horses to show her. “I only just inherited this stable from my brother, and I'm not familiar with his stock,” he said. “But I recall one pretty little mare. You're gonna like her just fine,” he promised as he turned and hurried away. “I guess you could say I was saving the best for last.”

Grace politely but firmly declined the pretty little mare too.

“What's the matter with this one?” Harry wanted to know.

“She simply won't do,” Grace replied. “She should be put out to pasture. With such spindly legs she wouldn't have enough stamina for a trip down the street. May I have a look at the other horses?”

Harry got his back up “No, you may not. You stay right here, and I'll fetch the best I got and bring him out to you.”

Grace didn't think it was a good idea to remind Harry that he had already brought out the “best” of the lot. She patiently waited, and when he showed her yet another swaybacked horse, she shook her head.

Harry threw his hands up in defeat. “Go ahead and look, ma'am. I'll let you have whatever you think you want.”

It only took her a couple of minutes to find a sound horse. She was a fiesty mare Harry had hidden in one of the rear stalls.

Harry immediately tried to talk her out of her choice. “I'll grant you, she's sound, but she's mean,” he explained. “You don't want the lady riding her,” he told Daniel.

“Grace?”

“Yes, Daniel?”

“Can you handle her?”

“Yes, I can.”

“Well, now, she will get you where you want to go,” Harry agreed. “But…”

Grace reached up with her gloved hand and patted the animal. “Oh, she's lovely. She'll do just fine. What's her name?”

“Damnation.”

Grace's eyes widened. “Harry, if you don't wish to sell her to me, simply say so. Cursing isn't necessary.”

“I wasn't cursing. That's her name,” he insisted. “The owner that sold her to me told me her name after the bargain was struck. I'm telling you plain and simple. Her name's Damnation.”

“That won't do,” Grace announced. “I'll call her Daisy.”

Harry rolled his eyes. “I don't think you understand, ma'am. You can call her anything you want, but she'll only answer to Damnation. Do you still want to take her?”

“Yes, please. Daniel, isn't she lovely?”

Daniel was trying not to laugh. When Harry had told them the name of the horse, Grace's cheeks had turned as pink as her blouse. She thought Damnation was lovely, and he agreed just to get going.

After accepting the money from Daniel for the horse and saddle, Harry began to have second thoughts.

“Are you certain your wife can handle such a mean-spirited animal?”