Joline's Redemption (5 page)

“Why are you shaking?” Sarah asked.

Jo shrugged. “Just thinking about the mistakes I've made in the past and dreading the thought of having to ask my sister for help.”

“You do not think she will help us?”

“I do—I know she will. She's a kindhearted woman, but I dread my family knowing how low my life has fallen.”

Sarah was silent for a long moment. “You were married. Yes?”

Jo nodded, although she knew now that her marriage wasn't real. The man Mark had stand in as a minister was not truly a man of the cloth. So in truth, she'd never been married.

“You could tell people you are widow.”

Jo considered the girl's suggestion. It might pacify Lara for a time, but she would want to know more. Her sister already knew that Mark had closed his store and might have even heard how he put her out. But she'd left quietly, so it was possible that wasn't common knowledge. Jamie would certainly face less scorn if people didn't know. “I like that idea. I won't mention the bordello if you don't.”

“I will not.”

Jo doubted that Sarah would speak of that awful place, but she felt the warning was warranted, even though the girl rarely talked. In fact, she'd talked more in the past few hours than she had as long as Jo had known her. Badger didn't like for his ladies to socialize with Sarah, and he kept her away from them as much as possible. She always thought that odd. He'd never done that before, even when a new girl arrived. Sooner or later, Sarah would have become an upstairs lady, so why keep her separate from them? She shook her head. It never made any sense.

“How far to sister's house?”

Jo shrugged. “I'm not sure. We won't make it today. I'm afraid we'll have to go to Guthrie first, because I won't be able to find Lara's place unless I go there from town. And I don't want to take the chance of asking too many people for directions, because if Badger gets this far and happens to talk to them, he'll know we came this way.”

“We must find place to camp soon.”

“I suppose so.” Jamie wriggled in his bindings and fussed. When awake, he didn't like being constrained for so long, but she was afraid to ride with him free. What if he fell off the horse?

Her stomach grumbled. She didn't look forward to the long night with nothing to eat except for two dried biscuits.

A short while later, they forded a shallow creek. Jo held tightly to the saddle horn and gripped with her knees as the horse lurched up the incline on the far side. As soon as they reached level land, she relaxed, but Sarah slid off.

“I find place to camp.”

Jo followed as the girl headed to the right and away from the trail they'd been traveling on. Although they'd be safer not camping near the trail, she was more than ready to get off this horse for a long while. Too bad that they couldn't have used the buggy, but she supposed it was bad enough that she'd stolen the horse. In her rush to get away, she hadn't considered that horse stealing was still a hanging offense in some places. Jo swallowed the lump in her throat and rubbed her neck. She had no idea what the law was like in Guthrie or Oklahoma City. If she was caught, would she be sent to Arkansas for trial since Oklahoma was still a territory? She sure would hate to end up in Judge Parker's court. He'd sentenced a woman or two to hang.

A branch smacked her cheek, pulling her from her thoughts. She'd better pay attention or she could cause herself or Jamie to get hurt. She caught up with Sarah, who was clearing a small open area surrounded by trees. The girl tossed a big limb to the side and added some smaller limbs. She dusted off her hands, walked over to the horse, and helped Jo dismount. Jamie squealed, as if he knew he'd soon be free. Sarah unfastened the papoose contraption that held him to Jo's chest, pulled Jamie's quilt loose, and spread it on the ground. Jo held on to him as he was freed of his tight bindings, enjoying his big smile. She placed him on the quilt then glanced at Sarah. “Could you watch him while I …” She waved her hand toward the trees.

Sarah nodded, and Jo set off to find a private spot. One thing she hoped Lara had was indoor plumbing, although it probably wasn't likely with them living on a ranch. Jo quickly finished her business and turned to head back. A man's sudden yell made her freeze and hunker down.

B
aron dumped the last of the dried-up produce in a pile out back of the store, ready to be burned. He'd wait for a less windy day before tackling the big stack of refuse he'd cleaned out. Taking a moment from his labors, he turned to face the setting sun. If he stood in just the right spot, he could look down the streets and between buildings and see it. Pinkish-orange clouds dotted the horizon, creating an enchanting scene. Watching sunsets was something he rarely got to do back in St. Louis because the tall buildings usually blocked them.

“Hillborne, is that you?”

Baron turned to face the man who stalked toward him. The anger in the stranger's voice surprised him. He had only arrived a few days ago so he hadn't had time to make enemies—not that he was in the habit of doing so—but this man certainly sounded as if he considered him one. He eyed the tall cowboy with dark hair and piercing black eyes and nodded. “My name is Hillborne. Have we met before?”

The man studied him for a moment then seemed to wilt. “You're not Mark.”

Baron shifted, a bit amazed at how quickly the starch had gone out of the man's voice. “I'm his older brother, Baron.”

The man walked down the back stairs of the store and toward Baron, his expression now friendly. “My apologies. I have some unfinished business with your brother. I'm Gabriel Coulter, but most folks just call me Gabe.”

Baron shook the hand he offered.

Gabe studied him again. “You and your brother look a lot alike. From a distance, I was sure you were Mark.”

Baron grinned. “This isn't the first time I've been glad I'm not him.”

Gabe's eyes twinkled. “You've got the same sandy hair and blue eyes, but I'd say you're a bit taller and broader.”

“I'm often reminded of the fact that my brother and I resemble one another, especially from people who are upset at Mark for one reason or another.”

Frowning, Gabe looked back at the store. “He does have a way of charming you and then stabbing you when you're not looking.”

The man's words were harsh but nothing he hadn't encountered before. “Mark is a rascal for sure, and I don't mean that in a good way. Might I ask what he did to you?”

Gabe ran his hand over his chin stubble. “It's rather personal, and I hope you'll understand if I don't explain it all, since we've just met.”

Baron held up one hand. “No problem at all. I know my brother better than anybody, since I'm the one who seems to get tasked with cleaning up his messes.”

A smile tugged at Gabe's mouth. “Having met the man, I can imagine there are quite a few. Can you tell me where he is now?”

Baron shook his head. “He came home to St. Louis for a short while to see the family, but then he was off on another escapade after a few weeks. I believe he's in Texas, but I have no idea what town he's in.”

Gabe blew out a loud breath and rubbed the back of his neck. “He didn't happen to have a woman with him last time you saw him, did he?”

Baron couldn't help that his brows lifted. “Um … no, he didn't.” The last thing Mark would ever bring back to St. Louis was a woman. Abigail would have his head, not to mention a nasty divorce, which would scandalize the family. She had gone on a rampage when she found out Mark was leaving town again. Abigail was beautiful, but she wasn't an easy woman to live with. He certainly knew that since she spent most of her time at the Hillborne estate.

“I suppose it was too good to hope that he might have her with him.”

“Is she someone related to you?”

Gabe nodded. “My wife's sister.” He waved his hand toward the mercantile. “She worked in the store with him. Jo was only sixteen when she met Mark.”

Baron sucked in a quick breath and closed his eyes. No wonder the man was angry.

“To be honest, she looked and acted older—at least, most of the time. Mark wouldn't have known Jo was so young unless she just plain told him. She was a charmer in her own rights.”

And Mark loved a challenge, especially in a pretty woman, which Baron was sure this Jo was, in spite of her masculine-sounding name. “I wish I knew something that could help you, but my brother never mentioned her.”

Gabe studied the ground. “I don't know what I'm going to tell my wife. Where is Jo now if not with Mark? It was bad enough learning they'd left town suddenly and didn't say good-bye, but I expected Mark to be responsible and keep her with him, since they were married.”

Baron's head jerked up. “Married?”

Gabe nodded.

Baron shifted from side to side. He had to tell this man the truth—and Mr. Coulter wouldn't like it.

“What's wrong?” Gabe narrowed his eyes.

“I don't know how to tell you, except straight on. Mark lied to your sister-in-law.”

Gabe's tense posture relaxed. “I have no doubts about that.”

“No, you don't understand. Mark couldn't have married Jo, because he was already married—has been for five years.”

Gabe's eyes widened; then he scowled. “I thought of Mark as a friend, even though I had some reservations about his relationship with Jo, but I never expected he'd do something like that. Has the man no conscience?” He rubbed the back of his neck with one hand. “Wow. I can't tell my wife this news—at least not right now. She's about to have a baby, and I don't know how this information would affect her.”

Baron hurt for the man and the pain his brother was still causing this family. “I don't plan to tell anyone, so she won't hear it from me—if I ever have the pleasure of meeting Mrs. Coulter.”

Gabe blew out a loud breath. “I appreciate that. I'll have to tell Lara, of course, but I think I'll wait until she's recovered.”

Gabe Coulter sounded like a wise man. He wouldn't mind being friends with him, but he doubted the man or his family would want anything to do with him after what Mark had done.

Sweat trickled down Jo's temple as the horse trotted across the familiar land. Yesterday evening, she'd thought for sure she'd never make it this far when she'd heard that cowboy's yell. He'd been rounding up horses. Thankfully, he hadn't seen them or lingered in the area where they had been camped. One more hill and she'd be home—no, not home, but rather at her sister's house. This land that Gabe won in the land run had never been
her
home. But her family was here.

Though asleep, Jamie squirmed, as if sensing her anxiety. Finding out that Pete's—or rather Badger's—big home was actually a brothel instead of his private home as he had told her had been a nightmare, but she felt certain facing Lara scared her more. It wasn't that her sister would be mean and turn her out, but rather, it meant she'd failed at living on her own. Her marriage had failed. She'd failed at everything.

Eating humble pie was a lot more difficult than she'd expected. If only she had enough money to travel west—or south—anywhere but here. As she crested the hill, her mouth dropped open. She'd expected a small cottage, not the big two-story house that met her gaze. Gabe had certainly done well.

“Is this it?” Sarah glanced over her shoulder.

Jo heard the bleat of goats, and if she'd had any doubts, they were gone. Even from this distance, she recognized Mildred, Lara's favorite nanny. “Yes, this is my sister's place.”

“It is nice.”

Nice was an understatement. On the positive side, Lara should have an extra room available for them to use. With a loud sigh, Jo nudged the horse forward. The closer she got to the house, the louder the goats bleated. Some things never changed.

The door opened, and Lara stepped out, shading her eyes. Jo noticed right away that her sister was close to delivering a baby. Jo hoped the shock of her return didn't send Lara into instant labor.

Jo kept her face down as she approached the house. As soon as she stopped, Sarah slid off the back and helped her down. Steeling herself, she glanced at Sarah then stepped around the horse and faced her sister.

Lara's hands lifted to her mouth and she squealed. “Jo?”

The joy and love in her sister's eyes brought unexpected tears to her own. She nodded and stepped into Lara's open arms.

But their arms weren't long enough to stretch around Jamie and Lara's big belly. They giggled and turned for a sideways hug. Lara's gaze dropped to Jamie, who was waking up from all the jiggling. She gasped and looked up. “Yours?”

Pride soared through Jo, and she nodded. “My son, Jamie.”

“Oh, Jo, he's adorable.” Lara's gaze lifted, her smile never wavering; then she stepped toward Sarah. “And who is this?”