Last Promise (8 page)

“Luke!” George shouted.

Hearing the urgency in George's voice, Luke spun around and drew his gun in the process. Seeing the man had drawn his pistol and was ready to shoot him in the back, Luke shot the gun from his hand. The man clutched his hand and started yelling obscenities at Luke. Luke walked to him and kicked the gun from his reach. “You want to get on your horse, or do you want to be tied over him? Your choice.”

The man managed to walk to his horse under his own steam. After he pulled himself into the saddle with one hand he slowly rode out of town. Luke turned to George. “Thanks, George.”

“Think nothing of it, I'm the one who should be thanking you for coming to Mary Ann's defense.”

Luke glanced at Mary Ann, fully expecting her to look at him like she did the first day she'd arrived. But what he saw was a look of shock.

“That man was going to shoot you in the back,” she said in a shaky voice.

“Thanks to George he didn't have the chance,” Luke responded.

George took Mary Ann by the elbow and led her to the door. “Let's get some breakfast, my dear, and take your mind off of all of this unpleasantness.” He glanced back at Luke. “Can I offer you some coffee?”

“No, I need to get back to the ranch.” Luke tipped his hat and walked to his horse.

“McBride, thank you,” Mary Ann said.

Luke turned back to her, tipped his hat again. “Yes, ma'am.”

Chapter Eight

“Not again.” Colt spotted Luke's split lip when he reined in beside him. “Slater?”

Luke was in no mood to take any more grief today and that included from his brothers. “No, not Slater, a drifter.”

“What did he do?” Jake asked.

“He grabbed Mary Ann and shoved George.”

Colt couldn't argue over a man defending a lady. “How was the meeting with Arina?”

“I'm not convinced she's involved in anything nefarious. I think she's really scared. I'm going back to town later and bring her back out to the ranch for dinner.”

“Really? What does this gal look like?” Jake asked. He knew his brother was a sucker for a pretty face and a sad story. Luke wasn't naïve, but he had a weakness, and that weakness was the fairer sex. Luke's attraction to the opposite sex was legendary and he'd take bets his younger brother could be fooled by Sam's wife. Jake wasn't as easily hoodwinked by women. As a U.S. Marshal he'd arrested some women before who were every bit as dangerous and shrewd as their male counterparts.

Luke thought about Arina's curves in her robe. “She's real pretty, but that's not why I'm bringing her to the ranch. She's here all alone and she's frightened. I'm sure you wouldn't like the thought of your wife being in a strange town all alone.”

“You're right about that,” Jake agreed. “But if you invite her to stay here she might get the wrong idea.”

“I'm going to talk to her about that on the ride back. If she's an innocent in whatever is going on, I owe it to Sam to take care of her. As pretty as she is she probably wouldn't be safe in town alone.”
Especially with the way she dresses,
he thought. After seeing that cowboy grab Mary Ann, he realized single women were at the mercy of any man who got out of hand. Mary Ann had George to defend her, but he wasn't certain what George would have done if he hadn't intervened. He hoped George listened to him and started wearing a gun. His mind went to Mary Ann and how she'd thanked him. That was the kindest thing she'd said to him and it came right after he'd told himself to ignore her. Maybe he should consider that approach since trying to persuade her to give him a chance wasn't gaining traction. She hadn't even given him the opportunity to ask why she was no longer in room six.

* * *

During breakfast, Mary Ann was still in shock over the events that had just taken place on the street. “I can't believe that man would have shot Mr. McBride.”

“We were fortunate Mr. McBride was in the restaurant,” George told her. “Now perhaps you can see for yourself the kind of man he is.” George had hoped she would come around and see what a fine man Luke was. It was surprising his niece was the only woman he'd seen who was impervious to Luke's charms.

“He is so fast with that gun, I didn't even see it leave his holster.”

“His brother Colt is even faster. But please don't think they are men seeking trouble, they are not like that, but they are prepared when necessary.”

Each time Mary Ann was tempted to think she may have jumped to the wrong conclusion about Luke, she thought about that married woman hanging all over him in the hallway. In the short time she'd been in town, she'd seen him flirting with several women and she'd be wise not to forget that.
When did the man have time to work?
“While I did appreciate his assistance, I still think he is a scoundrel. I saw him with
that
woman this morning in the hallway, and she was improperly dressed for entertaining a man other than her husband. It was quite scandalous.”

“I spoke to Mrs. White last night. She told me Luke is her husband's partner just as Luke mentioned. She said her husband is missing and she came here to seek Luke's help. She obviously knows she can trust him. It wasn't as if he was in the woman's room, was he?”

“No, he wasn't in her room.” She wasn't sure that was an indication there wasn't something illicit going on between them.

“I can't imagine there is anything improper there.” George appreciated his niece's genteel comportment, but he feared she had a lot to learn about the West. Seeing the women from L. B. Ditty's hanging over the balcony probably distorted her view of all women in town.

“You didn't see how she was dressed, nor how she was draped over him. If you had I'm quite sure you would agree it was shockingly indecent. Mr. McBride didn't seem to have a problem with her state of undress or her attentions.” It wasn't that she wanted to think ill of Luke, particularly since he was nearly shot in the back for defending her. She found it infuriating that her opinion vacillated back and forth about Luke McBride. One moment he was a scoundrel and the next moment a hero.

* * *

When Luke rode back to town to pick up Arina he stopped at the livery to leave his horse and rent a buggy. He thought Arina might be in the reception area of the hotel waiting for him, but seeing no one around he walked upstairs and tapped on her door.

“Come in.”

Luke was surprised she didn't keep her door locked. Maybe she had unlocked it knowing he would be arriving soon. He walked through the door and received another surprise. She was wearing a different robe, even thinner than the one she'd worn that morning.

Arina hurried to him and kissed him on the cheek. “Just give me one minute to finish dressing.”

“I'll wait downstairs.”

“Don't be silly.” She pointed to the dressing screen. “As you can see I have a screen, so please have a seat. Would you like a whiskey? I was just going to pour myself one.”

Luke glanced at the screen thinking that should offer enough privacy. He walked to the chair by the table and saw two glasses and the bottle of whiskey. He didn't know she drank. “Do you want one?”

“Yes, please.” She walked to the wardrobe and pulled out a dress.

As Luke poured the whiskey he wondered if she was going to wear anything under her dress. He certainly didn't think she was wearing underclothes right now. He picked up both glasses and held one to her as she passed. “I didn't know you drank whiskey.”

“I rarely did before the last few months. I find it calms my nerves.” She clinked her glass to his. “I'm so grateful to you for helping me, Luke.” She drank the contents in one gulp and sat her glass on the table. “I mean it, Luke, thank you. Now have a seat, I'll just be a minute. Would you pour me another?”

Her voice sounded low and sultry, and he knew this was a dangerous situation. “I think I should wait downstairs.”

“No, I won't be long, I promise.”

Luke gulped his glass of whiskey down as he watched her walk to the screen. She started removing her robe before she was behind the screen and he watched as it drifted down past her waist. He averted his eyes before it fell to the floor. He poured another shot of whiskey in both glasses and drained one. His eyes automatically moved to the screen again, and saw she had turned the light up behind the screen and he could see her silhouette. Her naked silhouette. Nope, no underclothes. He poured another shot and gulped it down. His eyes roamed to the screen again, and he saw her pick up her robe and toss it to a chair before grabbing the corset and stockings that were hanging over the top of the screen. After she pulled her stockings on and secured them with garters, she arched her back to put her corset around her midriff and he couldn't look away. Lord help him, did she have a body! Maybe another shot. Gulp. He held the bottle over his glass, ready to pour one more, but he put the bottle on the table. One more drink and he might forget she was the wife of a friend. He prided himself on self-control, but when a woman had a body like hers it would be easy to forget just about anything if too much whiskey was in the equation. Reluctantly, he pulled his eyes away from the screen. He looked at the wardrobe, the fireplace, the window, everyplace . . . anyplace . . . to keep from looking at the screen. Finally, he stood and walked to the window overlooking the street. He needed a plan, he couldn't sit around and wait for Sam to contact him, if he was even alive. None of this made sense, least of all Arina's behavior.

Arina moved from the screen wearing a flattering blue dress, but again the neckline was cut very low. Luke knew what was beneath the fabric. He couldn't deny she looked beautiful, but he thought his sisters-in-law would think he'd brought one of the gals from L. B. Ditty's to dine. He couldn't even imagine what his brothers would think. At that thought, he was tempted to pour another drink.

Arina moved in front of him and twirled around. “How do you like my dress?”

“You look fine.”

She frowned at him. “Fine? Is that the best you can do?”

Luke seemed to recall his sisters-in-law had told him
fine
was a word women abhorred when it came to questions about their appearance, but he wasn't willing to allow Arina to goad him into saying more. He had a feeling she knew exactly what she was doing when she turned the light up behind the screen.

Arina handed him her shawl and turned around and lifted her hair so he could place the shawl around her shoulders. “Now I see why you aren't married. You need to work on your flattery, cowboy.”

“I've never had any complaints.” His knuckles grazed her shoulders, and he saw her shiver at the contact.
She's my partner's wife
, he reminded himself.

“It's so nice to spend the evening with you.”

He didn't want to correct her, but this wasn't a date, so he thought he would remind her other people would be dining with them. “My sisters-in-law are great cooks. I promise you will have a nice dinner.”

Luke was relieved Mary Ann wasn't at the desk when they left the hotel. If Mary Ann saw the dress Arina was wearing she'd never speak to him again. As if he had some say in what Arina chose to wear.
Women!
As much as he loved them, he didn't always understand them. He just hoped he could ride away before Mary Ann appeared.

After assisting Arina into the buggy, he pulled out the blanket to place it beside her in case she needed it before they reached the ranch. He walked to the rail to remove the reins, and just as he was about to climb into the buggy he heard a voice behind him.

“Hello, Luke.”

He knew without turning around the voice belonged to Sally Detrick. Uh-oh, a catfight was imminent. When he did turn around, he was almost relieved to see Sally was in the company of her father. It was the first time he'd ever been happy to see Old Man Detrick. He tipped his hat. “Sally.” His eyes slid to Old Man Detrick. “Sir.”

“Are you coming or going?” Sally asked, not looking at him but eyeing the woman in the buggy. And it wasn't a friendly eye. Luke figured Arina made certain Sally got a good view of her neckline.

“Let me introduce my partner's wife. Arina White. Arina, this is Sally Detrick and her father.” Arina had him so flustered he couldn't even remember Old Man Detrick's given name. “Their ranch borders the McBride ranch.” Luke thought he was seeing things when Detrick rushed to the buggy and extended his hand to Arina.

“I'm Judd Detrick,” he said, and actually smiled.

Arina smiled back at Detrick and accepted his hand. “It's a pleasure to meet you.”

Luke glanced at Sally to see if she was as surprised as he was at her father's behavior. She was. He'd never even seen the old man crack a smile.

“Where is
Mr
. White?” Sally asked.

“Actually my husband is missing and that is the reason for my visit, to enlist Luke's help,” Arina answered.

“I'm sorry to hear that. If there is anything I can do for you, do not hesitate to call upon me,” Detrick said.

Arina gave Detrick a brilliant smile. “How kind of you, Mr. Detrick.”

“Judd, please.”

Luke thought his mouth probably hit the ground when the old man kissed the back of Arina's hand.

“Luke, you are coming to the social tomorrow night, aren't you?” Sally asked.

“Of course, you must come and bring your lovely guest,” Detrick added. “I'm sure she could use some entertainment to take her mind off her troubles.”

Sally rolled her eyes. She didn't want her daddy to attend the social, he was certain to put a damper on her activities. Especially where Luke was concerned. And she sure as heck didn't want that woman to attend.

Before Luke responded, Arina spoke up, “Oh, I would love to go. You will escort me, won't you, Luke?”

“If he can't, I will certainly come for you,” Detrick told her.

“Daddy, give Luke a chance to answer,” Sally said.

“If Arina would like to go, I will make sure she gets there,” Luke replied.

Both Sally and her daddy glared at him.
What did I do now?
He thought he answered the question like a true gentleman.

Sally turned her attention on Arina. “Luke has promised the first dance with me. Don't be surprised if all of the local gals take up most of his time.”

“I'm sure he will live up to that promise, but I'll have to make sure he'll find time for one dance with me,” Arina countered sweetly. “You will certainly save a dance for me, won't you, Judd?”

“You can count on it.”

Arina smirked at Sally.

Luke wasn't sure, but he thought Old Man Detrick was blushing. His chest had definitely puffed up like he was the cock of the henhouse. Luke could hardly find his tongue. He'd had enough surprises for one night. “If you folks will excuse us, they are expecting us at the ranch.”