Lone Star Lover (19 page)

There was a brief knock at the door before she heard it open. She knew it was Jake returning from the kitchen, even before she turned around to find him with a cup of steaming coffee in his hand. He smiled gently and passed her the brew.

She tried to smile back, but couldn’t, and reckoned that it was enough that she hadn’t burst into tears. “Thank you,” she said, accepting the cup with a trembling hand.

“Ah, Rebecca—”

She turned away to set the cup on the stool, afraid to put anything in her queasy stomach, afraid to look at him and let him see the misery in her heart.

He slid his arms around her waist and drew her back to his chest. “I wish there was another way.”

She squeezed her eyes shut. “You could take me with you.”

“You know I can’t. It wouldn’t be safe for you. If the Rangers caught up to us—” He sighed, and kissed the side of her neck. “I talked to Kitty. You’ll be safer with her.”

Rebecca stepped out of his arms and spun to look at him. “What did you tell her?”

He looked grim. “Nothing about Austin. Just that I had some business to take care of so that we’d be able to leave. She has a soft spot for you, sweetheart. She really wants to make sure you get out of Diablo Flats.”

Guilt washed over her. If she told him what she’d heard last night it would confirm his suspicions. Then he’d go to Austin for sure. She wasn’t convinced that she was better off staying behind. But she wouldn’t beg, either. This could be Jake’s way of letting her down easy. She believed that he wanted to stop the Rangers from hurting anyone else, but despite her promise to him, she didn’t completely trust that he’d come back to her. Austin was far away, a big city, and she was only an Indian’s whore. Or maybe he planned on going back to his other life through the time portal. Why wouldn’t he? There was nothing here worth fighting for. The idea of being without him chilled her to the bone. But she’d better get used to it.

She looked at the misgiving in his beautiful blue eyes, and swallowed hard. She loved him, she realized, but not until this second had she understood the depth of her feelings for him. Loved him enough to want him safe and far from here. “If you don’t come back it’s all right. I wanted you to know that.”

“No.” He gripped her upper arms. “I’m coming back. As long as I’ve got breath in my body, I’ll keep you safe.”

Rebecca flinched, the sudden thought of Jake lifeless, dead on the ground, more than she could bear.

“I’m sorry.” He wrapped his arms around her and held her tight. “I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. I was trying to make a point that I would never desert you. Please tell me you understand that I’m coming back for you.”

She nodded, too numb to do anything else.

He held her face in his hands. “Look at me,” he said, when lifting her lashes seemed too great an effort. “I’ll be gone for about five days, maybe six. Wade has business east of town. He’ll be taking a few of the Rangers with him and they’ll be away at least overnight, maybe longer. Kitty will get you out to Otis’s ranch. You hide there until I return.” He searched her eyes. “Do you understand?”

“Yes,” she replied, shaken.

“I couldn’t stand it if anything happened to you,” he said, his voice thick. “Promise me you’ll stay with Kitty.”

Rebecca forced a smile. “Go. I’ll be all right.”

Someone knocked at the door. It was Kitty. It was time for Jake to go.

“Was I lying down?”

Slow Jim turned to him, his tanned face creased in a frown. “Yes.”

Once again Jake was struck by the man’s uncanny resemblance to Jake’s friend Tom Parker. Like Slow Jim, Tom was half Comanche, and except for the long black hair and about ten pounds, the men could’ve been twins. It was damn eerie. Another sign that this was Jake’s fate? At this point, he only cared that the man stayed as tightlipped when he returned to town as he had on the ride out here. Though he wasn’t too worried. Slow Jim sometimes worked for Wade, but Jake got the impression that he wasn’t exactly a fan.

“Did I say anything when you found me?” Jake asked, as he swung down from his horse.

“No.”

Something in the older man’s voice made Jake ask, “Am I the first man you’ve found here?”

Slow Jim closed his eyes for a long moment and when he looked back, it was with weary resignation. “No. I told you. Many spirits.”

“Do they go back where they came from? These other spirits?”

Slow Jim stared at the boulder for a long time, and just when Jake had given up on an answer, he said, “I haven’t seen it. But there are stories. Spirits moving back and forth. I don’t know if there’s any truth to it.”

“But there are stories.”

“It’s not good to be here. You should leave.”

Jake hesitated, his gaze going once again to the spot beside the boulder. Slow Jim was right. He shouldn’t be messing with things he didn’t understand. At least not now. If he were to suddenly be sucked back into the future…Without Rebecca? What if he couldn’t take her with him?

The mere thought had more impact than if the earth had quaked beneath his feet. Fisting the reins tighter, he glanced at Slow Jim. “Thanks for showing me how to get here. I’ll find my way back.”

The man studied him for a few seconds, shrugged his shoulders then wheeled his horse toward town.

Not daring to move toward the boulder, Jake stood for a good five minutes before he mounted, thinking about the others who had traveled here. Had they come from a distant past? A future he couldn’t comprehend? Was it all an accident, a wrong step, or were those who traveled meant to? It was all so crazy he had to shake himself to get his mind right again.

The ride out had taken about half an hour. He’d paid close attention to landmarks and he was certain he could find the place later. When Rebecca was with him.

He’d purposely been trying to keep her from his thoughts. He had to stay focused. According to Kitty, there was only one way to Austin and, in her words, he’d have to be a damn fool to get lost. She’d given him specific directions, even though he’d refused to admit that that’s where he was headed. He didn’t believe that Rebecca had confided in her friend because she understood the stakes were too high to take that chance. He guessed that Kitty had seen the proverbial writing on the wall, and she was a smart one. The good thing was, her giving him directions to Austin told him he was right to be heading there. No matter, he trusted her to keep Rebecca safe.

Something he’d promised to do.

Shit. He couldn’t go there. Rebecca was fine. He had to believe that. Too many lives depended on him. He’d taken an oath, one he held close to his heart.

He dug his heels in and flicked the reins.

Still numb, she watched her friend find the opening and then reach inside the sock. Kitty withdrew a fistful of silver coins and gold pieces, and then looked over with a satisfied smile. As soon as she met Rebecca’s eyes, her lips drooped.

“You better stop your moping. We have things to do before I can get you out of town.” Kitty went to the window for a quick look outside. “Wade and two of the boys left a half hour ago. I don’t know where Corbin is. That’s the problem.”

“Kitty, I can’t take your money. I don’t want you to get in trouble because of me.”

“Damn it, Rebecca. Don’t give me a hard time. I promised Jake I’d take care of you and—”

“Don’t.” She wanted to cover her ears, hearing his name was too painful. “If he was worried, he wouldn’t have left me.”

“Oh, honey, he didn’t want to leave you.” Kitty dropped the money on the dresser and sat beside Rebecca. “He’s coming back, you’ll see.”

“I don’t believe he is,” she whispered, the word dead echoing in her head.

Kitty gasped. “Don’t say such a thing. Do you think he’d abandon you? He’s not like the rest of them, Rebecca. You have to know that by now.”

She stared down at her hands. She’d already suffered too much loss. First, her parents and her brother, and then even Running Bear. Though he hadn’t been a husband of her choosing, he had not been unkind and kept her safe as he had vowed to do.

“Rebecca.” Kitty shook her arm. “Listen to your heart. You know your man will be back. For goodness’ sakes, he’s already shown you that he’s honorable—”

“And it’s going to get him killed.” Her voice cracked, and she stared at her hands again. “Jake is only one man. He can’t go up against the captain and—” She realized what she’d said and threw Kitty an apologetic look.

“Don’t worry.” Kitty sighed. “I’ve taken off my blinders.” Her chin quivered. “I wish you could’ve known Wade in the old days. He was a different man….”

“I’m sorry.”

Kitty shrugged. “Jake is too smart to go up against Wade and the others alone. My guess is that he’s getting help in Austin.”

“And if the men there don’t listen? Jake is a stranger to them. They know the captain and—” She saw the concern in Kitty’s eyes, and understood that her friend had come to the same conclusion. Of course she didn’t know about Jake being from the future, but the men in Austin might assume he was a greenhorn from the East and not take him seriously.

“He’ll make them understand, honey. Jake is smart, and he has a way with words.”

Rebecca swallowed and pushed to her feet. “I can tell them what I heard the other night.”

Kitty’s eyes darkened with fear. “What are you saying?”

“I’m going to need that coat. A horse and knife, too.” She’d been selfish not to tell Jake what she’d overheard. She knew he would act on the information, but she’d wanted him to take her away and help her find Bird Song.

“Rebecca, this is madness.”

“I’m a good rider and I know the terrain better than he does.” Rebecca tied her hair back, her mind racing ahead. Jake would be furious, but she didn’t care. Her father’s ego and stubbornness had gotten her family killed. The same flaws had put Running Bear into the ground. She wouldn’t stand for a man’s stupidity, not anymore. “Will you help me?”

Kitty nodded haltingly, her wretched expression squeezing Rebecca’s heart.

“You could come with me. Stay in Austin and make a new start.”

Kitty snorted. “Honey, I can’t ride a horse worth spit.” She shoved some coins into Rebecca’s hand, and then picked up her bundled cloak. She stood over the bed and lifted one corner of the garment. It unfurled and with a soft thud, Rebecca saw one of Cook’s big kitchen knives land on the quilt. “I have a horse from Otis Sanford’s ranch at the livery. It’ll take me a while to get a saddle, though.”

Rebecca smiled. “I only know how to ride bareback.”

“Ah, yes.” Kitty bit her lower lip, her eyes beginning to fill with tears.

It was hard to witness. Nothing ever made Kitty cry. Rebecca slid her arms around her and hugged her fiercely. “Go to Mr. Otis’s ranch. Don’t stay here.”

“I just might do that.”

Rebecca pulled back. “Please, Kitty. You’re so certain Jake will return. Promise you’ll wait for us there.”

“Go get what you need from your room.” Kitty handed her the knife. “I’ll meet you in the alley next to the livery with some food and a canteen.”

Rebecca hid the knife in the folds of her skirt until she could properly sheathe it. Nodding, she moved backward, sadly aware that her friend had not made her a promise. W
ITH NO CLOAK
and only a wool shawl drawn tightly around her shoulders, Kitty stood shivering as she watched Rebecca ride out of town. There hadn’t been time to buy her a coat. Kitty hoped the cloak would be warm enough until Rebecca got to Austin. Oh, God, she prayed she made it. From what Kitty could tell, she was a good rider, better than some of the men. Fast, too. She had to be fast if she wanted to catch up to Jake before dark. The idea of Rebecca spending the night alone in the desert made Kitty shiver again.

Or maybe it was the persistent feeling that she was being watched that made her tremble. She glanced over her shoulder, and then toward the doors of the saloon, checking the boardwalk in front of the boardinghouse and the general store. No one was around. Not on this cold, miserable, overcast day.

She dabbed at her eyes, and smoothed back her upswept hair, preparing to return to the saloon. It would be a while before Rebecca was missed. Hopefully long enough for Kitty to pull herself together.

As soon as she turned around, she saw him.

Corbin stepped out of the alley by the smokehouse, his mouth twisted in an evil grin. “I thought that was you riding out of town just now.”

Kitty’s heart thumped. Did he know that had been Rebecca? In spite of herself, Kitty glanced down the empty street, even though she knew her friend was long gone.

Without saying a word, she rushed past him toward the saloon. But he caught her arm, digging his fingers in until she cried out in pain.

“Let me go, you stupid bastard, or I’ll tell Wade.”

Corbin pinned her with an icy glare as he gave a short derisive laugh. “All of it? Like how you helped the Indian whore escape?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She jerked away from him, her legs trembling so badly she didn’t think she’d make it up the boardwalk steps.

“Go ahead, run back to the saloon. I’m done with you. Wade will be, too, after I tell him what you done. Shoulda taken care of you when I did old Otis.” His laughter started to fade, yet she hadn’t gotten that far away from him.

She stopped, and turned. He was headed toward the livery.

A surge of fear and anger coursed through her veins. Just as she thought, he was the one who killed Otis, and now he was going after Rebecca. She lifted the hem of her skirt and ran. Just before she entered the livery, she pulled her dagger from her stocking. He stumbled on his way to his saddle, still laughing to himself.

She moved quietly and quickly, never more sure of anything she’d ever done. This bastard wasn’t going to find Rebecca. And he wasn’t going to talk to Wade. Not ever again. He tripped as he twisted around to look at her.

She looked right into his shocked eyes as she plunged the blade into his chest.