Love Inspired Historical June 2014 Bundle: Lone Star Heiress\The Lawman's Oklahoma Sweetheart\The Gentleman's Bride Search\Family on the Range (85 page)

Langdon's brows rose, but he quickly recovered and stepped outside, closing the door behind him. “What can I do for you?”

He flipped his badge open. “Special Agent Lou Riley with the Bureau of Investigation.” He put the badge away. “Would you mind going to my office to answer a few questions?” His tone brooked no argument.

Langdon bared his teeth. “I've business to attend to.”

“We can talk here.” Lou gave him a look designed to get his point across.

“I really must go, but here is my card. You may call me.” The man's voice was slicker than a politician's on election day.

Lou scowled and closed the gap between them. They stood head-to-head. His instincts roared that something was wrong. “What were you doing in Burns?”

“Business.” Langdon's cheeks bunched in a mocking manner. “I stopped by your place.”

“I heard.” This guy didn't get to own the conversation. “Also heard you murdered someone.”

Langdon's eyes flickered. “Really? How odd.” He moved back and bumped the front door. “Isn't that business for the police, though? I thought the bureau dealt with other, more important, things?”

“You saying you did it?”

“I'm saying the sheriff has himself the murderer. Go talk to him.” Langdon pulled out a pocket watch and made a point of looking at it before stuffing it back into his overpressed suit. “I really must say goodbye.”

“Don't think so.” Lou cocked him a smile that froze most men. He propped a hand against the door and leaned forward. “You see, Langdon, I'm here unofficially. Your trail... Let's just say it's putting off an odor.” He narrowed his eyes. “I'm going to fix that. You might think you're slick, but I'm onto you. With the murder and with your niece. You won't get away with anything.”

Langdon inclined his head, a smirk plastered to his lips. He casually brushed off his right shoulder, as if Lou's words had landed there and stuck. “Since you're here unofficially, I believe I might have something that belongs to you.”

“That a fact?” Unease skittered up his spine.

Langdon turned and opened the front door. “Someone's here for you. Come, come, don't be frightened.” He cast Lou a smile that chilled him to the core. “I'm afraid I might have been a little too...harsh with her.”

Confused, Lou's gaze darted to the entryway. Movement, and then Mary emerged, eyes wide and lips pale.

Lou snarled and yanked Langdon up by the sleeve. The man's cologne reeked. “What did you do to her?”

Chapter Nineteen

L
angdon tried to shrug out of Lou's grasp, but he tightened his grip and jerked him against the wall of the house. Mary gasped, but Lou ignored her. His pulse hammered through him, and his fingers moved to the scoundrel's collar.

Langdon made a choking sound but didn't try again to get out of Lou's hold. Rather, his lips tilted. “You should take better care of your property.”

Lou released him abruptly and turned to Mary, who edged through the doorway in a pained way. A sound like a train filled his ears and his vision blurred. Whirling, he pushed Langdon up against the door.

“You better talk, and fast,” he said.

“Release me or I'll have the police arrest you for assault.”

Lou's jaw hurt. He ground his teeth and forced his fingers to unlock from Langdon's arms. “You're done for. Don't forget it.”

Langdon sniffed and readjusted his shirt. “Have a pleasant life, Special Agent Riley.” He turned and pushed into the house. Silence ensued.

Mary gazed off the porch, her face unreadable. A bird twittered. Streetcars rumbled past, casting long shadows against the street. He stalked to Mary.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

She nodded but didn't look at him. He couldn't help himself. He touched her shoulders, gently moving his hands down her arms, looking for any bruising or indication that Langdon had physically mistreated her.

She didn't flinch.

“Are you sure you're okay? Absolutely sure?” He grasped her shoulders, searching her eyes for something, anything, to take away the worry that was cleaving into him.

“I'm sure.” Her smile was calm as she backed out of his grip.

Clearing his throat, shoving his hands into his pockets, he asked, “Do you want to walk back to the hotel?”

“That's quite the walk,” she murmured.

“I have an appointment at ten.” He glanced at his watch. “That's in forty-five minutes. We can be to the office by then and you can wait. The agent in charge of escorting you has been reassigned, so it looks like—”

“I don't need an escort, Lou.” She looked at him, her eyes earnest. “I'm a grown woman, quite capable of traveling home.”

“I wish that was true, but times are troubled.” He thought of the papers in his briefcase.

“They seem fine to me. Prohibition has things a bit topsy-turvy, but the war is over, our economy is recovering... What do you find to be the problem?”

“Let's walk,” he suggested as he debated how much to tell her. She held her head high beside him, and if she noticed the stares of those they passed, she didn't let on. He rubbed the back of his neck for a moment and then gave in to his gut. “Our office has received some disturbing information. The Ku Klux Klan is reorganizing. Strategizing. We're expecting to see some integration of their policies and beliefs in the coming year, we're just not sure where or how much they'll be able to infiltrate the public psyche.”

Mary's stride didn't slow. “I haven't heard such a thing.”

“But you feel the stares, don't you? People look at you and see someone different than them. There's distrust here in Oregon of foreigners. Our office found disturbing evidence that the Klan will prey on people's fears. Especially with the influx of Chinese migrant workers.”

“This is nothing new to me, Lou.”

“It could influence laws,” he said gravely.

“That may be so, but I believe they've already been influenced since the beginning of the country. You're a white man, Lou. Blond hair, blue eyes.” She stopped walking and turned to pin him with those bottomless eyes of hers. “For you, life in America has been fair. It has not been so for others.” She held up her arm, darker than his, and Lou found his gaze traveling the length of her bone structure, up to her shoulder, then across her dress, which he just now realized fit her perfectly.

He couldn't recall seeing her in this outfit before and abruptly noticed how the dress tapered off at her knees, exposing her legs and ankles. Heat rose to his neck. He yanked his eyes back up to meet hers.

Her mouth was parted, and suddenly he was filled with remembrance of the kiss they'd shared. He blinked, jerked the direction of his gaze to the road and began walking. “Every day we're making strides, though. The Klan is a dangerous group of people and the worst thing is, people in positions of authority are involved. I don't want you traveling alone. Not just because of your heritage, but because you're a beautiful woman.”

There, he'd said it. A lump clogged his windpipe. He peeked at Mary. A sober expression rested on her features. The wind stirred up her dark hair, and again he thought of their kiss.

“Many have called me beautiful,” she said quietly and without pride.

“You don't like it?”

“Beauty brings challenges....” She trailed off.

“Life brings challenges to everyone.” He took her arm and they crossed to the other side of the road. “We're almost to my office. After I deliver these papers, we'll figure out what to do with you.”

“Excuse me?” She popped out of his grasp. “I have my ticket. Your twelve years of baby watching has finished.”

He halted, gaping, while she strode ahead. “Wait...”

Her hand fluttered up, waving through the air as if dismissing him. He set his jaw and forged ahead.

“Now, stop just a moment,” he said, grabbing her shoulders and stopping her. She felt fragile beneath his fingers and he loosened his hold. “You've been caring for us, Mary, not the other way around.”

Her gaze flickered. “Either way, that time has passed. We're moving in different directions now.”

True, and yet the knowledge pained him. He studied her, taking in the faint flush in her cheeks and her dewy eyes. A stray hair fluttered across her cheek. Using the tip of his finger, he drew it back over her ear. She released a soft breath that brought him full circle, right back to their kiss.

“Please don't look at me like that,” she whispered.

“Like what?”

“Like you plan to kiss me again.”

He couldn't help the smile tugging his lips. “And if I do?”

“This can't work. You know that. Do you plan to quit your job? Stop traveling to foreign places and saving lives?”

He shook his head.

“I didn't think so,” she said. “Quit worrying about me and live your life. I'm thankful for the shelter you provided, but that season is over.”

“We're here.” He gestured to the building in front of them with his briefcase, glad to stop this conversation in its endless tracks. “Come in and let's work this out. Then we're going to have an early supper and you can tell me what Langdon said to you in that hallway.”

* * *

A few hours later, Mary chewed her bottom lip, watching as Lou spoke with the waiter at the hotel's restaurant. They'd returned to check out. A cramp tried to work its way through her toes, which she'd stuck into heels to try to look nice for Mrs. Silver.

And maybe for Lou.

It was the last day she'd see him after all. She fiddled with a button on her dress, wondering how he'd remember her. What would supper bring? More arguing? Surely so, if she told him what Langdon had said to her. He was to call her at the hotel, she'd told him, and she'd give him an answer.

There was only one answer to give.

Shuddering, she turned away from Lou's direction. While she'd waited at his work, she debated her possible courses of action. She could tell him the truth at supper and see if he'd help her or offer a different solution. Or she could go home, ignore Langdon's plan and look into getting a loan and opening a business.

“We're ready.” Lou appeared beside her, his arm on her elbow and his breath minty. He brought her to the table. After they were given glasses of water, Lou gestured to the menu. “Order anything you want. My treat.” His eyes sparkled.

She'd been drawn in by those eyes for too long. Could she forget how he'd sold the ranch beneath her feet? Even though he'd arranged for her to stay, his action had felt like a betrayal of sorts. No, she could not trust that sparkle as much as she longed to.

It was a longing she must deny herself.

Ordering was brief. The waiter took their menus, and then quiet followed. Lou folded a napkin across his lap and leaned back in his seat, hands lightly clasped on the starched tablecloth.

“I finished some work at the office today,” he finally said.

She sipped her water. “Have they caught the man who shot you?”

“No, but we will. I'm on his trail. After supper today, I'm going to drop you at the train station, where a special agent will meet you and escort you home.” At her look, he grinned. “You really think I'm going to let you traipse off all by yourself? I wouldn't let any woman do that.”

“The point is that you're not in charge.”

“Once you're safe,” he continued without missing a breath, “I'm hunting this fellow down. I didn't see his face, but there was another man I caught a good look at. Talked to, even. A few visits to some unsavory places, and I'm thinking I'll find my shooter and maybe even a crime to tie him to.”

“Besides shooting you?” Mary asked drily.

“Exactly.” Lou gave her a slow wink, obviously pleased with all his plans.

The cad. He both infuriated her and made her smile. This back-and-forth was exhausting, though.

“Tell me,” she said, aligning her knife with the edge of her napkin. “What will you do when I'm not at the ranch when you return?”

His ego appeared to trip along with his grin. “Why wouldn't you be there?”

“I can think of a few reasons.”

“I'm not gone yet. The buyers have agreed to keep you on as housekeeper. This sale... It's an offer, but that doesn't mean it's final. I wired Trevor the information yesterday, and he and Gracie are going to talk things through. He never needed the home he sold you, but Gracie's partial to the ranch. In fact, they'll be meeting me here tomorrow or the day after to talk things through.”

The fact that he was trying to look out for her should have comforted her, but it didn't.

She let out an exasperated breath. “Do you not hear yourself? Why are you selling if Gracie and Trevor don't want to? Why bother? Can you not travel as you've always done? And things may remain the same.”

The grin slid from his face. He leaned forward and pulled her hands toward him in a heated grip. His grasp was decidedly larger than hers, and she had to tear her eyes from their entwined palms to focus on his next words.

“Is that really what you want? To live out your days on secluded property?” His gaze probed her. The way his hands enveloped hers felt so right.... Her tongue tied within her mouth, and she could only look at him.

“I know you want more. You're made for more, Mary.” He hesitated and then said quietly, “God has given you talents. Don't hide them on a ranch. Don't waste them on people who aren't around to appreciate what you have to offer.”

He spoke of God. She blinked and pulled her hands free from his.

“I have never considered myself wasting away there. The meals I made, the clothes I darned and ironed, the prayers I prayed... It was healing. Not one second of my time there has been a waste.” She had to work hard to keep her voice from shaking. “I am sorry your perspective is so very different than mine.”

He started to speak and she held up a hand.

“Either way, what I do with my life is not up to you. Your plans for tomorrow are all well and good, but you have given no consideration to what I want. Did you plan to ask? Or do you plan to do whatever you want and then expect me to be there?”

His eyes widened. “I'm sorry—”

“Excuse me, miss. There's a telephone call for you.” The waiter pointed to the lobby's desk, visible through the restaurant's entrance.

Lou's gaze narrowed. Mary ignored him, though a trembling had taken up residence in her stomach. “Thank you. I shall be there in a moment.”

“Is there something you need to tell me?” Lou stood and walked around the table to her. “What did Langdon say to you?”

Sitting left her at a disadvantage and so she also stood, though it did little good with her small stature. Nevertheless, it must do for now. Lou and his authoritative ways must stop. She placed a hand on his chest and gave him a little nudge.

“This is a telephone call for me.”

“Mary.” His voice sharpened. “You're playing with a criminal. If there's something you need to say, say so now, because I'm not having my employee involved with the likes of him.”

“Don't you think I know what he is?” She nudged him harder, but he refused to move. Well, she'd just go around him, then. But as she stepped to the side, he mirrored her. She hissed and glared up at him.

“Kindly move.”

“Not until you tell me what's going on.” His eyes were blue steel.

Very well. A surprising burst of anger popped through her. She threw her head up and gave him the sternest look she could muster.

“I know criminals, Lou Riley. You forget, I spent a week with them. It might've been twelve years ago, but I haven't lost my senses. My mind works just fine and I know exactly what I'm doing.” Maybe not
exactly,
but at this moment she thought things were quite clear. “Move yourself before I make a scene.”

The threat sent hotness to the back of her neck. She prayed he did not force her to do such a dreadful thing. His jaw worked, and his hands went to his narrow hips. He studied her, and she was torn between the irresistible urge to allow him to kiss her again or to scurry past and pick up the telephone.

He seemed to come to some internal decision. His jaw hardened. “Nope. No employee of mine is carousing with criminal types. I've said my piece. Now sit back down.”