Tarnished Angel (40 page)

    As he neared the cabin, the aroma began to change drastically. He smelled coffee
burned
coffee. And scorched bacon! His step slowed as a cloud of black smoke billowed out through the doorway, only to be followed by Ross, carrying a smoking frying pan.

    Jake blinked. Trailing behind Ross from the other end of a rope secured around his waist was Devina Dale. But this was a Devina Dale he had never seen before. Long, straggly silver-blond hair hung in her face, all but blinding her as she scrambled after Ross. Her feet were bare, and as he watched, one leg of her oversize trousers rolled down and covered her foot, almost tripping her as she hurried to keep up with Ross's long strides. She stumbled, then righted herself awkwardly, only to emit a short cry as her bare foot came down hard on a sharp stone. She brushed back her hair in time for Jake to get a short glimpse of the fury and frustration registered in her face.

    Ross stopped abruptly, and Devina Dale's forward motion brought her up smack against his back. A short laugh rose to Jake's lips. He bit it back as Ross turned slowly, sending a deadly look in Devina Dale's direction. Disengaging herself from his back, she shot a glance toward the smoking frying pan in Ross's hand, then looked up at him.

    Ross held Devina Dale's gaze with a silent stare for a few meaningful seconds longer before turning to face Jake. "I'd wipe that smile off my face if I was you, Jake. You're looking at all that's left of breakfast."

    Jake shot a quick look toward the woman who stood in absolute silence behind his friend. He struggled to control the grin he felt tugging at his mouth. Damn, she was a wreck! Harvey Dale would hardly recognize his daughter if he could see her right now. But the girl's spirit didn't seem to have been hurt any. He could see her reaction to his amusement, and it wasn't good at all.

    Ross continued talking, even as he shook the remains of the charred bacon out of the pan and onto the ground. "I suppose your arrival here means the trail is clear."

    "You suppose right, Ross." Jake glanced at the blackened     pan. "I guess I can wait a little longer for breakfast. I'll just take a cup of that good strong coffee I smell
brewin
'."

    Ross's glance darkened. "Sure, you do that. Don't bother to pour it, Jake. Just whistle, and that
coffee'll
walk right over and jump into your cup."

    Ross slanted a reproving glance toward the glowering young woman. By way of explanation, he offered stiffly, "Our cook here dumped almost the whole sack of coffee into the pot."

    Jake's grimace seemed to be more than the silent young woman was able to bear. Tossing her head in a haughty gesture completely out of keeping with her unkempt appearance, she ignored Jake's presence and directed her comments to Ross. "I am not accustomed to performing menial tasks. I did not claim I could cook, but I
did try
!"

    Turning fully toward her with an abruptness that forced her to step back, Ross thrust the handle of the pan into her hands. "Try again!"

    Ignoring the woman's furious expression, Ross turned to Jake. There was no doubt in Jake's mind of the note on which this day had begun.

    "Come on inside, Jake. We've got things to discuss." Ross headed back to the cabin.

    Reluctant to step into the middle of the conflict, Jake watched as Ross's long strides took up the slack in the rope, abruptly jerking Devina forward. Managing to stifle his laughter as Devina struggled to match Ross's long strides, Jake shook his head. It seemed like Ross was in for more than he'd expected with this woman.

    Ross disappeared inside the cabin, dragging Devina behind him. Waiting only until they both had cleared the doorway, Jake took a deep breath and followed.

    "All right, do you understand exactly what you have to do?"

    Jake's brow knit in a frown. "Ross, we've been over this a dozen times. I leave here in the
mornin
' and go directly to Tombstone. I find out from Mack and Harry exactly what's been
happenin
' since the party." Jake paused to glance at Devina's back as she worked at the fireplace. He frowned. He wasn't comfortable with the Dale woman's keen eyes watching him and with the tension between her and Ross. Hell, Ross was acting downright queer.

        "And then what are you going to do, Jake?" Ross's voice was lacking in patience, and Jake's frown deepened.

    "I'm
goin
' to hang around Tombstone for a couple of days, and when I'm sure Dale is
runnin
' around in circles, I'm
goin
' to come back here to report to you."

    "Just make sure you don't let those two wastrels lead you astray, Jake." Ross's dour expression softened slightly. "If I know Mack and Harry, they're propping up a bar at the Alhambra or the Oriental, and they're enjoying every minute of it."

    But Jake wasn't smiling. "Sure, they're
enjoyin
' every minute, Ross. They couldn't care less about this whole thing. You know damned well they're only
doin
' you a favor by
stayin
' in town and
watchin
' things until I come back. As soon as I get to Tombstone, they're
goin
' to take their stake, clear out, and forget the whole thing."

    The small woman at the fireplace turned, and Jake caught her glance. Devina Dale wasn't missing a thing, and he had a feeling deep inside that he was going to regret this day.

    But Jake's anxious thoughts were interrupted as Devina Dale approached the table carrying a plate. He smiled. "Perfect, ma'am! That bacon is fried up just perfect. You sure are a quick learner."

    An unreadable flicker moved across Devina's face at Ross's low snort.

    "Finally," Ross said. "Now dish up the leftover beans and pour the coffee."

    Devina's sudden panic-stricken expression and her quick turn toward the fireplace brought Ross's instructions to a halt. His eyes followed her as she went back to the fireplace, his brows knitting together even more darkly than before.

    Still facing the fire, Devina stated flatly, "I forgot to stir the beans. They're stuck to the pot."

    Ross raised his eyes expressively toward the ceiling. "Looks like we're going to have to be satisfied with bacon and hardtack, Jake."

    "It doesn't matter much to me, Ross. I wasn't hungry, anyway."

    Jake's stomach took that moment to loudly contradict his response, and he smiled sheepishly. "As a matter of fact, I'm
thinkin
' I won't wait until tomorrow to go back to Tombstone. It doesn't look like you need me around here, and there's no use   
wastin
' time when I can be
findin
' out how things are
goin
'. While I'm there, I'll"

    "I don't want you going anywhere near that girl when you get there, Jake." Ross's low command cut sharply into Jake's words. "It's too dangerous."

    Resentment creased Jake's fair brow. "If you're
thinkin
' she isn't to be trusted"

    "It's not a matter of trust. It's too dangerous. Somebody might he watching her."

    "Come on, Ross! You know damned well nobody knows about Lai Hua and me."

    A low gasp from the fireplace made both men turn toward Devina.

    "Lai Hua? She's in on this with you?"

    Darting Jake a silent reprimand for his slip of tongue, Ross continued without acknowledging Devina's question. "Like I said, Jake, I don't want you going anywhere near the girl."

    Jake stiffened. "I'm
thinkin
' this isn't the time or the place to discuss Lai Hua, Ross."

    "Where and when would you think
is
the right time, Jake?" His voice hot with annoyance, Ross did not bother to acknowledge Devina as she poured coffee into the metal cups beside their plates. Ross leaned intently toward Jake. "I'm telling you to stay away from her for a while. For all we know, Dale could be having her watched."

    "Nobody knows about Lai Hua and me," Jake said again.

    "As far as you know."

    "I'm sure."

    Ross's face darkened. "We've waited a long time for this, Jake. A slip now could bring it all down around us."

    Jake's pale blue eyes were unrelenting. "You don't need to tell me how much
plannin
' and all else has gone into this, Ross. I was there from the
beginnin
', remember? And I'm
thinkin
' you should've learned by now to trust"

    "Jake, I'm not going to say it again. Stay away from the girl, unless you want to see us both back behind bars in Yuma."

    Shock made Devina stiffen and turn toward Ross.

    "That's right, Miss Dale. You've been kidnapped by two ex-convicts, one of whom your father sent to prison." The pale blue eyes widened, and Ross squelched his reaction to the extreme beauty of her delicate face. "So you've gotten some of the   answers you were looking for. Does it make you feel any better?''

    Devina's face continued to whiten, and Ross snapped harshly,

    "Sit down before you fall down, Devina."

    Devina sat in silence, and Ross pushed the plate of bacon in front of her with a deprecating glance. "Eat something. You won't be any use if you faint on me. Besides, I want to keep you in good health."

    Ross's harshness with the Dale girl brought a flush to Jake's face. There was a war going on between them, and Jake didn't want any part of it. He didn't bother to raise his head as Ross again addressed him.

    "Jake, about the girl… you heard what I said."

    "Yeah, I heard you. I'm
goin
' to Tombstone right after I finish
eatin
' and
takin
' care of a few things here."

    Ross hesitated, his face slipping into a frown. "There's no rush. I told you, I don't intend to contact Dale for at least a week."

    Jake raised his head briefly.

    "I'm
thinkin
' I'll find more to do with myself in Tombstone than here while we're
waitin
'. I'm
thinkin
' I'll be more useful there, too."

    Ross shrugged a broad shoulder in silent assent.

    Jake glanced at Devina Dale. It occurred to him she was a bit too quiet. His light brows pulled into a thoughtful frown.

    Ross stood in the doorway of the cabin, squinting into the brilliant light of midday. Jake had just turned out of sight on the trail back to Tombstone. During the short time he had remained at the cabin he had left Devina Dale as wide a berth as possible. Jake's discomfort with their beautiful hostage had been obvious, and Ross had no doubt it accounted for his early departure.

    Ross's squint turned into a frown. Jake didn't approve of his methods, but then, Jake didn't have a personal stake in this situation. Unlike Ross, he didn't have demons eating at him, driving him. He didn't feel the sense of urgency building inside him, the realization that he had to make this plan work.

    At a sound behind him, Ross turned, halting Devina Dale in her step. His eyes touched on the disheveled young woman who was the key to the success of his plans. His heart lurched in his    chest as she held his gaze for a long, silent moment with her great silver-blue eyes.

    When she spoke, her voice emerged in a whisper. "Is it true?"

    Annoyed at his conflicting reactions to her and angered by the agitation they worked within him, Ross frowned. "Is what true?"

    "Lai Hua was part of this scheme?"

    "I told you, I don't answer questions."

    "Damn you! At least tell me that!"

    Ross held her gaze a few tantalizing moments longer. "What do you think?"

    Tears filled her eyes, and Ross felt a moment's regret as she turned and walked back to the table. Abruptly angry with himself for his weakness, he went to her side. When she raised her head, his inner struggle was reflected in the fierce frown that darkened his face as he reached out to untie the rope encircling her waist.

    Devina's reaction was one of surprise. "You're untying me?"

    "You have a conveniently short memory, Devina. Last night I gave you some freedom, and you abused it. Did you think I would forgive you just because you made a halfhearted effort to cooperate this morning?"

    The rope fell from her waist to the floor, and Ross reached for the narrow leather thongs on the mantel. In a quick movement he forced Devina's wrists together and looped the leather strip around them. She started to speak. Failing in the attempt, she swallowed and tried once more. Her voice emerged in a low rasp. "Please…"

    His desire for this woman growing more overpowering with each moment those solemn eyes looked into his, Ross responded with a gruffness that was foreign even to his own ears. "Please what, Devina? What do you want?"

    "Please don't tie me."

    "Give me a good reason why I shouldn't."

    "I… I don't want to be tied."

    Steeling himself against her appeal, Ross pulled the thong tighter. In a quick movement, he lifted her off her feet and carried her to the bed. Dropping her on the hard mattress, he snatched her feet together and looped the second thong around them. Leaning over her, Ross looked into her brimming eyes.