Texas Cinderella (12 page)

Chapter Fourteen

C
assie could tell by the expression on Riley's face that there was something of great import on his mind. Was it just because he found it so difficult to ask for help, or was something else going on here?

“What can I do for you?”

“I need to be in Tyler early Wednesday morning for a very important business meeting. And of course, I can't take the kids with me in their current condition.”

Was that all? “You want me to watch them while you're gone. I'll be glad—”

He lifted a hand to stop her. “Before you agree, there are some things I need to tell you that might change the way you feel about us.”

She doubted that, but merely nodded. “Go on.”

“It concerns the man who is the children's father and my stepbrother, Guy Simpson.”

Now she was confused. “But, I mean, isn't the children's father deceased?”

“No, but their mother is.” Riley tightened his lips for a moment, as if repressing some unpleasant thought. “Let me start at the beginning. My mother married Guy's father when I was eight years old and Guy was fifteen. They came to live on the horse ranch my father had built and operated before he passed. At first I not only liked but admired Guy. He was charming, athletic, handsome and very articulate—everything an eight-year-old boy would like to grow up to be. He could charm the rattle from a rattlesnake. And, as it turns out, he was just about as treacherous.”

Cassie heard the disgust in Riley's voice and wasn't certain she really wanted to hear the rest of this story.

“After a while,” he continued, “I began to sense he wasn't the person he appeared to be on the surface. But even then, it took some time for me to understand the depths of his corruption. He didn't seem to be bothered by any of the treachery he took part in, as if he didn't have a conscience.”

Cassie's stomach tightened as she absorbed his words. How awful it must have been to know such a person was a part of his own household.

“Then he met Nancy Greene. She came from a fairly well-to-do family and spent most of her adolescence back east in boarding and finishing schools. It was when she returned home for good that her and Guy's paths crossed. Guy brought all his charm to bear in wooing her and quickly won her favor. Her father wasn't as easily won over, however. I'm not sure if it was because he suspected what kind of man Guy was or because he wanted better for his daughter than some horse rancher's son.”

Already Cassie felt her heart go out to Nancy. It sounded as if neither her father nor her suitor were really honorable men.

“Mr. Greene promised to disown his daughter if she married Guy, but Guy vowed that it was Nancy he wanted, not her money. Of course, that was a lie. No one really believed Jerome Greene would disown his only child.

“But he did. On the day of their wedding, Greene made out a new will, leaving everything he owned to some distant cousin who lived hundreds of miles away.” Riley's lips twisted in a crooked smile. “I think he would have eventually relented, but he never had the chance. Three days after the wedding he died of a heart attack.”

Cassie could guess how the man Riley was describing would have reacted to that.

“My stepfather was more generous—he gave the newlyweds sixty acres of our ranch land, a piece that was suitable for farming, as a wedding gift. But Guy never thought he was cut out to be a rancher or farmer—he had much loftier ambitions. He blamed Nancy, and he was not above abusing her when he drank or his temper flared.”

Cassie saw Riley's hands curl into fists and felt her own anger burn.

“Of course, not many people knew this darker side of Guy. He and Nancy put on a good front when they were in public. But I saw evidence of it with my own eyes.”

There was a haunted look in his face and she refrained from asking exactly what it was he'd witnessed.

“Guy began hunting for other ways to make the kind of money he thought he deserved. He took long trips away from home, leaving Nancy to tend to the farm on her own, and would eventually return with large sums of money. At first I thought he'd taken to gambling, and that might have been part of it. But when Pru was barely four, he took her, against Nancy's will, on one of these trips, and when he returned I heard him brag about how easy it was to charm rich widows into just handing over their money, especially when there was a young child in the picture.

“Eventually, his crimes caught up with him. Four years ago Guy was arrested and put in prison for taking part in a bank robbery. He was given a three-year sentence.”

Four years ago... Noah would have been little more than a toddler. But Pru would have been old enough to have a sense of what was happening.

“Nancy was left running the farm and raising the kids on her own, though that wasn't much different than it had been before Guy went to prison. She actually did well, until she got sick. That's when she contacted me for help.

“I stayed with her, keeping the farm running and doing what I could, until she passed two months later. Before she died, she made me promise not to let Guy get hold of the children again. She was afraid of how he would use them to further his own ends. And also what kind of treatment they'd receive at his hands.”

There was a long pause and Cassie spoke up. “That's all so horrible. I can see why you're so protective of Noah and Pru. Where is their father now?” She'd done the math—the man had been out of prison for a year at this point.

“Unfortunately, I have reason to believe Guy's trying to track the kids down. That's why we move around so much. I'm trying to stay ahead of him.”

“Do the children know that's the reason?”

“Yes. I thought it best to be honest with them so that if Guy does show up they won't be caught unawares.”

“But I don't understand. If he's as bad as you say, surely you can make a case for not letting him have control of the children.”

Riley's jaw tightened. “There's no ‘if' to it. And the stakes are too high for me to take a chance. He's their father, after all. I'm just their uncle. By law, he has more right to them than I do, and I'm afraid I'd ultimately be forced to hand them over.” Riley shook his head. “You don't know Guy. I've seen him talk his way out of situations where he's been caught dead to rights, more times than you could imagine. When I said he's charming I wasn't exaggerating. You sit down and talk to him, and look into those sincere blue eyes of his, and before long you find yourself believing every word coming out of his mouth. I can't risk the kids' futures on my ability to convince the law that he's a liar and a crook. Especially a lawman or judge who has no reason to take my word over his.”

Cassie turned the topic back to its original focus. “And this meeting on Wednesday... It has something to do with keeping him away from Noah and Pru?”

Riley nodded. “Before she died, Nancy told me about another crime Guy committed—the Ploverton bank robbery. That crime was much worse than the one he got arrested and went to prison for. In the Ploverton robbery a great deal more money was involved and two people were killed, including a young man whose wife was expecting their first child.”

The black marks against the children's father just kept growing.

“Guy bragged to Nancy about his involvement, but there was no proof she could offer the law besides what they called hearsay.”

“But now you've found some kind of proof?”

“One of the first things I did when Nancy died was hire a Pinkerton detective to try to find some evidence that would prove Guy was indeed involved in that robbery. If I can find that proof, then Guy will be sent back to prison, this time for much, much longer than three years. That detective, Mr. Claypool, thinks he's finally close to finding that proof.”

Cassie placed a hand on Riley's arm. “Then of course you must go. And don't worry about the children, I'll keep a close eye on them.”

He stared at her hand a minute and she started to pull it away. But then he covered it with his own and met her gaze. “I need to make certain you understand that Guy is actively looking for them. I think it's unlikely he'll show up here the one day I'm gone, but if he does, things could get ugly.”

“I'll be ready. Besides, with the children having chicken pox, he won't be able to go anywhere with them.” She drew herself up. “I can fetch Sheriff Gleason if Guy so much as thinks about doing so.”

Riley grinned at that. “Feisty. Like a bear protecting her cubs.”

Cassie's cheeks warmed, but so did her heart.

She reluctantly drew her hand away, missing the warmth of his touch almost immediately.

No wonder the children never spoke of their father. Noah, of course, would have been only two or three when the man went to prison, so he likely didn't remember much of him.

But Pru, poor Pru, who had been used in some of his schemes and who had likely witnessed how the man treated her mother... The memories she had were no doubt of the nightmare variety.

If there was anything she could do to help Riley keep those children safe, Cassie would do it.

Even if it meant watching them walk out of her life.

Chapter Fifteen

“C
assie, I need you to do me a favor when you go out to deliver your baked goods.”

Cassie paused from packing the hamper and glanced up at her employer. Breakfast was over and she and Mrs. Flanagan had the kitchen to themselves for the moment. Riley was in the backyard with Noah, and Pru was settled in her room with a book.

“Of course,” she replied. “Do you need me to pick something up from one of the merchants?”

Mrs. Flanagan held out a slip of paper. “I'd like you to deliver this to Betty Pratt on your way back. And wait for an answer.”

Cassie took the missive and slipped it into her pocket. “Pru passed a much easier night last night. I know she has a way to go yet, but hopefully she's been through the worst of it now.”

“That's good news,” the widow said with a nod. “Especially since Noah's likely to show symptoms soon.”

Cassie lifted her basket, feeling the weight of it. If she received many more orders she'd need to make her deliveries in two trips. All in all, not a terrible problem to have.

As she went about delivering her baked goods, she found her mind playing back the conversation with Riley yesterday evening. It was hard to believe that anyone could be as truly reprehensible as Riley had described his stepbrother. But she knew, even though she'd never experienced it herself, that there really was evil in the world.

It warmed her heart that he'd trusted her, not only with such a personal, painful story, but with the care of the children. She only hoped she could be strong enough to protect them should the need arise.

Cassie stopped at the Pratt home on her way back, as Mrs. Flanagan had asked, and gave Mrs. Pratt the note.

After reading it, the doctor's wife looked up and smiled at her. “Tell Irene that, yes, I'd be delighted.” The twinkle in her eye made Cassie wonder just exactly what the two older women were cooking up.

When she reported back to Mrs. Flanagan, the widow gave a satisfied nod. “Excellent.” Then she turned to Riley, stopping him as he headed out for the livery. “By the way, Mr. Walker, I would appreciate it if you could be back by ten thirty this morning. I have something I'd like you to do for me.”

“That shouldn't be a problem.” He raised an eyebrow. “Mind if I ask what it is you need me to do? Just in case I should pick up some tools or supplies.”

She waved a hand. “No tools required. Now, there's no time to get into everything right now. I'll explain when you get back.”

Riley exchanged a look with Cassie, and she shrugged to indicate she was as much in the dark as he was.

Not that she wasn't curious. But the widow was apparently enjoying this little touch of mystery, and Cassie wouldn't begrudge her that.

* * *

Riley had a smile on his face as he headed back to Mrs. Flanagan's home after his morning shift at the livery was complete. Had the widow put off the explanation because she was afraid he'd turn her down? Or was she planning some sort of surprise? Whatever it was she had for him to do, he'd do it. The woman had been too generous to him and the kids for him to refuse her anything.

He jammed his hands in his pockets, thinking about that. Mrs. Flanagan and Cassie had been more than generous. They'd treated him and the kids like family. And that was something he no longer took for granted.

He stepped into the kitchen to find Cassie, Mrs. Flanagan and a woman he'd never met already there.

Mrs. Flanagan was the first to greet him. “Oh, good, you're right on time.”

“On time for what?”

“To meet Doc Pratt's wife. Riley Walker, this is Betty Pratt. Betty, this is Riley Walker.”

“Pleased to meet you, ma'am.” Was Mrs. Flanagan going to ask him to do something at the house next door?

“I've been watching you two young people work yourselves ragged trying to do everything—take care of the kids, the house, the upkeep, the cooking, your job.” She waved a hand. “Like I said, everything.”

Cassie's brow furrowed. “But that's what—”

Mrs. Flanagan didn't let her finish. “You two are not going to be any good to me or the children or anyone else if you wear yourself down to nubs.”

Riley crossed his arms and waited, intrigued to see where she was going with this.

“Now, Betty has agreed to stay with the kids and me for the next several hours, and Riley here doesn't need to get back to the livery until later this afternoon, so that leaves about four hours for you two to get out of this house and do something relaxing. Take a walk, or better yet, go on a picnic. Cassie, you can show Riley here some of the nice spots in the area—Mercer's Pond, Gibson's meadow, the old lookout point on the bluff.”

“Oh, and there's that pretty spot out near the Keeter farm,” Mrs. Pratt added. “And see—” she pointed to a hamper on the kitchen table “—at Irene's request, I packed a cold meal for two, so there's no need to worry about your lunch.”

“Of course, it's entirely up to you where you go and what you do,” Mrs. Flanagan stated. “I just want you two away from this house for the next several hours. We'll all benefit if you come back refreshed.”

Cassie crossed her arms over her chest, her raised brow and stiff posture making it obvious something had got her back up. “Are you saying you're not happy with the way I've been doing my job lately?” she asked.

“Goodness, girl, don't get prickly. All I'm saying is you deserve a bit of time off before you wear yourself out. And if you don't believe you do, then what about Riley here? Don't think I haven't noticed all the little things that are suddenly working again around here. Don't you think he deserves a bit of relaxation?”

Riley wasn't sure how he felt about Mrs. Flanagan using him as leverage to get Cassie to agree to her plan. Then again, he found he liked the idea of a guilt-free outing with Cassie, so he decided to hold his peace.

She glanced his way. “What do you think?”

He spread his hands in a gesture of surrender. “I'm thinking we don't have much choice.”

* * *

A few minutes later Cassie found herself on the front porch, with Riley holding the food basket provided by Mrs. Pratt. She gave her companion a wry smile. “So what do we do now?”

He lifted the basket slightly. “I think we go on a picnic. I'll provide the transportation if you'll direct us to somewhere appropriate.” He swept a hand out. “Shall we?”

Fifteen minutes later, when Riley handed her up into the wagon they'd procured at the livery, she noticed River was tied to the back. So he planned to get some riding done while they were out. She supposed she couldn't blame him—he'd had little chance to ride since he'd been here. Duchess was pulling the wagon so she could visit with her old friend while he was getting in his ride.

Riley took his seat and lifted the reins, then turned to her. “So, where shall we go?”

“Since you're bringing River along, I think we should head out to Mercer's Pond. It's a pretty spot and there's a meadow that's fairly open and level that'll be good for riding.”

“Sounds perfect. Point the way.”

“You know,” Cassie said as they headed out of town, “if we'd already told Mrs. Flanagan about your plan to leave for Tyler tomorrow, she might not have thought this outing necessary.”

“I don't know about that. It appeared to me that she was just as worried about you getting some time to yourself as she was me.”

“For all her brusque ways, she really is a dear lady.”

They rode in a comfortable silence for a while.

It was Cassie who broke that silence first. “Do you mind if I ask you a question about your stepbrother?”

He inwardly groaned. It wouldn't be much of an outing if they focused on Guy. But he could hardly tell her no. “Ask away.”

“Why would he be so interested in the children? I mean, it sounds as if he didn't pay them much mind before he went to prison. And now that he's free once more, it doesn't seem as if a man like that would want to encumber himself with the care of young children.”

That was a fair question. And an intelligent one. “You need to understand the kind of person Guy is. He viewed Nancy and the kids as possessions. They were his, and though he might not pay much attention to them, he never shares anything he considers his with anyone else.”

Riley chose his next words carefully. “As I said last night, he's also used Pru to further some of his shady schemes in the past. I'm certain he has plans to do more of the same sort of thing.”

Riley saw Cassie's jaw tense. “We can't let him get his hands on them,” she declared.

He was warmed by her use of
we
. “We won't.” Then he gave her a smile. “Let's not let Guy spoil our outing today. Tell me how your bakery business is going and what plans you have for it moving forward.”

To his relief, she took her cue and the conversation moved on to more pleasant topics.

* * *

Cassie was almost sorry when they arrived at the pond. She'd enjoyed the ride, sitting close to Riley on the seat of the buckboard, having him listen so attentively to her dreams about the bakery, and not only listen but provide his own thoughts and opinions when she'd asked for them.

When he came around to help her down from the wagon, his hands seemed to stay at her waist a little longer than necessary, not that she found it at all unpleasant.

Once he released her, he let his gaze roam the open meadow and pond. “You were right—this is perfect for a nice ride.”

Was he going to abandon her for River so soon?

He studied the pond for a moment. “That looks like a good fishing spot.”

“From what I've heard, it is.”

He glanced her way. “Don't you fish?”

“I tagged along with my brothers when I was younger, but haven't in a very long time.”

“We should have brought some fishing poles today. It's been a while since I baited a hook.”

Cassie started to say they could do that next time, but then he remembered there wouldn't be a next time. Instead she gave him an overly innocent look. “How are you at skipping stones?”

“Fair to middlin'.” Then he raised a brow. “That wouldn't by any chance be your way of issuing me a challenge?”

“Maybe.”

He rolled up his sleeves. “Then you're on.”

She was inordinately pleased that he wasn't ready to abandon her for his ride just yet.

They spent the next fifteen minutes or so trying to best each other at the art of skipping stones, while haggling over whether the objective was to get the stone to skip the farthest or the most times.

In the end, they agreed to call it a draw.

Riley took her arm and began moving back to the wagon. “Now it's my turn to issue you a challenge.”

“And what challenge would that be?”

He released her and moved toward Duchess. “I think it's high time a person as fond of horses as you are learns to ride.”

She frowned, not sure what she thought about that. “Today?”

“No time like the present,” he said cheerfully.

“But I'm not dressed for riding.”

He studied her garment. “Your skirt is sufficiently full to protect your modesty and you can mount from the bed of the wagon to make it less awkward.”

Once he had Duchess unhitched, he led the mare to the back of the wagon, where he lifted out a saddle that had been stowed under a sheet of canvas.

It didn't seem to take him much time at all to get the mare saddled. Then he turned to her. “Ready?”

With a nod she allowed him to assist her into the wagon bed, suddenly feeling quite daring.

Once Cassie was settled in the saddle, he smiled. “Don't worry. Duchess is a steady mount. And you two are already old friends. Now, I'm going to lead her around for a bit and let you get used to the feel of her, okay?”

Cassie nodded and he set Duchess in motion. Riley kept an eye on them, advising Cassie on how to adjust her position, and describing how to give instructions to the horse. He was a patient and articulate teacher and his love of horses really came through. Finally, he gave her an approving look. “I think you're ready to try this on your own.”

Cassie wasn't certain she quite agreed with his assessment, but he was already turning to River.

Riley untied the horse from the back of the wagon and mounted him in one quick, graceful movement that earned her admiration. A moment later he had pulled his horse up alongside hers. “We'll ride side by side. Just relax and enjoy.”

Easier said than done. By his own admission, he'd been riding since before he could walk. This was her first time riding a horse solo.

But Riley kept his word to stay beside her, mixing words of encouragement with casual conversation, and gradually Cassie felt her apprehension ease. And before long she was actually enjoying herself. So much so that when Riley asked her if she was up for increasing the pace she allowed Duchess to break into a trot without a moment's hesitation.

They ended their ride by letting the horses drink their fill at the pond, then rode them back to the wagon.

Riley dismounted first, then came around to assist Cassie. He had enjoyed watching her gain confidence as a rider. She'd taken to it as easily as he'd figured she would.

Cassie smiled down at him, her face flushed with triumph and exhilaration from her ride. In that moment, she was so achingly beautiful that she took his breath away.

As she slid down trustingly into his arms, his hands tightened around her. Their gazes met and locked, and he could not for the life of him release her. She felt nice in his arms like this—soft, warm, feminine. It was as if they were in a little bubble—isolated, protected, uplifted. Her lips looked so sweet and kissable. What would she do if he put that thought into action?

Then Duchess nickered and the spell was broken.