The Marshal Takes A Bride (22 page)

Sarah glared at the gunfighter and stepped from behind Tucker. “Who told you about my boy?”

He smiled and leaned back on his horse. “Just heard it from a friend. You might even know him. Wo Chan.”

Tucker heard Sarah’s deep intake of air. It wasn’t quite a gasp, but enough that he knew the words had frightened her. He resisted the urge to glance at Sarah. He didn’t dare take his eyes off the gunfighter. Not while the gunfighter’s hands were within easy reach of his Starr Army revolvers.

“He’s who you’re working for,” she concluded. The gunfighter shrugged. “Maybe.”

“Why did he hire you?” she asked, her voice startled.

“He wanted a fast gun and a man who had beaten the marshal here.” Lansky grinned. “I’m both.” Tucker had an uneasy feeling in his midsection.

Lansky was here to kill him. And unfortunately, he had ridden into town without Tucker even knowing he was here, until he had made his presence known by shooting off his firearm.

God, Tucker felt like an idiot. He had become too laid back in his job, and that could only get him killed. He was too obsessed with Sarah.

The thought completely stunned him, and he had to force himself to pay attention.

“You may have shot me the first time, but you’re older and you’re naturally slower. There’s no guarantee that you won’t die this time,” Tucker said calmly.

“No, there’s not. That’s just one of the hazards of the job. But I’m not afraid. I almost killed you that first time. If not for the good doctor here, you would have died.”

Tucker shrugged. “You’re right. But you’re not the first gunslinger to ride in here and think that I’m sitting in a rocking chair. When you think you want to meet me in the street, set the time and place.”

“Whoa!” the gunslinger said, leaning away from Tucker, his hands still close to his sides. “You may be anxious to die; but I have a job I’ve been hired to do, and I aim to get it done before I leave town.”

“Just what has Wo Chan hired you to do?” Sarah asked. Her voice brooked no argument. “It’s obvious you want us to know.”

He grinned at her. “I always thought you were a smart lady. And you’re right, I want you to know what I’m here for.”

“Just spit it out, Lansky. You’ve played your games long enough,” Tucker said, wishing he could just go ahead and draw on the man now and get it over with. But Sarah was beside him, and he wouldn’t risk her life.

The Kid laughed. “Though it’s been fun chatting with the two of you, I think you know why I’m here.”

Tucker didn’t reply, but just stared, determined to outwait the man. Horses clopped down the street, and people continued on unaware a shooting could erupt any moment.

“Mr. Chan hired me because one of his girls is missing. A pretty little Chinese whore about sixteen years old. She was one of his favorites. Earned him a lot of money, and he thinks that maybe the doctor here had something to do with her disappearance.”

“You’re wasting your time. You can go back and tell Mr. Chan that nothing’s changed since the last time he visited my office regarding that young girl,” Sarah said. “I still don’t know where she is.”

Wo Chan had gone to Sarah’s office more than the one time she had told him about? When? Why hadn’t Sarah said anything? Damn! How was he supposed to protect her if she didn’t confide in him and tell him when the man was bothering her?

“What about you, Tucker?” Lansky asked.

The man was not stupid, and something in Tucker’s face must have come to his attention. “I haven’t seen the girl since she disappeared.”

The gunfighter smiled. “Well, I just thought I would mention it to the two of you. Let you know that I’m in town for a short visit and some quick cash. I will find the girl.”

“Let us know when you do. I’ve been worried about her,” Sarah said, with a relaxed shrug. “In the meantime, we need to get going, Tucker, if we’re going to check on Rose.”

Tucker frowned. They weren’t going to the ranch today. What in the hell was she talking about?

“Lansky, if you know what’s good for you, you’ll be gone by sundown.”

“I’ll still be here long after dark.”

“I just bet you will.”

Tucker waited until Lansky pulled the reins on his horse, heading the animal down the street at a slow, leisurely pace, as though this was his town, his place.

Damn, but Tucker didn’t need this complication. Not now! Not with Sarah involved.

***

Sarah watched as Tucker drove the wagon around to the front of the building, past the mercantile, the bank and the cafe. The urge to take her reticule and bounce it off his skull was strong, but she resisted. Violence of any kind never solved problems, but sometimes it was tempting just to get his attention. Just to see if he would notice there was a problem.

He had practically issued the challenge himself while he was standing there talking to Kid Lansky. He must have some sadistic death wish to continue to put himself at risk by taking chances. Did he think that she could piece him back together again and again? That he was invincible?

He pulled the wagon to a halt in front of her, and before he could help her, she climbed in and plopped down on the hard bench. She deliberately ignored him as she gazed at the people bustling down the street, oblivious that the marshal was a fool.

With a flip of the reins, the wagon began to roll down the street. Dust kicked up by the animals’ hooves floated behind the horses. Sarah grabbed on to the side to keep from falling out as Tucker snapped the reins and urged the horses to a faster clip, the wheels taking them closer to the edge of town.

Finally, he turned and gave her a questioning look. “I didn’t know you were going to the ranch today.”

“I wasn’t going to tell you. I must check on Rose,” she said, her voice short and clipped.

“So what changed your mind about asking me to go? Our little run-in with Lansky?” he questioned.

The frustration and anger that had simmered just beneath the surface since last night, when he had openly admitted they were good bed partners, but never acknowledged it could be anything more, exploded. She faced him, the air in her lungs rushing out in a hissing sound.

“Do you want to die? I was afraid to leave you in town with Lansky for fear I’d come back to a corpse,” she said, venting her anger.

He laughed, the sound of his voice loud and confidant, irritating Sarah even more. Death wasn’t funny, and neither was a man who couldn’t face his feelings or admit that something more existed between them than sex.

“Oh, Sarah, I thought after last night, I was just another pretty face, but you really do care about me.”

Why did she get the feeling he was deliberately pushing her away, putting as much distance as he could between the two of them. And why did comments like that hurt so much?

“Damn you, Tucker Burnett. I’ve already patched up your sorry hide once. Next time you may not be as lucky.”

He smiled, and she wanted to swipe it from his face.

“I don’t want to die; but I’m the law, and I know his kind. He’s not welcome in my town. The sooner he leaves, the better.”

“Understood, but what were you thinking? You practically issued him a challenge,” she said, her voice rising, while he appeared so calm, so collected.

“Don’t be so dramatic, Doc. We haven’t met yet,” Tucker said, frowning for the first time.

“Tucker, you’ve as much as admitted to me that you enjoy meeting gunslingers. This is just another chance for you to continue living out your past. You still haven’t given up the danger, the excitement. I watched you while you spoke with Lansky, and you were intrigued. I could see the challenge reflected in your eyes, your stance. You were excited.”

He glanced over at her, an irritated expression on his face. “Yes, I’m a man! This is my job. No one gets away with disturbing the peace in my town. But especially not Kid Lansky.”

“Is it worth dying over, Tucker?” she asked.

“If it’s my time, then yes, I’ll die. But I’ll die doing my job, protecting the town,” he said.

“Your pride is not involved in this at all, then. You’re doing this strictly for the town and not to avenge the fact that he almost killed you three years ago?” she said, knowing the answer before he uttered a word.

“Hell yes, my pride’s involved. But I’m doing my job, Sarah,” he said.

The scenery rolled by, and she paid little heed to the few bluebonnets that were starting to open their flowers to the spring sunshine. Sarah knew that no matter what she said, he was not going to heed her warnings; she knew she was wasting her breath, and that frightened her.

She turned and glared at him, taking a deep breath. “Damn you, Tucker Burnett. You’d better not die, because hell isn’t ready for you. And I’m not ready to say good-bye.”

He laughed, while Sarah sat beside him rigid with anger.

“Don’t you think you’re getting all worked up for nothing? All we did today was talk. This may never come to pass.”

She glared at him. “I know you too well. If he remains in town, you’ll meet him. You’ll tell yourself you’re just doing your job, but you’ll be glad.”

He turned and stared at her as the wagon bumped along the road to his mother’s. His voice became serious, and his eyes darkened with fury. “I promise you I won’t meet him unless I have no choice.”

“Is that supposed to make me feel better? Surely there’s some crime you can pin on him, or if you’ll just give him some time, I’m sure he’ll commit one.”

“No, Sarah. I don’t arrest a man for a crime unless he deserves the punishment.”

Sarah turned away. She couldn’t look at him right now for fear he would see the tears that were gathered in the comers of her eyes. She was so angry with him. She was so afraid for him. She was so scared.

“So when did Wo Chan ask you about Kira?” She wiped her hands across her eyes and then turned to face him. “What are you talking about?”

His muscular hands controlled the reins of the horses, gripping the leather firmly but not too tightly.

“Today when we were standing there, you mentioned Wo Chan coming to your office. He’s been there more than once, hasn’t he? Did he threaten you, Sarah?”

Sarah glanced at him and then looked away. “It was nothing.”

Tucker cursed. “You should have told me. I can’t protect you if you don’t help me. I’ll post a deputy over there until this is over.”

“Maybe I don’t need your help dealing with Mr. Chan,” she said, her voice rising. “If you can take a chance on getting shot, I can take a chance on Wo Chan coming back.”

There was silence. Sarah wished she could take the words back. She hadn’t meant them to sound so harsh. But fear threatened to overwhelm her at the thought of Tucker meeting that gunfighter again. Last time she had saved him, but could she do it again?

“You know, Tucker, I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want you to overreact I kept hoping that he would just accept that Kira was gone and leave us alone. I can’t depend on you or come to need you, because you’re not always going to be around. And I couldn’t take it if you were hurt because of me.”

He glanced at her, his brown eyes confused and hurt. “You’re not responsible for me, Doc.”

She felt tears welling up behind her eyes, and she blinked them rapidly away. So much had changed in the last twenty-four hours. She had learned once again that Tucker was still capable of breaking her heart. And now the gunfighter who had almost killed him was back in town.

“No, but if you were to get into a gunfight because of me and get hurt ... I’d have a hard time living with myself. It’s just better if I don’t depend on you or anyone else to fight my battles. I have to make it on my own. I don’t need . . . you.”

“I’ll remember that.” Tucker shook his head and snapped the reins. “Damn it, Sarah, just once I’d like to hear you say ‘I need you.’ ”

“Why? You wouldn’t be there. You’d be off traveling the country, and I’d be alone.”

***

Tucker watched as Sarah ushered everyone out of the room, leaving her alone with Rose.

The poor woman looked as though the baby she was carrying was sitting on her knees, and Tucker couldn’t help but feel sorry for her. In some ways he was envious of Travis having a child; but he also knew what went with being a father, and the responsibility just didn’t fit with the life he had chosen. A federal marshal traveling the countryside had no need for a wife and family.

Somehow, though, the thought of living such a nomadic lifestyle just wasn’t quite as exciting as before. But once he left Fort Worth, once he was on the road, the thrill would return, he was certain.

“Come on, Travis, let’s go outside and talk,” Tucker said, leading his brother through the front door. “Where’s Tanner?”

“He and Beth are working on their new home down the road a ways. I try to go out and help them as much as I can, but I don’t want to be too far from Rose right now.”

“That’s understandable,” Tucker said, pacing the wooden porch, his boots rapping in steady rhythm.

“I’m so ready for this baby to get here. I want my wife back,” Travis said. “I guess I’m more nervous than I want Rose to know.”

Tucker nodded. “I’d think that was normal, especially with the first.”

Travis nodded and sighed. “So tell me what’s been going on with you? We haven’t seen much of you since Sarah came back to town.”

Tucker shrugged. “That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. Several things have come up.”

Travis glanced at him, a worried expression on his face. “Like what?”

“Like a federal marshal’s position working with Marshal McCoy.”

“That’s great.” Travis smiled at him. “You’ll be good at that”

“Yes, it is. I’ll be doing a lot of traveling and won’t get home much. But then, I’ve always liked traveling and seeing new country.”

“And you’ve enjoyed being a lawman.”

“Yes.”

“So when are you going to tell Mother?”

“Well, I haven’t accepted the position yet. And then I need to give the city council my resignation. Could be a while.”

“Does Sarah know?” Travis asked.

“You’re the only person I’ve told so far. I’ve been waiting.”

Travis’s forehead drew together in a frown. “For what?”