Whirlwind Groom (25 page)

“It
means
I'm an idiot.” Davis Lee sliced the blade in a furious slide down the stick that was dwindling into a toothpick with each pass.

“Listen, I know you're mad as a hornet. I would be, too, but if you don't come to some kind of terms with her, I think you'll regret it. You look like you're ready to burn some powder.”

“Don't worry, I don't plan to shoot her, but even finding out about how Betsy hornswoggled me didn't get me this lathered up. If I don't see Josie Webster till the Judgment Day, it'll be too soon.”

“From what you've said, it doesn't sound like she came here to deliberately hurt anyone except that piece of human garbage back there in that cell.”

“No, I just happened to be lucky enough to be useful to her.” He was a fool. He'd thought he was being so smart, so careful, but she'd gotten to him anyway, burrowed someplace deep inside that Betsy had never even touched.

“Can't say I blame her for wanting to kill Ian McDougal.” Riley's face hardened. “I'd like to hurt him myself just for the way he and his brothers endangered Susannah and Catherine, not to mention killing Ollie.”

Davis Lee nodded. “I don't take issue with
why
Josie came. The bastard killed her folks, the man she was going to marry. It does bother me that she used me to get information about him. That she kept things from me when we…were past that. Or I thought we were.”

He actually did believe she cared about him. Her feelings had been plain in her eyes when he'd taken her last night. Maybe it was his vanity, but he didn't think she could've faked that. Still, just because she felt something for him didn't mean she hadn't used him.

Riley studied him soberly. “What are you going to do?”

“Stay the hell away from her and watch my back.”

He thought back over how often she'd come around, her constant post at the hotel window, how she always seemed to be watching, waiting for someone besides him.
How she'd slept with him while there was a secret between them.
Just the idea that he thought he might have loved her twisted his gut into a vicious knot.

He'd seen the hurt in her eyes, hurt that had nothing to do with what Ian McDougal had done to her and everything to do with Davis Lee's words to her. He thought of the times he'd seen pain in her eyes and wondered if he had caused it, when all the time it had nothing to do with him. Had her feelings
ever
had anything to do with him?

What if she really had thought that sleeping with him would lower his guard so much that he'd tell her he understood why she'd come and would do whatever she wanted regarding McDougal? He wouldn't say that out loud; it sounded ridiculous. Paranoid. But it didn't stop him wondering if maybe Josie was hoping Davis Lee would take her right to the outlaw then look the other way while she finished him.

He had started to believe that whatever her secret, it didn't affect him—
them.
Plain and simple, he'd let his guard down. Just like with Betsy, he'd been overcome by lust. Last night, the need to have Josie under him had burned away every ounce of common sense.

If she really had feelings for him, she would've told him the whole story sometime back. Wouldn't she?

Thinking about the way she'd looked at him while he was deep inside her, how devastated she'd seemed when he confronted her this morning, dimmed the anger inside him. He didn't want to feel anything
except
anger. If he did, he would never be able to stay away from her.

Oh, yeah, he'd come close to going under, but he knew
where things stood now. Those deep green eyes and sweet little body weren't going to snare him again.

 

Josie purposely stayed away from her hotel window. She hadn't seen him in four days. Four days of anger and hurt and frustration that had her doing sloppy work and ripping out stitches right and left. He hadn't believed her. It didn't appear he ever would. He needed time to cool off; Josie had thought maybe after a couple of days she could go to him. But just one look at his face, even from two stories up, had her keeping her distance.

She was in love with him. Thankfully she hadn't confessed
that.

Sunday after church, she welcomed the distraction of Catherine's last fitting for her wedding gown. The dark-haired woman stopped by after the service. Josie hadn't had the courage to go and risk coming face-to-face with Davis Lee.

The wedding was scheduled for Wednesday, and though Josie had seen no sign of the groom, Catherine didn't appear anxious in the least. After pinning one final tuck in the bodice, Josie walked her friend downstairs. “Your dress will be ready tomorrow. I'll bring it by.”

“Thank you. I've never had anything so lovely. You're very talented.”

Josie smiled, feeling as if only half of her were there.

Catherine put a hand on her arm. “I know it's none of my business, but you look like you could use someone to talk to.”

Josie did need someone, but Catherine? The woman was a dear friend of Davis Lee's and Josie didn't want her to think for a minute that she would try to come between that friendship.

“It's about you and Davis Lee, isn't it?”

Josie's eyes widened.

“We've seen you two together. Susannah and I. Cora. It's obvious there's something between you.”

“Not anymore.” Josie folded her arms tight against her middle. “We had words.”

“I wondered. He's been like a bear and I've never seen him like that. Isn't there a chance you can work it out?”

“I don't know. I don't think he wants to and I can't say I blame him.”

Catherine stared at her for a long minute then a slow smile broke over her face. “There was a time when Jericho wanted me to stay away from him.”

Josie's jaw dropped. “From what I've heard, the man's head over heels for you.”

“We had some things to resolve first.” She told Josie how Jericho had arrived at her house, shot and bleeding. How she had nursed him back to health only to learn he had come there to arrest her brother.

Josie shook her head. “And you forgave him for keeping that from you?”

“He had good reason, but it took me a while to accept it.”

The situation sounded like hers and Davis Lee's in reverse.

Catherine patted her hand. “Don't give up. Go to him.”

Had he cooled off enough to listen to her? To believe her? And so what if he had? The memory of his harsh words had her spine going to steel. He had accused her of an awful thing. Maybe
she
wasn't ready to forgive
him.
“I'll think about it.”

“He's a good man, Josie. And I think you're good for him.”

Behind Catherine, the hotel's front door opened and Josie's heart quickened. But it wasn't Davis Lee. The man who stepped inside sweeping off his hat was taller, the tallest man she'd ever seen. Dressed all in black, with a gun
belt slung low on his hips, he looked dangerous. His dark hair was ragged, his rugged features lined with fatigue and dust, but it was his light-colored eyes that caught her attention.

And the adoring smile that spread across his face, completely transforming him. “Catherine?”

Josie's friend let out a cry as she whirled and flew across the floor straight into his arms. He caught her to him, kissing her as he lifted her off the floor, his hat crushed against her back.

So this was the fiancé, the Ranger. The one who'd told Davis Lee all about her. She didn't blame Jericho Blue for doing what she should've done herself. But she didn't imagine the Ranger would be too eager to make her acquaintance.

Watching Catherine with her soon-to-be-husband magnified the hollowness Josie had felt since the awful morning when Davis Lee had gotten so angry at her. Thinking to give the couple some privacy, she quietly started for the stairs.

“Oh, Josie, don't go!” Catherine was breathless and flushed as she pulled Jericho forward.

He had looked rough when he first walked in. Now he looked besotted and handsome. “Catherine,” he murmured. “I smell like horses and dirt.”

“This is my fiancé.” She glanced up at him, hugged his arm to her. “Jericho, this is Josie Webster. She's new in town. She's making my dress for the wedding.”

“Nice to meet you.” He shook her hand, a mild curiosity in eyes that she could now see were a stunning silver. “I'm glad to hear Catherine is actually having the dress made and not using that money for someone else.”

Giving him a look, his fiancée said, “Trusting the money to Andrew rather than me was probably a good idea.”

Josie smiled. How could she help it? “It's nice to meet you, too. Congratulations on your upcoming wedding.”

“Thank you.” His gaze shifted to Catherine, so tender that Josie felt she was interfering in a private moment. “Sweetheart, I don't want to interrupt, but Ma and the girls are outside—”

“Jericho!”

Josie froze at the sound of Davis Lee's voice and her throat closed up. His cousin must've been blocking her from his view because she heard him approach, his boots tapping on the wood floor. If he'd seen her, he wouldn't be coming this direction.

“I just saw Aunt Jess and your sisters. They said you were—” he saw her, faltered “—back.”

For the space of a heartbeat, their gazes met and the air turned stifling. She thought she saw an inkling of pleasure in his eyes, but knew it must be wishful thinking.

He jerked his gaze away, trying to fix his attention square on Jericho. It was all he could do not to haul her to him and kiss her right out of her drawers. But that was his body talking, not his brain. He had tried not to think about Josie, but no matter how long he worked or how much he drank, he couldn't get her out of his mind. He'd finally given up. “Your ma said you did it. Resigned from the Texas Rangers.”

“You did?” Catherine looked uncertain.

“It's all right.” Jericho slid one arm around her waist and pulled her close. “It's practically expected that we leave service after getting married.”

“So you'll be here all the time?” At his nod, Catherine beamed.

Davis Lee was pleased, too. Would've been more pleased if Miss Josie Webster weren't standing less than a foot away, looking all soft and pretty, teasing him with her
honeysuckle scent. Since that night they'd spent together, he'd washed his sheets twice. Lye soap was strong enough to strip the stink out of a skunk, but he was still tortured by the faintest whiff of her fragrance.

He clapped Jericho on the shoulder. “Hey, I could use some help. I could swear you in as a full-time deputy.”

With a smile, the other man shook his head. “I'll be happy to help you sometimes, but my hand's never gonna mend all the way, at least not enough to make me worth more than about four good shots. A deputy needs a more dependable gun hand.”

Davis Lee saw Catherine slip her hand into Jericho's lame one. His cousin smiled down at her. “I thought I'd talk to Jed Doyle about partnering up in his gunsmith shop. Nobody stands to lose their life if my hand gives out while I'm building a gun.”

Davis Lee slapped his cousin on the back, wondering for the hundredth time if Josie had really wanted him only for information on McDougal? What else could he think? “That's a good idea.”

His gaze shifted to Josie. The square-necked bodice of her dress was cut just below her collarbone and he had a good view of that little mole he'd kissed plenty the other night. Since that morning at his house, his anger toward her had lessened, but it hadn't changed his mind. Watching her closely, he said, “I got a wire from the circuit judge who's coming for McDougal's trial. He should be here by Friday.”

For a moment, she seemed stunned that he'd told her. And wary, as if she expected him to tell all to Catherine and Jericho. He kept remembering her face when she'd told him about her family, about William. Davis Lee fully understood her need to avenge their deaths, but would he have used someone the way she had? Would he have handled things any differently than Josie had? He admitted he wasn't sure, which didn't sit well at all.

Josie smiled at Catherine. “Is the circuit judge the one who will marry the two of you?”

“No. We asked Reverend Scoggins.”

“It's good that you won't have to wait on the judge.”

Davis Lee glanced at her. Was her voice shaking? “I figure McDougal's trial will bring in a wave of people from all over.”

Jericho agreed.

Davis Lee looked at Josie. “I don't know Judge Satterly, but I've heard he's fair. I look for McDougal to be found guilty and strung up.”

She nodded, the color draining from her face. He wondered what she was thinking. About leaving? Once McDougal was dead, she would likely get out of town. Davis Lee hated that thought, but if she stayed it would slowly kill him.

Jericho glanced at Catherine. “Davis Lee is gonna help us get Ma and the girls out to Riley's place.”

She nodded. “I'll be right out.”

After saying goodbye to Josie, the Ranger brushed a kiss against Catherine's temple then started across the lobby with Davis Lee.

“You'll still come to the wedding, won't you?” Davis Lee heard Catherine ask Josie.

“Of course. I wouldn't miss it.”

Davis Lee opened the door and waited for his cousin to precede him. He glanced back, his gaze crashing into Josie's.

If she stayed, he'd have to be the one to go. Marshal Clinton had twice offered him a job in Abilene. Davis Lee would prefer to have more distance from the woman who'd gotten under his skin, but he didn't want to move any farther away from his family. If he lived in Abilene, avoiding Josie when he visited Whirlwind probably wouldn't take much effort.

Josie tore her gaze from his, exhaling a ragged breath when he walked out. She couldn't believe her legs hadn't folded the second she'd seen him.