Eli strode out to the barn, saddled Dev and rode away. Swinging around for one last look at the cabin, he waved to Alfie. He couldn’t believe how hard it was to ride off alone.
After about an hour, Dev trotted down the main street of the small town of Milton. It was as non-descript as the hundreds of other towns he had passed through in his life. Livery, mercantile, feed store, saloon, church, and Marshall’s office. It might pay him to call in on the Marshall and check the ‘Wanted’ posters. He probably wouldn’t be lucky enough to get a job hunting someone local, still, stranger things had happened.
He tied Dev to the hitching rail and strode into the Marshall’s office. “Howdy, Marshall, I’m Eli Darcy.”
The thin, middle-aged man swung his feet off the desk and jumped to his feet. “The Eli Darcy?”
“Yeah. Is there anyone around here you need me to look for?”
“Nope. Check the board there, you might find something.”
Eli swept the poster board with a quick glance again, in case he had missed something. Nothing about Alfreda Montague, which was strange. He didn’t know why, but he decided not to mention her. “Are these the latest you’ve got?”
“Yeah.”
The Marshall was obviously a man of few words.
“Thanks, I’m just passing through, I need to pick up a few supplies.”
The Marshall waved him off and promptly sat down in his chair and swung his feet back on to the desk.
Eli strode out. He was almost tempted to stop in at the saloon for a drink, but he was worried about Daisy. “And Alfie,” a little voice whispered inside his head, causing him to swear under his breath. He was more curious about her than worried. What was her story? Who was she running from? Ride away and don’t look back, it’s safer that way. What in tarnation did she mean by that?
As he stepped through the door of the Mercantile, a bell tinkled and a beaming, elderly woman came up to him. “Howdy, stranger.”
“Howdy, Ma’am.” He touched his hat.
“Can I help you with anything?”
“I’ll just browse around and see what I want. Oh, do you have any medicine for a little gal who’s feeling poorly?”
“What’s wrong with her?”
“Well, she vomited her supper last night and was feverish. Seems better this morning, though. She didn’t eat much breakfast.”
The woman walked behind the counter and bobbed down. “This mixture is good for upset tummies and fever. It’s been around for years. I used to give it to my children and they use it on their own now.”
“All right, thanks, I’ll take it as long as you’re sure it isn’t harmful.” Remembering the concoctions his father mixed up made him wary.
He ordered flour, sugar, salt, coffee, molasses and some smoked beef and several cans of beans, plus a few potatoes and onions. He glanced around the clothing section and his eyes skimmed over the little gals undergarments, but he was too embarrassed to ask for help. Daisy would have to make do with what she had until he got to the Heinrich’s place. He had at least washed them out a couple of times.
What was wrong with him? His cheeks burned as he gave a hunted look around. The place was empty thank goodness. “Um….I need drawers for a little gal in about this size.” He held his hand at about Daisy’s head level as best he could remember. “Daisy is my niece, her parents were killed and I’m taking her to live with friends, but she’s only got um….” He’d rather put his hand in a bag full of rattlers than do this. “She needs a change.”
He could have sworn the woman hid a smile. He was making a right mess of this. He stuck his thumbs in his gun belt, watching as she made her selection.
“These, I think would be suitable, plain yet serviceable.”
“Yeah, none of the lacy stuff.”
On the counter were several tall jars filled with colorful candy. “Can you give me a couple of scoops of candy please? Mix up the colors a bit.” Daisy would like candy, what child didn’t? Alfie, too most probably. They could share.
He felt pleased with his purchases, but quite a few dollars poorer. “Could you give me a bag for them? I rode into town.”
He watched the woman fill two sacks, which he could hang over his pommel. As he picked one up in each hand, he was glad they weighed about the same.
“Thank you.”
He strode out of the store, and as the door shut behind him the bell tinkled. Dev waited patiently. “Well, pardner.” He patted the horse’s sleek neck. “That was darn embarrassing having to buy the little gal a pair of underdraws.”
Dev tossed his head.
“If you could talk, I’d have sent you in.” He laughed, wondering why he suddenly felt so happy. In an hour or so he’d be seeing Daisy. And Alfie. He couldn’t believe how much they meant to him. He’d made up his mind he would get the Heinrich’s to mind Daisy for him. If he could find and bring Alfreda Montague in and collect the reward, he could buy himself a place. Maybe pay some middle-aged widow woman to housekeep for him. Better still, he could ask Alfie. He wouldn’t mind marrying a gal like her. She was smart, pretty, capable and easy to get along with, and she certainly appealed to his manhood. Well, he had two plans now, whereas a couple of hours ago he had none. This Alfreda Montague held his destiny in her hands.
****
Alfie had spent a quiet morning. Daisy slept a lot of the time, so she did a little cleaning. She would have liked to have gone down to see Florence, but didn’t want to leave Daisy alone.
Last week she had shot a wild turkey and had cooked it in the hot coals, and it had turned out well. She had taken half of it down to Florence who didn’t shoot anymore because her eyesight was bad. If she could only get a deer, that would be even better. She had saved the turkey feathers and when she got enough of them, she would stuff a flour bag and make a pillow for herself.
At least she wasn’t carrying Toby’s child. A week after arriving here she knew for certain. It was sad because she would have liked to have his baby, but in one way it had been a Godsend. If she could stay hidden for another few months so it was obvious she wasn’t carrying the grandchild, the Montagues wanted so desperately, she might be able to come out of hiding. Make her way to Uncle John in Austin without putting him and Jeb in danger. They would know what kind of mood Pa was in, and whether he would let her come home.
She could get herself a job in Austin, even if it was only working at a diner, or as a maid somewhere. She’d be prepared to do any work as long as it was legal. Once she built up a stake, she could set herself up somewhere. Not here, though. It was too far away from anywhere.
Without Daisy and Eli, she would be lonely here. How could she have let them come to mean so much to her in such a short time? The child she could understand as she had always liked children, especially since her nephew Oliver’s birth. He had made her want to have babies of her own. Sometimes she was so jealous of Freddie she could spit. But the man. Goddammit, I’ve only been a widow for a few weeks. It was ungodly, downright wicked.
Daisy whimpered and Alfie dashed over to her. “How are you feeling now, darlin’?” Would you like a drink of water?”
The child nodded and glanced around, obviously searching for Eli.
“He’ll be back soon.” She handed Daisy a cup of water and she drank thirstily, which seemed to revive her. “I haven’t got anything suitable for you to eat until Eli comes back with supplies.”
Daisy stood and pointed to her dress. She had been going to suggest to Eli that he buy her a change of clothing, but wasn’t sure how much money he had.
They sat on the porch, their feet resting on the ground. “I know you can understand me, Daisy, so why don’t you speak? I know you’ve been through a terrible ordeal, but please, can’t you say something?”
The child just stared at her with big soulful eyes.
“I’m Alfie.” She tapped her chest. “You’re Daisy.” She touched the child’s chest. “This is Raggy. Eli has ridden into town to get us supplies.”
Somethi
ng flickered momentarily in her big blue eyes, and Alfie knew for certain Daisy understood what she was saying. Was the child so shocked and traumatised she couldn’t speak, or maybe she just wouldn’t speak? The longer she went without speech the more difficult it would become.
Finally, they saw Eli riding up. Holding hands, Alfie and Daisy rushed up to him.
“What a welcome.” He grinned. “I’m glad my two favorite gals are happy to see me.”
He dismounted and lifted two full sacks off his pommel and Alfie had to force herself not to squeal in excitement. “I’ll help you inside with these,” she said.
“Thanks, then I’ll see to Dev.” He tied the reins to the porch post, picked up the bags and strode inside.
“You bought a lot,” Alfie said. “I didn’t expect you to spend so much money on supplies for me.”
“Some of it is for me. I bought medicine for Daisy. The lady at the store recommended it.”
“She’s over the worst of it, no more vomiting and she doesn’t seem to have a fever now. I gave her a ride on my horse, just up and down in front of the barn. She did quite well. I didn’t let go of the bridle but she seemed quite confident.”
“Looks like I’ll be able to leave tomorrow.”
“Yes.” Alfie’s heart felt weighted down with lead. “I’ll be sorry to see you go.”
“I’ve got a job I have to finish, then maybe I might come back in a couple of months.” He gnawed his lower lip. “I would like to see you again, Alfie.”
“I’d like that, you’d be….”
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“Safe? What in tarnation are you frightened of, Alfie?”
“Ooh, look at this? Flour, sugar, molasses.” She pulled out the pair of drawers and held them up. “For me?” she teased.
Red rushed into his face, emphasizing the black stubble on his jaw and chin. “You mentioned Daisy should have a change of….”
She took pity on his embarrassment. “That was nice of you. Did you pick them?” She couldn’t help tease him. He was now moving around like a cat on hot bricks.
“The woman at the shop picked them. Here.” He delved into one of the sacks and produced the bag of candy. “For you and Daisy to share.”
Alfie peeked inside the bag, such an array of colourful candy. “Thank you, Eli.” She put them down and flung her arms around his neck. Except for her sisters no-one had given her a present in years.
Alfie went to kiss his cheek but he jerked his head back and her kiss landed on his mouth. He let out a shocked gasp, and as she made to step away, he dragged her against his hard body. His lips were hot and demanding. Bolts of heat shot through her body
He sucked her lower lip into his mouth and grazed it with his teeth. She felt his tongue moving inside her mouth and forgot everything but him. Passion such as she had never felt before, left her so weak at the knees she feared she would crumple on to the floor.
Finally, he raised his head, released his grip on her and stepped back, thrusting trembling fingers through his hair. His eyes were dark with passion, and a pulse convulsed in his jaw. “I’m sorry, Alfie. I lost my head.”
He turned on his heel and walked away leaving her in turmoil. What would he think of such wanton behaviour? Would he think her a woman of loose morals? She cringed at the thought. She liked him, more than liked and didn’t want to lose his good opinion of her.
Should she run after him? Alfie was rooted to the spot. She couldn’t move right now even if she wanted to.
Chapter Thirteen
Eli strode outside, shocked and disgusted with his behaviour. Alfie had shown him and Daisy nothing but kindness and he had treated her like a harlot. He hated himself for it, but he had enjoyed the taste of her soft sweet lips. What kind of man would treat a nice gal like that? A bounty hunter and a saddle tramp what’s who. If it hadn’t been for Daisy he would have mounted Dev and galloped away like a yellow-bellied coward.
“I’ve made a real mess of things, Dev.” He led the hors toward the barn. So, Daisy was comfortable on a horse that was good to know. Inside the barn he gave Dev a rub down and a few handfuls of oats. “I’ll be back after supper unless she refuses to feed me, and I wouldn’t blame her.”
He left the barn and wandered over to a broken fence and leaned with his arms on a post that was still intact. He could fix these fences if he had the time. Or if he collected the five hundred dollars he could put up new ones. He couldn’t believe Alfie’s response to him. It felt like she was as eager for him as he was for her. I’ll apologise for my behaviour he thought, but I’ll have to be careful from now on and avoid physical contact with her.
As he started toward the cabin he glanced at the ground. His heart turned to stone. “Sonofabitch.” The hoof prints were the same as those left by Alfreda Montague’s horse.
“Alfreda! Alfie!” He felt as if he had been gut shot. All the strange pieces of the jigsaw came together and he didn’t like the picture it made. She had tricked him with the same feminine wiles she had obviously used on Tobias Montague.
Cold fury surged through him. No man liked being duped. He had fallen into her honey trap. Had she planned to seduce him? Rob him? And what of Daisy? She had genuinely appeared to be fond of her. No woman could act that well. It was obvious she hated men. He was sorry he hadn’t taken her then and there on the floor of that mean little cabin and assuaged his raging male need.
He strode to the porch and kicked the partially closed door open and with his gun drawn he confronted her. “Alfreda Montague, I’m taking you in.”
Her head jerked back as she glanced up from peeling the potatoes. Shock drained the color from her face leaving it parchment white.
“You lying, conniving, low down thief.”
“You’ve come to bring me in?”
“Yeah. There’s a five hundred dollar reward on your head and I aim to collect it.”
Alfie slumped to her knees. Eli was the one they had sent to get her? Turn her into the Marshall in Bakerville, where she’d ultimately end up in the clutches of Toby’s parents.
Eli was a bounty hunter. Her heart nearly broke in two.
“It’s a death sentence for me.”
“Rubbish, unless you murdered your husband that is.”
“I didn’t kill Toby, a shot came through the window and killed him as we were eating breakfast.”
He glared at her.
Thankfully Daisy was taking a nap and wouldn’t see this unpleasant scene. “It’s the truth. Even the Marshall said that’s what happened.”
“Joe Montague tells it differently.”
“Well, he would. The Marshall sent me upstairs to our room, only I got tired of waiting. I crept downstairs and heard Toby’s mother screaming about me killing her son and how they now had no heir. Then Joe said I might be carrying their son’s child, and if I was they planned to keep me until it was born, then kill me so they could have it. If I wasn’t with child, they would kill me anyway because they wouldn’t want anyone to know how they kidnapped me.”
Eli’s eyes darkened; she didn’t know whether it was anger or shock.
“Anyway, they heard me outside the room. Joe attacked me and I ended up being tied to the bed upstairs with two cowboys guarding me.”
“I can’t believe they’d do such a thing.”
“It’s true, I swear it. I managed to trick the young cowboy into untying me, then I kneed him in the groin and hightailed it out the window. Collected my horse from the livery and took off.” She told him about the gypsies and finally making her way here.
“Are you with child?”
“No, I found out a week after I got here.”
“How?”
“Well, how do you think?”
His cheeks turned red. “Oh, um. Yeah.”
“I figured if I stayed hidden for a few months more I could leave here and I’d be safe once it was obvious I wasn’t carrying Toby’s baby. I didn’t know they’d put a price on my head.”
“Well, the Marshall did.”
“It was the Montagues. They own the Marshall, the whole town in fact. I would have gone to my uncle in Austin but I figured that might put him in danger. I had to stay away from anyone I knew. I couldn’t risk involving them just in case.”
“You’re worth five hundred dollars. It’s a lot of money, which would set me up for life.”
“You, you, greedy polecat,” she screamed. “You know I’m innocent yet you’re prepared to hand me over to those fiends to collect your blood money. Get out of my house, Eli. Out of my sight. I never want to look at your face again.”
Daisy’s sobs finally stilled the angry words flowing out of her mouth. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to frighten you.” Alfie stepped over to her. “Eli and I were just having a silly argument. You cuddle Raggy and go back to sleep, and in a little while I’ll get you up. You can have some pancakes.” She covered the child with a blanket and swung around to find Eli gone.
How could a man be so mercenary? Five hundred dollars would be a life changing amount of money, but it would be forever tainted by an innocent person’s blood. Once they got her in their clutches and they saw there was no sign of a baby they would have to kill her in case she went to the law. Not the Marshall at Bakerville, but the Texas Rangers in Austin. The Montagues couldn’t take the risk of anyone finding out they were holding her against her will, so they would have to kill her. There was no doubt in her mind about that.
She hated the idea of letting Daisy leave, but Eli, she couldn’t believe how deep his betrayal cut. She would never get over it. “You were falling in love with him,” the little voice inside her head whispered.
What she had felt for Toby wasn’t love, it was infatuation because he had taken notice of her at the dance, the first man to do so and she had thought it love. He had also come to her rescue when someone sneered about her home sewn blue dress.
He probably didn’t know the meaning of true love, either. They had liked each other and confused it with something more. She would be an old maid now. She would never trust a man again. She could run, but where to?
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