Kaitlin's Silver Lining

by Gold, Ciara

  She gave him a brilliant smile. “I knew I married a smart man.”

  He inhaled a sharp breath. “Out with it. How many notes have there been since our return to Denver?”

  “Five.”

  He closed his eyes. “Five.”

  “They all say the same thing—Leave Denver or else, but I’ve been thinking about it. The person or persons responsible for sending those notes must not know us well. We are leaving and yet the notes suggest that we aren’t.”

  Maggie pulled a chair from the table and sat. “She’s got a point.”

  Bryce nodded and furrowed his brow. “Who does know that you’re plannin’ to move out?”

  “A few friends and my suffragist group and that’s about it, but they’re all women and no offence, but they love to talk.”

  “And Jack. He knows,” Maggie offered.

  “Did you bother to report these notes to Dan at least?” He leaned forward and cradled his chin.

  Kaitlin stiffened her spine and gazed at Bryce. “I had too much to do to get ready for our wedding. I didn’t have time to go to the police department.”

  “If this happens again, you make time,” he ordered then sighed. “Please. I don’t think I could handle you gettin’ hurt.”

  “I’ll be fine.”

  “Whoever is doin’ this isn’t doin’ it to be cute or clever. He’s very serious in wantin’ you gone. It could very well turn out James was a hired gunman and not actin’ on his own. If that’s the case, then who’s to stop the fiend from hirin’ another gunman?”

  “We’ve already discussed the possibility of an accomplice, but a hired gun?” She shivered at the grim picture Bryce painted. She shook her head. No, she wasn’t important enough for someone to want dead. James must have acted alone, motivated by jealousy and greed. “I think you’re wrong. I can see James having an accomplice. Probably his mistress, but I can’t see him acting as a hired gunman. Not James.”

  “Let’s go back to the idea of an accomplice.” Bryce took a sip of coffee. “Could Little Em be a nickname for Emma?”

  “As in Emma Hood?”

  Bryce shrugged. “There could be other Emma’s, but she’s engaged to Farley. And Farley is a prime suspect when you think about how your movement has damaged his campaign and his businesses. Besides, I have reason to believe the match isn’t a love match.”

  His gaze fixated on the half empty coffee mug as if he were deep in thought. Had Emma said something to him? How close had the two of them been to each other? “Bryce, did you love Emma once?”

  He snorted. “Naw. I held a certain fondness for her, but I didn’t know her well enough to consider love. She was just a convenient possibility.”

  “Not so convenient if she done got engaged to Farley.” Maggie snickered.

  “Besides, James was looking for a wealthy mate. Why marry me if he had a mistress like Emma? Her family is very prominent in Denver.”

  “Maybe her family caught wind of the affair and wouldn’t allow them to wed. From what I gather, your ex-fiancé didn’t have much goin’ for him. The Hoods wouldn’t want their only daughter married to a drifter with no resources.”

  “Let’s assume for one minute that Emma was James’ mistress. Would she be capable of aiding in someone’s murder?” She studied her new husband. His face held little emotion as he mulled over the conjectures bandied about. “I don’t know her well enough to assess her character, but you do. Is she capable of this?”

  Bryce shook his head. “I don’t think so.”

  “Just like I can’t believe James was hired by someone.”

  “Well if that man could hit you out of anger and try and swindle you out of your land, I’m thinking he’s evil enough to kill for money. That man was a monster. You said so yourself,” Maggie said.

  “Maggie’s right. A man with a character like that is capable of anything.”

  The legs scraped the floor as Kaitlin pushed the chair back and stood. “Will you both just stop. I was engaged to the man. I should know what he was capable of. He was jealous. He must have taken exception to Bryce moving in. You’re both making way too much of this.” It was hard enough realizing he’d tried to kill her, but even harder trying to accept that he would do so for money. Believing such meant accepting that more than one person wanted her dead.

  Bryce jumped from his seat and rounded the table so fast she didn’t have time to blink. His arms yanked her to him, his anger barely under control. “I’m not makin’ enough of this. Someone wants you takin’ the big jump. Not just gone. Dead. They want you dead.”

  “You’re...you’re hurting me,” she whispered as his hands tightened around her arms.

  He relaxed his hold and drew her into his embrace. “Don’t you get it? I love you. I don’t want to lose you after just findin’ you.”

  “Bryce...”

  “Promise me you’ll let me know if another such message arrives.” He fixed her with a firm stare.

  “I promise.”

  “And that rally is most definitely out. You won’t be goin’. Understood?”

  “I...”

  “Understood?”

  “Yes,” she whispered, but yes only meant she understood what he was saying. It did not mean she gave her word. There was no way she would miss that rally.

  Thirty Eight

  The election was held in one of the larger churches in town. People flocked to the area in droves. Platforms had been erected for the politicians to give last minute speeches. Emotions were heightened and the atmosphere charged.

  Bryce tried to push his way through. He could see the picketer’s signs above the den. If he could only make his way over to the suffragists, he might be able to find his wife. His wife. He still loved the sound of those two words even if right now, he wanted to wring her pretty neck.

  He’d expressly forbidden her to come today, thinking it would be too dangerous for her. A crowd like this was unpredictable. Some would understand her mission, empathize with these women’s desires. But just as many would hate what these women were trying to accomplish. Giving women the right to vote was a touchy subject. And touchy subjects had a way of igniting tempers.

  He’d demanded she stay home. She’d smiled prettily, reminding him she had never promised to obey. He should have known then she still planned to attend, to lead her group as they rallied support for their cause. God, he was going to hogtie her to the bed when he caught up to her.

  Over the milling crowd, he saw their picket signs waving in the air. Thankfully, Charley had gone back to the Silver Saddle with Sarge and Bangles. Otherwise, Kaitlin might have dragged Charley to this chaos. He stumbled. Someone had been shoved into his path. The crowd became rowdy, on the verge of violence. This was definitely no place for a child. He sidestepped another potential collision, slowly making his way toward the picketers and toward Kaitlin.

  “Bryce! Bryce Stanton!”

  The voice was feminine, but hard to locate over the noise. His eyes scanned the crowd, hoping Kaitlin was near. “Bryce!”

  His eyes connected with Emma’s. He groaned. All he needed was another confrontation with the woman. She’d become more forward in her flirtations. Avoiding her seemed prudent but unfortunately, she was almost upon him. It would be pure rudeness on his part to ignore her now. He waited until she reached his side. Her breath came out in short gasps. Winded from trying to navigate the crowd, she didn’t speak at first, just leaned on him for support. Her aggressiveness annoyed him.

  “You shouldn’t be here, Emma. You ought to be on the platform with Farley,” he chided gently. Again, he wondered if she’d been Latham’s mistress. The idea seemed too coincidental, though—that his wife’s ex-fiancé’s lover might turn out to be the woman he’d thought to propose to.

  “I was for a time, but I needed to stretch my legs a bit, and I saw you, so I thought I’d say hello.”

  Bryce nodded. “Must be an excitin’ day for you.”

  She shrugged. “More so for Farley
. I’ll be happy when it’s over. He’s been really pushing himself over this election. Your wife’s group has been aggravating to him. The incumbent, John Routt, supports suffrage. If he’s elected, the woman’s suffrage movement has a better chance of succeeding in this state. Your wife and her friends have been pretty busy campaigning for Mr. Routt. It’s almost as if he’s had free publicity.”

  “Their cause is a legitimate one. And Farley didn’t have to take a stand against suffrage.”

  “Of course he did.” She tucked her chin. “Once the women have the vote, they’ll unite to ban alcohol. Farley owns too many saloons. Their efforts could put him out of business.”

  “So you don’t believe in suffrage.” Bryce tipped his hat back. “You support your fiancé on this political issue?”

  “I’m just a woman who wants to support her man,” she replied softly. “Whomever that man might be.”

  Bryce pulled her hand from his arm with firm determination. “Emma...”

  “Em.”

  “Em,” he continued, eyeing her with a suspicious eye. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t picture Emma being Latham’s cohort. “I wish you and your new husband a lot of luck. I want you to be as happy as I am with my new marriage. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to find my wife.”

  Sadness flickered in her eyes for a brief moment, before she graced him with a smile. “And may you find happiness as well.”

  He turned, ready to walk away. His gaze settled on Kaitlin not far off. Her picket sign moved up and down as she shouted some silly chant. He beamed. As angry as he’d been with her for coming in the first place, he had to admit how magnificently she presented her cause. The power of her voice attracted the crowd’s attention. Dressed in a prim, blue gingham dress, her confidence shone against a chaotic backdrop of milling people. For all her stubbornness, she was the best thing that could ever have happened to him.

  A shot rang out.

  Swiveling toward the sound, his gaze spanned the crowd. Police converged on a man just a few feet away. The shocked silence that followed didn’t last long. The crowd went berserk, panicked by the sniper. He swung his head back toward Kaitlin. She had disappeared in the crowd.

  A feeling of urgency carried him forward as he ran. He sensed Emma moving behind him, following as best she could to keep up. He broke through a ring on onlookers. Kaitlin was on the ground. He rushed toward her. Maggie knelt beside her. Bryce skidded to a halt and scanned her body for signs of a wound.

  “Kaitlin?”

  She sat up, dazed. Slowly she picked up her picket sign. A hole gaped in the center where a bullet had pierced the paper. “That man shot my sign.”

  Is she insane? Is that all she can say after that man took a shot at her? “That man aimed his gun at you and fired,” he growled. “Are you hurt?”

  “I tripped when the gunshot startled me. The only thing damaged besides my sign is my pride.”

  At that point, Dan Cochran parted the crowd, forcing them to back away from Kaitlin and Maggie. “That was too close. You were right, Mr. Stanton. If we hadn’t been watching so closely, we might not have been able to stop the shooter. But he’s in custody now.”

  “Oh my. I can’t believe someone took a shot at her.” Emma clasped a hand to her mouth and looked wide-eyed at the small group.

  “Shouldn’t you be with Farley, Emma?” He didn’t much care for the coincidence of her being here.

  Dan turned to Emma. “Are you by chance Emma Hood?”

  She hesitated before nodding.

  “I thought so. I’ve seen you a couple of times with Farley Kaufmann. I’m afraid you’ll have to come with me.”

  “Why? What’s this all about?”

  Bryce helped Kaitlin to her feet, before giving Maggie a hand up. Possessively, he wrapped his arm around Kaitlin’s waist.

  “Here comes Farley, Dan. Emma might feel more comfortable having her fiancé accompany her.”

  “I’m glad, cuz I was about to take Farley into custody as well. Having him come to me makes this a whole lot easier.” Dan motioned for one of his men to assist him.

  “What’s going on here?” Farley demanded.

  “Well, now. That’s what I was hoping to ask you, Mr. Kaufmann,” Dan said while two other policemen closed in around them.

  “I don’t understand.”

  “One of your employees took a shot at Kaitlin. Ugly critter, with a patch over one eye. I believe he said his name was Tyrell Ogg.” Dan tilted his head. “He does work for you, doesn’t he?”

  “What?” Farley’s chest ballooned out, clearly indignant over the suggestion he might be behind Tyrell’s actions.

  “He didn’t like the idea of being accused of attempted murder.” Dan scratched his head and raised a brow. “Funny, but he doesn’t seem to possess much loyalty for his employer. He claims you paid to see Kaitlin killed. So you see, I must insist you accompany me to the station so we can clear up this unpleasant matter.”

  “Of all the idiotic things.” Farley shook his head. “You know I would never stoop so low. And why do you want Emma? Besides, I have to campaign. They open the polls in an hour.”

  “I’m truly sorry for the inconvenience, but I must insist. Stephen, Jake, would you kindly take these two into custody,” he instructed of the other policemen.

  Farley continued to protest, claiming innocence in any wrongdoing. Emma remained strangely quiet. Bryce noted these things with detached perspective. Right now, his main concern was Katy.

  His eyes scanned the length of her, making sure she wasn’t hurt. Satisfied, he crushed her to him, oblivious to the curious onlookers who stared. He hugged her tight. “Damn, woman. You almost got yourself killed again. I’m not ready to plant daisies on your grave.”

  “Bryce, you’re suffocating me.” She tried to disengage herself from his arms.

  Reluctantly, he let her go. “I’m getting’ you out of here.”

  “But, I’m not finished helping with the campaign.” She waved her damaged poster in the air. “Routt needs our support.”

  “Routt seems to have things well under control. You, on the other hand, don’t.” Would she ever listen to reason? The woman proved more obstinate than most, but as much as she infuriated him, he loved her. “I told you not to come.”

  “Bryce, you told me. You didn’t ask me. You should know better by now that I don’t do well with demands. I’m a reasonable person. Give me a reason, and I’ll make a decision based on that reason. But I’m not going to blindly follow your every command.”

  He mentally counted to ten. “Fine. Will you come home, now? I think you’ve had enough excitement for one day.”

  The pause irritated him, but he showed infinite patience in awaiting her answer. What did she have to think over? He needed her home where he knew she’d be safe.

  “I’ll meet you back home in an hour. That’s when the polls open. By then, folks will have made up their minds which of the four candidates to vote for.”

  “I’m not leavin’ you here alone.”

  “Then make yourself useful.” She shoved a sign in his hand. “The chant is quite catchy and easy to learn.”

  “I’ll hold your dang poster, but I’m not going to chant.”

  “Suit yourself.”

  He continued holding the sign half-heartedly for another two hours. Finally he asked. “Ready now? I think it’s almost over. If this crowd is any indication, Routt will win this election hands down.”

  Kaitlin nodded. She looked exhausted. “Has your anger dimmed?”

  He frowned. “Is that what we were waitin’ for? My anger to dim?”

  She handed him her picket and wiped her hands on her skirt. Sheepishly she grinned. “I wasn’t looking forward to fighting when we got home, and you have to admit, you were pretty upset with me.”

  “I still am.”

  “In that case, give me back the sign, and I’ll go back to work.”

  He laughed. “Oh no you don’t. This time we’re hea
ded home.”

  “Are you asking or telling?”

  He rolled his eyes upward. “Askin’. Will you do me the honor of accompanying me to your place? I’ll make it worth your while.”

  She smiled and nodded.

  Just then, Dan approached. As soon as he caught Bryce’s eye, he started laughing.

  Bryce lowered the cumbersome placards and bristled at Dan’s amusement. His father had claimed on many occasions that his wife wore the pants in the family. At the time, Bryce had thought it funny, thinking then it would never happen to him. He glared at the poster, then he glared at Dan. Somehow, Kaitlin had him prancing to her commands. Yep, his father had been right. The woman did wear the pants in the family.

  “Got somethin’ to say?” Bryce asked.

  “I wouldn’t dare.” Dan snickered.

  “Find out exactly what happened?”

  Kaitlin joined them as Dan nodded. Bryce slipped his free arm around her waist.

  “Just as you figured, with a slight twist. I thought Farley ordered Kaitlin killed, but I was wrong. The only crime Farley committed was arranging to have those first letters sent. After that, James Latham apparently took it upon himself to carry the threats against Kaitlin to another level. We had James’s house searched after the reports of his death. I’ve got a hunk of rock at the office you might be interested in seeing.”

  “Rock?”

  “Galena, to be exact.”

  Bryce frowned. “How does galena have anything to do with Katy’s troubles?”

  “Well, I’m not a geologist, but my understanding is that galena is a lead ore mineral that often contains silver deposits.”

  “As in makin’ land more valuable.” Bryce shot Katy a knowing look. “Think he found this rock on Katy’s land?”

  “It’s a pretty safe guess.” Dan let his gaze roam over the din of voters, then centered his attention on Bryce again. “I suspect it’s the reason he wanted you dead. With you gone, he would have easier access to your property.”