Haven's Flame (Fires of Cricket Bend Book 1)

by Marie Piper

  But he hadn’t, and he wouldn’t.

  The world wasn’t as simple as it should have been. She’d nearly left him behind in the dust, and instead of being mad at her, he felt like she’d given him the kick in the pants he’d needed. Deserved, maybe.

  He yawned and figured he’d catch a few hours of sleep.

  Matthew reached the jail and nodded to Jasper, who started off to continue the patrol. He took Copper to the livery, where he unsaddled and brushed the horse down. The mare had worked a hard day, and he gave her an apple as reward. Good reliable horses like Copper were rare, and he considered her a friend. They’d been together for years, crossing the country together.

  As he stroked the mare’s muzzle, something moved behind him.

  Matthew didn’t turn around, but took note of the sound. Loads of folks boarded their horses at the stable all the time. Most of them didn’t visit the barn after dark, though.

  He waited to hear another sound—a greeting, a neigh, a scurrying of tiny mouse feet, or a barn cat. But nothing came. Whatever had moved was still there, and it hadn’t moved again.

  He turned around slowly, hand on his gun.

  A man’s form could be made out in the shadows in the back corner of the barn.

  Matthew exhaled. “Ain’t smart to sneak around a man with a gun, friend.” The form didn’t move. “Mind telling me your name?” There was only silence in response. “You need help or something?”

  The form, he could tell it was a man, didn’t answer.

  Matthew had never felt such chilling fear, even out on the plains in the middle of the night by himself in Indian country. He’d faced down a rattlesnake once, and it hadn’t made him feel nearly as scared.

  Why didn’t the man answer?

  The form seemed to stand upright, as if it had been leaning before. It stood up to full height, and Matthew could see the man was tall. He peered closer, trying to make out other details, as the idea of who he might be looking at rushed at him. When he pulled his gun, the man knocked a barrel over in his direction. The barrel crashed into Matthew, and he fell back a few steps.

  By the time he steadied himself, the man was gone.

  Matthew rushed from the barn and scanned the area, but saw no one. There was nothing at all to see. The wind barely even blew. The man vanished so quickly, he might have been a ghost.

  He stepped back into the barn and looked up, down, and everywhere for how the man had escaped. There was no sign of an entrance or exit.

  A glint caught his eye as it reflected through the barn.

  Matthew went to see what it was.

  His stomach nearly wound up on the floor when he saw what had made the reflection.

  A silver pocket watch lay on the ground, right next to the blood-covered body of Theo McKenzie.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Haven

  Haven entered the Harper home. Seeing how much stuff could be crammed into one room surprised her, as it always did. Lamps, tables, velvet chairs, paintings, decorations, and a big fancy chandelier were all squeezed into one parlor, and the room was close to bursting, much like Laura Harper was in her form-fitting peach gown. For these meetings, she always looked ready to attend an antebellum ball somewhere in Georgia.

  Haven felt glad she’d worn her best dress. She didn’t put much stock in her looks normally, but in a situation like a Women’s Society meeting, feeling pretty held a special kind of power men would never understand.

  “How nice to see you, Haven.” Laura’s big smile of greeting wasn’t at all genuine. “You’re always so busy. I’m delighted you could attend. Perhaps we’ll see you at more meetings after your wedding.”

  “Now Mama, you know Haven is dedicated to her work.” Ellie sidled up to the conversation, her blue velvet jacket shining in the light. “It’s so sweet for a young woman to have a hobby.”

  Haven turned to her with an equally fake smile. “How is Charles doing? Is he still having that stomach trouble? And if Mr. Harper’s cough hasn’t lessened, tell him to come by the clinic. Doc has an excellent tonic that seems to help with sore throats. It’s got real lemon and cane sugar too.”

  Laura and Ellie smiled back at her.

  “Please help yourself to some refreshments. We’ll get started shortly,” Laura said as she swept her hand toward the parlor, acting as if she was welcoming Haven to a castle.

  “Thank you ever so much,” Haven’s voice dripped with sweetness as she stepped away to the refreshment table. Ladies daintily held delicate teacups with their pinkies in the air like they were duchesses, instead of farm women from a small Texas town.

  It all seemed absurd. Haven wished she’d gone through with her plan to drink the castor oil.

  Looking around at the multitude of women, she realized that though she’d known most of them her entire life, there wasn’t one she felt close to. None of them were the kind of friends a young woman would ask to be in her wedding, or knew she’d grow old swapping secrets and stories with. Until that realization, Haven never thought of her life as lonely. She’d always had Matthew, her father, Doc, and her mother, and that had been enough. It was still enough. Impressing the other women at the meeting held no special appeal. She didn’t need to be friends with people who didn’t truly want to be hers. She wished Lizzie had been there, but she hoped the other woman was doing well and would give birth to her twins sooner rather than later.

  “Come now, ladies. Let’s begin our work.”

  Laura Harper broke into Haven’s thoughts as she stepped to the center of the room and loudly clapped her hands together. Like ladies attending court, the women milling around began to sit in the rows of chairs that faced their queen.

  Haven made her way to a seat in the back. She noticed that the buzz of the room turned silent for a moment. Then, whispers started. Heads turned. Ladies held fans to their faces as if to mask the discussions happening behind the lace.

  “My stars!”

  “What on earth?”

  “Of all the nerve!”

  Haven had never been so happy to see Callie Lee in all her life, walking into the Harper’s home like she’d received a personal invitation. The upstairs girl had done a commendable job dressing like an upstanding woman of Cricket Bend. Her deep green dress fit snugly to her enviable shape, and it was buttoned up as high as anyone’s. There wasn’t a hint of Callie’s well-known skin to be seen, save for her hands and face. Her hair was twisted up, and she’d topped it all off with a small hat with a green feather.

  From a glance, Haven guessed that Callie’s gown cost more than any other dress in the room.

  As Haven turned, Callie looked right at her and gave her a big playful smile.

  “You’re crazy,” Haven muttered to her.

  “Just you wait, cupcake,” Callie said, turning her attention back to her foe.

  “What exactly do you think you are doing here, Miss Lee?” Laura Harper’s smile had faded to a noticeable frown that brought out all the wrinkles on her powdered face.

  Callie took a few steps forward and placed herself right in the center of the rows of women. “Hello, Mrs. Harper. Ladies. Oh, my goodness. Am I not welcome here? I presumed I could attend this meeting, as I am a woman who resides in this community. Also, if I’m not mistaken, my business is to be a prime topic of tonight’s conversation. I didn’t feel it would be fair for you to try and dictate my future without involving me.”

  “You are not welcome here.”

  Callie’s face shone. Haven could hardly contain her excitement. Callie smiling made Mrs. Harper’s face grow beet red, and her hands gripped her skirt.

  “You have brought sin to this town, Miss Lee.”

  Callie never wavered. “With all due respect, Mrs. Harper, sin was already here. I was just the first one to charge money for it.”

  Audible gasps came from the crowd.

  “A woman like you has no place in a good town like this.”

  “There’s a woman like me in every town, whether f
olks know it or not. You can forbid me from doing my business inside your town limits all you want. It’s hardly a bother to put up a tent just outside. I came here from the Dakotas. Tents are outside every town, believe me, and men flock to them no matter what the women’s societies decide. A short walk won’t deter a man in search of something warm on a cold night.”

  Haven’s eyes darted around the room, taking in all the shocked expressions. Never had she been so happy to attend a women’s society meeting. She watched Callie with a newfound respect. Standing up for herself in front of a room full of haughty women was bold and brave. Haven wanted to applaud.

  “Get out of my house.” Laura pointed to the door.

  “Gladly. It is too damn hot in here anyway.” Callie twirled and walked out the door, then turned back to Laura Harper with a triumphant smile on her face. “Tell George I said hello, by the way.”

  The room erupted into chatter. “Get out!” Laura hollered.

  Callie giggled and walked toward the door.

  Haven stood up as well.

  “Haven!” Mrs. Harper cried. Callie stopped and turned.

  Haven looked at Laura Harper, all stuffed into her high-necked dress with the ruffled collar and her silly little hat, standing in the middle of her elaborately-decorated parlor, holding court like the Queen of England. She looked around at the faces of the assembled women and saw nothing but strangers.

  Then she looked toward the door and saw the only woman in town she’d been able to confide in since her mother died. Callie wasn’t perfect, but there was nothing false about her. She said what she wanted and did what she wanted, and Haven admired that. She’d also saved Haven from a whole world of scandal and ruin.

  The choice was easy. Haven set her program down on her chair and went with Callie.

  “Haven!” Laura Harper repeated.

  “Let her go, Mama.” Ellie Graham stood up with evil delight shining from her face. “If Haven would rather ruin her good name spending her time with whores and a certain saloon owner, there’s no point in trying to stop her. We’ll just have to pray for her.”

  Haven felt like she’d be sick. Ellie Graham knew everything, she was sure of it. Cursed Jasper. Haven planned on strangling the young man the next time she saw him. She found strength in her hatred, and took a deep breath.

  “Ellie,” Haven replied, “nothing you say will bother me. You’ve been mean your whole life long, and you’ll always be mean.”

  “At least I’m not a loose woman.”

  Haven was done with niceties. “I find that hard to believe. I’m not sure how else you keep Jasper under your thumb like you do.”

  The room erupted into gasps and squeals. Callie pulled Haven out the door, and they quickly walked over to Haven's horse.

  “Jeepers, they’re a crusty bunch of harpies,” Callie said as she fanned herself. “They gonna be mad at you?”

  “Only for the rest of my life.”

  “Don’t worry about them. Every town has an uppity women’s club. They don’t mean nothin’. Why’d you follow me?”

  Why not come clean? Haven had little else to lose. “Because I think you’re worth about fifty of any one of them. You’re honest, and you don’t pretend to be what you’re not.” She caught sight of Callie’s outfit. “Except for tonight, of course.”

  “I always knew you weren’t like the rest.”

  “I don’t want to be.”

  “You’re not.” Callie reached over and stroked Echo’s muzzle as they walked. “She’s a beauty. I grew up with horses. I miss having one of my own.”

  The two women quickly put distance between themselves and the furious nest of hens at the Harper place.

  “Where’d you grow up?”

  “Kansas,” Callie answered with disgust. “Barren and boring and bland. My folks were real poor, and there were a lot of us kids. I took off when I was fifteen, thinking I knew better than them. Of course I didn’t, but I made my own way.” The blonde woman looked over at Haven. “I've been luckier than most girls like me. I’m getting on thirty years old, and I still got all my teeth and haven’t been sick a day in my life, knock on wood.”

  Haven thought about her own upbringing, and how lucky she’d been to have the parents she had. Luke and Lucy squabbled, both stubborn as could be, but love and hard work had paid off for them; they'd made a great family. It didn’t take much to imagine herself in Callie’s shoes, and her respect for the upstairs girl swelled.

  “Hank’s set his sights on you,” Callie said, seemingly wanting to tread delicately on this particular subject. “Seems he set them on you the minute we got to town. Surprised it took him this long to make his move.”

  Haven sighed hard. “I don’t know what I’m doing anymore.”

  “You went to his room.”

  “I did.”

  “If I’d known you were thinking about him, I wouldn’t have told you to take a lover.”

  Haven understood. “Nothing happened. It was a mistake. Matthew knows.”

  “You told him?”

  “I didn’t want to.”

  “He mad at you?”

  “Hell if I know. He’s a mystery to me most of the time lately.”

  “Can I give you some advice, woman to woman?”

  “I wish you would.”

  Callie stopped walking. “Hank is a charming bastard, I’ll give him that. He’s damned handsome and he makes love to a woman like it’s his last night on earth. Before we came here, when I first met him, I went to his bed a bunch of times and it was good.” Callie looked at Haven with a serious expression. “But don’t you trust him. He’s a good boss and a good lover, but that’s as far as I’ll put my faith in him.”

  “Why?”

  “Call it the intuition of a woman who has known a lot of men in her time. Most men got some good in them. Your deputy, he’s a real good man. Your father too. Even Hill and Ed and Rip, they drink too much, but they’re steady and solid. Shoot, Jasper isn’t even too bad. But Hank is something else, and I’ll be damned if I can figure it out.”

  “How long have you known him?”

  “I only met him about a month before we came here. I was working in Fort Worth at a grand saloon, and he was spending time there. He took a shine to me because I’m pretty, I can play cards, and I wouldn’t take his sass. The boss wasn’t a good man. He hit us girls on the regular. One day, Hank came to my room and told me to pack my things because he’d bought a saloon and needed me to come with him. So we came here.”

  “I thought you’d known him forever.”

  Callie shook her head. “I’ve been near him every day for going on four months now, and I don’t think I know him at all. You got a good man in Matthew Frank. You run to him, and kiss him, and make sure he knows how you feel about him. Don’t throw a good thing away for Hank. He’s the kind of man who leads women to heartbreak.”

  “You and Mr. Braxton seem awful close.”

  “Can you keep a secret?”

  “What’s one more?”

  “I’m with child.”

  “Callie!”

  “Jack knows.” Callie smiled a little bit. “And he doesn’t mind. When he first came to my room, he was ready to jump on me, but he was so fearsome-looking I almost screamed. I told him to get out, clean himself up, and come back to me if he wanted to get in my bed. By God, he did. Appearances ain’t nothing, you remember that. Cleaned himself right up, and it’s like he’s a new man. He stays with me nights and just holds me. I’ve been getting sick each morning, and he’s been there and takes care of me as if I were his wife.”

  “You should see Doc.”

  Callie adjusted her hat. “And have every woman in town gloating? I’ll deal with it myself, thank you very much.”

  “Doc’s better than most folks around here,” Haven replied. “Folks don’t think a woman should work as a nurse, but he’s fought for me. If you ask him not to say anything, he won’t. And I won’t either. I promise.”

  Callie f
ell silent, thinking. They kept walking.

  A realization struck Haven. “Is it Hank’s baby?”

  Callie shrugged. “Could be.”

  Haven realized with a start that she’d come awful close to being where Callie was. It wouldn’t have taken much to get pregnant with Hank’s baby, and a mistake like that would have been unforgivable. Matthew might be able to forgive her for going to Hank’s room, but things could have so easily gone past kissing. They nearly had.

  The rest of their walk was spent silent; two women lost in thought.

  “Haven!” her father’s voice called to them as they reached town. Luke rushed up, his strong face wrinkled with concern, and took Haven in his arms. “Thank God. Are you two all right?”

  “Don’t we look all right?” Callie asked.

  “Walker was here. Matthew saw him. Theo McKenzie is dead.”

  Callie’s hands flew to her mouth. “Dead?”

  “Murdered. His throat was slit. Matthew found the body in the livery.”

  Haven felt a spear of panic pierce her. The youngest McKenzie had been a pain in the rear, but to be murdered was something no one deserved. “Is Matthew all right?”

  “He’s fine.” Luke put a hand on her shoulder. “We’ve spread the word. Everyone’s on alert and staying indoors. A few of us are going after Walker. Matthew, Braxton, Jasper, and me. Go to the clinic and stay there with Cornelius, both of you. You’ll be safe there.”

  “Me?” Callie’s face showed her surprise.

  “Miss Lee, I got no quarrel with you,” Luke spoke to her in a kind tone, “and you’re safer together. Get to the clinic as fast as you can. Doc is already there with the body.” He handed Haven his shotgun. “Use this if you have to.”

  Callie pulled a Derringer out of her purse. The tiny gun was barely as big as her hand. “I ain’t afraid to shoot a man. I’ve done it before.”

  “Then I’m especially glad you’ll be with my daughter.” Luke left them, disappearing into the night.

  Theo McKenzie lay out on Doc’s table when Haven and Callie arrived at the clinic. Doc rushed them in the door, but Callie took one look at the body and rushed back outside, covering her mouth with her hand. Haven held her composure, though she understood Callie’s reaction. Dead bodies never got any easier to look at. Haven had seen plenty, though she'd never seen anyone who’d been murdered. She took a long look at Theo’s face and remembered when he’d pushed it close to hers during the brawl, the way he’d leered at her when Luke had let him go back to his drive.