by Linda Broday
She leaned on her elbow and pushed back his long hair that she loved so much. “I’ve made a few notes about certain things.”
“Such as?”
“A big kitchen with water piped in and a cookstove. One with a warming oven above and a regular oven below.”
Tait crooked an eyebrow. “Can you cook? I’ve never asked.”
“I don’t know. I’ve never had access to a kitchen. Once when I was young, we stayed with my grandmother. She let Ava and me help make cookies and pies. It was the best time of my life.”
“What happened?”
“My father cheated at cards again, and barely escaped with his life. We had to leave half of our things behind.” Including a locket Granny had given her for her birthday. Ava had been given the matching one, and it was only by luck that she’d been wearing it when they’d had to run.
“I know you must love your father, but he didn’t seem to care much about you and Ava except when it was convenient.”
“That’s the crazy thing. I do love him. He could’ve dumped us with someone and taken off on his own at any time. But he didn’t. He’d hold us and say that we were his good fortune. His lucky charms. He talked a lot about the importance of family and staying together through thick and thin.”
“He’s right.” Tait released a deep sigh and moved up the bed to lie beside her. He took her in his arms. “That’s why I have to do right by Jesse, Joe, and Becky. Sometimes family is all we have. When did you last see your father?”
The reminder that Mac Dunbar had done a vanishing act at the lowest point of their lives brought piercing pain. How could he have left them like that? Maybe she didn’t know him very well anymore. “Two months ago.”
She’d contacted Luke Legend shortly after and begun writing to Tait. Shoot, Mac could be in jail as well. Or dead. She’d always feared that someone would kill him over cards.
Tait placed a hand below her jaw and kissed her tenderly. She wanted to curl up beside him and stay forever. Forget about counting cards, keeping a low profile, winning enough to pay rent.
He ended the kiss and she wound her legs around his, laid a palm on his chest. “Back to the house plans. I want a bathing room like Jack and Nora’s. Do you think we can have one?”
“You can have anything your little heart desires. That includes a bathing room. I only have one request.”
“Oh? And what is it?” She drew circles on his chest.
“A large bed where my feet don’t stick off the end. I hate small beds,” he drawled.
“Good, because that was next on my list. A large bed requires a large room. We need plenty of space. I can’t imagine how you lived in that tiny sod house of yours.”
“It suited my needs at the time. I didn’t require much.”
“Me either.” Just a bed and a place for her clothes. Going back to that empty life after Hope’s Crossing would kill her.
“Who was the visitor in town? Ridge said he saw you with him and the man got rough.”
Melanie jerked. Why had Ridge said anything? And to Tait of all people! What had she told Ridge? Sweat popped out on her forehead. Oh yes. “A very distant cousin I played cards with once. His last name is Spade. Never heard anything more than that.”
“What did he want? Why did he put his hands on you?”
Think. Think. Think. What excuse could she give? “He claimed I owed him money.” That wasn’t a lie.
Tait lifted her hand off his chest and pressed a kiss to her palm. “I won’t have anyone treating you with disrespect. Are you sure he left?”
She chewed on her bottom lip. No, she hadn’t seen him board the stage. She’d only assumed he’d keep his word. But what if he hadn’t?
“I doubt he’ll darken this town again. I think Ridge scared him good.”
But if Spade had left and didn’t return at some point, it’d be someone else. Judge McIlroy wouldn’t let her forget their deal. And she couldn’t forget Ava’s hair and tooth under her bed.
* * *
Still glowing from making love to Tait, Melanie walked to the mercantile under a beautiful sky that afternoon, her thoughts on his skill at making her body hum.
When she was almost there, a man stepped out, blocking her path. Slade pulled her around the building. “I thought everything over and decided to stick around. Especially after I wired the judge and got his orders.” His lips flattened in a thin smile.
Her heart jerked painfully against her ribs as initial panic swept through her.
Melanie looked around and noticed several of the men close by. They’d be there in an instant if she screamed. “I swear, you’re the dumbest man walking on two legs.”
“Watch it. Your sister’s life is at stake. I can see that the judge kills her.”
“No, you watch it.” She glared and stood her ground, her chin raised. “I’ll not be bullied. I can make sure you never leave here alive and be happy to do it.” She stepped closer so he’d get the full force of her words. “All it’ll take is one word from me, so back off.”
Slade dropped his hold on her arm. She wouldn’t say he was scared, but she could say with certainty she’d definitely gotten his attention.
Something she’d been pondering a lot over the past few hours swept to her mind. That hair and tooth might not belong to Ava. The judge could’ve gotten them from anyone. Just because the judge claimed they were Ava’s didn’t make it true. She felt better than she had in days.
“Now, excuse me. I have matters to attend to.” She brushed past him then turned and smiled sweetly. “I’ll give you until tomorrow morning to be gone. After that, I wouldn’t give two cents for your life.”
Slade quietly whirled and headed toward the hotel. Melanie let out the breath she’d been holding.
* * *
In the days that followed, Tait seemed more relaxed and at peace than Melanie had ever seen him. Perhaps finally talking about Lucy had helped him come to terms with his wife’s death. The darkness he’d lived with for so long seemed to have fled. He no longer shunned their bed, and that especially made her happy.
They almost seemed like a normal husband and wife.
He and the men tore down his old sod house and measured off the land for the one they were going to build. She even helped, and that made her feel useful. For a few moments she forgot her own dark cloud and the shadows that pressed close, at times strangling her. For a little while, she let a measure of happiness seep into her heart.
What she wouldn’t give to be able to totally embrace this life with Tait.
But to do so meant she had to turn her back on Ava and throw her to the judge.
On a Thursday morning, she let Becky play with Violet Colby and Jenny Lassiter. Though Becky was quite a bit younger, she loved playing dolls with the older girls, and they were patient with her.
After making sure Becky was settled, Melanie headed toward the mercantile. Before she got there, Monty Roman burst from the newspaper office. “Mrs. Trinity! I remembered.”
Her heart stopped. She forced herself to walk slowly toward him, and they met halfway. “You remembered what, Mr. Roman?”
“Where I saw you. It was outside the sheriff’s office in Canadian.”
Forcing herself to breathe and remain calm, Melanie put a finger on her chin and pretended ignorance. “I don’t think so. Surely I would’ve recalled that. Did we speak?”
“I asked why you were crying and lent you my handkerchief.”
Praying he didn’t know about Ava’s imprisonment, she smiled. “Oh dear, that must’ve been my twin sister. We look identical. Our father got into a scrape, and she needed money to get him out of jail.” Please don’t let him check out her story. It wouldn’t take much for him to learn that Melanie’s twin was locked up and for what.
Roman frowned. “I’m sorry I mistook you for her. You do lo
ok amazingly similar. I hope everything worked out with your father.”
“Yes, it did, thank you.”
The sunlight glistened on Roman’s hair, the dark strands thick with pomade. “I have to say it’s so refreshing to have you in the community. You add a certain class and charm that we didn’t have before.”
Melanie almost choked on her spit. If he only knew! “That’s very kind of you to say, Mr. Roman. Now I must get to my shopping. Have a wonderful day.”
He bade her farewell, and she hurried off. How many close calls would she have? Would it all end badly? The fortune-teller’s prediction swept into mind. Be true to a tall, handsome outlaw with silver eyes, or you’ll find untold pain and despair.
She wanted to come clean, but this wasn’t the right time. Yet when would that time come?
How could she cause further pain to the man who continued to make such sweet love to her?
A loud commotion came from the strap-iron jail where Berringer was being held. She swung around to see Joe and Jesse standing in front of the cell. Berringer stretched his arm through one of the gaps trying to grab them. Though she stood some distance away, she could feel the man’s hate.
A glance around the area failed to yield Tait, so she hurried to get the boys away from the despicable man. If the son was this bad, the father must be twenty times worse. And he hanged a pregnant woman. She shuddered, her heart breaking for Tait all over again.
Berringer railed as she got closer. “I took that mutt and snapped his neck just like this.” He twisted his hands. “And I’ll do it to you if you step closer, you little snot-nosed varmints.”
Joe glared. “I ain’t scared of you. I hope they hang you.”
“Ain’t anyone hanging me, boy.” A string of cusswords flew from Berringer. “Did you know your daddy did some work for us? He was as sorry as the devil.”
“Take that back!” Joe yelled.
Melanie reached the boys. “Come along. Leave him be.”
Jesse dredged up a big spit wad and let it fly. It didn’t make it inside the cage, but it got close.
“Stop that right this minute, young man!” Melanie grabbed his shoulder and pulled him back. “Find something else to do. If I catch you back over here, I’ll…I’ll keep you in your room for a week.”
“My, my, what do we have here?” His hair wild about his head, Berringer closed a meaty fist around one of the flat bars of his cage. “Did you come to give me a kiss, missy? Come closer.”
She tried to ignore the taunt and focus on the boys, who seemed drawn to the horrible man. “Let’s go, boys.”
“Cat got your tongue, missy?” Berringer called. “What’s Mac Dunbar doing these days?”
She froze. How could her father have hung around people like the Berringers? Mac was a lot of things, but he was no killer. She took no more than three steps before Berringer called again.
“Mac ’n’ me go back a long ways. Which daughter are you?”
Her head reeling and legs shaking, she kept walking.
“Hey, I’m talking to you!”
Suddenly Tait’s arm closed around Melanie’s waist. “I’ve got you.” He swung to Berringer. “Shut your mouth or we’ll gag you. Your choice.”
Earl Berringer slunk down into a corner, sullen and quiet.
“Thank you, Tait,” she whispered. “I went to get the boys away, and he started yelling horrible things.”
“I know. I’ll take care of it.” He pressed a kiss to her temple.
They walked to the windmill, and Tait sat the boys down. His mouth formed a tight line. “I don’t want to catch you near that cage again or you’ll be in big trouble.”
“But…but he said some bad stuff about Daddy,” Joe spluttered.
“Just because he said it doesn’t make it so. Earl Berringer wants to hurt you, and he’d rather tell a lie than the truth. He’s nothing but bait to draw his father out.”
Melanie’s chest squeezed. Tait was so gentle with the boys even when he had a right to be upset.
She took Joe’s hand. “Your uncle is right. Don’t let that despicable man hurt you. They’re only words. You know your father better than anyone. Keep believing in him.”
But what about hers? Berringer had implied that he and Mac were close friends. The fact that he knew Mac’s name proved they did have some kind of relationship…add to that the fact that Earl knew she was his daughter. How?
Jesse sighed. “We promise to stay away. Don’t we, Joe?” His brother nodded.
Tait smiled and pulled them to their feet. “Okay, skedaddle. I’ll see you at suppertime.” The twins didn’t waste a moment in running to join the other boys.
“Tait, do you think Earl Berringer was telling the truth about their father?”
“Sadly, yes. John Abraham was a safecracker and apparently rode with the Berringers. But he left them, straightened up, married, and tried to raise his kids right. That’s what got him and Claire killed. They wanted his skills on a job, and he turned them down. His and Claire’s deaths were retribution.” He took her hand. “Don’t give Earl a thought.”
“I suppose you heard what he said about Mac. And he recognized me. But I don’t recall ever seeing him before.”
“Maybe your father played cards with him or something.” His gaze was drawn to three wagons laden with lumber coming into the town. “If I’m not mistaken, there’s our shipment.”
“Oh good. We can start building our house.” But would she ever get to live in it, to bustle around in the kitchen cooking something tasty for her family, to sleep next to Tait in a big bedroom of their own? Those were the questions that filled her someday dreams.
“We’ll work on plans together tonight.” He kissed her cheek.
“I’d love that.” And maybe, just maybe, he’d need to get some money from wherever he’d hidden it and all this trouble could be over.
Tait hurried off to meet the wagons, and Melanie went to call on Rebel. Dr. Mary was just leaving, checking on Rebel in her last few weeks before the baby was due to come. The two children Rebel and Travis had adopted seemed overjoyed to welcome a new brother or sister.
Before Melanie went inside, she heard shrieks and a loud commotion behind her. She turned to see goats, raccoons, rabbits, and other animals coming at her followed by every child in town. Their circus animals! Bandit must’ve opened all the cages again.
“Stop them!”
“Don’t let them get away!”
“Head them off!”
Melanie whipped off her shawl and waved it, stepping in front of the stampede. “Stop! Stop!”
The animals turned and started running back toward the kids. A chicken squawked and landed on top of the Truman three-year-old’s head. The boy screamed and ran in a circle, fighting to get it off. One of the raccoons raced back through Ely’s legs and tripped him. Two other Truman boys ran head-on trying to recapture the same raccoon.
As luck would have it, the stagecoach entered town at that moment. A goat tried to ram a horse, and the whole team took off at a gallop, clipping the corner of the saloon before the driver got them under control.
Melanie laughed so hard tears ran down her cheeks. When she was able, she used the shawl to help gather up the smaller runaways.
Once they were all corralled again, Jesse gave her a big grin. “Thanks, Aunt Mellie.”
“You’re welcome. How close are you to putting this circus on? I hope it’s soon.”
“It’ll be Saturday, Aunt Mellie,” Joe answered.
“Oh good.” They’d better have it soon or they might not get to, the way things were going.
She and Rebel went inside and got out a deck of cards. Rebel loved playing poker and was quite adept at the game, forcing Melanie to use all her skill to best the woman. It was a pleasurable time spent. She’d learned that Rebel once worked in a sa
loon in Cimarron over in New Mexico Territory and her husband Travis was wanted for murder.
So many in this town had checkered pasts, and maybe that’s why no one tried to be better than anyone else. They all had done things they regretted.
When Melanie emerged a bit later, she saw Tait striding out of town carrying a shovel. Curious, she followed.
Maybe this was the moment she’d prayed for.
Despite everything, her chest constricted with guilt over spying on him.
Sixteen
Tait took the trail that led to the top of the bluff where he’d married Melanie. His mind was on the house and the work he would start the next day. He couldn’t wait to get it built. He was incorporating some surprises into the design that would make Melanie’s life easier. This was going to be special for her and make up for having gone without a decent place to live for so long.
A muscle in his jaw worked. He was going to have a long talk with Mac Dunbar whenever they met. The man hadn’t done right by his girls, and Tait was going to tell him so.
A noise came from behind him, and rocks slid down the side of the bluff. He whirled but didn’t see anyone. Maybe it was the boys and they were going to try to jump out and scare him. He grinned and hurried behind a boulder.
Footsteps came closer.
Tait frowned. It sounded like only one person. The boys were always together. Always.
Kern Berringer? He might’ve hidden near the town’s entrance and followed him up the bluff. Tait eased his Smith & Wesson from the holster.
When the person came even with his hiding place, he stepped into the path and leveled the gun.
Melanie let out a strangled cry, her eyes wide. “Don’t shoot,” she squeaked, hands flying up.
He put the gun away. “What are you doing up here? I could’ve shot you.”
“I came out of Rebel’s house and saw you leaving town.” She swallowed hard. “I sort of followed you. I thought we might take in the sunset. And maybe do what married folk do when they find themselves alone.” She touched his arm.