A plump, matronly looking woman with gray hair in a tight bun approached them. “Afternoon, folks. Sit where you’d like. We’ve got rabbit stew, taters, and apple pie for dessert.”
She pointed to the tables peppering the room. Only two of ten had people at them.
Eliza drank in the wooden tables with mismatched chairs around them. On a table by the window someone had put wildflowers in a tin cup.
“That one there by the window will be lovely.” She bounded over, a spring in her step.
“Your wife sure is chipper.” The woman must have remarked to Grady.
“You have no idea.” Grady’s response made Eliza’s grin widen.
“We’ll take two plates and coffee.”
“I’d rather have water.” Eliza waited by the table until the two of them caught up.
“Okay, water and a coffee.” Grady sat down with a thump, and without pulling out her chair. She knew a gentleman would have done so, but she reminded herself again that her companion was no gentleman.
“Be right back.” The older woman winked at Eliza before she turned away.
Eliza didn’t know how to react because she’d never had anyone wink at her before. This town of Montgomery was obviously a much friendlier place than the awful town they’d escaped days earlier.
The wildflowers were a bright blue with white flecks in the delicate petals. Eliza ran her fingers down the side of one bloom and smiled at the softness. This was exactly what she needed to take another step toward a new life, away from the LDS community.
She wouldn’t think about what would happen after Grady found her sister. That time would come soon enough, and she would decide then how to proceed. A coward’s way out, but at that moment, she would accept being a coward.
The food arrived quickly, for which Eliza was grateful. She’d had too much time with her thoughts already that day. The stew was thick and rich with potatoes and vegetables. It was salty and simply delicious. Eliza swallowed the first bite with a groan of pure satisfaction.
She glanced up at Grady’s face and stopped with the spoon halfway to the bowl. His dark eyes were fixed on her, glittering with what she could only describe as hunger. She had not expected his primal reaction to her pleasure with the food, but something within her responded to him.
Goosebumps danced up and down her skin as they stared at one another. She couldn’t look away or reach across the table and kiss him. This was what she wanted; the connection between them was just as strong as it had been.
Her breath came in short, slow bursts while her heart thundered loud in her chest and her ears. The moment stretched out as Grady’s intense stare made her nipples rise and press against her blouse.
“Is it good?” The older woman’s voice made Eliza startle so badly she dropped her spoon with a clatter and a splash into the bowl. “Oh, dear, I’m sorry.” She pulled out a towel from her apron and wiped up the spill.
“I was clumsy. There is no need for you to apologize.” Eliza wasn’t surprised to hear a tremor in her voice. Her body was still yearning for and oddly reactive to Grady’s.
“I surely hope you’re enjoying your dinner. Save room for pie, now.” The woman refilled Grady’s coffee from a tin pot before ambling off to another table to service other guests.
Eliza managed a deep, cleansing breath before she picked up her spoon and began eating again. Grady still watched her, although now he did so surreptitiously, out of the corner of his eye rather than with a direct, intense gaze. The strangeness of what had happened wasn’t lost on her. No matter how much he tried to push her away, she knew now he could never push her far enough.
The intensity of his reaction, and of hers, was a clear indication that what they shared was much more than a casual connection between a pair of traveling companions. Much, much more.
The childlike excitement in Eliza’s eyes almost made Grady look away. She was too damn innocent to be stuck with someone as dark as he was. It had been so long since he’d even been around someone with her naïve view of the world. Her enthusiasm was as sweet as it was painful. Little did she know of the shadows around her, of the task he had been hired to carry out. Even he’d had to do some heavy thinking before he’d accepted the job to hunt and kill Angeline Brown, every moment spent with Eliza made his task that much harder.
Then there was the attraction between them, which was out of control. He should never have allowed her to travel with him, should have left her the day she’d stumbled into his life for the second time. Hell, he didn’t even know her story beyond the vague explanations she’d given him.
He didn’t know her reasons for meandering around the territory with him, and she didn’t know his. In fact, he needed to focus on what he was getting paid to do, not on being distracted by the little wren who’d latched onto him.
“What is your schedule after you finish dinner?”
He frowned. “I don’t have a schedule, Liz. I just do what I have to do.”
She took a sip of water. “Well then, what is it you have to do?”
“That ain’t none of your concern. Just eat.” He meant to sound rude and was rewarded with disappointment in her gaze.
Exactly what he wanted. Grady needed to disappoint her so she’d stay away the next time he left her. Eliza was going to destroy him if he didn’t.
They ate the rest of their meal in silence with only a few sidelong glances from Eliza. He kept his focus on the rabbit stew, which was actually real good, and the bread he used to sop up the gravy. He had a feeling if he asked, she’d tell him her cooking was just as good, yet another fact he did not want to know.
“You folks want that pie now?” The older woman reappeared with huge slices of pie on two tin plates. The sight of the decadent dessert was enough to make him forget how full his belly already was.
“I sure do. Thank you, ma’am.” He took the plate from her, but Eliza shook her head.
“I’m quite full. Are there facilities nearby? I mean, do you have an outhouse or something similar?” Eliza’s cheeks flamed up pink, and he figured he was the cause of her discomfort.
“O’ course. Right through that door there is the back of the building.” She pointed down a hallway. “The outhouse sits to the right. Can’t miss it. And there’s some soap and a bucket of water, too, if you’ve a mind to wash up.”
Eliza murmured her thanks and disappeared through the door. Grady couldn’t have timed it better.
“She okay?” the woman asked.
“Yeah, she’s fine, just feeling a bit poorly. We had to leave home quick ’cause my mama’s sick. My sister and aunt were riding a few days ahead of us, and we haven’t caught up to them yet.” He put a forkful of pie in his mouth, and the explosion of flavor was incredible. “This is delicious.”
“Why, thank you, sir. My mama taught me that recipe.” She sat down in Eliza’s empty chair. “Yours is sickly?”
“Oh yes, ma’am, with a fever. We got a wire that she didn’t have much time left, so Liz and I left as soon as we heard.” He shook his head dramatically. “We haven’t got much sleep on the trail, especially her. The hotel will be right nice for her tonight.”
“Bless her heart.” The older woman tutted. “She looks plumb worn out.”
It really was too bad he couldn’t keep Eliza with him, but her kindness and innocence didn’t mix with a cold-blooded killer like him. She would hate him if she knew what he’d done in his life for money, what he was about to do. He could not accept her hate.
“I’m worried about my sister and aunt, too. They didn’t wait for me to stop and get them, being so worried about Mama and all.” He took another bite of pie and forced himself to sound overly concerned about a woman he didn’t know.
“Maybe I’ve seen them. What do they look like?”
It was easier than expected, yet again. Eliza had opened so many doors to him he hadn’t been able to breach in years past.
“My sister has long blonde hair, is eighteen and pretty. My
aunt has brown hair and is about thirty-five and kind of short. They likely headed through here three or four days ago.” He gripped the fork so tightly the metal cut into his finger, but Grady kept his worried gaze on the older woman in front of him.
“I remember them! Yes, they were here about two days past, looking just as tired as your lady there. Oh, now, I know why. I wish I’d known then, I would’ve packed some good vittles when they left.”
“Two days you say? Then we’re closer than I thought. I’m sure we’ll catch up with them soon.” He took a sip of the lukewarm coffee while inside he was howling with satisfaction as the knowledge he’d not only been on the right trail, but he had caught up. “Did they rent a buggy or get a ride with a wagon heading west? They didn’t have horses and have been making their way to Mama that way.”
The gray eyebrows slammed together, and she tapped her cheek with one finger. “I don’t rightly know, but I’m betting Tim at the livery would.”
“Much obliged, ma’am. I’ll speak to Tim when I put the horses up for the night.” He finished the pie with his belly close to bursting and his mind whirling with the possibility of being within two days of his quarry. The thrill of the hunt was best when he got close enough to smell the prey.
In this case, it meant the end of his time with Eliza was upon him. The job would be over, and he could disappear into the Colorado wilds again. Eliza could find her own way to wherever she needed. Life would return to normal.
He almost snorted at the thought, but then remembered he had company at the table with him. Grady was not usually so careless.
She pushed the other plate toward him. “You may as well enjoy this one, too, and I’ll get you some fresh coffee.”
The last thing he wanted was to eat more food, but he smiled pleasantly and pulled the plate close. “Don’t mind if I do.”
Eliza made her way back to the table feeling better. Grady barely glanced up at her as he stuffed her piece of pie into his mouth. She wanted to smack him for being deliberately rude to her again. It was as if he didn’t intend to let down his guard and be nice, because as soon as he realized he had, up went that wall of ice.
She was tired of it and wished fervently he’d stop doing it. Of course, she could ask the sun not to shine, and it would have as much effect. Grady was as solid as the mountains in the distance—unmovable and hard.
He was hunting her sister and picking up pieces of information as they traveled. She ascertained he’d found out something useful from the woman who’d served them lunch. The matron had hugged her profusely and held her hands as if they were long-lost friends.
“Y’all come back for supper if’n you’re staying in town tonight. I’ll have fried chicken and dumplings, your man’s favorite.” Another hug and the woman walked them to the restaurant door.
Eliza should ask Grady what that was all about, and how in the world the woman knew what his favorite dish was. However, she didn’t want him to lie to her, and likely he would if she asked. She’d already done enough lying for both of them. All he’d done was lie by omission, which might be a less serious sin in the eyes of the world, but it wasn’t in her eyes. Everything she’d done in the last week would condemn her to hell in the opinion of her former church, so why not continue to lie? It wasn’t as if she hadn’t already profusely sinned.
They stepped outside to a light rain, but the purple-black clouds looked even more ominous, if that were possible.
“It’s fixin’ to come down something fierce. Why don’t we get you to the hotel, and I’ll get the horses down to the livery?” He didn’t give her a chance to answer, but rather took her by the elbow and walked her two doors down to the building marked, “Montgomery Hotel”.
Eliza was annoyed with his high-handedness, but also completely fascinated to step into a hotel for the first time. This entire adventure was a series of first times, and she wouldn’t ever forget a moment of it.
The lobby had two arm chairs, a small table, and a rather large rag rug on the floor. A fireplace with ashes and half-burned logs was to the left, a set of stairs to the right. In front of them was a long wooden desk with a cowbell sitting atop it. There was no one about, so she picked up the bell and rang it merrily.
Grady snatched the bell from her hand and growled at her. “You don’t need to keep acting like an idiot.”
She sucked in a breath of pure pain and stared at him with her mouth open. He’d never before been deliberately cruel, and she could hardly believe her ears.
He slammed the bell back onto the counter and braced his hands against it. “Damn it, Liz, why the hell do you have to tie me into knots?”
She tied him into knots? What was that all about? The man treated her with gentleness one moment and nastiness the next. He was a conundrum she would likely never puzzle out.
“I beg your pardon?” she managed to say without her voice shaking.
This time when he looked at her, she saw naked agony in the depths of his gaze. It shocked her more than the cruelty had. Before she could absorb what she saw, he turned away.
“Can I help you folks?” A balding, tall man with kind eyes appeared behind the desk. He wore a nicely pressed blue shirt and a small bowtie.
“Grady Wolfe and my wife, Liz. We need a room for the night.” Grady’s tone was hoarse but calm.
Eliza felt as if she’d just lived through a thunderstorm named Grady.
“Welcome to Montgomery, Mr. and Mrs. Wolfe. Name’s John Fowler. I own the hotel with my wife Maisie. You’ll meet her in the morning.” He smiled at Eliza, who was still trying to get her bearings. “We’ve got a nice big tub in the bathing room if you’ve a mind to take a bath later.”
“That would be lovely, Mr. Fowler.” Eliza felt her cheeks tremble as she attempted a smile. “I’m afraid I am travel weary.”
Grady put money on the desk. “Heat up the water for her and give her whatever she needs.”
When he turned to Eliza, his eyes were cool as the rain outside. “I’ll go get your things.”
With that, he left her alone in the hotel, her excitement smashed beneath the heels of his boots.
After dropping the bags at the hotel, Grady set off for the livery. He didn’t want to feel guilty about being curt with Eliza. She shouldn’t have any expectations of him being sweet or polite. However, that sentiment hadn’t meant anything when he’d seen her stricken, pale face as she sat on the bed.
He rode down to the livery with Eliza’s horse in tow. The idea he’d be riding away within twelve hours without her, or the old nag she loved, sat in his gut like a rock. As he arrived at the weathered looking building with a hand painted sign announcing Hansen’s Livery, Grady set aside every thought of Eliza or his entanglement with her.
It was time to do what he did best.
He dismounted and secured the horses to the post outside. After a deep breath, he stepped into the gloom of the building. Before his eyes adjusted, he kept his hand on the butt of his gun.
“Can I help you?”
Grady turned and found a muscular man with wide shoulders and ginger-colored hair, two or three inches shorter but thirty pounds heavier than himself. Grady kept his weight on the balls of his feet and his hand exactly where it was.
“My wife and I need to put up the horses for the night.”
The man relaxed his stance and nodded. “Sure thing. Got two stalls next to each other in the back there. Three dollars for both of them, includes feed and fresh hay.”
Grady paid the man and backed out the door to get the horses. He wasn’t about to turn his back on the stranger. “You Tim?”
“Ayup, Tim Hansen. This place was started by my Pa, and I took over when he passed.” The man’s voice changed pitch as they walked out into the street to get the horses. “The gelding is nice, but that nag looks like it’s gonna fall down dead before he gets to the stall.” The man obviously knew his horses because Grady thought the same thing about Cab each morning.
“For whatever reaso
n, Liz loves that horse. He’s got a good heart; I’ll give him that.” Grady took his horse’s reins while the other man led Cab into the barn ahead of him. “My horse needs new shoes, too. Can you do that today?”
“Sure can. Be happy to.”
A quick look around the barn showed three other horses, four empty stalls, and plenty of horse shit. Nothing surprised him, which was a very good thing.
The two men unsaddled the horses, rubbed them down, and got them settled with fresh water and feed. It seemed as though Bullseye sighed with relief when Grady used the curry brush on his coat.
“My wife and I are staying at the hotel down the street. Fowler sent me down here with the horses.” Grady took his time to give the horse more attention than he had in a week.
“John’s a good man, sends business my way whenever he can.” Hansen sounded genuine enough.
“Folks in town seem to be good people. Ana is right friendly, too.” The restaurant owner had been as transparent as a pane of glass.
“She’s friends with my Ma.” Hansen sounded even more open.
“Her apple pie was like a slice of heaven after being on the trail for a week.” In that, Grady was telling the absolute truth.
“Where are you and your wife headed?”
It was a friendly question, one anyone would ask. “Raymer Falls. My Ma took sick and we’re pushing to get there. My sister and aunt headed there, too, a couple days ahead of us.” He leaned his forehead into the horse’s neck and felt the warmth from the only companion he’d had for years. Until Eliza.
“The rain gave us an excuse to rest for the rest of the day. Liz was tuckered out.” Another truth, strangely enough.
“Ah, that’s too bad. Your Ma gonna be okay?” Tim poked his head into the stall and smiled when he saw Grady with his horse.
“Probably not. That’s why we’re running the horses so hard. Ana told me you might have seen my sister and aunt.” He described them again, keeping his tone even but concerned. “They didn’t have horses to ride, so they’ve been renting wagons or relying on the kindness of strangers. I need to catch up to them to keep them out of danger.”
Ruthless Heart Page 17