by Piper, Marie
“Porter.” The clever man caught the name immediately. “As in, Hank Porter?”
Emma spoke in a clear voice. “It’s nice to meet you, Doctor Gray. Do you happen to know where I might find Hank?”
Doc shook his head. “I haven’t the vaguest idea.”
“Excuse me?”
“He’s not here.”
Both Emma’s and Bill’s faces went pale, so Doc kept talking. “We had some trouble last year with that man who killed your brother. It’s a longer story than you need to hear, but Hank was involved. He lit out before the end of things, and we haven’t heard from him since.”
“What kind of trouble?” Emma asked.
Glancing around, Doc dropped his tone. “The kind most respectable folks don’t talk about.”
Emma jumped on his words. “Who was she?”
“Excuse me?”
“The trouble Hank most often finds himself in tends to involve women. Who was she?”
Doc’s face hardened at the line of questioning. “She is a young woman I happen to love like a daughter, and one I will not see hurt again.”
“I don’t intend to hurt anyone. I just need to speak with her. Please.”
“Are you Hank’s sister?”
“I am his wife.”
As if Emma’s words had been a key that unlocked a door, Doc sighed. “All right, come on.”
“To where?”
“Where do you think? The saloon. You two look like you’ve been riding for fourteen years. Don’t tell me a drink or two isn’t top of your list right now.”
If the blonde curls hadn’t guided Bill’s eyes to Callie Lee immediately upon entering the saloon, the rowdy laugh would have. Callie looked as fine as Bill remembered, dressed in a surprisingly respectable gown, which didn’t show off her voluptuous form. With her hair twisted up, away from her face, she appeared every bit a successful businesswoman. Bill knew of her former occupation, and admired her pluck.
“I look a fright,” Emma muttered.
Bill realized that the both of them, in their dirty and worn trail clothes, stood out. They looked unwashed and tired, which was likely how Emma felt. Bill couldn’t imagine how devastated she must be, to come all that way just to learn Hank wasn’t even in Cricket Bend anymore. Bill’s own disappointment was overwhelming, and it wasn’t even his quest.
“Callie,” Doc called as they entered the saloon.
“Just a second, honey.” Callie leaned over a table where three older men sat playing cards. Over the shoulder of one man, who had a gray walrus mustache, Callie plucked a card and set it on a pile in the center of the table. The other men let noises of displeasure, but Callie laughed and came around the tables.
The smile on her face vanished when she saw who stood in her saloon.
“Emma.”
“Callie.”
“What the hell are you doing here?”
“Nice to see you too. Looks like you’re doing well.” Emma’s tone was flat and sarcastic.
“Don’t you start with me.”
“You two know each other?” Bill stepped in between the two women. As he did so, he couldn’t help but feel like he’d come between two cats ready to claw each other to bits.
“Indeed we do,” Emma said. “Remember when I told you Hank ran off with a whore? That was Callie.”
“I don’t do that anymore.”
“Bully for you.”
Callie simply rolled her eyes at Emma’s childish response. “What on earth happened to you?”
“I came to find Hank. I had some trouble along the way.”
Callie seemed astonished. “He told me you knew we were leaving. Though standing here now, I’d bet my saloon that was a lie. Never known you to be wearing anything less than the prettiest dress in a room. And I have certainly never seen you in pants!”
“I did not come here for friendly chitchat. Where is he?”
“I have no idea where that rascal has gotten to, and good riddance to him.”
A sharp laugh came from Emma. “So he left you too.”
“By the time he left, I wouldn’t have gone with him for a million dollars.”
Emma reached out to steady herself against the bar. Without thinking, Bill put a hand on her waist. Even though he was mad at her, he knew the information came like a hard blow. She’d worked so hard to get to this saloon, and for nothing.
After a moment, Callie bent over the bar. She grabbed a bottle of whiskey and two glasses. She poured two shots, and handed them to Emma and Bill.
“I did not come here for a drink,” Emma said.
Callie ignored her rudeness. “Well, sugar bean, maybe you need one anyway.”
Emma seemed to agree, because she finished her drink in one gulp. “I thought he’d be here. Brett Baker said he’d mentioned something about his own saloon…”
Callie nodded. “This is the place, all right. I think he would still be here if he could, but he’d likely be shot if he so much as stepped into this town.” She looked at Bill. “Much like some other men I can think of. Mr. McKenzie, are your brothers on their way here? If they are, I’d appreciate some warning so I can lock up the place and get my shotgun before they show up to wreck it again.”
“My brothers are about fifty miles east, and they’re staying there,” Bill informed her. “Most of them, at least. Andrew lit out a few days back, and I’ve no idea what he’s thinking, but I thought you all should know about his disappearance, in case he gets the wild notion that coming here would be a good idea.”
Callie huffed at the news.
“I’m awful sorry,” Bill said. Not a day had passed in the past year without Bill being reminded that Andrew had gotten rough with a woman. Standing in the saloon talking to Callie Lee, the woman herself, Bill felt great shame for his brother’s actions. No woman deserved such treatment.
“I’ll go let Luke know,” Doc said. He headed toward the door.
“Doc,” Callie called after him. “Send Haven this way, would you?”
Casting glances between Emma and Callie, Doc hesitated. “You really think that’s a good idea?”
“No,” Callie said. “It’s a terrible idea, and Luke’ll kill me for it. But she might be the only one who can help Emma.”
As Doc left, Callie generously handed Bill and Emma the whiskey bottle. She slipped away from them to tend to her customers, and no doubt to give them time to talk.
“Haven,” Emma whispered the name.
“If she’s the woman I’m thinking she is, she’s the sheriff’s daughter.” Bill remembered a young woman with dark hair. “Luke Anderson, he’s sheriff around here. His daughter, Haven, was the one Theo went after last year. I never met her, but I know her fiancee. She was engaged to the deputy, Matthew Frank, though I imagine they’re married by now.”
“The sheriff’s daughter.” Emma put her head in her hands. “Hank must have lost his mind. Or he gained himself a death wish somewhere along the way.”
Bill poured her another drink.
“Speaking of the sheriff, are you going to turn me in?” Emma turned her glass around in a circle. “You’ve got my journal, so you have plenty of proof. There might even be a bounty for me.”
He hadn’t forgotten that she was likely wanted for murder. Walking the few doors down to the jail and telling Sheriff Anderson about her would be easy, and if he were being honest with himself, he’d have to admit that he’d had the quickest thought that doing so might lift some of the burden of his troubled feelings. Emma’s journal had ridden all the way from the drive in his jacket pocket. After she’d fallen asleep for the past two nights, he’d finally read it. It backed up everything she’d said. It told her story, every detail matching just as she’d told him.
“No.” Pulling the journal from his pocket, he slid it over to her. She quickly grabbed it, and their fingers touched. Bill didn’t let go of the book. “Don’t you worry about that. From what you’ve said, Angus Keene got what was coming to him.”
&n
bsp; When she looked at him, he saw surprise in her eyes. How mad at her did she think he was, if she thought he might doom her to hanging or a jail cell for defending herself from a terrible man years earlier?
“Afternoon, Haven!” one of the men at the bar called.
As Emma and Bill turned, Haven Frank, the sheriff’s daughter, came through the saloon doors. With just one look at her, Bill understood everything. Small in stature, with dark hair that hung down in waves, and with impossibly big dark eyes, Haven was a radiant beauty. Her kind of beauty would catch any man’s attention, and make more than a few of them do stupid things. Of course Hank had been taken with her, despite her father being the sheriff, and of course he’d likely used all of his charm and skills to lure her in. Across her cheek and the side of her nose, there was a scar. It was the only imperfection on her lovely face.
“Jesus,” Emma whispered, and slammed back another shot of whiskey.
Callie rushed to greet Haven. “How are you, cupcake?”
Haven put a hand on her belly, and Bill tore his eyes from her face to see that she was big with child. “I’m nearly asleep on my feet. What’s going on? Where’s Nate?”
“Jasper took him over to the schoolhouse for a bit so he could watch the men doing their sawing and building. Says boys like that kind of thing from the day they’re born.” Callie put a hand on Haven’s back. “Sweetheart, you remember Bill McKenzie.”
“How could I forget?” Haven offered her hand to Bill.
“Ma’am.” Bill accepted her hand and shook it. “I assume your father is around somewhere.”
“He and some others are helping put a new roof on the schoolhouse,” she answered.
“Haven, I’d like you to meet someone.” Callie eased into the introduction. “This is Emma.”
Haven offered her hand with a lovely smile. “I’m Haven.”
Emma didn’t accept the outstretched hand. “So I’ve heard.”
Her response startled Bill a little. Haven kept smiling, nonetheless.
“Pardon me?”
“My name is Emma Porter.”
Haven’s skin, already porcelain, went even paler. “Oh, my stars.”
“Hank is my husband,” Emma said, charging ahead. “He has several things that belong to me, and I need to find him. It’s urgent. I understand you might be able to help.”
Haven didn’t speak. When he turned to Emma, Bill saw every thought that passed behind her green eyes. He saw hurt and anger and hatred and jealousy. With a glance back at Haven, he saw her mind working too, her eyes flashing similar feelings.
“Your husband.”
One small nod was Emma’s only response.
For a moment, Haven seemed as if she might cry. Her dark eyes started to grow watery, but she blinked it back and spoke in an even tone. “I can help you.”
Callie whirled on her. “You said you didn’t know where he went.”
“I don’t,” Haven answered. “At least, I probably don’t anymore. He wrote me twice. First from Galveston, then New Orleans. Best I can tell, he’s there. He talked about it.”
“New Orleans.” Emma’s face brightened. “I’m sure you’re right. He lived there for a while, and always talked about going back. Do you still have the letters?”
Haven shook her head.
The tension unnerved Bill. The women spoke in simple words, but he wasn’t so dumb as to not notice the oceans of emotion underneath each statement and question. He spoke up at last. “Is your husband well, Mrs. Frank?”
“Why don’t you ask him?” Callie tipped her head toward the door.
Striding into the saloon came a good-looking yellow-haired man, with a growing beard. As he saw Bill, he grinned broadly. “Holy hell, Bill.” Matthew Frank extended his hand in greeting. “Doc said you were here, and also that you’d brought a wild rose of Texas with you.” Matthew smiled at Emma. “Doc’s famous for noticing the very second a pretty face comes to town.”
Callie gestured. “Matthew Frank, Emma Porter. And before you even ask, yes, Emma is Hank’s wife.”
Matthew’s eyes got huge. Immediately, he turned to Haven. The two of them exchanged a look that spoke volumes.
Matthew moved close to Haven, and put protective arm around her waist. “Hank ran out of town nearly a year ago. We ain’t heard from him since.”
“He’s in New Orleans,” Haven blurted.
Matthew’s confusion was evident. “You said you didn’t know where he was.”
“He wrote me.”
“He wrote you?”
“Do you have the letters?” Emma interrupted.
“I burned them,” Haven said. “Figured they’d come back to cause trouble someday.”
“Looks like you were right,” Matthew said.
Callie stepped in the middle of everyone, ever the perfect hostess. She put a hand on Matthew’s arm and gestured to Bill. “Boys, you two get yourself some drinks, and sit and catch up. On the house, of course.” Callie focused on Emma. “Honey, you’re a sight. Come with me. I’ll get you cleaned up. Looks like you got some cuts and bruises too. Haven can tend to those. She’s a fancy nurse now. Been through a program in Philadelphia and everything.”
“Congratulations,” Bill replied. He indicated her belly. “On a few things, it looks like.”
“Thank you,” Haven replied.
Matthew turned to Haven, and spoke in a low voice, “Are you all right with all this?”
“I’ll be fine,” Haven answered before she kissed his cheek. “You have a drink or two with Bill. I’ll be back in a while, then we can head home.”
Bill leaned in to Emma. “Are you all right?”
“I don’t know what to think,” she admitted. Instead of a being her usual, bold self, she stood before him, looking like a lost child. “But I doubt there’s a soul alive who wouldn’t agree that I desperately need a bath.”
“Don’t we both?” He knew neither of them looked remotely presentable. “You go with the girls. Matthew and I can catch up here for a while. This ain’t that big a place. I’ll find you later. You go with Callie and Haven, and say all the things that the three of you need to say.”
As the three women left the saloon, Matthew stepped up to Bill. “I’d give a couple teeth to be a fly on the wall for the discussion that’s about to happen.”
“You and me both, Deputy.”
CHAPTER
TWENTY-TWO
Emma
On the way to the bathhouse, the three women were greeted by a young man with red hair a few shades lighter than Emma’s own, carrying a baby boy in his arms. Upon seeing Callie, the young man lit up brighter than a hundred candles. Whoever he was, he was clearly smitten with Callie.
“Hello, darling,” Callie rushed forward, but her words were aimed at the child and not the young man. His features fell a bit as Callie took the child from him and into her arms. With a loving kiss to his cheek, she gave him a gentle squeeze.
“Ladies.” The man noticed Haven and Emma.
“Jasper.” Haven began. “This is Emma Porter.”
“Porter.” Jasper let a quick laugh. “Not the—”
“The very same,” Emma replied.
“Damn!”
“Jasper!” Callie protested, indicating the child.
“Sorry.” Jasper turned to Emma and recovered his composure. “Well, ma’am, it’s nice to meet you. I’m second deputy around here, if you need anything.”
“This is Nate.” Callie looked like she was about to burst with pride as she showed the child to Emma. “He’s my son.”
“Little bug’s been yawning for a bit,” Jasper said. “Thought I’d put him down for a nap.”
That Callie had found a respectable man, let alone a deputy, and had a child by him, struck Emma as good luck. Jasper obviously adored Callie, and even if was shorter than Emma, he wasn’t bad-looking. It appeared Callie had changed her station completely. Emma had been surprised to see her former partner being both a businesswoman and mo
ther, but Callie glowed with happiness.
And for good reason too, Emma saw. The child, Nate, was red-cheeked and adorable. As she watched, he turned his small face to hers. Her heart nearly stopped. The bonnet on his head had slipped back a little, which revealed a shock of thick black hair. When she looked closer, she saw the boy already had startling green eyes.
Emma had to bite back a gasp. She would have bet her life that Nate was not Jasper’s son, but the son of Hank Porter.
“Emma and Haven and I…we have some business to discuss.” Callie lay a hand on Jasper’s arm.
“I don’t doubt it,” Jasper cast a knowing look between the three women. “I’ll leave you ladies to it.” With a grin, Jasper scooped the boy out of Callie’s arms, and headed on his way.
Just a few doors down stood the bathhouse. Emma had been in far more opulent bathhouses, but the simplicity didn’t matter. The chance to soak in hot water made her feel like she’d died and gone straight to heaven. Callie paid the owner, and they were directed to the far end of a row of stalls. All three women went inside one of the doors, and Emma immediately stripped off her dirty clothes. Haven averted her eyes out of modesty, which made Emma roll her eyes. As if a woman’s naked form was something to be embarrassed by. How much sweeter could the deputy’s wife be? Emma stood nude by the tub, not at all concerned about modesty.
Callie dipped a finger in the water and pulled it back quickly. “Might want to give it a minute. It’s near boiling.”
With no hesitation, Emma stepped into the water. It was so hot, her skin immediately turned a flaming red, much brighter than the sunburn she’d gotten over the past few weeks. The notion of a bath, a real bath, was the stuff of dreams. She dropped into the water and felt the hot steam go up her nose.
Callie kicked the dirty trail clothes aside and sat on the bench in the small compartment. She handed Emma a bar of soap. Haven sat down beside her, looking happy to be off her feet.
Callie wasted no time. “What the hell happened to you?”
“I’ve been on a cattle drive.”