My Heart Will Find Yours

by Linda LaRoque

  “No. I just want to explore.” And get the lay of the land.

  They stopped in front of the jail. Somehow word had preceded them, and a small crowd blocked the hitching post.

  Royce said, “‘Scuse us, folks.” They parted so he could tie his horse.

  Texanna started to jump down but decided to wait and see what was considered proper dismounting etiquette. With a hand on Josie’s hindquarter, Royce moved around the horse and helped her down.

  “Welcome home, Pearl,” said a young woman with a toddler on her hip.

  “Howdy, Pearlina. Glad you’re home.”

  Smiles and words of encouragement echoed around her.

  “Be sure and come to the quilting bee Monday.”

  She stumbled, and Royce caught her arm before she fell. Voice thick with emotion, she said, “Thank you all for the warm welcome.”

  These good people were Pearl’s friends and neighbors. What would they think if they knew the truth, and how would they react when she disappeared again? More importantly, what would Royce think? Surely Pearl thought about the repercussions before hatching her plan? Maybe she thought Royce would accept her message at face value so Texanna could return home without complications. No, that wasn’t right.

  “Are you all right?” His breath was warm on her ear.

  Texanna flashed him a smile and hoped he didn’t notice her tears. “I’m fine.”

  They stepped inside the jail’s front office. A deputy jumped to his feet. “Howdy, ma’am. It’s sure good to see you.”

  “Hi, Pete.”

  He eased his tall, lanky frame around the desk to shake her hand. She had to crane her neck to look him in the face. His dark eyes twinkled. “Glad you came back.”

  A snort came from the other side of the room, and she turned to see a young man walk toward her. In his early twenties, Jason was a younger version of Royce, yet his self-confidence made him appear older. His hair was dark, but not black, and his eyes were brown. Right now they were crackling with humor.

  His good spirits were confusing considering he’d told her never to come back. Before she could respond, he grabbed her around the waist and swung her around the room. When he sat her feet on the ground, he held her close a minute and whispered in her ear. “I’m glad you returned. I don’t know why, but I think helping you leave was a mistake.”

  Texanna was relieved he felt that way. She didn’t want him to think she was Pearl, but then again, she didn’t want him to be filled with remorse for the rest of his life.

  Royce untangled her from Jason’s arms. “What are you whispering in my wife’s ear, runt?”

  “Runt? Who’re you calling runt, old man?” Jason pummeled Royce on the arm, and, before he’d gotten in his second punch, Royce caught him around the neck. Both men were laughing when they broke apart. “I told her since she’s home maybe you’d be decent company.”

  “Don’t count on it.”

  Texanna enjoyed the warm exchange between the two. She was glad Royce wasn’t holding a grudge against Jason for helping her leave.

  He turned to Jason. “Texanna wants to tour the First National Bank, the store, and the library. Think you can do that and see her home?”

  “I can get home by myself. Jason has better things to do.”

  Royce cupped her chin. “Don’t argue with me on this.” His blue eyes flicked to her lips, and for a second she saw heat blaze there. Unwillingly, her body responded, and she stepped back to cover her confusion.

  “Alright. We’ll stop and get Garrett on the way.” She knew how and when to choose her battles, and this one was of little importance. He wouldn’t like it if she defied him in front of his deputies.

  Jason strapped on his gun belt and grabbed his hat. “I’ll have her home by six o’clock.”

  Royce cocked an eyebrow at his brother. “Why so early?”

  Jason blushed. “I’m seeing Sally tonight.”

  Royce frowned and shook his head. “If you marry that girl, you’ll regret it. She’s too mule-headed to make a good wife.”

  Texanna gasped and turned on Royce. “What a male chauvinistic thing to say.”

  All three men stared at her. She sputtered. “You know, macho, machismo.” She pounded her chest and called out, “Ohooo, uh oh, oh, ooh. You Tarzan, me Jane.” She stomped her foot. “Bossy, bull-headed, know-it-all men.”

  Royce cleared his throat, “Well, uh…”

  Texanna grabbed Jason’s arm. “Let’s go.”

  ****

  The First National Bank of Waco occupied the corner of Austin Avenue and Fourth Street with Miller’s Hardware across Fourth. Both possessed a steady flow of traffic, as did the barbershop facing the bank. The McLelland Hotel took up the corner on the diagonal block.

  When they walked into the bank, a clerk jumped up from his desk near the entrance and started toward them. Jason raised his hand. “Keep your seat, Hershel. Texanna wants to look at the architecture for one of her paintings.”

  The young man approached anyway. “Well, that’s fine, ma’am. Just take your time. We’re honored you are interested.”

  Since the bank building was narrow and deep, the main entrance was on the corner, and another opened onto Fourth Street. Texanna wondered if there was a back door. Yeah, there had to be.

  “Excuse me,” she glanced at the nameplate on his desk. “Mr. Brown, would it be possible to see the back?”

  “Well, that’s highly unusual. But, I don’t guess we have to worry about the marshal’s wife robbing the bank. Haw, haw, haw.” Herschel’s laugh came out like a donkey’s bray.

  As he led them back to the teller enclosure, she noticed the staircase along the back wall that led to the upper story. Behind the barrier where the tellers worked, she could see the vault and, yes, there was the back door.

  She shook his hand. “Mr. Brown, thank you so much for showing me around. This is a beautiful building.”

  “You’re very welcome.”

  Outside, Texanna looked up and down each street, making a mental note of where windows and doors were located. She didn’t know anything about robbing banks, but could see the robbers would have a variety of places to station themselves until they struck. They could easily blend with the crowd and be harder to spot while making their escape.

  Texanna flinched as a dog’s pitiful yipping split the air. “My, God, what’s happened? What’s wrong with that dog?” She turned in the direction Jason faced.

  He shook his head. “Bull Tate probably kicked the poor thing again. One of these days someone is going to see he gets a dose of his own medicine.”

  She stared at a large man’s back as he walked farther away down the street. An ugly, long-haired dog, tail between its legs, followed a few feet behind. People moved aside to let the man pass. She shivered.

  “We better get started home. You don’t want to keep Sally waiting this evening.”

  Jason blushed. “What about the library? I thought you wanted to see it.”

  “I do, but it can wait until another time.”

  Texanna stopped at Aggie’s to pick up Garrett. Obviously excited, Garrett talked nonstop to his uncle all the way to the house. The two of them groomed Josie. Then, after helping Garret milk the cow, Jason rode back to town.

  Texanna fixed scrambled eggs to go with the ham and leftover biscuits. She needed to figure out something else to cook—their diet was becoming monotonous.

  Garrett balked at having to take a bath two nights in a row and went to bed in a pout. It was hard to keep a straight face as he scowled and stomped up the stairs to bed. He looked so much like his daddy.

  She sat at the kitchen table with a sketchpad and drew a diagram of Austin Avenue, Fourth Street, and the buildings on each corner. Her memory was good, and she felt she’d remembered the correct placement of windows and doors. All the buildings, except the bank and hotel, were one story.

  Now, where was the best place to station herself? Pearl said Royce was shot in the back, which did
n’t make sense. The jail was up a block and on the opposite side of the street from the bank. From the description in the history book, the gunshot came from the corner of the hotel.

  She chewed on the end of her pencil, thinking. Then horror overwhelmed her. Oh God. It wasn’t the bank robbers who killed him. It was someone close to him, someone he knew and trusted, or someone with a grudge. Or worse yet, one of his own men. Her mind catalogued the people she’d met today. Would one of them prove to be a murderer?

  Chapter Nine

  Royce had washed, and with a towel around his middle, walked upstairs. He stepped softly down the hall to look in on Garrett. The boy was sprawled across the bed on his stomach, his nightshirt up around his knees. He was so beautiful, this child of his. His heart twisted when he saw Garrett and Texanna together. She was a natural at mothering, and Garrett was crazy about her. Their closeness made him long for her to treat him with the same affection. She could deny being his wife, but her fondness for Garrett was obvious.

  He eased the door open to her room. As he placed the package he’d carried up under his arm on top of the bureau, a smile teased his lips. He couldn’t wait to see her response to his gift. The store had been just about to close when he’d dashed in to make his purchase.

  Back in his bedroom, he tossed the towel into a corner, started for the bed, and then froze. Should he put on a pair of drawers in case he had to get up and check on Garrett? It wouldn’t do to shock Texanna. He reached into the chest to get a pair and touched Texanna’s silky underwear. So soft and delicate, they were indecent, yet he’d love to see them on her. His chest wasn’t the best hiding place. Tomorrow he’d find a better one.

  He grinned and crawled into bed naked. Shocking her was so much fun. His humor vanished. Pearl had been modest and, before her disappearance, would have pretended to not notice his body, but not this woman. She’d most likely look at his bare ass and chew him out. The thought was arousing. He groaned and turned his head into the pillow. Lord, could his life get anymore complicated? His thoughts turned to the history book on top of the night table. He needed to face whatever was in it.

  ****

  The sound of rustling next door woke Texanna.

  Royce stuck his head in her door. “Get out of that bed, sleepy head. Today is Sunday, and church services start at ten o’clock.”

  Oh drat. She didn’t want to go. Then she remembered her mission. Today she’d have an opportunity to watch people and see how they acted toward Royce. Maybe she’d spot whoever hated him enough to commit murder.

  “There’s a parcel for you on the chifforobe.” He grinned and walked back into his room.

  Curious, Texanna jumped out of bed and picked up the package. It was wrapped in brown paper tied up with string. Whatever was inside was soft.

  She folded back the paper to reveal a blue dress, the color very close to her favorite, turquoise. It was the one she’d admired in the department store window while walking with Jason. “Oh, it’s beautiful. How did you know?”

  From the other room, he answered. “Jason told me it caught your eye yesterday.”

  His thoughtfulness touched her deeply. She slipped on a robe and walked next door. He stood at the mirror brushing his hair, the shirt pulling across his broad back as he raised his arms. She laid her cheek between his shoulder blades, wrapped her arms around his waist, and squeezed. “Thank you.”

  He froze, then sat the brush down and covered her hands with his to stroke her forearms. Voice gruff, he said, “You’re welcome.”

  She suddenly realized her breasts were flattened against his back and pulled away.

  “Hurry and get dressed so we can have breakfast. Then you can try it on.”

  Downstairs she stoked the fire and put on the coffee, using a little more than half the amount of coffee Royce had used. Royce brought milk and meat in from the springhouse. She sliced the sausage and started frying patties. By the time Royce and Garrett were finished with the outdoor chores, she had the table set and the eggs ready to scramble.

  She could hear Royce’s deep voice as they walked from the barn, but not what he said. It sounded like laughter. As they neared the house, she heard Garrett’s voice.

  “But Pa, she made me take a bath two nights in a row. Ain’t that a waste of water?”

  “No, it’s not, and it helps keep the sheets clean, so you mind her, you hear?”

  “Yes, sir.” His answer wasn’t enthusiastic.

  Royce’s eyes were twinkling when they entered the kitchen.

  She grinned and shrugged. “Wash up. Breakfast is ready.”

  They washed in the pan of hot soapy water at the sink.

  “Everything looks good. Where’d you get the bread?”

  “Jason and I stopped at the bakery yesterday, and I got a couple of loaves. I hope that’s all right.”

  He took a bite and nodded. “Of course it is. I like toast, especially the way you fixed it.”

  “Yeah Texanna, it’s good.” Garrett had jelly smeared across his face.

  Their compliments touched her. It was a first for her when it came to cooking. “I’m glad you both approve.”

  She watched as Royce sipped his coffee and looked from his cup to her. He raised an eyebrow.

  “I made it weaker. Do you think it’s awful?” Tasted ten times better to her but…

  “It’s good.”

  When they finished eating, Royce stood and covered the leftover toast and sausage with a dishtowel. “Let’s get a move on.” He helped Garrett put the food scraps on one plate and poured the sausage drippings on top.

  Texanna hurried to finish in the kitchen, and then ran upstairs to try on the new dress. Since she didn’t have a choice, she put on a chemise and bloomers. Lord they were ugly. She slipped on the skirt of the two-piece dress and found it a bit snug. It fell straight in front but the back was full, longer, and made of five panels, resembling un-gathered curtain valances. The bodice buttoned up to a v-neck with a wide collar and elbow-length puff sleeves.

  She heard Royce coming upstairs so stepped out into the hall. “Look.” She tugged on the bodice trying to get it to lay flat. “This dress doesn’t fit me right.” It was too large in the bust, and, at the waist, the facing for the buttons gaped some.

  “Turn around and let me see.” He looked her up and down, and then tugged on the bodice where it dipped low in the back. His eyes focused on the vicinity of her breasts. “You need a corset.” His lips twitched before he turned.

  She snorted. “I’ll just wear something else.”

  Before she reached the chifforobe, he blocked her way and put his hands on her waist. “Please, wear this for me today. The color is so pretty on you.”

  Well, she didn’t have anything else to wear. And he had asked nicely. “Alright, I’ll put on the damned corset.”

  His face flushed with anger. “Watch your mouth. Garrett doesn’t need to hear language like that coming from his mother.”

  “I am not—”

  He gripped her chin, and his eyes bored into hers. “I don’t want to hear it. Whether you are or not, he’s crazy about you and thinks you hung the moon.” His gaze dropped to her lips, and her tongue darted out to moisten them.

  She pulled away and walked to the chifforobe. “You’re right, of course. I usually only swear when I’m angry or scared. And since you’re the only person to rouse those emotions in me…” But lately she’d been out of control. Shame coursed through her. She’d make a conscious effort to do better.

  His hands caressed her shoulders, and he murmured into her hair. “I can understand the anger, but why on earth would you be afraid of me? I’d die before I hurt you.”

  Should she lie or tell him the truth? She chewed her bottom lip, and then made up her mind. “For one thing, the fact I’m standing here in 1880 is almost more than I can comprehend. That’s scary as all get out.” She paused, trying to decide whether or not to be honest with him. “You stir feelings in me that are foreign, and I have n
o right to feel.”

  “What feelings? Tell me.” He turned her to face him.

  Her bottom lip trembled, and she bit it to keep it still. “Desire so strong I want to make love to you. Kiss every inch of your gorgeous body.” His blue eyes burned with a fire that caused Texanna’s stomach to lurch and her heart to pound. “A first for me. You see, in my time period I’m considered odd because I’m still a virgin at twenty-two. Many women have had several lovers by that age. My last fiancé broke up with me because I wouldn’t have sex with him.”

  His expression was unreadable, yet she thought she saw uncertainty in his eyes. He dropped his forehead to hers.

  “I never wanted to share my heart and body with anyone until I met you. But I don’t belong in this time period, and I’ll be leaving after the bank robbery. Plus, your feelings for me are confused with those you have for Pearl.”

  He pulled her close, his embrace so tight she could hardly breathe. But she didn’t care, just hung on savoring each moment.

  Voice thick, he said, “We need to hurry and finish dressing.” He held her at arms’ length for a moment, and then dropped his hands to his side.

  ****

  “Pa, how do I look?”

  The boy was growing as fast as a weed and already his new pants were a minute away from being too short. “You look fine, Son. You think you could sit up here and hold the reins while I get Texanna?”

  “Sure, Pa. Tell her to hurry or we’re gonna be late.”

  “I’ll do that.”

  Texanna was walking down the stairs when he entered the hall. “You look beautiful.” She flushed and smiled. “But, we need to find you a hat and a parasol.”

  Royce found a box of hairpins, and Texanna pinned her hair back and sat the straw bonnet with flowers on her head.

  He tilted it to a better angle and added pins to hold it in place.

  “I feel stupid in this hat.”

  “You look lovely, and it matches your dress.”

  She examined herself in the hall mirror. “Maybe.”

  He handed her a white parasol. “This will have to do. It’s the only color that matches. Next time you’re in town, pick up a new one.”