She sniffed the air again. There was definitely coffee on the stovetop. She tossed back the covers, surprised to find she was fully dressed. The previous night came flooding back. Jake finding her combing wool because it was just too cold to sleep. Jake carrying her to his bed by the fire. Jake kissing her.
Her face flamed at the memory of her wanton response to him. All the years she’d spent proving she wasn’t like her mother, and one kiss made a liar of her. She buried her face in her hands. How could she have allowed it? She was practically a married woman. How would she ever be able to face Hiram?
“That’s an awfully long face for so early in the morning.”
She jumped at the words spoken close to her ear.
“Easy, pretty girl. I won’t hurt you.”
“You just surprised me. I didn’t know you were there.”
Jake glanced around the room, then back at her. “Not a lot of places to go.”
She fought a pitched battle with herself when he grinned. She wanted to smile back, but she wouldn’t encourage him in any way. Jake reached out to smooth back her hair, but she leaned away. She couldn’t let him touch her, not after her response last night. She didn’t trust herself any longer.
He frowned. “You say you know I won’t hurt you, but you don’t believe it.”
“Oh, I do believe you, Mr. McCain. It’s just—” She broke off. She was lying in bed talking to a man. She felt the heat rush into her face again. She rolled off the mattress, away from Jake, and pushed to her feet. She took a step toward her bedroom and got tangled in the blankets and her heavy cloak. Jake’s quick reaction was all that kept her from pitching to the floor.
The strong hands gripping her arms sent heat racing through her, touching places deep inside her she didn’t want to feel. She looked up, intending to demand he release her, but she got lost in his eyes. She could see herself there, the reflection of a woman, leaning closer, stretching toward him, hoping he would kiss her.
“The sun’s out.” Nathan clattered down the stairs and raced to the door.
“Don’t open that!”
The boy skidded to a stop at Jake’s sharp command.
“Sorry, didn’t mean to shout. But I don’t want to chase snow around the cabin until I’ve had some breakfast.”
Rachel pulled away and hurried into her room to dress for the day. She gasped at how cold the tiny space had gotten and had to admit Jake had been right to make her sleep near the fire. She could hear him, talking to Nathan, explaining how they didn’t want a repeat of yesterday’s circus. She had to smile. She must have looked ridiculous, standing in the doorway, covered in snow. But she’d laughed, really laughed, for the first time in so long, and it felt wonderful.
Since she’d gone to bed fully dressed, all she had to do was comb her hair and tame it into some semblance of order. She smoothed it together at the base of her neck and tied a ribbon of cloth around it, choosing to leave it down this morning. Wrapping it into a knot and pinning it up always gave her a bit of a headache, and it would end up falling anyway.
When she shoved aside the curtain separating her bedroom from the main cabin, Jake and Nathan stood side by side at the window, trying to see through a tiny break in the snow that covered the glass. Above their heads, a large patch of snow broke loose and slid from the roof, hitting the ground with a thud. “The snow is melting quickly.” Rachel was almost sad that the outside world was returning. As soon as the snow cleared, Jake McCain would be on his way and life would return to normal. Rachel refused to acknowledge that small part of her that wanted things to continue as they were.
Jake finished his coffee. “It sounds like we’ll be able to get out of here pretty soon.”
“Will you go after those bad guys now?” Nathan looked up, his pose mirroring Jake’s exactly.
“As soon as I can get an idea of which way they headed. I’m hoping someone in town saw them or spoke with them.”
Rachel started to ask a question, but stopped when she heard her name being shouted. “That’s Hiram.”
Nathan rolled his eyes, making Jake laugh. They could hear several men outside, calling her, knocking snow out of the way as they came.
“Who’s Hiram?”
“Hiram Miller. He runs the bank in town.”
Her brother grimaced. “She wants him to marry her.”
“Nathan!”
The boy ducked, but laughter bubbled out. She started to scold him about his manners, but the men outside shouted again.
“They can’t be too bad off,” one of the men called. “She made it out for wood.”
“Those prints are from a man’s boots, not hers.” Hiram sounded almost panicked. “Miss Hudson! Rachel, are you all right?”
“What on earth is the matter with him?” Rachel cleared the table, making room for company. “You’d think I was caught out in the storm instead of snug inside a warm house.”
She opened the door as the men finished clearing a path to the door. Hiram and two of the miners from the outskirts of town stared back at her.
Hiram grabbed both her hands and tugged her close. “Darling, are you all right? I’ve been worried sick about you, stuck out here all alone.”
“I’m not alone. Nathan is here, and...”
He pulled her against his chest and wrapped his arms around her, trapping her hands between them. Shocked, she didn’t think to protest when he bent his head and planted a kiss on her lips. Hiram had never tried to do more than squeeze her hand before. It was nice, she decided, but not the same as when Jake held her. Kissed her.
She had no business thinking of Ranger McCain. She was going to marry Hiram. Remembering there were others watching, she turned her face aside and shoved a little at Hiram until he released her.
“Come inside, gentlemen. Warm yourselves. There’s coffee, if you would care for some.”
Hiram wrapped a hand around her upper arm to usher her inside. She moved forward a step so he could close the door, but was yanked back when he stopped suddenly. She looked up to ask what was wrong, but he wasn’t looking at her. He’d seen Jake. She risked a glance at the Ranger as he stood halfway across the room, buckling on his gun belt.
“Hiram, this is Jake McCain,” she introduced. “He’s a Texas Ranger. He was caught out in the storm, left for dead by a gang of cattle rustlers. God’s hand guided him here.”
“A Ranger?”
Rachel was shocked by the venom in Hiram’s voice. He looked the man up and down, doubt obvious in his face. Couldn’t he see the bruises that colored Jake’s skin or how he still favored his left side a little? She quickly introduced the other men, hoping to diffuse the tension in the small room.
“Several strangers spent the last two nights in town,” Hiram accused. “They told me they’d been shadowed by a thief who was trying to rob them, but they got the jump on him just as the snow was starting.”
“He is so a Ranger!” Nathan tore across the room, dove into Jake’s packs and rummaged until he found what he was looking for. Waving Jake’s commission in the air, he stomped over to Hiram and thrust it at him. “See.”
When Hiram released her to take the paper, Rachel moved out of reach, rubbing her arm. The frown on Jake’s face made it plain he wasn’t pleased with Hiram’s treatment of her. His concern warmed her.
Nathan returned to Jake’s side and looked to him for approval. The Ranger patted the boy’s shoulder and winked at him. Nathan beamed at his new hero.
“It looks real enough,” Hiram allowed after closely studying the document. Staring at Jake, he tossed the commission on the table. “But they all made it to town. Why couldn’t you?”
“They had a head start on me, since they’d knocked me out and left me to freeze to death. By the time I came to, it was snowing too hard to see much. When I spotted Miss Hudson’s light, I aimed for it and passed out on the porch.”
“What light?”
“Our candle. The one we put in the window for Christmas. You remember. I t
old you about it. We put it back when the snow started.” She poured coffee for the other two men. “I thank God Mr. McCain saw it through the storm. As it was, he was nearly frozen when he found the cabin.”
Hiram took the cup Rachel handed him, but he refused to sit. He seemed to be stalking Jake, making sure he stayed between him and Rachel.
“I can offer bacon and bread, gentlemen, if you’d like.” They all declined her offer. “I’m afraid I haven’t had a chance to collect the eggs yet.”
“They’re in the sink.”
Jake’s voice was deep and warm, unlike Hiram’s. She’d never noticed before how Hiram seemed to whine when he was upset.
“I gathered them while you were still sleeping.”
Rachel turned away and busied herself wiping an imaginary spill. Heat rushed through her at the memory of Jake putting her to bed the night before.
“What is it, my dear? You seem a bit flushed.” Hiram joined her, crowding her into the counter. She sidestepped to gain some separation, but he closed the distance. She could feel him press against her skirts. It flustered her. He’d rarely touched her except to take her arm when walking. Standing this close wasn’t like him. Panic fluttered at the edge of her mind, but she ignored it. This was Hiram, her fiancé. He wasn’t going to hurt her. “I’m fine, thank you.”
“I was concerned about you.” He ran his fingers from her shoulder to her wrist, stopping to stroke the bare skin where her sleeve ended. “When you didn’t come to town yesterday, I imagined all manner of horrible things had happened to you.”
Her skin burned where he touched and she fought not to wipe away the feeling. She swallowed the knot of fear clogging her throat. “We couldn’t leave the cabin. As you saw, the snow virtually buried us. I appreciate your concern, and for coming to check on us.” When she tried to turn around, he blocked her path, deliberately taking her arm and pulling her against him.
Fear skittered down her spine. “Hiram,” she whispered, “what’s the matter with you?” She twisted her arm to break free. “Let me go. There are others in the room.”
He stared down at her, his lips pressed into a hard line. When his gaze dropped to her mouth, she shrank away.
“Please, Hiram, let me pass.”
For one long, tense moment, she didn’t think he would, but finally his hand dropped and he stepped away.
Freed from his hold, she crossed to the stove. Jake met her there.
“What was that about?”
“None of your concern, Mr. McCain.”
“I don’t take to a woman being manhandled. He doesn’t have the right.”
Where Hiram had frightened her when he’d stood so close, Jake’s nearness was comforting, somehow. She didn’t want to explore why. Instead, she picked up the coffeepot.
“Please, Jake.” She kept her voice low. “He’s never hurt me before. I’ll be fine”
Hiram scowled at her from across the room while she poured coffee. Where had her gentle suitor gone? She’d never known this side of him existed.
“What are those animals doing in the house?” Hiram wrinkled his nose dramatically. “The stench is unbearable.”
Rachel set the pot down with a thump. “I’m sorry, Hiram, but I couldn’t leave them outside. They would never have survived the cold in that lean-to.”
“You don’t need to apologize, Miss Hudson.” Jake smoothed over the sudden tension in the room. “It’s an ingenious use of space. Quite unique, in my experience.”
She glanced at him and Jake winked. She couldn’t help but smile back. As Rachel turned back to her task, she caught Hiram glaring at the Ranger. The instant she finished filling the men’s cups, Hiram grabbed her wrist and pulled her close to his side.
Jake took a chair at the table. “What can you tell me about the men who were in town? How many were there?”
“Five.” Albert Jackson spoke up first. The big bear of a man was one of the gentlest people Rachel had ever known. He was raising three young children on his own, two boys who promised to be as big as their father and a fey blond girl who was the tiniest child Rachel had ever seen.
There’d been a time when she’d wondered if Albert might ask her to marry him, but he’d never gotten over the loss of his wife and couldn’t consider replacing her. Still, he was a good man who watched out for her, and she loved him for his concern.
“They rode up to the livery about sundown two days ago, just as the snow was starting.” Albert took a swig of coffee like it was whiskey, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “I was at the general store, just across the way. I could see ’em through the window.”
“What did they look like?”
“Now, I can’t rightly say. I didn’t get a real good look at them. Big men, most of them, but then you already know that,” he joked, indicating Jake’s bruises. “The leader, he’s one you don’t want to tangle with, I imagine. Not so big, but he had a look about him that said he’s trouble. He had long yeller hair, kinda like Miss Rachel’s, only not so pretty, beggin’ your pardon, ma’am, and a mustache that hung clear past his chin.”
Jake knew the man Albert described, but he held his silence, letting the man remember.
“I didn’t see the others real well. But I remember their horses.” He glanced at Rachel. “I left the children with Ms. Winston and spent the night in the livery. That storm was too bad to try and venture home.”
“That was a wise decision, Mr. Jackson.” Rachel escaped from Hiram to pour a bit more coffee for Albert.
“Thank you, ma’am,” he mumbled into his beard. “There was eight horses all told. Five were for riding, and three for hauling gear. Two of them pack horses looked near used up, but the other was a fine-looking chestnut filly, with a proper saddle and everything tied on real neat.” His gaze jerked up to meet Jake’s. “She was yours.”
“Yeah. They took Duchess after they’d finished with me.”
“Why didn’t they take your saddle horse?” Hiram leaned against the fireplace mantel, one ankle crossed over the other. His arms echoed the insolent posture.
“They’d never catch Griffin.” The horse nickered at the sound of his name, making Jake smile. “He’s a wily old cuss. Probably ran them a hell of a chase until they decided he wasn’t worth the trouble.”
“I saw them,” Rachel whispered.
“When?” Jake straightened in his chair.
“The same evening you came.” She set the coffeepot back on the stove, remembering. “The snow was just starting. They rode up looking for a place to stay. I didn’t open the door, just sent them into town, to Abby’s boarding house.” One of them had caused her heart to miss a beat, as though she recognized him. She rubbed her arms at a sudden chill.
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
“In all the fuss after you arrived I completely forgot them. They...they weren’t gentlemen. At least, the one who did the talking wasn’t.”
“I saw them, too. Are they the ones you’re after?” Nathan sat at the table just like one of the men, his elbows on the table in a mirror of Jake. Rachel turned away. Her brother would be heartbroken when Jake left.
“Who are they?” Hank Gerard spoke for the first time. Though he’d been in America for nearly ten years, Rachel still heard the lilt of his native France in his voice.
“Murderers. Rustlers. Thieves. They aren’t particular. First, it was a wagon train of women and children. None of them survived.” Disgust and vengeance laced Jake’s words. “Last month, it was a stagecoach carrying payroll for the railroad. Then they killed a pregnant woman and made off with two children and a half-dozen horses.”
Rachel gasped. “They kidnapped children?”
Jake nodded in response.
“You’ll catch them,” Nathan encouraged.
“That I will, son.”
“If I can help,” Hank offered, “I am at your service.”
Rachel crossed to the table. “But Mr. Gerard, what about your claim?”
“My little mine is played out, Miss Rachel. I can no longer deny it.”
The thought of Hank leaving Lucinda saddened her. He’d been a good friend when she’d needed one the most. “I’ll miss you.”
He smiled and patted her hand before turning back to Jake. “Now, Ranger McCain, what else can we tell you?”
“When did they leave town?”
“Yesterday, midmorning,” Hiram sneered. “They didn’t have any trouble. They headed south once the sun had melted most of the snow.”
“Only on the open trails,” Hank corrected. “The back country is still treacherous, especially for horses.”
“Then they’ll stick to the open for a while. Since they think I’m still lying in the ravine where they left me, they won’t be too careful about leaving a trail.”
The men rose when Jake did. As they pulled on coats and started for the door, Jake held back a little. “Ma’am, I appreciate everything you’ve done for me.” He shrugged on his jacket and stepped closer, lowering his voice. “I’d like to repay you if you’ll let me.” He dug some silver coins from his pocket. “For the food you’ve shared, at least.”
She glanced at Hiram, where he loitered near the fire, trying to hear. She kept her voice soft so he couldn’t. “I don’t require payment, Mr. McCain. I did as God taught us.”
Jake looked toward Nathan, considering, but she arched an eyebrow, giving him the look that stopped most of the antics of a room full of rambunctious children. He put the coins back in his pocket, shaking his head.
Nathan followed him to the little corral and helped free Griffin. Jake led the horse outside and Nathan followed, lugging his saddle. A moment later he raced back in to collect Jake’s saddlebags, then again for his rifle and bedroll. Hank and Albert joined them in the yard, but Hiram remained until all evidence of Jake was removed from the cabin. Then he jammed on his hat and left her without a word.
Rachel looked around the cabin, surprised at how empty it felt. Shivering, she wrapped her arms around herself. Though he’d only been there two days, Rachel had grown accustomed to his presence. She shook off the sadness that threatened and stepped onto the porch.
“Mr. Miller,” Jake called out. “I’d be obliged if you could show me where those men headed out of town. I should be able to pick up their trail from there.”
Texas Gold Page 7