by Bobbi Smith
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Luke asked as he ran his hands over her silken curves. He never tired of loving her, even after all this time of being married.
“We have to. Your father and brother will take care of things here for us, if we tell them why we have to leave.”
He nodded slowly, knowing she was right. “All right, my love. When do we start?”
“Tomorrow!” she said excitedly. She had already formulated a plan to use in tracking down the killers.
“Why do I get the feeling that you knew I would eventually come around to your way of thinking?” he asked with a quirky smile.
“Just call it female intuition.” Cody kissed him again. “We need to get word to Steve that we’re going after them. Then we can start making inquiries. My father’s sources are always reliable. We’ll need to talk to Jim Eskin, too. I want to know everything he can remember about how the Rangers tracked the Sheldons down the first time. I want to know all the circumstances surrounding their arrests and the brother’s death.”
Luke could feel the tension building within her. “Whoa, sweetheart. . . . Slow down a little,” he said as he nuzzled her neck. “That’s in the morning. We still have a lot of tonight left.”
“Yes, we do,” she said in a sultry voice as she drew him to her for a kiss. “You won’t be sorry for trusting my judgment, Luke.”
“I’ve never been sorry for trusting you, Cody. I love you.”
Chapter Three
“If you need anything, I’m in the next stateroom down the hall. Dinner is at six. I’ll be back for you then. If you need anything before then, just let me know,” Jack told Amanda and Miss Hammond as he escorted them to their cabin.
“We won’t be needing a thing. Thank you.” Amanda smiled sweetly at him and quickly disappeared inside with Eileen, shutting the cabin door firmly behind them.
Jack smiled at the closed door. It looked as if the worst was over. He’d gotten Amanda on the ship, and they were on their way to Galveston. The rest should be easy.
Jack let himself into his own cabin, intent on relaxing for a while. He’d had a few tense moments that morning wondering whether Amanda would show up or not. As wild as she was, he wouldn’t have put it past her to try to slip away from him. She’d made it quite obvious what she thought about going home to Texas.
Now that they were settled on board, though, Jack could let down his guard somewhat. Except for stops at a few ports between here and Galveston, there would be no way for her to get into any real trouble during the trip. He hoped she would keep to herself in the cabin with her companion. He was looking forward to delivering her safe and sound to Dan and then having a drink at the nearest saloon. It was a worthy goal.
Amanda was amazed that the cabin Jack had taken for them was so comfortable. She had expected a spartan room with little in the way of amenities. To her surprise, the cabin had not only a small sitting room with a bunk that Eileen could use, but also a tiny bedroom opening off it for her own private use. Both women were delighted with the arrangements, and they quickly settled in.
“Miss Amanda?”
Amanda had been resting in her own bed when she heard the call, and she rose to see what was wrong. Eileen sounded strange.
“What is it, Miss Hammond?” she asked as she emerged from her room. “Oh—” The sight of the older woman’s green face told her immediately what was wrong.
“I don’t think I’m meant to travel by sea,” she said weakly, trying to maintain some sense of dignity as she clutched the sides of her bed.
“How bad is it?” Amanda asked, going to her side.
“It’s bad,” she managed, fighting for control over her churning stomach and reeling senses.
“The only thing I know about seasickness is that it’s best if you don’t move.” Amanda got a cool, damp cloth and pressed it to Eileen’s brow.
The boat swayed just then. Eileen moaned aloud at the motion, then managed a woeful laugh. “I’d love to stay still . . . if only the ship would let me.”
Amanda made her as comfortable as she could.
“There isn’t much more we can do for seasickness, other than tough it out until we’re on land again.”
“I’m sorry.” Eileen truly was sorry. She knew that Margaret Randall had wanted her to keep careful watch over her granddaughter, and now it looked as if it was going to be the other way around for a while. “How many days until we reach Galveston?”
“Too many,” Amanda said sympathetically. “Can I get you anything? Anything at all?”
Eileen managed a wan smile. “No. The thought of anything to eat or drink just makes my stomach worse. I’ll just lie here and be miserable all by myself.” Amanda tucked the blankets more closely around her. “Just call if you need me. I’ll be right here.” Eileen closed her eyes and sighed wearily. It was going to be a long voyage.
As the time neared for them to go to dinner, Amanda was tempted to skip the meal so she could keep watch over Eileen. But the chaperone encouraged her to go.
“I know I said one of us could fake seasickness, but I hadn’t planned on this. Still, you shouldn’t skip a meal on my account. Go ahead and have your dinner. I’ll be right here waiting for you when you’re done, and it will give you an excuse to hurry back.” Reluctantly, Amanda agreed, promising to return as quickly as she could.
Amanda changed from her rather rumpled day dress into a fashionable, deep blue gown more suitable for the atmosphere of the ship’s dining room. It was demurely cut at the bodice, yet form-fitting, emphasizing her perfect figure. She smoothed her hair up into a sleek, sophisticated style that she knew her grandmother liked on her. She was ready to go when Jack knocked at the door precisely at six o’clock.
Jack stared at Amanda when she opened the door. He had been so busy being her adversary that he hadn’t thought of her as a beautiful woman, but as he gazed at her now, he realized she was lovely. The discovery irritated him, and he frowned.
“Are you ready? Where’s Miss Hammond?”
“She won’t be joining us this evening,” Amanda informed him as she quickly stepped from the cabin and closed the door behind her. “She’s indisposed.”
“What’s wrong? Is there anything I can do?”
“Not unless you can speed up this ship and get us to Galveston within the hour,” she suggested. “She was stricken with seasickness almost as soon as we left port.”
“Perhaps the seas will calm once we’re farther out.”
“I hope so. I’d hate to think that she’ll be forced to stay in the cabin the entire time.”
They made their way to the main dining room. It was an elegant salon with long tables set with heavy china. There were several alcoves where travelers could dine in privacy if they chose. Crystal wine glasses were held in racks that hung over the tables, affording easy access to the diners and safety for the glassware in case of rough seas.
“Do you have a preference as to where we sit?” Jack asked.
She was surprised by his courtesy, and she had to admit that she was surprised, too, by his appearance that night. He looked handsome in the dark suit he wore. She thought he could have passed for a gentleman—if you didn’t know him—but her experiences with him had taught her otherwise. She was sure that he was a self-centered brute who cared only about his own interests. She supposed there might be more to him, but she doubted it and didn’t care to waste any time finding out.
“Let’s sit at the main table,” she answered, not wanting to spend any time alone with him if she could avoid it.
Jack held a chair out for her, and she gave him a weak smile as she slid into it. He sat down beside her and the uniformed waiter immediately approached to give them menus.
“Yes, sir. Can I bring you or your lovely companion anything to drink tonight?”
It irked Amanda that he was speaking only to Jack.
“I’d like a cup of hot tea, please,” she said, perfectly capable of selecting her own beverage.
Jack sensed the tension in Amanda and knew exactly why she was angry. Still, it was a man’s world. She was going to have to learn to live with it or she was going to be a very frustrated woman.
“Nothing for me, thanks, but Miss Taylor will have hot tea.”
“Fine, sir.”
Jack heard her sharp intake of breath as the waiter hurried off to get her beverage.
“How dare he ignore me that way? There’s no reason I couldn’t order for myself!”
Jack saw the flush of indignation that stained her cheeks. “You’re not going to change the world in one day or the way things are done on this ship, so you may as well just enjoy your tea when it comes.”
“But he wouldn’t even look at me. It was as if I didn’t exist.”
“Believe me, you exist. I’ve seen you in action. I’m just glad you don’t have an axe right now.”
She glanced at him angrily. “You’re right. If I had one, I would be tempted to use it.”
At the thought of her smashing whiskey bottles in The Palace, he had to ask, “Whatever possessed you to pick that particular bar?”
“Bethany and I had heard about it from a woman whose husband used to drink at The Palace all night and then go home and beat her. She died from one of his beatings two weeks ago.”
“Do you really think causing all that damage to the bar made any difference?”
“You think staying quiet and doing nothing is more effective?”
“There are other ways to make yourself heard besides taking an axe to liquor bottles.”
“Not for women. We’ve been held down and ignored by men for too long.”
“Not all women have been,” he said, his tone serious as he remembered another woman who had been as deadly to reckon with as any man he’d ever known.
“How can you say that when we are practically chattel?”
“When I was a Ranger, I ran into a number of women who were men’s equals.”
At his mention of the Rangers, Amanda asked, “My father mentioned in his letter that you were an ex-Ranger. Why did you leave the Rangers? They’re the best, aren’t they?”
“They are the best, and that’s why I quit. I was wounded a little over a year ago, and I didn’t feel that I was up to doing my job to the best of my ability any more.”
“What happened?”
“Let’s just say I had a momentary lapse in judgment. It won’t happen again.”
“So, how do you know my father? He’s never mentioned you that I can remember.”
“He was my commanding officer during the war.”
“That was a long time ago.”
“Yes. It was.” Jack rarely allowed himself to think of his life back then. His youth had been an idyllic time, growing up at Riverwood Plantation surrounded by a loving family. But then the war had come and the life he’d known had been destroyed forever. After the war, he’d come to Texas with what was left of his family—his mother, sister and brother-in-law. They’d settled in Galveston, and he’d joined up with the Rangers in the early seventies. Being a Ranger was the only life he’d wanted until last year . . . and El Diablo. . . .
“Well, I’m sure he’ll be pleased with the fine job you’ve done getting me home.”
“We’re not there yet,” he drawled sarcastically.
“I get the distinct feeling you don’t trust me.”
“I don’t trust any woman. I’ll keep a careful eye on you until I deliver you to your father.”
“Even if I give you my word that I’ll behave myself on the rest of the trip home?”
“I doubt your word’s worth anything. I’ve learned the hard way that women say one thing and do another. They’re not always what they seem.”
Amanda heard the flatness in his voice and glanced at him then. The expression in his eyes was so cold and so devoid of emotion that she shivered in spite of herself. She wondered what had happened to him to make him so hard and unfeeling. Whatever it was, it had turned him into a very dangerous man. She was glad she was not his enemy.
The waiter returned with her tea and was ready to take their order. Jack asked Amanda what she wanted, then told the waiter. Amanda managed not to say anything.
The rest of the evening passed quietly. When it was time to return to the cabin, Amanda had Jack order some tea and a few biscuits to take to Eileen. She wasn’t sure if her companion would be up to eating, but she wanted to have something for her, just in case. Jack bade her good night at her cabin and waited to hear that she’d locked the door before he went on to his own quarters.
Amanda found Miss Hammond asleep when she returned to the stateroom, and so she let the older woman rest. After undressing for bed, she brushed out her hair and lay down, ready for a good night’s sleep.
The sound of a woman’s terrified cry jarred Amanda from her rest. Thinking it was Miss Hammond and that something was seriously wrong, she rushed to the outer sitting room. To her surprise, the older woman was awake, too, and sitting up in bed looking horrified.
“Was that you?” Eileen asked as Amanda came running.
“No. I’m fine. I thought it was you.”
They heard the woman cry out again then and realized it was coming from the cabin next door.
“She sounds scared to death.”
There was a muted crash, and the unknown woman screamed, “Don’t, Micah! Don’t hit me again!”
“Shut up, woman, or I’ll give you something to really cry about!” the abusive man shouted back.
“I’ve got to do something to help her!” Amanda told Eileen in an urgent, hushed whisper.
“But Miss Amanda . . . You might get hurt. . . . He sounds so mean—”
“I don’t care. I can’t just sit here and listen to him beat her.” Amanda ran back to her room and grabbed her dressing gown. Throwing it on, she tied it about her waist and ran from their cabin.
Eileen was inspired by Amanda’s fearlessness, and she ignored her own queasiness as she got up to follow. She would not let her charge face this unknown, vicious man alone. Tugging on her own wrapper, she went out into the hall.
Amanda hurried to the next cabin and pounded on the door. She wondered if anyone inside could hear her, for the woman was sobbing loudly. She knocked again as she heard the sound of another dull thud. She wasn’t sure what it was and she didn’t want to speculate, for her imagination was conjuring up heartrending images she didn’t even want to consider.
“Open up!” Amanda cried, pounding on the door as hard as she could with both fists.
“Who is it?” the man demanded through the door. “I’m here to speak to your wife. She sounds like she needs help,” Amanda said bravely.
“She don’t need no damn help! Go the hell away and leave us alone!”
Amanda heard the fury in his tone, but she was too angry to care. “I’m not going away until she tells me to leave herself.”
There was the sound of angry voices from inside the room, but neither Amanda nor Eileen could make out what was being said. Then there was another crash and finally the woman spoke. Her words were mumbled, her voice unsteady but understandable.
“I don’t need help. Go away.”
Amanda stood before the door, frustrated and furious. She was about to say something more when she looked down the passageway to see Jack coming out of his cabin. He was wearing only his pants and was tugging on his shirt as he strode angrily toward her.
“What is it? Are you all right?” he demanded. His gaze raked over Amanda. The silken fabric of her dressing gown did little to disguise the soft fullness of her breasts and the curve of her hips, and his body tightened in response. He silently cursed his reaction to the sight of her so meagerly clad.
“We heard things crashing and a woman crying in there,” she explained quickly. “The man was hitting her—”
Jack heard the angry voices through the door and realized what she’d been trying to do
. He knocked. “Is everything all right?”
“Everything’s fine. Go away,” the man ordered.
Jack looked from Amanda to Eileen and then nodded toward their stateroom. “You two need to go back inside.”
“But—” Amanda started to protest.
He cut her off. “There’s nothing you can do here, and you shouldn’t be standing out in public dressed like that. Get back inside your stateroom.”
The look he gave her was bold, and Amanda suddenly realized just how little she was wearing. She started back to her cabin, but hesitated to go in until Eileen was with her.
Eileen remained to speak with Jack. She looked up at him and put her hand on his arm as she spoke.
“It was terrible,” she told him. “We could hear the woman screaming at him not to hit her any more. . . .” Jack stared down at the little woman who was looking at him much as his mother used to do. He knew he could not just walk away from this. He patted her hand. “I’ll do what I can.”
She smiled at him angelically. “I knew you would,” she said softly as she moved away.
Something stirred deep within Jack’s soul. The look Miss Hammond had given him was one of complete and utter faith in the goodness of him and his intentions. He found himself knocking solidly and loudly on the closed door before him. “Mister? I want to talk to your wife.”
“Leave us alone!”
“I’m not leaving until I talk to her.”
“We don’t need no damned interfering from you!
“If she tells me she’s fine, I’ll go, and then we can all get some sleep. But I’m not leaving this spot until I hear from her. What’s it going to be?”
There was silence, then she spoke.
“I’m fine. Go away.”
Jack glanced over to where Amanda and Eileen stood. He knew there was little more he could do. “Ma’am. If you need anything, say so now.”
“No.”
Jack remained in the passageway a moment longer just to make sure all was quiet again. Then he moved to speak with Amanda and Miss Hammond.
“It should be all right now. I don’t think he’ll do anything more to her tonight.”