“Hold on, Darwin.” The Pinkerton stepped between her and odious Darwin. “I’ve fulfilled my contract. I brought her here as you requested, but I’ll have no part in harming this woman.”
“You may leave now.”
“Not as long as there’s any chance you’ll hurt her. If she doesn’t marry you in the morning, I’ll see she gets back home.”
“She will marry me in the morning.” Darwin tone was fiercely determined as he whirled. His abrupt movement knocked a vase from a side table to the floor where it splintered on the hard tiles.
Startled by the sound and fury of his response, she stepped back. “I’m already promised to someone else—the sheriff of Mason County. He’ll be here by morning. There’ll be no ceremony,” she said, determined to never give in to Darwin’s plan. Desperate to turn him away, she said, “I’m already with child by him. You might as well let me go.”
Darwin’s face contorted with anger. “Whore!” He spit the word at her. “Just like your mother. Spread your legs for someone else when I paid good money to have you unsullied.” Fists clenched, he advanced. The rage in his face, the tension in his body, took her aback.
He meant to do her harm—maybe even kill her.
The Pinkerton held him back. “Not another step, Darwin.”
“Y-your services are no longer required, Agent. You’re discharged.”
The Pinkerton’s hand hovered over his Colt. “I will protect this young woman. It appears she has good reason to fear a marriage contract with the likes of you. Here’s what will happen now. She’ll be taken to a room and treated with respect. She’s in need of a bath, and her horse is in need of feed, water and rest. Tomorrow, no matter what you will, I’ll return her home to her father’s ranch.”
“How dare you order me in such a fashion! I’ve paid you good money, and you’ve reneged on your duty.”
Her brother stepped forward. “Pay me instead. I’ll see she marries you.”
Darwin’s eyes bugged. “Fields, who’s this?”
“I’m her brother and I’m the one responsible for bringing her here. I want his cut.”
The Pinkerton shrugged. “Notify my agency. They may even refund part of your fee—if you’re lucky.”
Star remained quiet, for once. It seemed the Pinkerton was slightly more reputable than she thought. Hope rose and eddied through her thoughts. She might still make it back home…to Cord.
“I’ll remain on guard through the night so she’s not interfered with.”
Tom stepped forward, his hand on his six-shooter.
Fields turned on her brother. “Don’t try me, Tyler. I’d soon as shoot you as step on a bug.”
Her brother slowly moved his hand away and stepped back. The coward.
Her heart hammered. Darwin wouldn’t get his hands on her this time. Fields treated her with more consideration than her mother had. She glanced at him, afraid to speak, but hoped he knew how grateful she was.
As for Darwin, another coward, he seemed to shrink before Field’s strength of purpose. He sputtered and gnashed his teeth, but he called the Mexican housekeeper and instructed her to see to Star’s needs.
Fields followed and positioned himself outside her door. “Thank you,” she whispered and closed the door. Would he be able to stay awake all night? He’d had as long a day as she, and she’d fall asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.
The servant filled a copper tub with hot water and helped Star to undress. Fatigue had leached all the strength from her body. She eased slowly into the steaming tub of water and began to wash away the trail dust. The soap stung her raw wrists, but the heat felt incredibly good to the rest of her sore muscles. She relaxed against the tub where the maid had placed a rolled a towel for her neck.
The servant left to fetch drinking water and something for Star to eat. She glanced over her shoulder to make certain her captor, now guardian, was in place at her door. He was. A sigh of relief escaped.
Tomorrow surely Cord would find her. And the nightmare of the last day would be over. He would hold her in his arms and they would marry. She would have his babies and all her problems would be solved.
So what if her mother had sold her to Darwin? Star Tyler wasn’t a piece of property. No indeed. Darwin could just go back to Boston…
Or go to Hell. It didn’t matter which.
Chapter Thirteen
Sunrise came early. Cord and Nash headed into town while Luis backtracked to pick up Star’s trail. As soon as the general store opened, Cord went in and bought provisions to last the rest of their trip. When he paid, he used the occasion to ask the storekeeper some questions. “I’m looking for two men and a woman. Woman’s pretty—a redhead. Not sure about the men, but she’s been taken from her home in Kenton Valley, and I’m pretty sure it’s against her will. My posse and I have followed their trail here, but nobody’s seen ’em.”
The storekeeper eyed Cord’s badge. “No strangers in town. Now, I hear there’s a Yank staying out at the governor’s old ranch. Haven’t seen him, nor heard about any young woman.”
“How far?”
“Five miles give or take. Northeast of town. Road ain’t bad, unless it’s raining. Then it floods.”
“It’s dry now.”
“Yeah, so ’tis.” The storekeeper nodded.
“A Yankee you say?”
“Yeah, a highfaluting one, so they say. Come to think of it, his housekeeper came in here earlier this week. Bought some of my French-milled soap. Don’t get much call for the fancy stuff.”
What the hell, it was a lead. And a slim one at that. “Describe the ranch.”
“Hacienda style. Left over from the Mexicans. Gated, adobe, tile roof.”
“Thanks.” Cord gathered the provisions and left the store. Hope built in his chest until it nearly burst. Had someone from Boston kidnapped Star? He’d bet his saddle on it. Well, they wouldn’t get away with it. She was his woman, and he wasn’t about to let anyone take her without a fight.
Never again.
The sun was high in the wide Texas sky when Star awakened with a start. She sat up, groaned and lay back. Every part of her body hurt, including her hair. Another day’s respite and she might, just might, be able to mount a horse again.
Maybe.
The door opened and the maid rushed in. “Hurry, señorita, you must get dressed. The minister’s on his way to marry you to Señor Darwin.”
Fury sparked and burst into flame. “No! The man’s a pig.” She looked over the housekeeper’s shoulder. “Where’s Mr. Fields—you know—the Pinkerton fellow?”
She shrugged. “Señor Darwin says he’s gone.”
“No. No! He can’t be.” Just as quickly panic doused her anger and set her to trembling. “He said he’d take me home today.”
“Must have changed his mind. All I know, I supposed to have you dressed and downstairs in fifteen minutes. This is what el jefe say.” Uncertainty pulled the woman’s dark brows together, but her lips thinned to a determined, straight line.
Damn that Pinkerton. Should’ve known he wouldn’t keep his word. Desperate, Star swung her feet to the cool tile floor and sat on the side of the bed. She grabbed the woman’s hands. “Please, you have to help me get away. I’m in love with someone else. He’s coming for me. I know he is.”
The woman’s eyes widened as if alarmed. “No can do. I know my place.”
“Time… I just need a little time. Tell him I’m getting ready, but I want to be perfect for the wedding. Please… He’s a horrible man. He wants to hurt me because I ran away from him before. I’m afraid…” It was partially true. He did want to hurt her. Last night, she’d seen the sick anger in his eyes and heard the disgust in his voice.
But afraid of him—no. She’d kill him before she’d let him lay another slimy finger on her.
Cord met up with his brothers on the edge of Llano and related what the shopkeeper told him about the Yank and the housekeeper buying fine French soap.
Lui
s nodded. “Sounds right. I picked up their trail again. They skirted town and headed northeast.” He pulled on his horse’s reins and aimed the animal in that direction.
“Hold on!” Cord said. “Storekeeper said the main house is walled and gated. Property belongs to the fucking governor. We can’t just go busting in there. Need a plan.”
Nash shook his head in disgust. “What the fuck are we gonna do then? Just march up, show our badges and ask ’em nicely to hand her over?”
“First of all, we’ll have a look-see.” Cord sat straight in the saddle and tried to loosen the knotted ridges of sore muscles. “See how many guns he’s got backing him. And go from there.”
“Sure wish you hadn’t let the rest of the posse go home,” Luis said.
“Yeah. Now we know I ain’t a fucking mind reader. Not that I had much choice anyway.” Cord let out a good-natured chuckle. “Who knew Star’d get herself abducted, much less by someone with influence?”
Nash snorted. “Who knew you’d be this hot to trot after any woman, especially a Tyler?”
“Shut your fucking mouth before I have to hurt you. Need you too bad right now.” Realizing his words were harsh, he softened his tone and added, “All you need to know is the lady and I came to an understanding. We’re getting hitched.”
Nash settled his hat on his head. “If we find her and if she’s still willin’.”
Cord couldn’t help it when a wide grin tugged at his mouth. “She’s willin’ all right. Quit jacking your jaws. Let’s find her.”
Star glanced at the garments she was supposed to be married in and curled her upper lip. “I doubt this will fit.”
El jefe says your mama provided the measurements.”
Thanks a whole hell of a lot, Mama. She sold her daughter off to the highest bidder like prime breeding stock to the sorriest excuse for a bull anyone ever saw.
“I can dress myself,” she told the maid in her haughtiest manner, hoping the woman would leave her alone long enough for an escape. All she had to do was dart through the French windows and run to the stables, saddle her mare and race away. Not counting the gates. And the guards. Somehow she’d get through them.
The servant held up a full corset. “I lace you up.”
“No, I refuse to wear one of those things. I prefer to breathe.” Running away trussed up like a turkey would only slow her down.
“El jefe, he will not be pleased.”
“That’s his problem. Not mine. Now go. If you won’t help me, leave me in peace long enough to gather my composure.”
The woman frowned, bowed silently and withdrew.
Star glanced around the room and couldn’t find the clothes she’d worn on the trail. Dammit, the wedding garments would have to do.
So be it.
She pulled the gray silk skirt over her head and settled it around her waist. Too small. Obviously her mother had given him measurements as if she were wearing a corset. She fastened the skirt as best she could, but it was at least two inches too small. No doubt the bodice would present the same problem.
So…what. She’d let it gap where it would and damn the rest. As long as half of her was covered, she didn’t care what wasn’t.
Her boots were gone, too Dammit! He certainly wasn’t making her escape easy. She slipped into the dove gray silk wedding slippers. At least they fit.
She stepped to the door and opened it, sucked in the dry Texas air. The smell of meat cooked over an open fire reached her nose. Her stomach growled. No time for food.
She took a single step onto the shaded porch, and a tall man armed with a rifle materialized from the shadows.
“Sorry, ma’am. You need to go back inside.”
She straightened her back. “Where’s Mr. Fields? He’s supposed to take me home.”
The tall gunman shrugged. “Hear tell he left during the night.”
Double damn that Pinkerton. Should’ve known he wouldn’t keep his word. Did any man ever keep his word? Where the hell was Cord? Was Fields right after all?
She fluttered her lashes and threw out her chest to distract him with her décolleté. “Then won’t you help me? I need to get back to Kenton Valley. I’m supposed to get married there today…after church.”
He cast a long, lazy glance at her bosom then gave an evil smirk. “Seems I heard you’re getting hitched today, right here.”
“That’s a misunderstanding. I’m already promised to the sheriff…” she emphasized the word, “…of Mason County.” She stuck out her bottom lip in what she hoped was a seductive pout. “I’m sure there’s a reward for my safe return. You could—”
He coughed. “Ma’am, I’ve been well paid to see you stay here and marry Mr. Darwin.”
“Damn you and Teddy Darwin!” She stomped her foot. “I’m not marrying him today or any other day.”
Too bad she didn’t have her boots. Guess her knee would have to do. She rammed her knee into his privates and took off running for the stables, inwardly chuckling at his groans of distress.
By pure miracle, no one stopped her. She slid into the shadows and tried to catch her breath while her eyes adjusted to the darkness.
“I’d say my guard has been punished enough, wouldn’t you?” Darwin’s voice from the shadows behind her sent a chill up her spine.
She gathered her skirts and tried to run, but two strong hands like steel bands grabbed her wrists and whipped a rope around them like she was a calf. She whirled around. “Tommy? Why would you help him hurt me?”
“You don’t mean shit to me. You and your ma took off like you was too good to live with the likes of me and pa.”
Darwin eased from the shadows and faced her. “Enough of the family reunion. Bring her in the house. I’m tired of waiting for what’s mine.”
Chapter Fourteen
The old hacienda ranch house lay in the middle of a verdant valley with tall, granite bluffs on each side. A dry creek bed angled beside the road to the ranch. Cord and his brothers crouched low on the bluff and observed the activity behind the adobe walls. The house was long and low, branching out in the back from one end to form an ell. A garden that had seen better days skirted a small courtyard. A bunkhouse and stables formed the rear of the walled property.
From their vantage point, it didn’t appear there were any guards posted outside the walls.
Wait. Cord held up his hand. Activity in the rear. Too far to hear. The sight of someone—Star—being dragged from the stable, kicking and yelling for all she was worth.
A geyser of anger erupted in his gut. Those fuckers. Just wait ’til he got hold of ’em. Then, in spite of his anger, a smile tugged at his mouth. For the time being, she was okay and giving someone pure hell.
Their attack couldn’t wait until dark. Too much could happen between now and then.
Damnation. Why hadn’t he forced some of the posse to come along? Now the three of ’em had to attack the hacienda and bring her out alive. Not to mention fight an unknown number of men inside the house.
“Seems pretty secure. No guards stationed anywhere I can see ’em,” Nash said.
“Check the back of the property. It’ll be lunch soon. Gotta eat sometime.”
Even from the distance, he could smell meat roasting on an outdoor fire. His mouth watered at the thought of a real Texas barbeque. Jerky for supper and breakfast just didn’t cut it.
Cord motioned for Luis to cover the approach to the ranch. “Don’t need any surprises.”
A few minutes later, Luis returned. “Someone’s coming. A buggy and a lone occupant, dressed in his Sunday-go-to-meeting clothes. Looks like a preacher.”
Her brother shoved Star back into the bedroom. “Boss says get her dressed and downstairs in ten minutes,” he told the housekeeper and held up ten fingers. “Ten—you comprende?”
“Si, señor.”
He left, but the servant shook her head “You get me into much trouble, señorita. Much trouble.”
On the servant’s shoulder, beneath her
dark hair, Star saw reddish-blue bruises and fingerlike ones on her neck. “He hit you? Choked you?”
The woman glared back, but Star thought more from fear since her hands were trembling. “Si. All your fault.”
“I’m sorry he hurt you, but you’re going to be in worse trouble when my Cord gets here and sees how I’m being treated.” She stood stiff armed and stiff legged as the woman jerked on the dress and tightened the corset until she could barely breathe.
The woman shoved her toward the door. “Dios. Go! Marry this bad man and get it over with. Get out of here. You nothing but trouble. He nothing but trouble.”
If he beat the poor housekeeper, what would he do to the very person who stabbed him with a serving knife back in Boston?
Dammit, Cord. Get a move on.
With no other choice, she eased out the door. And edged toward the room where she’d seen Darwin the night before.
“Ah, there’s my lovely bride.” He stood attired in a dove gray morning coat and silk vest. He held an ivory-headed cane in his left hand and tapped it in the palm of his right. “The minister should be here any moment. You don’t look too much the worse for wear.”
“As if you cared. You beat that poor woman, just because she couldn’t keep me in the room. Did you beat the man I kicked in his cojones? No, probably not. He’s bigger than you and you only pick on those who can’t fight back.”
An eerie smile played about his thin lips. “Fire. I like women with fire.”
“I’ll show you fire.” She set her hands on her hips. “Just give me a match and I’ll burn down this damn place right over your head.”
“I believe you would. Too bad your mother’s not the hellcat you are. She was much more willing for my attentions, but once I saw you, she was a pale substitute. Only you would do.”
“Shut up about my mother.” Her stupid mother. How could any woman trade her daughter for a better place in society? Living with her rich brother wasn’t good enough. She wanted a rich son-in-law.
“Once your precious mother saw how it was with me, she sold you as surely as a madam sells the services of one of her whores. Her price was high, and I mean to collect…payment in full.” He uttered the last words with a high note of glee, as if impressed with his powers of speech.
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