Payton's Woman

by Marilyn Yarbrough

  “You’re brother’s name was Reggie? Reginald Anderson?” he asked haltingly.

  “No. We didn’t have the same father. I told you before that we were only half brother and sister.”

  He jumped off the bed and grasped her upper arms. As his grip tightened, his fingers squeezed into her flesh. “What was his last name?” he demanded in a hoarse cry.

  She put her hands against his chest. A look of worry crept across her face. “It was Eddington. Reggie Eddington.”

  Her brother’s name slammed through his brain and bounced around inside his skull. Over and over, the name echoed through his mind. Reggie Eddington. Red Eddington. Ready Eddy. One and the same.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Julia studied Payton as he sat across from her at the dining table. His behavior had become odd. She didn’t know what caused him to change, but it began when he’d seen the black pearl dangling around her neck.

  He’d yelled at her. Then he had grabbed her and shook her. His fingers had gripped her arms so tightly she feared bruises would develop.

  Then he’d wanted to know about her brother, but she’d already told him about Reggie. They had different fathers and different last names. He had red hair. She had blonde. Her brother had saltwater in his veins. She got seasick.

  Now he’d become distant and avoided her gaze. Hardly a word had come out of his mouth since they’d left their room. They sat quietly at the table while the room buzzed with chatter from the other guests. He blamed the sudden change on his lack of nourishment, but he’d hardly touched his food.

  Finally tired of his silence, she started a conversation. “You’re not going to feel any better if you don’t eat something.”

  “I’m feeling better now.” He made a tentative smile.

  “You don’t appear any better. You still look...concerned.”

  “I am concerned.” He thrust his fingers through his dark hair. “I’ve been doing some thinking. I realize how dangerous things have become, especially for you.”

  “Until Dunbar is captured, you’re in just as much danger as I am.”

  “Perhaps, but I can look after myself. And I can do a better job if I don’t have to worry about your safety also.”

  “I’m safe when I’m with you. You said so yourself. I’ve been careful about where I go. And I’ve done everything you’ve asked.”

  “I know you have, and I hope you’ll continue to do that.” He reached across the table and took her hand. “I want you to return to Sacramento and stay with the Baxters.”

  Her breath caught in her throat. “You’re sending me away?”

  “Just until this is over.”

  “You said you didn’t want to let me out of your sight.”

  “I know, but the situation has changed.”

  “Nothing has changed—except for you.” She clutched at his hand. “What is it, Payton? What have I done? I’ve stayed in our room like you want and never go anywhere by myself.”

  “I know you have.”

  “Then what’s wrong? What have I done to make you want to send me away?”

  He closed his eyes and shook his head. “You haven’t done anything.”

  “I must have done something. We were so happy this morning. This was supposed to be our honeymoon.” She brushed at her face when a tear rolled down her cheek. “You’re suddenly so different. Now you want me to go away. Why, Payton? What’s happened?”

  “Julia, don’t. I brought you to the restaurant to tell you this because I hoped you’d control yourself better. I didn’t think you’d argue with me in public.”

  Her lips quivered. She propped her elbow on the table and pressed her fingers against her forehead in an attempt to hide her tears. “You don’t want me to cause a scene. You just want me to go away quietly.”

  “I don’t want you to go away, but it’ll be better if you do, at least for a while. You can stay at the Baxter’s ranch. It’s in the country. You’ll be far away from anything that can hurt you.”

  She stared down at her plate. Her mind tried to sort out the reason for his sudden decision. “You said it would only be a matter of time before Dunbar was found. Do you no longer believe he’ll be captured?”

  “I think he’ll be arrested soon, but when he is, he’s going to talk. The names of his accomplices will be spread all over the newspapers. It could turn ugly. People could get hurt. I don’t want you to be one of them.”

  “I was never involved in any of his illegal activities.” She moved her hand from her face so she could see him. “How will I be hurt?”

  “I don’t know, but you could.”

  His eyes wouldn’t meet hers, causing her to think he wasn’t truthful. “You know something. What is it? Was it because I worked for his mother?”

  Her eyes opened wide as her mind soared in another direction. She’d witnessed so many deaths. Betsy, Ritter, and Hennigan; she’d watched them all die. “Do you think I’ll be implicated in someone’s death?”

  “No, it’s nothing like that, but I want you out of San Francisco. Will you do this for me?”

  A knot twisted in her stomach. Her chest ached. She took a steadying breath. “If you want me to go without a fight, then you’ll have to give me the reason you’re sending me away.”

  When he didn’t answer, she studied him carefully. The muscles twitched in his jaw. His eyebrows furrowed together as if deep in thought.

  “You can’t give me a reason?”

  “I can give you a very good one.” He leaned farther over the table. “You said you’d know by now if you were with child. Nothing has happened yet, so you must be in that condition.”

  “It might be true, but I don’t know for certain.” She looked down at her belly. “I told you I’m not always on time. Something could happen in the next few days.”

  “And if nothing happens, doesn’t that mean you’re carrying a baby right now?”

  Reluctantly, she nodded her head. This is what she’d feared the first time she’d thought about being with child. If Payton discovered her condition, he’d set her up in a home somewhere, and then he’d sail away. Except he wasn’t the one leaving. She was being sent away to live at the Baxter’s secluded ranch.

  “So you’re making me go away because I might be with child?” Her anger boiled up. “You knew how to prevent this. You could’ve done something to keep me from getting this way. Now you’re punishing me for something that wasn’t my fault.”

  “This isn’t a punishment.”

  “It feels like it.” Her mind grasped for a logical reason. “Is it because you don’t want the responsibility of a wife and child? Or perhaps it’s the lack of money? When I first got here, you weren’t prepared for me to show up so soon—certainly not with a child on the way.”

  “There isn’t any other reason. I’m sending you away for your own protection. Please, don’t make this any more difficult than it already is.”

  There seemed to be no way to convince him to let her stay. Since he wanted to be rid of her, nothing she could say would make him change his mind.

  She pressed one hand to her belly. Payton wanted to send her away because she might be pregnant. Could it be he wasn’t ready to be a father? Her hand rubbed at the spot where a tiny infant might be growing at this moment. If she did carry his baby, she would love it. She only hoped Payton would love it as well. “I’ll write Olivia and tell her to expect me next weekend.”

  “I want you to leave tonight.”

  Her head jerked up. She stared at him in opened-mouth shock. “Tonight?”

  “The steamer for Sacramento leaves at dusk. As soon as we finish eating, we’ll leave here and head back to town. That should give you plenty of time to pack. I’ll send a telegram to the Baxters and arrange for them to meet you in the morning at the dock in Sacramento.”

  Her lower lip quivered. “Tomorrow we were going to be married in a church.”

  “That will have to wait.”

  “I don’t want to wait—p
articularly if I’m carrying a child. I’d like to be married in a church. After that, I’ll go wherever you want to send me.”

  “I’m sorry, Julia, but we’ll have to plan that for another time. It shouldn’t matter, though. We’re legally married.”

  “You’re the one who suggested a church wedding.” She swallowed down the lump that formed in her throat. “Now you’ve changed your mind. You’re suddenly determined to get rid of me.”

  “I don’t want to get rid of you.” He squeezed her hand tightly. “I love you, Julia. No matter what happens, or what you hear, you must remember that.”

  She looked into his eyes and knew he spoke the truth. “I love you, too.”

  “No matter what?”

  “Of course.”

  Instead of releasing her hand he held it tighter. “I mean it. Will you love me always? Or is there a limit to your love?”

  “You’re questioning my love for you?” She wiped away the gathering tears so she could see him more clearly.

  “No, not now, but there may come a day.” He looked down so she couldn’t see his eyes. “Some day you may learn something about me. Something so terrible that you’ll hate me forever.”

  Her mind fumbled with thoughts of wrongs he may have committed. She couldn’t conceive of anything that would make her love him less. “What could you have done that would make me hate you?”

  He gazed into her eyes. A mist clung to his dark eyelashes as if he’d blinked back a tear.

  “Let’s hope you never have to find out.”

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  The streets were generally quiet on Sunday afternoons, and today was no exception. The driver made good time traveling through town. They arrived at the Golden Eagle Shipping Company too soon to suit Julia. She’d hoped the trip would take longer. Then she would miss the steamer leaving for Sacramento tonight. Reluctantly, she climbed from the carriage and waited for Payton to unlock the front door.

  “I’ll leave your bag here.” He dropped it inside the door. “If you want anything else, you’ll have to be quick. The steamer leaves the dock in about an hour.”

  “I’m not taking the steamer.”

  “We’ve already discussed this.” He planted his fists on his hips.

  “I know, but I’m not taking the steamer. You know I get seasick. I’m not spending the entire night aboard a ship even if it’s just on a river and not on the ocean.” He might be sending her away, but she’d choose the method of travel. She imitated his defiant stance. “I’ll take the ferry across the bay to Oakland, but that’s about all I can handle. The train will take me the rest of the way to Sacramento.”

  His hands slipped to his sides. “I don’t care how you get there as long as you leave tonight.”

  “Why can’t I leave in the morning? Are you in that big of a hurry to get rid of me?”

  “I’m not trying to get rid of you. I just don’t want you to get hurt.”

  Her shoulders slumped as her posture eased. She blinked rapidly to prevent the tears from gathering. He wanted her to go away without causing a scene. If that’s what he wanted, she’d leave quietly. She steeled herself so she wouldn’t cry in front of him, but her chest ached from holding back the sobs.

  “How long will I have to be gone?”

  “Not a moment longer than necessary.” He put his arms around her and pulled her to him. The edge of his finger pressed under her chin, and he tilted her face up to him. His mouth covered hers in what would perhaps be their farewell kiss.

  To Julia, it felt as though he intended their separation to last for a very long time. She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly, not wanting to let him go.

  “Let’s get you packed.” His arms slipped away as he took a step back. He headed down the hallway to their bedroom.

  Reluctantly, she followed after him. One more night with him was what she desired. Her heart ached so much she feared she wouldn’t keep her promise not to cry. She bit on her lip to still the quivering.

  He opened the door and peered in. “It’s too dark in here with the curtains closed. Let me get the lamp before you come in. I don’t want you tripping over anything.”

  She waited by the door and used the brief reprieve to wipe at her tears. A dull thud echoed from the room. She heard him groan just before a heavy object fell on the wooden floor.

  “Payton?” She walked into the dark room. “Did you fall?”

  Someone grabbed her arm and flung her across the room. She stumbled over what felt like a body crumpled on the floor. Her hands went out in front to brace her fall, and she landed on the floor next to the bed. She glanced behind her just in time to see the silhouette of a man flit across the doorway.

  A clammy sweat broke out on her skin, and her insides twisted into a knot. She clenched her hands into fists as a rage built inside her. The man didn’t bother to say his name, but there was no need; she already knew.

  Lawrence Dunbar struck a match and lit the lamp on the dresser.

  She tugged her skirt aside and crawled on her hands and knees to Payton. He lay sprawled out on his belly, his face turned to one side. She put the back of her hand to his lips. His warm breath washed over her knuckles. Just to be certain, she looked at the side of his body. His ribcage expanded each time he inhaled.

  Payton lived. She sighed with relief.

  Her gaze darted to Dunbar. If she thought she could kill him with her bare hands, she’d leap across Payton’s body and attack him this very moment.

  “Who are you?” His eyelids squinted as he studied her.

  She glared at him without speaking.

  “You must be Tyler’s whore.”

  The urge to leap grew stronger.

  Payton groaned. Dunbar pointed his weapon at him.

  “Leave him alone.” She covered his body with her own.

  “He always did have the Devil’s own luck.” A sneer spread over his face. “He found himself a good looking woman to protect his back.”

  While she hovered over his body, she noticed the disarray around her. Their clean clothes were scattered around the room. Dresser drawers were broken, the wooden pieces strewn across the floor. The washstand was knocked over, and the floorboards where it had stood were ripped up. “Why are you here? What do you want?”

  “Other than to kill him,” he pointed his revolver at Payton, “I’m looking for the money I left with Hennigan.”

  Her breathing halted. Payton had found the hidden gold and given it to Mrs. Hennigan a few days ago.

  She let her breath out slowly while trying to gather her wits. If she acted shrewdly, if she kept calm, she might be able to distract Dunbar with the lure of money and allow Payton time to recover.

  “I could help you look for it, but you’ll have to promise not to kill Payton.”

  His mouth curled into what he probably thought passed for a smile. “It’s a deal. Help me find the money, and I’ll let him live.” He held up his hand, palm outward, as if giving an oath. “I swear.”

  His words curdled her blood. She’d never trust him to keep his promise, but she’d let him believe that she would.

  “You’ve pretty much torn up this room. Let’s look in the front office. I believe there’s a safe out there.”

  His amusement subsided as he gave her a suspicious look. “And leave him alone so he can come to and jump me when I’m not looking?”

  “He’s not going to wake up for a while.” She stroked the hair back from his forehead. “You hit him pretty hard.”

  “I didn’t hit him that hard. Move away and let me see.”

  She leaned back onto her heels.

  Dunbar took a few steps toward them. He grimaced in pain with each step. He motioned with his revolver to the handcuffs that hung from the headboard. “Shackle him to the bed.”

  She glanced at the iron chains that held the cuffs to the headboard, and then at Payton sprawled out on the floor. Mentally, she calculated the length of the chain and the reach of his arm. Sh
e couldn’t shackle him while he lay on the floor. She’d have to lift him onto the bed in order to fasten the cuff around his wrist.

  A plan hatched in her brain. She needed to get Dunbar’s weapon before he shot Payton. That wouldn’t be an easy task. She’d have to make him trust her first. Dunbar didn’t strike her as the trusting kind. That meant she’d have to be very clever—and cautious.

  She rose to her feet and stepped across Payton’s body. With one hand, she picked up his arm. With her other, she grasped the cuff and tried to pull them together.

  “I can’t. The chain’s not long enough.”

  “Put him on the bed.”

  He expected her to lift an unconscious body from the floor by herself? Even if she could pick him up, she wouldn’t let Dunbar know it.

  She rolled Payton over so he lay on his back. She grabbed his hands and pulled his limp body into a sitting position. Holding him steady, she got behind him and slipped her hands under his arms. She made an exaggerated effort to lift him.

  “He’s too heavy.”

  “Then I guess I’ll have to shoot him after all.”

  To save Payton’s life, she had to outwit Dunbar and make him let down his guard, but she couldn’t be obvious about it.

  “Let me try again.”

  This time, she put all her effort into hoisting Payton from the floor. She struggled with his weight until she got him off the floor, but she couldn’t maneuver his body. Lifting him higher while holding him tight, she collapsed backward on to the bed. His unconscious body fell on top of her.

  She glanced at the manacles to her left. She rolled Payton off her to the right.

  “You almost had it,” he shouted. “You should’ve rolled him the other way.”

  She got up and straightened her clothing. Squirming around on the bed had pulled the combs from her hair. She pushed the loose strands back from her face.