Amelia wanted to move out of the protection of the tree. It had been a mistake to come here, giving him the advantage of privacy. But, for some reason her feet just wouldn't move.
Amelia sighed. "I'm only thinking of Bethany."
Wilder frowned. "And so am I."
Amelia peered at him. "What do you mean?"
"I don't want Bethany to come to harm, that's what I mean."
"So you think intruding on her courtship with Lucas Monroe is going to protect her?"
"It might," he stated bluntly.
"How do you work that out?"
Wilder raked a hand through his dark hair. Amelia felt her throat tighten at the sight of his fingers running through his hair. There was an attractive sheen to his hair which was even more apparent than usual here, beneath the shade of the tree. She tried to swallow but found it impossible for a moment.
"I need to know whether Lucas is a good man or not," Wilder said.
"How can that be important to you?"
"I told you last night. He's the focus of my investigation."
Amelia thrust her head up close to Wilder seeking an explanation. Before she had a chance to pull away from him, Wilder leaned his head down until his lips almost touched Amelia's mouth.
She froze. Seeing him this close she realized just how handsome he really was. His skin had a healthy softness and his lips were firm looking and moist. There was a sudden hungry look in his eyes, and she could see that he was trying to restrain the urge to kiss her. Amelia knew that Wilder wanted to kiss her right here under the tree, hidden from any prying eyes.
Amelia drew in a sharp breath and saw Wilder hesitate.
Wilder looked down at her mouth and she saw him swallow. She could see the pulse at his neck throbbing visibly. From that, she guessed his heart was racing almost as fast as her own.
She heard him let out a slow breath. He seemed to be suddenly lost in thought. After a long pause he finally spoke. "I think Lucas might have been involved in something bad back in Minneapolis."
Amelia's body chilled at the sound of Wilder's words. "Something bad? What kind of thing?"
"The details are a bit sketchy right now, but he might have been a part of an organized scheme to defraud people who want to invest in livestock."
Amelia stepped away from Wilder. The intimacy of the moment had been shattered by Wilder's simple words.
"How could Lucas have been involved in such a thing?"
"We don't know yet. We've caught some of the people involved. But we haven't gotten the main ringleader. Yet. But, we'll get him eventually."
"When is Lucas supposed to have done this?"
"When he was in Minneapolis."
"That's why you were asking him so many questions about his time there."
Wilder nodded.
A sudden thought overtook Amelia. "You don't think Lucas was the ringleader."
Wilder shrugged. "We don't know for sure. With his background in ranching, it's possible. He has all the necessary connections out in Montana."
Amelia sobbed. "Poor Bethany. What will she say when she finds out?"
"She doesn't need to find out, Amelia," he said moving closer.
"What do you mean? She's thinking of marrying that man. And you're telling me he might be a criminal."
"We don't know that for sure."
"But you've implied it."
"I have a job to do. It might be that Lucas is perfectly innocent."
"In the meantime, what is Bethany to do? She has to be told."
"I don't think that would be a good idea."
"Why not?"
"Lucas might get the idea something's going on if Bethany suddenly ups and changes her mind. Especially after that little tea party we all just had," Wilder said. "I think Lucas has an idea about why I'm here. I don't mind that. Wherever he goes. I'll go. Until this whole thing is sorted out, once and for all."
"Are you proposing that I lie to my best friend?"
Wilder stepped closer to Amelia. "I'm not suggesting any such thing. Bethany is going to be alright. I give you my word. I feel it in my bones that there is more to this than meets the eye and I'm sure that it'll all work out for everyone in the end."
"You mean for Bethany?"
"No. I mean for everyone, Amelia," he said in a soft, vibrant voice that made Amelia's heart quiver. His gaze was so intense she couldn't take her eyes off his face. Not even for a moment. She felt suddenly light-headed. She felt her mouth open.
Amelia saw Wilder gazing at her suddenly vulnerable lower lip. He seemed transfixed by the sight of her moist lips.
Amelia stared at his face, seeing the desire written there. She hadn't seen that expression on his face before, not even on the previous night down by the main street. This was a new Wilder, one that had been suddenly let loose beneath the tree, hidden from the scrutiny of others.
"Are you including us in that statement, Wilder?" she asked quietly, almost surprised at herself for asking such a question.
She saw his eyes widen with pleasure. He smiled. "I like it when you say my name, Amelia. It sounds so sweet on those beautiful lips."
She saw Wilder's shoulders tighten and he took a deep breath before speaking again. "When you say that word, it makes me feel real good," he murmured.
Amelia shook her head, feeling puzzled. "What word?"
"Us," Wilder said softly.
She felt the blood rush to her cheeks. The corners of Wilder's mouth creased in satisfaction at the sight of Amelia's reddened cheeks. For some inexplicable reason, she couldn't take her eyes off his face. She glanced down at Wilder's lips and saw his head dip slowly toward her.
Amelia turned her head toward the tree, breaking the spell. "I'm just so worried about Bethany," she murmured. "She already thinks the world of Lucas. I would so hate to see her get hurt."
Amelia felt Wilder's fingers gently take hold of the edge of her jaw, turning her head so that she was once again peering up into those wonderful eyes of his.
Amelia saw Wilder's brow furrow into an expression absolute sincerity. "You listen to me, Amelia. While I have breath in me I will not allow any harm to come to you or Bethany. Do you understand me?" he breathed. His voice possessed her with its certainty.
Amelia could only nod in agreement because all words had vanished completely from her mind.
After a few moments she found her voice again. "Why would you say such a thing, Wilder? Why is it so important to you?" Amelia asked even though she already knew the answer to those questions.
Wilder gave Amelia a wry smile. "I think you just answered your own question."
"How?"
"By the way you looked at me," he stated softly.
Amelia drew in a breath, feeling a sudden lack of air underneath the branches of the tree. Why was she not surprised that he would speak to her in this way? Hadn't she been almost incapable of keeping Wilder out of her thoughts after what had happened last night? Did she really want him to kiss her, right here, beneath the tree?
"What way do I look at you, Wilder?" she asked softly, with a note of defiance in her voice. But the defiance was nothing like that which she had shown in her previous dealings with Wilder. This kind of defiance almost contained a challenge within it.
Wilder seemed to sense the challenge. he leaned even closer. "I think you know," he said.
Amelia turned and leaned back against the tree, feeling the hard, rough bark against her back. Wilder twisted, resting his elbow just above Amelia's right shoulder. He leaned in close to her. Amelia asked herself why she had leaned against the tree and realized it was just be absolutely sure she couldn't be seen from the house. Did that mean she was guilty about what she was doing?
The twist of guilt cut at her insides and she thought suddenly of poor Bethany. What would her friend think of Amelia if she knew what she was doing out here beneath the tree? Amelia felt the guilt cut even stronger. She had no right behaving like this, even if Wilder Armstrong was proving to be almost irre
sistible.
Wilder seemed to sense Amelia's unease. His brows furrowed. "Are you okay, Amelia?"
She nodded wordlessly and took a long, deep breath. "I think I might have to get back inside. Miss Hardie will be wondering where I got to."
Amelia saw Wilder frown slightly and then the tension in his shoulders seemed to lessen. He removed his elbow from the trunk of the tree and took a slow step back. He nodded. "You're right. She's probably wondering why she can't see you and me together." Wilder smiled. "I can't imagine what she'll be thinking."
Amelia scowled. "I didn't come here to hide from Miss Hardie."
"I know you didn't," he said. "I wasn't suggesting any such thing."
Amelia stepped away from the tree and glanced around the trunk. Sure enough, she saw the curtain twitch at the window up in the house. Someone up there was thinking about Amelia.
She realized she'd said what she had wanted to say, but things had turned out a whole lot different than she had expected.
Amelia hadn't anticipated feeling like this when she was with Wilder. She hadn't predicted the effect of his words on her, nor the way he had made her feel by simply making her the entire focus of his attention. It hadn't been entirely unwelcome. It had been a while since any young man had looked at Amelia like that. In fact, now she came to think of it, no-one had ever looked at her the way Wilder had just done.
Amelia started to walk back to the house. Wilder walked by her side.
"I meant what I said, Amelia," he said.
She smiled at Wilder. "I believe you did."
He looked at Amelia, and once again there was an intense sincerity in his gaze. "You have to trust me, Amelia. Things will work out. I feel it in my bones, and I'm hardly ever wrong."
Even though she knew it was a leap of faith with a man she had barely known a few days, there was something about the way he spoke that made her feel that she just might be able to trust him.
Amelia nodded slowly. "I think I might just have to trust you, Wilder," she said.
Wilder smiled as he heard those words. She looked up at the house and saw the front door open and Bethany appear. Her friend waved at her. What must Bethany be thinking now that she could see Wilder and Amelia walking side by side? Amelia knew she would have some explaining to do once she got back inside the house.
Wilder gazed up at Bethany. "That young woman up there hasn't got a thing to worry about. And neither have you, Amelia. You take it from me," he said in a flat, even voice. "I'll make sure everything's fine, even if it's the last thing I do."
"Why do care so much?" Amelia asked. "You've only just met us."
Wilder glanced back toward the tree. "I think I just tried to explain back at the tree," he said.
Amelia felt her cheeks flush. She knew what he meant, even if there was a part of her that wanted to resist the temptation that Wilder represented.
For the first time since she'd met Wilder, she allowed herself to entertain the thought that he might just be someone she could have faith in after all.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Later in the afternoon, Wilder lay on his bed in the hotel room trying to figure out just what had happened between him and Amelia over at Miss Hardie's house. Had he completely blown his chances with Amelia? He'd asked her to trust him, but after how he'd behaved beneath that tree, he wondered if she would ever have faith in him.
He stretched his limbs and lay his head back on the palms of his hands and looked up at the cracked ceiling. It had been real sweet, though, he admitted to himself, feeling his mouth stretch into a satisfied grin. There was just something about that woman. He just couldn't get her out of his mind, no matter what he did. The truth was, he didn't want Amelia Crawford out of his mind. Not at all. Somehow, she had taken up residence in his heart and, for the life of him, he couldn't figure out why.
However, after some serious thought, he realized that, deep down, he really knew the reason why.
Ever since he'd first laid eyes on her he'd known she was the one he had been searching for all these years. It was that simple.
There was something ironic about that, when he thought about it. He was a man who'd spent years searching for other people, hunting them down, tracking them so that he could have the truth revealed.
And now, here he was having found the truth for himself in the shape of Amelia Crawford. And what was the truth?
Wilder had real, true, strong feelings for her.
That was the truth.
Amelia was perfect in every way. She was the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen; she had a feisty spirit that simply made Wilder feel truly alive just to be in her presence; and she was the kindest, sweetest person, possessing a genuine, helpful nature.
Amelia was indeed the perfect woman, and Wilder knew that if he didn't claim her, make her his own, then he'd regret it for the rest of his days.
He sighed and frowned. How had he got so lucky? If he hadn't have stopped that thief back at the station he'd never have met Amelia.
It had to be fate. Or something grander. Something more powerful. Something that couldn't be resisted.
All his life Wilde had believed hard work and effort were the keys to happiness. He'd always been suspicious of luck and good fortune. But fate? That was another thing entirely.
It looked like he had been guided by an unseen hand to meet Amelia. And he, for one, was quite happy to be guided toward Amelia.
Wilder decided he needed some fresh air. He was just too restless after his encounter with Amelia.
He put his jacket on, grabbed his Stetson and made his way downstairs. There was no-one in the restaurant, it being too early for the serving of dinner. He strode out onto the boardwalk. It was just after five o'clock and folks were starting to quit their shopping and drift on back to their homes in time for their evening meal. Wilder wasn't hungry yet. A walk would probably clear his mind and give him a chance to think about what he was going to do about the situation with Lucas Monroe.
Wilder turned and started down the boardwalk. He tipped his hat politely to some of the smiling ladies who passed him. Wilder had never really had time for a serious relationship during his time as a lawman, but he'd always been able to charm the ladies, even if he'd limited his involvements. He'd always recognized that his looks found favor with the opposite sex, and that had been fine.
Did Amelia really find Wilder attractive? He was sure that she did, even if she did everything she could to hide that fact.
Wilder grinned. There he went again. Thinking about Amelia. Maybe he'd have to admit defeat and just let the thoughts of her come to him whenever they wanted. He wasn't about to complain.
Wilder came to the saloon. He slowed his pace a little and thought about going inside just to check that there was no trouble. The situation with Lucius Bodie was still playing on Wilder's mind. Luke had said he would take the man into custody if there were any hard proof that he was a card cheat. But, Wilder knew that kind of proof was hard to get.
He was just about to move on, when he heard shouting from inside the saloon. Angry voices and the scraping of chairs across wooden floors combined into a familiar din.
Wilder sighed and decided to take a look.
He pushed open the door and stepped into the dark saloon. Even at this early hour the place was busy. The tables were full of daytime drinkers. The long bar stretched down the wall to Wilder's right. The cracked mirror behind the bar told a tale of chairs and bottles that had been thrown. The disinterested owner of the bar, a small gray-haired man with a bushy mustache, leaned his head on his hand, elbow propped on the sodden countertop.
Wilder gazed at the scene in the centre of the room. Tables were arranged in haphazard manner and about twenty men were seated, nursing their drinks and watching the show over in the far corner.
And it was that show which grabbed Wilder's attention. Because the man providing the entertainment was none other than Lucius Bodie. He was seated with his back to the wall and gazing up at the chubby,
red-faced man who stood in front of him, stabbing a finger inches away from Bodie's face.
"I tell you, this man is a cheat," the man roared.
Bodie grinned and looked at the onlookers, but didn't reply. No-one seemed the slightest bit bothered. Maybe this performance was normal for this time of day, Wilder thought. Bodie was cocky, that was for sure. He looked too sure of himself.
Wilder sidled over to the darker corner of the room so that he could observe with less chance of being seen. Bodie seemed so full of himself that he hadn't noticed Wilder's entrance into the saloon.
"You drew an extra card. I saw you," the man yelled. He turned to the others in the bar, seeking support. "You all saw him, didn't you?"
No-one replied. The silence was deafening.
Wilder sighed. If this was what it was like to spend an afternoon in a saloon, then Wilder was glad he'd never acquired drinking or gambling habits.
Wilder glanced over at the barman. He caught the man's eye and gave him a questioning look. The barman shrugged. There wasn't going to be any help from him, Wilder thought.
The man who felt he'd been cheated suddenly grabbed a chair and hurled it against the bar. It didn't break, but there was an audible cracking noise.
The barman straightened, made as if he were about to come out from behind the bar, but then paused, thinking better of it. "Quit breaking up my furniture," he shouted at the two men. "You got a beef with each other, take it outside."
Bodie stood. Wilder saw that the man was wearing a gun and the holster had been made ready for a quick draw.
Maybe now was the time to step in and put a stop to this nonsense.
Wilder moved out from the shadow of the corner. Bodie looked up and saw Wilder.
The two men locked eyes as Wilder walked slowly across toward the stranger.
"I don't want any trouble here, men," the barman said nervously.
"No need to worry," Wilder said glancing at the man and giving him a confident smile. "There ain't going to be any trouble." Wilder looked at Bodie. "Isn't that right, sir?" he said slowly.
Wilder saw Bodie's shoulders rise slightly as if he were making himself ready for a draw.
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