He had no reason to believe these two men standing in his office were any different. Hope deferred caused him to eye the two men, disheveled and dirty, with suspicion. He had become adept at pegging the liars within five minutes. So far, he hadn’t made a decision about these two.
The one who seemed to be the leader tossed a frayed poster onto Robert’s desk. “You lookin’ for this gal?”
Alisa’s heart-shaped face stared back at him. “That’s right. And I’m sure you’ve seen her.” His tone was laced with sarcasm, but the men didn’t seem to notice.
“Maybe.” Black eyes bore into Robert, making him uncomfortable. “You still offerin’ five hundred dollars?”
“Not for information.”
“How much for information?” the other man piped up.
“Shut up, Amos. That ain’t what we’re sellin’.”
“What exactly are you selling, then?” Robert’s interest piqued. He kept his voice calm. His muscles twitched beneath the woven fabric of his white shirt like a restless horse impatient for a race to begin.
Something flickered in the man’s dark eyes, and Robert braced himself for a demand of more money.
“We saw this girl.” He jammed his forefinger down on Alisa’s image. “Like the poster said, we want five hundred dollars to bring her in.”
“Where and when did you see her?”
“About two months ago. She was on a stage about a half day’s ride east of here.
“You sure it was her?”
“Yep.”
Robert steepled his fingers atop his desk and scrutinized the pair. “She probably won’t come willingly. As a matter of fact, I can guarantee she won’t. Are you willing to kidnap her in order to bring her home?”
“Would we be here if we weren’t?” His sneer grated on Robert, igniting his ire. This idiotic pair was the first real lead he’d had in the past two months that Alisa was alive and still in California. He didn’t want to anger them, so he gulped down the sarcasm and forced a tight smile.
“All right. Then I suggest you get to it.”
“Now hang on a minute. We want half of the money up front. By my calculation that’s two hundred dollars.”
Idiot.
“The poster clearly states the reward for bringing the girl home is five hundred dollars. When she is sitting across from me, you’ll get your pay. Not a penny until then.”
Those dark eyes narrowed. “Then maybe we’ll just mosey on and do somethin’ else.”
“I thought you said we need this money, Bart,” the other man said, the look of confusion in his sunken eyes nothing short of comical.
Bart scowled. “Shut up, Amos.”
Robert reached into his pocket and pulled out fifty dollars. He tossed it onto the desk. “This is all you’re getting until you bring Alisa home.”
With a black-gloved hand, Bart reached forward and snatched up the bills. “All right, you have a deal. But first I want to know something.”
“And that is?”
“What’s the girl to you?”
From the way the man seemed poised to strike, Robert surmised any information would be used against him. If he said she was his daughter, the reward would become a ransom and most likely double or even triple. If he acted nonchalant, even a couple of fools like these two would assume he was bluffing. So he arched his brow. “That’s my business.”
“She’s quite a looker.”
Amos snickered. “Almost stole me a kiss from her.”
Darting his gaze to the simpleton, Robert felt the blood leave his face. “What do you mean?”
“She didn’t have nothin’ to steal, so I was going to steal a kiss.”
“Shut up, Amos,” Bart snarled.
“Well, looks like I’m gettin’ a second chance at that kiss,” Amos persisted.
Alarm clenched Robert’s gut. “You’ll keep your filthy hands off her. Do you hear me?”
A sly smile curved Bart’s thin lips, revealing missing teeth. “So she means more to you than you’re letting on.”
Why couldn’t he just think of her as a maid who was stealing his inheritance? Robert inwardly kicked himself for being a softhearted fool. “The girl means nothing to me, but I’m telling you not to harm her or I won’t pay a dime.”
“Or maybe you’ll pay anything to have her back no matter what shape she’s in.”
For the first time in his life, Robert felt real fear for someone else. If he didn’t get his bluff in on these two outlaws before they walked out the door, Alisa might be in more danger than he’d bargained for. He didn’t want the girl violated or hurt in any other way. And until now he hadn’t thought about anything leading up to her return. He might be a desperate man, but he wasn’t a monster. The thought of what could happen to her at the hands of immoral bandits sickened him. Leaning forward to make his point, he curled his lips into a deliberate sneer. “Or maybe the marshal would be real interested in knowing who’s been robbing stagecoaches and unsuspecting riders between here and Sacramento.”
“Hey, Bart. Maybe we better get goin’ and forget the gal.”
“Shut up, Amos.”
Bart pressed forward, leaning his weight on massive hands, and practically came across the desk, closing in on where Robert sat. The outlaw’s putrid breath fouled the air between them. “I don’t like threats.”
Forcing himself to stand on trembling legs, Robert clenched his fists to control his fear. “Neither do I. Do we understand each other?”
The man glared but nodded. “We will bring her back untouched.”
“What about the kiss she owes me!”
“Untouched!” Strangely, Bart’s growl reassured Robert.
As the two men stalked to the door, Bart called over his shoulder, “We’ll be back.”
The door slammed shut behind them. Robert’s legs refused to hold him another second, and he sank back into his chair. The paltry sum Mother had left him was about gone. Thankfully, part of her wishes had stated that household expenses be paid automatically through Mr. Chadwick’s law firm until Alisa was well versed in household management.
If he didn’t find Alisa soon, he’d be destitute. For now, no one could kick him out of the house. At least not until the time came for it to be sold and the proceeds given to charity as Mother had stated in her will. The thought sent a shiver of anger through him, renewing his determination. Alisa would be found, and one way or another she would relinquish control of the inheritance that was rightfully his in the first place.
“Aunt Miri-Em, Ginny Mae’s doing it again. Hurry!”
At the sound of Polly’s shrill, four-year-old voice, Alisa leapt up from her desk and flung her door open. Miriam had already exited her cabin and had made a beeline for the garden. It didn’t take much to guess what the child was up to. She sat in the middle of the harvested garden, her hands caked with black dirt. From chin to nose, her face bore the evidence of her latest venture. The child just couldn’t stay away from worms.
Miriam’s face blanched. “Ginny Mae, dumpling. Please come out of the dirt.” Her thin voice seemed to come from far away, and Alisa grabbed her arm.
“Are you all right? You’re as white as a ghost.”
Miriam’s head moved slightly in a weak nod. “I think I’d better go lie down…. Will you please take care of her?”
“Of course. Do you need some help getting inside?”
Miriam shook her head. “I can make it.” She headed toward the house but made a detour and disappeared into the privy.
“Miss Alisa, she’s got another one. Stop her!”
Alisa grabbed Ginny Mae just in time to keep her from popping another fat worm into her rosebud mouth.
“Little girl,” she said, sweeping her up and out of temptation’s way. “Worms are not a proper meal. And I fear you’ve made your poor auntie Miriam ill.”
“Mum?” The little girl’s wide eyes were hardly concerned, but they held a world of questions that Alisa had no doubt would begin burst
ing out as soon as her mind could form enough words.
“Yes, Mum.” Alisa tickled the little girl’s belly. Ginny giggled, pushing her hand away.
Miriam appeared a moment later, her face void of color, and she clutched her stomach. It didn’t take a doctor to figure out that she’d lost her breakfast. “Come on, girls. Let’s get your auntie into bed, and then we’ll get Miss Ginny Mae all cleaned up.”
Obviously too weak to protest, Miriam accepted the assistance, and they got her settled into bed. Next, Alisa lifted the washtub down from the wall. She grabbed two buckets and headed out to the pump. She returned to the cabin, settled Polly at the table with a picture book, and started the water warming on the stove.
The sun was almost directly overhead, so she knew she’d have to move fast to finish up Miriam’s lunch preparation for the men, bathe Ginny Mae, and have everything looking presentable by the time Titus and his brothers came in for their noon meal.
While she peeled and sliced potatoes for frying, Alisa kept an eye on Ginny, who sat on the floor playing. Thankfully, the two women had just made bread the day before, so there was plenty of that left. By the time the potatoes were peeled and sizzling in the frying pan, Ginny was splashing in her bathwater, and Alisa was ready to start frying the fish Bryce had left in the sink after his early morning trek to the creek.
The girls were angels, obedient and cooperative, as Alisa moved between tasks in order to accomplish everything in a timely manner. She was just lugging the dirtywater-filled tub outside when the men rode in from the woods.
The sight of Titus dismounting and striding confidently toward her sent a ripple of pleasure up Alisa’s spine. There was no denying it. Titus was one good-looking man. Everything about him was appealing, and somehow she couldn’t help but wish her life wasn’t so topsy-turvy.
“Let me get that for you,” he said, taking the tub. “Who had a bath?”
“Ginny Mae.”
Daniel scowled. “What’s this all about on a Monday afternoon?”
Intimidated as she always became by Daniel’s surliness, Alisa cleared her throat. “I’m afraid she got into the dirt. I’m sorry.”
“Why wasn’t Miriam watching her?”
“She’s not feeling well. So perhaps Ginny toddled outside without her knowledge. I was in my cabin writing a letter.”
Titus glanced at her sharply, and Alisa cringed, knowing he would ask her whom she was writing to.
Gideon’s voice spared her the drill for now. “Miriam’s ill?” His face clouded. “Where is she?”
“Lying down.”
He tossed Logan his reins and dashed into the house.
“How sick is Miriam?” The concern in Titus’s eyes touched Alisa. What would it be like to have him worrying over her?
She gave him a reassuring smile. “I’m sure she’ll be better after she rests awhile. In the meantime, lunch is ready.”
“You gave Ginny a bath, looked after Polly, and cooked for all of us?” Admiration shone in his blue eyes, and Alisa drank it in.
She laughed, waving aside his praise. “I learned to take care of a lot of people at the orph—” She stopped and clamped her mouth shut. From the very beginning, she’d determined not to reveal anything about her past. Even a little information might bring disaster on herself and this family. If the law found her and took her back, at least the Chances could honestly say they knew nothing about her.
Unfortunately, Titus wasn’t one to let things go. He raised his eyebrow. “The orph? I assume you were going to say ‘orphanage’?”
“I’d best get inside and put lunch on the table for your brothers.”
“They can get it themselves.” Titus took her arm gently. “Tell me about the orphanage. Were you mistreated growing up? Is that why you don’t want to talk about it?”
“Oh, no!” The very thought of Mrs. Perryman raising her voice or lifting her hand in anger was ludicrous. A kinder woman never existed. Before Mr. Perryman had passed away, he had on occasion produced the strap but only under strict provocation.
“So you were going to say ‘orphanage.’ ”
“Yes.”
“Won’t you finally tell me about yourself?” He let his hand slide down her forearm until his fingers tickled her palm just before they laced with hers. “I want to know everything. Sometimes I think I’m going to go crazy if you don’t open up and give me some clue into who you are.”
The warmth of his hand sent waves of longing through her. How she would love to tell him about growing up without a real family and how she’d prayed every day and every night for someone to claim her. And how when she finally learned she wasn’t alone, her grandmother had died. She longed to tell him that she was wanted for murder, but that she wouldn’t, couldn’t hurt anyone, let alone the wonderful woman who had given her a name.
“Alisa.” Titus pulled her to him, releasing her hand as he snagged her about the waist. “I don’t have any intention of letting you go. Not now. Not ever.”
“Titus, please,” she whispered, though she could barely hear her own voice through the pounding in her ears. “You don’t understand.”
“Then make me understand. You’ve been here for two months, and all I’ve learned about you is your name. Now I know you’re an orphan. Did you think that would matter? Is that why you’ve been so evasive?”
Alisa wanted to laugh, a short, bitter laugh devoid of humor. He didn’t even know that much, because she wasn’t an orphan after all. But she couldn’t tell him that. Instead, she shook her head.
“Then what is it? Why can’t you trust me? Don’t you know how much I care for you?” The pleading in his tone nearly undid her resolve. If he only knew how much she truly cared, he would understand why she couldn’t risk making him an accessory to her perceived crime.
“I can’t. I wish I could. But I can’t.”
His face clouded with disappointment, and he released her. “All right. Have it your way. But I’m still not letting you go.” He stomped away toward the barn.
“Aren’t you going to eat lunch?” she called after him.
“I’m not hungry. Let Logan and Bryce fight over my share.”
Defeated, Alisa trudged to the cabin. She knew how he felt; her own appetite had fled, as well.
She entered the house amid shouts of laughter. Her brow rose in surprise to find Miriam out of bed. Her face, though still peaked, shone with joy. Gideon’s chest puffed, and he was grinning as Paul, Logan, and Bryce pounded him on the back.
“What’s going on?” Alisa asked, her lips twitching at the merriment.
“Oh, Alisa.” Miriam stepped forward and took her hand. “I’m so happy you’ve come to be with us. I’ll be needing you more than ever now.”
“What is it?” She frowned, searching Miriam’s face for the answers. “Are you all right?”
“I will be.” A bit of color tinged her cheeks.
Suddenly Alisa gasped. “Miriam! A baby?”
Miriam nodded again. “I’ve thought so for a while, but I didn’t want to believe it. Gideon finally convinced me.”
Daniel shot up from his chair and slammed out the door. Gideon scowled after him. “I’m getting tired of his moping.”
Placing a gentle hand on her husband’s arm, Miriam shook her head. “Have some compassion. Remember, Hannah died shortly after Ginny Mae was born. You can’t blame him if memories are tormenting him. Please be kind and just pray for your brother.”
Tenderness, or maybe more accurately a look of cherishing, washed over Gideon’s face, and he cupped his wife’s cheek. After pressing a soft kiss to her forehead, he nodded. “You’re right.” His eyes clouded as he peered closer. “You look tired.”
“Don’t worry about me, Gideon. Everything will be fine.”
“I want you to be careful.” He glanced up at Alisa with silent appeal.
The sight of the exchange between these two filled her heart with longing. Would she ever be able to share that sort of love without
fear of having it ripped away from her? Pushing back the ache, she smiled at him over Miriam’s head and nodded her reassurance.
Miriam turned, her eyes shining. “Well, what do you think of my news, Alisa, dear?”
Alisa threw her arms around the other woman’s shoulders. “Oh, I’m so happy for you. I can’t wait to hold your new son or daughter. Babies are wonderful.”
Laughter bubbled from her lips. “They are, aren’t they?”
“Now you mustn’t overdo it. I’ll take care of all the heavy chores from now on.”
Miriam looked from husband to Alisa and back to Gideon. “Oh, you two are conspiring already, aren’t you?”
Alisa grinned as Gideon winked at her. “We certainly are, and you may as well get used to it until the baby arrives.”
It was only later that Alisa realized she had practically promised to stay as long as Miriam needed her.
Chapter 11
Standing in the foggy barnyard, waiting for Sunday service to begin, Titus gave an inward groan. He should have known Prissy wouldn’t give up so easily. Staring into her tear-filled eyes brought about a myriad of emotions in his chest—none of which was love or desire. Pity maybe. Irritation, a little bit of guilt for his changing affection? What was it about a woman that if a man lost interest, suddenly she wanted him more than air?
Those were her words. “I can’t breathe for wanting you, Titus.”
“Prissy.” Please give me the words to end this once and for all. “You were the one who turned down my proposal, remember?”
“I know,” she whimpered. “But I was so wrong. I see that now. Won’t you give me another chance?”
A second chance. That’s what he felt like he’d been given. A second chance with the right woman. He shuddered to think where he’d have ended up if Prissy hadn’t rejected his proposal in the first place. Stuck is where. Up a creek without a paddle. In a sinking boat. In a pasture with a riled bull. On a bucking horse with a broken saddle strap. Not one scenario he could imagine made him a happily married man. Not even one.
Maybe a man with stronger character would take one look at her ashen face and give in, seeing as how he had proposed, but Titus couldn’t bring himself to consider it. He couldn’t bear the thought. Besides, what woman would want a man who was in love with someone else?
The Brides of Chance Collection Page 23