An Unexpected Treasure (Hero Hearts; Marrying A Marshall Book 1)

by Natalie Dean

  “Because she would know how to decipher the message. At least that’s what Charlie said would happen.”

  Interesting. So Louise was the key to all of this. It made her life even more valuable if not all the more endangered. He had to get back to her. To explain to his brother and friend that she was at risk. They all had to protect her.

  “She deserves better,” Jeffers said, almost to himself.

  Andy halted at the door, pausing to look back. “She does.”

  “Don’t hurt her,” the man said. Gone was the arrogant bravado, and in its place was something more real than Andy had ever seen on the man’s face.

  “I’ll talk with the judge about sending you to the Northwestern Territories.”

  Robert nodded, and Andy turned to go.

  Don’t hurt her.

  He didn’t intend to, which was why he was going to keep his distance.

  * * *

  Louise blanched when Andy told her what Robert had said. So she had a part in this the whole time, even if she hadn’t realized it. She hated the fact that she held some sort of key to this whole mess. More so, she hated the way her thoughts strayed to Andy more than they did to what was going on with Robert.

  Yes, she was afraid of the men who were after her, but there was a danger to Andy that surpassed the equivalent of men looking for a buried treasure. There was danger written in Andy’s gaze, his gentle touch, and her thoughts of him that wouldn’t be suppressed.

  “There isn’t anything?”

  His gentle words brought her back to the present, and she shook her head as much to clear the thoughts of Andy from them as to answer his question.

  “I have no idea what to think of,” she said, her frustration showing. “If you could narrow it down…”

  “If we could do that, I don’t know that we’d need you.”

  “Of course.” She knew that, but it was so hard to concentrate with Andy’s blue eyes boring into her. She stood and began to pace the office putting her back to Andy. She had to think. Had to trace her memory for the root of what they were looking for in Robert’s letters.

  Root. Something sparked a memory, and she whirled around, the full force of those eyes on her again. “I remember something.”

  “What?” He came toward her but stopped half way if he’d thought better of being near her.

  “There were a few letters where Robert—now we know it was Charlie—mentioned going to his favorite spot. He described it many times as having an apple tree that he’d sit at, the base of which had roots that stuck up above ground.”

  “All right,” he said, sounding doubtful.

  “It was the only location that he described. Everything else was painted in broad strokes but this was specific. I think I can recall most of the directions if you can get me to a ‘crossroads outside of town’.”

  Andy’s eyebrows dipped. “A crossroads?”

  “Yes.”

  Andy thought for a moment, and then Hank spoke up from the desk. He had his feet propped up and his hat down over his face, making his voice muffled. She’d almost forgot he was there he’d been so quiet.

  “Miller’s Crossing,” he repeated when he took the hat down. “Has to be.”

  Andy nodded, his enthusiasm growing. “That’s it.”

  Andy, Simon, and Louise set off for Miller’s Crossing at the light of dawn. Louise had slept a little on the small cot in the marshal’s office and felt more rested than she should. Perhaps it was the invigorating, cool morning air, or the fact that they were finally coming to the bottom of this mystery.

  Or maybe it was the fact that she was with Andy. She knew that was foolish. Aside from when he’d almost kissed her, he hadn’t gotten close to her since. In fact, she’d have said that he had stayed even further away. As much as she told herself that was a good thing, that she didn’t need to be involved with a marshal, she couldn’t get past the fact that she only felt safe with Andy.

  He, on the other hand, looked as if he wanted to be anywhere but next to her. Simon rode ahead, and Andy kept his horse in pace with her, but he did everything he could to avoid looking at her. They rode in silence until she needed to offer direction, but other than that it was like riding next to a statue.

  Her mind raced to the possibilities. Was it because she wasn’t pretty enough? Smart enough? Funny enough? She didn’t have a sense of humor like he did. What had changed for him to make him keep his distance so? It was almost as if…

  She gasped. He knew. Jeffers must have told him. That was the only explanation. He knew of her supposed disgrace and it bothered him.

  Shame flooded her cheeks, and she wanted to cry. Why had she thought that coming to the West was any different? People jumped to their own conclusions, and they wouldn’t be swayed. Louise felt sick to her stomach at the thought of the handsome man beside her thinking of her as soiled and broken. It was likely she’d never convince him otherwise, and she wasn’t sure she wanted to try. If he could so easily jump to conclusions—

  “Louise?” She blinked, and her gaze cleared to see Andy looking at her with concern. “Are you all right?”

  “Yes. Fine.”

  The flicker of something in his gaze told her that he had noticed her change toward him, but she didn’t care. So be it if he was going to write her off for the lies of her past. Who had told him? Had he written to those in her hometown? Perhaps sent a telegraph?

  She forced the thoughts from her mind as they came up to a clearing.

  “I’m going to scout around if you two want to get out the lunch supplies,” Simon said.

  Great, now I get time alone with Andy. Before she would have looked forward to it but not so now.

  “Will do.”

  Simon nodded and rode off, and Andy slid off his horse. When he reached up to help her down off of her mount, she did everything not to look at him. As her feet touched the ground, she stilled when his hands didn’t leave her hips.

  “What’s wrong, Louise?” he asked, his voice gentle.

  So he cared about her now? This man was infuriating.

  “Absolutely nothing,” she said through clenched teeth.

  “Obviously that’s not true. Please, tell me what it is.” He dropped his hands and stepped back, giving her space, but his eyes were still on her.

  “As if you care,” she said before she could think better of it. The pain that flashed in his eyes was all she needed. Of course he didn’t care.

  Spinning on her heel, she headed for the stream, but he caught up with her, clasping her upper arm gently to pull her to a stop.

  “Wait. I—I do. I care.”

  Swallowing, she kept her back to him.

  “I…” He waited so long she thought he’d never finish his thought. “I shouldn’t. That’s why this is so hard.”

  Because of her. Because of her past. Because of the lies. Would they ever stop running her life?

  Spinning to face him, she forced herself to meet his gaze. “They aren’t true. None of them.”

  Confusion washed over his features. “What aren’t true?”

  “The lies you believe about me.”

  His shoulders dropped, and he shook his head back and forth. She tried to read his expression but was at a loss. Before he could answer her, Simon’s horse thundered into the clearing.

  “I’ve found something,” he said, an excited light glinting in his eyes.

  Chapter 8

  Andy needed to talk to Louise. He had to set things straight with her. He had to tell her that he was damaged goods. That nothing good could come from caring for him, but was he jumping to conclusions? Was it his imagination, or did the light of caring shine in Louise’s eyes when she looked at him?

  They walked through the forest, leaves and sticks crackling beneath their feet as they followed Simon. He needed to have a moment alone with her, but he wasn’t sure how to do that with Simon in tow. But, his best friend would understand. He’d been there during his time with Beatrice. He’d seen the f
allout from it. He’d known Andy’s pain as a brother would.

  “Just up here,” Simon said, excitement lacing his words. One quick look at Louise and he imagined that he could read her thoughts. She wanted to hash things out with him just as much. What the end result would be he could hardly say, but this unspoken thing between them had to see the light of day for them both to experience freedom.

  “See?”

  They walked into a clearing, and Simon pointed his finger at a large apple tree in the middle of it. Off to the side and hidden by more trees sat a small shack and a stream trickled along next to the apple tree. It looked remarkably like Louise had described it from Charlie’s letters.

  “This has to be it,” she said, her eyes shining bright with interest.

  “I’ll check the cabin. I would assume it’s under some floorboards.”

  Andy let Simon go with only a mere grunt of acknowledgement. The instant his friend was gone, he turned to Louise.

  “I don’t know what lies you’re talking about.”

  She looked shocked he’d spoken to her again, her gaze flitting to the shack where Simon had gone then back to Andy. He took a step closer.

  “You must know. It’s the only explanation…” She trailed off, and he wished she hadn’t. He needed to know what she was thinking because he couldn’t read the expression.

  “What is it? Tell me, Louise.”

  Her nose scrunched up with the effort but then suddenly the words burst from her. “About my past. About…the indiscretion I was supposedly mixed up in. It’s all lies, but I can only think that you found out and that has colored your thoughts of me.” Her cheeks were aflame, and she looked down at her fingers that were entwined together.

  “Oh,” he said, realization dawning. “That.”

  Her head snapped up. “You don’t seem surprised.”

  “I knew,” he admitted, grimacing slightly. “I…I found out from Robert when I first brought him in.”

  Now her eyes were round. “You’ve known that long? But…” The confusion replaced shock, and he knew she needed more of an explanation.

  “I…” He searched his mind and his heart for the answer to her, but they gave him conflicting results. His mind told him that he needed to tell her about Beatrice. That she’d understand when all of the facts were presented. But his heart told a different story. It told him that Louise was not like Beatrice, and she deserved the chance to prove that to him.

  “Andy, what is it?” she said. Her voice was gentle and her hand on his arm even softer still.

  “I can’t care for you. I…not again.”

  “What do you mean?” She pleaded for the truth with her eyes.

  “I fell in love once,” he began, sending a glance over his shoulder to make sure Simon was still inside. “Her name was Beatrice.” Receiving silent encouragement, he pressed on. “She was a mail order bride, much like yourself. I pledged to marry her and brought her out West a few towns over. I was in love with her but sure she wouldn’t want to stay so I waited to marry her.” His mind rebelled at the pain of the memories, but he pressed on as if it were a crucible. “I was gone on marshal business for a whole week and…when I came back…,” he swallowed, “I found out that she’d been taken advantage of. She blamed me, why wouldn’t she? And she left to move back East. I’ve never heard from her since.”

  “Andy,” Louse said, taking a step closer.

  “It’s why I can’t care. For anyone like that. It’s not safe. I…I should have told you to get married right away.” He fell silent, unsure of what else he could say.

  “Why didn’t you?” she finally asked.

  When he looked up, her hazel eyes met his with unabashed curiosity. Why hadn’t she walked away from him yet? He was obviously toxic.

  Oh, right. She’d asked him a question. Why hadn’t he told her to get married? “I couldn’t bear to think of you marrying someone else.” The truth slipped from his lips at the same time her hand wrapped round his, pulling him toward her. The green and brown of her eyes grew closer, as did her lips, until they were mere inches apart. Then she closed the distance.

  * * *

  Louise had never done anything so bold or brash in her life, but somehow she knew kissing Andy Fulton was the right thing to do in that moment. The pain and obvious torment he had put himself through on behalf of the woman he’d almost married broke her. It spoke volumes to his character that he’d carried this burden all this time. That he thought it was his fault.

  When she pulled back, she cupped his face with her free hand, pouring all of the feelings she had for him into her gaze.

  “You cannot take responsibility for the actions of another.” She spoke with authority because she knew it to be true. “You were not to blame where your fiancée was concerned. To do so cheapens the guilt of the man who harmed her and adds a burden to your shoulders you were never meant to bear.”

  He took a shuddering breath, letting it out slowly.

  “You can no more be at fault as I could for the crimes Robert committed.”

  He frowned. “I hadn’t thought of it like that.”

  “Andy,” she whispered, coming close again, “I care for you.”

  It took a moment for her words to sink in. For realization to dawn on his handsome features, but when it did, the resounding smile rocked through her.

  “You are one bold woman, ma’am.”

  She grinned at his use of ma’am. “What are you going to do about it, Mr. Fulton?”

  He fixed his gaze on her and, after only a moment’s hesitation, closed the distance between them. The thought of a hidden treasure or his past mistakes, gone, if only for the moment. Instead, she saw the confident but kind man she’d come to know as he pressed his lips to hers, kissing her soundly.

  They returned to town with a box full of stolen coins that Simon had found, but Louise felt as if she’d found something greater. The love of a man named Andy Fulton. The shift between them was subtle at first, as they both knew the limitations of their knowledge of one another, but Louise had a feeling that, soon, those boundaries would be lifted as well.

  Hank, pleased to see the recovery of such a valuable stash, actually gave his brother a rare smile and, spurring them both, said he didn’t so much mind that his baby brother had let the job get too personal.

  Louise had flushed, wondering how he knew, but she supposed it was obvious to anyone looking between them. That, and the fact that Hank Fulton was an observant man, especially when it came to his brother.

  Later that evening, as they walked, hand in hand, along the riverbank, Louise looked up at Andy.

  “What?” he said, pulling her to a stop.

  “I just,” she flushed, looking out over the river rather than meeting his gaze.

  “Hey, none of that. Where is the bold woman I fell for?”

  Louise smiled. “She’s here. I think she’s just overwhelmed with everything.”

  “In a good way?” he asked.

  “In the best way.” She turned to him, cupping his face again. “Are you sure…about this?”

  He paused, the action making her think that what he said next would be a defining moment between them.

  “I’ve spent a good portion of my life since Beatrice living a half-life. I didn’t want to care again. Didn’t want to risk my actions bringing hurt to someone else. And, while that is still the case, I see now how I was hurting myself. I can no more deny my feelings for you than I can deny myself air to breath. I would have tried.” He laughed at himself. “I did try, but even still, I wanted you to myself.” His grin widened, and she flushed.

  “I’m all right with you having me to yourself.”

  He let out a loud laugh, wrapping his arms around her. She relished the feeling of his embrace as much as she did the security and acceptance she felt with him.

  Rising up on her tiptoes, she planted another kiss on his lips, the action rewarding her a kiss in return before they parted to walk down the bank again.
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br />   They were just beginning their journey, one that would no doubt boast many surprises and at least a few difficulties, but she knew that, despite it all, it would be a long, fulfilling one met with humor and a healthy dose of boldness.

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