“You are kind to ask.” He had acted as a gentleman and certainly had been considerate. “But I need only to kill those men and regain my dowry.”
“Rena, you’re making me crazy. Be reasonable.” Storm didn’t raise his voice, but he appeared angry.
She hated to irritate the man who had helped her, but he should stop insisting she wait for him. “Do not think you can leave me here while you go ahead. I will go off on my own if you try.”
He grimaced. “At least if we’re together I can help protect you. You’re a stubborn woman.”
“You know that, so stop asking me to do that which I cannot. Doing so only upsets each of us.”
“You’re right. Okay, I’ll stop asking.” He looked at the sky and quickened his steps. “Let’s get something to eat before the rain starts.” He guided her to a small eating place across from the courthouse.
He poured over the newspaper between bites, occasionally remarking on something he’d read. The experience was pleasant and companionable. Was this what being married to such a man would be like?
Nerves on edge, she ate her fill of the mediocre meal. Not that she felt hungry after their horrible day. But who knew where she’d be tomorrow or what food would be available?
A man who entered the eating place passed by, then came back. “Kincaid, thought that was you.”
Storm stood and shook the man’s hand. “Rena this is Stanley Mitchell. Stanley, this is my wife, Rena.”
The man’s shock showed in his face and his posture stiffened. “Wife. When did this happen? I saw you less than two weeks ago.”
She noticed Storm’s embarrassment. “Right. You know how it is. Bam, and you’re hooked.”
“Not me. Celia and I courted four years before we married.”
“And how is she? Is she with you?”
“Ah, no. She’s visiting her mother in Austin while I’m on this trip. Doesn’t like being left alone, but didn’t want to make a hasty trip here.”
“Well, give her my regards.”
“Um, sure. Congratulations. And best wishes to you.” He tipped his hat then sobered. “Sorry to hear about the Rankins’s murders. I know they were good friends of yours.”
“That’s right. We’re on the killers’ trail now.”
“Both of you? Not an ideal honeymoon.”
“No, but it’s the one we have.” Storm resumed his seat. “You want to join us?”
He sounded less than sincere. She hoped the man would go simply away.
The man paused. “No, I’m meeting a business acquaintance here before I head back home. Oh, there he is now.” He raised a hand to signal to a man across the room. “Nice to see you Kincaid, and you ma’am.”
When he’d moved away, Rena touched his arm. “I’m sorry you were embarrassed by me.”
“Not by you, no. I was a bit upset that Stanley Mitchell saw us. He loves to spread rumors and gossip. By the time he’s finished with the story, you’ll be pregnant and we’ll have three kids with us.”
“Oh.” But she knew he lied. He was embarrassed to introduce a woman dressed so shabbily as his wife. Especially when he had no wife. And this man would tell his friends and family before he returned.
What excuse would the lawman make then? Would he laugh about his odd woman companion? What if there was a special woman back in this Kincaid Springs? What would she believe?
“Do you have a . . . a woman you courted where you live?”
“No. Thought for a while I might settle with one, but turned out we were better as friends than anything else. She’s happily married to another man.”
By the time they reached the hotel, large drops of rain splattered them.
Storm slipped an arm firmly about her waist and all but carried her. “Let’s run, or we’ll be soaked.”
They sped into the small hotel and closed the door behind them.
Laughing, she brushed at the rain on her face, and jumped when a loud clap of thunder shook the floor. “It’s good we are inside this night.”
Storm guided her up the stairs toward their room. “That’s the truth. I’ve camped in the rain, and it’s no fun. I prefer a dry place to sleep.”
Rain pelted the windows and bolts of lightning flashed. Storm lighted the lamp and they prepared for bed. The routine was not that different from when she lived with Abram. Except now she wondered what sleeping with Storm would be like. She must banish that image from her mind.
How could she? She remembered him cradling her earlier while he comforted her. Powerful arms held her while his large, strong hands caressed and soothed her. He crooned soft words to her as if she were a child. But her body didn’t react as a child’s. A woman longed for more of his embrace.
His tall body appeared strong as a tree trunk. Broad shoulders offered shelter and support. Though gentle toward her, she thought he would be a hard man in a fight. She needed his help to fight the four killers.
Yet, she knew he planned to slip off tonight and abandon her here in San Saba. She suspected he had made arrangements for her at the bank then wired his family what he’d done. Well, she had a surprise in store for Storm Kincaid.
Chapter Six
Storm suddenly awakened. He lay still a few seconds gathering his senses. No noise, not even Rena’s soft breathing. No lavender scent. He sat up and glanced at the bed. He didn’t need a lamp to verify what he’d suspected.
Empty.
No point deluding himself that she’d gone to the privy. Swiftly, he rolled out of his bedroll. After stuffing his legs into his britches, he pulled on his shirt. He reached for his boots.
No boots. Only socks where his boots had been.
He lit the lamp and searched the room. That vixen had stolen his favorite boots. He uttered a string of curse words he seldom used as he pulled on his socks. In a few minutes he searched the room, gathered his gear, and headed for the livery.
He was mad enough to spit nails clean through a fencepost. The fool woman would get them both killed. She didn’t have the sense God gave a green grasshopper. He reached the livery and pounded on the side door where the owner lived.
The hostler opened the door and pulled up his suspenders. “Don’t you folks never sleep?”
“I need my horse and saddle.”
The man stepped back to allow Storm to enter. “Come on through. I’ll open the barn door. But your filly done escaped.” The man laughed at his supposed joke.
Storm set to work saddling Thunder. “How long ago did she leave?”
“Been ‘bout an hour I reckon.” He held out Storm’s boots. “She told me to give you these when you come by.”
Hell, now that his socks were wet and muddy, he had his boots. Storm dug in his saddlebag for a dry pair of socks. He changed quickly and stuffed his grubby footwear away. As soon as he finished readying his gear on Thunder, he paid the man and rode out as dawn broke on the horizon.
Rain had left the ground soggy so that Rena’s tracks created an easy trail. His horse covered the miles toward the Colorado River. Storm hoped he caught up with Rena before she tried to cross the rain-swollen waterway. He doubted she had any idea of the danger she faced.
After an hour he judged the river lay nearby. Finally, he spotted her ahead. She turned and apparently saw him, then urged Brownie to race faster. Thunder’s longer length and gait closed the gap between them, but Rena reached the water’s edge.
He called for her to stop, but she plunged into the rolling river. Brownie panicked and Rena slid off the mare’s back. He heard her scream. The muddied water’s force pressed her against the animal’s side or she would have been carried downstream.
She clung to the pommel. Debris sped toward her and knocked her in the side. He saw her head go under the rushing water, and then her hand grasped Brownie’s tail. Her head bobbed behind Brownie.
He reached her as she floundered. Almost losing his own seat on Thunder, Storm grabbed Rena’s braid and then her arm. He pulled her onto his lap. Leaning as he
passed, he slapped Brownie on the rear to drive the mare toward the shore.
Dodging debris took as much work as fighting the river’s pull. Both horses struggled up the opposite bank. He slid off Thunder and led the horses to thick grass near a copse of trees.
Reining in his anger before he choked Rena, he pulled her from the saddle. “What the hell did you think you were doing? Both you and Brownie could have been killed. I could have been killed trying to save your foolish neck. As it is, all our gear is probably wet and our food likely ruined.”
She clung to him. Tears ran down her cheeks. “I’m sorry. So sorry. I didn’t realize….” She broke into sobbing and coughing.
He peered at her, remembering the debris that pelted her. “Are you hurt?”
She held her side. “Ja, something hit me. Hurts when I breathe.”
“Take off your shirt and let me see.”
“I’ll do no such…oh, what difference does it make now?” She unbuttoned her shirt and tried to slide it from her shoulders. She groaned and grasped her side again.
Storm reacted when she cringed and her face contorted in pain. He picked her up and carried her to the trunk of a fallen tree. “Sit here and I’ll remove enough of these clothes that I can see your ribs.”
She still cried great gulping sobs. “I’m sorry. I thought I was stronger than this. That I could go on my own.”
He removed the shirt and puzzled over the chemise. “Can you raise your arms?”
Her eyes pled as she raised her face. “Please don’t ask me to.”
With a swift motion, he ripped the fabric and tossed it aside. “What made you take off like that?” He gently probed her ribs. Already the skin blossomed in bruises.
She flinched when he touched her back. “You were going to make me stay in that town. After I told what the men looked like, you didn’t need me along. I wanted to show you I could find them and get my dowry and locket back.”
Storm dug a shirt from her saddlebags. A little damp, but better than the one she had worn. He helped her don it. “I couldn’t force you to remain there, Rena. I wanted you to, but I saw you were determined to come with me. If only you’d waited for me, this wouldn’t have happened.”
“Ja, I see that now.” She fastened the buttons. “Are my ribs broken?”
“I don’t think so. We need a doctor to look at them, but we won’t reach a town for a while. Do you think you can ride?”
“What else can I do? I don’t want to wait here alone. We waste time.”
“Let me check the horses and be sure they’re not injured.” He left her resting on the log while he brushed down both horses and checked them carefully. When he assured himself both animals could travel, he returned where she waited.
“Have you eaten anything today?”
“No, but I’m not hungry. That water was awful.”
“Force yourself to throw up. My sister is a healer and she says raw floodwater is poisonous. I’ll boil some for us to drink and make some coffee.”
Finding dry kindling took a several minutes, but he soon had a small fire going and coffee prepared. He dug into the food side of his saddlebags and brought out four pieces of jerky. “Did you empty your stomach?”
“Ja. Horrid, brown water.” She shivered.
He handed her two pieces of the dried venison. “Not a great breakfast, but it will get us down the road.”
She chewed a bite. “This is like leather. What is it?”
“Venison jerky. I made it myself.”
She scowled at him. “You must have a strong stomach.”
“It may be hard to chew, but it’s nourishing. Mixed with coffee, it will fuel you for hours.”
“If you say so.” Her wrinkled nose let him know her opinion, but she ate all he’d given her.
He extinguished the fire. “You’re sure you can ride?”
“Ja, now I can. I will be fine.”
Her pale skin and trembling hands gave lie to her words. He had no choice, though. Remaining here offered no help. Better to ride and reach a doctor or farmhouse where she could rest.
“Pecan Bayou is bound to be flooded too. We’ll have to detour east.” He lifted her into the saddle atop Brownie.
“I will stay with you.” When he would have released her, she grasped his arm and gazed down into his eyes. “You must promise you won’t abandon me.”
He laid one hand over hers. “Rena, all I can promise is that if I ever have to leave you, I’ll tell you before I go.”
She released him. “All right. Now I have one less thing to fear.”
They rode all day, stopping only long enough to rest the horses. He knew she was in pain, and she appeared to slump more each mile. But he had nothing to help her. If Pearl knew, she would scold him for not including some of her herbs and ointments in his gear. He wished now he’d taken time to stock up.
Near dusk, he spotted a farmhouse and veered off his path. The farmer stepped from the barn as they rode into the yard. He stood halfway in the door and Storm figured the man had a rifle handy.
Storm raised his hand in greeting. “Evening. We had a mishap. My wife is injured and I wonder if we could spend the night in your barn?”
The man remained in the same place. “What happened?”
“She fell off her horse crossing the Colorado. Yours is the first homestead we’ve seen since then.” He opened his jacket to expose his badge.
“You’d better come into the house.” He stepped away from the barn with his rifle in one hand. He called, “Son, come take care of these folks’ horses.”
A young boy of about eleven or twelve stepped from the shadows. “Yes, Pa.”
Storm helped Rena from the saddle.
The farmer glanced at his gun then at Storm. “Can’t be too careful. Heard there’s a group of killers riding the countryside.”
“We came upon one place the other side of San Saba after they’d been there. Buried a young couple named Witherspoon and their baby.”
The man frowned. “Their child too? Lord, what’s the world coming to?”
Storm held out his hand. “I’m Storm Kincaid, this is my wife Rena.”
The farmer gave Storm’s hand a hearty shake. “I’m O’Hara, Cavin O’Hara. That’s my boy Connor. My wife and the other kids are inside. Reckon she can see to your missus.”
They followed the man into a rectangular house with a large porch across the front.
Inside, a cheerful woman with dark brown hair and a plump figure welcomed them. “You folks come right in. Nice to have company.” She turned to a girl who looked about thirteen or fourteen. “Stella, get the folks a cup of coffee and some of the pecan bread we made this morning.”
“This is Maureen, the light of my life.” Her husband kissed her cheek. “Love, they had a mishap crossing the Colorado. Miz Kincaid needs you to doctor her.”
The woman’s cheerful demeanor changed to concern. “Do you feel well enough to come to the bedroom? I’ll get my doctoring supplies and see what I can do.” She gathered up odds and ends from shelves and drawers. “This way, dear.”
“My name is Rena.” She followed the woman slowly.
Storm watched to be sure she could walk alone. He was about to rise and lift her into his arms, but Maureen put an arm around Rena’s shoulders.
“She’ll be all right with Maureen looking after her. Has a caring way, she does.” Cavin sat across the table from Storm. “You say you ran onto where those killers had hit?”
Storm scrubbed a hand across his face, wishing he could wipe away the memory of the young couple and their child. “A terrible sight. Happened before the rain and the ground was like rock. We buried them as best we could with my camp shovel. Had to pile stones on the grave to keep out predators.”
He took a sip of the coffee the girl sat in front of him. “Way I figure it, the killers were ahead of us. Unless they laid up somewhere during the storm, they’ll be northwest of you by now.”
“Lord, I hope so. Not t
hat I’m wishing them on other folks, mind you, but I don’t want them near us. I try to protect my family, but they sound like a hard bunch.”
“There are four of them. Least there were when my wife saw them kill her grandfather. I haven’t seen sign of more men joining with them.”
Cavin slammed his mug against the table. “She what?”
Storm repeated the lie he’d concocted about Abram. He’d told the story so often he almost believed it by now. “I arrived after they’d gone. We buried him and set out after the men. They stole her grandfather’s savings.”
He tapped a finger against his badge. “I’m authorized to capture them, and I’m hoping to do so before they make it to Indian Territory.”
“Smart of your wife to wear men’s clothes so she can ride astride. Cover ground faster that way.”
Storm smiled at the thought of her firm backside in those britches. “They’re her grandfather’s trousers. He was a wiry little man.”
“She sounds like she’s from around Fredericksburg or New Braunfels. Lot of German folks down that way.”
“Originally, she’s from Bavaria. Came here with her grandfather.”
“You don’t say. You hear that kids? Mrs. Kincaid came across the ocean from Bavaria way over in Europe. Isn’t that something?”
Stella and the other girl, who looked about ten or so, smiled at their father. They continued their kitchen chores, which created enticing smells from the cook stove. A boy of about six clung to his father’s side until Connor came in from the barn. The little boy ran to his brother.
Storm watched with pleasure. “Nice family you have here. Reminds me of my nieces and nephews.”
“They’re good children. I’ve sure been worried about those killers running wild through the countryside. One man can’t hold off a crowd like that.”
“I imagine Connor can do his share by now. Still, I agree with what you say. A family is a responsibility. Your wife and daughters would be a terrible temptation to men like those we’re after.”
Cavin looked toward his girls and back at Storm. “Did they…” He raised his eyebrows.
Storm nodded. “Horribly. Unbelievable men would be so cruel. They have to be stopped before more people die.”
Most Unsuitable Courtship Page 5