"I'm not hiding."
"Yes, you are."
"I'm there because that's where the gold is."
"You mean you'll like living in Denver?"
"It doesn't matter where I live." He unwrapped some bread he'd cooked at the cabin.
Daisy gave up. She didn't believe Tyler knew what he was talking about. He had probably convinced himself that as long as he had his hotels he could live anywhere. She imagined he was in for a big surprise. She had to confess she didn't know anything about big hotels or big cities, but she didn't think a man who liked living alone in the mountains would feel comfortable there.
Tyler poured some coffee into a cup and handed it to Daisy. Then he put the steaks on to cook.
Daisy took her coffee and settled down on her blanket. If Tyler wanted to do everything himself, he could. She wasn't going to offer any more. She wasn't going to do anything except work at putting him out of her mind.
* * * * *
Tyler leaned against the trunk of a cottonwood, standing watch. He didn't think he needed to. He doubted the killers would have followed this far today, but he couldn't afford to be wrong.
Anyway he couldn't sleep. Daisy's accusations had raised questions in his mind he couldn't answer. Everything he told her was true. At least, it had been until now. Now he didn't know. He only knew he didn't feel comfortable leaving Daisy.
It wasn't just because of her safety. He was concerned about what she was going to do for her future. He believed she could do anything she wanted. But she didn't.
He was concerned about her marrying Guy Cochrane. He didn't know the man, but he couldn't be worth much. Daisy had never mentioned him. No woman keeps quiet about her fiancé when she thinks he's the greatest guy to wear pants.
Then there was the fact she had almost let him make love to her. He wasn't blaming her, but if she loved this Cochrane fella, she'd never have done something like that. She might have let him kiss her, in a casual, brotherly fashion, but she wouldn't have let him kiss her like he did. Or allow him to repeat it.
He didn't know why she had agreed to marry Guy Cochrane, but she didn't love him.
No. He did know. She had told him. Cochrane's father was the richest man in Albuquerque, and her mother had spent her whole life telling Daisy never to marry a poor man.
Hell, the Randolphs were probably richer than the Cochranes. He wondered if she'd marry him for his money?
He knew that wasn't fair, but the thought wouldn't leave his mind. She'd never missed an opportunity to tell him how little she thought of his notion of finding gold. Clearly she had no intention of linking her future with anyone she considered a dreamer.
Then why had she almost let him make love to her? Everything in Tyler's head was a muddled mass of questions and fragmented ideas mixed up with a few hopes and a lot of fears. Most confusing of all, he couldn't figure out why this was all happening to him.
He didn't love Daisy. He didn't want to marry her. He did want to make love to her, but he had wanted to make love to other women as well. No. He had wanted to find sexual relief with a lot of other women, but what he looked for with Daisy was something entirely different.
That unsettled him. What was he looking for, why should he be looking for it with Daisy? All he could say for sure was he liked her and enjoyed having her around. He found her attractive and wanted to make love to her. He hoped she wouldn't marry Guy Cochrane.
What did it all add up to? He'd be damned if he knew except it had given him a headache and was keeping him awake.
* * * * *
The color drained from Ed Peck's face as he stared at the stack of letters in his hand. "Do you know who this place belongs to?" he asked. His voice sounded hoarse.
"A dead man," Toby promised from the bunk.
"What you got there?" Frank asked.
"Letters," Ed replied, "all of 'em addressed to Tyler Randolph."
Toby's cigarette paused on the way to his mouth. "You sure?"
"Yeah," his father replied.
"Who the hell is Tyler Randolph?" Frank demanded.
"If you'd ever worked cows in Texas, you wouldn't have to ask such a dumb question," Ed said.
"Well, I didn't work no damned cows in Texas, and I'm damned glad of it. And I ain't heard of no Tyler Randolph."
"There's seven of them," Ed said.
"Seven men named Tyler Randolph?" Frank asked in disbelief.
"No, seven brothers, you fool," Toby said.
"Then I guess the Randolph in town must be his kin."
"There's a Randolph in town?" Toby asked. He sat up so fast he hit his head on the slats.
"Yeah. He has a stupid name, I can't remember it just now."
"Hen?" Toby asked.
"Yeah, that's it. Arrived with enough wagons to start his own train." Frank paused. "That's it! This Randolph fella did find that woman. And he's taken her into Albuquerque to his brother's wife." He grinned, pleased to have solved the puzzle. "All we have to do is follow him and kill her."
"You'll do it without me," Toby said, getting up from the bunk. "Don't you know who Hen Randolph is?"
"No, and I ain't interested."
"You damned well better be. He's the fastest gunfighter you'll ever see," Ed said. "Ain't nobody else can come close."
"I'm not planning on going up against him," Frank said. "We can get her and this Tyler fella from cover."
"You touch one of them Randolphs, and you'll have the rest down on you faster'n you can spit," Toby said.
"I ain't going with you, either," Ed said. "I didn't agree to killing that gal in the first place. I sure ain't having nothing to do with killing no Randolph. You should have knocked her over the head. It's about all you did anyway."
"What the hell are you going to do?"
"Head south, probably to Mexico."
"Okay, run out on me, but you ain't getting no more money."
"You go around shooting at Randolphs, and you won't live to spend it," Toby said.
"Go on, get out," Frank shouted.
Toby looked defiant. "I think I'll stay a few more days," he said. "No need for Pa and me to rush off. This Randolph won't be back for a week or so. It'll be a lot easier traveling after the snow melts."
"Where are you going?" Frank asked.
"I don't know exactly," Toby replied, "but I don't want to be anywhere near here when you tangle with those Randolphs. Besides, it's too damned cold here, and Pa needs to rest up while that leg heals. What are you doing?" he asked when Frank started to collect his gear.
"I'm leaving tonight. I'll kill them on the trail, and beat you to Mexico."
Frank smiled to himself. This was exactly what he needed to make his reputation. If he could kill a Randolph on top of the other work he'd done for Regis Cochrane, his reputation would be secure.
* * * * *
"I didn't know the Parrishes had sold up and left," Tyler said, as they turned from the ranch road back onto the route to town. "I was planning on getting some horses here."
"That's the third rancher to sell out within the last year," Daisy said. "I wonder why none of them said anything before they left?"
Tyler took the time to scan their back trail with his binoculars.
"That's the fourth time you've done that today," Daisy said.
"Somebody's following us."
"This is the road to Albuquerque. I imagine we'll see lots of people."
"I'm just being careful."
But Tyler had a bad feeling. Three men followed them, and one of them was riding a big horse. He knew the killers could easily identify them. No other travelers would be riding a mule and a burro, certainly not a man and a woman. The coincidence would be too great.
"You think they're the killers, don't you," Daisy said after he stopped twice more to study the horsemen through the binoculars.
"Yes," Tyler said.
She looked anxious but calm. She expected him to know exactly what to do.
"Here. You look through t
he glasses," Tyler said.
"I can't tell. They're still too far away," Daisy said. Fifteen minutes later Daisy still couldn't be sure. "I only saw one of them. What are you going to do?"
"Nothing until I know they're the men I'm after. We'll wait in those cedars and hope you recognize one of them when he passes."
"That's not the man," Daisy said a short while later. "I'm sure of it."
Tyler was relieved these men weren't the killers, but he was certain they were somewhere behind them.
"I think we'll take the trail down by the river," Tyler said. "We'll be late reaching town, but a man and woman traveling on a mule and a burro are too easily noticed and remembered."
* * * * *
The town of Albuquerque was irregularly laid out around a plaza of some two or three acres into which all the principal streets led. Adobe buildings were grouped without order, giving the town a tumbled-down look. A white picket fence surrounded the plaza, which contained a low adobe building used as a barbershop, its flagpole a hundred and twenty-one feet high on top, the tallest west of the Mississippi. The twin towers of San Felipe de Neri church dominated the north side of the square, its yard also enclosed by a picket fence. Businesses and private homes crowded the other three sides of the Plaza. Some fronted immediately on the street. Others had the luxury of covered walks. Some of the roofs were made of wood, others of sod.
Albuquerque was not a large town. Even late at night, it wasn't difficult to locate the hotel. Tyler led Daisy down a narrow alley just off the Plaza. They stopped at the back of a two-story building; he dismounted and helped her down. She was just as stiff as she had been the night before.
"We're going in the back," he told her. "I don't want anyone to see you enter. That way nobody will be able to say for certain when you arrived."
"But how can you manage that?"
"There's a stairway at the back. While I find out where Hen and Laurel are staying, you can sneak up the stairs when nobody's looking."
"Are you certain they won't mind helping me?" Daisy asked. She had been worrying about that the entire way.
"All you have to do is volunteer to look after Jordy and Adam, and they'll welcome you with open arms."
"Zac mentioned Jordy. Is he truly a terror?"
"That's his reputation. I stay out of the way. It was Hen's idea to adopt him."
Daisy wondered if anything would ever penetrate to Tyler's heart. She was beginning to wonder if he even had one. There were times when he didn't seem to have any of the feelings ordinary people had. She wondered what the rest of his family was like. With Zac and him for examples, she had no idea what to expect.
Daisy felt abandoned when Tyler left her on the back stairs. The building was dark and quiet, the three-foot thick adobe walls rough and cold. She forced herself to mount the stairs despite her uneasiness. The abrasive scrap of her shoes on the steps was loud in the confined space. She was relieved to reach the upper floor and feel a straw mat under her feet. The dim glow from a lamp below pierced the gloom of the upper hallway. She felt her muscles unclamp when she saw Tyler emerge from the stairwell.
"He's reserved the whole top floor," Tyler said when he reached her. "He ought to have plenty of room for both of us."
A tall blond man opened the door in response to Tyler's knock. Daisy knew it had to be Hen. There was a strong resemblance between the brothers.
"What brings you out of the hills?" Hen asked, not moving aside to invite his brother in. "I was sure you'd have dug through half the Sandia range by now."
"I need your help."
Only then did Hen notice Daisy standing in the shadows behind Tyler. He moved aside.
"You'd better come in."
Chapter Seventeen
Daisy looked into the most intensely blue eyes she'd ever seen. She could find nothing there to let her know what Hen might feel toward his brother or toward her. Fortunately, before she could get cold feet, a lovely women with cascades of black hair falling down her back raised herself out of a chair and came forward. She moved with the awkwardness of a woman in the last stages of pregnancy.
"Come in. You look like you've been traveling all day."
"Two days," Tyler said.
"You must be exhausted. Here, take my chair."
"No," Daisy said, horrified to be expected to take the seat of a woman so obviously in need of it. "I'd just as soon stand for a while." She glanced at Tyler. "I feel like I've almost forgotten how."
Hen brought a chair from a second room. "You can use this when you feel ready."
"I'm Laurel Randolph," the lady said as she reseated herself. "And this is my husband, Hen." Laurel smiled warmly. Hen's expression didn't seem to change. "Now tell us how we can help you."
"It's Daisy really," Tyler began.
Daisy watched Laurel's face as Tyler chronicled the events of the last week. She was relieved to see Laurel show sympathy, shock, and anger as the story unfolded. She relaxed a little. This woman might not be able to help, but at least she was sympathetic.
"Of course she can stay with us," Laurel said when Tyler finished. "I wish you'd brought her to us right away."
"Looking back, so do I," Tyler said.
Daisy wondered what he meant by that, but she didn't have time to search his face for clues. Laurel was talking to her. "Do you have a room?"
"No," Tyler answered for her, "but since Hen reserved the whole floor, I figured we could use one of yours."
"We do have an extra bedroom," Laurel said. "You and Hen can sleep there. Daisy will stay with me."
Daisy turned quickly to see how Hen would react to his wife's banishing him from her bed, but she could see no change in his expression. The man made her nervous. She had thought Tyler was hard to read. This man was impossible.
"I can't do that," Daisy protested.
Laurel looked at Hen and held out her hand. He immediately took it. "Hen won't like it, but I can't have you sharing a room with Tyler."
"Why? I've done it for a week."
"As far as everybody in Albuquerque is concerned, your father was killed today. Tyler brought you here right away."
Daisy looked helplessly at Tyler.
"Thanks," Tyler said. "I know this is a terrible imposition at such a time, but I didn't know what else to do."
"You did the right thing," Laurel assured him. "Are you sure you're not hungry?" she asked Daisy.
"No." Daisy was, but she was too nervous to eat. She doubted she'd be able to sleep a wink.
"Don't you want to sit down now?"
Daisy sat.
"Tyler can bring in your things, and we can think about getting you settled."
"This is all I have," Daisy said. "Everything else was destroyed in the fire."
Laurel looked dismayed. "I see. Well, it won't be easy to replenish your wardrobe. You're built along generous lines."
Daisy managed a weak smile. "I've never heard it put so beautifully. I'm huge. I was relieved when your husband opened the door and I had to look up to him."
"You'll like the Randolphs," Laurel said with a comforting smile. "All seven of them are taller than you. George's son, William Henry, is only twelve, and he's nearly six feet."
Daisy thought of how wonderful it would be to wander among this forest of towering men. She pushed that thought from of her mind. No use teasing herself with the impossible.
* * * * *
"You must be tired," Laurel said, getting to her feet. "I know I am."
It had been a long evening. Over dinner they had worked out the story they planned to present to the public. Now the hot food and fatigue were telling on Daisy. Though she was extremely nervous, she was very tired.
"I think we should retire for the night," Laurel said. She walked over to Hen. He kissed her gently.
"You sure you're going to be all right?" he asked.
That was the first softening Daisy had seen in the man. Clearly he doted on his wife.
"I'll be just fine. I have been fine
all along. You and Tyler can talk over what to do about Daisy's future. I'll worry about how to find her some decent clothes."
"You don't have to do that," Daisy protested. "I can wear this dress for a while longer."
"No, you can't," Laurel stated emphatically. "It looks ready to fall apart." She gave Daisy an appraising look. "I think we can find something to fit you. If the skirts aren't long enough, we can stitch on a boarder."
She led Daisy into a comfortable bedroom. "It'll do the men good to share tonight. They won't talk to each other unless you force them."
"Zac talks enough for both of them."
Laurel laughed. "I'm sorry you had to put up with him. He'll be the death of George yet."
With Daisy's help, Laurel quickly changed into her nightgown. "Here, take one of mine," Laurel said with a grin. "It may not be long enough, but it's big enough for two of you." Daisy laughed when she put on the gown. It hardly came down to her calves, but she was too happy to be out of the dress and shift to care. She would have preferred to wear Tyler's nightshirt, but she didn't think Laurel would understand.
Laurel got into bed and propped herself up on several pillows. She patted the bed next to her. "Now tell me what really happened between you and Tyler. Of course, you're in love with him."
* * * * *
Looking at Tyler across the table, Hen regarded him with a jaundiced eye. "Still sticking your nose into what doesn't concern you, I see."
"What was I supposed to do? Leave her there to burn?"
"Of course not, but you have to admit you've got a problem on your hands."
"Look, I'm sorry to move you out of your bedroom, but it never occurred to me Laurel would do anything like that."
"What did you expect her to do? Have the girl sleep with you?"
"I suppose I thought she'd sleep on the couch or something."
"While you and I slept in comfortable beds? You don't know much about women."
"Nothing at all, if the last few days is any example."
Hen cast his brother a quizzical look.
"I'm not telling you anything."
"Your love life interests me only slightly more than Zac's, which is to say not at all."
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