When he made to stand, Glory waved him back down. “Please don’t stand on my account.”
Caroline flashed her a grateful smile when he sank back down. “He keeps trying to behave as if he doesn’t have a hole in his side.”
He grinned and pulled her hand to his mouth to place a kiss on the back. Glory wasn’t quite prepared for the pang of jealousy that knifed through her at the scene of such domestic bliss. She stood there staggered with longing at the obvious affection between the two of them.
It wasn’t that she coveted Castillo for herself, it was that she wanted that sort of relationship in her life, that easygoing affection, that absolute certainty that the other person was going to be there for the rest of their days. She had longed for that for a while now and had forced herself not to admit it, but the urge had been there needling her when she retired to her room alone at night with only her books for company. It was there when she woke up in the morning and drank her coffee alone at the window. The truth was that she had a very fulfilling life. She took care of a lot of people. She had a successful business. Not only the brothel and club, but she’d bought enough property over the past few years to be one of the wealthiest landowners in town. She had no reason to be discontented with her life.
Or she hadn’t until Zane had come into her life. The past days had shown her how fulfilling it could be to have someone. Last night had shown her how fulfilling intimacy could be. Opening herself up to Zane and having him hold her while she’d slept had been so much more than she could’ve anticipated. It left her craving more.
“Welcome, Glory.” Emmy had been standing next to Hunter at the cold fireplace, but she hurried over and embraced her.
Glory smiled down at her, amazed at how she’d changed from the girl who’d grown up in Victoria House to the beautiful young woman she was today. No one would have guessed that she’d been in a salon in Victoria House mere months ago, auctioning off her virginity. Or that marriage to the man who’d placed the highest bid would come so soon. Glory had been uncertain given the unconventional way that Emmy and Hunter had met, but marriage seemed to agree with her. She was glowing like a woman in love and well taken care of.
“Thank you for agreeing to see us on such short notice.” She squeezed Emmy’s hand and addressed the room. She’d only rang them on the telephone a scarce half hour earlier and Hunter had urged them to come as soon as they could.
“Anytime, Glory,” Hunter said.
“Come and have a seat.” Emmy led her to the settee that sat across from Castillo and Caroline. Then she greeted Able and Zane. Once Able was seated in a high-backed chair facing the fireplace, and Emmy sat beside her, it was time to get to the reason they were there. Glory absolutely hated having to ask for help, yet here she was and it was the second time this week she’d had to come to them.
As if sensing her discomfort, Zane reached forward from where he stood behind her and placed a hand on her shoulder. He’d naturally seemed to gravitate toward her and she’d liked that a lot.
“I assume Zane told you all about my predicament?”
Castillo leaned forward, wincing. “He said that a man from your past had found both you and Able. That he’s possibly on his way here.”
“Yes, that’s right. I’ve decided that if we’re to be ready for him, I need to close the boardinghouse.” She explained her plan and about Emily and Edward.
“Say no more.” Emmy took her hand again. “We’ll take them out to the ranch. They’ll be safe there. Hunter has enough hands out there that this man won’t know what hit him if he tries to follow them.”
“Are you certain you can keep them safe?” Glory asked, looking from Emmy to Hunter.
“We’d be honored to have them,” Hunter answered.
Emmy smiled. “We handled my stepfather and his gang of thieves, we can handle the mystery man from your past.”
Before Glory could say more, Emmy said to Able, “You should consider sending Clara as well. She’ll be safer out there.”
“I’d be obliged to you,” said Able.
“It’s not an obligation. We’re happy to help out. We’ve come to think of you and Glory as extended family.” Hunter’s wide smile lit up the parlor. It was no wonder every debutante in town had gone into fits when they’d heard he was engaged. Or at least that had been the rumor; Glory wasn’t close with any debutantes.
“You should come too, Glory,” Emmy said more quietly.
“I agree,” Able added. “You go wait it out at the ranch and we’ll take care of Dubose.”
Glory didn’t know whether to be offended that he wouldn’t want her included or grateful that she had people who cared about her. She decided to remain neutral. “I’m not running. It’s time to end this.”
Able gave her a firm nod and Emmy smiled. “When do you think we should go? Today? In the morning?” Emmy asked.
Glory’s mind started swimming with all the things they needed to do within the next few days. Now that it was finally happening, she had too many things to do to be worried. She barely noticed when Hunter called for Zane and motioned that they should step into the other room.
* * *
Zane followed Hunter across the wide hallway that bisected the house into a room nearly identical to the parlor they’d left. The only difference was that this one was deep red and cream. He’d never understand why people needed so many rooms for socializing. He couldn’t ever imagine wanting that many people in his space.
Hunter stopped near the window and pulled out a folded piece of yellow paper from inside his coat. It looked like a telegram. “I received this minutes before you arrived. It’s from the Charleston solicitor I telegrammed last night.”
“Already?”
Hunter sneered. “It must’ve been the outrageous sum I agreed to wire to his bank.” His smile faded as he looked down at the paper. “It turns out Dubose is a wealthy landowner in the low country. He’s fairly well-known in Charleston social circles.”
All of that was to be expected. Glory wouldn’t be so afraid if the man wasn’t without some means to pose a serious threat to her. “Has he left yet?”
Hunter frowned and handed over the piece of paper before running a hand over his chin. “That’s the strange part. He says that Dubose has been gone for weeks. To Europe. Something about a tour of France.”
Zane scanned the telegram confirming that Dubose had left three weeks ago, which meant he’d be in France by now. “I don’t believe it. He’s on his way.”
“Or already here.”
At those ominous words, Zane looked up. Hunter looked concerned. “You don’t think he’s been here all along?”
Hunter shook his head. “Probably not. We don’t know how long he’s been looking for them. The investigator he hired only just made contact, so I think it’s likely that he had no idea where she was before then. Maybe he’s only now decided to find her and set off on his own to do that. Hell, I don’t know.” Hunter ran his fingers through his hair and paced the length of the window.
“It doesn’t matter. We’ve already been vigilant.” Zane folded up the paper and handed it back to Hunter. “We still have to get the children and Clara to safety. The men are still at the ranch, we need to bring some of them into town and have someone at the train station so we know if Dubose comes in that way. The rest we need outside Victoria House. We’ll make sure no one gets in or out without us knowing.” He was thankful the gang had decided to wait out Castillo’s recovery at the ranch instead of going their separate ways.
“Let’s go back and talk with Glory and Able and see what they think. But first...” He paused as if uncertain how to say whatever it was he wanted to say. “You and Glory... You seem to have gotten closer.”
Zane gave a nod. “We have. She’s a special person.” The words were benign, lacking even a modicum of the depth of what he felt for her, but he couldn
’t put it into words yet. After last night...
Hunter grinned. “That’s good. I’m glad to see you moving on. What happened with Christine was horrible, but you deserve to find happiness.”
Zane sucked in a breath, his dream from the night before weighing heavily on his mind. Maybe it meant that he should stay away from Glory, or maybe it was already too late for that. Dubose could be the end of him. Either way he wasn’t leaving until she was safe from the madman.
He shrugged and tried to act like it didn’t mean anything. “It’s not like that, brother. She tolerates me being in her space, and I happen to like being in her space. We both know the future isn’t certain.”
Hunter frowned, his brows drawing together over his eyes. “Are you certain that’s all it is?”
Zane swallowed, very uneasy with the direction of this conversation, especially after what had happened between them last night. “What do you mean?”
Hunter shrugged. “You look at her like you looked at Christine, that’s all. I assumed it meant that you had something...well, special.”
Zane was very much afraid that they did. No, terrified. He never wanted to feel that way about anyone again, and he’d thought he’d made himself immune to that vulnerability. Despite the omen from his past and his own experience, somehow Glory had found a way in through all of his defenses. He’d be damned if he knew what to do about it.
“It could be, if we let it.” His answer was as honest as he could make it.
“But you don’t want to let it?”
Zane shook his head. No, Glory wasn’t Christine, but his heart was still the same one Christine had torn out and stomped all over that night back on the Reyes hacienda. It wasn’t willing to forget or to even believe that love was worth the pain all over again.
“Does Glory know you feel that way?” Hunter asked.
Guilt and anger collided within him, swirling together in a storm that begged to be let out. He knew that Hunter was right. He needed to have a serious talk with her to let her know that whatever was happening between them couldn’t go any further. He’d thought they’d been on the same page about that, but after last night... Hell, he’d gone and messed that up last night when he’d held her. The worst part was that he couldn’t even regret doing it.
Shaking his head, he said, “Let’s go make a plan for dealing with Dubose.” He led the way back across the hall, feeling, for the first time in his life, like he was in over his head.
Chapter Seventeen
The rest of the day was a whirlwind of preparations. Glory barely had time to think much less dwell on the fact that Justin was coming for her. She and Charlotte spent the day packing up the women and children in the boardinghouse. The two women and children were booked for the first train out the next morning. Sarah and her mother would be going out to the Jameson ranch with Clara, Emily and Edward. Glory had hoped to get them out on the first night, but everyone had agreed that leaving in the morning was best. No one wanted to travel at night, not with a threat looming over them.
It turns out they needed the extra time to pack their trunks anyway. Glory stayed up late into the night to help Clara get her household packed. Since no one knew how long they’d be gone, it was best for her to pack up everything she might need for the baby. It had been midnight when Able escorted Glory back to her room.
She said good-night at the door and closed it softly, only realizing in that moment how much she’d missed seeing Zane that day. She’d become accustomed to having him shadow her throughout her day. It hadn’t made sense today though, with Able needing to help with packing.
The only light in the room came from the streetlamp outside. It cast a soft glow that barely reached the sofa where Zane was lying. A part of her had hoped he’d be awake so they could talk, but she knew that he needed his rest. She’d get the details tomorrow, but she knew that he’d coordinated a round-the-clock watch with the men that had come into town from the Jameson ranch. She’d see less of him now as he took his scheduled shifts. Her heart clenched at the thought, as if she was already beginning to lose him.
“Hey.” His sleep roughened voice surprised her. He didn’t sit up, but she could just make out his features in the shadows. “Did you finish packing?”
“Yes, but I’m afraid we’re going to have to find a buckboard or two to rent. Clara has insisted on taking everything.” She kept her tone light because for some strange reason she was feeling very insecure with him. He hadn’t been avoiding her. Well, not exactly. They’d simply been too busy to see each other, but no matter how many times she told herself that, she couldn’t seem to shake the feeling that something had changed. Even though she hadn’t been particularly sober last night, she remembered how gentle he’d been with her and how he’d held her. She could use a little holding tonight, but it seemed inappropriate to ask.
“It must be hard to have to pack up and leave on short notice, especially when she’s so close to having a baby.”
“I’m sure it is.” Glory stood there, wanting to bring back the intimacy of the previous night but feeling too awkward to accomplish it. She was being silly. He was probably as tired as she was, if not more so, and standing here bemoaning the fact that they’d barely touched all day wasn’t doing anything but putting her in a bad mood. “Well, good night.”
“Night.”
She let out a breath, feeling the slightest bit defeated, and walked to her bedchamber. She’d almost closed the door when he called out, “What time do we leave for the train station?”
“Six thirty,” she answered, silently chastising herself for expecting anything more.
* * *
The next morning was full of goodbyes. Glory said goodbye to the boarders at the train station, only to return home in time to help load the children and Clara off to the ranch. It had taken her carriage along with the Jamesons’ carriage and two buckboards to get everything loaded. Hunter and two of his men with big guns strapped to their hips and rifles fastened to their saddles were to ride mounted alongside. She didn’t know why it hit her so hard, but as she watched the small caravan pull away she had to blink back tears.
Castillo rode in one of the carriages with Clara, Sarah and her mother. From the other, two pairs of chubby arms waved enthusiastically at her, the twins riding with Emmy, Caroline and Charlotte—Glory had begged her to go at the last minute so the children would have someone with them who was familiar with their routine. They hadn’t wanted to leave her, but when she’d told them about the horses and rabbits waiting for them there, they’d become excited and hadn’t stopped talking about which horse they wanted to ride. It didn’t matter that they’d never seen the horses. They had a whole herd of them in mind.
She was going to miss their whimsy. She knew that this was for the best and that they’d be cared for, she was only sad that she wouldn’t be the one doing it. A large hand ran up and down her back in a slow caress. She looked up to see Zane watching the last buckboard as it disappeared around the corner.
“They’ll be fine,” he said.
“I know.” But she sniffled anyway.
Putting his arm around her shoulder, he drew her against his chest. “I know it’s hard, but you’ll see them again. I promise you that.”
She closed her eyes and allowed herself a moment of comfort. “I sent the telegram to their mother yesterday.” She’d made herself do it, despite the hustle and bustle of making all the other arrangements. She needed to finally tie up this loose end.
“It’s good that you’re getting that settled. You need to move on one way or the other.”
She nodded and looked up at him. This time he looked down at her and his gaze was as deep and intense as she remembered. His thumb caressed her cheek, giving her chill bumps even though the morning was already quite warm. There were so many things unsaid between them, but she didn’t know how to broach them or if he even wanted to.
He’d made it clear that he didn’t want any permanence in his life. “I have to go. We’re taking stock of the cellar today. Do you have watch?”
“Afternoon and early evening. We’ll talk tonight about how the men will be stationed. I want to wait for the rest of the men from the ranch to arrive before we finalize things.”
“Would you like to discuss it over supper?” She bit her lip, for some strange reason nerves twisted her belly as she waited for his rejection.
It didn’t come. He hesitated, but then gave a nod. “In your room. I think we need to keep you out of sight as much as possible.”
She didn’t like that. She was a fixture at Victoria House. The last thing she wanted was for people in town to become suspicious. She didn’t want Justin to know that he’d rattled her. But instead of arguing, she nodded. They could talk about it more tonight. “See you then.”
* * *
“We have to close Victoria House.” Zane sat across from her at supper that night. He’d been a little late and looked tense as he’d taken his seat. She realized now it was because he’d known that she wouldn’t like what he had to say.
“We are not closing.”
He raised a brow as he picked up his utensils and cut into his mutton. “I knew you’d see it that way.”
She shrugged and gave him a smile. “That’s because you know it doesn’t make good business sense.”
Taking a bite, he chewed it slowly as he studied her. She tried not to analyze too closely why the sight of him eating was so appealing to her and looked back down at her plate. She wasn’t particularly hungry, and hadn’t been since Justin Dubose had come back into her life.
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