Her arms snaked around his waist. “Promise me,” she whispered. “Promise me you’ll see Sutton hang for what he’s done.”
Jed lifted his head as he tried to come up with a response that would appease Sylvia and get him off the hook at the same time. And his eyes met Hannah’s.
She glared up boldly, with pale gray eyes that cut right through him. There were no tears, no anger, no reproach readable in those eyes.
“Go ahead, Mr. Rourke,” she said coldly. “Promise your friend that you’ll see an innocent man hang to appease her need for vengeance.”
Sylvia lifted her head but didn’t release her hold on Jed. “Who is this woman?” she snapped.
Hannah gave Sylvia a tight little smile. “I’m the woman who’s going to find out who really killed Reverend Clancy.” She lifted her chin and shot a cutting glance to Jed, fearless and determined. “Get in my way and you’ll be sorry you ever met me.”
Jed was stunned. No one... No one spoke to him that way. He was the one who did the intimidating around here. “What makes you think I’m not already sorry?” He gently but firmly set Sylvia aside and glared down at Hannah. His best glare, and she didn’t back down!
“No sorrier than I am that I had the misfortune to be riding on the same stage with you. And would it kill you to take a bath now and again?”
“Jed,” Sylvia crooned, reaching out to touch his arm. He shook her off.
“Would it kill you to act like a real woman, just once?” he countered.
She glared up without flinching. “Ruffian.”
“Highfalutin’ old maid.”
“Ill-bred ne’er-do-well.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Shrew.”
She turned about quickly. “Sheriff, you haven’t seen the last of me.”
Sullivan said nothing as Hannah flung open the door and exited the building. Sylvia pouted and wept silent tears. And Jed stared at the open door.
“Why do I have the feeling I just missed something?” Sullivan muttered.
“What an awful, awful woman,” Sylvia cried.
“I’m almost tempted to hand Baxter over just to get her out of town,” Sullivan said with a half smile.
Jed laid his eyes on his brother-in-law. “I have a feeling that’s the only way you’re going to get rid of her,” he said, feeling oddly exhilarated and disappointed at the same time. He gave in to a smile. “And you’ll be seeing a lot of our Hannah. She’s staying at your place.”
Chapter 5
Hannah’s estimation of Rock Creek did not rise in the hours following her confrontation with the sheriff. The bathing facilities in the Paradise Hotel were located on the ground floor, just off the lobby, rather than near or even more preferably within her second-floor room. Her attempt at a short nap after her bath was dismal, as an incredible number of children ran up and down the stairs and past her door, laughing and talking in high-pitched voices.
Her room was clean and did have some of the extra touches that make a hotel room special. An extra blanket and pillow, lovely lace curtains, a small stack of books on the dresser. Still, the room was much smaller than her bedchamber at home.
She dressed in a dark blue gown and twisted her hair back and up before descending the stairs for dinner. Fully prepared, considering the disappointments of her trip thus far, for a tin plate of beans and a jar of dirty water, she was pleasantly surprised by the delightful aroma that wafted from the dining room as she approached.
The long room was deserted, but for a crowd around one table at the opposite end.
Jed’s pretty sister, Eden, greeted Hannah with a wide smile. If she understood correctly, this poor woman was married to the ignorant sheriff who had jailed Baxter. The sight of the sheriff, surrounded by three older children who all talked at once while he bounced a younger child on his knee, confirmed that fact.
“Miss Winters,” Eden said as she took Hannah’s arm, “you must meet the family.”
Hannah started to protest. No, she really mustn’t meet the family. But Eden was so cheerfully insistent, Hannah found herself looking down at a seated sheriff and four small faces.
The sheriff stood, the fat-faced toddler snug in his arms. “Miss Winters, Jed said you were staying with us.”
Eden’s eyes widened. “You two have already met?”
“Yes,” Hannah said softly, biting her tongue before she finished with, I’m afraid so.
“Wonderful,” Eden said, and Hannah couldn’t bring herself to argue with the woman. “This little girl,” Eden said brushing the child’s cheek with a soft, fond finger, “is Fiona.”
The most beautiful girl in Texas, according to Jed, Hannah remembered. Fiona was indeed beautiful, with big hazel eyes like her father, and curling dark hair that framed chubby cheeks.
Eden introduced the other children, Millie, Teddy, and Rafe, and they all greeted her politely. Well, she’d give the sheriff this: his children were much more well-behaved than her own nephews!
Sheriff Sullivan was, she conceded, a rather handsome man. He had the same rough and informal manner Westerners seemed to prefer, in his cotton shirt, worn denims, and scuffed boots. If only he weren’t a complete idiot!
“Sin,” Eden said with a smile, “let’s invite Miss Winters to join us for supper. Everyone else has already eaten, and I would so hate for her to dine alone.”
The expression on the sheriff’s face told it all. He was every bit as terrified by the prospect as Hannah herself was.
“That’s very nice of you,” Hannah said, “but...”
“We can’t allow you to eat alone.”
I eat alone every night. “Bertie will be down soon.”
“Oh, Bertie ate supper with Irene, just before Irene’s father arrived to collect her.” With that, Eden breezed into the kitchen.
The sheriff, Sin, Eden called him, pulled out a chair for Hannah while he balanced his daughter in one arm. Having no choice, Hannah sat.
She half expected Jed to come waltzing into the dining room at any moment. Her eyes drifted to the doorway, and once, when she thought she heard a sound from the lobby, she held her breath. Oh, she was so silly! He was probably comforting the widow, his old friend, who had made him promise to see that Baxter hanged.
The children, who had already eaten, took their leave. One after another they said good night to the sheriff. The little girl kissed him on the cheek and whispered something in his ear. The smallest boy kissed him on the cheek, too, and smiled when he said good night. The taller boy, Teddy, embraced the sheriff and the toddler in one all-encompassing hug, then took little Fiona and headed for the lobby. The sheriff watched them leave the room.
A man who looked at his children like that, with such undisguised love in his eyes, couldn’t be all bad, Hannah decided reluctantly.
The eyes the sheriff laid on her, after the children had gone, were entirely different.
Hannah lifted her chin. “When I prove that Baxter is innocent, you’re going to look like a fool,” she said in a lowered voice.
“In this instance, I wouldn’t mind looking like a fool,” he said tersely. “I don’t want to see Baxter hang any more than you do.”
“Then why...”
“I’m just doing my job,” he said softly.
Their brief conversation ended as Eden came to the table bearing a tray laden with three full plates. She placed the chicken and dumplings, on very nice china plates Hannah noted, around the table. A young girl bearing another tray, with three drinking glasses, an ewer of water, and a bottle of wine, scurried from the kitchen. Once they were all deposited on the table, she took both trays and returned to the kitchen.
Eden took her place and smiled at her husband and then at Hannah. “I wish Jed had stayed awhile longer,” she said as she poured water into the sheriff’s glass and then into her own. When she offered the jug to Hannah, Hannah declined and reached for the wine. After a day like today...
Why did her heart feel so heavy? “Where did he go?” she
asked.
Eden rolled her eyes. “He took Reese and went to Ranburne to get back his rifle.”
“The rifle that was stolen in the stagecoach robbery?”
Eden nodded.
“How did he know to go to Ranburne?” She remembered too well stopping in the town that was so much like Rock Creek. They’d had a bite to eat and stretched their legs. Mrs. Reynolds had joined them there. Had the bandits targeted them at that time?
“He recognized one of the outlaws,” the sheriff said lowly.
A surge of anger welled up inside Hannah. Jed was going to get himself killed, going after bandits like this! Riding off without so much as a good night’s sleep. Riding off with her insults still burning his ears.
“Well, Sheriff, isn’t that your job?” she snapped.
A sudden hush fell over the table. Even Eden’s smile faded, for a moment. “Jedidiah often acts as an unofficial deputy when he’s in town,” she said.
“I see,” Hannah muttered.
“And in this room, there’s no need to be so formal,” Eden continued. “This is Sin, or Sullivan if you prefer, and I’m Eden.”
Ah, the casualness of the Westerner. “I’m Hannah,” she said, almost reluctantly. The sheriff was her enemy, right? She did not want to be on friendly terms with him! Still, it seemed Eden was determined.
They ate without discussing Jed or Baxter. While she picked at the delicious chicken and dumplings, Hannah’s head spun dizzily. Why had Jed gone after that bandit over a rifle! Stupid, stupid man. He would get himself killed over something so inconsequential as a weapon.
She couldn’t help but wonder when he’d return. Or if he would come back at all. Suddenly she wished her last words to him had not been so harsh, but she hadn’t known they would be the last words he’d hear from her, and she’d been so angry. That woman had been hanging all over him!
Not that she was jealous. Not that she had any right to be jealous.
She ate as much of the meal as she could handle, then stood to bid Sin and Eden good night. She was at the doorway when she turned, planning to ask when they expected Jed to return, but she didn’t say a word.
Eden stood at her husband’s side, his hand in hers, and as Hannah watched Eden lowered herself onto his knee. Neither of them saw her; they had eyes only for each other.
Now, this was something to be truly jealous of. Hannah knew she would never have the kind of closeness Eden and Sin and their family had. No one would love her that way, and she would never be able to love anyone so completely. She guarded her heart too closely, these days.
Without interrupting, she turned about and silently left the dining room.
* * *
Jed stood in shadow on one side of the saloon’s bat-wing doors. Reese was positioned on the other side, in shadows so dark even Jed couldn’t tell exactly where he stood.
When the kid walked out, half drunk and completely happy, Jed reached out, grabbed his collar, and reeled him in.
“Hello, Junior,” he whispered.
By the time the kid had recovered from the shock and opened his mouth to scream for help, Jed had the barrel of a borrowed six-shooter pressed to Junior’s cheek. “Now, we can do this easy, or we can do it hard. I want my rifle and my six-shooter back, and I want everything else you took from the passengers on the stage. You hand it over and I’ll ride away peacefully. You don’t, and there’s gonna be war.”
The kid trembled, but answered bravely, “One man against four. You don’t have a chance. I don’t care if you are that Rourke.”
Jed whispered in the kid’s ear, “If you know anything at all about me, you know I don’t go to war alone.”
The snick of Reese’s trigger being cocked was loud in the night, louder even than the dulled din that wafted from the saloon. The kid went cold.
The darkness was deep. Junior didn’t know if he was up against two or all six. If he were smart, he knew it didn’t matter.
“All right,” he said. “I’ll get what I can. But some of it’s gone. Ranee gave some of that jewelry to a saloon gal, and Tom paid off his bill at the hotel with some of his cut. I’ll get together what I can, I swear.”
“Ranee and Tom, you say. Who was the fourth?” Jed asked softly.
“Called himself Newton,” Junior said, suddenly very cooperative. “He rode in a couple weeks ago and asked the rest of us if we’d like to make some easy money. He’s been watching the stages come through, waiting for someone who looked like they had money.”
Hannah.
“He left town this morning with his cut.”
Jed swore beneath his breath. That man was the one in the black bandanna, no doubt. “Well, that’s too bad.” He tightened his grip on Junior. “Now, where can we find Ranee and Tom?”
“I don’t want nobody to get hurt,” Junior said. “I’ll get you everything I can, but there’s no reason for anyone to get hurt.”
“You seem to be a lot more concerned about there being no bloodshed when the gun is pointed at you. Why is that, exactly? You don’t mind scaring women and little girls, but when it’s you who’s scared... That’s a different matter, is it?”
“I... I’ll be good from here on out, I swear it. I’m a new man.”
Jed wanted, more than anything, to beat Junior to a pulp before hunting down Ranee and Tom. But since they’d have to hand the outlaws over to Sheriff Tilton when all was said and done, he controlled his urge.
* * *
After a surprisingly good night’s sleep, Hannah dressed in a blue serge skirt and white blouse, and donned her most comfortable walking boots. A fashionable hat decorated with a blue and red ribbon completed the outfit.
Today she would begin her investigation. The answers she needed to free Baxter were out there. All she had to do was ask the right questions.
After a filling breakfast, Hannah and Bertie headed to the general store. Bertie was a gentle creature, and the very idea of searching for a murderer made her turn pale and begin to shake. Hannah didn’t mind. She had other plans for Bertie.
“Good morning,” she said as she walked through the open doors and caught Rose’s eye. Rose was already hard at work, stocking shelves. Her boys, the annoying Jackson and Franklin, sat in the back of the store playing checkers.
Rose returned the smile. “Good morning.”
Hannah’s eyes swept the small, rustic store. This was the life her sister had chosen. Who was to say her choice had been a bad one? “I’m going to do a little exploring on my own today,” she said.
“Exploring?” Rose asked, her smile fading.
If Rose knew Hannah intended to investigate the murder herself, she’d no doubt object. So there was no need to tell her. “I thought perhaps you could use Bertie’s help in the store, as she has no desire to examine the town as I do.” Hannah cut her meek companion a glance that demanded, very clearly, that she keep what she knew to herself.
“If she doesn’t mind,” Rose said hopefully.
“I’ll just have a word with my nephews,” Hannah said as she made her way to the back of the store. “Then I’ll be on my way.”
The boys did not even have the courtesy to look up from their game and greet her.
Hannah raised her cane and forcefully thwacked it on the middle of the board. Checkers bounced and scattered.
“Hey!” one of them, she could not be sure which, protested.
She had their attention. “Do you know who I am?” she asked as they looked up with insolent eyes.
“You’re our mother’s sister,” one of them answered. “So what?”
Hannah leaned down and placed her face close to theirs. “I am your very rich Aunt Hannah,” she said softly. “Annoy me, and I will cut you out of my will without so much as a penny.”
“So...” one began.
The other raised his hand to silence his twin. “How rich?”
Hannah smiled. “And you are?” she asked.
“Jack.”
“Well, Jackson, I cou
ld buy this little town ten times over and still have money in my bank account.” She pinned her eyes to his and saw a spark of intelligence there. Good. “I have enough money for you and your brother to live quite well on for the rest of your lives. You’ll never have to do a hard day’s work. You’ll never have to worry about going hungry.” She gave him a tight smile. “But you mustn’t annoy me.”
“What do we have to do?” Franklin asked.
Hannah looked at them both, in turn. “I expect better manners from my blood kin than I’ve seen from you two. You’re no better than heathens, but I imagine that can be remedied.”
“So, we have to start being polite all the time?” Jack asked, incredulous.
“Yes,” Hannah said tersely. “Most especially, I expect you to treat your mother with the respect she deserves. If you distress her, I will not only cut you two out of my will, I’ll take my cane to your backsides and whale the tar out of you.”
“You wouldn’t dare,” Frank muttered.
Hannah glared at him. “Would you care to test me?”
Apparently he did not.
“Now,” Hannah said as she straightened her spine, “put away your game and go help your mother. You boys are certainly old enough to assist in the operations of this establishment.”
Franklin started to protest, but Jackson shushed him and began to gather the scattered pieces of their game.
She was halfway to the front of the store before she heard one of them whisper, “How long will we have to wait before she dies?”
She smiled as she stepped onto the boardwalk.
* * *
“Sorry this trip wasn’t more exciting,” Jed said as they rode toward Rock Creek.
“I don’t go out of my way searching for exciting these days,” Reese answered. “I’m not disappointed.”
He had his rifle, his six-shooter, most of the jewelry that had been taken, and some of the cash. Junior, Ranee, and Tom were locked up in the Ranburne jail. The leader, who had worn the black bandanna and called himself Newton, was likely long gone.
“Heard from Nate and Cash lately?” he asked as Wishing Rock came into view.
Jed (The Rock Creek Six Book 4) Page 6