Secrets In The Shadows

by Sheridon Smythe

  Suddenly, he felt a push from behind. Rusty shouldered him aside, his expression as ominous as Adam had ever seen it. Shaking his fist at the mayor, Rusty shouted, “You might have slipped your way out of this one, mayor, but if anything happens to the sheriff here, we'll know who to look for!” There was a chorus of vigorous agreement from Matt, Doc, and the rest. “And we'll be prepared next time. We'll get every man in Shadow City and if we have to burn you out, we'll get to you. Law or no law."

  "You can't threaten my client—"

  "Oh, shut up, you old fool,” Rusty snapped, glaring Silverstone into silence. “I'll threaten whoever I want and furthermore"—he made a sound of pure disgust—"If you're gonna represent slime like the mayor here, then I don't have any use for you either."

  "Yeah, me either!"

  "That goes for me, too."

  "And me,” another shouted.

  One by one, the businessmen of Shadow City added their pledge not to use Silverstone's services. Not surprisingly, Silverstone began to look less and less sure of himself. It was the first time Adam had ever seen the man anything but confident. Too bad, he thought with genuine regret, for Silverstone hadn't struck him as a dishonest man. In fact, he had liked him.

  But what type of man stood beside the likes of Jamis Goodrich?

  * * * *

  Lacy filled the coffee kettle with water and stoked the fire. Bacon sizzled in a frying pan and beans bubbled in the pot. She had a pan of crackling cornbread warming in the oven. Takola was setting the table and she'd sent Ben to the garden to gather a mess of green onions to have with their meal.

  Her grandpa and Adam sat around the table, their voices steadily rising. Soon, Lacy thought with a nervous sigh, she'd have to douse them with cold water.

  "I can't stay here,” Adam argued. “If they're still after me, the rest of you will be in danger."

  Her grandpa banged a fist onto the table. “And you don't have eyes in the back of your head. You can't go off by yourself, and if you insist on doing something that foolish, I'm going with you."

  "No. Someone has to stay here."

  At that moment Ben came through the back door, a handful of green onions clutched in his fist. He caught the tail end of the conversation and said, “I can watch ‘em, Sheriff.” He touched his deputy's star with his finger. “I'm a deputy, ain't I?"

  Lacy bit her cheek to keep from smiling, wondering how Grandpa and Adam were going to get out of this one without hurting Ben's feelings. She stirred the beans and moved the bacon around in the skillet, listening intently.

  Adam cleared his throat and smiled at Ben. “Of course you're a deputy, Ben. I know you can watch over Lacy and Takola, but—"

  "Well, that settles it,” Ben announced with sparkling eyes. “Grandpa can go with you, and I'll stay and protect the womenfolk."

  "Ah ... Ben—"

  "What's the matter, Sheriff? Don't you think I can do it?"

  Lacy swallowed a chuckle, feeling sorry for Adam. She turned from the stove and gave Ben a small push in the direction of the back door. “Go wash those onions—and yourself. Dinner's almost ready. We'll talk about it later."

  "But Lacy, I—"

  "Go.” She pointed her finger at the back door and Ben made a face but obeyed. When Ben left, she stared at the discomfited faces of the two men she loved most in her life. Grandpa picked at a deep groove in the table; Adam studied his bruised knuckles—courtesy of the mayor's nose.

  "First of all, we don't need protecting. They're not after us, they're after you. We're perfectly capable of staying by ourselves.” She fell silent, satisfied when neither man seemed inclined to argue her point. “Secondly, don't think I've forgotten about your ankle, Adam Logan. Why did you feel you had to lie to me?” Her attempt to hide the hurt behind the lightly voiced question failed.

  Adam sighed, drumming his fingers on the table. Finally he looked up. Lacy braced herself against the powerful tenderness in his expression. “We didn't want you to worry. If you had known what we were about, you would have paced a hole in the floor. Am I right?"

  Lacy couldn't lie. He was right; she would have worried herself sick thinking of Adam and Grandpa out there alone, watching the jailhouse. He knew her so well! A rush of pleasure weakened her knees. “And the purpose of your ‘injured’ ankle?” she prompted.

  "I needed to be here, instead of the jailhouse. How else would I have weaseled an invitation to spend the night?” A disturbing warmth had entered his eyes and Lacy moved away from the hot stove, suddenly feeling the need to step outside for a breath of cool air. The kitchen always seemed hotter with Adam in it.

  There was a breathless sound to her voice as she said, “Well, I wish you two had just told me the truth. I feel like a fool, thinking you had hurt yourself and then later, seeing that you were perfectly fine...."

  "I'm sorry, Lacy,” Adam said with husky sincerity.

  Reluctantly, her grandpa grumbled, “I'm sorry, too, gal. Didn't think ... I guess."

  "It was my idea,” Adam confessed, his eyes darkening to the color of storm clouds. Lacy suppressed a shiver of longing as he continued, his voice deepening, his gaze caressing her. “Rusty was just going along with me."

  Her grandpa bristled, not caring that Adam was attempting to help him. “You think you're so smart. It might have been your idea to spread it around the saloon about Lacy rememberin’ everything and tellin’ you about it and makin’ ‘em think it was something big"—he paused to draw breath—"But it was my idea for you to fall through those steps."

  Adam let out a long-suffering sigh as Ben bounded back into the kitchen. Lacy dished the food up and set it on the table while Takola poured glasses of tea from a jug that had been cooling in the well. When they were all seated, Adam said, “If I could just get to the mayor, I'd get to the bottom of this mess."

  Her grandfather snorted, obviously still miffed over Adam's patronizing remark. He spooned a helping of beans flavored with bits of ham onto his plate. “Fat chance of that, with all of those gunmen around. The mayor's sure to keep ‘em close after today.” He waggled his fork at Adam, his bushy brows drawn together in a frown. “And mark my words, he knows how bad you'd like to get him alone.” He nodded as if pleased with his observation. “Yep. The mayor's not stupid. He's gonna make sure that doesn't happen."

  "I should have squeezed it out of him when I had the chance—"

  Lacy coughed and lifted her eyes from her plate. She raised an eyebrow and looked pointedly from Ben to Takola, both of whom were listening to the conversation with wide-eyed interest.

  Adam mumbled an apology and helped himself to crisp fried bacon and a steaming square of crackling cornbread.

  When dinner was over, Takola whisked their empty plates away and stacked them on the counter before hurrying from the room. Lacy watched her hasty exit with a frown as she poured coffee for herself and the men. It wasn't like the girl to leave before the dishes were done. After a moment, she shrugged, deciding Adam's presence was responsible for Takola's bashful actions. She could think of no other logical excuse.

  Adam offered to help wash up. Her grandpa mumbled something about gathering a few things together and disappeared from the kitchen. Without being told, Ben gathered the scraps for Big Red and slammed out the back door.

  They were suddenly alone in the hot kitchen. Lacy stood at the wash pan, absently swishing her fingers to mix the soap shavings into the warm water. She jumped when Adam pressed into her from behind, sliding his strong arms around her waist. He tugged until she fell backward with a sigh of surrender, resting her head on his shoulder. Weak tears stung her eyes even as a tremor shook her. Memories of his flaming touch hovered at the surface of her mind, teasing her body. He felt so solid, so real. So heavenly.

  "Where will you go?” she asked softly, running a soapy hand back and forth over his arm.

  Adam nuzzled damp curls aside to kiss her neck, sliding his lips upward to her ear before he said, “It would be best if you didn't know,
in case ... in case they come here asking for me."

  Lacy twisted her head around, drawing a sharp breath as her lips grazed his chin. The rough bristles scraped gently over her tender skin, sending thrilling shivers down her spine. She fought the strong urge to move closer to his mouth, knowing she needed all of the willpower she could muster to say what she had to say next.

  "I think you should leave Shadow City. Now. Tonight.” The words tumbled out in a rush, each one striking her heart a painful blow. She forced herself to go on, ignoring Adam's suddenly tense body pressed against hers. His breath no longer teased her ear and she knew he had stopped breathing. “Forget what you came for, Adam, and leave now before anyone else gets hurt."

  Slowly, Adam turned her around in his arms. She didn't have to see his face to know he was angry. “Is that all you're worried about, Lacy?"

  She kept her eyes on his chest. To look at him now would break her and she had to be strong, for his sake. “I'm worried about you most of all, but.... “God forgive her! “Innocent people might get hurt.” She lifted her hand as if to press it against his chest, but dropped it instead. “One man is dead because of your quest to find out what happened to Sheriff Murddock. Who'll be next? Grandpa?"

  His fingers tightened on her arms and she bit her lip to still a gasp of pain. She didn't blame him for being angry, didn't care as long as it meant he would leave Shadow City.

  Coldly, he said, “So, you've decided not to break your own rules. You've decided it's too risky letting someone else into your well-organized life.” His voice grew harsh, making Lacy flinch. He had no idea how wrong he was, and she wasn't about to tell him. “Does this mean that what we shared was no different than what I've paid for in the past?"

  Her reaction was instinctive. The sharp crack of her open palm against his face echoed around the room. Shock stilled her features as she lifted her horrified eyes to his. She had struck him again! The blood pounded through her veins at his icy, determined look. She waited for the fear to rise up and choke her, but it never came.

  He held her frozen gaze with the strength of his will as he lifted her against him and turned. With a measured sweep of his arm, he rid the table of the few items remaining. Glass shattered and silverware clanked to the floor. Lacy gasped, clutching his arms to keep from falling. He hoisted her onto the table and shoved her skirts up, thrusting his lower body between her thighs. Without pause, he jerked her hips against him and crushed his mouth to hers, claiming, devouring, making a statement that left her in no doubt of its meaning.

  Lacy felt his passion trembling through every muscle and her body responded immediately, pressing forward. After a brief, initial struggle, she opened her mouth and let him complete the possession.

  And he did. He swept his tongue inside and left no part of her untouched, unbranded. Heat flickered, flared to life, searing their souls together. Callous-roughened hands slid up her thighs, pushing the layers of her dress along in their wake.

  Lacy shuddered, knowing she was lost. Adam had won. With a great effort of will, she gripped his face in her hands and jerked her mouth free. Gasping for breath, she panted, “Adam ... Ben—Takola—"

  Adam's eyes glowed with raw desire. He gave his head a little shake, then dipped his mouth to claim her lips once again. This time when he pulled away, it was Lacy who resisted. With a rough growl, he covered her breasts in both big hands. His voice was thick and as raw as the blaze in his eyes. “Kids need to see what it's like between two people who ... care for each other. It's natural, more natural than you being alone."

  Lacy didn't protest when he bent his head to nip her neck and slid his hot mouth across the brief span of tender flesh above the neckline of her dress. She quivered, tensing her legs around his hips. “This is insane ... we can't ... not here!"

  "No,” Adam agreed with a deep sigh of regret. But he didn't let her go. “We can't. But I can hold you, and kiss you and show you what you'll miss if you send me away."

  "I—I don't want to send you away,” Lacy blurted, and bit her bottom lip until Adam captured it with his own teeth. She moaned in response. A warm tongue slide across the bruised lip, erasing the hurt.

  Ben's matter-of-fact voice washed over Lacy like a bucket of cold well water.

  "Ma and Pa used to do that. I remember."

  "Ben!” Lacy shoved at her skirts, heat searing her face. Adam stayed in front of her until she finished arranging her clothing, a half-smile playing about his lips. Lacy jerked her gaze away from the tantalizing sight of his mouth, remembering how it had felt on hers, and her neck and other places another time. She had a sudden, aching feeling that her life would never be the same.

  "Ben,” she croaked again, pushing at Adam and sliding ungracefully to the floor. “I was just—Adam was just—"

  "Getting something out of Lacy's eye,” Adam concluded casually. He smiled at Ben and to Lacy's mortification, Ben winked.

  "Ben, don't you have something to do? A room to clean? Letters to study?"

  "Oh,” Ben said with a grin, “You want me to leave so you and Adam can kiss again?"

  "No! Ben...."

  "I'm going, I'm going.” He lifted a hand to Adam and skipped from the room.

  Greatly flustered, Lacy shot Adam an accusing look. “See what you've done? Now Ben will think.... He'll think...."

  Adam grinned.

  She clenched her fists and hissed, “Go to hell!” But her curse lacked the heat she had intended it to have.

  With a warning in his eyes, Adam stalked her. Lacy retreated through the kitchen doorway, trying to stifle her breathless laughter, feeling happy and enormously sad at the same time. How could they laugh and joke at a time like this? she wondered, struggling to regain her equilibrium. The realization that they could and had brought a shocking vision of what the future could be like with Adam Logan in their lives. The bad times would be good times, and the good times would be heaven on earth.

  A knock at the door stopped Lacy in her tracks. She glanced behind her as Adam came swiftly out of the kitchen, pressing a finger to his lips. Her bubble of joy burst as he drew his gun and strode across the living room to the door. When he'd positioned himself behind the door, he motioned to Lacy.

  Lacy swallowed and called, “Who is it?” She held a hand to her throat, expecting the worst. The mayor, his henchmen. A horned devil with a spiky tail, here to taunt her for thinking—even for a brief moment—that she could hope for happiness.

  Anyone but Graham Silverstone's cultured voice.

  "Graham Silverstone. It's important that I speak to Sheriff Logan.” He sounded urgent.

  Her grandfather clambered down the stairs, his face tense. “Who's at the door?” he demanded, drawing his gun. He saw Adam pressed against the wall by the door and relaxed slightly.

  Lacy looked at him, quirking an eyebrow, wondering why he'd responded so quickly to the knock at the door, when he apparently hadn't heard the sound of shattering glass. “Graham Silverstone. Should I let him in?"

  Adam nodded. Her grandpa finished the stairs and followed closely behind Lacy as she strolled to the door and opened it.

  At the sight of Lacy, Graham bowed, his face grave. “I have a message for Sheriff Logan. You wouldn't happen to know where he is?"

  Lacy jumped as her grandpa's hand landed on her shoulder. She clamped her mouth shut and let her grandfather speak, conscious of Adam behind the door.

  "I might know where the sheriff's at. What's this about?” Rusty didn't sound the least bit friendly, or the least bit inclined to give away information.

  The attorney apparently realized this. He drew himself up and stared at her grandpa along his sharp nose. “The mayor's being held hostage,” he announced as if he were announcing the kidnapping of the president.

  Rusty snickered and broke into great guffaws of laughter. When it finally subsided, he drawled, “Is that a fact? Well, then. On second thought, I believe I done forgot where the sheriff got himself off to."

  Graham's
expression remained smooth, but there was an angry glitter in his eyes. “Maybe you'll remember when I tell you who's holding him.” He paused and Lacy felt a chill tingle down her back. A premonition that had her stepping forward to grip the door jam.

  From a great distance, she heard her own voice ask, “Who? Who is it?"

  "Your little Indian girl.” Graham held out a sheet of paper.

  Lacy snatched it, her hands shaking with fear. She read the message, recognized Takola's distinctive scrawl and swayed beneath a wave of dizziness. Oh, no! It was Takola's handwriting, instructing the mayor to send for Sheriff Logan.

  Takola had taken the mayor hostage.

  Chapter Seventeen

  "I'm going with you,” Lacy stated, her tone daring them to argue.

  They did, simultaneously.

  "No."

  "Absolutely not,” Adam said, stepping out from behind the door. Silverstone choked on a gasp at the sight of him. Adam didn't even grace him with a nod.

  Lacy drew herself up. “Takola's probably frightened out of her wits—"

  "Ha!"

  Three pairs of eyes focused on Graham Silverstone as he snorted the disbelieving word. He shifted, flushing. “What I mean is—she isn't—ah, I think the mayor is the frightened one. The Indian—"

  "Takola!” Lacy spat at him.

  Silverstone jerked as if she'd reached out and slapped him. “Pardon me. Takola,” he corrected hastily, “Appears to be in control of the situation.” He twisted his hat in his hands. “I think we should hurry."

  "I'm going,” Lacy said again. Her grandfather and Adam appeared not to have heard her. “Grandpa, you stay with Ben.” A note of desperation crept into her voice. “I've got to go to her!"

  Adam took her gently by the shoulders, staring into her dark eyes, his own gaze understanding, but firm. “You've got to stay with Ben."

  "You'll need me to handle her,” Lacy whispered, trembling inside and out. The thought of Takola there all alone twisted her stomach into knots.