“Shouldn’t have told him anything, but knowing him, he’d find some excuse to throw us in jail. So I told him we’ll be gone in a couple of days.”
That was news to Landry. Tobias hadn’t said anything about when he was planning on leaving until now. “Where are you going?”
“Heading south. Soon.” Tobias cast a sideways glance at his two friends leaning against the gate. “Just have to finish up some business.”
Landry emptied the second bucket then exited the corral. “You never told me what kind of business you had here.”
“Business that’ll let us live like kings down Mexico way.”
“There’s no business, no legal business anyway—”
Tobias straightened. “I don’t need a lecture from you about right and wrong. In fact, I was hoping you’d want to come, too.” He closed the gap between them and wrapped an arm around Landry’s shoulder. “Be family again, just like old times.”
Landry shrugged Tobias’s arm off and moved away. He wanted his brother back, but he wanted the brother he’d been before, not the angry man who was standing in front of him now. “No, Tobias. I’m not interested.”
“You don’t even know what we’ve got in mind. Mexico—”
“The only way you can live like kings anywhere is with money. Money you don’t have. And if you’re going to rob somebody to get it, I don’t want to know about it. I’m not going to Mexico. I’m staying here.”
“Why? You think you’re ever going to live in peace in this town? Or is it that woman you’ve got your eye on?”
“No. She has nothing to do with it,” Landry lied.
“Good thing, because a woman like her ain’t gonna get mixed up with jailbird like you. You’re dumber than a stump if you think she will. There’s nothing keeping you in this town. Folks here turned on you the day we hit the bank. You didn’t do nothing wrong, but they turned on you anyway.”
“I know that.” He remembered that day like it was yesterday.
“So what did you want to come back here for?”
He didn’t know. Much as he’d tried, he’d never been able to come up with one solid reason why he’d been so determined to come back to Rocky Ridge and get his old life back. He’d only known it was what he needed to do.
And still, he was barely getting by, and until the past few days, whenever he wasn’t working he spent all his time alone in a room that wasn’t much bigger than a jail cell.
“Hear me out, kid—”
Landry shook his head. “I don’t need to hear anything. I don’t know what you’re planning, but I don’t want any part of it. And I wish you’d reconsider, too. You want it to be like old times? This isn’t the way to make that happen.”
“I’m gonna get paid for what they took from me, that’s all.”
“What’s that?”
“Five years of my life,” Tobias said. “Five years of filth, of food that wasn’t even fit for pigs, of living with men who were no better than animals. No amount of money will give me back that five years, but at least I’ll live in luxury for what time I’ve got left.”
The bitterness in Tobias’s voice shocked Landry. Everything Tobias said about prison was true, and even though the time he’d spent there had changed Landry, he was trying to put the whole experience behind him.
Tobias hadn’t. And unless something drastic happened to make him see how wrong he was, he was going to end up right back behind bars.
“Listen to me,” Tobias said. “You’re never going to get that life back again. You’re a fool if you think you will.”
“That might be, but I’m going to try. And I’d be real happy if you hung around, too.”
Tobias shook his head. “We’re going to be rich—”
“I told you I don’t want to hear about it.”
“You got something against having a nice house instead of a room, and a warm willing woman lying beside you instead of an empty bed?”
“No, but—”
“Just think about it. You and me could have a good life down in Mexico.” Then he turned to his friends as he freed his horse’s reins from the hitching post and mounted up. “Let’s go.”
Landry watched them ride off. Heaviness settled in his chest. He didn’t know exactly what Tobias and his friends had planned, but he knew it wasn’t going to end well. One way or another, he was going to lose his brother again. And this time it likely would be for good.
***
Cammie Todd was chatting with Lena McQuay on the boardwalk in front of the mercantile when Olivia happened by the next afternoon. “Are you off to knitting circle?” Cammie asked.
“I am,” Olivia said. “Aren’t you two coming?”
“Not today,” she replied with a sigh. “My father needs me to help him in the store.”
“Me either, I’m afraid,” Lena put in with a loud sigh. “Mama and Papa are entertaining, and they’re putting me on parade for all the unmarried men in their social circle. They’ve decided that, in their words, it’s time I get married and learn my place.”
Olivia’s brows shot up. “Where exactly is your place?”
“Under the thumb of a man who’ll rule my life.”
“I think my place will forever be behind the counter of this store,” Cammie complained. “I doubt being under a husband’s thumb would be any worse than being under a father’s.”
“I wouldn’t want to be under any man’s,” Olivia put in.
“That’s because you have freedom to do as you like,” Lena reminded her. “What I wouldn’t give to trade places with you.”
Olivia supposed she was lucky. She did have freedom, but she also had no one who cared about her, who’d look after her when she was sick, who’d worry if she disappeared.
“Well, we do have one evening of freedom, right?” Cammie asked. “You’re both going to the dance, aren’t you?”
Lena nodded, her bright red curls bouncing beside her ears. “I’m looking forward to it.”
“Of course. I wouldn’t miss it,” Olivia said. The year before, when Olivia had first arrived in town, Priscilla had invited her to join the whole Morgan family at the annual dance. Even though she’d barely known anyone there, she’d thoroughly enjoyed herself. She expected to have an even better time this year now that she had friends.
“Wear the turquoise dress,” Cammie said. “The one with the frill at the neck and the lace. I love that dress.”
Olivia chuckled. It was one of her favorites. “For you, I will.”
“Who knows? You might even find yourself a new beau there. The town is growing and a lot of people have settled here since last year.”
“Thanks,” she said with a laugh. “But I’m not interested in finding a beau.”
“Sure didn’t look that way when I saw you with Landry Mitchell the other day. You were all doe-eyed and looking at him as if he was the only man in the world.”
Although the tone of Cammie’s voice told Olivia she was teasing, she couldn’t help the heat surging into her cheeks. “That’s silly.”
“Is it? Looks to me like you’re pining for him whether you want to admit it or not.”
“I am not.”
Cammie’s brows lifted.
“All right, maybe a little,” Olivia said, “but he’s not interested in me.”
“Wear that turquoise dress and I guarantee you’ll turn his head.”
“He’s not going to be there” Olivia said. “He told me he doesn’t dance. And now that his brother is back in town—”
A voice from inside the mercantile cut her off. “Camelia? Where are you?”
Cammie sighed again. “Oh, I hate it when he calls me Camelia. Why couldn’t I have a name like Jane or Ann?”
“I like your name,” Olivia put in.
“I guarantee you wouldn’t like it if it was yours.”
The voice from inside called out again. “Camelia? Where are you?”
“I’d better go in. What I wouldn’t give to move far, far a
way from here. California, for instance. I’d love to see the ocean.”
“Don’t say that,” Olivia admonished. “I’d miss you too much if you left. And besides, who else would tell me what to wear?”
Cammie chuckled. “Pay attention to me and you’ll have Landry Mitchell eating out of your hand. See you at the dance.”
Olivia watched as Cammie went inside the mercantile and closed the door behind her.
“I’d better hurry home, too, before Papa comes looking for me,” Lena said. “I’ll see you at the dance.”
Lena rushed off, and Olivia continued on her way toward home. Perhaps she would wear the turquoise dress. It couldn’t hurt.
***
Landry leaned against the corral fence outside the livery, listening to the music and voices from the dance drifting on the night air. The street outside the livery was usually deserted at this time of night, but tonight it was filled with wagons, buckboards and horses tied to the hitching posts.
The dance was in full swing on the main street, but closer to the other end of town. Lanterns had been hung on nails hammered into the porch posts along the boardwalks, illuminating an area that had been roped off for dancing and a dozen long tables loaded with food, lemonade and sarsaparilla.
Olivia would likely be there by now. She’d be dancing with the ranch hands who always came into town on Saturday nights. His gut burned at the thought of her in another man’s arms.
He should stay away, far far away from her. She made him want things he couldn’t have, made him think about a future – with neighbors, friends, a wife and a family. A future folks here weren’t willing to give him.
The worst of it was, he wanted that future with Olivia beside him. Sometime during that afternoon he’d spent with her at the mill pond, he’d fallen in love with her. Or maybe he was already in love with her before then and just hadn’t known it. Either way, by the time they rode home, he’d known he loved Olivia Harding. Loved her with every breath he took, with every cell in his body.
He couldn’t offer her anything. He was a tainted man who’d tried to make amends, and even though he’d made progress, there were some folks in town who’d never let him make up for what had happened. He’d been in prison, and whether or not he was guilty of the crime he’d been tried and convicted for didn’t matter.
He loved her enough that he’d never let her know. He couldn’t ruin her life, no matter how much he wanted to be with her. She’d made a good life for herself here in Rocky Ridge. She had good friends, she was passionate about the work she did at the orphanage, and cared deeply about other less fortunate people.
Yeah, he thought, he should let her find herself a man who could give her the kind of life she deserved.
Even though he knew he should stay away, a few minutes later he was making his way down the street in the direction of the music.
If Olivia isn’t there, he reasoned, I’ll leave.
It seemed like every single person who lived in Rocky Ridge was there. Children raced around playing, babies slept nearby on blankets, elderly people sat on the sidelines tapping their feet to the music as the younger ones kicked up their heels to Pete Strickland’s banjo playing Buffalo Gals.
Landry watched for a few minutes, his glance searching for Olivia. A shiver of unease snaked through him when he saw Tobias and his friends standing together near the front of the bank.
They had as much right as anybody else to attend the dance, but Landry couldn’t help wondering if the three of them had an ulterior motive for being there. Whatever it was, it had nothing to do with him, so he dragged his glance away from them and scoured the street searching for Olivia.
He’d almost given up when he caught sight of her near one of the tables. She was talking to Camelia Todd, and as he watched, a man he didn’t recognize approached. She smiled up at him, and then took his hand and disappeared into the crowd of dancers.
His gut twisted. He’d never known jealousy before, had never had deep enough feelings about one woman enough that he cared much who else she spent time with. It looked like there was a first time for everything.
“What are you doing here, Mitchell?”
Landry spun around. Emmett Farris was stomping toward him, his chest puffed out like a turkey ready for Thanksgiving.
“Just enjoying the music, deputy.” Landry couldn’t resist emphasizing the word ‘deputy’. He was pretty sure it stuck in Emmett’s craw to be second in command, and the minute Zane Morgan quit his job as sheriff, Emmett would be right there ready to take over. And when that happened, Landry’s life would be hell on earth here in Rocky Ridge.
Emmett’s mouth twisted in a sneer. “We don’t want the likes of you here.”
“You mean you don’t want me here.”
“Same thing.”
“Last time I checked, it’s a free country. So why don’t you go …” He had to bite his tongue before he told Emmett exactly where to go and what to do when he got there.
“You might have hoodwinked the sheriff, but not me.” Emmett’s voice lowered. “Just watch your step, Mitchell. I’m keeping my eye on you.”
“You mean watch my back,” Landry muttered as Emmett stormed off.
Landry’s gaze followed him until he disappeared into the crowd. A resigned sigh escaped him. Would it ever change? Would he ever be able to walk the streets, to go to a dance or church without people staring at him, or whispering about him behind their hands?
He wasn’t wanted here. Emmett wasn’t the only person in town who’d made that clear. He was just the most vocal about it. And all it took was a few people to make it impossible to live down his past.
But for tonight, he wasn’t going to think about Emmett, or Mrs. Lundstrom, or any of the others in town who thought the way they did. Tonight, all he wanted was to see Olivia.
Putting Emmett out of his mind, he turned to where he’d seen her a few minutes before. She was gone.
He swore. His rational brain told him it was likely better that way, but he couldn’t stop the disappointment from wrapping around him.
Then suddenly, she was there, beside him. “I’m glad you came,” she said, gazing up at him, her gold-brown eyes sparkling in the lamplight.
“Me too,” he heard himself say. “You’re looking real pretty tonight.”
“Thank you.” She smiled up at him, and his heart slammed into his ribs.
For a few long moments, they stood together silently, watching the dancers. Landry noticed Olivia’s toe tapping to the tune Pete was playing and he smiled.
The music ended, and a few seconds later, started again. This time, it was slower. It was the excuse he needed to hold Olivia in his arms. He couldn’t offer her a future, so a dance would have to be enough. At least he’d have that memory for the long, cold nights ahead when he lay in his bed alone.
“Like I said, I’m not much of a dancer, but I think I can handle a waltz. If you’ve got sturdy shoes on, that is.”
Olivia grinned and fisted the skirt of the turquoise dress she’d worn, pulling it up just enough that he could see her shoes. “I’m willing to take the chance if you are.”
Landry cupped her elbow and led her out onto the makeshift dance floor. She turned to face him and waited until his arm had circled her waist and he’d buried her small hand in his.
He had to concentrate … one, two, three, one two, three … which was darn near impossible when all his senses were warring with each other – her scent, the feel of her soft curves brushing against his chest, her whisper-soft breath in his ear.
If this was as close as he could get to loving her, he’d take it, and as long as she was willing to dance, he’d keep counting to three.
They danced for at least an hour, and Landry memorized every moment. Finally, she pulled away and splayed her hands on his chest. “Enough,” she said, her cheeks pink, her eyes sparkling like gold in the lamplight.
Landry released her, even though he hated to let her out of his arms.
&n
bsp; “I haven’t danced like that in a long time. I’ve really enjoyed myself tonight.”
“It’s not over.”
“As much as I’d love to stay, for me it is,” she said. I should go home. Almira is feeling a little under the weather and I promised I’d go to the orphanage early in the morning to take care of getting breakfast for the children.”
He nodded in understanding. “I enjoyed it, too.”
“I … would you mind walking me home?” she asked.
“I’d be happy to,” he said, smiling down at her. Hell, he’d be happy to walk through fire for her.
All too soon, they reached Olivia’s house. He held her elbow as they climbed the porch steps and stood in front of the closed door. “Would you like to come in?”
He’d like to go inside and never leave, but he shook his head. “That’s not a good idea.”
“You must be thirsty after all that dancing,” she said. “I have lemonade and freshly-baked gingerbread.”
“Thanks, but no.” Lemonade wasn’t going to quench the kind of thirst he had.
“Well, then, I suppose I should go inside,” she said. Her soft voice made all reason disappear. He wasn’t ready to leave, but he had no reason to stay.
“I suppose you should …”
She turned and opened the door.
He couldn’t do it, couldn’t let her go inside “Olivia …”
“Yes?” she asked, turning back to face him.
Even though his brain knew it was only going to make things worse for him in the long run, his body had other ideas.
He gently gripped her shoulders and drew her toward him, closing the gap between them. She looked up at him, her glance open, welcoming. He lowered his head, his mouth finding hers and brushing it against hers for a fraction of a second before he pressed his lips to hers, releasing all the love and hunger that had consumed him since the night they met.
He traced the seam of her lips with his tongue, and she opened to him, allowing him to taste her sweetness inside. Desire swept through him at the sound of her soft moan. She shifted in his embrace, and he lowered his arms, wrapping them around her waist, his hand splaying on her back. She reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck, entwining her fingers into his hair, her body yielding, molding to his as if they were two parts of one whole person.
Landry's Back in Town (Rocky Ridge Romance Book 1) Page 9