Shrugging his shoulders, he tried to act like it meant nothing, knowing she was trying to shock him. “No, it doesn’t excite me. But you mentioned your mother’s name.”
“Yeah, that’s when it all started. Her dying and soon after, I found myself working for the madam.”
He’d lost his mother when he was younger than her, so he knew a little something about loss. “I know you’ve suffered a lot, and if it helps you to talk about it, I’m here to listen to you.”
“Well, thank you for being so willing to hear all the crap that happened to me at the bordello. If I ever want to talk, I’ll be sure to find you. We can have a cup of tea, maybe even some cookies, and I’ll confess what positions were the most popular among my clients.”
“We can speak about whatever you want to discuss,” he said softly in the darkness. “We might even find some scripture that shows how beautiful the physical side of love can be between a man and a woman.” Somehow, he had to help her heal from those dark days and bring light and joy into her existence.
With a bitter laugh, she said, “You just don’t give up, do you, preacher man.”
“If I gave up at the first sign of trouble, who would take my place? The sheriff? The madam? No, I get discouraged, but I remember why I’m here on this earth, and I’ve decide I’m going make it as nice a place as I can, even if that means taking a beating.”
Glancing at her in the darkness, he could feel her eyes on him and wished he could see her expression.
“You are a stubborn man.”
“Of course I am. Wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t.”
She grinned, and for the first time, he thought maybe they were getting somewhere. Maybe he’d put a chink in that wall she had around her heart.
“Why did you come here?” she asked. “If you could have gone anywhere in the world, why did you choose Hide Town, Texas?”
“That’s easy. It chose me. I didn’t choose it,” he said. “Someone told me West Texas didn’t have a preacher. They told me only those strong in their faith should consider this town. They almost presented it like a challenge. And here I am. Bloody, bruised, and still not ready to walk away.
Putting miles between him and his home in Georgia could only be a good thing. Too many memories of a young boy growing up during a turbulent time when defending a way of life meant duty to country, even if he’d been barely old enough to understand.
She yawned. “You know sometimes that could be considered stupidity, preacher. Stupidity and stubbornness sometimes go hand in hand.
“I guess we’ll have to wait and see. Is that why you came back? Stupidity and stubbornness?”
“Oh no. It may seem brainless for me to return, but I can promise you my persistence will soon rule the day. If I have to die trying, I will get my revenge.”
“And that’s what scares me about you,” he said in the darkness. “I’m afraid you’ll be too obstinate to see that you need help cleaning up this town.”
“Could be, preacher man.”
*
The next morning, Hannah awoke just as the sun was rising. She’d overslept after talking into the night with Jackson. Ruby had told her that sometimes Hannah spoke in her sleep, but Jackson had said she cried. And that would explain why sometimes she awoke with her cheeks wet and her eyes red and swollen.
Quietly, she rose and pulled on the riding skirt Meg had fashioned for her. The practical garment had hidden pockets for her pistol, and she could ride astride a horse with no worries.
When she was ready to leave, she glanced over at the preacher in bed. After spending a week inside the cabin with him, she’d begun to think he wasn’t half bad. Sure, he’d made a mistake by not helping her, and she’d yet to forgive him, but she’d at least acknowledge he wasn’t a bad man.
“Hannah,” he said, rising up suddenly in the bed. He swung his legs over the side. “I’m going with you.”
“No,” she said. “We’ve already discussed this, and you’re staying here.”
“We need to get me a horse.”
The man was as stubborn and determined as they come, but she refused to back down. He had no business riding for long hours. Not after the beating he’d taken. And she didn’t like the thought of him suffering even more. “No. I’ve got to go now, or I could lose his trail.”
The preacher stood and she saw him sway. “You’re not going. Now climb back in bed, and I’ll see you soon.”
His arms came around her, and he smashed her mouth against his. For a moment, she was stunned. The man was kissing her. His mouth was moving over hers in a way no one had ever done before. The feel of his lips against hers was nice, romantic, and even a little arousing.
Most men didn’t kiss the whore they slept with. Most of them just wanted to stick their dick in your womb, and five minutes later, they were done.
Anger surged through her at the idea of Elliott getting away because she had been kissing Jackson.
She pushed Jackson away. “What are you doing?”
In the early dawn light, she could see his lips turn up in a smile.
“I’m kissing you goodbye.”
“Well, don’t,” she said, stepping back. “And you’re still not going with me.”
“See you later, Hannah. We’ll meet again.”
She grabbed her saddle bags and marched out of the cabin, slamming the door behind her. It was time to go. To get away from Jackson. To leave him and the confusing feelings he wrought in her.
She reached up and touched her lips. The man could kiss. She didn’t know how he’d done it, but that kiss had felt nice. That kiss was scary.
Now was a good time to leave Jackson Colstar.
Chapter Four
Every muscle in Jackson’s body ached. And as much as he didn’t want to admit it, he knew Hannah had been right. He had no business being on a horse riding after her.
After she’d left, he’d walked to town, rented a horse from the stable, and with Tim’s help, he’d ridden out of Hide Town before anyone caught him. Now he was almost halfway to Dyersville, wishing he would just die, knowing he’d soon be forced to stop or fall out of the saddle.
The last streaks of the setting sun had disappeared, and all that guided him were the stars but still no sign of Hannah. It was dark, cold, and the last time he’d felt this bad was the night of the beating. Every muscle was screaming in agony for him to get off this plodding animal, but he was afraid if he dismounted, he could never climb up again.
The glow from a fire beckoned him, and he feared it would be Elliott’s campfire. Slowly, he made his way toward the light. He groaned in satisfaction when he saw it was Hannah.
He rode his horse right into her camp, not stopping until he came to rest next to her fire. He slid out of the saddle as she stared at him in shock, her gun pointed at him.
“That’s quite a welcome,” he said, staring at her six-shooter. “Good to see you, too.”
He swayed on his feet, the ground seeming to move of its own accord. He just wanted to lay down and be prone for a while.
“What are you doing here? Are you crazy?” She reached out to keep him from falling, and he took the opportunity to slant his mouth over hers again. Not that he had the strength, but just because he knew it irritated her, and he liked kissing her luscious mouth.
He hadn’t realized how much he’d enjoy caressing her mouth until he’d done so that first time at the cabin. Then he’d only kissed her to make her agitated, but after the first time, he wanted to do it again. She was soft and tempting and oh-so gorgeous. He wondered what she’d been like before her stepfather had given her to the madam.
Even so, he liked Hannah. He liked her toughness. Her attitude. He knew one day she’d put her past behind her. Then the real woman would unfold like a butterfly.
She pulled back and gazed at him, her emerald eyes flashing with annoyance. “Have you lost your mind? A preacher doesn’t kiss a whore. And you’ve kissed me twice now.”
“Who says?”
Jackson said, thinking his legs couldn’t hold him much longer.
“I say so.”
“I’m not a preacher anymore, and you’re no longer a whore.”
“Don’t kiss me again,” Hannah insisted.
“Oh, now you’re just tempting me,” he said, knowing he wanted to kiss her beautiful mouth again at the first opportunity.
“No, I’m not.” She gazed at him. “Would you please sit before you fall down?”
He grinned, wishing he could argue more with her, but knowing he would soon collapse. “Oh Hannah, you do keep life entertaining.”
She shook her head and led him over to the fire. “I told you to stay.”
“And I told you I wasn’t going to.”
“So, do you still think following me was a good idea?”
A laugh escaped from his throat, and he leaned back on her blanket. “No. I may never move again, but I’m here.”
Shaking her head, she pulled his blanket off the back of his horse. “At least you had the good sense to bring your own blanket to sleep in.”
“And supplies. I brought the supplies that were in the cabin.” He hadn’t wanted the madam’s goons to find their stash and make off with Hannah’s goods. Right now, it was the least he could do to help protect her. But soon, he’d be recovered, and he’d do whatever he had to, to save her from harm.
“You better not slow me down, preacher man, or I will leave you behind.”
“Wouldn’t expect anything less from you. But I wasn’t going to let you go alone to try to stop an evil man.” Right now, she didn’t want to admit she needed help, but Hannah Williams was one small woman against an army of evil. She needed his help.
“I can do this,” she said.
“Maybe you can, but I wanted to be here. I insist on helping you bring in this guy. It’s not that I doubt your ability. But I let you down once, I want to make certain he doesn’t harm another girl,” he said softly.
Silence filled the camp as she stared at him. In the glow of the fire, it looked like she was smiling. Was she finally accepting him?
“Are you hungry?”
“Starved,” he said. “But I need to rest.”
Cleaning out her empty bowl, she filled it with a broth-looking liquid that had lumps of an unknown meat.
His stomach tightened and he swallowed. “What’s that?”
“Jackrabbit stew. It’s really good.”
“How did you get the jackrabbit?”
“How do you think?”
“Oh.”
“Eat the stew, you need it,” she said, raising her brows at him like a mother would to a child.
He resisted the urge to stick his tongue out at her. With a sigh, he lifted the spoon to his lips, and after the first bite, he couldn’t get enough. He didn’t say another word until the stew was completely gone.
When he glanced up, she was smiling at him. The transformation of her lips turned up in a grin, her eyes glinting in the firelight, made her beautiful. Here, she seemed so much more relaxed, and the change was stunning.
He swallowed, trying to rein in the lust he could feel gathering like a storm in his loins. This wasn’t good. “I think that’s the first smile I’ve seen on your face. It’s pretty in the moonlight.”
“Don’t flatter me, preacher. It won’t get you anywhere.”
He shrugged. “I’m just enjoying seeing you happy.”
A coyote howled in the distance, the sound lonely. “Have you seen Elliott?”
“Not yet. I’ve been following some tracks, but I’m not certain they’re his. We’re halfway to Dyersville,” she said, taking the bowl from him. Quickly, she wiped it out then cleaned the fork and spoon. In a matter of minutes, the dishes were done.
She threw another stick on the fire and piled up several branches ready to go into the flames.
Her movements were quick, precise, and he had no doubts she knew what she was doing. The woman seemed at ease here; whereas in town, she seemed guarded and jittery.
“We’ll be back on the trail at daylight, following the tracks I hope are Elliott’s. If not, we’ll arrive in Dyersville without our man. I just hope he didn’t make good time and arrive there too long before us.”
“That could mean trouble,” he said.
“Yes.”
Gazing at her moving about the camp, he was surprised when she stopped in front of him. “I need my blanket back. I laid yours over on the other side of the fire.”
While he appreciated her keeping distance between them, that lonely man inside him wanted her closer, longed to have her within touching range. But that wouldn’t be good.
He patted the small Bible he carried in his shirt pocket to remind him of his faith.
“Were you afraid I was going to bite?”
Her gaze reflected her ire. “No. I’m not afraid of you or any other man.”
“Then why so far away?”
“Because you’re a preacher and I’m a woman who’ll live without a man. Now, go to sleep.”
“Has anyone ever told you, you’re bossy?”
“No, you’re the first. Thank you, now go to sleep.”
Thank you? She was taking it as a compliment? He almost laughed, but suddenly he was too tired to even talk any longer. His body demanded rest, yet he occasionally gazed over at the woman who intrigued him. Hannah Williams was a much more complex woman than he’d given her credit for.
*
Elliott Potter was looking for a beautiful girl he could steal from her home and cart back to Hide Town. Part of him felt remorse at how a family would be missing a daughter, but if he wanted to survive and win the favor of the madam, he had no choice.
This would be his fifth girl-napping, and he knew soon he would need to travel further in order not to grab the attention of the law.
Riding into the darkened town of Dyersville, he glanced around the small town and located the local saloon. First, he needed a drink. Then tomorrow, he would begin the search in earnest. He hoped to be back in Hide Town before Emily had a change of heart about going to dinner with him.
He knew the sheriff was sweet on her, but he’d love to push the lawman—if you could call him that—out of the picture. The two of them, Emily and him together, could do great things. With her money and his brains, they could create an empire.
After sliding off his horse, he quickly tied the animal to the hitching post and strolled through the saloon doors. Tonight, he just wanted to unwind and rest. He’d pushed hard to reach the town with hopes of getting back to Hide Town as soon as possible.
He swung onto a barstool. “Whiskey,” he said to the bartender.
Closing his eyes, he rested for a minute before he opened them and glanced around the room at the odd assortment of men. He could tell so much about a town from the clients at the local watering hole. Here, you always got an indication of what types of people lived in the area.
“Thanks,” he said then slammed back the alcohol. “Another.”
“Boy, you must have had a terrible thirst,” the man sitting beside him said.
“Yeah, you could say that, just rode into town.”
“Staying long?” the young man of about twenty asked.
“Depends,” he said vaguely, not willing to share too much information. “How ‘bout you? You from around here?”
The fresh-faced kid smiled like he’d just won first prize at the county fair. “I live here. I’m getting married tomorrow.”
“Congratulations.”
“I’m pretty excited. My bride, she’s over at the hotel. Once we say our I do’s tomorrow, then we’ll move out to our homestead. I can’t wait to carry her over the threshold and make her mine,” he said, beaming with excitement.
Elliott took a deep breath and wondered about the girl. Could she be the type of woman he was looking for?
“Bartender, another round,” he said, wanting to get this kid so drunk he wouldn’t know when his bride went missing.
“What’s your
name, son?”
“Adam Martin.”
“Let me buy you a drink to celebrate your upcoming nuptials. Two more whiskeys, bartender.”
The man behind the bar set the shot glasses in front of them. Elliott clinked his glass against the boy’s. “To many happy years together, Adam.”
The boy put the glass to his lips.
“Down it, boy. That’s how a man drinks whiskey, and tomorrow you’re going to be a husband. The man of the house.”
The young kid grinned like he’d been handed a million dollars, but soon, he’d find out it was all fool’s gold.
“What’s your girl’s name?”
Adam closed his eyes, like he was savoring her name. “Beth.”
Nodding, Elliot said, “Tell me about the girl you’re marrying. Is she pretty?”
“She’s gorgeous. Blonde hair, blue eyes, and sweet as can be.” The boy grinned and lowered his slurring voice. “You know I’m a little nervous about the wedding night. This will be a first for both of us. We wanted to wait until we’d said our vows.”
A virgin. A blonde. She would bring in a lot of money.
He slapped the boy on the back. “You’ll do just fine. Sounds like you’ve got a great girl there. Bartender, another round.”
“Oh no, that’s enough,” the boy said.
Elliot couldn’t believe his good luck. It sounded like he’d hit the jackpot on his first night in town. It didn’t get any better than this. Now to complete the deal. “No way. This is your last night of being a free man. We need to celebrate.”
Elliott smiled. As soon as he could get the hotel room number from this kid, then the girl would be his. A little chloroform and he’d have a blonde virgin to put to work in the madam’s brothel, his way into Emily’s heart, and the empire she could help him build.
He whistled until the noisy saloon became silent. “Gents, this young man is getting married in the morning to a fair damsel named Beth. Raise your glasses in a toast.”
“Hear, hear,” some called and raised their glasses.
Soon the young man had free drinks flowing in front of him, and he didn’t turn them away. When the midnight hour struck, the saloon began to wind down, and Elliott knew the time had come to put his plan into action.
Determined: Western Historical Romance (Lipstick and Lead series Book 5) Page 4