by Bobbi Smith
“I know that, darling. Sarah is a lovely girl. She didn’t deserve what happened to her. It was terrible. The sad thing is that there are so many others just like her. You were right to help her. I’m glad we were able to get her away from that brute. You’re a very special, very caring person, Tessa,” Maggie said as she went to hug her.
“I just want to help out whenever I can. I remember what it was like for us right after Papa died, and—”
“You were so young,” Maggie said sadly, remembering the hard times they’d had. “But you learned a lot from Frances, didn’t you?”
Tessa smiled. “Frances was an extraordinary woman.”
Maggie kissed her on the cheek, then hurried off to tend to her cooking.
Tessa walked to the parlor window and stared out at the quiet street. Thoughts of all the people she’d helped through the years came to her then, and she smiled bittersweetly. Jared Trent obviously had no idea what it was like to be desperate and alone in the world, to be without family or friends. Why, if it hadn’t been for Frances Roland—or Saint Frances, as Tessa thought of her—she doubted that she and her mother would be where they were today.
Memories of that terrible time so many years ago swept over her. Her father had just died, leaving her mother nearly destitute, with two small children to raise and no family to help out. They’d managed to eke out a living for a short time, struggling constantly just to make ends meet. When her mother had taken seriously ill, though, their situation had become desperate.
It had been then that Frances Roland had learned of their plight and stepped in to help. Without any thought except how she could help them, she had nursed Maggie and taken care of Tessa and Michael until Maggie had recovered. Once her mother was back on her feet, Frances was the one who’d suggested Maggie open a restaurant. She had heard about what a wonderful cook she was. Frances had helped them establish their first restaurant, and they had all been thrilled when it proved a success.
Tessa had gone back to find Frances some years later and had offered to repay her for all her help. To Tessa’s amazement, Frances had refused to take any money from her. To this very day, Tessa remembered their conversation.
“My helping your family wasn’t about money or getting paid back,” Frances had explained gently, love shining in her eyes. “If you want to repay me, then do so by helping others. Pass along the kindness I’ve shown you. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
“But you’ve helped us so much,” Tessa had argued, confused. “Surely you’ll let me pay back some of what we owe you?”
Frances had only smiled serenely at her. “You don’t owe me a thing, child. It was my pleasure to help you. Just be happy. That’s all the reward I need.”
Even now the memory of her kind words had the power to bring tears to Tessa’s eyes. She had never known anyone else as generous as Frances. She’d learned a lot from her, and she had tried to live her life as the other woman had taught her—helping others every chance she got.
The reward of knowing she’d made a positive difference in someone else’s life was enormous. Helping Sarah had been the right thing to do—no matter what Jared Trent said. She knew that she would do the same thing again if presented with the same problem.
Thoughts of the marshal and his arrogant ways erased Tessa’s smile. Why he thought he could tell her what to do mystified her. She was her own woman. She could take care of herself. She did not need or want his opinion. And she would not stop helping others, no matter what Jared Trent said.
At that thought, Tessa found herself smiling once more, and she was glad. If she never saw the interfering lawman again, it would be fine with her.
Jared returned to his office and worked at clearing off his desk. Time passed slowly, for he kept expecting trouble. Finally, near midafternoon, he left the office and made his way slowly through town. He wouldn’t admit it to himself openly, but he was looking for Boyd. He felt compelled to do everything in his power to make sure Tessa was safe.
Stops at local saloons found no trace of the man. No one had seen or heard from him that day, but Jared knew that didn’t mean a lot. Lowlife that Boyd was, he could have been anywhere, doing anything, with anybody. Jared would keep a careful watch. This was his town. It was his duty to make sure all the people in it were protected from harm.
“What are you planning to wear to the dance Saturday night?” Julie Stevens asked Tessa as they made their way toward George Lansing’s mercantile later that afternoon.
“I think my blue dress,” Tessa answered, though she had not really given it much thought yet.
“You do look pretty in it, that’s for sure. My mother ordered me a pale pink gown from Philadelphia, and it just got here this week, so I’ll be wearing that,” Julie bragged. She did love to dress up and flirt.
“I bet Clint will like you in that,” Tessa teased, smiling at her friend. Clint had been trying to court Julie for some time now. He seemed quite smitten with her.
Julie made a face. “You know how I feel about Clint.”
“You’ve certainly told me often enough!” She laughed.
“I’m not going to marry a cowboy. I made up my mind about that long ago.”
“That’s a shame. There are quite a few of them who would love to court you.”
Petite and blond as Julie was, men were drawn to her like bees to honey.
“Sorry, I’m just not interested. I know who I want to marry. I want to marry an educated gentleman who will take me back east to live, and no cowboy around here can do that.”
“I can’t believe you’re serious. Are you really that determined to leave Durango?”
“I want to live in New York or Philadelphia. Someplace exciting and sophisticated.”
“Durango can be exciting,” Tessa argued. “Didn’t we have all that excitement with Preacher Farnsworth not so very long ago? And what about the bank robbery and that terrible Harris gang?”
Julie gave an unladylike snort. “That’s not the kind of excitement I’m talking about, and you know it! I want soirees and fancy teas and trips to the theater and—”
“I know, I know,” Tessa responded. “I guess we’ll just have to keep looking for the perfect man for you.”
“I’m beginning to wonder if he even exists,” Julie said sadly. “I mean, first I thought I was in love with Ben, and then, Trace had me so fooled when he was disguised as Gabe West.” She gave a slow shake of her head. “What about you? What kind of man are you looking for? Haven’t you ever fallen in love?”
Tessa looked thoughtful for a moment as she seriously considered the question. “No, I don’t think I’ve ever been in love. I guess I’ve been too busy with the boardinghouse and the mine.”
“One of these days you’ll meet the right man and you will, just wait. You’ll see.”
“Maybe, maybe not.”
“Don’t you want to get married?”
Tessa shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“Your dream man is out there. You just haven’t found him yet.”
“I suppose.” Her friend’s use of the term dream man surprised Tessa and brought back memories of her troubling dreams. She didn’t reveal anything about them to Julie, though. They were too confusing. Who dreamed about a man with no face?
“Your mother seems very fond of Will, but what about you?” Julie was watching her friend carefully, trying to judge her reaction.
“I like Will,” she answered hesitantly. “He’s nice, and he is good-looking.”
“Very,” Julie agreed, thinking of the tall, blond-haired miner.
“He has been a big help to us since Michael died.”
“It was wonderful the way he stepped in and took over like that.”
“You almost sound like you’re interested in him.” Tessa cast her a sidelong glance.
“No, thanks! No miners for me, either! I’m after a man who is truly a gentleman. I want a man who’s well-read. A man who can quote the classics. I want a
man who knows which fork to use at dinner. I want a man who—”
“I understand.” Tessa grinned.
“Well, what about Marshal Trent?” Julie said with just the hint of a smile, wanting to get a reaction out of her. She knew how the lawman got on Tessa’s nerves.
“No, thanks! He’s arrogant and annoying and—”
“I get the picture, but you know there are some females in town who think he’s wonderful husband material—Melissa Davenport for one. You should hear her talking about how she plans to marry him.”
“I wish her luck. She can have him.”
Tessa glanced up just then as a rider moved past them down the street. The animal was a fine piece of horseflesh, but it was the stranger riding him that caught and held Tessa’s attention. The darkly handsome cowboy rode as if he were one with his mount. He held the reins with easy power, looking neither left nor right. His hat rode low over his forehead, and his jaw was hard and lean and darkened by several days’ growth of beard. His shoulders were broad, his waist trim. For all that he was just another cowboy, there was something about him that spoke of danger.
“Are you sure you don’t want a cowboy?” Tessa said to Julie as she let her gaze follow the man’s slow, steady progress down the street. “What about him?”
Julie looked up, and though for a moment she did watch the man, she shook her head in refusal. “As far as cowboys go, I suppose he’s all right, but he’s not the kind of man I want.”
“Somehow I knew you were going to say that.”
“Well, what about you? If you think he’s so handsome, follow him, see where he goes, and invite him to the dance Saturday night,” Julie challenged.
“No, thanks. I’ve got enough men to worry about. Between Boyd’s threats and Will staying in town to keep an eye on me, I don’t have time for any more men or excitement in my life.”
“I do have the time, and I’d like some excitement in my life. The trouble is, the man has got to be the right one.”
“And that’s not him?” Tessa nodded toward the stranger again.
Julie cast one last glance in the stranger’s direction. “No. That’s not him,” she said with certainty. She could tell just by looking at him that he was no gentleman.
They entered the store to do their shopping.
Steve Madison made his way slowly through the streets of Durango. At last he’d reached his goal. Now if only everything else he’d planned went as smoothly.
Reining in before a quiet-looking saloon, he dismounted and tied up his horse. If there was one thing he needed right now, it was a drink. This day had been long in coming, and he deserved a celebration. He strode inside and stepped up to the bar.
“Whiskey,” he ordered.
Liam, the bartender, hurried to splash a healthy portion of the potent liquor in a tumbler for him. “You’re new in town, aren’t you?” He knew just about everybody in Durango, and he’d never seen this man before. He certainly would have remembered him, because he had the look of a gunfighter about him. He looked like a man who expected trouble.
“Just rode in,” Steve answered as he took a deep drink.
“Staying long?”
“A few days.” He was evasive.
“Well, welcome to Durango, friend. Where’s home?” Business was slow, so Liam had time to talk.
“Arizona,” Steve offered, but he doubted he would ever be going back—not after all that had happened to him there.
“What brings you to our fair town?”
“I heard good things about Durango, so I thought I’d take a look around. Where’s a decent place to stay?”
“Any of the hotels will take care of you, but if you’re wanting the best food in town, then you’ll want to stay at the Sinclair boardinghouse. Miss Maggie’s cooking is the best, and Miss Tessa ain’t too hard on the eyes, either.”
“Who’s Miss Tessa?”
“She and her mother own and run the place. They are some fine ladies. Miss Tessa is known around here as ‘the angel,’ but we don’t call her that to her face,” he explained.
“Why?”
“I think it might embarrass her. She’s always doing kind things for people, taking care of everyone, helping out whenever she can. There aren’t many women like Miss Tessa. Why, just a little while ago she was on a stage that got robbed, and she was hurt trying to help a little old lady keep her life savings.”
Steve smiled slightly at the news. “Sounds like you’re kinda fond of her.”
“Oh, we all love her, and her mother, too. But she’s a quality lady.”
“Where’s their boardinghouse?”
“Just up the street a ways.” Liam gave him the directions. “You won’t be sorry, especially after you’ve had one of Miss Maggie’s dinners.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
It was neither the promise of a hot meal nor the presence of a pretty woman that helped Steve make his decision to stay at the Sinclair place. It was the news that this Tessa had been on a stage that had been robbed. He had come to Durango because he’d seen a copy of the Durango Weekly Star with an article in it about a stage robbery that had taken place near the town. To learn that he might be able to talk to someone who had actually been on that stage encouraged him.
Steve didn’t know how long it would take him to find out what he needed to know and to exact his revenge for the wrongs that had been done to him, but he wasn’t going to quit until he had. He’d vowed to get even when he’d been locked up in prison, and he was going to keep that pledge.
Once Steve finished his whiskey, he paid for the drink and left. It was getting late in the afternoon, and he needed to get settled for the night. He wondered how much he could learn about the stage robbers from this woman Tessa Sinclair.
* * *
Liam worried as he watched the stranger leave the saloon. The man had a hard look about him. In fact, there was something about him that seemed downright dangerous. Liam hoped he hadn’t done the wrong thing by sending him to Miss Tessa’s place.
Chapter Eight
“I think I’ll go up to the mine at the end of the month. That will be payday, and I can also take a look around and see how things are going,” Tessa told her mother as they sat in the dining room finishing up dinner that evening.
Since Tessa had returned from shopping with Julie, the rest of her day had passed uneventfully, and she’d been glad. It was good to be distracted from worries about Boyd by the real business of running the boardinghouse. There were things that needed to be taken care of, and they wouldn’t get done unless she did them.
“Do you think it will be safe for you to go with all this trouble?” Maggie asked.
“I can’t live my life worrying about Boyd Wilson,” she declared, telling herself it was the truth.
“So you didn’t hear anything more from Marshal Trent today?” Jim asked in between bites of Maggie’s delicious stew. He and the two other boarders—Henry Crawford and Sludge—had been too busy enjoying the delicious, plentiful fare to talk much before now, but he was still concerned about Tessa’s safety.
“Not a word,” Tessa told him.
“I wonder if that’s good or bad?” Maggie said thoughtfully.
“In this case, Mother, no news is definitely good news.”
At that moment a knock came at the front door. The boardinghouse was usually quiet at dinnertime, so Tessa hoped it wasn’t the marshal returning for some reason. She didn’t want the rest of her night ruined.
“I’ll get it,” Tessa said, rising from the table to see who was there.
She girded herself for another confrontation with Jared. She was relieved to find that it wasn’t the marshal at all. Instead she found a tall, dark-haired stranger waiting at the door—the same stranger she’d seen riding into town earlier that afternoon while she’d been with Julie.
“Can I help you?” she asked, surprised and curious.
“Yes, ma’am,” Steve said, politely. Taking a good look at the
young woman standing before him, he decided this had to be the Tessa the bartender had been talking about. He understood now exactly what the man had meant when he’d said that Miss Tessa was easy on the eyes. She was one good-looking woman. “I need a place to stay while I’m in Durango, and your place was recommended to me.”
“Of course, Mr. . . . ?” She eyed him critically. He had met her gaze forthrightly as he spoke, and she always judged a man by whether he looked her in the eye or not. She didn’t trust a man with a shifty-eyed gaze.
“My name’s Madison, ma’am. Steve Madison.”
“Well, it’s nice to meet you, Mr. Madison. We were just finishing up dinner. Would you care to join us?” she invited.
Steve could smell the delicious aroma of home cooking and wasn’t about to turn down such an invitation. “I’d like that, ma’am, thank you. I was told the meals here were the best in town.”
“Well, my mother will be glad to hear that. Come on in. I’m Tessa Sinclair.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Steve took off his hat as he entered the house and followed her the short distance down the hallway to the dining room.
“Everybody,” Tessa announced, drawing the attention of those seated at the dinner table, “this is Steve Madison. He’ll be taking a room with us for a while.”
“Good evening, Mr. Madison,” Maggie said. “I’m Maggie Sinclair. Welcome to our home.”
“Evening, ma’am.”
The older woman grinned at his gentlemanly greeting. “You don’t have to call me ‘ma’am’. I’m just Maggie. Have a seat, and I’ll fix you a plate of food.”
The other introductions were made as Steve sat down. In short order, Maggie set a heaping plate of food before him.
Steve quickly dove in and immediately determined that the bartender had been right on two counts: Tessa was mighty pretty and her mother was a fine cook. The food tasted as good as it smelled.
“What brings you to Durango?” Jim asked as he leaned back in his chair after finishing his dessert.
“I’d been hearing good things about the area, so I thought I’d come take a look around. It certainly is friendly here.”