Maureen McKade

by A Dime Novel Hero

  She swallowed. “Maggie was beautiful, Jake. I’m just plain old Kit.”

  His rakish smile started a tingle in the pit of her stomach. “There’s nothing plain about you,” he said in a husky voice.

  She’d wanted Jake to notice her as a woman, but now that he did, Kit didn’t know what to say or do. Her pulse skipped through her veins, and she told herself to move away, to protect herself and her secrets. But her muscles refused to obey her commands.

  The wild yearning in her blood was nothing like the innocent infatuation of a ten-year-old. Her body had matured, and along with it, her passion. She burned with a need to touch him, and for him to touch her.

  Johnny mumbled in his sleep, jerking Kit back to reality. She looked away from Jake’s bold gaze and stepped back.

  Jake raked his fingers through his hair and rubbed the back of his neck. “You wouldn’t happen to be hungry, would you?”

  Startled, she glanced at him.

  “For lunch,” Jake clarified, and his twinkling eyes told Kit he knew exactly what she’d been thinking.

  She coughed to cover her embarrassment. “I don’t think so. It’s time we headed back to the ranch.”

  “What’s another hour?” Jake pressed. “You have to eat sometime.”

  Johnny, awakened by their voices, joined Jake. “Please, Ma.”

  “It’s two against one. We win,” Jake proclaimed.

  She couldn’t fight them both, and Kit surrendered to the inevitable. “Ethan came to town with us. Would you mind if he joined us?”

  Jake shook his head. “The more the merrier.”

  Johnny whooped and shrugged on his jacket.

  Jake reached for his coat and pulled it on. Kit blinked, noticing the absence of his holster. “You’re not wearing your gun.”

  Jake finished buttoning his brown wool jacket. “I noticed I was the only one in town besides the police who was wearing one. I doubt there’s any need for it anymore.”

  “What about your reputation? What if someone comes looking for you?”

  “If I’m truly going to put my past behind me, I have to start sometime.” Jake settled his hat on his head. “I gotta admit, it feels strange without it, like I’m missing a part of me.”

  Mixed emotions filled Kit. Although she was glad he was giving up his violent past, she was fearful he would be gunned down in cold blood by someone wanting to build his own reputation. Still, his decision to leave his gun behind told her he might be serious about staying in Chaney. The possibility that he’d be there permanently sent her heart into a stampede.

  “I guess the so-called wild West has been tamed,” Kit said softly. “Maybe someday guns will never be needed by anyone.”

  Jake shook his head. “There will always be violence. It’s just that it’ll take place in the cities instead of the frontier. You cram too many people in too small an area and tempers are bound to flare. It’s human nature.”

  Kit cocked her head, once again realizing how little she knew him. She had thought of him as being only a man of action, doing good deeds and dealing out justice to lawbreakers. She was learning there were many more facets to the man.

  Jake led them down the stairs to the boardwalk, which bustled with activity. People greeted Jake with a familiarity that told Kit he’d reacquainted himself with most everybody in town. As they passed one of the many saloons lining Main Street, the sound of men’s hoots and hollers and breaking furniture caught their attention.

  A moment later, a man came flying out of the saloon’s batwing doors and landed in the mud on the street below. Two burly men followed and pulled the fallen man to his feet. A few cowboys, beer in hand, stumbled out of the saloon to watch the fight.

  Disgusted by the drunken brawling, Kit tried to maneuver around the onlookers.

  “Show the breed he ain’t welcome here,” one of the men on the boardwalk called out.

  Kit halted and peered through the growing crowd at the man being beaten. “Ethan!” she called, recognizing his dark hair and jacket.

  The young man’s attention wavered from his attackers, and one of the men landed a solid blow to Ethan’s midsection.

  “Stop hurting him,” Johnny screamed.

  “Let him go,” Kit shouted, starting forward.

  Jake grabbed them to stop them from jumping into the fray. “Stay put, both of you.”

  Kit wrapped an arm around her son and bit her knuckles as Jake charged into the uneven fight.

  He jerked the biggest attacker away from Ethan, twisted him around, and punched him in the jaw. The man shook his head like an angered bull and charged Jake. He caught Jake around the chest with his trunk-sized arms and began to squeeze. Jake butted the man beneath the chin. The man’s head snapped upward and he stumbled back. Taking advantage of his opponent’s weakness, Jake drove his fist into his face, felling him like an oak tree.

  Ethan lay on the ground as the other man raised his boot to kick him in the ribs. Jake grabbed the bully’s leg and shoved him back. The man’s head hit the edge of the boardwalk with an audible thud, and he lay on the ground unconscious.

  The crowd booed but began to disperse, shaking their heads.

  Kit and Johnny hurried to Ethan’s side, and Kit knelt beside him. “Are you all right?”

  Blood dripped from Ethan’s nose and from a corner of his mouth. He nodded and grimaced as Kit helped him to a sitting position.

  Johnny placed his small hand on Ethan’s shoulder. “Why’d those men hurt you?”

  Jake hunkered down beside Kit. “Because they’re ignorant fools,” he stated forcefully. He laid a hand on the younger man’s shoulder. “Are you all right?”

  Ethan sent Jake a guarded nod. “I guess I owe you one, Cordell.”

  “You don’t owe me anything. I never could abide bullies,” Jake said, helping Ethan to his feet.

  Kit glanced at Jake, startled to see the anger darkening his expression. “Thank you.”

  Patrick crossed the street. “What’s goin’ on here?”

  “You’ve got a couple of overnight guests,” Jake said. He pointed to the unconscious cowhands. “They assaulted Ethan.”

  “Let ’em go,” Ethan muttered.

  “No,” Kit argued. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”

  “Those men broke the law,” Jake added. “They should be tried in court.”

  Ethan smiled humorlessly. “And the judge is going to take a half-breed’s word over two white men’s? Forget it.”

  The young man stumbled away toward the wagon, and Johnny handed him his hat, which had fallen off during the skirmish.

  One of the attackers stirred and struggled to his feet.

  Kit glared at him, then looked at Patrick. “Can’t you arrest them anyhow? I’ll testify against them.”

  Jake shook his head. “It wouldn’t do any good, Kit. We need Ethan’s testimony and some collaborating witnesses from the saloon. And I have a feeling no one’s going to testify on Ethan’s behalf.”

  “Jake’s right, lass,” Patrick said apologetically. “I can’t be arrestin’ them if there’s no charges brought against them.”

  “So they’re just going to get away with it?” Kit asked in disbelief.

  “There’s nothing you can do, Kit,” Jake said gently. “Why don’t you take Ethan over to Dr. Lewis’s and have him check the boy out?”

  Bitterness galled Kit. “He won’t go. I’ll take him back to the ranch and take care of him myself.”

  “The squaw’s goin’ to take her breed home,” the burly attacker mocked, swiping the back of his hand across his bloodied lips.

  Kit glared at him and her temper spiked. She strode up to him and planted her hands on her hips. “Ethan didn’t do anything to you. Go back to the hole you crawled out of, and take your friend with you.”

  The man spat a gob of blood. “He’s a half-breed. We don’t need no other reason.”

  Kit charged toward him. Jake caught her around the waist and pulled her back. “Take Ethan
and Johnny home, Kit,” he said close to her ear. “There’s nothing else you can do here.”

  Sickened, she closed her eyes for a moment and opened them to give Jake a pleading look. “Isn’t there something you can do?”

  Anguish hollowed his features. “I can’t make things all right this time, Kit.”

  Her throat aching with bitter disappointment, Kit spun away. She hurried after Ethan and Johnny, her tears nearly blinding her.

  Chapter 6

  Jake watched her leave, his insides twisting with guilt.

  “She’s only upset, Jake. She’ll get over it,” Patrick reassured him.

  “She had a right to be upset.” He strode over to the bully struggling to his feet and grabbed him by the collar, jerking him upright. Jake planted his face a couple of inches from the man’s bloody features. “You ever call Kit a squaw again or beat up on that boy, and it won’t matter that the sergeant here can’t arrest you. After I’m done with you and your friend, you’ll wish he had thrown your carcasses in jail.”

  Jake shoved him away, and the man’s partner caught him by the shoulders. Grumbling, they turned and shambled back into the saloon.

  “You’ll be makin’ a few enemies,” Patrick warned.

  “That’s nothing new,” Jake said grimly. “Why the hell does Kit stay around this town? If I were her, I’d be long gone.”

  “Why’d you come back?”

  Jake blinked. “I grew up here.”

  “Aye, and so did Kit.” Patrick clapped him between the shoulder blades. “See you later.”

  Jake adjusted his hat and stepped onto the boardwalk. He studied the mountains, how the sun slanted off their granite- and pine-covered slopes. A few clouds moved over the peaks, obscuring the highest ones and creating irregular shadows that slid across the rocky faces.

  He breathed deeply of the spring air. Much as he’d despised the town when he was younger, Jake couldn’t think of any other place he could call home.

  He returned to his office but found he couldn’t concentrate. Wandering over to the window that faced the front street, he noticed a buckboard laden with supplies leaving town. A boy sat between the two adults on the buckboard, and Jake recognized Kit’s blond hair. He’d let her down. Frustration stung him. He balled his fingers into tight fists at his sides.

  His gaze followed them until they disappeared from view, and he turned back to his desk, once again amazed at the work Kit had done so efficiently. It explained why his former home looked so well kept. If there was a lazy bone in her body, he’d have to look pretty close to find it. And while the idea had merit, Jake knew he’d end up with a black eye if he tried.

  He hadn’t imagined Kit would turn into such a determined woman. He admired her willingness to defend Ethan, knowing her stand would be an unpopular one. Flopping into his chair, Jake wished he could have had charges brought against the two troublemakers. Closing his eyes, he saw the hurt in Kit’s eyes when he’d told her he couldn’t make things right.

  He slammed his fist on the chair arm. What did she expect? He wasn’t like the hero in the books. He was only a man who wanted what was rightfully his. He wanted his father’s former ranch.

  Why hadn’t he gone over to see Mundy at the bank that morning?

  The ranch was the reason he’d returned to Chaney, and he meant to get it. Despite his growing fondness for Kit and her son, he couldn’t allow them to sidetrack his plans.

  Rising from the chair, he grabbed his hat and headed out the door. A few minutes later, he stood in Alford Mundy’s office.

  “Have a seat, Mr. Cordell,” Mundy said.

  Jake lowered himself to the worn chair in front of the desk.

  “Now, what can I help you with?” the banker asked, folding his pale hands together and resting them on the uncluttered desktop.

  “When we talked at the saloon, you said that Kit Thornton had a loan out against the ranch,” Jake began.

  “That’s correct.”

  “How much is it?”

  “That’s confidential.”

  Jake perched on the edge of the chair. “I want to buy the papers.”

  Mundy leaned back, steepling his fingers. “That’s highly irregular.”

  “So was my father’s will. That ranch should’ve been mine.”

  “Does Miss Thornton realize your intentions?”

  Jake worried the brim of his hat. “She knows I want the ranch. I’ve offered to buy it.”

  “And she’s refused to sell?”

  Jake fought the impatience rising within him. “Would I be here if she’d accepted?”

  Mundy shifted nervously. “I suppose not.” He stood and moved to a cabinet against the wall. He searched through the files a few moments, then withdrew one. Seating himself behind the desk, he handed the papers to Jake.

  He perused the official document, noting Kit had borrowed $1,300 to purchase horses nearly two years ago. She’d used the ranch as collateral. He could imagine her optimism, her hopes that she’d be able to build a thriving business. Her only problem was that she hadn’t taken into account the length of time it took to build up salable stock. It would take at least five years to see the returns in foals.

  She’d paid back $800 and the balance was due in a few weeks.

  “Has she talked to you about extending the due date?” Jake asked.

  Mundy nodded. “I told her I couldn’t.”

  “Why not?”

  “I run a business, Mr. Cordell, not a charity. Miss Thornton knew the risks when she signed the document.”

  Kit had put her faith in those horses, and her gamble had failed. Jake understood her drive to succeed, but he seriously doubted she’d be able to meet her payment. That would leave him holding the deed. And it would all be legal.

  “I want to buy her loan,” Jake stated.

  “I assumed that would be your decision.” He took the papers back from Jake. “I want to remind you that this is not the way I usually run my business, but since you are Jonathan Cordell’s son, I believe there is sufficient reason to overlook the ethics.”

  “As long as it’s legal, I don’t care,” Jake said.

  “I assure you, it’s all perfectly legal.” Mundy pulled a sheet of parchment from his desk drawer.

  Half an hour later, Jake exited the bank, the document in hand. The elation he should’ve felt didn’t surface, though. Instead, all he could imagine was the betrayal in Kit’s face when he took possession of the ranch.

  Self-reproach soured his mood. He didn’t want to take away Kit’s dreams, but he had no choice. He would prove that he was a better man than his father.

  He glanced at the saloon across the street. Maybe a few shots of whiskey would silence his conscience so he could celebrate his victory.

  The few days following the disastrous trip into town, Kit tried to work at her typewriter, but words seemed lost to her. The hero she’d written about no longer existed. It left her with a desolate feeling, not unlike the time after Maggie had died.

  Fortunately, the horses gave her something to take her mind off Jake Cordell. Kit, Charlie, and Ethan kept busy training the horses and cleaning out the stalls. Ethan refused to take any time off to allow his injuries to heal, and did his chores as usual, albeit slower than normal.

  As Kit made lunch, her son burst into the kitchen.

  “It’s been four days since Mr. Cordell said he’d come back,” Johnny whined.

  Kit wiped her hands on her apron and filled a bowl with soup for him. “Sit down and eat, before it gets cold.”

  Johnny dropped into a chair but didn’t begin eating. “He won’t ever come again, will he?”

  Kit placed slices of bread and jam on the table and joined her sulking son. “I don’t know, sweetheart. Maybe things got busy at his office.”

  Johnny swung his feet back and forth and picked up his spoon. “Maybe he doesn’t like me anymore.”

  “I doubt that.” Kit kept her voice light. “What about if I give you your next rid
ing lesson?”

  Johnny shrugged. “It won’t be the same.”

  Kit leaned forward, placing her hand on his arm. “We can’t count on Mr. Cordell, Johnny. He comes and goes as he pleases.”

  “But he promised!”

  He shoved a spoonful of soup in his mouth, and propped his chin in his other hand.

  Kit’s appetite fled.

  Even though Jake had saved Ethan from a vicious beating, she’d repaid him by releasing her wrath on him. She realized now that it hadn’t been his fault Ethan didn’t want to press charges. But she’d unfairly expected her hero to make things right, as he’d done when they were children.

  Kit studied her son’s—Jake’s son’s—glum expression. If she was why Jake hadn’t come back for Johnny’s next lesson, she had to apologize. And although her mind told her it would be better to keep them apart, her heart couldn’t abide the disillusionment in Johnny’s eyes.

  “As soon as we finish eating, I’ll help you saddle Treasure and you can ride her a little in the corral. Then when Jake comes, you can tell him you got to practice,” Kit said, injecting enthusiasm into her voice.

  Johnny’s long face brightened. “Okay.”

  After the dishes were done, they went out to saddle Treasure. Kit helped Johnny onto the horse’s back and tried to imitate Jake’s steadfast calm, but her instinct to protect her son wouldn’t allow her to relax. Afraid he’d fall from Treasure’s back, Kit refused to release the bridle despite Johnny’s pleadings.

  Half an hour later, she helped Johnny down.

  “Mr. Cordell woulda let me ride by myself,” he complained.

  “Probably, but I’m not Mr. Cordell,” Kit said.

  Grumbling, Johnny led Treasure back to the barn.

  Kit wiped her sweat-dotted forehead with a shaky hand and removed her spectacles to wipe them with her blouse. She replaced her glasses and folded her arms across her chest. Looking in the direction of Chaney, she spoke aloud. “If you think you’re going to get out of this, Jake Cordell, you’re sadly mistaken.”