The first thing Prescott saw was Jack standing in the tub holding on to a towel around his waist. “What the devil is going on in here?” Prescott’s eyes darted from a nearly naked Jack to Addie standing there in her nightgown, with her eyes zeroed in on Jack.
Still in shock over seeing Jack in all his naked glory, she couldn’t take her eyes off him. It was as if Michelangelo’s statue of David had come to life in her kitchen. Except this man wasn’t holding a slingshot, but a Colt.
“I asked what was going on,” Prescott reminded them.
Jack gave Prescott a half grin and shrugged one shoulder. “Guess I fell asleep in the tub.”
Finally, Addie was able to form a sentence, but her eyes remained fixed on Jack’s chest. “I came down to warm some milk. I didn’t know anyone was in here.”
Prescott glared at Jack. “Do you normally bathe in people’s kitchens?”
Jack stared hard at him. “At this late hour, I didn’t expect anyone to be up.”
Turning his attention back to Addie, Prescott said, “How could you miss him with that lamp on?”
“I picked the lamp up off the table in the hall,” Addie started to explain. Suddenly, she realized she didn’t have to explain anything. Jack was in her kitchen, so he should be the one doing the explaining.
“This could easily be misconstrued as a planned assignation.” Prescott’s irritated tone said that was exactly what he was thinking.
“Are you saying that is what happened here, Prescott? Do you think I planned on finding the sheriff in the tub?” Addie asked, her own testiness surfacing.
Jack stepped out of the tub, still holding on to his towel. “If I were you, Adler, I’d think carefully how you answer that question.” He wasn’t going to stand there and let this dandy insult Addie. Granted, he wasn’t thrilled Addie had seen him like the day he was born, but it was an accident.
“You’ve stayed very close to Addie all day, and I’d like to know what is going on between you two,” Prescott said.
Jack thought he must not appear too threatening, soaking wet and holding a towel around his midsection, but he was on the verge of handing Prescott Adler III his head. He took one step toward Prescott. “Don’t insult the lady again.”
“This is hardly good for Addie’s reputation,” Prescott said.
“It’s mighty convenient that you are worried about her reputation now. You didn’t seem so concerned when you planted a big kiss on her in the middle of the street in broad daylight,” Jack countered.
“I am her fiancé,” Prescott stated. “That gives me every right—”
“You’re what?” Addie shrieked.
“I told you earlier I came here to ask you a very important question.”
“You never said what you intended to ask,” Addie said.
“Considering our exclusive relationship in Boston, I think it had to be obvious that a proposal would soon be made.”
“I did not—” She stopped midsentence. There was no way she was going to have this discussion of a private matter in the presence of the half-naked Jack. She glanced at Jack, who was standing there taking in every word of their conversation.
Jack arched his brow at her. Exclusive. That sounded pretty serious to him. And she’d gotten all riled up because Clarissa kissed him on the cheek. This was turning out to be one heck of a day.
“Back to the matter at hand. Do you have something you need to tell me regarding the relationship here?” Prescott flapped his hand back and forth, between Addie and Jack.
“No, there is nothing to tell. Prescott, this was an unfortunate accident. That is all it was. We all need to go to bed before we wake Granny and the children. Let’s put this matter behind us.” For the first time, she noticed Prescott was wearing a long green velvet robe, probably over a nightshirt. She wondered if Jack slept in a nightshirt. Why on earth was she even thinking of such things? Her eyes swept over Jack, from head to toe, as she bent to pick up the broken pieces of glass. The man was all muscle, with thighs the size of tree trunks. He was a sight to behold.
So, she has nothing to say to Prescott about our relationship, Jack thought. I guess our kisses meant nothing to her. “Addie, go on to bed, I’ll clean it up,” Jack said.
“I can get it,” Addie said.
“Addie, you need to go to bed. The sheriff is not dressed for your eyes. And you are certainly not dressed for his.” Prescott leaned over to take her by the elbow, urging her to leave the broken glass.
Addie wanted to tell him she’d already seen more of Jack than she’d ever seen of any man in her life, but she was afraid Prescott might fall into a dead faint. Just to make a point, Addie straightened and turned her gaze back on Jack. “Sorry I interrupted your bath.”
Prescott nearly dragged her out of the room.
Chapter Seventeen
The ride to town the next morning would have been quiet if not for the girls talking to Jack. He’d arranged several thick blankets in the buckboard so Addie and the girls would stay warm, and Prescott sat on the front seat beside him. Prescott was still upset over the situation last night, and didn’t say one word all the way to town. Addie was relieved Jack didn’t make an appearance in the kitchen that morning, since it was bound to be uncomfortable for all of them. Granny noticed Jack’s absence at breakfast, and she carried a cup of coffee to him in the stable. Addie couldn’t help but wonder if Jack would tell Granny what happened last night. If not, she was certain Granny would interrogate her at the very first opportunity.
Addie had been awake all night, unable to get the vision of Jack’s naked body out of her mind. She tried and tried to stop thinking about him, but her traitorous thoughts would not cooperate. She couldn’t have dreamed of a man so perfectly formed. She had no doubt a man who looked like that would surely want a woman who equaled his beauty. And that wasn’t her. His body didn’t have one ounce of fat, and her body was round and soft. Clarissa, with her thin figure and lovely face, was the perfect woman for Jack.
Addie tried to make sense out of Prescott’s unannounced arrival, and his sudden interest in marriage. He’d certainly failed to mention his intentions before she left Boston. Maybe he did feel affection for her, but she didn’t think it was true love. Now that she’d been away from Prescott, she’d come to realize she would never be happy with him as a husband. While Prescott had much to offer, he certainly didn’t stir her blood like Jack Roper. And that was the problem.
Jack pulled in front of the hotel to drop Prescott off before he drove to the school. After Prescott’s insinuations last night, Jack was intentionally provoking him. He could tell Prescott was still peeved, but he didn’t really care. Last night, he’d waited to hear two doors close upstairs before he got dressed and cleaned up the kitchen. If he’d heard Prescott say one wrong word to Addie, he would have gladly knocked his teeth down his throat.
Once he finally crawled into bed in Davey’s room, he’d stared at the ceiling the entire night. He was one dumb son-of-a-buck for falling asleep in the tub. He couldn’t believe Addie had seen him in such a state. He must have looked pretty funny standing there holding his Colt over his privates before he got that towel wrapped around his waist. But being caught with his pants down wasn’t the biggest surprise of the night. He’d never expected to hear that Addie was Prescott’s fiancée. Funny, she failed to mention that to him when they were kissing. If she married Prescott, they would probably go back to Boston. There was no way he could see Prescott living out here in this wild territory. He wondered how the girls would handle returning to the orphanage in Boston, particularly since Davey would stay in Whispering Pines. In his estimation, none of the children seemed too thrilled to see Addie’s fiancé.
Prescott jumped from the seat and walked to the back of the buckboard where Addie was sitting. “Addie, I’ll hire a driver today, so come to the hotel after school.”
“Did you forget Granny is taking the buggy back to the livery, and one of Morgan’s men will follow her to give us
a ride home after school?” Addie was hoping to have a night of peace before she had to listen to what Prescott had to say.
“Then I’ll invite myself out to dinner. I’ll be there by five o’clock and I’ll bring my valise.”
Addie knew Prescott well enough that he would have his say, but she didn’t want him staying another night at the farm. “It’s not necessary to spend the night since Granny will be there.”
“All the same, I’ll be there.” He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek just as Jack clicked the horse into moving. Prescott lurched backward, but the buckboard wheel missed his toes by inches.
Jack pulled in front of the school, set the brake, and jumped from the buckboard. He helped the girls to the ground before he reached for Addie.
As usual, Addie braced her hands on his shoulders when he held her by the waist to lift her from the buckboard, and the vision of his bare, muscled shoulders filled her thoughts. She could feel a blush rising over her cheeks.
“Fiancé, huh?”
“Bye, Sheriff. Please don’t forget to tell Davey hello,” Jane said.
Jack turned to see the girls standing beside him. “Bye, sugar. I’ll tell him.” He leaned over and kissed Jane on the top of the head.
Claire tugged on Jack’s pants. “Bye, Papa.”
Jack kissed Claire in the same way. “Bye, honey.”
Addie was so flustered at the memory of last night that she didn’t even correct Claire. When the girls walked to the schoolhouse, she said, “I do not have a fiancé.”
“Seems Prescott has a different opinion.”
“He was upset.” Addie wasn’t in the mood to give an inch. “I fail to see how this concerns you,” she said peevishly.
That comment really ticked him off. “I’m puzzled that you’d kiss one man while being the intended of another.”
“That coming from a man who kisses one woman, and makes plans to dine with another,” Addie snapped. She started to walk away, but Jack stopped her. He pulled a Bible from his coat pocket and held it out to her.
“I found this in Davey’s room.”
Addie stared at the Bible Davey had been faithfully reading. “I wonder why he didn’t take it with him.”
“I think we both know the answer to that. I’m riding to Coburn’s, so I’ll see how he’s doing.”
“Ask him why he left this behind.”
Jack nodded and stuffed the Bible back in his pocket. He thought about pulling her into his arms and giving her a kiss, but her next comment stopped him before he had the chance to act on his thoughts.
“Have a nice night with Clarissa.” She didn’t wait for a response; she turned and walked inside the school.
* * *
“Frank, can you hear me?” Corbin was standing under the small window at the back of the jail. The window was eight feet from the ground, and Corbin couldn’t see inside.
“Yeah, I hear you. The deputy just left.”
“I know, I waited for him to leave. You the only one in there?”
“Yeah.”
“Me and the boys have it all planned out. We’re at the old Conner place. Don’t you worry none, but be ready.”
“I don’t need . . .” Frank heard someone opening the front door. “Shhh. Someone’s coming.”
“We’ll be back soon.” Corbin scurried away into the brush behind the jail.
Jack opened the door to the jail and Webb followed him inside. “Webb, go on home and get some sleep. I’ll be here all day.”
“Sheriff, I slept in one of the cells last night. I figured I didn’t have to worry about Frank’s gang showing up, since you’re taking him back to Denver tomorrow.”
“Have you had some breakfast?”
“Yeah, Frank and I ate earlier. You can go on to the hotel for your breakfast if you want, I’ll be right here.”
Jack didn’t even take off his coat. “I think I’ll do that. I plan on riding back out to the Coburns’ to check on Davey.”
* * *
“What are you doing back out here?” Coburn asked as soon as Jack dismounted.
Jack pulled Davey’s Bible from his pocket. “Davey forgot this and I wanted to see that he got it.”
Coburn pointed to the back of the house. “He’s back there working, but don’t take up too much of his time.”
As soon as Jack walked to the back of the house, he expected to see Davey working on the shed, but it was completely built. Jack looked it over before he spotted Davey on a ladder nailing boards on the barn.
“You did a fine job on that shed.”
“Thanks.” Like the last time Jack tried talking to him, Davey didn’t stop working.
“Coburn wouldn’t let you go to school this morning?”
“There’s a lot of work to be done.”
“You left this behind at the farm, and I thought you might want it.” Jack extended the Bible to him.
“I don’t have time to read,” Davey said.
“You’re starting to sound like Coburn. But school’s important and so is church. There’s not a better book to read than this one.”
“Mr. Coburn says we got better things to do than read books.”
“He’s wrong. Everything you need to know is right here in this book.”
“It’s all just stories,” Davey said. “I don’t think none of it is true.”
“What about the story of David?”
Davey looked down at Jack. “It’s a story. What boy could really kill a giant?”
“You’d best finish that story.”
Davey was quiet for a long time. “You really think a shepherd boy became a king?”
Jack leaned against the ladder. “I know he did. You know, Davey, that shepherd boy faced a lot of hardships. Even his own family laughed at him, thinking he wasn’t going to be anything special. But he overcame every hardship that came his way. It wasn’t easy, and for a while he made his share of mistakes and even gave up on himself. But God didn’t forget about him, or give up on him.”
The silence stretched out, and when Davey didn’t respond, Jack said, “How are they treating you?”
Davey looked around as though he expected someone to be watching them.
Jack thought he saw fear in his eyes. “Davey, if you’re having problems, you can tell me.”
“He don’t like you being here.” Davey spoke quietly.
“Does he give you a hard time about it?”
“I gotta get to work, or he’ll get real mad.”
Jack didn’t want to cause Davey trouble with Coburn. “I’ll put your Bible right here.” He pointed to a board beside the barn. “I’ll see you when I get back from Denver.” It troubled Jack that Davey was so unhappy, but he had no valid reason to remove him from the Coburns’. Still, he couldn’t stand to see the forlorn look in Davey’s eyes. Jack felt he’d let him down, and he couldn’t live with that. He decided then and there he would talk to the judge tomorrow about having the adoption cancelled. Problem was, it was the same judge who was demanding Frank Langtry return to Denver. He wondered what his chances would be with that judge if he didn’t offer a good reason to cancel the adoption. He didn’t think the judge would be swayed by Jack’s feelings. If he didn’t have proof Coburn was a lousy father, what could he do?
* * *
On the way back to town, Jack saw some heavy smoke coming from the direction of town. Something was burning, and judging by the amount of smoke, it had to be a large fire. He kicked his horse into a run. In town, he quickly saw what was on fire. He jumped off his horse several yards from the burning shell of the jailhouse. The jail, his small house, and the hotel were in flames. Everyone in town had formed a line from the well to the fire, and were passing buckets of water as fast as they could to douse the burning structures. He spotted Addie in the line, with Prescott next to her. He saw his deputy, so he hurried to him, but stopped dead in his tracks when he saw Frank Langtry working by Webb’s side. He joined the line next to his deputy. “What happened?”
“I don’t know. It started at the back of the jail. I got Frank out, but he didn’t run away, he started helping us.”
Jack glanced at Frank, trying to figure out why he hadn’t made a run for it. He didn’t have more than a second to mull over that question before the hotel started collapsing. “Everyone get back!” The bank was separated from the hotel by a few feet, so Jack instructed everyone to redirect their efforts on the bank, seeing as the other buildings were a lost cause. While he worked, Jack looked at every face in the line, thinking some of Frank’s gang might be in town. There were a few strange faces, which put him on high alert. He didn’t know if the newcomers had been guests at the hotel, or were there to spring Frank from jail.
“I was able to get out some of your belongings before the house caught. I put them over by the mercantile,” Webb said.
“Thanks, Webb.”
Two hours later, the fire finally burned itself out. Most of the people dropped to the ground in sheer exhaustion. Jack walked to the back of the buildings to see if he could determine the cause of the fire. The hotel owner, Dwight Preston, joined Jack behind the remnants of his building.
“We always keep a couple bales of hay back here for people to sit on if they want some air, or have a smoke in peace and quiet.”
Jack looked around for clues that the fire had been intentionally set, but he didn’t see anything, or smell anything to lead him to that conclusion. “I reckon someone was just careless.”
“This will do me in, with winter coming. I can’t rebuild that quickly,” Mr. Preston said.
“We’ll all pitch in to help you rebuild. You won’t have to do it alone.”
“Thanks, Jack.”
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