by Janet Dean
Still, Nate had met success rounding up fugitives by noticing the smallest details and pursuing every lead, no matter how insignificant.
Ruby rings weren’t rare. But the size of the gem was. And this ruby ring was worn around a woman’s neck here in Gnaw Bone, the rumored location of Stogsdill’s girlfriend.
A lead. The first he’d had. A lead he intended to pursue.
The young woman walked on, then entered Carly’s shop.
Nate clamped his Stetson low and followed.
* * *
The shop bell jingled. Debby Pence stepped inside.
Carly covered her relief with a welcoming smile. When Debby hadn’t returned for the final fitting, Carly wondered if the wedding had been canceled.
The bell jingled again. Nate ambled in, looking at ease, as if the shop belonged to him. What was he doing here? Was he checking up on her? Wasn’t the situation complicated enough without his frequent intrusions?
Carly’s breath caught. Why did she notice every detail about him? That chiseled jaw, those full lips and those dark-rimmed gray eyes that seemed to read her thoughts.
Refusing to acknowledge Nate and her pounding heart, she hurried to Debby. “I’m glad to see you.”
Debby glanced at Nate. “If you’re busy, I can come another time,” she said in an uncertain tone, as if hating to interrupt.
“This is the perfect time. I’ll only be a minute.”
She crossed to Nate. “If you’re looking for your sister, she’s taking a break. I’ll tell her you came by.”
“I’m in no rush. I’ll wait,” he said, leaning against the counter and flipping through a ladies’ magazine.
Was he planning on advising his sister on what supplies to carry? Why didn’t he leave and come back later? Mercy, that warm smile on his face would melt butter. But his watchful gaze suggested he was up to something and that his purpose for being here had nothing to do with Anna.
Carly removed Debby’s wedding dress from the armoire. “I thought you’d be back before this,” she said, ushering the bride to the folding screen. “Your dress is finished, just needs the final touches. Depending on the wedding date, I should be able to finish any tucks here or there to give you a perfect fit.”
Pink flooded Debby’s cheeks. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t sure there would be a wedding.” She bit her lower lip. “I’m, uh, still not sure of the date. Things keep coming up.”
How odd. Weddings required arranging countless details. Most of those details hinged on the date of the ceremony. Of course few weddings were as grand as Vivian’s.
“Well, why not try on the dress?” Carly gave Debby an encouraging smile. “My mother used to say, once the dress is right, everything else will fall into place.”
Keeping that smile took every bit of Carly’s resolve. Nate had moved closer and was now leaning nonchalantly against the case of fine gloves, arms folded over his chest. Stetson tugged low over his eyes, as if catching a catnap.
She wasn’t fooled. The man was aware of every word. What was he up to?
Why did she let Nate’s presence disturb her? She’d focus on pleasing her customer, always her prime objective, and ignore the man’s irksome presence.
Behind the screen, Carly helped Debby into her gown, fastening the column of tiny buttons down the back, and then stepped in front of the bride. The white batiste bodice hugged her figure, encircling her slender neck and nipping in at her waist. This young woman had evolved into a lovely butterfly.
“Debby, come see how stunning you are.”
They rounded the screen and walked to the floor-length mirror. Debby faced her reflection, her shoulders hunched. “It’s beautiful. The prettiest dress I’ve ever owned,” she said, her voice falling as flat as an undercooked pancake.
“It fits perfectly. No need to alter a single dart or seam. I’ll just machine stitch the basted seams.” Carly smoothed the dress, gently nudging Debby’s shoulders back. A touch she hoped said, “Wear the dress with pride.”
“You look beautiful,” Carly whispered.
“It is a mighty fine gown, not that I’m an expert,” Nate said with a wry grin. “Any man would be proud to see his intended wearing that dress and looking so pretty.”
Debby blushed. “You really think so?”
“Yes. Yes, I do.”
Nate had called Debby pretty. While Carly stood to the side wearing her plainest dress, a blade of grass beside a slender white rose. What did it matter? Nate Sergeant was not the man for her. Now that she understood his quest, she knew he’d never settle down. Never be a man who stayed.
Carly pinned the circlet of orange blossoms to Debby’s hair, and then smoothed the gauzy veil around her shoulders. “Rory is sure to be pleased.”
“I hope you’re right. He’s been away so long this time, I’m afraid he’s forgotten me.”
Nate ambled closer. “Not sure what all goes into a wedding, but I’d think the groom should be around to help.”
Or be underfoot. Why didn’t he leave?
“Oh, it’s okay. Rory’s a salesman with a large territory. His company pressures him for orders, so he’s on the road for long periods.” Debby licked her lips as if they were dry. “I try not to bother him. He says I distract him from his job.”
“That has to be hard for both of you,” Carly said, though she hadn’t minded Max’s absences.
Carly glanced at Nate. She’d thought more about this man when he was away from her than she ever had Max. She bit back a huff. And why not? Who knew what Nate would do to see his sister installed in her shop?
“He buys me the prettiest things to show he’s sorry,” Debby said. “Things my grandparents would never buy.” A small, pleased smile stole over Debby’s face. “He’s always leaving me gifts. Whenever I get upset he has to go away or he...well, wasn’t as nice as he could be, he does the sweetest things.” She ran a fingertip over the blood-red gem hanging around her neck. “Like this.”
“Sounds like a successful, generous man,” Nate said.
“Oh, he is. Very.” She fiddled with the folds of her veil. “I’m so lucky.” Tears welled in her eyes, belying her claim.
“Once you set a date for the wedding, let me know,” Carly said. “I can finish your dress in one evening.”
“I’m sure it won’t be much longer. He’s supposed to be back soon. Maybe even next week.” Pink tinged her cheeks. “In his last letter, Rory said he couldn’t wait to make me his wife. As soon as I know the date, I’ll stop by. Even before I tell Pastor Koontz.” She blinked several times, as if trying to dislodge something in her eyes. “Rory didn’t want a church wedding. He doesn’t like a lot of people around, but I told him Grandpa would never give his permission unless we were married in church.”
Carly had always dreamed of a church wedding, yet Max had refused, insisting the county courthouse would be less intimidating. As if the man had ever feared anyone...well, except perhaps God.
“Pastor Koontz will perform a lovely ceremony,” Carly said, yet could barely imagine what it would be like to marry a man who pledged his love in front of God and everybody.
Her gaze strayed to Nate. His face was as unreadable as blurred ink.
“Rory says churches are full of hypocrites,” Debby went on. “But once he gets to know people, he’ll change his mind.”
Carly looked over Debby’s shoulder into the girl’s brown eyes staring back at her in the mirror. In those eyes, Carly saw trepidation and...hope. Hope that the decision to marry Rory wasn’t wrong. Hope that the ceremony would somehow change things. Hope that a ring on her finger would turn her intended into the husband of a woman’s dreams.
The same hope Carly had once held on to so tightly she hadn’t seen the truth. “If you’re not sure, it’s okay to wait,” she murmured into Debby’s ear.
“It’s just... Rory has been away so much.” Debby nodded, then nodded again, faster this time, as if trying to convince herself all her qualms stemmed from his absence. “Onc
e we’re married, he promises it’ll be different. He’ll be different.”
Oh, dear girl, all men say that, Carly thought but did not say.
“Nothing unusual for a groom to get cold feet before the wedding,” Nate said, as casual as you please.
Why was he inserting himself into her business, into her interaction with her customer? As if he was saying, “Hey, Carly, let me show you how to ease a bride’s fears.”
What did Nate know about day-after regrets and bad marriages? What did he know about the inner, intricate workings of a woman’s heart?
“Rory will be back soon and then we’ll set a date and...” Debby let out a shaky breath. “Then everything will be okay.”
Carly wanted to tell Debby marriage could be awful from the beginning. That before her wedding day was over she could realize she’d made a huge mistake. A mistake she might have to live with for the rest of her life.
But how could Carly say all that when Debby had hope shining in her eyes? Instead she said, “Marriage is a big step.”
The smile broad on her face, Debby swirled to Carly. “Thank you for making this beautiful dress. I’ll feel like a princess on my wedding day, like I always dreamed, and then everything will be fine. I’m sure of it,” she said, slipping behind the screen.
As Carly followed to help Debby from the dress, she hoped Debby’s groom was Prince Charming. And this sweet young woman would know only happiness for as long as she lived.
Happiness. What would it be like to fall in love with a good man? What would it be like to have a groom standing beside you, beaming with joy in his eyes, love in his heart? What would it be like to have a real wedding with all the lovely traditions of that sacred ceremony?
Carly shook off the ridiculous fantasy. She was past those romantic girlish notions. Yet no matter what Carly told herself, she couldn’t stop the flicker of envy rising inside her, uninvited.
As she walked from behind the screen, her gaze locked with Nate’s. In those depths she saw something bleak, remote.
“Some folks put stock in fairy-tale endings,” he said. “I’m not a man that does.”
Inside Carly hope for a second chance withered. She’d been foolish to think otherwise. Nate made it perfectly clear he would not be a good groom.
Yet, in the deepest part of her, Carly still believed in fairy-tale endings. The picture of her in front of a preacher rose in her mind. The groom standing beside her was smiling, handsome, his eyes filled with love. The perfect mate.
Except in her traitorous mind, the groom looked too much like Nate.
Carly’s gaze darted to his, her face scorching, hoping he couldn’t read her thoughts.
As if he had and couldn’t abide what he saw, Nate tipped his hat and strode out, the bell overhead dancing to the erratic rhythm of her heart.
What had gotten into her? Nate Sergeant was another Max, another Rory, not a man to depend on.
Chapter Ten
Nate watched Debby Pence walk to a nondescript wagon, unhitch the team from the post, gather her skirts and climb onto the seat. She paused a moment, then released the brake and deftly backed the draft horses into the street, obviously comfortable driving a team and wagon.
Probably lives on a farm outside of town. Was the rural location the perfect hideaway for a criminal? Or was she as homespun as the dress she wore?
Nate cuffed the back of his neck. He’d learned to suspect every motive. But in this case, was he overreacting? How could this genteel young woman fall for a scoundrel like Stogsdill? How would she have met him?
Yet he couldn’t tamp down the feeling her groom was the man he hunted. She was probably an innocent who believed Stogsdill’s lies and had no idea the man courting her was a murderer.
Nate watched Debby turn off Main and head west until he could no longer detect the sound of clopping hooves.
Across the way, two men stood in the alley between the shop and the mercantile. One leaned on the corner of the building, a tattered hat askew on his shaggy head. The other was even more scruffy, his eyes squinting as if he’d had too late a night and too much to drink.
Nate crossed to them. “Name’s Nate Sergeant,” he said, sticking out a hand.
The skinny guy’s gaze narrowed. “Ah, you’re that there bounty hunter. I’m Lester Harders and I ain’t wanted for nothing but being late to supper.” He shook Nate’s hand. “This here’s my twin Lloyd. Iffen you need a face for a poster, he’s the guilty one.”
Lloyd snorted. “Ain’t guilty of nothing more than shooting up a few signs after Lester talked me into tossing back one too many.”
Lester waggled his brows. “If I had a sweet little wife, I wouldn’t be spending my nights at the saloon with you.”
“You gentlemen know the lady that just left?” Nate asked.
“Noticed your eyeballs were glued on her.” Lester nudged his brother. “Told you he was interested.”
Lloyd snickered.
“Better watch your step,” Lester said. “She’s betrothed. Her intended don’t take to men ogling the promised goods, iffen you know what I mean.”
That sounded like Stogsdill. The outlaw had a reputation for a jealous streak and a hair-trigger temper.
Lester craned his neck to look at the road Debby had taken. “That purty little thing would make any man a fine wife. Her grandpa’s got eighty acres out on Hartzell Road and some nice horseflesh to go with it, and no one else to inherit. Reckon I’d be a welcome addition to the family if someone hadn’t beat me to it.”
Lloyd guffawed. “Like you’d get within ten feet of her.”
Nate bit back a smile. “Sounds like a tough character.”
“Rory? Only saw him once, but he made an impression.” Lester rubbed his jaw. “He didn’t like me working for Debby’s grandpa and near knocked me out.”
“I would steer clear of him, if I knew what he looked like.” Nate glanced down the street, casual and calm, as if the answer didn’t matter. “Can you describe him?”
“I dunno,” Lester said. “Same height as me. Broad in the shoulders. Sits a horse like he was born in the saddle.” He snorted. “You’d have thought he’d be grateful. I was just doing old man Pence a favor, helping out.”
“Any idea where Debby met this Rory?”
“Where was she, Lloyd? That fancy place with the purty name.”
“Santa Fe?” Lloyd said.
“No, that ain’t it. Gotta saint in it like the town thinks it’s better than most.”
“St. Louis?” Nate supplied, as if helping the twin’s memory, not trying to tie Debby Pence to the town where Stogsdill’s sister lived.
“Yep, that’s it.”
Nate knew the house, had kept watch for weeks, but had never seen the outlaw. From what he’d gathered, Stogsdill and his sister weren’t close.
“Debby come home with Rory on her heels. And, oh, the hullabaloo when he saw me pass the time of day with her.”
Lloyd grinned. “Yep, you have a way with the ladies. Charm ’em right off.”
Lester gave his brother a light jab. “Anyway, if you’re a smart man, you won’t even look at Debby sideways, leastways when Rory’s around.”
“Thanks for the warning. Does he come often?”
The Harders brothers shrugged, then shuffled off.
Nate raised a silent victorious fist in the air. This piece of evidence, along with that ruby ring, confirmed the hunch that Debby Pence’s fiancé was Shifty Stogsdill.
Perhaps if he’d showed the twins Stogsdill’s wanted poster, they’d have identified him. But the fewer people who knew about Stogsdill the better. Especially those two.
He would ride out to Hartzell Road and take a look at the Pence farm. Pick a good spot for surveillance. He’d look less conspicuous if he had an excuse, a reason to head out of town.
His gaze traveled to the dressmaker’s shop. Carly sat inside, her head bent over the garment in her lap.
All Nate needed to conceal his investigation wa
s one reason. One very pretty reason.
He heaved a sigh. Why not be honest? No matter how much he shouldn’t, he wanted to spend time with Carly. Wanted to know everything about her. Wanted to bask in her goodness and, for a few moments, forget his quest.
That is if he could convince Carly that she and Henry needed a picnic in the country.
* * *
At Nate’s side, Henry wiggled with excitement, asking questions about every creature they passed.
A straw hat perched squarely on her head, shading her face, Carly chucked her son under the chin. “Careful, or you’ll wear out Nate’s ears.”
“I enjoy seeing the world through your youngster’s eyes.”
Carly shot Nate a stunning smile. The beauty of that smile—of her—rippled through him, soothing every weary, lonely part of him.
“Thank you for inviting us. I can’t remember the last time Henry and I’ve gone on a picnic or, for that matter, taken a ride into the country.”
Her thanks slashed at Nate’s conscience. He’d used this picnic as an excuse to locate the Pence farm and possible spots to hole up. If Stogsdill was indeed Debby Pence’s groom, she’d come in for that gown. A sign Stogsdill was heading this way.
And Nate would be ready and waiting.
Carly hadn’t agreed to accompany him on the outing immediately. But, Anna had squelched each of Carly’s objections, vowing they’d finish the Schwartz trousseau in time, and she was perfectly capable of managing the shop single-handedly.
Nate’s grip tightened on the reins. If his only purpose had been staking out the Pence farm, he could’ve invited Anna. Truth be told, he cared about Carly and her son.
When he’d issued the invite, he’d noticed the camaraderie between Anna and Carly. Carly showed Anna a gentle side of herself. Even as she held Nate at arm’s length or tried to, he couldn’t deny his attraction. He admired her spunk, her fierce love for her son and her kindness to his sister.
With Henry gazing up at him as though he was some kind of hero and Carly mere inches away, the weight of his failure to bring in Stogsdill slipped from Nate’s shoulders. The prospect of spending a few hours in their company had his spirits soaring like the red-tailed hawk riding the air currents overhead.