by Stacy Henrie
“Did you find me a job?” she blurted out.
“Good morning to you, too.”
“Have you found something?” She sat down in a nearby chair.
Nathan tossed his hat onto the sofa and took a seat for himself. “You are one lucky lady, Jennie Jones.” He grinned. “Some fellow talked to me in the saloon yesterday, tipped me off to a big job tomorrow. Four men will be robbing the stage heading east from Nevada to Beaver.”
“How much?”
Nathan leaned forward, his dark eyes sparkling. “How’s five thousand dollars sound to you?”
Jennie’s mouth dropped open. She’d never taken so much money before. Even after giving Nathan his half, she’d still have more than enough left over to pay off her loan and buy herself more cattle. The idea of being so close to freedom made her light-headed. “You’re certain that’s the amount?”
“I asked the man three times. Some mining company is transferring funds to a bank up north.” He leaned back, stretching his arm along the top of the sofa. “It’s gonna be a bit dicey for those robbers, though. The mining company’s sending the cash with an armed guard and a seasoned stage driver. That means those four men aren’t likely to be partial to you waltzing in and taking that cash away from ’em.”
“I’ll do just fine.”
“We’ll do just fine.”
She lifted her eyebrows. “What do you mean?”
“If these gentlemen suspect you’re coming, like those other ones did, you might do better with some help.”
She could see his point, and his assistance would come in handy with her injured arm. She didn’t need to get herself shot again. “All right.”
“Now here’s my idea of how we’re goin’ pull this off....”
* * *
Half an hour later, she and Nathan had devised a detailed plan to steal back the bank money. A rather good plan, Jennie thought, crossing her arms loosely. Only one thing troubled her, nibbling at the edges of her excitement—having to lie to Caleb and her family, again.
“I’m off, love.” Nathan put on his hat and stood. “I’ll meet you west of Beaver tomorrow.”
He crossed to her chair and held out his hand to help her up. She ignored him and stood on her own, but Nathan stepped closer. Jennie wanted to move back, but the chair stood directly behind her.
“My offers still stands, Jennie,” he said, his voice low. “We could finish this job and slip away. Leave enough money for your granny and brother to get on just fine, then we’d set our sights for bigger and better things.”
Jennie bit her lip, afraid how to respond. If she told him how she felt about Caleb, would he refuse to help her? Or worse, would he work against her? She couldn’t very well carry out their plan alone, but she had to be forthright. She loved Caleb, and once this job was through, she hoped to bury any connection to this part of her life, including her association with Nathan Blaine.
“I’m indebted to you, Nathan, for all you’ve done.” She forced herself to look him straight in the eye. “But as I’ve said before, I can’t accept your offer, for many reasons.”
“Would it have something to do with that hired hand of yours?”
She blushed. “Yes.”
“That explains the ugly scowl he gave me when I rode up.” He took a step backward, giving her room to breathe again. “Choosing the settled life, huh?”
“We haven’t talked about all that.” She studied her hands.
“Well, since I probably won’t be around to give you my congratulations then...” He grabbed her good arm, yanked her close and roughly kissed her mouth. Jennie shoved hard against his chest, pushing him away. What would Caleb think if he saw them?
Chuckling, Nathan let her go. “I’ve wanted to do that for a long time.”
“Get out of here, you scoundrel.” Jennie darted a quick glance at the open door.
“No one saw, if that’s what you’re worried about.” He walked out of the room before turning back. “But you should tell him about it yourself. It’ll remind that fellow of yours what a lucky man he is.”
Jennie’s anger softened a little at the compliment. “Good day, Nathan.”
“Goodbye, Jennie.” Tipping his hat, he headed out the front door, whistling to himself.
Jennie followed, pausing on the porch. She watched Nathan stride arrogantly down the front steps to his waiting horse and shook her head. Even if Nathan’s kiss was meant to inspire grateful jealousy in Caleb, Jennie still didn’t plan to tell him. She had enough explaining to do about Nathan’s visit in general, and then, more lies regarding her plans for tomorrow. Things were looking up, though. Surely her luck would hold out one more time—it had to.
Chapter Fifteen
Caleb finished hitching the horses to the wagon and headed to the house to collect Jennie. He paused in the kitchen doorway to observe her unnoticed. She sat at the table, a bit of pencil motionless in one hand, her chin resting on the other. She was supposed to be making a list of the things they needed to pick up in town, but she appeared deep in thought instead. She’d been that way since that stranger came by earlier.
Caleb’s jaw tightened at the memory of the man strutting onto the porch as if he had a right to be there. Taking a deep breath, he calmed his jealous irritation. Jennie’s description of their visit had sounded harmless enough.
“We met for the last time,” she’d told Caleb, “about our plan to pull the ranch out of debt.”
He hoped she succeeded in keeping the ranch going, though secretly he was relieved to hear that man wouldn’t be coming around anymore.
Jennie lifted her head and a smile broke across her face. “You ready?”
He nodded.
“I’m just about finished with my list.”
“Go ahead. I can just stand here and stare.” He leaned his shoulder against the door frame, taking in the sight of her. He grinned when she rolled her eyes.
“How am I supposed to concentrate with you doing that?” She ducked her head and scrawled something onto her scrap of paper.
“Maybe you’re not supposed to.”
Her cheeks flamed red, and he chuckled.
“I’m finished,” she said a minute later, pushing back her chair. She started past him, but Caleb caught her elbow and pulled her close.
“Did I tell you good morning today?”
“Hmm.” She scrunched her face in mock contemplation. “Yes, I believe you told me good morning.”
“Have I told you today how pretty you are?”
“In not so many words.”
“You’re beautiful, Jennie.”
She lowered her chin, but not before Caleb saw the love and adoration she hadn’t yet voiced shining in her eyes.
“Have I told you how happy this tenderfooted cowhand is to be with you?”
She laughed softly and stepped closer to him. “I don’t see any tenderfoot here.”
He bent down to kiss her, but Grandma Jones stepped into the hallway. Caleb’s face and neck went warm.
“Sorry to interrupt,” she said, smiling openly at them, “but I wanted to remind you to get me some dark blue thread, Jennie.”
Her cheeks pink as well, Jennie nodded. “We’re leaving now.”
Caleb followed Jennie outside. He helped her onto the wagon seat and climbed up beside her. Lifting the reins, he gently slapped the backs of the team and guided the wagon toward Beaver.
The sky shone bright blue above them, not a cloud to be seen. The day hadn’t been too hot either, and a pleasant breeze blew across Caleb’s face. He liked working down here, but starting his business in the north, close to the railroad, made the most sense. Maybe he could convince Jennie and her family to come with him in a few months.
“You ever thought of selling the ranch? Starting over up north?”
“Sell the ranch?” Her eyes went dark with anger. “You think I ought to sell the ranch?”
“It’s an idea...”
She angled away from him, her shoul
ders hunched as if to ward off a blow. “I don’t want to sell the ranch, even if things are bad. This is all Will and I have from our parents. I haven’t worked so hard for so long to hand it over to someone else.”
Caleb reached for her hand. She flinched at his touch, but she didn’t pull away. “Jennie?” He waited until she shot him a glance before he went on. “I thought it might help things if you sold the place to the bank. Then you’d be free from your debt, free to do what you want. That’s all.”
“The ranch is what I want.”
Her chin lifted stubbornly, and Caleb decided to drop the subject. He’d pushed his suggestion far enough. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze to let her know he hadn’t meant to upset her. Though she kept her face pointed forward, she squeezed his hand back. He understood the silent acceptance of his apology.
Once they reached town, Caleb tied the horses to the post in front of the general store and helped Jennie down. Inside, he relinquished the lead to her, following her around the full barrels and shelves while she placed needed objects into his outstretched arms.
“Is that everything we need?” She studied her list. “We can ask for the hayseed and then—” Jennie sucked in a sharp breath.
“What is it?” Caleb leaned forward as best he could with his arms full. Was she sick?
Without answering, Jennie bolted toward the back of the store. Caleb strode after her, trying to keep from dropping the goods he held. He peered at her in concern. She looked more angry than ill, her mouth set into a tight line. “What’s wrong?”
“We have to leave—now.”
“But we didn’t get the thread yet that your grandmother asked for.”
“It doesn’t matter.” She gave a frantic shake of her head. “Marshall King is here, in the store.”
“Really?” Caleb glanced surreptitiously over his shoulder. He didn’t have to guess which customer was King. A man in a worn leather vest with dark hair falling over his collar stood watching the two of them from his place in line. A rascally smile graced his weather-beaten face.
“Please, Caleb, let’s just leave. If I so much as go near him, I’ll start shouting.”
“You won’t need to, and we don’t have to leave, either. I’ll stand in line. You wait here.” He nodded at one of the wooden chairs arranged around the cold stove.
“Caleb, I don’t think—”
“It’ll be fine. I can handle him.”
She released a heavy sigh. “All right. Thank you.” She slipped several bills into his hand so he could pay the clerk.
He gave her a grim smile. “I might have to put a fist in the man’s stomach myself.” He slowly spun around and started for the short line.
If King had been smiling before, his face lit up even more as Caleb approached. His lack of contrition for stealing Jennie’s cattle sent flashes of hot anger through Caleb, and he had to force himself to breathe deeply.
Unfortunately, King stood at the back of the line, so Caleb had no choice except to take his place behind him. He didn’t have to give the man the pleasure of his company, though. Caleb stared in the direction of the front door and tried to think of other things than smashing the man’s ample jaw.
“You must be Miss Jones’s hired help.”
Caleb eyed King, annoyed and surprised at the man’s attempt to make casual conversation. “I am.”
“I’ve been meaning to ride over and make you an offer.”
“An offer for what?”
“I’d like to give you a job. My sources say you’re a good, hard worker.” Mr. King folded his arms across his meaty chest. “You come work for me, and I’ll pay you a lot more money than you’re earning now.”
For a moment, Caleb was too stunned to reply. After allowing his cowhands to rustle Jennie’s cattle, did King honestly think Caleb would join up with him? Don’t give him the satisfaction of seeing your anger, he told himself as he lifted his head and looked the man square in the eye. He’s only trying to goad you.
“If you were the last employer on earth, Mr. King, I wouldn’t accept a job with you.” In a low, hard voice, he added, “I don’t work for thieves.”
The rancher grinned in a dangerous way. “Oh, I wouldn’t be too sure about that.”
“What’re you talking about?”
“Why don’t you ask Miss Jones?” King scoffed, his gaze flicking toward the back of the store.
Caleb turned and regarded Jennie. Even from a distance, he could see her pale face and troubled expression. “I don’t know what you’re getting at, old man.”
“Why don’t you ask her how she’s managed to keep her ranch going for so long?” His words hissed like water hitting hot flames. “Why don’t you ask her the real reason she takes off for town or Fillmore all alone? Or why she meets with that fellow from the saloon?”
How could King know any of those things unless he’d been spying on Jennie? His hands clenched into fists as Caleb considered dropping his load to the floor and pounding the conceit out of this man. “How dare—”
“She’s robbin’ stage thieves, you fool.” King brought his sneering face within inches of Caleb’s. “She waits ’til the bandits steal the money, then steals it back. She’s using it to keep that sorry ranch of hers alive.”
Something deep inside Caleb went cold at King’s words. Jennie—robbing stage thieves? The same type of criminals he’d hunted down as a bounty hunter? Impossible.
He surveyed her beautiful face and tried desperately to erase the suggestion of her carrying out such a deceitful deed. His heart rebelled at the thought, but his head argued that King’s story made some sense. It would explain the thugs chasing after Jennie when Caleb had helped her on the trail, the “financial” meetings with the rough-looking stranger, the excuses to leave the ranch unaccompanied.
“Changes things a bit, don’t it?” King said, his affable manner returning. “My offer still stands—whenever you decide to quit the place.”
Caleb shook his head, forcing his mind to concentrate on the present and nothing beyond that, for the moment. “Whether I leave or stay, I’d never work for you.”
“A pleasure meetin’ you all the same.” Tipping his hat, King took his place at the cash register to purchase some feed.
Caleb’s jaw and neck muscles tensed as he glared at the man’s back. Maybe he should have punched King straight away—then he wouldn’t have heard the man’s accusations about Jennie, accusations that brought too many unanswered questions. Finally, King left and it was Caleb’s turn to step up to the counter.
Numbly, he set down the load of goods and paid the clerk. As he started for the back of the store, he felt an almost tangible weight pulling at his feet, slowing each step. How could he face Jennie with King’s words still ringing in his ears, especially when a part of him wondered if they held any truth?
“Caleb, are you all right?” Jennie leaped up and grabbed his arm. “What did King say?”
Swallowing hard, Caleb made himself meet her gaze. “He offered me a job.”
“He didn’t!”
“I refused, of course.” He shifted his pile carefully into the crook of one arm, so he could hold her hand. Just the feel of her fingers intertwined with his helped alleviate some of his growing fear.
“Is that all he said? You looked more upset than I’ve ever seen you before.” She peered intently at him as they headed for the door.
“He’s a scoundrel,” Caleb said, avoiding her question. He hid his conflicting emotions with ease, another skill he’d learned as a bounty hunter. “Let’s go home.”
We’ll talk about it sometime this evening, he told himself. I’m sure there’s a logical explanation for King’s wild assertions.
A voice inside Caleb, growing more insistent by the minute, claimed otherwise, warning him that his conversation with Jennie might very well rob him of the happiness he’d felt the past few days and steal his second chance at love.
* * *
Jennie volunteered to care for the
horses when they returned from the trip to town. To her surprise, Caleb didn’t offer to help. Instead he told her that he’d take over watching the cattle for Will and left the barn.
Why had Caleb been so quiet on the way home? she wondered as she brushed the horses until they gleamed. Was there something more to his conversation with King? She didn’t believe a job offer would provoke the kind of shock she’d seen on Caleb’s face.
Could he know my secret?
King might have learned the truth from his cowhand, the one she’d seen at the saloon in Fillmore and who’d trailed her in town a few weeks earlier. The rancher might have told Caleb what the cowboy had observed.
“But Caleb would’ve mentioned it,” she said, trying to reassure herself. “Wouldn’t he?”
She didn’t see him again the rest of the afternoon. She and Will continued the work on the spring planting that Caleb had already started, and by suppertime, Jennie was so tired she’d almost forgotten the encounter with King in town. Almost.
She told Will to go help Caleb bring the cattle into the corral while she fed and watered the horses. For some reason she felt reluctant to face Caleb. When she finished with the horses, she surveyed the barn, desperate for something else to do. The place was immaculate. It had been ever since Caleb had come to the ranch.
The memory of seeing him come through the brush, handsome and confident, after helping her against Bart and his thugs made her heart swell with pride. She loved him and couldn’t stand the thought of losing him. Why couldn’t things be simpler? No financial burdens, no stage bandits. Just her and Caleb and her family, living happily.
Blowing out a deep sigh, she left the barn and secured the doors behind her. A hand on her arm made her cry out in surprise.
“Caleb. You scared me.”
“Maybe you need scaring,” he muttered so softly she wasn’t sure she’d heard him correctly. To her disappointment, he released her arm, his hand dropping to his side. “We need to go somewhere and talk.”