Kate's Outlaw (Steam! Romance and Rails)

by E. E. Burke

  Major Bradford rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “That’s what I’d like to know.”

  Chapter 7

  Kate twisted her hair into a loose knot, letting several strands hang loose around her face. She no longer felt the need to scrape them into submission. She’d hurried through a cold bath, would’ve preferred to have it heated, but didn’t want to take the time. Not when she needed to talk to Jake, find out what was bothering him and tell him about the uncomfortable conversation she had with Major Bradford.

  As soon as she finished arranging their supper with Eden, the major had appeared and started asking questions. She’d given him the same story she’d told his wife. Jake was a tribal council representative in town to negotiate with her father.

  Major Bradford’s brown eyes had remained warm, but she sensed he didn’t believe her. Eden had once remarked her husband could detect falsehoods like a hound sniffing out a rabbit. He’d certainly put his nose to the ground, asking what Jake looked like, where Kate had met him, where he'd come from. She’d stuck to her story and at last the major lost the scent. At least, he’d stopped asking questions.

  Kate selected a navy skirt and cream shirt. After making do with quick clean-ups in creeks, it was a blessed relief to return to civilization. Another reason things would never work out between her and Jake. He couldn’t afford more than the basic necessities.

  Still, did it really matter he was poor? She wasn’t. But money wasn't the issue. If she chose to wed an Indian, her father would never let her near his beloved railroad, and her hopes for running it would vanish faster than a wisp of smoke.

  Kate stared at her unhappy expression in the mirror. The idea of taking the reins on her father’s business didn’t excite her as much as it had when she’d first arrived. The thought of being with Jake, on the other hand, was growing more appealing by the day.

  She bit her lip at a stab of grief. If Jake had wanted her to stay with him, he would’ve said so. As it was, he’d insisted they go their separate ways after the meeting with her father. And he was right. They were from two different worlds and weren’t meant for each other. So, why did it feel like a part of her would be ripped away when he said goodbye?

  A knock rattled her door.

  Her heart leapt. Was it Jake? She’d gone to her room to freshen up and assumed he’d wait on her to come to him, but maybe he’d grown impatient. That meant he wanted to see her as much as she wanted to see him.

  Foolishly giddy, Kate hurried to let him in. As she opened the door, her spirits fell.

  Eden stood in the hall. Was it dinnertime already? She wasn’t bearing a tray.

  Masking her disappointment, Kate opened the door further. “Yes?”

  “Can you come downstairs? The major would like a word with you.”

  “I just spoke to him. Can’t it wait until tomorrow?”

  Eden’s face grew pinched. “I’m afraid not. Your friend, Mr. Colson, he’s in jail.”

  Shock stole Kate’s breath. “Jail?” She barely got the word out. “Why? What happened?”

  “I’m not sure. Sin said there was a fight.”

  Kate’s skin prickled with dread. When had Jake gotten into a fight? He’d been in his room, hadn’t he? She turned and grabbed her jacket. “I have to get over there and clear this up. There’s been some mistake.”

  She flew past Eden and pounded down the stairs. She’d tell the major or whoever arrested Jake that he’d done nothing wrong, lie through her teeth, whatever it took to get him out of jail. She was almost out the front door when someone called her name.

  Major Bradford stood near the banister. She’d sailed right past him.

  “Miss Parsons—”

  “Don’t you Miss Parsons me.” She lit into him, her anger fueled by fear. “Why is Jake in jail? What reason do you have for arresting him? He’s done nothing wrong.”

  Sinclair Bradford’s breeding showed in a gracious nod of assent. “I hope you’re right, but I have a few questions I need cleared up.”

  Kate glanced around the lobby. They’d drawn the attention of several guests, mostly men in railroad bibs. They might report this scene to Henry, who would go to her father…

  She took a deep breath to slow her racing heart and lowered her voice. “Can you take me to see him? Please.”

  “I will.” The major offered her his arm and she took it. “Right after you and I have a brief conversation.” He nodded toward the parlor. Short of bolting, she had no choice but to let him lead her inside.

  Her heart pounded harder when she spied Henry sitting in a chair by the fireplace.

  He stood and his brow furrowed. Dark crescents hung beneath his eyes, his hair was mussed like he’d run his fingers through it multiple times. She’d never seen him so weary. Eden had told her earlier that he'd hounded the major to look into her disappearance. The thought that he might've lost sleep worrying about her made her feel positively guilty for avoiding him.

  Beside her, the major stiffened. "Mr. Stevens, I told you I'd like to have word with Miss Parsons. Alone."

  "I'm sure Kate doesn't mind me being here." Henry straightened to his full height.

  Like Jake, he was a tall man, although he wasn't as muscular. Not that she should've noticed Jake's musculature, but how could she miss it after being locked in his embrace? Her cheeks heated at the memory.

  Henry, who'd been studying her face, frowned. "Don't you worry, I'm not letting the Army interrogate you behind closed doors."

  Annoyance flickered across Major Bradford's face before he smoothed his features into a polite expression. "This isn't an interrogation."

  Kate darted a worried glance at Henry. If he caused a scene it would only create more problems. Besides, whatever was going on, he was clearly in the middle of it. She bent her head, acknowledging him. "Mr. Stevens is welcome to stay, as far I'm concerned."

  “Very well.” The major shut a set of folding doors leading to the lobby. He gestured to a rosewood sofa. “Would you both care to sit down?”

  She aimed for the middle of the sofa, spreading her skirt so there was no room for Henry to sit next to her. She didn’t want him that close. He’d sense her nervousness.

  He frowned, looking confused, but found another place to sit.

  The major selected a straight-back chair from a game table and pulled it over to sit in front of her. What did he suspect, and who had Jake been fighting?

  Kate clasped her hands in her lap and tried to look innocent.

  The major leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees. His mouth kicked up in an apologetic half-smile. “I know you’re worried about your friend.”

  "That Indian isn't her friend." Henry's gaze flickered past her and locked on the major. He didn't want to know if she agreed with his assessment.

  Her anxiety spiraled. What should she say? She wouldn't repudiate Jake, but she couldn't let on they were close. That would complicate things immeasurably. “Mr. Colson came here in good faith to negotiate a settlement..."

  Henry's expression flattened. For a moment, she feared he would call her out, demand an explanation. He didn't want her involved in railroad business any more than her father did. Didn't want a partner, despite his assurances. What he wanted was an ornament for his arm. What made him think when he first met her that she would be content to dangle from his elbow?

  Surprisingly, he held silent. The only sign he was struggling with restraint were his fingers curled tightly over his knees.

  "Mr. Colson is a council representative,” she went on. “Naturally, I’m worried about his arrest. What kind of message do you think that sends?”

  The major’s expression turned solemn. “Not a good one. But he should’ve thought of that before he got into a brawl.”

  “In the middle of the street.” Henry interjected. “With another Indian. Had a scar on his face. Like the man our workers reported seeing near the worksite a day after you disappeared.”

  Her stomach collapsed. Charley. Jake must’ve see
n him and gone after him. Had they fought over her?

  “I don’t…understand.” She shook her head like she was confused. “You said they were fighting?”

  “Beating on each other pretty well when we walked up,” the major explained. “The other man fled on horseback. Mr. Colson claimed he was a friend.”

  Kate gazed out the window. Darkness filled the panes and made the world outside appear ominous. Why hadn’t Jake told her Charley had shown up? She worried the edge of her sleeve with her fingers. “Did he tell you why they were fighting?”

  “He’s refusing to say anything until he talks to you.”

  Surprise stole her breath. What did that mean? Was he relying or her discretion, or was he worried she might have betrayed him? “He doesn’t trust whites.”

  Major Bradford straightened. “Apparently, he trusts you.”

  The air grew uncomfortably warm, but Kate refrained from mopping her upper lip. Showing nervousness would give her away.

  “How do you know that Indian? Where did you meet him? Did he have something to do with your disappearance?” Henry pounded out the questions.

  Hadn’t he said he’d protect her from being interrogated? No, he only assured her he wouldn’t let the Army do it.

  She licked her lips. Evading the truth, while staying honest was tricky business. “Mr. Colson helped me understand the issues his people are facing. Even then, it took a great deal of persuasion to convince him to come here and give us a chance to prove we could be fair-minded.”

  Major Bradford studied her for a long moment. His face gave nothing away. It was like playing chess. She decided to go on the offensive.

  “What is it you’re not telling me? Did you arrest Mr. Colson for disturbing the peace? Or is there another reason you haven’t chosen to share?”

  "We believe one of the payroll thefts was committed by someone other than your competitor's hired thugs.”

  “Payroll thefts?” Kate gaped, shocked. That was the last answer she’d expected.

  Henry scooted to the edge of the cushion chair like he was about to leap out of it. "For Christ's sake, Kate, you're negotiating with outlaws."

  She ignored his crude outburst and addressed the major. “Whatever gave you the idea Mr. Colson was involved in a payroll theft? You arrested the Russell gang and one of them confessed.”

  “Yes, to most of the robberies, but not the more recent theft.”

  “So?” She lifted her arms in a shrug. “They lied.”

  The permanent crease between the major’s brows deepened. “Perhaps. But new evidence came up while I was looking into your…disappearance.”

  Kate’s confidence began to crumble. “New evidence?”

  Henry cut off the major before he could reply. "McGrady told us one of the men we hired on a few months back was asking questions about the railroad—and you. Described him as a tall Indian."

  "A tall Indian? Asking questions?" Doubt niggled. She ignored it. "I don’t suppose you've noticed there's more than one Indian around here. And since when is being curious a crime?"

  Henry’s features hardened. "That Indian worker disappeared right before the payroll went missing. I've sent a telegram to the worksite asking McGrady to come up here so he can identify the man we’ve got in jail. My gut tells me that Indian’s one and the same.”

  The skin on her arms prickled. No. She wouldn’t believe Jake was some common thief who’d stolen for personal enrichment. He was poor. His aunt lived in a one-room cabin.

  But he’d slipped once, saying he’d heard about her from the workers, then denied talking to them. If he and Charley were stealing the payroll, it made more sense why they’d broken into her father’s railcar, and why Jake panicked and abducted her, and why Charley wanted to kill her. It would also explain why Jake was so adamant about not wanting to get on the workers’ train. He was afraid someone might recognize him.

  Kate’s chest burned like her heart was on fire. She looked down at her hands, so her face wouldn’t give her away. Jake had lied to her. He’d led her to believe he was a good man down on his luck, an honorable man trying to protect his family, all the while toying with her affections. Why had she been so blind she couldn’t see what he was? She’d seen through other men easily enough, handsome faces that concealed rotten souls.

  “Miss Parsons?” The major’s voice was kind. He leaned forward, bringing them to eye level. “Is there something you want to tell me?”

  Lord, it was tempting to blurt out the whole sordid story, but she couldn’t form the words. She drew a shuddering breath, but nothing eased the searing pain. She couldn’t betray Jake, even though he’d betrayed her. With every kiss and tender touch, he’d betrayed her. He’d awakened her to love—that’s what this was, this thing dying in her chest—then killed it with his deceit.

  Her hands shook. She clasped them in her lap. Oh God, she wanted to scream, wanted to hit something, preferably Jake. Why had he let her make a fool of herself by bringing him here, parading him around like he was a respectable gentleman, when he was nothing more than a low down, dirty rotten thief.

  She shook her head. She had nothing to say. Not yet. Not until after she faced Jake. She would demand he confess his crimes and face justice. And if he lied, she’d consign him to hell.

  ###

  From outside the barred windows came the sound of footsteps. The iron door of the jailhouse creaked open and a flash illuminated the narrow passage between two cramped cells. Jake occupied one, being the only prisoner locked up for the night, unless they were hauling in another.

  Light shot through the bars, piercing the darkness. He lifted his arm, squinting around his splayed fingers with his good eye, the one that wasn’t nearly swollen shut.

  “On your feet,” the guard ordered. “You got a visitor.”

  The straw crunched as Jake shifted his legs so he could stand. His movement stirred up an awful stench. How long had it been since this place was cleaned? Never?

  Using the brick wall behind him as leverage, he climbed to his feet. Every part of him ached and his side felt like someone had stuck him with a burning stick. Probably a broken rib from one of Charley’s well placed blows. Was his cousin hurting this bad? He must’ve been well enough to get away, or he’d be sitting in one of these cells.

  The guard moved the light. It reflected off a woman’s pale skin and red hair.

  His heart stumbled. Redbird. Did her arrival mean she hadn’t betrayed him? Or was she coming here to gloat?

  She drew close to the bars. Her eyes burned like blue flames. Not gloating, but not happy to see him, either. Why would she be? He’d landed in jail.

  The guard hung the lantern on a hook outside the cell. His mouse-colored mustache twitched in a smile. “You want me to stay, ma’am?”

  She spoke without taking her eyes off Jake. “I can find my way to the door. You can leave.”

  The man raked Kate with a look that made Jake long to strangle him. “All righty then. When you wind up your visit, bring that lantern back to the office. He don’t need it out here.”

  Jake threaded his fingers through his hair and picked out a piece of straw. He hung back against the wall until the outside door clanked shut. He hated that Kate had to see him like this—trapped behind bars, beaten and bruised, stinking worse than a dead possum—and he debated maintaining his distance so he wouldn’t offend her further. But his feet moved forward. He couldn’t seem to stop them.

  “Hey…” His voice sounded rustier than the hinges on the barred doors. “They shouldn’t have brought you in here. They could arrange for us to meet somewhere cleaner.”

  Kate didn’t move a muscle. The flames in her eyes were trapped in ice.

  The ache in his side spread to his chest. He curled his fingers around the bars. “Are you angry because I left without telling you? I didn’t want to frighten you—”

  “No. You didn’t tell me about Charley because you didn’t trust me.” Her expression was as flat as her voice.r />
  He stirred the embers of anger, nursed as he’d waited and wondered whether it was her fault he was in here. But he couldn’t manage even a tiny flame. He didn’t want to be angry with her. He wanted to hold her. Given how she stood there, stiff as a starched collar, he didn’t reach through the bars to try. “You didn’t trust me, either. Or you wouldn’t have talked to Stevens and sent that bluecoat after me.”

  Her brows slashed down. “I didn’t send anyone after you. I didn’t even know you’d left the hotel until Eden came to my room and told me you were in jail.”

  “Then how did the major know I was at the hotel with you?”

  Her face grew hard like it was cast in clay. “We had a conversation after you went to your room. The major wanted to ask me some questions. Questions about you.”

  Jake’s side began to burn. He shifted his position, but didn’t let go of the bars for fear his knees would give way. “What sort of questions?”

  “What you looked like, where and when I met you.” She crossed her arms. Was she going to reveal how she’d answered those questions? “I understand your friend ran away. Now why would he do that?”

  Jake frowned, confused by her shift in direction. “What are you saying? Tell me straight.”

  “Straight?” Her arms dropped to her sides and her hands fisted. She looked like she wanted to pummel him even worse than Charley had done. “You want it straight? Fine. Then try this. You stole the railroad payroll. You and Charley.”

  The accusation struck him square in the chest. How had she—? The major must’ve discovered something, shared his suspicions with Kate. “Is that what they told you?”

  “Is it true?”

  Despair crept over him, followed by a sense of resignation. Or was it relief? This day of reckoning had been coming for some time. He’d known it, but he’d wanted to put it off for as long as possible. He could put it off no longer.

  Jake rested his forehead against the bars, closed his eyes. “It’s true.”

  “So, you admit it. I wondered whether you’d lie.” The disdain in her voice wrung his heart. Never again would she look at him the way she had in the peach orchard or in front of the hotel. What he’d seen in that look, he hadn’t dared name because he couldn’t offer her the kind of promise it would demand. But she’d made him believe for a moment he could give her the world. He’d felt good about himself, and he hadn’t felt that way in so long. Maybe never.