Wild Texas Rose

by Jodi Thomas

  The kid, who claimed he was a doctor, looked at them both. “I know what I’m doing, people. I’ve taken bullets out before.”

  “How many?” Stitch asked.

  “A dozen,” he answered without hesitation.

  “How many of your patients lived?”

  “All but one.” The doctor opened his bag. “We’ve no time to waste. I’ll need someone to hold this man down if he wakes and he’ll need whiskey when I’m finished.”

  “He’s not just ‘this man.’” Rose straightened. “He’s a ranger and his name is Duncan.”

  The doctor looked at her and added in a gentler voice, “Then we’ll have to do our best for Ranger Duncan. Texas doesn’t have enough rangers as it is. We don’t need to lose one.”

  Rose reluctantly moved to the other room, thinking Duncan was so much more to her. Even though months often passed before she saw him, he was a part of her, a part of her life, a piece of her heart.

  Hallie turned into a mother hen. She helped Rose bathe and dress. All the while the maid talked about wounds she’d seen over her life as if the subject might cheer Rose up, but all Rose’s thoughts were on Duncan in the other room. Sometime in the night he’d been shot and he’d ridden to her before he collapsed. Something must have gone terribly wrong at the trial and he felt he had to make it back to her even before he took time to doctor a wound.

  The world was spinning out of control. All her life she’d lived with order, everything in its time and place. She clocked her day in chores and routine. When trouble or crisis came, she always managed to keep everything running with her ability to concentrate on what needed to be done. Only this time it wasn’t working.

  First, Victoria had demanded she come early to a wedding, but she never explained why. And when she’d arrived as instructed, there was an absent groom, a father hurrying the wedding along, and a bride disconnected to her own life.

  Then Duncan showed up, not to accompany her but to frighten her with stories of how bad the outlaws he caught were and how dangerous Fort Worth could be.

  Before Rose could make sense of it all, Victoria vanished, and within hours her father rode off on some kind of business that seemed more important than finding his daughter.

  Yesterday everyone had gone crazy looking for Victoria, and today Duncan showed up with a bullet lodged in his shoulder.

  Rose tried to stay calm while the doctor worked, but she felt like she was in a whirlwind. In her mind, she tried to find a pattern in the trouble, but none formed. Reason told her somehow all that was happening had to be connected and if she could just find the thread that tied them all together she could stop it.

  She decided the fewer people who knew Duncan was in her room the better, so she asked Hallie to step out and ask the doorman if the major had returned.

  The maid came back ten minutes later and sat down next to the small desk in the sitting room.

  Rose laid her pen down and waited for the report.

  Hallie began with the facts. “The major checked out an hour ago but left two men on duty in the lobby in case his daughter returned. The doorman said he overheard the major tell the men waiting to make sure she was on the next train to Galveston when she came in.”

  “That’s odd. Shouldn’t he be working with the sheriff?”

  “No,” Hallie corrected. “The odd part hasn’t been told yet.”

  Rose nodded for her to continue.

  Hallie lowered her voice to a whisper as if trying to tell the story exactly as it had been told to her. “Apparently, the major has been led to believe that his daughter was not kidnapped but is simply playing games with her future husband. Last night, when he checked on her things looking for clues, all her trousseau was in her room. So the major told Myers he might as well start handling his wife. He left telling Myers to be sure to show up in Galveston within three days with his wife and her luggage in tow.”

  Rose figured Myers was probably the one who convinced the major all was well. The pompous man would never consider that Victoria might not want to marry him.

  Hallie wasn’t finished with her report. “One of the detectives told the doorman that the maid, who was fired, came down a few minutes ago saying that Miss Victoria’s things had vanished. It had all been there when she went to bed, she said. Her best defense seemed to be that a ghost must have taken it because she locked all the doors. The hotel swore no one else would have a key to the rooms and no outsider would have ever been allowed up the stairs.”

  “So where is her luggage?”

  Hallie shrugged. “I don’t know, but the major and Mr. Myers are going to have a fit when they find out it’s missing. Wherever it is, I’m guessing it found its way to Miss Victoria.”

  Rose smiled with the thought that Tori might be happy. She’d had a feeling from the first that there was a good chance Tori had chosen to vanish. Rose only wished her friend had trusted her enough to tell her.

  “That’s not all, Miss McMurray. The major made sure to tell the clerk that he would not be picking up the bill for you or Mr. O’Toole. Since there is no wedding, the two of you are on your own.”

  “I hadn’t thought he would pay for me,” Rose answered. “Have you any idea where Mr. O’Toole is this morning?” He seemed to be the forgotten one. Apparently, August Myers hadn’t even thought to go into his best man’s room to wait until a room was ready yesterday. If they had been friends, wouldn’t Killian be with the grieving groom?

  “The doorman said O’Toole is still staying here. Said he left the hotel early this morning.” Hallie grinned, loving being the detective. “And August Myers hasn’t checked out of his room either. So he must not be going with the major. But this is interesting: He didn’t come in at all last night. Word is he’s across the street, passed out drunk.”

  They drank the pot of coffee that had been sent up with breakfast. Hallie ate a few bites of the now-cold pancakes and said she wanted to talk to Betty Ann. Maybe the maid knew something to add to this mess of a wedding party.

  Rose couldn’t sit still. She walked back into her bedroom as the doc was finishing bandaging Duncan’s shoulder and chest.

  “How is he?” she whispered.

  “If the fever don’t get him, miss, he’ll live, I’m thinking, at least till the next shootout. This is the famous Duncan McMurray, isn’t it? I was so consumed with what needed to be done I didn’t put the name together with the legend.”

  Rose looked over to Stitch, wondering if it would be wise to tell the doctor.

  Stitch nodded slightly.

  “Yes,” she said, “but we ask you to tell no one he’s here. I’m not sure it would be prop—”

  “Forget about proper.” The doc laughed. “I won’t tell anyone. I came in from Dallas last night on the train. Folks were talking about the shooting in the courtroom Monday. One guy claimed he’d heard that Jeb Tanner had his whole gang waiting for him as soon as he jumped from that courtroom and their single mission was to kill McMurray before they disappeared forever.”

  Stitch frowned. “Gangs like them don’t disappear. They usually keep robbing until they get caught or killed.”

  The doc pulled the covers to Duncan’s shoulders. “Keep him warm,” he said as he gave Rose a small bottle of opium. “Give him this for the pain if you have to and take him home as soon as you can. The Tanners are coming for this ranger and I have a feeling every ranger in this state would have to block the door to stop them.”

  “Thank you, Dr. Atamear, for the care . . . and the warning.”

  The doc looked back at Duncan. “Have any idea how or when he was shot?”

  Rose shook her head.

  “I’ll be back to check on him in a few hours. If the hotel staff asks, I’ll tell them you’re having female trouble.” He grinned. “That usually stops all questions. Women don’t like to think about it and men want to ignore it completely.”

  She kissed him on the cheek. “The McMurrays are in your debt, sir.”

  He suddenly
looked very young again as he blushed and left the room.

  Chapter 21

  Killian O’Toole decided he should go back to bed and start over. He’d planned on leaving the hotel early, collecting a couple of things for breakfast, and seeing Victoria before he had to begin playing his role of friend and groomsman to August Myers.

  But before he had crossed the lobby, the major spotted him.

  “Judge!” Victoria’s father yelled. “Hold up.”

  Killian watched as Major Chamberlain ordered the bellman to load his luggage.

  “I wanted to catch you and Myers before I leave. I absolutely have to be in Galveston as quickly as possible. I have full faith that August and the lawmen will find my daughter, but I wanted your assurance that you’ll help in the search. As a judge, you must be able to put pressure to widen the search. The dumb girl can’t walk a dog without getting lost. She couldn’t be far.”

  “I’ll do all I can,” Killian promised, not admitting to the major that a circuit judge had no power. If he did, he wouldn’t be spending the week riding from town to town.

  “I know you will.” Major Chamberlain patted Killian on the shoulder. “I expect her to be in Galveston by the end of the week even if Myers has to tie her up and drag her across the state.” The major smiled suddenly. “Any chance you could marry them? Judges do that, don’t they?”

  “We do.” Killian felt sick at the idea. “I’ll try to be of service to your daughter, sir.”

  “I’m depending on you.” The major looked like he was waiting to be saluted. When it didn’t happen, he stormed out of the lobby as if charging into battle.

  Killian wasn’t sure he’d said good-bye to him. The man’s total lack of love for his child shocked him. Though Killian had no memory of his father since he’d died soon after his son’s birth, he’d always thought that fathers were supposed to worry about their children.

  An hour later, when Killian crossed through the wet grass and slipped out the back gate heading toward the mercantile, he still couldn’t get the major’s words out of his head. Victoria had no mother to raise her and no father who cared. He was glad he’d been brave enough to hold her and tell her he was on her side. He’d said simply, “If you don’t want this marriage, walk away.” She hadn’t said a word, just kissed him and disappeared into the unlocked door of her friend’s room. An hour later, she’d tapped on his door and said, ‘I’ve walked away. Will you protect me?’

  “With my life,” he’d whispered, and meant it.

  Now Killian couldn’t wait to see her this morning. He wanted to hold her and let her know someone did care about her, but she seemed so fragile. Right now she needed a friend, not a lover. He knew Abe Henderson promised to leave the back door to his business unlocked in daylight so no one would suspect him entering the store, but they might think it strange that he had a key to an abandoned bakery.

  “Morning.” He waved to Abe standing at his tall desk halfway between the store and the storeroom.

  “Morning.” Abe grinned. “In a little while I’ll close for lunch. I usually lock both doors and have a little nap. You make yourself at home if you need something from the store.”

  “Have you heard anything from above?” Killian pointed to where he’d left Victoria.

  “Not a sound.”

  Killian headed down the hallway and took the stairs two at a time. At the top, he paused, unsure what to do. Finally, he tapped lightly.

  She didn’t answer.

  Killian tapped again and said, “Victoria, it’s me.”

  The door flew open and she was in his arms. Killian laughed. “I guess you’re glad to see me.”

  She smiled. “Of course, but I’m starving. What took you so long? What’s going on at the hotel? Is my father furious? Is poor Rose worried out of her mind?”

  “Hold on.” Killian pushed her gently into the apartment kitchen. “One question at a time. Why are you hungry? I brought up three boxes of supplies last night.”

  Victoria didn’t meet his gaze. “I can’t cook.”

  “Not even scrambled eggs?”

  “Nothing. I can order meals in five languages, but I’ve never made anything to eat besides sandwiches out of cold meat and bread.”

  Killian found it hard to believe that an adult couldn’t at least cook for herself, but Victoria was unique, unlike anyone he’d ever known. “I’m not much of a cook either, but I could make you eggs and toast.” He held up the bag he’d carried over from the hotel. “While you wait, I have hot rolls and apples.”

  “Great.” She took the bag and began rummaging. “Can you answer questions as you work? These aren’t going to last long.”

  “Of course. I’m surprised you didn’t go nuts up here without anyone to talk to.” He tugged off his coat and hung it on a peg, then tied an apron around his waist. He smiled, thinking how good it felt to have someone need him.

  Just as he cracked an egg against the skillet, she answered, “I would have been lonely, but Shawn kept me company. We talked for a while and he promised to watch over me until dawn.”

  Killian froze. A few times when he’d been drunk he’d thought he had seen or heard the ghost, but Killian had never known anyone else who did. “You saw Shawn?” he asked, forcing himself to move slowly while preparing for the next shock.

  “No. Of course I didn’t see him. But he talked to me. Told me he’d stay near.”

  Killian frowned. Shawn was his private ghost. He wasn’t sure he believed in him except when he’d had way too much to drink. If he even hinted that Victoria might be crazy, he’d be condemning himself as well. “Did he make you feel better?”

  “Yes. He made me feel not so alone. He called me ‘honey’ just like my grandfather used to do when I was little.”

  Killian smiled. If Victoria wanted to play like she’d talked to Shawn, what did it matter if it gave her comfort? He’d done the same thing since he’d left his brother’s body on the battlefield. If he kept talking to Shawn, somehow he wasn’t quite so alone in the world and Shawn didn’t seem so dead.

  When he’d met Victoria that day in the cemetery, he’d sensed her need to talk to someone, for she too felt alone. Their shared longing had pulled her to him even more than her beauty. Like him, she’d turned to books sometimes and between them they’d decided they’d read almost every book in the library.

  As he cooked their meal, he told her all about what he’d seen and heard from the hotel. She didn’t seem the least bit worried about her father or Myers. The only one she seemed concerned about was Rose.

  “She deserves a better friend than me,” Victoria finally said. “I asked her to come because I knew she’d be on my side. She was always like that in school. No matter what a fool I made of myself, she never laughed or turned away. I played on her kindness, I’m afraid.”

  “She’s got a good heart.” Killian put the food on one plate. “Want to share my food?” he asked as he took the other chair at the tiny table by the window.

  “I thought it was my food,” she answered.

  He set the huge plate of eggs between them. “All right, I’ll share this time, but next time you have to help with the cooking if you want to eat.” When she frowned, he added, “Or you could always do the dishes.”

  She took a bite. “I don’t know how.”

  “Eat up, little princess.” He grinned. “I’ll teach you after we’re finished.”

  They talked and planned as they ate the simple food. Neither of them was sure of what to do. Right now she was safe and not under her father’s thumb. That seemed enough. Something inside told Killian that these few days might be all he had with her. The chances of them getting out of the city without getting caught weren’t good, and if Killian went missing too, it wouldn’t take a brain to figure out that they were together. So he’d play his role as August’s friend for a little longer. Maybe in a few days the newspaperman would leave as Chamberlain had.

  Wiping a touch of jelly off her cheek, he said, “I
won’t leave you alone, Victoria. I promise.”

  “I know. Since the day we met I’ve always felt I had a friend. Somehow, in the back of my mind, I knew if I could get to Fort Worth, you’d help me figure a way out of this mess.”

  “We will, together.” He stood.

  She laughed suddenly. “We also have Shawn to help. You’re a good friend, but he may be the perfect one. He watches over me and doesn’t eat half my food.”

  “I have to get back,” he said as he pulled on his coat. “I have to play the part back at the hotel, but I promise, when I return I’ll bring more food. Do you always eat so much?”

  “Only when I’m happy.”

  “You’re happy now?” To him, it seemed she was in the biggest mess of her life. He wasn’t sure she meant her words or was simply acting the part she thought she was expected to play. He saw a kaleidoscope of feelings dancing in her eyes. The woman was fascinating, but the person below, deep inside, was the one he longed to know. The woman beneath seemed painted over by a hundred layers of polish.

  “I have the promise of being free and that is more than I’ve had in years. I know it’s only a flicker of hope, but it’s more than I ever let myself believe in. I feel excited just thinking about controlling my own life and not having everything I do or say evaluated and reviewed.”

  She looked up at him with tear-filled eyes. “I should tell you that my father plans to leave the country in a few days. He thought the wedding would cover up some of his activity. That’s why he allowed the wedding to be in Fort Worth. He’s not so well known here. He’s been moving money and supplies for weeks. When he relocates, he wants me with him, willing or not.”

  “I figured it was something like that.”

  “I’m only a small part of his plan. If he can’t find me, he won’t delay. He’ll go on without me as soon as he gets the rest of his men and all the money he’s been hiding away for years.”

  “What about August Myers?”

  “I don’t know. Without me on his arm I don’t think he’ll be too important to my father. The major thinks this marriage will give him grandsons . . . almost as good to him as sons. He’s building an empire in South America. It’s been his dream since the war. He thinks he can go back to living like he did years ago in Georgia.”