by Jodi Thomas
She felt her hand shake. Until now she hadn’t had time to be afraid, she’d just done what had to be done. Rose stared at the two men on the floor. “I didn’t kill them, but I think we need to have them arrested. They thought I was Victoria and kidnapped me.”
Rose couldn’t stop shaking. An ice storm seemed to be moving through her entire body. Without thought, she raised her arms to Stitch.
He hesitated, then swept her up in a big bear hug. “It’s all right, little miss, you was as brave as you needed to be when it counted. You told me that first day you could take care of yourself, but I didn’t believe you. I said I’d make sure you got out safe and back to the hotel and that’s just what I plan to do.”
The solidness of him steadied her. When he set her back down, she’d managed to gain back a bit of her composure. “I’m ready to go, Stitch.” The dark ugliness of this place seemed to whirl around her.
The big man smiled. “Yes, miss.”
Several strangers were at the door trying to volley for spots so that they could see in. One yelled that he’d run for the law while the others just stared at Hargus and Shorty jerking in their own blood like they were docked fish. Not one onlooker stepped inside to offer care.
Stitch moved to the two kidnappers, both crying for help. The scarred man just crossed between them and made sure all their weapons were removed. Then he stared down at them as if he saw only wounded snakes. “Where’s the old man who owns the place?”
“He’s dead,” a small voice said from the corner of the room. “When he was shot, they left him in the back to die.”
Rose wiped the Colt she’d borrowed from Duncan with her handkerchief and replaced it back in the holster. “Stitch, this is Epley. If she would like, she is welcome to come with us.”
“Hargus said I’d be put in jail if the law finds me. He says I’m too young to be on my own so I’d go to jail unless I stayed with him.”
Rose wasn’t sure what would happen to a girl who was pregnant but not quite a woman. “I know a judge. We could ask him, but Epley, no one owns you. You’re free to go or come.”
The girl looked at Stitch and backed away.
Rose spoke softly to the girl. “Epley, this is Stitch, my friend. I swear he’ll never lay a hand on you. No one will as long as you are with me.”
“Or you’ll shoot him?” The girl glanced over at the two wounded men. Hargus was cussing and Shorty had passed out.
When she looked up, Rose patted the handle of her gun. “Or I’ll shoot him.”
“Miss Rose,” Stitch said politely, “we might want to be getting out of here before the sheriff shows up. You’ve got enough problems right now without spending the day explaining.”
Rose raised an eyebrow. “You don’t think we should stay around to get the facts of what happened straight?”
He shook his head. “Does it matter?”
“No. The girl and I are safe and that’s all that is worth mattering about here.” Rose straightened and removed Victoria’s beautiful midnight coat. She draped it around the girl and walked her out while Stitch cleared a path with one sweep of his arm against the growing crowd.
The rain had slowed as he helped the girl and Rose into his wagon, then tossed the big basket in the back along with the few bags of Victoria’s trousseau the kidnappers had brought along.
Ten minutes later the women were at the side door of the hotel. Stitch let them out, saying simply that he had something that needed doing but he’d return as soon as he could.
No one stopped Rose and the girl as they rushed up to her room.
They found Duncan propped up in bed eating and Hallie fussing over him. The young doctor was asleep in the chair next to the bed.
Rose set Epley down in a chair, grinned at Duncan, then stared at the doctor. “He looks exhausted,” she said, thinking that Atamear looked worse than Duncan.
Hallie eyed the dirty, shoeless child then answered. “The doc’s been snoring for an hour. Probably dreaming about being able to grow a beard.” She pointed at the girl. “Who’s she?”
“A friend who saved my life. I’ll explain later.” She motioned with her head for Hallie to move the tray of muffins closer to the girl. “How’s Duncan?”
“He’s—”
“I can answer for myself,” Duncan interrupted with a frown. He turned his full attention to Rose. “Tell this woman to stop babying me like I was an invalid. I only got one little hole in me. Well, I would be fine, but someone stole my gun.” He glared at her.
“Since you forgot to ask, Stitch and I are back safe and sound, but I think I need to talk to you about the fact that you missed your Colt more than me. Right now I need to get out of these wet clothes. If you even think of getting out of bed, I’ll put another bullet in you and we’ll have to wake up the doc.” She motioned for Hallie and the girl to follow her into the bathing room.
Duncan looked like he was angry, but she saw the laughter in his eyes.
As soon as the women were alone, Rose asked the maid to run around to the Henderson Mercantile to buy Epley clothes she’d need for several days. While Hallie took the girl’s measurements, Rose jotted down a note.
“This child is going to need everything from shoes to coat.”
“I know.” Rose handed over her purse. “Buy a traveling case and anything else she might need.”
Hallie stared at the purse. “You trust me with your money, miss?”
Rose laughed. “If you hadn’t been honest, you could have picked my pocket days ago. Now hurry back, and as you leave the store, please hand this note to the man who owns the place and then disappear before he has time to open it.”
Tugging on her raincoat, Hallie added as she left, “I’ll order that cowboy another breakfast. That man eats more than a horse. You sure you want to keep him around, Miss Rose?”
Rose laughed as the maid disappeared. In truth, she could hardly wait to get back to Duncan and tell him all that had happened.
She showed Epley the bathing area and told her to stay in the tub until the maid returned. The girl seemed suddenly shy, not comfortable pulling off the rags she wore while Rose was still in the room.
“You’ll be back?” Epley whispered as Rose stepped to the door.
“When you’re finished.”
The girl nodded and smiled. “You are very brave, miss.”
Rose wanted to tell her she’d never been brave. Then she reconsidered. Maybe just this once she had been. She’d been brave when it counted most.
Chapter 27
Second Avenue
Abe had worked for a half hour hearing something knocking away above him. He’d climbed the stairs to his rooms over the mercantile and found no window flapping open. Nothing in the apartment seemed to make the sound, but it still came as regular as a heartbeat. He checked the storage room and the old part of the bakery.
The knocking was coming from directly above the bakery.
Abe hesitated. Of course he knew Killian’s lady was upstairs, though he’d never actually met her. He didn’t want to frighten her, but something might be wrong.
He started up the stair. “Killian,” he called, not wanting to surprise them.
The hammering started harder.
“Killian?” Abe reached the top of the stairs. “Are you in here?”
The door was open slightly. As he pushed it wider he saw them tied up in chairs by the window. Within seconds he was helping them get free. Killian was cussing mad, but the woman only cried.
After a moment Killian seem to realize that all the swearing was doing her no good.
Abe had no idea what to do or say. Asking questions didn’t seem to help and he had little practice at calming hysterical females.
Finally, Killian pulled the woman under his arm and held her as she cried.
When she calmed a bit, he told Abe what had happened in short precise sentences. “They know where we are even if they didn’t know which one was Victoria. This place is no longer safe, but
our first concern has to be Rose.”
Abe pulled a slip of paper from his apron pocket. “That explains this note some woman brought me a few minutes ago. I couldn’t make sense of it. I thought it must have been meant for Henry.”
Killian took the note and read it aloud. “Back at hotel. Safe. Have to stay with Duncan. You both should disappear. Rose.”
Victoria stopped crying and took the note. “I almost got my one friend killed. Oh, Killian, I could have lost her. This is all my fault.”
“Not you,” Killian whispered as he kissed her forehead. “None of this is your fault.”
“I should go to her.”
Both men said no at the same time, but Killian added, “Not until we know you’re safe. Trust me, any woman who can handle a Colt can take care of herself. You didn’t send her out there, she wanted to go. She knew she was armed and would have a chance.”
Abe nodded slowly. “Your friend is safe back at the hotel, but you’re no longer safe here. If these two found this hiding place, so might someone else.”
Killian agreed with Abe. “I’m not sure she’s safe anywhere. I thought I was helping her, but I may have only made things worse.” Killian shook his head. “August Myers seems to be willing to go to any length to marry her. She won’t be safe until he’s out of the country.”
“Or one of them is dead,” Abe added.
“Stop talking about me as if I’m not here listening.” Victoria pouted. Now that she knew Rose was safe, the world could go back to revolving around her.
“I’m sorry,” Killian offered, but Abe just stared. On a good day he couldn’t handle even an ordinary woman and this wasn’t a good day any more than Victoria Chamberlain was an ordinary woman. She talked to ghosts, had an imaginary staff who delivered a wagonload of luggage while everyone else slept last night, and had a judge so wrapped around her finger he was apologizing for talking.
“I should be getting back to the store.” Abe said the first thing he could think of to escape.
“Wait,” Killian stopped him. “We’ve got to figure something out. If Myers is willing to offer a reward to get Victoria back under any circumstance, he’s willing to break a few laws.”
“A lot of laws,” Victoria stormed, suddenly angry. “I can’t believe I ever even spoke to the man. My father is so taken in by Myers, he’ll never take the time to hear the truth.”
“Your father isn’t here.” Killian kept his words low. “He left with instructions for Myers to bring you with him no matter what. I heard a doorman say that even though it’s been years since the war, Major Chamberlain gives the orders and expects them to be followed.”
Abe watched the beautiful woman’s face twist in rage. She knew she was trapped. Not even her father would help her. He’d passed responsibility for her off to another.
“There has to be a way out of this,” Killian tried. “We’ve got to think of a safe place for her, Abe. Surely in a town this size there’s somewhere.”
“Myers isn’t going to stop looking until he finds her and pulls her before a preacher.” Abe had never met the man, but he’d heard about him.
“Or I’m married to someone else,” Victoria whispered, an idea forming in her head as she spoke.
Both men were silent.
“Myers has probably figured out that Rose isn’t me by now and the kidnappers are on their way back to get me.” Victoria was a woman used to getting what she wanted when she wanted it. She shoved her tears aside and stared at the two men.
“All right. It’s simple. Which of you two would like to marry me?”
Both hesitated.
She pouted. “Come on, gentlemen, it’s not like either of you is courting anyone. You’re both over thirty and bachelors. I’m not exactly without worth.” She thought for a minute. “True, I do have a crazy father and a fiancé who’s willing to go to extreme measures to win my hand, but on the upside, I have a small inheritance and I’ve already bought the wedding dress.”
Abe spoke before he thought. “I am seeing someone. In fact, in the very near future, I hope to ask her to marry me.”
Victoria looked at Killian. “That leaves you, Judge. You kissed me once, so you must have feelings for me.”
“Of course I do. I’d die for you.”
She smiled. “But, Killian, will you live with me?”
Abe could almost see Killian’s logical mind working. He was a man who lived out of saddlebags. A man who bathed once a week. He had no family. No roots. No money. The judge was a loner who, until recently, had considered a grand evening one of drinking until he passed out.
But, Abe thought with a smile, Killian didn’t see what he was. He was a good friend and a good man. He tried to do what was right. He kept his brother’s memory alive in his thoughts, and most of all, Abe could see it in his eyes, Killian loved Victoria despite her perfect beauty.
Chapter 28
Main Street
Leaning against the bedroom doorframe, Rose watched Duncan sleeping as she listened to Killian in the sitting room a few feet away. He’d explained the plan they’d come up with to save Victoria. It seemed a little extreme. Surely there must be a better way than sacrificing the judge.
When the judge took a breath, Rose asked, “Is this going to be a real marriage, Killian, or have you had time to think about that?”
He shook his head. “I haven’t had much time to think about it. I think Victoria just wants to get out of this mess. I somehow can’t see her wanting to put on an apron and set up housekeeping on what I make each month.” He smiled a sad smile. “Me either.”
“Do you love her?”
He nodded. “She’s beautiful. I don’t think I could ever tire of staring at her, but that’s not why I love her. She’s not like anyone I’ve ever met. She’s unique.”
Rose thought of asking if he’d ever really talked to Victoria, but she didn’t see the point. If she knew Victoria, there would be other crises to fight as soon as this one was over. Maybe not as big, but just as demanding on his time. Killian O’Toole struck her as a dreamer. Maybe he didn’t want anything real from Victoria any more than she wanted a real husband from him.
“I’ve got to go find someone I trust who’ll marry us. Victoria still wants you to be her maid of honor. In fact, I think despite the change in grooms, she plans to continue all the other details. Thanks for loaning us your maid, Hallie. Victoria is going to need help. No one’s seen that nutty maid of hers since she was fired.”
With all that had been happening Rose hadn’t given Betty Ann a thought. “Where’s the wedding?”
“Nowhere sounds safe. I’ll be on edge until it’s done, then I’ll worry about Myers making her a widow.”
“How about here? I could be all packed up by dark. The doctor said as long as his stitches hold we can move Duncan tonight. We’re not leaving until the midnight train.”
Killian shook his head. “We’d have to move Victoria and all her stuff over here. I think she’s safer across the alley. I used Duncan’s name and got a couple of rangers willing to spend the day standing guard over there. It wouldn’t surprise me if half the hotel staff is watching out for her, just hoping she’ll show up so they can claim the reward.”
He was probably right, Rose realized. Every time she stepped out her door someone asked her if Miss Chamberlain had returned.
Rose’s mind began to do what she did best—organize. “What if just the two of you come over at dusk? You can use the garden stairs. I’ll have Stitch move her luggage directly to the train. After you’re married, you could leave with us at midnight and switch trains somewhere along the way then disappear for a few weeks.”
Pacing, Rose added, “I’ll have Duncan with me, and if we’re careful no one will know you two have left the train until we reach our final stop.”
“Might be a great plan. The midnight train wouldn’t have many passengers, and if we’re in your private car no one would notice us.”
Killian walked to the bedroom do
or and looked over at Duncan. “Your cousin going to be all right?”
“Sure. He’s been complaining all afternoon that he’s fine.” She smiled. “He wants to get out of bed and go over to put a few more bullet holes in those two kidnappers.”
“I know how he feels.” Killian pointed to the young man sleeping in a chair in the far corner of the sitting room. “Who’s he?”
“The doc. Seems he was up all night delivering a baby and stopped by this morning to check on Duncan. Hallie made the mistake of feeding him and he’s been sleeping here ever since.”
“And the girl sleeping in the maid’s bed?”
“I’m just helping her find her way,” Rose answered, knowing that Killian was just making sure all was safe for Victoria to return. “I told the girl if she’d like to come along, I thought she might want to stay with us on Whispering Mountain for a while.”
“I heard you McMurrays take in strays.”
Rose grinned. “We do. Once my papa took in my mother and three little girls. He says he didn’t know what living was until he married.”
Killian shrugged. “Who knows, I might feel the same way.”
Without another word, he walked out. Rose didn’t know whether to be happy for the judge or feel sorry for him. He was marrying Victoria, after all, and that seemed like a full-time job in itself.
She checked on Epley and then slipped into her bedroom, closing the door to the world beyond.
Without hesitating, she crawled in bed beside Duncan, needing him near even if he was hurt and asleep.
When she rolled to face him, his sleepy blue eyes focused on her. “I heard you were a hero,” he whispered.
“Oh, you did? Well, you were probably misinformed. I’ve never been brave. I just did what had to be done.”
“Rose, that’s what heroes do.” He reached and took her hand. “Why don’t we get married tonight?”