by Jodi Thomas
He stood at the window on the far corner of his store and watched the buggy moving through the light rain. He didn’t see her run up the steps, but as the buggy pulled away from her place, he saw the lamp come on in her room.
At least he knew she was safe and that she’d be waiting for him when he came to pick her up later. He had a wedding to get ready for and a gift to wrap.
Ten minutes later when he signed the card atop the boxed quilt, he wrote, From Abe and Sara without caring if it was the proper thing to do.
“Henry,” he called.
“Yes, Mr. Henderson?” Henry said from behind the shoe counter.
“Run the store until I return. You know where everything is.”
“Yes, sir.”
Abe pulled on his coat. If he hurried, he’d make it the three doors down in time to buy a proper cane and maybe a new hat at the tailor. Abe grinned. He’d never bought anything from another merchant in town. All his life he’d made do with whatever his store carried.
Only tonight was special.
Chapter 31
Main Street
Duncan McMurray sat on the edge of the bed, trying to ignore the pain in his chest. The doc kept telling him how lucky he was, but right now he didn’t feel very lucky. Bad luck seemed to be following him like a hungry dog. Losing the Tanner brothers was bad enough, but falling into a trap that had almost gotten him killed was worse. Then he’d made it back to Fort Worth, swearing all the way that he couldn’t leave Rose alone only to find she seemed to be able to take care of herself just fine. She’d even refused to marry him, which didn’t surprise Duncan. She’d refused to marry every man who asked her. Her road to the altar seemed destined to be paved with broken hearts.
In truth, he didn’t count his among those broken. He loved her, of course, had since he was five, but proposing just because they were the only two people alive who could put up with each other didn’t seem like a good reason to him after he had time to think about it.
“Looks like the wound is closed,” the doctor said as he began rolling a fresh bandage. “You’re lucky it was your left arm.”
“Stop saying I’m lucky, Doc, or I’ll take a swing at you with my right. If I’d been lucky, the bastard who did this would have missed.”
“Right,” the doc agreed, and moved faster as if he thought he might be dealing with something that might explode at any moment.
“How many bullets did you say you’d dug out of people, Doc?”
“Twelve. I just forgot to say they were out of the same person. A bank robber the town used for target practice as he left the bank. He died before I got the first one pulled, but I went ahead and took out the others for practice.”
“Glad you did,” Duncan smiled. “You did a fine job. Now you can say you’ve operated and removed thirteen bullets and half your patients lived.”
Rose walked in the bedroom like it was hers. “I’ve got everything arranged. The wedding will take place in the sitting room in one hour. Victoria is with Hallie getting ready and Killian went to his room to wash up. Stitch was sent to find a preacher and I’ve ordered food.”
“Rose.” Duncan hadn’t been listening to the details. He didn’t care. “Any chance you might forget I asked you to marry me?”
“I already have. You were obviously still under the fog of drugs.”
“Obviously.” He groaned thinking she was making him feel terrible, if that were possible. Being turned down was bad enough, but that she didn’t take him seriously seemed worse. The doctor packed up his things and Duncan managed to say thanks as Dr. Atamear hurried away. For some reason the doctor didn’t seem to like being in the same room with both of them.
Rose walked to the wardrobe and began unbuttoning her dress. “Turn your head, Duncan. I have nowhere else to change.”
“Not a chance.” He smiled and leaned back against the pillows.
She ignored him as she slipped out of her blouse and skirt. The sight of her well-rounded, petite body made him forget he was hurting. She turned her back as she changed her stockings, but he saw the curve of her calf for a second before she slid her petticoats back into place. Then she wiggled into a silk dress with buttons up the back. He liked the way the dress looked as it opened all the way to her bottom.
“I never realized how beautiful you are, Rose,” he said, meaning every word.
She looked up as she tried to button her dress. “Drugs again?”
He played along. “It must be the drugs the doc gave me, but you have the nicest body. The kind of curves that make a man want to move his hands down your sides and nicely rounded hips, and those breasts must be something if you’d ever unbind them.”
“Stop teasing me, Duncan. We don’t have the time.”
“Maybe I’m not teasing. I may be near death, but I still have eyes.”
“Of course you’re teasing and you are not near death. I’ve been told by more than one man who came to court that I’m the kind of woman men see as practical. A good choice in a wife because I can run the house and am not unpleasant to look at. None of them has quoted me poetry or claimed any passion for me.” She straightened, raising her chin slightly. “It’s all right. I don’t need that kind of nonsense in my life.”
“Oh no, dear Rose,” Duncan whispered. “That is exactly what you need.”
A tap on the balcony window kept her from answering. The frightening face of Stitch appeared behind the rain-streaked glass.
Duncan jerked at the sight a second before he recognized the man, but Rose simply rushed to let him in at the sitting room door. Grinning, Duncan added another beautiful thing about Rose. She saw people for who they truly were.
“I got your guns,” Stitch said as he followed Rose back to the bedroom. “They’re not as fine as I would have liked, but they’ll serve you well if needed.” He had a leather bag and a couple of pieces of expensive luggage.
“Thank you, Stitch. You’re an angel.” Rose took the leather bag. “If you two will excuse me, I need to finish getting ready.”
She didn’t wait for an answer but disappeared into the bathing area with the bag Stitch brought in one hand and her hairbrush in the other.
Stitch watched her go then took the chair next to the bed. “First I’m a ghost and now I’m an angel. You reckon I’m dead, Duncan, and don’t know it?”
“You’re doing better than me, Stitch. I usually only get called names that refer to my parentage, or lack of it. Rose thinks I’m an idiot and I’ve no reason to argue with her about the diagnosis.”
Stitch still watched the door where Rose had disappeared. “That’s one brave little woman,” he said as if he hadn’t been listening to Duncan. “You should have seen her standing there holding your gun. She made every shot count and the next one would have taken off my head if she hadn’t recognized me.”
“I’m glad I wasn’t the one who broke in to save her. She’s so mad at me right now she probably would’ve shot me.” He groaned as he moved. “All my life I’ve been thinking I was looking out for her, and all of a sudden the world’s turned upside down and I can tell you it don’t feel right.”
Stitch nodded. “I wouldn’t worry about it. After being around her for almost a week now, near as I can tell, she stays mad at you. Maybe it’s like an illness with her or maybe it’s a religion.” He set the luggage down. “Seems like I’ve been hauling Miss Victoria’s luggage around for days.”
“Forget about that, she’s got a half dozen others that look the same.” Duncan held his side. “You got any advice about helping me and Rose?”
“Nope. Fresh out. Figure I need to stop while I’m ahead.”
“You going with us tonight, Stitch?”
“No, I can’t, but I do have a favor. Any chance you could watch over Killian for me? The judge is a smart man, but since the war I’ve heard he don’t even carry a weapon.”
Duncan raised an eyebrow. “I didn’t even know you knew Judge O’Toole.”
Stitch wove his big,
scarred hands together. “I know him, but he don’t know me. I kind of watch over him from time to time.”
“If it’s important to you, I promise I’ll do my best until they step off the train. After they’re married we all plan to move down to the train station and board early. Rangers will be watching to make sure no one bothers us until we’re under way. The bride and groom plan to get off at the first stop that has a good hotel. From then on I think we all should stay away and let them have a honeymoon.”
Stitch smiled. “I think you’re right.”
Duncan leaned forward. “Would you help me get dressed, Stitch? I plan to make this wedding and I have no intention of asking Rose to help me.”
“Miss Rose is not going to be happy you’re moving around.”
“I don’t care,” Duncan said as he pushed his good arm into the shirt Stitch offered. “I can’t seem to make her happy. I might as well make her mad.” He swore with pain as the other arm moved. “She thinks she’s too good for me.”
Stitch shrugged. “She’s right.”
“I know, but while I was almost dying I set my mind to the idea of always coming home to her. Only, can you believe it, she didn’t take much to the idea.”
“I’m not surprised.” After Duncan swore again, Stitch added, “No woman just wants to be the place a man goes to when he’s tired or hurt and ain’t got no better place to go.”
“Since when did you become a sage, Stitch?”
“I don’t know. It just seemed to fall over me. Like some folks get religion, I guess. I’ve been trying to stop giving advice, but it ain’t easy with so many of you lost folks to preach to.” He laughed. “If I get any wiser I’ll have to open up and start talking to the masses.”
Duncan laughed through the pain as he tried to stand. “You want to come to the wedding we’re having here?”
Stitch shook his head. “I think I’ll just watch from the window.”
“Will you help me to the other room? I’d like to be sitting in a chair when Rose comes back. That way if she takes a swing at me I’ll be less likely to hit the floor.”
Stitch stood by his side as they crossed the room.
“Did you get the basket delivered?” Duncan asked, fighting to keep his mind off the pain shooting through his body with each step.
“I did. It’s on the midnight train in August Myers’s private car. I put enough rope around it that Myers will be a while getting it open and, when he does, he’s going to be real sorry.”
They reached the chair and Duncan lowered slowly. “Does he know it’s there?”
“Yeah, he watched from a carriage while I loaded it. Wouldn’t even get out of the coach to help me lug it on, but he did pay me. Told me to take the money back to Hargus and Shorty, then gave me ten dollars in gold to forget I even hauled anything. I’m guessing he doesn’t know his two partners in the kidnapping are in jail. The rangers had a doctor patch them up. He gave them so much opium to knock them out that I’ll be surprised if they wake up before the middle of next week.”
“Did Myers say anything else?”
“I heard him tell the driver to take him to the nearest gaming house. He laughed and said something about having a little fun to warm him up for a busy night.”
Stitch laid the envelope of money on the table. “I thought you could give the money to Killian and the lady. Hargus and Shorty don’t need it where they’re going.”
“I’ll do that,” Duncan promised.
Stitch hesitated and lowered his voice. “I heard talk among the haulers that Myers isn’t very nice to the women he buys for the night. Heard he likes to hurt them enough to make them cry while he takes his satisfaction.”
“I heard something to that effect in Dallas, but I could never get anyone to file a complaint.”
Stitch shook his head. “I’m sure glad there’s not a woman in that basket I delivered.”
“So am I.” Duncan leaned back in his chair and vowed, “When this is all over, I plan to find Myers and have a little talk with him.”
“I’ll go with you, Ranger. Just to see you’re not disturbed while you and him are visiting.”
Stitch moved out onto the balcony as someone tapped on the door. A moment later waiters from the fine restaurant delivered Champagne and little sandwiches not big enough to be a full bite. They made another trip bringing in glasses and a small cake.
Duncan had finished off half the tray of sandwiches when Rose came in. She took one glance at the tray and gave him one of her looks that said she thought he was a few levels below the family dog. He tried to look innocent, but being the only one in the room, it wasn’t easy.
Suddenly the place was full of people. Killian, all dressed up in a new black suit, which looked about the same as his other one, came in with his best friend, Abe Henderson, and Abe’s lady, a Miss Norman. She looked shy and Duncan didn’t miss that Henderson never let go of her arm. Henderson was tall and might have been handsome but for his hard-set features. The only thing that didn’t appear chiseled in stone about the man was his gentle hold on the shy lady.
Hallie entered with the girl Rose had picked up at the kidnapping. Hallie had changed from her maid’s uniform into a black traveling suit with a short black cape. Epley’s clothes were almost identical except they were brown. A man who claimed to be a preacher and who looked like he’d been sobered and scrubbed for the occasion walked in and stood by the fire.
Last came Victoria looking, as always, as beautiful and fragile as a porcelain doll. Her wedding dress, with matching floor-length coat, was ivory. Everyone froze as she walked the length of the small room as gracefully as if she were in a cathedral.
Finally, Killian stepped forward and took her hand. “You sure you want to do this?”
She nodded.
“Then we begin.”
Ten minutes later the ceremony was over and they all toasted the couple. Rose had everything organized, down to the carriages waiting at the north door. This late in the evening no one would notice them leaving, and even if one of the staff did see Victoria, they wouldn’t have time to notify Myers.
Duncan tried to smile, but the throbbing in his shoulder was pounding all the way to his head. He let the others go first so no one would see Stitch help him down the back stairs. The fewer people who knew he was hurt, the better.
“I don’t know if I can keep my senses about me enough to guard the train.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll be there watching out for you until you’re out of the station. I know what to do. Did you tell Miss Rose that Myers rented the last car?”
“No. I’m hoping we’ll all be boarded before he arrives.”
“I gave his driver the ten dollars to make sure that happens.” Stitch laughed. “He almost didn’t take my money. He said it wouldn’t be fair because he’s taken Myers around long enough to know that the man will be out whoring until the last minute.”
Duncan didn’t want to think about what would have happened if Victoria or Rose had actually been delivered to Myers, but anger seemed to help him focus.
“Myers has been spending money like a madman all day, the driver said. He told someone that after tonight he’ll be a rich man.” They’d reached the side door and Stitch helped Duncan into a bed made for him in the back of Stitch’s wagon. Duncan could feel the wooden sides of a stretcher against his shoulders as he lay down.
Once Duncan was in, Stitch covered him with a tarp. “I’ll take it as easy as I can.”
Duncan was too near passing out to answer. He knew Rose would have everything ready when they pulled up beside the train. Porters would be waiting to help him inside, and as always, Stitch would disappear into the shadows.
Chapter 32
With steam from the engine whirling around them, Stitch watched men lift the stretcher from his wagon and carry the ranger into a private car. The curtains were all down, but he knew Duncan would be the last to arrive. No one would see him being placed on the special sling of a bed. No one woul
d know how the ranger had disappeared.
Silently, Stitch moved to the end of the platform and waited. Miss Rose and all her people were safe, but he wasn’t finished with his job yet.
In the quiet night, he listened. The rain had finally stopped, but the air was thick, so damp it seemed to push against his skin. As he stared at the train car he couldn’t help but smile. Killian O’Toole was married. Something Stitch thought he’d never see. In a few hours he and his bride would be safely away from all this trouble and the others would be headed for a ranch some claimed was a fortress.
A slight sound tapped just behind him. Every muscle in Stitch’s big body tightened.
Then he smelled a familiar perfume and a hand touched his arm.
“You should be on the train, Hallie,” Stitch whispered as she moved in front of him.
“I wanted to say good-bye. I’m going with the McMurrays and I don’t know how long it will be before I get back.”
Stitch didn’t know what to say. “Good-bye, Hallie. It was real nice knowing you.”
She let out a huff. “If you’ll lean down a little, I’ll kiss you good-bye. I don’t know if I’ll ever see you again, but you’re a good man and I’ve decided maybe you’re a man I wouldn’t mind having as a friend.”
He leaned down, glad it was dark. His face would be hard enough to touch without having to look at it as well.
She placed her hand on his cheek and touched her lips to his. He took the feel of her like a blow, but he didn’t move. No woman, including his mother, had ever kissed him.
She stepped closer letting her body press lightly against his and, to his surprise, continued to kiss him. The woman acted like she hadn’t even noticed the scars cutting up his face and her body seemed every bit as soft as he’d imagined it might be.
When she finally pulled away, she patted his cheek. “That wasn’t so bad, was it?”
He smiled, wishing he could see her better. “No. It wasn’t.”
“Well, I’d best get back to the train. I don’t really know where I’m going or where I’ll end up but for the first time in a long time I’m looking forward to seeing what tomorrow brings. I have a feeling that wherever I settle is where I’ll want to be.”