The Sheriff (Historical Romance)

by Nan Ryan

  “How did they learn about the gold?”

  “I don’t know. I can’t understand it. I didn’t tell anyone and I’m sure Chang Li didn’t, either.”

  “When did you discover the gold?”

  “After the earthquake. The tremor shifted a wall of rock inside the mine and exposed a rich vein. Once we’d found the gold and had it assayed in Last Chance, Chang Li thought it best to guard the mine at night. But last night he was sick with a fever, so I took his place.”

  “You sure you didn’t mention finding the gold to anyone?”

  “No, I just told you, we—”

  “Not even to Winn DeLaney?”

  Kate immediately took offense. “Winn DeLaney would never harm me!”

  “I didn’t say he would,” Travis replied. “I just asked if perhaps you had mentioned to him that—”

  “I did not tell Winn about the gold.”

  Thirty-Three

  Winn DeLaney was angry.

  With the collar of his Inverness cloak turned up around his ears, he stood out in the cold behind the Whiskey Hill Saloon, gritting his teeth and quietly cursing.

  Two o’clock had come and gone with no sign of Spears and Kelton. He had specifically told them to meet him here and hand over the tailings from the Cavalry Blue Mine. It was a simple assignment.

  At 2:30 a.m. the night winds rose. The temperature continued to drop. Winn paced back and forth, slapping his hands together, trying to keep warm. It was impossible.

  Frozen and furious, he returned to the hotel at ten minutes past three. His mistress, Melisande, was waiting up for him. She was eager to hear what had happened and to examine the bag of gold tailings.

  “Damn them both,” Winn swore, as he entered the suite. “That pair of fools never showed up.”

  “No? Why not?”

  Cold and short-tempered, Winn snapped, “How the hell should I know? Something must have happened. Maybe that little coolie put up a fight and they’re all lying up there dead. Right now, I don’t much give a damn. I’ve been standing out there freezing my ass off and I just want to get in bed.” He shrugged out of his cloak and began undressing as he walked into the bedroom.

  Frowning, Melisande followed, warning, “This is not good, Winn. Not good at all. I’m worried.”

  “Well, worry in silence,” he said, and crawled into bed. “I’m sleepy.” Soon he was slumbering.

  Melisande wasn’t.

  She lay awake in the darkness, feeling uneasy. She knew that something bad would come from this.

  Something very bad.

  The sun came up and the town of Fortune began slowly stirring to life. Travis checked the sleeping Kate one last time and left his quarters. He was seated behind his desk when Jiggs Gillespie came to work that cold autumn morning.

  “Mornin’, Trav,” Jiggs said cheerily, taking off his warm coat. He immediately frowned when he saw how haggard his boss looked. “God Almighty, Travis, what is it? What’s wrong?”

  Travis quickly told him of the shooting, concluding with the order, “Organize a posse and go after Spears and Titus. I know there’s not much chance of finding them, but we have to try.”

  “Consider it done,” said Jiggs.

  By midmorning Jiggs and the mounted posse rode out of Fortune to the cheers of men loitering about on the street. The loud commotion awakened Winn DeLaney. He rushed to the window to look out.

  He knew, without being told, that the posse was after Spears and Kelton. Nervous, and cursing under his breath, Winn hurriedly dressed and went down to breakfast to see what he could find out. When he overheard the conversation at the next table, he blanched.

  Kate had been shot!

  At once he felt ill and lightheaded. What on earth had she been doing at the mine in the middle of the night? How badly had she been hurt? Where were Spears and Kelton? They must have escaped, or by now he’d be clamped in irons.

  Winn pushed his breakfast plate away and left. Out on the street, the shooting was all anyone was talking about. Winn joined in their conversations, expressing his outrage. Everyone agreed that the dastardly pair who had shot and wounded Kate VanNam were probably long gone and would never be found.

  Winn Delaney was the only man in Fortune who feared the pair might be caught.

  Still, he knew it was highly unlikely. And he was not leaving Fortune until he got his hands on the gold which he had schemed so long to claim. He was willing to take his chances.

  Shortly after the posse had ridden away, Winn, who had seethed when he’d learned that the wounded Kate had been taken to McCloud’s quarters, showed up at the city jail.

  “Sheriff,” he said, stunned to encounter McCloud. “I would have thought you had ridden out with the posse.”

  “Surprised to see me, are you, DeLaney?”

  “A bit. You being the head lawman, hired by the Committee of Vigilance to keep the peace. Shouldn’t you be out doing just that?”

  “My trusted deputy is leading the posse,” Travis said. “I thought it wise to stay here and watch over Miss VanNam.”

  “I heard the terrible news.” Concern clearly written on his smoothly shaved face, Winn said, “I should think Dr. Ledet would be caring for Kate.”

  Travis didn’t bother telling DeLaney that Doc Ledet was not in town. “Hopefully,” he said, without rising from his chair, “we’ll catch those responsible and bring them to swift justice.”

  “Yes, yes,” Winn said. “Hanging is too good for them.”

  “I couldn’t agree more.”

  “But Kate? How is my dear sweetheart? I’m here to see her,” Winn said. “Perhaps I can offer a degree of comfort and…”

  “Sorry, DeLaney, your generous offer will have to wait,” Travis said. “She’s not receiving visitors.”

  “I’m not just any visitor, McCloud.” Winn fought to contain his irritation. “Perhaps you’re unaware that Miss VanNam and I have…well, an understanding. We’re planning to be married.”

  “Comes as news to me.” Travis grinned then and asked, “Will it come as news to her?”

  Determined to control his temper, Winn said calmly, “Certainly not. As Kate’s intended, I insist on seeing her.”

  Travis pushed back his chair, stood up and hooked his thumbs in his gun belt. “Insist all you like, DeLaney. It’s not going to happen. You have to go through me to get to her.”

  “You can’t mean you’re actually refusing to let me see her.”

  “That’s exactly what I mean.” Travis came around the desk. “There’s the door. Don’t come back.”

  “You’ve overstepped your authority, McCloud. You can’t keep me away from Kate.”

  “Wanna bet?”

  “You had a visitor earlier today,” Travis told Kate late that afternoon as he uncovered a steaming bowl of Alice Hester’s broth.

  “Alice?”

  “Make that two visitors,” Travis corrected. “Alice brought the broth and a freshly baked loaf of bread. Said she’d be back to see you when you’re feeling better. Winn DeLaney stopped by.”

  Kate glared at Travis. “Let me guess. You refused to let him see me.”

  “For your own good.” He went to the bureau, took a clean nightshirt from the drawer and returned to the bed. “You’re not up to tolerating visitors.”

  “I’m not up to tolerating you,” she said, making a mean face at him.

  “You’ll like me better once you get this nightshirt on and have had something to eat.”

  “I doubt that. Leave the nightshirt here and go away.”

  “Sorry, Kate. You can’t manage alone. Like it or not, you need my help.”

  “I don’t like it,” she told him, but cooperated when he sat down on the edge of the mattress, facing her, and slipped the nightshirt over her head.

  Taking care not to hurt her, Travis managed to get her arms through the sleeves, and he dutifully closed his eyes as he pulled the garment down to her waist.

  “There!” he said when the task was c
ompleted. “Better?”

  “Better,” she admitted reluctantly.

  She even agreed to try a few spoonfuls of the broth Alice had made. But she got angry when, as Travis fed her, and they talked about the shooting, he suggested that Winn DeLaney might be responsible.

  “What an asinine thing to imply!” she said, eyes flashing. “That is the most ridiculous statement I have ever heard!”

  As if she hadn’t spoken, Travis said, “Bert Bost—you’ve seen him around town on crutches—lost a leg fighting under Scott in the Mexican War. Shortly after DeLaney arrived in Fortune, Bost brought me some disturbing intelligence. He said there was captain at the Battle of Buena Vista who wore distinctive golden spurs.” Travis paused, let it sink in. “A cold-blooded killer, scared the Mexican soldiers to death.”

  “So? Winn’s a war hero. That’s some slander to his character.” Kate rolled her eyes.

  “Do you have a brother, Kate?”

  The question completely caught her off guard. Travis could tell by the look in her eyes that the answer was yes. He said evenly, “I made some written inquiries to San Francisco. The provost marshal at the Presidio has pay records that show a Gregory Van-Nam was also with Scott at the Battle of Buena Vista.”

  For a long moment, Kate was silent. Finally she said, “A coincidence at best. If Winn knew my brother, he would have mentioned it. And what does any of this have to do with me being shot?”

  “Perhaps nothing,” Travis admitted. “Let’s hope I’m wrong.”

  “I told you who shot me! Those two cruel bullies who once beat up Chang Li. A cultured man like Winn DeLaney would not know such men, much less have dealings with them.”

  “Need sometimes makes for strange bedfellows, Katie.”

  “Don’t call me Katie! And Winn would never need them. Why would he?”

  “You sure you never mentioned to DeLaney that you’d found the gold?”

  “I am absolutely certain I never told him. Or anyone else. Chang Li and I vowed we’d keep it to ourselves, and we did. You know what your problem is? You just can’t believe that a man like Winn DeLaney would be interested in me for me alone. And furthermore, I believe you’re jealous of Winn. Admit it, Sheriff.”

  Travis said nothing. Which made her all the more angry.

  “Get away from me,” she said. “Winn responsible, indeed! You’re out of your mind.”

  But Kate began to have doubts. Did Winn know Gregory? And if so, had Gregory told him about the mine? Could Winn actually be responsible for the shooting? Was he after the gold?

  She thought back over the times Winn had asked her countless probing questions about the Cavalry Blue. She hadn’t thought anything about it, but maybe he’d had more than a healthy curiosity in the claim.

  Was he more interested in the mine than he was in her? Had he known all along that there was gold in the Cavalry Blue?

  Thirty-Four

  “I want to go home,” Kate said, and not for the first time.

  “Not a chance,” Travis calmly told her.

  Forty-eight hours had passed since Chang Li had carried the wounded Kate to the sheriff’s quarters. It was just past sunset, the start of another freezing cold night. Travis was stirring the new logs he’d thrown into the fireplace, watching the flames leap high and set shadows to dancing over the big, warm room. When he laid the poker aside, he turned and came to the bed.

  “I know you want to go home, Kate, but I can’t let you. You’ve lost blood, you’re weak and you need bed rest. Besides, we’re not sure who was behind this shooting. You wouldn’t be safe alone.” His tone was mellow, the look in his dark eyes one of compassion.

  “I’m not afraid, Sheriff,” Kate said softly, disarmed by his demeanor.

  Travis’s smile magically changed his handsome face like some inner burst of light from within. His obsidian eyes glittered when he asked, “Is there anything in this world you’re afraid of, Kate VanNam?”

  They stared at each other.

  “You, Sheriff,” she finally replied candidly, unnerved by the intimacy that circumstances beyond their control had forced on them.

  Travis sank down onto a chair beside the bed. He reached for her hand and held it in both of his own. “Don’t be afraid of me, Katie. I could never hurt you.” He squeezed her fingers and said, “Do me a favor? Call me by my name, just once. Say it. You never have. Do it now.”

  Kate gazed into his dark, penetrating eyes and was mesmerized. She drew a shallow breath and said, “Thank you very much for all you’ve done for me, Travis.”

  “Again.”

  “Travis.” Kate smiled at him. “Travis,” she said once more. “Travis, Travis, Travis. I do like your name, Travis.”

  “And you’ll call me by name from now on.”

  “Yes, I will, Travis.”

  He smiled and slowly lifted her hand as he bent his dark head. He placed the softest of kisses in her open palm, then lowered her arm and tucked it back beneath the covers.

  “Now, how would you like some of Alice’s delicious vegetable stew?” he asked.

  “I’d like that.” She favored him with a teasing smile before adding softly, “Tra…vis.”

  He nodded, rose to his feet and turned away, hoping she didn’t see the foolish grin on his face. It thrilled him to simply hear her say his name.

  Kate turned her head on the pillow and watched as he crossed the room. With his back to her, he stood at the cookstove ladling stew from a pan. She stared at him, wondering if he had any idea how glad she’d been to see him when he’d returned to his quarters at sunset.

  Alice had been in and out several times, running over from the bakery across the street, bringing food and good cheer. And Chang Li, now well and worried about her, had stopped by to check on her and to assure her that he was keeping close watch on the mine. And, of course, Cal had spent long hours stretched out on the foot of bed, his mere presence a comfort.

  But while she had soundly objected to being left alone with the sheriff at night, Kate found herself looking forward to the moment when, after a long day spent discharging his many duties, Travis returned to his quarters. And her.

  Watching him now as his midnight hair gleamed in the firelight and his wide shoulders strained the fabric of his tan gabardine shirt, Kate felt incredibly safe and content. Travis had taken excellent care of her, serving as both doctor and nurse. To her surprise, he had been unfailingly kind and understanding.

  Also, more than once she had awakened from a catnap to catch him gazing at her with an expression of such unguarded tenderness in the depths of his beautiful eyes that she had fought the strong desire to reach out and lay her hand on his tanned face.

  Kate sighed now with satisfaction.

  Then almost immediately, she frowned.

  What was she thinking? Had the bullet that struck her shoulder weakened her brain?

  By the time he brought her supper tray to the bed, Kate was no longer speaking to him. She shook her head and refused to let him set the tray across her knees.

  Baffled, Travis stood with the tray in his hands, saying, “Won’t you try some of the stew?”

  Kate stubbornly shook her head.

  “But a minute ago you said you were hungry. What’s wrong, Katie?”

  “I told you not to call me Katie!” she snapped, eyes flashing. “Go away, Sheriff!”

  “You need to eat something so that—”

  “I am not hungry!”

  “Fine.” Travis walked over and placed the tray on the table. He sat down, shook out a napkin, draped it over his knee, picked up a spoon and began eating the hot vegetable stew and freshly baked yeast rolls Alice Hester had brought earlier in the day.

  Kate had been hungry for the past hour. She had looked forward to enjoying the tasty stew and fresh bread, and now she watched the sheriff devouring it all as if he had forgotten she existed.

  Kate grew angrier by the minute. And when, his bowl empty, Travis picked it up and headed back to the stove f
or a second helping, she could stand it no longer.

  “Don’t you dare eat all that stew!” she warned.

  Over his shoulder he called, “Why not? You’re not hungry. No sense letting good food go to waste.” He was grinning, but he didn’t let her see it. “You hungry now?”

  “I…yes, a little.”

  “Coming right up, Katie.”

  She gritted her teeth, but said nothing. Travis came directly to the bed, eased her up into a sitting position and plumped the pillows behind her. He returned with the tray and placed it on her lap.

  “Want me to feed you?”

  “I can manage just fine, thank you.” She looked up at him. “Stop hovering over me. I’m not helpless.”

  “Great,” he said, backing away. “I’ll go across the street, have a drink, maybe play a hand of poker.”

  Kate ignored him. She picked up a piece of bread, tore it in two and winced with pain.

  Travis was back at her bedside in the blink of an eye. “You okay? Let me have a look.”

  Over her objections, he unbuttoned the nightshirt, pushed it aside, gingerly lifted the bandage and studied the wound. “No real harm done, but you must be more careful.” He put the bandage back in place and rebuttoned the shirt. “Won’t you let me help you a little?”

  “How can you? You’re leaving me alone, heading over to the Golden Nugget.”

  “Who said anything about the Golden Nugget?”

  “Isn’t that where you’re going?”

  “I’m going nowhere. I’m staying here with you,” he stated. “All night.”

  “Thank you.” Kate looked into his eyes and murmured softly, “Travis.”

  Thirty-Five

  Travis came home earlier than usual the next evening. The sun had barely set when he walked through the door. Kate was not surprised. She knew the reason he was early. He couldn’t wait to see her again. She knew because she felt the same way.

  “Hi, Travis,” she said with a bright, welcoming smile.

  “Hi, Katie,” he replied with a slow grin, unstrapping his gun belt and hanging it on the coat tree by the door. He looked around and asked, “Where’s your cat?”