The poor guy's world had been in total upheaval for so long, and another person leaving him was more than he could take. The boy lay on the floor, kicked and screamed at the top of his lungs, and Jesse's heart shattered walking out the door.
Dora's eyes filled with tears and he feared she would break down crying herself. For a woman who would never be a mother, she had all the natural instincts.
Some days she let down her guard and gave them the attention they needed. Then there were the times he could see her stepping away, putting distance between them so she wouldn't feel the pain when she departed.
All along, in the back of his mind, he'd been thinking wait, just wait until this is over. Then he would show her his intentions, because he wanted her more fiercely than a drunk wanted his next drink. The thought of slipping into her arms and letting his mouth caress hers kept him awake at night.
And yet now, the news she was barren shook him to his core.
For he dreamed of having his own family, his own sons and daughters to play with his sister’s children. The house would be filled with children and babies, and the woman he loved and he would create a happy home. With Dora, that dream was not a possibility. Could he give up his desires for Dora? Did he want to give them up for this strong woman?
A woman who would stand by her values and honor her vows. Because he wanted to ignore her wedding vows and she told him quickly even if her husband hadn't honored their promise before God, she would.
That took an honorable person to uphold, after being betrayed so badly by Leo. For five years, she thought of herself as a widow only to wake up one day and learn her worst nightmare still lived.
Today, watching her making certain the children had everything they needed and the way she gave them each a hug as she said goodbye, rattled him. It was like she didn't plan on ever seeing them again.
Leo couldn't be that far ahead of them. Sooner or later, this would end and while he knew what he hoped would happen, nothing was certain.
They traveled south, hoping to reach the next small town before dark, but finally stopped along the trail. Tonight, they made camp under the stars, their bedrolls close but not touching.
"Do you think the children are all right," she said in the darkness.
"Aunt Matilda is the grandmother everyone always wishes for, but seldom get. After we left, they were going to make cookies. How many kids don't like cookies? Tomorrow, she's taking them with her to church. She made a list of things they were going to do together. They may not want to go home."
These poor children had experienced so much in the last month, he feared they would be forever traumatized. Especially Ben. The baby kept asking for his momma and the sound of his crying felt like a knife opening a wound every time.
"Grace and I had a talk today," she said. "As we drove, I told her about my husband."
"How did she respond," he asked, wondering if that was such a good idea. "Actually, she recognized the man I spoke about was Leo. She confided in me that Leo hit your sister and they often argued."
Just what Jesse didn't want to know. He always suspected Leo was a hitter, but he treated Ida very well in front of company. Still, how could any man slap or punch a woman? Jesse never understood.
"Leo has a lot to answer for. More than you and I can ever make him atone for. Maybe we shouldn't be chasing after him. I keep wondering if we shouldn't let him ride off and let someone else do all the dirty work. Eventually, someone who is going to kill him."
A moment of silence stretched between them as the cicadas sang a lonely song searching for a mate.
"I've considered that myself. Then I think we've got to stop him from selling all that miracle cure. Even if we have to break the bottles. If he sells that stuff, someone is going to realize his drink killed their loved one."
Dora was right. Their mission had gone from capturing and killing Leo, to putting him out of business. But a tiny voice didn't think a woman spurned as badly as Dora would ever give up on putting an end to a man who had stolen money from her, lied about his death, and created a second family. And he couldn't blame her.
"So, is that what we're doing?" he asked, wanting to hear her say the words, not believing for one minute she had given up on ending his life.
"Yes, I don't want to go to jail for killing him. What about your sister's death? You ready to give up on Leo after he killed her, and accept her death?"
Jesse paused and considered her words. As much as he believed he shouldn't kill Leo, the desire rode him hard.
"No, I plan to avenge her death."
Dora laughed. "I realized you were lying, just like I wasn't telling you the complete truth. No, he needs to die, so he doesn't do this to someone else. Because I wouldn't be surprised if Leo strung along another woman somewhere. An unexpecting little lady with a bit of cash on hand he'd be willing to sweet-talk her out of."
Reaching out of his bedroll, he found her hand and squeezed it, loving the touch of her skin. "Really? Three women?" With a sigh, he said, "If he doesn't have one yet, he soon will."
"He's a dead man," Dora said quietly.
Without the children and the wagon, they rode from one town to the next searching for Leo and his magical miracle cure, trying not to succumb to the growing attraction between them. The fact they no longer had three kids for chaperones didn’t help any.
Dora did her best to keep Leo in her mind and how they were still man and wife, for better or worse. Couldn't get much worse than it was right now.
On the third day, they rode into Waco, Texas, and went to the law office.
When they walked in, Dora pulled out an old tintype she brought with her. "Good morning, Sheriff. My name is Dora Tennyson."
"Howdy, ma'am. What can I do for you?" he said. "I'm about to walk out the door."
"We're looking for this man," she said, showing the man the picture of Leo. "He's been going around to different towns selling his miracle cure, which killed Jesse's sister and almost me."
The sheriff jumped up. "How do you know him?"
"He's my husband," she said. "My estranged, supposedly dead husband."
Stunned at his response, Jesse stepped up. "He married Dora and also my sister. Seems the man doesn't understand bigamy is against the law."
The man sighed. "The reason I'm in such a hurry is because this man was here day before yesterday, selling his cure all. The Smyths bought the drink for their sickly son. This morning he passed away. I'm on my way to pick up the bottle from them and take their statements. The parents are devastated they lost their eleven-year-old boy."
Dora sank into a chair, despair overwhelming her, pain for the family gripping her. They were too late to spare a family a loved one. "We've been trying to warn as many people as we could. It appears the worst has happened. A child died from his miracle cure."
"What's in this stuff?"
With tears in her eyes, she let Jesse tell the sheriff the history of the fake liquid.
"My sister made the juice and drank it, but this last batch, Leo created by himself. Forty-eight hours later, she died from the drink. We think he may have used bad mushrooms. There is one family of mushrooms that is poisonous, and the good ones almost look identical. If you pick the wrong one, it will kill you."
The memory of being so ill came back to her. "I didn't even drink the stuff but put the cup up to my lips and that small amount made me sick," she said. "Jesse gave me charcoal and milk thistle. I don't know if the herbs are what saved me, but I'm still here," she said, gazing at the sheriff.
"Do you think it would help if we spoke to the family?" Jesse asked.
The older man shook his head. "Not a good idea. They want his blood. Of course, I do too."
"We all do," Jesse said. "That's why we're trying to catch him."
A smile spread across Dora's face. "Sheriff, we need an arrest warrant for him. Besides being his wife, I'm a bounty hunter. I'll make certain he comes to your jail."
As much as she hated the fac
t a child was killed, she was determined the boy's death wouldn't be in vain.
The man nodded. "Why don't you meet me back here at two o'clock? I'll talk to the family and see if I have enough to convict him of murder. Get the bottle and see what else I can learn. If there is enough evidence, which I think there will be, I'll write you an arrest warrant."
A giddiness filled Dora as she stood and faced the man and held out her hand. "Thank you. Thank you for taking action. We've been warning people but felt like we weren't getting anywhere. Leo even tried to have me murdered, but the sheriff did nothing."
Sometimes the law was a little slow to act, but finally it seemed they had everything they needed to arrest Leo, once they found him.
"That Smyth boy didn't deserve to die this way."
"No, sir, a child is supposed to be protected from people like Leo. We'll bring him back to you as soon as we can," she promised, hoping she could deliver on that deal.
Jesse shook the man's hand. "Thank you, Sheriff. My sister’s babies didn't deserve to lose their mother. Now I'm their caretaker because I refuse to let them go to their father."
The man smiled and Jesse and Dora walked out of the building and hugged one another in the street. "The law is finally getting on our side. Now we need to find him."
Chapter 9
Still no arrest warrant. Still no wanted poster. The sheriff in Waco determined he didn't have enough evidence to convict Leo of murder. Even though he believed he did kill the eleven-year-old boy. Disappointment rode them hard as they left town. At least, he didn't close the investigation, but rather told them to bring him in. He wanted to talk to him.
But that would not be easy.
Two more days of traveling from town to town, trying to find Leo kept Jesse and Dora on the road. In Roundrock, they learned he was headed to Austin and they hurried to reach the bustling city.
Late in the afternoon, they arrived in the town, and for the first time in a week, decided to stay at a hotel. Only problem--they had one room left with a full-size bed.
For a moment, they stared at one another before Dora spoke up. "We'll take the room. Make certain you send up hot water for a bath."
Before she could respond to the clerk, Jesse paid for the room, giving her a glance to remind her it was his turn. How was he going to sleep with her in the same room, the same bed, sharing the same bathtub?
Once they were settled in the room, a manservant brought up two buckets of steaming water and a tub. While Dora took a bath, Jesse had to get out of the hotel room. He couldn't stay with her naked, bathing behind a screen. All he could think about was kissing her sweet luscious mouth, pulling her against him and caressing her firm breasts. So he escaped the room.
With a sigh, he walked the streets of Austin hoping and praying he would see Leo selling his goods and take him out right then. But he found nothing. Maybe he had gone on to San Antonio. Maybe he returned to the farm, but wherever Leo was, he hoped he stayed away from his children. They were Jesse's main concern.
As he walked, he noticed the sights and smells, the call of the vendors on the street, the rush of a horse and buggy as they pulled people to their destinations. Soon this would all come to an end. Every day they got closer, and when this was over, he and Dora would never see each other again.
The idea troubled him. The woman was everything he ever dreamed of having in a wife, except for one major problem. Her inability to have children. And he wanted his own family so terribly bad. Could he give that up for a woman? Would he come to regret his decision?
The thought of the three faces waiting for him in Dallas overwhelmed him. Why did he want more kids when he had a ready-made family?
Yet, he dreamed of his wife and him experiencing their first child and then the second and third. His sons and daughters maturing into adults and the wishes he hoped for them. An old man with grandchildren bouncing on his knee. Could he give that up for Dora?
How did he know? Because of her wedding vows, they barely kissed. Yet he respected her for not cheating, though it left him hard and wanting.
With a quick turn, he headed toward the hotel. He didn't have any answers. Hopefully, clarity would come and he would receive the guidance he desperately wanted. At the moment, he wasn't certain. After all, his focus remained on finding Leo and making him pay for the killing of his sister.
When he stepped into the room, Dora stood dressed in a beautiful gown. "Wow, you look gorgeous."
"It's a dress I bought in Zenith to catch a new husband. Only as it was being finished, I learned there was no need for the new outfit. I'm still married."
"Let's go to dinner tonight. My treat. We're getting closer and, well, this will be our night."
With a saucy smile, she stepped to the door. "I'll be waiting for you downstairs. Don't make me wait too long."
The moment the door closed, he shucked his clothes as fast as possible, stepping into the hot water and scouring his dirty body. What would they do tonight about the bed situation? Somehow the idea of sleeping on the floor was not ideal, but then again, how did he sleep beside her without touching her?
In a matter of minutes, he bathed, shaved, and put on a clean pair of clothes. When he entered the lounge area of the hotel, he saw a man sat talking to Dora. Jealously surged through him, his stomach cringed at the sight of the man. Who was this?
"Jesse," she said, standing and the man rose as well. "This is the lieutenant governor of Texas and he told me where the sheriff's office is located."
"Thank you," he said, thinking the man would like the opportunity to show her a lot more if he hadn't shown up. How could he feel jealous when he knew she would never go against her wedding vows and the woman was very much married.
"Folks, have a lovely evening. I recommended the Rose Cafe to your wife."
His wife? She told him they were married? Why?
"Again, thank you and nice to meet you."
The man walked away and Jesse held out his arm. "Shall we?"
"Don't you look handsome tonight," she said, smiling.
"Thank you, dear wife," he said, teasing her.
"The man assumed we were together, because I didn't tell him anything."
"Didn't bother me," he said, looking down at her and thinking she would be so perfect. What the hell was the matter with him?
"We haven't had any fun in a long time. Let's enjoy tonight and not think about Leo or the poison or even the children. Let's make this about you and me having dinner together. Very soon, we'll part ways and it would be nice to have a few pleasant memories of a good time with you."
A grin spread across his face. The woman had an uncanny way of reading his mind. That was exactly what he wanted of tonight as well. "Where is this Rose Cafe?"
"The cafe is a block down this road. When we turn right, the restaurant should be there on the corner."
The wind blew her loose blonde curls and the urge to brush them away from her face consumed him, but he resisted. Instead, he placed her hand in the crook of his arm as they walked down the sidewalk. "These last few days is the first time we've been alone together."
"Yes," he said, thinking how difficult it had been to lie beside her each night, knowing he couldn't touch her. Before the children chaperoned them, but now, only her vows kept them apart.
Once they reached the restaurant, they were promptly seated.
"Look, we're not eating while sitting on the ground in front of a fire," she said softly. "This feels so good."
Yet, this was way harder than eating out under the stars. Here, people surrounded them as Jesse stared across the table at her. Tonight, Dora looked stunning with her curls down her shoulder. The bodice of her dress fit snug against her breasts and all he could think about was how much he longed to take her back to the hotel room.
That would be crazy. Especially since she could not give him what he wanted. And yet, his heart and even his soul reached out to her, needing her, longing for her.
"Tell me something I d
on't know about you," she said, smiling and sending his pulse racing.
"My family you know all about. My sister, my nieces and nephew, and how I love to create things with wood," he stopped for a moment thinking what brought him pleasure.
A grin spread across his face as he raised his head. "Fishing is my favorite thing to do in the whole world. Just got back from a trip down to Galveston where I almost bought a boat and didn't return. But something told me not yet and here I am. Came home and found that Leo had left."
Like the slamming of a jail cell, he stopped himself from saying anything else. Tonight, they weren't going to talk about Leo and the havoc he created in their lives.
"Now it's your turn," he said.
Shaking her head, she laughed. "I'm the youngest of four children. The others all moved away and left me alone with my father after my mother died. There is a twelve-year difference between me and the oldest."
A sigh escaped and she picked up her water glass. "On my twelfth birthday, after a cyclone tore up our home, we left Kansas. My papa decided he'd had enough, so we came to Texas."
The baby of the family, he couldn't imagine. The oldest, he grew up quickly to take care of Ida.
"What did you do when you were a kid?" he asked.
"Played with my sisters and brothers, with my dolls," she said. "As the baby, I was all girly girl."
"After you told me you had been to that bounty hunter school, I thought what a waste of time and money. Until I saw you pull your pistol."
The waitress brought out their dinner and set it on the table in front of them. Staring at the steaks and potatoes, he didn't know who he was hungrier for, the food or Dora.
They began to eat, both digging into the grilled steak. Tonight was the first really good meal they had shared since they left Gainesville.
"Ruby and her sisters learned from their father and now they teach others how to be a bounty hunter."
"You must have been their star pupil," he said, thinking never had he seen anyone draw that fast.
"Maybe."
Later, strolling down the sidewalk, the street noises soothed him as she held onto his arm. The sound of horses’ hooves against the brick streets and music from a saloon echoed down the avenue.
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