"I agree," Gideon said quickly. "He's only come here to cause trouble."
"Can't Nathan run him out of town?" Rosalind asked sharply.
"Not unless he does something that breaks the law," Gideon replied. "And I'm sure he's going to be on his best behavior."
Rosalind scoffed. "Just him being here borders on breaking the law," she snapped. "After the way he treated me, I don't know how he has the gall to show his face."
Gideon's jaw tightened just thinking about Brown doing anything that would make Rosalind feel unhappy. Anything that would cause her to feel fear. Out there, in Main Street, it had taken a whole lot for Gideon to rein in his indignation at Brown.
"What does he want?" Rosalind gasped. She lowered her head and he heard a quiet sob.
Gideon knew the answer to that question, and he was sure Rosalind did too. Even if she didn't want to say it out loud.
He moved closer to her. "Whatever it is, he ain't going to get it," Gideon declared in a steady, defiant tone. He'd never said anything with such conviction in his life. He meant it, and he was going to do whatever it took to make sure Brown got the message.
Rosalind lifted her head and gazed at him. She smiled. There was hope in her eyes. That made him feel good. Just for a moment. But it was enough to confirm that he had made the right decision in waiting. Brown had to be run out of town before anything else could be done. Before Gideon could do the only thing that mattered to him now.
"Doesn't Brown realize that it is over between him and me?" Rosalind sobbed. "What more could I have done? I ran from him. Surely he understands what that means."
"He didn't just lie to you, Rosalind," Gideon said. "He's lying to himself now, if he thinks you and him have any future."
Gideon wanted to add that he would have some say in that matter. But he kept his opinion to himself. He didn't want her to think there was going to be any trouble between himself and Brown. She had enough worries at this moment. There was no sense in making things worse.
She nodded. A sudden fire lit up her eyes. "He's a liar, alright. I'm sure I'm not the first mail order bride to run away from the man who lied to her."
Gideon laid a gentle hand on her arm. "You showed him who you really are," he stated. "Maybe you wounded his pride."
She shook her head. "I don't think that man has an ounce of pride in his body."
"Him and Calhoun should get on real well, then," Gideon said. "They're like two peas in a pod."
She smiled again, her pretty features brightening, bringing back her natural beauty. The beauty which had kept him awake all last night thinking about her.
Gideon peered at her. "Back when you met him for the first time," he said. "Brown didn't do anything in particular did he?" Gideon hesitated a moment before continuing. "I mean to harm you." He felt awkward saying the words, and he hadn't been sure how to approach the subject. In spite of that, he knew he had to ask her.
Rosalind shook her head. "He was just mean," she stated bluntly. "That was all. Him and I weren't alone together long enough for him to get a chance to do anything else. We had a meal together. I was staying in a boarding house. The owner kept him at bay. But, Brown didn't miss a chance to make me feel like I was nothing. She sighed heavily. "Like I was lucky to be marrying him." She shook her head and smiled ruefully. "Thankfully, it wasn't to be."
Gideon forced himself to nod steadily. But, he had to work hard to keep his features steady as he listened to Rosalind.
Finally, though, he couldn't contain himself. "Mr Brown is going to learn what it means to treat a woman with respect," Gideon said in a voice heavy with emotion.
Rosalind peered at him, wide-eyed. "You're not planning on doing anything stupid, Gideon," she said.
"I wouldn't give him, or Calhoun that satisfaction," Gideon replied. "But, there are ways of giving people a message without resorting to violence."
Rosalind leaned closer. "Promise me you won't do anything, Gideon," she pleaded. "I couldn't forgive myself if anything happened to you."
For a moment, he was lost for words. She had spoken with a sincerity, with a passion, he could hardly believe. "You really mean that?" he asked breathlessly.
She nodded. "Promise me, Gideon," she gasped.
How could he refuse a request like that? Especially since it revealed the depth of her feeling for him.
"I promise," he told her. He gazed deeply into her eyes and then shifted until he was closer to her than he'd been since arriving at the Cameron house. There was only one thing he wanted to do, right now. That same thing he'd done up at the ranch yesterday.
Gideon dipped his head forward and claimed another sweet kiss from Rosalind. Like yesterday, he felt like he'd been transported to a different place. Feelings awakened in him, just like they had in the stable. The kiss only lasted a few moments, but it felt like a tender eternity.
Noises from the hallway made him lean back, ending the kiss. Sophie walked into the room. Gideon saw her quickly take stock of the situation and come to the obvious conclusion that she'd picked the worst moment to come back into the sitting room. But, it was too late to back down.
Sophie took a seat across from the sofa. She glanced hesitantly from Rosalind to himself. Gideon couldn't help feeling like Sophie wanted to be somewhere else. The silence stretched forever. Gideon glanced at Rosalind seeing that her cheeks were flushed pink. Gideon cleared his throat and stood quickly. Too quickly, he told himself.
"I'll be getting going," he announced picking up his hat from the table near the window. He shifted awkwardly on his heels and pointed at the plates on the small table. "The cake was delicious," he stated.
"I'm glad you liked it," Sophie replied.
Gideon explained to Sophie that he'd be staying over at the hotel for the night. She seemed as unconvinced as Rosalind, so he covered himself by explaining that he'd also be spending some time with Nathan over at the sheriff's office. There had been some developments in the case with the rustlers from the other night, he explained. Again, Sophie and Rosalind seemed unmoved by his explanation.
He was pleased that Rosalind accompanied him to the front door. He stood on the porch, feeling the heat of the day, even here in the shade of the tall tree in the Cameron garden. Sophie hung back in the house, leaving Gideon and Rosalind some time to say their goodbyes. He figured she must have been wondering what he and Rosalind had been talking about during her absence.
The truth was, he hadn't come close to saying what he'd planned on saying. The events outside the hotel had put a stop to that. But, he was determined that situation was going to be remedied. And real fast.
Rosalind gazed up at him as he stood on the porch steps. "Don't you worry about me," he told her.
"But I will," she murmured in that low voice which sent quivers of sensation rippling through him. "You know I can't help it. I'm going to worry about you until Brown has gone for good."
Gideon peered into her eyes. "Brown is just passing through," he murmured firmly. "You take it from me, Rosalind. He'll be on the next train out of Inspiration." He leaned closer. He caught the delicate scent of her skin on the fresh breeze. "Once he's gone, I have something real important to ask you."
Her eyes widened and she smiled. "Really?" she breathed.
He nodded. "And there ain't nothing in the world that is going to stand in my way. Not Brown. Not Calhoun. Nobody."
Her smile broadened. He knew he couldn't kiss her again, out here on the Cameron porch. It just wouldn't be seemly, he told himself. But, the temptation was proving to be almost irresistible. Especially with Rosalind looking at him like that.
Despite all that, he glanced quickly toward the closed door, and then leaned his head closer to Rosalind. He kissed her briefly on the forehead. He felt the softness of her skin against his lips. And that was enough to put a smile on his face as he bid her farewell.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Gideon took up his place at the hotel immediately upon leaving the Cameron house. He spok
e with the owner, Ethan, and arranged for the small room at the back of the hotel to be made available to him. After that, Gideon took a seat opposite the reception desk, propped his booted feet up on a chair, stretched himself out, tipped his hat forward and settled down for a long wait. He intended to be there for as long as it took.
Ethan had told Gideon that Brown was upstairs in his room, and that he had paid cash up front for the room until tomorrow morning. That worried Gideon. It seemed like Brown had a plan in mind. And it maybe included leaving Inspiration in a hurry. Gideon would be happy to see Brown leave town, as long as he did it unaccompanied.
There was one thing for sure. Brown wouldn't be taking Rosalind anywhere. Not if Gideon had anything to do with it. No way.
The heat of the afternoon started to bite as Gideon spent the next few hours settled back in his chair. Ethan brought Gideon some cool drinks of water, and the occasional cup of coffee, from time to time. Gideon watched hotel guests come and go. But, by late afternoon there still hadn't been any sign of Brown. Gideon wondered why the man had decided to coop himself up in his room all afternoon. From Rosalind's description, he figured Brown might be a night creature. Someone who only felt comfortable under the cover of darkness.
That made Gideon worry even more. He guessed there might be a reckoning overnight. And that it might involve Calhoun who, as usual, seemed to be pulling all the strings behind the scenes. Well, Gideon would deal with that, he told himself. There might be some pleasure to be had in putting Calhoun in his place. Gideon would be the second Buchanan brother to do that in the last few weeks after Zane had exposed Calhoun's scheme to trick Johanna into leaving. That hadn't worked out well for the good-for-nothing, Gideon thought with a smile.
Gideon sat there all afternoon and into the early evening. Ethan watched him nervously from behind the reception counter. Ethan surely knew just how determined the Buchanans could be, Gideon told himself. He must have figured out there was a situation developing with the stranger from Helena. As long as it didn't result in violence, Ethan would be happy. Gideon knew there wouldn't be any violence. That wasn't his way, and it never would be.
Darkness fell outside and still Brown hadn't appeared out of his room. Gideon went to the open front door of the hotel and gazed out at Main Street. He saw carriages and some horsemen moving up and down the street. Townsfolk strolled along the boardwalk. Gideon sighed. It was another calm and peaceful evening in Inspiration. Just like so many others.
In spite of the sense of peace he felt, Gideon knew that the townsfolk were oblivious to the situation. A situation that promised to ruin everything he'd worked for these past days. One that could ruin Gideon's chances of happiness. And those of Rosalind. He wasn't going to let that happen.
Gideon was thankful for one thing. There had been no sign of Rosalind during the entire afternoon. Knowing her like he did now, he imagined it couldn't have been easy for her to stay at the Cameron house for most of the day. He smiled to himself as he imagined how she must have been climbing the wall, desperate to come to the hotel and do what she could to resolve the situation.
He had no doubt she had it in her to send Brown packing. Rosalind was one feisty woman, Gideon told himself. That thought made him smile. She was a fighter. And she had fought her way back to the faith. Just like her mother would have wanted.
But, her absence meant one thing that was real important to Gideon. It meant she trusted him to deal with Brown. She had confidence in Gideon. Because he was sure she understood that was why Gideon had remained in Inspiration instead of heading back to the ranch. To deal, once and for all, with Brown.
Gideon heard footsteps and turned. He drew in a deep, satisfied breath. Brown was coming down the stairs. The man paused and peered at Gideon. "Well, well," he muttered grimly. "I didn't expect to see you here."
Gideon took a step toward Brown. "Where else did you think I'd be?"
Brown lifted a brow. "Keeping an eye on me?"
Gideon nodded. "Just making sure you don't get any funny ideas."
Brown advanced toward Gideon. "About Miss Grover, you mean?"
Gideon smiled at Brown. "You already know what I think about your presence here, Mr Brown. I understand you're planning on leaving Inspiration tomorrow."
Brown flashed an annoyed look toward Ethan behind the reception counter who was watching this exchange with wide eyes. "I see word gets around fast," Brown said.
"We like to keep tabs on comings and goings," Gideon explained. "We have a town to keep happy. Strangers are welcome here, provided they don't want to cause trouble."
Brown stared at Gideon. There was a sudden irritation in the man's demeanor, Gideon warned himself. Brown had a hair-trigger for violence. "And you think I'm here to cause trouble?" Brown demanded.
Gideon tilted his head. "Anything that involves Rosalind Grover is strictly off limits," Gideon said. He peered at Brown from beneath hooded brows. "You should know that, Mr Brown."
Brown started to move past Gideon, but the rancher placed a firm hand on Brown's chest. The man halted and glared at Gideon. "What do you think you're doing?" he snapped.
Gideon gave Brown a wry smile. "Just making sure you understand what we're talking about."
Brown tried to move Gideon's hand away, but Gideon held firm. His eyes met Brown's. There was challenge in Brown's gaze. Gideon had already taken note of the fact that Brown wasn't packing a gun on his belt. Probably there would be a sneak pistol concealed somewhere in Brown's jacket. He wasn't the kind to deal with trouble face to face.
"Take your hand off me!" Brown ejaculated. His voice echoed in the reception area, catching the attention and disapproval of some passersby on the boardwalk.
Gideon eased his hand away from Brown's chest. The man faced Gideon head on. "You think Rosalind is going to marry you?" Brown exclaimed sharply.
Gideon met the man's gaze. "I don't think," he said. Brown's eyes widened. "I know she's going to become my wife before the week is out." Gideon made sure his voice was filled with certainty. He made sure that Brown understood he had lost out, and that Gideon had defeated him even without a blow being landed.
Color flooded Brown's face and he dragged in a deep breath. The man's fists tightened into balls. Gideon prepared himself for the worst. "What makes you so sure?" Brown asked.
"Rosalind isn't the same person you tried to scare in Helena," Gideon announced.
"What do you mean?"
Gideon lifted a brow and scrutinized Brown for a moment before continuing. "She told me all about you, Brown. All the unpleasantness. The way you treated her was just plain wrong." Gideon leaned closer to Brown. "And you know it."
"I was just treating her the way any man would treat a mail order bride," Brown stated.
Gideon shook his head. "That's where you're wrong. No woman deserves what you did to Rosalind."
Brown scoffed. "They're all the same," he grunted. "They're in it for what they can get. Just like everyone."
"Not that woman, Brown," Gideon retorted. "No sir. She's something special." He lowered his gaze. "Too good for the likes of you."
Brown dragged in another deep breath. Gideon could see how hard it was proving for the man to control himself. Brown was going to snap soon. Gideon had one terrible thought. If Rosalind had married Brown, she would have had an awful life. A life of pain and suffering. He couldn't even imagine what it would have been like for her. Now, Gideon understood what Sophie was trying to do in making it safe for brides to come out to this territory. And just maybe there was some other power working in the background, Gideon told himself.
The Rancher’s Marriage of Convenience Page 18