“Deborah said he’d courted several widows in Big Pine. She said you talked about them.”
Touching a hand to her forehead, Malvina’s lips drew into a thin line. “I don’t recall anything about Mack courting anyone. And I wouldn’t know anything about his trips to Big Pine. Deborah must be mistaken.” Pushing unruly curls from her brow, she focused her gaze on Sylvia. “If Mack courted someone, he wouldn’t be the kind to seek out extra comfort with one of the saloon girls or dancers. He may not be interested in more than talk and a quick roll, but he’s an honest man.” Standing, she rested her hands on the table. “I need to get ready for the men when they come in.”
Pushing up, Sylvia held out her hand. “It was a pleasure meeting you, Malvina.”
Staring down at the hand, it took a moment for her to take it in a frail grasp. Letting go, Malvina tilted her head at Sylvia. “Are you the woman Mack is interested in?”
Eyes widening, her face paled. “Has he mentioned someone?”
“Not really.” She shrugged. “It’s a feeling I’ve gotten the last couple times he’s asked for me.” Malvina glanced behind Sylvia to see Ruby approaching. “I do have a good imagination, though. It’s probably nothing. Good day, Miss Lucero.”
Sylvia didn’t budge from her spot next to the table as she watched Malvina climb the stairs. A wave of embarrassment washed over her, realizing how much she’d learned about Mack and his private habits. Poking into his private affairs no longer seemed right. She’d spoken to a woman he’d been intimate with on more than one occasion, a woman who held him in great affection.
Wishing she’d never entered the Palace, Sylvia spun around to leave, almost running into Ruby.
A knowing smirk appeared on her face. “Did you get the information you wanted?”
“Perhaps a little more than I’d sought.” Sylvia’s gaze moved to the door to see a couple cowboys enter. “I’d better go. Thank you for letting me talk with Malvina.”
Ruby followed her to the door. “Mack is a good man, Miss Lucero. A woman couldn’t do much better.”
Mack pinned the badge onto his shirt as he left the small house he shared with Caleb. It was the same house Cash Coulter and Beau Davis shared before the two deputies found the women they loved and married. Cash now lived with Allie above her dress shop, and Beau shared his ranch with Caro.
His gaze wandered up and down the road behind Splendor’s main street, a frown appearing at the sight of a woman emerging from Ruby’s Palace. Shaking his head to clear his vision, Mack stared a moment before picking up his pace.
He followed her between two buildings before she reached the front of the jail. Looking around, Sylvia Lucero dashed across the street toward the boardinghouse, hurrying inside.
Mack stayed in front of the jail, wondering what would possess a fine, well-bred young woman to visit Ruby’s. He didn’t have to consider it long before an unwelcome thought had him wincing. Muttering a curse, he stepped inside the jail.
“About time you showed up, Mack.” Dutch McFarlin sat back in the chair, boots resting on the desk, lowering the Big Pine newspaper to his lap. “Thought you might’ve forgotten about working tonight.”
Setting his hat on a hook, he pulled up a chair, turning it around to sit down, resting his arms on the back. “Any excitement today?”
“Not unless you count Beau and Caleb riding out to the Murton ranch. Gil rode in to report missing cattle. He and Ty rode the entire ranch and couldn’t find them.” Dutch lifted his booted feet off the desk and set them on the floor. “Gabe’s out at the Pelletier place.” Dax and Luke Pelletier owned the largest ranch in western Montana. Standing, he walked to the wall and grabbed his hat off a hook. “That leaves you to take care of the town until Cash gets back from seeing Doc Worthington.”
Mack lifted a brow. “Is he sick?”
Dutch chuckled. “Poison ivy.”
“How the hell did he get into that?”
“Chasing a couple boys out of Petermann’s store. They ran behind the boardinghouse, crossed the creek, and took off into the woods. He caught them, but the area is thick with poison ivy.”
Mack shook his head, a wide grin tilting his mouth. “What’d the boys take?”
“The usual. Grabbed some lemon sticks from a jar on the counter and took off.”
A deep laugh burst from Mack’s throat. “Quite a price to pay for a few lemon sticks. I can’t remember the last time I got tangled up in poison ivy. All I know is I don’t want to do it again.”
“Yeah. I know what you mean.” Dutch grabbed the doorknob. “I’m on my way to the boardinghouse for supper. Come get me if you need help with anything.”
After Dutch left, Mack rested his forehead on his arms, thinking about Sylvia. He could think of only one reason she’d visit Ruby’s, and the thought didn’t please him.
What he did on his own time was private. He didn’t want some nosy young woman poking around in his business. If she’d wanted to know about him and his visits to the saloons, all she had to do was ask. He might not have given her the entire truth, but at least he wouldn’t feel his privacy had been violated.
Mack didn’t have much—his memories of life before the war, friends he’d lost in battle, the woman he’d once loved. Most nights, he’d give anything to forget all of them and find even a small amount of peace. He’d managed to do that by spending time with women who expected nothing, asked no questions, and smiled when he walked out their door.
Mack might be attracted to Sylvia Lucero, want to spend time with her and learn all he could about her. Still, she had no right to go behind his back. If she wanted answers, Sylvia should’ve come to him.
Standing, he flipped the chair around and walked to the window. Shoving his hands into his pockets, he stared across the street at the boardinghouse, a dark expression crossing his face.
Tomorrow, he was going to start his own investigation into Miss Lucero. By the time he was finished, he’d make sure she understood how it felt to have someone poke into her private affairs.
Chapter Three
Sylvia wrote down the order from Gladys Poe, confirming the amounts. She’d learned from experience the woman would let the entire town know if the items didn’t arrive as ordered.
“Now, you won’t forget to order a blue and yellow dress, right, young lady?”
“No, Mrs. Poe. I won’t forget.”
“And the yellow flower pattern for the china. It’s important it match what I already have.”
“Of course, Mrs. Poe.” It was the same pattern Sylvia’s mother used every day back home. Her hand stilled a moment, a wave of homesickness squeezing her chest. It had been nine months since she’d left her family behind in Texas. Nine months of living without them and the warm, loving home they’d provided for so many years. If only…
“And those dime novels.” Gladys scanned the list of titles, speaking each out loud, tapping her fingers on the counter.
“Yes, ma’am. They’re all on the order. You do realize the china may take a little longer than the other items.”
If possible, Gladys’s expression became more sour. “Of course I do. This isn’t the first time I’ve ordered through Petermann’s.”
Sylvia bit her lip, shaking her head. “No, Mrs. Poe, it isn’t.” She heard the bell over the front door ring, not looking up. It wouldn’t be wise to get distracted. The sooner she had the order down, the sooner the woman would leave.
“Here you are.” She turned the paper around for Gladys to read, keeping her gaze down. “Please make sure all is correct and sign at the bottom.”
Gladys used a finger to go down the list, stopping midway. “Is this a six or a zero?”
Tilting her head, Sylvia glanced down. “A six, Mrs. Poe.”
“Then it should look like a six,” she huffed out, taking the pencil from Sylvia’s hand and fixing it. Finishing, she signed at the bottom and handed it back. “It’s fine, now that I’ve corrected your mistake.”
Gritt
ing her teeth, Sylvia took the paper, still not looking toward the door. “I’ll give this to Mr. Petermann as soon as he returns from lunch.”
“Timmy never made mistakes on my orders.”
“Well, he’s off at college, Mrs. Poe. Perhaps he’ll be available to take your orders when he returns.” Sylvia bit the inside of her cheek, grimacing at her curt tone. Glancing up, she noticed the cold stare in the older woman’s eyes an instant before her gaze lit on a man standing by the door. Mack. She swore under her breath when an involuntary shiver rolled through her.
Gladys raised a brow. “Excuse me?”
Wincing, Sylvia shook her head. “Nothing. Thank you for your order, Mrs. Poe. We’ll let you know when it comes in.”
Gladys stared at her a moment. Letting out an exasperated breath, she snatched her parasol from the counter and turned away.
“How are you today, Mrs. Poe?” Mack removed his hat, making a slight bow.
Stopping next to him, she offered a forced smile. “Fine, Deputy. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He opened the door, shutting it behind her with an exaggerated sigh, loud enough for Sylvia to hear. His mood brightened when he heard her chuckle. “How do you put up with that woman?”
She gripped the edge of the counter with both hands, hoping the effort would keep him from noticing the slight tremble at his approach. All night she’d lain awake, Malvina’s words rolling over and over in her mind, creating a mental picture Sylvia couldn’t forget.
“When he does take any of us to bed, he’s real gentle, as if he cares about us.”
“Miss Lucero. Are you all right?”
Face flushing, she let go of the counter, crossing her arms. “Yes. I’m fine, thank you.”
“I asked how are you able to put up with Mrs. Poe.”
“Well, I…I suppose I’ve gotten used to her.” Even with the counter between them, she needed more space. Taking a step away, she stopped when her back hit the floor-to-ceiling shelving, rattling some of the merchandise. “Oh.” She turned quickly, holding up her hands to stop tin boxes from toppling to the floor.
“Do you need some help?”
She heard the slight chuckle in his voice and stiffened. “No. Thank you.” Sylvia bit out the words, immediately feeling guilty at making him the object of her annoyance. Except he was the reason she’d gotten so little sleep, tossing and turning until almost dawn. Darn him…
Turning to face him, she lifted her head to stare into his eyes—a mistake she realized too late.
“What can I get for you today, Deputy?”
Resting his hands on the counter, he leaned toward her, his piercing gray eyes boring into hers. “Supper. Tonight at the St. James. I’ll come by at seven to escort you.” He didn’t wait for her answer before shoving away and turning toward the door.
“Wait!”
Stopping, he shifted toward her. “Do you prefer six thirty?”
Her jaw dropped. “No. I—”
“Fine. I’ll come by the boardinghouse at seven.” He touched the brim of his hat. “Until tonight, Miss Lucero.” Stepping onto the boardwalk, he couldn’t stop a cocky grin from forming. She hadn’t said no and didn’t yell at him. In his mind, both were good signs.
Entering the jail, he glanced at the two deputies seated at the desk. “Cash. Beau.” He grabbed a third chair, lowering himself into it. “Either of you know where Dutch is?”
“He and Caleb rode south. One of the sheepherders reported a number of slaughtered sheep,” Cash answered.
“Wolves?”
“Nope. Their throats were slit,” Beau said. “Real nasty business.”
Mack rubbed the back of his neck. “Cattle rustling at the Murton’s, now slaughtered animals south of here. Could they be connected?”
Cash steepled his fingers under his chin. “Doubtful. There’s been trouble brewing for months between the sheepherders and cattlemen. Sheep farmers want to make a living, and the ranchers don’t want them anywhere near their cattle. Fencing would help, but no one’s interested. They want to keep the open range.”
Mack stroked his chin. “Could the rustling be a diversion to draw attention away from the killings?”
“I suppose,” Cash said. “I don’t know what they’d gain, though.”
Beau nodded. “They wouldn’t need a diversion. The Murton ranch is miles west of the sheepherders. I’m thinking they’re unrelated.”
Scrubbing a hand over his face, Mack considered the new threats, wondering why they’d started now. “It’s been quiet for a while. Now all this.”
Beau leaned forward, resting his arms on his legs. “Trouble to the south and west. Let’s hope nothing happens north at Redemption’s Edge. We don’t have enough deputies to handle any more threats.”
The door slammed open, Caleb and Dutch walking inside, both looking angry and trail weary.
Cash stood, walking to the stove to fill two cups with coffee. Handing them out, he leaned his hip against the desk. “What’d you find?”
Dutch blew across the top of the cup, taking a sip. “It’s a mess. Almost a dozen sheep slaughtered. They’re moving the entire herd closer to the house, but they don’t have near enough people to watch them. Hell, they’ve got their ten-year-old daughter sitting out front with a rifle in her hands.”
Draining the cup, Caleb moved to the stove, refilling it. “On our way back, Lee Weston intercepted us. He’s got at least two dozen cattle missing. Said he rode by the Murton’s and they were raided again last night.”
Beau shook his head, not liking what he heard. “Gabe should be back from the Pelletier’s any time. We’ll figure out what we can do.”
“We need more men. The six of us can’t go after whoever’s rustling cattle and killing sheep and still protect the town.” Cash pushed away from the desk, pacing to the window. “Someone needs to ride to Fort Connall. Colonel McArthur might be able to send some men until Gabe can hire more deputies.”
The room quieted, all considering what to do next. After a few minutes, Mack looked at Dutch.
“Do you have a minute?”
Dutch’s brow lifted. “Sure. What is it?”
Mack nodded toward the door. “Outside.”
No one commented as the two left the jail.
“So, what is it you want to talk about?” Dutch took another sip of coffee.
“I need to ask a favor.”
“Is this about Miss Lucero?”
Mack’s jaw tightened. “It is.”
“I’ve been wondering when you’d ask me to find out her story. Do you want me to contact Pinkerton?”
Snorting, Mack nodded. “I want to know where she’s from and why she came out here as a mail order bride. Does she have family, and if so, why isn’t she still with them? And most important, who’s she running away from?”
Scratching his chin, Dutch’s eyes crinkled at the corners. “That’s all?”
“I found her coming out of Ruby’s yesterday. When I went into the Palace during my rounds last night, Ruby told me Sylvia had come in to speak with Malvina.”
Chuckling, Dutch drank the last of the coffee, tossing the grounds onto the street. “The woman’s doing some checking of her own.”
“Yep.”
“So you’re going to do the same. You sure that’s wise?” Crossing his arms, Dutch’s hard gaze focused on Mack.
“Probably not, but she needs to know it isn’t smart to go checking on me. All she needed to do was ask and I’d have told her myself.”
Dutch tilted his head back and laughed. “You’re a brave man, Mack, telling a woman you’ve a hankering to court about your nights in the saloons.”
“Better than her sneaking behind my back. Besides, I’m free to do whatever I want with my nights. She’s got no say in it.”
Dutch’s face sobered. “Are you thinking of courting her and still visiting your girls?”
“Hell no. I’m trying to teach Miss Lucero a lesson. If she finally allows
me to court her, I won’t need or want the girls.”
“You think Sylvia is the one?”
Mack drew in a breath, letting it out in a slow stream. He’d been asking himself the same for months, ever since the four young women got off the stage. The minute he saw her, Mack knew he had to take a chance, something he hadn’t done since the woman he loved betrayed him. Something about Sylvia made him want to try again.
“Yeah, Dutch. I do.”
Clasping Mack on the shoulder, he nodded. “In that case, let me get to work.” He started back inside, then stopped, grinning over his shoulder. “Just know that you’re going to owe me.”
Sylvia paced back and forth in her room, mumbling to herself. Stopping next to the bed, she stared at the three dresses she’d laid out, telling herself she should stay upstairs when he called. It would serve him right. Mack was arrogant, bigheaded, and conceited. Too bad he was also incredibly good-looking.
Why hadn’t Malvina and Ruby told Sylvia he was a rogue…untrustworthy and self-centered? No, they’d said the opposite, making her want to know even more about him. She kept telling herself this would be the perfect opportunity to get answers to all the questions rolling through her mind. When the evening ended, she fully expected to dislike the man and never see him again.
A soft knock on the door pulled her from her mental ramblings. “Sylvia. Deputy Mackey asked me to tell you he’s here.”
Already? “Thank you, Suzanne. I’ll be down in a few minutes.”
Grabbing a dress, she slipped it on, closing the tiny buttons in front. She’d already fixed her hair and placed her reticule and shawl on a chair next to the door. Placing her feet into shoes she’d already cleaned, she grabbed the hook, making short work of tightening them around her feet.
Straightening, she sucked in an unsteady breath, feeling the slight bit of moisture on her face. A trembling smile curved the corners of her mouth. She wondered if Mack had any idea she’d never been out to supper with a man who wasn’t part of her family.
A ball of panic started deep in her belly, moving up so it almost choked her. What if he tried to kiss her? The thought caused a wave of heat to course through her body. She’d kissed two boys, both behind the church after services. Both quick, wet, and unsatisfying. Would it be the same with Mack?
Rogue Rapids Page 3