“She’s a stubborn one, our Anna.” Mrs. Baker beamed at Daniel, having blocked his path as he attempted to pass in front of the mercantile.
Daniel didn’t even bother to ask how she knew where he’d been. Apparently, little went on in Strawberry Junction that the proprietress didn’t know about.
“Poor thing is still grieving over Sheriff Hampton, God rest his soul. Don’t know if she’ll ever be the same. Of course, I’m sure she’d want to return east if her folks were still alive.” She shook her head so violently, her bun wobbled.
“I’m sure.” Daniel summoned a smile and turned his attention toward the sheriff’s office across the street. Just a few feet away from freedom…
“But they passed shortly after Anna moved to Texas. She was heartbroken.” Mrs. Baker clasped both hands to her heart. “Just devastated, I tell you. Then to lose her husband, too. Well, there’s only so much grief one woman can take. Don’t you think so, Ranger?”
Daniel tipped his hat back on his head, resigned to his fate. “Actually, I’ve discovered that women are the strongest beings God ever created. Mrs. Hampton’s strength is evident in her determination to take care of her children and give them the best life possible without a father.”
Mrs. Baker blinked up at him, her mouth rounded as though preparing to whistle. Then, gathering her wits, she favored him with a dazzling smile. “You’ve seen that, too, have you?” Before he could respond, she plowed on. “Did you talk to Anna about that strange man who was out to her place this morning?”
That snagged Daniel’s attention. His gaze dropped to Mrs. Baker’s upturned face. “Did you see him?”
“Oh, yes. He rode into town around,” she closed one eye, evidently trying to recall the exact time, “six or so, I’d say. Couldn’t have been much past six as Mr. Baker was reading the second page of the Gazette. My husband always reads the paper promptly at six, never a moment later. I’ve always thought that quite odd that a man could be so structured, especially considering he’s a bit scatter-brained when it comes to the business end of things.”
Daniel opened his mouth to speak but couldn’t get the words past his lips in time. Mrs. Baker forged onward like an out-of-control locomotive.
“But that’s neither here nor there. About that man…well, he was a bit of a ruffian, if you ask me.” She sniffed the air. “Unkempt with hard eyes like he could stare a hole through a windowpane. He came up to the door of the store, demanding I open up, but we open precisely at seven. Not a moment before and not a moment after.”
“Mrs. Baker.” Daniel said her name so fast the syllables ran together. When the woman grew silent, he breathed an audible sigh of relief before continuing. “Did you talk to him?”
“Only through the door.”
“Did he give you his name?”
“I didn’t ask him name, but I’m not certain he would have given it anyway. Hooligans rarely give their name.” She pursed her lips. “It was only a matter of divine intervention that you were able to procure that Barnaby kid’s name.”
Daniel didn’t correct the error, though, in his experience, most criminals wanted notoriety and were more than happy to have their names and faces gracing wanted posters. “How did you know he’d been out to Anna’s place?”
Mrs. Baker shoved her hands into the pockets of her dark blue work apron and studied him with a shrewd eye. “He came from that road out behind the Waverlys’ house. Only thing out there is Anna’s house and the old saw mill which closed down more than three years ago.” She snorted. “He didn’t look like the type that was looking for work anyway.”
“Did he tell you what he wanted?”
“Well, no, but from the way he was pounding on the door, I’m guessing he wanted supplies. What would you think he’d want?”
Daniel’s patience slipped a notch. “I meant what he wanted with Anna—Mrs. Hampton.”
Mrs. Baker rocked forward on her toes. “He didn’t tell me he’d gone out to her place. I suspect he didn’t want me to know that, and I don’t ask questions that are none of my business. No, sir. I mind my own business. It’s not proper to go poking your nose in where it’s not wanted…” She continued to drone on, giving Daniel the perfect opportunity to tip his hat and step off the sidewalk.
“Sheriff…Ranger!” Roy was running toward him, waving a telegram like a yellow flag. “You got a telegram!”
Daniel met him in the middle of the street, holding out one hand for the missive.
“Looks like it could be important.” Roy chugged to a halt. “I mean, it’s all official and stuff, but I ain’t never been much of a reader. But it sure does look important, don’t it?”
“I could answer your question better if I could hold the paper.” Daniel gave the man a wry smile.
“Oh. Shoot. Here ya go.” Roy stuffed the telegram into his hand and edged forward. “What does it say?”
So much for privacy. Daniel scanned the words briefly. “Nothing much. I just need to contact my captain.” He clapped a hand on the man’s shoulder. “How’s our guest?”
Roy wrinkled his nose. “You mean the mouthy kid?”
“Yeah, that’s who I mean.”
“He’s better’n he should be considerin’ what he done.”
Still holding the telegram, Daniel started walking toward the telegraph office. “Well, that’s not up to us to decide. The judge will be here soon, and Barnaby will get a fair trial.”
“Yeah, but will it give Mrs. Hampton’s boy back his peace of mind?”
Daniel stopped and pivoted to face Roy once more. “What do you mean?”
Hitching up his pants, Roy swaggered forward. Then, lowering his voice as if he were about to divulge a piece of information that could affect the entire South, he replied, “You probably didn’t notice it when the boy came by this morning, but I saw it. Read it in his eyes. That boy is plumb afeared.”
“Have you talked to him about this?”
“What’s to talk about? Men understand each other. They ain’t like women that need a lot of jawin’ to talk about their feelin’s. I saw the boy’s eyes, and that’s all I needed to see.”
Daniel didn’t need a dictionary to translate Roy’s response. He didn’t like discussing things. Roy was a man of action which had almost earned him a seat inside a jail cell.
Shoulders relaxing a bit, Daniel gave a quick nod. “Well, just to be on the safe side, I’ll be sure and talk to him about it.” He took two more steps toward the telegraph office when Roy’s voice stopped him again.
“Well, you could do that right now if you want since the boy’s been hidin’ out inside the old saloon since he left your office.” Roy shuffled forward, his hands crammed into the pockets of his worn workpants.
Daniel’s gaze swung toward the dilapidated building with its boarded-up windows and broken sidewalk. “I thought he said he was going to school.” Though he spoke the words aloud, his thoughts were already centered on the young boy. Those same old instincts were telling him Sam knew more about his mother’s visitor this morning.
****
When would he return? The question ran through Anna’s mind like rolling marbles. The day had faded away, the hours passing by while her thoughts remained mired in the events of the morning.
Shivering, she walked away from the window to retrieve her shawl, noticing for the first time that the breakfast dishes were still on the table. But she couldn’t bring herself to care. Fear coiled in her stomach like a nest of vipers, and her only focus now was her children and their safety.
Wrapping the gray knitted shawl around her shoulders, she returned to her post by the window. Her gaze drifted down to the rifle that was now propped by the front door for ease of reach. She ran her clammy hands down the front of her skirt and shifted from one foot to the other. She should do something, anything, but nothing seemed to be important enough to warrant her attention.
I’ll be back, Mrs. Hampton. You can count on that.
She hadn’t recognized the man, but there was something strangely familiar about his voice. Had she overheard a conversation between him and Zach? Or perhaps he’d been in one of the cells when she’d visited Zach at the jail.
“Why can’t I remember?” She snapped the question to herself, needing to hear the sound of a voice, even if it were her own, to break the ominous silence.
What map did he want? But most importantly, where was it?
As suddenly as the questions took root in her brain, she knew. If Zach had ever wanted to keep something from her, he would have hidden it inside his office. If Zach had the map, it would have to be there!
She glanced at the clock over the fireplace and breathed a sigh of relief. There was plenty of time for a visit to the ranger’s new office before school was out for the day.
Adrenaline gave wings to her feet after she tugged open the front door. She flew across the yard toward the barn, her heart beating out a thunderous rhythm.
A flash of black caught her eye, but she didn’t have time to stop herself from colliding with a solid chest. The air whooshed out of her lungs, the lack of oxygen making her dizzy. She registered the feel of hands on her arms holding her up and the scent of sweat and leather.
Then she looked up, and a scream froze in her throat.
****
“Sam?” The heavy wooden door creaked on its hinges as Daniel pushed it open. The scent of rotted wood and old liquor wafted toward him, and for a brief moment, he could picture the saloon in its heyday.
He couldn’t imagine it would be any different than all the others he’d come across during his travels. The barkeep would keep the cheap whiskey flowing. The air would be thick with smoke, and loud music would drown out the disgust of men losing their week’s wages at cards.
Yeah, he’d seen places like this more times than he wanted. He was just glad this one was closed down. He stepped inside the saloon and waited for his eyes to adjust to the dim light before he called out for the boy again.
“Sam, I know you’re in here, so you might as well come on out and have a talk with me, that is, unless you want me to go straight to your mama.”
Boots thumping against the plank floors, Daniel walked toward the bar, his senses attuned to every noise—the scurry of rodents’ feet, the creak of aging wood, and the rattling of the ancient chandelier still hanging overhead. But not one sound he could identify as belonging to Sam.
Nerves on edge, he rested one hand on the handle of his gun. “Okay then. I guess I’ll just head on out to your house. I’m sure your mama will be mighty interested in knowing why you didn’t go to school this morning. I can’t imagine she’s going to be happy.”
Daniel made a show out of stomping back toward the door, his movements exaggerated to show his intention. He had one hand on the doorknob before Sam’s voice squeaked out a “no” behind him.
He spun, eyes searching through the sparse light. “Sam, where are you?”
“Here.” Sam pushed his head up from behind the bar, stopping when his nose touched the grainy wood. “You ain’t gonna talk to mama, are you?”
“That depends.” Daniel crooked his finger.
“On what?” Shuffling sideways, Sam responded to the unspoken request for his presence, but he didn’t stray too far from his chosen fortress.
“On if you tell me the truth or not.”
The boy scowled. “How are you going to know if I’m telling the truth or not?”
Daniel tapped one finger against his temple. “That’s a Ranger secret. Now, why don’t you and I head on over to the diner and grab ourselves a glass of lemonade? I suppose it’d be better for us to have a conversation with something to cool our parched throats.” He took a step back and held open the door.
Sam’s boots scuffled against the floor, but he made no further effort to walk toward Daniel. “You promise anything I tell you can just stay between the two of us?”
The hesitancy in the small boy’s voice, coupled with a slight shake, punched Daniel in the stomach harder than a fist ever had. Roy had been right. Sam was scared. Now he just had to figure out what exactly had scared him and how he could go about taking away that fear.
****
Strong, dirty fingers closed around her wrist, preventing Anna’s escape. “So nice to see you again, Mrs. Hampton.” The low, sinister voice sent a chill through her veins, encasing her heart in its icy wake.
“I’ve already told you. I don’t have what you’re looking for nor do I know where to get it! So please just leave me and my family alone!” She tugged at her arm, but he only tightened his grip.
“Oh, no, Ma’am. I have no intention of leaving you alone. You see,” he leaned in close enough for Anna to smell the stench of old coffee on his breath, “I think you do know, and soon, very soon, you’re going to tell me where I can find…”
****
“The map,” Sam said around a mouthful of biscuit topped with strawberry jam.
Daniel’s brow furrowed. “The map? What map?”
Small shoulders lifted in a shrug. “Don’t know. That’s all the man kept saying. ‘I want the map’. Mama told him she didn’t have it, but that only made him madder.” Sam swiped at his mouth with the back of his hand and looked toward the window. “You think he’s going to come back?”
Daniel followed the boy’s gaze, his temper climbing a notch. More than likely the man would return. Sounded like he was the type of man who didn’t give up. Well, he’d come to the wrong town.
Pasting what he hoped was a reassuring smile on his face, Daniel leaned back in his chair, folding his arms across his chest. “Well, I tell you what. There’s no need for you to worry if he does because I’m going to take care of this.”
Sam scooted closer to the table as two farmers skirted around behind his chair. “Whatcha gonna do?”
“Well, right now, I’m going to pay for your biscuit and lemonade and then, I’m going to walk you to school.”
Face falling, Sam shook his head. “I’m not going to school. I’m the man of the house, and I don’t think men should have to go to school.”
Daniel had figured school was going to be a tough sell—not that he could blame the boy. He was scared for his mother, and instincts told him to protect her, no matter what his size.
“Listen, Sam. The best thing you can do right now is to go to school and let me handle things with your mama.”
Sam scowled. “She won’t tell you anything.”
The kid was smart…and he knew his mother well. “Maybe not, but I’m pretty good about finding things out for myself. That’s part of being a Ranger.” He winked at the boy’s wide-eyed expression. “Now finish off that lemonade and let’s get to walking.”
Fingers curling around the glass, Sam idly sloshed the liquid back and forth. “Will you tell me what she tells you? I mean, if she does tell you something?”
His heart aching for the little boy trying to be a man, Daniel reached over and ruffled Sam’s hair. “Maybe. Depends on what she tells me.”
A long slurp followed. Then Sam pushed the glass away from the edge of the table and looked up, a touch of sadness in his eyes. “I don’t want my mama to be hurt, Ranger.”
“Neither do I, Sam. Neither do I.”
Daniel looked away from the boy’s wide-eyed gaze and swallowed the lump lodged in his windpipe. He couldn’t imagine anything happening to Anna, didn’t want to think about the possibility.
His heart twisted with longing, a sure sign his feelings of protection weren’t just about doing his duty. Maybe someday there could be more between him and Anna, but first, he needed to make sure she’d be safe. And he’d do whatever it took to make sure of that.
****
Anna watched him leave, her knees shaking, one hand gripping the door frame as the man swung one leg over the saddle of his mare. She heard him cluck to the horse and the responding whinny, but inside, all she heard were his parting words.
You’ll see me again, Mrs. Hampton. And again. Until you give me what I want, you’re going to be seein’ a lot of me. So I suggest you find that map…or tell me where I can find it.
How could she give him what she didn’t have?
Closing the door, she braced her back against the wood and gave in to the shivers she’d been holding back for the past half hour. Her teeth chattering, she swallowed several sobs.
What was she going to do? Maybe she should just pack, take the kids, and leave. Get out of town before the man returned. The idea took root but was just as quickly dismissed. Running couldn’t be the answer.
Sam and Beth’s lives were here. Her life was here. Zach was buried in Strawberry Junction, and she couldn’t leave him or make the children leave the only life they’d ever known.
She glanced around the cabin, blowing out a breath. Everywhere she looked, she saw Zach. Some days, that comforted her but not today. Today, the images in her mind only frightened her.
Had Zach known something he hadn’t told her? Had he gotten into some type of trouble? Was that what had gotten him killed? She couldn’t imagine how Zach could be connected with her visitor, but obviously, the man thought she had this map for a reason.
Could that reason have been Zach?
****
As the thunder rumbled overhead, a knot of dread tightened in the pit of Daniel’s stomach, and he brought Sonny to an immediate halt. The stallion snorted and stamped his feet.
“Easy, boy.” He rubbed the long mane and shifted in the worn saddle. His gaze swept across the landscape on each side of the road. Everywhere he looked he saw nothing but grass and more grass, but something had caused that bite of uneasiness.
“Lord, I know the spirit of fear doesn’t come from You, so I ask You to restore unto me Your perfect peace. I know I’m here to do a job, but I get the feeling there’s more to me being here than just catching a killer. Please show me what it is I’m supposed to do in this town and give me wisdom and discernment so that I can help Anna Hampton and her children…and protect them. Amen.”
The prayer helped. Talking to God always reassured him. It reminded him he wasn’t alone no matter where he was. Prayer had gotten him through many lonely nights on the road, and it was during those times when he’d felt the closest to God.
He clicked his tongue, and Sonny resumed his earlier pace toward Anna Hampton’s place. A part of him wanted to race to Anna’s house, bang on the door, and demand she tell him everything she knew about her visitor. The other part exercised common sense, reminding him he wasn’t dealing with a woman who would respond kindly to such brutish behavior no matter how well intended.
One gloved hand rubbing the back of his neck, Daniel released a sigh into the wind. Of course, it might make things a bit easier if Anna would trust him even just a little.
“Lord, I could use some help with Anna. I don’t know much about it except that she’s in a lot of pain. If I could get her to open up to me, maybe I could help her.” Another sigh followed the prayer. “I want to help her, Lord. I really do.”
An image clear as day popped into his mind—Anna running her hand over Sam’s hair and leaning down to listen to Beth’s excited comments. She loved her children ferociously, would probably do just about anything to protect them. He just wished she knew he’d do the same thing for her.
The first plop of rain hit the brim of his hat, spurring him to pick up the pace. As Anna’s house came into view, a peace settled around his shoulders like a comfortable old blanket, and he whispered a quiet, “Thank you.” He still wasn’t sure exactly what was going to happen or even what was supposed to happen, but faith had always guided him. When he was supposed to know more, God would let him know.
****
A horse whinnied, and Anna froze, fear ripping through her body like a butcher knife. Wobbly legs carried her to the window closest to the door. The sight of Ranger Cochran—Daniel—sitting atop his stallion swathed her heart in relief.
Without giving herself time to hesitate, she swung open the front door and walked out onto the porch. “Ranger Cochran. I wasn’t expecting to see you back here today.” Could he hear the fear in her voice, or was the shakiness just her imagination?
A gust of wind blew a strand of hair across her eyes, and she brushed it away, grateful for the distraction. She needed a bit more time to regain her composure. There was nothing Daniel could do to protect her, nothing that she’d allow him to do anyway. The less he saw of her anxiety, the better.
Daniel dismounted and looped Sonny’s reins around the hitching post. His spurs jingled as he walked toward her. “Mrs. Hampton…Anna. I was hoping I could talk to you.”
One hand wrapping around the porch post, Anna managed a shaky nod. “Of course. Has something happened?” When he didn’t immediately answer, her head shot up, and she met his gaze. “Are my children okay?” Her heart thumped out a terrified rhythm. She’d been too busy concentrating on her own fear that she hadn’t even considered Daniel might be here for another reason.
He held up one hand. “Your children are fine, safely at school.”
She resisted the urge to clutch her throat in relief. Instead, she dug her nails into the hard wood beneath her hand. “Would you,” her voice squeaked. She cleared her throat and tried again. “Would you like a glass of lemonade?”
“No, thank you.” He came up the steps, stopping two from the top. Sweeping the hat from his head, he allowed it to dangle from two fingers. He propped one foot up on the top step and leaned forward. “I’d like to talk to you about what happened this morning.”
Anna couldn’t look into those piercing eyes. She’d never been very good at lying, maybe because she hadn’t had much experience. Under ordinary circumstances, that would be a good thing.
“Ranger—”
“Daniel,” he corrected.
She let go of the post. “Daniel, we’ve already had this conversation. If anything happened, and I’m not saying it did, I can take care of it.”
He surveyed her long enough for her to look away. “That’s what you said, but something else you said got me to thinking.”
“What’s that?”
“You said you wouldn’t have the death of another lawman on your hands. You think your husband’s death was your fault?”
Chills tripped down Anna’s spine. “That’s not what I meant.” The lie squeaked out inefficiently.
“Really?” Disbelief was evident in his voice. “Well, I gotta tell you, Anna. I’ve been doing this for a long time, and I’ve learned a lot about people. And something tells me you’re not the type to blurt out things you don’t feel.”
Another gust of wind blew the same strand of hair back into her eyes. She tucked it behind her ear and directed her gaze across the yard, trying to focus on anything but the concern in the ranger’s eyes.
“Zach wasn’t supposed to be at the office then.” Memories threatened to engulf her, drown her in an overwhelming tide of emotion.
Daniel climbed up the last two steps to stand a few inches away from her. His scent—a combination of leather and soap—wafted on a breeze to her, a forceful reminder that as gentle as Daniel was, he was a man. And she didn’t know exactly what it was he wanted from her. “You mean the day he was killed.”
She nodded, her hands clenching into fists. Why was she reliving this? Shouldn’t she just tell Daniel to go away again? He’d leave if she asked. She was sure of it. So why didn’t she want him to leave?
“He’d come home for the day, but we had an argument.” Tears threatening, she swallowed hard. “I wanted to go back to teaching. We needed the money, but Zach wouldn’t hear of it. He thought it would make him look like he couldn’t provide for his family.” She walked across the porch to the opposite end overlooking the creek that ran alongside the house. Ordinarily, its gurgle soothed her, but the comfort wasn’t there today.
“Whenever Zach got angry, he’d throw himself into his work. He said there was always something to do at the jail. So that evening, he went back into town.” Guilt squeezed her heart. “And a few hours later, I found out my husband had been shot to death.”
“You have to know his death wasn’t your fault, Anna.” Daniel’s voice held no censure, no judgment, just a calmness she didn’t feel, couldn’t feel, inside.
“You mean because that’s not how God works? That nothing is an accident, right?” She spun around. “Is this the part where you tell me it was Zach’s time to die?” As the words died in the air, she shook her head violently. “No. Don’t. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean…” Frustration brought her to a halt. “I’m sorry.”
“Anger is just a natural part of the grieving process. I suspect you haven’t really talked with anybody about your husband’s death.”
Hysterical laughter bubbled up in her throat. “You’d be right. It’s not something I wanted to talk about.” She turned to face him then, her hands gripping the railing behind her. “Which makes me wonder why I’m telling you.”
“Sometimes the words just have to come out, and I imagine it’d be easier to talk to a stranger than someone who knew you and your husband.” He bumped his hat against his leg. “Guilt can be an awful heavy load.”
A tear trickled down her cheek, and Anna brushed it away with the back of her hand. “Well, I know you didn’t come here to hear about my guilt.”
“There’s no shame in needing someone to talk to, Anna.”
She liked the way he said her name or maybe it was the sound of his voice she liked so much—that deep, reassuring rumble, like thunder a few miles away. The thought brought the guilt crashing back. The last thing she should be doing was thinking about another man…especially a lawman.
“So now that you’ve heard my life story—”
“I doubt that’s your life story,” he interrupted with a smile.
Her lips formed a smile against her will. For the first time that day, she relaxed. Was it his presence providing her with the peace of mind she’d lost when her visitor arrived that morning?
“You know, I understand guilt. I carried around a heavy share of my own when my brother died.” Daniel kept his gaze trained on the porch, inches above his boot.
“What happened?”
Daniel ran one hand through his hair, drawing Anna’s attention to the thickness of the strands. Not for the first time, she noted how handsome Ranger Cochran was. He had that strong jawline her father would have called the mark of a determined man, the dark hair with just the slightest trace of a wave, and such a beautiful smile. But there was something much more than his looks that seemed to draw her in—it was the kindness she read in his eyes, the gentleness of his voice.
He cleared his throat and shifted, his gaze straying out across the open land. “We were on our way back from an arrest. Jarod, that’s my brother, and I had broken off from the rest of the posse. We intended to make camp for a night. It had been a long day, lots of riding, and we just needed a good night’s sleep. We’d been on the trail of a couple of bank robbers for days.”
Anna wished he’d look at her. She wanted to see his eyes. The pain in his voice touched her heart, and she could barely suppress the urge to go to him, offer comfort. What was happening to her?
“It was my turn to take first watch that night, but Jarod insisted I get some sleep first. I hadn’t been a Ranger that long, and this had been the hardest arrest we’d made.” Daniel’s breath hitched in his throat, and the next words he spoke sounded as if they’d come from the bottom of his soul. “So I let him talk me out of the watch.”
She’d already surmised what must have happened, but Anna didn’t interrupt.
“The ambush came out of nowhere. Three men, cousins of the men we’d arrested just a few hours earlier. They came in guns blazing. Jarod shouted at me, and instinct made me roll. I dropped off into a calvert and came up shooting. It seemed like the shots went on forever. I could see Jarod squatting behind a tree and the flashes of light from the barrel of his gun. I figured he was okay.”
Anna walked toward him then. She stopped when the toe of her boot aligned with his. “But he wasn’t.”
Daniel shook his head slowly, sadly. “No. I didn’t know it, but he’d taken a bullet in the chest. He kept going to protect me. By the time the battle was over, it was too late. Jarod didn’t have any fight left in him.”
Reaching out, Anna touched his arm. “And you felt guilty for not taking watch.”
“And for not waking up sooner, for not realizing that Jarod was hurt. For a long, long time I considered leaving the Rangers. I did walk away for a month, but, in the end, I knew Jarod wouldn’t want me to quit…at least not because of his death.”
Anna studied her hands. “So how did you get rid of the guilt?”
Daniel’s eyes connected with hers. “I had to forgive myself. It wasn’t easy, but I knew I couldn’t live out the rest of my life blaming myself for something I couldn’t go back and change. Jarod died that night, but he died doing what he loved, serving a cause he believed in. He knew when he signed on to be a Ranger that he was placing his life on the line, but he also knew that God wouldn’t take him before it was his time.”
Anna stepped away, moving back to the safety of the door. Forgiveness. It was elusive for her. Maybe she hadn’t tried hard enough. Maybe she didn’t want to try any harder.
“Anna?” Daniel’s deep voice called to her.
She looked up, clasping her hands together in front of her. “I’m sorry. That must have been a horrible night for you.”
“No more than the night of Zach’s death. Those nights were tragedies, but the blame for both deaths lies on the shoulders of the men who shot your husband and my brother…nowhere else.”
And maybe one day she’d believe that. “So how about that lemonade now?” She desperately needed something to do, a way to break free from the ranger’s compelling gaze.
Daniel dropped his foot level with the other. “Anna, we need to talk about your visitor, and before you say it’s none of my business, I should tell you that I had a conversation with Sam.”
Temper swelling, Anna glared at him. “You spoke with my son? You had no right!”
He walked toward her, his steps slow, even. “He came to me this morning because he was scared for you. He’s how I found out about the man to begin with. Sam was hiding out in the old saloon when I got back to town after our talk.”
“Hiding out?” Had Sam heard the conversation that morning? What had he seen? Though he was still a little boy, would probably always be a little boy in her eyes, he’d always been clever, sneaky even. She shouldn’t be surprised if he had heard something.
Daniel leaned one shoulder against a post and switched his hat from one hand to the other. “He told me about the man, said he wanted a map.”
Her breath whooshed out of her lungs, and Anna lowered her head. “Oh, no.”
“Anna?” Concern wrapped around the two syllables.
She shook her head. “I didn’t know he was there.”
“What map does this fella want?”
She lifted her gaze, and the sincerity of Daniel’s gaze proved to be her undoing. In a matter of minutes, she’d told him the entire story, including the man’s second visit.
“You should have told me this sooner.” Daniel began to pace.
Her back stiffened. The last thing she wanted right now was admonishment. “I’m used to handling things on my own. Since Zach died, I’ve managed okay.”
He whirled around, folding his arms across his chest like an avenging warrior. “This isn’t something to handle. This man, whoever he is, sounds pretty serious. I saw that shotgun you had on the table earlier. You may know how to shoot it, but are you really prepared to use it against another person, to possibly take a life?”
The question sickened her. Her only thought had been protecting her family. She hadn’t focused on what that protection might entail.
“Are you, Anna? Do you honestly believe you could pull that trigger because I’m telling you it’s not as easy as you might think it is…even if you’re doing it to protect those you love.”
Tears stung the back of her eyelids. Honestly, she couldn’t imagine killing someone…even that man. Her breath shook as she exhaled. “I never thought it would be easy…just necessary.”
“But it’s not necessary.” Daniel’s voice softened. “I want you to listen to me. No matter what’s going on here, this isn’t a battle you have to fight alone. It’s not one you should fight alone.”
Her lips wobbled, and she hated the weakness. “That sounds like something Zach would have said.”
“Sounds like he was a wise man.”
That earned him a smile. “So what are you suggesting I do, Daniel?”
“I think you and the children should stay in town for a while. I’m sure Miss Sally has room at the hotel.”
The suggestion caught her off-guard and caused her smile to disappear. “What? I’m not going to hide out!” She saw by the clench of his jaw that she’d annoyed him. “Besides that, do you really think it matters where I am? If this man wants to find me, I’m sure he’ll do just that.”
“Yes, and it would be preferable if he were to find you in town where I’m right down the street and can protect you.”
One hand fluttered against her throat. “I have no idea how long this man intends on hanging around, Daniel. I can’t just put my children’s lives on hold because of him.”
“You’re not putting their lives on hold. You’re saving their lives.”
A wrinkle appeared between her brows. “You have no way of knowing that staying in town is the better option. This man is obviously very sneaky.”
Daniel glowered at her a few seconds before clamping his hat back onto his head. “Regardless of what he may or may not be, I’m going to have to insist you stay in town.” He strode across the porch.
Anna hurried after him. “Insist? You can’t insist that I stay in town!” Her ire escalated when he spun around to stare up at her.
“Actually, I can. It’s my duty to protect you, and if you refuse to see the common sense behind that duty, well, I’ll be forced to place you in protective custody.”
Her mouth fell open. “Protective custody! You mean, arrest me? Is that what you’re talking about?”
“I’m talking about doing whatever it takes to keep you and your children safe until I find this man. And it’ll be much easier for me to keep an eye on you if you’re in town.” He was already unhitching Sonny when Anna regained her voice.”
“Daniel, you’re asking me to hide, to uproot my children from their home when we have no way of knowing even if this man will return.” She said the words with as much conviction as she could muster. “Besides that, it wouldn’t be proper for us to be…” she broke off, momentarily flustered.
“For you to be what?” He clamped one hand on his hip, impatiently waiting her reply.
“Miss Sally only has four available rooms in that hotel of hers, and they’re all on the top floor, secluded from the rest of the house. How would it look for me and my children to be on the same floor with…with you?”
Gaining steam, she continued, “No, absolutely not! I have my children to think about, and while you may very well do things differently wherever you’re from, we certainly don’t do such things here. I can’t stay so close to you in a boarding house even if I am a widow. And I’m surprised you would even think—”
“Anna.” Daniel broke into her tirade, his voice dipped in a mixture of amusement and exasperation. “I intend to sleep at the office.”
Her gaze went to the ground before settling on his face once more. “The office?” Color flooded her cheeks. She’d just made a royal fool of herself assuming… “Oh. The office. Of course.” Struggling for composure, she walked down the steps. “But that’s really not necessary. You weren’t hired to protect just one of Strawberry Junction’s citizens.”
Swinging one leg over the saddle, Daniel settled himself atop Sonny’s sturdy back. “I was brought in to protect Strawberry Junction, and since no one knows what this man is after, the entire town could be in danger. So my job is to stop him. This was the last place he was seen, and it’s probably highly likely he’ll return. When he doesn’t find you here, he’ll head into town. Unfortunately, I know criminals.”
Clicking to Sonny, he directed the stallion toward town. “Now, do you want me to saddle your horse for you?”
She blinked, comprehension out of reach. “What?”
“Your horse. Do you want me to saddle her for you?”
“Why would I need my horse saddled?” She was still trying to come to terms with his high-handed decision.
“Because you can’t stay here alone.”
“I’ve been alone all morning.”
He eyed her from his lofty perch. “But you weren’t alone. Do you really want to stay here knowing your visitor could return?”
He had a point. “I can saddle my own horse.” Pride squared her shoulders. “I have to pack a few things first. You can go on ahead.”
His hands closed around the pommel. “I’ll wait.”
She sighed. “Of course you will.” Mumbling below her breath, she started toward the house while trying to ignore the warm feeling his concern gave her.
****
Daniel watched her walk away, but his senses were on high alert to everything around him. Was the man out there right now? Watching? Hiding?
His jaw clenching, he lowered one hand to the handle of his gun, gaze sweeping toward the house and beyond. Looking for Anna’s visitor was going to take more time than he probably had.
And there was no doubt in his mind his captain wouldn’t be happy with his decision, especially after the tone of the previous telegram.
Captain Knightly had never been long on patience, and when he sent one of his Rangers after a killer, he expected immediate results. All Daniel had been able to give him was information on Todd Barnaby’s arrest. He hoped that would mollify his commanding officer for a few days.
He moved in the saddle to adjust his line of vision toward the west. A horse snorted behind him, and he turned Sonny around.
Anna slung a burlap sack over the side of her horse and swung her leg over the mare’s back. Damp tendrils of blonde hair clung to her face, showcasing the urgency of her mission to pack. She looked tired, anxious, making him wonder if this fear was the only thing on her mind. Was there something she hadn’t told him? Some little bit of information she’d left out?
Had the man said something she didn’t want him to know? She hadn’t been real forthcoming about exactly what it was the fella had said to her which made Daniel even more suspicious. How much of a threat was this guy? Had he waved a gun around like the one Anna had on her kitchen table? Had he hurt her?
Daniel’s gaze went immediately to Anna. “He didn’t hurt you, did he?” He fisted his hands around the pommel, wondering what he’d do when he came face to face with the fella. He knew what he wanted to do, but as long as he wore the badge of the Texas Rangers, he had to stay within the bounds of the law.
Anna stopped what she was doing to look up at him. “No. He didn’t.”
He wanted to press the matter, make sure she’d told him everything there was to know, but Anna had already turned her attention back to the reluctant horse.
“Come on, Rhu,” Anna’s musical voice urged the mare forward.
Daniel managed a smile. “Rhu?”
“It’s short for Rhubarb.” She gave a little laugh. “Beth named her.”
He chuckled. “Rhubarb. Nice name.” Giving Sonny a little nudge, he started toward town.
Rhu fell into step beside Sonny. “I need to tell Sam and Beth something.” The hesitancy in Anna’s voice tugged at his heart strings.
“Sam already knows.”
“But Beth doesn’t.” Her hands were so tight on the reins her knuckles whitened. “She’s too young to understand any of this.”
Daniel edged Sonny closer. “I wouldn’t be too sure about that. Kids can surprise you. At least, they usually surprise me.” Especially Sam. That kid was smarter than a kid his age should be.
Her shoulders sagged, and for a brief moment, Daniel wondered if she was close to her breaking point. Then, just like that, she lifted her head, and the fire was back in her eyes.
“We can’t stay in town long. I have livestock to tend to and—”
“I’ll see that everything is taken care of.” He didn’t want to give her any reason to return home. And he wouldn’t allow her to put her life in danger for a few animals.
Anna released a heavy sigh that brought his gaze to her face. “I’m not looking for a protector, Daniel.”
“Then how about a friend? Could you use one of those?” He found himself holding his breath waiting for her answer. When the smile broke across her face, it was like a ray of sunshine after months of rain. Made him feel warm inside.
“I guess everyone could use a friend.”
“That settles it then.”
They moved along in companionable silence until they reached the edge of town. Anna reined Rhu in. The mare snorted her displeasure and tossed her head, the silky tendrils of her mane brushing over Anna’s hands.
Daniel came to a stop beside her, looping the reins around one hand. “What’s wrong?”
“What I told you…about Zach…no one else knows.” Each word carried a breath of uncertainty like she still wasn’t sure she could trust him.
He shifted in the saddle, the squeak drawing her attention. “And unless you tell them, no one else will ever know.”
The smile returned. “Thank you.”
Sweeping one hand toward the town, he inclined his head. “After you, Ma’am.”
As she rode ahead of him, Daniel’s instincts clamored for attention. Someone was watching them, and just as soon as he got Anna and her children settled at Miss Sally’s, he’d find out who.