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Carolyn bounced on the seat. “Look, Mama, look!” “Yes, sunshine, that’s Fort Riley.” “We’ll stop here for a day or two, an’ I’ll ask if anyone has seen Luke,” Moss said. “We can’t stay long.” Sally frowned. “Each day Luke gets farther away. I had no
idea we’d travel so slow.” “Cain’t go no faster lessen’ ye got fresh mules. And them we ain’t got. Hep.” He
urged his team on toward the fort. “It looks like the soldiers are preparing for trouble.” The fort was a buzz of activity as they rode in. Carolyn stared at the soldiers in fascination. Moss stopped the wagon as a soldier held up one hand. “All civilians report to
Sergeant Keener. Follow me.”
Sally and Carolyn trailed along behind the men until they reached a small, white tent. Inside, a sergeant with a pencil-thin mustache shuffled through papers on his desk. He rose when they entered, lifted his hat and nodded to Sally. “Ma’am.”
He gestured to two chairs and they sat. Sally held Carolyn on her lap. “Name?” “Sally Wheeler. This is my daughter Carolyn and my friend Ozzie Moss.”
The sergeant made a notation then leaned back and tapped his fingers together. “Where are you headed?”
“To Texas to find my husband and son.”
Husband. The word tasted bitter in her mouth.
The sergeant raised his eyebrows and watched her for a long moment without speaking. “That’s quite a distance for a woman and child to travel without protection.”
“Now look here.” Moss stood, sputtering.
The sergeant held up his hand. “No offense. You’ll stay in the Fort. Later you can travel with a group headed south.”
“Do you know of any such group?” Sally asked.
“No.” He eyed Sally up and down as an odd look crossed his face. Then he glanced over at Moss. “We’ll speak of your missing husband later.”
He knows something about Luke.
Sally nodded, barely able to contain her questions. He obviously wasn’t going to tell her now. The dismissal in his tone was evident.
“My birthday is tomorrow,” Carolyn piped up.
The sergeant smiled down at her. “How old will you be?”
She held up four fingers.
Sergeant Keener turned to Sally. “I don’t have time to talk now, but I’d be pleased if you’d join me for dinner tomorrow night.”
“Thank you.” She would ask him about Luke then.
“I must return to my duties. You’ll camp with the others.”
Holding Carolyn’s hand, Sally left the tent. The settlers’ area was full of wagons, tents, cook fires and children running. Moss chose a spot for the wagon then tended his mules.
Sally washed the dust from her face then accepted a glass of cider from the woman camped beside them as Carolyn played with the woman’s two daughters.
“What are the soldiers preparing for?” Sally asked.
The woman stared. “Haven’t you heard? Them Indians raided five homesteads. The army ordered us into the fort for safety.”
Matthew.
She could only hope and pray Luke would keep him safe. Luke’s vicious streak could be the one thing protecting Matthew.
“The sergeant said to find a group headed south.”
“You won’t find one. Not now. We’re all staying here.”
“I can’t stay. I have to find my husband and son.”
“You should be thankful to be safe in this fort.” The woman shivered. “Lord knows what them savages might do.” Sally had heard terrible tales of Indian raids. But Luke and Matthew had to travel through Indian Territory to reach Texas, and so would she. She wrapped her arms around Carolyn and held her close, unable to bear the thought of anyone hurting either of her children.
I have to find my son, and no threat of Indians is going to stop me. I’ll do whatever it takes to get him away from Luke. To get him away from danger and safe, back in my arms where he belongs.
She gave Carolyn a squeeze and breathed in her sweet little girl scent, closing her eyes.
No one gets between my children and me. Not even Luke.
After settling Carolyn in bed, Sally lay awake watching the stars and listening to the noises in the fort.
A soldier on watch called, “All’s well”.
It didn’t reassure her.
All the dangers Matthew could encounter played themselves through her head. Despite her determination to force the thoughts away, her mind kept returning to them. She wanted to saddle a horse and ride after him as fast as she could. But she couldn’t with Carolyn to consider. If only Luke’s bad temper was enough to keep her son alive. Luke wasn’t a man to cross.
Sally rolled onto her side. She longed to sleep next to Carolyn in the wagon, holding her. But there was no room.
Dozens of supplies filled the back of the wagon. Twenty pounds of coffee, twenty pounds of sugar, ten pounds of rice and one hundred pounds of flour. Then there was the load Moss had to deliver.
She fingered the locket she wore even when she slept. She’d lost so many family heirlooms already. Each time Luke had sold one she’d cried. Tears made Luke angry.
Tonight tears spilled down her cheeks. No one could see her in the darkness and the night noises muffled the sound. A dog barked, a baby cried and somewhere a man snored.
Here in the dark it was safe to cry.
Questions raced through her head. Was Matthew sleeping under the stars or with a roof over his head? Was he warm enough? And the most nagging question of all—why had Luke taken him? Did he hate her that much? He had to have known what this would do to her.
Imagining where Matthew was tonight would make her wild with worry. Wherever Luke was, he was playing cards. Matthew would eat according to Luke’s luck.
Luke held his secrets like cards, close to himself. Why hadn’t he warned her that a man might come looking for him? Where had he gone? And what had he done to make Robert come after him? Luke was capable of anything. Except honest work.
The last time he’d stayed out all night, she’d found a bit of courage. Or was it fear of losing the farm? She’d told him not to come home again stinking of whiskey. She’d said the next time he went riding off, it had better be to find a job.
She’d thought he would hit her, but instead he smirked. Now she pictured his smirk and wondered if he’d taken Matthew for spite.
All she’d ever wanted was to be a good wife and mother. She’d tried so hard to do whatever he’d asked. Yet it had never been enough. She’d thought she married one kind of man only to find herself married to another. From the first week of their marriage, she’d learned to give him what he wanted.
He enjoys hurting me.
“I’m glad he’s gone,” she whispered into the night.
Her thoughts turned to Robert Truman.
Strange how she could close her eyes and see each detail of his face yet she could not say the same of Luke. Perhaps it was that she didn’t want to remember Luke and all the bad memories.
Robert Truman’s eyes haunted her, the way his gaze searched her, as if looking for her every secret, the way his gaze penetrated her deeper than any man’s ever had.
She tried to put him out of her mind, but it was impossible. Each time she saw a shadow, she had the feeling he was there watching her. But when she turned to look, no one was there. Though she felt sure he was miles away, the feeling lingered.
If he discovered where Luke had gone, would he find Luke before she did?
She pictured the way the muscle clenched in his jaw when he spoke Luke’s name. What had Luke done to put that look in his eyes and what would he do about it?
There was bound to be shooting. She had to make sure her son didn’t stand in the way between the two most dangerous men she’d ever met.
Rob entered the fort and told the sentry on duty he was traveling to Oklahoma to find an old friend. Half-truths had served him well since he’d begun the search for Luke.
He’d once counted Luke a passing acquaintance. May Belle had enjoyed the man’s company and Rob had wanted to please her.
Love had blinded him. He should have trusted his instincts. If not for Luke, his fiancée would still be alive.
His fists clenched.
Beautiful unfaithful May Belle.
He was no longer the trusting fool he’d once been. There was only one person he could trust. Himself.
He wanted to talk to Sally again, but she’d left before he’d had a chance. Once he got her alone, he’d get answers. Now that she had only the old man to keep her company, he’d have a better chance of talking to her on the trail.
It would be easy to watch her undetected with people milling about the fort.
He’d just finished grooming his horse when Lee Clark, his former prison mate, rode up.
“I’ve been chasing you for the last three days. You said you’d meet me in Marysville.”
“Sally took off and I had to catch up. I knew you’d be able to find me. What news do you have?”
“Luke isn’t married to that woman you’ve been following.”
“That’s not what I heard.”
As a former Pinkerton man, Lee was capable of tracking the craftiest outlaw and he was very thorough.
“You want to hear the rest?”
“You know I do.”
“Luke was busy while you were locked up. Managed to marry three different women.”
Rob snorted. “Figures.”
“It gets even better.”
“Go on.”
“He’s played them all for fools. He finds lonely women who have no family, convinces them to marry him then brings in a traveling minister to do the honors. But he’s no minister. He’s one of Luke’s gang.”
“Three women.” Rob shook his head. “Damn, he has been busy. And let me guess. He takes all their money, and then disappears.”
“That’s what he did to Sally. He borrowed so heavily on their farm there was no chance they’d ever get it back. Rose is a dancehall girl; she never had any money to begin with. She was his first wife, before you met him. Their son ought to be about thirteen now. She’s still carrying a torch for him but he doesn’t come around.”
“And the other?”
“The other is the most recent. Young girl who lived with her mother and helped her run a boarding house before the girl took up with Luke and got pregnant. She’s working in a saloon now.”
Another life ruined. Luke was good at that.
“Her mother said I’d be doing her a favor if I put a bullet between his eyes.”
“I’ll be more than happy to oblige her.”
“You’ll want to talk to the girl. She’s the one most likely to know where he is, if Sally isn’t going to meet him.”
“She claims she’s married to him and he’s taken her son. Says she’s going to get the boy back.”
“She’ll need help if it’s just her and the old man. What do you plan to do?”
“First I’m going to find out what she knows about where Luke has headed and if she’s in league with him.”
“You going to tell her she isn’t married?”
Rob looked off toward the wagon. “When the time is right.”
“That might change her mind if she’s thinking kindly toward him. Give her another reason to be mad.”
Rob stared off into the distance and frowned.
So Sally isn’t married. That doesn’t change a thing.
But even as he told himself that, deep down he knew one reason to fight the attraction to her had just been removed.
Lee watched him for a minute without speaking. “Never thought a woman would get under your skin again.”
“She hasn’t.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure.”
“Lee, you know why I’m here. And nothing and no one is going to get in my way.”
“Do you want my help?”
“Don’t need it. But I’m much obliged to you for finding out what you did and coming all this way to tell me.”
Lee grasped his shoulder. “Some debts can never be repaid. Any time you need me, I’ve got your back.”
Rob clasped his shoulder in return. “I appreciate that. But this one is for me and me alone.”
Lee nodded and they stepped apart.
“Come on, I’ll buy you a drink. If you’ve been chasing me for three days you must be a mite thirsty.”
“That I am.”
Rob contemplated what Sally would do once she heard the news as they headed for the bar.
The next day Carolyn and Sally wore their new yellow dresses. Sally wanted to look respectable. The threadbare dress she’d been wearing wasn’t even fit for quilt scraps.
She kept to the wagon keeping an eye on Carolyn while Moss made inquiries about Luke. By dinnertime he’d still learned nothing of value.
“He ain’t one to tell folks his business,” Moss said.
“Perhaps the sergeant knows something,” Sally said.
“You gals are purty as a picture.” Moss winked.
“Lovely.” Sergeant Keener appeared in front of the wagon, smiled and extended his arm. “Ma’am, may I have the honor?”
“Yes, sir, you may.” Sally linked her arm through his and they walked to his tent for dinner.
Moss trailed along behind to chaperone. Earlier he’d pointed out that a lone woman was an invitation to some men, missing husband or not.
“Can I touch your sword?” Carolyn asked.
“If you are very careful.”
She touched it with her index finger and giggled. “It’s shiny.”
At the sergeant’s tent they were served chicken, cornbread, and for dessert, a birthday cake. After dinner, the sergeant gave Carolyn a rag doll. She danced with it, singing.
The sergeant stood. “I’ll walk you back to your wagon.”
They strolled back and Moss went to check on his mules.
Sally lifted Carolyn into the wagon and then turned back to the sergeant. “I want to thank you for all you’ve done.”
Her surprise at the gift was mingled with suspicion. He’d gone out of his way to give Carolyn a present, yet he’d only met them yesterday.
It was quite inappropriate.
Carolyn hugged the doll tight as she settled in to play. Sally couldn’t refuse the gift now. Carolyn was too young to understand. But it made Sally uncomfortable.
“My pleasure, ma’am.” He moved toward Sally. “We’ll have dinner in my tent tomorrow night. Just the two of us.”
“No, I couldn’t.” She stepped back, suddenly wary. Her back touched the wagon and she jumped. All through dinner she’d hoped he’d tell her what he knew. Yet when pressed, he claimed to know nothing of Luke or her son. Her hand rose to her brooch as he leaned nearer. “I must find my husband and son.”
“I can’t allow you to leave the fort. It’s too dangerous.”
“What do you mean you can’t allow it?”
He gripped her arm. “Listen. I can’t protect you outside this fort. You must stay.”
She stiffened as her heart hammered in her chest. The look in his eyes made her nervous.
He pulled her closer. “You mustn’t leave.”
Why is he behaving this way? He knows I am married. It isn’t proper.
She glanced at Carolyn, who was completely engrossed in her new dolly.
Sergeant Keener followed the direction of her glance. “Think of your child if you won’t think of yourself.”
“I am thinking of my child.”
She thought of nothing but. Nothing but her missing child.
He reached up and released the wagon flap. “Think long and hard, Sally.” His thumb rubbed her arm inside her elbow. “I’d hate to see you captured for an Indian’s slave. That red hair of yours makes you quite a prize.”
“I’ll be careful.”
He yanked her close against his body, his arousal evident. “I’ll take care of you.”
She gasped and tried to pull away.
His fingers tightened.
She froze, his manner suddenly reminding her of Luke.
Don’t make him angry.
“It’s a hard journey. But that’s not the only thing that’s hard.” He pushed her against the wagon, knocking the wind out of her as his fingers bit into her arm and his other hand yanked up her skirt.
She struggled, trying to push him away. “No!”
Carolyn called out, “Mama?”
“Go to sleep, birthday girl, I’ll take care of your mama.” His hand forced her underclothes away and he growled in her ear, “Stay quiet. You don’t want your daughter to see.”
“Leave me alone,” she whispered, frantically struggling. “I’m married.”
“I like a woman with fire.” His hand cupped her bare bottom and squeezed, pulling her close to rub against her. “And when I met Luke Wheeler he said nothing of a wife or son.”
Sally gasped.
Matthew wasn’t with him? Where had he hidden Matthew so that the sergeant hadn’t seen him?
“He didn’t seem the marrying type.”
His lips took hers in a harsh, controlling kiss.
Sally’s mind spun as she struggled to get away.
He let her up for air. “If you’re good to me, I’ll escort you south myself. It’s been a long time since I had a woman.”
The click of a gun cocking behind the sergeant’s head made him freeze.
“Let her go.” Robert Truman stood behind the sergeant with a look of fury on his face, his voice dead calm.
“This is none of your business.” The sergeant let her go and turned to face him. “If you know what’s good for you, you’ll move along.”
“This woman is my business. So it’s you who’ll be moving along.” Robert’s gaze narrowed. “Now.”
The sergeant moved away one slow step at a time, his hands raised. “Sally, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Not if I can help it.
“Sally, are you all right?” Robert’s voice was gentle, his profile strong and sure.
“Yes.” She adjusted her clothes nervously and smoothed her skirt. “Thank you for stopping him.”
“No thanks are necessary. If there’s anything else I can do for you...”
He could hold her until her limbs stopped shaking. No, she couldn’t tell him that. She shouldn’t even be thinking of it. But he’d saved her and she couldn’t seem to stop herself as he stood before her, strength radiating from him like the rays of the sun.
It would be so easy to fall into his arms.
Yet she couldn’t. She twisted the wedding band on her finger. She’d taken vows to be true to her husband, scoundrel that he was. And she wouldn’t break them.
She glanced away. “No. Moss will be back soon.”
If Moss knew an outlaw was looking for her husband, he might change his mind about taking her to Texas. She couldn’t tell him about Robert.
“Who is Moss?”
“Ozzie Moss is an old family friend.” She looked about for Ozzie. “You should go.”
“It would be best if I waited for your friend to return. In case the sergeant comes back.”
“No. I’ll be fine.” Her fingers touched the brooch and she bit her lip with a frown. Moss would be here any minute. Then she would have to explain Robert’s presence. “Really.”
He sized her up in silence, his gray-blue eyes lingering over her with warmth that made her flush. Finally he nodded. “Then I’ll be going. You take care, Sally.”
“Thank you again. Good night.”
Sally looked into the wagon where Carolyn had fallen asleep and sighed with relief. Her daughter had been spared the scene.
Moss came up. “I spoke to the sergeant when ye was fixin’ up fer dinner. We’d best lay low here ’til it’s safe.”
“Why, Moss, I didn’t think you were afraid of anything.”
“’Fraid, no, course not,” he sputtered. “Jus’ makes more work fer a man to set his sails ’gainst a pervailin’ wind, and them winds is pervailin’ right now.”
She placed her hands on her hips. “We have to leave tonight. I can’t stay here. How soon can you be ready?”
He stared at her. “Ozzie Moss is always ready, even when he don’t want ter be. Tarnation, Sally, cain’t it wait ’til mornin’?”
“No. The sergeant tried to...seduce me.” She didn’t like lying to Ozzie, but if she told the truth she’d have to explain about Robert. “I wouldn’t sleep a wink, knowing he was nearby.”
He shook his head and stomped off muttering, “Women folks always has to have their way. Cain’t reason with ’em, wors’n mules. Have to leave tonight. Humph.”
Sally ignored him. She’d take her chances outside the fort, Indians and all. She couldn’t stay here another minute.
Rob had watched and listened from the shadows as the sergeant manhandled Sally. His hand had closed over his gun and flexed before he forced it away.
No. All Sally has to do is cry out.
But she had made no sound other than a whisper he couldn’t hear from where he hid.
She must know her marriage isn’t valid. Why else is she carrying on with the sergeant? Or is she one of those women who likes a little on the side?
Is the man going to take her right there, with her little girl inside the wagon? Now that just isn’t right.
She had begun to struggle, and as he saw the sergeant raise her skirt baring her leg, Rob had moved out of the shadows and pulled his gun.
When it was over, he had stepped back into the shadows to watch over her as he had before.
She seemed to attract the worst sort of men. Keeping the woman safe clear to Texas might prove to be more of a job than he’d thought. It would be much better if he were to travel with her. He wondered how that could be arranged.
Rob smiled to himself as he heard Sally tell the old man she was leaving tonight. That suited him just fine. He’d be right behind her, keeping back far enough that she wouldn’t realize he followed her.
He was drawn to her like no woman he’d ever met before. She made his blood surge. It would have been easier if she were truly married. Then she would have been off limits.
If not for Luke, things would be very different. He would have gathered her in his arms, comforting her after her scare. If not for Luke, she wouldn’t have been in this position in the first place. Neither would he.
He watched her until he was sure they were ready to head out, pushing away the thought of holding her in his arms.
What were her feelings toward Luke and what secrets did she hide? Did she hide Luke’s secrets?
She was a puzzle he would solve.
He considered her recent behavior. She seemed in a great hurry to find Luke. She was probably following his instructions to meet.
Women aren’t to be trusted.
He had learned that lesson the hard way.
“Moss, hurry.”
Will the sergeant bar me from leaving the fort?
Moss grumbled to his mules, “Dang woman, cain’t wait to run into trouble in the middle of the night. Has to leave now.” He climbed onto the wagon. “Dang if it ain’t aggravatin’ followin’ a woman’s direction.”
Sally pretended not to hear him as they rode away south.
Once on the trail, Moss kept silent, brooding.
“I’m sorry, Moss, but I had to get away from that man. I doubt the Indians will bother us.”
“If yer in their territory, they’ll bother ye all right. Don’t matter who ye are or if ye travel by day or night.”
“I had no choice. And we’ll find Matthew quicker.”
“Ain’t no point in arguin’ with a woman anyhow,” Moss muttered. “Get on now,” he called to his mules.
They drove all night and Sally dozed with the intention of offering to take a turn driving the mules after they stopped.
“I reckon we gone as far as we kin. I’m mighty hungry an’ my mules need restin’.”
“I’ll fix us a nice big meal. We didn’t see one Indian. Now aren’t you glad we didn’t hide in the fort?”
“I ain’t never hid, but I laid low many a time. It ain’t the same. Not seein’ Indians on the first night don’t mean we ain’t gonna see Indians later.”
“I’m not afraid. I’ve seen one.”
“When? Where?” Moss frowned, glanced around and squinted off into the distance.
“Not here. On our ride to Kansas, I saw a girl in a canoe.”
“Humph. If you’d seen a warrior, you’d a been more skeered, I reckon.”
“Well, just the same, nothing bad happened.”
“Ye gonna fix them vittles or yap all day?” He stomped off.
She called after him, “I promised you a big meal, and that’s what you’ll have.”
Hungry men were grouchy men. This wasn’t the time to argue with him about Indians. She thought of all the stories her grandfather had told of their people in Scotland and Ireland fighting over land. Men always fought over land. She couldn’t fault the Indians for fighting for theirs, though she knew it wasn’t a popular opinion.
Sally sliced sweet potatoes, fried them in hot fat then sprinkled them with molasses. A gust of wind blew, causing her skirt to catch and rise toward the fire.
She backed away quickly, remembering the woman who’d caught fire during the Kansas trip. She’d have to be more careful.
She mixed an ashcake with cornmeal, the last of the buttermilk and fat. Then she kneaded the thick dough and placed it in the skillet to bake.
Food would be harder to come by as the trail went on. Much would depend on what Moss could shoot.
After they ate, she walked to the stream to wash the dishes and pans. On the other side of the stream, a black horse pawed the ground. There must be a rider nearby. But she didn’t see anyone. The only sounds were the trickling of the water and the horse’s huffing. Still, someone had to have ridden the horse. It wore a blanket.
A man crouched in the bushes, his dark eyes watching her.
Her breath caught. She froze.
The Indian warrior didn’t appear to move or breathe. His dark eyes locked onto her, his penetrating gaze dark and fierce, his shoulders powerful as if carved of stone. He didn’t blink.
She couldn’t move or scream and her breath roared in her ears, while her mind told her to run.
His fierce chiseled face held smudges of dirt as if he’d stepped out of the land, like no civilized man. He wore two feathers in his hair and three necklaces, one made from claws.
Would he kill her?
Carolyn!
She was with Moss. He’d fire a shot if there were trouble.
All was quiet.
What was the warrior waiting for? Was he alone?
His eyes continued to bore into hers. It seemed like days and still he didn’t move. His horse shuffled and she noticed it was lame. The man’s shoulder bled from a wound.
His chest rose slightly. So he was breathing, but still he barely moved. How bad was his wound? She had medicine back at the wagon. Would he let her clean the wound?
Water dripped through the rinsing cloth, past her fingers, down her arm. Still, she stood frozen, afraid to lay it down. Sudden movement might startle him into doing something.
What should she do? Try to help him? Scream or run? If only Moss would come.
Could he be hungry? Slowly she reached for the pan that held the remaining sweet potatoes and held it out toward him.
His dark eyes, which rooted her to the edge of the stream, darted past her to their campsite. He listened then shot her a sharp glance as he moved back into the bushes, taking cover until she no longer saw him.
She looked back at the campsite. What had startled him?
“Sally, where did ye run off to?” Moss called.
Quickly she set the pan of food down and gathered the other dishes. She’d return for the pan later.
“I was washing dishes,” she called as she hurried back to the wagon.
“It ain’t safe to go off alone.”
“I’m perfectly fine.” She walked quickly away from the tree line toward the wagon.
Later, Sally slipped back to the creek. She saw no sign of the warrior, but on her side of the stream on the flat rock where she’d sat to gather water, a necklace of blue-green rocks lay next to the empty pan.
She slipped the necklace over her head and tucked it inside her blouse. If she wore the gift openly she’d have to explain it to Moss. Yet another secret she kept from him.
Moss said they’d start back on the trail the next morning.
Sally watched the tree line for signs of the Indian as she listened to every little sound.
“Morning,” Sally said.
Moss stretched like the old hunting dog her grandfather once had. He’d aged since their last journey. Back then he’d always been the first up. A niggling bit of doubt made her wonder if she’d been wise in asking him to help her.
Though he prided himself on his tracking and wilderness skills, his eyes weren’t as sharp as she remembered. He hadn’t noticed the eagle circling overhead earlier, and he had trouble finding things in the wagon.
“Mornin’. Coffee made yit?”
“Almost.” She placed her hands on her hips. “It’s high time you let me take a turn driving the wagon.”
She’d pull her own weight on the trail.
“Well, now. If yer sure ye kin handle ’em.”
“I can.”
He seemed pleased and she was glad she’d made the offer.
Once they’d finished breakfast and she’d driven for a bit to show him she really could handle the team, they stopped and he unhitched one of the mules.
“Reckon I’ll scout ahead jus’ fer a short bit.” He rode off with a nod to her, as the team started forward.
The rhythm of the wagon put Carolyn to sleep. Sally gazed ahead as the sense of being alone came over her. She should be used to the feeling by now. Even when Luke was home, she was alone. She’d give anything to have her sisters and her parents back again. To hear the chatter of female voices. Anything but the mournful prairie wind.
The wagon lurched. Sally’s hands tightened on the reins as something gave a loud crack.
The wagon tipped to the side.
Carolyn screamed.
“Carolyn!” Sally reached for her as they slid sideways.
The corner of the wagon hit the ground with a thud and they tumbled off the seat onto the hard soil, Sally cushioning Carolyn’s fall.
She fought to hold onto the three startled mules.
They moved about frantically and as she stood, they almost threw her off her feet again.
After she had them settled and tied the reins, she turned to Carolyn, who stood sucking her thumb, as her rag doll hung limp in her other hand.
A tear ran down Carolyn’s cheek as she began to cry. “Mama, I was scared.”
Sally hugged her. “You’re all right, sunshine. Moss will be back soon. He’ll tell us what to do.”
She surveyed the damage, looking to see what they’d hit.
They’d hit a rock. It looked bad.
How could she have hit such a large rock? Why hadn’t she paid attention as she drove the wagon? Moss would be angry. It was all her fault. She wished now that she hadn’t offered to drive his team.
How long it would be until he returned? And what would he do? Even if he yelled, at least he’d know what to do. He’d have to fix the wagon out here in the middle of nowhere.
Sally and Carolyn sat on the ground and waited under the gray sky, which grew darker by the minute. Raindrops sprinkled down. They moved near the wagon for protection. Carolyn whimpered and hugged her dolly tight.
She heard a rider rapidly approaching.
Sally jumped up and ran around to the other side of the wagon shouting, “Oh, I’m so glad you’ve come!”
Her smile faded as her eyes locked on the man’s long, lean form. A flicker of apprehension coursed through her. She placed a hand over her brooch, took a step back and froze.
No, not him again.
“Well, Sally, what a surprise.”
What was he doing here? Was he following her?
“Looks like you could use a hand.” Robert Truman got down off his horse and strode toward her.
Sally put her arms around Carolyn, pulling her close.
It seemed the world stopped as he drew closer.
He stood in front of her, tall and straight like a towering spruce, as he looked down into her eyes, his sharp gray-blue eyes assessing her. He’d bathed and shaved. The angles of his chin now stood out on his chiseled face.
This was the second time in two days Robert Truman had come to her rescue.
She stared as if she’d never seen him before. He was incredibly handsome now that he’d cleaned up. His mouth curved into a smile, deepening the lines of his face as he glanced down at Carolyn. A butterfly fluttered in Sally’s stomach.
“There’s no reason to be afraid,” he said.
“I’m not afraid,” Carolyn replied.
He looked pointedly at Sally’s hands, which were holding her daughter too tight.
She let loose and Carolyn moved away to find her dolly.
As Sally continued to look into his eyes, a sense came over her that he wouldn’t hurt them.
She realized she was staring and blushed. He was much taller than Luke. He towered over her, making her feel small. And he was looking at her in a way that made her cheeks even warmer. In fact, her body was growing warmer by the minute and the memory of the feel of his hand over her wrist returned. Flustered, she looked down at her wrist.
He was disturbing to her in every way.
Robert moved closer in front of her with a commanding air of self-confidence that made her glance up at him again.
“Have you heard from Luke?”
“No,” she answered quickly over her rapidly beating heart. She would not be attracted to this man. He was dangerous. She tried not to look at his dark hair and suntanned face. She dared not look into his eyes again.
He was doing strange things to her insides and she had to remind herself she was married.
“Would you tell me if you had?”
Her gaze dropped to his gun belt then darted away again.
Martha was right. He looks like a gunfighter. Outlaw or lawman, either way he is dangerous.
His commanding presence frightened her. But not enough to tell him anything, even if she’d known where Luke had gone.
“That’s what I thought.” His voice was harsh and she shivered as she felt his gaze on her.
She kept her eyes averted and didn’t speak.
The very air around them seemed alive. Even though she didn’t look at him, she felt it all around her.
It made no difference if he worked for the law or for himself. He still wanted Luke, and it wasn’t for anything good. And that would put Matthew right in the middle of danger. But if he was asking her, then he must not know where Luke had gone.
“Let me have a look at the damage.”
“All right,” she replied in a small voice.
Moss, hurry back soon.
It was unlikely Robert would ride on. But surely there was no harm in him looking at the wagon. He couldn’t do more damage to it than she’d already done.
He laid his hat on the ground and crawled under the wagon.
She watched the muscles in his legs as he scooted beneath.
Suddenly her throat was dry and she moved to get a drink of water. She splashed a bit of it on her face to cool down, and then sat to wait and bit her lip, wondering how bad the damage was to the wagon.
Carolyn’s tears had stopped the minute Robert rode up. Now she squatted playing with her dolly, completely unaware of how the air crackled between her mother and the stranger.
Carolyn, who was usually afraid of strange men.
The rain stopped though dark clouds still threatened overhead.
Rob mused over Sally’s reaction to him as he checked the wagon. It wasn’t maidenly virtue that made her look away. Her eyes had shown considerable interest in his appearance, now that he’d bathed and shaved, and though he’d noticed a note of fear, she was definitely attracted to him.
The attraction was mutual. She was a beauty, and under other circumstances he’d enjoy seeing how far it would take them. But he wanted her to lead him to Luke, and anything else would just get in the way. Beauty like hers could lead him off-track quicker than a rattlesnake.
Though Sally had an innocent look to her, that didn’t mean she was innocent. He couldn’t imagine how she could have stayed that way while married to Luke. That she was chasing after Luke told him all he needed to know.
Though for a few long minutes his heart had risen into his throat as he’d watched the wagon tip and heard their screams. It was with relief that he’d seen they were unharmed.
Sally watched him beneath the wagon and wondered what he was doing. What was taking so long?
After what seemed like forever, he scooted back out and she watched those hard muscles again. He stood and dusted off his trousers. Then he picked up his hat, knocked it against his leg and studied her with intent.
She was acutely aware of his tall, rangy body. A swath of dark hair fell across his forehead and his clear, observant gray-blue eyes watched her.
She traced the pattern on her brooch until she realized he was watching her every move, then her hand dropped to her side. She couldn’t let him know he frightened her.
“It doesn’t look good.” He shook his head. “Can’t be fixed. And it’s too far to the nearest town.” He settled his hat back on his head.
She could no longer read his unfathomable eyes. A new wave of apprehension swept through her as she listened to his voice. She was alone with a man she barely knew. A man who wanted Luke for some reason. Something big enough that he’d lingered instead of moving on.
He’s followed me. It couldn’t be a coincidence he’d just happened along so suddenly. He’d been waiting to rescue her each time. This meant he’d never been far.
His face, bronzed by wind and sun, remained neutral, but she felt his gray-blue eyes under the hat watching her intently.
“You’re looking for Luke,” he said.
“Yes.” She bit back the questions racing through her mind.
If only he’d ride on.
But then he’d likely find Luke first and she couldn’t allow that to happen. She had no doubt he’d find Luke. He seemed capable of anything. And that scared her. She shivered.
“You’re headed to Texas. You’ve heard from him.”
“No. I don’t know where he is.” Sudden panic at the thought of Matthew getting between the two dangerous men made her blurt out, “Travel with me and we’ll find him sooner.”
As soon as the words left her mouth, she regretted them.
What did I do?