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What was she doing on the floor? Where was she? In a rush it all came back to her. Thank God she’d survived. She hadn’t been raped, but he’d come close. His friend had been impatient and that had saved her. That and the way she’d fought. Sally sat up and using the dresser, pulled herself to her feet. Her body ached. Her
head pounded. The sun through the curtains was just beginning to come up. Her heart sank. She’d
spent the whole night here. What had happened to Rob? He hadn’t charged in. But then she hadn’t signaled him either. If the man who’d knocked on the door hadn’t returned, it would have been much
worse. She was fairly certain Luke would have killed her though she’d fought with every
ounce of her being. She would never cower from him again. Never. But the question remained. Had Moss found Matthew in time? Was Matthew safe? She’d thought she could trust Rob to save her, but she’d been wrong. Men. They were all unreliable. She would never count on one again. Especially not a man with his own agenda.
If Moss had found Matthew, he would have sent word to Rob and found a way to see that she was told so she could get away from Luke. She had to get Matthew. Now. Before Luke did something worse. Now she’d made him angry and he was capable of anything. If she wanted her son, she’d just have to take him.
Sally stepped in front of the mirror and gasped. One side of her face was black and blue. She gingerly placed her fingertips on her swollen and split lip.
Oh God help me.
She hugged her arms around herself. He’d never hurt her this bad where others could see the marks. She’d make a spectacle going down the street. And her beautiful dress was ruined. If only her shawl was still downstairs where she’d left it. She had to cover herself somehow.
What if Luke had returned and taken his anger out on Matthew?
Panic like she’d never known before welled in her throat and her stomach heaved. She lost the contents of her dinner on the floor, dropped to her knees and rocked back and forth, hugging herself as tears streamed down her face.
Oh God. Oh God. Oh God.
What would she do? Luke was so strong and if he still had Matthew...
She breathed in shallow, quick gasps. She was going to be sick again.
Later, after she’d cleaned herself up, she looked in the mirror once more.
The stone hanging from the necklace wasn’t a ruby but a cheap piece of glass. How could she have thought it was anything else? The necklace looked even cheaper beside the green velvet dress that had been a gift of love from Aunt Doe.
Sally wrapped a blanket around herself and went downstairs to collect her shawl. It was still there in the corner. No one had wanted the threadbare thing and for that she was glad.
The bartender watched her as she passed. She covered her face with her shawl to keep the bruises from showing and hurried out of the building.
Her mind returned to last night. It was just like Luke to take what he wanted from her and then leave her in a defenseless position. He hadn’t locked the door behind him. Her mind filled with sour thoughts of all the things that could have happened to her.
He treated her this way because he did not care. His words of love when they had first met were just that. Words. A man who loved a woman would care about what happened to her. Even if he had to ride off and leave her. Luke had never cared for her in that way. She’d just been too young and naïve to understand that a man like that only cared for himself.
She was fortunate something worse hadn’t happened to her.
When she reached the boardinghouse, Moss was pacing on the porch. Carolyn was with him but not Matthew. He didn’t look at her as he spoke, his agitation too great. “It must’ve gone well, since ye was out all night.”
“No. It did not go well. We have to find Matthew. Have you seen Rob?”
“I ain’t seen him since he told me ye made up with Luke.”
“Made up with Luke?”
So that’s how it had looked to Rob. No wonder he hadn’t come to her rescue.
“We didn’t make up. It’s a long story, and I don’t have time to tell you right now.”
Moss grunted then stopped pacing as he looked at her for the first time. “Sally Mae.”
His shock quickly turned to anger. “If Rob don’t kill him, I will.”
“Rob won’t do anything. Just like last night. He doesn’t care about me. He has his own reasons for wanting Luke dead.”
“Don’t be too dad-blamed sure.”
“Did you find any trace of Matthew?”
“Found him with Luke’s gang. There’s three of ’em not counting Luke. Regular den of outlaws. One man ain’t enough to take ’em on. Not if ye want yer boy back safe.”
“You told me the plan wouldn’t work. I should’ve listened. Now he knows we’re here and we won’t take him by surprise.”
“What do ye aim to do now?”
“First I need a bath and a change of clothes. Can you buy me a dress, Moss? I’ll give you my size. Anything will do. I don’t care what it looks like. But I can’t go around like this.”
“No, I reckon ye cain’t.” He stomped his foot. “Dagnabbit. Rob shoulda kept a better eye on ye.”
“We can’t count on him.” She changed the subject, not wanting to think about Rob. “Help me sneak past Mrs. Steeple and I’ll wait in my room until you bring the dress.” She frowned. “Where’s Carolyn?”
“Takin’ a nap in yer room.”
Sally breathed a sigh of relief.
At least Carolyn was safe.
While she was waiting for Moss to return, Sally sat on the bed watching her daughter sleep.
Carolyn rolled over and opened her eyes. “Mama, Papa hurt you.”
Sally closed her eyes. How many times had her daughter seen her father raise his fists to her? “Yes. But he’ll never do it again.”
Carolyn’s small hand crept into hers. “I don’t want to live with Papa.”
Rob trailed Luke to the edge of town. Luke appeared nervous so he stayed back. He wasn’t about to give his position away by riding out in the open where a lone rider could be seen for miles.
Luke’s pattern was consistent even though it appeared random to anyone who hadn’t followed him as long as Rob had.
Luke couldn’t stay away from cards, whiskey or women. But this time he seemed to be holding back. Something was keeping him in check.
He’d seen Luke and another man in a sombrero eying the bank, while buying supplies. Odds were they planned to rob the bank after the shipment of gold came in. Then they’d be on the run.
Rob had to strike before that happened.
But he’d see the boy safe first like he’d promised. He kept his promises even to women he couldn’t trust. His biggest worry now was that Sally had told Luke that Rob was coming for him. That was just the sort of foolish thing a woman in love would do.
But he was the biggest fool of all for falling for her.
Luke arrived back at the hangout where his three partners had holed up.
It was time his youngest son knew how to take care of himself. Time he acted like a Wheeler. The boy had turned whiney. He kept asking when they’d go back for Mama.
He had to learn you could never trust a woman. Use them before they use you was Luke’s rule. It had never failed him.
Luke rode up to the mud hut and shouted out, “It’s Luke.”
“You alone?”
“Yeah.”
“You ain’t been followed?”
“No.”
The door cracked open. A rough, unshaven face looked out.
“You said the boy wouldn’t be no trouble.”
Luke went inside.
“I’m hungry, Pa.” Matthew’s stomach growled as he whined.
“Hush up. I’ll find you something.” Luke nosed around. He spooned the beans from last night’s supper into a tortilla, rolled it then handed it to Matthew.
From under his sombrero, Will spat. “We didn’t ask for another mouth to feed.”
“He don’t eat much.” Luke rolled a tortilla for himself and took a bite.
Matthew watched how his Papa ate and copied him. He understood he was there to learn how to be a man. He swallowed the cold beans even though they made him want to gag and tried to make his Papa proud. Except Papa had said not to call him Papa no more ’cause that was a little boy’s word. Now he was to say Pa. He was trying to remember all the things his Pa had told him since they left home, but it was hard. He mostly tried not to talk much and said, “Yes, sir.”
He watched Luke eat. His Pa had left him alone all evening with these bad men. He didn’t know why Pa called them friends.
“Pa.” The word felt odd in his mouth. “When am I going to see Mama again?”
“Damn it, son, we ain’t going back. Now hush your mouth.”
Matthew sniffled but didn’t cry. He knew better. He didn’t want to give his Pa any reason to hit him.
But Pa had said they weren’t going back. Before now he’d always said they weren’t going back today. Had something happened to Mama?
The man watching out the window said, “What did you bring him for? He’ll just get in the way.”
“No, he won’t. I’ll see that he don’t.”
“You can’t take him back. He knows where we are, and he’d bring us trouble.”
“No chance of me taking him back.”
Matthew choked on his breakfast. He’d never see Mama again. Would she come looking for him? Could she find him here? He doubted it. Suddenly, Matthew was no longer hungry.
Sally wondered what Rob would do.
He’d said he’d help her find Matthew and make sure he was safe. But he hadn’t promised anything more.
But after last night she didn’t expect anything from him. Moss would help until they were safely away from Luke.
She fastened the new gown Moss had bought her. It was a high-necked plain dress with light blue flowers on a tan background. For an old bachelor, he’d done well. But he wouldn’t let her pay him back.
“Least I ken do after lettin’ ye down last night. Now I’m goin’ to see if I can find Rob.”
Sally brooded as she paced in her room.
He’d probably taken up with a saloon woman. That’s why Moss couldn’t find him. The more she paced, the angrier she became.
Luke ruined everything. The liar. The thief.
He wouldn’t keep Matthew from her.
A cold knot formed in her stomach. She knocked the contents of the dressing table onto the floor. Her anger and the fear she might never see Matthew again knotted inside her and made her want to throw things. She wanted to break something.
She eyed the necklace Luke had given her.
Grabbing it, she yanked on the chain and it broke, rolling the fake ruby across the floor.
Mrs. Steeple knocked on the door. “What’s going on in there?”
Sally opened the door. “Nothing. I knocked something over.” She kept her tone civil in spite of her anger and turned her head to keep the bruises on her face hidden.
She didn’t need trouble.
It was too late.
Mrs. Steeple stepped inside. “I told you before. This is a respectable house.” She gave Sally a look of disdain. “I should have known you weren’t married.” She inhaled with a hiss and drew herself up to her full height. “I want you out.”
“I have to wait for Ozzie Moss. And we don’t have anywhere else to go.”
Mrs. Steeple barely glanced at Carolyn who sat wide-eyed on the bed with her arms wrapped around the dolly. “I wouldn’t have rented you a room if I’d thought you were anything but a respectable mother.” She gave Sally a keen look. “There are other places in town for your sort. I want you out now. And your gentleman friend too. I’ll give you five minutes to collect your things.”
Sally’s blood pounded as her face grew hot with humiliation.
Mrs. Steeple slammed the door and went back downstairs.
Where would they go?
Sally sagged against the door, looked at the broken necklace on the floor and gave a choked laugh. Just like Luke, the stone wasn’t genuine.
He’d set her up. And she suspected he’d drugged her wine.
She seethed with mounting rage.
Who did he think he was?
He’d never given her anything of lasting value other than the children. Everything about him was fake.
She closed her eyes. No. He’d taken back all the jewelry he’d bought her and then sold it again.
Sally had given until she could give no more, but all he did was take. And now he’d taken away a beautiful thing that had grown between her and Rob.
She wept.
She’d probably lost Rob forever.
Moss would find him. If only he’d keep his promise to make sure Matthew was safe. That would have to be enough. She couldn’t think of herself now. She couldn’t think of how her heart was breaking.
She gathered their belongings and Moss’s, and then she and Carolyn headed for the livery stable. They’d wait with the horses where Moss could find them.
He wasn’t going to be happy about losing rooms they’d already paid for.
Moss was in the saloon speaking to a dancehall girl when Rob approached and motioned for him to come outside. Rob pulled Moss around the corner of the building into the alley. “You shouldn’t be asking about me. If Luke knows I’m in town he’ll be on guard. He might take off again.”
“I had to find ye. Sally needs yer hep. I know how it looked.” Moss squinted at him. “But things ain’t always what they seem.”
Rob snorted. “That’s an understatement.”
“I thought mebbe ye’d light out after ye seen them two together last night. Why did ye stay?”
“I gave my word. I’ll see nothing happens to the boy. And I still have a score to settle with Luke. But Sally doesn’t need my help. I saw her with Luke. Looked like a friendly meeting to me. She’s still in love with him.”
“No, it ain’t what it looked like. She ain’t gone back to him. If ye’d take one look at her, ye’d know.”
“What do you mean?”
“He ’bout beat her to a pulp.”
Rob’s whole body seethed with rage. He knew where to find Luke.
I’ll kill the son of a bitch.
“We got to get Matthew away from here afore somethin’ worse happens.”
“Luke is holed up out of town with his gang. He leaves Matthew there when he rides into town. We can’t just go riding in or the boy could get hurt.”
“I shore don’t want the little feller hurt. What’s yer plan?”
“Wait for Luke to make a move.”
“Sally ain’t gonna like that.”
“No, I’m sure she won’t. But it’s no good involving the sheriff. No lawman will interfere with a man who wants his son. And if she tells him bank robbers are in town, they’ll send out a posse and Matthew could get killed.”
“She ain’t gonna sit around and do nothin’. I cain’t tell ye what she’s likely to do.”
“Tell her not to do anything but wait. Tell her you met with me, and I’ve given my word to bring her boy back safe.”
Moss didn’t hesitate. “It’s dangerous. Luke’s quick.” He frowned and fingered his beard. “What ken I do to hep?”
“Keep an eye on Sally and Carolyn. Keep them safe and out of the way.” Rob raised an eyebrow. “With Sally that may be asking a lot.”
Moss put his hand on Rob’s shoulder. “Be careful now, son. I wouldn’t want nothin’ ter happen to ye.”
Rob nodded. “You, too, old timer. I know a ranch where a lonely widow wouldn’t mind your company.”
They shook hands and Rob walked away.
Moss found Sally in the stable.
“Sally Mae, what are ye doin’ here?”
Sally looked past Moss, expecting Rob.
“You didn’t find him,” she said flatly.
“Yes, ma’am, I did.”
“But he won’t come.”
“No, he ain’t comin’.”
Her heart fell.
“But he’s goin’ after the boy.”
She felt a moment of joy and her hands flew to her bruised mouth. “Oh, Moss.”
“He said ye was to wait an’ take care o’ Carolyn an’ he’d make sure Matthew was all right.”
“What is he going to do?”
“I ain’t sure, exactly.”
“But he may need our help.”
“He don’t want our hep. An’ in case you was thinkin’ of getting’ the sheriff, Rob wanted me to tell you the law ain’t no hep in cases like this ’un.”
“But Aunt Doe said Luke has no legal right to him.”
“We ain’t in no court of law an’ ye’ll never get Luke into one except to hang.”
“What does Luke plan to do with Matthew? Why does he want him?” A faint thread of hysteria threatened to take over as panic rose in her again.
“I don’t rightly know. But don’t ye worry none. Rob’s a good man.”
A war of emotions raged within Sally.
Matthew had to be safe.
Everything rode on Rob’s success.
But Rob could be killed. Luke was already wanted for murder.
She felt ill at the thought of harm coming to Rob.
Luke was a brute and a killer.
What would he do once he found out Rob had come for Matthew?