Blackstone's Bride (23 page)

“What’s that?” Jarrod heard the uneasiness in the young man’s voice and gave him his full attention.

“Stranger’s been followin’ me and Lily and Tom all day.”

“That so? You sure about this?”

“Yes, sir. Thought it was coincidence at first. Then every time I’d look up, he was there. He was followin’ us. No doubt about it. Lily noticed him too.”

“Joe, you didn’t leave Lily alone at all, did you?” Jarrod kept his voice calm, but he didn’t like this. He could handle someone asking about him, but he wouldn’t let anyone get near the children.

“No, sir. Especially after I noticed him. I made sure if I wasn’t with her, Tom was.”

Jarrod clapped him on the shoulder, thankful that Abby had been right about the boy being capable and smart. “Good.”

“Who do you think he is?”

“I couldn’t say.”

“I don’t get it. Why would he follow me ‘n’ Lily?”

“Can’t answer that either, but I’m going to find out.” He looked at Joe. “I’d take it as a favor if you and Lily kept this to yourselves. No need to upset the other kids.”

“Yes, sir. Whatever you want.”

Jarrod started to walk away, then stopped. “I’d be obliged if you’d watch out for Lily till the fireworks are over.”

Joe met his gaze, and Jarrod knew he was looking at a man. “I planned on it, sir. Nothin’ will happen to her.”

“Thanks, Joe.”

“No need t’thank me, sir,” he said, then walked to the group at the edge of the clearing.

Jarrod gazed at the people milling around, searching in vain for a stranger.

When Abby rejoined him, she asked, “What did Joe want?”

He almost sidestepped her question, wanting to spare her the worry he knew would spoil the rest of her evening. But he decided two pairs of eyes were better than one, so he repeated what Joe had told him.

Uneasily, Abby scanned the crowd. “What if he’s dangerous, Jarrod?” she asked, gripping his arm.

He squeezed her hand reassuringly. “Don’t borrow trouble. We’ll gather up all the kids and keep them with us for the fireworks. Afterward, I want you to take them back to the boardinghouse.”

“What are you going to do?”

“Look for this fella and find out what he wants.”

When the first explosion sent colored sparks into the air, Katie covered her ears and squealed loud enough to wake the dead. “Ooh! Did you see that, Uncle Jarrod?”

“Sure did, honey.”

Katie sat in his lap and jumped up with the next boom. She clapped her hands. “That was a good one. Wasn’t that a good one?”

“It was dandy,” Jarrod assured her.

With Oliver sitting on her outstretched legs, Abby was beside Jarrod on the blanket. Tom, Lily, and Joe were on his other side, keeping nearby, as he’d told them to.

Abby was close enough that her shoulder brushed Jarrod’s, near enough that he could smell her womanly fragrance in spite of the smoke in the air. Another time, he might have deliberately rubbed up against her just to watch her breath catch and to see where that might lead. But tonight his attention was on the crowd, watching for a stranger.

Katie covered her ears again, then pointed when gold shards lit up the black sky. “Oh, that’s the best!”

Tom snorted. “That’s what you say about every one.”

“Every one is the best,” she said, her small body shaking with excitement. “Don’t you think so, Tom?”

“I reckon so,” he agreed.

“Lily, did you see that one?” Katie asked.

“Aw, Kate,” Tom said. “Can’t you see she’s too busy lookin’ at Joe?”

Jarrod glanced over at the young couple sitting pressed together from shoulder to thigh. Their hands were clasped tightly. Another time, it might have concerned him. Now, with someone following Lily, he was grateful for the young man’s presence. In fact, he was counting on Joe Schafer not to let her out of his sight.

When Jarrod turned his gaze to Abby, he saw the worry in her eyes. His gut tightened a notch as anger flowed through him. He’d have given a lot to see her have a perfect day. Thanks to someone out there, it had been spoiled. He glanced at the children’s faces and their rapt expressions as they stared at the sky expectantly. At least they were enjoying themselves.

A wave of protectiveness surged through him. He’d never felt anything so powerful. Without a doubt, he knew
he would do
anything
to keep these children—his children—healthy, happy, and safe.

Through the smoke, he thought he caught a glimpse of a stranger wandering behind the spectators. Then there was another explosion and Katie stood up, clapping as she jumped around. When she sat again, there was no sign of the man.

“Did you see that, Uncle Jarrod?” the little girl asked, throwing her arms around him.

“Almost,” he said, hugging her.

“I did. It was a fine one.”

There were four outbursts in quick succession, followed by red, white, blue, and gold fire.

Katie stood transfixed. When there was nothing but darkness mixing with smoke and the smell of gunpowder, she turned to Jarrod, for once completely speechless.

He stood up and lifted her into his arms. “What did you think, Katie?”

“It was the most wonderful thing I ever saw,” she whispered reverently. “Didn’t you think so, Oliver?”

Abby stared down at the blond head resting against her breasts, his body completely relaxed in sleep. “It’s been a long day. He’s tuckered out.”

“Must be, if he slept through that.” Jarrod felt a tug in his chest, and emotion thickened in his throat. He cleared it and said, “Best get everyone to the boardinghouse now. I’ll carry him.”

Jarrod set Katie on her feet and lifted Oliver into his arms. As he snuggled the warm little body close to him, he remembered Tom saying on his birthday that it was the best day of his life.

Jarrod knew how the boy felt.

Sitting in her nightgown on the bed, Katie exclaimed, “I loved the fireworks. It was the best thing I ever saw. What makes the colors, Abby?”

“I don’t know.”

“Maybe Uncle Jarrod knows. I’ll go across the hall and ask him.” She started to jump down.

“No, Katie.” Her voice was sharper than she’d meant for it to be. “He’s not there.”

“Not in his room with Oliver and Tom? Why would he leave them? Where’d he go?”

“They can take care of themselves for a little while. If they need anything, they just have to come across the hall.”

“Where’s Uncle Jarrod?”

“He had an errand.”

“But it’s late. Why would he do an errand so late?” Katie asked.

Abby sighed. It was the first time she’d ever felt short-tempered with the little girl’s questions. Jarrod was out looking for the stranger who had trailed Lily all day. She couldn’t tell Katie the truth, for fear of alarming her. “Don’t worry,” was the last thing he’d said. That was the dumbest thing she’d ever heard. How could she not?

Where was he? He’d been gone a long time. Hollister wasn’t that big. He should have been back by now. Unless—

“Abby, did you hear me?”

She looked at Katie. “I’m sorry, sweetie. What did you say?”

“Don’t encourage her to ask questions, Abby.” Lily was beside her sister in the bed, and already under the covers. She yawned.

“Did you girls have a nice day?” Abby asked, trying to distract them as well as herself.

Katie nodded enthusiastically. “I liked the fireworks best. Didn’t you, Lily?”

“Not me.” The older girl flushed. “Joe held my hand. Not tight,” she said quickly. “But he fitted his fingers between mine. It was wonderful.”

Abby smiled. “I’m glad, sweetie.”

Doubtful, Katie looked down at her sister. “You think holding hands with a boy is better than fireworks?”

Lily looked knowingly at Abby, then sent her sister a pitying glance. “You don’t understand. Go to sleep, Katie.”

Abby watched the friction between the girls. There were all kinds of ways to make sparks fly, she mused, thinking about her own run-in with Jarrod by the oak tree. She had
felt the warmth of his body, seen the sizzle in his eyes. Please God, let him come back tonight unharmed, she thought.

There was a soft sound out in the hall and Abby jumped. Then she shot out of her chair by the window and hurried to the door, hoping it was Jarrod and praying that he was all right.

“Is that you, Jarrod?” she asked, listening carefully. She heard a muffled yes and yanked the door open. She gasped at the stranger standing there.

He held his hat in his hands. “Name’s Rafe Donovan, ma’am. I’ve come for my brother’s children.”

Abby stared at the stranger
, her heart pounding. “Rafe Donovan? Are you related to—”

“Reed was my brother.” He lifted his hat, indicating the room behind her. “Those kids in there are blood kin to me.”

“And me.” Jarrod moved past the man and stood beside her in the doorway. The roar of blood in her ears had kept her from hearing his approach. Relief flooded Abby at the sight of him.

Jarrod’s face was haggard as he scowled at her. “I thought you knew better than to open the door unless it was me.”

Abby’s eyes widened at the angry expression on his face. “I thought—”

“My fault, Blackstone. I told her I was you. She’d never have let me in otherwise.”

“You tricked me into opening the door. I didn’t let you in,” she corrected. She looked up at Jarrod, glad to have his reassuring presence beside her.

Rafe Donovan was a big man, not as tall as Jarrod, but wide in the shoulders and chest. Deep-set blue eyes, nearly hidden by shaggy brown hair, dominated a face that was all angles and crevices and sharp lines. Whiskers dusted his upper lip and jaw.

“Who is it, Uncle Jarrod? Who’s there?” Katie asked from behind them.

“Get her to bed,” Jarrod said in a low voice rife with tension. He moved into the hall and shut the door as Abby stepped back into the room.

Satisfied that she could handle the children, Jarrod took the man’s measure. The calluses on his hands indicated he worked hard for a living. Worn denim pants and a plaid shirt gave the same impression. Hard as he tried, Jarrod couldn’t find fault with him. At least not on the outside.

“What do you want, Donovan?” he asked. “Only a man up to no good sneaks around. Why were you following my niece?”

“She’s my niece too.” He looked down for a moment, then met Jarrod’s gaze. “I can’t say exactly why I waited. Just wanted to see the way of things before I came forward.”

“Now you have. Why’d you wait so long? I don’t mean here in Hollister. Sally passed on over two months ago. Why are you only just showin’ up?”

“Just found out about it,” Donovan said. “I’m from New Mexico. Took a while for me to get the news. Soon as I did, I came for the kids.”

Something tightened in Jarrod’s chest. “No.”

“Look, Blackstone, I think you ought to know I’m not like my brother. I didn’t approve of him or his ways. It was liquor and gambling that took him down. Fact is, I tried everything I could to stop him. But because of his bad habits, I have clear title to the land we worked. I bought him out so’s he could pay off gambling debts. What was left he used to move his family to Arizona.”

“So you’re a better man. I’m glad. But I don’t see what that has to do with my sister’s children.”

“I was sorry to hear about Sally. Always liked her. I never favored the way my brother lived. Not that he cared what I thought. Soon’s I met your sister, I knew if anyone could get through to Reed, it was her. He did change, at first. For her.”

Surprisingly, that brought Jarrod some comfort. He was
glad to know that Sally hadn’t completely misjudged her husband. That there had been some good in Reed Donovan.

“Are you married?” Jarrod asked him.

“Nope. Never did marry.” Rafe shook his head regretfully. “Between the ranch and Reed, there was too much to do. We had a spell of bad luck on the ranch, a couple years after he married Sally. It sent him back to the bottle. In the end, he wouldn’t listen to her any more than he did me.”

“I don’t give a damn about your brother. If he had acted like a man and faced his responsibilities to my sister and those kids, Sally would be alive today. You’ll never convince me otherwise.”

Donovan looked at the hat brim rolled in his hands, then back up. “Maybe. Maybe not. I’m not here to argue with you about the past. I’m here on account of those kids.”

“Then things are real simple,” Jarrod said. “They’re with me.”

The other man tossed his head to clear the hair from his eyes. “I’d think you’d welcome the chance to hand them over. It can’t be easy taking care of ‘em.”

“It’s not. Which makes me wonder why you want them. I should think you’d be grateful someone else has stepped in to do it.”

“I am. But the thing is, I promised Reed if anything happened to him, I’d take care of his kids.”

Jarrod sneered. “He didn’t think enough of his children to provide for them day to day. Why the hell should I believe he cared enough to think about their future?”

“I reckon I can understand why you’d feel that way. But much as you want to believe otherwise, he wasn’t all bad.”

“Tell that to four kids who had nothing all their lives, including a father.”

“I’m prepared to be that for ‘em. My spread does a fair to middlin’ business. They’d never want for food or shelter. Have to work, though.” He shook the hair from his eyes again. “No gettin’ around that. They’d have to earn their keep. Builds character, that’s what my pa always said.”

“God knows it worked for your brother,” Jarrod said
dryly. “When I got those kids, they were hardly more than skin and bone. Clothes were patched and worn-out. Sally did the best she could, but it was your brother’s fault that they were wanting. You think I can forget that? You think I can turn them over to the brother of the man who let that happen to them? Even if I wanted to give them up, why should I believe that you’d do better by them than Reed?”

Abby opened the door. “Keep your voice down,” she whispered. “I just got Katie to sleep.”

“Sorry,” Jarrod said, drawing in a calming breath.

She slipped into the hall and quietly closed the door. “What’s going on?” she asked, her gaze settling on the other man.

“Like I said, ma’am, I’ve come for my brother’s children.”