Caught in the Middle (8 page)

Joel took a seat on the stone wall and fiddled with the bucket rope. “I came to get your version of the train story. Sounds like you nearly got yourself killed.”

Nick shrugged. “What’s a man’s life worth if he allows a woman to be harassed in his presence?”

“So you put a stop to it?”

“Well, yes. Miss Walcher was left alone after I attacked the offender.”

Joel didn’t hide his skepticism. “Those must be the slowest drawing group of bandits to ever ride the range. I can’t believe not a one of them got a shot off on you. But it would’ve been a pity to lose two county commissioners to the Grim Reaper in a month.”

“I’m more worried about Harold. The ink’s not yet dry on my oath, and now I’m shorthanded at the office.”

“I foresee long boring hours with your beloved ledger and maps.”

“I foresee extra expense for kerosene and coffee.” Nick leaned into the well and let his voice echo back at him.

“Come on over to my parents’ place,” said Joel. “No use in starting this marathon on an empty stomach.”

“I’ve eaten with your parents since you have. And just to prepare you, your mother wants to know—”

“When I’m going to settle down and give her grandchildren.” Joel bounced a pebble down the shaft. “Thanks for the warning, but if I couldn’t predict that question, I’d have no business trying to track down outlaws.”

 8 

Another fruitless day. No work, no word from Anoli. Anne traveled the tidy walkway to the Pucketts’ home, glad that Mrs. Puckett had told some of the neighbors about her. At least a few braved tentative waves, but by the time they got used to her, she’d be gone.

The crunch of gravel alerted her that someone was behind her. She didn’t change her pace. She didn’t look over her shoulder, but she read what signs she could. At long intervals she heard rustling. A man—not in a hurry but covering ground just the same. He carried more than the usual amount of hardware—two six-shooters at least. Her path led into the setting sun, so there was no shadow visible. Her gun belt was hidden by her coat, but if he was trouble he’d assume she had one. If an animal were stalking her, she would stop and face it. Men were more complicated. You couldn’t take a shot at one just because they threatened your territory.

Especially when you didn’t own any territory.

Three houses to pass before she’d reach the Pucketts’, but
did she want to go there? A stalked mountain lion didn’t lead hunters back to her cubs. Better to see what he wanted.

She stopped. His footsteps slowed and then resumed their pace until he’d reached her.

The same young deputy who’d harassed her before stepped forward. Once again, he’d put her on trial when all she was doing was minding her own business.

“I thought you were leaving last week. What are you doing in this neighborhood?”

Anne tensed. Lawmen usually assumed she was guilty of something.

“My plans have changed. I found a cook and sent her on to Pushmataha, but I’m staying here, boarding with the Pucketts.”

Her answer displeased him. “How did that come about?”

She matched his wary expression. “Are all the sheriffs of Garber as concerned about the boarding arrangements of women as you are?”

“I’m a deputy, and yes, it does concern me when people claim to be living at my parents’ home.”

Parents? Anne swallowed. If only a giant eagle would swoop down and carry her away. She pulled her hat low and nearly ran to the house. She’d heard about their son, Joel. No one had mentioned he was a deputy. He didn’t stop her but followed right on her heels. The previously friendly neighbors stopped to watch.

She didn’t even pause in front of the house but walked around to the back, where she generally entered. The door didn’t close behind her before he caught it and whooshed into the kitchen.

Mrs. Puckett wasn’t there. He watched her, waiting for
her to act. If it weren’t for Sammy, she would’ve turned and fled, clear to New Mexico Territory.

“Mrs. Puckett?”

“Ma?”

They hollered in unison. Quick clicks in the hall, then the door swung open.

“Joel!” Mrs. Puckett handed Sammy to Anne and wrapped her arms around the relentless man. His arms returned the sentiment, but his face remained dark.

“Is that her baby?” he asked.

“Do you know Mrs. Tillerton? Why are you scowling like that, Joel? You have such a lovely smile. Haven’t I told you it’s unbecoming to frown?”

Anne bounced Sammy on her hip. Must be difficult to act tough with a mother like Mrs. Puckett in town. She could almost feel sorry for the man.

“She told me she was staying here. Sounded like a fabrication to me.”

“Well, I never! Why would you doubt a lady’s word?”

One eyebrow rose, letting Anne know what he thought of her claims to ladydom.

“How exactly did this come about?”

Before Anne could answer, Mrs. Puckett bustled to the stove and slid an apple pie inside. “Nicholas brought her to us. She’s from Pushmataha. Her husband died, and she’s here looking for work. We’re letting her lease a room, and I’m sitting with the baby.”

“Pushmataha, you say?” His eyes narrowed. “I don’t remember any deaths reported in Pushmataha. How did your husband die?”

Anne tried to freeze her face. No emotion. No response.
“Your mother has the events a little confused. My husband died years ago. I came to Garber to find a cook for the depot in Pushmataha, and the cook I came after gave me the slip . . . and her son. Now I’m waiting to hear from the child’s father before I can return to the hunt.”

“Where is he?”

Anne could only shrug.

“But she’s a decent, hardworking young lady,” Mrs. Puckett said. “I’ve told her she’s welcome to stay as long as she needs, but she insists on finding employment.”

He raised an eyebrow. “And did you find any?”

“It’s harder than I expected.”

“But you know Nick . . .” He nodded slowly, and gradually that smile that made his mother proud began to emerge—a smile that made Anne mighty suspicious. “I might know of a position for you. Be ready first thing in the morning.”

Despite his glowering demeanor, Deputy Puckett seemed to have plenty of friends in town. In their walk from his parents’ house to the business district they were never alone, always at the mercy of some man wanting to hear the latest town news or to report what he suspected. Others trailed along to hear what their neighbors had uncovered. Deputy Puckett listened much, spoke little, and never acknowledged the woman briskly striding next to him, proud that she was keeping up.

He sped as he neared the fancy hotel and burst through the doors. Anne stayed at his heels with no time to take in the elaborate foyer or the startled guests as they rushed into
a dining room that wafted with laughter and the clinking of dishes—all of which went silent when she and Deputy Puckett entered.

“Where’s Nick?”

All the wide eyes in the room turned to the far corner where Nicholas Lovelace was sipping his coffee.

Perfectly attired from his jaunty Derby to his spotless shoes, his face lit up when he saw the deputy, then his brows lowered when he saw her.

“Mrs. Tillerton, I see you met the elusive Deputy Puckett.”

Elusive? Seemed like the deputy followed her everywhere.

Anne marched to his chair. “You could’ve told me the Pucketts’ son was a lawman.”

Someone by the buffet twittered. Nick stood, crumpling his napkin in his hand. “So you’ve made the acquaintance of your parents’ new boarder, Joel. Glad to see you’re getting along.”

“I could hardly credit that Mrs. Tillerton is a friend of yours.”

Anne could almost hear Joel’s tanned skin crackling as his face scrunched into a grin.

“She doesn’t resemble your usual companions.”

Nick’s eyes traveled the dining room. Every young lady present was in danger of slipping from her chair while leaning closer to catch their conversation. With a jerk of his head he motioned them into an unoccupied corner. “It’s a long story. Have you found Sammy’s father?” he asked Anne.

“Not yet.”

“That’s too bad.” Nicholas glanced wistfully at the room past them. “Well, if there were some way I could help—”

“There is,” Joel said. “You’re shorthanded at the office, aren’t you?”

“Yes and I’m running late this morning. My vest had a grease spot on it. Had to completely reconsider my wardrobe—”

“Mrs. Tillerton needs a job.”

In the silence that followed, Anne could’ve tracked a fox to its den. Nick’s blue eyes flickered once to her.

“I don’t think so.” He started past them again, but Deputy Puckett restrained him with a hand on his chest.

“You thought she was good enough to live with my parents. Is there a reason you wouldn’t allow her in your office?”

Anne’s face burned when Nicholas didn’t answer. “I’m not working for him,” she blurted. “I couldn’t stand to be cramped all day in that tiny office. I’ll find somewhere else.”

“But you haven’t. Mr. Lovelace was kind enough to introduce you to my parents’ charity, so surely he’ll be generous enough to give you a chance to pay them back.”

“I will pay,” Anne said. “I insist on paying. As soon I hear from Anoli, I’ll have the funds wired here. Your parents won’t be out anything.”

She kept her chin up, daring them to communicate over her head. Why had she come to Nicholas for help in the first place? Her position was insufferable. She wouldn’t allow him to fulfill his promise so begrudgingly.

“Come on,” Nicholas said.

She wished she hadn’t seen the glare he threw at the now beaming lawman. “You’ve trapped Mr. Lovelace. He feels like he owes me for saving his life.”

Joel cocked his head. “You saved his life? When?”

Nicholas turned his back to Joel. “It’s not that I mind your company, Mrs. Tillerton, but if you need money, I’ll give you some and we’ll see that Joel’s parents are recompensed. Joel, thank you for bringing Mrs. Tillerton. I’ll see her home.”

“Not yet. Is she talking about the train robbery? If I find that a witness misled me, then he could face criminal charges.”

“That deputy badge must be agitating you,” Nick said. “I didn’t give you an official statement. We were just visiting.”

“Maybe, but I’d rather hear Mrs. Tillerton’s story of how she saved your worthless hide.”

The morning light coming through the window illuminated Nicholas’s weary face. He knew enough about her past to get her kicked out of town, much less out of Joel’s parents’ house. If she painted him gray, he’d do her black in the end.

“He was the hero,” she said. “One of the bandits grabbed ahold of a woman, and Mr. Lovelace clobbered him. In a fair fight I think he could’ve taken him.”

Joel’s eyebrows inched higher. “But it wasn’t a fair fight. What happened?”

She opened her mouth, and then turned to Nicholas.

“Go on.” He waved his hand at her. “You’re quite the storyteller. Why stop now?”

The diners had resumed their chatter, having given up on hearing the conversation.

“One of the robbers pulled a gun on Mr. Lovelace—put it right against his head. The leader told him to shoot. He didn’t stand a chance . . .” She swallowed, remembering the comfortable feel of the gun in her hand and the disgust that it felt so soothing.

Nick’s feet shifted toward her. She looked up. No longer did he look irritated. That same sad understanding etched his face. That same response that threatened to be her undoing. She squared her shoulders, determined not to let him see her weakness again.

“She shot a warning that made them reconsider their
plan—right through the toe of his boot.” He tossed his napkin onto a table. “Mrs. Tillerton keeps her head in a fix. You might think about deputizing her. She’d make a better marshal than a clerk.”

“Nice try, Lovelace.” Joel wiped his sleeve against his bearded chin. “How well could you describe the robbers, Mrs. Tillerton?”

“If you need someone identified, you can call on me,” Nicholas said. “I was a lot closer to them than she was.”

“But you couldn’t see anyone well enough to put a bullet in their shoe.” Joel smiled.

“Everyone’s face was covered,” Anne said, “but I’d do the best I could.”

“Are you finished?” Nicholas asked. “I really must be going.”

“I’m finished. I’ll leave it to you to get Mrs. Tillerton safely to Mother’s tonight . . . or maybe I should ask Mrs. Tillerton to escort you—”

“Come on.” Nicholas waited to hold the door open for her. She skittered through, certain she didn’t want to go anywhere with the frustrated man.

“It’s only temporary.” Her buckskin britches looked thick and heavy next to Nicholas’s fine trousers. “As soon as I get Sammy with his father, I’ll be gone.”