Charlene Sands (14 page)

“It ain’t none of your business.”

“You’re gonna kill her one day!”

“Wouldn’t be much of a loss!”

Any sense of reason escaped her now. She hauled back and slapped his face as hard as she could.

Then she gasped. “Oh!” She abhorred violence. He’d brought her to the brink. “You are a horrible man.”

Without hesitation, he drew his arm across his body, ready to knuckle-slap her, but he stopped abruptly, his palm in midair.

Tess froze in fear. She was that little girl again.

“You touch her and you’re a dead man.”

Clint walked inside the room, putting his body between hers and Cowper’s.

Where had he come from? How did he know she was here? Puzzled and trembling, she watched Cowper lower his striking arm and stare at Clint.

“I suggest you think long and hard about striking a woman ever again.” Clint stood protecting her. His stance rigid, his voice menacing, he spoke through tight lips. “You want to keep your job or any job in this town, you’ll be civil to your wife. You’re lucky I didn’t get here a minute later or I’d have made you pay a heavy price for disrespecting Mrs. Hayworth. If you don’t like my terms, get out. If you stay, you will never strike your wife again. It’s your choice.”

“You threatening me?”

Clint smiled without mirth. “You could say that.”

“I’m not afraid of you.”

Clint eyed him, surveying him closely. “You should be.”

He turned on his heel and took Tess’s arm. “Let’s get out of here.”

Once outside, Tess wanted to collapse in his arms. She was ready to, until Clint admonished her. “That was a fool thing to do, coming here alone.”

He tied his horse to the back of the buggy and helped her up. Then he got in beside her and took up the reins. He encouraged the horse forward with one word.

“What in hell were you trying to accomplish back there?” His voice was as gruff as it had been when speaking to Ralph Cowper. They headed toward the Double H.

“I had to do something. Who told you where I was? And why’d you come?”

“Greta was worried. When she found you gone, she figured you’d come here. She told me about the ladies you’re trying to help. Don’t you know you can’t change a person’s nature? You’ll get yourself in a pile of trouble trying.”

“You don’t understand.”

“Try explaining it to me.”

“I…” she began, then thought better of it. “I can’t.”

She couldn’t be fully honest with Clint. She didn’t trust him. She couldn’t forget his deception last night. He knew enough about her already, and if she divulged her past to him, she believed he’d use it against her. He still wanted to destroy the Double H. She couldn’t allow that. She couldn’t allow him to destroy her, either.

“You’re stubborn, Tess. I know you’ve been hurt in your life. You’ve got wounds inside. We all do. But you can’t go interfering in people’s lives.”

“Someone’s got to help her. That awful man could kill her next time.”

How could she explain that helping Pearl and other women realize their worth and that they deserve respect and consideration could also help her deal with her past? She couldn’t stand by any longer and allow these women to be abused.

“You really fear for her life?” he asked.

She nodded. “Yes, I do.”

Clint looked at her a long moment. “Don’t go back there again.”

“But what if—”

“I’ll deal with Cowper from now on. You concentrate your efforts on seeing to his wife.”

“This isn’t your fight, Clint.”

He shrugged. “Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t. But now I’m involved.”

He didn’t have to be. Why, if he hated the Double H and the town that bore his name, would he get caught up in anything like this? Clearly it wasn’t his concern.

She’d softened to him yesterday and during the night even more, but she wouldn’t make the same mistake again. He’d hurt her, and the injury would stay with her a long time. His deception made her ache deep inside. She couldn’t figure out his motives for what he’d done today, but this time around she wouldn’t give him the benefit of her trust.

He reined in the horse and stopped the buggy when they reached the house. He helped her down, and his touch sent sparks flying, but Tess chose to ignore them this time. She wouldn’t allow tender feelings for him to sway her judgment.

“Thank you for…well for…being there when I needed help.”

His gaze rested on her mouth, and she couldn’t miss the hunger in his eyes before he lifted them to hers. “There’s one more thing,” he said.

Tess drew a deep breath, certain he’d tilt his head to kiss her. She found it amazing and ridiculous that she didn’t put distance between them. Instead she gawked back at him, waiting. “What?” she breathed out.

He took a step closer and her heart pounded. She wanted to back away and not allow anything more to happen between them, but it appeared she hadn’t the will to do that.

She swallowed. And waited.

He spoke again, and it wasn’t what she’d expected at all. “Someone cut down a section of fence. Cattle were stolen. Must have happened during the night.”

The night that they’d spent together, making love.

“Oh,” she said. She didn’t know what disappointed her more—Clint not kissing her or the fact that the crimes were still occurring on the ranch. “Did anyone see anything suspicious?”

“Don’t think so. None of the men saw anything. The fence is repaired now, but we’d need a thousand men to guard the acres of Hayworth land to catch him if he wanted to do it again.”

“What about tracking the missing cattle?”

“They’re long gone by now. Someone could have hurried them along and hidden them before we even discovered them gone. We’ll keep an eye out for the brand, but it’s—”

“Not the missing cattle so much as who’s doing this and why.”

“That’s right. Missing a hundred head in a herd this size isn’t going to break us. But someone’s trying to upset the scheme of things here.”

“At least you know it’s not me.”

He snapped his head up and his eyes flashed. He spoke quietly, in a whisper for only her ears. “Yeah, I know where you spent last night.”

She blushed, the heat rising to her face instantly.

She couldn’t look him in the eyes.

“You know it’s not me, either.”

Did she? Did she truly know anything about Clint Hayworth? He was a puzzle she had yet to solve. She let that statement drop. “Well, I’d better get inside and check on Pearl.”

She lifted her skirt and moved toward the house.

“Tess.” He’d called her name as a quiet command. She stopped and waited with her head down. “We’re not through yet.”

She blinked, said nothing and walked up the steps and into the house.

C
lint left Tess to tend to the injured woman in the house. He unhitched the horse from the buggy and took the time he needed to settle his nerves. He hadn’t been sure what he’d stumble upon when he’d approached the Cowper homestead, but Greta’s urgent warning had played havoc with his imagination.

Ralph Cowper would have known his sorriest day if he’d struck Tess. Clint wouldn’t have abided that. He didn’t take kindly to any abuse of women, whether verbal, physical or emotional. It was obvious Tess felt a need to champion the cause. But she shouldn’t go putting herself into dangerous situations. It was a good thing Clint arrived when he had.

He wondered again who had hurt Tess and why. What were the circumstances that caused such a beauty to marry a man thrice her age? Had she been so badly treated that she only felt safe with a dying man?

Last night he’d savored every moment she’d been in his arms. Once he’d realized her virginity, he’d been as tender as he knew how to be. He’d wanted to cradle her, protect her and treasure her through the night.

Her taste remained in his mouth. Her scent lingered in his mind. He’d claimed her innocence, and seeing that damnable man lift his arm violently toward her had brought out every protective instinct Clint possessed. He’d been ready to pummel the man into the ground.

He might still.

For the first time Clint found some common ground with his father. Hoyt had wanted to protect Tess. Clint wanted to do the same. The woman brought out tendencies in him that he’d kept closed off. She made them surface, and he’d be damned if he could conceal them any longer.

Tess had gotten under his skin.

But she didn’t see eye to eye with him about the future of the Double H. Clint wasn’t about to change his mind. And it appeared neither would she.

They’d come to a stalemate.

There was another stubborn creature that needed persuading, as well. He entered the corral and closed the gate. The palomino stood at the far end of the corral. He’d allow Clint entrance, but that was all. Clint knew the signs of wariness. The stallion still didn’t trust him. Clint wasn’t one to give his trust easily either.

He stood just inside the gate, staring at the horse, speaking softly to him and slowly working his way around the perimeter of the fence, step by step. He’d gotten only five steps around when the palomino reared up and snorted. “Easy now, Sunset. You’ve got a friend here.”

Sunset paced back and forth, watching Clint with keen eyes, making noise and shaking his head in frustration. Clint knew it would take some time. The stallion had a strong temperament. Clint stayed in the corral longer and longer each day, taking one step farther around the perimeter. He made slow movements, touching his hand to his hat, kicking out a boot heel, letting the stallion adjust to his gestures and movements.

Clint had invaded his territory and every day he made slight progress with the horse. Once he’d stayed long enough, he tipped his hat. “See you tomorrow, boy.”

Clint walked behind a tree to observe what the palomino did next, but hushed voices coming from behind one of the storage sheds caught his attention. He heard Greta’s strong accent and walked a little closer toward the sound.

Then he spotted Sonny. The two were arguing about something, Greta pointing her finger at Sonny, and his face flushed with hot color.

Clint walked up to find two guilty faces looking his way. “Afternoon,” he said, darting his gaze from one to the other. “What’s the ruckus about?”

Sonny pinched his expression tight. “No ruckus.”

Greta’s chin went up.

“Sounds to me like an argument. Greta?”

Greta shot Sonny a cold look, then closed off her expression before returning her gaze to Clint. “No argument.”

Whatever it was, they weren’t saying, but he was damn sure the two of them weren’t happy with one another. “When you’re through
being polite
to each other, we need to talk,” Clint said to Sonny.

“I’m through. We can talk now.”

“I will make supper.” Greta turned on her heel and stalked off.

Sonny scratched his chin.

“Any news today about the downed fences?”

Sonny shook his head. “No one saw or heard anything.”

“That seems to be the case with each one of these crimes.”

“Crimes?”

“Stealing cattle, cutting fences, poking holes in water tanks. Don’t you think on them as crimes?”

Sonny put his hands in his back pockets and rocked back on his boot heels. “Yeah, I’m…beginning to.”

“It’s time we got the sheriff involved in this.”

Sonny drew a breath. There was a slight flicker in his eyes. “Well, now. Hoyt pretty much liked to keep things that happened on the ranch to himself. He usually figured he could fix just about any problem without involving the law.”

“That was my father’s problem—he thought he
was
the law.”

Clint watched Sonny’s reaction. He had a strange sense about this. He had to make a trip into town to get the answers he needed. Something didn’t add up around here.

He’d hold off informing the sheriff. Right now he had his own suspicions.

And he hoped he was dead wrong.

Tess climbed the stairs slowly, her mind in turmoil. She had a good deal on her mind. The calamities on the ranch were beginning to frighten her. They were no longer harmless pranks but actual crimes. They’d started out as small things, like missing ranch equipment and mysteriously broken wagon hitches, then they’d escalated to shed fires and cattle theft.

What was next? And how could she protect the ranch from these peculiar criminal actions? For the first time in a long while Tess didn’t feel secure on the ranch. She remembered the gunfire that caused her mare to throw her. She’d been injured and frightened from that fall. But these occurrences lately had nothing to do with her directly. They were aimed at upsetting the smooth operation of the ranch.

And they were working.

She still couldn’t figure it.

When she reached the guest bedroom where she’d left Pearl earlier, she stopped for a moment to take a breath. Then opened the door.

She’d hoped to find Pearl resting or asleep. Instead Pearl was up, gazing out the window, a desolate look on her face.

“Are you feeling any better?” she asked.

Pearl turned, her eyes filled with such sorrow that Tess wanted to embrace her.

“I’m doing fine, Mrs. Hayworth. I shouldn’ta come here.”

“It’s a good thing you did. Never doubt that. I’m here to help.” She stated the obvious. “Your face is swollen. Does is hurt?”

She moved away from the window and walked over to her. “I’ve hurt worse.”

Tess took hold of her hands. “Oh, Pearl. That’s just it. You don’t have to hurt at all.”

“I don’t plan to anymore, Mrs. Hayworth.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means I’ve decided to leave Ralph.” She wiped away tears in the corners of her eyes with the backs of her hands. “I should’ve done it a long while ago.”

Tess pulled out a handkerchief from her pocket and handed it to her. She dabbed at her eyes. “Maybe that’s a good thing, Pearl. I went to speak with him today. I think Ralph is a man who won’t change. At least he didn’t appear to back down when I confronted him.”

“Oh, Mrs. Hayworth. I didn’t mean to be involving you in this. Did he…he wouldn’t dare…he didn’t do—”

“No, he didn’t. He was rude to me. And he wanted to strike me, but Mr. Hayworth talked him out of that real fast.”

Pearl’s eyes grew wide with disbelief. “Mr. Hayworth?”

“Yes. He’ll deal with Ralph from now on. You shouldn’t go back there right now.”

“I have to.”

“But you just said you planned on leaving him.”

“I am. I’m through with Ralph. But, you see, I got me some money hidden in the house. I’ve been selling fruits and vegetables for a time now. It ain’t much but enough for me to get to my sister’s farm about a hundred miles from here. I’m real good tending the garden. I can sell my vegetables and help my sister. Connie’s been invitin’ me to come, but I was real stubborn, feeling my duty was to stay with Ralph. Pardon me for saying, but there’s nothing here for me in Hayworth. Your meetin’s helped me see that.”

Tess squeezed her hand gently. “Oh, Pearl. I’m sorry to see you go, but it’s for the best. I’m glad meeting with me helped you. I understand what you’re going through.”

“Somehow I knew that you did.” Pearl looked at her with newfound understanding.

“I do. I also know you can’t go back home.”

“But I got to.”

“No, you don’t. You’ll stay here, and tomorrow I’ll take you into town and get you some clothes and all the things you need for your trip. We’ll find out when there’s a rail or stage going toward your sister’s place.”

Pearl put her head down. “I can’t let you do that.”

“Pearl, listen to me. You’d be saving me a thousand more worries if you’d let me do this for you. I don’t think I could stand by and watch you go back to that house. It’d be worth everything to me if you’d allow me to do this for you.”

Tears flowed down Pearl’s blistered cheeks. “Mrs. Hayworth, I don’t know how to thank you.”

Tess put her arms around the woman’s shoulders. “You just did, Pearl. You’ll stay with us tonight. Greta is fixing up dinner. In the morning we’ll go into town and take care of things.”

Pearl backed away from Tess to look her in the eyes. “You’re giving me so much. I think this is what I always wanted. But I was afraid.”

“You’ve been brave, Pearl. You have nothing to feel ashamed about.”

“What about Ralph?”

“You said it yourself once—he can’t get much done around the house. He’ll finally see what life is like without you.”

“You fixin’ to fire him?”

“I should. Lord knows I want to.” But Tess figured he’d be less of a threat to Pearl if he had a reason to stay in Hayworth. He wouldn’t follow her. He wouldn’t be able to torment her. He needed his job. “As long as he does his work, he won’t be fired.”

Pearl seemed satisfied with that. “That’s fair.”

Ralph didn’t deserve Pearl’s worry. Nothing he’d done to her had been
fair.
She was a good-hearted, decent woman who had married a cruel man. She’d been innocent. Tess felt certain satisfaction that she was able to help her. Her private meetings had done some good, and she planned to continue on with her new organization to promote women’s worth in the world.

“You go back and rest if you want. I’ll let you know when dinner is ready.”

“Yes. I’ll rest now.” She hugged Tess shyly and turned toward the bed and sat down. “You’re like an angel, Mrs. Hayworth. I don’t know what I did to deserve you, but I’ll be thanking God every day.”

Tears welled in Tess’s eyes and she exited the room, relieved for Pearl and glad she’d have a better life now. Yet consuming despair and loneliness swept her up. Tess had no right feeling this way—her life was far better than most but she couldn’t fight what was in her heart.

Overwhelming sadness.

“Are you saying that Hoyt didn’t provide for Sonny Blackstone and Greta Deutch in his will? Nothing? Those two have worked for my father for over twenty years.”

Clint sat in a stitched brown leather chair in David Heaton’s office in town, staring at the well-groomed attorney in disbelief.

“That’s a fact, Clint. You can look over the will again if you’d like.”

Heaton shuffled through files in a cabinet, coming up with Hoyt Hayworth’s last will and testament. He fingered through the pages, studying the will and shaking his head. “No. I drew up this will personally with your father at the house. He was bedridden at the time but still sharp as a knife’s edge when it came to his business. He provided for you and his wife, split fifty-fifty, as you know. The only other provisions were to charities and his church. He set up a trust for that, and I make sure they receive their sums monthly. That’s it.”

Heaton slid the papers across the desk, then sat down. Clint took a moment to peruse them before sliding them back. “Hard to believe. Sonny’s loyal to the ranch. And Greta, well, she’s been like a member of the family.”

The attorney stacked his files neatly on the desk. “It’s not all that unusual. Many people keep their assets strictly in the family. Your father had a real sense of family, Clint. He wanted to provide for his wife and for you. You two were all he had. You were his main considerations.”

Clint disregarded the attorney’s statement. He refused to believe his father had cared for him. He’d wanted Clint to continue on with the Double H because even in his death he couldn’t bear to have his legacy fail. No, he’d cared more about Hayworth holdings than he had about the son he’d produced or the woman who’d given him that child.

“If I may ask, how is it working out?” Heaton asked, leaning back in his swivel chair. “How are you managing your forced partnership with Mrs. Hayworth?”

“Forced partnership?” Clint had never thought on it like that. The way Heaton put it and the way he looked at him now with an expectant expression on his face galled the hell out of him. “It’s not a partnership at all. I’m planning on buying T—uh, Mrs. Hayworth out. Then I fully intend to sell off parcels of the ranch.”