Defiant (16 page)

“No. You’re just going to go for a walk and cool down,” Nick told him. “Let’s go.”

Clint did as he was told. It was still light out, and he knew some of the townspeople were watching. He was surprised when the deputy fell into step beside him.

“What started the fight?” Nick asked.

“Ed made a remark about Rachel.”

Nick could only imagine what the fool had said. “Michelle told me that there’s been talk going around town about you and Rachel and that night of the storm when you were stranded together. From what she tells me, the talk hasn’t been pretty.”

“I know,” Clint ground out. “People shouldn’t be saying these things about Rachel. She’s done nothing to be ashamed of.”

“They shouldn’t be talking this way, but they are. The best thing you can do to help this all calm down, is stay out of trouble. Don’t go starting any more fights. Just let the talk die down on its own,” Nick told him.

“
If
it dies down,” Clint said in disgust.

“It will, in time.”

Clint doubted that would happen, but he didn’t argue the point any further.

Nick went on, “There is one thing you should know.”

“What’s that?” Clint glanced over at him.

“Sheriff Reynolds did some checking on you. He knows who you are now.”

Clint went still, worried that Pete had somehow found out the truth. “He does?”

“Yes, and he’s going to be watching you even closer after he hears about the fight tonight. He likes things quiet in Dry Springs, and your reputation as a fast gun is only going to cause problems.”

“I’ll remember that,” Clint said, pleased to learn that Captain Meyers had done such a good job in creating his new identity.

“Good. You know, Kane—” Nick stopped and looked hard at him. “Why are you here?”

“I’m just passing through.”

“You’ve been taking your time just passing through,” Nick said frowning. “Causing that
ruckus at the Last Chance isn’t a good way to make yourself welcome in town.”

“I’m sorry, but, like I said, I was defending Rachel. I’m not going to stand around and let fools like Ed insult her.”

“I understand completely, but Sheriff Reynolds may think differently about it, and he might be the one who shows up at the next fight. Try to stay out of trouble while you’re here.”

“I’ll do what I can.”

“Good.” Nick found himself wondering about McCullough. Something didn’t seem right about him. Fast guns were killers. They were generally amoral men who lived for the moment. He found it hard to believe McCullough was really that kind of man, especially since he’d gotten into the fight defending Rachel’s reputation. “McCullough—”

Clint looked at Nick expectantly.

“If you find you need anything while you’re here in town, just let me know.”

Clint was surprised by his offer. “Thanks, Deputy.”

“Call me Nick.”

“Thanks, Nick.”

They looked each other straight in the eye as they shook hands.

“Now go on,” Nick said. “But remember what I told you.”

“I will,” Clint said as he walked away from the deputy.

Nick stood there watching him move off for a
moment, then turned away. He had to go back to work.

Clint’s thoughts returned to Rachel; he couldn’t believe what was happening to her. He understood why Nick had told him to let things die down, but there was no way he could stand by and do nothing when Rachel was being insulted. It was obvious to him now that her reputation was in ruins, and all because of him.

A sense of responsibility filled Clint. Deep in thought, he tried to decide what to do. He had come to Dry Springs to track down the Tucker Gang, not to get involved with Rachel, but it was too late to change what had happened.

They were involved.

Clint thought of the time he’d spent alone with the dark-haired beauty and the heat of her passionate embrace. He had been attracted to Rachel from the first moment he’d seen her that night at the Last Chance. Even now, the memory of her kiss and touch during the storm had the power to ignite the fire of his desire for her.

Try as he might to deny it, Clint knew he wanted her, but he was torn over what to do about it. Should he go to her and offer to marry her? Making her his wife would save her reputation, but he could offer her no security while he was after the Tucker Gang, and he was not going to stop until his family’s killers had been brought to justice.

Clint realized there was always the possibility that Rachel might turn down his proposal. She
believed he was Kane McCullough—a dangerous gunslinger. He didn’t know that she would want anything to do with him, but a part of him needed to try to make things right for her.

Clint kept walking, his mood dark and troubled.

Rachel sat with Michelle on the swing in the garden behind her house. It was a lovely setting. There were trees and low-growing flowering shrubs and the flowers Rachel loved to tend. She enjoyed spending time in the garden and had been glad when Michelle had stopped by for a visit and found her there.

“It’s good to see you,” Rachel told her. “I’ve needed someone to talk to, and you’re the only one who really understands.”

Michelle had heard the gossip and knew how upset her friend must be. “How are your mother and father holding up with all that’s going on?”

“Yesterday was really bad. When my mother went into the General Store, she overheard some ladies talking about me and saying my reputation was ruined. She even heard them say that Kane was a notoriously deadly gunfighter. She told my father, and he went to talk to Pete about it.”

“What did he find out?”

“Pete told my father it was true. He said Kane is a gunman, but I still don’t believe it. Kane’s not like that. Kane’s no killer,” she insisted. “He couldn’t be and treat me the way he did when we were together.”

“What are you going to do?”

“I don’t know. Things have gotten so ugly,” Rachel said, tears welling in her eyes. “I’ve lived here my whole life. I can’t believe anyone in town would think of me this way.”

Michelle saw her friend’s pain and hugged her. “Not everybody does, you know that. It’s just a few stupid people who want to stir things up and make themselves feel important by acting like they’re morally superior.”

“Pride,” Rachel said miserably. “It’s one of the seven deadly sins Papa preaches about.”

“Why don’t we start praying that all the hateful gossips have a change of heart?” Michelle suggested. “The last time we prayed for something, it worked—remember the night of the dance?”

That got a small smile out of Rachel.

“Yes, I remember. Kane did show up and I got to dance with him.” Her mood brightened a little at the memory.

“Everything will be all right. You’ll see.” Michelle sounded confident.

“But what if it doesn’t get better?” Rachel worried. “I feel like I’ve humiliated my parents. We’ve got relatives back East. I guess I could leave Dry Springs and go live with them, but then I’d feel that I was admitting the gossips were right.”

“You have done nothing to be ashamed of, so don’t even think about running away,” Michelle said, defending her and trying to bolster her spirits. “Where’s the Rachel I know? The Rachel I know is a fighter. She never gives up.”

“You’re right.” Rachel looked up at her friend,
feeling empowered by the confidence Michelle had in her. She was glad that they’d been able to talk this way. “I’m not going to let them hurt me or run me out of town.”

Michelle heard the touch of fierceness in Rachel’s voice and she was glad of it. “That’s more like it. Now you’re acting more like my Rachel.”

“Thank you,” Rachel said. “It’s been so awkward. I haven’t known what to do, and I’ve felt so bad for my parents, having to listen to all the lies.”

“And they know they’re just that—lies.”

Rachel was feeling much better as she walked Michelle out of the garden a short time later. They were just starting up the path that led to the front walkway when she saw him.

Kane was standing across the street looking straight at her.

Chapter Sixteen

Clint’s decision on whether he should try to see Rachel again was made for him as he stood there watching her walk up the path with Michelle. When she looked up and saw him, he crossed the street to join them.

“Evening, Michelle—Rachel,” he greeted them. His gaze was hungry upon Rachel.

“Hello, Kane,” she responded softly.

“It’s nice to see you,” Michelle said, and she meant it, for she knew how much his showing up meant to her friend.

“It’s good to see you, too,” he told them. “I was hoping to have the chance to talk with you.”

“Michelle—” Rachel glanced at the house to see if her parents had noticed Kane’s arrival. She didn’t see them looking out any window, so she asked her friend, “Do me a favor, will you? Could you go up to the house and visit with my parents for a little while so Kane and I can talk privately?”

For a moment, Michelle remembered what Pete had said about Kane, and she was torn.

“Please?” Rachel asked again.

“My mother did want to know what your mother needed her to do at the church dinner in two weeks,” Michelle said, giving Rachel a quick smile as she started up the walkway toward the house.

Clint stood silently with Rachel for a moment until Michelle had moved away.

“Let’s go into the garden,” Rachel said.

Clint followed her back to the swing, and they sat down on it together.

Rachel was very aware of the hard, lean strength of him beside her, and her heartbeat quickened. She looked over at Kane, studying his ruggedly handsome features, and believed with all her heart that he was no killer.

“I’ve been worrying about you,” he told her.

“There’s no need for you to worry.”

“Yes, there is. Have you heard the talk that’s been going around town about us?” he asked, and he knew immediately by the change in her expression that she was aware of it. “So, you have heard what they’re saying.”

“Yes. My parents heard it all, and they couldn’t believe it. The things that are being said are so cruel.” She’d been strong for so long, but now, here with Kane, tears welled up in her eyes.

The sight of her sadness tore at him. She was everything that was beautiful and innocent in life. She didn’t deserve to be treated this way by anyone.
Clint knew he was ultimately responsible for all that had happened, and it was up to him to make things right.

Clint knew then what he had to do.

He reached out to her to gently take her in his arms. He wasn’t sure how she would react, and he was relieved when she came willingly into his embrace.

“I’m sorry, Rachel,” he told her, holding her close.

She leaned back to look up at him. “None of this is your fault, Kane. You saved me that night.”

Clint knew he had to save her this night, too. He lifted a hand to touch her cheek as he bent down to kiss her.

“Rachel, there’s something I have to tell you,” he began cautiously, unsure of how much to reveal. Most of all, he wanted her to be safe.

“I already know all about it, and I don’t care,” she said softly, thinking he was going to reveal what Pete had told her father about him.

“What do you know?”

“Pete told my father about your past—that you’re a deadly gunfighter.”

Clint almost breathed an open sigh of relief at her words. “Rachel, there’s so much I want you to know, but—”

“It doesn’t matter, Kane,” she interrupted him. “All that matters is that I love you. I fell in love with you that first night we met at the saloon—”

I love you
. Her profession forced Clint to admit the truth of his own feelings for her.

“I love you, too, Rachel,” Clint murmured, drawing her back into his arms.

“You do?” His words surprised her and touched her deeply.

“Yes. I do.”

They clung to each other as their lips met in a cherishing exchange that showed without words the depth of what they were feeling for one another.

When at last the kiss ended, Clint put her from him. As tempting as Rachel was, there was no way he could concentrate on what he needed to say with her in his arms.

Kane’s kiss had been so wonderful that Rachel was confused when he ended the embrace and moved away from her. She stood up to go to him, but then saw the darkness of his expression and hesitated.

“What is it, Kane? What’s wrong?”

Clint had been trying to decide how much to tell Rachel about his reason for coming to Dry Springs. Though he realized it was dangerous to tell her the full truth, he knew it would be even more dangerous to keep it from her.

“Rachel, there’s something I have to tell you, but you’ve got to promise me—”

“What?” She waited, knowing this was serious.

“You can’t reveal any of it. This has to stay between us—for now.”

“All right,” she agreed.

“There’s more to my past than what you know,” he began.

She hastened to reassure him. “It doesn’t matter.”

“It does matter,” Clint said firmly. “I’m in the middle of something very dangerous here, and I don’t want to put you at risk.”

He looked so deadly serious that Rachel knew something was very wrong. “Kane—what is it?”

“First, my name isn’t Kane McCullough.”

Rachel frowned in confusion. “I don’t understand.”

“My real name is Clint Williams, and up until a short time ago, I was a Texas Ranger.”

“You were a Ranger?” She was shocked. “But Pete said you were a notorious gunfighter—”

“That’s because Pete was told what I wanted people to believe about Kane McCullough. You see, very few people know that Clint Williams is still alive.”

“I don’t understand.”

“My father was a Ranger, too, and he was on the trail of the Tucker Gang. He knew they were cold-blooded killers, and he was getting close. Evidently, the gang was worried about him, so they came after him. They murdered my entire family and left me for dead at our family’s ranch some months back.”

Rachel reached out to him, horrified by what he’d revealed. “I’m so sorry.”

Clint went on to tell her everything that had happened on that fateful night. “It took a while for me to heal, but once I’d recovered from my wounds, I knew what I had to do. My father had
believed there was someone outside of the gang itself, running things and giving the orders. That was when I decided I’d have a better chance of tracking him down if I became known as a gunfighter with a deadly reputation. This way I could try to work my way into the Tucker Gang, identify their real leader, and bring them down. That’s why I created Kane McCullough—and that’s why I’m here.”