Gabriel's Atonement (29 page)

He grabbed one corner of the pitiful tick mattress, yanked it off the bed, and tossed it in one corner. Being cooped up in this tiny cell for three weeks was driving him crazy—as was the ear-splitting snores of the drunk in the next cell.

Silas stomped across his tiny cage and reached through the bars, poking the smelly ole man in the side. He sputtered, rubbed his whiskery jaw, then resumed the irritating noise. Silas groaned and reached through the bars again and pushed the man. The drunk rolled away from him, lurched suddenly, and fell to the floor. Silas chuckled. That should fix the ole coot.

He started for the window again, but the door to the marshal's office rattled, and the tall man ambled in. He stood bow-legged, a toothpick hanging from one corner of his mouth, eyeing Silas. After a long moment, he let out a loud sigh. “The judge says I have to set you free. My gut says not to.”

Silas's heart lurched at the good news, but he tried not to show it.

“If I let you go, you have to give me your word that you'll stay out of the Oklahoma Territory. You can go north, east, west, I don't care. But you're not to ride south. You understand?”

“Course I do.” He understood that he had to agree if he wanted to get out of jail. “What about my horse?”

“He's at the livery. If you agree to stay clear of Oklahoma, I'll release you and authorize his release to you.”

Silas held up one hand as if pledging on a Bible and fought to hold back a smile. “I swear.”

“This goes against my better judgment, but…” He stuck the key in the lock and turned it. The loud click was the sweetest thing Silas had heard in ages. He grabbed his hat off the floor where it had fallen when he tossed the mattress and slapped it on his head.

The door whined open as if it, too, didn't want to let him go. The sheriff stepped back, and Silas walked through the doors, a free man.

A few minutes later, with his holster on his hips, he walked out of the marshal's office and headed to the livery. In a few short days, he'd be back home—to his land—in the Oklahoma Territory.

And God help the man who'd stolen that land.

Lara leaned against the oak tree that had sheltered her from the warm sun most of the afternoon, every muscle in her body aching. All afternoon, she'd dozed in and out. Only sleep half softened her misery.

She shouldn't have taken that last hill so fast, but she was afraid the rider behind her—Gabe, she now knew—would get her claim. All her efforts had been wasted. Even this pain was a waste, because Gabriel Coulter had claimed the very land she'd meant to win.

She glanced over at the handsome scoundrel as he built a fire. They'd be sharing the campsite tonight. Alone. Would she be safe in only his presence?

She allowed some of her tension to flow out. For some reason, she felt sure she would be. Gabe had never done anything—other than steal a kiss that she half wanted—to prove himself less than a gentleman. Except for stealing her land. But to be fair, if he hadn't, someone else surely would have. And where would she be now without his help? Rather than being afraid of him, his presence encouraged her, but that didn't mean she wasn't still upset.

She watched the glorious sunset. The beautiful pink clouds and orange-tinted sky looked as if they were celebrating the people who'd been fortunate to get a claim today. But so many felt as she did—despondent. Why did God allow her to fall? Why didn't He let her get the claim instead of Gabe?

“Are you hungry?” He gazed across the fire at her. “I caught a couple of fish while you were resting.”

She was starving, but she didn't want him to know it. She had some food supplies in her bag. Her gaze jerked to her saddle then back to where she fell. Where was her satchel?

Twisting toward the creek, she gasped. Gabe had opened her bag and strewn her unmentionables out on the grass for anyone to see. She cast him an angry glare and rotated onto her knees then gently pushed up to her feet. She closed her eyes to the stabbing pain coursing through her and fought not to fall. Gabe rushed to her side and steadied her with a firm, but gentle hand.

“What are you doing? Tell me what you need, and I'll get it.”

She turned toward him and narrowed her eyes.

He blinked, looking confused by her anger.

“You went through my belongings?”

“Oh, that's what's upset you.” He grinned and shrugged. “The cut on your head needed stitching, and I didn't have a needle or thread. Good thing you did.”

He sewed up her head wound? She reached for the bandage but stopped. She must have been hurt more than she realized. “Did you have to string out my unmentionables for all to see?”

He shrugged again. “I was more worried about you bleeding to death. My apologies for not putting them back, but I've been busy tending the horses, finding us some supper, and shooing off anyone who thought to steal this claim away from us.”

His use of
us
wasn't lost on her. “This claim doesn't belong to
us
, Mr. Coulter. It belongs to
you
. First thing in the morning, I'll be on my way back to my family.”

His brow wrinkled at her comment. “No need to rush off. I don't think you're in any shape to travel that far. And your horse needs at least a day's rest, too.”

She hiked her chin. “I can't stay here alone with you.”

“You're doing so tonight. Why would tomorrow night make any difference?”

Did the man have to be so confounded sensible? She looked around. At the moment, she needed some privacy. “Please, let me go.”

“Like I said, just have a seat, and I'll fetch whatever you need.”

She stared at him. “This isn't something you can tend to.”

His ears actually reddened, and if she hadn't been so heartbroken over her loss, she might have smiled.

“Oh. Uh…well, let me at least help you to wherever you aim to go.”

“I can walk on my own, but thank you.”

“Are you sure? That's a nasty gash you have, and you were unconscious for quite a while. You might have a concussion.”

“At least give me the dignity of trying.”

He eyed her for a moment then nodded and let go, but he didn't leave her side.

Lara took a step, wincing at the pain in her knees. She took another one, wobbled when her gaze blurred, and Gabe was there to steady her again.

“Don't be so stubborn, Lara. Let me help. It's partly my fault this happened.” He took a deep breath and then murmured, “Everything is my fault.”

She frowned at his odd comment. “My horse stumbled because I pushed him too hard.”

“And you probably did that because I was right on your tail and you were afraid I'd beat you to a claim.”

“Which you did.” She turned to look him in the eye. “Why were you behind me? I never saw you before the race. How was it you were following me?”

He looked away, and a muscle in his jaw twitched. “I overheard some men talking about how there'd be women riding alone. They'd planned to follow one and steal her land.”

He looked at her, and something in his fierce gaze took her breath away.

“I couldn't let that happen to you.”

She wanted to admire him for protecting her, but the end result had been the same. “And yet you now own the very piece of land I wanted.”

“It's not what I wanted, Lara, but I couldn't leave you, not with you unconscious and bleeding. Would you have preferred I let someone else have this section?”

She had to be truthful even if it hurt. “No. I suppose not. If I can't have it, I'm glad that you at least got your land.”

He relaxed a bit and rubbed the back of his neck. “I've been thinking, I want to give the land to you. It hasn't been registered yet, so there's no big deal if you are the one who shows up at the land office and claims it.”

Her heart soared for a moment before plummeting. She hiked up her chin. “Thank you for your kind offer, but I can't accept such a generous gift.”

“Why not?”

“Surely you know why.”

“No one would know but us.”

“I won't be beholding to a man I barely know.”

Gabe frowned. “That's just silliness.”

“Maybe so, but it's how I feel. Now, could you please help me to a private spot?”

He ushered her a short distance away to a copse of trees. Sunny nickered as she drew near, and she ran her gaze over him, more than a little thankful the horse hadn't been badly injured. With her securely holding a tree, Gabe walked away.

“Call me when you're done, and I'll help you back.”

Her face was so warm, she was certain it was beet red. She quickly removed the trousers, tended to her business, and walked through the trees, holding on to the trunks as needed. Gabe must have heard her, because he jogged her way. She glanced longingly at the creek.

“Let's get you back to camp.”

“I really would like to wash. Could we stop at the creek first?”

He nodded and turned toward it. She handed him the pants then knelt down, ignoring the burning pain, and washed off her hands and face. When she was done, Gabe helped her to a nearby boulder, and she sat, enjoying the serene setting. The water bubbled over the rocks, shallow in spots while pooling deeper in others. The last rays of sunlight cast a warm glow over the shady area. “This really is a peaceful place. You're lucky to have gotten it.” In spite of her efforts, she couldn't keep the wistfulness from her voice. It was hard to be happy for him when her heart was breaking and her future was so unsettled.

Gabe stepped around her and lowered himself on the other side of the boulder. “Lara, look at me.”

She sighed and turned to face him.

He took her hand and laid his other on top of hers. His thumb moved back and forth across her skin, doing strange things to her stomach. “I want to help you, Lara. And the fact is, I can't tend this land alone. I've been tossing ideas around in my head. What would you think about coming to work for me?”

Gabe stared at Lara as a variety of expressions crossed her pretty face.

“What do you mean? What kind of work could I do?”

His mind raced. He'd really only blurted out the thought as it popped into his brain, but the idea had merit. “If I'm working all day to build a house, plant a garden, put up fences, and the like, it won't leave much time for preparing meals or tending to laundry.” He squinted, staring at her. “You can cook. I mean you've got a kid, so surely you know how.”

She sat up straighter. “Of course, I can cook.” Just as fast, the starch left her, and she crossed her arms, staring at the creek. “But I need a home, not a job.”

Ideas rushed through Gabe's mind. How could he keep her here and still give her what she needed? She wanted land. He nearly snapped his fingers at the sudden idea. “Tell you what I'll do. If you'll work for me for a year, I'll give you ten acres of land.”

Her mouth dropped open as she blinked, staring at him in wonder. “Ten acres? Why, that would be enough for Sunny and our mule to graze on, and I could maybe even get a cow or two. And think of the large garden I could have…” She sat back, her smile dipping. “But you won't actually own the land for five years. What if you decide to sell it before then?”

“I won't. I promise.”

She stood, grimaced, and reached up, touching her head.

Gabe vaulted to his feet. “Time for you to lie down. Besides, I need to get that fish cooking before all of the light is gone. You think about things and let me know when you've made up your mind.”

She didn't fuss as he helped her back to the blankets. He wished he had a big feather bed for her to rest on. One day, maybe. But not tonight. “Before you lie down, let me move you upwind of the campfire. You don't need to be coughing, not with your head hurting like it is.”

When they reached camp, he leaned her against the big oak, dropped the pair of pants Lara had worn under her skirts near her satchel, and hurried to move the blanket. He could tell by the way she sagged against the tree that her energy was spent. He jogged back and hoisted her in his arms. She squealed but didn't object. A true sign that she'd pushed herself too hard. Gabe set her down and wrapped one of his blankets over her. Lara placed her hands together and rested her cheek on them, eyes shut.