Jane Bonander (24 page)

She’d slept in the dark only two nights since she’d come to the ranch, and both nights had been in Tristan’s arms. Now, her only companions were a chain clasped to her wrist and memories of black, metal punishment boxes and dark, damp rooms that reeked of filth.

Somehow, she had overcome most of her fears. Once that happened, she discovered that the darkness was a good place to think. It was up to her to get herself out of the trouble she was in. Everyone at the ranch might worry, but with both Tristan and David gone, it would be left to Lucas to do something. Dinah wasn’t sure what he knew.

Pleading with Martin wouldn’t work. He hated weakness. Telling him to go to the devil wouldn’t work either, because he hated her strength.

She grabbed the chain, yanking it repeatedly, hoping to make enough noise to bring Martin in. The door opened, and she curled into a tight ball, dredging up the memories she’d recently overcome. She stared straight ahead and prayed.

Martin stepped close. A lamp tossed light over the bed. Dinah forced herself not to react, although having been cloaked in darkness for many hours, she discovered the light brought tears to her eyes. She withstood the sting, allowing her eyes to water, but made no other response.

He scrutinized her, drawing the light over body. “Dinah? No theatrics, please.”

She felt lifeless. Boneless. She was amazed at what her mind enabled her to do.

“Why aren’t you calling for your husband, Dinah?”

She didn’t react.
When he comes, he’ll kick your butt twelve ways from Sunday.

“We didn’t get around to talking about that, did we?” He sat on the edge of the bed, speaking in a conversational tone. “What possessed you to marry? You know I won’t tolerate that. But the idea that you might do that very thing had crossed my mind. You’re a resourceful girl.”

More than you’ll ever know.

He continued to study her. His thumb lifted her eyelid. Her eyes fluttered, but she allowed no other reflex.

“I suppose you thought you could convince Avery to release you. Sorry, dear. I’m paying him too well.”

With my money, you frog-spitting swine.

He sighed and touched her neck. She held her breath until she could hold it no longer, then expelled it covertly. Her pulse pounded rapidly.

Cursing, he put the lamp on the floor and leaned over her. “Dinah.” He took her shoulders and shook her, trying to get a response. “Dinah!”

He muttered another vile oath, then slapped her. “Snap out of it!”

She was amazed at how she was able to control her body. Why hadn’t she learned this before? It would have saved her hours of misery at Trenway if she’d been able to escape into herself like this.

Charles stepped into the room. “What’s wrong?”

Martin rose from the bed. “Oh, she’s in some sort of trance or something. Can’t get her to respond. Hell, I slapped her and she didn’t even blink.”

“Don’t hit her!”

Martin swore again. “Go into that village and buy some smelling salts or something. I’ve got to bring her around long enough for her to sign that paper.”

Charles didn’t move. Dinah felt his gaze on her.

“Well, get out of here!” Martin ordered.

Again, Charles obeyed.
Oh, Charles. I feel sorry for you.

After Charles was gone, Martin leaned over her once again and touched her hair. She fought to stay calm, but she wanted to shrink from his touch.

“You have hair like your mother’s. I always loved your mother. In my perfect world, I would have killed your father. Then, like the dutiful brother I am, I would have stepped in and filled his shoes.”

Dinah swallowed a revulsive shudder.

He patted her arm and rose to leave. “You’re beginning to worry me, Dinah. Unless you snap out of it, I’ll have to go to my other plan.” He stopped at the door, still studying her. “I suppose transporting you to New York under these conditions wouldn’t be so bad. I’d have to drug you to make sure you stayed like this, but at least you wouldn’t give me any trouble,” he added, laughing his disgusting laugh.

He finally closed the door, shutting her in darkness again. She took a deep breath and sagged on the bed. She couldn’t let them take her back to New York. Surely there was another way.

Martin crossed to the table to retrieve the papers. How in the hell would he get her to sign them if he couldn’t bring her around? He didn’t want to drag her east with him. Perhaps he couldn’t break the will with her signature, but it was worth a try. Better than hauling her carcass back to Trenway, where she might find the means to escape again.

Of course, if she were convicted of the nurse’s murder, she would be put away forever. The evidence pointed to it, and the police had no reason to believe she wasn’t guilty. There was no way to explain how the nurse had gotten into the box unless Dinah had put her there.

He heard the chain rattle again. Curious, he stuffed the paper into his pocket and returned to the bedroom with the lamp. He opened the door. She was sitting up! He hurried to her side.

“Dinah?”

She rubbed her hand over her face and squinted at

him. “Uncle Martin?” She weaved on the bed, her head lolling to the side. “I’m so … so weak.”

“Are you strong enough to sign the paper, dear?” He held his breath. Perhaps things would work out after all.

She looked at him, puzzled. “Paper?”

He paused. “You don’t remember me mentioning the signature I needed?”

She looked at the chain attached to her wrist, appearing surprised to find it there. “What’s this for?”

“Oh,” he answered, sounding disgusted. “Well, we don’t need that anymore, do we?” He stroked her hair. “You were thrashing around on the bed so severely, I was afraid you’d hurt yourself.”

Still squinting and appearing weak, she peered around the room. “Where am I?”

She seemed genuinely confused. He hid a smile. “Why, we’re in my cabin. We went fishing.”

She tugged on the chain. “Fishing? We did? Where’s Charlotte?”

Oh, this was getting better and better. “She’s at the river. With … with your papa.” He waited for a response.

“I want to fish again, Uncle Martin. Please, can’t I go fishing again?”

“Of course you can, dear. After you sign the paper your Papa wants you to sign.”

She lolled onto the bed again, appearing to have difficulty staying awake. “All right, Uncle Martin. I’ll sign it.” She swayed forward.

Martin unfolded the paper on the bed. Dinah hovered over it, then fell to the side. He dragged her upright again and put the pen in her hand. She jabbed at the paper, but dropped the pen and slumped to the pillow.

“I’m so sleepy.”

Martin deliberated. He didn’t know what was wrong with her. As far as he knew, she was healthy. Of course, after a year in Trenway, that could have changed. She

could be faking, too, but he didn’t think she was. She was a clever girl, but not that clever. Still, he’d keep an eye on her just in case.

“I’ll unlock the chain and we can go out into the other room. Maybe a little walk will wake you up. You can sign the paper at the table.” If he had to prop her up to do it, damn it.

He released her, prepared to wrestle her to the bed if necessary.

She frowned at her clothing. “Where did I get these trousers, Uncle Martin? Did you buy them for me? And the boots?”

He hauled her off the bed, holding her around the waist. “Yes. Do you like them?”

She gave him a vacuous smile as she leaned heavily against him. Her knees buckled, and he had to drag her to the door.

“I can run in these, Uncle Martin. And play.”

“Of course, dear.” He all but carried her to the table and lowered her into a chair. She leaned sideways, and he had to catch her or she’d have fallen to the floor.

“Come on now,” he urged, losing patience. He put the paper in front of her and stuck a pen in her hand. It dropped onto the table.

Biting back his impatience, he pressed the pen into her hand again, this time holding it.

“I can do it, Uncle Martin. Really, I can.” She shook her head, as if trying to stay awake. “Could I have a glass of water, please?”

He stood behind her. “Of course, dear.” When he was certain she was signing her name, he crossed to the crate and filled a cup with water from the pail.

On his return to the table, she slumped to the side again. He grabbed the paper and shoved it into his pocket and put the cup in front of her. With lightening speed, she rose from the chair and drove her fist into his fleshy abdomen.

“I can run in these, Uncle Martin,” she repeated. The words sounded completely different from how they had before.

Martin gasped and doubled over, unable to catch his breath.

She was gone when he finally staggered to the door. He spied McCafferty and his peddler’s cart on the path near the creek.

“Stop her!” He waved his arms frantically and continued shouting until McCafferty motioned that he understood.

Dinah ran through the brush like a deer. McCafferty tackled her. She kicked and screamed, then suddenly was quiet.

Wiping the sweat from his face, Martin hurried toward them, wincing at the pain in his gut. “Damned hooligan doubled her fist and rammed it into my stomach,” he groused as he neared them.

McCafferty rose. “I’ve experienced her punch a few times myself. Hurts like hell, doesn’t it?”

Martin froze. “Who in the devil are you?”

Dinah stood and wrapped her arms around the man. “He’s my husband, Uncle Martin.”

Uncle Martin took a frantic look around, as if searching for a means of escape.

“I don’t think I’d try it, Odell. There’s no place for you. to go, really.”

“Where’s McCafferty?” He had the appearance of an indignant crook, backed into a corner. Which he was.

“He and Avery are already in jail.”

“But … but … but,” he sputtered, “she signed her money over to me. Now it’s mine! It’s mine!”

Dinah gave him a merry smile. “I don’t think so. Did you check my signature?”

Martin fished out the paper and studied the name at the bottom of the page. His face became red and his eyes nearly bulged from his head. “What is this? Who in the hell is the lady with the sausage nose?”

Tristan threw his head back and laughed. His glee was infectious. Dinah joined him.

“She’s a murderer,” Martin roared. “She killed that nurse in New York. She did!”

For a moment, Dinah’s stomach pitched downward.

“ ‘Fraid not, old man.” Tristan pulled a letter from his pocket. “This was found in Daisy Jenkins’s travel bag. It exonerates Dinah from any wrongdoing.”

Dinah gasped, grabbed the letter and read it. Oh, Daisy, she thought, relief rushing through her. “She didn’t tell me about this.”

“I think she probably meant to, but from what you’ve said about her, she was probably too sick to remember everything. Fortunately, Little Hawk decided to keep the travel bag instead of throwing it away as you’d asked him to. He found the letter while he was examining the bag.”

The sheriff and his men appeared on the path and took Martin into custody.

Dinah watched them cart her uncle away with a relieved sense of finality. “So, it’s really over? I won’t have to explain myself?”

“I think everything is settled, my love.” Tristan tucked her close and rested his chin on top of her head.

“Then we can go home?”

“Immediately.”

She inhaled sharply. “Emily—”

“Emily’s fine. She saw your abduction, but didn’t understand it. She thought you’d left with Avery willingly.”

“I did. He and the peddler had heard me calling Emily’s name. Charles convinced me he had her, so I had no choice but to go with him.”

They stood together, enjoying their victory.

“Has David left?”

“He’s put off his trip until tomorrow. He helped me with this charade by approaching the peddler and keeping him occupied while I went around behind and smacked him on the head. He also went for the sheriff.”

Dinah felt a great sense of peace although there was much on her mind. “I’ve been thinking.”

“Oh, oh. Not again,” Tristan teased.

She gave him a love pinch and he winced. “I’d like to offer David an endowment for his work. I want to help all of those women who weren’t as lucky as I. We don’t need all my money, do we?”

Tristan’s eyes were warm and filled with admiration as he gazed at her. “I’m sure David would be honored, love.”

“And Tristan? There’s something else. There’s a chance that Charlotte’s baby is alive.”

He turned her toward him, his gaze intense. “You’re sure?”

She nodded. “David said as much, but he told me not to get my hopes up. But darling, I have to at least try to find the child.” She gave him a beseeching gaze.

Tristan’s fingers brushed hair from her temple. “Of course you do. We’ll do everything we can.”

She hugged him, grateful for his love and understanding. “I knew you’d agree.”

“I’d be hard pressed to deny you anything, my sweet.”

She sniffed at his clothes, wrinkling her nose. “You smell a little ripe, sweetheart.”

“I don’t think McCafferty believed in bathing.”

Dinah kept one arm around her husband as they walked to the road. “You know what I’d like?”

He growled in her ear. “I think so.”

She gave him a playful swat. “Besides that.”

“What?”

She’d conquered one of her fears, it was time to conquer another. “I want a bath. In the tub.”

“That’s my girl. Care for company?”

She felt warm and coddled and loved. “Is there room?”

“Someone has to wash those very special places you can’t reach.”

She laughed, sensing the stirrings of desire. “I can reach every place except the middle of my back.”

“Ummm.” He nuzzled her ear. “But not as well as I can. Now, let’s go home.”

Home. Yes, it was a home. One soon to be filled with more love and laughter than any of them had thought was possible. She would see to it. If it took her the rest of her life, she would make certain that everyone knew they were loved. Especially her husband and all of their current children, to say nothing of the ones she planned to give him. And they would name their first daughter Daisy.