Shotgun Bride (5 page)

Hawkins stood in his bedroom swearing, soft and long, as he held a second telegram in his hand. His hopes for Simpkins’ ranch had undergone highs and lows since he first learned Frank Barnes and his sons had been dead for the past six years, murdered by the Apache. But the discovery of a daughter who’d disappeared three months later worried him, until, after eleven months, with even Pinkerton on the verge of giving up the search, she had been found in New York City.

His hired killers had moved in swiftly, but not fast enough. The girl had left the day she got the news, one unknowing step ahead of her murderers. He ground his teeth in frustration. It made no sense for the girl to up and leave so quickly. And it infuriated him.

His first telegram had been from Harv, informing him he failed to kill her in Dodge. Harv wisely disappeared. This missive came from New York. Mr. Turner, the agent he had hired, personally handed the will to her and hadn’t seen or heard from her since. His man did a little digging and discovered the fool girl had run straight to the train station.

So where the hell was the will?
He had debated a quick raid on the stagecoach but decided it involved too many risks and too much notice from the law. And he hadn’t had the proper time to plan such a raid. Hawkins liked plans. Rash moves led to disasters and he’d spent too many months working toward this end to jeopardize it now.

He needed to come up with another solution. Hawkins poured another healthy dose of whiskey into his crystal glass and stared out the window. Miss Barnes should be arriving tomorrow. He needed to find the will before killing her. A smile tugged at his mouth and he went to find his housekeeper.

“Marie, I need my suit pressed and boots polished. I’m going to town tomorrow for an important meeting.”

Young women were silly enough to believe anything if you lavished them with gifts. A box of chocolates, a friendly smile of “Welcome to our town,” and she’d be his.

Trinidad,
ah
, the feel of mountain air, cool, clear and crisp stirred poignant feelings deep in Kathleen’s soul. The smell of pine and pinion brought back strong, heart-wrenching memories of a home, of Mother, Father, and her brothers, forever lost to her.

When the stage swayed to a stop, giddiness settled over her. As she stepped out of the coach, she inhaled and smiled. Clean, fresh air greeted her. For the first time in days, her good fortune was imminent. So close she could almost taste it on the soft breeze. She was home.

Mike froze in his tracks and stared at Kathleen. The enchantment painted on her face by the silver beams of the full moon fascinated him. She stood still, eyes closed, her face tilted up toward the heavens, the corners of her mouth turned up in a smile.

She looked happy. And that also brought a smile to his lips. He waited quietly as the rest of the passengers departed, not wanting to disrupt this special moment. What did she dream of?

When Kathleen opened her eyes, it appeared as though some of the stars in the night sky had come down and taken up residence in them.

He held out his arm. “Tell me where you’re headed, and I’ll walk you there.”

She laughed and gave him a mock curtsey. “Thank you.”

The jovial tone of her voice bubbled around him like a hot bath on a cold night. Warm and comforting.

“I’m just going to the Sherman House.”

“Shucks, don’t you want to stretch your legs a bit first?”

“Umm. Yes, that would be nice.”

Mike didn’t know why, but he just wasn’t ready to let her go and the joy she exuded was catching. When her dainty fingers rested on his arm, he turned away from the hotel and gave Kathleen a walking tour of Trinidad. A strange lightness filled his chest and he felt as if it were the most natural thing in the world to be strolling along a dark street with Kathleen by his side.

Blame it on the moon. Blame it on the sparkle in Kathleen’s eyes. Blame it on his stupidity. Didn’t matter, it was fitting when he finally stopped at the steps of the hotel to cup her face in his hands, tilt her head back, and take a taste of her lips.

His kiss was leisurely, and she yielded to him without hesitation. He felt her hands slid up to his chest, and he braced for a shove that never came. The sounds around him ceased. The street lamp burned brighter and the strangest sensation curled around him. He felt as if he had just come home after a long journey.

He started to pull away but Kathleen gripped his shirt and tugged. Now, he was not one to deny a lady, so he returned to the unexpected pleasure of fulfilling Kathleen’s desire. But the kiss Kathleen offered this time was full of need. His pulse galloped through his veins. This time he jerked away.

“Goodnight, Kathleen.”

She raised a trembling hand to her mouth and surprised confusion entered her eyes.
She
may be confused but he wasn’t. He pivoted and sauntered off.

There was no way he wanted to condemn himself to a loveless marriage. He didn’t love Sally and he was certain she didn’t love him. Hawkins was the only one in love. And that was with Mike’s land.

He shot a glance over his shoulder. He owed Kathleen a debt of gratitude for shaking him out of the lethargic, malleable lump he had become. He didn’t get where he was by letting some rich rancher with a beautiful daughter swoop in and start issuing orders.

Sally may not be willing to defy her father, but he didn’t fear the man. He could take a punch or two if necessary. No one was going to force him into marriage.

Kathleen bit her lip. Did she really just kiss Mike? Heat fanned the back of her neck. And did she really pull him back for another? Maybe the full moon had turned her into a loon. A nervous laugh gurgled up her throat and tumbled out her lips. She cast a wary glance around.
Did anyone see?

She rolled her eyes. That was a stupid question. She stood directly under a burning street lamp. Of course people saw. She hustled inside, grabbed the key offered, and without signing in ran up the steps to her room.

A short time later, she jerked out of bed, her heart stampeding like a herd of cattle as her door was kicked open and in strode that same blasted man who had tried to assault her in Dodge.

“Where is it?”

“What?” She crawled to the opposite side of the bed as he staggered closer. A strong scent of cheap whiskey permeated the room.

“You give it to him?”

“Get out.”

He laughed and tumbled onto the bed. She shot from the bed and down the stairs at a gallop then dashed up to the counter. She yanked the register around and ran a shaking finger down the list of guests, praying Mike had checked in.

He had. Or at least she thought he had. A Mike was in Room Fourteen. Mike had a gun. She wanted to borrow it. And if the man tried to break into Mike’s room, he’d be met with a fist or a gun.

Kathleen peered up the dark stairwell. With the drunk nowhere in sight, she tiptoed up and cringed when she found a loose squeaky board. The sound echoed like thunder in her ears. She drew in a deep breath and continued.

When a tousle-headed Mike yanked the door open, words momentarily froze on her lips. She gazed at more flesh than she’d seen on a man since she and her brothers had swam together. She shook herself.

Mike simply crossed his arms and arched his brows. “Well?” Sarcasm mingled with amusement mingled with query in that one word.

“Well, what?”

“I suppose you came calling for some reason.” The emphasis on ‘some’ sent a wave of heat up her cheeks and those stupid tingles peppered her flesh.

She glared up at him. “It’s not what you’re obviously thinking.” She shoved past him as her brain recovered from the sight of a nearly naked Mike.

“Give me your gun.”

“Now hang on.” He rushed over, snatched his gun, and held it behind his back.

“You knocked on my door. Can’t blame me for speculating on why you show up in your nightgown in the middle of the night.”

“There’s a drunk in my room. Demanding to know here ‘it’ was and if I ‘gave it to him.’”

“What room are you in?” His barked question made her jump.

“Nine.”

Mike dashed out and Kathleen sank down on the edge of the bed. She began to shake. First Dodge, now Trinidad. Why was this man following her? And who was the ‘he’ he looked for? She knew no one out here.

A cold clammy sweat slicked her body and she curled her knees to her chest, locking them in place with her arms. She jerked her head up at the soft pad of bare feet on the wooden floor. Mike, mostly naked Mike, strode in.

“There’s no one in your room.” He yanked on his trousers and crouched in front of her.

“You all right?”

“Not really. It was the same man that accosted me back in Dodge.”

“You sure?”

“Yes.”

Mike muttered something unintelligible. Probably a curse. Whatever it was, she agreed.

“Any idea what he wanted?”

“I told you, he was looking for someone.”

“But not you?”

“He thought I would know where this person was.”

Mike punched his thigh. “I’ll swap rooms with you again.”

“Only if you leave me your gun.”

“Do you even know how to use it?”

Kathleen unfolded her legs and frowned. “Yes, I know how to use it.”

“Look, whoever this man is hasn’t harmed you yet. He must have seen us together earlier and assumed . . .” Mike glanced away. “Well, he may have assumed we were together.”

She gasped.

“It’s just a guess so don’t get all bothered and angry. But, I’m the one he’s after, so I need the gun.”

“I disagree. No one has come into your room and shot your bed full of holes.”

“And you’re forgetting that was my room.”

Kathleen jumped off the bed and paced. No way did she want to be weaponless and the only alternative was to stay in the same room with Mike. If he’d let her. And if she didn’t mind the risk of being caught.

“I’ll go get your things.”

“Bring a pillow and blanket.”

Mike whirled around and stared at her, his eyes wide.

“Why?”

She planted her fists on her hips. “Because I’m sleeping here and so are you.”

“That’s not a good idea.”

“I won’t tell. But I won’t be left without a way to defend myself and neither will you. I won’t kick you out of your bed. I’ll sleep in the corner. If I sleep at all.”

Mike stood so still she wondered if he even breathed. So he may think she was a wanton hussy, but after tomorrow,
no, today
, she’d never see him again. She tapped her foot, crossed her arms and arched one brow in challenge. It wouldn’t hurt his reputation one bit.

“You can have the bed. I’m used to sleeping on the ground anyway.”

He turned and stalked out. Her shoulders slumped. Being alone and single was turning out to be far more difficult than she’d ever imagined. And dangerous.

She chewed on her lower lip. If she read Mike wrong she was soon going to be in a terrible position. She shivered and glanced out the window at the moon-bathed, empty street. Her first purchase was going to be a shotgun. Her father had always said a scattergun was a sure way to get someone’s attention. How else was she going to be able to live alone on an isolated ranch?

Mike strode slowly down the deserted hallway to Kathleen’s room. Her proposal had surprised him, but he understood. She was alone and had had two scares already. Make that four. But what really bothered him was who wanted him dead? So her room had been broken into. The other attempts had all involved him.

He snorted. No way was he going to convince Kathleen of that. At least not tonight. When he came in and saw her huddled on his bed, he wanted to hold her close and soothe her fears. Not a good idea after the effect of her kiss. He’d want another. He already did. And alone, in the night, with her in his bed? Nope, he knew better. It was going to be hard enough getting to sleep knowing she lay just a few feet away.

Damn it
. Why did his body decide to get all hot and bothered at the sight of a long-sleeved, ankle-length cotton gown? Someone was out to kill him and all he could think about was Kathleen, sprawled on the sheets. Her hair down. The moon’s beams caressing her bare skin.

Hell
. Fun as it was to have these fantasies, he needed to concentrate on who and why someone had made all the attempts on his life. He jerked the blanket off the bed, tucked the pillow under his arm, and snatched up her ragged bag.

He stopped in mid-stride and felt like a fool.
Why didn’t he think of this sooner?
All this started after his engagement to Sally. Somebody wanted him out of the way so they could get the prize. Made sense. Some folks will do almost anything to seize land the easy way, instead of putting in the hours of labor and time necessary to work the land.

Well, that settled that. He’d pay a visit to Sally tomorrow, let her decide how to end the farce, and then spread the word. Let Sally and Hawkins deal with her next suitor.

Now, he had to face the temptress in his room. He grinned. Playing knight-in-shining-armor to a damsel-in-distress had its perks. Maybe she’d give him one more kiss for his sacrifice in the morning.

“Why aren’t you in bed?”

“I told you I probably couldn’t sleep. Every little noise makes me jump.”