The Last Renegade (28 page)

“Your stepfather didn’t suspect?”

“Not until Adam disappeared. Then he became more…” She stopped, considered her words carefully before she continued. “Difficult. Unpredictable. Dark moods, Mama used to call them. When we were growing up, she was always sensitive to the signs that one of those dark moods was coming on. She put herself front and center to protect us.”

“He hit her?”

“When he could. When he couldn’t get to Adam. Or me. My father was a drunk, Kellen. Mama knew something about ducking a fist. Adam and I learned the same. When James Berry walked out, Mama thought that life was behind us, and when she met and then married Andrew Wilson, she was certain she had secured peace for all of us. She didn’t understand that dark moods lived in places other than the bottom of a bottle. In Andrew’s case, I’ve always thought that mood slithered out from under a rock. Once Adam left, it was impossible to know when Andrew would strike. Even Ellen, whom he adored and we protected, saw through to the threatening side of his nature.”

“You were just a child when your mother remarried. You were only five years older than Ellen. How did you know so much?”

“Don’t children always know? Look at Rabbit and Finn. Adam had six years on me and ten on Ellen. Cautious, quiet Adam. He never caused a stir, and he always paid attention. I was eight when he promised that he would take me out of that house, and I was eighteen when he made good on it.”

“You took Ellen with you.”

“Of course. There was an outbreak of influenza not long after Adam left. It would have killed him if he hadn’t gone when he did. I would have joined him sooner—that was the plan—but I stayed to nurse Mama. She died. It was her wish that Ellen go with me. She didn’t know where Adam was, and it was better that way, so she died without knowing where we were going and without being able to tell her husband.”

“Wilson never found you?”

“I’m not sure he ever cared enough to look.”

“Your brother stole from him. And the daughter you said he adored left him. I’d think that pride would make him want to do something.”

“Well, if he found us, he knows by now that I’m the only one left. I don’t matter.”

“To him. You don’t matter to him.” It seemed important that he make that distinction. “Why did you and Adam agree on the pretense of marriage?”

“Several reasons. We had talked about it before he left. He knew he was dying, and he wanted to be sure I could inherit. The laws in Wyoming supported it, but it seemed there would be no question if we were married. People made assumptions that we never corrected. It became fact because folks believed it was fact, not because we told them it was. The first time I introduced myself as Mrs. Berry was when I met Eli Burdick. He hadn’t been to town since my arrival, so he didn’t immediately connect me to Adam. He thought I was a guest in the hotel, and he put himself directly in my path. It did not take me long to realize that my marriage to Adam was a fraud I needed to sustain.”

“And that was enough to keep Eli at bay?”

“Often, yes. He said things, of course, but never when he could be overheard. It’s a pretty big sin in these parts to take another man’s wife. I told you that his mother ran off. Eli’s oddly honorable about some things.”

Kellen stopped twisting Raine’s hair and watched it curl on its own when he released it. “What about after Adam was killed? What did Eli do then?”

“You saw him. Heard him. It’s always the same.”

“Has he ever asked you to marry him?”

She nodded. “The first time was just after I buried Adam. He asks me from time to time even now, but I can’t imagine what he would do if I ever said yes. Uriah would never approve. Eli knows that. Isaac. The trial. No, Uriah would not permit it.”

“I’m going to tell Eli that you’re my wife the next time I see him.” He put out a hand to keep Raine from bolting out of bed. She started so sharply that she kicked him. He grunted in surprise.

“I’m sorry. No. I’m not.” She kicked him again.

Kellen got his hands under the covers and caught her just below the knees. He managed to keep her from striking him a third time. “I’m not your enemy.”

“No, you’re the man I hired to help us. You can’t do it if Eli shoots you first.”

“He’s not going to shoot me. He’s probably not going to draw on me unless it’s for show.”

“What do you mean, unless it’s for show?”

“I mean that Eli might not be as smitten with you as everyone—including you—thinks he is.”

“But he—” Her brow furrowed. “Why do you think that?”

“Because I think he’s smitten with me.”

Raine’s eyes widened as her eyebrows lifted.

Kellen let go of her legs. Except for an occasional blink, she wasn’t moving. “You know about men like that?” he asked.

“Adam told me,” she whispered. “I thought he was making it up.”

“He wasn’t. Did it come up during a conversation about Eli?”

“I don’t remember. It was so long ago. Maybe even before we came here.”

“It’s not important. I wondered if Adam might have suspected.”

“He certainly never hinted at it. It really doesn’t make any sense. Why would Eli propose?”

“Why wouldn’t he? It’s what is expected. He’s a man. Men propose.”

“What about the things he says to me? Why would he make so many indecent remarks and behave so crudely?”

“Perhaps so you
will
keep him at arm’s length. Has he ever paid as much attention to anyone else?”

“I’m not sure. Not since I’ve been here, but before I came, there must have been someone. I seem to recall Mrs. Sterling saying something about one of Mrs. Garvin’s daughters. I remember wishing that Eli would make time for her again.” Her lower lip thrust forward as she blew out a breath. Strands of hair fluttered against her forehead. “If you’re right, what
does it mean? Is Eli going to gun me down for stealing you away?”

Kellen liked that he couldn’t always tell how serious she was. “I don’t think it will come to that, but if it will help, you can carry my derringer.”

“No, thank you.” Raine plumped the pillow under her head and rolled onto her back. “Maybe he won’t be coming into town anytime soon.”

“That probably doesn’t matter. I’ve agreed to go out to the ranch on John Paul Jones’s behalf.”

“About the government survey?”

“Yes, and there’s also the matter of my story for the
World
.”

She sighed. “That story again. You’re very dedicated to a job you don’t have.”

“It’s part of being dedicated to the job I do have.”

“Are you?” she asked. “Dedicated to it, I mean. I can never tell what you’re doing.”

“Good. It’s not supposed to be obvious.”

“But shouldn’t I know something?”

“You know that Eli Burdick likes me more than he likes you. That’s something, and I learned it in a fairly short time. You’ve been here six years.”

“You only
think
it’s true that he’s sweet on you. You don’t know that it is.”

Kellen remained confident of his answer. “I know,” he said. “And it’s probably better if you don’t believe me. I don’t want you to do anything that would draw his attention to your suspicions.
That’s
when he would be dangerous. This is a secret he needs to keep.”

“Then I should allow him to treat me as disrespectfully as he always has?”

“No. You should answer him just as you do now. Snap at him. Show your displeasure. It’s what he wants.” Kellen watched Raine. She fell silent, thinking it over. He hoped he would not regret telling her. He kept his head propped on his elbow, waiting her out.

“Why did Eli take part in taunting Isaac to the point of
practically daring him to rape Ellen?” she asked. “Why did he save me from Clay?”

“I’m not saying I understand it myself, but I imagine Eli’s always trying to figure what’s expected of him. Sometimes he falls in with Clay to keep the peace and protect himself from scrutiny, and sometimes, as when he interfered to get you away from Clay, he’s able to act as if he has some sense. Remember, even when he moved to protect you, he made a claim on you. He established again that you’re his woman.”

“I remember.” She tilted her head to the side and looked at him. “You have to admit it’s confusing.”

“Certainly.”

She nodded and returned to staring at the ceiling. “This is a little confusing as well.”

“This?”

“Being with you after
being
with you. Sharing my bed.”

“Do you want me to go back to the other room? Tell me where I can find another set of sheets, and I’ll make up the bed.”

“No, I want you to stay.” She added quickly, “Unless you’d rather leave.”

“I’d rather stay.” He found her hand under the covers and threaded his fingers through hers. “What’s confusing?”

“Well, you still work for me for one thing.”

“You could fire me.”

“And give up even the illusion of control? No, I don’t think I want to do that.”

Kellen chuckled deeply. “What is another thing?”

“You are so at ease with the arrangement.”

“And you’re not?”

“I feel as if I’m lying on a bed of nails.”

“Confusing
and
uncomfortable. Anything else?”

“This is my second marriage without an exchange of vows.”

“I don’t suppose that having a certificate this time is sufficient consolation.”

“I don’t have a certificate yet. And no, it won’t be.”

“Is there a particular promise you’d like me to make?”

“I’m not sure I know them.”

“To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness or in health, to love and to cherish till death do us part. And hereto I pledge thee my troth.”

Raine stared at him, open-mouthed. A few seconds passed before she regained the power of speech.

“‘Peculiar’ doesn’t begin to do you justice.”

“My grandfather is a Lutheran pastor. My mother’s father. My grandfather on my father’s side was an academic like my father.”

“I’m not sure the pedigree explains it.” She simply shook her head when he offered a helpless shrug. “About the vows, I think if you promise that you’ll be here for better or for worse, that will do.”

“That more or less describes the terms of my employment.”

“I know.”

“Not richer or poorer?”

“I’m richer. You’re poorer. If you just promise the other, that will be enough.”

“All right. I promise.”

“That’s all you’re going to say?”

“I promise that I’ll be at your side for better, for worse, for at least as long as I think you need me.”

She frowned slightly. “Not for as long as
I
think I need you?”

“No. I don’t trust you.”

“Are you trying to be insulting or is it an unfortunate consequence of your overwhelming arrogance? Don’t answer that. I’ll work it out on my own. Are you concerned that I’ll lie and say I need you just to keep you around?”

“The opposite.”

“You think I’ll send you packing too soon?”

“You might try.”

“If I do, it’s because you’ve provoked me past reason.”

“I could do that. I’ve been told I can provoke a saint to sin.”

“Your mother said that?”

“And my father. Usually just before sending me outside to fetch a willow switch.”

She sighed heavily, and the sigh became a yawn. “You wear me out.” She pressed the back of her hand to her mouth and partially stifled the next one.

Kellen moved closer. “For warmth,” he said. He slipped an arm around Raine’s waist, but he didn’t pull her toward him. She found that cradle herself, turning on her side and fitting her back against his chest, her bottom against his groin. “Sleep well,” he whispered.

In moments she did.

Heavy footfalls on the stairs woke Kellen. Raine stirred beside him but didn’t open her eyes. He eased an arm out from under her, clenched and unclenched his tingling fingers, and carefully moved to the other side of the bed. He reached the door quickly but not in time to stop a fist from beating hard against it.

He unlocked the door, yanked it open, and squared off on the threshold.

Walt took a startled step backward, his fist still raised.

“Close your jaw, Walt,” Kellen said. “You’ll catch flies in that trap.”

“What’re you doin’ here, Mr. Coltrane? Is it Mrs. Berry? Is she all right?”

“She’s fine. What are
you
doing here? Is there a problem in the hotel?”

“No, sir. Except for the boiler, the Pennyroyal’s quiet. I come for Mrs. Berry. She’ll want to hear this right away.”

“Can’t it wait until morning?”

Walt shook his head. “Don’t think so.”

“Very well.” Kellen stepped aside and ushered Walt in. “I’ll get her. Wait here. Adjust the wick on that lamp, will you? It’s too dark in here.”

Raine was already up and moving by the time Kellen reached her. “I’ll wait here,” he said. “You go on.”

Nodding, Raine finished pulling on her robe as she approached Walt. She looked him over from head to toe. One
side of his broad face still had the imprint of his pillow, and his hair was a thatch of spikes.

“What is it, Walt?”

“Thought you’d want to know right away. Scott Pennway’s dead.”

“Dead?” A chill swept through her. She hugged herself. Scott Pennway was a husband, father of three, the town’s blacksmith and well digger, and the seventh juror picked for Isaac Burdick’s trial. Raine gripped the back of the chair she was standing behind. “How?”

“What I heard is that he was feeling poorly. Left his bed to go out to the privy and never came back. Annie got worried after a bit and went looking for him. She found him lying at the foot of the porch steps. Neck broke.”

Even though she had not moved, Raine felt a need to catch her breath. “How do you know this, Walt? Who told you?”

“Howard Wheeler came to get me. You know, he is neighbor to the Pennways.” At her nod, he continued. “I guess Annie raised such a ruckus that she woke Howard. All of her children, too. Howard needed help getting Mr. Pennway into the house, so he sent one of the boys to get me…You going to be all right? You look a tad peaked, if you don’t mind me sayin’.”

“I’m sure it’s more than a tad, but I’ll be fine.” She tried to smile and then wished she had not made the effort. She felt her lips trembling.