The Sheriff (Historical Romance) (17 page)

T
ravis blew out all the lamps, save one on the night table by the bed. He pulled up a straight-back chair and sat down.

With a loaded Navy Colt .45 at his elbow, he settled in to spend the long night monitoring Kate’s condition.

He tried to recall what he had learned in medical school regarding the care of patients with gunshot wounds. The first step was completed; he had successfully removed the bullet without causing too much additional bleeding. Thank God she had been hit in the shoulder.

A few inches lower and she wouldn’t have made it.

Travis shuddered at the thought. His brow furrowed with concern, he leaned close and gently smoothed a wayward lock of hair back off Kate’s pale cheek. Just as he’d fancied, that glorious golden
hair was the texture of fine imported silk. How many times had he daydreamed about running his hands through her hair?

Travis quickly reminded himself that this woman lying deathly still in his bed was not a beautiful seductress but a helpless patient whose healing had been entrusted to him by a quirk of fate.

Travis tucked the covers more closely around Kate’s bare shoulders. He sank back into his chair and laced his fingers over his waist. He never took his eyes off her.

As the hours dragged slowly by, he examined Kate every few minutes. He checked to see if she was running a fever or if her body temperature had dropped dangerously low. She was, he was relieved to discover, neither too hot or too cold. That was an encouraging sign.

Kate remained unconscious throughout his deft ministering. A couple of times she flinched slightly when Travis inspected the wound or replaced the bandage. But she never opened her eyes. And once he was finished with his tasks, she sighed deeply, licked her lips and slumbered on.

Outside, the temperature dropped dramatically.

Inside, a deep chill had set in.

Cold and sleepy, Travis yawned and closed his tired, scratchy eyes. He shifted in his chair, trying to get comfortable. He leaned forward, put his elbows on his knees and his face in his hands. He stayed that
way for only a few minutes before he shifted again. He sank down low onto his spine, laid his head back, stretched his long legs out and crossed them at the ankles.

That was no better.

He got up. He paced around the shadowy room. He noticed Kate’s cat was awake and seated directly before the door, tail curled around himself, softly meowing to go outside.

“It’s cold out there, fellow,” Travis said to the calico.

The cat looked up at him and edged closer to the door. Travis let him out, closed the door and returned to the bed. He considered lying down on the floor. But the floor would be cold and hard. He sank back down into the straight-back chair, looked at the soft, warm bed and rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

Then shook his head decisively.

He needed to get some rest if he were to be at his best to take care of this wounded woman.

Travis took off his boots, glanced one last time at Kate’s face, rose and very cautiously got onto the bed. He stretched out atop the covers beside Kate. He sighed deeply and turned on his side, facing her. Almost instantly he was asleep.

The two of them slept peacefully side by side in the big feather bed.

Sometime during the night, Kate awakened.

The first thing she saw when she opened her eyes
was a shiny silver badge. A badge that rested on the broad chest of Sheriff Travis McCloud.

Horrified, she screamed, lunged up and immediately winced in pain, waking Travis.

“Why are you in my bed?” she wailed, and tried to hit him when he quickly rolled up into a sitting position.

“Be still!” he ordered, trapping her arms at her sides and holding her immobile against his chest. “Listen to me, Kate! You’ve been shot. You hear me? Someone shot you in the shoulder. You’re injured. You’ve lost blood.”

“Where are my clothes?” she shrieked, horrified that her breasts were bare. She could feel her nipples rubbing against the abrasive fabric of his shirt. “Why did you take my clothes?”

“I had no choice. Your shirt and camisole were soaked with blood. I had to take them off so I could clean the wound and remove the bullet,” Travis said, keeping his tone low and soft in an attempt to calm her.

“Let me go,” she commanded, though she didn’t struggle against him.

Travis continued to hold her in his arms, soothing her, lulling her with the reassurance that she was going to be fine in a few days. When he was satisfied she would put up no further resistance, he gently eased her back down onto the pillow and drew the covers up over her shoulders.

“You’ll be okay,” he said, “but you must be quiet and rest.”

Blushing hotly, embarrassed that he had seen her bare breasts, Kate frantically felt beneath the covers to see if he had removed all of her clothes. She was greatly relieved to find that she still wore her pantalets.

“Do you remember what happened?” Travis asked as he rose from the bed. “Do you know who shot you?”

“I’m thirsty,” she replied groggily. Making a face, she added, “I don’t feel well.”

“I know you don’t, and I’m sorry.” Travis brought her a cup of water. “Just a few sips,” he warned as he helped her take a drink.

Kate shoved his hand away when she felt the covers slipping, exposing her breasts. “Where’s my shirt?” she asked, clutching at the sheet. “I want my shirt.”

“And I want you to lie down and be still,” he said as he set the water aside.

“Where am I?” Kate asked then, her head dropping back onto the pillow. “Where have you taken me?”

“You are in my private quarters behind the jail. But I didn’t bring you here,” Travis told her. “You were shot last night outside the Cavalry Blue. Chang Li found you and brought you here.”

“No. He couldn’t have brought me here,” she said. “Chang Li was sick. That’s why I was standing guard at the mine.”

“He got worried and went to check on you,” Travis told her. “He found you’d been shot and—”

Frowning, Kate interrupted, “But why would he bring me here?”

“Because you needed immediate medical attention. Doc Ledet’s in Goldbug. There was a mining explosion and he went over to help out.”

Kate nodded. “Yes, I remember. So you…?”

“I removed the bullet and bandaged the wound.”

“I see. Well, I’m grateful to you, Sheriff, but now if you’ll kindly fetch my clothes, I’ll be going on home.”

“You’re going nowhere.” Travis sat down and pulled his chair close. “I’m keeping you here so I can take care of you.”

“I don’t need you to—”

“Yes, you do.”

Kate sighed, defeated. She was in no position to argue. He had her where he wanted her—in his care, in his quarters, in his bed.

“The minute I get better, I’m leaving,” she stated emphatically.

“Fair enough,” Travis replied. “Now, suppose you tell me what happened. Any idea who did this to you? And why?”

Kate stared up at the ceiling and thought back to last night. “I know exactly who did it,” she said, clenching her jaw. “Those two big brutes that beat up Chang Li last summer. The red bearded man and his one-eyed sidekick.”

Travis nodded. “Spears and Kelton.”

Kate turned her head and looked at Travis. “Yes, it was them. There’s no doubt in my mind.”

“Know why they would do such a terrible thing?”

“They’re mean men, Marshal,” Kate said.

Travis gave no reply, just waited for her to say more. After a long pause, she told him, “Sheriff, there’s gold in the Cavalry Blue. Lots and lots of gold. That’s what they are after, I’m sure.”

“How did they learn about the gold?”

“I don’t know. I can’t understand it. I didn’t tell anyone and I’m sure Chang Li didn’t, either.”

“When did you discover the gold?”

“After the earthquake. The tremor shifted a wall of rock inside the mine and exposed a rich vein. Once we’d found the gold and had it assayed in Last Chance, Chang Li thought it best to guard the mine at night. But last night he was sick with a fever, so I took his place.”

“You sure you didn’t mention finding the gold to anyone?”

“No, I just told you, we—”

“Not even to Winn DeLaney?”

Kate immediately took offense. “Winn DeLaney would never harm me!”

“I didn’t say he would,” Travis replied. “I just asked if perhaps you had mentioned to him that—”

“I did
not
tell Winn about the gold.”

W
inn DeLaney was angry.

With the collar of his Inverness cloak turned up around his ears, he stood out in the cold behind the Whiskey Hill Saloon, gritting his teeth and quietly cursing.

Two o’clock had come and gone with no sign of Spears and Kelton. He had specifically told them to meet him here and hand over the tailings from the Cavalry Blue Mine. It was a simple assignment.

At 2:30 a.m. the night winds rose. The temperature continued to drop. Winn paced back and forth, slapping his hands together, trying to keep warm. It was impossible.

Frozen and furious, he returned to the hotel at ten minutes past three. His mistress, Melisande, was
waiting up for him. She was eager to hear what had happened and to examine the bag of gold tailings.

“Damn them both,” Winn swore, as he entered the suite. “That pair of fools never showed up.”

“No? Why not?”

Cold and short-tempered, Winn snapped, “How the hell should I know? Something must have happened. Maybe that little coolie put up a fight and they’re all lying up there dead. Right now, I don’t much give a damn. I’ve been standing out there freezing my ass off and I just want to get in bed.” He shrugged out of his cloak and began undressing as he walked into the bedroom.

Frowning, Melisande followed, warning, “This is not good, Winn. Not good at all. I’m worried.”

“Well, worry in silence,” he said, and crawled into bed. “I’m sleepy.” Soon he was slumbering.

Melisande wasn’t.

She lay awake in the darkness, feeling uneasy. She knew that something bad would come from this.

Something very bad.

The sun came up and the town of Fortune began slowly stirring to life. Travis checked the sleeping Kate one last time and left his quarters. He was seated behind his desk when Jiggs Gillespie came to work that cold autumn morning.

“Mornin’, Trav,” Jiggs said cheerily, taking off his warm coat. He immediately frowned when he
saw how haggard his boss looked. “God Almighty, Travis, what is it? What’s wrong?”

Travis quickly told him of the shooting, concluding with the order, “Organize a posse and go after Spears and Titus. I know there’s not much chance of finding them, but we have to try.”

“Consider it done,” said Jiggs.

By midmorning Jiggs and the mounted posse rode out of Fortune to the cheers of men loitering about on the street. The loud commotion awakened Winn DeLaney. He rushed to the window to look out.

He knew, without being told, that the posse was after Spears and Kelton. Nervous, and cursing under his breath, Winn hurriedly dressed and went down to breakfast to see what he could find out. When he overheard the conversation at the next table, he blanched.

Kate had been shot!

At once he felt ill and lightheaded. What on earth had she been doing at the mine in the middle of the night? How badly had she been hurt? Where were Spears and Kelton? They must have escaped, or by now he’d be clamped in irons.

Winn pushed his breakfast plate away and left. Out on the street, the shooting was all anyone was talking about. Winn joined in their conversations, expressing his outrage. Everyone agreed that the dastardly pair who had shot and wounded Kate VanNam were probably long gone and would never be found.

Winn Delaney was the only man in Fortune who feared the pair might be caught.

Still, he knew it was highly unlikely. And he was
not
leaving Fortune until he got his hands on the gold which he had schemed so long to claim. He was willing to take his chances.

Shortly after the posse had ridden away, Winn, who had seethed when he’d learned that the wounded Kate had been taken to McCloud’s quarters, showed up at the city jail.

“Sheriff,” he said, stunned to encounter McCloud. “I would have thought you had ridden out with the posse.”

“Surprised to see me, are you, DeLaney?”

“A bit. You being the head lawman, hired by the Committee of Vigilance to keep the peace. Shouldn’t you be out doing just that?”

“My trusted deputy is leading the posse,” Travis said. “I thought it wise to stay here and watch over Miss VanNam.”

“I heard the terrible news.” Concern clearly written on his smoothly shaved face, Winn said, “I should think Dr. Ledet would be caring for Kate.”

Travis didn’t bother telling DeLaney that Doc Ledet was not in town. “Hopefully,” he said, without rising from his chair, “we’ll catch those responsible and bring them to swift justice.”

“Yes, yes,” Winn said. “Hanging is too good for them.”

“I couldn’t agree more.”

“But Kate? How is my dear sweetheart? I’m here to see her,” Winn said. “Perhaps I can offer a degree of comfort and…”

“Sorry, DeLaney, your generous offer will have to wait,” Travis said. “She’s not receiving visitors.”

“I’m not just any visitor, McCloud.” Winn fought to contain his irritation. “Perhaps you’re unaware that Miss VanNam and I have…well, an understanding. We’re planning to be married.”

“Comes as news to me.” Travis grinned then and asked, “Will it come as news to her?”

Determined to control his temper, Winn said calmly, “Certainly not. As Kate’s intended, I insist on seeing her.”

Travis pushed back his chair, stood up and hooked his thumbs in his gun belt. “Insist all you like, DeLaney. It’s not going to happen. You have to go through me to get to her.”

“You can’t mean you’re actually refusing to let me see her.”

“That’s exactly what I mean.” Travis came around the desk. “There’s the door. Don’t come back.”

“You’ve overstepped your authority, McCloud. You can’t keep me away from Kate.”

“Wanna bet?”

“You had a visitor earlier today,” Travis told Kate late that afternoon as he uncovered a steaming bowl of Alice Hester’s broth.

“Alice?”

“Make that two visitors,” Travis corrected. “Alice brought the broth and a freshly baked loaf of bread. Said she’d be back to see you when you’re feeling better. Winn DeLaney stopped by.”

Kate glared at Travis. “Let me guess. You refused to let him see me.”

“For your own good.” He went to the bureau, took a clean nightshirt from the drawer and returned to the bed. “You’re not up to tolerating visitors.”

“I’m not up to tolerating you,” she said, making a mean face at him.

“You’ll like me better once you get this nightshirt on and have had something to eat.”

“I doubt that. Leave the nightshirt here and go away.”

“Sorry, Kate. You can’t manage alone. Like it or not, you need my help.”

“I don’t like it,” she told him, but cooperated when he sat down on the edge of the mattress, facing her, and slipped the nightshirt over her head.

Taking care not to hurt her, Travis managed to get her arms through the sleeves, and he dutifully closed his eyes as he pulled the garment down to her waist.

“There!” he said when the task was completed. “Better?”

“Better,” she admitted reluctantly.

She even agreed to try a few spoonfuls of the broth Alice had made. But she got angry when, as Travis fed her, and they talked about the shooting, he suggested that Winn DeLaney might be responsible.

“What an asinine thing to imply!” she said, eyes flashing. “That is the most ridiculous statement I have ever heard!”

As if she hadn’t spoken, Travis said, “Bert Bost—you’ve seen him around town on crutches—lost a leg fighting under Scott in the Mexican War. Shortly after DeLaney arrived in Fortune, Bost brought me some disturbing intelligence. He said there was captain at the Battle of Buena Vista who wore distinctive golden spurs.” Travis paused, let it sink in. “A cold-blooded killer, scared the Mexican soldiers to death.”

“So? Winn’s a war hero. That’s some slander to his character.” Kate rolled her eyes.

“Do you have a brother, Kate?”

The question completely caught her off guard. Travis could tell by the look in her eyes that the answer was yes. He said evenly, “I made some written inquiries to San Francisco. The provost marshal at the Presidio has pay records that show a Gregory Van-Nam was also with Scott at the Battle of Buena Vista.”

For a long moment, Kate was silent. Finally she said, “A coincidence at best. If Winn knew my brother,
he would have mentioned it. And what does any of this have to do with me being shot?”

“Perhaps nothing,” Travis admitted. “Let’s hope I’m wrong.”

“I told you who shot me! Those two cruel bullies who once beat up Chang Li. A cultured man like Winn DeLaney would not know such men, much less have dealings with them.”

“Need sometimes makes for strange bedfellows, Katie.”

“Don’t call me Katie! And Winn would
never
need them. Why would he?”

“You sure you never mentioned to DeLaney that you’d found the gold?”

“I am absolutely certain I never told him. Or anyone else. Chang Li and I vowed we’d keep it to ourselves, and we did. You know what your problem is? You just can’t believe that a man like Winn DeLaney would be interested in me for me alone. And furthermore, I believe you’re jealous of Winn. Admit it, Sheriff.”

Travis said nothing. Which made her all the more angry.

“Get away from me,” she said. “Winn responsible, indeed! You’re out of your mind.”

But Kate began to have doubts. Did Winn know Gregory? And if so, had Gregory told him about the mine? Could Winn actually be responsible for the shooting? Was he after the gold?

She thought back over the times Winn had asked her countless probing questions about the Cavalry Blue. She hadn’t thought anything about it, but maybe he’d had more than a healthy curiosity in the claim.

Was he more interested in the mine than he was in her? Had he known all along that there was gold in the Cavalry Blue?