Timeless Passion: 10 Historical Romances To Savor (119 page)

“One more word.” Her voice was slow and deliberate, spoken through clenched teeth, keeping a tight hold on her fear while letting her anger rise. “And you will be looking for a job somewhere else, Mr. Black.”

“Bi — ” Black caught himself, his lips curled, anger suffusing his features. He looked down at the ground, then back at her, his face a total blank. “I came to tell you that I brought a dogie in to you. Secondino says you take care of them.”

“Well, where is it?” She started towards the door. Black stepped to the side, blocking her way. As he stepped closer, fear roared through her, setting her already taut nerves further on edge. His dark eyes showed no sign of what he was thinking, but the twisting of his lips in a mockery of a smile spoke volumes.

“You best be lettin’ Miz Kara by.”

Relief washed over her as Bob stepped into the barn and walked determinedly over to them. “You get now, Black.” Bob glared at the other man, shaking a large black fist in the younger man’s face, “Joe told me to keep an eye on you. You done delivered your message … now git.”

Muttering a curse under his breath, Black dropped his gaze and turned to leave, bumping his shoulder forcefully into Bob as he strode out of the barn.

Feeling her face crumble and her body slump, Kara felt Bob take her in his arms, pat her gently on the back, calming her while she clung to him.

“He scares me, Bob.” Kara let out a long, ragged breath. “He doesn’t blink when he looks at me, and it just sends terrors all over me. I don’t understand people like that.”

“Some people are jest plum mean, and don’t need to be ’round good people like you. I’m gonna’ talk to yer Pa about this. That boy needs to be run off this ranch.”

Stepping back, she looked up at Bob, thankful. Bob put a comforting arm around her shoulder and she gave him a big hug. He walked with her to the pen behind the barn where the young calf had been left.

Catching the calf and getting it to suckle on the bottle of milk Bob had left helped her put the disturbing thoughts of Jeb Black behind her. Stroking the soft nose of the calf, she was finally able to relax. She laughed softly as the hungry calf bumped up against her demanding to be fed. Holding the bottle while the calf tugged at it, she watched the sun setting across the valley.

• • •

Hawke found her in the pen when he and the other men rode in a short time later. Not wanting to disturb her, he sat quietly on the back of his horse watching her in the fading light of day. Behind her the desert sky was blazing, from yellow at the horizon with streaks of red-orange flame lighting the clouds and casting a golden glow to the desert, to the darkening sky spreading quickly overhead.

His chest tightened, an unfamiliar longing pulled at him. He wanted to see her tender gaze turned to him, to feel her, holding him in loving arms.

Shaken by the thought and how right it felt, he dismounted and led Titan into the barn before she saw him and the magic of the moment was broken.

Chapter 14

Hawke was brushing down Titan in his stall, still dealing with his own internal demons, when Alec rode in.

“Well.” He stopped and looked at his friend. “Did you find out anything? Was there a message from the detectives?”

With a pat on the gray’s neck, Hawke left the stall.

“White Oaks … . ” Alec dismounted and led his mount forward, a smile playing around his lips. “There’s an interesting town, more than I expected. A ‘jewel in the desert,’ if I do say so.”

“Do go on.”

Alec began stripping his saddle from his horse. “Apparently it’s one of those boom-towns we’ve heard of. Just a few years ago, there was no town, then gold was discovered.” He picked up a brush and began grooming his horse continuing his tale.

“I’m told the gold they get out of the mines, the Homestake and the Old Abe, produce some of the purest gold ever found in this country. There are saloons and gambling houses, a newspaper, all manner of businesses and believe it or not they even have an opera house.”

“Opera?”

“From what I hear, they actually have professional performers come from San Francisco. We aren’t completely cast to purgatory after all.”

“They also have a dance hall, a Chinese laundry, and a bank … oh, and street lights.” A feminine voice piped in.

Both men turned to see Kara standing in the doorway of the barn, her shoulder propped against the opening.

The men shuffled their feet, not unlike little boys caught at some mischief. “Most of the ranchers around here don’t do too much business in White Oaks,” she continued. “It’s not that the people aren’t nice.” She stepped into the barn. “It’s more because of the gold, and the distance from a railhead, which means prices for goods are higher there than any of the other towns nearby. If we need something immediately, we’ll buy from White Oaks, but most of us go to Carrizozo for our regular supplies. We do attend church on Sundays, when we have the time, and it is where most of the children from the ranches attend school. Oh, and this might interest you gentlemen.” She stepped over to Alec’s bay and began stroking his soft muzzle. “They hold match races on Sundays. You might want to take that big gray of yours down and see if you can make any money on him.” Nodding towards Hawke, “Or better yet,” she purred. “Why don’t you move into town? I’m sure Mr. Hoyle would consider selling you his house. He built it for a bride who never showed up. A perfect residence for two gentlemen of your refined tastes.”

Hawke walked up to her; standing so close she had to bend her head all the way back to make eye contact. She refused to step back or give ground in any way, daring him to act. He lifted his hand slowly and let his finger lightly caress the smooth line of her jaw. A shiver danced across her skin at his touch.

“And forego the gracious hospitality you’ve shown us, lass?” His voice was a velvet growl. He rubbed his thumb softly over her lower lip.

The world around them disappeared into a slow burn of aching need. Tendrils of sensual heat slithered along Kara’s spine and she leaned into the caress, wanting more. Looking into his eyes, she felt herself pulled in to the molten silver depths.

He was going to kiss her and she wanted him to. Her gaze flickered from his eyes to his lips and back to his eyes, desire pounded through her body. His thumb continued its slow assault on her already sensitized lip. She wanted more; needed to know what else there was. Her lips parted under the slow stroke of his thumb.

• • •

Hawke was drowning in the depths of her sapphire eyes, all thoughts of teasing flown. His thumb stroked where his mouth longed to be. Would she taste as sweet as he had imagined? He bent his head closer, his vision narrowed to her softly parted lips, desire spurring him to capture her mouth and taste her passion.

“Should I leave?”

He jerked his head up, the droll tone reminding him where they were, and that they weren’t alone. Looking at Alec’s too perceptive smile, he wished his friend to perdition.

He felt Kara stiffen at the sound of the other man’s voice, dread and embarrassment visible on her face. She pushed past him to leave the barn. He tried to reach out and stop her, but Alec’s next comment stopped him cold.

“Ah, so that’s how it is … hmm?”

Hawke jerked around, seeing his friend grinning broadly at him, and cursed at the unwanted discussion. Trying to divert Alec from goading him or questioning him further, he said, “What did you find out? Anything useful, or did you just spend your day in the saloons?”

“Och, no, no, no laddie, you’re not avoiding this. What the hell was that demonstration of seduction I just witnessed? And don’t tell me ‘nothing.’ I don’t think … no.” Alec wagged a finger at him, all traces of humor gone from his voice. “You were seducing her — in front of me, no less. This is yesterday in her father’s study all over again. She makes you forget everything and everyone else around you.” His eyes narrowed. “In all our dealings with the fairer sex, I know of no woman who has ever caused you to behave the way I just witnessed. Where is the iron control? Are you falling in love with our Miss Kara?”

He flushed, and an angry denial came to his lips. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Once again he tried to change the subject. He didn’t want to examine his actions any closer. “What did you find out? I need to know if we’re any closer to Tompkins.”

“All right, I’ll hold my tongue — for now,” Alec relented. “But I fully intend to get my answers. We are in luck, there was a message from the detectives, and it appears our friend is indeed in White Oaks. The remittance checks from his father are being deposited in the Exchange Bank.”

“Wonderful. We just have to wait for the bastard to go to the bank, and we’ve got him.”

For the first time since the attack on Bethany, Hawke felt like there might be an end to the nightmare. He could finally get his hands on the coward and teach him a lesson he would never forget.

He tried to imagine Bethany’s reaction when he told her. Would it be enough to bring her out of her depression? Would she become his loving sister once more?

“We don’t need to wait, I found out where he works and lives.” Alec’s quiet words snapped him from his thoughts.

“How did you … . ” A slow knowing grin spread across his face. “You must have charmed some hapless female out of the information.”

“You know me too well, my friend,” Alec chuckled. “A charming young woman, Miss Daisy Babours, was very eager to assist me.” Alec’s grin widened.

“Enough of your conquest, what information did she give to you?”

“It appears Tompkins has been quite busy since his arrival in White Oaks.” Alec paused. “He has gained employment at the mine.”

Hawke’s eyebrow arched up in surprise. In England Tompkins was infamous for his ability to shirk work of any kind. He had always been a wastrel and a gambler, preferring to greet the dawn on his way to bed rather than do an honest day’s labor on his father’s land. It was one of the reasons Hawke and his father had considered him unsuitable for Bethany.

“Surprised me as well.” Alec nodded. “I fully expected him to be in the saloons gambling, or living at the bottom of a bottle like so many of the remittance men. Apparently he showed up in town about ten months ago, took a room in Mrs. Gallacher’s boarding house, got the job at the mine, and has set out to make himself a model resident of the community.”

“Are you sure we’re talking about Geoffrey Tompkins?” Hawke couldn’t reconcile the portrait Alec was painting with the immature, selfish young man of his memory.

“Quite sure. Miss Babours lives in the Gallacher boarding house, and was impressed by what a serious-minded young man he was, and willing to tell me all about his transformation from ‘dude’ to a real working man. I also learned the best time to find him is on Sunday afternoons,” he said, a smug look on his face. “He hasn’t reformed completely, it appears. He likes to bet on the match races Kara mentioned. From what I hear, unlike back in England, his losses are not great. Never did know how to pick a winner, though,” he said derisively. “He also visits the casinos in town regularly.”

“We need to decide on a plan and confront him.” Hawke slammed his fist into the palm of his hand.

Looking outside and realizing they would be late to supper, they finished bedding down their horses and headed to the house to change.

Stepping through the front door they were stopped by Case.

“Hawke,” he said, pointing to his study. “If I might have a moment of your time.”

Alec gave him a sympathetic look, turned, and with a low whistle, headed for his room.

Entering the study, Case indicated the chair in front of his desk.

Knowing the conversation would be about his actions at the pens earlier, Hawke felt more than a little apprehensive. Sitting, he looked at Case, trying to gauge the mood of his partner, but was unsuccessful. It wasn’t good.

Case sat behind his desk, expressionless, watching, but not speaking. If he were an employee, Hawke knew he was about to be sacked. As it was, he looked Case straight in the eye, bluffing like a gambler in a high stakes game, holding a hand full of nothing.

Case leaned forward slowly, resting his forearms on the desk. “I’ve heard some disturbing reports about your conduct towards my daughter.” Hawke saw his eyes narrow. “Care to tell me exactly what you think you are doing?”

It reminded Hawke of a dressing down he received from his commander in India; he suppressed an urge to snap to attention and salute.

“Well?”

“Sir.”

He was not some green boy, he reminded himself, he was a member of the peerage, and while this man was his partner, and he respected him, he would not be made to feel guilt for something.
Admittedly, I might have fantasized about it, but nothing happened. I know he has a right to question me. Hell, I’d like to know myself.
But he would not be put in this position. Any discussion should be between he and Kara.

“Case,” he began, drawing himself up straight in his chair. “I have done nothing to, or with, your daughter. And while I do not know what you have been told, I will admit she seems to react … strongly to my presence, and if I’m to be honest … .” He leaned back in his chair trying to convey a confidence he really wasn’t feeling. “I have the same reaction to her. Despite the apparent attraction, however, I believe her general animosity at my being here, being your partner, and my desire to conclude the search for Geoffrey Tompkins, will forestall anything advancing.”

“It’s not her animosity towards you I’m hearing about. No. What I want to know,” Case leaned forward, his hands palm down on the desk as if he meant to rise, “is exactly what your feelings are towards her? I know you come from a world where moral lassitude is prevalent.” The low menace of his voice, chilling in its intensity, was more effective than shouting. “Not here. If you think to lead my daughter on or take advantage of her feelings or her innocence in any way, you better think again.”

Case reached for a carved rosewood box on his desk removed a cigar, trimmed the end, lit it, and sat back in his chair.

“However,” he continued, “if you wish to court my daughter, properly, with the expectation of marrying her … .” The smile died on his lips. “Then that is another matter.”