Quickly, before she could change her mind, she wound her hair in a coil again and placed the itchy wig on her head. She stuffed the pillow up her skirt and then grabbed a cloak. Noticing the gun Denton had left on the bed, she snatched it and slipped it into the waist of her skirt, covering it with the cloak before hurrying out of the room and down the stairs. When she walked outside, she kept her gaze to the ground and slowly moved in the direction where Louise was still waiting against the brick wall.
When she reached the end of the hotel, a man had stopped beside Louise. The woman pulled on the sleeve of his coat as they ducked in the alleyway. Courtney stayed against the corner of the hotel, placing her hands on the pillow under her skirt, hoping to give the appearance that she had stopped because of her unborn child. Keeping her back toward Louise and the man, Courtney prayed that they wouldn’t see her as she listened intently to their conversation.
“Another issue has arose, and this time, I trust you’ll not mess things up.” Louise’s voice was agitated.
Courtney slowly peeked in their direction. Louise scowled at the man as she shoved a moneybag against his chest.
“I swear on my mother’s grave,” Louise bit out, “that if you don’t do what you’re paid to do, I’ll be the one to kill you.”
“Yes, Miss Louise.” The man’s scarred face scrunched in an unpleasant expression. “But it wasn’t my fault. Your brother came—”
“Don’t worry about Terrance. I’ll take care of him. But I want you to get rid of Denton Reed. He is at the estate right now. He is asking too many questions, and he’ll soon discover the truth – which won’t be good for either of us.”
Courtney caught her breath before she gasped out loud. What was going on? Yet, deep in her heart, she knew what she’d just overheard. Louise was paying the man to kill Denton. So, did that mean Louise had killed her own father?
Panic grew inside Courtney, and she knew she must stop Louise – and especially the man. Because Denton hadn’t returned from the estate, he would be in grave danger. He wouldn’t know of Louise’s plan. Courtney just couldn’t sit by and hope that Denton could protect himself, especially since he didn’t know about the impending danger. She was tired of being idle, and she wanted to help find the real killer.
She pulled away from the wall and hurried toward the stable not far from the hotel where her horse and buggy had been housed. She couldn’t see anyone in the stable to help her, so she quickly unhooked her horse from the buggy and mounted. The pillow stuffed up her skirt became uncomfortable, but she didn’t have time to remove it. She must find Louise – or the man – and follow them.
As she guided the horse toward the street, she noticed Louise briskly walking toward the family coach. Courtney’s heart dropped. Where was the man? Could she remember him if she saw him again?
Taking deep breaths, she closed her eyes and tried to remember what the man looked like. His face was cut up, but the deepest scars were on his cheek and chin. His hair was dirty blonde, and his coat was ragged around the edges. He was taller than Louise by a good five inches.
She sighed with relief and opened her eyes. Denton had her do that when he was trying to get her to remember. She was glad it still worked, even if he wasn’t here to help her calm down.
The one thing Courtney knew was that this man would be heading toward Albert’s estate, so that was where she needed to go.
Her chest tightened. Silently, she prayed that she wouldn’t get noticed. If any of Albert’s children or servants saw her, they’d capture her and give her to the sheriff. That could not happen.
As she rode toward his estate, she scanned the streets, looking for the unkempt, scar-faced man. Would he be on horseback, too? Yet, if he were being tasked with killing Denton, the man would be stupid not to have a quick getaway.
Panic grew inside her, and she urged the horse faster. Reaching Denton first was her goal, and she didn’t want to think about what would happen if the scar-faced man fulfilled his agreement with Louise.
Courtney’s stomach churned again. It had only been a few days, but she’d grown close to Denton, and she didn’t know what she’d do if he weren’t helping her. But it was more than that. She’d found herself attracted to the handsome and kindhearted man. Her parents hadn’t allowed her to meet other young men or even have feelings for them. They wanted her to enter the marriage to Albert without knowing what love was all about. Sadly, all she’d known was despair.
Then she met Denton. She should have hated him for lying to her there at the beginning, but once she got to know him better, it was hard not to let him melt her heart. She didn’t want any other man but him, and she prayed she wouldn’t have to look any further.
After about ten minutes, she slowed the horse as she came closer to the estate. Her stomach lurched. The last time she made this journey was on her wedding day. That had been the worst day of her life.
She noticed Louise had made it back home safely since she had just left the coach and entered the manor's front door. Courtney maneuvered the horse to the thicket of trees, hoping to keep hidden for a little while longer.
Once she found a good spot, she dismounted and tied her horse to a tree. Courtney noticed the pillow had dropped, so she quickly pulled out the distraction and tossed it on the ground. She slipped the pistol out of her skirt’s waistband and crept around the trees, moving closer to the manor.
From across the way in another patch of trees, she noticed a movement. Fear tightened her throat as she recognized the scar-faced man. He, too, held a gun. The man had his sights on something around the side of the house.
She stepped around trees, trying to see what he did, but when she heard Denton’s voice, her heart dropped. She couldn’t let the man kill Denton.
TEN
DENTON STROLLED THROUGH the manicured lawn with the cook and the butler. Denton had started out praising the two for being such loyal servants and then offering his sympathy over their employer's loss. It was his plan to gain their trust.
“Surely, you must have overheard something,” he said to them, looking at the butler. Tibbs would have heard more than Mrs. Jackson, mainly because the cook stayed in the kitchen.
The older man dabbed his moist eyes with a handkerchief. “After I let Miss Mills in the manor, I went outside to talk to Joseph in the stables.”
Denton stopped, and the other two followed suit. “Tibbs, did you hear anything before Miss Mills arrived?”
The butler narrowed his gaze. “Why would I have heard anything then?”
Denton sighed heavily but feeling more frustrated than anything. “Because I don’t think Miss Mills killed Mr. Greenwood.”
The cook gasped. “Then who else could it have been?”
Denton looked at the plump woman with an apron tied around her waist. She tucked a salt-and-pepper colored lock of hair behind her ear. “Are you saying that one of the servants killed him?”
Denton shook his head. “I’m not sure who killed him, either it is one of the servants or his own children, but I can guarantee you that Miss Mills is innocent.”
The dedicated servants exchanged worried glances. Tibbs’ expression hardened, and sadness coated Mrs. Jackson’s eyes.
“If you know anything that might help me, I’d appreciate it if you tell me.”
“You don’t understand,” Mr. Tibbs whispered, “even if we knew, we can’t say—”
“Henry, shush!” Mrs. Jackson snapped.
Denton’s hopes lifted. Finally, he found a touchy subject – one that might get him some answers. “Please, Mrs. Jackson. Both of you loved Mr. Greenwood, so now he needs you to help find his killer. We cannot let an innocent woman go to jail for a crime she didn’t commit. Mr. Greenwood would want you to help me.”
Frowning, the older woman glanced down at her hands as she twisted them against her round belly.
“Mr. Reed,” Mr. Tibbs said again, in quiet tones, “if Henrietta and I want to keep our jobs, we must make Albert’s childre
n believe that we trust them, and then in return, they can trust us.”
Denton touched the man’s shoulder. “But Mr. Tibbs, don’t you believe Albert deserves to have justice served for his killer?” He paused and then added, “If you tell me what you know, I promise that you won’t lose your positions.”
“We fear for our own lives,” the cook said brokenly.
Denton’s heart wrenched. “If you tell me who killed Albert, I’ll make sure that person is locked away so that they can’t harm another person.” He patted the cook’s arm. “Was it Miss Louise?”
She wiped away the tears gathering in her eyes. “That girl has always had a fierce temper when she doesn’t get her way. But no, she did not kill her father.”
“Clive?” Denton prodded.
“It was... Terrance.” Mr. Tibbs took a shaky breath.
Shock washed over Denton as he turned to face the butler. His stomach churned fiercely, and he wanted to throw up. No! How could his good friend do something like that – to his father, of all people? “Are... you certain?”
Mr. Tibbs nodded as his frown deepened. “I saw him go into Albert’s study an hour before Miss Mills arrived. I heard them yelling, mainly Terrance.”
“Do you know—” Denton’s voice choked with emotion, so he cleared his throat and started over. “Do you know what they were arguing about?”
“The will.” Tibbs rubbed his clean-shaven chin. “The only two children who weren’t losing money were Wallace and Patricia. Terrance wanted his inheritance, but Albert refused. He told Terrance that as soon as he married Miss Mills, his will would go into effect, and none of the children would get a penny.” Tears filled his eyes. “I heard Terrance yell at his father, and the next thing I heard was someone falling to the floor.”
Denton tried holding back his own emotion as his heart continued to crumble over what his friend had done. “Did Terrance know you had heard?”
Tibbs nodded. “Terrance threatened me that if I said anything, he’d make sure I never worked as a butler again.” He shrugged. “I didn’t know whether he meant that he was going to kill me, or just ruin my reputation, but either way, I didn’t want to cross that man.”
Denton inhaled a shaky breath, trying to gain control over his emotions. “Does Clive or Louise know it was Terrance?”
Both the butler and cook shrugged. “I think,” Mrs. Jackson said, “that Terrance planted into their heads the idea of it being Miss Mills, and since nobody liked her, it was easier to believe she killed Albert.”
“All right, then Terrance acted alone.” He glanced at Tibbs. “And you said Terrance has gone to Stumptown?”
“Yes.”
“Then, I shall get him and arrest him.” Denton squeezed the older man’s elbow reassuringly. “I won’t let him get away with this.”
“Thank you, Mr. Reed.” A tear slid down the man’s face.
“Now, you two better get back inside before Clive or Louise notices you out here talking to me. Both of them acted very suspiciously when I talked to them, so I don’t want them doubting your trust.”
The servants turned toward the house. Suddenly, a gunshot blasted through the air, followed quickly by another one, breaking nature’s peacefulness. Pain exploded in his body. His heart dropped. I’ve been shot! He crumbled to the ground.
COURTNEY'S HANDS SHOOK as she held the still-smoking pistol. She was too late. When the scar-faced man had pointed his gun at Denton, she aimed her gun at him, but his trigger finger was much faster than hers. Thankfully, though, the bullet from her gun had found its target, and the scar-faced man had fallen to the ground.
She ran toward Denton as tears swam in her eyes. The cook and butler were attending Denton, but she couldn’t see what was going on. As she neared, she heard them talking to Denton, and her hope grew in her heart.
“Denton!” she screamed as she reached them and fell to the ground beside him. His eyes were open, and he clutched his left shoulder. The cook’s apron had been wadded up and placed against the wound to help stop blood flow.
“Miss Mills,” Mr. Tibbs exclaimed in surprise. “What are you—”
“Will he be all right?” she asked, cutting him off.
“Courtney,” Denton said in a tight voice, “I’ll be fine. Just take me to a doctor so that he can remove the bullet.”
“You aren’t going anywhere,” the cook said in a commanding voice. “I’ll have Joseph ride out and bring back the doctor.”
Courtney nodded. “And have him bring the sheriff too.”
“Why?” Denton asked.
“Because Miss Louise hired the man who shot you, and she needs to be arrested. I witnessed the exchange.”
Denton tried to sit up, but Courtney placed her hand on his chest, trying to hold him down. “Don’t move. It’ll only make you bleed faster.”
“Courtney, where is the man who shot me?”
She motioned her head toward the group of trees. “In there. I shot him.”
“Is he dead?” Denton asked.
“I don’t know, but he fell to the ground. I was more worried about seeing to your welfare than worrying about him.”
Mr. Tibbs grasped Courtney’s gun and stood. “I’ll go check on him first, and then have Joseph fetch the doctor and sheriff.”
“Thank you, Mr. Tibbs.”
He gave her a gentle smile. “Welcome back, Miss Mills.”
Tears filled her eyes again as she looked back at Denton. Besides Albert, Mr. Tibbs and Mrs. Jackson were the only servants who treated her kindly. She prayed they would both be well taken care of.
“Where did he shoot you?” she asked Denton in a cracked voice.
“The tip of my shoulder. It’s burning, but at least I’ll live.”
She nodded. “I tried to shoot him before he could get to you first, but—”
“Courtney,” he said as he struggled to smile, “you did all you could do. I’m proud of you.”
Her heart softened. “I glad the bullet from your pistol knew how to find its target because my body was trembling so badly, I didn’t know if I could hit him or not.”
A few more servants came from the house to see what the commotion was about. With Mr. Tibbs gone, Mrs. Jackson issued instructions, and soon, several of the stable hands had lifted Denton and helped him into the house. They carried him into the kitchen and placed him on the floor. Mrs. Jackson hurried to gather more towels and water. The men helped to remove Denton’s coat, vest, and shirt.
Courtney quickly looked away, not wanting to see the blood. But, curiosity had gotten the best of her, and she peeked over her shoulder. Instead of seeing his wound, she saw a muscular man with a wide, bare chest. Oh, my...
She averted her gaze again. This was not very proper at all. Then again, she’d been with Denton all this time, and nothing had been appropriate.
She took his coat, holding it close to her chest, avoiding the blood on the sleeve. The smell of musk and spice enveloped her. Funny how she knew his mesmerizing scent by now.
The high-pitched voice of Louise echoed through the house, growing louder by the second. Courtney’s first reaction was to hide, but then, anger took over, and she wanted to punish the woman for what she’d done.
“What is going on...” Louise’s loud gasp filled the kitchen. “Why is Mr. Reed on the floor... and bleeding?” The servants parted the way for her, like Moses parting the Red Sea. “Take him out of here,” she demanded. “This is not the place—”
“He’s staying right here.” Mrs. Jackson puffed her chest and lifted her chin stubbornly as she glared at Louise. “He will not be moved until the doctor arrives and gives further instructions.”
“Oh, how dare you talk to me like that!” Louise folded her arms across her chest. “If you don’t watch it, I’ll have you dismissed in a blink of an eye.”
Courtney had enough of the other woman’s higher-than-thou attitude. As she moved Denton’s coat to set it aside, she felt something heavy in one of the inside pocke
ts. She reached her hand inside. Her fingers brushed against cold steel... handcuffs? She quickly withdrew them, smiling. It was time to let Miss Louise know that she is no longer in control around here.
“And if you do that to the cook,” Courtney said, moving toward Louise, “I can have you thrown in jail so fast it’ll make your head spin.”
Louise glared. “Who are you, and what right do you have to tell me that in my own home?” Her gaze moved over Courtney. “Aren’t you the pregnant woman by the hotel?”
“No.” She pulled off her wig, and gasps exploded in the room, coming from the servants but mainly from Louise. “I’m the person who is going to arrest you.” She held up the handcuffs.
Louise snorted a laugh. “You should be the one arrested – for killing my father.”
“No, she won’t.” Denton struggled to sit up as he threw Louise a glare. “I won’t arrest someone who is innocent. However, you, Miss Louise, are guilty of conspiracy to plot a murder.”
Louise huffed. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Courtney stepped closer. “You certainly do. I saw – and heard – you talking to the scar-faced man by the saloon in town. You knew I was there because you saw me.” She arched an eyebrow. “And you gave the man money and told him to kill Denton.”
“You can’t prove anything.”
“I can.” Courtney motioned toward the window. “The man is outside, shot, and probably bleeding to death. And I bet if the sheriff goes out there now, he’ll find a moneybag on the man’s person, with your perfume scent all over it.”
Louise’s face paled. “I don’t believe you.”
“Courtney,” Denton said. “Place those handcuffs on Louise until the sheriff arrives.”
Grinning widely, Courtney couldn’t wait to see the defeat in the woman’s eyes. Instead, she saw panic.
Louise pushed Courtney and started to run, but the servants who had once parted were now moving in a cluster to keep their mistress from running. Courtney closed the space between her and the other woman, and grasped Louise’s wrists and slapped on the handcuffs, the same way she’d witnessed Denton do it with the bank robbers.
Denton's Bride (Runaway Mail-Order Bride Book 1) Page 7
