Montana Sky: Bride's Adventure (Kindle Worlds Novella) (Loving A Rancher Book 4)

by Caroline Clemmons

  He pressed his mouth to hers again, this time lingering to shower her face and neck with gentle kisses.

  She would have enjoyed continuing but didn’t think this was the time or place. Reluctantly, she pulled away. “Shall we go tell the others?”

  He stood and held out his hand to her.

  She put her fingers into his strong palm. “Won’t they be surprised?”

  Sean laughed. “Not from what they’ve said.”

  Recalling Charity’s innuendo upstairs, Amelia joined in his laughter. “I guess you’re right.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Amelia sat at her workbench creating a hat to replace the last one she’d sold. She sat daydreaming as she worked. Sean had been so sweet and would be coming by later this afternoon to talk to her about house plans. And to kiss her again, she was certain.

  This Monday hadn’t been busy so far, but she was happy for time to recover from the hectic Friday and Saturday before Easter. Her sales had been twice what she’d anticipated. Not that she was complaining about being busy.

  The bell rang and she looked up. Her heart dropped to her knees. Good thing she was sitting down.

  “Tony, my goodness, what a surprise.”

  “I’m sure me being here’s a shock.” He showed her a gun and motioned behind her. “Let’s go into your rooms until time for the next train west.”

  She stood on rubber legs. Although she didn’t think he would hurt her, the sight of the gun terrorized her. “Tony, what’s this about?”

  Before he could answer, the bell on the door announced Darcy and Trudy with Trudy carrying her blue dress.

  Tony lowered his voice. “Get rid of them. I mean it, Amelia.”

  She hurried to the front. “I’m so sorry that I have to close early today, Mrs. Rand, Mrs. Mather. I’ve been called away suddenly but I’ll let you know when I return and reopen. I’d appreciate you ladies passing the word, Mrs. Rand, Mrs. Mather.”

  Darcy turned Trudy around and shoved her toward the door. “Of course, Mrs. Douglas. We’ll tell everyone that you’ll let us know when you reopen.”

  Still carrying her blue dress, Trudy looked over her shoulder with a worried expression. “Take care, Mrs. Douglas.”

  Relief surged through Amelia. Her friends understood the message. How long before help arrived?

  When the two women had gone, Amelia turned the Open sign to Closed and locked the door.

  “Now, what’s on your mind, Tony?” She fisted her hands on her hips. “And, you can put that gun away right now. There’s no need for such things here.”

  “Get away from the window, Amelia.” He motioned toward her rooms. “Let’s go back there.”

  “Certainly. I live in the rooms behind my shop.” She led him to her kitchen and gestured to a chair.

  He sat and laid his gun on the table. “I had the devil of a time finding you. Good thing I finally located and went through the messages you sent Charlie.”

  Relieved he didn’t plan to shoot her before the sheriff had time to arrive, she sat across from Tony. “My telegrams?”

  He nodded. “After making following you so hard, you sure made finding your shop easy once I was in town. Your name is in large letters on the front window.”

  Although she wasn’t as frightened now he’d put the gun aside, she wondered how he’d react when help arrived. “Of course my name is there. Why wouldn’t it be, this is my shop? Now, explain what this is about.”

  His eyes were bloodshot and he looked weary. His usual finely pressed attire was rumpled and he must have lost the bowler hat he usually wore. “Your brother must have given you some papers I need.”

  She shook her head. “You never left us alone so you must know that Charlie didn’t give me anything.”

  He laid his hands on the table. “Amelia, please, this is really important. Maybe he put them in your belongings.”

  “How could he without you knowing?” A steel vise closed around her chest. “Something significant must have occurred that’s brought you here. Tony, is my brother all right?”

  He raked his hand through his hair. “At the moment, but he won’t be unless I bring back those papers. Think, Amelia. Did Charlie give you anything or could he have slipped something into your trunk?”

  Perplexed at Tony’s assumption, she said, “I’ve unpacked and there was nothing that I hadn’t placed there. If these papers are so important, why would Charlie give them to me? Who knows when I’ll even see him again?”

  Tony rubbed his forehead. “I don’t know what to do. Help me here, Amelia. If I don’t return with those papers, Charlie will be killed.”

  Her heart almost stopped beating and fear for her brother stabbed her abdomen. She fought tears gathering in her eyes. Calm, she had to remain calm.

  “I suspect that’s the plan anyway. I-I have a copy of the papers you kept under your mattress. Is that what you need?”

  He leaned forward. “I wondered if you’d found that envelope. No, that’s not what I need. There’s a thin ledger.”

  He gave her a reproachful look. “Amelia, how could you be naïve enough to meddle? My uncle would kill you if he knew you found that information.”

  “Finding the pages didn’t help me learn anything because I don’t know what the information means. Tony, why are you even with those people? You aren’t like them. I’d say you were more like Charlie than a criminal.”

  He gave a dismissive wave. “My rotten family’s business. Believe me, I’ve tried to leave twice. The first time they found me and knocked me around—broke my arm and collarbone and cracked some ribs.”

  “The first time?”

  He nodded. “The second time, they beat me until I barely survived. Uncle Harry said the only reason he didn’t kill me was because I was kin. He assured me if I left again or crossed him, he’d make sure I didn’t live long enough to have regrets.”

  “So you’ll be killed even if you return with whatever you think Charlie took?” Was Charlie still alive? What had happened to him since she’d left Salem?

  Dear Lord, protect my brother and help me today. Protect Tony and all those who come to my aid. Help us make this a peaceful end to the trouble.

  “Maybe I can make sure Charlie gets away. I don’t know, I just don’t know what to do.” He shook his head. “You don’t know these people, what they’re like. They’re devils. I’m pretty sure they killed my brother but I can’t prove they did.”

  “Where is Charlie? Is he tied up?”

  “They told him I was going on a delivery trip and now my cousin Mac is living there. I doubt Charlie’s fooled. Trust me, Mac is not a friendly kind of guy but supposedly he’s just watching Charlie, sort of like I did. But, he’s the guy who was following you and pulled that crummy survey bit. I raked him over the coals for that.”

  “Thank you. The survey thing genuinely frightened me. I was certain that man following me was sent by your uncle. I was aware also that you watched Charlie and me when I was visiting but you didn’t scare me like that Mac did. Does this mean that Charlie is kind of under house arrest but still working?”

  “Yeah, I guess that’s about right. Let’s look in your trunk. I gotta see for myself if the papers are there.”

  She led the way to where her empty brown trunk was stored. Tony raised the lid and felt around the lining. She hoped he wouldn’t destroy the trunk, but she wasn’t going to argue with him.

  “What are they involved with, Tony? What about this so-called business is illegal?”

  He scrubbed a hand across his face. About the time she decided he wasn’t going to answer, he said, “They’re counterfeiting five dollar bills.”

  She touched his arm. “Let’s notify the Salem police and let them rescue Charlie and solve your problem.”

  He offered a sorrowful expression. “Aw, I wish. Amelia, you’re too honest to get the picture. Some of the police and a judge are on my uncle’s payroll. This is a big operation and involves lots of people in high places.”<
br />
  “I don’t understand why your uncle has someone watching my brother. What’s to be gained?” She walked back into the kitchen.

  Tony followed her. “Uncle Jack doesn’t trust him. Suspects he’s working for a rival group or the law.”

  His revelation hit her and explained everything. How could she have questioned her brother’s involvement? He must be a lawman.

  Amelia sat at the kitchen tables. “If that’s true, why has he allowed Charlie to work for so long?”

  “Partly because Charlie’s useful, partly because of me, partly because my uncle’s a crazy man who likes to toy with people. See, I’ve been assuring my uncle that Charlie is an okay guy. Then these papers went missing and your brother got the blame.”

  “Why him? Do you think he’s guilty of stealing the papers?”

  He raked his fingers through his hair. “Yeah, I do, but that’s not what I told my uncle. Still, he figures Charlie for the theft and is plenty mad at me as well as at your brother. Uncle Jack sent me to see if you have them.”

  “Now that I don’t, what happens?”

  Tony sagged and leaned his elbows on the table. “I don’t know. Look, Amelia, I’m supposed to bring you to Salem to bargain with Charlie. I never intended to do that, but I figured if you had the papers, I’d hop on the next train and take them to Uncle Jack. Maybe I could help Charlie escape.”

  With a worried sigh, she rose. “I’ll start coffee and make your dinner while we figure out what to do.” And surely the sheriff will show up. She hoped Tony wouldn’t panic and get anyone shot. And she hoped the sheriff arrived before Sean called on her.

  “I’m starving and thirsty. I know how small towns are so I’ve been keeping out of sight. Got off from the back of the train and hurried into the dark.”

  After she had coffee on to boil, Amelia peeled and sliced potatoes along with an onion. “How long have you been here?”

  “Got here yesterday about eight.”

  “Tony, where did you sleep last night?” When she had grease hot, she dropped the slices into the skillet.

  “In a barn. Darn straw stuck to my clothes, but didn’t make that bad a bed. I was scared someone would find me so I sneaked out before dawn. Been hiding in a vacant building down the way to be sure you were alone. At first I didn’t realize you lived behind your shop and waited for you to arrive. Then I had to be sure you were living here alone.”

  “You mean you haven’t had anything to eat all day? Goodness, I should have added more potatoes.” She carved a thick slice of ham from the one she’d planned to save for Sean’s next visit. After cutting it into chunks, she stirred the pieces into the skillet.

  “Man, that smells good.”

  She poured him a mug of coffee. “The hash will be cooked in a few minutes. I don’t suppose you want to wait for me to make biscuits but I have most of a loaf of bread from yesterday.” She cut several slices and set butter and jam on the table.

  He spread jam on a slice and wolfed it down between gulps of coffee. “You’re being understanding. I’m sorry about showing you the gun. You know I never wanted to scare you and I’d never hurt you, right?”

  She refilled his cup. “I know.” But what did he plan to do with her? And, where was the sheriff?

  Over the sizzling of dinner, she recognized the click of the living room door. To distract Tony, she asked, “Did you finish The Three Musketeers?”

  He spread jam on another slice of bread. “Charlie read part of it to me. I finished and started over. Reading’s easier when you know what’s supposed to happen.”

  “Think you’ll read other books now?”

  “Probably. At least I can read the newspaper now without taking an hour.”

  Sean stepped into the room with his revolver drawn. “You must be from Oregon.”

  Tony froze with the bread halfway to his mouth.

  Amelia laid a hand on Tony’s shoulder. “This isn’t as bad as it looks, Sean. This is Tony Ward. Tony, this is Sean Murdoch.”

  Sean’s revolver didn’t waiver. “Looks pretty bad.”

  Tony still didn’t move. “The fourth musketeer, right?”

  She patted Tony’s shoulder. “I guess that’s correct. Go ahead and eat your dinner.”

  She poured a cup of coffee for Sean. “Sean, we need help figuring out what to do.”

  Tony looked from Sean to Amelia. “He has a key to your house?”

  “He owns the building and is my landlord.”

  Tony stared at her. “I’m surprised at you—”

  “Think about what you say before you speak” Sean interrupted and stepped closer with his gun pointed at Tony’s heart. “I’m her landlord and nothing unsavory ever happens here. Got that? But as of yesterday she’s my fiancée.”

  Tony nodded. “I always figured she’s a good woman.”

  Sean removed the gun Tony had left lying on the table. “You won’t need this. Sheriff is out at the McPherson farm. I happened to already be in town to have dinner with you, Amelia, when Darcy and Trudy warned me something was wrong at your shop.”

  Tony stared at her. “You knew he was coming here?”

  “Not exactly, but I’m not surprised to see him. Relieved is more appropriate. I thought the sheriff would have come by now.” She sighed. “Tony, I tricked you. Rand Mather is the name of our sheriff, not the last names of the two women who came in.”

  Tony leaned back in his chair. “I should have figured from the way you said the names twice. You’re a smart woman, Amelia. I’m betting you didn’t plan to do laundry when you went into my room back in Salem.”

  She smiled. “Not at all, but then I saw that thread you had across the door too late to avoid snagging on my skirt and didn’t know how to reattach it exactly as it had been. Charlie used that to trick on me when he was a teen and I was a nosy younger sister.”

  She dished up the hash and split it between the two men. “I’ll cook more while you two eat this.”

  Amelia prepared more of the same meal, but three generous servings. While she worked, she talked. “Tony is in a terrible predicament. He’s really a nice guy who has been threatened with death if he tries to escape from his uncle’s business again.”

  Sean raised his eyebrows. “Again?”

  Tony nodded. “First two times didn’t turn out well for me.” He explained the situation with Charlie, with Tony’s uncle, and the reason Tony had been sent to Sweetwater Springs.

  Sean relaxed slightly. “So the life of Amelia’s brother depends on what happens here today?”

  She stirred the food in the skillet. “That’s the situation, Sean. I’m terrified that Tony’s uncle will decide to kill Charlie instead of waiting for word about the ledger Tony was sent to retrieve. Who can we contact who’s more powerful than the police?”

  “Counterfeiting would be investigated by the Treasury Department, probably using Pinkerton’s. Let’s try them as soon as Sheriff Mather returns.”

  “Sheriff Mather is here.” He stepped into the room. “Looks as if you have things contained, Murdoch.”

  Sean nodded at Tony. “Go through the story again—in detail.”

  Amelia poured another cup of coffee and plated the food. Allowing for what the two men had already eaten, she stretched if for all four of them. She sat by Sean, facing Tony. The sheriff took the chair beside Tony.

  While they ate, Tony went through the entire story, including details she hadn’t heard before. Then he added her tricks with evading her shadow and suspected snooping.

  Sean’s face clouded in anger. “Amelia, what were you thinking? You could have been killed.”

  “That’s why I left. I couldn’t keep from prying on Charlie’s behalf, but he told me to leave before I got us both killed.”

  The sheriff asked, “He knows he’s being watched?”

  Tony nodded. “He’d have to be stupid not to and Charlie is a smart man. I don’t know what kind, but I suspect he’s a lawman. I hope my cousin Mac doesn’t figure that
out before you guys come up with some way to save Charlie.”

  Amelia directed her attention to the sheriff. “You can see, Sheriff, that Tony is a victim here, too. He’s tried to escape the so-called family business and almost died as punishment. Please don’t arrest Tony for trying to help my brother. Tony, tell him what happened when you tried to leave.”

  Tony related the results of his two attempts.

  “Won’t help not to arrest him, Mrs. Douglas. As long as he’s alive, his uncle will find a way to punish him—whether the uncle’s in prison or not.”

  Everyone at the table grew silent.

  Amelia had an inspiration and was the first to speak, “Why can’t you fake his death?”

  The sheriff said, “What?”

  “When you alert the Treasury and the Pinkerton Agency, can’t you wait until they’re ready to close in and then send a wire to the Salem police that Tony was killed resisting arrest? Then he could go to some small town far away and start over as a respectable citizen.”

  Tony sat up straight and appeared hopeful.

  The sheriff snorted. “And after a life in the ‘family business’ just what legal job do you think he could find?”

  Tony looked from one person to another. “There has to be something. I swear, if you’ll give me a chance, I’ll be a pillar of the community.”

  “You’d have to at least have a job lined up, Son, before I’d even consider agreeing to a crazy scheme like that.”

  Sean nudged Amelia. “Well, Miss Fixit, what do you have in mind?”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Amelia mulled over the problem for a few seconds. “How about a small town in Texas or Oklahoma? Tony, you told me you’re good with math. You could be a banker, couldn’t you?”

  “Except for one big thing—I don’t have any hard cash. The government frowns on people opening a bank with counterfeit bills.”

  “But I have money—and it’s money I wouldn’t have if it weren’t for Tony. I could invest in a bank as his silent partner.”