By the look in his eyes, Fletcher didn’t believe it. “I mean it, Bram. You, too, Cam. I’m needing information on Maddy, and she’ll not give it to me if you two make her spitting mad.”
The three fell into a comfortable silence. No one spoke, even as they rode down the street, passing the jail, mercantile, and Gold Dust, before reining up at Baker’s.
Sliding to the ground, Fletcher tossed the reins over the rail, not sparing his cousins a glance as he stepped onto the boardwalk and opened the door. As expected, the dining room sat empty, supper being over for at least an hour.
“Mrs. Baker?”
“Coming.”
An instant later, Henrietta walked out from the kitchen, her features hardening when she spotted him. “Fletcher. What can I do for you?”
He took a couple steps toward her. “I’m here to speak with Maddy. Now, you can tell me where she is, or I’ll sit outside until she shows up. Doesn’t matter if it’s an hour or a few days.” Crossing his arms, Fletcher’s unyielding gaze met hers. “It’s your decision.”
Features pinched, she huffed out a breath, indecision crossing her face.
“Take your time, Mrs. Baker. I’ll sit down over there.” He moved toward a chair near the door. That was the first time he realized Bram and Camden stood a couple feet behind him.
“Wait.” Henrietta pursed her lips, sucking in a deep breath. “You don’t deserve that girl, Fletcher.”
His brows furrowed. “Aye, probably not.”
“She’s been through a lot and there’s more to come. If you’re here to make her life worse, you’re wasting your time. I’ll not let you hurt her any further.”
His bravado floundered. “Hurt her?”
“Yes.” Henrietta lifted her chin. “Is that why you’re here? To make things harder for her?”
Confusion flashed through him. “Nae. I’d never want to hurt the lass.”
Cold eyes studied him, narrowing the slightest bit as she came to a decision. “Maddy’s working right now and you aren’t going to bother her. She needs the job, and—”
Fletcher held up a hand. “Where?”
“I won’t tell you that. I’m serious when I say she needs the job. It’s not a place you walk into and cause a scene.”
His brows drew together on a grimace. “What kind of place is it?”
“As I already said, I’ll not tell you where she’s working. You’re welcome to wait, but Maddy’s going to be real tired by the time she gets back. If you want a civil conversation, it would be best for you to come back in the morning.”
Fletcher raised a brow. “So you have time to warn the lass?”
“I won’t lie to you. I’m going to tell her you were here tonight and will be back to speak with her in the morning. I’ll also encourage her to meet with you. Maddy has a mind of her own, so I can’t guarantee she’ll be here.”
Rubbing the back of his neck, Fletcher thought of Henrietta’s suggestion. He preferred waiting until she returned that evening, but he also didn’t want to spook her or have their conversation when she was exhausted.
“I’ll be coming back tomorrow morning, Mrs. Baker. Please let Maddy know it’s important.”
She wagged a finger at him. “You just make certain you’re here, Fletcher MacLaren.”
“You don’t have to worry.” He touched the brim of his hat. “Thank you, Mrs. Baker.”
“I need to speak with you before you leave tonight, Madeleine.” Suzette’s tone and stern gaze didn’t brook any argument. “Let me know when you’re finished.”
Maddy felt the blood drain from her face, stomach tightening. “All right. It shouldn’t be much longer.” Returning to the dining room, she strained to think of what Suzette might want to say, every possibility scaring her. The restaurant wasn’t busy enough and Suzette needed to cut staff. She wasn’t doing a good enough job. Customers had complained about her.
Not one explanation made her feel any better.
Finishing her work, Maddy let out a resigned breath. She couldn’t put off the discussion with Suzette any longer.
“I’m finished.”
A small smile tipped the corners of Suzette’s lips. “Wonderful. Let’s go over there.” She headed toward a table, sliding onto a seat, motioning for Maddy to join her. “How are you feeling tonight?”
The question surprised her. “A little tired as always, but otherwise fine.”
Suzette studied her, tilting her head to the side as she considered her next words. She’d been planning this discussion for several evenings, but the opportunity hadn’t presented itself until tonight. She could see Maddy’s lower lip tremble, the way the young woman clasped her hands in her lap. Best to get this over with and let her get back to the boardinghouse. Resting her hands on the table, Suzette’s features softened.
“How far along are you, Madeleine?”
A shocked gasp passed through Maddy’s lips before she could stop it. Feeling heat creep up her face, she began to tremble.
“Madeleine, there’s no need to be afraid to tell me. I promise, no matter what you’re thinking, we’ll work something out. Right now, I need you to answer some questions, and I expect complete honesty.”
Swallowing, Maddy felt herself nod.
Suzette’s voice softened. “All right. Let’s start once more. It’s obvious, at least to me, you’re pregnant. How far along are you?”
“A little over five months.”
Suzette gave a slow nod. “You aren’t married, are you?”
The question stung. Misery coursed through her. “No, ma’am. The father doesn’t know there’s a baby.”
“I see.” But Suzette didn’t understand. “Why haven’t you told him?”
Shoulders slumping, her eyes misted. Frequent tears and rapid mood changes came more often. Until tonight, she’d been able to hide them from most people.
“He wouldn’t want the baby. And I’m certain his family wouldn’t want me as a part of their lives.”
A brow lifting, Suzette’s gaze narrowed. “Why wouldn’t they want you or the baby? You’re a wonderful young woman, Madeleine. I’d think they would be proud to accept you.”
A bitter laugh escaped, her gaze focusing on anything other than the woman next to her. “There are things you don’t know about me. If he and his family found out, well…”
Suzette placed a hand on Maddy’s arm. “You can’t know that, Madeleine. Maybe you’re right, but you might be wrong.”
Shaking her head, Maddy lowered her gaze to stare at her lap where her hands were still clasped together. “Right now, it’s not as important as other decisions I need to make.”
“What decisions would those be?”
Biting her lower lip, Maddy blew out a slow breath. “Where to live. When Mrs. Baker discovered my condition, she gave me two weeks to find another place. I have two more days and haven’t found a place I can afford.”
Suzette gave a curt nod. “All right. That’s one problem. What else?”
Maddy snorted. “Clothes. I’ve let mine out as much as possible and don’t have enough money to buy new ones and find a place to live.” She glanced up, worry etched on her face. “It’s all so much more difficult than I expected.”
Suzette gave a humorless chuckle. “Well, perhaps there is something I can offer.”
“Offer?”
“You may not know, but I have a three bedroom home on the street behind us. The rooms aren’t large, but they’re comfortable and I only use one of them. I’d be happy to allow you to live with me until you find other accommodations.”
Maddy’s jaw opened, a slight sound of surprise escaping. “You’d do that for me?”
Shrugging, Suzette gave an abrupt nod. “It’s something I’m able to offer. You’d buy your own food, but I wouldn’t expect you to pay for the lodging. That way, you might be able to save enough for clothes and whatever else you need for the baby.”
“But why?” She whispered the words, still not believing the of
fer.
Letting out a tired breath, Suzette stared down at Maddy’s stomach. “Let’s just say I have an idea how you feel. I wish someone would’ve helped me back then, but there was no one.” Her voice cracked on the last. She gave a quick shake of her head, shoving away the memory. “I don’t want you going through what I did. So, what do you think, Maddy?”
“What about my job?”
“There are tricks we can do with clothing so no one will notice, at least for a while. At some point, you won’t be able to hide the pregnancy, no matter what we do. For now, you can stay, work as many hours as you want, and I’ll help deflect any questions. Have you seen Doc Vickery or Doc Tilden?”
Maddy shook her head. “I saw a doctor in San Francisco before coming back here, but not since.”
Suzette’s brows drew together. “Back here? I didn’t know you had ever been in Conviction before now.”
Wincing at the slip, Maddy began to rock back and forth in the chair. “I lived here a few months before leaving for San Francisco.”
“So the father lives here? I’ll know if you lie to me, Madeleine.”
Letting out a breath, she nodded. “Yes. The father lives near Conviction.”
Suzette caught the difference in meaning between living in Conviction versus near the town, but she’d keep it to herself for now. Whoever it was, he was most likely a rancher. Her mind automatically moved to the most prominent family in the area. Again, she’d keep the thought to herself.
Setting both hands on the table, Suzette pushed up. “Why don’t we move your belongings to my house tomorrow? You don’t work until late afternoon, and I’ll have time to help.”
Maddy’s eyes brightened for the first time since their talk began. “That would be, well…wonderful.” She stood, a tentative smile forming.
“If you don’t have much, I’ll drive my buggy to the boardinghouse.”
“Only clothes.”
“Excellent. Will eleven be all right?”
Still not believing her good fortune, Maddy nodded. “Yes.”
“Well, I’m exhausted. I’ll see you in the morning, Madeleine.” Suzette walked away, stopping at Maddy’s words.
“Thank you, Suzette. I, well…I’ll owe you a great deal.”
Turning, Suzette shook her head. “You’ll owe me nothing. I feel privileged being able to help you. Plus, I do hope to convince you to give the father a chance. You never know what will happen unless you take a risk.”
Biting her lower lip, Maddy nodded. She couldn’t think of Fletcher right now. Instead, she allowed herself a few minutes of mental celebration at finding a place to live and keeping her job. Two things she thought beyond her reach.
Chapter Seven
Circle M
“Saddle your horse, Fletch. We’re missing over thirty head from the north pasture.” Colin hurried into the barn, grabbing his saddle and tack. “The uncles are wanting all of us searching. With the murder of that U.S. Marshal, we have to be ready for anything.”
Camden followed Colin into the barn, not missing the dour expression on Fletcher’s face. “Sorry, lad.” Camden clasped his cousin on the shoulder. “You’ll have to be riding out later today or tomorrow to see the lass.”
Shaking off the disappointment, Fletcher cinched Domino’s saddle, swinging on top of the gelding. “This is important. We can’t be letting men get away with stealing our cattle. I’ll have time to talk with Maddy after we find them.” Reining his horse around, he rode out of the barn, a combination of irritation and anger motivating him.
Bram swung into the saddle, catching up with him. “Brodie told Colin another U.S. Marshal is missing and presumed dead. That makes two killed out of the San Francisco division. Both were hunting a gang of rustlers who escaped before trial. I’m hoping we won’t be finding another body today.”
Fletcher tightened his grip on the reins. “Aye. We’ve no use for murderers. Rustlers are bad enough, but killing a man…” A muscle in his jaw twitched.
“Lads!” Camden galloped toward them, waving. “Uncle Ewan wants the three of us to head northeast toward the river. Colin and Quinn are leading a group of lads northwest. The uncles are riding due west toward the gully.”
Fletcher’s brow rose. “Just Da and Uncle Ian?”
Camden nodded. “Aye.”
“They should have more lads with them. If they’re ambushed…” Fletcher didn’t finish, reining Domino around to hunt down his da and uncle.
“Fletch, wait up.” Bram rode toward him, followed by Camden. “They’ve made their decision about who rides where. You’ll be slowing up the search by riding after them.”
“He’s right, lad.” Camden scanned the horizon, seeing no sign of his uncles. “Your da and Ian can take care of themselves.”
Forcing away a grimace, Fletcher followed his gaze. He knew the two were right, but he’d never forgotten how their fathers, Angus and Gillis, had been murdered while away from the ranch. No one had been there to help them, and the two oldest MacLarens were now gone. But his father wasn’t, and Fletcher felt the need to protect him and his uncle.
“They’ll be fine, Fletch. You need to trust them.” Bram knew what bothered Fletcher. It was a fear his cousin would have to work through on his own.
Scrubbing a hand down his face, he forced his attention away from the direction his da and uncle rode. “Aye, you’re right, Bram. We’d best go. If we’ve any luck, we’ll be finding the cattle in time for me to ride to Conviction tonight.”
Fletcher thought of Maddy, knowing Mrs. Baker would’ve told her of his visit the night before. He wanted to ride to her, meet her as he’d promised he would. He needed to explain the note Bram delivered to her, try to get Maddy to understand his doubts. Fletcher didn’t know if he loved her, but he did know he cared a great deal. He hoped that would be enough.
His first obligation would always be to his family, and right now, they needed him more than Maddy.
Conviction
Eyes wide, mouth slack, Maddy walked through Suzette’s house, still not believing her boss’s generosity. She’d expected a small house with three bedrooms. Well, there were three bedrooms, but the house was large and elegant with beautiful furniture.
Each bedroom had been decorated in a different color. She’d been given the one in various shades of yellow, one of her favorite colors. To say it took her breath away would’ve been a vast understatement. It was the most stunning bedroom she’d ever seen.
“Will it be all right, Madeleine?” Suzette stood behind her, looking past Maddy into the room.
“Oh, it’s more than all right. It’s wonderful.” She carried her old, battered satchel into the room, setting it on the bed. It had served her well since racing out of Kansas and away from the horror of the men who’d held her a virtual prisoner since her father died. The rest of what she owned had been stuffed into a sack Mrs. Baker provided. Maddy would grab it from the buggy once her heart began to settle from the elegance around her.
“You said the rooms were small.”
An apologetic smile slipped the corners of Suzette’s mouth upward. “The last house we…” She cleared her throat. “The last house I lived in was much larger.”
“Well, this is the grandest bedroom I’ve ever seen. It must be four times the size of any I’ve slept in.” She ran a hand along the coverlet on the bed.
Suzette stepped next to her. “I do know how you feel. My life didn’t start out like this.” She swept a hand around the room. “It’s taken many years and even more setbacks to achieve the small amount of success I have now.”
She wouldn’t tell Maddy the house came as part of her wages for managing the hotel and restaurant. The confidential agreement had been arranged by August Fielder, with the approval of the MacLarens, after she’d already accepted an impressive sum for her services. Suzette still didn’t have the entire story of how August had found her and decided she’d be the perfect person to run the new business. Someday, she’d ask. For now, Su
zette intended to do everything possible to make the hotel and restaurant an unqualified success.
“I’ll give you a chance to get organized and rest before preparing for your shift at the restaurant. Please let me know if there’s anything you need.” Slipping into the hallway, Suzette closed the door behind her.
Maddy turned in a circle, taking in the wardrobe, dresser, settee, desk, and chair upholstered in a beautiful, flowered brocade. Walking to it, she sat down, pulling it up to the desk. She imagined herself penning a letter to her father, telling him of her adventures the last year, leaving out her current condition.
“My current condition,” Maddy whispered to herself, sadness washing through her. She’d felt a combination of relief and disappointment when Fletcher didn’t arrive as he’d promised Henrietta. Perhaps the woman had misunderstood, although Maddy doubted it. She remembered everything, retrieving bits and pieces from her memory whenever most advantageous to Henrietta.
Maddy’s first reaction when learning Fletcher had returned to the boardinghouse was dread, followed by terror. She recalled settling both hands on her stomach, rubbing the growing fullness, scared for the baby and how Fletcher would take the news.
Twisting and turning all night, Maddy wrestled with what to tell the man she loved only a little less than the life growing inside her. Some nights, the urge to seek him out, run into his arms, overwhelmed her. So far, she’d been able to squelch the ridiculous notion.
Maddy couldn’t decide if the best approach would be to tell Fletcher the truth or lie, assure him the baby wasn’t his. She’d always hated lies and those who told them. After a lifetime of being honest, she found it unsettling to lie about something as important as the parentage of a child. Their child.
Sitting in the beautiful bedroom, Maddy let out a resigned breath. Fletcher hadn’t shown this morning, and perhaps never would. Maybe his family had sent him back to Settlers Valley. Or, once he confirmed her residence at the boardinghouse, he’d decided seeing her again held no appeal. The latter made the most sense.
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