Twisted Time

by Candi Fox

  “Being nice doesn’t hurt. Besides, I like you Emma. I enjoy spending time with you. I have a feeling you’ve been too preoccupied avoiding Cord.

  “He didn’t seem to recognize you.”

  “No, he didn’t. He thought I was Nora.”

  “I don’t know how any man, no matter how drunk, could confuse the two of you.”

  His hand drifted to her chin he tilted it, so she looked in his eyes again. “Was that your first time?”

  She nodded her head, tears once again threatening to spill from her eyes. Consarn it, she turned into a cry baby since arriving in the west. Pull yourself together, Arabella Emmaline Monteith.

  “He would know by now it’s not Nora. Still he didn’t recognize you. There’s still some hope. Your secret is safe with me on my word.”

  “Thank you.” She laughed. “That phrase has been uttered often since my arrival. Your town is wonderfully inviting, despite my misstep.”

  “Have you ever had a man kiss you, really kiss you?”

  “Not like he did.”

  “Like this?”

  Nik bent over, bringing his remarkably soft lips into full contact with hers. The kiss started chaste with his lips brushing her softly. When she went soft against him, he deepened the kiss. His tongue traced her lips before parting them.

  She moaned before pulling suddenly away.

  “Oh my God, I’m a hoyden.”

  Emma turned away looking for a direction to run. Two men had kissed her, really kissed her, and she wanted them both. I’ve lost my mind. It must be. The stress of the train robbery broke my sanity. Ladies didn’t feel that way, they just didn’t. Ladies were reserved, polite, and sex was something that wasn’t talked about much less enjoyed.

  His chuckle froze her in mid stride. She turned to look at him.

  “There is nothing hoyden about you enjoying my kiss.”

  “That’s how this started.”

  He laughed again, surprising her. He held out his hand. “We can talk about “this” more later. You’ve had quite the shock for one night. Shall we get back before Mama misses us?”

  She took his hand, pulling on his strength as they walked back to the dance. The band struck up the first cords of a reel as they walked in. Nikolas led her straight to the dancing before expertly wheeling her around the dance floor.

  By the end of the dance she couldn’t help but smile. While her brain was stuck on the Sheriff, she’d missed the gentle giant who looked after her every day.

  Nikolas didn’t have the Sheriff’s sinful good looks, but he was none the less attractive. His long, wheat blonde hair hung loose tonight, ending in the middle of his wide back.

  He kept his beard and mustache well-groomed, not like most of the men she’d seen since coming west. His impossibly broad shoulders looked good in his dark jacket and bow string tie, and those forget me not blue eyes. She could get lost in those.

  Chapter 16

  Cord

  He led Nora onto the dance floor, his mind still on Emma.

  “Cord?”

  “Yes, Nora?”

  “You seemed distracted tonight.”

  “My minds just on the case, darlin’”

  “If you say so. I think your mind is on that girl with Nikolas Frank.”

  “She’s part of the case. I need to interview her. She could have valuable information.”

  “And that’s it?”

  “What else would there be?”

  “I saw the way you and every other man looked at her. I didn’t even turn one head when I came in?”

  “Is that what has you in a tizzy? You didn’t garner any attention?”

  Though he’d said the words with humor, he knew instantly he’d be getting an earful. Question is, would she wait until they were alone later or start yelling right there?

  “I need some punch.”

  He watched as she left the dance floor in a snit. Deciding the best course of action would be to give her space, he walked back to Jack’s table and poured a full glass of bourbon before tossing it back in a few gulps.

  “Woman troubles? That girl of yours is sure a handful.”

  He laughed. “She is that. Most of that time it’s a good handful, but she does have a temper.”

  “Mmm hmm, and she caught you looking at that Monteith girl. Hell, we were all looking. Never seen a filly look like that. Though she does resemble Nora slightly.”

  Jack’s words made him think about that night. The missing mystery woman whose virginity he’d taken. Glancing quickly at the ladies’ table, he found Evanora talking to a few of the single men in town. Nothing new there, she liked being the center of attention.

  She wasn’t likely to get much positive attention from the women in town. Most of them didn’t care to associate with a former saloon girl turned stage performer.

  She traveled the West last year to rave reviews of her stage presence. He spent most of the year one-handing it. He could have gone to one of Ruby’s girls to ease his need but didn’t feel right about it.

  Double-checking to make sure Nora remained distracted before scanning the room for Miss Monteith. He cursed softly when he didn’t immediately see her.

  “If you’re looking for that girl, she went outside with the Franks’ boy.”

  Cord slipped outside, quietly spotting them down the boardwalk he decided to follow. He planned to wait until morning to speak with Miss Monteith, but now seemed like the perfect time. He needed to get close enough to smell her perfume.

  As he prepared to step out of the shadows and let them know his presence, he heard her crying. Sobbing. He didn’t do well with women crying, so he decided to wait. After she stopped crying, she started to speak in hushed voices. He couldn’t quite make out the conversation until she said:

  “I committed an unpardonable sin.”

  Every fiber of his being stood at attention when he heard those words. His mind reeled. Fuck it all! Her parents weren’t even in town for him to ask properly.

  He already set his mind to marry the woman he mistakenly deflowered. If Nora had thought the woman a threat earlier, she was going to flip once he told her.

  He wasn’t ready to give up Nora. He loved her. Miss Monteith would just have to understand his heart already belonged to another. He would give her his name, save her reputation, and take care of her. It’s all he could offer.

  Nora would pitch a fit. Emma already had everything his woman wanted. Beauty, elegance, gentility that could only be bred, and money. Lots and lots of money.

  Well fuck. Another thing he’d have to deal with. His new wife would have to deal with living on his salary and not relying on her father’s money. For a moment he thought about walking away. After all, the girl didn’t seem to want to haul him to the altar. In fact, she avoided him altogether.

  Things were quiet, too quiet. He realized he missed something. Concentrating on his cat he pulled forth his preternatural hearing ability. The sounds of kissing registered seconds before his cat snarled, Mine!

  Confused at his cat’s reaction, he pulled back and retreated further down the alley. His cat never claimed Evanora. Cord slid down to the ground, his head in his hands. The one night he drank himself into oblivion. One night he gave in to the demons that haunted him, and now this.

  He just wanted to forget the faces of the family he found slaughtered. The gristly scene made to look like an Indian attack, but he knew better. Husband, wife, and three children, two boys and a girl. The oldest around ten. Even then he didn’t lose it until he found the baby. She couldn’t have been more than a few weeks old.

  They gutted her and scattered her parts. The vultures were already picking her bones clean by the time he happened on the scene. That’s the biggest reason the trail went cold.

  He lost it by the time he buried all the bodies and burned the fake evidence. Not even his cat’s senses could pick up the trail. It’s why he needed a special tracker.

  Jack’s knowing didn’t surprise him. Nothing h
appened in Cooperstown without Jack Rose’s knowledge. A fact he both loved and hated. Hell, Jack probably knew he slept with Emma.

  What the fuck do I do now? He would decide after he had a chance to speak with the root of the problem. He got up, dusted himself off, and headed back to the dance.

  His gut twisted when he saw Emma in Nik’s arms. The cat once again claimed her, before demanding he claim her in front of everyone.

  Cord made a beeline for the couple as soon as the song ended. He tapped Nik on the shoulder.

  “May I have this dance?”

  He saw her eyes widen in fear before she politely slipped her hand into his. Cord felt her tremble under his touch and wondered what he did to make her fearful of him.

  He wished more than anything he could remember the entirety of the evening. His surprise made him slightly miss-step nearly colliding with a couple waltzing next to them.

  “Sorry,” he murmured politely as they waltzed away.

  Cord bent down to whisper in her ear when her scent caught his nose. The scent indelibly branded into his brain. Roses with a touch of honey and lemon. It intoxicated him.

  “Why did you run away?”

  He saw the look of defeat settle into her eyes.

  “I’m ashamed.”

  “Nothing to be ashamed of dear, you’re dancing beautifully.” The mayor said cutting in.

  “You did promise your mother a waltz son. What say you to switching partners?”

  Cord complied instantly to do less would arouse suspicion. He’d find Emma after the waltz and continue their conversation.

  “How are you, Ma?”

  “Good. I have good health and a wonderful husband. A handsome and successful son, who, if I’m not mistaken, was just waltzing with the town’s most desired maiden.

  “Is there hope you’ve given up Evanora?”

  He flinched. He forgot all about Nora. As soon as the waltz finished, he needed to find her.

  “We’re still dating. I’m simply being polite dancing with the town’s newest member.”

  His mother remained quiet for the rest of the dance. He kissed her cheek after returning her to his father’s side before going in search of Evanora.

  He found her at Jack’s table, draped over some swarthy looking jack-a-nape. She loved to make him jealous when he displeased her. Turning up the corners of his mouth in a relaxed smile, he approached the table.

  “Did you find what you were looking for, darling?”

  She drew out the last syllable as she moved closer to the man next to her.

  “Jack told me you ran out looking for something. What were you looking for?”

  “Following a lead. You know a sheriff’s job is never done.”

  The mystery man finally spoke up. “You’re Sheriff Masterson?”

  “I am, and you might be?”

  The man puffed out his chest like a damned rooster extending his hand. “I’m Jacque Beaufort, new in town looking to buy some property. Maybe set up a theatre for this fine town.”

  “You need the land office for that, Mr. Beaufort.”

  “Oh, of that I’m quite aware.”

  The man gave off an oily aura that was thicker than his French accent. “I just like to know who I’m in competition with.”

  “I didn’t realize we were in a competition.”

  “For the lovely Miss Evanora’s hand. Though if you didn’t realize you had competition, it’s a wonder she hasn’t left you long ago.”

  “Mr. Beaufort, if you haven’t noticed the town is holding an event here tonight. I won’t be rising to your bait, especially not in the presence of women and children.”

  As for Nora, she went too far this time. She took it beyond casual flirting, and she’d yet to speak up in his defense.

  “As for you, Nora. Your life is your own. If you prefer the likes of him over me, then now is as good as any to part ways.”

  With that, he headed to the bar, grabbed a bottle of bourbon, and headed toward the door. He heard Nora screech behind him in rage.

  She wounded his pride on purpose for the last time. Slights in front of perfect strangers or good friends were something he took in stride. Nora could be a diva, more so when you displeased her.

  He hadn’t minded, not until tonight. What was different? He couldn’t put a finger on it, not yet anyway.

  Chapter 17

  Emma

  She was delighted when Hollis Masterson interrupted her waltz with Cord. The delightful man had swept her away and kept her entertained. As soon as he released, she was off dancing with the next partner.

  Nik managed to save her six dances later with a glass of punch and a walk in the cool air. Deciding not to test her luck, she asked him to escort her home. “Do you want me to sleep downstairs?”

  “Thank you. I think I’ll be all right.”

  “Is anyone else home with you?”

  “No, I don’t have live-in staff yet. Amanda should be here in a few days.”

  “I’m staying here. I’ll sleep on the front porch.”

  “Goodness sakes, you don’t have to do that.”

  He bent down pressing his lips to her forehead. “Yes, I do. I don’t want anyone thinking something untoward happened. I’d love a blanket and pillows.”

  “Of course. Are you certain?”

  “I am.”

  “Should I put some coffee on before I go get your linens?”

  “You get the linens; I’ll start the fire in the stove and meet you in the kitchen.”

  Emma hurried up the stairs and into the hall’s linen closet. After grabbing two pillows and blankets, she headed down the back stairs which led directly into the kitchen.

  Nik had a fire already going in the stove. Emma put the blankets on a side counter and went to fill the coffee pot. She ground fresh beans, then mashed the chicory using a pestle and mortar the way Mamit taught her. Lastly, she grated nutmeg into the mix then set it on the stove to brew.

  “Lila made a lemon cake; would you like a slice?”

  “Thank you, I’d love one.”

  Emma sliced a large piece for Nik and a smaller one for herself setting the plates at the kitchen table. Nik waited for the coffee before eating his cake.

  “This is amazing.”

  She smiled. “I’ll tell Lila how much you enjoyed it. She will be thrilled.”

  “She’s a great cook. You lucked out. Her last employer moved to California recently.”

  “I’m happy to have had the good fortune to hire her. I’m sure my parents will be pleased as well.”

  “Have you heard word on when they are coming?”

  “If all goes well, they will be here in two more weeks, if not it could be a month. I miss them more than I thought, does that make me a child?”

  “Not at all. I miss my family when I’m away from them.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes, and I’m a grown man.”

  “That makes me feel better, thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.” He reached across the table, putting his hand on top of hers. “I’d like to court you. I’ll even send a wire for your father’s permission if you’d like.”

  She smiled at his sweet thoughtfulness. “That would certainly surprise him, probably impress him as well.”

  “First thing tomorrow morning I’m sending a wire.”

  “I’d like that.”

  He finished his coffee, grabbing the linens before placing a kiss on her forehead. “I better leave while I still have willpower.”

  She blushed watching him leave the kitchen. Emma stood there for a long time before she began turning off the gas lamps downstairs. After they were all extinguished, she headed upstairs, turning in for the night.

  After several attempts at trying to get the knot out of her corset strings she headed downstairs in stocking feet. Nik’s head turned immediately when she opened the door.

  “What is it, is something wrong?”

  “I can’t get my corset undone. I’m
so sorry. I’d just sleep in it if I could breathe a bit better.”

  He got up from the porch swing and met her at the door.

  “Let me do it inside in case anyone walks by.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Mmm hmm.”

  She turned around after they closed the door, his nimble fingers made quick work of the knot.

  “Can I take your hair down?”

  “Yes.”

  Her body trembled for a different reason as he gently pulled out each pin, releasing her hair. Even with the tight curls in the ends it reached down to her waist.

  “Go.” She heard him rasp. Without asking, she headed up the stairs. Slowly she was beginning to understand the things that happened between a woman and a man. She just needed to wait until marriage this time.

  Emma had no plans to be married, she convinced herself she’d always be an old maid. No one stirred her. Not with the passion she saw her parents and grandparents have for each other. Until coming to Indian Territory. She convinced herself she wasn’t missing much. The stuff in romance novels couldn’t be real. Just the writer’s imagination. Cord kissed her and everything changed, and now Nik made her pulse race as well.

  Poor Amanda, she planned to keep her best friend up all night filling her in on every little detail. Well, maybe not every detail. Somethings would remain a secret, for as long as she could keep it that way.

  She managed to finish the laces and get undressed. By the time she put on her nightgown and climbed into bed, exhaustion overtook her, and she fell into a deep sleep.

  **

  “Miss Emma, the sheriff is here to see you.”

  “Thank you, Lila.”

  “I’ll go give him some coffee, then come back up and help you dress.”

  Emma threw back the covers, grabbing her dressing gown and using the water closet before washing her hands and face. With little time to get ready, she brushed her hair, pulling part of it back into a braid and allowing the rest to hang down her back.

  She had all her undergarments on by the time Lila came back. The older woman helped her dress quickly in a white, high collared shirt with slim sleeves and a powder blue walking skirt.