Dixie Moon

by Shirleen Davies

  “It’s not—”

  “Don’t even consider telling me it’s not what it appears. And yes, I know you’re an adult and can make your own decisions. But you’re also family, and I take care of what’s mine. Now, please, leave Gabe and me to talk.”

  Gabe tightened his arm around her, then let go. “Go on inside. We’ll talk later.”

  Neither man spoke as Lena disappeared down the hall and up the staircase, glancing once over her shoulder at Gabe. When out of earshot, Nick’s hard stare turned on Gabe.

  “Don’t go blaming Lena for this—”

  Gabe stopped when Nick held up his hand. “We’ll go to my office in the saloon so no one can hear us,” he ground out, walking past Gabe without another word.

  Shoving his office door open, he walked in and turned, stepping within inches of Gabe.

  “You’ve taken her to bed.”

  “Yes.” Gabe closed the door, hoping none of the girls upstairs heard Nick’s words.

  Nick paced away, running a hand through his hair before turning back to Gabe.

  “You’ll marry her.” Nick took a step closer, face reddening as his hands balled at his sides, ready to slam a fist into Gabe’s face at any moment.

  “I asked her. She said no.” Gabe didn’t back down. If they were going to come to blows over Lena, so be it.

  The anger seemed to bleed out of Nick as he absorbed the words. “She turned you down?” He didn’t understand it. He knew she had strong feelings for Gabe, and from what he could see, there was no mistaking his love for her.

  “She told me she had no interest in making it legal yet, saying her feelings for me won’t change.” Gabe backed away, lowering himself into a chair, his expression solemn. “She asked for time.” He raised his gaze to Nick. “I don’t understand it.”

  Nick’s expression didn’t change. It was obvious Lena hadn’t shared certain aspects of her life. If Gabe knew of them, he might or he might not understand. You never knew how someone would react to another’s secrets and Lena had chosen not to take the chance. From what he’d learned of Gabe, Nick felt she misjudged him and his tolerance for accepting past actions. He needed to try and reason with her before she lost this chance for happiness.

  Slumping into his chair, Nick leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk. “She’s been through a lot, and given her age at the time, made some decisions long ago I don’t believe were in her best interests. But they were her decisions to make.”

  “I’m guessing you’re unable to say what these decisions were.”

  “Unfortunately, Lena prizes her privacy above all else. The fact she didn’t say there was no chance she’d marry you gives me hope. I’ve known her longer and am closer to her than anyone, except her friend, Isabella. I’ll tell you this. If there wasn’t any hope for the two of you, she would have said so. The fact she asked for time is a good sign.” Nick stood, walked around the desk, and leaned his hip against it. “Do you love her?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then I’d say to wait. I believe, given time, she’ll make the right choice.”

  “Perhaps,” Gabe answered, although there was little conviction in his voice. “I’ll wait, but she’ll have to choose at some point. She either loves me enough to build a life with me or she doesn’t.”

  “And if she decides she doesn’t?” Nick hoped it wouldn’t come to that.

  “I’ll accept it and move on. Either way, it won’t affect our friendship or business relationship. I plan to make my home in Splendor, with or without Lena.”

  “It’s been two nights and he hasn’t come in, Nick.” Lena’s heart sank every time her thoughts turned to the defeated look on Gabe’s face when she’d asked for more time. The morning after Nick had caught her returning from Gabe’s, he’d sat her down, asking questions about Gabe and what held her back from accepting his proposal. Nick already knew none of her answers would be simple, yet he listened without interrupting, letting her voice the emotions she’d been holding inside for years. Afterwards, he’d let it go with a warning that a man like Gabe wouldn’t wait for long.

  “It seems he’s doing what you asked—giving you time.” Nick stood beside her at the bar, the late afternoon sun filtering through the front windows. A few locals had wandered in, looking for ways to entertain themselves on a Friday afternoon. “It’s early. He may still come in tonight.”

  Her chest tightened at the thought he stayed away because of her. Drumming her fingers on the bar, she shifted, keeping her eyes on the swinging doors.

  “Neither Suzanne nor Fanny have seen him at the boardinghouse. He must be taking his meals elsewhere.”

  “If you recall, Gabe has a house with a kitchen.” Nick’s pointed gaze leveled on her.

  Spearing him with a disgusted look, she turned toward the bar, gripping the edge with her hands before signaling Paul.

  “What can I get you, Lena?” Paul wiped down the bar as he waited for her answer.

  “She’ll have a whiskey, same as me.”

  Lena spun around, a relieved smile greeting Gabe as he stopped inches away.

  “Good evening, Gabe.” She didn’t reach out, waiting for him to make the first move. It didn’t take long.

  Stepping beside her, he wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her close, then leaning down. “I’ve missed you.”

  His warm breath fanned against the sensitive skin below her ear, sending shivers through her body. She leaned closer, looking up. “I’ve missed you, too.”

  Grabbing their full glasses, he nodded toward a nearby table. “Do you have time to have a drink with me?”

  “Always.”

  Gabe didn’t smile as she thought he would, his face impassive as they walked to the table. Hoping she hadn’t misread his comment about missing her, she sat down, rolling her glass between both hands.

  “You haven’t been in the last two nights.”

  He didn’t look at her as his gaze wandered around the room, noting the activity at each table. “I had work to finish and needed time to myself.”

  The growing knot in her stomach began to burn at the same time her throat tightened. Taking a sip of whiskey, she let it flow down her throat, hoping it would calm the fear squeezing her heart.

  “I wanted to let you know I’ll be gone for a while.”

  Lena let his comment settle a moment, dread replacing hope. “To Big Pine?” She knew his reasons for going there in the past and hoped that wasn’t the purpose for this trip.

  He glanced at her, understanding why she asked. “I need to talk with Sheriff Sterling and order some supplies for the new hotel or I wouldn’t be making the ride.”

  “Nothing more?” She hated the way her voice shook.

  The corners of his mouth tilted up a little as his gaze raked over her, coming to rest on her eyes. “No, Lena. No other reason.” Taking another swallow of whiskey, he leaned back. “Afterwards, I have some other business to take care of. I spoke to Nick about it this morning.”

  Her eyes widened. Nick hadn’t said a word to her about seeing Gabe. Catching her lower lip between her teeth, she nodded. Lena pushed back from the table, knowing she had to get control of the emotions ripping through her.

  “Will you leave tomorrow?”

  “At first light.” He didn’t like the distressed look on her face, but he had some things to figure out and needed distance to do it.

  “All right.” Standing, she cast a wary look at him, debating her next question. “Should I come to your place tonight?”

  His jaw tightened as he stood and faced her. “As much as I want you, given the way things are, I think it best we keep our distance, at least until you make a decision.”

  “The last we spoke, you still wanted me to share your bed. Have you changed your mind about us?”

  He wanted to reach out, wrap his arms around her, and tell her not to worry, but he held back. “No. I just had time to think it through and believe it’s better to stay away from each other until our fu
ture is settled. Assuming we have one.”

  “I see.”

  “If you need anything, Cash knows how to get a message to me.” He leaned down, brushing his lips across her cheek. “I’d better go.”

  “Be safe, Gabe,” was all she could get out before he walked out the doors.

  “You should’ve told me he came to talk to you.” Lena led the way into the dining room the following morning, finding a table in the corner. She had gotten little sleep the night before, wanting to throw off the covers, dress, and go to Gabe more than once. Each time, pride and common sense won out.

  “I figured he’d tell you eventually. It’s a pretty smart move on his part. He’s handling some business in Big Pine while giving you what you want—time to make a decision without pressure from him.”

  “He isn’t just going to Big Pine.”

  “I know. He told me he had other business to attend to.” Gabe had said not to expect him back for at least a week, maybe longer, although he didn’t share his plans. Nick tilted his head and shrugged. “Gabe’s a grown man, Lena. He has no obligation to tell us his plans, the same as you don’t need to confide in him. Everyone has their secrets, right?”

  She squirmed in her chair, clasping her hands in her lap. “If he trusted me, he’d…” Her voice trailed off as she realized what she’d almost said.

  “What?” he asked, his voice gentle.

  Her lips twisted into a wry smile as so much became clear. “You believe I can trust him, don’t you?”

  “Yes, I do, and not only as a business partner. If he loves you, he’ll understand your past. If he doesn’t, then he’s not the one for you.”

  She groaned, burying her face in her hands. “I’ve made a horrible mistake pushing him away, haven’t I?”

  “On the contrary. I think you and Gabe have made the right decision. If you’re sure about how you feel, it won’t change before he returns. You’ll only be more certain of your choice.” He reached across the table, squeezing her hand. “I’m not pushing you to tell him of your past, Lena. I know how closed you are about it. All I’m saying is I think you can trust him.”

  Big Pine

  “I don’t have to tell you how appreciative we are that you brought the money back, Gabe. Some men wouldn’t have made the effort.” Sheriff Sterling retied the last of the money bags and tossed it next to the others. He still couldn’t quite believe the outlaws had kept all the stolen money in their saddlebags.

  “It’s part of the job, and I’m glad to do it. As I said, we dropped five of them. We found enough information on a couple to send a telegram to their next of kin.” Gabe thought again of Bobby, the youngest of the group, and wondered what would drive someone to join an outlaw gang. According to Beau, he knew the killing of the young man continued to haunt Cash. Looking into a man’s eyes, then having to pull the trigger could take its toll on a man. “Did you ever get a good count of how many were in the gang?”

  “Could’ve been more. We know there were five who robbed the bank here, the same number as tried to rob yours. In my mind, it’s unlikely others are hiding out somewhere.” He clasped Gabe on the shoulder. “I think you got them all. You want to come with me to the bank to turn this in?”

  “You go ahead. I’m in need of a bath, food, and a bed. I have some more business to take care of before taking off.”

  Starting before dawn, it had taken Gabe all day to reach Big Pine. With the discovery of gold, the territorial capital had grown rapidly, now boasting a population of at least six times that of Splendor. The railroad planned a route through the town within the next couple years, which would mean more settlers. Many, Gabe believed, would make their way on to Splendor.

  Getting an early start on building the hotel and accepting Nick’s offer to partner in expanding the boardinghouse appeared to be smart decisions. It had taken a little persuasion, but Nick convinced Suzanne to see the benefits of all of them working together. Tomorrow, Gabe would order supplies and make arrangements for men to haul the material to Splendor while he continued his journey.

  Within an hour, he sat at a table in the most expensive restaurant in town, slicing into a steak cooked to perfection. He’d dressed for the occasion and couldn’t mistake the looks of appreciation from several female patrons. The entire evening had been orchestrated in an attempt to pull his thoughts away from Lena and reexamine activities he’d enjoyed before the war. He understood her uncertainty about them. Perhaps he had moved too fast in asking her to marry. Their time apart would provide both with an opportunity to think through their feelings without the emotions when together. He’d ride back into Splendor with either a firm conviction she was the one or a certainty she wasn’t.

  “More wine, sir?”

  Gabe glanced up and nodded, watching as the waiter poured red wine from a winery his Uncle James had introduced him to before the war. Great Western Winery had been started by a dear friend of his uncle’s in the western part of New York. Gabe had smiled, not hesitating to order the wine when the waiter recommended it. Wine had never been his drink of choice. Tonight, however, was devoted to his past.

  The sound of laughter across the room had him thinking of Dolly. He’d always been drawn to her uninhibited enjoyment of life, even as she struggled to make a living each day. Her injuries had healed and she’d returned to work, but that didn’t erase the scars of the attack, both physical and mental. He’d ridden to the Devil Dancer mine the following day, looking for Pennington. The miners told him he and Carlyle had left the day before to check their claims to the north and south. They had no idea when the two would return. Gabe knew he’d have to find the man and warn him off, even if Dolly refused to press charges.

  He picked up his glass, intending to return to his meal, when the maître d approached, followed by a woman he didn’t recognize. Setting his glass down, he stood as they stopped by his table.

  “I do apologize for the intrusion, sir, but Mrs. Iverson believes she recognizes you as an old friend.”

  Gabe stared into her face, his gaze moving to her eyes—green, the color of a bright emerald. His heart jolted at the memory.

  “Caro,” he breathed out, stepping forward and offering her a warm smile.

  “Oh my. No one has called me that in years.” Caroline Iverson set her hand on Gabe’s arm. “Hello, Gabriel. I thought I recognized you, even after all these years.”

  Gabe nodded to the maître d, then offered her a chair.

  “It’s been…”

  “Since before the war.” Her laugh was rich, sensual, the same as he remembered when they knew each other in New York. She glanced at his plate. “Please, eat your meal.”

  “And you?”

  “I’ve ordered. The waiter will bring it here, assuming it’s all right.”

  “Of course it is.” Gabe felt his chest constrict, recalling their youthful infatuation for each other. They’d never courted. He intended to start once he returned from the war. Then he received a letter from his mother telling him of Caroline’s pending marriage. Gabe remembered thinking it had been for the best as the war had changed him in ways he couldn’t have imagined before he left.

  She adjusted her skirt, then squared her shoulders. “You’ve changed little since you left for the war. Older, maybe wiser, but still strikingly handsome.”

  He snorted out a laugh as the waiter set down her meal. “Older, yes. Wiser? I’m not so certain. I’ll take the handsome part, though. A man can never receive enough compliments.”

  Caroline laughed, putting a hand over her mouth as others turned to stare. “Quite so, Gabriel.”

  Gabriel, he thought. No one, except family or close friends, ever called him by his given name. “And you, Caro, have grown into a stunning beauty.”

  She picked up her wine glass, tipping it toward him. “Well, here’s to two older, perhaps wiser, and unapologetically handsome people sharing a meal in an inauspicious frontier town.”

  Gabe couldn’t help his laughter as he touched her
glass and sipped the wine. They ate in silence for several minutes, each lost in their own thoughts.

  “Tell me what brings you to Big Pine.” Gabe cut another slice of meat, slipping it into his mouth.

  Her face clouded as she took another sip from her glass, then set it on the table. “It’s a long story.”

  “I have time if you do.” He sat back, crossing his arms.

  “You already know I married David Iverson.”

  “Yes, Mother sent a letter to inform me.” Gabe could still remember how he felt at the news—sorry for the loss of her affection, yet not as devastated as he would have thought. His feelings for her had always been conflicted, which was why he’d never made a claim on her. David had been a friend, a good man who’d chosen to stay out of the war.

  Caro saw something pass over his face before Gabe concealed it. Swallowing, she continued, her voice dropping to almost a whisper. “You and I…well…we never courted and nothing had ever been formalized. When I didn’t get an answer to my letters…”

  Gabe leaned forward, reaching across the table to wrap his hand around hers, offering her whatever comfort he could. “It was my fault, Caro. I should’ve written, let you know my feelings. But the war changed everything. As the days passed, I couldn’t find any trace of the person I was before, the one you knew. I may look the same, but inside, I’m not. I’m glad you married David. He’s a good man.” He let go, a hint of regret in his tone.

  “He’s dead.” Her voice broke on the words. “Almost three years ago. Business required he travel to Europe.” She glanced up. “I was pregnant and David insisted on going alone. He never returned.”

  “Cholera?” Gabe asked. The epidemic in Europe, Africa, and parts of North America continued, with word of the deaths spreading, even into the territories.

  “Yes. I never saw him again.”

  “I’m so sorry, Caro.”

  “His parents had David’s body returned, but it took months.”

  “And the baby?” Gabe asked, already seeing the answer by the pain in her eyes.