KodyAnne stepped back and narrowed her eyes. “How long have you known this boy?”
“Not long.” Charlotte clasped her hands and swung around to sit on the bed where KodyAnne had been. “Just a few days. He spoke to me and smiled. He didn’t scare me at all. We started talking. I like him, Kody. He wants to court me.”
“No.” KodyAnne shook her head. “No, Char. You’re too young. If he’s eighteen, he is too a man. He certainly isn’t a schoolboy anymore. In fact, he looks like a young man who’s seen more of the world than you’ll ever need to see.”
Charlotte’s expression became guarded as if she no longer listened. But that didn’t stop KodyAnne. She had to make her sister see reason. Charlotte couldn’t take up with any stranger who dropped into her world and acted friendly. If he succeeded in winning her confidence, he might leave her more damaged than she already was.
“No, Char, I can’t let you do this. I love you. You’ve got to understand this is for your good. We don’t know this man. We don’t know his family. Sometimes men act nice to girls so they’ll trust them. It isn’t until later that they show their true character. You’ll find a nice boy someday. You have plenty of time.”
Charlotte lifted her chin and turned her face to the side.
KodyAnne pictured the young man in her mind. He’d appeared self-assured while Charlotte was so dependent. Her stomach twisted at the thought of her little sister with this older, experienced man. She couldn’t let him ruin her life. “Don’t give up your dream of teaching school, Char. Enjoy this summer and save your earnings for clothing. This fall you’ll go back to school here in town. Just think, you’ll be teaching school yourself in a few years. You don’t want to lose out on that, do you?”
Charlotte hung her head. “No, but he seemed so nice.” She looked up. “I think you’re overreacting, Kody. He won’t hurt me. I know he won’t.”
“Where does he live?” KodyAnne folded her arms across her chest. “What’s his name?”
“He doesn’t live here in town.” Charlotte shook her head. “His name’s Luke.”
“Luke what?”
“I don’t know.”
“If he stops to talk to you again, tell him you can’t see him anymore.” KodyAnne looked into her sister’s eyes. “Charlotte, I mean what I’m saying. If I have to ask the Sheriff to find out about him, I will.”
Charlotte looked up at the ceiling with a huge sigh. “Oh, all right. I’ll tell him you won’t let me talk to him again.”
“All right.” KodyAnne walked around to the other side of the bed. “Let’s get some sleep. We may not have to work tomorrow, but if we’re going riding before the sun comes up, we’ll still have to get up at the same time.”
She turned down the wick on the lamp beside the bed until only a soft glow remained. When Charlotte climbed into bed, KodyAnne turned the wick completely down and the light went out.
She stared into the darkness missing her parents more than she wanted to admit even to herself. Lord, thank You for Charlotte. I’m so glad she’s here with me. Watch over Tyler wherever he is and keep him safe. Help us clear his name soon so he doesn’t have to hide out and so we can be with him again. Help me follow your will, Lord. Show me how to help Charlotte. Keep her safe from harm.
KodyAnne’s eyes drifted closed. She’d had a busy day and was tired. Tomorrow she’d spend time with Michael. When had she fallen in love with him? She’d loved him since the first time she saw him. But what she felt now was more than that childish hero worship her seven-year-old heart had felt back then. Her heart beat strong and true for the man he’d become. If Char could find someone as wonderful as Michael, she’d be all right.
Sometime later, KodyAnne woke to the click of the door closing. Before she had time to do more than open her eyes and turn toward the sound, someone landed on the bed. She squealed and bolted upright.
“Kody, it’s me.” Charlotte’s voice rushed to her. “Turn the light on. I’ve got something to tell you.”
“Charlotte, what on earth are you doing?” KodyAnne’s hand trembled as she struck a match and held it to the lamp’s wick on the small table beside her. “You scared me half to death.”
“Wait until you hear what I have to say.”
KodyAnne turned toward her sister and blinked her eyes. “Why are you dressed?”
When Charlotte’s eyes shifted away, KodyAnne frowned. “Where have you been? Charlotte?”
“Just listen to me and yell at me later. I went to meet Luke out back.”
When KodyAnne opened her mouth, Charlotte held up a hand. “Wait, I know I was wrong, but he asked me to today. I only went to tell him I couldn’t talk with him anymore. I’m sorry, but when I got there, he was talking to another man. An older man, so I hid before they saw me. They were talking about Tyler, Kody.”
Charlotte’s face twisted as if she tried to keep from crying. Still, a tear rolled down one cheek, and she brushed it away. “Luke called him Pa. I think they’re part of Uncle Mark’s old gang, because his pa said they were going to get Tyler. They think he has something of Uncle Mark’s. Something valuable.”
“What could he have?” KodyAnne shook her head. Was she dreaming? She touched Charlotte’s arm and her sister collapsed against her shoulder while sobs shook her body and tore from her throat.
“I don’t know.” She cried while KodyAnne patted her back.
Finally, Charlotte calmed enough to wail. “Oh, Kody, he doesn’t care about me. All he wanted was to get close to me so he could find out where Tyler’s hiding.”
KodyAnne hurt for her sensitive sister, but even more she feared for her innocent brother. What would they do? Tyler had to be warned. The law had pretty well left him alone, but with outlaws after him, did he stand a chance?
Chapter 14
KodyAnne lifted her face to the breeze and gave her head a quick shake to loosen the hair around it. Her muscles relaxed as Pistol stretched into the run.
Fireball stayed beside him neck to neck.
Charlotte nudged Snowball ahead, and KodyAnne slowed Pistol to an easy canter.
“Where’s this blackberry patch?” Michael adjusted his hat to shade his eyes, then turned toward KodyAnne. “Seems we’re going the same direction we took to get to your place when we went after Charlotte.”
“Well, of course we are.” KodyAnne gave her most innocent wide-eyed look to the preacher. “How else do you suppose Char and I would know where there were any blackberries unless it was close to home? But you won’t be sorry. There’s a great big patch, and they’re always loaded with berries. I bet you can taste that pie just thinking about ’em.”
He grinned at her, and she relaxed a little more. “I almost can. Now, who’s going to bake it, you or Melanie?”
She wrinkled her nose. “Mine tend to turn out too juicy. I promised Melanie we’d get enough so she can make pies for the diner.”
“I’d like to meet your brother. Will he be at the house?” Michael rubbed the back of his head. “I still haven’t thanked him for helping me home after I hit my head that night.”
KodyAnne grabbed for her saddle horn before she fell off Pistol. She stared at Michael.
He turned toward her, his eyebrows lifted. “He did help me home, didn’t he?”
“H-help you home? What are you talking about?” Why’d he bring that up now? He didn’t know what happened. He hadn’t seen her or Tyler that night. Had he?
“Tisk, tisk.” He shook his head. “I’m the one who got hit. You’d think I’d be the one to forget.”
“What do you remember? I mean—” KodyAnne closed her eyes and let her head fall back. “Oh, I don’t know what I mean.”
Michael laughed. He patted Fireball’s neck. “Don’t worry, I don’t remember everything. For instance, the kid who stole my horse. At first, I thought I’d dreamed that part. Nothing seemed to fit together. Looked like a boy to me when he raced past the Tate farm on Fireball.”
His gaze drifted over KodyAnne,
causing a slow burn to warm her cheeks. His raised eyebrows made her very aware of her unladylike attire. The fact she wore blue denims and sat astride Pistol was not unusual for her, or Charlotte either, but Michael probably wasn’t used to such behavior. No wonder he thought a boy had stolen his horse.
“Then, when I ran out the next morning to see if I’d been dreaming, there Fireball was as if he’d never set foot outside the barn all night long.” Michael shook his head. “Sure was strange. If not for Steady, I’d have dismissed the whole thing as an illusion of my fuzzy mind after falling and hitting my head in my house.”
“Steady?” KodyAnne squeaked out the name.
“Yep.” Michael grinned. “Slow and Steady. Will Tate’s work horse I had to borrow to go after Fireball. There’s where I made my mistake. If I’d gone on home to sleep like a normal preacher, instead of acting like the sheriff and chasing after a horse thief, I’d have waked up the next morning and never known Fireball had a midnight ride.” He rubbed his head again. “Then I wouldn’t have had a headache the next day or so.”
KodyAnne couldn’t meet Michael’s eyes. He knew exactly what had happened. He was smarter than she’d given him credit. But he’d always been smart. She knew that. How else had he stayed out of the police’s hands on the city streets when he was growing up? He’d outsmarted the madam at the brothel when he took care of KodyAnne, too, yet he’d been smart enough to know he needed help to keep her safe. That’s when he took her to the orphanage. She slanted a peek at him. He sat his horse tall and straight and rode as if he’d been born in the saddle. He’d adjusted well to life in the West. Just as she had. In fact, she couldn’t imagine living anyplace else. Or with anyone else.
Michael’s lips curved the least bit as if he were amused with her and her brother. He turned to catch her watching him. “So do I get to meet your brother since we’re going to your farm?”
KodyAnne looked ahead. “I don’t think he’s there.”
“Where is he?”
She gave him a sharp look. “Why? So you can turn him in to your friend?”
His eyes narrowed. “Of course not. After he sent out the posse, Clint never once went to look for him. You know that. As long as he stays out of town, he’s a free man.”
“Then why am I being held prisoner? Maybe Charlotte and I should go back to the farm to live.” Even as the words left her mouth, a band tightened around her chest. She didn’t want to leave Willow Springs. There she could be close to Michael. Where else would she see him every day? She served him meals at the diner and listened to his sermons at church. Often she would look out the window and watch him walking down the street, usually with the sheriff. So far, not a day had gone by but they’d spent a few minutes together.
“You aren’t a prisoner, Andy.” Michael’s voice softened as his eyes sought hers. “Honestly, I think Clint doesn’t know what to do with you. You were in the bank with your father and brother when they pulled guns on the banker. But you were across the lobby, not involved.”
She held Pistol back when he quickened his step. They were getting near the farm. Charlotte should be at the house by now leaving the note for Tyler. “So he plans to shove me off on a U.S. Marshal who wasn’t even there and let him figure out if I’m an outlaw or not?”
Michael shrugged and opened his mouth, but KodyAnne didn’t give him a chance to speak. All at once, she didn’t want to talk about outlaws and lawmen.
“I’ll race you to the river.”
“Hey, wait.” Michael held up his hand and looked around. “Where’s Charlotte? She was here just a second ago, wasn’t she?”
KodyAnne laughed. “She was ahead of us, remember? I saw her and Snowball take off a few minutes ago. She’s probably already forded the creek and has half a basket of blackberries picked. If she doesn’t eat them all. She’s been known to do that. Don’t worry, she’s at home here.”
“Okay then, let’s go.” Michael leaned low over Fireball’s neck as the mustang broke into a run.
“That isn’t fair.” KodyAnne yelled, and urged Pistol to catch up. He didn’t need any encouragement. He knew where they were as well as she did, and he wanted to go home even more.
When Michael reached the creek no more than a few lengths ahead of her, she figured he’d held back, but not enough to keep from beating her. She laughed. “Okay, you win. Fireball likes to run. I saw that when I borrowed him.”
Michael swung from Fireball and stepped close to Pistol. His eyes locked with KodyAnne’s as he placed a hand on either side of her waist.
Her heart caught in her throat. She dropped the reins as his hands tightened, lifting her from the saddle. A tiny squeal escaped, and she grabbed his shoulders, holding tight.
He held her in front of him, his shoulder muscles bunching under her fingers. For long moments she gazed into his eyes. She could see nothing else, nor did she want to. His face moved closer, and his blue irises blurred with the black centers until she closed her eyes, anticipating the touch of his lips on hers.
Gentle at first, the kiss deepened as he settled her feet on the ground. Her arms circled his neck while his hands slid up her back to pull her close. With the most wonderful kiss yet, he took her love and returned his to surround and fill her heart.
The kiss ended, leaving her head spinning. Michael pulled back with a cocky grin on his lips and a sparkle in his eyes. Was this love? For her, yes. For him? She didn’t know. Confusion reigned while love, honor, and duty swirled in her head. She reluctantly released him and stepped back.
“We—” Her voice broke. She coughed and looked away. “We should find the blackberries.”
Michael chuckled. “That might be a good idea.”
She looked toward the house while her heart returned to normal. Kissing Michael was an activity she should avoid for her own good. If she could. While their kiss might have given Charlotte plenty of time to finish at the house, it had also played havoc with her emotions. How could she keep telling him no when he proposed if he continued to kiss her senseless?
“Do you see Charlotte?” Michael stood close behind her almost touching.
One step back and she could easily lean against him. She took two long steps forward and turned to face him. “I don’t see her, but we’ve got to cross the creek yet. I’ll get Pistol.”
KodyAnne caught Pistol’s reins and held them while he finished drinking. She mounted and led the way across the shallow water with Michael and Fireball following.
Had Charlotte made it to the house? All she had to do was leave the note she wrote out that morning. If Tyler wasn’t there, she could put it under the sugar dish that always sat on the kitchen table. He’d find it when he came home, if he did. But surely the outlaws hadn’t located him yet. If only she knew where he was staying and what he was doing. Samantha said he came to see her. At least, he had someone else, besides his sisters, who cared. He wouldn’t leave the area. Not permanently. But he might have found work someplace away from the house.
“Where are those blackberries?” Michael rode up beside her. “I still don’t see your sister.”
“There, to the right.” KodyAnne pointed. Her sister stood in the middle of the blackberry patch. Snowball grazed at the edge. KodyAnne had seen Charlotte running from her horse only moments ago. Thankfully, Michael hadn’t noticed.
She called over her shoulder as she urged Pistol into a trot. “Charlotte’s got a head start. Let’s go pick blackberries for Melanie.”
~*~
KodyAnne lay in bed staring into the darkness long after Charlotte fell asleep. She said Tyler hadn’t been at the house, so she left the note on the table where he’d find it. They’d picked enough berries to make Melanie happy. Not Mike, though. His mood had turned quiet after their kiss. She didn’t know what to think of him. He kissed her as if he loved her, but not once had he mentioned love. It was always his desire to take care of her. Or Papa asked him, and he’d agreed. Never love.
A tear rolled down her temple, a
nd she brushed it away. That wasn’t all of it, though. How could she saddle him with the likes of her and her family now? It wasn’t right. Mike didn’t deserve to marry a woman who might as well be the outlaw the sheriff first thought she was. Maybe Sheriff Barnett didn’t care whether she stayed in town or not, but Tyler was a wanted man. If he set foot in Willow Springs, he’d be locked behind bars before he had a chance to explain his presence.
She slipped from bed and stood at the window looking out on the dark street below. Mike had made something good of himself. He was the preacher many in town looked up to for their spiritual guidance. He was always going off to pray for someone or to sit up with the sick. Willow Springs needed Mike, but they didn’t need her.
While she stared out at the small town, a cloud moved across the moon and the peaceful scene darkened. She shivered and rubbed her arms as a chill slithered down her spine. She should leave, so Mike wouldn’t be bothered with her and Charlotte. They could go back to the farm to live with Tyler. Surely they’d survive somehow.
Her gaze settled on the bank across the street, and she sighed. Not yet. She had unfinished business. That cloud still covered the moon. She shifted and looked up toward the sky. Looked like a line of clouds moving in from the southwest. Tonight might be the best time to finish what Papa started. What Papa wanted her to do.
KodyAnne turned from the window and felt her way across the dark room. After their ride, she’d dropped her trousers in the basket of clothes to be washed. Might as well wear them one more time.
Charlotte didn’t stir while KodyAnne dressed. She moved with care so she didn’t make a sound, picked up her purse, and turned the door handle. Watching the dark shape of her sister on the bed, she slipped out the door, then closed it behind her and breathed a sigh of relief in the empty hall.
Outdoors, KodyAnne waited on the darkened boardwalk to make sure no one moved about or hid in the moonless night. Satisfied she was alone, she ran quickly across the street to the mercantile then down the alley to the back of the bank. Her heart pounded with a mixture of fright and determination.
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