Whirlwind Cowboy

by Debra Cowan

  “Yeah, I found you and accused you of all kinds of things.” His face was full of self-loathing. “I assumed the worst about you. When I found you gone from your house and saw that note, I was so damn mad that you’d promised to think about staying with me then disappeared that I didn’t care about anything else.”

  “I hurt you terribly.” She cupped his cheek. “And I apologize.”

  “That goes both ways,” he said huskily. “How’s your head? Still hurting?”

  “A little, yes.”

  He blew out the lamp, then eased them down to the mattress, twitching the sheet over them. “Close your eyes and try to empty your mind.”

  She snuggled into his side, one hand on his chest, her head resting on his massive biceps. He was solid. Steady. She wanted to never let go.

  A breath shuddered out of her. He held her close, her soft leg twined with his hair-roughened one. The room was warm and sweat slicked their bodies, but Bram showed no sign of moving away in order to sleep.

  His heart beat strongly beneath her ear. After long moments, she settled—her thoughts as well as her racing pulse.

  “Bram?” she asked drowsily.

  “Hmm?”

  “Don’t let go of me.”

  His hold tightened on her hip. “I won’t.”

  She knew he wouldn’t. She knew everything would be fine.

  * * *

  She was completely in love with this man. Why would she ever walk away from him? She’d meant it last night when she told him she was staying.

  On their way out of Monaco the next morning, Deborah slid another look at Bram. She couldn’t seem to stop looking. Or stop wanting to touch him—his hand, his face, that broad muscled chest.

  As he’d promised, he had held her all night and Deborah had slept better than she had in weeks. Except for the unfamiliar delight of waking up in bed with Bram, she felt like her old self.

  As the buggy rolled along the prairie, she laid a hand on his knee. “Thank you for last night.”

  “I didn’t do anything.” He gave her a crooked grin.

  “You did. That nightmare was terrible.” Her throat tightened. The way he had listened to the awful details she’d given him had helped her get through the horror of the memories.

  “I would’ve screamed that hotel down if you hadn’t been there.”

  His eyes darkened with concern. “I’m glad I was there, too.”

  “And I’m very grateful that you were with me this morning when I had to repeat it all to Sheriff Hayden and show him where everything happened.”

  “Knowing the name of Cosgrove’s ma will help the sheriff find out anything else she and her son might’ve been up to.”

  “He’s going to prison for a long time,” she said fiercely.

  The lean muscles beneath her touch flexed. “I don’t plan for him to make it to prison, honey.”

  The steel in Bram’s voice gave Deborah a little shiver. “You’re going to kill him?”

  Bram nodded, his face grim and unyielding.

  “What if he turns himself in?”

  “He won’t. And I won’t stop until he pays for what he’s done. Especially for using his fists on you.”

  Her brother would feel the same. Tears burned her eyes and she brushed a kiss against Bram’s cheek. “Thank you.”

  His big work-roughened hand covered hers.

  “Your family will be glad to hear that you remembered everything, though I imagine they’ll be concerned about what you saw. That’s an ugly thing to have witnessed.” He played with her fingers. “Are you going to be okay?”

  “Yes.” A quick flicker of Cosgrove beating his mother made Deborah tense. “Though it might be awhile before I can keep it out of my mind, I’ll be all right. I don’t like that the image is in my head, but I liked even less that I had a big black hole in my memory. It was awful not knowing what had happened.”

  “With any luck, this whole business will soon be over.” He gave her a soft kiss, then another. He drew back. “Better not do too much of that or we’ll never get back.”

  “I wouldn’t mind.”

  Desire flared in his eyes, but all he did was squeeze her knee then drive on.

  Before Deborah knew it, they reached Whirlwind. Coming in from the west, she could see The Fontaine’s laundry building, the back of the hotel itself with the smithy on one side and the livery on the other.

  “We’re home,” he said.

  She laughed. “You sound disappointed.”

  “I liked having you all to myself. Wish it had been longer.”

  So did she.

  He squeezed her hand. “We’ll stop in and talk to Davis Lee to tell him what you know.”

  She nodded, her heart swelling. Home. Now that her memory was complete, she finally felt the full connection to the town she had adopted as her own. As much as she loved this town and most of its people, it was the man beside her who made it home.

  The man who’d found her. Who had protected her even when he didn’t want to. Bram hadn’t said he loved her, not since his marriage proposal almost two months ago, but she’d seen it in his eyes last night as they’d made love, felt it in every gentle touch of his hands on her body.

  Bram pulled the buggy to a stop between Ef Gerard’s blacksmith shop and the sheriff’s office. The low hum of people’s voices was broken by the clop of horses’ hooves and the occasional shriek of a child.

  The side awning of Ef’s smithy was empty. As Bram helped her down, she saw Millie Jacobson go into the mercantile. Thank goodness the gossipy old hen didn’t take any notice of her and Bram.

  A few minutes later, they stood in the jail. The smells of pine and soap mixed with that of Bram’s clean sweat.

  After Deborah told Davis Lee what she had remembered, he rose from the corner of his desk where he’d been since she and Bram had arrived. He hugged her. “I’m sorry you had to witness that, cousin, but I’m glad you finally have some answers.”

  “So am I.”

  He looked at Bram. “You still keeping to the same plan to trap that bast—uh, Cosgrove?”

  “Yes. As they promised, the banker and sheriff in

  Monaco kept quiet about the return of the money. There’s no reason for Cosgrove not to come for it.”

  “There haven’t been any sightings reported.”

  “I’m glad.” Deborah looked at Bram. “But it makes me wonder if Cosgrove will show. What if he’s dead or hurt or something?”

  “If he’s dead, we’ll hear about it at some point because Davis Lee got the word out about him to all the lawmen in the area.”

  The other man nodded before asking Bram, “Do you want to put more men at Deborah’s house? I can take a shift. Riley probably can, too.”

  “I don’t want to make any changes. If Cosgrove has been nearby at any time, he’ll get suspicious.”

  “If he’s been around, why do you think he hasn’t made a move or tried to get to Deborah?”

  “The odds are against him.”

  Deborah nodded. “Bram has plenty of men protecting me.”

  “And,” Bram said, “his best bet for getting to her would probably be anywhere in this town and she has only one man with her.”

  Davis Lee nodded. “I’ll still patrol in and around town.”

  “Thanks.”

  Davis Lee hugged Deborah again, his blue eyes somber. “Hopefully, this will be over soon.”

  “I’m ready.” Impatience edged through her. She couldn’t wait to have back the life she had finally remembered. Without Cosgrove.

  They bid the sheriff goodbye and went down the steps of the weathered pine building.

  Cupping her elbow, Bram turned her slightly toward him. “We can eat dinner at The Pearl or The Fonta
ine—”

  “Unca Bwam!”

  He and Deborah turned toward his niece’s voice to see the entire family in a wagon driven by his brother. Molly waved, wiggling in Emma’s lap. Ike and Georgia rode in the second seat.

  Jake braked the wagon in front of the smithy and hopped out to help Emma down.

  Bram strode over to assist. He lifted Georgia down as Uncle Ike clambered out, favoring his shoulder. Bram steadied his cousin, admiring how well she managed with her withered hand even when injured.

  “What are y’all doing?” he asked. “Is there a problem?”

  “Just that we’re about to grow roots,” Ike groused. “We haven’t been out of the house in a month of Sundays.”

  Deborah smiled. The lanky man’s bluster was the typical reaction of anyone who wasn’t used to being inactive.

  Georgia’s brown eyes twinkled. “We’re going to see Annalise later, just to make sure we’re fine to do what we want.”

  “Or need,” Ike said to Bram. “I don’t take too kindly to letting you and your brother do all the work on the ranch.”

  “Neither do we.” Bram grinned, making Deborah’s stomach take a dive.

  As Emma joined them, Molly launched herself out of the woman’s arms, squealing for Bram. He barely caught the squirming child and shifted her to one arm.

  “How was the trip?” Jake asked.

  “It went well. Very well.”

  The way Bram lowered his voice had Deborah flushing. She hoped it wasn’t evident in the sunlight. “I’m looking forward to telling my family.”

  “I’m looking forward to nabbing Cosgrove,” Ike said.

  Georgia nodded. “Our family has suffered enough because of him.”

  Bram juggled Molly to the other shoulder. “Deborah and I are planning to eat in town before we head home later. Why don’t y’all join us?”

  “Yes, please do,” Deborah invited.

  The others accepted. Jake hitched a thumb toward the smithy and the strapping black man who came out of the house and ducked under the awning with a wave. “I have some business with Ef, but can meet y’all later.”

  “Sounds good,” Bram said.

  “Deborah,” Georgia said, “you can go with Emma and me to Haskell’s.”

  She wasn’t sure she wanted to risk a meeting with Millie Jacobson. But she had done nothing wrong, she reminded herself.

  Bram must have thought her hesitation stemmed from concern about Cosgrove or something else. “I’ll go with you.”

  Deborah glanced at him. “It will be a good chance for me to see if Josie’s there and find out if she has any sewing to send to Michal.”

  “Your sister’s helping Josie now?” Emma asked.

  “She just began.” She turned to Bram. “Stay and talk to your brother and uncle.”

  There was still a shadow of doubt in his eyes.

  “I’ll be fine, Bram. I won’t be alone. Emma and Georgia will be with me.”

  “And me!” Molly sang from Bram’s shoulder.

  Deborah smiled at the toddler. “And Molly.”

  He hesitated. Deborah saw a look pass between his brother and sister-in-law. Both of them smiled.

  “It’s only across the street. I have my gun.” She patted

  her pocket. “What could happen?”

  Looking more reassured, he reached for her hand in the folds of her skirt and squeezed it. “All right. I’ll see you in a bit.”

  Emma looked at Jake. “What time should we meet you?”

  Before he could answer, Bram said, “Jake will finish well before you ladies.”

  Amid their indignant protests, he laughingly said, “We’ll just come to the store.”

  After Jake kissed his wife, Bram returned Molly to her.

  Deborah and the other women waited for a wagon to pass, then they angled across the wide main street toward the general store.

  Georgia smiled at Deborah. “I think something happened in Monaco.”

  Though there was no way either of these women could know what had passed between Bram and Deborah, Deborah’s gaze jerked to the older woman’s.

  “It does seem that way.” Emma glanced over her shoulder. “Bram hasn’t taken his eyes off you since we walked away.”

  Deborah chanced a look back, too, and saw him watching. “That’s because he’s nervous about Cosgrove.”

  “I don’t think that’s the only reason,” the blonde said impishly.

  Georgia chuckled. “Maybe your fake engagement could turn real.”

  A blush heated Deborah’s cheeks. “Something did happen,” she confirmed.

  “Oh?” Georgia sounded hopeful.

  “I remembered. Everything.”

  “That’s wonderful!” both women exclaimed.

  “It must be a relief.” Emma switched her half sister to the other hip.

  “It is. I didn’t realize how much until my memory returned.”

  Georgia gave her a quick hug. “Was it bad? If it involves Cosgrove, I can’t imagine it’s good.”

  “It was...bad.”

  “Do you want to talk about it?”

  Recalling that Millie Jacobson was nearby, Deborah shook her head. “Not here, please.”

  “I saw Millie in town earlier,” Emma said quietly.

  Georgia’s face darkened. “Then later it is. Or if you’d rather, we can ask Bram. Or not, I guess.”

  “I don’t mind if you know.” Reminded of how he’d been there for her—naked, in bed—while she relived the horror she’d endured with Cosgrove, Deborah’s face went hot.

  A mischievous grin spread across the older woman’s face. “I think more than one thing happened in Monaco.”

  Emma laughed. “Deborah, your face gives away a lot. I think you and Bram will be able to make things work this time.”

  “Once Cosgrove is taken care of,” Georgia said.

  Deborah agreed. The sooner, the better. As they passed the newspaper office, Quentin and Zoe Prescott stepped out. The couple stopped for a quick chat.

  Deborah loved recognizing and knowing these people without having to ask Bram or anyone else for help. Haskell’s was next door and she followed the other women up its pine steps.

  Mitchell, who stood unloading crates from a wagon in front of the store, rushed over to open the door for them.

  “Thank you, Mitchell,” Georgia said.

  “Tanks,” Molly echoed.

  Deborah smiled at the little girl. Before she could follow the others inside, she heard someone call her name.

  She turned to see Reverend Scoggins hurrying toward her. Telling Emma and Georgia she would catch up with them, she waited on the landing. “Hello, Reverend.”

  She liked Able Scoggins, but didn’t know why he would wave her down.

  A broad smile spread across his boyish face as he reached her. Hazel eyes twinkled. “I was just fixin’ to ride out to your place.”

  “Why is that?”

  “This just came.” The slender balding man handed her an envelope.

  Frowning at it, she looked back at him.

  “It’s from the school board at Abilene and they want to apologize.”

  “Apologize?” The word felt strange on her tongue.

  “They also want to offer you the job again.”

  “Wh-what?” Stunned, Deborah could only stare at him. “But how...why?”

  Emotions rushed through her, but the only ones she recognized were shock and the little flip-flop of excitement in her stomach. “I don’t understand.”

  Why was the reverend delivering the letter? For that matter, if it was for her, why had he opened it? Barely aware of what she was doing, she turned over the envelope and saw that it was addressed to him. Tha
t only confused her more.

  She struggled to make sense of what was going on.

  He smiled. “I believe they want you to arrive one week before the term begins so they can draw up a new contract and finalize everything.”

  His words buzzed in her ears. She stared down, trying to read the letter, but all the ink seemed to run together. “I’m sorry. I don’t understand. Why would they change their minds?”

  The preacher gave her an odd look, then glanced over her shoulder. “Ah, here comes Bram. I’ll let him explain everything.”

  She wished someone would! Wait a minute. Bram? Why would he know? It was the reverend who had received the letter. The school board wanted to offer her the job they had wrenched away from her. Bram knew about the letter in her hand. He could explain what was happening. The thoughts tumbled around in her mind, barely more than nonsense. She could hardly grasp the sudden suspicion that sparked inside her.

  Bram reached them. As if through a tunnel, she heard him greet the other man.

  His gaze searched the street before coming back to settle on hers. Concern darkened his eyes. “Everything okay?”

  No. Even though Deborah wasn’t sure exactly what was happening, she knew things weren’t okay. With a sick feeling in her stomach, she held up the letter. “What have you done?”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Wariness flashed across Bram’s rugged features. “About what?”

  The reverend frowned. “This letter came for Deborah today from the school board in Abilene. They’ve apologized and want to offer her the job again.”

  Deborah couldn’t look away from Bram. He watched her carefully, his gaze measuring.

  “I thought this would be good news,” Able said. “Have I spoiled a surprise?”

  Deborah arched a questioning brow at Bram.

  “You haven’t spoiled anything, Reverend,” he said. But he was starting to wonder if he had. Focused on her and the confusion in her beautiful blue eyes, Bram was barely aware of people passing them. Pearl Anderson and her daughter, Violet. Pete Carter who owned the saloon.

  The preacher stepped aside for Penn and Esther

  Wavers from the Whirlwind Hotel. He glanced at Bram. “Maybe the two of you would like to talk in the church? It’s empty and available.”