“Seth…” Ty garnered his brother’s distracted attention once more before adding, “Brannon’s the one that wants her.”
A cold chill gripped Seth’s insides. The man was a walking demon from hell. After their encounter with him in the street, Seth had done some checking. Rumors about his trading in slaves with the Spanish ran rampant. He couldn’t let Celia fall prey to the likes of Brannon. Betrayal by the Tyler sheriff stabbed him like a blade between the shoulders. Cole wasn’t accepting to the Comanche but he didn’t expect him to go off on a witch hunt. Fleetingly he thought of spiriting her away. They’d find an isolated spot in the sierras. There was gold up there. Seth could see a small cabin and a secluded life with the woman he found he couldn’t give up.
“Brannon wants her to scout for him.” Ty’s hands slid in his pockets with the glare from his older brother.
“So Brannon thinks he can come in here and take whoever he wants, does he?” Seth swore low and adamantly. “He’s in for a big surprise.” He turned again to consider the street below. Scouting wasn’t all he wanted from her, Seth thought. The request for her to accompany him in search for Red Bear was a ruse and Seth wouldn’t allow the so-called Ranger to waltz in and take his woman. He swore again and vowed silently he’d deal with Brannon in his own way. To hell with the sheriff and the law! To hell with right and wrong, Celia was his. A few silent minutes went by while he reined in his temper. “Ty, suppose those rumors of slave traders kidnapping Indian women are true?”
“I’d say it’s likely.”
“I’m saying, what if the rumors are true. You know there weren’t any young women among the dead back at Lone Eagle’s camp.” He glanced at Ty.
“Now that you mentioned it, I don’t recall any when we buried the dead. Do you think whoever killed Lone Eagle’s bunch took the women to sell?” Ty angled his head to peer at his brother.
“We’ll go down and speak to Cole ourselves. After that, we’ll share our information with Hawk. He can do some investigating on Brannon. If Cole is in cahoots with Brannon, then we’re gonna get nowhere with him. I’ll be damned if I give him the truth now.” He strode to the bed and picked up his gun belt, strapping it on as he headed for the door. “Find Maggie and let her know what we’re doing. Make sure she understands to keep this under wraps. She can’t tell Celia. Got that?”
“Yeah, I got that.”
***
The scream tore through the second floor of the hotel like an alarm bell. Patrons on the lower level gawked and frowned in confusion while the bellhop scurried up the stairs to see what the commotion was.
Celia knew where the terrified scream came from. She slipped into Casey’s room.
“Now, boyo, there’s nothing to be worrying about here. The girl’s just had a bad dream is all. We’ll handle everything. All right?”
The bellhop craned his head to peer down the hall after the Comanche half-breed. “But she sounded like she was dying! Should I go for the sheriff or the doctor, maybe?”
The screaming stopped and Maggie patted the boy on the shoulder. “See, I told you, nothing to worry about. There, there. Go on down and see if you can round us up some tea. Will ya?”
Mollified, the bellhop slowly retraced his steps back down the hall with a request from Maggie for some broth and a pot of tea.
Reaching Casey, Celia first checked for fever before trying to calm the girl. “There now, Casey. You’re safe. No one’s going to hurt you. Do you understand?” With a cloth soaked in cool water, she used hushed tones to sooth the young woman’s agitation.
Casey opened her eyes slowly and with an obvious effort to focus, she hesitated before speaking. “Where…am I?” The split along her lip opened with the effort and she winced.
“You’re in the hotel. You’re safe and being cared for. There’s nothing to worry about now.” She repositioned the cloth across Casey’s brow. “Do you remember last night?”
“Yes.” Yanking the cloth from her temple, Casey gazed up at her with curiosity.
“My name is Celia. I’m a friend of your brother, Seth’s. We brought you here after the attack last night.” Watching her closely, she considered that at least she still had her senses. “I’m a nurse. I want to help you. May I treat your lip? It needs some salve.”
Casey’s fearful eyes darted from her to each corner of the room and back again. Her breathing came out short and choppy. “Where’s Seth?”
“At the moment, I’m not sure, but he’s been here the whole time. Do you remember anything about last night?” With practiced smoothness, Celia reached out and brushed the blonde hair that had fallen into Casey’s face as the fearful young woman searched frantically for her bearings.
“I said yes.” Casey shrunk back as she deftly dabbed salve on her lip.
“That’s all right. You need to rest now and focus on getting well. This balm will help with the healing - it’s made of Aloe.” Celia finished applying the salve before explaining. “I’m going to give you some broth and a tea laced with a dose of laudanum. It will help you sleep. You need all the sleep you can get right now. Okay?”
Casey simply stared. Mistrust and self-preservation romped across her face. “Why are you doing this?”
Celia’s heart went out to the woman in that moment. She thought she understood Casey’s reluctance. “Because you were hurt and need help.” Reaching out gently, she brushed Casey’s hair away from her mouth and the cut. “I’ll be right here if you need me. Okay?”
There was a gentle knock before the door opened. Maggie bustled in, carrying a tray. She paused as her tear-filled eyes met Casey’s. “Darlin’, how are you feelin’?”
Casey lay very still watching her. “Maggie?”
Maggie moved to the table in the tiny parlor area and poured the tea before coming over to the bed. “Here now. Drink this and maybe have a bit of broth. You need it.”
“I don’t want anything. What I want is to get the hell out of here.” Folding her arms over her chest with only a small wince, Casey glowered impressively at Celia. “Don’t need your help, that’s for sure.”
The stubbornness was expected, Celia mused. She offered Casey her most stern look of concern. “The doctor says you do. He wants you in bed and quiet so those ribs can mend.” She gestured to the woman’s bandage wrapped midsection.
Casey glanced down and then with a mutant set to her mouth she started to rise up on an elbow. The pain shot through her like a knife. With a cry and an oath that Celia found vaguely familiar, Casey slumped back onto the bed and stared hard at the opposite wall.
“You’d do well to remember that you can’t move much without pain. The medicine Doc Wheeler prescribed is supposed to help if you give it a chance. I have some herbs that’ll make a nice balm for your other bruises.”
Casey turned her head, giving Celia a perfect look into those eyes that were on fire now. “Go to hell. I don’t need or want your help. I don’t need anything from a damn Injun.”
“Casey!” Maggie’s gasp was audible. She stepped forward, her hands on her hips. “Don’t insult this family with your stupidity. Celia is here to help you and that she will. I’ll see to it. In the meantime, you need to consider your circumstances before you go spouting off at the mouth again. For shame…” Maggie clucked her tongue and glowered at the girl who did everything she could to ignore her tormentors.
Without another word, Maggie sat on the side of the bed and picked up the laudanum. Swirling a dose into the tea, she held out the cup for Casey to sip.
“You mean don’t act like a whore, don’t you, Maggie?” Casey cut a petulant glare in the older woman’s direction. Her young eyes were spitefully cool.
Undoubtedly, that was all Maggie could take, because she reached out and pinned Casey’s nose between her fingers before tilting her head back with the pressure. “You’ll remember that I don’t take taunting lying down, missy.”
With a gurgled sound, Casey sputtered but swallowed the tea. The pained look she shot
Maggie spoke volumes, but she didn’t utter another word.
“Now, that’s better. You know I won’t let up until this cup is drained, so make it easier on the both of us and finish this off like a good girl.”
“I don’t need any help…” Casey muttered. “I got a room at the saloon. Get Seth in here to carry me back. Then, all of you can get on with your lives.”
Defiance, Celia mused. There were a whole lot of pent up emotions in Casey. She doubted the girl even realized how much. Shaking her head slightly, she had to smile at the absurdity of Casey’s retort to her help. She was a saloon whore taking shots at a half-breed. If the situation wasn’t of such a serious nature, she’d find it darkly amusing.
***
“Miss Celia, Ty!” Smitty Jones greeted them warmly as she entered the store. “It’s good to see you both again. I must say you look as pretty as a picture, Miss Celia.” The squat little proprietor beamed for her. “I see you brought your helper.”
Joseph’s warm, brown eyes traveled from her to the proprietor and back again.
She had decided she liked Smitty and Rose. They were good people.
“Mr. Jones. It’s good to see you too.” Turning to Ty, who shadowed her every move these days, Celia nodded. “It’s okay. I’ll just be a minute. If you want, you can wait for me over at the livery. There seems to be a crowd gathering.” Indicating the board game that was drawing men to gather in conversation and speculation a few yards away, she grinned when she saw Ty’s eyes light with interest in the opportunity. Nothing like the simple pleasures of youth, she mused. “I’ll be just fine.”
Ty grinned and gave her a hesitant nod. “Okay, I guess so. After all, what harm could there be in picking up medicines in a mercantile?” He turned then and with a wink left her to her shopping.
“What can I help you with, Miss Celia?”
“Smitty, I need some ginger root and swamp wart, if you have it.” She smiled warmly for the squat man before glancing around the interior of the store while Joseph focused on the candy jars. She counted two other customers, one examined cloth in the ladies’ section and another wore a long, dark trail duster. His clothing, covered liberally in dust and dirt showed snags and rips, indicating he’d been in a saddle for quite a while. Then his cavalry style hat was sweat stained and drooping. The man stood in front of the tall cabinet that housed the gun display. There was a twinge of unease as he turned to her, tipping his hat briefly. Before she could reply, he turned back to concentrate on the guns in the cabinet. She had the oddest feeling she’d seen him before. Unable to see his face clearly though, because of the ill-kept beard covering his features, she couldn’t place him as someone she’d been introduced to recently.
“What else can I do for you, dear?” Smitty stepped to the counter holding a package wrapped in brown paper.
Celia blinked as she turned to Smitty and the package he held. A tingle went up her spine like a spider’s legs traveling up her backbone. “Ah, yes, let’s see, I need three yards of muslin and three yards of cotton. Do you have any chamomile?”
“Yes, ma’am, I do. Step this way and Rose will get the cloth for you while I fetch the chamomile.”
Celia glanced back over her shoulder as she followed Smitty toward the material counter. The man had disappeared. She released the breath she’d been holding. Foolish to allow one man’s appearance to disturb her. After all, Ty was only a few yards away, wasn’t he?
Rose took Smitty’s place behind the counter.. “You look mighty pretty in your new dress, if I do say so myself.” The woman smiled with good humor in her voice and a knowing wink.
Celia couldn’t help but look down and smooth the soft muslin. Her nerves forgotten, she smiled warmly for her new friend. “Thank you, Rose. I’ll have to let my dressmaker know you approved.”
With the statement, both women laughed companionably. Celia found a real connection with the woman. She was genuinely friendly and it soothed Celia’s guarded nerves.
“Here we go, Miss Celia, chamomile.” Smitty’s double chins rolled with the nod of his head as he beamed next to his wife.
“Thank you, Mr. Jones.” She glanced at Joseph who had saddled up beside her. “Joseph, would you like something from the sweets jar?” The young Indian’s face held a pallor she hadn’t noticed earlier that morning. “Are you feeling all right, Joseph? You look pale.” The young boy pressed his body close to her skirts. Usually, he was outgoing and not in the least bit bashful. Perhaps he was tired. With all that had gone on the night before it was no wonder the boy looked a little peaked. He’d had an adventure so far. Still perplexed at his strange behavior, Celia glanced about for a reason.
Rose came around the counter. “Is everything all right, Celia? Maybe the boy needs to lie down.”
“That’s okay, Rose. Joseph’s had a busy morning, haven’t you? None of us got much sleep last night,” She said as she watched the young Indian sink further behind her skirt.
That needling feeling of someone watching surfaced again. Celia glanced toward the doorway expecting to see Ty there.
“Excuse me, miss.”
Celia froze. A cool sensation fanned her calm. Mentally tallying the bodies inside the store, she feared the man in the filthy duster had found an interest in her after all. Irritation mingled with the desire to be gone warred within. It wasn’t uncommon for men to ogle her. She’d grown used to the crude behavior over the years. This though was something more sinister.
Smitty’s eyes mirrored her concern as the man advanced toward her from the rear of the store.
“Madam...” The owner of the deep baritone voice sent a shiver up her spine. Dirt and sweat on the clothes he’d probably worn several days gave off a stench, which was ripe with and the smell of liquor. Turning slowly, she looked into the face of the devil himself. She recognized Brannon though he sported a faux beard and mustache. Who was he hiding form? Unlike the night before, he stood under his own power to his impressive six feet and several inches. Her vision blurred. The sight of him brought back visions she only recalled after nightmares of someone chasing her. Reaching for the counter to steady herself, she met his eyes. No longer bloodshot and puffed from liquor, they bore into her with an intensity she swore she could physically feel. Her skin crawled as if his fingers actually traveled over her intimately. Someone gasped. Celia stopped moving backward only when Rose clamped her hands on her shoulders in support.
“Is this man bothering you, Celia?” Rose asked loud enough for all to understand her meaning.
As if returning from a trance, Celia shook her head gently. “No.” Glancing down at Joseph, who clung to her skirts for dear life, his eyes huge with fear, she tried to smile. “No, Rose. It’s all right.” Turning her attention to Brannon, she pretended ignorance. “I’m sorry, sir. Do I know you?”
Now, with all his faculties, Brannon bore the thinly veiled arrogance of a man who was used to getting what he wanted no matter what the cost.
“My apologies, Madam.” He touched two fingers to the brim of his sweat marked cavalry hat. The Rangers emblem emblazoned on the front showed the star of Texas in the center of a dull silver circle with the words “Protect and serve” engraved in the metal. Bowing slightly, he continued to move closer before extending his other hand for her to place hers in the palm. “My name is Brannon, Captain John Brannon of the Texas Rangers.”
Did he really mean to kiss her fingers like a dandy? Taking a another step back. Celia came close to trampling Rose’s foot. Rose stood ramrod straight in defense behind her. Clutching at the brown paper wrapping of her purchases with one hand, Celia wrapped the other around Joseph in a maternal move.
“I didn’t mean to startle you. I’d like a moment of your time…in private, if you don’t mind. I have a matter of importance to speak with you about.” His mustache twitched with the words as he cocked a brow toward the front door. “Would you be so kind as to accompany me to the diner? We can speak there.”
Whether out of fear or
disgust, Celia wrinkled one corner of her lips and drew further out of his reach. Brannon dropped his hand along with the polite offer.
Joseph clutched her skirt and wedged himself between the counter and her hip. The scrutiny Brannon gave her at that point reflected the displeasure she saw in his stance. She had embarrassed him in a public place. Undoubtedly, as a Texas Ranger, he expected people to do his bidding without hesitation.
Joseph tugged at her skirt. “Miss Celia!”
“I…please excuse me.” She gave Brannon a tight smile. “What Joseph?” She turned, peering down at him.
With Brannon’s attention now on Joseph, the young Indian seemed to melt into her side. Joseph went mute.
Looking back, Celia tried to make a courteous excuse. “I’m terribly sorry. I have to get back to the hotel. Joseph isn’t well and I must see to him. Pardon me.”
The thinning of his lips said he didn’t like the idea. “As you wish...” Before she could move past him though, Brannon’s hand snaked out and gripped her upper arm hard causing her to rise onto her toes. His dirty fingernails bit down hard on her flesh. “I’ll call on you later.” With a slight bow, Brannon released her and left.
Smitty hurried around the counter, his brow beetled with concern. “Miss Celia, are you all right?”
“I’m fine, Mr. Jones. I would appreciate it if you would wrap up that cloth and have it delivered to me at the hotel, please.” Trying for calm, Celia gave them both a weak smile.
“Certainly.” Smith said sympathy rimming his expression.
“One more thing.” Celia made sure her face remained composed. “Please don’t mention any of this to Seth. Understand?” She glanced at both the proprietor and his wife with a stubborn set to her jaw.
Rose stepped to her husband’s side. “But Celia. That man…I don’t like the way he looked at you. His intentions aren’t honorable. You’re living at Shooter Creek under Seth’s protection. He should know.”
She shook her head. “He just wanted to talk. I didn’t agree to speak with him, so the matter is settled.” Clutching Joseph, she watched both Rose and Smitty nod. “Thank you both.” She reached out and hugged Rose before giving Smitty a warm smile. Urging Joseph forward, she exited the door and went in search of Ty.
Comanche Haven (The Loflin Legacy: Book 1) Page 21
