Stronger Than the Rest

by Shirleen Davies

This time she did as he asked.

  “Sit over there.” He indicated a chair on the other side of the room.

  Jericho cleaned up the broken vase, up-righted the table, and pulled Drew to his feet.

  “You sure about this, Mr. MacLaren?” he asked.

  “Yes.”

  “What are you doing, Drew?” Tess asked. Her heart was beating so hard it felt as if it would jump out of her chest. She squeezed her hands together in her lap and tried not to shake. She thought she knew what was about to happen, and prayed she was right.

  “Just watch.” Drew’s calm voice fortified her, gave her the motivation needed to stay seated and not jump up to stop him.

  He stood the same as before, then gave the order to Jericho to let go. Tess’s breath caught as Jericho stepped back and Drew used his arms to balance against the wall. A full minute passed. No one spoke.

  Just as Tess thought that was what he wanted to show her, he pushed back and stood, balancing his weight on his two formerly useless legs. She almost shrieked with joy. Tears began to form. She didn’t brush them away—her eyes remained riveted on Drew.

  He took a step. A step! She jumped from the chair but Jericho held up a hand to stop her. Tess waited. She was rewarded with one more step before Drew steadied himself against the wall. Jericho grabbed him under the arms and helped him into the chair. “Enough for today, Mr. MacLaren.”

  Drew looked up to see tears streaking down Tess’s face. Tears she didn’t try to stop. They were rolling over the biggest smile Drew had ever seen, and it was for him.

  She placed a hand over her mouth in hopes of stopping a sob, but it was fruitless. “Oh, Drew. You did it. You walked.” With each word she took a step forward until she stood against his chair. He opened his arms and

  Tess fell into them, clutching his shirt, and burying her head in his neck.

  Drew pulled her tighter and buried his face in her hair. He was vaguely aware of a door opening and closing. He looked up to see that Jericho was gone.

  It was just the two of them. She squirmed a little on his lap and Drew felt a slight hardening of his body. He’d felt the sensations for the last few days and hoped they were an indication that his entire body was healing. Relief washed over him as he realized another hurdle was being crossed.

  When Tess lifted her face to his it seemed natural to move his lips over hers. It was a soft caress, just a touch. He brushed his lips over hers. She strained to get closer. His hands moved to the back of her head and deepened the kiss. Her lips parted, and his tongue traced the edges of her mouth. He knew she had little experience and didn’t want to frighten her.

  Tess melted into his arms. She was totally unprepared for the warmth that swam over her body. She could smell the mixture of pine soap and fresh sweat and couldn’t stop herself from running her fingers along his cheek bones, and wrapping her hands around his neck to draw him closer. She never wanted the kiss to stop.

  When Drew ran his tongue gently along her lips she opened to him. She had never been kissed before, and no one had ever told her about the fire that could burn and consume her. She wanted to cry and laugh at the same time and found herself pressing against him, wanting to feel his touch on her lips, her throat, her breast.

  She turned her body toward his hand until her breast rested under his large palm. She pressed herself against him and felt his fingers caress her.

  With a groan he deepened the kiss as he undid the buttons of her bodice. She felt cool air against her skin and then the warmth of his lips on a breast. Heat spread through her until she moaned.

  Tess strained to get closer. She could feel a slight hardening beneath her. “More,” she whispered into his mouth and squirmed to let him know what she wanted. Blood rushed to his loins and he felt himself harden even more.

  She pushed into him with a slow sigh as he took the other breast while his other hand crept under her dress to rest on her thigh. She moaned and squirmed once more in an attempt to get even closer. Her passion amazed him as it also caused him to stop and drop his hand from her leg.

  He pulled away from her, gently raised her to a sitting position and slowly buttoned her dress, stopping to kiss each piece of skin before he covered it.

  “I want you, Tess, but not here and not like this.”

  The look on his face told Tess what she needed to know, and she understood.

  “Yes, you’re right.” There was no anger, no censure in her tone. She leaned in to place one more kiss on his mouth before pushing herself up. “But I want more,” she said as her hands smoothed down her dress and she walked toward the door. “I don’t want to wait long.” Tess passed through the door and closed it behind her.

  Drew took a long, drawn-out breath and watched her leave. His heart was racing, his body on fire, but not from pain. This time it was from who he knew was in his future. Tess.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Denver, Colorado

  As in the past, the two men entered the darkened basement and found the stairs. They’d had to take more time than usual. A robbery had occurred a block down, someone had been shot, and the streets were teeming with deputies. Each knew their boss would wait. Caution was their guide. Once inside, experience led them upward through the dark stairwell until they were outside the office door, which stood ajar. Behind the desk sat their boss.

  “Gentleman. I expect you have some good news for me.”

  Pierce glanced at his brother, who indicated for him to proceed. “We found the third book. He keeps it hidden in a door at the back of the safe. Clever setup. We were lucky. Walsh was out of town, which allowed me to make a copy.” He laid his findings on the desk. “I’ve decoded the first couple of pages and it appears to include documentation on business dealings not shown in the other two books.”

  “I see.” Their boss picked up the decoded pages and looked them over. His eyes stopped at one entry in particular and he glanced at his associate. “Did you look at this?”

  “Yes. And noticed what you did,” the associate answered.

  “Bierdan.”

  “It certainly points to Gordon Bierdan as Ira’s partner in the rustling operations. From what you’ve said, Frank Alts,” he looked at Pierce to clarify, “the sheriff in Cold Creek, felt certain someone else was involved. A man who held the money, pulled the strings. Looks like Ira was that man.”

  The boss pointed at another column. “What are these entries, Pierce?”

  “I’m not sure. The entries run during the same time period as the cattle thefts, but the contact is in Victoria, British Columbia. It’s a purchase transaction but I haven’t deciphered the merchandise. He’s used a separate code and an abbreviation for whatever it is he purchased. But I can tell you that it was brought into San Francisco through Washington.”

  “I suspect it can’t be legal or there would be no need to code the entries. Correct?” He looked at Pierce.

  “Yes, sir. That’s my guess.”

  The boss continued. “So we know he was at least the brains behind the rustling in Cold Creek.”

  “And Wyoming, Kansas, Nebraska, and northern New Mexico,” the associate added. “Plus, notice one other name mentioned regarding the business from Canada.”

  “Drago.” Their boss looked up. “Does that name mean anything to either of you?”

  “Only by reputation. He’s known to be involved in numerous illegal pursuits, and he leaves no witnesses to his actions. Drago enjoys torturing and killing, and makes no distinction between men and women.” The associate walked over to the bar, grabbed the bottle of scotch and tipped it toward the others. Both shook their heads, but he proceeded to pour a shot for himself and down it. “He met with Walsh while you were gone. My guess is whatever Drago is involved in is more sinister and deadly than rustling, and Walsh is in on every single endeavor. Perhaps even calling the shots.”

  The boss’s eyes widened at the extent of Walsh’s illegal activities. “Any information on his recent transactions?”

&nbs
p; “I’ll have that for you in the next few days. It’s moving at a fast rate but still takes time. Plus, I need to decipher the exact merchandise coming from Canada. I believe that will be important to us.” Pierce had worked non-stop since copying the book. His only breaks from the intense work came at night when he was at the Denver Rose. He couldn’t complain. It was that job that allowed him access to Ira’s office and the material they now held.

  “What of the others? Have you spoken with them yet?” the associate asked.

  Pierce’s eyes snapped to his brother’s at that questions. He was unaware of other men being involved. He thought the man in front of them acted alone.

  “We met this morning. They concur with the path we’ve taken, at least for now. I’ll meet with them again once we understand what Walsh is doing.”

  “Fair enough,” the associate replied.

  The boss stood and grabbed his coat. “I’ll be in touch.”

  ******

  Connor watched Walsh pull out a thin cheroot and light it. He found himself wondering, yet again, what Ira was involved in that could spell danger. “I take it your time in San Francisco proved fruitful.” It was a comment, not a question.

  “Yes. If all goes well it could double, maybe triple that part of my business.” He leaned back in his chair and took a long drag from the small, square-cut cigar.

  “And what part of the business is that?”

  Ira thought a moment and had decided to answer when a sharp rap on the door interrupted him.

  “Sorry Mr. Walsh, but we need Connor downstairs. Some man insists that he’ll only speak with him.” Nelson held the door open as Connor left.

  “Did he give you his name?” Connor asked Nelson as they made their way to the saloon below.

  “No. Asked if you worked here and demanded to see you.”

  Connor scanned the crowd. There were two or three new faces, but no one he recognized. “Which one is he?”

  “Over there,” Nelson pointed to a short, heavy-set man wearing a wrinkled suit and covered in dust. It was apparent he’d been traveling.

  Connor walked up to the stranger and extended his hand. “I’m Connor.”

  The man took a look at Connor then swallowed the last of the whiskey in his glass. “Ah, good, Mr.…” but his words were cut off as Connor took hold of his arm and led him outside through the door behind the bar. Once he had him settled in the back alley Connor let go of his arm and stepped back.

  “No last name, just Connor.”

  “Then how do I know if you’re the right man?” He pulled out a handkerchief and rubbed it across his face, then shoved the dirty cloth into an inside pocket of his jacket. He glared at the tall man before him.

  “Tell me what it’s about and I’ll tell you if I’m the right man.”

  “This is most unusual.”

  “Make an exception.”

  He seemed to deliberate for a moment before deciding it was best to do as Connor asked.

  “My name is Chester Mayfield. I work for Alexander McCann.”

  “Then I’m the right man. What do you have for me?”

  “It’s about your sister. We may know where she is.”

  It took a moment for the words to penetrate Connor’s brain. Meggie, his sister. He’d been searching for Meggie for eight years—had been close more times than he could count. Connor was far past getting his hopes up.

  “I want to hear what you know, Mr. Mayfield, but not here and not now. Meet me tomorrow morning at this restaurant on the other side of town. Anyone can help you find it.” He scribbled a name on a scrap of paper.

  “Tomorrow, then,” Mayfield took the paper and started down the alley to the street beyond.

  Connor watched him leave, wondering if he’d made a mistake in not completing the meeting now. His experiences in the past had led to nothing but dead ends. It was doubtful this information would be any different. No, the meeting with Mayfield could wait until tomorrow—he had other work that needed his attention.

  ******

  Cold Creek, Colorado

  Drew and Tess sat across the supper table from each other. It had been hours since the episode in the bedroom, yet Tess was still unable to slow her racing heart or contain her embarrassment. She didn’t regret what had happened, not for a minute, but the words she had said as she left made her face grow hot each time she repeated them in her mind. What could I have been thinking?

  “Good evening, Tess.”

  She glanced across the table to see Drew’s heated gaze boring into hers. Tess recognized the look and her body responded.

  “Good evening, Drew” she answered in a husky voice that brought a knowing look from him. She cleared her throat and searched for calm within a body that felt as if a tornado had blown through it. “I, uh, trust you had a good day.”

  “The best I’ve had in a long time. It seems I’m discovering new things every day. How about you, Tess? Did you discover anything new today?”

  He was teasing, she knew, but she had no experience in this type of situation. It had been her first kiss, her first time in a man’s arms. He was right, she decided. It had been a day of discoveries, yet Tess understood she’d only experienced them to a small degree. The thought both thrilled and frightened her.

  “Why, yes, I’m sure I did.”

  Neither noticed that the table had quieted at their exchange. Most everyone else—Grant, Eleanor, Alicia, Niall, Kate, Amanda, and Will—looked at each other, but no one spoke.

  Jericho was the first to break the silence.

  “I must thank you again for the wonderful food, Mrs. Taylor. I can’t think of a time when I’ve had better.”

  Tess closed her eyes and said a silent word of thanks to Jericho.

  Eleanor’s eyes moved from the Tess and Drew to her other guest. “Why thank you, Mr. Jericho, but I can’t take the credit. Maria is the person you should thank. I just help out when she needs it.”

  “Then I’ll be sure to do that,” Jericho replied.

  A knock pulled everyone’s attention to the front door.

  “I’ll get it.” Grant opened the door to find the sheriff waiting, hands in his pockets. “Frank, come in. I’m surprised to see you out our way this time of night. We’re just sitting down to supper. You’ll join us, of course.”

  Frank followed Grant into the dining room and was surprised to see Will and the others. “Will, it’s good to see you again.” Frank extended his hand.

  “Same goes here,” Will replied and made the remaining introductions.

  “Well, I finally get to meet the oldest MacLaren. Don’t know how you managed to let your younger brothers survive into manhood,” Frank joked.

  “There were times it wasn’t easy,” Niall agreed. “Thank God we had Aunt Alicia. If not for her, who knows how we all would have ended up.”

  An hour later they’d finished dessert and were still discussing the events at the Bierdan ranch the night before. News hadn’t reached them until Frank arrived to ask for their help in canvassing the area for the men who’d ridden out.

  “No problem, Frank. Let us know what you need and we’ll get to it.” Grant looked at Niall and Will. “You two in?”

  “Yes, sir,” each responded.

  “I’ll do whatever I can,” Drew said. He wasn’t about to share his progress at this point, but he needed to be of use in the search for the men who were terrorizing the area.

  “Looks like you’ll have three MacLarens plus my men. Not bad.”

  Another knock disrupted the conversation. Grant opened the door. “Well, I’ll be damned,” he said and extended his hand. “Looks to me, Frank, like you’ll have four MacLarens plus my men.”

  Jamie walked in to see the roomful of people. Will and Niall began to laugh, and Drew sported a full grin.

  “Did I miss something?” he asked Grant.

  “No, son, your timing is perfect. Have a seat. We’ll get you some food while Frank explains what’s happening.”

&nbs
p; It was late when the men walked into the den for whiskey. Everyone else had retired but they wanted to lay out a plan for the following day. All thought it was just a matter of time before the thugs who’d plagued the Langdon’s and now caused havoc at the Bierdan ranch would turn on Grant and the others, especially now that the Langdon land was combined into the Big G.

  The Bierdan spread was now considered the most vulnerable. There was no reason to believe the sale would stop the actions of Luther and his men. Except, if what Frank said was true, Luther was now wounded. They needed to locate him before he started vandalizing and killing again.

  “Any idea where they might hole up?” Niall asked Frank.

  “There is one place, but it only makes sense if Luther was somehow connected with the cattle rustling that went on a few months ago. Don’t know for sure that I can find it, but it’s worth a try. It’s an old cabin up in the mountains north of the Bierdan ranch.”

  Grant rubbed his forehead in concentration, trying to recall possible locations. “Two other places I can think of,” Grant said. “One is a line shack on my property. Another is an old cave that used to be the entrance to a mine, long since abandoned. But that’s a long shot.”

  Niall looked at Frank. “Why don’t I go with you to check out the old cabin? Jamie and Grant can ride out to the old line shack. What about the cave, Grant?”

  “It’s on the other side, quite a ways from the other two places. Not hard to find if you know its location, but most have forgotten about it. A wagon could make it without a problem.” Grant said, suspecting that the mine would be where Drew would go.

  “Will, Mr. Jericho, and I can check the mine.” Drew refused to be left out.

  Niall’s narrowed eyes and pursed lips told Drew how his oldest brother felt about him being involved. Will just looked at Drew, his face a mask.

  Jamie noticed the others’ reactions. “That’s a good idea, Drew. I’d suggest each group include a couple of Grant’s men. They know the area plus extra guns would be welcome if someone runs into this Luther fella.”

  Drew looked toward Grant.