by Bobbi Smith
Maria understood her reaction to the sight of her normally healthy, robust father so injured. “He’s resting now.”
“Papa . . . ?” Amanda said his name again, a little louder. When her father still didn’t stir, she knew a moment of true terror. She thought he looked as if he were dead. Tears burned in her eyes and her hands were shaking.
“Papa . . . It’s me, Amanda. I’m home,” she repeated, moving tentatively closer to his bedside.
Dan’s eyes opened slowly and he stared up at his daughter. He managed a weak smile. “Amanda. . . .” It was barely a whisper. He slowly lifted one hand toward her.
She hurried to take his hand and knelt next to him, staring down at his pale features. His eyes were sunken and his cheeks hollow. He looked as if his life were draining away from him. “I’m sorry it took so long. . . . I didn’t know you were hurt.”
“I’m glad you’re here,” he said, gathering his strength to talk. Just seeing her again renewed him. “They wanted me to stay up in Comanche Pass until I was better, but I told them you were coming home. I had to be here.”
“Don’t worry, Papa. I’m back now. I’ll take care of you. I’ll take care of everything.” Her tears were falling unheeded now. Her father had almost been killed, and she hadn’t been here for him! Any thought she’d had about going back East disappeared. “Oh, Papa—”
“It’s going to be all right, girl. The bastards, whoever they are, aren’t going to beat me,” he vowed angrily, then groaned in pain at having expended too much energy.
Amanda grew determined, too. Whoever had done this to her father was going to pay. She would see to it. “You don’t have any idea who did this to you? Has the sheriff got any clues?”
“No, he doesn’t know a damned thing,” Dan said. “I sure as hell wish they’d found something out, but there was nothing at the scene of the robbery that was of any help to them.”
“They can’t just get away with this!” Anger filled her. Her uncle had been killed, and her father had been grievously wounded.
“The sheriff says he’ll get them, but that it’s going to take time.”
“Is the line still running?” she asked, knowing what was most important to her father, and knowing she couldn’t let him down. The Taylor Stage and Freight Line was her father’s life. She would do whatever she had to do to keep it going.
“Ted came back home, and he’s been helping Isaac run it. It’s been tough, but Isaac’s doing as good a job as he can, considering the circumstances.”
“Well, there’s no need for them to worry anymore. I’m going to be running the stage line from now on,” she declared, wiping away her tears as she began to focus on what she needed to do.
“You?” Her father looked at her and frowned.
“Who better than me? I grew up around Taylor Stage and Freight. I know everything there is to know about the operation. You don’t have to worry at all, Papa. I’m taking over, and I’ll keep everything running until you’re back on your feet.”
“I don’t know if that’s a good idea, Amanda,” he cautioned. “You’re just a girl, and whoever these men are, they’re deadly.”
Amanda had expected this argument. She’d been hearing it from him all her life. “Isaac will help me, and, as you said, Ted’s back. Things will be fine, you’ll see.”
Dan wanted to argue with her. She couldn’t possibly take charge of such a big operation. But he didn’t have the strength.
“I’ll let you rest for now. We’ll talk more later when you’re feeling stronger,” she promised as she leaned close to him and pressed a kiss to his cheek.
Dan watched her walk from the room, and he knew he had to do something to protect her. If he and Asa couldn’t stop the robberies, how could she? “Send Jack in,” he called out hoarsely.
“I will, and you take it easy and don’t worry. I want you healthy again as soon as possible.”
Amanda stepped into the hall and closed the bedroom door behind her. Her heart was pounding, and she was trembling. She had just told her father that she was going to take over the day-to-day running of Taylor Stage and Freight. She swallowed nervously as she leaned weakly back against his door. Doubts assailed her as she wondered if she could do it. But even as she feared the unknown that lay ahead of her, she knew in her heart that she was as smart as any man, and she did have a background in the business.
Pushing herself away from the door, Amanda squared her shoulders and stiffened her spine. She was Amanda Taylor. She had marched with the suffragists and smashed up saloons with the temperance protesters. This was her stage line, and she was damned well going to run it!
With Isaac’s help and Ted willing to work, too, she could do it. She knew she could. She would prove to them all just how capable a woman could be, handling what was supposedly a man’s job.
She started off down the hall and met Mona and Ted on their way to find her.
“How is he?” Mona asked, concern showing in her expression.
“Very weak,” Amanda said. “I’ve never seen him in such bad shape.”
Ted automatically went to her and put a supporting arm around her shoulders. “We’re here to help you in any way we can, Amanda.”
“Thank you.” She managed to smile at him. “From what Papa told me, you’ve already helped him a lot. I appreciate it.”
“We’re family,” Mona said, smiling sympathetically. “If there’s anything you need, anything at all, you only have to ask.”
“You’re both wonderful.”
“Shall we go into the parlor and talk for a few minutes? Catch up on everything?”
“Yes, I’d like that. I especially want you to tell me what’s been happening with the line, Ted,” she said, gathering her thoughts and getting ready to take control. “Is Isaac here in town? I’d like to speak to you both at the same time.”
“Since your father was shot, Isaac moved here to San Rafael to take charge and to be near your father. He’s been with him almost every minute. He’s very dedicated to him.”
“Papa cares a lot about him. They’re good friends.”
“I’ll go get him for you. I know he’s eager to see you.”
“Good. Mona, I’ll meet you in the parlor after I find Jack. My father wants to see him,” Amanda said with authority, glad to have something to do to distract herself. All she really wanted to do was sit down and cry, but there was no time for that. Her father was alive and recovering. Right now, she had to be strong for him. She had to be the son he’d never had. She had a stage line to run.
Mona watched Amanda disappear downstairs, then looked at her son. The expression in her eyes was hard. “I thought she was going to be a sweet, young thing who’d be easy to control.”
“Calm down, Mother,” Ted chided. “She’ll be fine. She’s probably still in shock right now. All we have to do is explain to her how terrible things have been, how bad business has gotten, and then convince her to sell the stage line.”
“Do you really believe it will be that simple?”
“We’re going to find out.”
“If Dan’s recovering, there’s no way she’s going to sell.”
“I suppose we’ll just have to convince both of them that it’s the wise thing to do, won’t we?” He strode off after Amanda, intent on locating Isaac.
Amanda was coming downstairs just as Jack and Eileen entered the house.
“I’m glad you’re here,” she told them. “My father was asking for you, Jack. He wants to see you. He’s upstairs in the last bedroom on the right.”
“How are you? Are you all right?” Jack asked as he went to her where she stood at the foot of the steps. She looked pale, shaken and almost fragile. He was tempted to take her in his arms and comfort her, but he stopped himself.
“I’m fine. It’s just my father—” she said, lifting her tortured gaze to Jack’s. “It’s so hard seeing him this way.”
“Did you ask him about going back East?”
“No,”
she answered sharply, glancing back up the stairs. “I can’t even think about leaving him the way things are right now. He needs me here, with him.”
Jack nodded, knowing how much it had cost her to give up her dream. “I’d better go see what he wants.”
“Thanks.”
Jack started up the steps just as Ted and Mona appeared at the top. He nodded as he passed them and continued on his way down the hall.
Eileen went to Amanda and slipped an arm around her waist. “Honey, you look exhausted. Let’s go in here and sit down.” She led her into the parlor.
Ted left the house in search of Isaac while Mona went to join Amanda and Eileen.
Jack knocked softly on Dan’s bedroom door. “Dan?”
“Come on in, Jack,” Dan called out, glad his friend had come to see him.
Jack entered quietly. “I’m sorry about your brother. What happened? Was it the same gang as before?”
“I don’t know,” his old friend said wearily. “Pull up a chair so we can talk.”
Jack did, settling in close to the bedside. He understood Amanda’s reaction to her father’s condition. Dan looked as if he were at death’s doorstep.
“Thanks for bringing my little girl home to me.”
“She’s not such a little girl anymore,” Jack said ruefully.
“She always will be to me,” her father said softly. “Your money’s there in the top drawer of my bureau.” He nodded toward the bureau.
“Thank you.”
“Did you have any trouble with her?”
“No, everything went smoothly.” Jack did not want to burden Dan with the news that his daughter was involved in the temperance protest or tell him about the ugly encounter with Jennings aboard ship. Everything had turned out all right in the end, so there was no need to bother him with the details.
“Good . . . good.” Dan sighed in relief. “She can be a handful sometimes.”
“We made it just fine.”
“Jack . . . There’s something I’ve got to ask you.”
“What?” Jack waited, unsure of what was to come.
“When Amanda was in here just now . . . She said she was going to take care of me and the stage line. She plans on taking over and running the line herself.”
“She can’t be serious?”
“She is. Jack . . . whoever’s been robbing the line isn’t going to stop until they’re caught and put behind bars. I can’t let Amanda get mixed up in all this. It’s too dangerous.”
“It sounds like she already is.”
“What if something were to happen to her?” He gave Jack a tormented look. “I need you, Jack. I need you to stay here and keep an eye on her for me.”
“Dan, Amanda doesn’t want anything to do with me. I’m sure she’s thrilled at the thought that after today, she’ll never have to see me again. She’s quite the independent woman, and she’s made it perfectly clear that she doesn’t want a man taking care of her.”
“I don’t care what she wants. I’ve got to know that she’s safe.” Somehow, Dan garnered enough strength to lever himself up on an elbow and look straight at Jack. “Tell her I hired you on as a driver. With Asa dead and me laid up, we need all the help I can get. You know how to handle a team, but better yet, you’re a dead shot. Pretend to be working for the line, but in reality be her bodyguard. Protect her, Jack. Keep her safe for me, until I’m well enough to take care of her myself.”
Jack wanted to leave. He wanted to get away from Amanda. He was tempted to tell Dan about the Sheldon gang, how they were gunning for him and how he needed to go after them, but he didn’t. The thought of Amanda in danger disturbed him. Instead of refusing, he nodded tightly. “All right. I’ll do it, but she isn’t going to be happy about it.”
“I don’t care if Amanda’s happy or not. I just want her to stay alive.” He lay back heavily and let his eyes shut as exhaustion washed over him. “Thanks, Jack. I’ll make it up to you one of these days.”
“You don’t have to make anything up to me. We just have to convince Amanda that you really hired me to work for the line.”
“I’ll handle Amanda. You just keep an eye out for trouble and make sure nothing happens to her.”
“You got any idea who’s behind this?”
“If I did, I’d have taken care of them myself,” Dan said with a fierceness that belied his weakened condition. “I’m counting on you. Amanda’s my life.”
“I’ll take care of her, Dan,” Jack promised.
“Thanks.”
Downstairs in the parlor, Amanda spoke with Isaac and Ted as Mona and Eileen listened.
“I’ve just talked with my father, and I told him that I was going to take over the day-to-day operations of the stage line.”
“Amanda, that’s ridiculous,” Mona said, drawing a challenging look from Amanda.
“Why, Mona?” she asked. “Because I’m female?”
“Well . . . Yes. I mean, Amanda, dear, you’ve been away back East at school. Why should you trouble yourself with all this, when you have Ted and Isaac to run the place for you? Things seem to be going along all right for them,” she pointed out.
“ ‘All right’ isn’t good enough for me. My father is the majority owner of Taylor Stage and Freight. As his daughter, I am assuming control until such time as he’s recovered enough to return to his duties running the line himself.”
Mona was in shock and gave her a disapproving glare. Ted kept his expression carefully benign.
Isaac was smiling broadly at her. She was her father’s daughter. “Welcome home, Miss Amanda,” he said, proud of her courage in taking on such a big job. “Where do you want to start?”
“I’ll get settled in tonight and meet with you early tomorrow morning. You can tell me then exactly how we’re running and the general status of things.” She looked at Ted. “Can you meet us here at seven-thirty?”
“I’ll be here—but Amanda, do you really think this is a good idea?” He glanced over at his mother. “With your father so weak, Mother and I had been discussing the possibility of selling the line. Charles Johnson has been trying to buy your father out for the last year, and we were thinking this would be the time to take him up on his offer.”
She was shocked by his suggestion. “Taylor Stage and Freight is my father’s life. It was Asa’s life, too.” She fixed Mona with a steady regard. “They built this business from scratch. Neither one of them would ever have considered selling out, and I won’t either.”
“If you feel that strongly about it, all right. I just thought that you might want to sell while we could still get a good price for it.”
“Taylor Stage and Freight Line is not for sale, so meet me here at seven-thirty, and we’ll plan what we’re going to do to increase security and keep the stages running smoothly and on time.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Isaac said, glad that she was proving to be decisive and determined. He’d missed working with Dan and Asa. Ted tried to help, but he had little idea of what he was doing, and that made things twice as hard. “I’ll be here.”
“Thanks, Isaac.” She smiled warmly at him as he left.
“I’ll see you then,” Ted said, rising to go.
Mona went to his side, and Amanda walked them to the foyer.
“Mona, I don’t know if I had the chance to tell you how sorry I am about Uncle Asa,” Amanda said, taking her hands in hers. “This can’t be easy for you.”
“You have no idea,” Mona responded. “I just thank heaven that Ted’s been here for me.” She looked at her son with pride. “He’s been such a big help.”
“I’m glad you’re here, too, Ted,” Amanda said, gazing up at him. “I don’t know what Papa would have done without you and Isaac these last few weeks.”
“I was glad to help. Your Uncle Asa was always good to me, and if I can do anything to make things easier for you, just let me know.”
“I will, believe me.”
“Good night, Amanda,” Mona said, kissing her o
n the cheek as she started from the house.
“Good night,” Ted said as he leaned down to kiss her cheek, too.
“I’ll see you tomorrow.” Amanda had been surprised by Ted’s kiss, but also a little pleased by it. She watched him from the doorway until they had gone from sight.
Chapter Ten
“So you’re going to see him tomorrow, are you?” Jack’s already bad mood had darkened as he’d stood at the top of the steps and watched Ted kiss Amanda. There was something about the man he didn’t like. Ted was too smooth, too friendly, too nice—and too attentive to Amanda. He was going to have to keep an eye on him.
Amanda had been unaware of Jack’s presence, and she was startled by his remark. “Not that it’s any of your business, but yes, I’m meeting with Ted and Isaac in the morning to discuss business.”
“Well, you might as well include me in your little meeting,” he said.
“Why should I? You’re leaving. You’ve done what my father hired you to do. You escorted me home, and now you’re free to go.”
“Afraid not.” Jack grinned wickedly at her shocked expression. “I’ve got a new job.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You’re looking at Taylor Stage and Freight Line’s newest hand. Your father just hired me on. He said with your uncle dead and him laid up, he needed someone who could handle a team and a gun, and I fit the bill.”
Amanda couldn’t believe it. “Well, I’ve taken over the running of the line in my father’s absence and that makes me the boss. I say you’re not hired!”
“Sorry, darling. You can’t unhire me,” Jack drawled. “Your father may be weak right now, but he’s still the owner. He’s the one who took me on, and he’s the only one I answer to.”
“We’ll just have to see about that,” she declared tightly, glaring at him as he gave her a mocking smile.
“I told him how much you were going to enjoy having me around for a while longer.”
Amanda turned her back on him and stalked into the parlor.
“Good night, Amanda,” Jack called before he let himself out of the house. “I’ll be staying at the hotel, just in case you need me for anything.”
