“Let’s cross that bridge when we come to it,” Daisy told him with utter practicality.
He nodded, grinning inwardly at the way he was already deferring to her wishes. Not that he had any objection, of course. He knew very well he’d bend over backward to accommodate the slightest thing she wanted. His schoolteacher had him wrapped around her pretty little finger.
They reached the end of Main Street, where the houses started to get further apart and the road twisted away to the southeast, heading for Virginia City, so they turned back toward town.
“So, that’s all my news.” With a tilt of his head, he asked, “Care to tell me about yesterday evening? What happened after we left? The only people I saw last night were coming out of the saloon, but none of them were headed in your direction.”
The story Daisy related made Luke’s blood boil, a red mist rising in front of his eyes. He hadn’t been so angry since… well, since the war. His hand clenched on the six-shooter holstered at his hip, but he made himself release the polished grip. “McCullough showed me and Jack the impression of the bootprint this morning, but I didn’t know where it was from,” he said. “Asked to compare our boots against it. I was happy to do so, same with Jack. The print is a bit longer and narrower than my foot and somewhat smaller all around than Jack’s, just to set your mind at ease.”
“I never for a moment thought it could have been either of you,” Daisy said firmly.
Gratitude welled up inside him at her words. “I really don’t like thinking of you there all alone with some... some...” he couldn’t think of a word to describe the man who’d tried to get in when Daisy was sleeping without cussing. Finally, he settled on, “some monster trying to get in. You should move back to Miz May’s for safety...”
“I’m not moving back to the boarding house,” Daisy insisted. “I’m quite safe, I promise! The bolts you and Jack installed on the door are so sturdy no one could kick it down. The sheriff assured me of that when he checked it out.”
“There’s still windows which could be smashed, and you’re defenseless if someone did get in!” Thinking about it for a moment, Luke asked, “Do you know how to use a gun?”
“Excuse me?” Daisy blinked at him.
“Can you shoot a gun?” He fingered his revolver’s smooth mahogany grip, knowing he’d feel naked without it but Daisy needed it far more than he did. “If you can’t, I could give you some lessons, and you can have this one. Could be a mite big for your hand, but I reckon you can handle it in a pinch.”
“Oh, Luke.” Her eyes were soft as she looked up at him, once again squeezing his arm. “Thank you, but it’s not necessary.”
“I know a lot of ladies don’t like to handle a gun, but —”
She cut him off. “I don’t have any objection to guns, Luke, but you don’t need to give me yours. It’s not necessary,” she emphasized.
He blinked, realizing what she was telling him without saying the words. “Well now,” he said, startled. “That’s unexpected, but it does ease my mind some.”
“The sheriff and I agreed not to tell anyone. That way only he, I, and the prowler who heard me shout at him know I have it. I just don’t want you worrying about me, Luke—I’m not defenseless.”
“I won’t tell anyone,” he promised. “You always surprise me, Miss Daisy.”
She gave him a quirky little smile. “Remember where I grew up.”
He nodded. He’d heard plenty of stories about the California gold camps, and miners could certainly be a rough breed—although the sheriff and the town council did a good job of keeping them well in order in Rattlesnake Ridge. Daisy’s father must have taught her to shoot; he wondered how old her gun was, and her ammunition for that matter.
“Can I check it over for you?” he asked tentatively. “Just to make sure it’s all in good working order.”
Her smile was amused but tolerant. “Of course. Just don’t let the children see it; I’d prefer they didn’t know I have it.”
“I won’t let anyone know.”
She thanked him, which was completely ridiculous, and he told her so. He was just grateful she wasn’t as defenseless as he’d feared. Still, he planned to examine those bolts and her windows too. And maybe he’d be out late tonight taking a hard look at any man on the street near Daisy’s house without a darned good reason to be there.
When they got to her little house, he asked if he could examine the bolts and the windows. Daisy obviously considered it for a moment before nodding, and then said she’d be out on the front stoop of the schoolhouse sweeping the steps.
She was afraid to be alone with him, but not afraid of him, Luke recognized with a private grin as he left her clutching her broom. No, his Daisy was afraid she’d be all too willing to let him take liberties—not that he had any intention of doing so!
The doors were as secure as he’d thought, but the latch on the kitchen window could be slipped from the outside with a pocket knife. He found some slivers of wood to wedge it tightly closed and was determined to find a way to secure it more permanently, although it was likely Daisy would want to open it sometimes. Maybe they could fit some bars over it? Scowling and chewing on his lower lip as he considered the problem, Luke made his way back through the yard to find Daisy was no longer alone on the front steps.
“I hear you had a midnight visitor,” a deep voice drawled. Every muscle in Luke’s body went rigid as he recognized the voice.
“I’m sure Sheriff McCullough briefed you, Deputy,” Daisy said dismissively. Luke could still hear the sound of her sweeping; he edged sideways slightly so he could see her on the steps but Deputy Watson wouldn’t be able to see him.
“There’s some rough elements in Rattlesnake Ridge,” Watson said. “You want to take care who you associate with.”
Daisy continued to sweep. “My school is open to all of the children in the town, Deputy,” she said, “as agreed by the town council when they voted to pay my salary.”
“I wasn’t referring to the children!”
“Then I can’t imagine who you might possibly mean, Deputy Watson.”
Daisy’s voice dripped sweetness. In the shadows beside the schoolhouse, Luke grinned. For all his fancy education, Grant Watson was never going to win a war of words with her.
“I’m talking about Luke Rockford,” Watson said coldly.
“Oh, the war hero who gave up many hours of his own time to see the schoolhouse finished? The gentleman who installed sturdy bolts on my doors so the prowler last night couldn’t get in? That Luke Rockford?” The sarcasm in her voice was thick enough to cut with a knife.
“Daisy,” Watson began.
She cut him off sharply. “Deputy Watson, I have not given you leave to address me solely by my first name. Indeed, I have had to correct you on more than one occasion. Do I need to report your disrespect to Sheriff McCullough?”
There was a brief, shocked silence, and Luke had to hold back his laughter. He doubted anyone had given Grant Watson such a reprimand since he was a child.
“I beg your pardon, ma’am,” Watson said stiffly at last. “I’m only concerned for your welfare.”
Daisy didn’t dignify the remark with a response, just continued sweeping the steps.
Left with no other option, Watson finally said, “Good day to you, ma’am,” and walked away.
Luke waited until the sound of Watson’s boots had died away completely before applauding.
“Oh, Lord.” Daisy laughed. She came over, looking up at him with a sparkle in her eyes and a smile on her soft lips. “You could have come and rescued me!”
“Did you want me to? Seemed you were doing just fine on your own. I’d have paid a good deal of money to see his face when you threatened to report him to the sheriff!”
Daisy giggled, her hand over her mouth as she shook her head. “I don’t know what came over me!”
“You were righteously offended by his disrespect, that’s what, and you took him to task for it, which he de
served.” Luke grinned down at her. “Me coming over would have rubbed salt into the wound but also possibly created gossip you don’t want.”
“Indeed.” She glanced about. They were both clearly visible to anyone passing by on the street, standing a perfectly respectable distance apart at the side of the schoolhouse. “Perhaps you’re right.”
“Don’t suppose you got a good look at his boots?” Luke asked as they walked back to her little house.
“You suspect him?” Daisy nibbled on her lower lip. “So do I, to be honest, and I think the sheriff wondered as well. I don’t know about the size, but Watson’s boots sure do seem expensive for a sheriff’s deputy.”
“His uncle’s Mr. Garrett who owns the bank. Plenty of money there,” Luke pointed out.
“What a tangled web,” Daisy quoted with a sigh.
He wanted nothing more than to take her in his arms and comfort her, tell her everything would be all right and she didn’t need to worry about a thing. But he couldn’t; propriety wouldn’t allow for it. He had to settle for reaching across the space between them to touch her shoulder lightly with his fingertips. “I wedged the window in the kitchen shut. Don’t open it until I can figure out a more permanent way to make it safe. Are you planning on going out again today?”
Daisy shook her head, reaching up to brush his fingers with her own. “No, I was going to have a quiet supper and sit down to grade the children’s arithmetic papers.”
“Lock the door behind me. I’ll go around your house to make sure all’s secure.” He wanted to stay, to offer to sleep on her stoop to keep her safe, but she wouldn’t thank him for causing gossip.
“Thank you,” Daisy said quietly.
He bowed his head respectfully before heading outside, waiting until he heard the heavy bolt slide shut before he tried the door. Nobody was getting through that without a stick of dynamite at least, that was for sure.
He checked first Daisy’s tiny bedroom window, then all the side windows, trying to slide his pocket-knife in and jimmy the latches, but they were all well-made and tightly closed. With a nod of approval, he went around to the front and then down the other side of the building, where there was only the window that looked into Daisy’s kitchen. It didn’t budge when he tested it, so he made his way to the back door.
Which opened when he tried the latch to reveal Daisy standing there. Before he could say a word, she practically ran at him, throwing her arms around his neck and standing on tiptoe to kiss him full on the lips.
Astounded, Luke wasn’t so shocked he was unable to kiss Daisy back. His arms were just closing around her when she pulled away and backed inside, shaking her finger at him.
“You make me forget I’m a respectable woman, Luke Rockford!” she hissed. The smile on her lips belied her tone without so much as a by-your-leave as the door closed in his face and the bolt slammed home.
“Hot dang,” was all he could think of to say.
From behind the firmly closed door came a giggle and a reproach of, “Mind your language!”
“Begging your pardon, ma’am, only I’ve never been kissed like that before,” he said honestly. “I’m not saying I didn’t like it. I surely did. You just knocked the wind out of me.”
“Now you know how I feel every time you’re nearby.”
He groaned, reaching out to rest his hand on the rough timber of the door. “You’re not making it easy to walk away, Daisy.”
“Go. Before I forget myself and open the door again.”
He was pretty sure she wasn’t going to open the door, even though he was sorely tempted to stay and find out. “Sleep safe, Daisy,” he said before testing the latch. “You’re all safe, beloved. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Goodnight, Luke.”
It was hard to walk away, one of the most difficult things he’d ever done. Still, he made himself go, although he fully intended to return later on, take a look around, and make sure nobody was lurking. There was a narrow alley between two buildings directly across from the schoolhouse which would be dark after sundown. It would provide an excellent place for a man to hide.
Luke fingered his pistol grip again, wondering what he’d do if he happened to catch Daisy’s prowler. He’d be tempted to just up and kill the man, but the sheriff might not look too kindly on that. Nope, not too kindly at all. Best to apprehend the beast and hand him over to McCullough to make an example of.
With a shake of his head, Luke turned his steps toward the boarding house, his thoughts full of the lovely, complex woman he was leaving behind.
Whistling a jaunty tune, he nodded cheerfully to Mr. Dobson, who was sweeping the stoop outside the saloon. “Beautiful day, isn’t it?”
Dobson looked up at the gray sky and then arched an eyebrow at Luke. “Looks like you’re in a good mood, at least!”
“Best day of my life,” Luke answered joyously. He was bursting to share the news about Daisy accepting his proposal, but it didn’t seem right to tell anyone until Jack and Barb knew. He settled for grinning even more widely at Dobson, who shook his head with an amused smile before returning to his sweeping.
Luke never even saw the man who watched him with rage-filled eyes from the shadows of a doorway further down the street, fists clenched and teeth bared in a snarl.
Chapter 17
After a simple supper, Daisy sat down with a stack of papers to grade, but she couldn’t still her heart enough to concentrate on her work. She felt jumpy. Uncomfortable. She kept glancing at the window constantly and had been ever since the sun set. I really must get a curtain to put up as soon as possible, she thought. Perhaps her neighbors over the back fence, the Misses Bentley, would be able to help her. She’d stop by and see them tomorrow.
A dog barking somewhere close by startled her. With an annoyed huff, she rose from her chair to retrieve her gun from the bedroom. Laying it on the table beside her paperwork, she placed a folded washcloth over it, comforted by having the weapon close by.
A whistle outside broke her concentration a while later. Nervously she looked up, wondering if it was one of the sheriff’s men.
“Deputy Lassiter here, Miss Daisy. All’s well,” a deep voice called.
She smiled in relief. She didn’t know Deputy Lassiter, but she appreciated his adhering to the sheriff’s instructions. “Thank you, Deputy!” she called back. A few moments later she heard the sound of heavy boots clomping past her window, pausing for a moment in the backyard. She waited, her heart pounding in her chest, while the man made his rounds. She didn’t know what she wanted more: for him to find nothing or to find something.
He whistled again as he left, the bobbing light of his lantern a cheery pool of warmth as he walked away. It made her feel better knowing someone was out there keeping an eye on her.
She’d just blown out her candle and settled into bed, gun on the nightstand beside her, when she heard Lassiter whistle again, fainter this time through an extra wall. He didn’t call out this time, however, obviously respecting that her house was dark. Daisy felt able to close her eyes and relax, confident that for the moment at least, nobody was out there in the dark wishing her ill.
* * *
Friday dawned cloudy with a hint of smoke on the wind. Luke stopped by early, before Daisy had even opened the schoolhouse doors. She made him a cup of coffee while he prowled around the backyard. He looks tired, she thought. She narrowed her eyes at him over the rim of her coffee cup. “Why do I get the impression you didn’t get much sleep?”
“I haven’t the faintest idea what you might be suggesting,” Luke replied blandly.
“Hmm.”
“Oh, not the stern schoolteacher glare!” He clutched his chest, pretending to be wounded. “Spare me!”
She couldn’t help but laugh. “Stop your foolery. Deputy Lassiter wasn’t the only man patrolling Rattlesnake Ridge last night, was he?”
“Good man, Lassiter,” Luke said, not answering her question directly. “He’s a few years older than me,
but he went to war as well and fought bravely. The kind of man you’d want at your back.”
“Glad to hear it. Keeping him company last night, hm?” He accepted the coffee cup she held out to him with murmured thanks while avoiding answering yet again. It didn’t take her long to realize that he wasn’t going to answer the question. Frustrating man! Shaking her head, she said, “Well, I’m fine now, as you see. So why don’t you go and get some sleep, and this afternoon you can come by and take me out for a walk again. I want to go ‘round and see the Misses Bentley. Ask if they’ll make curtains for my windows.”
“Excellent idea,” Luke approved. “I wish I could go walking with you, but I got a message from Mr. Moss, the engineer up at the mine. He wants me and Jack to meet him up there at four o’clock. I could stop by when I get back…”
“Don’t worry about it. I can walk half a block on my own.” She waved off his frown. “It’ll be broad daylight. Come on by when you get back, if you like. Barb and the kids are going to bake cookies in my kitchen to take on the picnic tomorrow, so we won’t be alone.”
“Well, if there are gonna be cookies.” Luke gave her his roguish grin. “I’ll never say no to spending time with you anyway, but cookies… you sure know the way to a man’s heart.”
Daisy chuckled, shaking her head at him. “You’re ridiculous, Luke.”
“And you’re the sun in my sky, but I hope you knew that already.” Grabbing her free hand, he dropped a gentle kiss on the back of her fingers. When he finished, he turned her hand over and put the empty coffee cup in it, making her laugh again. “I’m gonna go and see Jim McCullough, tell him what you said to me about seeing Mr. Blake on the stage from Reno the day you arrived, see if he’s got any more information about the assayer’s death.”
Daisy nodded soberly. “If the sheriff wants to ask me about it, I can see him after school.”
Coming From California (The Pioneer Brides 0f Rattlesnake Ridge Book 2) Page 14
