He tightened his grip. He wouldn’t set her free. He couldn’t.
He cupped her breast and felt the nipple knot beneath his circling thumb. He kissed her long and thoroughly, his tongue mimicking the movements his body longed to make.
She swayed toward him, her body molding to his. She was soft and warm and smelled of cinnamon and spice.
He slid his fingers into her hair, loving the feel of it. Like strands of finest silk. His kiss grew more gentle, his mouth conveying everything he was loathe to speak aloud. Finally, knowing things were bound to get out of hand if he continued, he forced himself to break away. There were so many things he wanted, needed, to tell her. But not now.
“Oh, Tanner.” Her eyes like dark pools, she gazed up at him. Her trembling hand caressed his cheek.
He brought it to his mouth and kissed her palm. “You will not leave.” Satisfied that he’d made his point, he broke away and strode down the steps and into the darkness.
* * *
She was still leaning against the edge of the door, staring after him, when he rode out of sight. Dazed, she fought to regain her composure. She had wanted to scream at him, tell him he had no right to interfere in her life. Instead she’d melted in his arms. Allowed him to take liberties—again. “Damn him. Damn him to hell!”
He hadn’t kissed her because he loved her. He was only trying to show her he was boss.
“Well he isn’t my boss. And he can’t tell me what to do.”
A noise in the alley made her aware that she was silhouetted against the lantern-lit room. She squinted into the darkness. She knew it wasn’t Tanner. She had watched him leave.
And it couldn’t be Fluffy. When she’d opened the door, the dog had seized the opportunity and raced off in the other direction, in pursuit of a stray cat.
Feeling vulnerable without her pet, she clapped her hands together, hoping he would come. “Fluffy. Come on, boy.”
A noise sounded again, closer. This time from the darkness at the side of the house.
She whirled. “Fluffy?”
The dog bounded up behind her, coming from the opposite direction. Panting, he stopped at her side. He raised his head and sniffed the air. A growl, low and deep, rumbled from his throat.
She touched his back and felt the ruff on his neck rising. It’s probably the cat again, she told herself.
But what if it wasn’t? What if it was something—someone—else? Someone skulking in the darkness. It might be one of the Chinese going home, but they were always off the streets before dark. They were too afraid for their own safety to cause a problem for anyone else.
Could it be the miner from that morning?
What if there were more than one person? One man could easily overpower her. Two, and she wouldn’t have a chance.
Except for a tinkling of music from the saloon down the street, the streets were silent and empty. No one would hear her if she cried out. If the dog took off again she would be left all alone.
She wrapped her hand around Fluffy’s collar and tugged the resisting dog into the house. Once they were inside, she released him and slammed the door. She threw the bolt, then twisted the lock. Then she dragged a kitchen chair across the room and wedged the back of it under the doorknob.
A sound that could have been a man’s laugh drifted on the clear night air.
Could he see through the curtains? She went to the table and blew out the lamp. She stood in the darkness, staring first at the door, then at the windows.
Was it her imagination? Or was someone out there in the darkness, watching, waiting?
God help her, she didn’t know, and she wasn’t about to go outside and find out.
The dog moved to her side. He, too, was tense, uneasy.
Seeking comfort, she tangled her fingers in his thick fur.
She didn’t know how long they stood there. Five minutes? Two hours? More? She only knew she was frozen with fear, the metallic taste so strong in her mouth she found it hard to swallow, almost impossible to breathe.
The dog finally broke the spell. He stretched and yawned. Then he licked her hand. He left her side and flopped down in front of the fire.
Kate took a few wobbling steps and collapsed on the settee. When she finally did go to bed, she took the stove poker and placed it beside her. She did not undress, and she did not close her eyes.
She stared into the darkness, longing for the strength, the protection of Tanner’s strong arms. He’d told her he wouldn’t let her leave. But he also didn’t give her any reason to stay. Loving him the way she did, she’d didn’t dare remain in Jacksonville. Tears seeped from her eyelids and made wet patches on her cheeks. Each bittersweet parting only made her miss him that much more.
It was dawn when exhaustion finally claimed her, dragging her into a restless sleep.
* * *
Kate awoke determined to put her fright of the night before behind her—until she discovered boot prints in the mud beneath her window. A chill crawled over her, leaving her faint and trembling. She hadn’t imagined it. Somebody had been here.
She whirled, her gaze examining every bush, every building, anything large enough to conceal a man. She saw nothing.
Stop it! He’s not here now.
Forcing a calmness she did not feel, she walked to the mercantile and purchased the spices she needed. As she turned to leave she noted a display of firearms. A gun? Don’t be ridiculous. With her luck she’d probably end up shooting herself instead of the prowler. She shuddered, doubting that she could ever bring herself to fire the weapon if she had it. The idea of spilling another person’s blood filled her with horror.
Still, a gun would be protection.
No. But as she turned away, one of the guns caught her eye. It had a mother-of-pearl handle and was small. It would easily fit into a purse or a pocket. It didn’t look dangerous, or big enough to kill anybody. But it might make enough noise to scare a person off.
“Howdy, Miss Kate.”
Lost in contemplation, she hadn’t known anyone was there until she heard her name. She whirled. Recognizing Chauncey, she managed a shaky smile.
The miner’s bushy gray eyebrows drew into a frown. “Are you thinking about getting yourself a shootin’ iron, Miss Kate?”
“Uh, no. Not really.”
He stepped to the case and gazed down at the weapon. “Pretty little thing, ain’t it? Might be kind of handy for a lady to have around.” He eyed her intently.
“Do you think so?” She bit her lip and looked at the gun again. “I wouldn’t know how to shoot it.”
“I could teach you,” he offered. “But if you really wanted to protect yourself, it might be better if you had something bigger—like a shotgun. You wouldn’t have to be accurate. You could just point it and shoot. Be impossible to miss. You’d blow a hole clean through anything that aimed to bother you. Why, I remember one of doc’s patients had all his innards...”
Kate’s stomach rolled. Bile rose in her throat. “Thank you, Chauncey. I’ll think it over.” Before she disgraced herself, she clamped a hand over her mouth and fled from the shop.
Chapter 19
All through the night, Tanner pondered Kate’s behavior. The next day it was still foremost on his mind. She had appeared scared, uneasy, and he didn’t think it had anything to do with him, or worry about her reputation. When he’d arrived at her house he’d heard a noise inside. Later he’d realized she’d had a chair wedged against her door. Before she’d allowed him to enter, she had returned it to its place by the table.
Why? What was she so afraid of? And why didn’t she want him to know?
The more he thought about it the more certain he became that he had cause for alarm.
Instead of working until dark as had become his custom, he quit early and headed for the house.
“Tanner, is something wrong?” Matt asked when Tanner strode through the door.
“I’m not sure. I think I need a second opinion.” Tanner removed his coat and h
at and hung them on the rack, then he poured himself a cup of coffee. “Why don’t you and Mark gather round the table here and see what you think.”
When they were settled on either side of the long wooden table, Tanner told them about the visit he’d made to Kate and her strange behavior. He also told them she had been planning to leave Jacksonville, but that he had managed to change her mind.
He didn’t tell them about the argument they’d had.
And he certainly didn’t tell them about the kiss.
Not only because he considered it none of their business, but also because he didn’t want to rile them up when he needed their help.
“The weather’s nicer now, and it’s not so cold at night. I think it might be a good idea if we take a turn or two staying in that toolshed across from her place,” Tanner said. “Keep a watch on her house at night. See if anybody’s bothering her.”
“From what you’ve told us, that might be a good idea,” Mark said, glancing at Matt. “What do you think?”
“Something’s spooked her. Tanner, since you’re working so hard these days, let me and Mark take care of this. If anything serious comes up, we’ll let you know. Otherwise, we can handle it.”
“I would feel better,” Tanner said.
“Are you gonna talk all night? I’m hungry,” Luke complained from the kitchen doorway.
“Keep this between us,” Tanner warned, knowing that Luke would insist on helping out. He also knew that, as before, Luke would fall asleep.
“You’ve got it,” Mark said softly. “I’ll get my gun and be on my way.”
“I’ll pack you a sandwich,” Matt said, rising from the table. “Give you something to do while you’re watching.”
“Watching for what?” Luke asked. “Where are you going?”
“Hunting.” Mark flashed Tanner a grin. “Who knows what kind of varmint I might catch.”
* * *
Tired of her own cooking, Kate went across the street to sample some of Madame Jeanne’s excellent French cuisine. After a meal of coqauvin and a glass of wine, Kate spent a few moments in conversation with her friend. Then, saying goodbye, she returned to her own dwelling.
She’d put in a hard day with scarcely any rest the night before; now she was practically asleep on her feet. She’d made a point to be home before dark, but now the long night stretched out before her.
She’d let the dog loose before she left, hoping that by allowing him a good run, he would be content to spend the rest of the night inside. But now, having reached her doorstep, she wondered at the wisdom of that decision. Fluffy wasn’t waiting on the steps as was his usual custom. In fact her pet was nowhere in sight.
“Fluffy. Here, boy,” she called, first in one direction, then another.
He didn’t come.
She waited for a few minutes, uneasily noting that the sun was fast disappearing behind the horizon. When it set, night would fall like a black shroud. As a child she had been afraid of the dark. As an adult she liked it even less. Now fully aware of the dangers that might be lurking just out of sight, she was terrified.
“Fluffy. Come on, puppy,” she called, louder this time.
Still no response. Either he was out of earshot or too preoccupied to pay her any mind.
Her nervousness made it impossible for her to remain outside any longer. She inserted the key into the lock.
The door swung open of its own accord.
Gasping, she jumped back. Then, her heart pounding, she cautiously peered into the room. Had she forgotten to lock it?
No. She’d checked it. The house had been secure.
A faint smell of cigarette smoke lingered in the air. Someone had been here. She swallowed. Could still be here. “Hello. Is anyone there?” she called, hating the tremor in her voice. “Hello.”
“Miss Kate, something wrong?”
“Oh-h!” Kate wheeled. “Dr. Thomas.” She clasped a hand over her thundering heart. “I’m so glad to see you. I locked my house and went to supper. When I returned a few minutes ago, I found my door open.”
“Hmm. Better let me take a look.” The doctor opened his medical bag and removed a pistol. He stepped to the doorway. “If anybody’s in here you’d better show yourself right now,” he called out in a no-nonsense tone. He entered the house and lit the lamp. He checked the corners, the closet and under the bed. Then he came back to the door and motioned her inside. “Nobody here now. You’d better take a look around and see if anything is missing.”
“I don’t have anything worth stealing.” She checked her meager store of belongings. She had deposited all of her money in the bank. Everything else seemed to be in place. “Maybe it wasn’t locked after all. Maybe the latch didn’t catch.”
“Let me have your key, and I’ll check it.” He inserted the key into the lock and tried it several times. “It seems to be all right.” He frowned. “I don’t want to scare you, but could be somebody else has a key.”
Her eyes widened. “Would that be possible?”
“It’s an old building. The lock is a standard size. Most any key of the same type would fit it.”
“Oh, my. That never occurred to me.” The idea that anyone could break in was bad enough. But the knowledge that they could enter and leave at will...
She thought about all the nights when she’d been asleep, depending on the security of the lock. Of course, she’d also had her dog to give warning.
Remembering her pet, she glanced up at the physician. “Have you seen Fluffy tonight?”
“No, can’t say as I have. Is he missing?”
“Not really. I let him out for a run, and he hasn’t come back yet.” She forced a smile. “I’m sure he’ll return most any time.”
The doctor frowned. “I hate to leave you alone like this, but I have a patient that I have to see.”
“I’ll be fine,” she said, with a lot more assurance than she felt.
“Lock up tight,” the elder man ordered. “On the way back if I run into your dog, I’ll bring him by.”
“Thank you. But I’m certain he will have returned home before then.”
“Good night, Kate.”
She followed the doctor to her doorstep, then she called her dog again. Finally, when the night closed around her, she scooted back inside. As she turned the key and slid the bolt, she wondered why she bothered. If intruders really wanted to get in, the flimsy fixture wouldn’t keep them out. And once inside, without the dog, she would be at their mercy.
* * *
Mark had barely made it into the toolshed when the doctor and Kate came out the door. Was Kate sick? Maybe that was why she had been so uneasy. Taking a seat on an upended barrel, he peered from the edge of the doorway, listening to her call the dog. She didn’t look sick to him. Maybe it was some female complaint. While he didn’t know much about that, he had heard other people talk about them.
Finally she went back inside and closed the door. Then the house plunged into darkness.
It seemed strange she would go to bed with her pet still outside. The dog hadn’t come when she called. Where was the mangy critter? Fluffy was very protective of Kate. Even on the mountain he rarely left her side.
Could something have happened to him? Mark scoffed at that idea. He had the feeling that beast could have gone up against a bear and come out the winner.
Then what?
He grinned. A lady dog, of course. The worthless mutt had gone courting.
Kate must be scared to death, he thought. When she’d been on the mountain, he remembered, she had always tended to the outside necessities before it had gotten dark.
Even though he didn’t relish spending the night in an uncomfortable toolshed, Mark was glad he was there. He only wished he could reassure Kate, tell her he was watching over her and that she had nothing to fear, but he didn’t dare. Not just because Tanner had told him not to, but because he knew Kate was too proud to admit to a little thing like fear.
He shifted to a more comfortab
le position to avoid a nail that was sticking up between the barrel staves. Sleep tugged at his eyelids, but remembering Tanner’s comment about Luke, Mark fought back a yawn. If he’d known he would be expected to stay awake all night, he could have sneaked a nap that afternoon. As it was, he’d spent the day chopping stove wood. Now his muscles ached, and he was not only exhausted, but bored.
Maybe if he ate something... He was poking about in the grub sack when a faint movement caught his eye. Nothing that he could really see, more like sensing a vague change in the alley shadows. Wind in the trees? Or maybe the dog?
All thoughts of food forgotten, Mark narrowed his eyes, trying to penetrate the gloom.
Whatever it was seemed intent on blending with the darkness. It moved again. Too tall for an animal. A man.
Mark slid his hand down and picked up his rifle. Silently he eased from the shed and crept toward the observer.
The man stood in a patch of shrubbery, his gaze riveted on the pie shop.
While he couldn’t see the man well enough to identify him, the smells seemed familiar. Pipe smoke, garlic, wool and... whoever it was could have stood a bath.
Mark edged closer. He planted the tip of the gun barrel in the man’s back. “One move and you’re dead,” he said softly.
“Mark? That you, boy? For God’s sake, don’t shoot. It’s Chauncey,” the old man said in a hoarse whisper.
Mark lowered the tip of the gun. “What are you doing sneaking around Kate’s?”
“I might ask you the same thing!”
“Tanner sent me. He was worried about her.”
“Shh!” The miner glanced around. “Can’t talk here. Let’s go over yonder.” The old-timer pointed to the toolshed.
Once they were inside, Mark asked for an explanation.
“I ran into Doc Thomas earlier. He said somebody broke into Kate’s house tonight while she was out to supper. Scared her pretty bad. Doc had to go out to see a patient, and I promised I’d keep an eye on things. Make sure whoever it was didn’t come back. On top of that her dog’s missin’.”
“Somebody broke into her house?” Mark’s fingers curled around the gun stock.
Courting Kate Page 19
