“Dolly? You were sleepin’ and moanin’ somethin’ awful.”
“I, uh, I was?” she stammered, the memory of the dream flooding through her. “Did I say anything?”
“No, you were just moanin’. You look flushed. Are you all right?”
“Yes, yes, I’m fine, I guess I just dozed off,” she said, fanning her face, amazed at how real the dream had been.
“Tucker’s about to arrive and—”
“He is?” she said, cutting him off then instantly regretting it.
“Yep, and I’ve gotta round up the boys. They’re all here, but they’re scattered around the place. You sure you’re okay?”
“I am, but I don’t know why I’m so tired. I think I’ll go into the kitchen and get some coffee.”
“You do that, and you might wanna fix your hair. It’s all mussed up.”
“It is? Oh, goodness,” she exclaimed, running her hands over it. “I’ll run upstairs and do that first.”
“Honey, are you taken with Tucker Prescott?”
“Why do you say that?” she asked, shocked by his question and wishing the heat would leave her face.
“The way you reacted just now,” he smiled, “and you’ve just told me I’m right by that look in your eye. I’m surprised. You don’t even know the man. You’ve only met that one time, right? When he first arrived and you went down to the cabin?”
“Uh…”
“You’ve seen him more than that?” he asked, a frown crossing his brow.
“I have, and if you didn’t have to run off I’d tell you about it. I want to, in fact, there are several things I want to tell you.”
“Later,” he said firmly, “but don’t worry, if you wanna spend some time with Tucker Prescott, it’s all right by me.”
“It is?”
“You’ve gotta let him finish his job though, you can’t be distractin’ him. He’s gotta stay focused.”
She stared at her father in surprise.
“Did you think I wouldn’t approve because he’s a gun-for-hire?”
“Kind of, maybe, I’m not sure. I haven’t thought about it.”
“I don’t know him very well, but I know I liked him the moment I first shook his hand, and he and his friend Father O’Brien seem to be gettin’ a handle on things here real quick. No, Dolly, I have no objections at this point, except, like I said, you can’t be distractin’ him.”
“Yes, father.”
“Now I’d best get movin’, and you’d best fix your hair. It looks like a bird’s nest.”
“I’ll take the back stairs,” she said, rising to her feet. “I don’t want to run into anyone looking a mess.”
He smiled at her knowingly, kissed her on the forehead, and strode from the room.
She sat for a moment, still unnerved by her dream, and surprised that her father had seen through her.
“Are my feelings for Tucker so obvious?” she murmured. “Can everyone see it?”
Rising to her feet, she rubbed her eyes, gazed across at the mountains, then stretching her arms above her head, she wondered for how long she’d been sleeping. The dream was still alive in her head, and seeing the images in her mind’s eye, she started off for her bedroom.
Trotting up the back staircase, she entered her bedroom and gazed at her reflection in the mirror. Her father had been right. Her hair was totally disheveled, but more than that, her face was bright red. Her body felt alive, more alive than it had ever felt before, more alive than when she would gallop Daisy across a vast field, her eyes almost tearing from the wind, her heart thudding with the thrill of her powerful horse flying over the ground. This was a different alive, a nerve-tingling alive, a pulse-racing alive.
With trembling hands she released her hair from his pins, letting it fall around her shoulders, and picking up her brush, she ran it through her long locks. Taking a breath, she stared at her reflection. Her blue eyes were twinkling back at her, and her skin appeared to be almost glowing. She suddenly decided to change into her pale blue dress with the white lace trim. It was one of her favorites, and since trouble had come to Spring Junction she’d had little occasion to wear it. Parties and friendly gatherings at the Baker home had dwindled, then ceased altogether. People didn’t want to be out after dark, and few had the desire to celebrate.
Her fingers were still shaky, and as she unbuttoned the bodice of the reddish brown outfit she was wearing, the image of Tucker laying her on the chaise, exposing her chest, and pressing his warm moist lips against her skin made her tummy flip. Letting out a sigh, she sat on the edge of the bed. What was happening to her? But she knew the answer; Tucker was the one, the man for whom she’d been waiting, the man who took her breath away and made her heart sing. Both Maude and her father had been badgering her to find a husband. You’re not getting any younger. If you don’t settle down soon, you won’t settle down at all. Her father had even sent her to spend a month with her cousins in the city in the hopes some introductions would produce an eligible suitor, but she had insisted on leaving after only a week. The city was full of noise and smells, and worse, gossip. It was the only thing her cousins seemed to do: sit around, eat cakes, and talk about their friends. She wasn’t about to settle down with anyone who expected her to live such a boring life, and in such an unpleasant place.
“Tucker,” she muttered, “this isn’t a fairytale, this is real, and you’re feeling the same. I know you are; you said so.”
She was wasting time, and worried she might miss his arrival, she hurriedly finished changing her clothes. With a last look in the mirror and another quick brush of her hair, she left her room and moved quickly down the hallway to the main staircase.
The foyer below was quiet, and there was no noise coming from the courtyard that separated the house from the stables. Angry with herself, thinking she must have dallied too long, she trotted down the steps and opened the front door. It wasn’t quiet because nothing was going on; it was quiet because Duke and Tucker were huddled together in a private conversation as a dozen or so men waited to hear from them. It was a serious scene, and though she quickly closed the door, she kept it open a crack to study the man who had dared to spank her, and had then stolen her heart.
His hands were on his hips, his wide shoulders were squared, and his handsome face was set in a look of grim determination, then, to her surprise, as if feeling her eyes on him, he lifted his gaze and glanced across at the door. Unable to stop herself, Dolly opened it all the way.
For a moment her heart stopped. He was staring at her, an odd look on his face. Was he angry at her for distracting him? But then he broke into a smile, a wide, wonderful smile. Her heart began to beat again, and she felt elevated, as if, from across the courtyard, he had magically lifted her off the ground just as he had in her dream. It was a moment frozen in time, a moment she knew she would never forget.
It was broken by her father turning around and walking to stand in front of the men. Tucker dropped his gaze and followed him, but stood a few feet back. Not wanting to cause any further disruption, Dolly half-closed the door, but remained where she was so she could watch and listen.
“Boys, I’ve already told you why you’re here,” Duke began. “You’ve had time to think on it, and you know there’ll be shootin’. Some of you have families, so if you wanna back out I’ll hold nothin’ against you. Now’s the time to step away.”
“We’re all in,” a voice called out, followed by a collective murmur of agreement.
“Yeah,” another yelled. “We want our town back.”
“And we’re gonna get it back,” Duke exclaimed. “This is Tucker Prescott. I’ve deputized him, so he’ll be able to make arrests if need be, and now you’re all legally his posse. He’s already done damage to McGill and his gang. You can trust him, he knows what he’s doin’.”
Tucker stepped forward and spelled out his plan, explaining in detail how they were going to ambush the band of outlaws who intended to rob the stagecoach.
&nbs
p; “They might try to hit the minin’ office as well,” Tucker declared. “I need two men in there in case, and one in the coach to protect the passengers. I need the best shooters on the roofs. Why don’t y’all talk about it for a bit, then let me know who’s gonna be where.”
“You say they’ll be four of ‘em?” one man called out.
“That’s the only tricky part,” Tucker replied. “Four that I know of, but there might be more.”
As the men began their discussion, Tucker turned back to Duke.
“I’m feelin’ good about how this is gonna go,” he said quietly, “but there’s somethin’ I need to tell you before I head out. It’s about Dolly.”
“You don’t need to,” Duke smiled. “You have my blessin’.”
“You know? Did she tell you?”
“In a manner of speakin’. A lot can be said without actually sayin’ the words.”
“If somethin’ goes wrong, make sure you tell her…”
“I know what to tell her,” Duke said solemnly. “Now go on, say your goodbyes.”
“Mighty grateful,” Tucker nodded, and walked quickly toward the front door.
Seeing him approach, heart pounding, Dolly stepped back, and as he entered the foyer and closed the door behind him, she stood stock still. The air between them was sparking, and wordlessly he stepped forward and pulled her into his arms.
“Please come back,” she whispered. “I’ll die if you don’t.”
“Of course I’ll come back,” he murmured. “You wait for me just like you are. You look so dang pretty.”
“I do?” she breathed, fighting her tears of fear.
“The prettiest thing I’ve ever seen,” he said softly. “You stay outta trouble while I’m gone.”
“I’ll be good,” she nodded. “I promise.”
He locked her eyes for a moment, then kissed her, devouring her mouth, surrendering to the intensity of his feelings as they surged inside him, knowing there was a chance it might be the last kiss they shared.
“See you soon,” he whispered, moving his mouth to her ear.
“See you soon,” she repeated, swallowing the heat in her throat.
Breaking away, he held her gaze for a split second before turning and marching through the door.
“I love you,” she whispered as a lone tear dribbled down her cheek. “I love you, Tucker Prescott, and if you don’t come back, I’ll never forgive you.”
Chapter Sixteen
Tucker and his small band of men split up and rode into town in separate groups of two or three. When Tucker arrived, he spotted a few of them but paid them no attention; they had their orders and knew where to go and what to do. Leaving his horse at the livery stable, Tucker headed to Sam’s Mercantile, and glancing at his pocket watch, he saw it had just gone two-forty p.m. Reaching the store, he was about to walk inside when he noticed a pale blue shawl in the window. Dolly flashed through his mind.
When he’d been talking with Duke in the courtyard, something had made him look up, and when his eyes had caught her standing in the doorway he’d felt his chest grow strangely tight. She was a vision; her long red hair was falling around her shoulders, framing her face, and her blue dress was clinging to her body showing every luscious curve.
He paused, staring at the shawl in the window, thinking how lovely it would look draped around her shoulders… her naked shoulders. He was so lost in his thoughts he didn’t notice the door open and he snapped his head around. Standing beside him was an older woman smiling at him, and looking at her, he saw years of life in her warm brown eyes.
“I’m terribly sorry, young man, I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“No need to apologize, ma’am,” Tucker said, slightly embarrassed. “I sorta got lost in my thoughts there for a minute.”
“It’s a lovely shawl,” she continued. “I’m sure she’ll be real pleased.”
“It was that obvious?”
“I know that look, and I’d buy it before someone else does,” she replied, and with a sweet smile she turned to walk away.
“Excuse me,” he said gently, “can you spare a minute?”
“I have nowhere to be, and all day to get there, so, sure, I think I can spare me a minute.”
“Aren’t you afraid to be out by yourself? I’ve heard there’s a lotta trouble in Spring Junction.”
“The day that I can’t stop in and visit with Sam,” she said, her expression determined, “is the day they’ve beat me, and I’m not gonna let that happen, no-siree.”
“That’s admirable,” Tucker said, finding the woman utterly charming, “but you must be careful.”
“I am careful. I’ve got my pistol in my bag and I’m not a-feared to use it. Besides, I have faith this is all gonna turn around right quick.”
“What makes you say that?”
“There’s a priest runnin’ around, and blow me down if he’s not takin’ out the bad guys. It’s like he’s been sent from God, and I mean really sent from God. After he shoots ‘em, he disappears. He’s like a ghost. Everyone’s talkin’ about it.”
“Is that right?” Tucker said with a wide smile.
“I’m bein’ rude,” she tutted. “Ida is my name, Ida Cottswald.”
“Tucker Prescott,” he replied, tipping his hat. “Which way are you headed, Ida?”
“I live up near the minin’ office. Used to be a quiet part of town, but not anymore,” she said wistfully. “It gets rowdier every day.”
“If you could sit down a spell and have coffee and cake somewhere, where would you go?”
“That’s easy, The Golden Rock Hotel. It opened its doors a few months back and I’ve been real drawn to it. Swanky, it is, and my neighbor said they have boiled cookies. Can you imagine that? Honest to goodness boiled cookies.”
“When was the last time you had boiled cookies,” Tucker asked, “or enjoyed an afternoon like that?”
“Land sakes, I don’t have money to be spendin’ on things like that. Not since my Carl passed away.”
“Here,” he said, pulling several dollars from his pocket. “Ida, would you do me a favor and go there now, and sit down and enjoy some coffee and boiled cookies, or anything else that takes your fancy?”
“I can’t!” she protested, staring at the money in his hands. “It wouldn’t be right.”
“Ida, I know I’m a stranger, but you deserve it, bein’ so brave and comin’ out to show that Spring Junction still belongs to the good folk that live here, and besides that, you’d be doin’ me a favor.”
“How do you figure?”
“I can’t take the time to stop and enjoy coffee and cookies, so I think about you doin’ it, and it’ll make me happy.”
“You’re makin’ it real hard for me to say no,” she sighed.
“It’d make my day better,” he insisted, taking her hand and placing the money between her fingers, “and don’t you think Carl would like to look down from heaven and see you havin’ coffee and boiled cookies in a swanky place?”
“I reckon he would,” she murmured, “and I have to confess, I’d be grateful to take the weight off my feet.”
“Then it’s settled,” Tucker said firmly.
“You say your name is Tucker?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“God bless you, Tucker. Maybe one day you’ll bring your young lady to my home and let me repay you with my coffee. It’s the blue house on the first street past the minin’ office. Stop by any time.”
“I just might do that, Ida. Now I’d best be goin’.”
“I can already taste those cookies,” she said, and smiling happily, she started down the street.
As he watched her, he let out a relieved breath. He wasn’t about to allow a lovely older lady to get caught in the fray near the mining office.
“Hey, Tucker,” Sam said, greeting him with a smile as he pushed open the door and walked in. “Back so soon?”
“Hey, Sam. I wanna buy that blue shawl in the window. I’ll be ba
ck to pick it up later. I’m here ‘cos there’s gonna be some trouble up the street. You might wanna lock your doors when it starts.”
“Thanks for tellin’ me,” he said gratefully. “Will you be needin’ to get in through the back?”
“Keep your ears peeled, and if that happens I’ll knock three times.”
“I’ll be there real quick,” he promised. “When is all this gonna start?”
Pulling out his watch, Tucker saw it was two-fifty p.m.; it was time to go.
“Right around three o’clock,” Tucker replied. “Remember, wait until it starts, otherwise pryin’ eyes might get suspicious.”
“Be careful,” Sam said soberly. “We need you.”
“Good of you to say,” Tucker smiled. “Don’t worry, I’ll be back.”
He left the store, and as he strode down the street he could feel his adrenaline start to pump. Up ahead he could see the stagecoach sitting outside the mining office, and he was grateful there weren’t too many people milling about. It was the middle of the afternoon. Most were working, and those who weren’t would be in the saloons. As he approached he spotted the two cowboys who had volunteered to be inside the office, then wandering by the coach he recognized another already inside ready to protect the passengers. Everything was in place. It was time for him to join the ranch hands positioned on the roof across the street.
Tucker had always considered himself a lucky man. Whether it was his keen instinct, or an angel on his shoulder, he always seemed to be a step ahead of the bad guys, and when he saw the well-dressed man walking across the street he was immediately suspicious. The man had his hand inside his pocket and a grim look on his face, and when he nodded to a scruffy-looking cowboy strolling nearby, Tucker saw the cowboy straighten up and wrap his fingers around the handle of the gun sitting in its holster.
Hurrying to the rear of a recently abandoned shop, Tucker darted through the back door. Like many of the buildings on Main Street it had a loft, and moving up the stairs he found the window already open. Climbing out, he pulled himself up and onto the roof, and immediately saw Duke’s men; keeping low, he hurried across to join them.
Tucker's Justice (Wild West Cowboys Book 1) Page 13
