On the Fence (Chance City Series Book Two)

by Robin Deeter

  Brock sighed. “Yeah. I know I have differences with him, but I’d hate to see him seriously hurt if he ticks off the wrong person. How’s Daphne?”

  Cy’s scowl said it all.

  “Damn it! Do you think she’ll listen to me if I go over there tonight?”

  “Let it go for now. I’ll talk to her and then you can come over tomorrow night. She should be cooled off by then,” Cy said.

  Waiting to talk to Daphne would be excruciating, but he thought Cy was right. “All right. What about you and me?”

  Cy smiled. “We’re fine as far as I’m concerned.”

  “Good. What are you working on?”

  “Just some paperwork. It’s been quiet the past few days, which is surprising. I’d have thought that some things would’ve gotten out of hand somewhere,” Cy replied.

  “I hope you didn’t just jinx us. Rob and Ellie should be getting here soon. I’ll let you know if something comes up,” Brock said.

  Cy grunted his assent and Brock went back to the office. Standing there, Cy thought that it was remarkable that him and Brock were in agreement on the situation with Daniel. With a smile and a shake of his head, Cy went to the Dog House and got started on his paperwork.

  *****

  Daphne let out a groan of frustration when she looked out the kitchen window and saw Daniel ride up to the house and dismount. She didn’t want to talk to him any more than she did Brock right at the moment.

  She opened the door before he had a chance to knock. “Go away, Daniel. I don’t want to talk to you.”

  He looked terrible and the spiteful part of Daphne was glad.

  “I’m sorry about last night, Daphne. I shouldn’t have started anything with Brock,” he said sheepishly.

  “You’re damn right you shouldn’t have! And the things you said to me about private matters was despicable!” Daphne shook her head. “None of that is any of your business.”

  “You’re right. It’s not. It’s just that I don’t want you to get hurt. I’m afraid that he’ll change once you marry him. What if it’s an act and he changes again? It’ll be too late,” Daniel responded. “And what about your kids? Is he really fine with them being part Comanche?”

  Daphne gnawed on her bottom lip. She’d been having the same doubts.

  Daniel said, “I really am sorry about the things I said about your private business, but not about Brock. You’ve never heard the kinds of things he’s always said about us, about Indians. How God should’ve left us off the earth and that we’re no better than scavengers and murderers. He’s said a lot worse than that, but I won’t repeat it. You can ask Sly if you don’t believe me.”

  “You’re just saying that because you don’t like Brock.”

  Daniel understood why she didn’t want to believe him. “Yeah, I don’t like him, but I’m saying this because I’m worried about you. I love you and I want you to be happy. I know you love him, but do you really want to marry someone who might still harbor those kinds of feelings?”

  Putting a hand to her forehead, Daphne said, “I don’t know what to think. You say that he hasn’t changed and tell me all these nasty things he’s said in the past. He says he didn’t mean the things he said last night.” A dull ache throbbed in her temples. “I just need time to think. Please just let me be, Daniel.”

  Daniel’s face fell as Daphne went back into the house and shut the door. Regret weighing him down like a boulder, he mounted and left for home.

  *****

  Cy got home in time for supper that evening. He kissed Leigh and washed up.

  “How was your day?” he asked.

  “Fine. Busy,” she said, sitting down at the table.

  Cy tried Johnny’s tactics with Daphne and kissed her cheek. “How about you?”

  She smiled a little. “So-so. Daniel came to apologize, but I didn’t want to talk to him. I’m so confused.”

  He took his usual seat by Leigh. “At the risk of you biting my head off, I’m going to tell you what I think about the situation and then you’re gonna have to make your own decision.”

  Daphne pulled a roast pan out of the oven and put it on top of the stove. “Go ahead.”

  “I talked to Brock about it because I was mad, too. He explained to me that he just meant that Daniel needs to act differently if he wants people to treat him with more respect and I agree with Brock.”

  Leigh and Daphne exchanged a startled glance. Leigh put a hand on Cy’s forehead.

  “Are you feelin’ ok?”

  Smiling, he took her hand and held it. “I feel fine. Brock is right. I’ve talked to Daniel about it a few times, but he refuses to listen to reason. Do I like the things that Brock and others have said about us or done to us? Of course not, but I have to admit that I contributed to some of the bad feelings aimed at us when I was younger.

  “And sometimes when I’d come home for a visit, I’d end up fighting right alongside of Daniel and Sly. Maybe it’s because I’m older and I can look back on it with a new perspective that I see all of this. I’m not saying that the people who’ve been against us were in the right, but neither were we sometimes.”

  Daphne took the lid off the roast pan and put the meatloaf inside it onto a serving tray. “So you think that I should forgive Brock?”

  “Yeah, I do,” Cy said.

  The savory aroma of the meatloaf wafted through the kitchen and Cy’s stomach rumbled.

  “That smells great, sis. I’m starving,” he said.

  He was startled when Leigh quickly pushed back from the table and ran out the kitchen door.

  “What the hell?”

  Running after Leigh, he found her retching in the driveway. Her stomach was empty, but the dry heaves left her breathless. Cy rubbed her back, trying to lend his support since there wasn’t much else he could do to help her. After a bit, her nausea subsided and she straightened again.

  Cy handed her his handkerchief, concern etched on his face. “You ok?”

  She nodded. “Yeah. It was the smell of the meatloaf. It hit me and I just couldn’t take it.”

  “I hope you’re not catching the flu,” Cy said. “It’s still going around a little.”

  Leigh shook her head. “No. I felt fine all day. It was just the meatloaf. I don’t know why. I love Daphne’s meatloaf. Maybe it’s just a little stomach bug.”

  “I hope not.” Cy put an arm around Leigh as they walked back to the house. “Maybe you should go lie down. I’ll bring you some tea.”

  “I’m not tired. I just felt so sick.”

  The fresh air had helped settle her stomach and she felt better. However, as soon as they stepped into the kitchen, her queasiness returned. She broke away from Cy and ran upstairs.

  Cy said, “She said the smell of the meatloaf is making her sick. I don’t know why. It’s never bothered her before. I hope she’s not getting the flu or something. She didn’t eat all that much for breakfast, either.”

  Excitement gripped Daphne, but she didn’t want to say anything in case she was wrong. Might Leigh be pregnant? It would explain her sudden symptoms, but it might be a stomach bug going around. Erring on the side of caution, she didn’t voice her suspicions to Cy.

  “I’m sure it’ll pass. We’ll just keep an eye on her. I’ll put on some water for tea.”

  “Thanks,” Cy said. “I’ll go check on her.”

  When he’d gone, Daphne allowed the grin she’d suppressed to spread across her face and she did a little dance. “Oh, Great Spirit, I pray that you’ve blessed them with the baby they want so much,” she whispered. “Please let it be so.”

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Once again crime picked up and the sheriff’s staff was busy, which prevented Brock from going to see Daphne the next night. His frustration level rose as the evening wore on. There were a couple of domestic disturbances to break up, an armed robbery at one of the hardware stores, and a small house fire to help put out. By the time things quieted down, it was too late to go out to Sundance R
anch.

  As he and Hunter were about to leave, Walt came in the door.

  Hunter openly scowled at him. “What do you want?”

  Walt’s eyebrows rose. “I’ve come to see if Ellie is all right. We were supposed to have dinner, but when she didn’t show up, I figured that she got caught up in somethin’. Not that it’s any of your business.”

  Brock had never heard such a cold tone in Walt’s voice before or seen the slightly malevolent gleam in his eyes.

  Hunter said, “It’s my business because Ellie is my coworker and friend. I don’t like you.”

  Brock put a hand on Hunter’s shoulder. “Walt’s a good guy, Hunter. No reason not to like him.”

  Hunter moved away from Brock, glaring angrily at Walt. “He’s a snake in the grass, Brock. He’ll show his true colors someday and you’ll see that I was right. See you in the morning.”

  With a last scathing look at Walt, he went out the door.

  Brock shook his head. “Sorry about that. Pay him no mind.”

  Walt smiled, once again the affable attorney. “I won’t. Where is our fair Ellie?”

  “She should be back any minute now. I’m heading home. See you later,” Brock said.

  “Right. Goodnight.”

  Walt greeted Wheezer and sat down at Ellie’s desk. “Busy day, eh?”

  “Yep. We knew that it was too quiet for too long,” Wheezer agreed. “Now we’ll be run ragged with all kinds of stuff for a while.”

  Walt was about to respond when Ellie came in the door. He stood up. “There you are.”

  Ellie smiled tiredly at him. “I’m sorry I missed our dinner.”

  “Think nothing of it,” Walt said. “Ya had more important things to do. Are ya hungry, though?”

  “Not really. Can we change our plans until tomorrow night?”

  Walt hid his disappointment. “Certainly. Would ya like a ride home?”

  “I have my horse.”

  “Right. Shall I walk ya to yer horse?”

  She knew that he was just being sweet, but his question sparked her temper. “I can walk to my horse by myself, Walt.”

  He lifted an eyebrow at her sharp tone. “I didn’t mean that ya couldn’t. I’ll tell ya what. Let me take ya to breakfast tomorrow.”

  Wheezer knew when a fight was brewing and he didn’t want to be present. He got up and went out to the yard.

  “Walt, I’d have to rush around in the morning to make it before my shift starts.”

  He rubbed the back of his neck agitatedly. “Ellie, I just want to spend some time with ya. I understand that yer tired tonight, but I have the feelin’ that even if I were to ask ya to dinner tomorrow night, ye’d refuse.”

  Ellie sighed. “No. Yes. Maybe. I don’t know!”

  “What is it that ya don’t know about? Dinner or me? What are we doin’ here?”

  Her forehead puckered. “What do you mean?”

  “I’m talkin’ about us. Are we courtin’ or not? I’ve asked ya that a couple of times and ya just change the subject. And right now, ya don’t seem to want anything to do with me, but in a couple of days or so, ye’ll want to have dinner or somethin’. Ya tease me, getting me all aroused and then stop. Are ye waiting for marriage? I doubt it because we both know ye’re no virgin. Ya need to piss or get off the pot!” The words came out in a torrent, Walt’s frustration and anger pouring forth.

  Ellie gasped. Fury burned so hot that she felt slightly dizzy. Her fist shot out, catching him squarely on the jaw. The force of the blow made Walt stagger back a few steps. His foot hit the leg of her desk and he landed hard on his backside.

  Ellie clapped a hand over her mouth, staring at Walt in shock. His hazel eyes blazed with anger as he got up and sat in her chair, needing a moment to clear his fuzzy brain.

  “I’m so sorry, Walt. Are you all right?”

  He glared at her. “I s’pose that’s my answer. I’ll be fine. I thank ya for not breakin’ my glasses at least.”

  Remorse made her cheeks burn. “I’m so sorry.”

  “Ya said that, but what exactly is it that yer sorry about? Hittin’ me or that ya don’t want to see me anymore?”

  Ellie said, “I didn’t say that I don’t.”

  His anger grew hotter and he pounded her desk. “But ya didn’t say ya do, either! Ya can’t have it both ways, Ellie! I can’t take it. Why did ya want to go out to dinner with me that first time if ya weren’t really interested in me? Was it a game? Is that what this has all been to ya?”

  “I hit you because you basically called me a whore!”

  He let out a short, sarcastic laugh. “See? Ya did it again. Ya can’t even answer my questions, which tells me even more than ya hittin’ me does. I guess ya got off the pot.”

  “Walt—”

  He moved so swiftly that she didn’t have time to react, grabbing her around the waist, and kissing her roughly. She resisted, but he didn’t let her go until she’d just begun to respond. He pushed her back a little, abruptly ending the kiss. Her eyes were huge as she stared into his.

  “It’s such a shame we never made love. I know how to do things to a woman that will make her beg for mercy but leave her desperate for more.”

  His gaze raked over her and Ellie’s body reacted as though she stood naked before him. Then he strode out of the office, leaving her dazed and confused.

  Walt climbed up in his buggy and rubbed his jaw. He knew that he would have a bruise by the time he arrived home. That made him chuckle. Ellie was a woman of strong passions, and he’d figured that if he pushed her hard enough she’d react exactly the way she had.

  As he drove off, he laughed to himself, knowing that he hadn’t seen the last of her. Walt understood Ellie better than she understood herself. The simple fact was that she was afraid to fall in love. Every time she got close to where she might let herself, she became frightened and backed off again.

  Yes, he’d been angry and frustrated with her, but he wasn’t done with her by a long shot. He had plans for his Ellie, and one way or another, he was going to claim her for his own. And once he had, she’d never want to leave him. He’d make sure of that.

  *****

  Should she or shouldn’t she? Walking back and forth by her horse, which stood outside Silver’s Store, Daphne could decide if she should stop by the sheriff’s office to see Brock or not. It had been several days since she’d seen him after the fiasco at Benny’s and she missed him. However, as much as she wanted to see him, it wouldn’t be the right place to talk to him.

  Letting out a frustrated breath, she stashed her purchases in her saddlebags and mounted up. As she turned her horse around, Daphne heard someone call her name. The voice sent a shiver of awareness down her spine even before she looked at its source. It seemed as though fate had made her decision for her by bringing Brock around right at that moment. The sight of his broad shoulders and handsome face hit her like a strong wind and hunger for him made her stomach flutter.

  Every instinct she possessed told her to jump into his arms and drown in his embrace as he rode up to her. His intense blue eyes slowly roamed over her, almost like a caress and she was glad that she sat on a horse instead of standing on her own two feet. She wasn’t sure that her legs would have held her for the desire that coursed through her.

  “God, I’ve missed you,” he said. He hadn’t meant for that to be the first thing he said to her, but it was out before he could stop it. “We have to talk, honey. I deserve a chance to explain.”

  “Yes. We do need to talk.” Stop looking at his mouth!

  “I’ll come out tonight after work, no matter what time it is. I can’t let this go on any longer,” he said.

  Daphne raised her chin a little. “That’s fine.” She couldn’t let herself get carried away until she’d made sure of some things first.

  Her slightly cool tone irked him, but the desire he saw in her eyes gave him hope. He couldn’t stop looking at her and it didn’t seem like she was in a hurry to go anywhere, eit
her.

  Finally, he made himself say, “Ok. I’ll see you then. I gotta go back to the office, but I’ll try to get done on time tonight.”

  Daphne nodded, keeping a tight hold on her reins so she didn’t launch herself at him. “All right. I’ll see you when you get there.”

  The wariness in her expression made him want to kick himself for his big mouth and kill Daniel for his. Tearing his gaze from her, he nodded and urged his horse into a trot. He barely resisted turning around to look at her.

  All day long, his mind was only half on his work as he thought about how to convince Daphne of his sincerity and that his feelings regarding her heritage had changed. An idea finally came to him and he thanked the heavens that nothing came up for him to deal with before he needed to leave.

  The situation with Daphne wasn’t the only reason he was glad to go. Ellie had been morose and withdrawn, but didn’t want to talk about whatever was bothering her. Hunter had also been irritable, which was unusual for him. Cy had been the only one on dayshift in a good mood, which had prompted Brock to spend more time than usual out in the Dog House. They’d laughed about the strange twist that had made them prefer being with each other instead of their other coworkers.

  As soon as he mounted up that evening, he put his horse into a canter, in a hurry to put his plan into motion.

  *****

  When Daniel answered the knock at their front door, he was startled to see Brock.

  “What do you want?”

  Brock didn’t let his rude attitude get to him. “I’ve come to make restitution.”

  Daniel gave him a dubious look. “What? Are you drunk?”

  “No. I’ve come to make restitution,” Brock repeated. “May I come in?”

  Curiosity got the better of Daniel and he stepped back, noting that Brock carried a sack. “Sure. You better not be here to make fun of us or I’ll put your head through a wall.”

  “Duly noted,” Brock said.

  Daniel shut the door and led the way into an expansive parlor. Brock felt like he’d just entered the lion’s den as he followed Daniel through the beautiful home. Several chairs and a long sofa were attractively arranged around a large fireplace.