Instant horror then fright veiled her face. “Not. On. Your. Life.” She tried to pull away, but the man didn’t let loose.
Jeremiah grabbed the drunk by his collar. “You’ll do as the lady says,” he growled.
The man glanced back over his shoulder, then quickly looked again, but didn’t let go.
“Right now.” Jeremiah put all the power of his size and strength into the statement, and the drunk released her.
She stood quietly, brushing at her sleeve where the drunk’s hand had been, as if trying to get the imprint of him from her person. Something hitched in his heart as he read the confusion and pain on her face. Jeremiah didn’t want to feel sympathy for the woman.
He didn’t let the man go. “You owe the lady an apology.” He gave the dazed miner a shake for good measure.
While the drunk mumbled out a passable apology, the thought hit Jeremiah that he was no better than this man. Philip’s words finally sank in. He had judged her without knowing anything about her, and he shouldn’t have.
When the drunk staggered away, Jeremiah turned toward her. “Miss Mercer, uh…” He gazed off into the distance as if fascinated by something on the horizon before continuing. “I apologize too.”
She glanced up at him with large gray eyes that had turned as stormy as the rain clouds they needed right now. “For what, Mr. Dennison?”
No warmth in those words. Crossing her arms, she stood stiff and stared at his face.
“For saying those things at Philip’s. I know I hurt you just as much as he did.” He gave a dismissive wave at the man heading back toward the row of saloons.
She gave a quick nod. “That you did, Mr. Dennison.”
“I’m going to escort you to the hotel.” He held a crooked arm toward her. “We can’t have any other man accosting you on the way.”
She hesitated before slipping her hand around his elbow. “I’d appreciate that.”
Her fingers rested with the weight of a feather against his forearm, almost as if she didn’t want to even touch him. He didn’t blame her. He’d given her enough reason not to trust him. But she hadn’t given him any reason not to trust her.
He’d let it go for now, but after he finished taking the supplies out to the ranch, he’d return the wagon to the livery stable. Then he’d go see the sheriff. If there was proof of her duplicity, he’d find it. Then he wouldn’t be judging her unfairly. He had to find something to get this woman out of his system.
Maddy tried to stay mad at Jeremiah Dennison, but how could she when he’d been so chivalrous in rescuing her from the miner’s clutches? She hadn’t thought a thing about walking back to the hotel by herself, but she should have remembered the rowdiness they’d seen when they passed the saloons on their way into town. Anything could have happened to her. Next time, she’d make sure she didn’t venture out alone.
“Thank you for escorting me to the hotel, Mr. Dennison.” She smiled up at the tall man and quickly withdrew her hand from his arm.
He quirked one eyebrow. “Don’t you want to dress me down for the way I talked about you earlier?” He glanced around the empty hotel lobby. “No one else is here, so you won’t have an audience.”
“Are you giving me your permission?” She couldn’t hold back a laugh. “I never would have expected that.”
He shrugged. “I deserve it.”
“I’m sure you do. But I don’t hold grudges, Mr. Dennison.” She swept her suddenly sweaty palms down her skirt, hoping to hide their state from him. Why would he affect her this way? A stranger who didn’t really like her, as evidenced by his behavior yesterday and today?
He reached to the brim of his big hat and tipped it toward her. “Then I’ll take my leave. I need to get back to my ranch.”
She watched as he walked out the door and headed toward Philip’s adobe. The man was an enigma, and she didn’t want to think about him. She started up the stairs.
“So you’re back, Miss Mercer?” Caroline came from the kitchen into the lobby, wiping her hands on her apron.
Maddy stopped with a squeak on the fourth wooden stair. Even the carpeted runner hadn’t covered the noise. “Yes.”
“I thought I heard Jeremiah’s voice out here.” Caroline glanced all around the room, then out the open doorway.
Maddy made her way back down the stairs. “You did. He saved me from a drunken miner, then escorted me to the hotel.”
A broad smile spread across Caroline’s face. “That sounds like Jeremiah.”
“Really?” Maddy stood, her hand resting on the ball on top of the newel post.
“I could tell you a lot about that man.” Caroline laughed. “But I won’t. I’ll let you get acquainted on your own.”
What did she mean by that? Why would Maddy and Jeremiah Dennison need to get acquainted?
“Did you have a good visit with Philip?”
“Yes, we got to know each other a little.” When Madeline thought about Philip, her heart warmed toward him. But she still didn’t know exactly how everything would work out with him.
“I noticed the Sneeds brought your daughter back earlier. Is everything all right?” Concern colored Caroline’s tone.
Remembering that she was a pastor’s wife, Maddy realized she would care about the people who came through her hotel. “They brought Pearl back to clean her up and feed her. I was just going to check on them now.”
“I haven’t heard her crying lately. Maybe your daughter is asleep. If she is, why don’t you come down and visit with me? I’d love for us to get better acquainted.” Her sunny smile lit with welcome.
“I’ll do that.”
Maddy climbed the stairs as Caroline headed back to the kitchen. She quietly opened the door to her room. Because it was a corner room at the back of the hotel, both the windows were open, and the breeze fluttered the curtains. Sarah laid down the Bible she’d been reading and stood from the rocking chair.
“How is Pearl?” Maddy whispered.
The drawer Pearl had slept in last night sat on the bed. Sarah leaned over it. “She’s asleep. We played after she finished her bottle, so I think she’ll nap awhile.”
Maddy gazed down and her heart constricted at the sight of her sweet child. So innocent. So dependent. What course of action should she take to secure Pearl’s future? Or did she have a choice? She leaned over and kissed the sleeping baby’s face. “Is it all right with you if I go down to visit with Caroline?”
“Miss Madeline, you—”
“Maybe you should just call me Madeline. Out here in the Wild West, things are more informal than back in Boston.”
Sarah nodded. “Madeline then. You go right ahead and enjoy some time with our hostess. I really like the woman, and I’ll just keep reading God’s Word.”
When Maddy walked through the swinging doors to the kitchen, extra warmth and delicious smells met her. “How do you work in all this heat?” She used her hand to fan her face.
Caroline glanced over at her, then picked up a roaster pan and slid it into the oven of the black cast-iron stove. “This roast has quite awhile longer to cook. We can sit in the dining room where it’s cooler.”
She poured two glasses of lemonade and led the way to a table situated with open windows on two adjoining sides. “If you’re hungry, I can get us some cookies.”
“No, but this cool drink will refresh me.” Madeline sat where she could feel the wind that blew across the table.
Caroline dropped into the chair across from her. “It’ll be good to take a break.”
“I noticed several saloons as we came into town yesterday, and other businesses, but I didn’t see the church. You are the pastor’s wife, aren’t you?”
Caroline nodded. “My husband works as a carpenter, just like Jesus did, and we own the hotel, but he’s been a preacher as long as I’ve known him. We hold services in this dining room for all the people who can come. Many of the miners are Catholic, and they attend the church on the other side of town. Some places we’
ve lived, Catholics and Protestants don’t get along, but out here, we help each other. We’ve even held a few weddings in their church building.”
Maddy took another sip of the sweet, tangy drink. “This tastes good.” She paused and studied the woman before her. Caroline was quite a bit older than Maddy, but not as old as Sarah. “Do you have any children?”
“God didn’t bless us with our own, but a few of the families who worship here have little ones I dote on.”
If Maddy couldn’t have children, she didn’t think she would be as accepting of it as Caroline. The woman really must completely depend on God. She was the kind of friend Maddy needed right now.
“Do you mind telling me why you really came to Golden?” Caroline’s face expressed openness, with nothing hidden.
No shadows in her eyes. No tautness to her jaw. A woman at peace. A woman Maddy felt she could trust, and she needed someone to talk to besides Sarah.
“The situation is complicated.”
“Life often is.” Caroline took a drink from her glass, allowing Maddy the time to mull a little longer over the question.
When Maddy started talking, she couldn’t stop. She poured out the whole story. Her father’s death. His supposed mishandling of the money. Horace Johnstone. How Pearl came to her. And their secretive escape from Boston and Mr. Johnstone’s clutches. She even shared about the ad and Philip but didn’t tell her about Jeremiah’s unfriendly reception. By the time she finished, both glasses had been drained of the soothing liquid.
Caroline arose. “Let me pour us more lemonade, and we’ll discuss your options.”
Options? Of course she had the option of staying with Philip, but that wouldn’t look right. And she had the option of marrying him for his protection, but did she really want to completely take advantage of an old man’s generosity without giving him anything in return?
By the time Jeremiah pulled the wagon into the livery, the sun was on its descent toward the western horizon, slanting rays across the town and into the doorway of the usually darkened stable.
Swede glanced up from where he rested on a wooden bench, the sunlight glinting off his light yellow hair.
“Sorry I kept the wagon so long.” Jeremiah started unhitching the horses. “Hope no one else needed it.”
“Nej, it would’ve set here waitin’, for sure.” The tall man moved to the other side of the wagon and started working on the harnesses. “I can do this. I’m not busy right now.”
“Do I need to pay you extra?” Jeremiah reached toward the back pocket on his dungarees.
“No need.” Swede waved him away.
“Thanks.” Jeremiah headed out and cut across the cobblestone street in the direction of the sheriff’s office and jail.
He hoped no one would be in either of the cells. He wasn’t interested in having an audience when he discussed his problem with Bill Brown.
The door stood wide open, and Bill sat with his chair tipped back and his crossed ankles propped on the scarred desktop. He dropped his feet to the wooden floor with a hollow thunk when Jeremiah’s shadow darkened the doorway. The scrambling of something in the rocks under the building made Jeremiah wonder what kind of varmints lived in the shallow space. Probably lizards—or rats. He sure wouldn’t want to spend the night in one of the cells whose doors stood open right now.
“Need you to check on something for me, Sheriff.” Jeremiah dropped into one of the wooden armchairs that faced the desk.
“Had some rustlers in your cattle out to the ranch?” Bill leaned forward with his elbows on the desk.
“Naw, it’s another matter.”
Bill opened a drawer and plucked out a pencil and pad, then poised them where he could take notes. “Tell me about it.”
“Those people I picked up in Los Cerrillos yesterday.”
The sheriff relaxed. “I heard about ’em. Pretty woman. Her two companions and her baby. Lots of speculation. People are wondering why they went to Philip’s house this morning.”
Jeremiah frowned. He wished he could have kept that part quiet.
“Now don’t go getting upset.” Bill stood and propped both hands on the desk. “You know how people are around here. I ain’t seen ’em yet, but I’ve heard enough. Heard Oscar Hamilton tried to get too friendly with the little lady and you stopped him. That’s all over town too.” He straightened to his full six-foot height.
Jeremiah didn’t like his friend’s close scrutiny. “I should be used to it, but I don’t like all this talk about me. I try to keep my reputation clean.”
“That didn’t hurt your reputation. It might have helped it some.” When his friend laughed, Jeremiah couldn’t keep from joining him.
Then Bill sobered. “So tell me what you want me to check out about ’em.”
“Make sure this stays just between you and me.” Jeremiah stared hard at him until he nodded and sat back down, picking up the pencil again.
Even though he didn’t like recounting it, he gave Bill the details. About the ad. All the letters. The one they answered. The people arriving in Los Cerrillos the very next day. Their names. Everything, even his suspicions. “So I want you to find out if they’re on the lam from the law or something like that. Maybe they’ve done this to other rich old men. And I’m suspicious of a woman who says she’s never been married, but she has a baby. Something isn’t right.”
Bill continued to write on the pad. “I’ve gotta go to Albuquerque tomorrow. I’ll send a telegram to a friend of mine who’s a policeman in Boston. Maybe he can shed some light on all this.”
Jeremiah hoped he could—and soon. He didn’t want these people to get too cozy with Philip before he knew who they really were and exactly why they were here.
Boston, Massachusetts
Waiting impatiently for one of his henchmen, Horace Johnstone paced the dark, tree-lined street. Finally, a thin man disconnected from the deep shadows and approached him. “What you want with me?”
The surly man had better change his attitude or Horace would replace him. “What did you find out about the Mercer woman?”
Hunched shoulders shrugged, and the man shoved his hands into his front pockets and pulled into himself like a turtle. “Nothin’. I told you that. No sign of anyone at the house all week long.”
“How could three, uh, four people just disappear off the face of the earth?” He had to work to keep his voice down. He wanted to explode but didn’t need to draw attention to their meeting.
“I don’t know nothin’.” This time his hireling’s tone was sharp. “I watched the place for the whole week.”
“And you never went to sleep?” Horace sneered the words, his lip curled.
“My brother took a turn each day so I could get some rest.”
He barely got the words out before Horace grabbed him by the lapels and gave him a shake. “I told you I didn’t want anyone else to know what you’re doing.”
The man pulled away and straightened his overcoat. “My twin brother won’t tell anyone. I paid him. He’s as much a part of this as we are.”
Horace paced to the end of the block and back, trying to think of another way to find that snobbish girl. He still couldn’t believe she had refused his offer of marriage. He’d been so sure he had her eating out of his hand. She was only playing hard to get. Women liked to do that sometimes. He was looking forward to taming her.
He stopped squarely in front of his henchman. “If they’ve gone somewhere, they had to leave a trail. You check the train station and the overland coach line. Someone had to see a young woman with a baby and two old people accompanying her—unless they split up. You sure her servants don’t have a family somewhere? They might have gone to visit them.”
His watchdog stood taller. “Look, Boss, I told you I already checked on ’em. There ain’t anybody else.”
“Well, check again.” This time his voice rose in volume, and a light went on in the upper story of the house next door. He stepped back deeper into the shadows and lowe
red his voice. “We gotta get out of here before someone sees us together. Do your job, and do it quick.”
Horace turned and stalked away from his underling, not even looking to see if the man followed or stayed. He had to find that Mercer chit. Had to get married to her. No other way would he get his hands on the wealth.
The old feeling of being poor and scorned seeped through him like a bitter potion, darkening his outlook even more. He shook his head to dislodge the haunting image. He wasn’t ever going to be that horse-faced boy again. The only way to get rid of his ghosts was to gain control of the money. The solicitor was getting antsy. Wanted to go ahead and release the will and fortune to the girl. And that was something Horace had to stop. Immediately.
Chapter Fifteen
Golden, New Mexico
Even though she had thought about their situation long into the night, Maddy awoke early. The sunlight seeping through the rather thin curtains made it hard to sleep any later. Today was the Lord’s Day, and they would attend the services held in the hotel dining room. They’d finally get to meet Caroline’s husband and other citizens of Golden who worshiped there.
She had just finished pinning her curls into a cluster on top of her head when Pearl began to squirm. Then she stretched and raised her tiny chin from the pillow to look around. Her cheek held the imprint of wrinkles. She looked so bright-eyed, and her plump lips formed an O, as if she were amazed at what she saw.
Maddy folded some blankets to protect the bed and laid Pearl on the pad. “Good morning. You’re such a special blessing.” She couldn’t take her eyes off her daughter.
Pearl’s gaze, filled with innocence and love, stayed on Maddy’s face. Maddy leaned over and kissed the baby’s forehead, then started changing her. Pearl hadn’t taken long to learn to love her bath, and now Maddy felt more at ease handling her in the wash bowl. At first she’d been afraid she’d drop her, so slick from the soap and water. Now she made quick work of cleaning Pearl, then lifted the pink, squirmy baby onto a Turkish towel furnished by the hotel. She pulled the child close to her heart and rubbed her dry on the way back to the bed.
Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico Page 13
