A Marriage Deal with the Outlaw

by Harper St. George

  One look at Castillo assured her that he was no better option than going to face her parents at the moment. He was livid. The intensity of his gaze ate up the distance between them and scorched her where she stood. Aunt Prudie was right, though. Caroline had set the wheels in motion when she’d defended him and she had to see it through, despite his anger and her parents’ disappointment.

  Aunt Prudie gave a gentle tug on her arm and she turned to follow her parents inside. Aunt Prudie took her hand and led her to Mr. Jameson’s study. A few lamps flickered in the dark, but no one else was in the room other than the four of them. Her mother sat stone still on the settee, still in shock. Her father sat behind her, his hand resting on her back. He wasn’t talking to her and trying to comfort her. He was probably doing his best to come to terms in his own mind with what had happened.

  Caroline took in a deep breath as Aunt Prudie closed the door behind them. Her fingers shook so badly that she had to clasp them before her to keep them still. With slow, deliberate steps she made her way to her parents, taking the chair nearest them. “Please believe me when I say that I never meant to cause you any grief.”

  Her mother shook her head. “How could you do this to us, Caroline? How could you? I found a nice man to marry you, take care of you, and this is what you do?” Her mother didn’t even meet her gaze as she spoke, but kept looking off to the distance as if the answer to her questions could be found in the cold dredges of the fireplace.

  Caroline wanted to take comfort in the fact that she’d lied to save Castillo, but there was no comfort to be had there. She’d spent last night in his arms, doing things that she’d never even imagined doing with a man. Her parents didn’t know about that, but she was still guilty of it. She didn’t feel very guilty, though. What had happened between her and Castillo had been beautiful and tender and so full of unspoken love that it filled her heart to nearly bursting. “I didn’t do anything to you. I understand that you must feel betrayed and perhaps even embarrassed by my behavior. I am sorry for that. Please believe me.”

  Her father nodded. “We do believe that. What we can’t believe is that you’d throw away your future on a man you don’t even know.”

  Caroline tried not to allow the brief flicker of anger she felt to catch fire. “I still have my future,” she reminded them gently.

  “No. No, you most certainly do not Caroline Marie Hartford.” Her mother straightened her spine, finally coming back to herself as the shock began to wear off. “You just made sure of that. Grant won’t marry you now. Once gossip of this spreads, I can’t imagine anyone will marry you. It’s not as if there was that much interest before this, but now...now there will be no one.”

  Her father shifted to hold her mother’s hand with both of his, attempting to soothe her. To Caroline, he said, “This was uncharacteristically selfish of you. If there’s one thing I could count on from you, it’s that you would think things through and always do the right thing. This is not the right thing. You don’t even know this man.”

  Caroline couldn’t deny that she’d acted without thought, but only in reference to defending Castillo so publicly. She wouldn’t do anything to change what had happened between them last night or the night before. It shouldn’t have any bearing on her future, but she couldn’t deny that it would. “I know that he’s good and honorable, unlike Grant Miller.”

  Her mother scoffed at this. “Has he offered you marriage?”

  He hadn’t. They’d talked to some length about why they were wrong for each other. “No.”

  Her mother tossed her head and looked away.

  “Prudence?” Her father’s voice held the authoritarian ring it sometimes carried during surgeries.

  “Yes, Samuel?”

  “Would you go and ask Mr. Jameson and his son to join us, please?”

  Aunt Prudie nodded and left the room. Caroline’s stomach turned at the thought of the horrible confrontation she knew was coming.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Castillo couldn’t get over how alone and scared Caroline had looked, standing on that porch defending him to Miller. He was almost certain she’d never considered the ramifications when she’d done it. And while she had asked him to compromise her on his first night here at Jameson Ranch, he’d been certain she wouldn’t see it through. She cared too much for the people around her to hurt them so badly. It was one reason he admired her so much. There was a vein of strength in this woman that he respected, but she was soft when it came to her heart. When it counted.

  As he walked toward the barn to confront Miller, he admitted that he could love her so damn easily. He closed his eyes for only a second and opened them to the sound of gunfire. His entire body tensed, but then Tanner stuck his head out of the barn and yelled, “We’re all fine. Coward had a gun, but he doesn’t anymore.” He laughed and walked back inside, closing the door behind him.

  “Maybe we should’ve told him about the gang,” Hunter teased. “He seems to be enjoying himself.”

  Castillo let out a breath and hurried his steps. He kept a small frame gun strapped above his ankle at all times. He’d use it if he had to. Opening the door, he saw that Miller sat on a crate with his arms tied to a beam behind him. Aside from the blows Castillo had delivered earlier, he didn’t look any worse. He glared at them when they came in and frowned, but kept his mouth shut. Tanner sat on another crate a few feet away, and the rest of the gang stood across the room, keeping watch.

  “What’s he told you?” Castillo asked.

  “Go ahead. Tell him what you told us,” Tanner prompted.

  Miller gave them all a sullen glance, but must’ve figured the odds were against him. “I saw you at Victoria House and heard someone call you Jameson. I asked around. One of the whores said she had some information about you if I was willing to pay for it. I was.”

  Castillo didn’t doubt that there were rumors, but Glory was the only one who knew his identity as leader of the Reyes Brothers. She wouldn’t betray him to a no one like Miller. “What information did she have?”

  Miller rolled his eyes. “Nothing. Gossip that you might be tied to a criminal, and there was a shoot-out outside of town, and some people had seen you riding in that direction before it happened. But I didn’t really need evidence to make the Hartfords see that I’d be a better choice for their daughter. It’s pretty obvious who the better man is.” He grinned a toothy smile. “Honestly, I never expected you to be connected to that shoot-out. How fortuitous that bit of information turned out to be true.”

  “No one ever said it was true,” Hunter said, walking around Castillo to stare down at Miller. “We just don’t like jackasses from back East coming out here starting trouble.”

  Miller laughed. “Ah, so then I guess you’re really not looking for Derringer, are you?”

  “What do you know about Derringer?” Hunter asked.

  Miller laughed again, throwing his head back as he seemed to relish being the center of attention. “I know plenty about Derringer. More than you, I’d wager. Now there’s an idea. I tell you who Derringer is, you let me go.”

  Castillo didn’t want to believe that Miller had any information. It seemed too good to be true. “What makes you think I’m looking for Derringer?”

  “The whore overheard you questioning a man in the cellar of the brothel. I almost couldn’t believe we’d have the same acquaintance. You see, I knew Derringer back in Boston a few years ago. He owned a gaming house and I’m sad to admit that I lost quite a bit of money to him, primarily because he’s a known cheat and thief. He’s been blackmailing me ever since. Said he’d tell my father if I didn’t keep paying him, knowing I’d be disinherited if he did.” He paused and looked from Castillo to Hunter and back again. “Let me go and I’ll give you the names of his contacts in Boston. You may be able to find him.”

  Hunter laughed. “We hav
e the upper hand here, don’t get cocky.”

  “I’m afraid you don’t. I won’t tell you until you let me go.”

  The echoes of the ugly words Miller had said to Carolina earlier still lingering in his mind, Castillo stepped forward and backhanded the man. Miller spat blood onto the straw covered floor. “Tell us what you know or you won’t be walking out of here.”

  For the first time, a look resembling genuine fear crossed Miller’s face. He looked around the barn, first to Castillo, then Hunter, then Tanner and the few ranch hands who’d gathered across the room. Perhaps all this time he’d thought he was dealing with gentlemen like the ones he knew from Boston. He probably had no idea who they really were and the things they had done. They’d questioned men before, tougher men than Miller.

  Cursing under his breath, Miller sighed and told him the names of the men Derringer had done business with back in Boston. “Best I can tell he faked his death a few years ago to get out of some gambling debts. He disappeared from Boston, but he didn’t stop siphoning money from me. A couple of times a year he’d demand a bank transfer or he claimed he’d contact my father. It wasn’t much, at first. But then he demanded more and more. He agreed to one final payoff. I couldn’t track him down to demand he stop his foolishness, so I had no choice but to find a wealthy bride.” Miller sniffed, a look of downright hate crossing his features. “After that night in the whorehouse—the night I saw you—his son, Bennett, came to my hotel to meet with me. He told me he’s been looking for you and asked me to help him lure you out.”

  Castillo steeled himself against the disappointment roiling within him. Though this was as close as they’d come to Derringer, the story felt just like all the other stories they’d heard over the years. Someone knew Derringer, but had no real way to find him. Now the hunt could take him back to Boston to find some men who possibly knew him, just to come back out West again. It was a never-ending journey, and he was tired. So damned tired. “Do you have any idea where Derringer is hiding?”

  Miller shook his head. “If I did I’d have gone to find him myself.”

  Despite this new information, Derringer was still out of reach. Though maybe knowing his real identity would give them a better place to start with their search. Castillo sighed. “Help me find Derringer and we’ll get you out of your debt. No one has to know.”

  Miller hesitated, glanced around the room again and nodded his consent.

  Castillo let out a breath and thought of the woman who had come to mean more to him than he’d thought was possible in such a short time. What had she done with her hasty decision to defend him? Would Derringer try to hurt her now? He didn’t know, and the frustration of that was threatening to eat him up inside.

  Tanner rose to his feet and grabbed his cane, leaving Hunter to deal with Miller. “Come on, Castillo. I suspect we have some people anxious to talk with us inside.”

  Castillo had no doubt that was true, and followed Tanner out into the night. They were halfway across the yard to the house before Tanner broke the silence between them.

  “I’m disappointed you didn’t come to me about this Derringer situation, son.”

  “I’m not in the habit of coming to you with my problems.”

  Tanner sighed, his shoulders slouching in a dejected manner. “I know, and I know that’s my fault. But I want to be better, Castillo.”

  They’d just reached the porch and he turned to look at Castillo from the bottom step. The house was quiet, and Castillo hoped that meant everyone had gone to bed. Everyone except Carolina and her parents. He knew they’d be waiting up for him.

  “Marisol and I grew apart. We probably never should’ve married in the first place.”

  Castillo gave him a mirthless smile. “I’ve done the figuring. I realize I was born six months after your wedding. You don’t have to explain to me why you married her.”

  Tanner gave him a solemn look. “That wasn’t your fault, and it’s no excuse for the father I’ve been to you. I sent letters and money and did everything but come down there myself. I know I could’ve tried harder when you were younger. I should’ve tried harder. Part of me thought it would be better for you if you didn’t have me in your life confusing everything. There wasn’t a day that went by that I didn’t think about you.”

  “It’s better you didn’t come. Papa had given orders you were to be shot on sight.” Castillo tried to make light of the situation, because he’d actually always assumed Tanner had never thought of him. Why would he think of a little boy he’d left behind when he had all this?

  Tanner laughed. “I’m not surprised. Your grandfather always hated me.” Then he sobered and continued, “I want you to know that I will always support you. I don’t want you putting yourself at risk when I could help you.”

  “It’s not your problem.” Castillo began, but Tanner shook his head.

  “You are mine, Castillo, whether you want to be or not. My blood is in your veins. You are my son.” Then he took a deep breath and glanced toward the quiet house. “We don’t need to talk about the shoot-out and this Derringer situation right now, but I do need to know what we’re planning to do about this.” He pointed toward the door. “Was Caroline lying to give you an alibi?”

  Castillo hesitated before answering. “I wasn’t with her...not that day.”

  “She’d risk her reputation for you when she wasn’t even with you?” Tanner raised his brow.

  Castillo knew at that moment that whatever barriers he was trying to keep between them would crumble beneath the force of her. He loved her. There was no maybe. He loved her. But he needed to keep her safe. That was the most important thing. And she wouldn’t be safe with him.

  Tanner cleared his throat. “What do you plan to do about this situation?”

  Castillo shook his head, still no closer to an answer. “The safest place for her is far away from me.”

  Prudence stepped out the front door and drew up short when she saw them. “My apologies for interrupting, gentlemen. Caroline’s parents have asked to speak with you.”

  * * *

  Caroline couldn’t sit there any longer and fidget under her parents’ scrutiny. She rose and paced near the bookshelves on the opposite side of the room. It kept her parents from staring at her and for a few minutes that was enough. Then she started thinking of how angry Castillo had looked when she’d last seen him. Would he be angry when he came to the study? She didn’t know what would happen and started fidgeting all over again.

  The only thing she did know was that she didn’t want to face him for the first time since the incident with her parents present. She wanted to talk to him alone first. With that goal in mind, she slipped out the door of the study and waited in the shadowed hallway. It was quiet and she hoped that Emmy had herded all the guests off to bed. She didn’t have to wait long before she heard their boots clicking on the hardwood floor.

  Squaring her shoulders, she held her breath as Mr. Jameson, Castillo and Aunt Prudie came around the corner. Mr. Jameson inclined his head and gave her a gentle smile.

  “I’d like to speak with Castillo alone for a minute first.” Caroline let her gaze float to each of them, briefly taking in Castillo’s unreadable expression, before looking back at Mr. Jameson. “If that’s all right,” she added.

  Mr. Jameson looked to Aunt Prudie, who nodded. “I think that’ll be fine, dear. You have a lot to talk about. Don’t keep them waiting too long, though.” When Caroline gave her agreement, Mr. Jameson opened the door for her aunt, and then followed her inside the room.

  Caroline’s breath nearly squeezed from her chest when they were left alone in the hallway. She wasn’t certain of what to say now, but she didn’t have to wait long for Castillo to start.

  “Why did you do that?” The words were low and rough, pulled from deep in his chest.

  She wanted to hold hi
m, but held herself back. “I didn’t know how much he knew. I didn’t want anyone to suspect you.”

  “That’s not your concern.”

  She frowned up at him. “How can you think that it’s not my concern? I’m not the only one who feels what’s happening between us...am I?” What if she was? She didn’t think that was true, given how he looked at her and touched her, but what if it was?

  He stared down at her, unmoving in his anger, and she didn’t know what to think. Finally, he relented, and a little bit of the tension left his shoulders. “No, you’re not the only one, but it doesn’t matter. This can’t happen, Carolina. No matter how I feel or how you feel, we can’t happen.”

  She nodded, a little relieved that his objection wasn’t an emotional one. If it was simply an issue of logistics, then she could understand. “I know that it won’t be easy. I know we’re not an ideal couple, but I think we can figure it out.”

  He exhaled a breath and shook his head. “You don’t understand.”

  “What is there to understand? I—”

  He took her hand and laced his fingers with hers before pulling her farther down the hallway, away from the study doors. His boots thumped over the thick rug and he turned his back to the rest of the world, blocking her in against the wall.

  “I’m a wanted man.” He kept his voice low.

  “Oh, that.” She nearly laughed because she thought he was going to say something far worse. “I think, once the facts are known, that the shoot-out will be seen as justifiable. You were defending yourself. But as of now, no one knows about it, and I won’t tell anyone you were involved.”

  It was too shadowed in the hallway to see his eyes clearly, but he stared down at her so intensely she was certain that she was missing some vital piece of information. His next words confirmed it. “It’s not just the shoot-out. That’s bad enough, but there have been others. I’m the leader of a gang known as the Reyes Brothers. Have you heard of us?”