Tougher Than The Rest

by Shirleen Davies

  “Mr. MacLaren, may I join you?”

  Niall glanced up to see Sam Browning, the other passenger in the fatal stage wreck, approach and order a whiskey. He looked better. His arm was still bandaged, but the cuts and bruises on his face were healed. Niall realized for the first time that Sam was older than he first thought. Plus, he was wearing the badge of a deputy.

  “Sam, good to see you. I wondered where you went after we found the doctor. Appears you’ve settled in fast, by the deputy’s badge you’re wearing.”

  “That’s why I was coming to Fire Mountain. Sheriff Rawlins offered me a job the last time he was in Phoenix. I finally accepted. Once we got to town, I thought it best to report the accident.”

  Sam had learned much about Niall from talking with the sheriff. Niall was one of those considered a town leader, had a standing arrangement with Gloria, kept to himself, had lost his wife years ago, was considered a fair boss. And it was rumored that he was courting Mrs. van Deelin, a widow of twenty-five, whom Rawlins said owned a good-sized piece of land north of town, and a small mansion in town. Sam also learned that Niall was the older brother of his friend, Jamie MacLaren. Lawmen tended to get to know other lawmen. Jamie MacLaren was one of the best.

  “How’s your houseguest doing?” Sam sounded casual, but Niall thought he picked up something more. Or maybe he just imagined it. Sam’s question irked Niall, and damned if he knew why. Simple question, simple answer, but that didn’t change the fact that Niall wanted nothing more than to forget about his houseguest, not talk about her.

  “Fine. She’s doing fine.” Niall’s tone was final and Sam chose to change the subject.

  He turned so his elbows rested on the bar with his eyes scanning the saloon. About thirty men were present, which was a little light for a Friday. Many Sam had already met. Some were townspeople and others from local ranches.

  Then there was Gloria Chalmette. Now that was one fine-looking woman. She wore her chestnut brown hair swept off her face and held with a comb that allowed long, tightly curled tendrils to fall over her shoulders. Gloria’s eyes were the golden color of melted caramel, and her figure—well, his mind didn’t need to go in that direction. A shame she belonged to Niall.

  “We’ve been getting reports of stolen property—cash, jewelry, nothing significant—but four complaints so far. Three from houses in town and one from Jacobson.”

  That got Niall’s attention. “John’s place was robbed?”

  “That’s right. A few hundred dollars from his desk. He kept it for emergencies. Also, some jewelry kept in a trunk upstairs. The thing is, John says he always locks his desk, and there was no damage.” Sam kept his voice low, barely above a whisper. “The three robberies in town were coins and some jewelry. Strange. The robber only took a little from each house. Might not have been noticed if one neighbor hadn’t mentioned it to the next. They checked their houses and found items missing. They mentioned it to another neighbor, and damned if they didn’t have a few things missing, too. I expect we’re going to hear about more.”

  Niall thought it over, but nothing made much sense. “Could be kids, but what would they do with jewelry? And why take the risk of robbing someone and leaving other valuables behind?”

  Sam had to agree. “Well, be aware of it and let the sheriff or me know if you notice anything missing, or anyone someplace they shouldn’t be. So you know, we’re checking on all the newcomers.”

  Niall scowled at that. “Does that include Kate?”

  “Everyone,” Sam said before pushing away from the bar and walking out the door.

  ******

  “You heard anything about robberies in town, Gloria?” Niall was sitting up in bed with one arm bent behind his head, nursing a whiskey while Gloria stretched, pulled on her robe, and made her way to the vanity.

  “No, not a thing. You heard something?” Robberies or theft of any kind were rare in Fire Mountain.

  “The new deputy, Sam Browning, mentioned it tonight. He said they were paying particular attention to newcomers.”

  “Including your new house guest?” Gloria looked over her shoulder as she brushed her long hair. She was a beautiful woman, exotic in a way, with cream-tinted skin. Her face was smooth, absent of the heavy powders and rouges so common to those she employed. Gloria almost never wore lip color as her lips were a luscious cherry. She made enough money to order the best lotions from the east and used them morning and night in the dry Arizona climate. Her skin was as soft as butter and Niall loved touching her––all over. Tonight had been no exception.

  There was a hint of something in Gloria’s voice, but Niall was too relaxed to question it. “Yes, including our houseguest. Don’t see any connection there. She hasn’t been off the ranch since she arrived a few days ago, but I guess they need to check out everyone.”

  “Well, the sheriff is thorough when something gets his hackles up, and it’s no coincidence he’d hire a deputy who feels the same. Sam seems like a decent guy. Maybe he’ll stay longer than the last two.” Gloria made sure she had good relationships with the sheriff and his men. Never knew when you would need their help. And Sam, well, he gave her girls something to stare at, dream about. He wasn’t handsome, not in the classic sense, but his rugged good-looks, tall, lean frame, warm brown skin, black hair, and silver blue eyes gave him the appearance of a man who had no trouble attracting woman.

  “It’s just curious, is all. A little money and some jewelry, small batches that might not have been noticed, but were. Something for you to be aware of.” Niall swung his legs off the bed and grabbed his clothes.

  “Not staying, I take it?” Gloria asked as he continued to dress.

  “Not tonight, darl’n. I have things at home that need to be taken care of first thing, and I don’t have other business in town right now. Next time I’ll plan to say all night.” Niall didn’t know why he felt compelled to head back tonight. He had nothing pressing, but he felt restless and needed to be on the move.

  Gloria placed her brush back on the vanity, stood, and watched him strap on his gun. He was the best man she’d ever known. They’d been seeing each other for so long that she sometimes forgot he wasn’t hers. Never would be. If her life had turned out different perhaps they would’ve had a chance. Circumstances had set her on this path long before she’d met Niall. They were good together. “Next time then, Niall.” Gloria walked him to the door, wrapped her arms around his neck, and gave him a long kiss. “Next time.”

  Chapter Eight

  It surprised Kate to see Niall at the breakfast table Saturday morning with Will, Drew, and Beth. She’d understood he seldom returned home on Saturday until right before the evening meal.

  “Good morning, Kate. How was your night?” Alicia asked as Kate sat down to fill her plate with eggs and a biscuit. She noticed that the bags under the young woman’s eyes were beginning to fade, and her color had improved over the last week.

  “Much better, Alicia. No dreams, at least not that I can recall,” Kate answered between bites. Alicia was a great cook and she seemed to know the exact amount to make so that nothing went to waste.

  “Kate? I’d like to speak with you after breakfast, if you have the time.” All eyes landed on Kate. Niall wasn’t making a request and everyone knew it.

  “Of course, Mr. MacLaren. I’m not very hungry, so now is fine, if you’re finished.” Kate’s stomach growled as she spoke, even though her hunger had died with his words. She’d wondered how long it would take Niall to convince Alicia it was time their houseguest found other lodging. She wasn’t surprised, but had no idea where she’d go or how she’d live. Fact was, Kate was scared. There had been no money, no banking information, and no hint of her final destination in the belongings they were able to salvage from the scattered wreckage. Kate wished they’d taken Mrs. Stelford’s luggage from the stage, but with the injuries, everyone had been in a hurry to reach Fire Mountain. Niall sent men back to fetch it, but by then everything had vanished, and along with it, a
ny clues to her identity.

  Five minutes later Kate found herself facing Niall, who sat behind his desk in the office. It was a good-sized piece of furniture, about three feet from the front to the back, behind which Niall relaxed in his chair and focused his gaze on her. Somehow Kate still felt crowded. She backed away slowly, so slowly she hadn’t noticed until Niall grinned at her. “You don’t need to flee from me, Kate. I’m not known for assaulting young women.” Niall’s thoughts flew to their encounter in Phoenix, and watched to see if there was any reaction from his guest. There was none.

  “No, of course not. Was there something you wanted to talk about?” Kate’s voiced sounded strained, even to her own ears.

  “Please, sit down. I don’t believe this will take long.” For some perverse reason, Niall was enjoying Kate’s discomfiture. She sat, but her back was rigid in the large leather chair, and she had to scoot forward so her feet touched the floor. Her hands were folded in her lap as she rubbed the golden band on her left hand between the thumb and index finger of her right hand.

  “It’s been almost a week since the accident. From what Aunt Alicia has said, you still don’t remember much. Tell me, do you remember anything about yourself, your life?” Niall had a hard time believing they still knew nothing about Kate.

  “Not much.” Sadness laced her voice. “At times I sense or feel that I’m going to remember something, but I don’t. Alicia made a pie and the smell triggered something so strong I had to sit down. Nothing stuck. An image, or shadow of a face, flashes through my mind, but it’s gone in an instant.” Her head lowered as her shoulders drooped at the complete lack of any memory. A deep sigh fell from her lips before she continued. “The same thing happened yesterday when Gus and Pete rode up to the barn. The image of a man on a horse appeared, almost like a vision, and then was gone, but a memory stuck. It became quite clear to me that I know how to ride. Not just sit a horse and stay on, but ride. Fast, hard, all-out.”

  She stopped to take a ragged breath. Discussing this with Niall was tougher than she would have thought. Maybe talking about it would help ease the anxious feeling that was her constant companion. “Yesterday I was working in the garden with Alicia when a rattler appeared. I went for Alicia’s rifle and shot the snake before Alicia had time to turn and reach for the gun. When that happened, my mind drifted, and I saw the shadow of a large man with broad shoulders, and a rifle resting in his right hand. The man started to turn toward me. I tried so hard to keep the image turning so I could see him, but it was gone in an instant.” The clear defeat in Kate’s voice pierced at something inside Niall, a feeling he thought long gone. “I’m sorry, Mr. MacLaren. I know this is a disappointment to you. Having a stranger in your home must be hard, and I won’t think less of you if you ask me to leave.”

  The last gave Niall pause. Yes, he’d wished her gone. Kate distracted him, raised unwelcomed feelings. No matter what he felt, tossing her out didn’t sit well with him. “Well, it appears there are some things we need to discuss.”

  “All right.”

  “First, Aunt Alicia tells me you’ve been spending a lot of time with Beth—reading to her, working with her on numbers and writing,” Niall began.

  Kate rushed to explain. “Alicia assured me it would be okay. She said I was not over-stepping my bounds. I can stop if you’d rather I not work with her. It’s just, I sense I’m good at this, that I’ve done it before, teaching I mean. And Beth is such a quick learner. So incredibly bright for being so young…” Niall held up his hand to stop her, and let her catch a breath.

  “Kate,” Niall said in a calming voice, “I have no issue with you teaching Beth. Aunt Alicia has asked me to consider hiring you to be Beth’s governess. She has a lot to do as one of the ranch owners. With all the house duties and added ranch chores, she worries about having enough time for Beth. She gets tired and can’t always keep up. Beth needs someone who can school her, guide her about the things young girls are supposed to know.” Niall stopped to gauge Kate’s interest. She stared at him, although her eyes started to tear as he continued.

  “It’s no secret that I haven’t wanted you here. I know nothing about you, and now Aunt Alicia wants me to trust you to guide my daughter. Although there’s been nothing negative in your behavior, how do I know you’ll have the right influence on her? How do I know she’ll be safe with you? Why should I give you this job when there are at least a couple of women in town who would make an excellent governess for Beth?”

  “Mrs. van Deelin being one?” Kate knew the minute the words were out that she’d made a mistake. Why did she have to share so much of what spilled into her head?

  Niall, who’d turned to stare out the window, snapped his head around. “Mrs. van Deelin has no place in this conversation. She is someone you and I will never discuss. Do you understand?”

  Kate swallowed hard, but stared straight into his eyes and nodded her head in understanding.

  Although Niall had no intention of ever talking about his relationship with Jocelyn, or any other woman, he admired Kate’s ability to withstand his scrutiny and not cower like so many women might. “What I want to know, Katherine,” his voice hardened somewhat, “is whether you’d like to be considered for this position, and why I should consider giving it to you.”

  It was the first time he’d called her by her proper name since her arrival. She’d made a serious error. She wanted to be Beth’s governess and remain at the ranch. Stay near Niall. Near Niall? What had brought that on? Kate was never one to delude herself. Each time she was around Niall she felt alive, nervous, hopeful, scared, and many other things she didn’t understand.

  “Mr. MacLaren. I apologize if my brash comment about Mrs. van Deelin was out of line. Of course you are right that your personal life is none of my business. Yes, I do want the position,” she insisted. “I cannot say how I know, but teaching and working with children seems to be quite natural for me. It would be an honor to be Beth’s governess. I hope you believe I would never do anything to harm her, or anyone else in your family. There are no other assurances to offer you, except that I would rather harm myself than any of them.”

  Niall didn’t miss the sincerity in her words. Kate’s behavior since she’d arrived had shown she was warm-hearted, kind, and quick to help without being asked. She seemed to sense what needed to get done and jumped right in. A part of him, a large part, had hoped she’d decline the position. Each time he looked at her, he saw the pretty, blonde woman, whose dazzling blue eyes swept over him in open admiration, on the street in Phoenix. But more disconcerting, he saw a woman he wanted more than any he’d met since Camille. And that was not acceptable. She was a distraction, a serious distraction. He had a plan, goals for him, Beth, the ranch, and Kate played no part in these plans.

  “Mr. MacLaren?” It had been so long that Kate thought he might not have heard her.

  Niall shook off his thoughts and addressed Kate in a clipped voice. “All right, we will give it a month and see how it goes. You will receive room, board, and a wage. If you regain your memory during this time, you may decide how to proceed. Likewise, a month gives me time to assess your skills and decide if you are the right match for Beth. Agreed?”

  “Yes, agreed, Mr. MacLaren. I appreciate the offer.” Kate took a slow, deep breath and started to leave.

  “Wait, there is another issue I wish to discuss.”

  She sat back into her chair and waited for Niall to continue.

  “Since you have been having these ‘thoughts’ or ‘visions,’ I think we should explore them. I suggest we go riding. Test some of your theories. See if these visions from your past are real or if they’re dead-ends to ignore.” Niall doubted Kate would show the slightest aptitude for either riding or shooting, but at least it was something they could do to help her regain her memory.

  “When?”

  “Today, now, unless you have other plans.” Niall preferred to get this over with then find Gus and Pete to discuss the recent robberies.<
br />
  “Now is fine. Shall I meet you at the barn in a few minutes?” Kate was excited and wanted to latch onto this offer before he changed his mind.

  “Fifteen minutes at the barn.”

  ******

  The ride felt less and less like a good idea about ten minutes away from the house. Kate sat her horse like a veteran rider. She’d chosen a horse and had it saddled by the time Niall walked into the barn. She hadn’t picked the one Niall thought best. He would’ve chosen Daisy, a twelve-year-old mare about fourteen-and-a-half hands, even-tempered and easy to handle.

  Instead, Kate had chosen Captain, an eight-year-old gelding over fifteen hands. Pete had trained Captain. He was fast but sure-footed, feisty but responded well to commands, excellent with cattle, and strong. Pete had packed him for hunting trips as well as taken him for long rides over the ranch. He was a beautiful sorrel with a white blaze, white stockings, black mane, and black tail. Niall had to admit that Kate looked stunning astride him. And that thought brought back the real reason for his distress at this outing.

  She wore a split riding skirt that fit her as tight as a glove. Camille had always ridden sidesaddle, but not Kate. She’d walked up to Captain, secured the reins while grabbing his main with her left hand, fit her boot in the stirrup, steadied herself with her right hand, and hoisted herself up in one, smooth movement, the skirt clinging to her beautifully rounded backside. “Christ,” he growled under his breath.

  They were approaching a small hill when Niall nudged Zeus into an easy canter. Kate followed a few yards behind, relaxing into the steady pace. She reined in Captain next to Niall as he stopped at the crest.

  “We’ll head west across that meadow, and visit parts of the ranch before we use the guns.” He secured his hat. “Try to keep up.” The last was said with a slight smirk as Niall turned and sent Zeus down the hill into the meadow, and then let loose.

  The rider and horse made a magnificent image Kate observed as she moved Captain forward to catch up to Zeus. Niall sat straight and had excellent control. He was one of those men born to ride, born to control, and from what she’d seen, born to lead. Today, however, was about Kate, and she aimed to surprise him.