The man across from her began to fold his paper and set it aside. She impulsively reached toward it. “I’m sorry. Do you mind if I borrow this?”
“Go right ahead,” he said. “Though I’m pretty sure the conductor will recognize you, anyway.”
“That’s fine, but tell me when those two cowboys pass.”
The woman next to her leaned in. “This is Texas, honey. You’ll have to be more specific.”
She glanced at the woman. “There are two young, particularly attractive ones.”
“I see them.” The woman smiled. “If I was you, I sure wouldn’t hide from them.”
Ellie bit her lip to keep from laughing and drawing attention to herself. A few moments passed before the woman told her she was safe. She let out a relieved sigh. She carefully folded the newspaper and handed it to the man just in time for the conductor to appear at her side. “This is your stop, miss.”
She grabbed her reticule and stood. The conductor gestured with the Stetson in his hand for her to precede him. She hid a smile of confusion at his hat then started walking toward the exit. She stopped abruptly, realizing she should at least say goodbye to her new friends. The conductor grumbled at her to keep walking so she did—backward...just for a moment as she said goodbye. That was all it took to slam into someone.
* * *
The air rushed out of Lawson’s lungs in a whoosh, stirring the curls of the blond woman who’d backed into him. He found it strange that the conductor reached out to steady him, not her. “Are you all right, sir?”
“Yes,” he managed. The woman stiffened, murmured something unintelligible that could hardly pass for an apology, then kept her back turned as she moved past him. He returned his focus to the conductor. “I left my—”
His voice stopped abruptly as he reached out to catch the arm of the woman trying to sneak down the aisle. He tugged her around to face him. The woman bit the corner of her pink lips while her cheeks flushed, enhancing their rosy hue, and her large green eyes trailed up to meet his. Ellie.
His brain stopped working for a moment as he tried to reconcile that the woman was standing in front of him after he’d left her at the train station fifty miles back. He suddenly remembered her threat to follow him, so they’d be forced to marry. No, she wouldn’t do that.
But why else would she be here? Why was she being escorted by the conductor? What was going on? He should ask her any or all of those questions but they fled when her mouth teased into a smile and she innocently quipped, “Hello.”
“Hello.” She was here but she shouldn’t be and that pretty much summed up the past several days of his life. He’d avoided her, purposefully annoyed her, tried to discourage her, but she kept turning up just when he needed her—like right now when he was about to face his past head-on once and for all. He wasn’t supposed to need her. He shouldn’t be the least bit glad to see her and yet he couldn’t deny that a little part of him was. Just because she’s here now, doesn’t mean she’s going to stay in my life forever. It’s only been three days.
He knew that, so why didn’t he let her go? His thumb stroked her arm even as his heart seemed to dislodge just enough to connect with hers. Was it his imagination or did she lean into his touch? The conductor cleared his throat. “You said you left something?”
“My hat.” His gaze flew to the conductor’s before settling back on Ellie’s.
“Here it is. I was going to take it to the lost and found.”
A nearby passenger snickered. “It looks like he found something better.”
“Wish I’d found it first,” another drawled.
Lawson suddenly became aware of the gaping railcar of travelers. He took his Stetson and guided Ellie off the train. Ethan was waiting just where he’d left him. She explained how she’d ended up on the train as they collected the horses and recovered Starlight. He shook his head. “Why didn’t you just wire ahead and tell me?”
She stilled. “I didn’t even think of that. It all happened so quickly.”
Ethan slid a sly glance his way before turning to Ellie. “You should stay. It will only take a week—”
“That isn’t a good idea.” Lawson frowned.
“You know just as much about these horses as Lawson, if not more.”
He crossed his arms. “You mean I could have sent her instead?”
“It would be fun.” Ethan tipped his head toward Lawson. “This fellow could use another ally, anyway, if you know what I mean.”
Ellie’s gaze stumbled back and forth between them. “Oh, I couldn’t do that.”
Lawson nodded firmly. “No, she couldn’t. Come on. We have to wire Peppin to let your family know you’re safe, then get a ticket for you to go back home.”
“You’d let her travel unaccompanied?” Ethan asked, his disapproval apparent.
“Why not? She rode all the way here without—” He almost said “without incident” then caught himself when he realized it wasn’t true.
“Just a minute,” Ellie objected as she crossed her arms suspiciously. “Why couldn’t I stay if I wanted to? Ethan is right. I’ll get into all sorts of trouble if I go back alone—just see if I don’t. Besides, there is a chaperone at Clive’s ranch, isn’t there?”
Ethan nodded staunchly. “Ruth, the housekeeper and cook, will keep everyone in line.”
“You could use an ally. I’d be a great one, I promise.” Her green eyes turned slightly desperate and very hopeful. “Besides, I wouldn’t mind getting away from the ranch for a little while. A change would be good for me.”
She was right. He could use another ally. Still, he wasn’t sure it was an idea Nathan would approve of—Ellie by herself with only a housekeeper to protect her from any wayward ranch hands...and Clive. He shook his head. “I said no.”
Ethan grinned as if that sealed the deal for Ellie to stay, and Lawson fought the urge to groan. Telling Ellie no, flat-out, was the best way to bring out her obstinacy. Lawson watched as her chin lifted and knew that she wouldn’t back down now. “Haven’t I mentioned to you once or twice that I make my own choices? I’ll just wire home to make sure it’s all right. What do you say to that?”
Lawson hid his smile at the ridiculous statement. “Your stubbornness is showing.”
“Where’s the telegraph office?”
Ethan offered her his arm. “Right over here.”
She took his arm, then lifted her eyebrows at Lawson as if to say, So there. Lawson frowned. “Hold on, Ethan. I want to talk to you. Ellie, go on and send your telegram.”
“What is it?” Ethan asked once Ellie left them.
“I am not comfortable bringing Ellie along to meet Clive. He never thought twice about hitting my mother. I’ll not subject her to that.”
Ethan’s face paled slightly. “Uncle Clive isn’t like that anymore. I’ve never seen him raise a hand to anyone, not even an animal. Ruth has never borne a scratch and she’s lived with us for eight years. He’s a different man than you remember.”
“I hope so for your sake but I’m not willing to trust him that far.”
“Then trust me,” Ethan said quietly. “She’ll be safe. I give you my word on that.”
Lawson eyed his cousin. “If Clive so much as looks at Ellie wrong—”
“I’ll personally buy her ticket home and see that she gets on the right train with Ruth to accompany her.”
“Fine,” he agreed. They joined Ellie inside the telegraph office and less than thirty minutes later, she received permission to stay from Sean. Her triumphant smile was quickly followed by a sigh of relief, leaving him to wonder if more than just a desire to be with him motivated her not to return home.
He put his hat on as they exited the office, and let out a deep breath. If he was being honest, he’d admit he was grateful for the distraction of Ellie’s
presence. His stomach had slowly but surely begun to climb toward his throat those last few miles into town. He felt like Daniel being led toward the lion’s den. He swallowed. Maybe it won’t be that bad. Yeah, and maybe I can get away with “accidentally” leaving my Stetson somewhere again.
It was too bad stalling didn’t actually change the destination.
* * *
Lawson was relatively certain he’d seen this little meadow before. Just to make sure, he leaned forward to rest his wrists against the saddle horn and catch Ethan’s attention. “How long would it take to get to Clive’s ranch from here if we stopped going in circles?”
Ethan glanced up sharply then gave him a slow, guilty smile. “About twenty minutes.”
“We’ve been going in circles? Why?” Ellie asked in exasperation.
“To make me think they’re farther from town then they actually are. That way I’m less likely to leave abruptly. Isn’t that right, Ethan?”
“Yep.”
He shook his head. “I thought you were on my side.”
“I thought you weren’t in a hurry to get where we’re going, anyway. It seemed to fit everyone’s purposes.”
Lawson pulled off his hat to let the breeze cool his face. “We might as well stop for a few minutes and stretch.”
“Amen,” Ellie muttered as she dismounted and they did the same.
Ethan frowned at her. “I thought you rode horses all the time.”
“I do, but not for two hours straight after riding to town and then traveling by train.”
Lawson took a swig from his canteen then slowly lowered it. His gaze scanned the woods for movement. His ears strained to listen. He put the canteen away while his right hand strayed to his holster. “Ethan, do you have neighbors close by?”
“No. Why?”
“We have company.” He pulled his Colt from his holster. “Come here, Ellie.”
Suddenly, four horsemen burst from the woods to surround them. Ethan’s horse reared in protest as Ellie let out a startled scream. One of the men dismounted and edged toward her. “Saints above, aren’t you a pretty sight? Do you belong to one of these never-do-wells?”
Lawson’s protective instincts kicked in. He stepped closer to her saying a firm “yes” just as she squeaked out a “no.” Her gaze collided with his in hope. “Yes?”
He eyed the men and Ethan for a moment. Realizing that everyone else looked particularly unconcerned about the situation, he slipped his gun back into its resting place. Another man dismounted. “Well, which is it?”
“Actually, I think that about sums it up.” Ethan smirked. “What do y’all mean by rushing in here like that? You could have gotten yourselves shot. As it was, you scared the lady pretty good.”
The first man pulled off his hat. “Sorry, miss. I guess we got a little overexcited.”
Lawson snorted. “You think?”
Ethan smiled and gestured to the men. “Lawson, meet your father’s ranch hands. Boys, this is Ellie. You aren’t to bother her.”
They grumbled for a minute, then offered to escort them the rest of the way. Lawson stepped forward to give Ellie a boost before anyone else could offer. As he passed her he mumbled, “Knowing my father, they’re probably all a bunch of outlaws, anyway.”
Her eyes lit with excitement. “Do you think so?”
“No.” He ignored her laughter but it drew the attention of the other men. He frowned at them all. This was not good.
The churning of his stomach increased substantially when the ranch house came into sight. It was a large two-story, whitewashed with dark blue shutters that reminded him of bruises. The bright red barn and weathered gray outbuildings stood out on the green countryside. The property looked well maintained—almost picturesque, and a far cry from the bleak shantytown shack he remembered from his early childhood.
Clive was nowhere in sight as their caravan of sorts approached the house. Would Clive not come out to greet them? Perhaps he was busy in another area of the ranch. Lawson brought his horse to a stop near the steps of the house’s porch. He unclenched his white-knuckled grip on the reins and warily surveyed his surroundings once more before dismounting.
That delay nearly cost him the prerogative of helping Ellie off her horse. She was obviously a skilled rider who needed no assistance, but the other men didn’t seem to take that into account as they stepped toward her, then stopped in disappointment. Ellie gave him her thanks along with a curious look. He heard the door open behind him. Ellie stilled as her gaze trailed from that sound back to him.
Steeling himself, Lawson turned to face Clive. Tension filled the air as the man walked slowly along the porch. His footsteps sounded loudly on the hollow porch steps before being muffled by the grass at their base. Lawson found himself widening his stance, pulling back his shoulders and meeting the man’s gaze straight on. Clive eyed him carefully.
Lawson narrowed his eyes. It almost felt as if he’d been called out and Clive was waiting for him to make the first move so he could shoot him down fair and square. Lawson was wearing his gun belt, as was Clive, he noted. He didn’t know how to gauge this man—this almost stranger with a violent past. Surely, this wouldn’t turn into a fight.
Lawson’s hand moved backward slightly—closer to his gun. Instead of the cold metal of his Colt, Ellie’s warm fingers slid into his. She’d thought he’d been reaching for her. Maybe he had been. His hand tightened around hers. He let out a pent-up breath and managed a respectful nod. “Hello, Clive.”
“I wasn’t sure you’d come.”
“Neither was I.” He saw Clive notice their linked hands so he gestured to Ellie but didn’t release her hand. He wasn’t sure he could have if he’d wanted to, and he didn’t want to. “You remember Ellie O’Brien.”
Clive nodded. “Certainly. It’s a pleasure to see you again.”
“Thank you, sir.”
Ethan stepped forward. “Ellie is here to help Lawson with the horses. I told her Ruth would look after her.”
“Ruth will be glad of some female company. I know she’s tired of mine.” He turned to his men, ordering, “See that the horses are stabled. Ethan, let Ruth know of Miss O’Brien’s arrival while I show our guests to their rooms.”
Everyone hurried to do as they’d been told. Lawson pulled in a deep breath. He was here. He’d walk into the house and he’d stay for the required length of time but that didn’t mean he’d be as submissive as everyone else in Clive’s life seemed to be. Clive may not know it yet but they were going to do things Lawson’s way, in Lawson’s time. He’d start by getting at least half of Nathan’s money up front so Clive wouldn’t be able to play any games with it.
Lawson was distracted from his thoughts when Ethan gave him a supportive clasp on the shoulder as he passed. Clive stood by the door waiting for them to enter. Let him wait. Lawson glanced down at Ellie to see if she was ready. She smiled encouragingly. He nodded. All right, then. Let’s do this.
Chapter Fifteen
Ellie couldn’t believe she was on a real, live cattle ranch just like she’d read about in her dime novels. No one was looking so she stretched her arms wide and pulled in a deep breath. They were a little too close to the barn for that to be entirely pleasant. She smiled, anyway. This trip was exactly what she’d needed. At home, she couldn’t seem to get out from under the cloud of guilt she’d been feeling since the night she’d remembered the truth about her parents’ deaths. Even if the busyness of the day momentarily pushed it away, the ranch still carried so many reminders of her parents that it wasn’t long before it returned.
A change of scenery might be just what she needed. Unfortunately, this wasn’t likely to be a joyful trip for Lawson. He walked ahead of her with his father and Ethan. The distance between Lawson and Clive and the tension that filled it was nearly palpable.
Ethan noticed she’d fallen behind the group and dropped back to walk with her. “What do you think of the ranch?”
“It’s wonderful. How many head of cattle are there?”
“About a thousand.”
“Is that a lot? It sounds like a lot.”
“It’s more than a little.”
They shared a smile at his silly response before Ellie lifted her chin toward the men in front of them. “How is it going with them?”
“No fisticuffs yet,” he said blithely.
She sent him a censoring frown. “I don’t think that’s something to joke about.”
“I wasn’t joking.”
“You don’t really think it might come to that, do you?” she asked, walking sideways so she could see his face.
“I hope not. They still have some serious issues to work through but I’m not sure either of them is prepared to do that yet.” He shrugged. “I guess it’s something to pray about.”
She threw him a curious glance. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard you mention prayer before.”
He ducked his head. “I’ve been doing it more lately—mainly because Lawson seems to put such stock in it.”
“He’s a good man.” She sent him a smile. “So are you.”
“Thanks. I might not have known Lawson long, but it’s obvious that my cousin doesn’t make it easy for anyone to get close to him.” Ethan met her gaze seriously. “If you want him, you’ll need to fight for him. Lawson told me the story of Uncle Clive and Aunt Gloria abandoning him. He remembers that feeling well, though he was only nine when it happened. He isn’t going to pin his hope on anyone who can’t convince him that it’ll last.”
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