“Marshal Watson,” Grant said, rising.
Addy looked away, heart pounding. Had Cole been found out? Was he under arrest? What would he think of her being here with Grant? But what difference did it make? It was he who had said they had to end their relationship once and for all. It was Cole who had followed her here against her wishes, and now he was supposed to be gone. Gone! Why did he keep doing this to her? If he had left when he was supposed to …
“Hello, Mr. Breckenridge. You told me you’d be here this evening, and you said if I found this man I should bring him to you.”
“Yes! Yes!” Grant told the marshal.
Addy turned to see Grant putting out his hand. She breathed a sigh of relief that Cole was apparently not under arrest. But why was Grant looking for him? Did he know something about herself and Cole? She looked up at Cole, who glanced her way for a moment as he shook Grant’s hand. The look in his eyes told her all she needed to know … hurt, a little anger and disappointment, a plea that she not give him away.
“I’m Grant Breckenridge,” Grant was telling Cole. “May I ask your name?”
Cole withdrew his hand, glancing at Addy again, then meeting Grant’s eyes squarely. “Cole Parker.” He offered nothing more.
“I’ll leave you alone now,” the marshal told them. “He’s all yours, Mr. Breckenridge.” The man tipped his hat to Addy and left, and Grant offered Cole a chair at their table.
“You don’t mind if I talk business for just a moment, do you, Addy?” he asked.
Addy felt warm all over, wishing there were a way to explain to Cole why she was here with Grant, wishing he had left like he’d promised. Damn you, she wanted to scream at Cole. Why didn’t you leave? Why do you keep doing this to me? This was it. She was not going to let his presence ruffle her, nor would she allow it to reawaken all the hurt, the desire, the indecision.
Cole hesitated before taking a chair. “I don’t understand,” he told Grant. “You’re apparently here for dinner with a lady, and you don’t know me from Adam.”
“Please sit down and I’ll order you a drink, Mr. Parker. This will just take a minute. You aren’t going to disturb my evening, I assure you. After all, I’m the one who asked Marshal Watson to find you for me.” He nodded to Addy. “This is Mrs. Addy Kane, a widow from Illinois come here to teach in Central. I am just showing her around town, thought I’d offer her a good meal in one of our finer restaurants.”
Cole nodded to Addy. “Nice to meet you,” he told her.
Addy forced herself to keep from showing any sign of recognition. “And you, Mr. Parker,” she replied. She felt a sudden urge to cry, and she looked away again, drinking some of the tea the waitress had brought while Cole and Grant were being introduced. She breathed deeply for self control.
“May I ask where you’re from, Mr. Parker?” Grant asked.
Cole frowned. “I suppose, but I’m not prone to answering questions from men I don’t even know, especially when they look me up without explaining why.”
Grant grinned, but Addy noticed a little flash of irritation in his dark eyes. “I can see you’re a very private person,” he responded. “And very discerning. I like that. I read about your encounter with George Williams in the Hard Luck Saloon a few days ago. You apparently out-drew the man like lightning. That’s what caught my eye. I asked Marshal Watson if he knew who it was, and he said you’d given no one your name but that he’d know you on sight and would bring you to meet me when he saw you again. So … here you are. What can I get you to drink?”
Addy felt sick at the knowledge Cole had been spending time at the Hard Luck Saloon. Had he been with Sassy Dillon? Would he be there in two days when she marched with the other women? She would feel like a fool.
“Nothing to drink,” Cole said. “I wouldn’t want to spoil your evening with the lady here.”
Addy sipped more tea, catching the sarcasm in his remark. He was upset that she was with Grant, and he had no right to be, not after all the hurt he had caused her.
“How about just telling me why you were looking for me,” Cole said. “Why do you care that I out-drew some guy in a saloon?”
“Because George Williams has a reputation for being the best. Is your aim as good as your draw?”
Addy felt Cole look at her again, knew what he was thinking. Why don’t you ask this lady here how good I am? “I was a sharpshooter in the war,” he answered, turning back to Grant. “And if you have a man hold out a glass of beer and drop it, I can draw and shatter the glass before it hits the ground.”
“Really? That’s remarkable!” Grant said. “In fact, I’d like to see a demonstration. How about tomorrow afternoon? Out in front of the Hard Luck?”
Cole sighed with irritation. “I don’t like drawing that kind of attention. That thing the other night was something I couldn’t back out of. And why does it even matter? Get to the point, Mr. Breckenridge.”
Grant’s eyebrows arched in a note of respect, and Addy suspected most men did not stand right up to the man or refuse to abide his wishes as Cole had just done. “The point is, Mr. Parker, I need a really good man to guard my gold shipments that go down to Denver, as well as the payroll for my miners that comes here from banks in Denver every two weeks. There have been raids and robberies along Clear Creek Canyon, and I’ve already lost one payroll. The pay is four dollars a day, which is more than the highest-paid miner, and in addition to that, free room and board at Sam’s Hollow. It’s not the best boarding house in town, but most are a lot worse.”
Cole thought quietly for a moment, and Addy felt her heart hanging in the balance. Part of her wanted him to say yes, because it was an honest job that might help him back on the right track, but wisdom told her she should pray that he turn Grant down. She could not help thinking how ironic it was that Grant was asking Cole Parker to guard his gold. If only he knew the truth!
“I don’t know,” Cole answered. “I didn’t plan on staying around at all. I’m just sort of drifting. I lost everything in the war, and I’m not sure where I want to land.”
“Confederate?”
Cole rose. “Does it make any difference?”
“Not really.” Grant also stood up then. “Tell you what. If you want the job, you be out in front of this restaurant tomorrow morning at nine o’clock. I’ll take you up to the mines and show you around. Next gold shipment goes down in five days. Is it a deal?”
Cole frowned. “You don’t know anything about me.”
“I know you’re good with that gun.”
“How do you know I won’t run off with your gold or your payroll?” Cole glanced at Addy again.
“I don’t. I need a good man and I’ll just have to take my chances. There will be other men along, too. Your job will be to ride ahead of the gold wagons, smell out trouble. When I hear about a new man in town who’s skilled at something special, I look into it. That way I have only the best working for me. I don’t go to the trouble of searching a man’s background because up here most drifters are running from their past and trying to start new. Is that the case with you?”
“Could be. It’s a good offer, Mr. Breckenridge. I’ll think about it and be here at nine tomorrow morning to let you know.”
Addy felt almost sick. What was she to do if Cole stayed and worked for Grant Breckenridge? She was bound to run into him, to have to look into those blue eyes that sent her into a whirl of indecision. She hated him. Yes, she did! If he decided to stay after all, she would see more of Grant Breckenridge just for spite!
“Fine,” Grant was saying. He shook Cole’s hand again. “Nine tomorrow then. Have your horse saddled and ready.”
Cole nodded, glancing at Addy once more. “Nice meeting you, ma’am. You enjoy your evening.”
Again she saw anger in those eyes. She supposed he thought less of her now after all, seeing another man so soon after their parting. Maybe he thought she was seeing Grant only because he had money. She realized she
still didn’t really know Cole Parker and what he truly thought about anything. Oh how she wished she had not been so weak in his arms, so dependent on him coming West. It would have been better for her if he had died from that bullet wound after all. “Thank you,” she said softly.
Cole put his hat back on and walked out. Grant sat back down. “Sorry for the interruption, but I’ve been looking for that man,” he told Addy. “He probably has a past he’d rather not tell me about, but that’s all right. Central is full of men like that. There is an air of honesty about him.” He drank some coffee. “So, what have you decided? Will it be a steak?”
Addy put a hand to her stomach. “I’m not terribly hungry,” she answered. “In fact, I don’t feel too well. I’ll just have a roll, if they’re fresh.”
“Oh, and I so wanted to treat you to a really fine meal. I hope my bringing a stranger to the table who’s apparently a drifter and a gunman didn’t cause this.”
Addy felt like laughing at the remark. I’ve slept with that gunman, she felt like shouting. You’ve just hired an outlaw to guard your gold, Grant Breckenridge. So be it. This was a chance for Cole to prove himself, and if he took that chance, she couldn’t blame him—as long as he stayed away from her.
“Mr. Parker had nothing to do with it,” she answered. “It’s just that I’m still adjusting to this new life.”
Grant reached out and grasped her hand. “And I’ll help you. Don’t be alarmed by drifters like Cole Parker. The circle of people you’ll be associated with, you won’t often have to be around people like that. And I must say, you do look beautiful tonight, Addy.”
She wanted to feel something, anything. “Thank you,” she finally answered.
Outside Cole stopped to light a thin cigar, feeling sick inside at seeing Addy with a man who was obviously one of Central’s richest. The bastard! Grant Breckenridge was after the prettiest woman in town, and he couldn’t blame him, nor could he blame Addy for turning her eyes to someone who could promise security. But there was something about Breckenridge that rubbed him the wrong way, something in those dark eyes that only another man would recognize. The man was a pompous ass who probably enjoyed flaunting his wealth at women, and by-God he’d better never hurt Addy Kane! It tore at his guts seeing Addy with another man, but he had no right doing anything about it. She was probably angry that he hadn’t left town.
Maybe he still would. Breckenridge’s offer was a damn good one, but was it worth having to see Addy with the man? Then again, what if he hurt her somehow? Maybe he should stay around. What better way to keep an eye on Addy’s welfare and how Breckenridge treated her than to take this job?
“What a damn mess,” he grumbled. “I need a drink.” He headed for Sassy’s place.
Eighteen
“What do you know about Grant Breckenridge?” Cole took a deep drag on his cigarette and poured himself another shot of whiskey. Sassy Dillon drank down what was left of her glass of beer.
“Grant? Why in hell you asking, honey?”
Cole met her eyes. Sassy was a foul-mouthed, brassy whore, but one thing he liked about her was that she was honest and open and didn’t try to pretend she was something that she was not. Although she had practically begged him to come back to her bed, he had only slept with her that one night. He had hung around since only because he couldn’t quite bring himself to leave Central—or Addy Kane—in spite of his promises to her.
“The man sought me out earlier this evening, offered me a job guarding his gold shipments and payroll along Clear Creek Canyon on trips to and from Denver. Seems a little strange to me that he’d hire a complete stranger who’s good with a gun to guard his money. For all he knows, I could be an outlaw myself.”
Sassy grinned in good humor. “Are you an outlaw? You running from the law, Cole Parker?”
Cole grinned in return. “No, ma’am. I was a choir boy back East.”
Sassy belted out a healthy laugh. She leaned forward then, flaunting her breasts at him from across the table. “Come let me enjoy that beautiful body of yours again, and I’ll tell you all you want to know about Grant Breckenridge.”
Cole took one last drag and exhaled smoke as he pressed out the stub of his cigarette in an ashtray. “Not yet, lady. I’ve got too much on my mind.”
“Yeah?” Her eyebrows arched as she gave him a knowing look. “Like maybe that pretty young schoolteacher?”
Cole had not said one word to the woman about Addy, but Sassy had pestered him about her ever since that first night she’d seen the look of recognition in his eyes when she’d mentioned riding up here with Addy in a stagecoach. “You don’t give up, do you?”
“Never,” Sassy replied with a light laugh. “I know men, Cole Parker, and something is eating at you real bad. My guess is it’s a woman, and the woman is Mrs. Addy Kane. I don’t know the connection, but there is one.”
Cole sighed, looking around to be sure no one was hearing their conversation. The Hard Luck was full tonight, the air floating with smoke from cigars and cigarettes, men talking loudly, playing cards, laughing. “It’s a long story,” he answered, “and I don’t want even one whispered hint spilled that I might know her at all.”
Sassy caught the warning look in his eyes. She nodded. “I think I get the picture.” She looked up and signaled for her piano player to finish his break and get back to playing. The young man, sporting a huge mustache, nodded and set an empty beer glass on top of the piano. He began plunking out a lively tune, and two other women who worked for Sassy moved from table to table, asking men to buy them drinks and offering to give them pleasant favors in return. Sassy moved her chair closer to Cole, realizing he didn’t want their conversation heard. “You’re worried certain people might discover you know Mrs. Kane. She could risk losing her new teaching job, I’ll bet. I know how those who run this town think, Cole, especially the wives of the wealthier men. They expect Mrs. Addy Kane to be spotlessly clean.” She ran her fingers lightly over the back of his hand. “But she isn’t, is she?”
Cole pulled his hand away. “I didn’t say that. She’s a good woman.”
Sassy’s eyes lit up with new knowledge. “And you, by God, are in love with her, aren’t you!” She smiled with victory at finally getting a little piece of the truth.
Cole did not smile as he leaned closer. “Watch your mouth, Sassy. I can’t say I do or don’t, and I said before, I don’t want one connection made between us. That damn teaching job means everything to her, and I don’t intend to mess it up for her. As far as how I know her, that’s my business.”
“You might have to tell me a little too much about yourself, huh?”
Cole grinned. “I might. Why don’t you just answer my original question?”
“About Grant Breckenridge?”
He nodded.
Sassy shrugged. “He’s a bastard of sorts—rich, arrogant, likes women. He pretends to be a gentleman, is on the town council, the school board, all that bullshit. He runs four mines up in the hills, owns a good share of one of them, the Jamesway. It’s unclear how he got it. He’s a manager for Chadwick Mining. Another Chadwick employee, Ed Foley, supposedly tried to claim the Jamesway for himself, and Grant reported it, got him fired. Foley tells it another way, says Grant double-crossed him, which wouldn’t surprise me at all. Foley says Grant originally backed him, then reported him to make himself look better to the company.”
“You figure Breckenridge to be the type to do something like that?”
Sassy chuckled bitterly. “No doubt in my mind. Grant can be a real bastard when it comes to business. No one seems to know the exact truth about the mess. Grant is good at coming out smelling like a rose, no matter what kind of underhanded thing he’s been up to. He can be very charming when it’s necessary.” She drank down a shot of whiskey. “The whole deal left some real bad feelings between the two of them, mostly on Foley’s part. Foley’s son was working with him at the time, and both of them had to go to wo
rk at another mine. A dynamiting accident there killed Foley’s son, and he blames the boy’s death on Grant Breckenridge—says his son would still be alive if they hadn’t had to go to work someplace else. He got to drinking heavily, let the whole business fester inside till he’s become a little bit crazy with a need for revenge, but he’s never actually made any moves toward Grant.”
Cole frowned. “Sounds like you know Breckenridge pretty good.”
Sassy grinned knowingly. “I know he also has businesses back in Chicago where he’s from, a few in Denver, too. The reason I know so much about him is because he’s been in my bed more than once. Not a bad body for a man his age, but he’s a hypocrite since he pretends to be in favor of rousting the whores out of Central. I don’t think his rich friends on the hill who look down their noses at us realize just how often Grant Breckenridge sneaks down to the crib houses or comes to see me. He’s real careful about it, and I know better than to say anything if I want to keep my saloon going.”
“That powerful, is he?”
Sassy nodded. “As far as him asking you to work for him, I’m not surprised. He probably heard how good you are with a gun. He isn’t worried whether you’re an outlaw or not, figures if he pays you good enough, you’ll work an honest job and not be stupid enough to cross him. Up here a man takes what he can get in the way of help. He just has to trust his own good judgment. A lot of men come here for a lot of reasons, and Breckenridge knows if he asked you to tell him everything about your past, you’d probably lie through your teeth anyway. His only concern is that you’re good enough with that gun to look out for his gold shipments.” She reached over and squeezed his thigh. “You gonna’ take the job, honey? I’d sure like to see you stay around.”
Cole rubbed at his eyes. “She was with him.”
“What?” Sassy leaned closer. “That schoolteacher? She was with Breckenridge when you talked to him?”
“They were dining out. The man is interested in her, and I wouldn’t blame her for being interested in return, considering his wealth. I’m just worried he’s a sonofabitch who’ll hurt her.”
Until Tomorrow Page 24
