Shadows Through Time

by Madeline Baker

  “A witch?” Reese lifted one brow. “I hadn’t thought of that.”

  She punched him on the arm. “You won’t think it’s funny if they burn me at the stake.”

  “I think it’s been a few years since anybody did that kind of thing and I’m pretty sure it never happened this far west.”

  “I’m serious! I don’t want people looking at me funny, wondering if I’m some kind of nut.”

  “Who’s she gonna tell, sweetheart?” Reese asked gently. “Lynch? Her mother? I doubt either one of them would believe a word she said.”

  “How about that boy, Danny? Or the kids at school?”

  “I’m sure she’ll keep quiet about it if you ask her to. And probably for the same reason you haven’t told anyone but me. No one would believe her.”

  “I guess so,” Kelsey said with a sigh.

  When they reached the saloon, Reese pulled her into his arms and gave her a quick kiss. “Stop worrying, sweetheart. I’m here, remember? I won’t let the bad guys get you.”

  She smiled up at him. “My knight in shining armor,” she murmured.

  “You got that right.” He gave her a playful swat on the fanny, then held the door open for her. “Now, get to work. I’ve got a poker game waiting.”

  * * * * *

  What with worrying about Lynch, wondering what to do about Angie’s new knowledge, stealing time with Reese whenever she had a spare minute and waiting tables, the remainder of Kelsey’s shift was over before she knew it. She stopped at the bar to tell Pete good night, then went to Reese’s table to see if he was ready to call it a night. She nodded to Neff and Booth. There were two other men at the table that she didn’t recognize.

  “I hope you’ve come to take him home,” Booth said, tossing his hand face down on the table.

  Kelsey grinned. “I don’t think he’s ready to leave just now,” she remarked, gesturing at the pile of greenbacks stacked in front of her husband. “You know he never leaves in the middle of a winning streak.”

  “Yea,” Booth said glumly. “Just my luck.”

  “Booth, you whine worse than an old lady,” Reese said good-naturedly.

  “Most old ladies are better poker players than he is,” Neff said, grinning.

  Reese took Kelsey’s hand and gave it a squeeze. “Don’t wait up for me.”

  Booth groaned loudly.

  “Buck up,” Neff said. “His luck’s bound to change sooner or later.”

  “Well, it better be sooner,” Booth said forlornly, “cause I’m about busted for the night.”

  Shaking her head, Kelsey bent down and kissed Reese on the cheek. “I won’t wait up if you promise to wake me when you get home.”

  “Come on, Kelsey, he deserves better’n that,” Neff said with a grin. “Lay one on him.”

  Blushing, she brushed a kiss across her husband’s lips, then hurried out of the saloon.

  Reese sat back in his chair, thinking his life had never been better. He had a wife who was as smart as she was beautiful and ever since he’d met her, the cards had been running his way. If this kept up, he’d buy her another house so she wouldn’t have to live and work in the same place. Maybe next year he’d take her to Boston or out to California…

  Muttering an oath under his breath, he raked in the pot. Here he was, making plans for next year when he didn’t even know if his woman would even be here next week.

  He was thinking about going back to the hotel and making love to her while he could when Jed Lynch dropped into the chair across from him.

  Lynch reached into his pants pocket. “What’s the ante?” he asked gruffly.

  “Two dollars,” Neff said, tossing a couple of greenbacks into the center of the table.

  With a grunt, Lynch slid two dollars into the pot.

  Booth followed suit and after a moment, Reese did likewise.

  Neff dealt the cards. Booth, who usually made wisecracks between plays, remained uncharacteristically quiet.

  Little was said for the next half hour. The only sounds at the table were the whisper and slap of cards being shuffled and dealt. Even Booth stopped complaining.

  After three hands, two of the players who were strangers to Reese left the table.

  Four hands later, Neff and Booth collected their winnings, nodded at Reese and left the saloon.

  Lynch tossed his cards on the table and sat back in his chair, one hand on the table, the other out of sight. “I want the girl,” he said curtly. “Don’t get in my way.”

  “I’m only gonna say this once,” Reese replied. “She’s not going with you. Not now, not ever. And if you try to reach for that gun, I’ll plug you right here, right now.” He drew back the hammer of the Colt in his hand.

  The sound, faint as it was, was not lost on Lynch. A muscle flexed in his jaw as he pushed away from the table and stalked out of the saloon.

  Reese watched him until he was out of sight. One thing was certain, he hadn’t seen the last of Jed Lynch. The man would be back sooner or later and when they met again, only one of them would walk away.

  * * * * *

  The next few days passed peacefully. There was no sign of Lynch. By Monday, Angelina was sick of staying in the hotel and decided to go to school. There were only a few weeks left until school was out for the summer and she didn’t want to get behind in her studies. Reese agreed to walk with her in the morning, Papa Joe said he would walk her to the house when school was over. Kelsey had written a note to Angelina’s teacher asking her to keep Angelina at school until either Reese, Papa Joe, or Kelsey came to pick her up.

  On Friday, Kelsey told Pete she wouldn’t be working for him anymore because she was ready to open her coffee shop.

  “I’m sorry to see you go,” he said. “If you ever want to come back, your job’ll be waitin’ for ya.”

  His words almost made her sorry to be leaving. Almost, but not quite.

  On Saturday, she went to the newspaper office and had several flyers made. Later that afternoon, she asked several of the businesses that catered to women if she could place a flyer in their window. All had said yes. She’d also had two dozen menus printed.

  It was with a sense of accomplishment and trepidation that Kelsey opened the doors of her new establishment. Now that setting the place up was over and her vision had become a reality, she began to have doubts. What if no one came? What if the women of the town were too busy or just not interested in coming here? What if all the men who had sniggered at the idea of a place for the women to gather had been right? Or, worse, refused to let their womenfolk patronize her shop?

  Tying on one of the aprons she had made, Kelsey brushed her doubts aside. She had done all she could. The house looked wonderful; if her business failed, at least she had a nice place to live.

  Going into the kitchen, she got down to work. She had cakes and cookies to bake and coffee to make. And if no one showed up, well, then, she and her family would have plenty of dessert to eat after dinner and lots of coffee to wash it down with!

  At quarter of eleven, she opened the door for business. And waited.

  At eleven thirty, just when she was thinking no one was going to show up, three women came to the door.

  “Come in, come in,” Kelsey said, beaming. “Please, take a seat.”

  The women seated themselves at one of the tables near the front window. Kelsey handed each of the women a menu. “I’ll be back in a few moments to take your order,” she said, smiling.

  Women arrived at the coffee shop throughout the day. They came in twos and threes, openly curious. A few stayed only long enough to drink a cup of coffee and satisfy their curiosity, but most came and stayed awhile. Kelsey received numerous compliments on the coffee and the décor and many promises to come back again, often.

  She was in the kitchen, brewing a fresh pot of coffee, when Reese came in the back door.

  “So, how are you doing?”

  “Really well,” she said, smiling. “I think we’re a hit.”

 
He drew her into his arms. “You are with me,” he said, nuzzling her neck. “What time are you closing shop?”

  “I’m not sure. I was thinking around five, since most of the women have families to look after. What do you think?”

  “I think I’d like to take you to bed.”

  Kelsey grinned. “Right here, right now?”

  “All right by me.”

  “Men! Do you ever think about anything else?”

  “Not often,” he admitted. “Don’t you ever think about it?”

  She did, of course, and now that he was here, being in his arms and in their bed, was all she could think about. But she was a businesswoman. She couldn’t just walk off and leave her customers waiting.

  As if reading her mind, he pulled her closer. “Are you sure you don’t want to sneak into one of the bedrooms for a minute?”

  “I’m sure!” She could just imagine the two of them messing up the sheets while half a dozen women sat in the parlor, sipping coffee. “Are you ready to move out of the hotel?” she asked, abruptly changing the subject. “It seems silly to stay at the hotel when we have a two-bedroom house.”

  He grunted softly. “I can’t remember the last time I lived in a house.”

  “Is that a yes or a no?”

  He brushed a kiss across her lips. “If you’re gonna be sleeping here, I’ll be sleeping here.”

  Kelsey smiled at him. “I’ll pack our stuff tonight after I close up. But right now I have to go wait on table two.”

  “Not sure I like having a wife that works,” he muttered.

  “Well, you’d better get used to it.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” He kissed her again, drawing it out until she was limp and breathless in his embrace. “I’ll be home early.”

  She nodded, wondering how she would wait until she was in his arms again.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Reese stood on the boardwalk, stretching his back and shoulders. He had spent a profitable four hours at the poker table but he was ready to call it a night, ready to go home and make love to his wife.

  Home. Wife. Two things he had never expected to have.

  Two things he wouldn’t have for long if Kelsey found that damn door and decided to go back to her own time, he thought glumly, so why was he standing out here alone?

  Stepping off the boardwalk, he crossed the street. The night was dark and quiet, with only the faint sighing of the evening breeze to break the stillness.

  He was turning a corner when a sudden prickling along his spine raised the short hairs along the back of his neck. Years of being on the run, of always looking over his shoulder, stood him in good stead now. Trusting his instincts, Reese dropped to one knee and drew his Colt mere seconds before a gunshot rent the air. Thumbing back the hammer, he fired at the muzzle flash.

  With a grunt of pain, a man staggered out from between the newspaper office and the doctor’s house. After a few steps, he dropped to his knees, then toppled forward. He twitched once, then lay still. Moonlight glinted on the barrel of the pistol still clasped in his hand.

  Gaining his feet, Reese moved cautiously toward the gunman. He kicked the gun from the assailant’s hand, then bent down and turned him over.

  Jed Lynch stared up at him through lifeless eyes.

  Reese muttered an oath. For a moment, he thought about high-tailing it out of town, but only for a moment. He had a wife now, responsibilities. Running would only make him look guilty and he hadn’t done anything wrong. Except kill a white man.

  He turned at the sound of footsteps to see old Doc Hunter hurrying toward him. “What’s going on here?”

  “This guy took a shot at me.”

  Hunter knelt beside Lynch and checked for a pulse, then looked up at Reese. “He’s dead.”

  In moments, a crowd had gathered. Their low murmurs filled the air as they speculated on the cause of the shootout.

  “All right, move aside.” Sheriff Roger McCain shouldered his way through the crowd, his gun drawn. “What’s going on…?” He cast a sharp eye in Reese’s direction. “What happened?”

  “He took a shot at me from over there,” Reese said, gesturing across the way. “I fired back.”

  “Uh huh. You know him?”

  “I know who he is. I don’t know him.”

  The sheriff frowned. “Did he have a quarrel with you?”

  “I have something he wanted. I guess he figured if I was dead, he could take it.”

  “Uh huh. I’ll be having that revolver,” the burly lawman said, holding out his hand.

  Reese hesitated. McCain didn’t look formidable but he wasn’t the kind of man you wanted to cross. He had a fast draw and was reputed to be bull-dog stubborn. It was said that he had never lost a fight and that he had brought back every outlaw he’d gone after, some of them alive. Those weren’t the kind of odds a smart gambler bet against. Blowing out a sigh, Reese handed the sheriff his gun.

  McCain took it and shoved it in the waistband of his trousers. “Turn around.”

  Reese winced as the sheriff slapped a pair of handcuffs on him.

  “Stay here,” McCain said. He waved the crowd back, then knelt beside Lynch’s body. His gaze swept the surrounding area. “He’s not armed.”

  “I kicked his gun away. Over there,” Reese said, jerking his chin toward the middle of the street.

  Rising, McCain walked up and down the street, then approached Reese. “I didn’t find a weapon.”

  Reese swore softly, wondering if someone in the crowd had picked it up.

  “Let’s go,” McCain said.

  Reese glanced over his shoulder. “It was self-defense.” He was wasting his breath and he knew it.

  “You got any witnesses?”

  “No.”

  “That’s what I figured. We’ll sort this out in my office. Simms, you and Marv take the body over to Bennett’s. The rest of you men go on home. There’s nothing more to see.”

  Swearing under his breath, Reese headed down the street toward the sheriff’s office.

  * * * * *

  For the tenth time in as many minutes, Kelsey went to the window and peered out into the darkness. It was well after midnight. She had expected Reese to be home long before now.

  Going into her bedroom, she changed out of her nightgown into a dress and put on her shoes. She wrote a note in case Angelina woke up,and then realized she couldn’t leave Angelina alone while she went looking for Reese.

  Tossing the note in the wastebasket, she went to the window again. Where could he be?

  She was about to wake Angelina when someone knocked at the door. Reese, at last!

  She started to open the door, then, afraid it might be Lynch, she called, “Who is it?”

  “Sheriff McCain, Mrs. Reese.”

  A chill ran down Kelsey’s spine as she unlocked the door. Lawmen never brought good news, especially in the middle of the night.

  The sheriff removed his hat. He was a soft-spoken, middle-aged man with dark brown hair, brown eyes and a grizzled mustache. If it hadn’t been for the badge pinned to his vest, she would have pegged him for a cowboy, or maybe a rancher. She never would have taken him for a lawman.

  “Sorry to trouble you so late,” McCain said. “Do you mind if I come in?”

  “No, of course not.” She stepped away from the door and gestured at the sofa. “Please, sit down.”

  “I reckon not.”

  “What brings you out here at this time of night?” she asked, shutting the door.

  “Your husband asked me to come.”

  Kelsey crossed her arms under her breasts. “Is he all right?”

  McCain scratched his jaw. “He ain’t hurt, if that’s what you mean…”

  Relief washed through her, only to be swept away by the lawman’s next words.

  “But he’s in jail for killin’ a man.”

  Kelsey pressed a hand to her heart. In jail! “Who…?”

  “Man name of Lynch. You know him?”

  “
I’ve met him.”

  “Would you be knowin’ his next of kin?”

  “No, I’m sorry.”

  Kelsey looked past the sheriff when she heard a door open. A moment later Angelina entered the room.

  “Kelsey, is something wrong?” Angelina asked, yawning.

  “No. Go back to bed, Angie.”

  Angelina’s eyes widened when she saw McCain standing near the front door. “What’s he doing here?”

  “Angelina.” The lawman’s eyes narrowed. “That fella, Lynch, was asking about you just the other day,” he remarked. “I’d forgotten about that until now. Why was he looking for you?”

  Angie moved to stand next to Kelsey, a silent plea in her eyes.

  “Mr. Lynch was a friend of Angelina’s mother,” Kelsey said, putting her arm around Angie’s shoulders. “He stopped by one day to see how she was getting along.”

  “What reason would your husband have for killing him?”

  “I don’t know. How did it happen?”

  “Your husband says Lynch took a shot at him while he was crossing the street, claims he killed him in self-defense.”

  “Then I’m sure that’s how it happened.”

  “Uh huh. Lynch was unarmed.”

  “Can I see my husband?”

  “In the morning, any time after nine.” The sheriff turned his gaze on Angelina. “Don’t leave town, either one of you.” Settling his hat on his head, he left the house.

  Angelina gripped Kelsey’s arm. “Do you think it’s true, that he’s really dead?”

  “Of course, why else would they have arrested Reese?”

  Angie sagged against Kelsey. “I’m glad Lynch is dead. Now he can’t make me go back.”

  Kelsey nodded but it was Reese she was thinking of. He would hate being locked up.

  Remembering that he had told her he was wanted by the law, she bit down on her lower lip. What if the sheriff found an old wanted poster? Was there a statute of limitations on old warrants? If not, and if the sheriff should find out that Reese was wanted for bank robbery, he could be in jail for a very long time.