Mary pulled the door closed behind her and went into the kitchen. “Emma Jane would like some broth.”
Mrs. Lewis turned from the stove and handed her a bowl. “You must have been reading my mind. I was about to take her some. You’re such a good girl, Mary. You must be a treasure to your family.”
“Thank you, ma’am.” Mary bobbed her head slowly as she took the bowl of broth.
The more she pondered her secrets, the more they tightened the noose around her neck. Mary was no treasure. Yes, she took good care of her family, but the betrayal Rose felt at Mary’s actions—what little she knew of them—was real. Mary had deceived her family. Worse, she’d allowed a thief access to their home so that he could rob their aunt of her most prized possession. But perhaps the worst sin of all was that she’d neglected their care while pursuing the fantasy that a handsome man such as Ben Perry could love her.
Mary could spend the rest of her life taking care of her family and helping people like Emma Jane, but she had to wonder if it would ever be enough to make up for her mistake with Ben. Frank would tell her that, like the thief on the cross, she didn’t need to do anything, but she just couldn’t shake the condemnation that seemed to follow wherever she went.
If she didn’t find a solution soon, surely Mary would suffocate under the weight of her guilt.
* * *
Storms in Leadville were much worse than he’d seen in Denver, Will concluded after supper. The wind was howling more loudly than it had been earlier in the day, and though he knew Mary was eager to return home, he was glad they’d made the decision to stay. Sitting by the cozy fire in the parlor, Will couldn’t think of a better place to be. The forced relaxation was only relaxing because he knew that in the storm, Ben couldn’t do anything, either.
Jasper pulled up a chair next to him. “I’ve been thinking about your case. What information do you have so far?”
Will looked around. The ladies were occupied with examining some sort of cloth and paying them no mind. In fact, Mary had done her best to avoid him since their discussion before the storm hit.
“Not much.” Will blew out a breath. “All I know is that he’s in Leadville. I’ve spotted some of his gang, so I know they’re planning something. I met a woman, Mel, who confirmed that something big is going to happen, but she didn’t know what. With dozens of banks, assayer’s offices and mines, it could be anything.”
Jasper inclined his head in Mary’s direction. “How does she fit into this?”
“I don’t know. They were engaged at one time, which Mary claims is off, but Ben made a spectacle of it the other night. Either way, I can’t help but wonder if she knows something that can be of use. She doesn’t act innocent when I bring him up.”
That was the real problem. As much as he wanted to believe in Mary’s innocence, her body language and demeanor told him otherwise. He’d had the same suspicions with Daisy, but she’d charmed her way around them. Though he knew Mary and Daisy were two different women, he also knew that in the area of interpreting body language, his gut was never wrong.
So, what was Mary hiding?
“And if she has nothing of value to tell you?”
Will sighed. In truth, he’d spent an awful lot of time pursuing Mary without knowing how she could be of help. What if he was wasting his time?
“I have no other leads.” He went through all of his encounters with Perry since arriving in Leadville. Except...
“What do you know of The Pink Petticoat?”
“That flophouse?” Jasper shook his head. “A man’s got to be desperate to go there.”
“What do you think Ben Perry would be doing there?”
Jasper raised an eyebrow as if to question Will’s idiocy. Everyone knew what a man did in there.
“But why The Pink Petticoat? Why not one of the, um, classier, places that seems to be more Ben’s style?”
The ladies all laughed in unison. They wouldn’t be laughing if they knew what Will and Jasper were discussing. Such things were not spoken of in front of ladies. But if Will didn’t unravel this puzzle soon, he was going to go crazy.
Mary laughed again, the melodic notes of her voice stinging Will’s heart. How could someone so innocent get caught up in Ben’s game?
Jasper cleared his throat. “Could she be the target? Her family’s mines are worth a pretty penny. She and her sisters are bound to be the targets of fortune hunters.”
Something Jasper knew all about. Will often pitied the parade of marriage-minded mamas and their daughters chasing after Jasper’s pocketbook.
“I had thoughts along that line. I warned Mary that Ben would try to get her alone to compromise her and force a marriage. She seemed terrified at the thought.”
Yet she still wouldn’t join forces with Will.
“Compromising a lady doesn’t take a gang of men.” Jasper rubbed his chin, then leaned in toward Will. “Could he be capable of something more sinister, like kidnapping?”
Kidnapping. Will hadn’t even thought of that possibility. But as Mary laughed again, Will’s belly turned to ice.
“I think he’s capable of that, and worse.”
Mary’s gaze caught his. Locked, as though she knew he was talking about her. Those clear green eyes searing a warning into his conscience. Only he should be the one cautioning her.
But how? Mary had dismissed his admonition about being compromised. Kidnapping, and the sort of things that happened to young ladies who were kidnapped, was a far worse thing to be concerned about. That, at least, was something Will could do something about. He’d foiled a number of kidnappings in his day. Even though he didn’t have the badge to back him up, he could protect Mary. No, not could. Would.
Will met Mary’s stare. Like it or not, Will wasn’t going anywhere. Not until he’d brought down Ben Perry and was assured of Mary’s safety.
Mrs. Lewis seemed to pick up on their eye lock.
“It seems as though we have a young couple unable to keep their eyes off each other.”
Mary’s head snapped back to whatever they’d been examining. “Not at all. I was merely curious what the men were up to.”
“I’m sure you were.” Mrs. Lewis’s voice held much doubt. “So, tell us, gentlemen, whatever could you be about that has our Mary so fascinated?”
Mary’s face turned scarlet, and Will knew it wasn’t from the heat of the fire. Unfortunately for Mrs. Lewis, Mary had no more interest in Will than he had in her.
Except...he wasn’t entirely disinterested in the raven-haired beauty.
“Nothing that would be of interest to the ladies,” Jasper answered for him. “Work, I’m afraid.”
“Work?” Mrs. Lewis looked between the two men. “Now, this is most curious. We all know Jasper has hardly worked a day in his life. As for you, Mr. Lawson, what is it that you do?”
Will glanced over at Jasper.
“I’m between jobs,” Will said quickly. “But I once worked for Jasper and his father in Denver, and I was hoping that Jasper would put a good word in with his father for me.”
“Oh, mercy.” Mrs. Lewis let out a long sigh. “How dreadfully dull. I suppose if there’s nothing Mr. Jackson can do for you, I could ask Mr. Lewis if he has something for such a strapping man as yourself.”
Emma Jane giggled, but Mary’s face remained unreadable. He’d told the truth, perhaps not so much about needing a good word with Mr. Jackson, who’d told him he’d have work whenever he wanted it. But the full story, of his real intent in Leadville, wasn’t to be bandied about.
Mrs. Lewis looked around the room. “I do wish he’d come out of his smoking room to join us. Such a disgraceful habit. I’m so pleased that you gentlemen don’t indulge.”
Though Mary appeared to be fiddling with a piece of cloth, he could feel her eyes on him. As if h
is answers to Mrs. Lewis’s queries mattered.
Her opinion of his answers shouldn’t matter, but they did. He’d like to tell himself it was only because it would bring her to trust him more, but his head was already full of things he shouldn’t have put there.
“No, ma’am. My mother believes tobacco products are a scourge, and I’ve always respected her opinion.”
“Oh my!” Mrs. Lewis clasped her bosom as though he’d given her the greatest gift. “A man who still listens to his mama. Ladies, if he’s not perfect husband material, then I don’t know who is.”
Mary dropped the cloth she’d been holding, and something clattered to the ground. She turned away before Will could see the expression on her face, but he had to wonder, could Miss Mary Stone have a deeper interest in him than he’d thought?
He’d just sworn to protect her from Ben Perry and his plans, especially if they leaned toward kidnapping. But now he had to wonder, how was he going to protect her, protect them, from having feelings for each other that neither had the right to?
Chapter Thirteen
“Where is my precious baby and what has that animal done to her?” Days later, after the storm had passed, the door thudded against the wall as a portly matron stormed into the room.
“Mother!” Emma Jane gasped and snapped her book shut.
Mary put a calming hand on her friend’s arm. “She’s perfectly safe, Mrs. Logan. Why don’t you join us and I’ll see if Mrs. Lewis will bring us some tea?”
Mrs. Logan continued her path toward Emma Jane, looming over them. “You poor darling. What you must have suffered.”
The two girls exchanged looks. Emma Jane looked as though she was about to cry. “I’m fine.”
“Oh, to hear the talk in town about my dear, sweet girl, alone all night in the wilderness with that man. And then to need a doctor’s care.” Mrs. Logan reached down and gathered her daughter against her in what looked to be a rather uncomfortable embrace.
Mary could almost hear what was coming. All of the Logan family’s planning, despite Emma Jane’s change of heart, had come true. The accusation of being alone all night with Jasper would be enough to force a marriage.
Out of the corner of her eye, Mary saw Will and Jasper walking past, having been out to check on the wagon and to be sure the roads were clear enough to travel. They’d been stuck at the Spruce Lakes Resort for a week, waiting for the storm to subside, then the snow to melt. The hope was that they could return to Leadville today.
Mary tried to signal Will to go away, only he seemed to take it as an invitation to enter. Bringing Jasper with him.
The sound of boot steps brought Mrs. Logan to attention. Mary knew the moment Mrs. Logan recognized Jasper.
“You debaucher!”
Jasper took a step back. “Ma’am?”
“You know perfectly well who I am. I’m Mrs. Percival Logan, and you, sir, are the evil man who stained the reputation of our beloved daughter. We will not allow this injustice to continue a moment longer.”
More footfalls sounded in the entryway.
“Ah, there they are.” Mrs. Lewis’s cheery voice greeted them all, a stark contrast to the steam rising from Mrs. Logan’s body.
Given the amount of contriving Mrs. Logan had gone to in order for her daughter to be compromised by Jasper, Mary had to admit that the woman’s acting ability would rival anything found on any of the stages in Leadville.
“Emma Jane! My angel!” The booming voice, Mary supposed, had to come from Mr. Percival Logan himself. “Tell me you’re all right.”
Mary glanced at Will. Was it her, or had she been inserted into one of those novels Polly liked to pick up in the bookshop?
Though the words were directed at Emma Jane, Mr. Logan’s attention was on Jasper. “You must marry her to blot this horrible stain on my precious daughter’s reputation.”
Will gave Mary a look as if to tell her to stay out of it. He was right, of course, but it seemed so utterly wrong that poor Emma Jane had to suffer her parents’ schemes when nothing untoward had happened.
“Sir, I can assure you—” Jasper looked as pathetic as he sounded. He knew as well as everyone else in the room that, although he had not taken advantage of Emma Jane, she would never be able to hold up her head as a respectable woman again. Unless Jasper married her.
“I’ve already spoken with your father,” Mr. Logan said shortly. “He has agreed to make reparations.”
Jasper’s lips moved, as though he was swearing under his breath. Mary didn’t condone such language, of course, but she didn’t blame him for being upset. He hadn’t done anything wrong.
“Father, no.” Emma Jane tried to stand, but her mother blocked her path. “We did nothing wrong. I got lost in the woods, and Jasper saved me. If it weren’t for Jasper, I’d be—”
“Your reputation would at least be intact,” Mrs. Logan snapped.
Did her parents really think Emma Jane better off dead than having spent a night in the wilderness with a man?
Emma Jane began to sob quietly. Mary had heard Emma Jane cry before, but never like this. A wailing Emma Jane was an awful sight indeed, but this defeated woman whose whole body shook with the weight of her parents’ disdain was too much.
Mary stood. “Nothing improper happened. Jasper wasn’t the least interested in Emma Jane, nor Emma Jane in him. They shouldn’t be forced to marry when they did nothing wrong.”
Mrs. Logan peered at her. “And who might you be, that you would argue with your elders?”
Mary tried not to shake. “Mary Stone. I’ve been with Emma Jane the entire time.”
The intensity of Mrs. Logan’s stare deepened. Her lips curled with greater unpleasantness. “That name does little to recommend yourself to me. Not with the scandal your family is involved in. I can hardly fathom why you’d think yourself an appropriate companion to my daughter. If anything, your influence further necessitates my daughter’s marriage.”
“The Stones are a well-respected family in Leadville. They own some of the most productive mines in the area.” Will’s voice held an edge to it that startled Mary.
Mrs. Logan’s gaze didn’t leave Mary’s face. “Then you haven’t heard.”
If Mary could have described the look on Mrs. Logan’s face, it would have been that of someone absolutely smug and self-righteous, worse than anything she’d ever seen on anyone before. How could someone be so positively evil?
“Heard what?” Please, don’t be Daniel again, she prayed, knowing that her prayers couldn’t change anything that had already happened, yet she couldn’t help wanting to defend her poor little brother.
A smile twisted the edges of Mrs. Logan’s lips. “Why, your sister has run off with some man. And they’re staying in one of those—” she mouthed the words “—houses of ill repute.”
“That’s not possible.” Mary glared at Mrs. Logan. “I’m sure you’ve gotten the story wrong. My family helps with Pastor Lassiter’s charitable works, and it often involves visiting those places, to give aid to the women.”
If Emma Jane wanted to be rid of such a horrible family that would spread such foul words, Mary would do everything in her power to help, including giving the poor girl some of her own fortune to find a new place to settle and start over.
“It’s true,” Mr. Logan said, his voice just as smug as his wife’s. “I saw Pastor Lassiter there myself, begging someone named Rose to please come home.”
Rose. Mary’s heart shattered, and she sank back into her chair. She’d hurt her sister with her selfish desire to find love for herself. They hadn’t parted on the best of terms, true, but surely Rose wouldn’t have preferred one of those places to their family. Rose was a good girl.
“It had to be a misunderstanding,” Mary said quietly. Rose simply wouldn’t do something so rash.
“I heard tell that the man Rose was with is a notorious criminal.” The smile remained firmly at Mrs. Logan’s lips.
Which was when Mary knew it was true. Ben. It had to be Ben. That man could talk a woman into just about anything. He’d talked Mary into violating so many principles. Except giving up her virtue, of course. But Rose... Mary had often scolded her sister for being too flirtatious. And if Ben had stopped by the house with Rose there and Mary gone, Rose’s flirtations could have easily turned into something Ben took advantage of.
A tear trickled down Mary’s cheek. If only she’d been honest with her sister. If only she hadn’t been so afraid of getting in trouble with the law that she’d been willing to tell her family and Frank what Ben was about.
“Ah,” Mrs. Logan said with some satisfaction. “See there? She knows it’s true.”
“Enough!” Jasper’s voice echoed through the room. “Mary and her family are innocent here. Mary has been nothing but kind and a good friend. Both to Emma Jane and me. You will malign them no further. I’ll marry Emma Jane.”
Mary looked up at him, barely able to see through the tears that threatened to spill in earnest. “Jasper, you—”
“It’s the right thing to do. Emma Jane and I know the truth. But if I don’t marry her, these people and their pernicious tongues will only ruin more lives.”
He stepped forward and handed Mary a handkerchief. Then he turned to the Logans. “The Stones are dear friends of mine. I’m marrying your daughter. I will not tolerate further evil talk of my friends or my future wife. You will be kind, or I will spend every last penny ruining your lives.”
Mrs. Stone glared at Mary. “But her sister is a—”
Jasper held up a hand. “If you finish that sentence now, or ever, you will not see a dime of my money.”
“You don’t have to marry me,” Emma Jane said quietly. “You’ve done more than anyone else has ever done for me.”
The Lawman's Redemption (Leadville, Co. Book 2) Page 13
