Hearts Stolen (Texas Romance Series Book 2)

by Caryl McAdoo

  Her daddy didn’t care for him, but she put that off to him not liking anyone who came courting. ‘At least he’s a grown man with his own business’ was the only thing he ever said nice about Charles.

  If only she could go back and change her life.

  The next morning dawned cold, hoar frost tipped the grass tops. She wrapped her buffalo robe tight and went about seeing to the necessities and her chores.

  Once out of town a ways, and only a little after first light, the town’s road joined the wider San Antonio Trace. She didn’t care for being on the rutted trace as much as the less traveled trail.

  But did anything matter anymore, other than how Charles felt about her now? Well, that, and whether or not Levi really told the truth.

  “You’re borrowing trouble.”

  Laura set her sewing in her lap. “I ain’t begged or borrowed nothing, have I?”

  “Not you, me. I’m the one borrowing trouble. I was talking to myself.”

  “Well, what kind of trouble are you borrowing, Miss Sassy?”

  “I’m late.”

  “Oh, bad Frenchy words! That ain’t no good; not at all. Have you gone and told th’ captain about it yet?”

  The girl’s way of putting things made her want to laugh, but she wanted to cry a lot more. “He says it’s a good thing.”

  “But he ain’t the babe’s pap, is he?”

  “Heavens, no.” She explained about Bold Eagle calling her to his tent that last night, then about his first wife’s meanness. “‘I will see you no more after this day’ were her exact words.”

  “That old hag shouldn’t have done nothing like that. Why, someone be needing to whop her in the head.”

  “People can be so mean and downright unkind sometimes. I hope I never ever act like that.”

  “Oh, you never would, ma’am. You’re a gentle soul with a generous heart.” She picked her sewing back up, then set it down again. “So, when was you expecting your flow; how many days past is you?”

  “Two weeks, best I can figure.”

  “Now how come Captain Baylor say it be good, iffin he ain’t the babe’s pap?”

  “Because he figures it to be another reason my husband may not want me back.” She looked at the fifteen-year-old, thinking how young she was to be so easy to talk to. “If Charles thought I was dead, he may have already married again, you know. But even if he isn’t, if I show up pregnant –”

  “But how about the captain himself?”

  “Well, he doesn’t like it much, but says if he was to be the baby’s daddy and Charley his big brother, that no one would rag on the little one for being a half-breed.”

  Laura grabbed her extended belly. “Wallace don’t like calling them that.”

  “Neither do I.”

  They rode along in silence for a while, then the girl burst out laughing. Rose looked over. “What’s so funny?”

  “This here dress I’m ‘bout done with liable to be fitting me purt soon, and you’ll be needing this here loose ‘un.” She tugged on the dress she wore. “Afore we even gets you to home.” She smiled like the humor she’d found embarrassed her. “Wallace say if ever’thing went easy, it could be three weeks, and iffin we run into bad storming, maybe twice that.”

  “Six weeks?” Rose grabbed her belly, would she be showing then?

  Laura looked up at the sky lighting more by the minute with pinks and purples and golds heralding the sun’s soon arrival on the eastern horizon.

  “I sure hopes with all my whole heart that the captain’s little sis done found herself a beau to love. I’m believing if she ain’t free no more, that Sarge will be pleased as a long-eared coon dog with a treed ringtail iffin he’s with me. What do you thinks, Miss Sassy? Could he be happy with the likes of me?”

  Rose put her arm around the girl’s shoulders and hugged her to her side. “Laura, any man should be proud to have you as his mis’ess. Of course, I think Wallace would be happy with you. Just don’t you get your hopes up so high that you’ll be devastated if things work out between him and Rebecca. Levi told me that he thinks his friend has been in love with her for years.”

  Laura looked into her lap. Rose tipped her chin up. “Just promise me you’ll guard your heart.”

  “I will, I promise, but a gal can still dream, cain’t she?”

  How could Rose say no to that? After all, she had dreams of her own. “Of course, Laura; of course, she can.”

  Mid morning, Levi spotted two wagons a quarter-mile or so ahead. He threw a nod Wallace’s way. “Teamsters or grangers?”

  His friend leaned out and stared. “Could be Pilgrims giving up on the Promised Land.”

  “Couldn’t be that. No one has ever come to Texas then wanted to leave.”

  “Well, that is a fact. Want me to go see?”

  “If you have the urge, but looks to me like we’ll overtake them soon enough.”

  “True.” Wallace glanced over his shoulder then back. “That little gal is getting under my skin. Tell me again how pretty Rebecca is.”

  “No, my man, you’ve heard it all. Probably have every story I’ve told about her memorized. No new ones to tell.”

  “You’re right. What month is it anyway?”

  “November, why?”

  “Oh, Laura reckons the baby will come before New Year, so I’ve been thinking, maybe I should forget about Rebecca and marry Laura before little Wallace pops out.”

  “You don’t have to do that.”

  “I know. I could be back in Austin drunk or in some fancy lady’s bed, but other than how she butchers the King’s English, what more could a man want in a wife?”

  “She’d have every reason to be overly thankful to you, that’s for sure.” Levi didn’t know what else to say; matters of the heart remained a mystery. Why men and women couldn’t live without each other wasn’t logical.

  But as much as he tried figuring it all out, the more it seemed that logic had nothing to do with love. And sometimes, could it be no more than just lust? “You heard the story of Amnon and Tamar?”

  “That the couple other side of San Antonio the Comanche burnt out?”

  “No, not them. It’s a Bible story.”

  “What’s with you and Sunday School? I thought you were agnostic.”

  “I am, but the story is still true.”

  “Fine, Reverend Baylor, teach me.”

  “Anyway, Amnon thought he loved his half sister Tamar, so he tricked her into his bed; then afterwards, he hated her more than he thought he had loved her.”

  “That’s a Bible story?”

  “Yes.”

  “So what happened to them?”

  “Tamar’s full brother, who was also Amnon’s half-brother, had him killed.”

  “That’s in the Good Book? You’re not joshing?”

  “Whole truth and nothing but. Haven’t you ever even read the Bible?”

  “No, but that’s beside the point. What does this story have to do with anything?”

  “Well, I was wondering if you were in lust or in love?”

  “Hadn’t thought on it.” He looked behind him to the wagon again. “What about you?”

  “I’ve thought on it a lot. I can’t imagine a life without Rose and Charley in it.”

  “Her being pregnant not going to mess things up?”

  “Some maybe, but I keep remembering how Henry took in Rebecca and me because he loved Aunt Sue. He loved us like we were his, and now he’s got four little ones of his own blood. We’ve all got our pasts; none of us is perfect. Besides, Rose had no say in any of it.”

  “Well, I’m not for sure, but hear tell you are.”

  Levi waved him off. “Don’t go starting that.”

  “Cap’in Bay-lor.” Levi looked back. His little partner stood between the ladies with his hands cupped around his mouth. “Me ride now?”

  Wallace laughed. “You sure you want that wild man around for the rest of your natural born days?”

  “On that, I�
�m positive.” He reined the gray.

  It tickled Rose how Levi served her son’s every whim, stopping whatever on Charley’s first request, then saddling the filly and getting everything just right for his little partner.

  But that was about all she found humorous these days.

  If she really did ever have the chance to marry Levi, it would be at least two years before she could give him a baby of his own. Why did things have to be like that? So unfair.

  Then an image of Charley just born crossed her mind’s eye. For the longest she relived that first day, how all the pain and misery vanished the moment Honey Badger put him in her arms.

  What a miracle to see your brand new precious baby. Stirred feelings inside you never even knew were there for the stirring.

  So tiny and helpless and hers, all hers. Her hand went to her belly. No matter who was the daddy, she wouldn’t, couldn’t be sad about another life growing within.

  Scripture called babies a gift from God, that’s what her mother always told her. And He never made a mistake, either. She’d think on that—on whatever was good like a life with Levi and Charley and the baby.

  But the mental picture made her tear up and her chest heavy. Why couldn’t things be different? What did God think of her thinking such thoughts? Was it committing adultery in her heart? If so, she was already guilty.

  None of it could be laid at her feet as her fault. She didn’t mean to get stolen or pregnant by Bold Eagle. And she never meant to fall in love… Oh, God.

  “I heared iffin you goes huntin’ for trouble, sure ‘nough, it’ll be finding you.”

  Rose looked to her young friend. “You’re so right. Is there something on your mind? Anything we can talk about?”

  “Well, I were doing some wondering. Think you could learn me to read?”

  “Of course! Do you know the alphabet?”

  “No, what that be?”

  Rose held her hands up. “Let’s start at the beginning.” For the rest of the morning, while Charley rode circles around them and the two teamsters they joined up with, she worked on Laura’s letters.

  The girl picked them up quick. By the time she had Charley down for a nap and Wallace was ready to trade places with her, her student could recite all twenty-six in proper order.

  Once Rose swung into the gelding’s saddle, she leaned toward the girl. “Tomorrow we’ll start putting the letters together, and you’ll be reading some.”

  With great joy written over her face, Laura beamed. “Sure ‘nough? I were smarter than I thought. I figure it be lots harder.”

  “Maybe only a word or two, but it’ll be reading.”

  That afternoon, she and Levi rode side by side and talked the day away without him saying anything about the baby or what he really thought about the possibility.

  Everything seemed the same, but of course, it was all different. That night before, during, and after supper, just more of the same passed. She could tell it ate at him, was sure of it.

  The next morning’s cold caused her to burrow down in her buffalo robe. She didn’t want to get up and about, but Levi got them going before the sun.

  The teamsters, obviously not in such a hurry, got left behind. She didn’t much like waiting around either, once up and ready to get.

  The traffic on the trace increased, as did the homesteads. The piney woods thinned and more fields laid-by or planted with a winter crop evidenced Texas’ rising population.

  She liked civilization, but from the way the rangers talked about Nacogdoches, she wasn’t looking forward to pulling into its oldest town

  The afternoon warmed enough to be comfortable in nothing but her shawl. By the time Levi tied his gray to a hitching post outside of a fancy looking two-story boarding house on the outskirts of Nacogdoches, the evening cooled again.

  Once the men off loaded what would be needed, Levi directed Laura to stop the wagon at the second livery deeper into town.

  Rose made a mental note to ask Levi why he had them pass the first one, but real soon, her answer came.

  An older man limped out leaning heavy on a cane grinning as though he’d just ate a whole pie before it cooled. “Well, Lord in Heaven be merciful! If it ain’t Levi Baylor and Wallace Rusk in the flesh. What a sight for these sore old eyes!”

  Levi swung down and smiled at her. “Rose.” Then he nodded toward the wagon. “Laura. This is Otis Haygood; we rode together with Houston.”

  “Oh, those were the bad ol’ days.” The man tapped his gimpy leg, the hollow thud echoed. “How’s Colonel Buckmeyer?”

  “Busy making money and babies.”

  “And that dog of his?”

  “Good, last I heard; still siring lil’ blue pups all over Red River County.”

  He waved his cane toward the open double doors. “Get those animals into my barn. There’s a bad storm coming.” He looked at Rose. “I know it ‘cause my cut off leg’s been a tingling something fierce.” He laughed and slapped Levi’s shoulder.

  Rose held Charley, still waking up from his nap and watched while the men saw to the horses and mules. Once they were all grained, watered, and hayed, Levi hiked Charley up onto his shoulders, and he and Wallace led her and Laura down the main street to what appeared to be a bawdy house. He held the door open, and she walked in.

  The cigar smoke wasn’t too bad, and thank God no half-naked ladies draped the bar that ran the length of the room along the opposite wall. No drunks fist fighting. And she didn’t even hear anyone cursing or talking loud.

  Two older well-dressed gentlemen sat at one of the many tables playing a card game. A couple of rougher-looking men stood at the bar talking quietly with what she assumed to be beer.

  Wallace walked past her toward a table in the far corner. “Best hash house in town.”

  She followed him, took the boy off Levi’s shoulders then sat him in a chair. She leaned close to Levi. “Is this a house of ill repute?”

  “More or less, but it’s about the tamest of the bunch. If you want, we can go on down the street to one of the real rough places.”

  She sat down next to Charley. “No, thank you. I take it you’ve frequented them in the past.”

  He smiled. “Someone had to watch out for Wallace. He’s the rounder.”

  Laura held her extended belly and eased across to sit on the other side of Charley. She looked to Wallace. “Iffin you needs to get soaked, or anything else, I ‘member the way back. Don’t worry none about me.”

  He smiled. “No, I might choke a beer down, but no, I don’t need to get soaked or anything else.”

  Shortly, the barmaid came and took everyone’s food order then returned in hardly no time with supper. Wallace spoke the truth; the delicious roast tasted excellent and practically melted in her mouth.

  Both rangers drank a beer, but neither had a second. Actually, it seemed a rather fine place until four seedy-looking men walked in the door. The medium buzz of the now half filled room quieted to nothing as the quartet strolled to the bar.

  Charley grabbed her sleeve and pulled her closer pointing to the tallest of the four. “Him’s a bad man.” The boy looked from her to where Levi had been seated, but the chair sat empty.

  The ranger walked toward the bar. “You, you, and you. What’s your names?” He pointed at the three shorter men.

  The one Charley recognized stepped forward. “Who’s asking?”

  “I’m Levi Baylor, got a flyer on you, sir. I don’t know about these other hombres.”

  The trio backed away. The one on the outside spoke up. “We just rode in from San Antonio with this feller, Mr. Baylor; we ain’t on no ranger-wanted list.”

  “Best find another watering hole then.”

  The three hurried to the door.

  The remaining one grinned. “You ain’t Levi Baylor. Hear tell he’s eight feet tall and older than dirt. You’re too young and purty to have done all the things that ranger’s credited with.” He laughed. “If you was the great Levi Baylor, then where’s
Wallace Rusk?”

  “Right here, idiot.” The ranger stood at the end of the bar holding his pistol on the man. “Pull out that pee shooter in your belt real slow and lay it on the bar.” He stepped closer. “Do it now. Same money, dead or alive.”

  Chairs scraped the board floors. Diners and card players got up and out of the way. The man moved his duster back with two fingers real gentle then with the same two fingers grasped the butt end of his pistol and eased it out of his belt.

  Once clear, he grabbed it with his full hand, but Levi drove his fist into the man’s face knocking him against the bar.

  Wallace closed the distance in a heartbeat and whopped him on the head with the handle of his pistol. “Stupid idiot.”

  Chapter

  Twenty

  Rose swallowed hard; over quick enough with Levi and Wallace safe. Had her heart remembered to beat? Already on his feet, Charley stood in his chair and grabbed her sleeve. “Mama, did you see?”

  “Yes, I saw.”

  “Me love me rangers.”

  She didn’t answer. She loved peace and quiet, not danger. But more than anything, she loved Levi keeping her and her baby—both her babies—safe.

  Laura patted her hand. Rose looked at her. The blood had drained from the girl’s face. “What is it, sugar? Something wrong?”

  She grimaced, held her breath for a bit, then slowly exhaled. “We needs a better place.” She stood holding her belly. “I thinks little Wallace is wanting himself a birthday.”

  “Oh, dear. Are you certain?”

  “Pert near, I be powerful wet. Miss Sammy Jo were telling me things what I should ‘spect, and iffin what she done said, my little guy’s swimming water has gone and happened, then he’s coming.”

  Rose stood and lifted Charley then carried him to Levi. “Will you please watch him? Laura and I need to go.”

  The ranger who stood next to the still-prone desperado took the boy. “Sure. Why?”

  “Laura thinks the baby’s coming.”

  “Wow. Now? Isn’t it way too early? Never mind, you go on.”