How Miss West Was Won

by Diane Darcy

  His seat was nearly hidden from the house, and he moved it a bit more so he was fully hidden by the tree if anybody happened to look outside.

  She grinned at him. “What’s the matter? It’s almost as if you’re hiding from someone.”

  Just then, Widow Braxton called her name.

  She grinned at Luke. “I think that’s my cue to go.”

  He glanced around. “Maybe it’s for the best. I don’t know that I like you out here on your own anyway.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “We’re still looking into the murder. I’m not ruling anything out until we’ve caught the man.” He stood, rounded the table, and leaned down to gently kiss her on the forehead.

  Her heart seemed to stutter in her chest.

  She’d thought she was mad at him. How was she supposed to stay angry when he worried over her? When he kissed her so gently?

  Did he really care about her? How would he feel if he knew she was just plain Grace West? Did he truly like her? Or did money and position drive him?

  She just didn’t know. And she wasn’t ready to open her heart to a man who might not want it.

  Luke watched Grace walk inside without a backward glance.

  Why that irritated him, he didn’t know.

  He did know he didn’t like that she sent him away so easily. Not when he had such a hard time walking away from her. The other girls in town wouldn’t ignore him so easily.

  But he didn’t want the other girls in town, did he?

  He loved being with Grace. She challenged him. She made him laugh. He felt … protective of her. He wanted to be with her.

  But dang it, shouldn’t she be trying to capture his attention? His first wife had done so. She’d gone after him with a single-minded determination that had flattered him, fluttering her eyelashes, teasing, flirting with him.

  But then, Grace wasn’t anything like his first wife, which was a huge mark in her favor.

  What had he been thinking when he married Louise? The woman hadn’t had two words to say to him after they’d married. They’d been a bad fit.

  How had he ever talked himself into proposing, let alone marrying her?

  In retrospect, he felt tricked.

  Especially when he’d ended up with such a cold, grasping, faithless wife.

  But there was no pretense about Grace. No lies. Grace was genuine, warm, and friendly. He smiled. Or angry and aloof. Grace always showed her true character.

  He loved that she loved books. It showed that she loved learning and had an active imagination. He even loved that she was the kind of person who would go out of her way to read to a scumbag like Angel. It showed compassion and caring.

  Not that he wanted her around other men, but her spirit and sass and the fact that she could be difficult was attractive to him as well.

  What was the matter with him? Was he truly in love with her?

  He wasn’t sure how he felt about that so he’d worry about it later.

  Grace worked in the pie shop alone as Minnie ran errands.

  It had slowed down considerably and wasn’t too busy, which made for a nice change.

  She glanced out the window, and was immediately irritated with herself. She needed to stop looking for Luke! Obviously he wasn’t coming today, regardless of what he’d said.

  But when she looked out the window, she spotted the hanging sign that said, ‘gamblers not welcome’ and it made her laugh just as much now as it had that morning when she’d first seen it. As far as she could tell, it hadn’t deterred anyone from coming to buy pie today. In fact, she would say it had quite the opposite effect. Men coming in, grins on their faces, waiting to see if the two women would throw them out.

  Of course, they hadn’t. They’d been equally amused, and Minnie made extra pies.

  She picked up the book again and tried to read. She couldn’t concentrate. She couldn’t stop thinking about Luke. It was starting to feel more imperative than ever that she tell him she was not a Carmichael, but rather their servant, dependent upon their goodwill.

  She was quite sure he wouldn’t want her anymore.

  Would he?

  It would be better to know.

  But what if he did choose her? Didn’t she need to at least give him that chance?

  The hope and fear mingling within her were irritating.

  She was glad when the bell tinkled over the door. She needed a distraction from her thoughts.

  She glanced up to see a well-dressed blond gentleman, sporting a mustache and glasses. She watched as he tilted his head back to look up at the sign before heading inside.

  “Hello.” Grace greeted the man.

  “I’m looking for Miss Penny Carmichael.”

  Her brows rose. “I’m Miss Carmichael. Have we met?”

  He looked visibly startled, and then his face seemed to take on a slightly dangerous appearance. “You are Miss Penny Carmichael?”

  Uneasiness swept over her. “Yes.” She was getting a bad feeling from the man. He was too intense, and slightly angry. His darting eyes, his gloved hand gestures, the tightening of his facial muscles, all combined to alarm her.

  The man’s face twisted in sudden anger and he lunged forward and grabbed her shoulders to give her a shake. “You’re coming with me.”

  She screamed.

  Gripping her arm firmly, he started to drag her toward the front door of the shop.

  She shoved him and let out another scream. “Let me go! Who are you? Why are you doing this?”

  He cupped a gloved hand over her mouth, and easily took her flailing body under one of his arms and headed for the door. “Someone you’re going to wish you never trifled with.” He glared, his dark-eyed gaze capturing hers. “I’ll make sure of that.”

  Grace squirmed, hit out at the man, and panicked when she could no longer breathe.

  This couldn’t be happening! This was not the man who’d attacked them in New York, she’d swear to it. She might not remember much about his face, but she’d swear on a stack of Bibles he’d had dark hair.

  Was there something about her that attracted villains?

  She fought less and less as oxygen deprivation hit her.

  Spots floated in front of her face and she tried to fight for consciousness as he reached for the doorknob.

  Please, let someone see them.

  Chapter 19

  Seeming to change his mind, the man adjusted her under his arm and changed course to drag her toward the back door.

  She sucked in air and grabbed things from off the counter. She tried to reach for a rolling pin, but he knocked it away from her.

  She dragged two pies onto the floor, and had the insane thought that she hoped that Minnie would forgive her.

  Of course she would forgive her; she was fighting for her life.

  She grabbed a chair and toppled it over and the man shifted her until his arm went around her neck. He was still talking to her, almost crooning now, but she couldn’t understand the words as blood seemed to rush through her body, and her heart pounded like a drum in her ears.

  She couldn’t breathe again.

  She had to fight, or she was going to die.

  She kicked back at him, tried digging into the man’s arm with her fingernails, tried hitting him, and felt his hold loosen a bit.

  She sucked in much-needed air.

  He kept dragging her toward the back door.

  Did she hear a bell? She frantically jerked toward the sound, and turned her head enough to recognize the men. Cowboys that had come in before. Flirts after pie, coffee, and company.

  She reached both hands toward them.

  The conversation ended, as they stood frozen for a scant second, looking shocked and disbelieving.

  It didn’t take them long to react. Yelling, they both surged forward, one man knocking the villain away from her as his hold on her tightened.

  He was still spouting words, fighting. “Stop! She’s mine. You don’t know what this is. What she’
s done. I’m taking her with me and no one will stop me.”

  Grace cried out as his hold around her waist tightened to a painful degree. The devil used his brute strength to hit out at the smaller, more wiry men and she was dropped in the scuffle. Choking, she quickly crawled away from the three men.

  The man still tried to convince the other two even as they fought. “You don’t know her. What she is. Who’s she is.”

  The sounds of fists on flesh, grunts, and shouted obscenities made her wince as she scrambled toward a space between the flour bin and the stove like an injured animal seeking shelter, a place to hide.

  “Let me go. You don’t understand, I have to have Penny.” The man grunted as the other two struck him repeatedly.

  Grace dragged herself up, her back now to the stove. She watched the men fight, her hand to her throat, still unable to believe this was happening.

  As if finally realizing the futility of his situation, the man shoved one of her saviors back, and turned away to run out the back door.

  One man gave chase, and the other one turned to her. “Are you all right, miss?”

  She nodded, still gulping in air, crying, unable to catch her breath. “Yes. I’m all right.”

  “Who was that man? Did you know him?”

  Grace was shaking her head. “I … I don’t know him. He seemed insane. I don’t know what he wanted.”

  The other cowboy came back.

  The realization of what had just about happened, hit Grace hard. She’d been at his mercy. If they hadn’t come in when they had … more tears flooded her eyes.

  “Thank you. If … if you hadn’t come along, I don’t know what would’ve happened. You saved me. You both saved me.”

  Grace started to cry in earnest. More men ran in the front door. “What’s going on?”

  Her remaining rescuer knelt beside her. “Miss Carmichael was attacked. Luckily we got here in time. Go get the sheriff.”

  One of the men took off.

  Another shoved forward to stand over Grace. “Was it the man who murdered the other girl?”

  One of the men nodded. “It seems likely, don’t it?” The men all looked at Grace. “Did you get a good look at him?”

  She realized that she had. And because she had, did that mean she was in even greater danger?

  “Yes. Yes, I did. Can someone please … I mean … can someone get Mayor Carrington?”

  “I’ll get him.” One of the cowboys gave her a sharp nod, then headed out the front door.

  One of the men handed her a nearby baking towel, and Grace pressed her face into it and let herself cry.

  Luke ran toward the pie shop, dark anger roiling in his chest. Grace had been attacked? He felt equal parts disbelief and rage powerful enough to make him murderous.

  They had to find the man who did this. Now.

  He felt like his guts were being ripped out. Why hadn’t he been there?

  He arrived and hurried inside. Grace was sitting at a table and a man had his arm around her shoulders.

  Luke didn’t like that at all.

  Others in the room had taken off their hats in a show of respect and concern as they stood around as if unsure what to do.

  He hurried forward and the man at her side stood and moved out of the way.

  He knelt and took her hand. “Grace?”

  She raised her head to reveal a tear-stained face and with a cry, she flung herself at him, pressing her face into his neck.

  On his knees, he gathered her in his arms, his stomach aching.

  He looked over at Gabe. “What happened?”

  Gabe pointed to the two men. “Tell him.”

  Two cowboys explained the attack on Grace. How they’d come into the shop, seen Grace grappling with the man, and rescued her.

  Rage welled within him at the thought of her alone, helpless. He was going to dismember the man. Disembowel the worm as he writhed on the ground and died a slow, painful death.

  Grace, listening, finally stopped crying.

  “Did you know him?” Luke asked darkly. “Had you seen him in here before?”

  She shook her head.

  “I got a good look at his horse,” said one of her rescuers.

  “Good. We’ll get the description out. Come on, Grace, I’m taking you home now.”

  He looked over at Gabe. “I’ll get back here as soon as I can. In the meantime,” he looked around at all the men. “Find him.”

  The men, all looking serious, nodded and headed out.

  He tucked Grace under his shoulder, and urged her toward the front door. “Come on. I’m taking you home.”

  Minnie rushed in the front door. “What happened?”

  Luke nodded his head to Grace. “Grace was attacked.”

  A look of horror spread across Minnie’s face. “What? I was only gone for a short while. Who would dare?”

  One of the cowboys stepped forward. “That’s exactly what we aim to find out.”

  She wrapped an arm around Grace. “What did he look like? Maybe I know him.”

  “He had dark hair.” One of the cowboys claimed.

  “I thought it was more of a lighter brown,” said the second cowboy.

  “He … he was big.” Grace added.

  “Not that big,” said one of the men. “Not big enough that we couldn’t take him.”

  Luke, feeling frustrated, glanced between the three of them. “Was he big, or not? Did he have dark hair, or not? How did he get away?”

  “He was fast.”

  His friend nodded. “Real fast.”

  Luke’s face twisted into a scowl. Nothing like this had ever happened in his town before. And that it happened to Grace …

  Grace burrowed into his chest.

  He saw surprise on some of the men’s faces, but he only felt pure satisfaction at her reaction.

  He wrapped his arms tightly about her. Let them wonder at the relationship. “You can’t be alone anymore. Do you understand?”

  Minnie’s face dropped. “I shouldn’t have left her here.”

  “This is not your fault, Minnie. I’m including you in this too. None of you girls are to be alone. Not until this madman is found.”

  “Come on.” He urged Grace toward the door again. “I’m going to take you home now.”

  She tightened her grip, clinging. That was fine with him.

  He needed to feel her in his arms. Needed to know she was safe.

  It was his fault this could happen. If he hadn’t instigated the tournament, encouraged men from all over the country to enter, this never would’ve happened.

  Something dark and dangerous settled within him.

  Once he had Grace safely back at the widow’s place, he was going to find that man.

  No one came to his town and made this kind of trouble without dire consequences. If he made a strong enough example of the man, it would discourage others from acting like madmen.

  “Come on, I’m going to take you home now.”

  He was so angry at that witch he could hardly stand it.

  Back in his hotel, he was furiously packing. He didn’t have a choice.

  He shoved his things into his bags and stomped around. It didn’t really accomplish anything, but it made him feel better.

  He should have stomped that witch into the ground. Should have slashed her like he’d done in New York City. Because of her, he now had to change the disguise he’d become fond of. And that made him so angry!

  He put on his blued steel spectacles and went back downstairs. He had to act like nothing was wrong. Like he hadn’t just lost his best chance at getting Penny within his power. Of finding out exactly where she was. He stopped at the front desk and drew in a deep breath. “I’d like to check out now.”

  The young man across from him swallowed. “Was there anything wrong with the service?”

  He wanted to complain about everything from having to speak to this idiot, to the quality of the bedding, but he didn’t have the time. Nor did he want
to be remembered.

  Without a doubt, he had men to elude. The girl would report him with relish. “It was fine.”

  He could tell the hotel clerk was wary of him, perhaps afraid of him, and felt a spurt of enjoyment. The young man’s nervous reaction served to calm him a bit. He might not want to be remembered, but by the devil, he would be respected.

  Before he arrived at the new hotel at the next town over, he’d have to change his appearance and maybe see about getting a new horse.

  Grace West had surprised him. He would not have acted so impulsively otherwise. He never did anything unless he knew he could win.

  Why couldn’t the girl simply have minded him? All he’d wanted to do was ask her questions about Penny. Why was she keeping them apart? And why in the name of heaven was that harridan using the Carmichael surname?

  As if she could hold a candle to Penny.

  Now, because of her, he had to lay low, switch hotels, and change his appearance again.

  She would tell him what he wanted to know.

  If he had to spy on her to get to Penny, he’d do it. Eventually, he’d be able to hunt his love down. And if he had hurt the little governess to get to her, well, it would simply be his pleasure.

  He hurried out the front doors of the hotel, strapped his bags to the horse, and rode away.

  He just needed to get resettled, calm down, and come up with another plan of action.

  Penny was here somewhere, he could feel it. She’d always been with that wretched governess. They were inseparable.

  And when he did find Penny, Grace would be very sorry for all the trouble she’d put him to.

  He’d make sure of it.

  He considered his new look. He’d remove the glasses, perhaps add an eye-patch, and maybe even purchase some new clothing.

  That witch would not outsmart him.

  Grace would lead him to Penny Carmichael whether she wanted to or not.

  Eventually, he’d win, just like he always did.

  Chapter 20

  Luke went into the saloon and asked for a drink.

  He could hear Gabe and Sawyer upstairs knocking on doors, searching rooms, but the place had already been combed and he knew it wouldn’t do any good.