“I’m sorry, Mr. Brook, that was forward of me. I forgot myself due to your kindness,” Katie said, stammering. “Mam would kill me for forgetting my manners.”
“Mrs. Sullivan told me how you looked after her when she fell ill. Not only that, but you looked after her guests as well. You are a fine woman. You would make any man proud, Katie O’Callaghan. If I had a son, I would have wanted him to marry a girl just like you. Now think of what I said about visiting the jailhouse. The sooner you close that door, the quicker you can move on with the rest of what I hope will be a long and happy life.”
“I’ll go there later. I have to go back to Mrs. Sullivan and tell her my news. She was the one who suggested I come see you. Thank you again, Mr. Brook. See you in the morning.”
Katie almost sang as she walked back toward Mrs. Sullivan’s house. Even if she only succeeded in attracting half of the demand Mr. Brook anticipated for her dressmaking service, she would soon have sufficient monies to repay Mr. Cassidy. Maybe I could earn enough to stay here in Clover Springs. Ellen could go to school. We would be free. But would an unmarried girl be allowed live alone in this town? Mrs. Grey would not be in favor. Mrs. Grey could take a long walk off a short plank. She was fed up of other people telling her how to live her life. Mr. Brook was right. It was time to make a stand and show the world who Katie O’Callaghan really was.
First, though, she had to get rid of her groom-to-be. Once and for all. With a mutinous look on her face, Katie turned so quickly, the cowboy walking behind her almost plowed into her. Mumbling a quick apology, Katie walked off in the direction of the jailhouse.
She had just crossed the street when she saw Mrs. Grey talking to a friend. The two women were coming straight toward her. There was nowhere to hide, so she best start as she meant to go on. Walking straighter, she continued forward, praying they wouldn’t notice her shaking. Before she could greet them, the two women walked straight past her as if she didn’t exist. She heard Mrs. Grey say, “Of course, no decent woman,” as she walked by but she missed the end of the sentence. Probably a good job, she thought grimly, flexing her fingers and hoping her heart didn’t beat loud enough for the whole street to hear. After everything she had been through to get as far as Clover Springs, why did it all have to go wrong now? Mrs. Gantley had arranged dozens of happy marriages for mail order brides. Why did hers have to be a disaster? Despite her best efforts, a tear slipped down her cheek closely followed by a second and a third. Tempted as she was to run back to the boarding house, Katie knew she had to face him.
Chapter 32
“Deputy, I don’t got no clue about any train robberies. You got to believe me.”
“I haven’t got to believe nobody. The proof is right there. Your brother was recognized by some of the people he robbed. Or are you going to tell me those good people are seeing things?”
“That’s my brother. Not me. I didn’t do anything. I haven’t been near any train, never mind robbing one. I was home on the ranch the whole time.” Montis stopped talking. He didn’t like the look on the deputy’s face. What had he said?
“Speaking of a ranch, where did you think the money came from for the land and all those animals? Your bride-to-be said you wrote her about having a herd of cattle and some horses. How did you pay for them?”
Montis cursed silently. He was going to kill Virgil if he got to him before the law did.
“Cat got your tongue now, boy? I asked you a question.”
“Virgil paid for it.” Montis spat out the words, cursing silently. He wasn’t taking any heat for Virgil. Not anymore.
As the lawman grinned triumphantly, the sweat ran down Montis’s face and arms. “You got to believe me. I’m not a train robber and I never killed no one. I wanted to, sure, but that don’t count.”
“I reckon you should keep quiet now and take some time to think about what you are going to say to the Judge. Maybe he will just hand you over to the Texas rangers. Heard they were after your gang real bad.”
Montis took a gulp of air, feeling lightheaded. Texas rangers? What had Virgil done in Texas? They hung you quicker than they lit a smoke down there. He gripped the bars tighter, thinking he best listen to the deputy.
“Whether you are guilty or not, the fact is your brother and his gang killed a man. A good man who was a favorite of many people around here. Folk aren’t going to take too kindly to that, and, well, Virgil isn’t here, then…”
The deputy let the silence speak for itself as he left the room.
Montis glared as the lawman left him standing in the cell, dwelling on his misfortune. Why he got to come to Clover Springs anyway. Virgil wanted a bride, not him. He should have stayed at home. Least there he couldn’t have got into trouble. Home? He didn’t have a home now. The sheriff as good as said the land and the animals would be seized. If Friday hadn’t been bad enough, this day was just getting worse and worse.
A while later the deputy walked toward Montis. “You got a visitor. Don’t make no sense why a real pretty lady would be wanting to see a no account like you.”
A pretty lady. He didn’t know any ladies, never mind pretty ones. Montis stood up.
“You behave yourself now. The lady be upset enough.”
Montis nodded, still not quite following. He looked at the door, sucking in his breath as a beautiful girl walked in. It was her. The girl he was supposed to wed on Friday. What on earth did she want? Surely she wasn’t expecting the wedding to go ahead. With Virgil on the run and himself locked up, he didn’t need any more problems. He was about to tell her to go away when he noticed she looked like she’d been crying. His stomach dipped. He wasn’t used to women and mightn’t like them much, but that didn’t mean he wanted them to cry.
“I am sorry about Friday.” Montis spoke, surprising both of them.
The girl behaved as if he hadn’t said anything. She walked over to the cell.
“I came by to give you this. It is all I have. I will have to send the rest of the money to you.” Katie held out a small bag of coins.
“I don’t want your money. You keep it.” Montis took a step back.
“I don’t want anything from you, especially money that has blood on it.”
“Blood? Ah, now don’t tell me you believe I am guilty, too. I regret what my brother done, but he is not me.”
She didn’t even look at him while he was talking. For some reason, her attitude got through to him worse than the threats from the lawman. He wasn’t respectable. Sure, he hadn’t gone on any raids with Virgil, but he hadn’t asked any questions either. He had been happy to enjoy whatever Virgil had provided and never once questioned him about where the cash came from. You didn’t ask, as you didn’t want to know the answer. You know Virgil. He isn’t the type to get too upset about hurting other folk.
Montis felt his legs give way. He was guilty, too. He hadn’t done anything. Because of him, this girl had travelled across the country away from her family. He had a duty to her regardless of what he wanted.
“Listen, Miss, I promise on the Good Book I didn’t have anything to do with the train robberies or any of the other things that gang was involved in. I haven’t got much. The ranch, animals and everything else I wrote you about belongs to Virgil.”
The deputy’s cough reminded Montis they weren’t alone.
“What I mean to say is that you came all this way to wed me and if you were willing to proceed, we could ask the deputy to get the preacher over here. Then you wouldn’t be alone in this wild country. We still got a contract. What do you say?”
He looked into her violet eyes, growing larger as she digested what he had said.
“She is not alone, Mr. Cassidy.” Montis had been so intent on staring at Katie, he hadn’t noticed the older woman coming into the jail. With her arrival, Katie’s face lost much of her pinched look. Montis watched helpless as the lady put her arm around Katie’s shoulders drawing the younger girl closer to her. “She is coming home with me. I took the liberty of speaking to the Judge. As
your future is somewhat uncertain, it wouldn’t be in anyone’s interests to try to enforce the contract. She is, as are you, free to marry someone else.”
“But what if I want—”
“What you want, Mr. Cassidy, is of no concern of mine. I am sure Miss O’Callaghan feels the same. Decent folk do not converse with criminals. While you may not have been involved with your brother’s gang, you enjoyed the fruits of his murderous activity. That makes you as guilty as he is.”
The older woman took hold of the younger girl’s hand and pulled her into an embrace. Gently pushing back tendrils of jet-black hair, Montis heard the matron whisper, “Come along home now, Katie. The last few days have taken their toll. Mr. Brook told me what happened at the store. You need looking after. Let me be your friend and look after you, just as you looked after me when I was ill. Ellen is waiting for you back at my house.”
Montis was tempted to say something, but really, what could he say? Whether he liked it or not, he had known Virgil was up to something and he didn’t have the guts to face him. He walked over to the small cot and sat down, putting his head in his hands. To think he had thought getting married was the worst thing that could happen to him.
Martha Sullivan pulled the door behind her before adjusting her bonnet. Taking Katie’s arm, she guided her down the boardwalk towards the boarding house.
“Thank you, Mrs. Sullivan. How did you know where to find me?”
“I haven’t known you long, Katie, but I believe you are honest and hardworking. It didn’t take long to work out where you would go when Ellen said you had gone to the store. I checked with Mr. Brook, and he told me something of your conversation. Out of concern. We have known each other for a long time. Mr. Brook is not one for gossip.”
Katie half listened to Mrs. Sullivan, but her thoughts were overwhelming. She had to put them into words.
“He was going to be my husband. I felt, oh, I don’t know.”
“You don’t owe that man anything. As my mother used to say, show me your friends and I will tell you what you are like. He may not be guilty of the same crimes as his brother, but the fact remains he lived off the proceeds of a life of crime. Even if he is not convicted, he will lose everything. You do not deserve that, Katie, love. You haven’t done anything.”
“I promised to marry a man I had never met.” Katie swallowed a sob. “I am being punished for my sins.”
“Nonsense. My God doesn’t believe in that sort of payback. You ask Reverend Timmons. You made a decision based on the circumstances you were in. You could have found other ways to earn a living. There are plenty of saloon owners who would have employed you.” Katie shuddered, causing Mrs. Sullivan to pull her closer. “You did what you had to, love, and nobody is going to judge you for that. Now let’s get home and get you warmed up. You are chilled to the bone.”
Katie embraced Mrs. Sullivan while sending a silent prayer of thanks to her Mam. Surely she had intervened. If the sheriff hadn’t arrived, she would be married now and could have spent her wedding night in a cell. Shivering and not from the cold, Katie edged even closer to Mrs. Sullivan and allowed the older woman to steer her toward the boarding house. She hoped they wouldn’t meet anyone else on the way back.
Chapter 33
Daniel observed Katie, secure in the knowledge the darkness hid his presence. Ma had told him she had been to the jailhouse and officially ended things. He clenched his knuckles as he thought again how close he had come to losing her. If she hadn’t been so brave, she would be married to that varmint and now going through goodness knows what. No woman deserved a life like that, never mind his Katie.
She was beautiful. No, that wasn’t the right word. She was more than that. Some of her hair had escaped its braid and flowed down her back, the deep shine reflecting in the moonlight. He ached to touch it, wondering if it felt as soft as it looked. Her shoulders shook as loud shuddering sobs wracked her body. He plunged his hands into his pockets in an effort to stop himself from reaching out to her. She needed time to grieve and wouldn’t thank him for embarrassing her. Her whole future had fallen apart and that was scary enough for a guy, let alone a young girl like her. Girl? Who was he kidding? She was all woman. He waited a few minutes, trying to find the right words. He didn’t want her to leave. Yet how could he convince her to stay?
“Katie, it’s Daniel. I just wanted to check and see you were okay?” She didn’t turn, but he saw her shake her head.
“Leave me be, please. I need to be alone.”
Her despairing sob tore at his heart. He took two steps toward her, turning her gently to face him. She glimpsed up at him for a second before looking back at the floor. He took her chin in his hand, forcing her to face him. Pushing her hair back, he caressed her cheek. Her skin was so soft against his calloused hands. She stiffened and tried to move out of his embrace, but he held on.
“Don’t cry. I can’t bear to see you this unhappy.”
She stared up at him, shock written all over her face. Her gaze flitted to his mouth, her thoughts making her cheeks turn crimson. She looked away, but it was too late. He had seen the desire flare in her eyes and the hope he had tried to bury burned brightly. She had feelings for him. He knew it.
Slowly, he bent his head toward hers. Caressing her mouth with his own, he closed his eyes as his arms tightened around her body. He fought the desire to crush her to him, instead drawing her gently closer. He didn’t want to frighten her off. She was so innocent. Again she stiffened momentarily, but he plunged on. He had to show her how much she meant to him. He couldn’t let her leave. Not now.
A weak sigh escaped her lips as she melted into his embrace. With a heavy groan, he wrapped his fingers in her loose hair. It was so soft and smelt like roses. The taste of her lips under his was better than he had ever imagined. He could kiss her forever and never get tired. Desire lurched through him as her mouth opened and she returned his kiss. She clung to him, intensifying his feelings. Oh, how he wanted her. Their kiss lasted several seconds, their bodies molded as closely as their clothes allowed.
A door banged, bringing him back to the present as effectively as a bucket of ice water. What if they were seen like this? Katie’s reputation, what was left of it, would never recover. He couldn’t let that happen.
Katie was so relaxed in his arms, it was obvious she hadn’t heard the door. Reluctantly, he broke their kiss and pushed her gently away. He struggled to get his breathing under control. He couldn’t look at her, his shame overwhelming. He had treated his Katie like a woman from the saloon.
He stiffened, shoving his hands in his pockets.
“Katie, um, I mean Miss O’Callaghan, I apologize. I shouldn’t have behaved like that. Will you please forgive me?”
Katie stared at him, trying to get a hold of her feelings. How could he kiss her so deeply one minute and then thrust her away so sharply the next? Her heart beat so fast she was sure it would spring from her chest any second. Forgive him? For treating her like a shameless hussy? You enjoyed it. Her body tingled from his touch and truth be told, she didn’t know how hard she could fight if he decided to take her in his arms once more. Maybe that woman had been right. She was a shameless vixen - travelling all this way to marry a man she hadn’t met and now behaving like this. Anger competed with desire. How dare he treat her like this? How dare he stop that delicious kiss? A true lady would slap a man across the face for less than what he had done this evening. But she wasn’t a lady, was she? She had behaved wantonly and it was his entire fault.
Scarcely realizing what she was doing, she lifted her palm and smacked him straight across the cheek.
“How dare you?” She hissed as she stormed back into the house, praying fervently she wouldn’t meet anyone. One glance at her disheveled state would be enough to prove the truth of the horrible remarks Mrs. Grey had made this afternoon. Holding her hand to her mouth, she ran for her room and shut the door gratefully behind her. Ellen’s facial expression when Katie barged into the room
proved she had been right to worry.
“What on earth happened to you? Your hair is all over the place and your mouth looks all bruised. You’ve been crying. Oh, Katie. Did someone hurt you?”
“Hush up, Ellen. Someone will hear you. I’m fine. Go to sleep.” Guilt overwhelmed Katie at the look her sister threw her before she turned over to sleep. Katie knew she deserved her reproach for her sharp tone, but she didn’t have time to consider her sibling’s feelings now. Not when her own were all over the place.
She scrubbed her face raw, trying to remove all traces of the kiss. It wasn’t possible, not when every delicious second was seared into her memory. Katie O’Callaghan, just what have you done now?
Daniel paced the room. He felt like one of the wild horses suddenly confined to a holding pen. What had he been thinking of, treating a virtuous woman like that? He could only hope that she would forgive him in the morning. She had enjoyed it, too. The response of her body told him so, despite her protest. He touched his cheek gingerly. For someone who looked like she would blow over in a strong wind, she had a powerful right hook.
Remorse flooded through him as he remembered the look of pure fear on her face as she raced away from him. He wanted to go to her now, pull her into his arms and reassure her she would never be alone again. He strode up the stairs and stopped outside her door. He listened carefully, but he couldn’t hear a sound. He couldn’t knock and disturb her at this time of night. It wasn’t proper, and even if it had of been, she shared a room with her sister. He wasn’t going to be responsible for frightening someone else tonight. Swallowing a curse, he gave one last look at the closed door before marching off back down the stairs. He best go to bed before he caused any more trouble.
Katie held her breath, convinced she had heard someone standing outside their bedroom door. Ellen’s gentle snores filled the room, but some instinct told her Daniel was just outside. She stared at the door, part of her willing him to come in, but the more sensible part willed him to leave. She didn’t completely understand what had happened earlier, but she knew enough to believe herself lost if he attempted to kiss her again.
Katie: Clover Springs Mail Order Brides Book 1 Page 12
