by Bobbi Smith
Alyssa took her mother's hand. "It was hard for me, too. This is the best thing that could possibly have happened considering the circumstances, though. Now, not only do we have both the sheriffs from Black Springs and Green River after the Dakota Kid, we've got two Pinkertons working on the case. They're going to find the Kid and Zeke Malone, Mother. I promise you they will. The Pinkertons always get their man."
Loretta was a bit encouraged at the thought. "I just want to make sure they get the Kid and what's left of his gang before he has the chance to hurt you."
"Don't worry, Mother. Nothing's going to happen to me. I'll be safe."
The coach had come to a complete stop, and the riders reined in beside it.
Alyssa didn't wait for anyone to come after her. She immediately opened the door and climbed down. She'd been aching to see Slade all morning and could hardly wait to feast her eyes upon him. When she turned and saw him dismounting from his horse, her pulse quickened. She had always thought him handsome before, but today, he looked absolutely magnificent to her. As he dropped his reins and walked toward her, it was all she could do not to throw herself into his arms. She had to remember who she was and what she was doing there.
"Good morning, Alyssa," Slade greeted her, giving her a half-smile.
His smile and the dark look of promise in his eyes took her breath away. She somehow managed to smile sweetly back at him.
"Hello, Slade," she said, nodding toward him. "It's good to see you up and about."
"It's good to be up and about," he countered. "The alternative isn't pretty."
"No sign of the Kid on your ride out?" Rob asked, as he insinuated himself into their conversation.
"Nothing," Slade told him. "It was quiet all morning. We stayed out of sight of the main road and kept a lookout for you."
"No news, I guess, is good news," Rob said. "You're comfortable in the coach, Alyssa?"
"It's fine, thank you, Rob."
"Good." He wanted to please her, especially after last night. He knew she wasn't happy with any of them, and he was determined to make it up to her.
"Slade, I think it's time you met my mother and my sister," Alyssa said, drawing him toward the coach door.
She quickly made the introductions.
"Mrs. Mason, my deepest sympathies on the loss of your husband," he said in earnest as he faced her. "If there had been some way for me to prevent it, I would have. I give you my word that I'll find the man who did it and bring him in."
Loretta had not been sure what to expect from Slade Braxton. She'd watched Slade at the trial and had been so full of hatred for him that it was difficult for her to see him in this new light and appreciate who he really was.
"Thank you, Mr. Braxton," she replied coolly, uncertain and still not fully trusting him.
"Miss Mason," Slade said as he looked to Emily, "it's nice to meet you, too."
"Mr. Braxton," Emily replied, looking past him to where she spied Ken sitting on his horse. Her chin lifted in irritation as she clearly recognized him now as the man she'd seen riding out of Black Springs the night she was putting up the sign. She hadn't been crazy! Ken Wiley really did have an alter ego! He truly was dangerous and deadly. He was a Pinkerton!
"I guess we'd better keep moving," Rob put in, wanting to get back home as quickly as they could. "Slade, you ride in the coach with the ladies. Hawkins will tie your horse up in back."
Slade offered Alyssa his hand to help her climb back inside. As their hands touched, excitement surged through them both. Alyssa found it difficult to concentrate on anything but the feel of his hand on hers. She remembered clearly the gentleness of his touch and how he had caressed her and kissed her just hours before, and she fought down the blush that threatened.
Slade was not unaffected by the touch of her hand. He wanted to put his hands at her waist and lift her inside the vehicle, but he knew that would seem too forward an act for him. He had to satisfy himself with just being close to her, but it wasn't easy when all he could think about was the sweet taste of her kisses and how perfectly they had come together. It had been beautiful. She had been beautiful.
Slade started to climb inside, but Rob's call stopped him.
"Braxton! Here! Keep this with you!"
When Slade looked his way, Rob tossed him his rifle. He nodded toward the lawman and climbed into the now cramped carriage, shutting the door behind him. He'd hoped he'd get to sit next to Alyssa, and he was pleased to find the space next to her open. She smiled at him as he sat down, and he smiled back, enjoying having her pressed against him on the tight bench seat. He looked up and found himself facing her mother and sister. He knew then and there that it was going to be a long ride to Black River.
As Slade settled in, Ken decided he might as well face Emily and get it over with. He rode up to the side of the coach where she was sitting by the window and smiled in at her.
"Morning, Emily," he greeted her.
"Hello, Mr. Wiley," she replied tightly, emphasizing his phony last name.
"I thought we'd agreed you'd call me Ken?"
"That was when I thought I knew who you were," she answered tartly. "Right now, I'm not quite sure."
"I do investigate stories," he told her.
"Just not for the Denver Daily News!" she retorted.
"Sometimes they do run stories about the investigations."
"But not because you've written them! They print them because they're big news and you happen to be involved with them!"
"Emily, I'm sorry I had to lie to you and your mother," he apologized. "It was important that I learn everything I could about the testimony against Slade before the trial so I could save him from hanging."
"I understand, I'm sure, sir," she said disdainfully.
"Good," he answered, though considering her tone, he really didn't believe her.
"Let's head out again," Rob ordered.
The coach lurched forward, and they continued on, anxious to return home. Once they were in Black Springs, they believed it would be easier to protect Alyssa, and that was Rob's main concern right nowkeeping her safe from harm.
"It's difficult for me to accept all that's hap pened," Loretta told Slade as they faced each other across the narrow width of the conveyance.
"I understand," he sympathized, "and I'm sorry for all that you've been through. That's why we've been working so hard to bring down the gang."
"Rob almost got all of them," Emily put in.
"He did a good job that day, better than any other lawman had before. Until Rob, there hadn't been a sheriff who'd even come close to catching up with the Kid."
"Why didn't you bring them in?" Loretta asked, voicing the question that was troubling her. Her gaze was piercing and almost condemning upon him as she went on. "You'd been riding with the gang for all that time, and you knew who they were. The Pinkertons are supposed to be the best. Why didn't you set up an ambush of your own and bring them in before they killed my husband?"
Slade had known this moment would come, and he'd dreaded it, because he knew the answer he had to give her wouldn't help explain anything. "There's more to our investigation than just arresting the gang. If that had been the case, I could have brought them down the first week I was with them."
At Loretta's pained expression, he knew he had to explain further.
"I can't go into detail. Just realize that you already know more than most-you know I'm alive."
Loretta felt a twinge of fear as she realized the dangers of his job. She looked over at him, studying him for a long moment, seeing the fierce determina tion and intelligence that made him the successful agent that he was.
"I wish our association had begun under better circumstances," she finally said. "Of course, Alyssa always believed that your heart was good."
Slade glanced over at Alyssa to find her gazing up at him, a gentle smile on her face. "She's a special woman."
"That she is," her mother agreed.
Emily was sitting quietly, fe
eling most put out. Ken had taken advantage of her. He had used her and discarded her when he'd gotten what he'd wanted from her, and that didn't sit well with Miss Emily Mason. She wasn't accustomed to being treated that way by men, and she was determined to do something about it. Mr. Ken Wiley-or Richards or whatever his last name really was-had just better watch out. He might be a master detective, but he hadn't seen anything like what she was planning for him.
The hours passed quickly, and they made good time. There was no sign of any trouble, and they neared the way station where they planned to spend the night just before dusk.
Hawkins drew the coach to a halt about two miles out, and Slade started to climb out of the coach.
"Where are you going?" Alyssa asked.
"The fewer people who see me, the better. I'll be close by tonight keeping watch, don't worry." His gaze met hers for an instant, telling her all she needed to know, before he was forced to leave her.
With that, he stopped to speak briefly with Rob, then mounted his own horse and rode off across country. Hawkins got the coach moving again, and they rolled into the station just as darkness was claiming the land.
"Alyssa, I want you to stay inside tonight," Rob told her as he helped her down from the coach when they arrived at the station.
"Do you think the Kid might be close by?" she wondered, curious as to what was going on.
"We haven't seen or heard anything to lead us to believe that he is, but I don't want to take any chances."
"Whatever you say."
He kept an eye on Alyssa until she was safely indoors with her mother and sister. Once he was certain she was out of harm's way, he met with his deputies to discuss the plan for keeping watch that night.
"What can I do to help?" Ken asked as he joined them.
"We're going to be taking turns, starting now and changing every two hours," Rob told him.
"Count me in. I'll take first watch if you want me to. That way you can all go get something hot to eat. It smells pretty good over by the house. The station manager's wife must be a fine cook."
"Thanks."
Confident that they'd done all they could to ensure Alyssa's protection, the three lawmen went off to get their dinner while Ken remained outside.
Ken checked his side arm and walked around the area to make sure everything was secure. He kept a careful watch, looking for any movement or flash of light that might give away an ambusher's hiding place. He saw nothing out of the ordinary, and he was grateful. He hoped they had a peaceful night.
"Ken?"
Emily's voice came softly to him. He looked back toward the house and was surprised to find her coming toward him, carrying a plate of food.
"Emily, you should stay inside where I know you'll be safe."
"You're out here. If I'm with you, I know I'll be safe," she said simply, giving him her most coquettish smile. She hadn't used all her wiles on him before, and she was bound and determined to do so now. "Here, I brought you something to eat. Rob told us how you volunteered to take first watch. It's nice of you to help them out."
He wanted to tell her that his offer had nothing to do with being nice, that it was his job, but he didn't. He needed to concentrate on what he was doing, but the tantalizing smell of the food was distracting, not to mention Emily's presence.
"Well, it was nice of you to bring me out some food. Thanks."
"Someone has to take care of you," she said, "while you're so busy taking care of us."
They found a bale of hay near the stable and sat down there so he could eat.
Ken tried not to think about the lovely young woman sitting next to him as he ate the meal. He was working right now, and, as he'd told Slade, there was no time for emotional entanglements when one was investigating a case. Still, it was difficult for him to ignore the light, intoxicating scent of her perfume as it drifted to him on the cool night breeze.
"This is really delicious. The station manager's wife is a very good cook."
"Ken?"
"What?" He cast her a sidelong glance as he took another bite of his meal.
"Why are you ignoring me?" Here she was sitting right next to him, and he was far more interested in the dinner she'd brought him than he was in her. It was infuriating. She'd never played second fiddle to a plate of food before, and she was quite certain that she didn't like it.
"I'm not ignoring you," he answered, taking great pains not to look at her again. "I'm protecting you."
"What from? It's a beautiful night. The stars are out and the moon.... The Kid's nowhere around." Her voice grew softer as she spoke.
He cleared his throat as he set the empty plate aside. "Emily, I am protecting you from me."
"What?"
Ken turned to her, and the rigid control he maintained over himself threatened to shatter as he stared down at her. She was the prettiest woman he'd ever seen, and she was there-with him.
"Damn it, woman-" he growled as his last fragment of control snapped. He took her in his arms and kissed her.
Emily met him fully in that embrace, delighting in the feel of his lips upon hers. She'd wanted to kiss him ever since she'd seen him that day in the sheriff's office, and she was thrilled.
Because the moment was forbidden and dangerous, it was even more exciting for them. His kiss was hungry and passionate, and Emily was swept away by the heat of his sudden, raging desire.
Only the sound of a horse stirring restlessly inside the stable nearby jolted Ken back to full awareness. He silently cursed his weakness for Emily as he abruptly put her from him. He stood up to put distance between them. A lapse like this in his ironwilled control could get him killed while he was on the job, and he had no intention of ending up dead any time soon.
"Emily-" He gazed down at her, seeing the hunger in her eyes and knowing his own need matched hers. Still, he denied himself that which he wanted most. "Go back inside and stay there." His tone was harsh.
"Didn't you enjoy kissing me?" she asked boldly, angered by his rejection. She stood up before him, as proud as any Valkyrie, fire flashing in her eyes.
"Good night, Emily," he said, deliberately sounding cold and indifferent. He wanted to discourage her, to make her mad enough to stay away from him. This was no game they were playing. They were dealing with the Dakota Kid. Lives were at stake. He couldn't afford any lapses in judgment-not even for her.
Emily was shocked by his dismissal. She all but stomped away from him. He was maddening! She'd never been treated so shabbily by a man before, and the worst part was, she was at a loss as to what to do about it. She wondered, too, why tears were burning in her eyes. She decided she just wanted to cry because she was angry. Not because she really cared about him.
When Slade left the coach, he sought out a secluded vantage point where he could safely bed down for the night. His thoughts were on Alyssa's safety, but Rob had assured him that he and his deputies were going to take turns standing guard all night at the station. He would have preferred to have protected her himself, but had resigned himself to hiding out. He would meet up with them on the road again the following morning.
He ate a sparse cold meal and, after taking a quick look around, tried to settle in. He'd had little rest the last two nights and needed sleep badly. He sought the comfort of his bedroll on the rough, rocky ground, but there was scant ease to be found. Stretching out as best he could, he kept his rifle close at hand and closed his eyes.
The images that teased him as he lay there helped him forget all about the hard ground. In his thoughts, he relived his night with Alyssa, holding her and kissing her-loving her until the threat of dawn had driven him from her arms. He thought of the long hours riding in the coach with her close by his side. He'd been hard-pressed not to take her in his arms any number of times when his imagination had conjured up fiery memories of the night just past. Only the presence of her mother and sister had held him at bay.
Slade wondered if Alyssa had felt the same way he had. He wondered, too, when he'
d ever get to be alone with her again. The way things were going, he knew it wouldn't be any time soon.
Sleep finally eased over him, and his sweet dreams of his lovely lady offered him solace on the cold, lonely ground.
Alyssa awoke before daybreak and couldn't get back to sleep. She lay on the cot in the bedroom she was sharing with both her mother and her sister, thinking about Slade and wondering where he was and if he was all right. It had been difficult to watch him leave the day before, and she'd been worried about him ever since. He was alone in the wilderness, and if the Dakota Kid happened upon him, she knew it would be a terrible, deadly confrontation.
Rob had said that there had been no sign of trouble, though, so she believed that Slade was safe. She told herself that she would be reunited with him in just a few hours, but those few hours seemed an eternity to her.
The memory of Slade's lovemaking played in her mind as she tried to rest, and unbidden desire stirred within her. She ached to have him back in her arms. Only when she was with Slade did she feel secure; only then,did she feel whole.
Rising quietly, Alyssa went to stand at the window. She parted the curtains to look out at the sky. She was pleased to see that it was brightening a bit. Daylight would soon be with them, and that meant Slade would be, too.
As she looked around, she could see Rob keeping watch, rifle in hand, near the stable where the men had bedded down for the night. She knew he cared for her, and it distressed her to think that at some point she was going to have to tell him that there could be no future for them. She couldn't tell him just yet, though, for it would be too awkward while they were making the trip. She would wait and explain things to him later, when they would have some privacy.
As she was looking out the window, she saw Ken emerge from the stable. Alyssa couldn't prevent a smile as she studied the other Pinkerton.
She wasn't quite sure what had happened between Ken and Emily the night before, but it had definitely upset her sister. Emily hadn't said much when she'd returned from taking him his dinner, but she'd almost seemed to be pouting when she went to bed. As accustomed as Emily was to having men panting after her, Alyssa supposed the trouble could be that Ken wasn't chasing her-and her beautiful sister was not used to being ignored.
