by Bobbi Smith
Steve heard the cold edge to his voice and knew his reputation had preceded him. He nodded and slowly turned his attention back to his drink.
“I won’t tolerate any trouble in my town,” Jared went on.
“I don’t plan on giving you any,” Steve answered, fighting to keep his anger under control. He didn’t have much use for lawmen anymore after the way he’d been treated in Arizona. Trent had seemed decent enough that night at the house, but now there was an unspoken threat in his voice that Steve didn’t like.
“Then we understand each other.”
“We do.”
“Good.” Jared looked over at Dan, who’d been pretending not to be listening as he busily worked at drying a glass. “Dan.”
“See you later, Marshal Trent.”
Jared left the saloon.
Dan looked over at the man Marshal Trent had called Steve Madison. “What was that all about?”
“Nothing important,” Steve answered, shrugging off his question.
“Marshal Trent’s one hell of a lawman. He keeps things good and safe here in Durango.”
“What about those stage robberies you had not too long ago? I was reading about them in your paper. He hasn’t caught those outlaws yet, has he?”
Dan looked troubled. “No, not yet, but the marshal’s doing what he can. He rode out with a posse after each robbery, and they tracked them quite a ways, but they lost their trail up in the mountains both times. With any luck, the gang’s long gone and won’t try anything else around here again.”
Steve wanted to tell him that he didn’t want the gang to be gone, that he wanted the outlaws to try to pull off another job so he could catch up with them, but he said nothing. He would wait, and listen, and hope that he could find out what he needed to know. He’d waited this long; he could wait a little longer.
Boyd smiled as he stared at his own reflection in the mirror. He was wearing his best clothes and looked quite presentable. Tonight was the dance—and tonight was the night. His plan was going to work, and he was going to enjoy every minute of it.
As ready as he would ever be to set his plan in motion, Boyd left the house. He checked to make sure his horses were saddled, ready and waiting. When the time came, he would have to move quickly and quietly.
The raised dance floor was crowded with dancing couples as music filled the night air. Brightly colored lanterns and some torches had been positioned around the area to provide lighting. Tessa stood with her mother and Jim, watching Sludge and Henry dancing with the young ladies of their choice.
“I can’t believe Henry is doing so well,” Tessa whispered to her mother as she watched him successfully circle the dance floor. “I was worried about him.”
“So was I. He didn’t seem to be the most graceful of men last night,” she said kindly, “but he’s doing fine with Sylvie Johnson.”
“Sludge is doing wonderfully, too,” Tessa added, glancing toward where the big man was squiring a tall, willowy young woman. “I don’t know her. Do you?”
“No, but she’s certainly keeping up with him.”
“Good evening, ladies, Jim,” Will said as he appeared by Tessa’s side. He had been waiting anxiously for this moment. It had been pleasant enough dancing with Tessa at the house last night, but tonight was going to be even better.
“Good evening, Will.” Maggie smiled at him, pleased to see him.
“Will,” Jim responded.
“Hello, Will,” Tessa said, looking up at him. He looked handsome, dressed up as he was, and she smiled in welcome.
“Tessa? May I have this dance?” Will invited, his gaze warm upon her.
“Of course.”
He led her out among the dancers.
“You look lovely tonight,” he told her. The blue gown she was wearing was modestly cut, but the bodice was low enough to entice his imagination. She had styled her hair up away from her face, with a few errant curls escaping down her back. The style emphasized the slender line of her throat, and Will knew a driving urge to press kisses down the sweet curve of her neck to her shoulder. Later, he told himself. He had the sudden unwelcome thought that maybe some of the other men there were having the same thoughts about her, and jealousy filled him. She was his, and nobody else’s.
“Thank you.”
“I take it your day was uneventful?”
“Yes, and I enjoyed every minute of it.”
“Since things seem to be quiet around here, I’ll head back up to the mine tomorrow.”
“That will be good. I’m sure the men are wondering what’s happened to you.”
“I was detained by urgent business,” he said seriously. “I couldn’t leave you, knowing about Boyd’s threats.”
“That was thoughtful of you, and I appreciate it. But with Marshal Trent keeping an eye on things, I think everything will be fine now,” she told him.
“I hope so. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
Something about his tone bothered her. It seemed almost too intimate. When the dance concluded, Tessa was glad to be returned to her mother’s side.
“You two make such a handsome couple,” Maggie said to Tessa in a soft tone, for only her to hear.
Tessa smiled at her mother and nodded. Henry appeared before her to ask her for the next dance, and she quickly accepted.
The music started, and Will was left to watch her move off in Henry’s arms.
Jared stood in the shadows, just outside the circle of light from the lanterns, quietly observing all the festivities. The only trouble so far had been a couple of drunken cowboys he’d had to haul off to jail to sober up; otherwise, the evening was going smoothly. Everyone seemed to be having a good time.
“You hiding back here to surprise any troublemakers or are you hiding from young ladies who are trying to force you to dance?” Trace Jackson asked as he brought his wife, Elise, to join Jared. They had seen him standing there alone and decided that he needed some company.
“I haven’t seen you two out there dancing,” Jared returned with a laugh, but he knew Trace was very astute about some things. Melissa Davenport would be looking for him, as she always did at social occasions, but he didn’t have time for her tonight. Lovely though Melissa was, Jared was on the lookout for Boyd, and he didn’t want to be distracted.
“We haven’t danced yet because we just arrived,” Elise explained. “We had to finish getting the paper out first.”
“What’s your lead story this week?”
“Don’t worry. It’s not about the robberies again,” she told him. “I know you’ve done everything you can to solve the crimes. Until there’s a new lead or a new angle on the gang, I’m not going to run anything else on them.”
Jared slanted her a wry half smile. “The townsfolk may think you’re going too easy on me.”
Elise shrugged. She was a professional when it came to her reporting, and she knew when to run with a story and when to sit tight.
“I don’t bow to public opinion,” she said with dignity. “But I do love to sell newspapers.” She smiled as she finished, thinking of how well the Weekly Star was doing.
“I’ve heard that about you,” Jared said, grinning even more broadly as he remembered his first escapade with Elise. She’d posed as a bride to entrap a phony preacher. The “reverend” had a gang that went out and robbed the houses of those attending his services. Elise’s trouble had started when her would-be groom hadn’t shown up, and she’d been forced to recruit Trace—a complete stranger to her then—to take the groom’s place. Who would have thought after that beginning that these two would end up happily married?
“Our lead story this week is about the upcoming visit of a noted university professor from back east. One Mr. Roderick Prescott is coming to town for a visit. It seems he’s friends with Julie Stevens and her family. Julie says there are plans in the works for him to read from selected passages of his own literary works for the Ladies’ Solidarity.”
“It was a slow news
week?” Jared asked perceptively.
“Very, and we thank you for that, Marshal Trent,” Trace said. As an ex-lawman himself, he enjoyed living in a peaceful town.
The music ended, and another tune started up. Jared glanced at Elise.
“May I have this dance, ma’am?”
“Why, Marshal Trent, I thought you’d never ask. Excuse me, darling, I’m running off with this good-looking lawman.”
“But you’ll be back?”
“And you’d better be ready to dance with me yourself,” she said as Jared whisked her away.
Melissa Davenport had been standing to the side of the dance floor watching for some sign of Jared Trent.
“Why isn’t he here yet?” she demanded of her close friend Dena Kaye. She had been anxiously anticipating this night. She could hardly wait to dance with Jared again. “There hasn’t been any trouble in town tonight. Jared should be here by now.”
“Maybe something’s going on we haven’t heard about,” Dena offered.
“I doubt it. If anything had happened, we’d know it.”
“I suppose you’re right,” she agreed, knowing that news did travel fast around town when there was a social event going on. She glanced up just then and caught sight of the marshal dancing with Elise Jackson. “Look! There he is now!”
Melissa’s mood brightened immediately. “I knew he’d show up. I just knew he would.”
“And he’s dancing with Elise. That’s good. A married woman is no competition for you.”
“I’ll say. I’ll see you later. Right now I want to get over there by him so I can talk to him as soon as the dance is over.”
“Good luck,” Dena teased.
Melissa just flashed her a triumphant look as she made her way casually in Jared’s direction. Her careful planning worked. Just as the music stopped, she was by his side. It all looked very accidental, but Melissa knew how important careful planning was to a successful outcome—and she did have a definite outcome in mind where Jared was concerned.
“Why, Jared,” Melissa said sweetly. “I was hoping to see you tonight. Hello, Elise.”
“Hello, Melissa,” Jared greeted her. He told himself he’d known this moment was inevitable tonight, but he’d somehow hoped to avoid it. True, the petite, dark-haired woman was pretty enough, but she was far too serious for his liking.
“Melissa, it’s good to see you again,” Elise told her. Then giving Jared an innocent look, she added, “Are you claiming Jared for the next dance? Trace is coming after me, and I’d hate for Jared to have to sit this one out.”
“I’d love to dance with Jared,” Melissa answered as the next tune began.
Jared was trapped and he had Elise to thank for it. He glared at her as he took Melissa in his arms.
“My pleasure,” he assured Melissa.
Melissa was in heaven as Jared guided her around the dance floor. She attempted to make small talk with him, but for some reason he seemed distracted. She thought she was looking quite her best tonight and had hoped to have his undivided attention.
“Is something bothering you?” she asked.
Jared glanced down at her then, realizing that he was being less than attentive. He was worrying about Boyd, though, and couldn’t allow himself to relax completely. “I’m sorry, Melissa. There has been some trouble, but nothing too exciting. I just want to make sure nothing else happens tonight.”
“You are so serious about your job,” she said, gazing up at him adoringly. She had yet to get him to kiss her, but she was working on it. These things took time, she knew. “We’re very blessed to have you here in Durango.”
Jared smiled down at her. “I appreciate your kind words, Melissa.”
“They’re the truth,” she said, sliding her hand up his shoulder a bit, loving having the freedom to actually be able to touch him for this moment.
Jared looked up again, and it was then that he spotted Tessa dancing with Will. For some reason, the sight of her with the other man bothered him, though he wasn’t sure why. And that made him frown.
Melissa saw the change in his expression. She cast a surreptitious glance in the direction he was looking and saw Tessa Sinclair dancing with a tall, blond-haired man. Jealousy ate at Melissa at the thought that Jared was more interested in the other woman than he was in her. It seemed everybody in town loved Tessa, and it annoyed Melissa to no end. All she ever heard was how wonderful Tessa Sinclair was, and she was getting very tired of it. She knew she was just going to have to work that much harder to make Jared hers.
Tessa found herself in Will’s arms again. It seemed the minute Henry was gone, Will appeared.
“Are you having a good time tonight?” he asked.
“Yes, it’s wonderful to see Sludge and Henry doing so well. I don’t think they’ve missed a dance yet.”
“But what about you? Are you having a good time?” Will was hoping to hear her say that she was thrilled to be with him and that she was enjoying their time together.
“It’s always nice to have the chance to get out and visit with friends.” Tessa was very aware of what Will wanted to hear, but she couldn’t say it. He was an attractive man, but something about him bothered her.
Her answer frustrated Will. He’d hoped she’d tell him that she was glad he’d stayed in town to help protect her and to be with her tonight. He’d been ready to broach the subject of truly courting her, but the coolness of her reply put him off. He remained silent as they finished the dance.
As the music came to an end, Will and Tessa found themselves standing near Jared and Melissa.
“Why, good evening, Tessa,” Jared said. His gaze went over her, and he found himself thinking that she looked lovely in her blue gown. “Will.” He added the other man as an afterthought. “You know Melissa, don’t you?”
They exchanged greetings, and as the music began again, Jared took the opportunity to claim Tessa for the next dance.
Melissa managed to disguise the jealousy that surged through her, and when a ranch hand approached her and invited her to dance, she quickly took him up on his offer.
Will retreated to the side of the dance floor to look on in carefully disguised irritation. Even though the lawman had taken Tessa away from him, Will still felt superior. He figured Trent wasn’t much of a lawman when you got down to it. Here they were, attending the same social function, and yet the marshal had no idea that he was the leader of the gang that had robbed two stagecoaches so close to town. A sense of smugness filled Will. The other man could have his dance with Tessa. In the end, he was going to win. He was going to have all the money from the holdups, and he was going to have Tessa for his own. He was sure of it.
Chapter Twelve
Tessa had been dancing with a variety of men all night, and she’d enjoyed each and every dance. She was caught completely off guard, though, by the feelings that swept over her when Jared Trent swept her out onto the dance floor. His strong, powerful arms sent shivers of awareness rippling through her in a sensual assault unlike anything she’d known before. The heat of his body pressed to hers was a firebrand that evoked memories of just how it had felt the other night when he’d broken down the door to save her. They moved in unison to the rhythm of the melody, and she was spellbound.
This was Jared, she tried to tell herself. She could barely tolerate the man. She wasn’t even sure why he’d asked her to dance, except to be polite, and she’d accepted only so as not to cause a scene. She had never dreamed it would feel this way to dance with him.
Tessa looked up at Jared from beneath lowered lashes, studying the hard line of his jaw and the firm set of his mouth. She had to admit that he was a handsome man, in a rugged sort of way. He had an aura of control and authority about him that she found compelling, and the way he carried himself spoke of power and self-confidence. All along, she had thought him arrogant, but maybe . . .
Jared glanced down at her then, to find her gazing up at him, her expression thoughtful.
“Y
ou look like you’re worrying about something. Were you afraid that I needed dancing lessons, too?” he asked, smiling at her.
His smile so transformed him that for a moment Tessa could only stare up at him. It was then that she realized she had never seen him smile before. He had a beautiful smile.
“Oh, no! I saw how good you were with Elise and Melissa, and I knew I was safe.” She was glad she’d had a quick response to cover her sudden, unexpected nervousness.
“I’ll always make sure you’re safe,” he said, turning serious.
Tessa instinctively knew he meant it. “Thank you.”
“My pleasure,” he told her, slanting her a wry grin. “Especially the ‘saving you from rough dancers’ part. Watch out for Clint Parker, though. He’s here tonight, and I heard talk that he can be one tough cowboy on a lady’s feet.”
“I’ve had enough personal experience with him to tell you everything you heard is true. He hasn’t asked me to dance yet, but if he comes near me, I’ll expect you to miraculously appear by my side and rescue me.”
It was then, as he spun her around in a graceful move, that Jared thought he caught a glimpse of Boyd standing in the crowd watching them. Jared scowled, then quickly disguised his concern. He didn’t want to worry Tessa. He couldn’t be sure it had been Boyd, and the man had already disappeared from sight.
Tessa had almost relaxed and started to enjoy the dance, when she felt Jared suddenly tense. She looked up, wondering what was bothering him, and found his gaze upon her. His expression was closed, unreadable. She gave him a tentative smile just as the music ended.
Jared escorted her back to stand with her mother. He would have preferred to stay there with her for the rest of the night, but he didn’t trust Boyd one bit. If the man was brazen enough to show up here, he was going to watch his every move.
“Thank you for the dance,” he said distractedly. He walked away from her without a backward glance.
Tessa was a bit startled by his sudden indifference. She watched him stride off into the crowd. He’d left her so abruptly that she was puzzled—and a bit hurt.
