Brides of Durango: Tessa

by Bobbi Smith

  Mentally, he sneered at Jared. He might have saved Tessa from Boyd last night, but that had been only because Boyd had been so stupid. Jared still had no idea that the leader of the gang that had been robbing the stagecoaches was riding as a member of his posse.

  The thought almost brought a smile to Will’s face, but he fought it down. He would gloat later, once they’d made off with the biggest prize of all. During the course of the dance, before all the trouble had started, he had spoken at length with Lyle Stevens and some of his business friends. It had become clear to Will during the course of the conversation that a big gold shipment would be passing through town very soon. If it was half the size he thought it was going to be, he and the boys could retire forever, and he was finding that prospect more and more pleasing. Once they got back to town and he was certain Tessa was safe with her mother, Will was going to ride for the Ace High. He and the boys had some planning to do.

  Julie had seen Maggie to bed long after midnight. Steve and Jim had remained with her a little longer until she’d decided to seek what comfort she could on the parlor sofa. She hadn’t thought she would fall asleep, but somehow she’d finally drifted off in the wee hours of the morning. She awoke at dawn, tormented by the knowledge that Tessa had still not returned.

  Rising from the sofa, Julie went to the parlor window and brushed aside the curtain to watch the sunrise. The morning sky was cloudless. It promised to be a beautiful day, but Julie could see no beauty in it without word of Tessa’s safety. She prayed Marshal Trent had found her in time. She knew just how vicious a man Boyd Wilson was.

  The thought of Boyd sent a shiver of disgust through her, and she turned away from the window to find Steve standing in the parlor doorway, watching her. He looked so tall and powerful—his shoulders seemed to fill the entire doorway. He hadn’t shaved yet, and the hint of a day’s growth of beard gave him a more dangerous look. She shivered again, but not from thoughts of Boyd.

  “Oh, good morning,” she said a bit nervously. After the way they’d parted last night on the porch, she hadn’t been sure he would even speak to her again. He had eventually followed her back inside, but when Miss Maggie had gone to bed, he had retired to his own room.

  “There’s been no word of Tessa yet?” he asked, trying not to notice how pretty she looked this morning. There was a slight flush to her cheeks, and her hair had come loose and tumbled about her shoulders in golden splendor.

  “No,” she answered, “nothing.”

  He nodded and left.

  She stared at the empty doorway, not the least bit surprised that he hadn’t wanted anything to do with her this morning. He’d made that clear enough last night after he’d kissed her. She regretted now that she’d been so weak around him. She would make sure it never happened again.

  Unconsciously, Julie straightened her spine at the memory of Steve’s rejection. That didn’t matter. What mattered was Tessa’s safety, and she hoped against hope that Jared Trent proved to be the fine lawman everyone believed him to be. He had to save her! He just had to.

  Julie knew she couldn’t go back to sleep, so she went into the kitchen to see about making breakfast. She doubted Miss Maggie would want anything, but she was certain her boarders would still want their morning meal. Julie didn’t pride herself on being much of a cook, but she would do her best. At least the cooking would keep her busy. She couldn’t bear the thought of sitting idly by and waiting for word of Tessa’s safety.

  “Why, Julie, dear, I had no idea you were such a good cook,” Maggie told her an hour later as she joined Julie and the others for breakfast.

  “I didn’t know you were going to get up,” she said, surprised by the older woman’s appearance in the dining room.

  Maggie’s expression was haunted and tired. “I only slept a little while all night. I guess I should have come down earlier to help you.”

  “I did just fine, didn’t I?” she asked the men gathered around the table eating the scrambled eggs and fried ham slices she’d made for them.

  “Yes, ma’am,” Sludge answered as he dug eagerly into the hot fare. “And you look real pretty, too.” When he realized what he’d said, he blushed and, looking down, quickly stuffed his mouth full of eggs so he wouldn’t say anything more.

  “Why, thank you, Sludge.” Julie laughed, looking down at the gown she was still wearing and the apron she’d donned over it. “It is rather a different kind of outfit for a cook, isn’t it?”

  Maggie took a seat at the table and joined the meal. She ate sparingly. She was not hungry, but she knew she would need something to help her get through the day.

  “Where’s Steve this morning?” Maggie asked.

  “He came down earlier and left, but he didn’t say where he was going,” Julie told her.

  “I’ve just been down to the marshal’s office,” Steve announced as he came into the dining room.

  No one had heard him return, and they were surprised by his appearance.

  “Did you learn anything?” Maggie asked quickly, hopefully.

  “No. There’s been no word since they rode out last night.”

  “I see.” Maggie nodded. She’d expected as much, but she’d hoped that somehow, some way, Jared had found Tessa quickly and had brought her back.

  “Come and eat,” Jim invited Steve, motioning to an empty chair. “We got us a new cook this morning.”

  “I’m no Miss Maggie, but at least nobody will be going hungry today,” Julie said.

  Steve didn’t look at Julie but slid into the chair and helped himself to the eggs.

  Julie sat down, too, taking a small portion for herself, though she honestly didn’t feel much like eating. She kept watch over the table, making sure everyone had what he needed. She also found herself surreptitiously watching Steve as he ate. She expected him to be rough, and she was surprised when he was as mannerly as her own father.

  After Henry and Sludge had left to go to work, Jim helped Julie clear the table.

  “Miss Tessa wanted me to fix the back porch steps,” Steve said. “So I’ll start on them today.”

  “Thank you, Steve. She’ll be glad you’re working on them,” Maggie told him. She was too weary to do anything else, so she remained at the table to sit and wait.

  The day passed slowly. Each minute seemed an hour; each hour seemed endless. Both Jim and Steve made additional trips to the marshal’s office to see if there was any news, but each time they returned with nothing to report.

  Julie’s parents came by for a visit and brought Julie a change of clothes. She’d already told them that she would be staying on with Maggie until word came.

  At noon, Julie went out back to call Steve in to eat, and she found herself hard-pressed not to stare at him. He’d shed his shirt to do the manual labor, and she had never seen a man so unclothed before. His arms were thickly corded with muscle, and his chest was broad and tanned and lightly furred. She swallowed tightly against the strange feelings that filled her and hurried back inside after telling him the meal was ready. Julie found she was almost disappointed when he appeared in the dining room fully clothed. Her imagination gave her no rest, and she was glad when they finished eating and he went back outside to resume work.

  It was midafternoon when Maggie heard the sound of horses coming up the street. She’d been sitting on the sofa and rose quickly to look out the window. Her expression was one of pure joy as she turned back to Julie and Jim.

  “It’s Tessa!” she cried as she started at a run for the front door.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Tessa heard her mother’s cry and almost threw herself from her horse in her rush to get to her. They came together on the front porch, each enfolded in the other’s loving embrace.

  “You’re back! You’re back!” Maggie was sobbing.

  Tessa couldn’t speak. She just wanted to hold her mother and reassure her that everything was fine.

  “Are you all right? He didn’t hurt you, did he?” Maggie finally asked. Sh
e held Tessa slightly away from her so she could give her a good looking-over. She saw that she was wearing Jared’s shirt and her expression darkened. “What happened to your—”

  “Nothing happened, Mother. I’m fine. Jared found me and saved me just in time.”

  “And Boyd? Where is that no-good . . . ?” For the first time in her life, Maggie was ready to swear and actually to do someone bodily harm.

  “He’s dead, Miss Maggie,” Jared told her solemnly. He had come to stand on the porch with them.

  “Oh, Marshal Trent.” The old woman sighed his name, a look of pure adoration on her face as she turned to him. “Thank you for saving my girl. Thank you for being so wonderful. You’re my hero.”

  She wasn’t the least bit deterred by his only having the jacket on. She went to him and kissed his cheek. Jared actually blushed a bit at her praise.

  “Will you be all right now?” Jared asked Tessa, seeing that she seemed relaxed and calm.

  “I’m home and I’m safe, thanks to you.”

  “I’d better get on back to the office and take care of things. I’ll check in on you later.”

  Tessa knew one of the first things he would have to take care of was leaving Boyd with the undertaker.

  “Thank you, Jared.” Her words were simple but heartfelt as her gaze met his.

  “You’re welcome,” he answered, then returned to his horse and rode on with his men.

  Will remained behind. He dismounted and joined the women on the porch. “It’s a wonderful thing that the marshal got to you in time last night,” he said, praising Jared because at the moment it was what was expected of him.

  “Jared Trent is every bit as good as his reputation,” Tessa confirmed, any doubts she’d had about his abilities as a lawman gone forever.

  Julie and Jim had come out to see her, and they crowded around her now, glad that she was home, giving her warm hugs of welcome.

  “Thank God for Marshal Trent!” Julie exclaimed. “You should have seen him last night at the dance when he found out what had happened, Tessa. He went after you right away. Nothing was going to stop that man from finding you.”

  Tessa hugged her friend. “I’m just glad I’m back safe and sound.”

  “So are we!” Jim replied.

  Steve came around the side of the house, having heard the commotion out front. He actually smiled when he saw Tessa.

  “Welcome home,” he greeted her.

  She smiled at him warmly. “Thank you, Steve. I always knew coming home was special, but now I truly know how important home is.”

  “It’s time for a celebration! Just think how excited Sludge and Henry are going to be when they find out you’re safe!” Maggie declared. “Come on, Julie! Let’s see what we can put together for dinner while Tessa gets cleaned up.”

  “That is a wonderful idea,” Tessa said. She had been longing for a hot bath ever since Boyd had first touched her. Somehow just having his hands upon her had left her feeling soiled in some way, and she was going to enjoy scrubbing off every last trace of Boyd from her body and her soul. “And I guess I could use some clean clothes, too,” she said with a grin as she looked down at her ruined skirt and Jared’s shirt.

  “Oh, I don’t know,” Julie teased. “That shirt is certainly attractive on you.”

  “Boyd tore my bodice, and Jared gave me his shirt to wear,” she said quietly, looking down the street in the direction he’d gone, even though he was already out of sight.

  “He is a gentleman, that one,” Maggie said, ushering her daughter inside. “We’re lucky to have him. Yes, we are.”

  Will was silently gnashing his teeth as he followed them inside. No one had thanked him for his help with the posse. No one had thought of how he’d gone after Tessa to save her. He was going to have to do something and fast. Tonight would be the night.

  Steve watched as they all went back indoors; then he returned to making his repairs on the back porch. He was glad Tessa was back unharmed. Trent did seem to be one hell of a good lawman, but that didn’t mean he was going to trust him. He’d had his fill of lawmen. He’d take care of his own problems himself.

  When they were inside, Julie noticed that Steve had not followed them in.

  “Where did Steve go?” she asked Maggie, though she wasn’t sure why she cared.

  “I don’t know,” Maggie answered. “Maybe he’s still working out back. Want to take a look and see? Tell him that he’s got the rest of the day off. We’re celebrating! There’s no time for working now that Tessa’s home.”

  Julie went out the back door to find Steve hard at work finishing his repairs to the porch.

  “Miss Maggie says you can take the rest of the day off,” she announced.

  Steve had not heard Julie come outside, and he glanced sharply her way at the sound of her voice. His reaction to the sight of her was always the same. He wanted her. He knew it wasn’t to be, though, and he knew he had to stay away from her. He was not the man for her. He was a fast gun and an ex-con. She’d made no secret of what she wanted in a man, and he wasn’t it. Even so, the memory of their dance and their kiss stayed with him. It had been hard all last night knowing she was sleeping on the sofa just downstairs, and yet realizing nothing was ever going to happen between them.

  “That’s all right. I’ll just keep at it. It won’t take that much longer to finish this job off.” He turned his back to her and kept working.

  For some reason she couldn’t explain, it was important to her that he come inside and join in the fun. “You sure? Miss Maggie said—”

  “I heard you, Julie,” he cut her off sharply without even looking back at her. “I’ll be in later, when I’m done.”

  Julie flushed with anger at being so rudely dismissed. Something about him was so infuriating! She had only been trying to be friendly. In a huff, she turned and stomped back inside.

  Steve took a deep breath, glad that she was gone. He kept working.

  After leaving the Sinclairs, Jared dismissed his posse and then took Boyd’s body to Jehosephat Jones, the undertaker. Boyd would be buried in a simple grave at the local cemetery. Jared knew he would have to track Sarah down so he could notify her about her husband’s death. Returning to the office, he found Trace waiting for him, along with two reporters from other newspapers.

  “All right, Marshal! What’s the story!” one of the reporters demanded as he walked in.

  Jared’s gaze met Traces, but he gave them all a half smile. “We tracked down Boyd Wilson. He was shot and killed resisting arrest.”

  “And Miss Tessa? How is she?” the other man demanded.

  “She’s just fine.”

  “She wasn’t—”

  Jared silenced him with a look. “I said she was just fine,” he ground out. “She was uninjured.”

  “Where did you find them? Was it rough tracking? How much of a fight did he put up?”

  Jared answered all their questions patiently and was glad when they raced off to write their stories for their papers.

  Only Trace remained behind. He’d sat quietly watching his friend handle the other two. He’d recognized the anger in Jared’s expression when questioned too closely about Tessa, and he was waiting for the right time to ask him for the complete truth. He would never betray Jared’s trust by printing it, but he knew there was more to the story.

  “So what really happened?” he asked when they were alone.

  “It was close—damn close—but I did get there in time.” He sat down heavily at his desk and leaned back, weariness etched into his features.

  “You look like you had a rough night.”

  Jared only nodded as he related what had happened during the gunfight. “If I’d been ten minutes later . . .” His expression was grim.

  “But you weren’t,” Trace reassured him.

  “What do you say I get cleaned up and meet you for a drink?”

  “I’m buying.”

  “You’re on.”

  Jared was tired and fi
lthy when he finally got to his house. He made short order of bathing, and had just started to shave when he remembered in all too vivid detail what Boyd had almost done to Tessa. His hands began to shake and he was forced to stop shaving for a minute. That had been close—too close for his comfort.

  Jared fought back a shudder as he finished shaving. He was tired, but glad that he’d agreed to meet Trace. Getting dressed again, he left the house. A strong drink with a friend was just what he needed.

  Jared walked to the office of the Durango Weekly Star.

  Trace was hard at work at his desk when he heard the sound of the front door opening.

  “Jared, that you?”

  “Last time I checked,” Jared joked as he entered the office.

  Trace opened his bottom drawer and took out the bottle of whiskey he kept there. “Grab us a couple of glasses,” he directed as he opened the bottle.

  Jared got two tumblers from the water tray nearby and set them before Trace on his desk. He smiled as his friend poured them each a healthy portion and then handed him his glass.

  “Good job, Jared,” Trace said, lifting his own tumbler in acknowledgment.

  “I’m glad things worked out the way they did.”

  “It’s a great story. We’re going to sell a lot of papers with this one.” Trace took a deep drink. “Sit down and relax.”

  “I’d like to, but I think it’s going to take a while.” He sat down in the chair and stretched his long legs out in front of him.

  “Rough night?”

  “Very.” He let his thoughts slide back to the hours he’d spent by the campfire holding Tessa against him.

  “Tessa give you a hard time?” Trace asked perceptively.

  “She always gives me a hard time. That woman is nothing but trouble.” He shook his head as he took a deep drink of the whiskey. He enjoyed the way it burned all the way down. He hadn’t eaten in a long time, but didn’t give food a thought.

  “I used to think the same thing about Elise,” Trace sympathized, but his statement drew a sharp look from Jared.