Counterfeit Cowboy

by Lacy Williams

  “You’re not worried about propriety?” he asked, because surely there was something inappropriate about them taking turns sharing a room.

  “I’m worried about Pete,” she said simply, looking up into his face with those guileless eyes.

  Jesse did as she said.

  And as Jesse drifted off in the bed softer than anything he’d ever experienced before, he realized maybe God had done something for Pete. He’d put Erin here to fight for the boy.

  * * *

  Erin dabbed Pete’s face and neck with a damp cloth, hoping to cool the boy’s fever. She prayed in a constant stream, words often escaping her, but she knew the Father understood the very groanings of her soul. Still, the shadows and darkness threatened to overcome her.

  She was nearly as worried for the man sleeping in the room next door. He’d barely said a word since they’d got off the train. She imagined he was worried for Pete. Something deep inside told her he couldn’t take another loss. He’d already lost his parents, so she refused to let go of Pete, for Jesse’s sake. He couldn’t lose his little brother, too.

  Pete moaned and moved restlessly on the bed. She reached down for the basin she’d moved close and within minutes, he’d filled it.

  He lay back on the bed, eyes glassy and fevered. “Ma?” he asked in a raspy voice.

  Erin smoothed his sweaty hair back on his forehead. “Pete? It’s me, Erin. Can you hear me?”

  “Ma?” he asked again, and this time it sounded like a child’s cry.

  “Try to drink some of this water,” Erin whispered, holding a cup to his lips. Against her hand, his skin was hot and clammy at the same time.

  She was afraid the water would come right back up, but he needed the fluid to replace what he’d lost already. He dutifully sipped it and afterward, his head seemed to clear a bit.

  “I miss my ma,” he rasped as his head fell back on the pillow. “And Jenny. My little sister.”

  “It’s all right, Pete.” Erin tried to comfort the boy by taking his hand in hers. Still hot, too hot.

  Why hadn’t he mentioned his mother or sister before? She was afraid to ask, afraid of the answer. “Your brother is sleeping right next door.”

  “Ain’t got no brother.”

  The boy must be delirious with fever. Erin dipped her washcloth in a basin of cool, clean water, wrung it out and began to dab it on Pete’s face again.

  “Sure you do. Remember Jesse? He came and got you in Boston and now you’re going to live with him in Chicago.”

  “Ain’t got no brother,” Pete insisted stubbornly, though his voice was just a murmur. “Just me and Ma and Jenny.”

  Suddenly, he ratcheted up again and Erin grappled for the basin, moving it just in time for him to empty the contents of his stomach again. He heaved mercilessly; there wasn’t much left inside him.

  When his body could bear it no longer, she pushed him back in the bed and pulled the covers up to his neck. He shivered violently.

  “I—I want my ma,” he cried out.

  “I know. Shh. I know. I’m not your ma, but I’m here.” She clasped the boy’s hand again and he finally fell into a fitful slumber.

  Erin resumed her prayers, so exhausted she couldn’t think about Pete’s statement that he had no brother. All she could do was lift up the boy to the Lord.

  * * *

  Several hours later, Jesse awoke with a start, unable to determine where he was. The bed was far too soft and sweet smelling to be his prison cot.

  Then, remembrance of the last few days since his release burst on him and he sat up in the bed. Rubbing one hand over his face, he tried to wake up, knowing he needed to go relieve Erin of Pete’s care.

  When he’d splashed his face with cold water from the pitcher and straightened his clothing as best he could, he crept out of one finely furnished room and into another, steeling himself for the worst.

  He found the lamps turned down, the room almost in total darkness. Erin slept facedown on the bed, still half seated in a chair she’d pulled close to the bed, one hand outstretched and touching Pete’s wrist. A basin at the side of the bed told the story that Pete had been sick at least once more, but when Jesse touched his face, his skin felt cool and dry, no longer feverish. Pete breathed easy.

  Relief sliced through Jesse hard and clean.

  He shook Erin’s shoulder. She mumbled into the blanket and turned her face away. He leaned down farther, loath to wake the boy, and shook her again, whispering, “Erin. Wake up.”

  She came to with a start, nearly upending herself out of the chair. He held back a smile at her hair that was half falling out of its pins and her cheek was pink where it had been pressed to the blanket.

  His heart contracted at the picture she made, eyes soft from sleep and open to him.

  He wanted...

  She took his arm and tugged him with her toward the door, staggering a little as she adjusted to being upright.

  “His fever broke a bit ago. I was only going to close my eyes for a moment, but I must’ve...” Her voice trailed off on a yawn and Jesse fought the urge to enfold her in his arms. A memory flashed of her in his arms from late last night. He was a knucklehead. He hadn’t even gotten his arms around her that time.

  “I must’ve fallen asleep. I think he’s going to be all right.”

  Seeing the deep joy in her eyes, Jesse couldn’t resist reaching out. He brushed a hank of loose hair off her cheek, slowly running the pad of his finger across the softness of her cheek.

  Her eyes deepened with awareness and she leaned minutely toward him. Jesse reached for her waist with his other hand, determined to capture the kiss he’d nearly gotten on the train—had it only been last night?—but Erin raised both hands and rubbed them down her face.

  “I’m sorry. I’m so tired I’m wobbly. And...I must be a sight.” She stepped away from him, reached out and touched the door with her fingertips. She swayed. “I’ll just sleep for a bit. If he gets worse, or you need me, just knock....”

  She closed the door behind her quick escape. Leaving Jesse wondering if he’d dreamed the encounter, or her movement toward him. Had he imagined it? Even when he’d thought he might target her, he’d been immeasurably attracted to her. Were his feelings toward her influencing the situation with what he’d wanted to happen?

  He sat in the chair Erin had pulled up to the bed and began to watch over the boy. He wasn’t sorry that the kid had survived the night. He didn’t deserve to die, just like Daniel hadn’t deserved death.

  But...part of Jesse wondered why one boy should be chosen over another. He didn’t know. Just as he didn’t know why Jim had sacrificed himself for Jesse.

  Too tired and bleary to give the line of thought proper consideration, Jesse wondered if Erin would have an answer.

  He slunk down in the chair, hoping to catch a bit more rest before the morning.

  Trying not to think about the financial burden staying overnight was going to place on him. How could he pay for the rooms when he hadn’t a cent to his name?

  Chapter Eight

  A soft knock roused Jesse from where he’d drowsed in the chair next to Pete’s bed. Light filtered in around the expensive curtains draping the window.

  Erin stuck her head and shoulders inside the door and motioned him toward her. Jesse’s stiff muscles protested as he dutifully stood up. Pete’s even breathing reassured him and Jesse stopped to splash his face with water from the basin before sneaking out into the hall.

  By the time he had joined Erin, she was speaking to a matronly woman while a uniformed maid hurried off down the hall.

  The woman moved past Jesse into the hotel room. He looked to Erin with raised eyebrows.

  “I had the concierge send for a nurse. I know you’ve got things to do this morning trying to get
settled. I thought we could leave Pete to rest as long as he had adequate supervision. Is that all right? Oh, and the maid just brought this up.” She handed him his jacket, which smelled much better than it had last night.

  “And we’ve a new errand to run.” Erin smiled wryly as she headed toward the stairs, leaving Jesse to follow. “I’m afraid Pete’s clothes did not survive the washing. The maid said they simply fell apart....”

  Jesse could believe it. They’d been threadbare to start with.

  “We’ll have to pick him up some new things.”

  Down the elevator and into the opulent lobby, Jesse studied the fine furnishings and wainscoting. He’d been too concerned for Pete last night to really take it all in; then he’d fallen into the spare bed and been out immediately. Sitting with Pete through the night, the darkness had hidden the well-apportioned features of the room and he’d nearly forgotten where they were. He’d never actually stayed in such a nice place, although he’d been inside a few times to run one of his schemes.

  He followed Erin slowly, considering that this might be his chance to take his leave. Once they stepped foot out of the hotel it wouldn’t be too hard to sneak away. Then he wouldn’t be responsible for a hotel bill he couldn’t possibly pay for. She glanced over her shoulder and their eyes connected and he knew he wouldn’t.

  Something had changed last night as they’d labored together to save Pete. Their struggle and victory had united them.

  He had no funds, but he had his pride. He didn’t want Erin to think he wasn’t capable of taking care of himself. Didn’t want her handouts, not when he was beginning to really care about her.

  And there was the rub. Now that he’d let her believe him a cowboy, let her believe that Pete was his brother, he could either continue the charade or tell the truth and likely alienate her.

  “Would you like to get a cup of coffee or some breakfast before we go out?”

  Had she appointed herself his task-master, as well? It seemed that since she’d decided to get off the train, she’d been ordering him about. He didn’t dislike it...not at all.

  He stopped as they stepped off the elevator, guiding her by the elbow to one side, pulling her close. He spoke in a low voice. “Look, Erin... I tried to tell you last night, but I can’t afford this place. I doubt I can even afford a cup of coffee here. And I don’t have money to buy Pete any new clothes.”

  Her mouth softened. “We’ll work something out.”

  He began to protest, because he didn’t want to be beholden to her, but she crooked her arm through his and pulled him toward the heavy outer doors. They passed several wealthy patrons, and Jesse wondered if perhaps that was his solution. With a hotel full of wealthy people—none of whom knew him, nor his reputation like in Boston—he could easily spin a story and find someone to give him enough funds to pay for a night in the hotel. Maybe two.

  Maybe enough to get him started here.

  If he tried things the honest way, he’d be working for weeks to pay off the hotel bill, never mind funding a place to live or food.

  But he didn’t have to decide right now.

  As they stepped outside into the brisk Chicago morning, Erin exchanged a sideways smile with him. She thought he was a good guy. It was obvious in the way she treated him, with respect and even...admiration. So different from the way he’d been treated the years while he was in prison, and if he admitted it to himself, even before that.

  It made him want to be worthy of the way she looked at him. But he didn’t know if he could.

  “We’ll go visit your friend first, then stop at a couple of shops on the way back,” she said, leading him toward the already-bustling street with its shoppers and workers hurrying about their business.

  His brows creased as he thought about Jared Kenner and the errand he had in mind. “It might be better if we went our separate ways.” Better for Jesse that she not know his business. If she found out about his time in prison, she’d be disgusted with him. “I’ll see my...friend and you can do your shopping.”

  “Nonsense. We’re both alone in an unfamiliar city. It would be better to remain together, don’t you think?”

  Her words inspired thoughts of the man who’d followed her back to her seat from the lavatory on the train. The man had had no good intentions, Jesse was sure of it. And if Erin ran into something similar here, her naiveté would be a problem for her. Jesse was used to taking care of himself. Pete was, too. But Erin was not. After all, she’d helped the boy—Jesse owed it to her to get her safely back on the train first thing tomorrow and on her way to Wyoming.

  She tugged him to a waiting hackney cab and looked to him with her eyebrows raised. Submitting with what grace he could muster, he gave the address that the Boston Kenners had given him. He didn’t know whether it was a business or a home, but he helped Erin into the carriage and they set off.

  Inside the coach it was a little warmer, and quieter, though other carts and horses could be heard rumbling past.

  “So what is the purpose of your visit this morning? Will your friend help you find a job or a place to stay?”

  He hesitated. “No. I’m seeing him as a favor to a...an acquaintance back in Boston. Sort of a...last wish.”

  She gazed solemnly at him. “He died?”

  Saving Jesse’s sorry hide. He swallowed hard. “Yeah. I promised I’d try to send his brother back home to take care of his ma and his sister.”

  “That’s quite noble of you.”

  It hadn’t been, not really. Jim had been the one making the sacrifice—his life for Jesse’s. And Jesse still couldn’t understand why.

  She turned those admiring eyes on him again and again he was hard-pressed not to lean over and kiss her. He focused on the traffic and pedestrians outside the cab window.

  Their destination turned out to be a lumberyard in an industrial part of the city, and before Jesse could ask Erin to stay in the hackney cab, she’d descended along with him and was moving toward the door of the lone brick building on the yard, leaving him no choice but to follow.

  Inside, the smell of freshly hewn wood was prevalent and sawdust gathered in the corners though it was obvious someone tried to keep the floors clean. Jesse inquired for Jared Kenner and a man in work clothes approached him. Thankfully, Erin hung back.

  “I’m Jesse Baker.” He stuck out his hand and the other man shook it politely.

  “Jared Kenner. What can I help you with?” The man cast a curious look over Jesse’s shoulder, eyes flickering over Erin.

  “I’m here because...well, this is sorta difficult.” Jesse took a deep breath. “I was an...acquaintance of your brother Jim back in Boston.”

  The man’s face instantly closed. “I haven’t spoken to my brother in years.”

  “I know. But he...well, that is, your ma...” This was hard. Harder than Jesse had thought.

  “What about her?” the other man asked warily. His words gave Jesse at least a little hope that maybe he could fulfill the vow he’d made to a dying Jim.

  “Jim was...killed.” A glance over his shoulder at Erin; he hoped she couldn’t hear him. “And he asked me to see to your ma and your sister.”

  The man crossed his arms. “Yeah? How’d you know Jim anyway?”

  Jesse clamped his jaw. The man’s suspicions were well-founded, obviously, since Jim had been in prison and that’s where Jesse had known him, but he wasn’t making this easy for Jesse.

  “That’s not important,” Jesse insisted. “But I went to see your ma in Boston and she isn’t doing well.”

  The other man didn’t respond, just studied Jesse with narrowed eyes.

  “Your ma didn’t come out and say it in so many words, but I know she’d like to see you before she...passes.”

  Still the other man didn’t say anything.

  “And if s
he passes, your sister would need someone to take care of her.”

  Now the other man shook his head. “I moved away when I was sixteen to get away from my family and their problems. I can’t go back there.”

  That sounded familiar. Jesse had run away to get away from his stepfather and the man’s temper. He’d promised never to go back, not for anything. And then after Daniel’s death, he’d figured his ma would never want to see him again.

  His stomach clamped tight like a vise. If a similar break had happened between Jim and his brother, Jesse might never convince him to go back to Boston. Then who would take care of Jim’s mother and sister? If they didn’t have anyone to take care of them, how would they survive?

  The burden of guilt pressed heavily on Jesse’s chest. Would he never be free of the debt he hadn’t wanted in the first place? Jim had had no right to place Jesse in this position.

  “Plus, I’ve been saving money to rent a bigger place.” Kenner flushed slightly. “Thinking about asking a gal to marry me, ya know? If I spend that money on a train ticket to Boston...and my job...” But something in the man’s tone told Jesse he was wavering. Jesse just needed to convince him.

  “You want your sister to be thrown out on the streets?”

  The man’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. “What you got to do with my sister?”

  Jesse raised his hands in front of himself defensively. “Nothing. I only met her the once. The truth is, I didn’t know Jim well. We didn’t have a lot in common. But he saved my life, and I owe him.”

  “If he’s dead, you don’t owe him anything.”

  Jesse didn’t argue, but he felt like he owed Jim. The burden pressed heavily on him.

  “I can’t just up and leave my job.” Kenner shifted his feet as if impatient to be done with this conversation.

  “I’m sorry to interrupt, gentlemen.” Erin joined them and placed a hand gently on Jesse’s forearm. He started, unused to the gentle touch and lost in thoughts of Jim. He’d nearly forgotten she was there. She squeezed his arm as if in reassurance.