The Sheriff (Historical Romance)

by Nan Ryan

  He found no key.

  Growing increasingly frustrated, he had hurried back outside and slipped through the alley to the rear of the building to bang on the back door and call Kate’s name. To no avail. Finally he returned to his own office, where he had paced the floor, imagining all kinds of dire possibilities.

  Two long hours had passed when finally he saw Travis step out onto the sidewalk in front of the jail. Muttering under his breath, the doctor snatched up his black bag and rushed right over.

  Now, as the two men faced each other, the frowning physician told Travis, “Soon as I got back, I heard about the shooting and came over, but nobody was here.”

  Travis looked a little sheepish. “Yes, well, Miss VanNam was feeling so much better she insisted I take her up to the mansion to get some clothes.”

  “You couldn’t have gone up by yourself and…”

  “She wanted to go, Doc.” Travis shrugged broad shoulders. “You know how women are.”

  “So you took it upon yourself to pronounce her able to walk all the way—”

  “Keep your shirt on, we didn’t walk. We rode my stallion up.”

  Dr. Ledet again shook his head. “I want to see the patient immediately! Who knows what lasting harm may come from her being jolted up and down on the back of a horse!”

  Thankful the scolding physician didn’t know what he and Kate had really been up to, Travis said, “You’ll see for yourself that she’s mending remarkably well.”

  “Let me be the judge of that,” the doctor replied testily. He stepped inside and started toward the back quarters.

  “Fine, but wait here a minute,” Travis said, following on his heels. “I’ll just check to see if she’s awake. She might be napping, and we wouldn’t want to disturb her.”

  “She’s likely worn out from you allowing her to—”

  “Have a seat, Doc,” Travis interrupted, indicating a chair.

  Travis went to the rear and, opening the door just wide enough to slip through, quickly put his finger to his lips when Kate looked up, smiled and started to speak.

  Fresh out of a bath, she was seated cross-legged on the floor in front the fire, brushing her long golden hair. She wore only her lace-trimmed pantelets. Travis came to her, crouched down and whispered, “Doc Ledet is here.”

  “Here in Fortune? Or here at the jail?” she whispered back, brush poised in her hand.

  “Both,” he said, helping her to her feet. “He wants to have a look at your shoulder. Now, hurry and get in bed while I fetch you a nightshirt.”

  Nodding, Kate anxiously crossed the room while Travis briefed her on the fact that the doctor had come by the jail earlier and found them both gone. “I told him you insisted on going up to the mansion to get some clothes.”

  Kate nodded again. Once she was in bed, Travis helped her into the nightshirt, then drew the covers up over her. “Ready?”

  “Yes. Send him in.”

  “Don’t let anybody know what a good job Travis did,” Doc Ledet said, after carefully examining the healing bullet wound. His eyes twinkled when he added, “You do and I’ll be out of a job.”

  “It’ll be our secret,” Kate assured him.

  After ten minutes with his patient, the physician closed his black bag. “I might as well go,” he said. “Obviously, you don’t need me.”

  “I’m glad you’re back, Doctor, and I appreciate you looking in on me.”

  The physician smiled, patted her good shoulder and glanced curiously around the room. He noticed the wooden tub of soapy water, with a couple of damp towels and a hairbrush beside it. A blue woolen dress was tossed over the arm of Travis’s easy chair. Other articles of feminine attire were scattered about the spacious room.

  He didn’t comment, but he wasn’t fooled. When he rejoined Travis, he said, “You did an excellent job, Sheriff.” His eyes twinkled with mischief when he added, “In fact, Kate’s in good enough shape to go on home.” He looked at Travis and waited for a response. He got none. “I see no need for her to stay at your place any longer. I’m sure you must be tired of sleeping in the jail.”

  Travis didn’t take the bait. As enigmatic as ever, he ushered Doc Ledet to the door, following him out. They stood for a few minutes on the sidewalk in the fading autumn sunshine, talking about the sudden snowstorm and how quickly it had melted. About the Goldbug mining accident. About the chances of Jiggs and the posse finding Kelton and Spears.

  Finally Doc Ledet said, “Well, I’m tired and I’m hungry, so I’ll be getting on home, Travis.”

  “Thanks for coming.”

  “Don’t mention it. I’ll likely stop by tomorrow, check on Kate. That is, if she’s going to be here at your place.” Again he quizzically lifted his eyebrows.

  “Good evening, Doc.”

  Travis stayed where he was for a couple of minutes after the doctor had gone. He was just turning to go back inside when the muscular, mustachioed Sam Barkley, bartender and bouncer at the Golden Nugget, came out of the saloon carrying a large wooden sign.

  Travis squinted as Sam leaned the big placard against the wall just right of the bat-wing doors. He began hammering it in place, and Travis read the two-word sign: For Sale.

  As Sam was finishing up, Valentina Knight walked through the saloon’s swinging doors. She stood before the sign, examining it. She said something to Sam and shook her head approvingly. The big man went back inside while Valentina stayed a moment longer.

  Travis stepped down off the sidewalk.

  He crossed the street. Valentina turned as he approached.

  “Evenin’, Val.”

  “Travis.”

  “What’s all this?” he indicated the sign. “You actually meaning to sell the Nugget?”

  “I am.” She smiled. “Want to buy it?”

  “Why sell? You told me yourself you’re making a fortune.”

  “Ah, well that’s just it. I have all the money I need so there’s no reason for me to stay.” She looked at him half hopefully. “Is there, Travis?” When he gave no reply, she quickly added, “The truth is I’ve grown tired of these backward gold camp towns. I miss the elegance of New Orleans. I’m going home.”

  “I wish you all the best, Val,” he said. “You’ll say good-bye before you leave?”

  “Why you know I will.”

  Both knew she would not.

  Forty-Six

  Midnight.

  Travis was awake. Kate was not. Cal the cat dozed before the dying fire. Travis lay on his back, an arm folded beneath his head. Kate was curled up on her side, facing him. Cal was sprawled on his belly, paws out before him.

  Travis was tired, but not sleepy. He was intrigued with the sleeping beauty beside him. He gazed fondly at her golden hair spilling across the pillow and at the angelic face in repose, those striking blue eyes closed, her long lashes stilled. Above the sheet’s top edge, her pale silky shoulders were a bedeviling reminder that beneath the sheet she was as naked as he was.

  At bedtime she had shed her clothes, and, to his surprised delight, had not donned a nightshirt. She had winked at him, smiled and saucily climbed into bed, beautifully bare. It was the first time that had happened. Excited by the gesture, he had anxiously shed his own clothes, supposing she was ready to make love again.

  But once he’d slid into bed and reached for her, she’d kissed him quickly and said, “Are you as sleepy as I am?”

  Before he could answer, her eyes had closed and she was asleep.

  Two hours had passed since then.

  And still Travis was wide awake. He couldn’t relax, couldn’t unwind. And it was her fault. Try as he might, he couldn’t forget for a moment that this exquisite young goddess was naked in his bed. It was so disturbing, so unsettling, he was half tempted to wake her and insist she put on a nightshirt so that he could get some rest.

  Kate stirred in her sleep and Travis tensed. Her knee slid up his leg and a soft hand fell across his chest. But she slept on. He gritted his teeth. And then very
carefully, very slowly, he edged closer to her until their bodies were touching. He eased over onto his side to face her, gently drawing her leg up over his hip.

  Travis lifted his head off the pillow. Resting his weight on an elbow, he cautiously leaned over and lowered his lips to hers. His mouth settled gently over hers in what he promised himself would be one brief, closemouthed kiss. But once he felt her warm lips beneath his own, his mouth opened ever so slightly.

  And his heart thudded in his chest when he felt the fluttering tip of her tongue against his open lips. She was asleep, but she was kissing him. Incredibly erotic! He wondered how long they could kiss before she awakened and realized what was happening. Shudders of excitement surged through him, Travis kept his mouth on hers while she sweetly responded.

  He was never quite sure when Kate woke up. Not a word was spoken between them. Their bodies said everything. Silently, they kissed and touched and embraced. And sometime during all that enjoyable play, the covers were kicked to the foot of the bed.

  The fire in the grate had burned low and the room was chilly. But they were not. They were feverish with desire, their bare skin hot to the touch. And to the taste. It was the oddest of sensations for them both. They were highly aroused, but at the same time languid in their lovemaking. They changed positions again and again, tumbling about on the rumpled bed, taking turns at being conqueror and conquered.

  Tingling with arousal, a deliciously lazy Kate soon found herself backed up spoon fashion against Travis. His strong arms were around her and his solid chest was pressed against her back. She sighed when a dark hand drifted up to fondle a bare breast, lean fingers plucking at the awakened nipple. Kate squirmed when that hand slipped down her belly and through the golden triangle of hair to touch that tiny bud of passion.

  She sighed and shivered and felt Travis’s powerful erection throbbing against her bare bottom. Instinctively, she knew his intent and didn’t object. He was going to make love to her in this position, and she found the prospect incredibly tantalizing.

  Kate arched her back, leaned a little forward on the pillow, opened her legs and pressed her buttocks more firmly against him. Travis did the rest. She bit her lip when she felt the hard, heavy flesh enter her from behind and inch cautiously into her. His lips pressing burning kisses to her shoulder, Travis waited only a few heartbeats before thrusting farther.

  Guiding her movements with his hands, teaching her how, he urged her hips back against him as he drove into her, plunging slowly, warily, taking care not to hurt her. Until at last his full, throbbing length was inside her.

  For a long moment he stayed completely still, waiting for her, making sure she was relaxed and ready. When she began the subtle, sensual grinding of her hips, he flexed his buttocks and surged to meet her, keeping the tempo slow and easy.

  After several pleasing moments of making love this way, their enjoined bodies cried out for more. Travis sped up his movements. Her wild golden hair slapping him in the face, Kate gasped and writhed and quickly caught his rhythm. His arms came back around her. One hand caressed her breasts; the other went between her legs.

  His talented hands added to Kate’s escalating ecstasy. She liked this way of making love. It was thrilling to have him buried deep inside her while at the same time his magical fingers were doing such wonderful things to her. The naughty thought struck her that she wanted Travis to do it just like this every time he made love to her. She would insist that he take her from behind so that his marvelous hands could…could…

  Kate gasped and her body spasmed as the first blinding wave of a wrenching orgasm washed over her. Travis groaned as his own release began. They came together, sharing a climax so intense it was frightening. The deep tremors of ecstasy buffeted them for several seconds before finally leaving them totally spent.

  And blissfully happy.

  Deeply content, both sighed tiredly and fell asleep, lying there just as they were, having uttered not a single word throughout the impetuous lovemaking.

  Forty-Seven

  It happened at high noon.

  Five days after the shooting, Winn DeLaney walked into the lobby of the Bonanza Hotel. He was about to enter the dining room for a leisurely midday meal, but the sudden thunder of horses’ hooves caused him to stop in midstride and turn. His pulse became erratic as he crossed the lobby and stepped outside to investigate.

  Squinting, he looked down the street and, to his horror, saw Deputy Jiggs Gillespie and the posse ride into town. With them were the apprehended Titus Kelton and Jim Spears. In a great cloud of dust, the mounted men came to a halt before the city jail. Winn swallowed convulsively when Sheriff Travis McCloud stepped out of the building to take possession of the cuffed prisoners.

  Panic seized DeLaney. For a dreadful moment he stood there immobile, unable to think or to move.

  Then it became crystal clear what he should do. He had to get out of Fortune before those two brawny thugs told on him.

  Winn hurried back inside. With a shaking hand, he reached into his trouser pocket and peeled off a couple of bills. He hurried over to Dwayne, handed him the bills and instructed the puzzled room clerk to send a messenger to the Whiskey Hill Saloon to fetch a dark-haired young lady who worked there.

  “Her name is Melisande,” Winn said. “Have Melisande come here at once.” When Dwayne hesitated, looked at the bills, then back at him, Winn shouted, “Now!”

  “Yes, sir, Mr. DeLaney,” said the startled clerk.

  Winn rushed back upstairs to start packing. In minutes a worried Melisande joined him. Out of breath, she gasped, “Winn, what are we going to do? They’ve brought in Kelton and Spears and—”

  “I know that!” Winn yelled at her. “They’re sure to implicate me in Kate’s shooting. We have to get out of Fortune right now, today!”

  Nodding, Melisande began anxiously tossing clothes on the bed, where a large valise was open. She was starting to change out of her gaudy satin costume when a loud knock came on the door. She and Winn exchanged looks of alarm. Winn motioned for her to keep silent. He reached for his revolver.

  “Open up, DeLaney,” Sheriff McCloud calmly ordered.

  His jaw ridged, Winn raised his revolver and fired through the door. The bullet missed Travis by an inch and lodged in the hallway wall. The sheriff again ordered DeLaney to open the door. When he refused, Travis warned him to stand back, then he kicked the door open.

  Delaney took aim, but Melisande screamed, “No, Winn, no!” and threw herself between the two men just as DeLaney fired.

  She slumped to the floor, hit in the back.

  “Put the gun down, DeLaney,” the sheriff warned.

  But Winn again took aim. Travis, having no choice, shot and killed him.

  Travis holstered his Navy Colt and hurried to the wounded woman. He sank to his knees beside her. Her eyes, filling with tears, were open, and she was clutching her bloodstained bodice.

  “Winn,” she gasped. “Is Winn all right?”

  Travis gave no reply. He gingerly lifted her and carried her downstairs, then directly across the street to Doc Ledet’s office. The doctor saw them coming and rushed into the back room to wash up and ready his instruments.

  “Lay her there on the table, Sheriff,” he instructed when they came through the curtained doorway.

  Travis nodded and gently lowered the woman to the sheet-draped examining table. He immediately turned and went into the front office as the doctor began cutting the woman’s bloody clothes away.

  Travis paced as the minutes ticked away. After half an hour, he looked up as Doc Ledet came through the curtains.

  Travis gave him a questioning look.

  The doctor shook his head. “The woman’s mortally wounded, Sheriff. She won’t live till sundown.”

  Travis nodded. “She conscious?”

  “No. No, she’s not.” The physician rolled down his shirtsleeves. “What happened?”

  Travis related exactly what had taken place at the Bonanza. When h
e concluded, Doc Ledet rubbed his chin thoughtfully and said, “Looks like you were right all along about DeLaney.”

  “Unfortunately.”

  “I’ll go on over to the hotel and pronounce DeLaney dead, then summon Clarence, the undertaker.”

  “I’ll stay here. Maybe the woman will regain consciousness.”

  “Good enough. I should be back in fifteen minutes.”

  The sun was sinking in the west when Doc Ledet came hurrying into the jail. “She’s awake, Trav. The woman’s awake.”

  Travis was up out of his chair in an instant. He trotted to the doctor’s office ahead of the puffing physician. While Doc Ledet waited just outside the curtained doorway, Travis stepped up to the table. The woman looked up at him, her eyes filled with tears.

  Travis gently took her hand in both of his. “Is there anything I can do? Anything I can get you?” His voice was low, soft.

  “Is Winn…is he dead?” she asked.

  “I’m sorry,” Travis replied.

  Tears spilled over and ran down her cheeks as she said, “I’m going to die, too.”

  “Doc Ledet will do everything he can to…”

  “Sheriff, I am not going to make it, and there are some things I must tell you to…to ease my conscience.”

  Travis lightly squeezed her hand. “That’s what I’m here for, miss.”

  Melisande began to talk, to tell Travis everything. “Winn wanted the gold.”

  “How did he know about the gold?”

  Melisande swallowed with difficulty. “Winn fought alongside Kate VanNam’s brother, Gregory, under General Scott in the Mexican War. Later both Winn and Gregory turned up in San Francisco and renewed their acquaintance. Gregory bragged to Winn about the Cavalry Blue Mine and how one day he would inherit it and be a very rich man. But when his great-aunt Arielle Colfax died, Gregory learned that she had cut him out of her will. She left everything—including the gold mine—to his sister.” Melisande grimaced in pain.