And if he didn't return her inheritance, then at least she would have a skill to earn money chasing outlaws and criminals. Now the way she felt, the man was a dead man as far as she was concerned. For five years, she'd lived with guilt, thinking she was glad Leo was dead, only to learn the rotten scoundrel still walked the earth.
But not for long. Still, how would she find him?
The women seemed to be winding down after their lengthy conversation on Caroline's new man. The man wrote fiction and he'd written a story about Caroline that didn't put her in a favorable light. In retaliation, Caroline scribbled across his script he was a horrible lover.
Still, Dora had some business she needed to discuss.
Meg glanced at Caroline. "I'm concerned about something you said. Was he a lousy lover?"
Caroline blushed, her cheeks rosy. "No, he was excellent, but I knew those hurtful words would help him understand my pain."
The ladies laughed and sighed. "Thank goodness," Meg said.
Waiting on the raised platform, Dora cleared her throat to get their attention.
"Oh no, I'm so sorry, Mrs. Tennyson. In all the drama, I completely forgot you were standing there."
Dora didn't mind, the time had given her a chance to learn more about the women. Quickly, she came to some conclusions.
"Not a problem. What an interesting conversation. Now, I have a proposition. I'd like to enroll in your bounty hunting school. After almost ten years, I have a score to settle."
Meg stepped over to the woman. "Why do you want to join our program? You realize what you're getting into, right? You'll be taught how to ride a horse, follow tracks, read wanted posters, and more importantly, how to handle a gun. We'll teach you everything you need to know to become a successful bounty hunter."
This was exactly what she needed. Afterward, she could make a decent living and not have to depend on a man or reveal her deepest, darkest secret.
Laughter escaped Dora. "That's what I need. My dead husband has come back to life and I intend to make certain he remains dead after I get my money back."
Ruby shook her head. "I don't know. Our school does not produce killers. We teach women a skill that will help them earn a living."
At least this expertise would not include going to work for a saloon and becoming a whore. The only person she wanted to kill was Leo. Everyone else, she simply would arrest and bring to justice. But after Leo put her in this tenuous position, he deserved to die.
With a sigh, Dora glanced at her. "In about ninety days, my cash will run out. This dress I purchased with the idea of enticing an older man to court and eventually marry me. But now I'm still a married woman, so remarrying is out. Becoming a bounty hunter sounds like a wonderful plan. Even if I find Leo, I still will need a way to make money that doesn't involve me lying on my back."
The women nodded. "She's got a point," Caroline said. "Money just doesn't fall out of the sky. Bounty hunting is not easy. So if you're not into hard work and long days, then that job of lying on your back might be more for you."
The woman belonged in a crazy home if she thought she would become a whore. "No."
"We start on Monday," Ruby said. "Bring your own pistol. Preferably a Colt forty-five."
"Welcome to the club," Meg said.
"Oh hell, another one," Annabelle said with a smile. "Welcome."
Dora grinned, and for the first time in weeks, peace came over her. Maybe she wouldn't starve after all.
Two months later, Dora felt ready to hunt and face her dead husband. After going on a raid to save Quinlan Adams, she was confident in her abilities to fire a gun and angry enough no one better mess with her.
After all, this would be her new occupation. Her livelihood would keep her from going hungry. And she would soon get her revenge.
Addie King, another student at the school, came up to her. "There's a telegram waiting for you. Do you think it's from that investigator you hired?"
A tremor of excitement filled her. After selling her home, she took some of the money and employed a man to find Leo. What if he'd located her once-dead husband? Then she could begin her journey.
A tiny spiral of fear zipped through her, but she refused to acknowledge the emotion. No matter what, she would always show only strength on the outside. She might be terrified on the inside, but externally she would appear like a mean woman carrying a gun. Someone you didn't mess with.
"Guess, I better go find out. What are you going to do?"
"Target practice. See that can sitting on the fence? That's for my brother. The second can is for my sister. And the third, my mother."
All of her family had been killed in a raid on their farm. A mistaken-identity attack that left them dead. Addie had gone to the outhouse, which none of the outlaws checked, where she watched the entire invasion on their farm.
The house and barn burned to the ground, but the outhouse stood. Now she wanted revenge, though she never mentioned her intentions to Ruby.
Dora reached out and touched Addie on the arm. "Kill those cans."
"Thanks," she said. "I think I will."
With hurried steps, Dora almost ran to the house where Ruby's office was. The poor woman's pregnancy was beginning to really swell her body and a twinge of jealousy filled Dora.
At the very least, Leo could have given her children. For five years, they had tried, and she never became pregnant. Maybe being childless was for the best. But a child would have given her a reason to continue to live on. Now she had nothing but her need for revenge.
As she walked into the house, she all but ran into Ruby. "No surprise to see you here. You must have heard about the telegram."
For the last two months, Dora had resided at Ruby and Deke's home. The couple were so cute together, but Dora witnessed the fear in Deke's eyes. His first wife died from childbirth and he was frightened for Ruby who kept reassuring him she would be fine. Dora had confidence Ruby would be. Because she was a strong, determined woman.
"Is the telegram from the investigator?" she asked.
"Don't know," Ruby said and handed her the paper. "Deke brought the missive from town and we haven't read it."
With trembling hands, Dora glanced at the words. "That son of a bitch. He married a woman and bought land with my money in Grayson County, near Gainesville."
Ruby didn't say anything but stared at her.
"Do you think I'm ready?" Dora asked.
The woman she'd become good friends with smiled. "Of course. You helped rescue Quinlan, didn't you? I've seen you hit a target without looking. We taught you how to build a fire, hide, read tracks. Now is your first test. My only concern is your hate for this man. Remember, you do not have the right to kill someone."
No, but she would make him hurt really bad and it could be self-defense.
"Understand," Dora said. "More than anyone, you know how much I want to find him."
"Yes, I do," she said. "Take enough rations for at least two weeks. To reach Gainesville will take you five hard days of traveling. Don't trust strangers along the road. When you arrive, you might want to talk to the sheriff and tell him your intentions."
Dora would stop at the sheriff's office only long enough to learn if Leo had a price on his head. Other than that, she would go directly to this ranch he bought in Gainesville. If he purchased the land with her money, his new wife would have the shock of her life when Dora took possession and sold the place.
"Oh, you think he'll let me string him up?"
Ruby laughed. "I'm going to worry about you. Don't be my first trained killer."
With a sigh, Dora accepted it would be difficult to kill Leo, anyone else next to impossible.
Reaching out, she took Ruby's hand. "Never would I murder him in cold blood, but I would be lying to you if I said he'll be alive when this is over. Right now, you should worry about this baby and your husband. Thanks for helping and teaching me so much. In the morning when I leave, I'm confidant Leo will soon be looking out of a jail cell."
Or even better, a coffin.
"Thank you for saying jail cell and not coffin," Ruby said with a smile.
Thankfully, the woman couldn't read her thoughts.
"You're welcome, Dora. Now let's hope Addie will soon be ready to go on her journey."
A frown crossed Dora's face. Had Ruby learned of Addie's past? When she walked out the door, she let Addie's problems go. There was enough going on in her life that she couldn't stick her nose in Addie's business.
Chapter 2
On a ranch in north Texas, Jesse Moore sat in a chair at his sister's bedside, watching her struggle to breath. The illness, whatever it was, had come upon her swiftly. This morning, he went for the doctor, but the man didn't give him much hope.
Day before yesterday, she'd been fine, but last night he awoke to the sounds of her retching. When she didn't rise from bed this morning, he checked on her to discover her eyes were yellow, her breathing shallow. Immediately, he rode for the doctor and insisted the man come examine her.
His eight-year-old niece, Grace, fed her little sister, Ella, and even younger brother, eighteen-month-old Ben. Not certain what had befallen their mother, she kept them occupied in the other room. Every time Jesse stepped out, her worried gaze followed him.
His worthless brother-in-law was off peddling some medical miracle cure and had left his sister here to care for the ranch and the children. On a routine visit, he came out to install the cabinets he made for Ida and now she lay here in bed dying.
What if he hadn't been here? Grace was a smart, mature kid, but she was still a child. Damn Leo for not staying home.
"Jesse," Ida said, her eyes beseeching. "Promise me you will take care of my babies. Leo...he's not responsible. Don't let him have them or they will suffer."
At the thought of her dying, his heart clenched with pain. When their parents died over ten years ago, he’d raised fifteen-year-old Ida. Now she lay on her death bed asking him to become the guardian of her kids.
Why did it feel like he'd been watching over and taking care of Ida her entire life and now she was giving him a huge responsibility?
More than anything, he didn't want her to die. Those babies needed their mother, not their uncle.
"No, you're going to be fine," he said, picking up her hand, wanting so badly to believe she would recover.
"Promise me," she said.
With a sigh, he closed his eyes trying to keep the tears that clogged his throat from spilling down his cheeks. He opened his eyes and stared down at his sister, her body a sickly shade of blue.
"You know I love the children and I'll do whatever I can for them, but they need you. Grace is going to be a young woman soon. She needs her mother."
How could he raise two young girls and a baby? This was more than he could handle, and yet he couldn't say no.
"There is money hidden in a jar in the back of the cellar. Take the cash. Put the land in the children's names. That way their father can't sell the land and run. Ben is going to be the one most affected by this. Grace can help you."
Gasping for air, she paused and caught her breath, then continued on like she only had moments to tell him everything he needed to know. "Poor Ella is going to be shaken. Because she's nervous, she needs more attention. Grace is my rock, my helper, and she'll hide her emotions of how this is affecting her."
Ida took a deep breath. "Bring them to me. I don't have long."
Her words shook him, and he released her hand. Turning from her, he wiped his eyes and tried to put on a brave face, knowing this would be the hardest day of his life, watching his nieces and nephew say goodbye to their mother. Clearing his throat, he tried to appear calm as he stepped to the door of the bedroom.
"Grace, you and the kids come in here."
His niece came around the corner, holding little Ben, her eyes wide with fright. "Is it Momma?"
The girl was too smart for her age.
"Bring your brother and sister and come in here. Your mother wants to talk to you," he said, his voice strained.
Like she was walking to face a firing squad, Grace stepped toward him, her hand reached out and clasped Ella's in hers as she entered her mother's room. As they approached the bed, Jesse hung back.
Ida tried to smile, but he could see her strength ebbing.
"My babies," she said, a tear escaping her eye. "Life is hard and sometimes you are called home before you're ready to go. Grace, the others will never remember this day, but you tell them how I loved you and didn't want to leave, but I have no choice. Uncle Jesse is going to take care of you."
She coughed and it took her a moment to recover. "Always know that I love you and I'll be watching over you, protecting you, and wishing I was with you."
"Momma, please don't die," Grace said, her voice choking as tears escaped down her cheeks. "Please."
Reaching out, Ida stroked her face. "God is calling me home. Be strong for your brother and sister. Take--care of them--for me. I love you."
Jesse could see his sister struggled to say those last words.
With despair, he watched as Ida glanced at him and smiled, looked at her children one more time before her eyes closed and she gasped, the air leaving her lungs.
Pain gripped his chest as he wrapped his arms around his nieces and nephew, tears flowing down his cheeks. Their mother was gone and now their care was up to him. What was a bachelor going to do with three children?
And where the hell was his worthless brother-in-law?
Dora rode her tan mare onto what she hoped was the Tennyson Farm. Gazing around, she wondered where Leo was hiding. If he'd seen her, he would have hightailed it out of here.
Instead, she saw a young girl with a basket in the hen house and a little girl about five chasing after a baby who squealed with delight as he ran from her. A garden was over to the side of a small house with a big porch that circled the front and sides. The shaded veranda looked like the perfect place to enjoy tea in the afternoon or sit outside and read a book.
Out in the fields, a man walked behind a plow, but from his rock-hard body she could tell he wasn't Leo. A large hat covered his head, but his muscular arms and long legs were nothing like her dead husband's physique.
"Ma'am, are you lost?" a little girl, the one who had been gathering eggs, asked.
Green eyes stared up at Dora, the child's reddish-brown hair was pulled back in a ponytail. One day the child would be a beauty, but for now, she was curious about a woman sitting a horse in a split skirt. Meg had given Dora one of her famous riding skirts. And it was a lifesaver.
"No, I'm looking for Leo Tennyson. Have you seen him?"
The girl who appeared to be about eight frowned at her. "He's not here."
Just then the man walked toward them, and the closer he came, the more Dora's chest seemed to tighten. The heat from the summer sun had him sweating, taking out a handkerchief and swiping the moisture from his brow. The urge to garner more information from this girl before the man arrived had her gazing down at the child.
"Do you know where he is?"
"No, ma'am," she said, not giving away any additional news.
For some reason, Dora felt this child knew more than she was telling. Now the man stood in front of her staring up at her with the most beautiful deep brown eyes and lashes. Her breath caught in her throat at his looks.
"Can I help you?"
"Looking for Leo Tennyson," she said.
The man laughed. "He's not home."
The baby yanked off his diaper and went running through the yard with the younger girl chasing him.
"Ben, come back here. I need to change you."
The little boy giggled, racing as fast as his short, fat legs would carry him toward the man.
"Ella," the older girl said. "Put a diaper on him."
"I'm trying," the young girl said.
The man reached down and scooped the naked baby up into his arms. The sight of the man holding his bare-bottom son caused Dora's chest to constrict. A man who
cared about children, what an anomaly. How fortunate for his wife.
"Little man, you're being ornery today. Stop giving your sister so much trouble and let her put a diaper on."
"There's no clean ones," Ella, the little girl said. "And he refuses to wear the wet one."
"This morning, I washed a load. They are hanging outside on the line. Go back there and get one."
For a moment, Dora's heart contracted. How neat to have a house full of children running around, depending on you to care for them. Yet the sight only made her ache for what she could never have. Shaking her head, she tried to bring the conversation back to Leo.
"So Leo lives here," she said.
The man frowned. "Yes, he's out selling his wares. We don't know when he'll return."
She nodded thinking this couldn't be good. "Do you have any idea where he went?”
"Lady, if I knew where he went, I'd be going after him and dragging him home. His children need him," he said, gazing at her, the barely concealed anger coming through in his voice. A buzzing noise began in her brain.
A gasp escaped from her, leaving her reeling. "His children?"
The man looked at her like she'd lost her mind. "Yes, the two younger kids are his."
Dora couldn't stop her reaction. Like someone struck her, the blow to her heart left her shuddering. The son of a bitch had children, yet they never had babies.
Which meant all along, the problem was she had been barren and not him. Now was not the time, so she shoved aside the thought. Right now, she couldn't deal with this realization.
Pain clenched her chest and she tried her best to stop thinking about the consequences of what she had learned. Staring at the children, tears welled up in her eyes and she quickly swallowed.
"Is he married?" she finally asked.
The man frowned. "Leo was married to my sister Ida. Unfortunately, she passed away almost a month ago. Haven't seen him in probably going on two months."
At the thought of these children not having a mother, her hand went to her chest and she sighed. "I'm so sorry."
He handed the naked baby to Ella. "Grace is getting a diaper. Take him into the house and make certain he has clothes on before he comes outside again."
Lipstick and Lead Series: The Complete Box Set With a Bonus Book Page 104
