“I think we’ll talk later.” He inclined his head, and Beth whirled around. The hems of her skirt brushed the tops of Luke’s boots.
“Why, Trudy Winters.” Beth put her hands on her hips. “Have you been eavesdropping?”
The girl grew wide-eyed then took off toward the dining room.
Beth glanced at Luke, who shrugged. Wasn’t the first time he’d heard a giggling girl, and it wouldn’t be the last, no doubt.
“Can I help you sort the last of the mail?”
Beth shook her head. “I’m finished.”
“Good. How about we partake of an early supper? I feel half starved.”
As Luke reached for her arm, Dr. Cavanaugh entered the boardinghouse. She gave a curt greeting to both him and Beth before making her way to the dining room.
“Goodness, my guests are arriving early this evening.” Mrs. Winters appeared pleased nonetheless.
“I think you’ve got those good smells coming from the kitchen to blame.” Luke held out the chair for Beth before seating himself. Dr. Cavanaugh had seated herself. Mrs. Winters remained standing.
“I don’t usually roast chickens midweek, but earlier today some soldiers from Fort Yuma came to town. They met with the sheriff this afternoon regarding the cattle rustling and the Indian attack. They’ll be staying the night in our boardinghouse, and I aim to give them good, home-cooked meals before they ride back.”
“Why, Mrs. Winters…” Luke couldn’t help teasing her. “You mean what you’ve been serving up lately isn’t home-cooked?”
Across the table, Annetta smiled at the glib remark.
Mrs. Winters folded her arms and arched a brow. “For a preacher, you’ve got one sassy tongue.”
“And a powerful hungry stomach.”
Beside him, Bethany nudged him with her elbow. Had he embarrassed her? Mrs. Winters didn’t seem to mind the teasing.
She put hands on her hips while amusement danced in her hazel eyes. “I reckon I’d better feed you before someone loses a limb.” She turned and walked toward the back of the boardinghouse and the kitchen area.
“Where’s your brother this evening, Reverend?” Dr. Cavanaugh didn’t look at Luke when she asked. Instead she slowly unfolded her napkin.
“He’s fetching supplies in Arizona City, and he’ll most likely spend the night at a hotel there.” Luke took his napkin and gave it a shake before setting it across his lap. “If a spiritual need has risen, I’m happy to help in his absence.”
“Oh, no, no…” Dr. Cavanaugh motioned with her hand. “I was just curious. That’s all.”
Luke made a mental note to tell Jake she’d asked about him.
Mr. Winters sauntered in and sat down. He asked Luke to pray over their meal. When grace was said, Rosalinda carried in supper plates of roasted chicken, baked beans, and biscuits.
“A small package arrived from Prescott for the sheriff,” Ed remarked. “I had expected him and those soldiers from Fort Yuma to be here for dinner by now. Wonder what’s keeping them?”
“Could be they’re in the saloon,” Dr. Cavanaugh remarked. “It would seem rather typical that a couple of soldiers would enjoy drinking, playing cards, and the company of cheap women to one of Mrs. Winters’s home-cooked meals.”
Luke winced, but he had hoped the men were of a higher caliber.
Beth suddenly pushed her chair back and stood. “Please excuse me. I just remembered something that needs my immediate attention.”
Luke pushed to his feet as Beth ran from the room, through the lobby, and up the steps. But if he’d felt bewildered by her odd behavior, he was even more perplexed when she reappeared with an armful of books.
“I’ve got a few errands to run,” she announced, suddenly looking bold and determined, “so I’ll take this package to the sheriff. I’ll eat my dinner later, if you don’t mind.”
“Well, that’s mighty considerate of you, Miss Stafford, but—”
Before Ed Winters even finished his sentence, Beth had grabbed the package and rushed out the door.
Glancing at the confounded expressions around him, Luke stood, smiling politely to conceal his chagrin. “’Scuse me, folks.”
Following Beth, he got as far as the edge of the sun-blanched boardwalk when he saw her enter the sheriff’s office. His blood began to brew. Had she been carrying on with Montaño after all? Just looking for an excuse to see him? And using her engagement to him as a cover for the scandalous relationship?
That didn’t seem like the Beth he knew and loved, but had he been blind to this other side of her?
The muscles in his limbs contracted with frustration, but Luke forced one foot to follow the other and crossed the street. No wonder Beth looked none too pleased to see him this afternoon. She’d been hoping for a chance to rendezvous with Montaño.
Except his mind had a hard time grasping that reality.
Luke entered the sheriff’s office and found Paden Montaño, his back to him, standing at the back door, holding his package in one hand and his gun in the other. “Touch that woman and it’s the last thing you will ever do, amigo,” the sheriff said to someone outside, his voice filled with a venomous warning that stopped even Luke in his tracks. Then he added, “Make haste, chiquita; I have work to do.”
“What in the world is going on here?” Luke moved forward.
Montaño turned and grinned wryly. “Ah, Reverend, nice to see you again.”
“Where’s Bethany?”
Montaño flicked his dark gaze toward the alleyway. “She is just now knocking on the brothel’s back door.”
“What?” Luke felt dumbstruck.
“Seems she has befriended one of the prostitutes.” Montaño looked over at him, his grin broadening. “But I will let her explain.”
“And she will, trust me.” Luke sauntered farther into the office. “Mind if I wait here?”
“Be my guest.” Gazing back out the door, the sheriff let out an irritable-sounding sigh. “You might want to inform our little schoolteacher that this time of day is not so good to use the alley, particularly for a woman. The establishments next door are starting to get busy, and it’s filled with drunk men and desperados.”
“I’ll be sure to tell her.” Along with a few other choice words, he added silently. Settling into the wooden chair in front of the desk, Luke did his best to quell his anger, confusion, and impatience and waited for Beth to return.
TEN
YOU CAN’T KEEP COMING HERE,” ANGIE SCOLDED, STANDING at the unpainted back door of the brothel.
“But I’ve brought you some books, just as I promised.”
“I appreciate your gesture, but…well, it’s too dangerous for you to come here.”
“Sheriff Montaño is guarding me.”
“Yes, I see.” Angie glanced down the alley. Then bringing her vacant blue eyes back to Bethany, she added, “But you’re still asking for trouble, if not from the despicable characters back here then from Chicago Joe. She won’t like it that we’re keeping company.”
“Can you and I meet somewhere else?”
Angie shrugged. “I don’t know…”
“Please? I need a friend, and I think maybe you do too.”
Angie laughed. “There are plenty of other women who’ll be your friend, little Christian girl. Now go. And leave me alone.”
Bethany felt crushed by the rejection. Yet she could hardly force a friendship. “Well, all right.” She swallowed hard, willing herself not to cry. But the truth was she did need a friend— another woman her own age with whom she could converse, someone she could trust. And there was just something about Angie Brown that tugged at her heart and caused her to believe that beneath the hard veneer lay a soft, lonely heart in need of companionship and God’s love. But there wasn’t much she could do about it if Angie refused her efforts. “I’ll be on my way.”
Angie tipped her head. “Want your books back?”
“No, you may keep them.”
Bethany turned and began
to take her leave when Angie’s voice halted her steps.
“Do you know where the eastern ridge is?” she called out.
Turning, Bethany shook her head.
“Well, ask somebody for directions. I go there every morning about sunup to clear my head and think.”
Smiling, Bethany nodded then continued on to the sheriff’s office. Progress!
“Thank you for the protection, Sheriff,” she stated, slipping past him.
“My pleasure.”
His husky tone caused Bethany to bristle, but she proceeded down the rickety stairs without further comment. Five steps later, she looked up and gasped with horror. “Luke!”
He lifted his blondish-brown brows, and a hint of irony crossed his features.
“Seems you have some explaining to do, chiquita.” Sheriff Montaño sounded thoroughly amused.
She cast him an annoyed glance before returning her gaze to Luke’s. “I’m not doing anything wrong.”
“I’m glad to hear that.” Luke’s tone was as flat as a hotcake.
The sheriff chuckled once more, much to Bethany’s aggravation. Then Luke stood and held his hand out to her. She strode forward and took it. Luke led her out the door and across Main Street. Reaching the other side, they walked down the boardwalk, and Bethany had to fairly trot in order to keep up with his long strides. As if sensing her efforts, Luke slowed his pace, although he didn’t release her hand. Was he angry? He looked angry.
Bethany kept silent all the way through town and even held her peace after they reached the little road, which took them out to the exact spot where he’d suggested they get married. Only then did she speak up.
“Luke, hear me out. Please. I can explain.”
He dropped her hand. “Glad to hear it. Have a seat.”
Sitting on a large, flat rock near the bluff, Bethany couldn’t tell if he’d stated the remark sarcastically, but she hoped he’d listen.
He lowered his tall frame down beside her. “All right.” He let out a long breath. “Let’s have it.”
To the best of her ability, Bethany explained how she’d met Angie Brown in the mercantile and how she felt burdened for her. She told him how she’d used the excuse of delivering mail yesterday to talk to Angie and that she devised the plan of going through the sheriff’s office as a means to get to the brothel unnoticed.
“But I won’t have to do that anymore because Angie said I could meet her at the eastern ridge. Will you tell me how to get there?”
“It’s right where we’re standing.” Luke’s voice sounded calm. “But let me ask you this. Did you ever consider how it might look like to anyone else watching you enter the sheriff’s office and not coming out for a good measure of time?”
Beth stiffened. “I thought our engagement solved that problem.”
Luke sighed heavily.
“Luke, forgive me, but I just don’t think that way. I don’t have a suspicious mind.”
“I know,” he replied on a softer note.
“All I could think of was talking to Angie again. There’s something about her, Luke, that makes me think she’s desperate to leave the brothel. I want to help her in some way.”
“Very admirable.” He took her hand once more and held it between both of his much larger ones. “You’re young—sometimes I forget that I’m eight years your senior. You’re very mature for a woman of only eighteen years old. Even so, you tend to believe the best of folks—and I’m not saying that’s bad. But trust me, the world is rude and unkind, and many times Christians are too.”
Bethany decided she much preferred Luke’s talking-to than her father’s horsewhip. The gentleness in Luke’s voice seemed to reach in to touch her very soul. “I’m sorry, Luke,” she whispered.
“No harm done, although you need to promise me you won’t do anything to help Angie escape, if that’s her intention, without talking to me first. I’ll help you, Beth, but you’re not to act alone. Will you promise?”
It seemed a reasonable request. “I promise.”
“And now, I aim to ask you one more thing.” His tone hardened. “I want you to give me an honest reply.”
“All right.” She waited apprehensively for what he might say.
Luke paused, looking momentarily pensive. “Do you have feelings for Paden Montaño?”
Startled, she looked up at him. “What kind of feelings? I mean, I do find him rather irksome. I suppose that’s a feeling, although I did appreciate his protection while I visited Angie.”
“Beth, I’m supposed to do the protecting, not him. And it bothers me that you didn’t give me a yes or no answer just now.” He searched her face, and Bethany felt her cheeks warming to a blush from the intensity of his gaze. “Let me rephrase the question. Are you in love with the sheriff?”
Bethany gasped. “No!” She pulled her hands from his. “I already explained about the other night when…”
“I know, Beth, but I had to ask. Don’t you see?”
She rolled a shoulder, still uncertain of his motives.
“And I’m glad to hear you don’t harbor feelings for him.”
“How can you even ask me such a thing?”
Luke raked a hand through his sand-colored hair. “Because I’m a jealous fool, Beth, that’s how.”
A surprised laugh made its way from her throat, nearly choking her. “At least you’re an honest one.” Her smile broadened.
Luke smiled too.
Bethany stood, picked up a stone, and tossed it aimlessly over the cliff. The arid breeze blew strands of hair onto her cheek as the sun continued its descent across the canyon. If Luke felt jealous, that meant he cared…didn’t it? She wanted desperately to know.
“Luke, I don’t want us to marry just to cease the gossip in this town about me.” She faced him. “I don’t care what people say about me.” Come spring, she was leaving anyway, if she had any say in the matter.
“Are you saying you don’t want to marry me?”
“No.” She tried to quell her sudden nerves by smoothing her hands down her skirt. “I just want us to marry for the…the right reasons.”
An easy grin crossed his handsome face. “I’ve prayed about us, Beth, and I truly believe you’re the one God has chosen for me. Why, I have every confidence you’ll help move my ministry forward. You’re a hard worker, kind, sweet-spirited, patient…”
“I’m not very patient with Trudy Winters.”
Luke smiled. “I would have never guessed.”
Bethany continually tried to hide her irritation with the girl.
“We’ll work out the rest together.” Luke stood and walked toward her. “All right?”
She bobbed out a reply, wishing he’d be more specific.
Luke’s hands enveloped hers again. “We’ll be happy, I promise.” The same smile on his lips sounded in his voice.
Bethany met his gaze. “You’re sure? You really want to marry me?”
“Never been more sure of anything in my life.”
She wished she could say the same. “What if we don’t hear from my father, Luke? There’s a good chance he won’t respond to your telegraph.”
“We’ve got to give him more than a couple of days, Beth.”
She sighed, but she couldn’t get herself to tell Luke that she’d gone against her father’s wishes when she left Milwaukee. Maybe life in Silverstone was her punishment. Glancing at the sand and dirt beneath her boots, Beth suddenly felt like crying.
“Come on.” Releasing her, Luke offered his arm. “Let’s walk back to town and eat supper.”
Shaking off her melancholy, Beth slipped her hand around his elbow, and they ambled back to the boardinghouse, looking every bit the adoring couple. But all the while, Bethany longed to ask Luke the foremost question on her mind, except she couldn’t seem to force it past her lips. What about love, Luke McCabe? Do you love me?
Her heart sank inside her. Without love, she might as well be marrying Ralph Jonas!
Annetta arrived
too late for the regular mealtime and was waiting for her dinner to be heated when two uniformed soldiers entered the boardinghouse. They looked dusty but quite official, and Annetta felt her heart crimp as memories of Gregory surfaced. He’d been a Federal sergeant, home on leave over the Christmas holiday.
No! Don’t think of Gregory! Don’t think of the past!
She listened as the soldiers reported meeting an injured man on a wagon heading into town. Mr. Winters turned to her. “Doctor Cavanaugh, that sounds like a patient needing your attention. Go ahead, and we’ll keep your dinner for you when you’re finished.”
Annetta nodded and excused herself, glad to leave the soldiers behind. She strode through the lobby and left the boardinghouse. No sooner did Annetta’s leather boot touch the wooden walk when she nearly slammed right into Jacob McCabe.
“My apologies, Dr. Cavanaugh.” His hands gripped her upper arms so she didn’t lose her footing. “You’re just the one I’m looking for. I’ve got an injured man in my wagon.”
“I thought you were in Arizona City overnight,” she said as he steered her toward the road. Again she noted Reverend McCabe’s unsteady gait.
“I got loaded up right away and decided I could make it back to Silverstone by nightfall. Then I happened on this man.”
They’d reached the wagon, and placing his hands on Annetta’s waist, the reverend lifted her into the back. There amongst freshly cut lumber lay an unconscious, burly, bearded man with a growing bloodstain in the middle of his shirt. She quickly checked for a pulse.
“Still alive?” Reverend McCabe leaned over the side of the wagon bed.
“Barely. Do you know what happened?”
“He claims an Indian shot him with a bow and arrow. He managed to escape his attacker, but when he started having breathing problems, he pulled the thing out of his chest. He lost consciousness just after I helped him into the wagon.”
“Pulling that arrow out may have cost him his life.”
“I told him as much.”
Annetta met Reverend McCabe’s gaze. “I need to get this man into my office at once.”
The reverend looked toward the other side of the street and blew out a shrill whistle that left Annetta’s ears ringing. “I need some help over here. Got an injured man!”
An Undaunted Faith Page 11
