The Texan and the Lady Read online

  “What man?” Delta crawled from behind the water storage.

  “Colton Barkley is downstairs,” Audrey announced.

  Delta looked from Jennie to Audrey. “Is he very old and ugly?”

  “No,” Jennie answered. “He isn’t old.” She couldn’t bring herself to say that he was handsome.

  Delta dusted off her clothes. “I’m going with him. I don’t care if he’s ugly as the devil’s twin. I’ve no other road to follow.”

  “But,” Jennie shook her head, “he looks so cold and hard. He looks like he’s made of coal.”

  Delta didn’t seem the least deterred. “I’ve been around weak men all my life. He can be no worse. This is my one chance and I’m taking it. No matter how hard he is, in one month I’ll be on a train to California or somewhere and never have to think of him again.”

  Jennie looked as if she were about to argue, but Delta added, “I’ll be fine. One of the things I buried with Delta Smith this morning was all my indecision. The way I look at it, if the Lord gave me this chance, I’m not throwing it away. Not even if the widower turns out to be younger and made of stone.”

  The others followed Delta toward the back staircase. “Now, remember,” she fretted, making sure her bandages were in place around her face, “I’m Mary Elizabeth and you two hardly know me, so don’t make a scene when I leave.” She leaned low and hugged True. “Take care of them, True,” she whispered. “I’ll send word where I am if you ever need me. And keep practicing your reading on Jennie’s novels until you know all the words.”

  True’s short brown hair covered his blue eyes. The child nodded once before running back into the shadows of the hallway. “I’ll watch after them,” True promised. “Somebody better.”

  Without another word, all three women descended the stairs.

  When they reached the dining room, only the marshal stood where the two men had been. He watched Delta carefully, as if sensing more than knowing that something was out of place.

  “Morning, miss.” He removed his hat and leaned down slightly, trying to see her face. “I never figured you’d be up and about this morning.”

  Audrey didn’t allow Delta time to answer. “She’s very weak, Marshal. Where is Barkley?”

  “Colton said he rented a wagon. It seems he wasn’t expecting you for another week and was moving cattle to winter grass when he heard you were here.” Austin paused as if waiting for an explanation while Jennie and Audrey flanked the injured girl as though she might fall at any moment. When no one said anything, he continued, “He’s pulling the wagon around back, miss. He thought it would be less steps for you.”

  Jennie maneuvered between Austin and the girl. “I thought he looked a little muddy for a bridegroom,” she said, stalling the marshal a moment.

  Delta took the opportunity. Without meeting the marshal’s eyes, she turned and passed through the door to the kitchen. Everyone followed as she moved across the kitchen and out onto the back porch without a word to the marshal.

  “She’s still not feeling well.” Jennie tried to stay between the marshal and Delta.

  Before Delta reached the end of the porch, Colton was on the first step coming up. “Mary Elizabeth?”

  Delta’s gaze met the man she’d agreed to spend the next month with. “Yes.” Her voice was so soft it seemed to hang in the humid air. There was no turning back now. With the single word, she’d switched identities and forever altered her fate.

  “Are you able to travel?” He took another step toward her, offering no apology for his dress or the condition of the rented wagon. “Or do I need to book you a room here?”

  “I’d like to go on to your place, Colton,” Delta answered. “After hearing all about it in your letters, I’d like to see the land myself.”

  She couldn’t have said something more right. Colton’s hard face altered slightly into a brief smile. “I’ll drive careful, Mary Elizabeth.”

  Without waiting or asking for approval, he lifted Delta up and carried her to the wagon. When he placed her onto the wagon bench, her hat tumbled off into the mud.

  She cried out and reached for it, but he quickly scooped up the muddy felt remains and tossed it in the buckboard. “Forget it, it’s ruined.” Colton’s voice seemed harsh, but his intent was not. “I’ll pick you up another when I get supplies. Along with whatever else you need.”

  Delta didn’t answer, but Jennie could see a tear rolling down her cheek. Jennie guessed Delta had never in her life been asked what she might need.

  Colton moved around the wagon and climbed in beside her. “We’ll be at the ranch in a few hours.” He slapped the team into action without even looking back to say good-bye.

  Jennie fought the urge to run after them and beg Delta not to go, but Audrey’s fingers at her elbow reminded her that this might be Delta’s only chance. She’d be killed if her family found her. At least now she might only be ignored for a month.

  When the women turned to go back into the hotel, Marshal McCormick blocked the way. “We need to talk,” he ordered.

  Both girls looked at each other before staring at him blankly.

  Austin frowned, knowing they were not going to make it easy on him. “I’d like some answers.”

  “To any particular question?” Jennie remarked, trying not to smile. “Or shall we just throw them out in general?”

  Audrey raised her hand to the marshal’s head. “Did you hurt yourself last night? Maybe a head wound? You don’t look like you slept well. Maybe you should get some rest.”

  Austin shoved her hand away. “Stop this nonsense, ladies. You may have fooled everyone else, but the girl who just climbed into that wagon was not the girl I pulled from the train last night.”

  Jennie couldn’t look him in the eyes. She wanted to tell him the truth, but Delta’s life might balance on her silence.

  “Of course she was,” Audrey snapped. “What do you think, we went upstairs and brought down the wrong Mary Elizabeth O’Brian?”

  “I’m not sure what to think,” Austin admitted. A moment ago he would have sworn the woman leaving with Barkley was Delta, but Audrey seemed so convinced he was making no sense. He looked from Jennie to Audrey. “You two are up to something.”

  “Nonsense.” Audrey acted as if she were insulted by such a suggestion.

  “I’m telling you that’s not the girl I pulled from the train. If I were putting clues together, I’d swear that was Delta Smith—though you two did a very good job of bandaging her face where not even her own mother would recognize her.”

  “I can’t believe you’d suggest such a thing. What would be the point?” Audrey was now doing a great job of acting insulted.

  “I’ve got more sense than to be fooled by a few bandages.” He looked at Jennie, silently demanding she tell the truth.

  Audrey grabbed Jennie by the arm and moved around the marshal. “My Granny Gates was right,” she whispered loud enough for Austin to hear. “Some jackasses are bound and determined they have horse sense.”

  The girls disappeared into the house, slamming the door behind them.

  Jennie didn’t see the marshal until well after dark. She took her turn waiting tables for the few folks wanting a late supper.

  When Marshal McCormick entered the dining room, she couldn’t make herself stop watching him. He moved to a back table and folded his length into a chair. Jennie could almost feel his hands touching her as he studied her from across the room. She remembered the way he’d kissed, and her body warmed to the memory. Looking at him now, it was hard for her to believe his eyes had turned liquid with desire only hours before.

  Moving to his table, Jennie filled his cup while he waited in silence. “I’ll only ask one time,” he said as quietly as if they were making polite conversation. “Don’t lie to me, Jennie. I could never care for a woman I couldn’t trust.”

  Jennie sat the pot down and looked directly at him. His eyes were warm with a need that frightened her. This was a man who valued honest
y above all else. A man whose love would be true if he ever offered it.

  “Who was the woman who climbed on that wagon this afternoon with Colton?” His gaze locked on her, demanding she tell him the truth. “Was it Delta Smith or Mary Elizabeth O’Brian?”

  Jennie lifted her chin slightly. If she lied, she’d lose the one man who’d ever thought she was pretty. The one man who’d ever kissed her. He was like the heroes she’d read about in her novels, strong and tender at the same time. But he demanded one thing of the woman he cared for—honesty.

  Yet she had to protect Delta. If he knew whose body was buried in the grave, he’d have to tell the truth if the family came looking. He might be a hero always honest and true, but the best Jennie could hope for was to be a true friend. “Mary Elizabeth O’Brian climbed into that wagon. We buried Delta Smith.”

  “Are you sure?” She could see his tired stare fill with anger as her words pushed them apart. He didn’t believe her. She could read it in his stance, but he wanted to hear the lie one more time.

  “I’m sure,” she promised. “Audrey and I will both swear to it.”

  Austin stood and tossed two bits on the table. “Then I’ll be saying good-bye, Jennie.”

  “Good night,” she whispered as she watched him walk out the door without even glancing back. “Good-bye, my hero.”

  Chapter 13

  Delta watched Colton Barkley storm up the steps and go into the colorful mercantile. He hadn’t said a word to her since they’d left the hotel, only driven into town with a frown molded as if permanently on his handsome face. But his temper didn’t seem aimed at her. Near as she could tell, he hadn’t even looked in her direction—not even when he climbed down and went inside.

  She sat very still on the bench and watched the people pass along the wooden walk in front of the stores. With only one main street in the town, most folks had seen her with Colton Barkley, and now that he’d gone indoors, they seemed to be taking the opportunity for a closer look at her.

  As group after group drifted within a few feet of the wagon, Delta grew more nervous. No one spoke to her, and their sidelong glances grew bolder the longer she waited. She felt like screaming, “Don’t look at me!” but she’d only draw more attention to herself. The folks circled, unsmiling, like vultures waiting for her death before moving in. She thought of climbing down and going into the mercantile, but didn’t trust her own strength. Also, from what she’d seen of Colton, he was little more friendly than the town folks.

  They reminded her of what her mother called “the good folks” in every town she’d lived in. They were all dressed in “Sunday, go to meeting” clothes, but there was no kindness in their manner. They expected a large measure of politeness from those they thought their lessers, but offered no kindness in return. Delta looked down at her hands and wished as she had a hundred times before that she could be invisible to “the good folks.”

  “Sorry to keep you waiting.” Colton startled her as he stepped to the back of the wagon. “Had a few more things to get than I planned on.” There was no apology in his tone, only low, controlled anger somewhere deep below the surface.

  She didn’t miss how boldly he looked at “the good folks” or how quickly they turned away. They didn’t look down their noses at him. They didn’t look at Colton Barkley at all. Maybe he’d found the way to hold up his head and be invisible to them.

  Delta didn’t say anything as Colton and a man who looked to be the proprietor of the store loaded several boxes in the back of the wagon.

  The people who’d passed so close only moments before widened the boundary. They were far more cautious with their stares now that Colton stood near her.

  The man who’d help load the supplies walked to Delta’s side. His girth matched his height, and his smile reflected the amount of money spent and nothing more. “Name’s Luther, miss.” He extended his hand. “Mr. Barkley tells me you’re a friend newly arrived from back east. Welcome to Florence. I’m mighty sorry to hear about you being in the train wreck.”

  “Thank you.” Delta couldn’t help but like the man despite his soft hands. He reminded her of a shopkeeper when she’d been a child who’d always slipped her a candy stick whether she had money or not.

  When the middle-aged man smiled, his eyes disappeared into wrinkles. “I tried to get everything Mr. Barkley said you lost in the wreck, but it may take a few days. I’ll send the goods out to the ranch when they come in.”

  Looking over Luther’s head to Colton, Delta noticed he was busy tying the supplies down and didn’t look up. “Thank you,” she said to Luther, but her words were meant for Colton.

  “Oh, no problem,” Luther answered. “If he forgot something, you just send me a note by the ranch cook and I’ll see you get it.”

  Delta was saved from answering by Colton climbing into the wagon. He handed her a box and half saluted the shopkeeper. “Thanks for your help, Luther, but we best be on our way.” He slapped the horses into action with a nod to the store owner while he totally ignored everyone else on the street.

  Watching the people look away, Delta couldn’t help but smile as most of the folks pretended they hadn’t noticed the couple moving down the middle of the street.

  She followed Colton’s example and waved at Luther, noticing that the town folks were already converging on the mercantile.

  “Aren’t you going to look in the box?” Colton’s voice was a low rumble.

  Delta had been afraid to. After all, he hadn’t said it was for her.

  Slowly, as if testing uncharted waters, she opened the box. There, resting in a cloud of thin white paper, was a wool hat of dark winter green. As she lifted it gently, she saw a matching scarf beneath the hat. She knew she was suppose to say thank you, but all she could do was softly brush the knit of one of the finest hats she’d ever seen.

  “I know it’s probably not what you would have liked, but Luther said women with light blond hair look good in green.”

  Delta couldn’t believe such a hat belonged to her. She’d seen women wearing hats and scarves to match, but she’d never thought she’d have something so fine on her head.

  Colton moved the reins to one hand and reached behind him. “I thought I’d buy another blanket. I need it at the ranch, and you can wrap up in it on the way home. Soon as the sun lowers, it gets cold out here this time of year.” He handed her the colorful blanket. “I noticed you didn’t have a coat or cape beyond that traveling jacket so I ordered material.”

  “I appreciate it,” she whispered, wondering how a man who looked cold as a winter storm could be so thoughtful. “And thanks, but you didn’t have to. I can make it just fine.”

  “Like I told Luther, the railroad hasn’t found your trunk, and you had to borrow a few things from the Harvey girls.”

  Delta smoothed the worn material of Mary Elizabeth’s best dress and silently agreed to Colton’s lie. Part of her wanted to tell him not to spend any more money on her for she wasn’t the bride he’d sent for. But another part of her wanted to crawl into the wagon bed and look in all the boxes. She could never remember owning anything someone else hadn’t worn first.

  Slowly, as if enjoying every second of her time, she placed the hat on her head and wrapped the scarf around her neck. Since she didn’t have a mirror, she closed her eyes and pretended with all her heart that she was somebody.

  Colton pulled the wagon onto the muddy road, seeming totally absorbed in driving. As the holes in the road tossed them one way and the other on the narrow bench, he placed his hand behind her back, steadying her and providing a brace.

  At first she remained stiff in the seat, trying to fight the tossing of the wagon. Slowly, inch by inch, she relaxed against his arm and was surprised how much more comfortable she was.

  Eventually the road turned onto one less traveled and smoother, but he didn’t withdraw his support and she didn’t move away. She cuddled into the blanket and felt herself relax. Somehow this man’s formal politeness made her
feel safe.

  In a low voice, he spoke as if to himself. “I figure there’s a few things we need to say to one another.”

  “All right,” she answered. “If you wish.”

  He drove the team for several more minutes in silence, and she decided he’d had second thoughts. When his words came, they were slow. “How bad are you hurt? No one told me.”

  “My shoulder’s bruised and cut,” she answered. “Also, I bumped my head. I don’t think I need the bandages as much as my nurses thought I did.”

  When he glanced at her, she pulled away, afraid he might see something about her mat told him she wasn’t Mary Elizabeth.

  Colton cleared his throat and stared back at the road. “Your hair’s lighter than I thought it would be. You said in one of your letters it was yellow. But it’s so light it’s almost white.”

  Delta pulled away a little more. What else had Mary Elizabeth written that might hurt the plan to fool him? “I’m sorry,” she whispered, more because she couldn’t think of anything else to say than because she regretted what she’d done.

  “I don’t mind,” he answered. “You told me so little, I didn’t really have a picture of you.”

  Delta let out a long held breath. “I guess I was afraid you’d be disappointed. Are you?” She bit her tongue. Why had she asked? What did it matter?

  Colton looked at her for the first time. “No,” he finally said. “I’m not disappointed. In truth, your looks are not important. That’s why I never asked. Your willingness to come out here was all that mattered.”

  Now it was Delta’s turn to look at him. He had a strong, handsome face despite his dark mood. She found it impossible to believe such a man would have to order a wife by mail. “But why?” she asked.

  Colton stared at the road as if into the past. “Mary Elizabeth, I’m not an easy man to live with. My land has always been more important to me than anything or anyone. Since my wife died six years ago, I’ve been alone except for the folks who work for me, and they’ll tell you soon enough I’m overloaded with a temper and shy on patience.”