Finally a Bride (10 page)

There it was again. That brief, frantic look before he schooled his expression. He leaned back and crossed his arms, a smile on his lips—a smile that looked decidedly forced. “That would be rather ironic, wouldn’t it? Can’t you just see the headlines? T
OWN
D
ELINQUENT
R
ETURNS AS
N
EW
P
ASTOR.”

He shook his head and chuckled, as if he’d cracked the funniest joke in years.

Jack studied him until he sobered and glanced into the hallway at the stairs again.

The new minister was hiding something.

She was certain.

Chapter 7
Denison, Texas

C
arly once again checked the engraved pocket watch that had belonged to Tillie. She snapped the cover closed and ran her thumb over the swan figure etched into the silver, encircled by two curved branches, thick with leaves. Reverend Barker had said he wanted her to have something by which to remember Tillie. The watch would always be her most cherished possession, but she didn’t need it to remember. Tillie Barker would always hold a special place in Carly’s heart.

She placed the watch in its velvet drawstring bag and put it in her handbag. Lifting her hand to shade her eyes, she scanned the rolling hills to the west. The telegram she’d received from Rachel said that Garrett Corbett would pick her up. She placed a hand against her jittery stomach. Would the man remember her?

She hoped that Mr. Corbett and the town had forgotten all about her association with the Payton Gang. She hadn’t thought of her brother in a long while but allowed a moment to reflect on how her life had changed. Ty was long dead now. He hadn’t been a good brother, but he had protected her from his gang members, and for that she was grateful. If only they’d had parents to love and nourish them like the Barkers had cared for her, then surely things would have turned out different.

She searched the green hills again, then sat back down on the depot’s bench in the shade. Though only late April, the sun shone down with a vengeance, heating the still air. But then, even if it had been winter, she’d probably still be sweating just because of her nervousness. Her foot jiggled relentlessly as she wondered what she’d face in Lookout.

Rachel had written her that the town had grown a lot in the past ten years. That meant there would be many newcomers who wouldn’t know her story and how she’d pretended to be one of the mail-order brides who’d come to town, hoping to marry the marshal, although in truth, she’d had more sinister plans. None of the mail-order brides the Corbett brothers had brought to town ever had a chance, least of all her. The marshal had long ago lost his heart to Rachel, but he had a quagmire of bitterness to work through before he realized that.

Carly sighed, leaning her head against the wall. She yawned and closed her eyes. She’d worried so much last night that she hadn’t slept much. Would she be welcomed in the town? Would she be able to find work to support herself? Would people remember that her brother had attempted to rob the Lookout bank? She heaved another sigh. The Bible said to not worry about tomorrow because today had enough cares of its own—and wasn’t that the truth?

“All right, Lord, I’ll try to not be concerned about my future, and will place it in Your hands.”

God had brought her so far—out of the life of crime her brother had forced her into, out of prison, out of sin. She would give her future to Him, and at least for today, she’d try not to worry.

Garrett crested the hill, and the outlying buildings of Denison came into view. The horses must have sensed an end to their journey, because they picked up their pace. The wagon creaked as it hit another rut in the road and bounced out.

How many times had he made this drive from Lookout to Denison? Garrett shook his head. Too many to count. But with news of a railroad spur coming to Lookout, he might be facing the end of such trips.

He stretched, trying to work the kinks out of his back, and chuckled to himself. His horses could probably make this trip alone, if only someone on the other end could load the freight and head the animals back toward Lookout.

Rubbing his hand along his jaw, he considered his future. If the spur did come through as the mayor said it would, he’d be out of business, for the most part. Yeah, he could pick up deliveries at the depot and take them to surrounding ranches, but his profit would be cut way down. He’d been trying to decide what else he’d like to do, but so far nothing came to mind.

Duke flicked his long tail, gaining Garrett’s attention. He loved both of his stock horses. He hated the thought of putting them out to pasture, especially when there was a need for good work horses in the county, but he doubted he could part with the two animals, which had been so faithful. Sitting up straighter, he allowed a thought to take wing. Maybe he could raise stock horses. Farmers and ranchers always needed quality animals. He rubbed his jaw, getting excited for the first time in a long while.

He drew the horses alongside the depot and pulled back on the reins. “Whoa there.”

Smiling, he hopped down and jogged up the steps and into the depot.

The clerk glanced up and nodded. “Howdy, Garrett. H’aint seen you in a while.”

“Virgil.” Garrett nodded. “Ain’t been here in a while. Been back and forth to Dallas, hauling wood and freight for a rancher who’s building a new house.”

“Guess you won’t be doin’ that much longer, what with the new rail spur going in over to Lookout.” Virgil’s prominent Adam’s apple bounced up and down over the man’s black string tie. The cuffs to his white shirt were faded a dingy gray, matching the clerk’s eyes.

Garrett shrugged. “Haven’t exactly decided what I’ll do yet. Got some ideas I’m kickin’ around, though. I’m supposed to pick up a package for Rachel Davis. You know where it is?”

Virgil scowled and riffled though a pile of papers. He turned and studied a stack of crates behind him then spun back around, smiling. “Ah … you had me goin’ there fer a minute.” He squealed out a laugh that resembled a cat choking, and his bald head bobbed up and down as he fought to regain his composure.

What in the world?
Garrett couldn’t think of a thing he’d said that the man would find humorous.

The clerk swiped his eyes on his sleeve and pointed out the window to the waiting area. “You’ll find yer package out there on the bench.”

“Thanks.” Garrett glanced back at the man a final time before exiting. It was far too early for the man to be drinking, but Virgil’s behavior sure seemed odd. And why would the clerk leave a package out where just anyone could pick it up—unless it was so big Virgil couldn’t carry it himself. Garrett flexed his arm muscle as he opened the door. He’d manhandle the load alone, just to show Virgil what he was made of.

The door banged shut, and a woman on the bench jumped. Garrett glanced around the platform for the package, then swung back for a look at the woman. Her gold-colored dress was wrinkled, and her hair was pulled up tight in a stark bun at the back of her head and covered with a straw hat tied down with a sash. She stretched and yawned. His gaze immediately landed on her chest, where the fabric of her dress pulled tight as she locked her hands together and stretched again. She rubbed her eyes, then stared at him.

Embarrassed and feeling guilty to be caught watching her, he spun around and walked to the other end of the deck but found no crates of any kind. He lifted his hat and scratched his head. What was Virgil up to?

“Mr. Corbett?”

Garrett pivoted again and studied the woman’s face. She looked to be in her late twenties and was fairly pretty with her black hair and unusual light brown eyes. She had all the right curves for a woman, even if she was on the thin side. But how did she know his name? The woman’s eyes narrowed, but she didn’t look away. There was something oddly familiar about her. Had he stumbled across her path before?

“You are Garrett Corbett, correct? Or are you Mark, perchance?”

Now she really had his attention. How did she know his brother? “Who are you, lady?”

She flinched as if he’d slapped her, making him regret his harsh tone. “I received a telegram from Rachel Hamilton saying you would be by to give me a ride to Lookout. Did she neglect to inform you?”

“You’re
Rachel’s package?”

She blinked, confusion marring her features. “What?”

Garrett lowered his head and stared at the floorboards. Now that odd look Rachel and Luke had exchanged at the dinner table made sense. They’d set him up. But why? Who was this woman? And why would Rachel not just tell him he was supposed to pick her up?

The woman turned back toward the bench and snatched up a worn satchel. “Never mind. I’ll find another way to get to Lookout. Sorry to have imposed on you.”

Garrett opened his mouth to reply, but nothing came out. He was still trying to figure out what Rachel was up to when the lady opened the depot door and scurried inside. She walked up to the counter and said something to Virgil, who glanced through the glass at him and pointed. The woman shook her head. Virgil shrugged, and the lady stood still for a minute, then spun toward the front door and walked outside.

Why wouldn’t Rachel tell him he was to pick up a woman passenger? He could think of only one reason—she had something up her sleeve.

The window in the depot door rattled when Virgil yanked it open. “What did you say to that lady? H’ain’t you gonna give her a ride? Makes no sense for you not to when yer goin’ right back to Lookout. You are, h’ain’tcha?”

Garrett nodded.

“Then why you standin’ here? That lady waited for you nigh on two hours. Git on out there and give her a ride.”

Garrett bristled at Virgil’s scolding. “What’s it to you?”

The clerk shook his head. “What’s wrong with you? Did she say something that set you off?”

Rubbing the back of his neck, Garrett shook his head. What
was
wrong with him?

He didn’t like people getting his goat or pulling the wool over his eyes—and yet he couldn’t quite decide if Rachel had. His feet moved forward before his mind clicked into gear. He had been rude to the lady—not intentionally—but rude all the same. And he was returning to Lookout, so he had no excuse for not giving her a ride.

He didn’t waste time responding to Virgil but charged out the door and searched the road that ran past the depot. Skirts swinging like a church bell, she marched down the road that led out of town. Was the fool woman going to walk all the way to Lookout?

Garrett climbed back into the wagon, released the brake, and slapped the reins against the horses’ backs. “Giddyap, there!”

The wagon jolted forward, nearly tossing him into the back. Guiding it in a wide circle, he finally sat and focused on his target. The gal had stopped and looked one way and then the other. She set her satchel down, untied her bonnet strings, and then retied them and picked up her bag again. As he drew near her, she turned and gawked at him, then spun around and started walking faster.

He pulled up beside her and tugged on the reins to slow his team. “I’ll give you a lift to Lookout.”

“No thanks,” she tossed over her shoulder. “I can find my own way. I don’t need your help.”

“Whoa there, Duke. Daisy.” He wrestled with the horses, which weren’t ready to stop, seeing as how they’d just started their trip home, but they finally came to a halt. He jumped down and hurried after the confounded woman. Couldn’t she see he was trying to help her?

Garrett caught up and reached for her bag. She spun around, yanking it from his grasp, and glared at him. He held up his palms. “Whoa, lady, I’m just trying to help.”

“So, now you want to help. Well, you’re too late. I told you I’d find another way to Lookout.”

Garrett shoved his hands to his hips and couldn’t hold back a grin. “Like walking?”

“What?” She swirled around and looked down the road. Only a few dilapidated buildings littered the lane. “Uh … that train man said the livery was this way and that I could rent a buggy there.”

“Ah … I see.” Good thing he came to her rescue or she might have been wolf bait come nightfall. “The livery is the other direction, ma’am.”