“Should I tell her of your intentions?”
“Do whatever you want to do. Just make sure she’s here with me tonight—unchaperoned.” Bryce felt the heat rise in his body as he said the last. He was definitely looking forward to the evening to come.
Raymond stood up and started from the study. “She’ll be here.”
“Don’t be late.”
His words weren’t a suggestion.
They were an order—and a threat.
Lane had taken the time to look around town. He couldn’t quite put his finger on what it was, but something seemed a little off. The place was too quiet, as if the townspeople felt threatened by some unnamed danger. Could it be the Cooper Gang? Had Black Rock recently been visited by the killers? He hoped the sheriff would have answers to some of his questions.
When he reached the office, he glanced in the window and saw the sheriff sitting at his desk, so he opened the door and strode in.
Sheriff Brown looked up quickly, and a bit nervously, as the stranger unexpectedly entered his office. There was an edge of danger about the tall, darkhaired man standing there just inside the doorway, and he wondered who he was and what he wanted.
“Evening.” Sheriff Brown hurried to his feet. “What can I do for you?”
For a moment, Lane just stared at the dark-haired, mustachioed weasel of a man wearing the sheriff’s badge. Sizing the fellow up, he could guess what a poor excuse for a lawman he was. Ever so slowly, Lane took his own badge out of his pocket and pinned it on his shirt.
“I’m Ranger Lane Madison, and I’m here on business.”
Sheriff Brown’s eyes widened at the news, and he swallowed tightly as he stared at the imposing figure standing before him. It was no wonder he’d thought the stranger looked dangerous. He was—this man was a Texas Ranger.
“What brings you to Black Rock, Ranger Madison?” he asked quickly. “Things have been real quiet around here lately.”
Lane ignored him and got straight down to business.
“I’m after the Cooper Gang,” he answered tersely.
“The Cooper Gang?” the lawman repeated, suddenly sounding more than a little unsettled.
“That’s right.” Lane watched the sheriff carefully, judging his reaction. “I’ve been tracking the killer Dan Cooper and his men, and I have reason to believe they were headed this way. I wondered if you had seen or heard anything of them over the last week or so?”
“No, no, I haven’t heard a thing,” Brown quickly denied, “and I surely would have known if they were anywhere around here—”
“Are you certain?” Lane pressed. Judging from the way the sheriff was acting, Lane had no doubt the man was a coward—and a liar.
“Yeah, yeah, I’m certain.”
Lane’s disgust with the man grew. Lawmen were supposed to be brave, to protect their towns even at the risk of their own lives, not run and hide at the first sign of trouble. “I was just down at the Tumbleweed, and I heard talk there that there were some bad boys in town a few days ago.”
“There was no one here causing any trouble. It’s been real quiet this week,” Brown denied.
“Well, if you do happen to hear anything about the gang’s whereabouts, or if you remember anything that I should be aware of, let me know. I’ll be staying here in town at the hotel tonight.”
“I’m not going to remember anything about any gunfighters,” Sheriff Brown told him heatedly, growing angry and more uneasy at the Ranger’s arrogant ways. He drew himself up straight as he glared at the other man. “Because there isn’t anything to remember.”
Lane nodded and turned to leave the office. He wasn’t quite sure what was going on in Black Rock, but it seemed like a lot of folks in this town had something to hide, and he was going to find out what it was.
Lane got his horse from where he’d left it tied up in front of the saloon and then went to take a room at the hotel.
Sheriff Brown was shaking in his boots at the thought of having a Texas Ranger right there in his town. He watched until Ranger Madison had moved out of sight and then left his office to head down to the Tumbleweed. He hurried up to the bar and ordered a stiff drink.
“What’s the matter, Sheriff?” Harold asked, puzzled by the lawman’s frightened behavior. There were no outlaws or dangerous gunmen in town tonight, so he had no idea why the man was acting so scared. “Something troubling you?”
“Oh, yeah,” Sheriff Brown said, downing most of his drink in one big swallow and then shoving the nearly empty glass back at the barkeep for a quick refill.
Harold obliged and then waited as the sheriff drank most of the second shot.
“There’s a Texas Ranger in town, and he’s looking for the Cooper Gang,” Brown finally managed to choke out.
Harold tensed. “Is his name Madison?”
“Yeah, that’s his name. Lane Madison.”
Harold swore under his breath. “I was wondering what he was up to, and now I know. So, he’s after Dan and the boys, is he?”
“That’s right.”
“He’s going to need a lot of luck, going up against them.”
“If he ever finds them. You didn’t tell him anything, did you?”
“No, not a word.”
“Good,” Brown said shakily. “We don’t need Dan getting all mad and coming back here hell-bent on revenge, you know.”
“Don’t worry. That Ranger didn’t learn anything from us. If he’s going to find Dan, he’ll have to do it on his own.”
Dolly had finally been able to entice one of the men to accompany her upstairs, and she was just passing by the bar with him when she overheard most of Harold’s conversation with the sheriff. Her reaction to Lane Madison earlier made sense to her now. He was a Texas Ranger. He was a good man. She knew right then she had to find a way to talk to the Ranger again that night. She would slip away to the hotel and tell him everything she knew about what had gone on with Dan Cooper and his men. Dolly was sure if anyone could bring down the Cooper Gang, it was Ranger Madison.
“You ready for a good time, honey?” her cowboy asked, sweeping her up in his arms to charge up the steps with her.
“I sure am,” she assured him with a bright smile, but her thoughts were elsewhere as they disappeared down the upstairs hall to her room.
Raymond had ensconced himself in his study for the afternoon, but his thoughts were upstairs with his stepdaughter, Destiny. He had to figure out how best to put Bryce’s proposition to her. It wasn’t going to be easy. She was as headstrong and difficult as her mother had been.
Destiny’s strong will aside, Raymond could understand why Bryce wanted her. Not only would she help him socially, but she was a beautiful young woman with stunning blonde hair and a curvaceous figure. Living in the family’s home with her as he did, there wasn’t a day that he didn’t think about taking her. He’d managed to control himself so far, and, now, considering Bryce’s demands, it was a good thing that he had. She was still untouched, and that was important. He had to deliver unsullied goods to Bryce.
The more he thought about it, the more he liked the idea of marrying her off to Bryce, for once his debts had been forgiven, he could start living life the way he’d always wanted to now that Annabelle was dead. Yes, it was time to let his stepdaughter know what the future held in store for her.
Destiny answered her stepfather’s summons accompanied by Sylvia, the maid who’d become her closest confidante since her mother’s death.
“You wanted to see me?” Destiny asked Raymond as she joined him.
Sylvia had told her he had insisted on speaking to her and was waiting for her in his study.
“Yes.” He looked up to see the maid still standing by the hallway door. “Sylvia, you may go,” he ordered.
The maid slipped quietly away, but she was frowning as she disappeared down the hall. She couldn’t help wondering what Raymond was up to.
In the past eight months since Miss Annabelle’s death from the fever, she’d been very protective of Destiny. As a longtime faithful servant of the Sterling family, she’d never liked or trusted her mistress’s second husband. She’d known why Miss Annabelle had married him—Raymond was good-looking and charming, and Miss Annabelle had been vulnerable after Mr. Sterling’s death, but once they’d married, the truth about his character had slowly come out, and it hadn’t been pretty. Sylvia hurried on into the kitchen, more than a little unsettled by the way Raymond was acting this afternoon.
Alone with Destiny, Raymond faced her. He was ready for the challenge to come. He expected resistance from her, but he was prepared to deal with any and all of her arguments. “We haven’t really had a conversation about this before, but as your stepfather, it is my obligation to see to your future.”
Destiny was instantly alert at his words. Something about Raymond had always troubled her. When he’d married her mother, she’d been forced to accept him as family, but she had never ever thought of him as a father figure. There was something about him that always left her uneasy, and, since her mother’s passing, she’d become even more uncomfortable around him. “My future? What are you talking about?”
Destiny had made her debut the previous fall and had had a few ardent suitors calling on her, but when her mother had passed away shortly thereafter, she had gone into mourning and hadn’t been seeing anyone socially for a time now.
“You’re eighteen now, and it’s time for you to marry,” Raymond pronounced in his most imperious tone.
She was shocked by his statement. “But I’m not in love with anyone—”
“The idea that ‘love’ should be the foundation of a marriage is hardly the truth of life, my dear,” he sneered. “Marriage is far more than that.”
“I don’t understand.” She was confused by his harsh tone and didn’t know what he was talking about.
“Bryce Parker has expressed an interest in marrying you—”
“What?” She barely knew Bryce Parker, although she had heard some talk of his ruthless business exploits in town.
“Bryce has asked me for your hand in marriage, and I’ve agreed to the union. I’ve arranged for you to see him tonight at his home. If all goes well, the wedding will take place as soon as possible.”
“What?” She was shocked. “You’re out of your mind—” Unconsciously, Destiny took a step back, away from her stepfather. “I’m not marrying Bryce Parker or anyone else right now. I’m still in mourning for my mother.”
“Your mother’s been dead for an eternity!” he snarled. “Get over it.”
“Like you have?” she challenged.
“That’s right. Your mother is not coming back!” And in his thoughts, he was very glad about that.
“How can you talk this way about her? It’s only been eight months since—”
“Are you counting every day?” he derided. “It’s time for you to put the past behind you and to start thinking about your future. That’s exactly what I’ve been doing, and that’s why I’ve decided you can do no better than to marry a man as rich and successful as Bryce.”
“You’re crazy! I’m not going to marry Bryce Parker! I won’t—You can’t make me!”
Raymond took a step toward her in a threatening move that was meant to cow her. “Au contraire, my dear. I am the head of this household, and you will do exactly what I tell you to do. You will meet with Bryce this evening, and you will accept his proposal of marriage. Do you understand me?”
“You can’t tell me what to do!” Destiny glared up at him.
Raymond smiled coldly at her as he grabbed her tightly by the arm and sneered, “Oh, but I can. I am your guardian, and as such, you will do as I say.”
Destiny struggled to pull away from him. “My mother may have married you, but you’re nothing to me! You never have been, and you never will be!”
He tightened his hold on her even more and felt a thrill of power at her squirming. Even so, he was careful not to bruise her. He couldn’t risk delivering damaged goods to Bryce that evening. That would never do. Raymond gave her a slight shake.
“Let me put it to you this way, my dear,” he began, leering openly at her. “You can marry Bryce, or…”
Destiny waited, unsure of what he was going to say next.
“Or you can marry me.”
Destiny froze, and her eyes widened in horror at the thought as she stared up at him. She saw the lust in his eyes and knew everything she had ever suspected about him was true.
Raymond was a horrible man!
She’d long believed he’d used her mother, marrying her only for the money, and now she knew she’d been right.
Destiny swallowed nervously. Her mind was racing as she tried to figure a way out of this. As repugnant as the idea of marrying Bryce was to her, she knew there was only one thing she could do to escape her stepfather. For now, she had to pretend to agree to his terms. Then once she managed to get away from him, she would find a way out of the marriage.
She looked at him in complete disgust as she replied, “All right, that made my decision much easier. What time do I have to be ready to leave to meet Bryce?”
Her words were like a harsh slap in the face to Raymond. He was so angered by her attitude, he wanted to backhand her. It took a major effort on his part, but he controlled himself.
“Bryce is expecting you at seven. Be ready.”
He let her go and watched as she quickly backed away from him.
“Don’t worry. I will be.”
Destiny fled to the safety of her room and locked the door behind her. She stood there uncertainly, staring around herself, trying to figure out what to do next. She was desperate.
How had this happened?
How had Raymond gotten such control over her life?
Her mother had taught her to be bold and to stand up for herself, and she had. She had refused to show any fear before Raymond—but now, alone in her room, tears welled up in her eyes.
A soft tap at the door startled Destiny, and she spun around and took a step backward, fearing Raymond had come after her.
“Who is it?” she asked nervously.
“It’s me—Sylvia—Are you all right?” the servant asked, her voice just above a whisper so Raymond wouldn’t hear her. She, too, knew how dominating and controlling he could be.
Destiny wasted no time unlocking the door to admit the maid, then quickly closed it again.
Sylvia could see the haunted look in Destiny’s eyes, and she knew something was terribly wrong. “What did Mr. Howard do to you?”
“He gave me two choices—” she answered in an emotion-choked voice.
“Choices?” Sylvia repeated in a confused tone.
Destiny nodded. “He says I can marry Bryce Parker—”
The maid was shocked.
“Or—” She paused.
“Or what?”
Destiny swallowed nervously as she met the older woman’s gaze. “Or I can marry him.”
“Oh, dear God,” the servant muttered in absolute disgust. “You can’t marry your stepfather!”
“I know,” she agreed wholeheartedly, shuddering at the thought.
“What are you going to do?”
“He’s already arranged for me to see Bryce tonight. I’m supposed to be ready to go to Bryce’s house at seven o’clock.”
“I’ve heard talk about him. They say he’s goodlooking and rich. Do you want to marry him?”
Destiny looked up at Sylvia, her expression troubled. “I know he’s rich and handsome as you said, but I don’t love him—I don’t even know him that well. I’ve only met him a few times.”
The maid touched her arm to reassure her. She could just imagine how very alone and lost Destiny must be feeling. “Just because you’re going to see Bryce Parker tonight, doesn’t mean you have to marry him tonight. Your mother certainly wouldn’t have let you rush into a marriage.”
Destiny felt a ray of hope for the first time. “Maybe there’s some way out of this—”
“We can try to think of something.”
“Yes, but I can’t let Raymond know.”
“You’re right about that,” Sylvia said, her disgust with the man obvious in her voice.
“You don’t like him either?”
“I never have,” Sylvia said with conviction. “I don’t trust him. If you need me to help you in any way, I’ll do it.”
“Thank you.” Destiny knew Sylvia was the only person she could count on anymore, the only person she could trust.
Sylvia gave Destiny a quick, loving hug and then left her to herself to get ready for the evening ahead.
Lane got cleaned up and ate dinner at the hotel before going back to the saloon for the evening. He was going to play some poker tonight in the hope that someone might start talking about the big card game that had happened when the gunmen were in town. This time as he went into the saloon, though, he was wearing his badge.
“I was wondering if you’d come back in tonight, Ranger Madison,” Harold said, giving him a smile as he walked into the saloon.
Finding out that those in the bar already knew his true identity even before they’d seen him wearing his badge made Lane all the more determined to pay close attention to everything that went on in the Tumbleweed tonight.
“I got my work taken care of, and now I can relax for a while,” he responded.
If this town was trying to protect the gang in any way, Lane was determined to bring them all down. Now that his identity was known as well as his reason for being in Black Rock, he would have to be even more careful than before, in case the gang was nearby and had been alerted to his presence. He went to join a poker game at the far end of the room and sat with his back to the wall so he could watch everything that was going on around him. He didn’t want any surprises tonight.