Someone Like You (Night Riders) (12 page)

“It was an accident. Someone was hunting and a bullet went astray.”

“We considered that.” Rafe was annoyed at having to repeat what he’d said earlier. “My manager says no one was out hunting or doing target practice. I know looking for a stranger with a reason to shoot Broc is a longshot, but we’ve run into dead ends with every other line of questioning.”

“You’ve run into a dead end here, too,” the sheriff said irritably. “Only three men have come into town during the last week. Two were hands hired to work on a ranch north of here. They were picked up as soon as they got off the stage. The other is a gentleman who has taken the finest room in the hotel. You might as well question me as him.”

“What is he like?” Rafe didn’t want to overlook any possible suspect, no matter how unlikely.

The sheriff fidgeted impatiently. “If you hang around, you’re liable to see him for yourself.”

“I have to go back to the ranch. The doctor was supposed to see my friend this afternoon.”

The sheriff huffed. “He’s young—about your age, I’d guess—nice-looking, dresses well, and likes the best of everything.”

Rafe realized that description could apply to hundreds of men…and also to Laveau di Viere “Does he appear to be of Spanish descent?”

“Nearly everybody in California does. I didn’t pay attention to that.”

“Would you mind keeping him under observation for a few days?” the lawyer asked.

“I’ve got too much to do to spend time watching some young man romancing the ladies.” He directed an angry look at Rafe. “You’ve got hundreds of people working for you. Get one of them to do it.”

The sheriff’s suggestion was made out of laziness and annoyance, but it was an excellent one. “Thanks. I’ll do that.”

The sheriff clambered to his feet. “If there’s nothing else, I got duties to attend to.”

“Thank you for coming.” The lawyer was more polite than Rafe would have been. “We’ll let you know if we find anything.”

“Don’t expect you will. The shooting was an accident. Some kid playing around with a rifle and afraid to tell anybody.”

Rafe wished Cade were here. The man had an uncanny instinct for things like this. Rafe couldn’t find any logical reason to completely discount the accident theory, but for some reason he couldn’t accept it as the right explanation.

The lawyer returned to his seat after showing out the sheriff. “He’s not as bad as he seems,” he said.

“Let’s not waste any more time on the sheriff. I’d like to talk about my father’s will. I don’t want this inheritance, and I don’t want the responsibility for the ranch or for my
brother. Tell me how I can get out of it or at least limit my visits to once a year.”

“You can’t.” The lawyer leaned back in his chair. “Your father made me go over the will several times to make sure there was no way you could get out of having to stay here.”

It infuriated Rafe that his father would tie him to the ranch with the threat of using the entire fortune to create a memorial to Dolores. “Then go through the will again, line by line. There has to be something you can find.” He needed to get back to Texas before his attraction to Maria turned into a true interest.

Maria was caught between a desire to stay and enjoy Rafe’s company and the need to hurry Luis off to bed and get herself safely ensconced in her room. The doctor had praised Rafe’s work but ordered Broc not to leave his bed until the next day. Dolores had gone into Cíbola to visit a friend, leaving Rafe, Luis, and Maria to spend the evening together. Maria had expected Rafe to excuse himself as soon as dinner was over. She hadn’t been prepared to spend an enjoyable evening with him.

He’d started by asking Luis about his studies. For a man who placed little value on formal education, Maria found him remarkably well-informed, with a quick mind that was willing to consider any side of an argument, even those presented by a nine-year-old boy who was so excited by Rafe’s attention that he occasionally betrayed his ignorance. Maria had listened in amazement as Rafe guided him through a discussion so cleverly, Luis believed he’d reached the final answer on his own. Luis was blossoming under Rafe’s encouragement. She had no trouble believing Broc’s assertion that the young soldiers had turned to Rafe for support. He had a way of focusing that made you feel like the most important person in the room. She hoped he was serious about returning to Texas. It was the only way she’d ever get Luis back to normal.

It annoyed her even more to realize she didn’t want him to go back to Texas.

“I win.”

Luis’s exclamation of delight refocused her attention on the mathematical game her two companions were playing. Rafe settled back in his chair, a smile slowly forming. Luis’s grin of childish glee transformed itself into a question.

“Did you let me win?”

Rafe’s expression didn’t change. “Why would I do that?”

“To make me feel better. I heard you tell Maria I didn’t have confidence.”

“I don’t know why not. You’re a smart young man.”

“I can’t ride or shoot like other boys. I can’t play their games. I can’t—”

“You can’t do everything. No one expects you to.”

“You can.”

That was what worried Maria. Luis really thought Rafe could do everything. Luis was leaning forward in his chair, his elbows resting on the table and his legs swinging because they didn’t reach the floor.

“No one can do everything,” Rafe told him. “You decide what’s important to you and concentrate on that. Someone else will handle the other things. That way we all have something that makes us special.”

“But I’m not special.”

“Yes, you are. You’re the only brother I have, so that makes you special. And you’re your aunt Maria’s favorite person. Plus you’re your mother’s only son.”

“But I can’t
do
anything.”

“That’s the nicest thing about being special. You don’t have to
do
anything to deserve it.”

Did Rafe really believe that? Maria wondered. In her experience, men wanted to do something concrete, be richer, stronger, meaner than the others. They didn’t put any stock in emotions. They didn’t even like to talk about them.

“Are you special?”

“I hope my friends think so.”

“Do you have lots of friends?”

“Luis, that’s not a nice thing to ask.”

When Rafe turned to Maria, the expression on his face made her feel guilty. “Are you afraid I’ll have to admit I don’t have any friends?”

She tried hard not to blush but doubted she succeeded.

Rafe turned back to Luis, his expression softening. “I
don’t
have many friends because I want only friends I can trust.”

“You can trust me.”

Maria’s heart started to melt. The child wanted very badly for Rafe to love him.

Rafe reached out, took Luis’s hand briefly. “I know that. We’re brothers. That’s even better than friends.”

“It is? Why?”

“Being brothers is like being part of each other. No matter what happens, brothers will—”

The sentence was cut off by a laugh coming from the front hall. Dolores was home. Judging from the murmur of a deep voice in response, she’d been escorted by one of
her
friends. Maria hoped the man was neither drunk nor an obvious miscreant.

“Come on in.” It was Dolores’s voice. “Rafe and Broc are from Texas, too. You might know them.”

Maria hadn’t heard much about Texas, but she did know it was so big, it was doubtful Dolores’s friend would have run into Rafe or Broc. She hoped the man would refuse the invitation.

“I really need to get back to town.”

“Then come in for just a minute. My sister likes to meet all my new friends.”

Maria never liked any of her sister’s friends. She had no reason to expect she would like this one.

“Okay, but just for a minute. I need to get back to my card game.”

“Haven’t you won enough money for one night?”

“One can never win enough money.”

Maria was pleasantly surprised when Dolores entered the salon followed by a tall, attractive, almost elegant, well-dressed man who smiled pleasantly to everyone in the room.

“Hello, everybody.” Dolores’s words were a little slurred. “I want you to meet my new friend, Laveau di Viere.”

R
afe had recognized Laveau di Viere’s voice from his first murmured response. He’d heard it for three years during the war, dreamed of it for three more. He stifled an impulse to rise up and strangle the man, to beat his head against the wall until he was as dead as their comrades.

He did none of that because Laveau was protected by the United States Army. Anyone who attempted to harm him would most likely be hanged.

He didn’t turn as he watched Maria rise from her seat to greet the visitor. He could tell from her expression she was relieved. Apparently Laveau was a cut above the usual man Dolores brought home.

He listened to the polite exchange of meaningless words, Maria’s welcome, Laveau’s polished response, and Dolores bubbling with drunken excitement over her new friend. Luis regarded his mother with a look of embarrassment; Laveau he regarded with dislike. Rafe wondered how many times he’d been forced to be polite to the men Dolores dragged home.

“You have to meet my son.” Rafe wondered if Dolores sounded happy because of the wine or the companionship of a person more evil and corrupt than she. “Come here, Luis. I want you to shake hands with Mr. di Viere.”

Luis glanced at Rafe, hesitated before getting out of his chair. Laveau’s compliments on Luis’s looks, size, and presumed intelligence sounded oily and insincere. He was an idiot to think even a nine-year-old boy would believe him.

“Don’t sit there scowling, Rafe. Come meet Laveau.”

Rafe stood and turned to see Laveau’s familiar face smiling at him, his black eyes revealing the nature of his soul. “There’s no need to introduce us. I know more than enough about Laveau.”

“I see you’re as friendly as ever.” Laveau’s smile was overtly insincere.

“I used to think we had something in common. It was a mistake.”

Dolores clapped her hands in delight. “I was sure you would know each other. Now you can stay, Laveau, instead of going back to your card game.”

“Dolores, it’s not fair to put pressure on Mr. di Viere if he feels he has commitments elsewhere,” Maria said.

“It wouldn’t matter whether he had commitments or not. Laveau isn’t welcome in this house now or at any other time.” Rafe turned to Laveau. “If you set foot on the property again, I’ll have you arrested.”

“Rafe!” Dolores exclaimed. “Are you out of your mind?”

“No. I’ve been so only once.”

“You can’t tell Laveau to leave. This is my house. I can invite anyone I want.”

“If you paid proper attention to the will, you’d know this is not your house.”

He ignored Dolores’s sputtered objections. He was more curious about the expression on Laveau’s face. It looked too much like triumph for his comfort.

“You should thank me rather than throw me out.”

“Why should I do that?” Laveau looked so pleased, Rafe knew he was about to hear something he wouldn’t like.

“I’m the one who sent Pilar that ad when I saw it in the Chicago paper.”

Rafe had wondered why it was sent anonymously. Knowing Laveau had been the sender made him even more apprehensive.

“I was certain my clever and curious sister would make you reply.” Laveau’s words virtually dripped with sarcasm.
“She could never confine her interests to things that concern her.”

“Get out, Laveau. You’re fouling the air I breathe.”

Laveau’s smile deepened. “As charming as ever. In this world of change, it’s nice to know some things remain the same.”

“You can pat yourself on the back for having settled me with a load of responsibility I don’t want. Now, I’m sure your friends are growing impatient for you to return to the game.”

Rather than move to leave, Laveau seemed to grow more rooted to the spot. “Dolores tells me a friend of yours was shot while out riding this morning. I believe she said his name is Broc. I couldn’t be sure. It’s an unusual name, and Dolores is very fond of wine.”

“You know very well his name is Broc.”

“I trust he will recover soon. Dolores tells me you removed the bullet so quickly, he is strong enough to endure being read to.” He cast a condescending glance at Luis. “Broc must have remarkable powers of survival. But then his face is a testimony to that.”

Rafe had had all of Laveau he could tolerate. “It’s time for you to leave. I’ll see you to the door. Maria, would you ask Juan to send someone from the stable to escort Mr. di Viere to town? I wouldn’t want him to lose his way.”

Dolores grabbed Laveau’s arm. “I refuse to let you run him off.”

“If you enjoy his company so much, you can leave with him.” The sudden brightness in her eyes amused him. “Just know that if you do, you can’t return to this house.”

Dolores’s magnificent eyes flashed with anger, the first genuine emotion Rafe had seen in her since his return. “You know I can’t leave.”

“Then I suggest you allow Mr. di Viere to go on his way.”

She gripped Laveau’s arm tighter. “What will you do if I don’t let him go? Hit me?”

Laveau cast Rafe an amused look, then carefully removed
Dolores’s hand from his arm. “It’s never wise to annoy the man who holds the purse strings. I think it’s best I go. Rafe doesn’t like it when he doesn’t get his way.”

It was a remark cast at random to catch anything that might be there to catch. Rafe’s expression didn’t change, but Dolores didn’t exercise the same control.

“He never has. Why do you think he ran away?”

Laveau’s eyebrows rose. “He ran away?” He turned to Rafe. “I’m sure it must be a fascinating tale.”

Dolores grinned. “I’ll be happy to tell you every detail.”

Laveau’s eyes glowed with anticipation. “When you’re next in town. Shall we say tomorrow at six?”

Dolores threw a satisfied glance at Rafe. “I’ll be there.”

Laveau brought Dolores’s hand to his lips. “Until then, my enchantress.”

Dolores was about to say something when Maria reentered the room. “Juan is at the door.”