Texas Cinderella (16 page)

Chapter Nineteen

R
iley turned and faced his stepbrother, trying to keep hold of his emotions.

“You're quite predictable,” Guy said with a selfsatisfied sneer. “When I arrive in a new town, I always check at the livery first.”

“What do you want?”

“What do you think I want? I want my kids.”

“Nancy entrusted them to me.”

“But Nancy's not here anymore. I'm their father and by rights they belong to me, not you.”

“You talk about them like they're animals or furniture. They're not possessions, they're children.”

“And they're
my
children. And I aim to have them come with me.”

“That's not going to happen.”

“Shall we let the law decide?”

“Your record with the law is far from stellar.”

“But I've done my time, and now I'm a changed man, ready to walk the straight and narrow.”

Riley very much doubted that. “I've heard that all before.”

“But this time, it's true. And you can't prove otherwise. So, take me to my kids.”

“You might want to wait on that. They have chicken pox.” The surprise on Guy's face was quite satisfying to see.

“You're lying.”

“Not at all.”

“Do you mean to tell me that you went off and left them on their own with them being sick?”

“Who said they were by themselves?”

“I want to see for myself.” Guy straightened. “I can just ask around town if I want to know where they're staying. A little backwater like this, everyone here likely knows everyone else's business.”

It appeared there was no putting this off. “Let me finish up here and then I'll take you to them.”

Guy tugged his sleeve in that irritatingly superior way he had. “I'll wait.”

* * *

“Riley, why'd you knock? You know you can bring a visitor right on in,” Cassie said as she opened the door.

Before Riley could respond, his stepbrother doffed his hat and stepped forward. “Good day to you, ma'am. I'm Guy Simpson, Pru and Noah's father.”

“Oh.” Cassie's gaze flew to Riley's and he saw the surprise and uncertainty there. She recovered quickly and gave his stepbrother a nod of greeting. “Good afternoon.” But she stepped out on the porch, casually pulling the door shut behind her.

If Guy noticed anything awkward in her greeting, he gave no sign of it. “Riley tells me the kids are a bit under the weather right now, but didn't mention the cause. I hope it's not anything serious?”

So Guy was trying to confirm his story.

“It's chicken pox.” She tilted her head slightly, her nose wrinkled in apparent concern. “May I ask if you've had this illness yourself?”

An uncertain look crossed Guy's otherwise smooth expression. “I'm not really sure.”

She lifted a hand in a gesture of dismay. “Oh, dear. Chicken pox is highly contagious, so we have the children under quarantine. And according to Dr. Pratt, it's much worse for an adult to catch it than a child.”

Guy rubbed his jaw. “I don't care so much for myself, but I don't suppose it would do the kids any good for me to finally show up just to become too sick to care for them.” Then he met her gaze, his expression troubled. “Are they suffering much from it?”

Riley wanted to roll his eyes. Guy was a consummate actor.

But Cassie was continuing to speak to him as she would to any genuinely concerned parent. “They're definitely uncomfortable and a bit cranky when they go through the worst of it. But thankfully, they're not suffering any real pain.”

“Well, thank the Good Lord for that.” Guy gave her one of those charming, self-deprecating smiles of his that could make women swoon. “It's very kind of you to be caring for them. I hope you'll allow me to repay you for all your trouble. I'm afraid I don't have much in the way of funds, but I'm willing to help out in other ways.”

“Thank you, but there's no need. Mr. Walker here has been doing some fix-up work around here and he's really been doing a lot of the looking after Noah and Pru.”

“I'm glad my little brother here has been doing his part, but I'm their father and I like to pay my own debts.”

“There's no debt here.” Her tone was firmer this time. “I've grown quite fond of the children and I am happy to do what I can to help.”

“Miss Vickers is very forthright,” Riley said.

Guy ignored his comment and kept his smile focused on her. “I can see why Riley was so comfortable leaving them in your care. Tell me, how much longer do you reckon they'll be contagious? I certainly don't want to impose on your kindness any longer than necessary.”

“Another week, at least. And as I said, it's no imposition.”

“Well then, since I can't see the children just yet, I guess I'd best find myself a place to stay for the next week.” He turned to Riley. “Where are you staying—the hotel? A boardinghouse?”

“Actually, I'm staying right here, where I can help take care of the kids when I'm not working at the livery.” He rather enjoyed the flash of irritation he saw in his stepbrother's face.

Guy frowned. “I'm surprised that you would impose on the kindness of this lady, not to mention put her in such a socially precarious position.”

Before Riley could respond, Cassie spoke up. If anything, her spine got straighter and her chin higher. “I believe you are under some misapprehensions, sir. Mr. Walker was invited to stay here by Mrs. Flanagan, my employer and the owner of this house. She issued the invitation so he could be close to Pru and Noah. He's a welcome guest, there is nothing socially precarious about his presence here and he has been nothing but a gentleman his entire stay.”

Riley felt a little prickling of guilt at that statement. That kiss last night didn't exactly qualify as a gentlemanly act.

But Guy was already bowing to her in his courtliest fashion. “My apologies, ma'am. I meant no offense.” Then he turned to Riley. “Perhaps you will be so good as to show me the way to the hotel and we can catch up on the latest news while we walk.”

Riley was tempted to refuse, but decided it was best to hear what Guy had to say.

* * *

As Cassie watched the men walk away, her hands began to tremble. The only thing that had kept her from panicking earlier was Riley's reassuring presence. It had been obvious, to her at least, that he wasn't happy with the circumstances—undoubtedly a major understatement—but he had remained calm and businesslike.

She hugged herself with arms crossed tightly over her chest. Riley's fears had come to pass. The children's father had caught up with them.

What would happen now? Surely there was something they could do to prevent Guy from gaining control of the children. She understood now why Riley was so protective of them. The thought of those precious little ones falling into the hands of a man who would use them in the manner Riley had described was absolutely unthinkable.

Would Sheriff Gleason help them? Or would his hands be tied by the law?

Cassie stepped back inside and closed the door, leaning against it while she tried to pull her thoughts together. She should tell Mrs. Flanagan as soon as possible, but she would leave it to Riley to tell Noah and Pru, when he thought the time was right.

How would the kids feel if they knew their father was here? Would they want to see him? Would they fear him?

It was hard to believe the man she'd just met had done all those things Riley had described. Even though he'd told her his stepbrother was charming, she'd pictured a brute of a man with a boorish demeanor, not this very pleasant-looking, well-mannered gentleman. Not that she doubted Riley's story.

Which made his stepbrother all the more dangerous.

She looked into the dining room, to find Mrs. Flanagan reading a book, flanked by the children. Cassie took a moment to savor that sweet picture, then reluctantly cleared her throat.

The trio glanced her way and she flashed them all a calm smile. “What story are you reading?”

Noah gave a wide grin. “Mrs. Flanagan is reading us a story about a prince who was turned into a frog.”

“Oh my, that poor prince.”

Noah puffed out his chest. “I think it would be fun to be a frog. You could hop around and get as dirty and wet as you want and never have to do chores.”

Pru wrinkled her nose. “But you would be green and squishy and have to eat flies.”

Noah merely shrugged, as if he didn't consider that a hardship.

Cassie smiled and then turned to Mrs. Flanagan. “Can I speak to you for just a minute?” She tried to communicate the importance with her eyes.

“Of course.” Her employer handed the book to Pru as Cassie moved to the back of the wheelchair. “Why don't you continue reading while I see what Cassie Lynn needs?”

“Yes, ma'am.”

Cassie pushed the chair into the kitchen and then quickly updated Mrs. Flanagan on the situation.

“That man is going to have to climb over me to get to those little darlings.” The widow's grim expression made it clear she meant every word.

After she returned Mrs. Flanagan to the children, Cassie went back to the kitchen and finished chopping the carrots that would be a side dish for this evening's supper.

What was Riley doing right now? Was he still with his stepbrother? Had he taken River out for a gallop so he could think?

Waiting for him to come back was excruciating. She needed to know what he was thinking, what he might be planning to keep the children safe.

Because there had to be a way.

As she'd hoped, Riley soon reappeared, entering through the back door. She immediately turned to him and her heart nearly broke at the drawn, worried look on his face.

“Where are Noah and Pru?” he asked.

“Mrs. Flanagan is reading to them in the dining room.”

He nodded and crossed the room.

“Oh, Riley, what are we going to do?”

He dropped down on one of the chairs. “Whatever I have to do to keep Guy away from those kids.”

She grabbed the coffeepot and poured a cup, figuring he needed something to grab on to. While she was still at the counter, he shot her a suspicious look. “You didn't say anything to them, did you?”

“Of course not.” How could he think she would scare them that way? She set the cup in front of him and crossed her arms.

“I'm sorry, I should have known better. It's just...”

“It's just that your stepbrother's arrival has rattled you.”

He grimaced. “That's an understatement.”

She sat at the table across from him. “I did tell Mrs. Flanagan, though. I thought she needed to know.”

Riley nodded, but didn't respond.

“Are you going to tell the children that their father is here?”

He absently turned the cup of coffee in his hands. “I don't want to put that burden, and that fear, on them.”

“But he may find a way to make his presence known.”

Riley nodded. “I know.” He stared at the cup as if just now realizing it was there, then took a sip. “I'll tell them. But I think I'll wait until morning. Let them have one more night of peace.”

“Perhaps, in the next day or two, this detective of yours will find what he needs to put your stepbrother away.”

“Doubtful. He only left Tyler today.”

“What did the two of you discuss just now, when you left here? Did Guy tell you what his plans are?”

“He did all the talking. He tried to convince me that he was truly reformed, that he had learned his lesson and paid for his transgressions, and that he was ready to be a proper father to the children.”

“But you don't believe him.”

Riley grimaced. “I've been fooled by that kind of talk from him too many times. He comes to you with eyes filled with sorrow, and confides how deeply he regrets the wrong he's done. You hear the emotion in his voice, see it in his expression and bearing, and you just know that this time it's genuine.” Riley waved a hand in disgust. “But as time passes, you watch as he slips back into his old ways, begin to doubt that he ever truly abandoned them, and you come to realize that the only thing he truly regrets is having been found out.”

Cassie reached across the table and touched his arm. “Oh Riley, I am so sorry.”

He took her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze—a silent thank-you—then released it. “This is my fault. I let down my guard.”

“It is
not
your fault. Pru and Noah catching chicken pox was not your doing, and that's the only reason he was able to catch up with you.”

“Still, I should have found a way.”

“You just stop that right now. Wallowing in selfrecrimination will not do you or the children any good.”

Cassie suddenly realized this was what her father had said to her, what he'd wanted her to understand.

But this discussion was about Riley, not her. “Those two kids need you to be sharp and alert right now.”

His tense expression relaxed into a crooked grin. “Yes, ma'am.”

“That's better.”

“It appears I only have one choice. I need to find a way to slip away with the kids before Guy realizes they are able to travel.”

“You don't think he'll be keeping an eye on the train station?”

“The train isn't the only way to leave. I'll camp out in the woods with them if I have to, until Guy gives up searching for us.”

“Surely it won't come to that.”

Riley gave her a meaningful look, but didn't say anything.

He didn't have to.

She knew that Riley was prepared to do whatever it took to keep Noah and Pru safe. And while she admired him for that inherent love and courage, a part of her was frightened of what that could lead to.

Especially if there was an actual face off between the two men.