The Outlaw Takes A Bride (The Burnett Brides) (9 page)

“Don’t play games with me, Tanner. I’ll jerk you out of here so fast you won’t have time to think of Miss Anderson. Men like you are a dime a dozen, and I won’t put up with your bullshit.”

The mystery man knew her name, and a shiver of apprehension almost had her shaking. Who was this man, and what did he want with Tanner? She resisted the urge to open her eyes, for now she was afraid.

“I said I was working on it.”

“Well, you better work faster, because I’m about to lose my patience with you.”

Could this be Tanner’s employer?

“She’s getting better. It shouldn’t be long now. You know where I am. What more do you want.”

“I want you to get your butt out to the Basses’. I don’t give a damn if Miss Anderson’s getting better. The Cisco bank was robbed yesterday.”

There was a lengthy pause, and then the door opened. “Out in the hall,” Tanner demanded.

But before the door closed, Beth clearly heard the gruff voice say, “You should have been with them.”

The door shut quietly, and all Beth could hear was murmured voices. What did he mean, Tanner should have been with them? With the bank? Certainly he didn’t mean the robbers, so it had to be with the bank. The man must be from Tanner’s job, and she was holding him back, keeping him from his employment. But what exactly did he do for a living? He’d said he was an auditor, but she was having a hard time believing him. Certainly a banker or auditor didn’t seem to fit him.

She had to get well so that they could both resume their lives, though suddenly she wasn’t in such a rush to reach Fort Worth. Until this moment there had been a sense of security here with Tanner that she had never felt before. Fort Worth seemed a scary unknown, but this intrusion was just another indication of how little she knew Tanner. Combined with yesterday morning’s kiss, maybe it was time to move on.

And that kiss had just about caused her to pass out yesterday morning. It had stayed in her mind all day. She reached up and touched her lips as if she could still feel the impression of his mouth. Never before had she enjoyed a kiss as much as that one. In fact, none of her previous experience at kissing had ever affected her like Tanner’s kiss. When he’d put his lips to hers, she’d felt as if she were coming undone in his arms.

What was she doing? Although she had a man waiting for her, her thoughts were more and more on the man she owed her life to. Tucker awaited her, but Tanner intrigued her.

The door opened, and Beth quickly closed her eyes. He walked in and went directly to the bed. He leaned over her, and she smelled his masculine scent, a unique blend of man and leather. The sound of his boots rapping against the floor faded, and she knew he had walked to the window. Soon he began to pace relentlessly, his boots tapping patterns on the floor. She opened her eyes a peek and glanced at the worried look on his face, wondering again at her protector. Who was this man that had managed to awaken her youthful interest in men once again? Something she’d all but given up hope of feeling again.

A shiver passed through her. What did she know about Tanner? He was a man who said he was in the banking industry, yet his appearance and mannerisms were not like any banker she’d ever met And he didn’t seem the type of man who could sit quietly in an office and deal with people all day long. No, the man she was beginning to know was more of an outdoorsman who would seem more at home herding cattle than sitting behind a desk.

There was a ruggedness about him that somehow didn’t belong in a bank.

She opened her eyes and watched as he paced the floor. He’d yet to see that she was awake, that she watched and wondered what it was that troubled him and brought that worried countenance upon his handsome face. His blue eyes were darkened with worry, and she knew that something distressed him.

“What’s wrong?” she asked unable to watch him pace any longer.

His head jerked up, and he stared at her. “You’re awake.”

“Did we have a visitor?” she questioned.

“Just a man from the hotel,” he replied.

She knew he was lying. Whoever the man was, he hadn’t been from the hotel. Beth was holding Tanner back from something, and she didn’t know what. But he needed to be rid of her, and that disappointed her. Though why she should be saddened, she didn’t know. After all, only yesterday she herself had been trying to leave.

“Funny, I thought I heard raised voices. I thought I overheard the word bank and considered maybe the man was from your employer.”

Tanner’s stare was relentless and cold enough to make her shiver, but she met his gaze head-on with a look of her own. He was lying; she knew it, and she wanted him to know she realized his deception.

Finally, he turned and gazed out the window. She hadn’t accomplished anything, and it was plain he wasn’t going to divulge any information that would satisfy her curiosity.

She sighed, her frustration mounting.

“I’m feeling better. Don’t you think we could go for a walk? It’s the only way I’m going to get my strength back.”

He turned his head and glanced at her. “Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

“Good. The sooner you get your strength back, the sooner I can put you on the first stage to Fort Worth.”

She should feel glad, but somehow she didn’t. There was nothing for her here, yet this man drew her, surprised her and frustrated her.

“What about you?”

He shrugged. “For now my destination has changed. You’ll be going to Fort Worth without me.”

Tanner turned to face the window once again. She gazed at his stance, his hands were on his hips, his legs spread apart. He looked like a pirate in control at the helm of his ship. Suddenly, she didn’t want to go to Fort Worth without him. Tanner intrigued her, and she wanted to know more about him. But her intended was waiting, and she needed no other delays.

***

Beth leaned against Tanner’s arm and took small steps down the wooden sidewalk. The touch of her hand on his arm left him with a warm feeling that wasn’t generated by the sun. Somehow he knew this heat would be there with or without it.

The sunlight touched her face, and she raised her cheeks to the light. She was one of the most breathtakingly beautiful women he’d ever met. And the sight of the light bathing her with radiance had him thinking thoughts he had no right to entertain. He was taking care of Beth because he’d accidentally shot her, not for any other reason. Though he’d like to explore other possibilities.

He’d like to spend time examining every delectable inch of the lovely Miss Anderson. But she was promised to someone else, and he was a man who needed no connections to a decent woman. His women were more of the saloon variety, and he knew that as soon as the pleasant Miss Anderson was on her way to Fort Worth, he’d be seeking some release with the nearest saloon girl.

Besides, she was starting to become way too curious about his background, his life, and even his visitors. This afternoon had been a close call. Evidently, she had over-heard part of the conversation. She’d heard enough that she’d formed her own opinion, and he was not about to confirm or deny anything. The less she knew, the better.

If Sam Bass thought she knew anything, it could be dangerous.

Beth took tentative steps, and he knew their walk could not be a long one that would overtire her. However, the pleasure of being out of that small hotel room was clear on her expressive, beautiful face. She was getting stronger; soon she would be gone, and he would return to being alone.

She turned to him, and her face brightened like a flower in springtime. He wanted to moan but restrained himself.

“Can we go down to the jewelry store? I want to see what I can get for my rings,” she asked, her hazel eyes snapping.

“Why?” he asked. They had no business being seen in a store. “The stage owes you a trip to Fort Worth.”

“But how else will I pay you back for the doctor and the hotel room.”

“That’s not necessary.” He couldn’t let her sell her jewelry. Not after he’d been involved with the holdup that had caused her to lose her cash and become injured. Not after he was the one who was responsible for getting her shot. No, her troubles were a result of being on the same stagecoach as he. He wasn’t about to let her sell her jewelry.

“Of course it is.”

“I’m not going to help you sell your jewelry,” he said, the feel of her hand heavy on his arm, like the weight of his conscience on his soul.

“Look, the robbers took all my cash, and I need some money to continue on to Fort Worth. If I don’t sell the jewelry here, I’ll have to sell it later, when I’m in Fort Worth.”

Inwardly, he cringed. Surely they hadn’t taken every-thing. She must have some money stashed away someplace.

“Everything? You mean you have no cash left?”

“Nothing.”

He clenched his fist. He didn’t need to hear this, he already felt bad enough that she’d been shot, but to lose everything because of him? He hated what he was doing, stealing for a living.

“Miss Anderson, never put all of your money in your purse. Put some in your suitcase or even your boot. But never put everything in one place.” He helped her up a step. “Robberies are pretty common on the road, and you never want to be left without cash.”

“Your advice is great, but it comes too late. I need to sell my jewelry,” she insisted.

“I’ll give you a loan until you get to your destination.” “You don’t understand. My reticule contained my entire life savings. I have the clothes on my back, what’s in my valise, and the little bit of jewelry I’m carrying. That’s all.”

He gazed at her and swore.

“If I don’t get married, I don’t know what I’ll do.” They had taken her life savings. The robbery he had helped execute could possibly cause a good woman to become destitute. Another blight on his soul.

They continued walking down the sidewalk. People passed them, and carriages rumbled down the street. “Consider it a wedding gift, then.”

“I cannot accept charity from you.”

“Look, lady, I’m attempting to help you. You’re starting to try my patience. Accept my help.”

“You’ve already helped me more than most people. I want to sell my jewelry.”

He stopped on the sidewalk and stared into eyes, the color of springtime, but didn’t say a word.

“You have helped me considerably. And I know I’m slowing you down from your job,” she said.

“Don’t worry about my job. It will still be there when you’re gone.” Scowling, Tanner knew he’d be lucky if he ever got away from his profession. “Forget selling your jewelry.”

She frowned and turned away from him. It was then he noticed they had stopped in front of the local sheriff’s office. There on the wall were sketches of men wantedfor crimes. She gazed at the pictures, her face a silent mask.

“Do you think the pictures of the men who robbed us would be posted here?” she asked, staring intently at the display of Wanted posters.

God, he hoped she wouldn’t recognize any of them. It could only be dangerous to describe the men who had robbed the stage.

“I swear, I think I would recognize them if I saw one . . she said, her voice trailing off.

Tanner glanced at the wall and felt a swift surge of fear as he gazed at the poster with a drawing of a younger version of himself, one in which the ravages of war gave his eyes a haunted look and the strain of losing Carter still followed him. The man in the Wanted poster hadn’t cared whether he lived or died; he’d had nothing left to lose—not much different from today.

It had been a while since he’d seen a likeness of himself on a Wanted poster. The sight always stunned him and didn’t seem real.

Suddenly, he noticed that her interest seemed to have shifted to the picture of him, and he took her arm and pulled, trying to get her away from there quickly, the fear of recognition causing him to sweat.

“Come on, let’s keep going.”

“Jackson . . .”

“We’re going,” he said, his hand gripping her elbow and leading her away.

She turned and looked at him, her eyes questioning. “All-right.”

They started to walk away, and she glanced behind her at the posters one last time.

Damn, he was the biggest fool to let her stop and stare at the Wanted posters and find one with his face hanging on the wall. Jackson was the name on the poster, and Tanner hoped that would be enough to deter her from realizing it was he. He glanced at the mutinous look on her face. Maybe not.

“Come on; we need to get moving,” he said. They walked along the wooden sidewalk not saying anything, the handkerchief in her free hand crushed beneath her palm.

He didn’t need her asking questions, he didn’t want her to find out that he was not really a banker but made his living stealing from banks and stages—something he wasn’t proud of.

“Let’s go a little farther,” he said.

She glanced at him, her features tight. He tensed. Did she realize that the face on the poster had been his? She seemed anxious, but wouldn’t she be frightened if she recognized him?

With one unintentional stop at the sheriff’s office, the atmosphere had changed from relaxed to strained. How could he have been so stupid not to have known where they were walking? He’d been too busy noticing how delectable Beth looked, how the color had returned to her cheeks, giving her skin a healthy glow, the way her lips were full and pink and so perfectly kissable. And the urge to put his lips to hers was almost more than he could bear. She was so vulnerable, so innocent, and so tempting that he knew he couldn’t take much more of their confinement. He had to get his attention back where it belonged.