A Moment in Time (49 page)

      
"Goodfellow, I'll take my gold now," a male voice said from the top of the stairs.

      
Cole swung the rifle around again and the newcomer's eyes widened in obvious surprise.
 
The pretty boy wasn't even wearing a gun.

      
"Ah, hell," Goodfellow muttered, pivoting to face Cole again, finding himself looking down the barrel of a rifle.
 
"Hell."

      
"I believe we were on our way to Miss Lolita's room?" Cole said, keeping one eye on Goodfellow and the other on the pretty boy.

      
The stranger chuckled.
 
"You blew it, pal," the man said.
 
"Now I get the gold."

      
"You're the one," Cole said, adjusting his aim.
 
"
You
kidnapped Jackie."

      
"Who the hell's Jackie?" Goodfellow asked, rolling his eyes.

      
"I am."

      
Cole looked toward the familiar voice at the top of the stairs and his breath froze.
 
Uncertainty stormed through him, but quieted as soon as he met her gaze.
 
Her beautiful gray eyes didn't lie.

      
Assured it was her and that she was safe, he looked at her hair again.
 
She'd taken the scissors to it, leaving what appeared to be less than an inch of dark brown curls all over her head.
 
No trace of red remained.

      
"What the hell...?"
 
Rupert's cigar hung limply from one corner of his mouth.
 
"You aren't Lolita Belle."

      
"Bingo, Einstein," Jackie said.
 
"Like I tried to tell you before.
 
Duh."

      
She aimed her gaze at the red-faced stranger.
 
"So much for that gold."
 
She gave a dramatic sigh.
 
"Crime doesn't pay...Smith."

      
Cole spared Goodfellow only the briefest glance, then turned his attention back to the stranger who'd stolen Jackie.
 
"Smith?
 
Who the hell are you?"

      
One corner of the man's mouth lifted.
 
He looked back over his shoulder at Jackie, then shrugged and met Cole's gaze.
 
"Rock.
 
Rock Smith."

      
"Rock, my ass," Cole said, tightening his grip on the rifle.
 
It didn't matter.
 
He didn't give a damn who the stranger was, as long as he left them be.
 
"You listen good,
Rock
.
 
You ever go near the woman I'm going to marry again, and I'll turn you inside out."

      
Cole started up the stairs toward the stranger and Goodfellow wisely slithered down and out of their way.
 
"Did you understand what I said, pretty boy?"

      
Jackie laughed, but Cole didn't dare risk looking away just now.
 
Later, he'd find out how she knew this man.
 
Then again, he wasn't sure he really wanted to know.

      
"
Did
you understand me?" he repeated.

      
The stranger narrowed his gaze menacingly, but he nodded once.
 
"Roger, Houston.
 
I copy."

      
Cole kept his gaze pinned on the stranger.
 
"My name isn't Roger or Houston."
 
He inclined his head toward the door.
 
"Get the devil out of here before I change my mind and shoot your ass."

      
"Yes, go."
 
Jackie's voice surprised them all, and the pretty boy seemed downright perturbed when she started down the stairs toward them.
 
She stopped two steps above the stranger and glowered at him.

      
Cole saw something in her expression as she stared at the man.
 
She definitely knew him, but the hatred in her eyes assured Cole she hadn't left willingly with the bastard.

      
Jackie placed both fists on her hips and Cole recognized the look on her face.
 
Smith was in for it, and Jackie Clarke was just the woman to give him an earful he wouldn't forget.

      
An insistent pounding commenced on the front door and Dottie threw it open with a huff.
 
"You'd think it was noon already," she grumbled.

      
Two burly men dressed in fancy suits with brocade vests shoved their way through, and a third one held the door open for a woman.
 
She swept into the saloon wearing an expensive-looking green traveling suit with a huge feather in her hat.
 
Her face was powdered and her lips painted.
 
Her flaming red hair hung in curls to her shoulders, and her breasts were so large she looked as if she might topple forward from their weight.

      
Every person in the room stared in shock at the newcomers.
 
Every person except one.
 
Rock Smith–or whoever he was–leapt over the bannister and bolted for the door.

      
Cole aimed his rifle after the coward, but the redheaded woman gave a bored sigh and shook her head as she peeled off her gloves.
 
"Put that thing away, gorgeous," she said in a voice like silk.
 
"I didn't travel all the way up here to this hovel to get myself shot."

      
"Lolita," Jackie whispered from directly behind Cole.
 

      
He turned and caught her as she fainted.

* * *

      
Jackie heard voices and struggled to open her eyes.
 
Finally, she blinked several times and a colorful blur greeted her.
 
"Where am I?" she whispered, trying to rise.

      
"Stay," Cole said gently, then a cool cloth touched her forehead.
 
"How do you feel?"

      
"Like I got hit by a Mack truck."
 
Jackie blinked several more times and he final came into focus.
 
"Where are we?"

      
"Goodfellow put you in a room upstairs.
 
I think he feels guilty.
 
And he damn well should.
 
I sure do."
 
Cole stroked her hair.
 
"This'll take some getting used to, but it's an improvement."

      
Jackie gave him a weak smile.
 
"It'll grow, but this is the real me, Cole."
 
She reached up and cradled his cheek in her palm.
 
"I'm so happy to see you.
 
I was afraid..."

      
"Don't be afraid."
 
He kissed her palm, then bent to press his lips to hers.
 
"I promised to take care of you.
 
Remember?"

      
Jackie nodded, then asked, "Where's Todd?"

      
"Chief Byron is with him, but I asked the sheriff to bring them both to town."

      
Jackie couldn't quite picture Chief Byron in town.
 
"Why?"

      
"For our wedding."

      
She smiled, then remembered bits and pieces of what had happened.
 
"Was that really Lolita Belle?"

      
"In the flesh," Cole said, chuckling.
 
"And I'd say she's got more than her fair share of that."

      
"And then some."
 
Jackie remembered the portrait and her initial reaction to the woman's Rubenesque figure.
 
"Now you see why it was so ridiculous for everybody to think I was her."

      
Cole chuckled again, still stroking her hair.
 
"I don't care who you are or how you got here, Jackie," he said, his voice low and rough at the same time, rumbling around in her belly and spiking straight to her bone marrow.
 
"I just thank God you're here with me now, and that you're safe."

      
She bit her lower lip and a crocodile tear rolled unheeded down her cheek and the side of her neck.
 
"Look at me."
 
She laughed and cried simultaneously.
 
"Great-Aunt Pearl can't stop me now."

      
Cole shook his head, obviously stymied by her words, but he gave her an indulgent smile anyway.
 
"I want us to get married today, if you're feeling up to it."
 

      
"Are you...sure, Cole?"
 
She grabbed his hand and held it very tight.
 
"I won't...won't hold you to it if you've changed your mind."

      
"Never."
 
He kissed her again, the tenderness of it reaching into her soul and surrounding her aching heart.
 
"We're getting married."

      
Jackie trembled and sighed when their lips parted.
 
"I
 
want that," she said.
 
"Very much."

      
"Good, then it's settled."

      
She pushed herself up to a sitting position.
 
"I've never fainted before in my life."

      
"Probably the shock of seeing Lolita."
 
He placed an arm around her shoulders and slid onto the bed beside her.
 

      
"You really think Goodfellow's feeling guilty about mistreating me?"
 
She chewed her lower lip.
 
"And you're determined to return Merriweather's gold.
 
Right?"

      
He gave her a solemn nod.
 
"You'll be marrying a poor man, Jackie."
 
He sighed.
 
"Does that bother you?"

      
"We're rich in every way that matters."
 

      
He smiled down at her.
 
"I was hoping you'd feel that way."

      
"I do."
 
She kissed his cheek and sighed.
 
"Cole, that...that man," she said, her voice sounding odd even to her ears.
 
"I have to tell you about him."

      
Cole's nostrils flared and she felt him tense at her side.
 
"Don't be angry," she said.
 
"He's from the future, too...and he stole something of mine."

      
Cole stared at her for several moments, then nodded.
 
"I'll help you find him and get it back, but we're getting married first."

      
"I definitely
don't
want to find him."

      
"Good, because I'm not letting you out of my sight again."

      
"Cole, I–"

      
A knock sounded at the door and Jackie's heart leapt into her throat.
 
"Easy, now," Cole said, rising.
 
"I'll get it."

      
He opened the door and Dottie stuck her head around the corner.
 
"Mind if I come in?" she asked.

      
Suspicious, Jackie scooted back to lean against the headboard.
 
This definitely wasn't the green velvet room, but that was always meant for the real Lolita.
 
"Sure, come on in," she said.

      
Dottie had a pair of leather pouches with her and wore an expression of total bewilderment.
 
She shut the door behind her and approached the bed.
 
"That Rock Smith left these in his room," she said, placing the leather pouches on the bed at Jackie's feet.
 
"I don't read very well, but you said your name's Jackie.
 
Right?"

      
"That's right.
 
Jacqueline, actually."
 
She glanced down at the pouches.
 
"Why?"

      
"I went through these after he left," Dottie continued, her cheeks reddening.
 
"I figured he owed us for the night's stay and the trouble he caused."

      
"Saddlebags.
 
What did you find?" Cole asked, reaching for them.

      
"Like I said, I don't read too good, but I think Jackie's name is on some of the things in there."
 
Dottie inclined her head toward the saddlebags.

      
Cole passed them to Jackie.
 
"You'd better take a look."