In a Cowboy’s Arms (28 page)

“Harlan Nowell,” she said.

Miss Jennean’s smile vanished, replaced by a brittle expression that startled her. “I know him. He doesn’t do anyone a good turn unless it benefits him.”

“Exactly. He took me in to his home to serve as the companion for his crippled daughter,” she said.

“How old were you?” Miss Jennean asked.

“Eight.”

The elegant madam shook her head. “You were just a child yourself in need of a home.”

But that fate had eluded her. She was granted room and board in a clean nice house and was only required to be a rich girl’s playmate. For years she hadn’t viewed it as a horrid fate because she and Caroline had bonded as closely as sisters.

Then last winter she had realized Nowell had a far more permanent duty awaiting her. “I tired of living under his dominance and ran away. So he hired a bounty hunter to find me.”

“The man’s about as cold-blooded as a rattler,” Dade said. “Just last week he gunned down two of the Logan Gang while he was supposedly looking for Maggie.”

Miss Jennean put her spoon down. “Your family?”

“Two of my uncles,” he said. “I let it be known that we’ve headed up to Maverick.”

“This is a very troubling situation.” Miss Jennean stared at her. “Why did Nowell hire a bounty hunter?”

“He claims I stole jewelry and money, but I didn’t,” Maggie said. “All I took was what little belonged to me.”

Miss Jennean leaned toward Maggie and stared at her with dark knowing eyes. “There is more to it than that. If I’m to help you, you must be honest with me.”

Maggie hung her head, knowing there was no good reason to keep her secret any longer. No reason except that Dade would think less of her for lying to him for so long.

“I’m not entirely sure of all the particulars,” Maggie began. “But Whit Ramsey’s father kept Harlan Nowell from going bankrupt during the panic of ‘73. They made a bargain then that Ramsey’s son Whit and Nowell’s daughter would marry, thereby joining the two major mines in the west.”

“The crippled girl?” Miss Jennean asked.

“Yes, but apparently the severity of her condition wasn’t known at the time.” She felt Dade’s gaze boring into her and knew he was debating whether to believe this story. “When Whit found out, he demanded Nowell amend the deal, or he’d call in his markers immediately.”

“Amend it how?” Dade asked.

“Whit wanted the contract to involve Nowell’s adopted daughter instead of his natural one,” she said.

“You?” Miss Jennean said, and Maggie nodded. “I didn’t realize he’d formally adopted you.”

Maggie laughed, remembering the disgust on the Nowells’ faces when they were faced with this dilemma of legally giving Maggie their exalted name. “He hadn’t, but he knew if Whit found out he’d been bamboozled, his contract would be null. He’d also be the target of Whit’s wrath.”

“I didn’t know he could adopt a grown woman,” Dade said.

Miss Jennean answered for her. “He couldn’t, not unless she agreed. Did you?”

“No. When I refused, I was locked in my room.” Maggie wadded her napkin in her fist. “I overheard the Nowells discussing who they could approach about backdating the adoption.”

“It must have fallen through,” Dade said. “The bounty hunter is looking for Margaret Sutten, not Margaret Nowell.”

She shook her head, wishing that were so. But she knew the way the wealthy operated. Discretion was key here.

“He’s trying to avoid publicity,” Maggie said, earning a darker frown from Dade that left her fearing the train of his thoughts. “A runaway servant won’t draw any attention. A runaway heiress would.”

Miss Jennean drummed her fingernails on the table. “He won’t give up looking for you until he’s exhausted all possibilities.”

“Even then Nowell and Whit will burn for vengeance.”

“You’ve made powerful enemies of them,” Miss Jennean said. “If it was anyone else, I’d suggest you marry and put an end to this nonsense. But I know that won’t stop Nowell from exacting his pound of flesh.”

Maggie flicked a glance at Dade and felt her heart stutter when he continued scowling. Now that he realized the danger he was in, he was probably thinking of a way to sever all ties with her. She didn’t blame him one bit.

“What are your plans?” Miss Jennean asked.

“A friend secured a position for me in a nursing school in St. Louis in a month,” Maggie said. “I agreed to help Dade find his sister during that time.”

“Staying one step ahead of a bounty hunter won’t be easy.” Miss Jennean reached over and laid a hand atop Maggie’s trembling one. “You are welcome to stay here for the next month. Nobody will find you, and when the time comes, you can take the train directly to St. Louis.”

Maggie bit her lip, seriously thinking over the generous offer. Dade would be free of his obligation, and she’d be on her own again.

But would he see it that way?

Dade watched the play of emotions cross Maggie’s face and knew in his gut that she was going to accept Miss Jennean’s offer. He should be glad that the madam was lifting the burden of responsibility off his shoulders.

He knew where Daisy had been taken by Vance Jarrett and then been given up shortly after that. It shouldn’t be hard to find out who’d taken in a shy, pretty little girl.

Yep, he likely wouldn’t need Maggie to point out his sister to him. No reason for them to stay together. No reason other than he wanted her in his life for more than a few weeks.

“I don’t like it,” Dade said, annoyed that he’d been dutifully shuffled out of this decision.

Both women turned to stare at him. Maggie appeared stunned but not shocked, and he was mighty pleased with himself that he could tell the difference.

She was likely going to agree to do what she felt was the right thing to do. But that flicker of hope he caught in her eyes hinted that she was glad he’d spoken up, yet wasn’t about to admit it.

He wasn’t about to try to understand why.

Miss Jennean? Well, a smile wreathed her beautiful face and lit her warm blue eyes with pleasure, as if she had expected he’d object to leaving Maggie behind all along.

“What’s wrong with my staying here?” Maggie asked.

She would ask that. He pushed aside the personal reasons that seemed to be stacking up and reasoned out an answer.

“Allis Carson will find out we came here sooner than we both want him to, perhaps by piecing together what the old man tells him,” he said. “He’ll find you, Maggie.”

“Pray tell who is Allis Carson?” Miss Jennean asked.

“The bounty hunter,” Maggie and Dade said at the same time.

Dade leaned forward, his gaze locked on Maggie. “Miss Jennean’s men will keep him off this ranch, but he’ll be waiting for you when you board that train. He’ll follow you, Maggie.”

Maggie paled. “You can’t be sure of that.”

He shrugged. “You said yourself that Ramsey and Nowell won’t give up trying to find you. If Carson can’t wait you out, they’ll hire another man who will.”

“Dade has a valid point that we must consider,” Miss Jennean said. “You’re safe as long as you’re here, but I can’t protect you once you leave the Crossroads.”

“I can,” Dade said.

Maggie lowered her head and sighed, and he knew she was fixing to balk about going with him. “I’ll just bring trouble on you.”

“Sweetheart, you did that when you took on Daisy’s name,” he said. “If Carson can’t find you, he’ll come after me.”

Her head snapped up, wide eyes searching his. “I’m so sorry.”

He reached over and took her hand in his. “Don’t be. We’re in this together.”

“You’re baiting the bear,” she said, and he knew she was softening.

“Been doing that since I was a kid.” Their only chance to beat the Silver King was to stick together. “What’ll it be, Maggie?”

He leaned back and braced both arms on the table when what he really wanted to do was take her in his arms. He wanted to hold her and tell her everything was going to be all right.

“Miss Jennean has been nothing but kind to us. Least we can do is draw trouble away from her,” he said.

All that answered him was the metered tick of the clock in the hall. Damn, had he misjudged her? Was she going to turn him down anyway?

“All right,” Maggie said at last. “I’ll go with you.”

Dade drew in a breath, more relieved than he ought to be. Right or wrong he’d convinced her to stick to their original plan. Now if he could just honor all his promises.

“When will you leave?” Miss Jennean asked.

“Before dawn,” Dade said.

“I’ll see that you have provisions to last you for your journey.” Miss Jennean gracefully rose and crossed to the glass-topped liquor cabinet, removing something small from inside.

“Thanks for your generosity,” he said and got to his feet.

He was too anxious to sit here at the table much longer. With Miss Jennean having callers tonight, he didn’t dare venture beyond the private quarters. He knew their horses were being cared for, so there was nothing to do outside.

So that pretty much left returning to his room. If he was lucky, he’d be able to sleep instead of lying awake like he had most of last night, pondering if Maggie’s skin was as silken as it appeared.

Now that he knew that it was, he’d likely spend the night thinking about running his hands over her bare form.

“An old friend of mine owns the Iago Theater in Dodge City. She’s a bit eccentric, but you’d be safe there.” Miss Jennean returned to Dade and handed him an old nickel voucher that was stamped with “The Ruby Slipper” on one side, and “Good for one hour” on the other. “Go to the back door. Give Gwyneth this. She’ll know I sent you.”

“I’ll do that, ma’am.” He pocketed the voucher and turned to Maggie. “Ready to go up?”

She fidgeted on her chair. “I need to see about my clothes and have a word with Miss Jennean. You go on.”

He didn’t want to leave her here, but he didn’t have much choice if Maggie was fixing to discuss women issues with the madam. “Don’t stay up too late.”

“I intend to be in bed within the hour,” Maggie said, her cheeks kissed with pink.

He nodded and left the women to talk, but he still hadn’t gotten the picture of Maggie lying in bed from his mind by the time he returned to his room. Hell, it was going to be another long night.

Maggie waited to speak until she heard Dade’s footsteps reach the upper floor. “I need your advice.”

Miss Jennean didn’t seem the least bit surprised. “I gather this has nothing to do with your clothes.”

“No, ma’am. Mrs. Wray assured me she’d have everything cleaned and packed by morning,” she said. “I have a problem.”

“A female problem?”

“No, a man problem.” She took a sip of her coffee though it had gone cold and tried to decide how to broach the subject.

“Dade?”

“Yes. He’s a good man.” She bit her lower lip, unsure how to voice her problem. “He’s too good at times, if you know what I mean.”

A knowing smile lifted the corners of Miss Jennean’s mouth. “Too good in that he hasn’t taken advantage of you?”

“Yes, that’s it. I hoped you’d understand the problem.”

“I’ve made a comfortable living being able to read men.”

And Maggie had no doubt in her mind that Miss Jennean wasn’t making an idle boast. Whereas she herself was sorely lacking in experience with men.

Miss Jennean rose and crossed to a sideboard where several bottles of liquor resided. She chose two brandy snifters and poured a spot of amber brew in each.

“Take a sip, let it settle and warm your stomach, then tell me what’s bothering you,” Miss Jennean said.

Maggie did as told and felt fire spread from the back of her tongue to her stomach. Once the initial shock of the liquor faded, she felt oddly relaxed.

“The next time Dade kisses me and things get heated up, I don’t want him to stop,” Maggie said. “But I know he will.”

Miss Jennean cradled the snifter in her hands, her expression thoughtful. “He’s done this before?”

“Yes. It’s as if he realizes I’m a lady and pulls away.”

“That’s understandable,” Miss Jennean said. “He’s a good man, and you are a lady.”

And that, Maggie thought as she took another sip of brandy, was the problem. “I don’t want to be a lady with him.”

Miss Jennean was quiet for the longest time, leaving Maggie to wonder if she’d insulted the madam. She surely hadn’t meant to. She simple wanted sage advice on the art of loving a man.

Another troubling thought occurred to her. Heavens, did Miss Jennean think Maggie didn’t stand a chance of seducing Dade? Was she searching for a gentle way to tell her she was wasting her time?

“Are you absolutely sure that’s what you want?” Miss Jennean said at last. “Because once you’ve taken that step, there is no going back.”

“I’m sure,” Maggie said, and knew in her heart it was true.

“Very well. I assume you are aware of the consequences.”

Only one crossed Maggie’s mind. A child. “Once I attain my nursing license, I can support myself and a baby.”

“Before then?”

She pressed two fingers to her lips as that fate loomed before her, but the thought didn’t terrify her as she’d half expected it would. “If that happens, I’ll manage somehow.”

“That is the reason why some women have entered my profession,” Miss Jennean said, seeming a bit perturbed.

“I know,” Maggie said. She suspected that she had been an unplanned, unwanted child born from a tryst. “I’m willing to take that chance with Dade.”

“You love him.”

Did she? She wasn’t sure what that emotion felt like. She only knew that she didn’t want to be apart from Dade.

In his arms she fell into a world that embraced her with warm tomorrows and blocked out the ugly reality that was her future if the bounty hunter found her.

But could she love Dade?

“I think I might,” she admitted.

“He has a good heart,” Miss Jennean said. “He’d never desert you or his baby.”

She smiled as she imagined a future with Dade and a cluster of children. But it was nothing but a dream for her.

“Harlan Nowell might wash his hands of me if that did happen,” she said. “But I doubt Whit would let me live in peace. He wants me, if only to break me to his will. If I deny him that, he’ll burn with a desire for vengeance.”