My Heart Will Find Yours (27 page)

Texanna giggled and stepped away from him. “Okay, go ahead and show him.”

Garrett pulled Royce by the hand into the parlor. His son stood before the fireplace and looked up at the portrait hanging above it and cast glances his way to check his reaction.

Royce could only stare at the artwork before him. Texanna was more talented than Pearl. Pearl had been a good artist, but Texanna was spectacular. His son’s face was so alive he waited to hear the portrait speak. Garrett looked out from the canvas with a teasing smile on his face, his blue eyes lit with humor. Texanna had added another figure—him. Royce stood, his mouth tilted in a grin, eyes bright with laughter, with his arm draped loosely across the boy’s shoulders as he bent to speak in his son’s ear.

It was quiet for several minutes. Texanna and Garrett were waiting for his response, but he couldn’t seem to find his voice.

“Ma said we needed a reason to give you a gift, so we invented Father’s Day.” Garrett slipped his arm around his father’s waist. Royce instinctively hugged his son’s shoulders. “Do you like your gift, Pa?”

Royce took several deep breaths to calm his thundering heart. “I love it, Son. Thank you.” He turned to Texanna and reached out for her. She walked into his arms. He breathed in her sweet scent, and the feel of her soft body against his made the ache in his chest deepen. “Thank you, love, thank you both.”

“You’re welcome.” Texanna squeezed him and stepped away. He let her go with reluctance. “Come on, Garrett. Give your pa a chance to study it alone.”

Their chatter faded as he continued to study the portrait. Texanna saw so much. His love for Garrett flowed from the canvas, as did his son’s happiness. That she saw him so clearly humbled and flattered him. He had one regret. He wished she’d added herself to the portrait.

****

Texanna stepped back and considered the picture. It needed a few more reddish highlights added to her hair and some shadows to the blue dress Royce bought for her. Since her hair was shorter than customary for nineteenth century styles, she’d painted it up on top of her head with tendrils curling around her face. Tomorrow she’d add the finishing touches to her complexion, and the portrait would be done.

Royce stuck his head in the door. “Can I talk to you for a minute?” She knew he was dying to see what she worked on, but respected her secrecy.

“Sure, I’ll be out in just a minute. Let me clean my brushes.”

The sun was setting when she stepped out onto the porch. She sat down in the rocker beside him.

He reached for her hand and cleared his throat. “I don’t want you coming into town for a while. Bull Tate has two more brothers, and there’s likely to be trouble when they come to bail Jake and Bull out of jail.”

“I need to come to town,” she said. “I don’t plan to bring Garrett with me anymore, but I have to be there when the Bass gang arrives.”

“Dammit, you do not. Don’t you trust me enough to be able to protect myself and this town?”

“Of course I do, but for some reason it’s necessary for me to be in town to prevent you from being hurt.” She held her stomach and shivered. “I feel it here in my gut.”

He stood and walked over to lean against the porch post and look out at the field. “You’re being unreasonable. I won’t be able to function knowing you’re in danger. How can I protect myself and the town when I’m worried about you getting hurt?”

Texanna thought about what he’d said. His reasoning was sound, and she didn’t want to endanger him, but knew she had to be there to cover his back. She knew it as well as she knew her name. It wouldn’t be pleasant to lie to him, but she would if necessary.

She’d be so glad when they were beyond August eighth. There were so many things she wanted to do, but the impending bank robbery hung over their heads. She still didn’t have a clue who the killer might be. Ross had reason to hold a grudge, but Bull Tate and his brother Jake did also. How many other men out there had reason to want Royce dead?

Texanna stood and walked to the edge of the porch. “Royce, have you had previous run-ins with Bull Tate and his brothers?”

Royce turned and pulled her back against his chest. Arms around her waist, his breath rustled her hair. “I sent one of the brothers to prison a few years ago. He was caught rustling cattle and should be released in another year or two.”

His arms were crossed under her breasts. “What about Ross? Any reason he’d want to kill you?”

“Not that I know of. Ross is new in town and doesn’t have any relatives nearby.” He leaned down and kissed her ear. “I’ll do some checking tomorrow.”

Royce turned her to face him and settled his chin on her head. “There are lots of men out there whom I’ve sent to prison or killed brothers or fathers, but that doesn’t mean they’re out for revenge. Most folks know when their loved ones are no good and don’t hold the law to blame for putting them away.”

Yeah, but then there are those who can’t see their loved ones as being anything but perfect. Some people have sick ideas of who is at fault and are quick to blame anyone but the guilty person. They were the ones that were dangerous
.

Royce cupped her cheek. “I need your promise, Texanna. I don’t want you in town.”

She turned her face into his palm and kissed it. “Okay. You won’t see me in town. I promise.” The lie was necessary to ease his mind—and her own. She couldn’t live in the nineteenth or any century without him.

His eyes narrowed. “Now why doesn’t that ease my mind?”

****

August eighth, the day Texanna dreaded, had finally arrived. Worry and fear closed over her heart like a vice. Royce had finished breakfast, and Texanna watched as he strapped on his gun belt.

She dried her hands and walked into his arms. He held her close and stroked her back. Her arms slid around his neck and pulled his head down for her kiss. His mouth was hot. As his tongue twined with hers, desire shot through her nerve endings, making her groan and press closer to his heat. Would she ever get enough of this man’s loving?

His large hands spanned her waist, kneading her flesh before he lifted her and set her on the table forcing her legs apart with his thighs. His arousal pressed against her and her sex clenched and became moist with wanting him. With a groan, he broke the kiss and pressed his lips to her forehead.

She ran her hands down his muscled buttocks. They tightened in response to her touch. She squeezed and pulled him closer. Trying to keep her apprehension out of her voice, she teased. “Are you sure you have to go in today? If you stay home, I’ll make it worth your while.”

A chuckle rumbled from his chest. “Shame on you, woman.”

He stepped back and she slid to the floor. “I won’t be home for lunch the next couple of days.”

“Why—”

“Maybell will send a plate over.” He caught her chin and tilted her face up to his. “Remember, you promised me you’d stay at home.”

“Royce...I—”

He tapped her nose with his finger. “Bull and Jake Tate were released on bail yesterday. They’re dangerous. It would grieve me to do it, but I’ll lock you in a cell if I have to.”

She wanted to argue but kept her mouth shut.

He dropped a lingering kiss on her lips. Voice hoarse, he whispered. “I love you more than life. Help me here.”

Texanna chewed her inner lip and nodded. “I love you, Royce.”

An hour before noon, Texanna sent Garrett over to Aggie’s for the afternoon and saddled Strawberry. She wanted to do as Royce had asked but couldn’t. Guilt gnawed at her for going against his wishes again, but she knew, without a doubt, it was vital, crucial, for her to be on the scene when the robbery occurred. Why, she didn’t know. But she couldn’t defy her instincts. She prayed Royce would be safe, and he’d forgive her for interfering one more time.

Today she’d worn her jeans, one of Royce’s shirts, and an old duster jacket she’d found in the chifforobe. She’d piled her hair on top of her head, put on an old work hat, and stuffed any stray locks under the band. For good measure, she spit on her hands, rubbed them in the dirt, and then smeared it over her face and neck. Dressed as she was, she didn’t think anyone would recognize her. Strawberry was a different story. She’d have to hide her somewhere while she skulked about town.

Texanna tied her horse to a tree in a grove just outside of Waco and, with the Winchester balanced on her shoulder, walked the rest of the way into town. Avoiding the stores where she might be recognized, she continued to walk up and down the sidewalk within easy viewing distance of the bank. Shortly before noon she noticed Royce, Pete, and several other deputies stationed at various points around the block. She tried to remain in the shade under the overhang of the storefronts so she wouldn’t be seen.

It was time to get inside the bank. Her plan was to somehow get upstairs and set up a position from the second floor window. From there she’d be able to see directly down on the street and the side street. She’d just started across Austin Avenue to the bank when four riders came down the street. They stopped a block away, tethered their horses, and split up.

Texanna imitated the walk of a cowboy thrown from his horse one too many times. From under her hat she noticed Royce glance her way and then toward the scattering four riders. She sighed with relief, and mimicking a gimp leg, hitched herself up the steps and into the bank.

At the teller’s window, she kept her head low and spoke through her nose as if she had a speech impediment. “Kin you gibe me the papers to deposit my dollars?”

Herschel, if she remembered his name correctly, eyed her suspiciously and slid a form and a pencil across to her.

She gave him a twisted grin and snorted a couple of times. “Be kay ifin I sits on them thar steps?”

He nodded. “Yes, Ma...sir...ahem, uh, I mean yes, that’ll be fine.”

Texanna wanted to laugh but bobbed her head and moved to sit on the stairs. She laid the Winchester on the step above. From there she had a good view of the front door and could crawl up to the second floor without being noticed. One of the riders made the block and was about to enter through a side entrance. She quietly grabbed the rifle and hustled up the stairs.

The man walked up to the teller and dropped a sack of coins on the counter. “I’d like to leave this for deposit.”

“Do you have an account with us, Mister?”

“No, but I’d like to open one.”

The teller cut his eyes toward where Texanna had been sitting on the steps, looked back at the customer, and then shoved paper and pencil toward him. “Please stand here, and I’ll take it when you’re finished.” He turned and glanced to the second story landing.

Texanna’s stomach clinched with nerves. The man was Jim Bass. His picture had been in the history book of Pearl’s. She removed her hat so Herschel could see her face and held her finger over her lips. It shook so much she was afraid he’d think she was waving. She forced it to stay steady and pointed to the man at the counter and then to the one standing on the outer steps with his back to them. Before she could mouth, “wait,” Herschel had sounded the alarm.

The man at the counter quickly drew his gun, aimed at the teller, and covered his mouth with a bandanna. “Hold it right there, fella.” Herschel stopped, hands in the air. “Now, turn around.”

Texanna drew a bead on Bass with the Winchester. She was shaking so hard, the words came out in a stutter. “Drop...the gun, Mister.”

The robber swung the gun her direction and without thinking, she shot him in the arm. The gun dropped from his hand and slid across the floor. The robber at the door fired, forcing her to hit the floor. Before his bullet hit the wall above her head, the outlaw was down from an outside bullet.

On her knees, she crawled into the upper floor office facing the front of the bank. She positioned herself at the open window and kept her eyes on anyone at Royce’s back. His men were placed along both sides of Fourth Street across Austin Avenue from the bank. Shots came from each side of Fourth Street. It paralleled the bank, so she couldn’t see how many robbers there were. With all the shots, it had to be more than four.

Royce was positioned behind a water trough in front of the barbershop directly across from the bank. Pete was a yard back and partially hidden behind a stack of wooden storage boxes. Jason was across the side street, lying flat in the bed of a buckboard.

Texanna heard cries of pain and realized two of the robbers on the street beside the bank had been shot. She’d started to relax some when she noticed a gun rise from behind the buckboard where Jason hid. The man rose until she saw it was Ross. Her heart stopped. Ross was the murderer. The young man looked toward Royce, and Texanna stood and screamed. “Royce, behind you!” The words were no sooner out of her mouth when Bull Tate stepped from the alley behind the McLelland Hotel and aimed his pistol at her. Gunfire exploded. Pain ripped through her shoulder, knocking her backwards. Her legs crumbled beneath her, and the world went black.

Royce had heard Texanna scream, but he couldn’t see her. He’d swung at her warning and seen Bull step from the alley and fire spurt from his gun, but he wasn’t hit. Evidently Ross had seen him at the same time, and they both had opened fire on the big man. The gun smoke was settling as Pete and Jason checked the bodies.

He turned to Ross. “What are you doing here?”

Ross shrugged. “I saw the trouble and thought I’d give you a hand.”

“Thanks. I appreciate it.” Royce looked around him and toward the bank. “Did you hear a woman yell?”

“Yeah, I did. She said, ‘Royce, behind you.” That’s when I turned and saw Bull.”

Oh, God. Texanna had been here. Royce hadn’t dreamed her voice. Where the hell was she now? He ran toward the bank and stopped at the sight of Herschel’s prisoner. “How’d you catch him?”

Herschel nodded toward the second story. “Someone shot his gun arm before he could shoot me.”

Fear curled in Royce’s belly. He bellowed. “Texanna! Where the hell are you?” Alarm and dread sent him racing inside and up the stairs. Jason was close behind him. “Dammit, Texanna, answer me!” Panic quivered in every cell of his body. On the second floor, all the doors were closed except one. With long angry strides, he charged into the room and stopped. Texanna lay on her back in the floor. The left shoulder of the duster she wore was covered with blood and it pooled onto the floor, forming a puddle beneath her. Royce fell to his knees and drew her into his arms. A howl of pain and rage rose from his chest. “No, God, please noooo.”