Authors: Noelle Marchand
Meanwhile, Lorelei casually meandered in the direction of the
camp. She should have moved faster, but she couldn’t help lingering to watch the
sight before her. Sean was always so serious, so stern—it was fascinating to
watch him grinning and playing with the children. It wasn’t fair of him to look
quite that…handsome. Not when she was trying so hard to ignore him.
Too late, she realized she’d missed her chance to escape. Her
opponent caught sight of her and stalked toward her. He smiled predatorily.
“Sending the children to do your dirty work, is that it?”
She widened her eyes innocently. “Now, Sean. It was all in
fun.”
“Was it?”
She glanced around for help, but the children had abandoned her
to stagger laughingly toward camp. “Sean, don’t…”
Sean swept her into his arms and spun her in a tight circle.
She let out a small scream that lasted from the first rotation until he set her
feet back on the ground. Her eyes finally opened to focus on his. The trees
continued to sway perilously behind him. He gave her a pointed look. “There.
Now, we’re even.”
“That’s what you think,” she muttered and tried to step around
him, but he refused to release her.
“That’s what I know. Unless you want me to haul you back to the
Peppin jail for assaulting an officer.” He gave a low whistle. “Now, there’s an
idea.”
She glared at him. “Oh, why won’t you just go away?”
He leaned toward her, meeting her challenge with his own.
“You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”
She pushed away from his chest, then wiped her suddenly wet
hands on her skirt. “Yes, I certainly would.”
“Tough.” His green eyes captured hers. “You won’t get rid of me
until I drop you and your problems back in your father’s lap. I gave him my
word—and Lawson, too—which means I’m going to stick to you like glue.”
“You mean fleas,” she muttered as she brushed past him and
walked back to camp. She wouldn’t let it bother her that nothing short of a
promise to her father and his best friend would tempt Sean to stick close to
her. She hated being his
duty,
and he certainly
didn’t want her to be anything else, so the smartest thing for her to do would
be to stay as far away from him as possible.
True to form, he followed her back a few minutes later and took
a seat near the campfire to whittle as she helped Marissa prepare supper. She
ignored him and was grateful when Marissa struck up a conversation. “Tell me
more about Peppin, Lorelei. It sounds like a charming town.”
“There really isn’t much else to say,” she said as she felt
Sean’s gaze resting on her. “It’s small but not stiflingly so. The people are
friendly and really care about you. There is always something going on, so
you’re hardly ever bored. You can just go to the mercantile or the café to find
someone to talk to or about, in some cases. It’s just a normal everyday Texas
town. The only thing special about it are the people.”
“It sure is a good town,” Sean said wryly. “I guess that’s why
most people are content to stay right where they are.”
Lorelei refused to meet his gaze. She’d never said Peppin
wasn’t a good town. It was her home. Nothing would change that. She’d only left
to get away from Sean, and that hadn’t done any good. Why, she could do a better
job avoiding him in Peppin than she could in this wilderness. So it was decided.
She was going home. She dreaded the victory she knew she’d see in Sean’s gaze
when she told him, but it couldn’t be helped. She’d tell him tomorrow.
* * *
Sean ignored Lorelei’s quelling stare as he propelled
her through the evening shadows that painted everything in dark smudges of
color. The Brightlys must have made very close ties with the people in this
area. An inordinate amount of them were still around more than an hour after the
service was over. Lorelei stopped short at the sight of the large crowd of
people waiting to speak with the Brightlys. “I can wait until these people
leave.”
He shook his head. “I’m not going to give you that much time to
change your mind. Besides, we’ll both need our sleep. We’re leaving at first
light.”
She rolled her eyes. “I know. You keep saying that.”
“That’s because I like the way it sounds,” he said in
satisfaction. Placing a hand on her back, he guided her forward until they took
their place at the front of the line.
“You’re going to get us shot,” she whispered.
“This will only take a minute,” he said loudly enough for the
others in line to hear. “I’m sure the Brightlys won’t mind talking to their
children’s nanny for a moment.”
A short while later, with James and Marissa’s undivided
attention, he announced, “Lorelei has finally agreed to let me escort her home.
We’ll be leaving at first light.”
“You’re leaving?” Marissa asked in alarm.
Lorelei shot him a glance that told him exactly what she
thought of his blunt way of telling the couple. “I’m afraid so. I’m so sorry! I
know this leaves you in a lurch.”
“We told you that you could leave whenever you liked. The
problem is that the two of you would be traveling without a chaperone,” James
stated gravely.
Sean shrugged. “It isn’t ideal, but it can’t be helped.”
Marissa shook her head. “You have to think about Lorelei’s
reputation.”
“Her reputation,” he echoed with frustration, then glanced over
his shoulder at the milling crowd that was shamelessly listening in.
“Maybe we should stay after all, Sean,” Lorelei suggested, her
determination wavering. “Just until we reach the next town with a train station.
Then we won’t have to worry about traveling unchaperoned.”
“No,” he said a bit too abruptly. “That could take days and
days. We have to get back to Peppin. Perhaps one of the parishioners would be
willing to act as our chaperone.”
“I’ll do it!”
Sean jumped in surprise at the quick response. He was still
searching for the origin of that almost musical voice when a woman stepped
forward to claim it. She didn’t look anything like he thought a chaperone would.
She was probably older than his mother would be if she’d lived but had pulled
her mousy brown curls back with a girlish ribbon.
She stepped forward again which drew his gaze downward. His
eyebrows rose. The woman was wearing pants or some female variation of them.
Bloomers—Sean remembered his sister Ellie calling them. They were tucked into
her high buckled leather boots.
Pastor James shifted uneasily beside Sean. “I don’t think we’ve
met, ma’am.”
“The name’s Miss Elmira Shrute. I’ve been traveling and came
back to visit family.” The woman’s smile seemed friendly enough. “I’m about
ready to head out though, so I can go with you. I assume the position would be
paid?”
Sean glanced at Lorelei. Her reluctant expression turned
doubtful. She cleared her throat daintily. “The little money I have, I’m going
to need for traveling. Perhaps someone else would be willing…”
Her words were drowned out by a general murmur stating the
opposite. Sean caught snatches of phrases like, “children to feed,” “farm to
run” and “pure foolishness.” He grimaced.
Lorelei shifted slightly closer. “Well, what are we going to
do?”
He glanced back at Miss Elmira. “I could pay you two
dollars.”
The woman grinned. “That works for me. When do we leave?”
“Sean, I’d like a brief word with you,” Pastor James said as he
took a step backward and led Sean away from the crowd. “I have to advise you
against this. I’ve never met that woman before, but I know of her family. They
don’t exactly have the best reputation for being honest in their dealings with
folks.”
Sean frowned. “I appreciate your concern, but I’d be taking a
chance with anyone I hired. Lorelei has agreed to go back with me, and I’ve got
to get her moving before she changes her mind or gets a notion to take off on
her own again. Miss Elmira may not be my first choice, but she is the only
option.”
“It’s your decision and I respect that.” Pastor James gave a
reluctant nod. “Do what you have to do. Just keep an eye out for trouble.”
They walked back to the crowd. Sean met Lorelei’s inquiring
look with an affirming one of his own. His shoulders relaxed from the tension he
hadn’t even realized was there. Things were finally going according to plan.
Like Pastor James advised, he’d keep an eye out for trouble. It wouldn’t be hard
to do since he knew exactly what it looked like—a dark-haired beauty with the
knack for getting under his skin in all the wrong ways.
* * *
“Lorelei, wake up. We’ve been robbed.” Sean’s words
filtered through her consciousness, rousing her with a start.
Lorelei pushed the mass of dark curls from her face. Her
hairpins had disappeared and Miss Elmira had refused to part with even one of
her ribbons to help out a bedraggled fellow traveler. After two days of
traveling, the woman had turned out to be as mean as she was peculiar. Lorelei
realized Sean knelt at her side, so she propped herself on her elbow and frowned
at him. “Was anyone hurt? Is Miss Elmira all right?”
“If I had to speculate, I’d say Miss Elmira is feeling pretty
good right about now.” He crossed his arms and glared out into the woods. “James
was right about her. She must have taken off in the middle of the night, and my
wallet went with her.”
“
Miss Elmira
robbed us?” She
glanced around to find her valise, but it was gone.
“Yes, and it’s a little unsettling because she must have
touched me to get my wallet and I never even felt it. In fact, I’ve never slept
so deeply in my life. You don’t think that tea she gave us…”
“At this point, I wouldn’t put it past her,” Lorelei said with
a stifled yawn. “At least she left your horse.”
He nodded. “She had her own horse. Besides, horse thieving is a
hanging offense.”
“What do we do? Should we go back to the Brightlys?”
Sean moved toward the fire he’d built and poured himself a cup
of coffee. “I’m sure they’ve moved on by now. It would take longer to catch up
with them than to simply keep going to the nearest train station.”
“But we don’t have any money!” She threw her bedroll aside and
began to pace. “I suppose I could ask my father to wire us some once we get to
town. That’s probably the only option.”
“I was kind of hoping you might say that,” he admitted.
She sighed as she sank down onto a log across from him. “I
can’t believe I’ve been robbed twice since I left Peppin. What is
wrong
with this world?”
He glanced at her over his steaming cup. “An impulsive young
woman ran off to California alone. That’s what’s wrong with the world.”
She groaned. “You’d think there might be a grace period for
fifteen minutes after I wake up, but no! You have to let me know you disapprove
of me before I even have my coffee. I got that message a
long
time ago. Now, hand it over.”
“Get your own.” He nodded to the tin cup resting on the ground
next to the coffeepot and ignored her rant. “At least she left us enough
supplies to get to town.”
She poured herself a cup, then blew away some of the steam. “I
wish she’d left a letter of authentication, as well. ‘To whom it may concern.
This letter is to verify that in addition to my work as a thief I also dabble in
conartistry—’”
“Conartistry?” Sean frowned, which was the closest thing to a
smile she’d seen all morning.
She held up one finger and shook her head. “Let me finish. ‘I
also dabble in
conartistry
by convincing young men
and women that I am an adequate chaperone before robbing them blind and leaving
them alone in the wilderness. Therefore, let it be known that I exist and
testify to my betrayed charges’ good character.’”
He watched her carefully. “Do you always talk out of your head
in the morning?”
“No, I usually try to talk out of my mouth. However, today
there are extenuating circumstances.” A quick glance at Sean’s nearly smiling
lips reminded her of why she’d dictated that letter in the first place. “What
are people going to think when we show up without a chaperone?”
His green eyes flickered warily. “Hopefully nothing, but the
less time we’re alone in the wilderness, the better. It’s time to pick up the
pace.”
Chapter Three
L
orelei paced in front of the Western Union office as she waited for a response to the telegram she’d sent her father. The anticipation she felt knowing she would soon hear from her family confirmed she’d made the right decision about going back to Peppin. Just the thought of seeing her home again suddenly made her so excited she couldn’t get herself to sit down. Then again, she’d been sitting down—or rather, sitting
up,
on the back of a horse—for three days, and she wasn’t about to do it again if she could help it.
For the past few minutes, she’d been testing out different walks. Originally, her purpose had simply been to stretch her legs. To her fascination, she’d discovered that it didn’t matter how many different ways she walked past Sean. He simply would not look up from that piece of wood he’d been shaving with his pocketknife for the past half hour.
She literally waltzed by his bench. He still didn’t notice, but a little girl with beribboned braids stopped to watch. Lorelei winked at her before the child’s mother urged her on. The girl looked over her shoulder and beamed, causing Lorelei to do the same. Sean’s horse neighed a welcome when she danced toward his hitching post. “Hello, Jericho. You know, you’re much friendlier than your owner.”
“Lorelei.” She jumped at the sound of Sean’s voice and turned to see him gesture to the seat beside him on the bench. She reluctantly sat down. He handed her the piece of wood and tucked his knife back in his pocket. “I made this for you.”
A miniature replica of her stolen valise sat in her hands complete with tiny handles and a floral pattern. She stared at it blankly, then realized he expected a response. “This is nice.”
“Thanks.” He leaned back on the bench and covered his face with his Stetson.
She looked at it for another minute, then turned toward him to sharply ask, “Why would you do something this nice?”
“I was bored.”
“You should be bored more often,” she suggested.
He pushed his hat up slightly to meet her gaze. “Don’t let it go to your head.”
“Oh, I won’t. I hate you. You hate me. Isn’t that how this story goes?”
He turned to level her with his sincere green eyes. “I don’t hate you.”
She stared back at him. She believed him. In fact, she’d known it all along. It was just nice to hear him say it. For a moment she saw all the things that had once made her fall in love with him. She allowed a hint of a smile to reach her lips.
She could almost imagine that he began to lean toward her. The Western Union operator interrupted the tenuous moment by finally calling her into the building. She immediately stood. Sean trailed after her because apparently that’s what he did.
“Miss, your father sent the money with a message and special instructions.”
“What was the message?”
“I love you and am glad you’re safe,” he read in a nearly monotone voice.
“Thanks, but I hardly know you,” she replied calmly. The man looked up sharply and frowned. Sean turned away with a sudden coughing fit. She smiled weakly. “That was just a little joke.”
Sean stepped up beside her again to ask, “What were the instructions?”
“I am to place all of the money in your care, sir. You are instructed to take care of Miss Wilkins’s needs and your own from these funds. You are not to let the young lady run off under any circumstances.”
“Papa, you didn’t,” she moaned.
The man surveyed her shrewdly. “He obviously doesn’t trust you with the money, Miss Wilkins.”
“Smart papa,” Sean added with a smile.
She frowned at them both. “Now y’all are just rubbing it in. Sean, get the money from the man and let’s get on with this.”
“What now?” Sean asked once they left the building.
“We both need a change of clothes, food, a room at the boardinghouse and a train ticket for tomorrow.”
* * *
Sean realized things had gone too far the moment the words
you hate me
came out of Lorelei’s mouth. He’d nearly gotten the picture when she’d questioned why he was being nice, but it wasn’t until later that the extent of their poor treatment of each other hit home. He wasn’t perfect, but he held himself and others to a very high standard of behavior. Lorelei had failed that standard when she’d inexplicably walked away from their almost romance two years ago and again when she’d impetuously run from the altar and his best friend.
He did have legitimate reasons to dislike her, but
hate
seemed like such an unchristian word. If he’d learned anything by spending countless hours with the woman, it was that she possessed redeeming qualities. She had a funny sense of humor, she hardly ever complained and she didn’t fall apart under pressure. He shouldn’t discount those things entirely—but neither should he let them skew his view of her completely. Maybe there was a balance. The trouble was that he wasn’t sure how to find it.
“Where is everyone?” Lorelei murmured as they waited at the front of the boardinghouse she’d visited before.
Sean glanced around, then spotted the bell on the counter and rang it loudly.
“Mrs. Drake,” Lorelei exclaimed as the widow exited the kitchen.
The woman smiled as she glided toward them. “My dear Miss Wilkins, it’s good to see you again. I guess you’ve given up your desire to see your great-aunt in California.”
“Yes. I’ll be catching the morning train back home.” Lorelei gestured to him. “I think you’ve met Mr. O’Brien.”
He nodded respectfully. “Mrs. Drake.”
“We were hoping we might be able to stay here tonight.”
“Certainly.” Mrs. Drake turned to survey her keys. “I assume someone else will be joining you.”
Sean tried to act as if he wasn’t nervous. “No, ma’am. We’ll just take two rooms, please.”
“Do you mean that the two of you have been traveling alone?” Mrs. Drake’s perplexed look changed to concern. “And for days, by the looks of you. I don’t understand how Pastor and Mrs. Brightly would allow such a thing.”
“We had a chaperone,” Lorelei offered.
Mrs. Drake frowned. “I’d like to talk to her then. She needs to accompany you all the way home, not just part of the way.”
“That isn’t possible, ma’am.” He decided to state the facts honestly and very calmly. “The woman who accompanied us from the Brightlys’ camp ran off with all our money.”
The woman was quiet for a long moment, then her gaze trailed to the package of new clothing he’d stacked on the counter. Before he could try to explain, her eyes lifted to his again. They boasted a hint of suspicion. “Let me guess. You were sleeping, and you didn’t even feel this woman pick your pocket, isn’t that right?”
Sean stared at her in amazement. “How could you possibly know that?”
“I’ve just heard that story somewhere before.” The woman transferred her gaze to Lorelei. “Dear, I think you’d at least use a little originality.”
Lorelei leaned forward earnestly. “Oh, but it’s true this time, too.”
“So the parcels in your hand just suddenly appeared?”
“My father wired us money.”
“I see.” The woman crossed her arms. “What did he have to say about your predicament?”
“I didn’t tell him.” Lorelei admitted quietly.
Her eyebrows rose. “No, I guess you wouldn’t.”
Sean felt it was time for him to step in. “Now, hold on. We aren’t making this up. The Brightlys saw her leave with us.”
She nodded. “Yet, she isn’t here now. Do you remember where you left the Brightlys in case I write to them?”
He named the settlement.
Her eyes narrowed. “That’s a five-day journey. How long did you actually have this supposed chaperone?”
He cleared his throat. “Really, Mrs. Drake, I appreciate your concern but I think this line of questioning is unnecessary. Chaperone or no chaperone, Miss Wilkins is under protective custody as per her father’s request. Now, are you going to rent us two rooms or should we take our business elsewhere?”
The widow surveyed Sean skeptically for a moment. “Miss Wilkins, I’ll place you on the second floor. Sheriff, your room will be on the first floor. No gentlemen are allowed upstairs after dinner.”
“Thank you,” Lorelei said.
Mrs. Drake gave a tight nod, then sent Sean a warning look. “If either of you need anything tonight, remember that my room is directly across from the stairs.”
He barely refrained from rolling his eyes but noticed Lorelei gave Mrs. Drake a reassuring smile. He took his key, picked up Lorelei’s packages and helped her find her room. As they walked up the stairs, he saw Lorelei bite her lip to keep from laughing. “You think this is funny, do you?”
She allowed her smile to grow. “Actually, yes, it is rather amusing. You made it sound like I was your prisoner. And you really ought to stop acting as though I’m a runaway. I’m much too old to be considered anything but an adult taking a trip, despite what my father or anyone else might say.”
He frowned as he followed her around the corner. “When I say ‘runaway’ I am not describing your legal status.”
She glanced at him over her shoulder. “Then what are you describing?”
“Your recent pattern of behavior,” he said, then paused as she found her room and tried to unlock the door. “I still think you’re just waiting for the first possible moment to get away from me.”
“I am, but my efforts aren’t doing any good. This door won’t open.” She turned the knob and banged her hip on the door, then winced. He planted his shoulder into the door and shoved. It groaned as it sprang open. She took her packages from him. “It was my decision to come back with you, remember? I’ve already told my father that I’m coming home. I won’t run away. I give you my word on that.”
He leaned against the threshold. “I think we all know what that’s worth, don’t we?”
It took her a moment to realize he was referring to her engagement with Lawson. When she did, pain flashed across her face. “How dare you? If you want to be mad at me because I left your best friend at the altar, then fine. Be mad, but you should really thank me for doing it.”
He scoffed out a laugh. “Why would I thank you? You broke his heart.”
She lifted a brow imperviously. “He didn’t tell you that.”
“He didn’t have to. I saw the look on his face. He was stricken.”
“He didn’t love me, Sean. I know. I asked him. To be honest, I didn’t love him the way I should have, either. That’s why I didn’t marry him.” She lifted her gaze to his. “He deserved better than a wife who isn’t in love with him. He deserved better than me. Is that what you wanted to hear?”
Yes, but it didn’t sound as wonderful as he thought it would. Not with that thread of pain running through the words and the self-deprecating tone in her voice. He met her gaze contritely. “I’m—”
“Save it,” she bit out, then slammed the door in his face.
Thankfully the hinge made it close slowly enough that he could jump out of the way. He stared at the thick barrier between them. It always seemed to be there, whether visible or not. If it broke down, he wasn’t sure how he’d handle it. It might not change anything, or it might change everything. He allowed his forehead to rest on the cool door for a moment. He couldn’t lie to himself. Sometimes he wondered what might have happened if he’d fought for her even a little instead of just surrendering to someone else’s claim. He’d never know. Maybe it was best that he didn’t.
* * *
Sean helped Lorelei down from the train and onto the platform. She was immediately hailed by her parents who pulled her into a long hug. When her father stepped away, Sean handed him Lorelei’s new traveling bag. The man gave a nod of appreciation but said nothing more. He seemed too moved at seeing his daughter to speak.
Sean returned his nod. He hesitated for a moment, then went to see about his horse. Once Jericho was secured, he looked for the Wilkinses again. He spotted them walking away. He watched them go, wondering if Lorelei would turn to look at him or make any attempt to say goodbye. She didn’t.
They’d both agreed not to lie if asked about the lack of a chaperone, but they weren’t going to shout Elmira’s deception from the rooftops, either. Lorelei had already told her parents they’d been robbed but hadn’t mentioned when or by whom. Sean hoped that by not telling anyone, the subject would become a nonissue. And if that was the case, then this whole convoluted adventure of chasing Lorelei across Texas, bringing her home in spite of all the obstacles, spending every hour in her maddening, exhilarating company would be over. Relegated to the past and forgotten—like it never happened at all.
“What do you mean he hasn’t responded?” a man’s frustrated voice bellowed, snapping Sean out of his thoughts as he passed the telegraph office that was next door to the railroad station.
Sean stopped to watch the rough-looking older man who stood outside the door. The telegrapher shrugged casually. “I mean what I said. The message was picked up, but no response was given. That’s all I know. Now, you can check again tomorrow if you like. Until then, I suggest you stop causing trouble and leave.”
The man muttered a few unholy words, kicked the dust and walked away. Sean watched him carefully, then went inside to speak to the telegrapher. “Hello, Peter. What can you tell me about that man?”
“He says his name is Alfred Calhoun. He’s been coming by every day for the last week. He sends telegraphs to a Frank Bentley down in Houston. They seem to be trying to coordinate a meeting of some kind. Near as I can tell, that Bentley fellow is coming here.”
“I don’t guess there’s anything wrong with that.”
“No. He’s an odd one, though. I don’t think he has a job. He seems to spend most of his time in the Red Canteen.”
Sean nodded thoughtfully. “If you find out anything that concerns you or if you want me to help you handle him, just let me know.”
“I will. I’ve been talking to Jeff about it and I’d planned to tell you when you got back in town. I’m glad you got to see the man in person.” Peter finally smiled. “You find that Wilkins girl all right?”
“Yes, she’s back with her family now.”
“Wish I’d been asked to rescue her.” Peter gave him a knowing smile.
“I wish you had been, too,” he said with a parting grin. Peter was still laughing when the door closed behind Sean. He let out a sigh. All right, so that wasn’t entirely the truth, but it was better to discourage any implication like that before it had a chance to take the form of a rumor. He only hoped that would be enough. The last thing he needed was for people to start asking questions. He planned to let this little episode in his life fade into the obscurity of nothing more than a faint memory. That was for the best. Wasn’t it?