Chapter 15
Vin moved closer to the edge of the bluff, flat on his stomach, avoiding drawing any attention. He moved slowly to avoid stirring up any dust, anything the people from the town below could see.
Not that anyone would be looking up towards the ridge that ran along the western edge of the town. Least of all the man Vin had been watching for a good part of the day.
Vin pulled his spyglass back out and scanned the street until he found the familiar form.
Everything in him tensed, his muscles bunching and ready to launch him down the steep incline to give the man below what he deserved. Vin's nails scraped against the dirt as he fought against the urge.
Adjusting the telescope, he saw Eli Joe head into the saloon. The sight of the man who had tried to destroy Vin's life had anger growing, but when Vin thought of what Eli Joe had done to Lucy—what he had forced her to do—the anger hardened into a focused mission.
Vin let the thought of Lucy, and getting back to her, keep him from doing anything rash.
He settled into the dirt and scrub grass. The sun was already sinking low behind him, and from what he had seen over the last two days of tracking Eli Joe and his men, they were just starting out a long night of drinking and womanizing.
Vin used the fading light to look over the horses at the hitching post. And that was when he saw the palomino.
It took less than a second to recognize the small mare. He had bought her for Lucy four years earlier.
Lucy had said Eli Joe took the mare from her. It would have been within his rights as her husband. But Vin didn't think of that. All he could think of was how much Lucy loved that mare. How it was the last thing she had left and Eli Joe had taken it.
Vin hadn't realized he was moving, but then he was on his feet, keeping to cover as he made his way down the little used trail he had found to the town below.
It was dark by the time he approached the edge of the town. Pulling the brim of his hat lower, he kept to the boardwalk across the street from the saloon Eli Joe had gone into.
Vin found a shadow between two buildings to wait in. Motionless, he watched. He was able to see Eli Joe through the plate glass window across the street. Being this close and not able to settle this now was physically painful. Vin counted the men with Eli Joe to remind himself of why that was a terrible idea.
The sounds from within the saloon got louder, the music from the tinny piano growing to a faster cadence, the laughter bawdier.
When the raucous was full swing, Vin finally moved.
He crossed the street slowly, keeping his head ducked, his eyes alert beneath the brim of his hat.
He approached the palomino slowly.
The mare had been standing with her head lowered. At Vin's approach, she lifted her head.
"Hey, girl," Vin said in a low voice, stretching a hand out.
The mare pulled back against her tie violently.
Vin took a step back, giving her space. She snorted, her eyes wild.
Vin looked over his shoulder at the saloon. The door was propped open and he could see Eli Joe at a table with a haggard looking woman draped across him.
Vin moved again, this time more decisively. He didn't have time to ease the spooked horse into calming down. He quickly untied the reins from the hitching post. He swung up into the saddle, sending the mare into a couple nervous kicks, arching her back and giving a sharp buck. Vin held his balance and nudged her into a canter before she could build up more fear to fuel her movement.
He kept her at a steady pace until the edge of town, then urged her faster. He hadn't set up much of a camp on the hills around the town, but his horse was tied there. He'd collect his things and get moving.
He could at least be reassured that Eli Joe was already moving slowly across the territory, easily distracted by women and drinking and the occasional fight, but without his horse he would be held back further.
And Lucy would get her horse back. Vin had failed her when he left her with Eli Joe, but this was something he could make right for her.
#
Lucy rounded the corner of the barn, following the snip of black fur. She made it just in time to see the small animal squeeze between a rock and the foundation of the barn.
Crouching down, Lucy lowered her head, trying to see in the shadowy the crevice.
She tried tapping her fingers in front of the small opening, without a response.
"Come here," she coaxed. She leaned in closer, looking for dark fur in the equally black shadows.
"What are you doing?"
The voice behind her sent her heart leaping skyward and Lucy whirling quickly in her nearly kneeling position. She caught her balance and looked up.
Chris was standing there, looking from her to the space she had been staring intently into.
Lucy backed away from the opening. "Nothing," she said, feeling foolish.
Chris didn't look like he believed her. Keeping his distance from her, he knelt down and looked into the space.
"A—a kitten," Lucy said.
Chris glanced her way.
"There was a kitten in the yard and I—I followed him here." She wasn't sure if she liked being eye level with him when they were both kneeling like this. He stood a full two heads taller than her and it made it easy to not notice how intense his eyes could be.
Chris turned his attention back to where Lucy had seen the kitten go. He reached one of his work roughened hands into the space. When he withdrew it, a little scrap of a feline was clinging to it with tiny, sharp claws.
Rather than look annoyed by the pin pricks, Chris held the kitten up to examine it. The little animal was dwarfed by the size of his hand.
Chris' face moved slightly, softening as the kitten let out a mewling sound. He offered the kitten to Lucy.
Lucy hadn't realized she had leaned in closer to him until he turned and was close. Uncomfortably close. But…not unpleasantly.
Disconcerted, Lucy took the kitten from him, focusing on the pricks of pain from the claws rather than the brush of his calloused hand against hers.
"Awful little to be without his ma," Chris commented.
Lucy stroked a finger over the pitiful little thing's silky head. "I didn't see a cat or other kittens around."
Chris didn't say anything more and Lucy risked a look, trying to read his expression. He was watching the kitten.
"I could—maybe—if it's—if you don't mind—he could stay in the barn? He won't—I'll make sure he's not any trouble." Lucy felt her hands tightening around the kitten and forced herself to ease her grip. But she couldn't stand the thought of turning the little animal out to fend for itself. Something it surely wouldn't survive.
"Better keep him in the house," Chris said matter-of-factly. "He's too little to be out there on his own."
Lucy's eyes flew to Chris. Chris didn't look at her, reaching out a finger to brush the kitten's fur. Then he withdrew his hand and glanced at her. He stood without another word and Lucy watched him walk away, back around the corner of the barn.
She looked down at the ball of fur in her hands, wincing as the claws found another area of skin to grip.
"You'll get to stay in the house where it's safe," she whispered to the kitten.
Safe. It had been a long time since she had felt safe. But here on Chris' ranch, she was feeling the first traces of safety. It was hard to remember what that felt like.
Rising, Lucy made her way up towards the house with her precious handful.
Inside, Lucy found a small wooden bin in the bottom of the pantry and placed it near the stove. She set her little burden in it and rummaged through a drawer for one of the older dishtowels. She hesitated, not sure if Chris would want her using one of his towels as bedding for the stray.
The door opened before she had decided and Chris stood there.
He looked at the towel in her hand. "That'll be nice and soft for him." Without further comment, he placed a couple eggs on the table. "Egg yolk should be good. Don't have milk, but I've heard of orphaned cats takin' to egg yolk."
Lucy didn't know how to respond, but she didn't need to. Chris was already back out the door without waiting for a thank you.
Lucy tucked the towel into the crate, cracked one of the eggs against a small dish and separated out the yolk. But her thoughts weren't solely on the kitten anymore. They kept going back toward a withdrawn man in black who made sure a kitten wouldn't go hungry.
#
"Have you talked to her since the…wedding?" Mary asked. It felt ridiculous to even call it a wedding. It had been more of a business transaction. A legal formality. Certainly not the wedding a little girl dreamed of. And Mary could only imagine the marriage was even less of what a little girl dreamed of.
Inez pulled back the blanket on the basket of food and double checked the jostling of the buggy wasn't upsetting any of her dishes. "I have not. Not since she and Chris came to town for a meal."
Mary had heard from Inez about Lucy being too scared to go to the general store without Chris' permission. And she had seen on Vin's face how worried he was about his sister.
Thoughts of Vin had her brow knitting. She had never seen the soft spoken man rattled before. And he had been rattled—more than rattled—the last time she had spoken with him. He was worried about his sister and trying his best. But everything in her wanted to make things easier for him.
She clucked to her horse, encouraging him to pick up the pace. Going to check on Lucy while Vin was gone would hopefully ease his burden a little.
When the small ranch house came into view, the horse stepped more quickly and Mary didn't hold him back.
Chris stepped out of the barn when they pulled into the yard. He approached the horse and nodded a hello to her and Inez.
"You here to see Lucy?" he asked.
Mary nodded, letting him help her down from the buggy, then reaching up to take the basket of food from Inez while Chris helped her down.
"She's up at the house," Chris said. "I'll see to your horse."
Mary exchanged a look with Inez at Chris' abrupt departure from them. Inez shook her head in question.
Lucy opened the door to their knock. The look of concern on her face eased when she saw who it was and a small smile eased some of the tension from her face.
"I wasn't expecting you," she said, opening the door to allow them in. "Mr. Larabee's down at the barn, but I can go get him for you."
Mary tried not to let her surprise show. "We're not here to see Chris," she said. She also hadn't missed Lucy calling Chris Mr. Larabee. "We came to see you."
Lucy's face brightened even more and she motioned to seats at the kitchen table. "I can make tea. Or there's still coffee on the stove from breakfast."
Inez pulled back the towel over her basket. "I brought sweet tea." She set the mason jar on the table. "I had to make another batch after Ezra found the first. He said he cannot help himself. Something about a southern gentleman and sweet tea being a necessary pairing."
Lucy set out three glasses on the table. Mary unscrewed the lid and poured the fragrant beverage while Inez pulled out the lunch she had packed.
Lucy didn't say much while Inez served the food onto plates, but Mary noticed she looked relieved when Inez dished up a fourth plate and set it aside for Chris.
Mary looked around the sparse house. It wasn't much of a home, something she had never noticed when it was just Chris living there. But there was still no sign of a woman's touch even after weeks of Lucy's presence.
"Are you settling in?" Mary asked.
Lucy nodded. "It's nice here. The spare room has a down mattress," she said. "I've never slept on one before." She didn't offer anything else.
Mary wasn't sure how to broach the subject of Lucy's marriage. She wanted to ask how Lucy was really doing. To let her know that she and Inez were on her side.
Before she found the words, the door opened and Chris came in. As soon as he was in the kitchen, Lucy was on her feet. She was taking the extra plate and putting it in the oven, getting down a mug for coffee, hurrying to prepare a meal for Chris.
Chris barely glanced at her, crossing to the pump and washing his hands.
Inez exchanged a look with Mary.
Lucy set the coffee on the table and went to get another set of silverware out of the drawer. She evaded Chris' space, moving in a wide arc to get to the drawer, then steering clear of him on her way to the table.
"Sit," Chris said. He didn't look at Lucy, keeping his attention on drying his hands. "Enjoy your visit."
He used the dishtowel to take the plate from the oven before it was warmed. Setting the fork on his plate and using his free hand to get the coffee mug, he went out the door without another word.
Lucy worried her bottom lip between her teeth as she watched him go, but she stayed seated at the table. She had sat as soon as Chris told her, as if he had given an order.
"How are things going with Chris?" Inez asked gently, like she and Mary couldn't see for themselves.
Lucy looked at her in surprise. "Fine. He's been so good to let me stay here."
Mary weighed her words carefully. "He's a good man."
Lucy looked at her, as if she wanted Mary's reassurance.
"I couldn't help but notice things seem a little…tense."
Lucy's brow furrowed. "It's not bad," she said. "He's out in the barn most of the time."
That wasn't reassuring.
"And he's treating you well?" Inez finally asked. Of course she and Mary both knew Chris would never hurt a woman. But Lucy didn't look like she knew that.
"Yes," Lucy said, as if surprised Mary would ask. "He hasn't raised his voice or struck me or anything."
Mary blinked. Lucy frowned as if realizing that wasn't exactly what Mary had been asking.
"I—I accidentally burned the biscuits for supper last night," Lucy said. "And he didn't say anything."
Mary looked at Inez again.
Lucy looked like she was struggling to explain. "When I was—when I lived with—I burned Eli Joe's supper once." Her lips pulled back into a flat line. She took a deep breath. "He burned my hand for burning his supper." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "I don't think Mr. Larabee would ever do something like that."
This time Mary couldn't look away from the girl in front of her. "No," she finally managed. "No, Mr. Larabee would never do anything like that."
#
Chris wished he would have taken his lunch farther from the house. Somewhere the women's voices didn't carry. Even Lucy's soft voice came out through the window to him.
He had seen the burn mark across the back of her hand. He had assumed it had come from a cooking mishap.
His appetite soured, he set his plate down on the porch next to the step he sat on. At least Lucy knew he would never do something like that. It was small comfort when he was trying not to think about all she had been forced to endure with Eli Joe.
He got up, needing to get some distance. He snorted. Even Mexico wouldn't be enough distance. No, distance wasn't what he needed. Facing Eli Joe was what he needed. Putting him through everything he had done to Lucy. He hoped Vin would come back and say Eli Joe was getting close. He was ready to meet this sorry excuse for a man and face him.
His hands ached with how hard they were curled into fists. He was running out of chores in the barn. What he really needed to do was venture out into the pastures and check the fences farther out. But he couldn't leave Lucy alone at the house. And he wasn't about to work on anything in the house that needed doing.
His breath escaped in a harsh hiss between his teeth. He grabbed some oil off the shelf near where he kept the tack and took down the first bridle he found. It didn't matter he had oiled all the leather last week. He would do it again this week. Anything to keep moving, to keep from thinking about Lucy's last year in Texas.
He was on the second saddle when the quiet voice interrupted him.
"Mr. Larabee?"
Lucy's quiet voice carried across the barn.
Chris looked up.
Lucy ventured into the barn. "I just need to get Mary's horse. They're ready to go."
Chris stood, ignoring the way Lucy automatically took a step back. "I'll get the horse hitched."
"I—I can do it," Lucy assured him.
"Said I'd do it," Chris said. And it sent her back a step again. He took a breath. He tried for a quieter voice, one he hadn't had much use for over the past few years. "Thanks for offerin'," he said.
For once he seemed to have said the right thing. Lucy's shoulders relaxed and she nodded, before leaving the barn.
He had left the harness on Mary's horse, just putting him in a stall with some feed and water. It didn't take long to get the horse hooked back up to the small buggy.
He stood holding the reins while Lucy said her goodbyes. Mary and then Inez gave her a warm hug and Lucy looked more relaxed than he had seen her.
He waited for Inez and Mary to come toward the buggy. He stopped them before they climbed up.
"Next time you come out," he said. "Can you bring some things for her?" He didn't even know what he was supposed to ask for. "Things a lady might need? Clothes."
Inez nodded and Mary made a small sound of agreement. He ignored the look of doubt in their eyes. It wasn't anything different than he felt every waking second since he had brought Lucy to the ranch. But there was a job that needed doing, Lucy needed protection, and he had never backed away from what needed doing.
He handed them each up into the buggy then stepped back, giving Mary room to turn the horse and head down the drive.
He turned to go back toward the barn and saw Lucy still standing at the bottom of the porch steps, watching the women go. Her face was relaxed, her blue eyes warm. The breeze pulled at her tawny hair, a few tendrils tickling across her cheeks.
The breeze shifted, carrying the light scent of lavender toward Chris. Lucy looked away from the buggy as it disappeared around a bend and met his eyes.
The warmth didn't fade immediately. And seeing her look at him with something besides fear was too much. Chris turned back toward the barn. Toward anything that would keep him away from Lucy.
#