Chapter 3
Ava stood at the window in her room. She wasn't supposed to still be in this town. But it wasn't like she had any other destination in mind. She supposed she should just count her blessings that the man with the mustache—Buck—had taken pity on her and let her out of the jail.
A light pain passed across her stomach, but it wasn't alarming like the earlier pains had been. The pains were slowing, less intense and less frequent. Ava brushed her hand across her stomach and closed her eyes, allowing herself to feel relief that she had a roof over her head for the night.
She stepped back from the window. The sounds from the saloon from below her had faded since she came upstairs, the patrons heading home or to other places.
She sank down onto the bed and the baby gave a hard kick. Ava pressed a hand against her stomach and felt the hard knob of a baby's elbow or knee pressing back against her hand. It wouldn't be long before she was holding the baby in her arms.
Ava sucked in a shaky breath. Her heart started to skip. She didn't know what she was supposed to do with a baby. Her heart picked up pace to a panicked rhythm. She fisted her hands in the bed cover.
She couldn't raise a baby on her own. She couldn't take care of a baby. Her hands started to shake, her breath came in short gasps.
What was she doing? What was she supposed to do all on her own?
She heard the sound of voices downstairs. Muted tones, nothing more than a rumble. But she could recognize them.
She closed her eyes and heard the deep voice of the preacher man, though she couldn't make out his words. The laconic tones of Ezra. The quieter undistinguishable words of Chris.
Her heart slowed it's frantic pace.
JD's eager voice. Nathan's calm tone.
Her breathing steadied enough for her to draw in a deep breath.
Buck's rich timbre.
She laid back on the bed, pulling the blankets around her and let her eyes fall closed.
Her baby shifted, a small movement, then gave a hiccup.
Ava rested her hand on her baby, savoring the tiny movements as she fell asleep to the quiet hum of conversation downstairs.
#
"Mr. Sanchez, I have no idea why you have the desire to be fleeced by a common charlatan."
Josiah smiled at Ezra. "And I have no idea why you have no desire to trust anyone."
Ezra was taking a drink and sputtered. He coughed. "Yes, no idea why I wouldn't trust the lady who attempted to convince us she was a member of a holy order, stole money directly from Mr. Wilmington and Mr. Larabee, and has somehow convinced me to give her one of my rooms at no expense."
"That about sums it up," JD said. "You really gonna let her work for you, Josiah?"
Ezra didn't bother to listen to the answer he already knew. He pushed back from the table and headed toward the bar. He started stowing bottles where they belonged. He didn't want to think about the woman who had somehow managed to weasel her way into the men's good graces. He glanced toward Chris. He saw the dark look on that man's face.
Most of the men, he silently amended. Buck may be swayed by a pretty face, Nathan by threat of her imminent birth, Josiah by a sad story, but Chris didn't look to be buying it.
Ezra supposed he should be thankful one of the men was keeping his wits about him in the face of a master manipulator. And a pretty one at that.
"But she can't just go on her way," Buck was saying. "Not with a little one that looks like it's comin' at any time."
"What're you gonna do, Buck?" Chris asked. "Play nursemaid to that girl and her baby?"
Buck looked alarmed by the prospect. "No! But I ain't gonna let her just go on her way with nothin' to her name."
"Speakin' of her name," Vin finally spoke up. "Anyone catch hers?"
Six heads shook in response to the question. Ezra figured her name wasn't too important. She would most likely be on her way sooner rather than later. And any name she gave them would be false, no way to match it to any of the wanted posters sitting in the jail.
"We gotta help her," JD said. All the eagerness in his youthful voice told Ezra more than anything else would have how naïve the young man was about human nature.
Ezra grabbed the clean towel on the counter and set to work polishing the glassware that had been washed earlier and still needed to be put away.
He had to admit a grudging respect for the lady. She certainly had used everything at her disposal to work the men over. And she had even managed to lighten Chris and Buck's pockets, though why she would have thought a mark as dangerous as Chris was a good idea, he would probably never know. Clearly she had not had anyone to teach her the ropes, as Maude had for him.
He glanced toward the ceiling, wondering if she had anyone before reminding himself it was none of his concern.
He had a feeling he would do well to remember that in the coming days.
#
Chris told himself Josiah didn't need any help. It wasn't like Josiah would be completely taken in by a pretty face. But his need to help the less fortunate may cloud his judgment. And, for that reason alone, Chris had gotten up early and positioned himself at the front of the church.
Josiah was working at the back of the church, near the door, sanding window sills.
The doors at the back of the sanctuary stood open, letting in the morning air. Chris wondered when the con artist and pick pocket would get out of bed. If she was anything like Ezra, they wouldn't be seeing her until noon at the earliest. And yet Chris was at the church.
A shadow moved in front of the door and Chris looked that direction. It was too tall to be the petite stranger.
Buck stepped into the church, holding out an arm to escort in a second figure.
The petite blonde ignored his arm and came into the church on her own. She looked across the church and met Chris' eyes.
Even from that distance, Chris could see the distrust in her blue eyes. He held back a snort. He wasn't the one who had made off with stolen money the night before.
"Morning, Miss," Josiah said.
The woman turned her attention from Chris to Josiah. Chris could see the way she hesitated at the big man's approach.
"Good morning," she said primly.
"Did you eat breakfast?" Josiah asked.
The woman squared her shoulders. "I'm fine," she said. "What would you like me to do?" she asked, looking around the run down chapel.
Chris saw Josiah look at Buck and knew the nod of his head toward the door was him sending Buck to get breakfast for the woman.
Chris wished he didn't feel a twist of concern in his stomach. The woman shouldn't be skipping meals. Not when she was carrying a little one. He wondered how many meals she had missed if she hadn't found someone to pickpocket.
Clearing his throat loud enough to make her startle, he stood from the pew he was lounging against. His boots thudded down the aisle as he approached her and Josiah.
"Things under control here?" he asked Josiah.
Josiah nodded calmly. The woman narrowed her eyes in response to Chris studying her.
He needed to get out of there before suspicion turned to pity and he found himself just as defenseless as Buck and Josiah appeared to be in the face of the new resident in town.
"I'll be by later to check in," he said, not bothering to temper the subtle threat that came through in his words. "Miss…?"
She set her jaw and gave him a smile so sweet it rang false. "Ava," she said. "Ava LaCroix. And I thank you so kindly for your concern."
She held his eyes and Chris narrowed his.
"You holler if you need anything, Josiah," Chris said. He gave the lady one more look and she pointedly ignored him.
Chris hoped she would move on. Soon.
#