Christian Alert!

8. Sparks

Dimitri sat by his evening campfire, brooding over the events of the day. While most of his thoughts revolved around Rose (the incident with Madam Kiroy; their training session at the punching bag; the way she was beginning to affect him despite his best intentions to remain professional), his encounter with the saloon owner before church still played on his mind, as did the conversation he'd had afterwards with Victor Dashley.

'So what brings you and your daughter Natalie to Saints Town, Mr Dashley?' Dimitri had asked, after the usual pleasantries were exchanged.

'Please. Call me Victor,' the old man declared magnanimously. 'I'm here on business, actually,' he explained. 'I'm an investor by trade. The government is currently considering proposals for a transcontinental telegraph line – running a wire all the way from Washington to San Francisco – and I plan to put in a tender for the project. If my bid is accepted, the line will run right through Saints Town. Can you imagine it? Now it takes months for a stagecoach to send a message from one side of the country to the other, but soon you'll be able deliver the news yourself, instantaneously, via a telegram!'

Dimitri looked mildly impressed. 'A difficult task given the distance and terrain.'

'Positively gargantuan,' Dashley affirmed with a wolfish grin, clearly relishing the challenge. 'I've already sunk a pot-load of cash into the venture and we haven't even started yet. We'll have to send thousands of telegraph poles over the mountains, and then there's the Indian threat to be considered as well, but just think of the money to be made when we're finished!'

'Just think,' the deputy echoed drily. Dimitri had no interest in accumulating wealth – he only wanted to earn enough to secure his own family's future. 'And what is your connection with the Draymore girl?' he probed.

Mr Dashley and his daughter seemed to be a fixture at Cottonwood Creek Ranch but as far as Deputy Belikov could tell there were no family ties.

Victor peered up at the tall man with a glimmer in his eye. 'When I first visited Saints Town, Dr Draymore took an interest in my work and invited me to stay at his ranch whenever I was travelling through. Once it became clear my business on the telegraph line would bring me out this way more often, I made arrangements for my daughter Natalie to board at the doctor's ranch under Madam Kiroy so she could be closer to me.' The businessman leaned closer and lowered his voice, so as to avoid being heard by the surrounding parishioners. 'My Natalie was just settling in with the Draymore family when the accident happened – a nasty business, that. Seeing as dear Lisa had no family to speak of, and Madam Kiroy wasn't coping well with the sudden death of her employers, I offered to become the girl's benefactor until she reached the age of majority.'

'That's very generous of you,' Dimitri admitted, surprised. He'd pegged Victor Dashley as the kind of man who only gave his help if he knew he would receive something in return.

'Hardly, my boy,' the older man dismissed the remark. 'The good doctor and his wife had taken care of my daughter. It felt only right that I should take care of theirs.'

Dimitri nodded in acknowledgement, turning briefly to check on Rose. She had been approached by a well-dressed young gentleman, but was conducting herself in a polite and proper manner so the deputy didn't interfere.

'And how is Miss Draymore coping since her return home?' he enquired, swinging his attention back to the old businessman. 'I feel I should check in on her but Madam Kiroy has made it plain she doesn't want my charge anywhere near the property, and I don't plan on leaving Miss Hathaway unattended.'

'Silly woman,' Victor huffed. 'For somebody trained to chaperone young ladies she doesn't understand how to deal with them at all. Any fool can see that Miss Lisa is pining for your Hathaway girl. She tries to put on a brave face – she is well-bred after all – but even Natalie has difficulty cheering her up at times.' He paused to glance at the two girls who stood a short distance away, receiving some unsolicited life-lessons from Madam Kiroy. 'I think she may be having trouble sleeping, too,' Victor added. 'It's a pity the governess is so opposed to letting Lisa visit with her little friend. I can't see the harm in letting them spend a bit of time together under proper supervision.'

Dimitri's respect for the man just doubled. 'I am of the same opinion,' he replied seriously. 'Perhaps you could speak with Madam Kiroy and inform her that I would be happy to supervise the girls' activities – Natalie as well, if you like – if that is acceptable to her? We could arrange a trial visit... say, later this week?'

'Very good, I'll see what I can do,' Victor agreed affably. 'Which reminds me, deputy – there's a favour I've been meaning to ask of you.'

'Yes?' Deputy Belikov felt apprehensive.

'I'm currently travelling with a young employee of mine,' Mr Dashley elaborated. 'You may have seen him in church this morning? He's staying with Reverend Karp for the present, but he doesn't know anybody in town. I wondered if you might consider stopping by to make him welcome. He's a bit of a recluse but an interesting man once you get to know him.'

Dimitri wasn't sure the task of entertaining strangers strictly fell under his jurisdiction, but it couldn't hurt to keep Mr Dashley happy if the old man was going to make things easier for Rose and Lisa. 'I'll pay him a call,' he nodded curtly, and that's when they were distracted by Madam Kiroy's indignant shrieking at Miss Hathaway.

'Deputy Belikov!' a voice called out, dragging his mind back from the memory.

Dimitri looked up from the flames of his campfire to see Rose traipsing towards him, stumbling slightly in the dark as she held something out ahead of her. He stood up to greet the girl, wondering why she had come.

'I made you something,' she beamed when she reached him, shoving a dish under his nose.

He eyed the contents dubiously. 'I thought you said you couldn't cook. What is it?'

She rolled her eyes. 'Technically, burning sugar in a pan doesn't count as cooking. It's sesame brittle. Try some.'

He picked up a small shard of the candy then tasted it gingerly, his eyes widening as he crunched into the sugary treat. 'You eat this stuff? It's amazing you have any teeth left, Miss Hathaway,' he chided, but reached for a second piece nonetheless, and then a third.

'I knew you'd like it,' she gloated briefly, before her mood changed and she glanced down at the ground. 'I just wanted to say thanks for helping me out this morning – with the Kiroy mess,' she explained, returning her eyes to his. 'I promise you, there's nothing going on between me and Mason Ashford. I know Madam Kiroy likes me about as much as a hole in her shoe, so her reaction wasn't that much of a surprise, but it made me feel so angry that she'd accuse my friend of being dishonourable when he'd done nothing wrong. I think I might have exploded if you didn't get me away from there when you did.'

Dimitri wasn't expecting such openness from her, and Rose's reassurance about the nature of her friendship with Mr Ashford made his heart clutch unexpectedly. 'I like that about you,' he admitted, running a hand through his loose, dark hair.

She pulled a sarcastic face. 'What? You like how I'm temperamental? Lacking self-control? How I manage to get myself into trouble even when I'm trying to be on my best behaviour?'

'No,' he chuckled. 'How you stand up for what you believe in. That really takes guts.'

'Thanks,' Rose flashed one of her twisted half-smiles then looked away again, uncomfortable at the praise. 'Gosh a-mighty! What is that amazing smell?' she changed the topic, drawn to the cooking pot over the fire.

Dimitri bit back a smile, shaking his head at the unladylike exclamation and following her over to stir the contents of the pot. 'They call it cowboy stew, I believe. Beans and whatever else I had at hand. You want to do an exchange? I'll let you take a bowl of my stew with you if you leave me a bit more of that candy.'

'Won't say no to that, cowboy,' Rose grinned, shovelling the remainder of the sesame brittle onto a tin plate by the fire and holding out her own dish for him to fill.

'You know you really shouldn't call me that,' Dimitri chastised, as he ladled a steaming spoonful into her dish. 'I am the deputy sheriff, you know. It's hardly appropriate for you to address me in such a familiar manner.'

The girl's eyes narrowed keenly. 'But I've heard you call me Miss Roza,' she countered.

'Yes – but that is your name in Russian,' Dimitri justified himself.

Rose fixed him with a knowing look. 'I haven't heard you calling anybody else by their Russian names. Sorry, cowboy. What's good for the goose is good for the gander,' she said decisively and he knew she'd caught him out. 'Well. I'm going to take this inside to eat. It's freezing out here,' Rose announced, holding her bowl up to her face and breathing in the aroma greedily. 'You're welcome to join me if you like?'

Dimitri shook his head. They were already testing the boundaries of propriety spending so much time together during the daytime. He couldn't risk raising people's suspicions further by entering her home after dark.

'Suit yourself,' she shrugged, though she couldn't hide the trace of disappointment on her face as she turned to leave.

'Oh. Hold on a minute,' Dimitri called after her, fumbling in his pocket. 'I meant to give this to you earlier but I forgot. It's from Lisa.'

It was a good thing the man had quick reflexes because Rose practically threw the bowl of hot stew at him in her haste to snatch the letter from his hand, tearing it open on the spot. She scanned the note excitedly but within moments her expression had become drawn and tense.

'What is it?' there was an edge to Dimitri's voice.

The young woman struggled silently, wondering if she should trust him. Rose had guarded Lisa's secret for over a year, but now she'd run out of ideas to help her friend and she couldn't bear feeling so useless. Maybe Dimitri would know what to do? She followed her instincts and handed him the note.

Rose. It's happening again – but it's so much worse this time. I'm scared. I need you. Is there some way we can talk in person? L.

Dimitri frowned, cocking his head to demand an explanation.

'Lisa and I didn't run away from Saints Town for fun,' she said darkly, pacing as she spoke. 'She felt she was in danger. A few months before the crash, Lis started seeing lights out on the ranch late at night. They'd show up anywhere, but often close to the creek – sometimes still, sometimes bobbing around, sometimes flashing repeatedly—'

'Did anybody else see them too?' the deputy cut in.

'No. Not even me. Lisa invited me for a sleepover once to show me what she was talking about but nothing happened that night. I even snuck out after Lisa was asleep to have a look down by the water but I couldn't see anything.'

'Miss Hathaway!' Dimitri sounded horrified. 'That was a reckless thing to do. Wolves are known to hunt in these parts. You put yourself in great danger by going out alone after dark.'

'Still alive, if you hadn't noticed,' she joked humourlessly. 'And I know about the wolves. That was the other thing that was weird, actually. Around the same time the lights showed up, Lis and I often found fresh bones and bits of shredded fur scattered around on the ground under the cottonwoods along the creek. We'd hear plenty of wolves howling in the night too – everyone in the family heard them. Why would they suddenly show up like that?'

'Why indeed,' Dimitri's brows knotted. 'So did you tell somebody about this? Ask for help to figure out what was going on?'

Rose cringed. 'I wanted to, but Lisa wouldn't let me. She was worried people would think she was crazy like Miss Karp.'

The deputy looked confused. 'What do you mean? I am aware that Miss Karp took her own life, but I didn't realise she was mentally impaired.'

'She never used to be,' Rose explained. 'One day Miss Karp started behaving strangely. She was jumpy and anxious in our lessons, like she was afraid somebody was following her. She eventually told us that she was in danger and Lisa was next. When it got so bad she couldn't teach us anymore, Reverend Karp called for the doctor. Lisa's dad said there was nothing he could do to help her. He just prescribed laudanum to calm her down. It was around that time that Lisa and I ran away. It's hard to believe, but she went from a happy, intelligent person to being paranoid and house-bound in the space of a few months. We left Saints Town in the middle of July, and by the end of August Miss Karp was dead.'

'A disturbing story,' the Russian murmured, moving to sit on a heavy log that lay by the fire and setting the forgotten stew down beside him. 'So do you have any idea what the lights might be?'

Rose had been moving restlessly as she talked but paused in her step. 'Lisa has a theory,' she looked at him warily. 'Promise you won't make fun.'

'I promise,' he assured her.

'She thinks the ranch might be haunted. There are stories of native tribesmen that were slaughtered on these lands, and some say their restless spirits still roam the prairie at night. After Lisa's family died she said the activity got a lot worse, so she thought maybe they were coming back to give her a message or something… Is that even possible? I mean, Reverend Karp talks about angels and demons every Sunday. Why not ghosts? Do you think she could be right?'

Dimitri was silent for a moment. 'Perhaps. Or maybe there is a different explanation?' he mused aloud, gazing into the flames.

'Like what?' Rose pushed, sensing he had an idea. If there was something, anything they could do to help Lisa she'd be willing to give it a try.

'I'm not sure yet, but I intend to find out,' the deputy announced, glancing up at her, his hands resting firmly on the rough surface of the log on either side of him. 'I don't like the idea of suspicious lights and a wolf infestation so close to town – especially not on Miss Draymore's property. Your friend has already gone through enough in the last eighteen months. I think we should go to Cottonwood Creek Ranch and take a look around.'

Dimitri uffed as a small figure launched at him and a pair of arms wrapped tightly around his neck, nearly causing him to fall backwards off the log.

'Thank you,' Rose's voice was muffled against his duster.

Recovering from the surprise, Dimitri allowed himself the liberty of folding an arm around her shoulders, his breath catching at the scent of her hair so close to his face. 'Anything for a friend of yours, Miss Roza,' he mumbled, feeling warm sparks prickling along his skin in all the places their bodies were connected.

Too soon it was over and she pulled back from him, eyes shining in the firelight.

'So shall I go and change into my riding gear? How long will we be gone? Should I bring snacks?'

He chuckled. 'We're not going tonight, you mad girl,' he shook his head, missing the contact between them even though she was still within arms reach. 'I'd never walk into a potentially dangerous situation without a plan – especially not if you'll be there too. And it's already dark so the road isn't safe for us to travel anyway.'

Her face fell, and Dimitri had to restrain himself from reaching up to stroke her cheek.

'Just wait one more day, Roza,' he tried to console her. 'I was already planning to drop by at Reverend Karp's place tomorrow. How about we do that in the afternoon then head over to Miss Draymore's ranch after that? We can camp out on the property overnight and return in the morning. A plan?'

'A plan,' she beamed down at him gratefully, and before the poor man had time to realise what was happening, Rose leant forward and dropped a kiss on his cheek. 'Thanks, cowboy,' she whispered in his ear, springing up and bounding away from his camp, leaving him stunned in her wake.

It was only when the girl had disappeared back into the sheriff's building that Dimitri noticed she'd left her dinner behind.

At four o'clock the next afternoon, Dimitri knocked on Reverend Karp's front door.

'Deputy... Rose. What a surprise,' the preacher welcomed them, a little more warmly than the last time. 'Would you like to come in?'

They followed him into the main room, and Rose settled herself into an easy chair in the corner while Dimitri opted to stand.

'So what can I do for you?' their host asked, moving to set some water to boil over the fireplace next to a pot containing his modest evening meal.

Once, his wife would have taken care of the food preparation duties, and after that it was Sonya's responsibility, but now cooking was just one of the many tasks the old bachelor had learned to do himself.

Dimitri removed his hat and pushed the hair back from his eyes, unaware of the effect this simple action was having on the girl in the corner of the room. 'I was wondering how your boarder is going. Victor Dashley suggested he might like a visitor?'

The preacher gave a dry cough that might have been mistaken for a laugh. 'I'm not sure Mr Dashley is thinking of the right person, but I'll go and find out if Christian is available to see you,' he said, shuffling off down the hallway.

The water over the fire was bubbling furiously when footsteps came down the hall, and a tall man in his early twenties appeared in the doorway, slinking towards them with an expression that made Dimitri's serious mask look positively festive by comparison.

'Deputy,' the newcomer pushed the word out as though having to be pleasant caused him physical pain. 'Christian.' The match he'd been twirling in the fingers of his right hand flicked across to his left, and he thrust an arm out in greeting.

Dimitri did a double take. 'Christian O'Hara?' he asked, taking in the man's raven hair and ice-blue eyes as they shook hands.

'Yes…,' the man frowned suspiciously.

'I believe I know your aunt, Miss Natasha,' Dimitri said aloud, as a more complex, silent conversation played out between them.

Rose had been looking on with mild interest till now, but the gentle note to Dimitri's voice when he mentioned the woman's name sent a stab of jealousy through her heart. She knew Deputy Belikov had a life before he met her, but for some reason she only ever pictured him chasing renegades on his stallion or playing farmer with his mother and sisters. She never imagined he would have been friends with a lady called Natasha – certainly not if the lady in question looked anything like this hauntingly attractive ice king who stood in Reverend Karp's living room. No. It just didn't fit.

'Oh. So it is you,' Christian responded with a smirk. 'I don't normally pay much attention to my aunt's lovers so I'd forgotten your name, but I can't imagine there are too many six foot seven Russians living out on the western frontier. How the hell did you end up here, Dimitri? I thought Tasha sent you to work for some rich rancher... Ivan Zekeman, wasn't it?'

Rose felt hot and cold at the same time. In the space of ten seconds she considered fainting, vomiting, or seizing the revolver from the holster on Dimitri's belt and ending it all. Dimitri Belikov had a lover. Oh Lord. She wanted to die. And he worked for Ivan Zekeman. If the man was any relation to Jesse then she could only guess what trouble the pair of them used to get up to together. Dreams she hadn't even dared admit to herself shattered so violently she was surprised the two men didn't turn to see what had caused the crash.

'You are mistaken, sir,' Dimitri's anger was barely contained. 'I was never romantically involved with your aunt. And I left Mr Zekeman's service because he was killed.'

That wiped the smug look off Christian's face. 'Oh. I'm sorry for your loss,' he muttered. 'But you're sure nothing happened between you and Tasha? I swear she tells a different story.'

Dimitri bristled. 'Our relationship was purely platonic, I assure you. And in any case, it is not a matter to be discussing in front of the lady,' he looked to where Rose was seated in the corner, his expression a mixture of frustration and apology.

Inner-Rose looked down and saw that her secret dreams hadn't shattered completely after all. She stooped down and picked up a few pieces, tucking them safely away to be mended later.

Christian's pale cheeks flamed with embarrassment as he noticed Rose for the first time. He opened and closed his mouth like a fish gasping for air, and was only spared the horror of apologising yet again by a call from the back door.

'Deputy Belikov. Could you lend me a hand?' Reverend Karp sung out.

Dimitri took it as divine intervention and exited the room before he said something he'd regret.

'Well this is awkward,' Christian broke the silence, his voice dark and silky.

Rose followed the nervous flight of the match in the stranger's hand. 'Awkward doesn't even begin to cover it,' she grimaced, not sure if she should stand up or remain seated. She remained.

'So you are...?' the man prompted.

'Oh. Rose. Hathaway,' she looked away quickly.

'And you're with the passive-aggressive man-mountain because...?'

Rose wanted to laugh but she was still upset at what she'd overheard Christian saying about his aunt. 'I'm training to be a sheriff,' she shrugged.

'Horse piss!'

The man was an insensitive pig, but Rose discovered to her horror that she didn't completely hate him - not that she'd ever admit it. 'Fine. I'm his prisoner. I ran away for a year with my friend Lisa and now that we're back my punishment is being shackled to the deputy.'

'That's even more far-fetched than the last one,' Christian scoffed.

'Believe it or don't – it doesn't change the truth,' the girl glared at him.

Silence settled again and Rose expected her annoying companion to take his leave but he stuck around like a bad smell.

'Lisa. Your friend. Is she that blonde girl next-door?'

Why did this stranger want to know about Lisa?

'Maybe.'

'Well, she's got a pretty high opinion of herself, if you ask me,' the man criticized. 'Didn't bother to acknowledge me when I passed her down by the creek earlier today.'

Rose saw red. She stood and took a menacing step forwards. 'Lis probably didn't even see you, creep. She lost her entire family last year and she's still grieving. You have no idea what she's going through.'

'Actually, I do,' Christian flared up at once, then backed off again when he realised how aggressive he'd just sounded. 'Sorry. I shouldn't have made assumptions about her. I'm just used to getting a certain reaction from people. I lost my parents a while back too.'

Rose's temper cooled and she sunk back into the chair. 'Oh... Sorry,' she offered lamely.

When Dimitri walked through the door a few minutes later his eyes flickered suspiciously from a sulking Christian O'Hara to his charge in the corner. It was eerily quiet. Like the calm before a storm.

'It's time we were going, Miss Hathaway,' he announced. 'I believe I promised you a visit with your friend.'

Rose perked up at the promise of seeing Lisa and she came to stand beside Dimitri with a feeling of anticipation building in her chest.

The deputy offered her his arm and turned to the surly young man in farewell. 'I trust you will enjoy your stay in Saints Town, Mr O'Hara. Please give my regards to your aunt if you see her,' he finished as courteously as he was able.

Christian nodded silently, and the deputy and his companion made their exit.

.

Author's Note:

Do you love Christian?! I do! 'Horse Piss' has got to be my favourite line of all time.

And the romantic tension between Romitri is slowly building. Next chapter's going to keep heading in the direction we want it to go for the clueless lovers!

What's going on with the lights at the ranch? Theories? Lea0014 is not allowed to answer (!) due to being my unofficial beta for general idea-bouncing-offage - not saying you can't hassle her for clues though ;)

Enjoying the long chapters? I'm sitting at approx. 4000 words a chapter - now that's bang for your buck!

Oh, I should say I invented the character of Sonya's dad (Thomas Karp) for my previous story (shameless plug - check out Undying Love if you're at a loose end. It's the VA story from Sonya/Mikhail's perspective). How's that for recycling?!