"It don't bother you that your old man was a hired killer?" Cal Torken stared at his guest over a tumbler of whisky.

Sam Marston smiled with brittle courtesy and did not reply. On the sofa beside her, Elliott Marston held his own glass with white-knuckled intensity.

It had not been an easy day, even before their arrival. He'd had to expend considerable persuasion just to get his family through the door. "Elliott, I'm still not sure about this." Sam Marston had looked up at the house dubiously. "If Mrs. Torken is ill, then she really isn't going to want strangers around."

"It won't be for long, darling. A couple of days at most." He pulled the trunk out of the carriage and headed for the door. "Besides, Belle's place isn't safe anymore."

"Yes. I suppose you're right." Her tone subdued, she pulled off her hat and toyed with the ribbons as she followed him to the porch.

Of course, he couldn't really fault her lack of enthusiasm. The place had obviously been designed by an architect with a morbid aversion to natural light. Walking into the front hall had plunged them into a twilit gloom even though it was barely noon.

Nor was the décor an inducement to linger in any of the rooms. Heavy wooden chairs and sofas were beached in the front parlour like forlorn sea creatures stranded on shore. A murky haze of dust wafted through the air and obscured the colours of most of the surfaces. The risk of fire from cobwebs wreathing the gas jets on the wall was ever present.

"Oh, Cal." Molly Torken's hands fluttered feebly in the air. "I'm sure dear Sam's father wasn't a -"

"Lot you know about it." Torken tossed back his drink in one gulp. "That's why Elliott was supposed to hire him. Course he mucked it up. He always does."

Sam's facial expression did not change but the banked fire in her eyes began to smoulder. Marston jumped into the conversation. "Melvin Collins and I will go visit Major Ashley-Pitt this afternoon and get to the bottom of this whole thing." Marston reached under the table and squeezed his wife's hand. Sam curled her fingers around his and held on tight. "Then we'll take what we have to the chief constable's office."

"Elliott, it sounds so dangerous. Maybe you better stay here." Molly pulled her shawl tighter around her shoulders. "It would be safer."

"Now Molly, there's no need to worry." Elliott smiled at her with genuine affection. "I can take care of myself. It will give you and Sam a chance to get to know each other."

"Yes, I'd like that." For a moment the careworn lines were smoothed away and a younger, happier Molly Torken smiled across the table at her guests. "And that nice young man, your brother." Sam smiled back.

"Well, that's settled." Marston pushed back his chair. "I'll be on my way then. See me to the door?" He raised his brow at his wife and tugged her to her feet, not letting go until they were well down the hall out of earshot of the others in the dining room.

"All right, Mr. Smooth Talker, I'll stay here and be good." She watched him shrug into his coat. "But I don't have to like it."

"No one said you did, darling. Just don't put any strain on that arm and keep your brother out of trouble." He checked his gun carefully and adjusted his belt before looking up with a grin. "If you can't do both at the same time, tie him up."

"Good advice." She allowed herself to be pulled into a hug. "Elliott, this place is very creepy. Hurry back."

"As soon as I can. Ashley-Pitt will be able to tell me something, hopefully a name, and that's all I need for the police." He rested his chin on the top of her head as she snuggled into his shirt. "I know what you mean about the house. Their ranch isn't much better in terms of atmosphere. Cal tends to fill up a place, if you know what I mean."

Sam shivered. "Yes, I do."

"And I do want you to get to know Molly. She hasn't had an easy life but she's really a lovely woman." He pulled her head up for a kiss. Silence fell for several minutes.

Finally he pulled away. "I'm off. Be good, woman."

Footsteps ran down the hall toward them. "Elliott! Where are you going? Can I come too?" Niall appeared, breathless with haste.

"Goodbye!" Marston pushed open the door and disappeared.

Sam caught her brother and held him back. "No you don't, young man. We've got responsibilities right here."

Niall fought to escape her grip. "But I want to be with Elliott!"

"Yes I know, dear." Sam blinked away unwelcome tears. She swallowed several times before she continued. "So do I."