CHAPTER 9
Adam left for town before sunrise. He took a table in the back corner of the hotel dining room, ordered coffee, and sent his message upstairs with one of the maids. Stretching out his legs, he leaned back in his chair and waited. When she walked into the room, every male head turned to look, but then every male always looked when Katherine Cummings entered a room.
"Why, Adam, so good to see you." Her soft voice floated out to the onlookers, but their attention drifted back to their own concerns as Adam politely rose and seated her.
Adam's answer was pitched to carry only to her ears. "Sorry I can't say the same, Katherine."
"Really." Her voice was still cheery and clearly audible. She turned from Adam as the server came to the table. "I think only coffee this morning." The server nodded and left. Katherine dropped her voice to a more conspiratorial level. "This is hardly the place for a private conversation, Adam."
"I told you we would never be alone again."
"I would have thought you'd be more concerned than I about listening ears."
"Some of the gossip about me might as well be true." His voice remained cool, but the volume was still low.
Katherine glanced around the sparsely occupied room and matched her volume to his. "Have you heard any interesting gossip since your return?"
Before Adam could answer, the server arrived with Katherine's coffee. They studied each other across the table until she departed.
"I would have thought you'd left boys behind at your age, Katherine."
She shrugged lightly. "He's charming, and he adores me."
"And will be heart-broken when he finds you have left, but I'm sure that his heart will mend quickly."
A smile played on her lips at Adam's assured tone. "Did yours?"
Making a dismissive gesture, Adam sipped his coffee. "There is a stage leaving this afternoon. I'll take your farewells to Little Joe."
Katherine shook her head. "I enjoy Virginia City."
"If you need traveling expenses, those can be arranged."
Her eyebrow rose. "Traveling expenses? Marriage would supply money for many more expenses and an adoring companion as well."
"Marriage? I seem to remember an impediment to that."
"He's had time to divorce me." Katherine smiled. "I'm sure he has. That is one thing you could say for the old dog; he always did what he said. Besides, he wouldn't want me to have any rights to his money if he ever gets around to dying."
"You don't seriously think that my father would allow Joseph to marry you?"
"Could he prevent it?"
"He can prevent you from having any more money than Joe could make as two-dollar-a-day cowhand."
"I can be quite charming to old men as well." She laughed softly, "My husband proved that."
"My father..."
"Would never leave his grandchild destitute."
"Grandchild?" This time the soft laugh was Adam's. "There isn't any way."
Her smile was cold. "I can see to it there is."
"My brother would never take my leavings."
Surprise widened her eyes. "You'd never tell him."
Adam rose and stared down at her. "If you are still here when the sun sets, I shall." He saw in her eyes that she believed him and walked away.
Katherine watched his departure, and her finger came up to tap against her chin. Then I have until sunset. She smiled.
#####
"Little Joe!" Hearing his name, Joe turned to locate the source. One of the newer hands walked up and handed him a folded sheet of paper with only his name on the outside. Joe recognized Katherine's handwriting even before the scent of her perfume reached his nostrils. "Thanks, Jake." He tapped the note against his chin. "Take a break, fellas. In fact, let's take a real early lunch." The hands helping Joe at the breaking corrals exchanged surprised looks, a few shrugs, and some smiles. Little Joe was after all the boss's son.
"Sure, boss. All right! Ain't gonna argue with that." The comments floated towards Joe as he walked in the opposite direction from the men. When he was out of sight, he stopped, settled his back against a tree, and broke the seal on the note.
Dearest Joe,
I have to see you today. If you have any feelings for me at all, you will meet me where we picnicked that lovely afternoon. I shall wait for you there with hope in my heart. Come to me, or I shall know that it is farewell forever.
Your Katherine
Little Joe read the words four times before he stuffed the note in his pocket. His father and Adam had both been gone when he came down for breakfast even though he had beat Hoss to the table. He had told himself that lunch or even supper would do for speaking to his pa about Katherine.
Well, I'll go see if Pa is home. If he is, I'll tell him. If he's not, well, it's not sneaking if I leave word for Pa that I've gone to talk to Katherine. The decision made he headed towards the house pushing the thought from his mind that his elder brother might somehow have something to do with Katherine's demand to see him.
#####
Katherine had dressed carefully for their meeting. She had chosen to look as young, as innocent, and as fragile as an ensemble could make her. She placed herself carefully in the shade of the grove and spread her skirts around her. When she heard his horse, she smiled and then hid her grin behind a lace handkerchief. As Joe walked toward her, she let her eyes fill with tears. When he went to his knees in front of her, she looked at him through dewy lashes and reached out beseechingly.
"I was so afraid you wouldn't come." Her voice was soft and liquid. She dropped her head so that her large brimmed hat shadowed her face and then placed her gloved hands in her lap. "He tried to pay me to leave. He thinks I'm..." A sob left her throat. "To think he could believe I'm that kind of woman."
Joe reached out and gently brought her to him. "Who?" What do you mean: tried to pay you? Katherine, what are you talking about?"
Katherine controlled her tears well enough to make sure her words were clear. "Adam. Adam offered me money to leave town."
"Adam! Why... I'll..." Little Joe's fury grew, but mindful of Katherine in his arms he fought for control.
"No, no, he's your brother. I wouldn't want... Oh, Joe what should we do?" She lifted a tear-stained face to his view, and he brought his hands to hold it gently.
"Will you marry me, Katherine Cummings?"
"Will they let us?"
"If you say you will be my wife, the devil himself won't be able to keep me from marrying you."
She brought her arms up, settled her hands in his curls, and raised her mouth to his. "Yes," she whispered.
This time Hoss had not accidently witnessed Joe and Katherine; he had heard his brother telling Hop Sing where he was going and purposely followed. Hoss rode into the grove when he saw that more than schoolboy passion was melding the two together. He had to speak twice before they broke apart.
"Joe! Joe!"
Little Joe loosened his hold on Katherine and looked up to see his brother staring down at them. "Hoss!" There was surprise and sheepishness in the exclamation but more indignation.
"Pardon me, ma'am, but I'll be speaking with my brother." Hoss kept his voice as steady as he held his horse.
Joe was on his feet shouting in seconds. "How did? You followed me, didn't you! Talk, I've nothing to say to you, to any of you. If you think, you can stop me..."
During Joe's tirade, Hoss simply dismounted and came to stand directly in front of his brother. "I can put you on that horse conscious or not. I can take you home. I can keep you there until Pa comes." He reached out, grabbed Little Joe's shirt, and lifted until Joe's toes barely touched the ground. "Or we can talk."
For the first time in his life, Joe looked at his middle brother through the red haze of rage. He struck out, but Hoss had learned how to pin smaller men with quickness, ease, and no damage. Joe found himself being held immobile. He continued to struggle until a wave of embarrassment drenched his anger. "Let me go."
"Ya ready to talk?"
"Yes." The word was bitter, and he spat it from his mouth.
"Then I'll let ya go. Now I'm trusting ya to help the lady into that buggy and not take any foolish notions about trying to race off." Hoss released his hold.
"Katherine," Joe said, his humiliation keeping his eyes from finding hers.
"I'll go, Joe. If, well, there is a stage leaving late today. Speak to your family and decide. I'll be at my hotel until the stage leaves." She rose and walked to the buggy. Little Joe came to help her. As she took his hand, she whispered softly, "Adam feels I spurned him, Joe. Don't believe everything he says of me." He lifted her into the buggy, and seconds later she was driving out of the grove.
Joe turned to glare at his brother. "I'll never forgive you for shaming me like that." He walked to Cochise, mounted, and rode toward home.
