Chapter Forty-One

“Luke McCutcheon, you’re talking nonsense!” Faith marched to the connecting doorway, collected her thoughts, and marched back.

Smokey, hanging against the back wall, stuck his nose in a flyer he’d pulled out of his pocket when their argument had started. He glanced up sheepishly and she shot him a defiant frown.

Luke could be so pigheaded. He was the embodiment of a domineering boar. If the tables were turned, she knew exactly what he’d be doing. But she was a woman—fragile and to be protected. After six days of seeing her love locked behind bars, she’d had enough. The time to take action had arrived.

“Just calm down, sweetheart,” Luke commanded. He held out a placating hand. “You’re exhausted and vexed. You know as well as I do you returning to Y Knot with Colton is best. He’s taken this to heart. Thinks he’s at fault. Don’t you see the strain on his face, his slumped shoulders, and the worry behind his eyes?”

“Don’t you dare pin this on Colton.” She pointed at Luke’s face. “You want me out of town. You can talk until the birds fly south, Luke McCutcheon, but I’m not going. You’d never leave me. Never! Why on earth do you think you have the right to send me away?”

“Faith, whatever you say won’t change my mind…”

Something inside her snapped and anger boiled over. “Do you know what being married to you is like?” She pierced him with a cold stare. “Do you? No, you haven’t any idea. You’re demanding, opinionated, and headstrong. You expect so much of yourself—and everyone else as well.”

“Aren’t I usually right about things?”

So what if he is! “Don’t change the subject. I’ve lived under your iron rule, bailed you out of scrapes when you let your temper run afoul, eased tensions when one of your brothers steps on your sensitive toes. Without me, you’d be a mess.”

He nodded. “You’re right on all counts.”

Blood pounded in her ears. She clenched her hands. “Don’t you dare agree with me, Luke, not today. I won’t be bullied—or sweet-talked. We both realize this is much more serious than we first thought. The whole town is building a case against you. Everyone in Priest’s Crossing has lost their minds. Something’s wrong with this town. Any other sheriff wouldn’t have locked you up in the first place, let alone say he believes lying Blanche Van Gleek. And look at you!”

She hated to bring up his appearance, but he’d gone behind her back and arranged for Smokey, along with Nick riding guard, to head back to Y Knot with her and Colton this afternoon, leaving the group short of men. Well, by God, she’d not go. And he couldn’t make her.

“What about me?” Luke gritted out, pacing his cell, all the while never taking his gaze from hers.

“Your hair,” she sputtered, realizing her bringing this up was childish, but she couldn’t switch horses in the middle of the stream now. Luke would pounce on her weakness and have her agreeing to go home.

“What about my hair?”

“It’s…” She waved her hand around her face, not wanting to hurt his feelings. “I’ve done my best to keep you cleaned up, with laundered clothes and such, but Jack won’t let you have a proper bath. He’s terrified you’ll escape.” She’d found the sheriff at his desk, fearfully muttering in his sleep about being scalped. He’d better watch out, or she just might scalp him herself. “If you look like this now, can you imagine if I weren’t here? If nothing else, I see you get clean water and soap.”

Halting his pacing, Luke frowned, anger simmering on his face. “Think of Holly. She’s still tiny. What if something happened to her ma? And Dawn? You think either girl would ever get over losing you?”

At the mention of her daughters, she blinked back tears. Every night sleep eluded her as she imagined all of them together in the big bed, snuggled together. She missed them with all her heart. “Lay all the guilt you want, Luke, but I’m not going!” She grasped the bars to make a point. “And since you’re locked up, you can’t make me.”

His nostrils flared. “Smokey,” he said low.

The man jerked straight. “Yeah, Boss?”

“Why don’t you go out and join Colton? See what he’s doing. I’m sure your ears are scorched red by now. Go make sure he’s still close where I told him to remain.”

“Sure thing.”

She was relieved both the sheriff and deputy were nowhere about. This angry exchange was the first for their marriage, and she felt off-kilter. Of course, they’d had their fair share of disagreements throughout the years, but they’d been civil and always ended with a kiss… and maybe more. Today was different. She’d made a stand, but to do so she had to make her point. She wouldn’t back down. And she wouldn’t care. He’d do the same for her in a heartbeat.

“I can see your mind is set, wife,” Luke said. “Without a thought to your boy out there or your girls at home. Never mind that you’re their only ma. You’ll keep yourself in danger, no matter what I say. Did you hear about elderly Mildred Kane? She died last night, right here in town.” His eyes glittered with irritation.

“Yes, I did. She fell and broke her neck.”

“You sure about that?”

Inwardly Faith shuddered. What a horrible way to die. She nodded.

“Francis feels different. He had a look around. She’d made a cake that had a couple of slices cut out. From the stack of dishes in the dry rack, looks like she’d entertained. Everything was clean and in place except for some straw on her floor that smelled like manure. Unlikely for her state in life.”

A chill crept up Faith’s back. Could a man actually kill a defenseless old woman?

“Will you reconsider?”

Everything in her hated to go against him, but there was no help for that now. “I’m not sure about anything. That’s what I aim to change.” He seemed ready to explode. Did she dare provoke him more? “My mind is made up. One other small fact: I’m not being followed around by Smokey any longer. I can do and learn things, but not with him announcing my arrival more flagrantly than if I carried a tall McCutcheon family flag.”

He slammed his palm against a bar. “You’ve lost your mind, woman! I don’t want anyone to get hurt. And they will if a gunfight over me erupts. My men won’t let things go too far before they step in. You or Colton could be hit, God forbid, or one of the men. I don’t want that to happen.”

Strain showed on his face and in his eyes. She swallowed, regretting such a scene. He’d never looked so lost. Beaten. They needed each other. But feelings would have to wait. “Maybe I have, but at least I’m finally voicing my mind. And taking a stand. I won’t put myself in any undue danger. But sometimes a woman can find out things a man can’t.”

In a swift move, he grasped the bars. “Don’t you do it, Faith! Leave this to the boys. They’re making headway. Neil Huntsman has been ruled out. Francis told me so about an hour ago. Just be patient a little longer.”

A wave of warm longing washed over Faith. Everything about Luke was special. She loved him more than the air she breathed. These last few days had drawn her back to the time he’d been helping her escape Ward. Begging her to tell him the truth. She should have then. She’d not make the same mistake now by burying her head in the sand and hoping the danger would go away. She was a McCutcheon! She’d go after this head-on. Just changing her thinking felt right. Still, she needed to console him. She went to the bars and reached though, caressing the side of his stress-lined face. Drawing her fingers through his whiskers. Were those tears in his eyes?

“I love you so much, Luke, I won’t let you take the fall for some monster. You’re the most decent man I’ve ever known. Nobody can fill your boots. Please, trust me. I won’t be foolish.” She felt the depth of his emotion down to her soul. “Just give me your blessing. All I want is a little freedom to do my own investigating. That’s all.”

When he leaned his cheek more firmly into her palm, her heart thwacked painfully against her ribs. He took her hand and stroked the back. “Faith, if things don’t go as planned… I mean, if Harrison Wesley doesn’t show up soon and the town gets impatient, you’ll tell Holly and Dawn about their pa?”

She jerked back. “What on earth are you saying? Stop this inane talk. Nothing will happen.”

His lips pinched tight. “I just want your word.”

She leaned in, getting closer. “Your children will know all there is to know about what a wonderful man you are, but the telling won’t be from me. They’ll learn from watching you and loving you. You’ll be the one raising them; I have no doubts at all.”

“I don’t want to lose you,” he whispered.

He wouldn’t say the words, but she could see the stark fear deep in his eyes. “You won’t lose me. And I’m not losing you.” She waited until his gaze connected with hers. “I promise.”

His cheek in her palm and forehead resting on the cold steel were enough to freeze her insides. He didn’t believe that they’d beat this travesty. He thought he would hang.