Chapter Seventeen
Tessa heard her mother’s cry and almost threw herself from her horse in her rush to get to her. They came together on the front porch, each enfolded in the other’s loving embrace.
“You’re back! You’re back!” Maggie was sobbing.
Tessa couldn’t speak. She just wanted to hold her mother and reassure her that everything was fine.
“Are you all right? He didn’t hurt you, did he?” Maggie finally asked. She held Tessa slightly away from her so she could give her a good looking-over. She saw that she was wearing Jared’s shirt and her expression darkened. “What happened to your—”
“Nothing happened, Mother. I’m fine. Jared found me and saved me just in time.”
“And Boyd? Where is that no-good . . . ?” For the first time in her life, Maggie was ready to swear and actually to do someone bodily harm.
“He’s dead, Miss Maggie,” Jared told her solemnly. He had come to stand on the porch with them.
“Oh, Marshal Trent.” The old woman sighed his name, a look of pure adoration on her face as she turned to him. “Thank you for saving my girl. Thank you for being so wonderful. You’re my hero.”
She wasn’t the least bit deterred by his only having the jacket on. She went to him and kissed his cheek. Jared actually blushed a bit at her praise.
“Will you be all right now?” Jared asked Tessa, seeing that she seemed relaxed and calm.
“I’m home and I’m safe, thanks to you.”
“I’d better get on back to the office and take care of things. I’ll check in on you later.”
Tessa knew one of the first things he would have to take care of was leaving Boyd with the undertaker.
“Thank you, Jared.” Her words were simple but heartfelt as her gaze met his.
“You’re welcome,” he answered, then returned to his horse and rode on with his men.
Will remained behind. He dismounted and joined the women on the porch. “It’s a wonderful thing that the marshal got to you in time last night,” he said, praising Jared because at the moment it was what was expected of him.
“Jared Trent is every bit as good as his reputation,” Tessa confirmed, any doubts she’d had about his abilities as a lawman gone forever.
Julie and Jim had come out to see her, and they crowded around her now, glad that she was home, giving her warm hugs of welcome.
“Thank God for Marshal Trent!” Julie exclaimed. “You should have seen him last night at the dance when he found out what had happened, Tessa. He went after you right away. Nothing was going to stop that man from finding you.”
Tessa hugged her friend. “I’m just glad I’m back safe and sound.”
“So are we!” Jim replied.
Steve came around the side of the house, having heard the commotion out front. He actually smiled when he saw Tessa.
“Welcome home,” he greeted her.
She smiled at him warmly. “Thank you, Steve. I always knew coming home was special, but now I truly know how important home is.”
“It’s time for a celebration! Just think how excited Sludge and Henry are going to be when they find out you’re safe!” Maggie declared. “Come on, Julie! Let’s see what we can put together for dinner while Tessa gets cleaned up.”
“That is a wonderful idea,” Tessa said. She had been longing for a hot bath ever since Boyd had first touched her. Somehow just having his hands upon her had left her feeling soiled in some way, and she was going to enjoy scrubbing off every last trace of Boyd from her body and her soul. “And I guess I could use some clean clothes, too,” she said with a grin as she looked down at her ruined skirt and Jared’s shirt.
“Oh, I don’t know,” Julie teased. “That shirt is certainly attractive on you.”
“Boyd tore my bodice, and Jared gave me his shirt to wear,” she said quietly, looking down the street in the direction he’d gone, even though he was already out of sight.
“He is a gentleman, that one,” Maggie said, ushering her daughter inside. “We’re lucky to have him. Yes, we are.”
Will was silently gnashing his teeth as he followed them inside. No one had thanked him for his help with the posse. No one had thought of how he’d gone after Tessa to save her. He was going to have to do something and fast. Tonight would be the night.
Steve watched as they all went back indoors; then he returned to making his repairs on the back porch. He was glad Tessa was back unharmed. Trent did seem to be one hell of a good lawman, but that didn’t mean he was going to trust him. He’d had his fill of lawmen. He’d take care of his own problems himself.
When they were inside, Julie noticed that Steve had not followed them in.
“Where did Steve go?” she asked Maggie, though she wasn’t sure why she cared.
“I don’t know,” Maggie answered. “Maybe he’s still working out back. Want to take a look and see? Tell him that he’s got the rest of the day off. We’re celebrating! There’s no time for working now that Tessa’s home.”
Julie went out the back door to find Steve hard at work finishing his repairs to the porch.
“Miss Maggie says you can take the rest of the day off,” she announced.
Steve had not heard Julie come outside, and he glanced sharply her way at the sound of her voice. His reaction to the sight of her was always the same. He wanted her. He knew it wasn’t to be, though, and he knew he had to stay away from her. He was not the man for her. He was a fast gun and an ex-con. She’d made no secret of what she wanted in a man, and he wasn’t it. Even so, the memory of their dance and their kiss stayed with him. It had been hard all last night knowing she was sleeping on the sofa just downstairs, and yet realizing nothing was ever going to happen between them.
“That’s all right. I’ll just keep at it. It won’t take that much longer to finish this job off.” He turned his back to her and kept working.
For some reason she couldn’t explain, it was important to her that he come inside and join in the fun. “You sure? Miss Maggie said—”
“I heard you, Julie,” he cut her off sharply without even looking back at her. “I’ll be in later, when I’m done.”
Julie flushed with anger at being so rudely dismissed. Something about him was so infuriating! She had only been trying to be friendly. In a huff, she turned and stomped back inside.
Steve took a deep breath, glad that she was gone. He kept working.
After leaving the Sinclairs, Jared dismissed his posse and then took Boyd’s body to Jehosephat Jones, the undertaker. Boyd would be buried in a simple grave at the local cemetery. Jared knew he would have to track Sarah down so he could notify her about her husband’s death. Returning to the office, he found Trace waiting for him, along with two reporters from other newspapers.
“All right, Marshal! What’s the story!” one of the reporters demanded as he walked in.
Jared’s gaze met Traces, but he gave them all a half smile. “We tracked down Boyd Wilson. He was shot and killed resisting arrest.”
“And Miss Tessa? How is she?” the other man demanded.
“She’s just fine.”
“She wasn’t—”
Jared silenced him with a look. “I said she was just fine,” he ground out. “She was uninjured.”
“Where did you find them? Was it rough tracking? How much of a fight did he put up?”
Jared answered all their questions patiently and was glad when they raced off to write their stories for their papers.
Only Trace remained behind. He’d sat quietly watching his friend handle the other two. He’d recognized the anger in Jared’s expression when questioned too closely about Tessa, and he was waiting for the right time to ask him for the complete truth. He would never betray Jared’s trust by printing it, but he knew there was more to the story.
“So what really happened?” he asked when they were alone.
“It was close—damn close—but I did get there in time.” He sat down heavily at his desk and leaned back, weariness etched into his features.
“You look like you had a rough night.”
Jared only nodded as he related what had happened during the gunfight. “If I’d been ten minutes later . . .” His expression was grim.
“But you weren’t,” Trace reassured him.
“What do you say I get cleaned up and meet you for a drink?”
“I’m buying.”
“You’re on.”
Jared was tired and filthy when he finally got to his house. He made short order of bathing, and had just started to shave when he remembered in all too vivid detail what Boyd had almost done to Tessa. His hands began to shake and he was forced to stop shaving for a minute. That had been close—too close for his comfort.
Jared fought back a shudder as he finished shaving. He was tired, but glad that he’d agreed to meet Trace. Getting dressed again, he left the house. A strong drink with a friend was just what he needed.
Jared walked to the office of the Durango Weekly Star.
Trace was hard at work at his desk when he heard the sound of the front door opening.
“Jared, that you?”
“Last time I checked,” Jared joked as he entered the office.
Trace opened his bottom drawer and took out the bottle of whiskey he kept there. “Grab us a couple of glasses,” he directed as he opened the bottle.
Jared got two tumblers from the water tray nearby and set them before Trace on his desk. He smiled as his friend poured them each a healthy portion and then handed him his glass.
“Good job, Jared,” Trace said, lifting his own tumbler in acknowledgment.
“I’m glad things worked out the way they did.”
“It’s a great story. We’re going to sell a lot of papers with this one.” Trace took a deep drink. “Sit down and relax.”
“I’d like to, but I think it’s going to take a while.” He sat down in the chair and stretched his long legs out in front of him.
“Rough night?”
“Very.” He let his thoughts slide back to the hours he’d spent by the campfire holding Tessa against him.
“Tessa give you a hard time?” Trace asked perceptively.
“She always gives me a hard time. That woman is nothing but trouble.” He shook his head as he took a deep drink of the whiskey. He enjoyed the way it burned all the way down. He hadn’t eaten in a long time, but didn’t give food a thought.
“I used to think the same thing about Elise,” Trace sympathized, but his statement drew a sharp look from Jared.
“That was different, you and Elise.”
“Why?”
“Because you two were in love.”
“And you’re not?” he asked.
“No! I don’t love Tessa. It seems all I do is save her. Every time I turn around she’s got herself into more trouble—first with the stage robbery and then with Boyd. God only knows what she’ll get involved with next.”
“Whatever it is, you’ll be there to help her.”
“I don’t remember anybody telling me that my job required me to keep Tessa Sinclair out of danger.” He downed the rest of his whiskey and reached for the bottle to refill his glass. “I might have thought twice about taking it if I’d known that.”
Trace just chuckled at how nervous his friend had become.
“What are you laughing at?” Jared sat back and took another drink.
“You. You’re in love and you don’t even recognize it.”
“I am not in love,” he denied.
“I thought the same thing with Elise. She was driving me to distraction. All I wanted to do was keep my identity a secret until I’d brought in Matt Harris and his gang, and then she printed that story revealing that Trace Jackson was still alive and well, not knowing it was me.” He grinned at the memory. “She caused me no end of trouble, but heaven knows I couldn’t live without her now.”
“Thank you, darling,” Elise said, appearing in the doorway to his office.
“I didn’t hear you come in,” Trace said, rising to go to her and press a kiss on her cheek.
“Obviously, but thank you for the sweet sentiment.” She gazed up at her husband adoringly. “I feel the same way about you.”
“I was just explaining to Jared how wonderful it is that he’s finally in love,” Trace told her.
“You’re in love with Tessa?” she asked quickly, looking over at him.
“That’s your husband talking. I never said I was in love!” he protested.
“He hasn’t recognized it yet, but he will. He has all the classic symptoms,” Trace confirmed.
“Obviously,” Elise agreed as she watched Jared down another healthy swallow of the potent liquor and pour more into his glass. The reporter in her had already come to the correct conclusions. “I know you’re not here drinking whiskey because Boyd Wilson’s dead. If that was the case, your mood would be better. You look downright surly, so something is troubling you, and I’ll just bet it’s a woman.”
“Be quiet, Elise,” Jared said in a growl.
She laughed at his irritation. “Men are so adorable when they’re trying to hide from the truth of their feelings. Does Tessa love you, Jared?”
“No,” he replied. “Will Kenner’s the man she cares about.”
Jared remembered all too clearly how Will had taken her hand when they’d stopped to water the horses. Will had taken over running her mine for her, so he was sure that she had some kind of feelings for the man. It had irked him to ride away from her house while Will stayed on, but he couldn’t linger there when he had other serious business to attend to—like taking care of Boyd. He lifted his glass and drained it.
“Oh, I don’t know. If I had to choose between the two of you, there would be no contest,” she said with an endearing smile. “You’d win hands down.”
“I appreciate your approval, but I’m not in a contest with Will or any other man. Tessa Sinclair is not the woman for me. She’s nothing but trouble.”
He said it with such determination that Elise had to fight to keep from smiling too widely at him.
“If you say so, Jared.”
“I do. Now, can we change the subject?” he asked, reaching once again for Trace’s bottle.
It was over an hour later when Jared made his way slowly back home. He’d had too much to drink and he knew it. He was glad that he’d told Nathan he didn’t know when he’d be at the office in the morning. Tired as he was, he hoped he could sleep late. A good night’s sleep would do him a world of good right now. He was sure of it.
Tonight he wouldn’t have Tessa curled up against him. Tonight he would sleep.
Peacefully.
Dreamlessly.
Alone.
Jared frowned at the thought. Holding Tessa had been his heaven and his hell last night. Damn, but it had felt so right to have her in his arms, even if he couldn’t make love to her.
And he had wanted her. Seeing Boyd with his hands on her, hurting her that way, had left him in a rage. He had never felt that way about another woman. Tessa was beautiful. Her kisses had been wonderful.
And he—
The next thought that came to him shocked him, and he mentally pushed it aside.
Tessa meant trouble, plain and simple. That was all there was to it. He’d be lucky if she managed to stay out of harm’s way for a while, so he wouldn’t have to see her. The farther away from her he stayed, the better.
Reaching his house, Jared let himself in and didn’t even bother to light a lamp. He’d definitely had too much to drink, and he didn’t care. He went straight into his bedroom and, after taking off his boots and gun belt, fell across the bed.
Sleep claimed him almost instantly. Instead of the deep, dreamless rest he’d hoped for, though, his sleep was filled with images of Tessa. He saw her as she’d looked driving the stage into town single-handedly. He saw her coming down the steps at the boardinghouse wearing pants. He saw her in her gown the night of the dance. He saw her fighting off Boyd and then running straight into Jared’s arms. He saw her as she’d been the night before, curled up against him, sleeping. Jared did not awaken, but slept on through the night. Whiskey was a wonderful potion.
Tessa stood alone on the back porch enjoying the quiet of the night and the bright moon in the star-studded sky. She was thrilled to be home and safe. The celebration tonight had been wonderful. She was truly blessed to be so loved. They had ended up with a houseful by the time Julie’s parents joined them.
Tessa had found herself watching for Jared and hoping that he would come. When the celebration had started, she’d sent Sludge to Jared’s house to invite him to join them. Sludge had returned a short time later with the news that the marshal was not at home. She’d been surprised how disappointed she felt. She had wanted to see him again.
There had been no mistaking that Will had seemed particularly pleased when Jared didn’t show up. Will had stayed by her side most of the evening, dominating her, being solicitous of her every wish. It had nearly driven her crazy. She’d been glad when everyone had decided to call it an evening and go home. It had forced Will to leave, too, and she’d been relieved.
“Tessa?”
The sound of Will’s voice startled her. “Will?”
“I was hoping you’d still be up. I started to go back to my room, but I wanted to see you one more time,” he said as he appeared out of the shadows.
She had an eerie feeling about him, and she wondered how long he’d been hanging around the house. “I was just about ready to go in,” she said.
He came up Steve’s newly repaired steps to join her. “I know it’s late and you must be exhausted after what you’ve just been through, but I wanted you to know how happy I am that you’re safe. I was really worried about you.”
She looked up at him in the moonlight. Will wasn’t an unattractive man, yet she felt no physical attraction to him. If anything, the complete seriousness of his expression concerned her.
“Thank you, Will.”
“Tessa.” He moved nearer, lifting one hand to touch her cheek. “I’ve found that I care about you—deeply. When I thought you’d been harmed, well, wild horses couldn’t have kept me from riding with that posse. I had to help find you. I had to make sure you came home safely,”
“I know—”
“Tessa.” Her name was almost a groan as Will took her in his arms and kissed her.
She’d instinctively sensed it was coming, but she didn’t react quickly enough to avoid his embrace. She suffered his hungry kiss for a moment and then finally reached up to push him gently away. “Will, please don’t.”
“But Tessa, I care about you.”
Tessa tried to be sympathetic as she answered, “I think of you as a friend, Will. I’m sorry, but I just don’t feel that way about you.”
Will stared down at her, fighting with all his might to control his temper. How dared she refuse him? He wanted to throttle her, to force her to his way of thinking, but he controlled the urge with an effort.
“I see.” It was all he could say.
“I’d better go in now, Will. Good night.”
Tessa moved away from him and went inside, closing and locking the door behind her.
Will stood rigidly on the porch for only a moment longer, then furiously stalked off into the night. He was going to have to rethink his plans.
Tessa stayed in the darkness of the hallway, waiting for Will to leave. When he finally walked off, she breathed a sigh of relief. She’d known that Will had feelings for her, but she’d never expected him to declare himself. She wasn’t interested in him. He worked the mine for her and she did like him as a person, but she had no romantic interest in him whatsoever.
Tessa made her way upstairs and undressed. After donning her nightgown, she sought the soft comfort of her solitary bed. She’d hoped she would fall asleep easily, but it didn’t happen. She lay in the dark, remembering how wonderful it felt to be lying in the safe haven of Jared’s arms. Will intruded on her thoughts then, and she immediately wished that she’d had Jared there to protect her this evening on the porch. She’d missed him tonight at their little party, and she missed him now.
Tessa made up her mind to find Jared and thank him for all he’d done for her. If he hadn’t ridden out ahead of the posse, God only knew what would have been her ultimate fate at Boyd’s hands. He might have killed her. Jared had truly been her guardian angel. The thought of him with wings and a halo made her smile.
When she finally fell asleep, her sleep was dreamless and contented.