“Why are you giving me this?” Belle asked, confused.
She pointed to the door. “There are a couple of gorgeous men who were askin’ for you before. They are waitin’ for their drinks.” Then she laughed deep in her throat as she walked away to serve another table.
Suddenly, Belle’s spirits soared and so did her awkwardness. The tray shook in her hands as she tried to walk over to them without spilling their drinks. When they were finally in view, she saw them staring at her with big smiles. Her heart warmed at the sight. Then it lurched with the thought that Mat and John were now searching their room. If they found what they looked for to prove their guilt, then that was it. It would all end here before it even got started.
Taking a deep breath for reassurance, she steeled her emotions and walked over to their table with a smile. “Howdy, boys. Sally told me two handsome customers were in need of some whiskey.”
She laid the tray on the table and picked up one glass, placing it beside James. James gently stopped her hand from moving while he stared up at her with those gorgeous green eyes that made her lose her breath and swoon.
“Not really, but I can think of something else that I’m dying for,” he whispered, then lowered his voice even more, though she could still hear him. “To kiss your beautiful, red lips.”
Trevor grinned and whispered next. “We missed you, pretty lady. We were looking forward to seeing you when we woke up this morning.”
She also missed them, but she couldn’t stay any longer. The feelings that began to build in her heart for them made her weak. They clouded her judgment. Even now standing beside them, her mind wandered. She needed to be on stage in just a few minutes, but all she could think of was sneaking out with them and heading somewhere isolated so they could be alone.
No, she needed to stop this foolishness. She smiled and gently moved her hand away. “I had to do something important this morning that couldn’t wait. I need to go on stage now, but I’ll see you boys afterwards and we’ll talk, all right?”
Trevor took her hand, kissing it. “And then later continue where we left off last night, right?”
A shiver of excitement shot through her hand, up to her arm, and body. She sighed at the promising, luring look he gave her. Mmm, yes, she would love that. That’s if John and Mat didn’t call the posse on them beforehand.
“Right.” She smiled.
As she walked away, her legs felt like numb stumps. Her hands trembled when she dipped to sit at the piano. She tried not to stumble and looked at the captivated crowd. Attempting to remember the first note of her song, she realized, to her horror, her mind was a complete blank.
John and Mat climbed into Belle’s room as quietly as they could. She told them she would leave the window open for them. The dark room left them blind as they felt their way to the door.
Placing his ear to the door, John whispered, “Okay, I hear nothing. The coast is clear.”
They gently opened the door and glanced out. Sure enough the corridor was empty. They crept over to the next room, and Mat took out a small, thin metal rod and inserted it into the key hole. Within seconds, they heard the click of the door unlocking, and they slipped in.
While John dug into his deep pants pocket for matches, he pointed to Mat to take off his jacket and place it against the bottom of the door to hide the light from outside. Right before John struck a match, he heard a smacking sound and something heavy falling to the floor.
“Mat, you okay?” he whispered.
When he heard no response, he clumsily tried to light the oil lamp as quickly as he could. The moment the light came on, he saw a big fist head for his face. The blow came fast and strong.
Before the pain registered, he lost consciousness.
Chapter 8
By some miracle, she didn’t mess up her performance tonight. As she ended her last song and stood, the crowd cheered. She bowed, smiling, and started to walk back to their table. Much to her chagrin, Jesse stood in the crowd, blocking her path. He had a wide smile plastered on his face while he continued clapping.
“That was amazin’, Miss Belle.”
She didn’t stop, but tried to walk around him. “Thanks. I’m glad you liked it.”
He grabbed her arm and looked at her with a sideways glance. “How about I buy you a drink?”
Before she could respond, she felt a gentle, warm hand on her shoulder.
“Belle has to get home now,” the male voice said.
She noted a sneer on Jesse’s face and turned to see James smiling at her. Her hero. She wanted to kiss him for saving her.
“I’m sorry, Jesse. I forgot I have to leave early tonight. I have an important appointment. We’ll make it for another night, then,” she stated.
Looking none too pleased, he responded, “All right,” and then slumped away.
James extended his arm for her to take. “Shall we go?”
She looped her arm through his. “Now, that sounds like a great idea.” She glanced at their empty table as they passed it heading for the exit. “Where’s Trevor?”
“He left a little earlier. He headed back to the inn.”
A pang of fear possessed her. “He went back to the inn? How long ago?”
“Oh, about half an hour ago.” He leaned in to whisper, “We figured since you are uncomfortable with people seeing you with us together, that only one of us should escort you home.”
She rubbed her neck as stress started to rise in her. “Uncomfortable? What gave you that idea?”
“When you came to our table before your performance, you weren’t yourself.”
“Oh, right. That’s sweet of you both.” She nodded.
The moment they stepped outside, Belle lifted her dress so she could walk faster and quickened her gait.
James followed her pace and laughed. “What’s your hurry, Belle?”
Panic formed a lump in her throat. She worried John and Mat hadn’t had time to check out their room thoroughly before Trevor headed back there. They would have been caught and their whole ruse gone up in flames. But of course she couldn’t tell James that.
Giving him an alluring, bashful look, she replied, “I’m anxious to pick up where we left off. I’ve been thinking of last night all day long.” Which was true. Every waking hour, thoughts of their kisses and caresses haunted her, making her desire mount. She wondered what more was to come.
James glanced around, smiling. “Well, seeing as there is no one here.”
He grabbed her around the waist and lifted her in his arms. She gasped in delighted surprise. He twirled her around behind a big oak tree, setting her delicately on the ground and cupping her face. Gently, he brought his lips to hers, kissing her..
It was a sweet kiss that warmed her heart, and when it ended, he looked deep into her eyes with longing. “I’ve been dying to do that all night.”
She licked her lips and leaned closer to him, hoping he’d kiss her again, but he just stared into her eyes and said nothing. His expression turned serious for a brief second, giving her the impression he was deep in thought, but then his jovial look returned.
After a few seconds, she asked, “Why are you looking at me like that?”
He took her hand and kissed it, then meshed his fingers with hers. “Oh, just thinking how great it is that you’ve come into our lives and that I want to get to know more about you. Trevor told me a little of what you talked about last night at dinner. He said we had a lot in common.”
“He said the same thing to me. Apparently, we have the same views on the Civil War and history.” She laughed, nodding.
He brought his hand to her cheek, cupping it and caressing her skin with his thumb. “You know, I’ve never
