“Yes.” She walked to the hearth to work the rock loose. “I found this the first night. His journal, what must have been his savings, and the deed to Sarah’s Pride.”
When she held the book out to him, Jake resisted the urge to open it there and then. If he found what he thought he would find, he would have business to take care of before he said anything else to her. “I’ll take it along with me, if it’s all the same to you.” She opened her mouth to object, wanting the matter settled once and for all. But he’d asked for her trust. Perhaps this was the way to show him he had it. “All right.”
“And the deed? Will you let me hold on to it until we have some answers?”
In answer, she offered it to him, without hesitation, without question. For a moment they held the deed, and the dream, between them. “Just like that?” he murmured.
“Yes.” She smiled and released her hold. “Just like that.”
That her trust was so easily given, so total in her eyes, left him groping for words. “Sarah, I want…” What? he wondered as he stared down at her. To guard and protect, to love and possess? She was like something cool and sweet that had poured into him and washed away years of bitter thirst. But he didn’t have the words, he thought. And he didn’t have the right. “I’ll take care of this.”
She lifted a brow. There had been something else, something in his eyes. She wanted it back, so that she could see it, understand it. “I thought we were going to take care of it.”
“No.” He cupped her chin in his hand. “You’re going to leave this to me. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
Her brow was still lifted as her lips curved.
“Why?”
“Because I don’t. I want you to-” Whatever he might have said was postponed. He moved to the window quickly. “You’ve got company coming.” As he spotted the buggy, his shoulders relaxed. “Looks like Mrs. Cody and her girl.”
“Oh.” Sarah’s hands shot up automatically to straighten her hair. “I must look-Oh, how would I know? I haven’t had a chance to so much as glance in the mirror.”
“Wouldn’t matter much.” Without glancing back, he pulled open the door. “Too bad you’re so homely.” Muttering, she pulled off her apron and followed him outside. Then memory came flooding back and had her biting her Up. “I imagine they would have heard all about the, ah, incident yesterday.”
“I expect.” Jake secured the deed and the journal in the saddlebags that he’d tossed over the rail. “You needn’t look so amused.” She fiddled nervously with the cameo at her throat, then put on her brightest smile. “Good morning, Mrs. Cody. Liza.” “Good morning, Sarah.” Anne Cody brought the horses to a stop. “I hope you don’t mind an early call.”
“Not at all.” But her fingers were busy pleating her skirt. She was afraid there was a lecture coming. The good sisters had given Sarah more than what she considered her share over the past twelve years. “I’m always delighted to see you,” she added. “Both of you.”
Anne glanced over at the dog, who’d run out to bark at the horses. “My, he’s grown some, hasn’t he?” She held out a hand. “Mr. Redman?”
Jake stepped over to help her, then Liza, down, remaining silent until he’d slung his saddlebags over his shoulder. “I’d best be on my way.” He touched a hand to his hat. “Ladies.”
“Mr. Redman.” Anne held up a hand in the gesture she used to stop her children from rushing out before their chores were finished. “Might I have a word with you?”
He shifted his bags until their weight fell evenly.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“My son John has been dogging your heels these last weeks. I’m surprised you put up with it.”
Jake didn’t imagine it pleased her, either, to have the boy spending time with him. “He hasn’t made a pest of himself.”
Curious, Anne studied his face.’ ‘That’s a kind thing to say, Mr. Redman, when I’m sure he’s done just that.”
“Johnny was born a pest,” Liza put in, earning a slow, measured look from her mother.
“It appears my children have that in common.”
With Liza effectively silenced, Anne turned back to Jake. “He’s been going through what most boys his age go through, I expect. Fascinated with guns, gun fights. Gunfighters. I don’t mind saying it’s given me some worry.”
“I’ll keep my distance,” Jake said, and turned to leave.
“Mr. Redman.” Anne hadn’t raised two willful children without knowing how to add the right tone of authority to her voice. “I’ll have my say.”
“Ma.” Both Liza’s cheeks and voice paled when she saw the look in Jake’s eyes. Cold, she thought, and moistened her lips. She’d never seen eyes so cold. “Maybe we should let Mr. Redman be on his way.” “Your mother’s got something to say,” Jake said quietly. “I reckon she ought to say it.”
“Thank you.” Pleased, Anne drew off her riding gloves. “Johnny was real excited about what happened here between you and Burt Donley.”
“Mrs. Cody,” Sarah began, only to be silenced by a look from both her and Jake.
“As I was saying,” Anne continued, “Johnny hardly talked about anything else for days. He figured having a shoot-out made a man a man and gave him something to strut about. Even started pestering his pa for a Peacemaker.” She glanced down at the guns on Jake’s hips. “Wooden grip, he said. Nothing fancy, like some of the glory boys wear. Just a good solid Colt. Mr. Cody and I had just about run clean out of patience with the boy. Then, just yesterday, he came home and told me something.” She paused, measuring her words. “He said that killing somebody in a gunfight or any other way doesn’t make a man grownup or important. He said that a smart man doesn’t look for trouble. He walks away from it when he can, and faces it when he can’t.”
For the first time, Anne smiled. “I guess I’d been telling him pretty near the same, but it didn’t get through coming from me or his pa. Made me wonder who got him thinking that way.” She offered her hand again. “I wanted to tell you I’m obliged.”
Jake stared at the hand before taking it. It was the kind of gesture, one of gratitude, even friendship, that had rarely been made to him. “He’s a smart boy, Mrs. Cody. He’d have come around to it.”
“Sooner or later.” Anne stepped toward the door of the house and then she turned back. “Maggie O’Rourke thinks a lot of you. I guess I found out why. I won’t keep you any longer, Mr. Redman.”
Not quite sure how to respond, he touched his hat before he started toward the paddock to saddle his horse.
“That’s quite a man, Sarah,” Anne commented. “If I were you, I’d want to go say a proper goodbye.” “Yes, I…” She looked at Anne, then back toward Jake, torn between manners and longings.
“You won’t mind if I fix tea, will you?” Anne asked as she disappeared inside.
“No, please, make yourself at home.” Sarah looked toward Jake again. “I’ll only be a minute.” Gathering her skirts, she ran. “Jake!” He turned, the saddle held in both hands, and enjoyed the flash of legs and petticoats. “Wait. I-” She stopped, a hand on her heart, when she realized she was not only out of breath but hadn’t any idea what she wanted to say to him. “Are you… When will you be back?”
The mustang shifted and nickered softly as Jake settled the saddle in place. “Haven’t left yet.”
She hated feeling foolish, and hated even more the idea that he could swing onto his horse and ride out of her life for days at a time. Perhaps patience would do the job.
“I was hoping you’d come back for supper.”
He tossed up a stirrup to tighten the cinch. “You asking me to supper?”
“Unless you’ve something else you’d rather be doing.” His hand snaked out, fast and smooth, to snag her arm before she could flounce away. “It’s not often I get invitations to supper from pretty ladies.” His grip firm, he glanced back toward the house. Things were changing, he decided, and changing fast, when he looked at the adobe cabin and thought of home. He still didn’t know what the hell to do about it. “If I’d known you’d need so long to think about it,” Sarah said between her teeth, “I wouldn’t have bothered. You can just-” But before she could tell him he swept her off her feet.
“You sure do get fired up easy.” He brought his mouth down hard on hers to taste the heat and the honey. “That’s one of the things I like about you.” “Put me down.” But her arms encircled his neck. “Mrs. Cody might see.”
