“You were once. Why?”
Though gently spoken, Will couldn’t have asked a harsher question. Oh, she knew what he was about. Trying to persuade her in all kindness and goodness to share things that she could not. Would not.
“My life was different then.” Mary smoothed her skirt, noting the mud caking the bottom. “I should go bathe.”
Will stepped in front of her, gentility lacking in his movement. “Why do you keep avoiding my questions?”
“For the same reason you keep asking them.” Mary met his gaze, refusing to flinch. “You say you can help me, but you have no idea what kind of man he is. What he’s willing to stoop to. There’s too much at stake.”
His eyes set firmly on her. “Don’t you think I know that? It’s the reason I aim to bring him down. But I need your help.”
“Who are you to go after a man like Ben Perry? If the law hasn’t caught up with him by now, surely an ordinary man such as yourself can do no better.”
Not that Mary wanted him to be anything other than an ordinary man.
He looked at her with the same intensity as the sheriff in Ohio who’d questioned her. Oh, why couldn’t she have just admitted to the truth then?
So many things she would have done differently.
Will’s expression had become more solemn and contemplative. Perhaps he, too, was realizing the foolishness of trying to do something best left to the authorities.
She turned to go back into the hotel. “I think I will take Mrs. Lewis’s generous offer now. I’m sure they’ll be needing me soon to help with Emma Jane’s care.”
“How can you be so mule-headed?” Will’s words tore into Mary’s retreating back.
Mary stopped. “I told you, there’s nothing I can do in the matter.” She brought her attention back to Will. “Leave the things of the law to the law. They’re equipped to handle the likes of Ben Perry. Not me.”
This time, she continued her trek to the cabin. She could feel the heaviness of Will’s gaze. But she wasn’t going to let him get to her. Not now, not ever.
Even if she could get someone to believe her side of the story, what good would it do? Speaking up was fruitless. In fact, with Rose’s rage at her secret engagement, it would only further strain family relations. Rose already didn’t believe the facts Mary had shared. There was no way her sister would believe that she’d had nothing to do with the thefts.
“Mary,” Will called.
She stopped but didn’t turn around.
“Despite the fact that Emma Jane was nothing to you, you risked your life and reputation to care for her. Why would you have compassion on a woman with such a prickly personality, but allow a man like Ben Perry to roam free?”
Mary took a deep breath. Saving Emma Jane, mostly from herself, was a penance that gave her soul some comfort for all the torment it suffered because of her actions with Ben. The wind whipped up around her, chilling her through the thin cotton dress Mrs. Haggerty had lent her.
Allowing Ben to roam free? Surely there was nothing she could do, save pray that the next time he crossed the line, the law would catch up to him.
* * *
As Will watched Mary leave, it was tempting to call her back. To finally confess the entire story. But he suspected that might only make things worse. Besides, he wasn’t a lawman. Not anymore. A disgraced lawman held little attraction to anyone looking for safety.
Footsteps crunched behind him, and Will turned. Jasper approached, leaning on a makeshift crutch.
“Should you be up and about?”
Jasper shrugged. “Better than having Mrs. Haggerty and Mrs. Lewis fussing about me. I appreciate Mrs. Lewis’s kindness, but if I have to hear another word about the eligible women here at the resort, not to mention her own daughters, I think I’ll go mad.”
“You’ll have to marry eventually.”
“I know.” Jasper kicked at a rock with his bum foot. “But is it so much to ask for a man to be allowed to have a little adventure first? My father wants me to learn the ins and outs of the business. My mother is so busy trying to keep me safe that I could suffocate from her efforts. Maybe if I help you bring down Perry, I’ll finally feel like I can settle down.”
Or it would give his friend enough of a taste of the life he craved that he couldn’t give it up. But Will would be stupid to not accept Jasper’s help.
“Could be,” Will said slowly. “You know I can always use an extra man. So long as the doctor says your leg is up to it.”
“Nothing a few days’ rest won’t fix. He’s leaving now. You can go ask him.”
Will turned and watched as the doctor left the house. “I hope Emma Jane is going to be all right.”
The air stilled around them. “I don’t know what I’ll do if she’s not. I owe Emma Jane my life,” Jasper said quietly. “I mean, sure, she was the one who got herself trapped in an old mine going out in the dark by herself. She was fortunate I happened to be outside and heard her cry out. But I didn’t do any better, falling in while trying to save her. Still, when the mine caved in, she risked herself to push me out of the way. If she hadn’t...”
Jasper’s voice trailed off, and he turned toward the lake. Will recognized the speech of a man who’d faced death and was looking for redemption. A far better calling than having to apprehend an outlaw.
Then Jasper looked back at Will, his face contorted with pain.
“Emma
