Mary pulled the door closed behind her and went into the kitchen. “Emma Jane would like some broth.”
Mrs. Lewis turned from the stove and handed her a bowl. “You must have been reading my mind. I was about to take her some. You’re such a good girl, Mary. You must be a treasure to your family.”
“Thank you, ma’am.” Mary bobbed her head slowly as she took the bowl of broth.
The more she pondered her secrets, the more they tightened the noose around her neck. Mary was no treasure. Yes, she took good care of her family, but the betrayal Rose felt at Mary’s actions—what little she knew of them—was real. Mary had deceived her family. Worse, she’d allowed a thief access to their home so that he could rob their aunt of her most prized possession. But perhaps the worst sin of all was that she’d neglected their care while pursuing the fantasy that a handsome man such as Ben Perry could love her.
Mary could spend the rest of her life taking care of her family and helping people like Emma Jane, but she had to wonder if it would ever be enough to make up for her mistake with Ben. Frank would tell her that, like the thief on the cross, she didn’t need to do anything, but she just couldn’t shake the condemnation that seemed to follow wherever she went.
If she didn’t find a solution soon, surely Mary would suffocate under the weight of her guilt.
* * *
Storms in Leadville were much worse than he’d seen in Denver, Will concluded after supper. The wind was howling more loudly than it had been earlier in the day, and though he knew Mary was eager to return home, he was glad they’d made the decision to stay. Sitting by the cozy fire in the parlor, Will couldn’t think of a better place to be. The forced relaxation was only relaxing because he knew that in the storm, Ben couldn’t do anything, either.
Jasper pulled up a chair next to him. “I’ve been thinking about your case. What information do you have so far?”
Will looked around. The ladies were occupied with examining some sort of cloth and paying them no mind. In fact, Mary had done her best to avoid him since their discussion before the storm hit.
“Not much.” Will blew out a breath. “All I know is that he’s in Leadville. I’ve spotted some of his gang, so I know they’re planning something. I met a woman, Mel, who confirmed that something big is going to happen, but she didn’t know what. With dozens of banks, assayer’s offices and mines, it could be anything.”
Jasper inclined his head in Mary’s direction. “How does she fit into this?”
“I don’t know. They were engaged at one time, which Mary claims is off, but Ben made a spectacle of it the other night. Either way, I can’t help but wonder if she knows something that can be of use. She doesn’t act innocent when I bring him up.”
That was the real problem. As much as he wanted to believe in Mary’s innocence, her body language and demeanor told him otherwise. He’d had the same suspicions with Daisy, but she’d charmed her way around them. Though he knew Mary and Daisy were two different women, he also knew that in the area of interpreting body language, his gut was never wrong.
So, what was Mary hiding?
“And if she has nothing of value to tell you?”
Will sighed. In truth, he’d spent an awful lot of time pursuing Mary without knowing how she could be of help. What if he was wasting his time?
“I have no other leads.” He went through all of his encounters with Perry since arriving in Leadville. Except...
“What do you know of The Pink Petticoat?”
“That flophouse?” Jasper shook his head. “A man’s got to be desperate to go there.”
“What do you think Ben Perry would be doing there?”
Jasper raised an eyebrow as if to question Will’s idiocy. Everyone knew what a man did in there.
“But why The Pink Petticoat? Why not one of the, um, classier, places that seems to be more Ben’s style?”
The ladies all laughed in unison. They wouldn’t be laughing if they knew what Will and Jasper were discussing. Such things were not spoken of in front of ladies. But if Will didn’t unravel this puzzle soon, he was going to go crazy.
Mary laughed again, the melodic notes of her voice stinging Will’s heart. How could someone so innocent get caught up in Ben’s game?
Jasper cleared his throat. “Could she be the target? Her family’s mines are worth a pretty penny. She and her sisters are bound to be the targets of fortune hunters.”
Something Jasper knew all about. Will often pitied the parade of marriage-minded mamas and their daughters chasing after Jasper’s pocketbook.
“I had thoughts along that line. I warned Mary that Ben would try to get her alone to compromise her and force a marriage. She seemed terrified at the thought.”
Yet she still wouldn’t join forces with Will.
“Compromising a lady doesn’t take a gang of men.” Jasper rubbed his chin, then leaned in toward Will. “Could he be capable of something more sinister, like kidnapping?”
Kidnapping. Will hadn’t even thought of that possibility. But as Mary laughed again, Will’s belly turned to ice.
“I think he’s capable of that, and worse.”
Mary’s gaze caught his. Locked, as though she knew he was talking about her. Those clear green eyes searing a warning into his conscience. Only he should be the one cautioning her.
But how? Mary had dismissed his admonition
