Will met Mary’s stare. Like it or not, Will wasn’t going anywhere. Not until he’d brought down Ben Perry and was assured of Mary’s safety.
Mrs. Lewis seemed to pick up on their eye lock.
“It seems as though we have a young couple unable to keep their eyes off each other.”
Mary’s head snapped back to whatever they’d been examining. “Not at all. I was merely curious what the men were up to.”
“I’m sure you were.” Mrs. Lewis’s voice held much doubt. “So, tell us, gentlemen, whatever could you be about that has our Mary so fascinated?”
Mary’s face turned scarlet, and Will knew it wasn’t from the heat of the fire. Unfortunately for Mrs. Lewis, Mary had no more interest in Will than he had in her.
Except...he wasn’t entirely disinterested in the raven-haired beauty.
“Nothing that would be of interest to the ladies,” Jasper answered for him. “Work, I’m afraid.”
“Work?” Mrs. Lewis looked between the two men. “Now, this is most curious. We all know Jasper has hardly worked a day in his life. As for you, Mr. Lawson, what is it that you do?”
Will glanced over at Jasper.
“I’m between jobs,” Will said quickly. “But I once worked for Jasper and his father in Denver, and I was hoping that Jasper would put a good word in with his father for me.”
“Oh, mercy.” Mrs. Lewis let out a long sigh. “How dreadfully dull. I suppose if there’s nothing Mr. Jackson can do for you, I could ask Mr. Lewis if he has something for such a strapping man as yourself.”
Emma Jane giggled, but Mary’s face remained unreadable. He’d told the truth, perhaps not so much about needing a good word with Mr. Jackson, who’d told him he’d have work whenever he wanted it. But the full story, of his real intent in Leadville, wasn’t to be bandied about.
Mrs. Lewis looked around the room. “I do wish he’d come out of his smoking room to join us. Such a disgraceful habit. I’m so pleased that you gentlemen don’t indulge.”
Though Mary appeared to be fiddling with a piece of cloth, he could feel her eyes on him. As if his answers to Mrs. Lewis’s queries mattered.
Her opinion of his answers shouldn’t matter, but they did. He’d like to tell himself it was only because it would bring her to trust him more, but his head was already full of things he shouldn’t have put there.
“No, ma’am. My mother believes tobacco products are a scourge, and I’ve always respected her opinion.”
“Oh my!” Mrs. Lewis clasped her bosom as though he’d given her the greatest gift. “A man who still listens to his mama. Ladies, if he’s not perfect husband material, then I don’t know who is.”
Mary dropped the cloth she’d been holding, and something clattered to the ground. She turned away before Will could see the expression on her face, but he had to wonder, could Miss Mary Stone have a deeper interest in him than he’d thought?
He’d just sworn to protect her from Ben Perry and his plans, especially if they leaned toward kidnapping. But now he had to wonder, how was he going to protect her, protect them, from having feelings for each other that neither had the right to?
Chapter Thirteen
“Where is my precious baby and what has that animal done to her?” Days later, after the storm had passed, the door thudded against the wall as a portly matron stormed into the room.
“Mother!” Emma Jane gasped and snapped her book shut.
Mary put a calming hand on her friend’s arm. “She’s perfectly safe, Mrs. Logan. Why don’t you join us and I’ll see if Mrs. Lewis will bring us some tea?”
Mrs. Logan continued her path toward Emma Jane, looming over them. “You poor darling. What you must have suffered.”
The two girls exchanged looks. Emma Jane looked as though she was about to cry. “I’m fine.”
“Oh, to hear the talk in town about my dear, sweet girl, alone all night in the wilderness with that man. And then to need a doctor’s care.” Mrs. Logan reached down and gathered her daughter against her in what looked to be a rather uncomfortable embrace.
Mary could almost hear what was coming. All of the Logan family’s planning, despite Emma Jane’s change of heart, had come true. The accusation of being alone all night with Jasper would be enough to force a marriage.
Out of the corner of her eye, Mary saw Will and Jasper walking past, having been out to check on the wagon and to be sure the roads were clear enough to travel. They’d been stuck at the Spruce Lakes Resort for a week, waiting for the storm to subside, then the snow to melt. The hope was that they could return to Leadville today.
Mary tried to signal Will to go away, only he seemed to take it as an invitation to enter. Bringing Jasper with him.
The sound of boot steps brought Mrs. Logan to attention. Mary knew the moment Mrs. Logan recognized Jasper.
“You debaucher!”
Jasper took a step back. “Ma’am?”
“You know perfectly well who I am. I’m Mrs. Percival Logan, and you, sir, are the evil man who stained the reputation of our beloved daughter. We will not allow this injustice to continue a moment longer.”
More footfalls sounded in the entryway.
“Ah, there they are.” Mrs. Lewis’s cheery voice greeted them all, a stark contrast to the steam rising from Mrs. Logan’s body.
Given the amount of contriving Mrs. Logan had gone to in order for her daughter to be compromised by Jasper, Mary had to admit that the woman’s acting ability would rival anything found on any of the stages in Leadville.
“Emma Jane! My
