Surprise and anger flash across his face. “Now, is that any way to greet your husband?”
“I'm sorry, truly. I knew better than to get involved, but I didn't want to live with your death on my conscious too, Mr. Rivers.” The quakes have turned to serious tremors, and Dalton is afraid that she might accidentally shoot him.
“Okay. Fair enough.” He lowers his pistol and backs into a chair near the window. He squeezes his large frame into the tiny chair and lays his gun across his lap. “I only wanted to get you to safety, Miss?” He asks carefully.
“Ms. Cassandra... Brown,” she responds only stuttering a second on the last name. “I can explain. I was in the general store across the street, and I overheard those men talking about robbing you. I only wanted to warn you, but they caught me listening. I told them I had to meet my husband and when they saw the two of us together, things got complicated.”
“I see, so where is your husband?” Pain flashes in her eyes and he knows the answer before she speaks.
“Dead. He's been gone a few years now. I'm leaving on the train in a few days, Mr. Dalton,” she lies, “So, you can go now, and I will be out of your hair.” She lowers her pistol and looks at him.
“I'm sorry for your loss, Cassandra.” His sincerity touches her heart. It's the first time the words ring true.
“Thank you,” she whispers lowering her pistol a little more.
“Ms. Brown, could you put the pistol away? You're safe with me.” Dalton says with such intensity that she almost believes him, but she has seen too much death to be taken in by a strong man and lovely eyes.
“Mr. Dalton, they mean to kill you and take your shares of the railroad. You aren’t safe here.” She responds ignoring his request. “You need to get out of my room and leave the city.”
“My shares of the railroad? How did they know about that?” His mind is spinning. It doesn't surprise him that the brothers would try to rob him, they'd already tried once before. The fact that she put herself in the direct line of fire is unacceptable.
Cassie waits quietly while he takes it all in. The William brothers are trouble for both of them.
“You have to leave…” they both say simultaneously.
“Good, we’re in agreement. Get your things, Ms. Brown,” he orders, standing up, he holsters his pistol.
“Wait, what?” She stares at him incredulously. “Mr. Rivers, perhaps I wasn't clear enough.” She explains slowly as though speaking to a child. “You aren't safe, not me.”
Dalton offers her a grim smile, “As my new bride you have inadvertently made yourself a target. You're no longer safe here.”
Shock flickers across her face, but she quickly recovers. “That is not your problem, Mr. Rivers, besides, I'm leaving on the train in a few days. I'm sure I will be fine until then.”
The sun has set during their conversation, and the streets begin to grow noisy. He moves to the window and watches the men entering and leaving the saloon. “We need to go now before they are so drunk, they only think about getting to you!”
“That's ridiculous. I have been here for two days...” Cassie starts to say, but the sound of gunshots stops her cold.
“Ms. Brown, I have been here for two weeks, and in that time, I have been almost killed three times. Trust me when I say, you're not safe here. The Williams Brothers have it in for me, and that means they will go after my ‘wife' if that is what it takes to get even. I am merely suggesting we switch rooms until we can figure this out.”
She stares at him for a moment before she turns and grabs her bag stuffing the pistol inside. “Fine. I knew I shouldn’t have gotten involved. Can you grab my bag in the closet, please,” she asks? Dalton sighs in relief. Quickly, he moves to the closet and finds a medium size carpet bag inside. Lifting it, he turns and sees her waiting with a smaller bag by the door.
“Is this all?” he asks.
Her blush confirms his suspicions that she's in more trouble than she admits. “I travel light, Mr. Rivers.”
“Call me Dalton. I'm on the second floor. Let's go.”
Truthfully, Cassie is relieved, his assumptions regarding the brothers makes sense. They quickly make their way down the stairs. He draws his key and his pistol, dropping her bag. Cassie feels his tension and wonders, yet again, what she was thinking getting involved.
His eyes meet hers, and he gives her a wink. “Wait here, while I check my room.”
Dalton moves quickly and notes the door is closed and locked a good sign. He unlocks the door and swiftly checks the room. Cassandra watches from the stairway and moves inside. Dalton shuts the door and moves to light a lantern, then turns to find Cassie staring at him with wide eyes.
“Easy now, darling. You're safe here.”
She glances around the room which is identical to hers, minus the view of the street. The only difference is that his room is on the back side of the hotel.
“How is it you think I will be safer in your room if they are gunning for you?” She looks at her bags near the door as though she is ready to bolt at any second.
“I never register under my real name, especially in this city. I have two rooms. We should be safe for the night and tomorrow we will change hotels while they sleep off the whiskey.”
Cassie's shoulders droop as exhaustion sets in. “Mr. Rivers while I am thankful to you for thinking of my
