A Texan's Luck (23 page)

"How do I let you know?" Her words tickled across his face.

"Know what?" he answered, trying to think with all the feelings shooting through him.

"That I'd like to be kissed again, please." Her words brushed over his mouth.

"This will do." He was no longer able to resist. He hugged her to him. This time his kiss grew bolder, spiced with a need for her that surprised him.

When she leaned away, it was harder to let her go, but he knew if he didn't want to frighten her, he had to allow her to set the pace.

She pulled her bottom lip into her mouth as if tasting his kiss. "That was nice. Thank you, Captain."

"Stop thanking me, Lacy," he said sharper than he'd intended.

"Stop ordering me," she answered, but her eyes were dancing with pleasure.

He would have closed the space between them once more, but a rider passed the window. They both leaned farther back into the shadows on either side of the window.

"I meant no order," he whispered from the other side of the window. "I also hadn't realized it was getting so late. People are already on the street. We'll have to be more careful if we're near the windows."

She nodded and hurried back into the office, but the sunlight followed her, as did his gaze.

Walker noticed the blush across her cheeks slowly cool and knew reality had returned. Part of him wanted to go back to the kiss they'd shared in the shadows, but he knew there were many things that needed to be said. Their game of kissing, no matter how pleasant, had to be pushed aside to allow full attention to be given to problems.

He followed her into the kitchen. She handed him a bucket, and he pumped water as she talked. "I've got a plan that will get me to the farm, and I don't have to pretend to be a boy."

"All right."

She handed him another bucket and continued, "I told you about the gypsies' place. I could go there without playing dress-up."

Walker filled a third bucket and wondered how long this plan might take to discuss or if she would simply talk until the well ran dry.

"One of the girls, Cozetta, comes in to cook and clean for the doc. Judging by his food supply, I thought she must be overdue, so I asked. Timothy says if the weather doesn't keep her away, she's due today."

Walker saw where she was going, but he waited as she set the kettles on to warm, then grabbed her bag.

"She comes to town in a little two-wheel cart. One of the old women from the village always rides along as chaperone, otherwise there'd be talk about a young girl cleaning a bachelor's place. I've heard Timothy complain that he has to pay the old woman for doing nothing, but that's the only way he can get Cozetta."

Walker almost asked her to shorten her plan to a few hundred words.

She continued, "Maybe I could wear the old chaperone's shawl and ride back with Cozetta. From the village, it's not a far walk to the river. Once I cross that, I'll be on Carter's land and in his orchard."

"What do we do with the old lady?" Walker followed her through a side door off the kitchen he had never noticed before. He tried to listen and not slosh the water all over his legs.

Lacy frowned. "I don't have all the kinks worked out yet."

"How about leaving her here with the doc?"

Lacy shook her head. "He's always saying one of the old women makes his flesh crawl, and he thinks another one has fleas."

"Could she stay with someone in town?"

Lacy shook her head. "If these women had any friends or family, they wouldn't be living out at the settlement."

She set her bucket down. "Bailee told me once that the gypsies never turn anyone away. They may have to invent a job, like chaperoning, but they find a way on one side of the law or the other."

Walker got the feeling Lacy didn't quite trust all those who lived in the gypsy village, but he didn't say anything.

"The doc complains one old woman stares at him as if she thinks he'll murder her if she isn't watchful." Lacy pulled a tub from the corner to the center of the little room and poured water in it.

"Could you fit in the back of the wagon?"

"Maybe, but it would be tight. Cozetta takes home the doc's laundry, and I've seen Mosely load in harnesses that need work. The men .in the settlement will mend them cheap, then Mosely doubles the price when people come to pick up their leather."

Walker smiled. She was doing it again, adding in facts that didn't need to be there.

Lacy got the hint. "I could probably hide amid the bundles if nothing else goes into the cart."

She tested the water and added, "Nell and I would both be safer if I could get Cozetta to take me, because we wouldn't be traveling on the same road. If I could get to the gypsy camp, I know I could find Carter's orchard, but it wouldn't be an easy journey, and the trees are so thick in spots a horse couldn't even get through."

"I could go with you." He emptied his last pail.

"No. You wouldn't fit in the cart, and if you were riding along behind us, anyone on the road would suspect something."

Walker collected the buckets. "I presume this is for the filthy ranger smelling up the other room." He pointed to the tub.

Lacy smiled. "No, it's for me. I'll be finished before you have time to heat water for the ranger's tub."

Walker looked around. The place was more storage room than bathing room, but he could see why the doc would keep a tub placed in it. The room was warm, with no outside walls and no windows, and the advantage of being close to the kitchen for a source of hot water.

"You bathe here often?" he asked before he could stop himself.

Lacy pulled the pins from her hair. "Sometimes. When Cozetta's here, she'll keep watch at the door, and I'll bathe and wash my hair. Dr. McClellan used to sit with your father until I returned to the shop, but now he makes a production of saying he's going out whenever he sees me talking to Cozetta in the kitchen."

Walker felt guilty for asking. Lacy must have had very little time to herself while she was watching over his father. He stepped back into the kitchen and waited for the kettle to boil.

He could hear her humming and realized how such a simple thing seemed to relax her.

"Ready for the hot water?" He stood outside the door.

"Ready," Lacy answered.

When he entered, he was surprised to find her in her undergarments, her shoes and stockings already off and her hair down.

"What is it?" she asked when she saw his face.

"You're not dressed." He felt like a fool stating the obvious.

"We're not going to start that again, are we?" She giggled nervously. "I have to do this as fast as possible and go back to Nell. I've yet to figure out how to soak in a bath with my clothes on." She twisted her hair and pulled it into a knot at the top of her head.

He knew better than to say more.

He poured the water and planned to leave, but as he turned, she stood near. When he met her gaze, he couldn't resist. Without touching her, he leaned and kissed her full on the mouth.

"Oh," she said.

"Do you mind?" He smiled, knowing her answer.

"No. I just didn't think about people kissing anytime."

"You're right, we'll reserve such behavior for greetings and farewells. And of course train stations—"

She leaned up and kissed him, stopping the list. He circled her shoulder with his arm but didn't pull her closer. When she stepped away, he felt sure more than hot water steamed the room.

"I'd better hurry," she whispered a little out of breath.

He nodded and left the room, knowing that if he stayed longer, there would be no time for her to bathe. Walker pulled a chair up against the door and tried not to think about Lacy on the other side.

An hour later, the ranger made use of the tub. Walker stood by the front door as Lacy dried her hair near the fireplace in the room where Nell slept. He told himself from his vantage point he could see the street, but he spent most of his time watching her.

Riley showed up with milk and a basket of biscuits from Mrs. Abernathy. He didn't seem the least surprised that the ranger had found Nell and explained that even when Nell was only a half-grown kid, the ranger saw himself as her guardian angel.

Walker almost didn't recognize the man who walked out of the storage closet with his hair still wet. Without a pound of dirt and mud on him, Jacob Dalton looked far younger, and his hair wasn't brown, but sun-whitened blond. He wore his double-holstered Colts far too easy not to be a man who made his living by them.

Walker told them of Lacy's idea, and Dalton agreed with the plan. Except he insisted that he ride with the wagon Nell was in. He explained that, unlike Walker, he knew what Whitaker looked like. If he spotted the man, even from a distance, he'd know the old buffalo hunter.

The sheriff suggested both Cozetta's wagon and Samuel's carrying Nell leave at the same time. That way Whitaker couldn't follow both and, with the ranger guarding one and Walker checking the progress of the other, chances were good Whitaker would do nothing.

"Zeb Whitaker is a coward at the core. He'll wait until he thinks he can get to them without anyone shooting at him. Or," Riley drew on his pipe, "he'll get someone else to do the dirty work."

"Where do you think he's hiding?" Dalton asked as he wiped soap from his ear.

"No telling. He knows these parts better than anyone. Old Mosely over at the livery used to be a friend of his, but he swears he hasn't heard from Whitaker since he got out of jail."

"If I can link him to Nell's attempted murder, I'll have him back behind bars." Dalton's jaw set.

Walker's respect for the ranger grew. Most men in his shoes would be talking of killing whoever hurt Nell. Jacob Dalton put the law first, at least for now.

The day stayed dark and cloudy. The rain stopped, but no one came by to see the doc. Walker watched the street. Most townsfolk stayed inside by their fires. Cozetta showed up as expected with an old woman along for the ride. The young girl seemed shy around the ranger and Walker, but she whispered to Lacy and the doctor.

Lacy crossed to the men as if she were the appointed translator. "Cozetta says you three make her friend nervous, so two of you have to leave." She grinned. "The biggest two. Cozetta's friend says the sheriff's small enough to fight off if he decides to try to ravish her."

All three men leaned to look at the tiny old raisin of a woman who sat by the fire wrapped in shawls.

"So you two big ones had better be on your way."

"Did you tell the gypsy about riding back with her?" Walker asked, ignoring her request.

Lacy nodded. "She says she only goes as far as the first set of cabins, but the old woman said she'd take me all the way to the orchard's edge. I told her you'd be following. She said for you not to come close until she turns toward the trees."

Walker frowned.

"Don't worry, she says she knows a spot where the river is shallow. Once you join us at the tree line, we'll cross and find our way to Carter's."

Jacob mirrored Walker's worried look. "I was back there on the other side of the creek once. It's not easy crossing in daylight, much less at night. You might be wise to wait till daybreak."

Lacy shook her head. "The women said I'm welcome to stay, but they want no part of inviting in a stranger like Walker. She didn't even like the idea that you would be following the wagon at a distance. She tried to convince me to tell you to ride with the ranger."

When neither man spoke, Lacy added, "What do you think?"

"I'm riding with you, but she won't even know I'm there."

Walker met Jacob's stare, and knew the ranger agreed with him. Lacy might trust this old woman she hardly knew, but Walker planned to be near.

Lacy sighed. "All right, I won't tell her, but you two better get out of here. We need to change the bandages and be ready to leave in an hour. We should get there before dark. Timothy says Nell can travel if we pack her in with blankets, so Jacob, climb my back stairs and take every quilt in my house you need for Samuel's wagon. If I know Carter, he's already sent the old man to wait at Mosely's livery until we're ready. Use all my quilts if you need to; we want her protected and warm for the ride."

She turned to Walker. "You'll need something besides that uniform. And I need my new thread box and wool from my bedroom. While we're at Bailee's I might have time to sew." She took a quick breath. "I've repacked my carpetbag if you want to strap it to your horse."

The doc called, and Lacy hurried back to Nell.

Jacob winked at Walker as he stood. "Bossy little woman, ain't she?"

Walker reached for his coat. "My commander gives fewer orders."

Riley chuckled. "You better get going, boys. Now, me, I didn't hear her tell me to do one thing. I'm going to stay right here all warm and have myself the last biscuit."

The thump of a cane announced the old woman coming near. She walked past the table as if she didn't see the three men standing around it and headed toward the kitchen. She grunted with every other step, as if hiccupping in baritone.