How to Lasso a Cowboy (24 page)

Or would she be? She was obviously stronger than he'd first thought.

Delaney went to McGuire's bedside.

“Michael,” he said.

No answer.

He turned to Elizabeth and Seth. “I would see him alone.”

“No,” Elizabeth said again, and in the same flat tone he had heard earlier.

“I don't think you understand,” Delaney said. “This is official business.”

“Probably I am too simple to understand,” she replied in a dangerous tone.

Seth knew what was coming. He wondered whether Delaney did.

“But someone who loves him should be with him,” she added. “To protect him.” The words could not be mistaken for anything but a warning.

Delaney's eyes narrowed. “Did he see anything?”

“No. He said his attackers wore masks.”

“Sinclair's friends,” Delaney said. “One brother shoots. The other saves.”

Elizabeth's eyes narrowed. “Why?”

“Gratitude. Insinuating himself into your life so he can get back what he feels is his.”

“Is it?”

“Is it what?”

“His land?” Elizabeth asked.

Delaney gave her a quick glance. “Of course not. Your father paid for it. It's yours.”

“Is it?” she asked again. “Certainly not if we can't stop the rustling.”

“Talk to your newest friend about that.” Delaney's
voice was harsh. Then he looked at Michael McGuire in the bed.

Seth truly didn't know if McGuire was awake or not. He found himself caring about him, which surprised him. He shouldn't care about this carpetbagger, this usurper who had presumed to take his land.

But Elizabeth was an innocent in this, and he didn't want her to feel the kind of pain that he knew only too well.

Seth leaned against the wall while Delaney tried to arouse McGuire with his voice. Then he started to reach down.

Elizabeth stopped the movement. “Don't touch him!”

To Seth's surprise, Delaney withdrew his hand. Retreated.

Elizabeth sat down next to her father. Felt his forehead, then held his hand. She looked up at Delaney defiantly. “He was bleeding badly. If it were not for Mr. Sinclair . . .”

Delaney frowned. “Dillon Sinclair was behind the shootings,” he insisted again. “Make no mistake, the Sinclairs want you gone.”

“I would want me gone as well, were I in their place,” Elizabeth sparred. “Yet he has twice saved me in as many days. Perhaps I've been trusting the wrong people.”

Delaney stood straight and faced Elizabeth and away from Seth. “Don't be misled, Elizabeth. I've been a friend to your father. Without me—”

“Without you, the McGuires would probably have a great deal more cattle than they have now,” Seth broke in. “Tell me, what kind of price did you give them for the herd my father had ready for market?”

Delaney spun around, the gun back in his hand, but Seth was just as fast. His was there a fraction of a second faster. “I wouldn't advise it,” he said softly.

“Threatening an officer is an offense,” Delaney said with satisfaction. “You're under arrest.”

Elizabeth stood. “I didn't see anything,” she said. Her eyes met Delaney's. “I want you to go. Now.”

Delaney stared at her as if he couldn't believe what he
was hearing. “You're upset, Elizabeth. You don't know what you're saying. This man is dangerous. I can't leave you here alone with him.”

“I
have
been ‘alone' with him, and I feel perfectly safe. A lot safer, in fact, than I do with him gone.”

“You heard the lady,” Seth said. His finger was on the trigger. He had sworn not to kill again after the war, but he was willing to make an exception with the man responsible for murdering his father and outlawing his brother. How many others had he killed?

“I'll get you, Sinclair,” Delaney said. “Just like I'll get your brother and his friends.”

“I won't tell you again,” Seth said. “Get the hell out of here before my finger twitches on the trigger.”

Seth saw his eyes darken, his mouth clench in repressed fury.

He also realized his brother was right. Delaney was a dangerous man.

Delaney looked at Elizabeth, then back at him, at the gun pointed at him. “Get out of town, Sinclair. Next time I see you, you won't be able to hide behind a woman's skirt.”

“I hardly think I'm doing that, Delaney. And believe me I won't be as unsuspecting as my father. I watch my back.”

“You're a dead man.”

“A threat. In front of Miss McGuire at that. I would be more cautious, Delaney.”

The major looked like a coiled rattler poised to strike. His body radiated tension and fury. Both Seth's gun and Elizabeth's presence made that impossible.

Seth smiled at him. His Colt didn't waver in his hand. He was inviting a rash action, hoping for it.

Delaney didn't oblige. Instead he uttered a barely audible oath, whirled around, and left.

Elizabeth stood. “He
will
kill you. He will wait until you're alone, then strike.”

“Worried about me?”

Her gaze met his. The answer was there, soft and trusting in her eyes. It didn't have to be spoken.

“I thought you two were courting,” he said softly.

“He's calling only because I've rebuffed his advances. He's not a man to be thwarted.”

Seth suddenly regretted what he had just done. He had wanted to bait the man, to see what he was made of. He had also wanted to prod him into making a mistake. But in doing so, he might have put the McGuires—and his sister—in the line of fire. “He's been thwarted now by a woman he wants in favor of a man he now hates,” he said. “That's dangerous too.”

She shivered slightly, and he realized that she knew exactly what she had done.

He reached out and took her hand, closing his big one around it.

Dammit.

He leaned down, touched her lips, and then she seemed to float into his arms. The attraction that had flickered between them from the very beginning flared, its flames licking at every nerve in his body. He reveled in the softness of her body, the slight fragrance from her hair. God, it had been a long time. Such a damned long time since he had touched anyone with gentleness.

His lips explored hers, and he had to force himself not to crush them against hers. Instead, he brushed her cheeks with kisses, feasting on the touch and feel of her, allowing her to get used to him.

There was a wistful vulnerability about her that diminished all his defenses. He wanted her. He wanted to take off her clothes and feel her body under him. Most of all, he wanted to wake up to that wondrous smile she had. . . .

“Liz?”

They both turned at the same time.

His sister stood there, an uncertain look on her face, the puppy contentedly sleeping in her arms. “I . . . I wanted to see Poppy,” she said uncertainly.

Seth took a step backward. God, he hurt inside. Desire was a clawing thing inside him.

Elizabeth looked as dazed as he felt.

Nonetheless, she knelt and gave Marilee the sweetest smile he thought he'd ever seen. “He's going to be fine, love,” she said softly. “Just fine.”

“Promise?”

“I promise,” she said.

He watched them together and felt a tightening in his heart. Love stretched between them.

He was excluded.

How could he take his sister away from Elizabeth or, for that matter, Elizabeth from Marilee?

He could marry her, but why would she want a penniless rebel who'd lost his soul during four long bloody years in the hell of war? How could he even entertain the idea when he had nothing to offer but himself?

And he had just made himself a target for the federal authorities.

 
STILL DAZED BY
the kiss interrupted by Marilee, Elizabeth hugged the child.

As Elizabeth fought to bring sense back to her life, she looked into Seth's blue eyes. It was a mistake.

She found herself swirling in the currents there. Desire. Need. Reluctance.

She was warmed through to her toes. Every nerve ending tingled. She'd never known what the word
desire
meant before. Now she did.

An ache lodged in the core of her, a craving, a longing that was new to her. It was as if the world had caught fire and she'd been swept into its center.

She had never felt desired before. Had never considered herself desirable.

He might desire her, but he didn't want her. Or at best he didn't want to want her.

He
did
desire her. Need was in his eyes, in the tense set of his body, in the way he had touched her. Kissed her.

The sounds of a buggy rolling to a stop jerked her out of the daze.

She forced her legs to carry her to the window.

The doctor.

That snapped her out of the daze. How could she have stood here, kissing a man, while her father lay ill, possibly dying?

Because she had just realized how precious life was?

She looked toward her father. He was still. Thank God. When he woke he would be in immense pain.

“The doctor,” she told Seth, who was still standing there. Watching her. She brushed by him without another word.

She greeted the doctor and led him to her father. After taking off the bandages and examining the wound, Dr. Pearson looked up from the patient. “Couldn't have done better myself,” he said. “Give him some of that laudanum I gave him a few months back. If there's fever, call me.”

He turned and looked at Seth. “Damn glad to see you, boy. We all thought you were dead.”

“I almost was.”

“Sorry to hear about your brothers. Sorry about your pa.” He glanced at Elizabeth, then back at Seth. “Sorry about the land, too. Damn shame. Don't mind telling you that.”

She felt the weight of his disapproval, just as she had felt it from so many other Texans. But then what he'd just said registered.

“What laudanum?”

He looked surprised. “He didn't tell you?”

“Tell me what?”

“He's had some pain in his heart. I gave him some quinine and . . .” He suddenly closed his mouth.

Anxiety churned her stomach. No wonder he hadn't been as active in the last few months.

Why hadn't he told her?

She swayed for a moment, then steadied herself. Her father's approval of the courtship of Major Delaney made sense now. At least to him. He wouldn't have wanted to
leave her alone, and Delaney was the only man to ever show interest in her.

“How long?” she whispered.

“I don't know. The loss of blood didn't help. Nor will the pain he'll feel when he wakes up. Make sure he takes the laudanum.”

“I will.”

Seth's eyes were on her. They were curtained now. Just as they had been on their first ride in the buggy after he had rescued her. She had no idea what he was thinking.

“Thank you,” she said to the doctor. “How much do I owe you?”

“A dollar.”

“I'll get it for you,” she said and left the room for the kitchen where she kept money in a jar. She dug out a dollar, then hurried back, only to be stopped by voices from within the room. She stepped back and listened.

“I'm surprised to see you here,” Dr. Pearson said.

“It's my home.”

“You are asking for trouble.”

“Maybe,” came Seth's low drawl. “You get around. You've always known everything that goes on. What do you know about the rustling around here?”

“I know everyone is losing cows, especially those who refused to accept Delaney's going price. His offers are so low no one can pay the taxes he imposes. Delaney says it's all the army allows, but I have a friend at headquarters who tells me the general's complaining at the cost of cattle. Apparently Delaney buys low and reports a higher price to his superiors.”