Jane Bonander (16 page)

Behind her, Louisa said quietly, “I don’t know, Honeybelle, all I know is that he wasn’t there when I returned with Andrew.”

Susannah let out a shaky breath of air. “He . . . he couldn’t have been alive.” She turned and found Louisa watching her. “Could he?”

“I don’t have a clue, Honeybelle, but if he was, he weren’t alive for long.”

Susannah gripped the edge of the counter next to the stove and tried to catch her breath. She swallowed and ran one hand over her face, upset and angry that she had to think about these things now, after trying so hard to forget them. The raw panic from her nightmares coated her insides.

“Why . . . why do you say that?”

“’Cause next thing I heard, Sonny and a pack of hounds found Harlan’s body buried under two feet of Mizzoura mud, down by the river.”

“Who put him there?” Nothing Louisa said made sense to her.

Louisa shrugged. “Damned if I know, Honeybelle.”

Susannah turned toward Louisa, narrowing her gaze in thought. Louisa would have done anything for her and Corey. Anything. Was it possible that she could have—?

Shaking the thought away, she asked, “What did Sonny do?”

“He didn’t go to the law, if that’s what you’re wonderin’. Not right away.”

“Oh, it wouldn’t have mattered, Louisa. He’s been paying Sheriff Morley off for years.”

“But Sheriff Morley was killed by a stray bullet soon after you left, Honeybelle. The new law ain’t likely to let the likes of Sonny Walker stick him in his back pocket.”

Susannah gave Corey a piece of meat. He devoured it and begged for another. “What are you saying?”

“Sonny’d never send the law after you. I think, though, that he
has
sent someone. That’s why I’m here.”

Susannah’s shoulders sagged and she dropped into a chair. “I knew it. I knew I’d never be free of that bastard.”

Louisa reached across and took Susannah’s hand. “I’m afraid Sonny hisself might even be on his way here.”

Fear chilled her insides and she gripped Louisa’s fingers. “How did he know where to find me?”

“I don’t know that, Honeybelle. I’d guess he prob’ly had someone on your tail right off.”

Susannah pulled her hand from Louisa’s and gnawed absently on her thumb. Oh, how she wished Nathan were here! “We’ll have to leave.”

“Where would we go, and how’n hell would we get there?”

Susannah’s mind was whirling. Nathan’s ranch, up near the California-Oregon border. It would be a long ride, and they’d have to travel at night, but Nathan had told her that if she ever needed to leave, to come to him. She’d deal with the repercussions later. “I know a place.”

Louisa put Corey on the floor. “Fine, Honeybelle, but how would we get there without everyone knowin’ about it?”

She took a deep breath, expelling it slowly. “Kito will take us there. We’ll leave at night.”

Louisa’s interest was piqued, for her eyes lit up. “He’ll do that for you?”

Susannah thought back to the bond she and Kito had forged many months before. It wasn’t that he owed her something; she just knew he felt he did. “Yes. I think he will.”

Louisa raised an eyebrow at her. “An’, why will he?”

Susannah went to the stove and poured hot cake batter onto the griddle. “When I first moved in, I discovered him hiding outside in the shed. He was beat up real bad, his back was torn to ribbons and . . . and maggots had already started to eat at his flesh.” She shuddered at the memory. “One of his arms had been so badly gouged, I could almost see the bone.”

“Who was he hidin’ from?”

Susannah flipped the griddle cakes. “At first he wouldn’t tell me. Then, one day three men came to the door, searching for, as they put it, ‘a filthy buck nigger.’ They gave me some cockeyed story about how he’d killed a family of whites over in the other valley, and they were trying to find him.”

“Why didn’t you believe them?”

Susannah laughed, a humorless sound. “They were the mangiest men I’d seen in a long time.” A wry smile curved her mouth as she remembered. “They reminded me of men Harlan would have called his friends.”

“An’ they never returned after that?”

Susannah shook her head. “Later I heard they’d been arrested for bank robbery and murder. As it turned out, Kito had been the only witness. They’d beat him to a pulp once, but he’d gotten away. They were going to make darned sure he didn’t get away again.”

“Well, if he can help, we’d best get to plannin’, Honeybelle. I know Sonny was still home when I left, ’cause he was due in court for somethin’ to do with Harlan’s will.”

Susannah remembered the strongbox she’d taken when she left. It contained a bunch of papers she hadn’t bothered to examine. “His will?”

Louisa nodded. “But that don’t mean he ain’t right behind me. Knowin’ Sonny, he hurried ’em through.”

Susannah nervously picked at the hem of her apron and chewed the inside of her cheek. “I didn’t even know Harlan had a will.”

“I guess whatever’s mentioned in it is rightfully yours, Honeybelle.”

Although the room was warm, Susannah rubbed her arms. “Harlan had very little worth having.”

“Well, what’s important is us gettin’ out of here before Sonny comes ridin’ up.” Louisa put Corey on his stool, and filled his plate.

Susannah said nothing; she was too sick to her stomach to speak. She’d hoped they’d found a home here, but she should have known it wouldn’t happen. Her sense of foreboding grew. She’d killed Harlan, she would bet her life on it. And if Sonny was on his way here, he was coming because he knew she’d done it and he was going to make sure she was punished for it.

S
usannah had packed up her sewing machine, her and Corey’s clothes and the box that had belonged to Harlan. It was all that they’d brought with them; it would be all they took when they left.

While Louisa cleaned the insides of the windows, Susannah took a mop to the porch and washed it down. She was just returning from the pump with another bucket of water when Max barked. Turning, she saw a man on horseback ride into the yard. The familiar feeling of dread returned.

“Max, heel.” She put the bucket on the ground and the dog returned to her side and sat, pressing close to her legs.

“Excuse me, ma’am.” He gave her a wide, charming, overly enthusiastic smile.

Slick
. He was too slick, and he was a breed. Her stomach churned a warning. This was Sonny’s kind of man. Swallowing her anxiety, she gave him a brisk nod, wishing she had her shotgun handy. “What do you want?”

“I’m looking for Nate Wolfe.”

Prickly pins attacked Susannah’s stomach. She also couldn’t ignore the fact that he had called Nate by name, which meant he knew she and Nate weren’t really married. Which brought up more questions that she didn’t want to ask. “What do you want him for?”

Continuing to smile, he pushed his hat back on his head, giving him a rakish, cavalier look. One he’d practiced to perfection, no doubt, and one, she thought, filled with scorn, that probably worked on most women.

“I have a message for him.”

She couldn’t quite decide if she felt relieved or not. Surely if this man worked for Sonny, he wouldn’t tip his hand. “May I ask from whom?”

He spread his hands expansively, his smile even more dashing. “Why, from me, of course.”

“And, who are you?”

“Name’s McCloud. Is . . .” He glanced around. “Is Nate here?”

He acted like he knew Nathan, but she wasn’t going to fall for it. She wasn’t about to let anyone know Nathan had left, leaving her vulnerable. “He’s . . . he’ll be home shortly. Can I tell him what this is about?”

He gave her a cocky grin, yet his eyes were deceptive. “Tell him it’s about his family.”

Susannah’s stomach dropped. “What . . . what about his family?”

“Tell him his family wasn’t completely wiped out.”

She pressed her hand over her mouth and fell to her knees, his words ringing in her ears. As she watched the stranger leave, she pushed one hand against her belly, the other still over her mouth. She swallowed an urge to vomit. She’d wanted to ask what he meant; she should have, for her own peace of mind But any desire to learn that his wife was alive made her feel ill. God, but she was a selfish, wretched creature!

“Honeybelle?” Louisa stepped off the porch. When she saw Susannah on her knees, she rushed to her.
“What is it? What’s wrong?”

Susannah took a deep, shaky breath. “Did you see that man?” When Louisa nodded, she asked, “Have you ever seen him before?”

Louisa frowned. “I don’t think so. I didn’t get much of a look at him, but . . . Why?”

Susannah was reluctant to talk about Nathan. It was too complicated. Perhaps on the drive north to . . . Her stomach twisted again. Could she really go up there, to his ranch, after what she’d just learned?

Then again, she thought, allowing Louisa to help her up, maybe the man was lying. But why would he? No, she thought, her shoulders sagging, no doubt it was the truth.

“What is it, Honeybelle? You look like you just lost your best friend.”

Susannah hugged Louisa’s waist, wishing she didn’t feel so sick. “I’ll tell you all about it one day real soon. I promise.”

“What time’s that man supposed to be here?”

Susannah slanted her a glance. “‘That man’ has a name. It’s Kito.”

“I know his name, chile, I just ain’t ready to use it.”

Despite her deflated spirit, Susannah smiled. “I’d always thought you two would be perfect together.”

They climbed the porch steps. “Now, don’t go gettin’ any fancy-dancy ideas, Honeybelle,” Louisa scolded.

Susannah nodded, already distracted. They had nowhere else to go. Despite the news she’d just learned, she would have to take her friends and go to Nathan’s. It didn’t mean she had to stay, but surely Nathan would help them find a safe place.

As she finished packing, she thought about her foolish hopes and dreams. She should have known better. She wasn’t a flitty-headed schoolgirl, she was the mother of a small child and couldn’t afford silly daydreams about fairy tales and other things that would never come true.

She just hoped she could mask her feelings when she saw Nathan. The last thing he needed was to be reminded of his indiscretions. The last thing she wanted him to see was how much she still loved him, and always would.

“Miz Susannah? You sure you wanna be tucked under all them blankets?”

Susannah put Corey on a quilt on the floor of the buckboard and lay down beside him. He squirmed, murmured, then stuck his thumb into his mouth, the elephant Nathan had carved him tucked against his chest. Before Susannah pulled the covers over to conceal them, she said, “It’s our only hope of making it out of here, Kito. With you and Louisa on the seat, it will appear like it’s just the two of you.”

Louisa snorted. “Yeah, and how far’ll we get without bein’ stopped, Honeybelle? Lord a’mighty, the two of us’ll stick out like catfish at a shrimp feed.”

“Just keep that paper I wrote handy. It will answer most questions. And don’t get all flustered and forget that you and Kito are on your way to work for a Mr. Dillman who lives up in Broken Jaw. No one has to know the man doesn’t exist.” She was reluctant to use Nathan’s name, just in case—well, she didn’t want to get him into trouble even before they arrived. Glancing at the moon, grateful it was bright enough for Kito to see the road, she ordered, “Now, no more arguing, Louisa. Let’s get as far as we can before daybreak.”

She whistled for Max, who bounded up into the wagon, then pulled the blankets over her and Corey, enveloping them in darkness.

He sat at a table near the far wall, his poker winnings tucked safely into the flat, leather wallet he’d slipped into the inside pocket of his jacket. Dressed in his traveling clothes, he hadn’t given the appearance of a seasoned gambler, which he was. And the week’s growth of reddish beard further concealed his looks.

The barkeep moved toward him, his steps hesitant.

“Yes? What is it?” His voice was terse, impatient.

“The . . . uh . . . man you’re looking for is waiting outside in the alley, sir.”

He rose and exited through the door that led into the alley. A man walked toward him, swaying slightly.

“You Sonny Walker?”

When Sonny nodded, the man drew close and extended his dirty, gnarled hand. “Eli Clegg.” Sonny ignored it. The man was weasel-faced and a drunk; stale booze and filth emanated from him like a rotten aura.

“I need some information,” Sonny announced.

Clegg bobbed his head. “I’m yer man. Nothin’ goes on in this town without me knowin’ about it.”

“I’m looking for a young woman and a boy. The woman may be going by the name of Quinn. The boy’s name—”

“I know who ya mean.” Clegg snuffled a wet laugh and scratched his groin. “I seen her nekked—”

Sonny grabbed the bandana around Clegg’s neck and twisted. “If there’s one thing I can’t stand, you miserable drunk, it’s a peeper.”

Clegg clawed at his hands, making pathetic, choking sounds in his throat. When he was released, he fell against the wall of the saloon and slid to the ground. With nervous bony fingers, he stroked his throat. “No need to choke me,” he groused.

“There’s a twenty for you if you’ll show me where she lives.”

As Clegg rose, he coughed, a sloppy, wet sound as he dislodged the snuff-colored saliva from his lungs and deposited it on the ground. “Fer another twenty I’ll tell ya whose livin’ there with her.”

Sonny’s heart raced, but he kept a bland facade. “If I think it’s worth twenty, you’ll get it.”

Clegg spit again, the brown, syrupy wad splattering against the saloon wall. “Friggin’ big fella.”

Sonny’s blood pounded in his ears. “Nathan Wolfe.”

Clegg giggled, a high-pitched, annoying sound. “That’s the fella. If he ain’t screwin’ her, I’ll eat my shorts.”

Hatred welled up in Sonny, oozing through him like poison. Double cross. He’d been double-crossed! With immense control, he led the drunk out of the alley. “Take me to her place, and the extra twenty is yours.”

Sonny felt Clegg’s surreptitious glance on him, but ignored it.

“What you want with the woman, anyways?”

Sonny’s jaw was clenched to the point of pain. “She’s got a couple of things that belong to me.”

He watched Clegg swallow and wipe his mouth, his hands shaking. From his jacket pocket, Sonny pulled a silver flask and handed it to the drunk. Clegg took it, uncapped it and drank, not wasting a drop.

Nate nursed his jaw, wincing as he moved it back and forth. At least it wasn’t broken. Which was more than he could say for his nose, he thought, as he tried to pull air in through it. He kneed his mount, urging him forward. It wasn’t easy to stay in the saddle, considering how sore he was. Sore, but content. By sheer grit and determination he’d stayed in the ring with Moose McKay long enough to earn him what he needed to pay Sonny Walker. Even if it
had
taken him four nights of pounding torture to do it. He tried to laugh, but the split in his lip prevented even a smile.

The familiarity of the trail made his heart race. Thoughts of Susannah hadn’t been far from his mind, but as he rode into the yard, he felt an uneasy caution.

“Max?” He whistled for the dog. “Here, boy!” Nothing.

Pulling the horse to a stop, he dismounted and tossed the reins over the porch railing. Glancing around him, he bounded up the porch steps, stopping at the door a moment to listen. He heard nothing. A feeling of dread inched up his spine. Opening the door, he stepped inside. “Susannah?” Again, silence. Silence and an obviously unoccupied cabin. The feeling of dread spread like ripples on a pond. “Susannah? I’m here.”

A husky chuckle floated out from the bedroom. Sonny Walker appeared in the doorway, leaning casually against the jamb. “Is that anything like, ‘Honey, I’m home’?”

Ripples of dread became whitecaps. “Where’s Susannah?”

Walker stalked him. “That’s my question, you turncoat. I paid you good money not only to find her, but to keep me posted.” He stepped close, and although he was shorter than Nate, he was a formidable opponent.

“Whoa,” he said as he searched Nate’s battered face. “I’d hate to see the other guy.”

Nate automatically touched his face, grimacing at the reminder of his bruises. “Where is she?”

“That’s my question, Mr. Wolfe. You failed me. Why did I ever think I could trust you? I don’t even
know
you that well.” Walker appeared genuinely distressed.

Ignoring him, Nate stepped away and checked the rooms. Everything was there except Susannah’s sewing machine and their clothing. Something or someone had tipped her off. He hid his relief.

“What happened, Mr. Wolfe? She get to you?”

He turned and found Walker right behind him. Ignoring him again, Nate went to the window and stared outside.

“She has that ability, you know. Hell, she got to me often enough. She had a hard time keeping her hands off me.”

Nate didn’t rise to the bait. “I don’t believe you.”

Sonny’s caustic laugh sent needles of ice down Nate’s spine. “You wanted to believe you were special, didn’t you?” He put his hand on Nate’s shoulder. Nate shook it off.

“Where is the bitch?” Walker’s voice was cold, hard as rock.

“If I knew, would I have come here for her?” He hoped, prayed she’d remembered his advice and gone north.

Walker spat a curse. “You’re a fool. I was told you were tough, like me. I was told
nothing
got to you. That you were mean and empty enough to shoot your own dog, then hand feed it to the wolves. That’s why I hired you. But,” said on a rough sigh, “I understand what you’re feeling.”

Nate angled a hard look in Walker’s direction. “You do, huh? You have no idea what I’m feeling.”

“Listen to me!” Walker shoved Nate’s shoulder, forcing him to look at him. “I
know
the bitch. I’ve known her since she was a kid, damn it. Her ma died, leaving her to fend for herself. And, by God, she did a damn fine job of it. How could someone with her beauty survive, unless she used it? Does she stand demurely by and wait for someone to throw her a bone or a crust of bread? Hell, no. She’s had that body since she was fifteen, Mr. Wolfe. And she’s known how to use it since then, too.”

He punched Nate’s shoulder, as if they were comrades. “She’s an actress,” he said, coaxing, urging Nate to believe him. “She’s survived by her beauty and her wit for years. She plays men like a pianist plays Chopin. She was hell-bent on surviving, Mr. Wolfe, and to do so, she honed her craft and became a consummate actress and a damned fine whore.”

The word
whore
made Nate’s skin crawl. He hissed a curse. Walker was too damned logical. Nate hated logic, especially when it involved his feelings for Susannah. “That bastard brother of yours beat her.”

Sonny snorted a laugh. “Of course he beat her. He
had
to.”

Nate felt the revulsion churn in his stomach. “No one deserves to be beaten.”

“All right,” Sonny conceded, “maybe not. Maybe Harlan used force when he should have used reason. But that was his way, don’t you see? He was a brute. A big, dumb, stupid brute. He didn’t know any other way of handling her. And believe me,” he added, his voice sincere, “she needed handling.”

Nate studied the landscape, watching the clouds cling to the hills like smoke. “If she’s so damned clever, why did she marry Harlan and not you?”

Walker chuckled, as if accepting the backhanded compliment. “Because Harlan might have been big and stupid, but you see, we don’t have the same daddy, Harlan and me. And Harlan’s daddy left him something Susannah wanted.”

In spite of it all, Nate was curious. “And, what was that?” He could feel Walker’s eyes on him. “Well?” He turned and glared at him. “Are you going to tell me, or am I supposed to guess?”