Love Inspired Historical July 2015 Box Set: The Marriage Agreement\Cowgirl for Keeps\The Lawman's Redemption\Captive on the High Seas (57 page)

His old friend's words were tinged with enough bitterness that Will wondered what had happened to him. But it wasn't his place to ask. At least not if he wanted to leave the Daisy stone unturned. The only trouble was, another Stone was rearing its head in Will's life, and he wasn't sure he'd escape that one so easily.

If only she weren't completely entwined with a case that had Will's entire life held hostage.

Jasper cleared his throat. “I think I'm going to check out our accommodations for the night. Want to join me?”

Will looked in the direction of the women, who'd clearly finished eating. Now that they were reasonably dried out and their bellies full, they'd returned to casting longing glares at Jasper. Since the roof was still pinging with raindrops, outside was the only place Jasper would find some peace.

Foolish as it was, Will couldn't help but glance in the direction of Mary. She and Emma Jane were engaged in a seemingly intense discussion. Whatever Mary was trying to say, Emma Jane was having nothing to do with it. Emma Jane turned and stomped off to a set of hay bales lying to the side. He returned his gaze to Mary.

Though he shouldn't care so much about her, the disappointment streaking her face drew him.

Surely someone as compassionate as Mary, who cared about the feelings of a prickly girl she barely knew, could hardly have willingly gone in league with Ben Perry.

Mad Mel's words returned to Will. She'd claimed there was no way Daisy had willingly come under the influence of Ben. Though Will had never seen any evidence of coercion, could he have been pulling her strings behind the scenes?

Again, he thought of Mary, and her desperate words about Ben. She'd claimed to want nothing to do with the man, but when Ben had announced their engagement at the church supper, she'd worn a smile.

A tight and unenthusiastic smile. Unlike the genuine expressions he'd seen from her today.

Something was not right with the situation.

But what did Ben have on her?

And could Will overcome whatever it was enough to give him the information he needed?

Chapter Nine

M
ost of the girls were bedding down for the night when Mary realized she hadn't seen Emma Jane for a while. Polly patted a pile of hay near her.

“I saved you a spot. Surely you're not going to abandon Rachel and me for Emma Jane? I mean, it's wonderful that you're being so nice to her and all, but your real friends still want the details on your many beaus.”

Mary groaned. There was no way she was going to escape the questions. But maybe something in her story would help Emma Jane understand that chasing after Jasper Jackson wouldn't solve any of her problems.

And, maybe if she shared some of the details, avoiding the ones implicating her in Ben's crimes, the other girls would finally understand that she was absolutely not interested in either Ben or Will.

Mary looked around one more time for Emma Jane. “Perhaps if we all share our stories of love gone wrong, it'll be an encouragement not to chase after the wrong sort of man.”

“Not that again,” Polly huffed. “I've already done told you that all men are all alike. You just have to find the one that's most tolerable and learn to look the other way when they get into their scrapes. It's what my ma did, and what yours did, as well.”

If Mary weren't still looking for Emma Jane, she would have glared at her friend. Just because it was what her ma did didn't make it right. And it certainly wasn't how Mary was going to live her life. If she couldn't have an honorable man, then she wanted no man at all.

“Have you seen Emma Jane?” Mary finally stood on one of the hay bales to see if she could catch a glimpse of the other girl.

“She's probably out using the necessary. I saw her go out a while ago.”

Mary had seen her leave as well, but she'd assumed the other girl had returned. “That was hours ago. She hasn't come back in?”

Polly patted the straw next to her. “How would I know? I'm here to take a break from always watching everyone else and making sure they're out of trouble. You should be, too. Come tomorrow, we'll be back at the Lassiters' making sure all the little ones stay out of trouble. Knowing Maddie's frustration with Daniel's escapades, I'm certain that she'll have taken to her room by then.”

Polly was probably right. Mary sighed. Part of her younger brother Daniel's problem, she was sure, was all her fault. Why hadn't she brought her courtship with Ben out into the open so that Daniel could have a male's influence with their pa and Joseph gone?

Because Ben had insisted, that was why.

One more thing that had, in hindsight, rankled about their relationship. There had been so many signs that everything wasn't on the up-and-up. But she'd ignored them.

Just as well that she hadn't allowed Ben to influence her younger brother. The poor child would have been corrupted—maybe on his way to living a life of crime.

Something she had to be mindful of as Will approached. He'd been so kind, so compassionate and, were she to be honest, so many of the good things that had been lacking in Ben.

But even Will's kindness would not extend to accepting the truth about her role in Ben's misdeeds.

“Are you ladies settled for the night? It's time for the men to head to where we'll be sleeping, so I want to be sure you have everything you need first.” Though he spoke in the plural, Will's eyes remained focused on her.

Mary shook her head. “I'd like to be, but I haven't seen Emma Jane anywhere. I'm sure I won't sleep a wink until I know she's got a comfortable place to sleep.”

“I'll take a look,” he said, already glancing around the barn. “I'll even get Jasper to help. I'm sure that'll bring a smile to her face.”

Mary wished he wouldn't tease about Emma Jane's fixation on Jasper. But if she took him to task, it would only fuel Polly's belief that there was something between Mary and Will. And from the weight of Polly's eyes on her, the other girl's mind was already turning.

Plus, she was getting mighty tired of everyone speculating on other people's relationships. Emma Jane was pursuing Jasper. Half of the ladies in the barn were. It didn't make it right to make remarks. Just as it wasn't right for everyone to be remarking on her and Ben—or her and Will, for that matter.

But as Mary glanced at the expectant gazes of Polly and Rachel, she knew it wouldn't be that easy.

As much as she'd like to go with Will to search for the other girl, it would only serve to create further talk Mary was loath to have to explain away.

“Thank you, Will. I'm sure Emma Jane will appreciate the effort on her behalf.”

Then, without looking at him, a fact of which Mary was quite proud, she sat on the spot Polly had indicated.

“All right, girls, what would you like to know?”

Polly and Rachel giggled and glanced in the direction of Will's retreating back. Mary forced herself to not groan. She'd almost rather face Will's questioning than talk to these two.

“You're truly not engaged to that other fellow?” Rachel looked intently at Mary, as if she could somehow whittle out a truth Mary had not yet revealed.

“Absolutely not. We broke things off in Ohio, then he left town in search of his fortune. Him showing up here in Leadville is the first I've spoken to him since. I'm sure he's only here because of the family's silver mine.”

At least that was a truth she could reveal. As for his character and all the reasons why she could never marry a scoundrel like Ben, well, those were things she had to keep private.

Rachel gasped. “He's a fortune hunter, then?”

Finally Polly seemed to get the idea as she nodded sagely. “Of course. I should have known. Now that you're wealthy, he sees himself a bride who can give him a life in style.”

Her friend sobered, and a sad look crossed her face. “I suppose...” Then she looked away.

Was Polly thinking of the man who'd used her so harshly?

Mary touched her friend's arm. “I'm sorry if I made you think of the past. But surely you can see why marrying a man like Ben would be intolerable.”

“What other option is there?” Polly said, her voice thick and murky. “We all say we dream of honorable men, but it doesn't seem they exist.”

“I shan't marry.” Mary straightened and looked at both girls with utter seriousness. “If a man isn't honorable, then I want no part of being his wife.”

She looked down at the straw around her. Her brother was an honorable man. So, too, was Frank. But, out of every man in her acquaintance, how could she only know of two?

“Easy for you to say,” Polly grumbled. “Rachel and I don't have the benefit of owning our own stock in a mine. At some point, we'll need to find a man to support us. I've been a burden on my family for too long.”

Mary understood. She'd thought that very thing until she'd met Ben. Of course, Mary had always tempered it with the thought that her family needed her to take care of them. Still did.

Polly, at least, had both parents living.

“And we're not getting any younger,” Rachel added. “Every week, some new, pretty young thing moves into town and takes up one of the few remaining decent men in town.”

Polly nodded sagely. “You'd do well to snatch Will up.”

Mary stared at her. “Did you not forget that we saw him on State Street only this morning?”

“Men have needs.” Polly's well-used answer tore at Mary's heart. Such men were not husband material.

“Then you can have him. I won't tolerate a husband who visits such places.”

But something twisted in Mary's stomach as she thought of Polly and Will together.

“Will's not for me,” Polly said. “He doesn't look at me the way he looks at you.”

Rachel sighed, as if she, too, had noticed the way Will looked at her and found it hopelessly romantic.

Only there was nothing romantic about the way Will looked at her. He wasn't after her for romance. No, he wanted to know about Ben. His eyes fixed on her not because he harbored desire for her, but because he was hoping to ferret out her secrets.

“Well, I don't want him,” Mary stated firmly. “The other girls can help themselves. Will Lawson isn't the man for me.”

* * *

Will hesitated rejoining the girls as he overheard their discussion of his relationship with Mary. He shouldn't be surprised, except that as Mary hotly denied anything between them, the back of his neck burned in a most painfully peculiar way.

He was not going to get attached to Miss Mary Stone. It should have been a relief to know that she had no attachment for him. Besides, he had bigger problems. His hunt for Jasper had turned up neither Jasper nor Emma Jane.

“Will!” Polly greeted him with an overeager smile. Given the bit of conversation he'd just overheard, he could only imagine what Polly thought of him. Something he should correct with the girls, but how could he let them know the truth of his visit to The Pink Petticoat without telling the whole story? For now, it was best to let them think what they wanted to think. After all, it wasn't as though he cared what Mary thought of him.

He gave Polly a slight nod and turned to Mary. “Not only is Emma Jane missing, but I can't find Jasper.”

Mary's brow crinkled, but before she could answer, one of the girls who'd been hovering gasped. “That horrid little tart!”

Mary turned toward the girl. “You don't even know what happened to Emma Jane. She could be out there injured, or worse, and you're afraid that she's gone and stolen Jasper out from under you.”

“He doesn't even like her,” another girl chimed. “He told me that he thought I was the fairest flower of them all.” She preened slightly. “I can't help but be named Flora, you know.”

The first girl gasped. “That's what he told me! You obviously were spying on us when he stole a kiss earlier tonight.”

“I always knew you were loose, Sarah Crowley.” Flora gave a final humph and stomped off, a couple girls trailing after her.

Sarah started to say something, but Mary finally spoke. “Enough. We don't know that Emma Jane and Jasper are together. Last I saw Emma Jane, she was going to use the necessary, and that's been quite some time ago.”

She looked toward Will. “When did you last see Jasper?”

“Near suppertime, I think.” Will tried to think if he'd seen Jasper since, but he'd been too focused on Mary to even think about his friend. Besides, Jasper needed time alone. And with all the kisses it seemed his friend had managed to steal, he'd probably needed plenty of room.

What was Jasper thinking? He hadn't been so thoughtless in regard to a woman's reputation in the past. As far as the accusation that he was off with Emma Jane, Will didn't believe it for a moment. Not only was he clearly not interested, but Jasper wasn't so mule-headed as to steal away with a woman so blatantly desirous of trapping him into marriage. Jasper was smarter than that.

The weight of Mary's eyes on Will made him realize that he, too, had made a number of mistakes he was too smart to make. Like being so focused on Mary that he'd not paid attention to his friend or the fact that one of the women had gone missing.

“Did you look outside?” Mary's voice sounded strained.

“Yes. I searched around as far as I could, and I called both of their names.”

“I wonder if Emma Jane was simply too embarrassed to answer, if she's in distress of a personal nature. I should go check.”

The firm set to Mary's jaw told him that it would do no good to argue, even though he'd found the outhouse empty. Plus, such a thing wasn't mentionable in the presence of so many ladies.

“I'll walk outside with you.”

“I think it's best if I go alone. Her pride...” Mary didn't need to finish her sentence.

“I'll leave room for you to have some privacy. Besides, I still need to find Jasper.”

They walked out the door, and Will did his best to ignore the giggles of Polly and Mary's other friend. Such silly girls. He'd had no time for pursuing ladies in the past because he couldn't get past their giggles and the fact that they all seemed to be more vapid than he had patience for.

And then he'd met Daisy, and for a brief moment, he'd thought that things could be different. But he was wrong. Just because she wasn't as vapid as the rest of the girls didn't make her any better. In fact, it made her capable of a heinous crime.

So where did that leave Mary?

He watched as she strode earnestly to the empty outhouse. She made great show of walking around it, calling Emma Jane's name.

All for nothing, of course.

The furrow in her brow had deepened as she returned to his side. “I can't imagine where she might have gotten. Perhaps we should put together a search party.”

Will lifted his lantern. “Not only do we not have enough for all of us, but I don't want to needlessly put anyone else in danger. With the rain, the paths are slippery, the land unstable. It's best to wait until morning.”

“We can't leave Emma Jane out here alone all night.”

“She'll be fine.” Words meant to convince Mary, but even Will knew they probably weren't true. The woman had gone into hysterics at getting wet. Mary was strong enough to tolerate being out alone all night, but she also wouldn't have been so foolish as to get lost in the first place.

Who was he kidding? If it were Mary out there, he'd go after her.

Mary wasn't supposed to be special.

“Go inside with the others. I'll see if I can get Josiah Haggerty or his sons to help me look.”

“I'm not going to abandon her.”

“You're not abandoning her. I'm going in your place.”

“But Emma Jane doesn't trust you. Plus, her reputation will be ruined if she is alone with you.”

He raised a brow. “And your reputation won't?”

“I don't care about my reputation. Perhaps if you're the one to ruin it, then Ben won't have any reason to continue his pursuit of me.”