Restless Heart (18 page)

Astonishment lit Jonathan’s face long enough for her to twist from his hold on her hair and bite his hand. He howled and tried to slap her, but she fell to the floor and scuttled out of his reach.

“You bitch.”

She trembled so hard she could barely stand, but she got to her feet anyway. Angeline dusted off the dirt on her clothes, but realized the rest of her would require soap and water. She forced herself to look at Jonathan, at the man she really didn’t know.

Instead of being the furious animal she’d found in the cell, he sat on the edge of the bed, staring at his hands.

“I tried to kill you.”

“You didn’t succeed.” Her voice was hoarse with a hundred different emotions, not the least of which was profound sadness. She’d lost the boy she grew up with, her best friend.

He glanced up at her. “Your neck is red from my hand. I don’t understand what’s happening.” Finally the real Jonathan had come through the haze of fury surrounding him. “Ange-line, what have I done?”

“You’ve made a choice, same as me. I’ll forgive you this time, Jonathan, but there’s nothing more between us. I’m going to leave this jail and I don’t want to ever see you again.” She straightened her spine and put some force behind her words. “Do you understand me?”

“Yes,” he whispered and curled up on the bed in a fetal position. “Just go then. Get out.”

“Good-bye, Jonathan.” She picked up her handkerchief from the floor and walked out of the cell area.

Mr. Carver still sat at the desk with his stack of posters. He waved happily at her as she left the jail. She waited until she was outside to cry.

The next two days were a flurry of activity for the ladies. Angeline seemed to be swept along with the tide of happenings, while Sam stepped back out of the way. She spent each day at the house with his father and her nights with Sam in his bed. Pieter disapproved, but Angeline refused to change her mind about where she slept.

Sam had never loved her more.

He was watching her cook breakfast the day before the wedding, her lovely behind swishing this way and that as she made eggs in the skillet. His father walked into the kitchen with an armful of clothes.

“I heard you’re getting married.”

Sam smiled at him. “Yes, sir, we sure are.”

“Good, then I’d be right pleased to give these to your
angel as a wedding gift.” Michael laid out clothes on the chair and turned to Angeline. “These are for you. She’d want you to have them.”

Her hand flew to her mouth as she walked over to the table. Sam took the wooden utensil from her and took over minding the eggs. He took great pleasure in watching her pick up each article of clothing.

He’d actually had no idea his father had kept his mother’s clothes. The very notion he was ready to give them to Ange-line made Sam’s throat tighten. He knew he’d found the right woman.

Angeline held up a wool coat and whipped around to look at Sam. “It’s lovely.”

“I bought that for her in Denver. She looked right pretty in it.” His father sat at the table and picked up Sam’s mug of coffee, sipping happily.

“Thank you, Michael. You’re so kind to give these to me.” Angeline knelt beside him. “Are you sure?”

“Of course, I’m sure. You’ll need to keep fixing me good suppers and singing to me though.” Michael shook his finger at her. “I like that a lot.”

Angeline nodded and kissed his cheek. “Thank you.”

Sam had never felt more content, more at ease than with the two people he loved the most in the house with him. Everything was proceeding without a hitch for the wedding. The one thorn in his side was the disappearance of Jonathan. The young man had been in the jail one day and the next morning, he was gone. Angeline didn’t seem to want to pursue him or even find out where he’d run off to.

Sam, on the other hand, kept one eye out for any man he didn’t recognize, or even those he did. He didn’t want to tell Angeline how much it worried him, so he only spoke to Jes-sup.

The older man had proved to be a good friend, who had
taken to living in the barn behind Sam’s house. The barn was cold, but Jessup refused to live in the house with them. He just barely accepted the offer to live in the old barn.

Sam didn’t even own a horse anymore. The only thing the barn was good for was catching dust. Might as well have someone living there who would appreciate the shelter.

Each morning Sam went to the Blue Plate before dawn and brought back biscuits to Jessup. He had promised the old man and he intended to keep that promise. It was late morning and Sam was headed off to find Lettie. He needed to talk with her.

“Hey Sam, wait up there.” Jessup appeared from the side of the house, a hustle in his step. “I done what you asked.”

Sam stopped in his tracks, his interest piqued. “And what did you find out?”

“That man had been here a week ago. Folks seen him talking to Lettie and the angel. He left the next day, but he come back.” Jessup whistled. “And, boy, he didn’t look the same. In fact, he looked more like me.” He apparently thought that funny because he chuckled.

“Yeah, he was dirty and could have used a bath.” Sam pointed to the tub on the back porch. “You have no excuse anymore.”

“Baths make ya sick. I don’t want no bath but once a year. Anyway, ain’t nobody seen the boy since day before yesterday.” Jessup poked at the dirt with one muddy boot. “And that was after, ah, someone else went to see him in the jail.”

Before the older man told him, Sam knew who the visitor had been. His stomach flipped, then flopped. “It was Ange-line, wasn’t it?”

“Ayup, it sure was. She was in there for a bit. Your pa was there too. Word has it Booth was in the shithouse the whole time.” Jessup scratched his dirty nose. “When she come out, her neck was red and her hair was all messy.”

Sam refused to accept what the evidence seemed to suggest.
Angeline had not gone to the jail and given herself to Jonathan. It wasn’t possible.

“What do you think happened?” His voice was tight and strained. The dumb kid was causing him stress, even after he’d disappeared from Forestville.

“I think the boy tried something with your angel and she put him in his place.”

Sam let out a breath at Jessup’s theory. It was exactly what he needed to hear.

“So what happened to him night before last? Where did he go?” Sam was still worried Jonathan would reappear.

“Dunno. Somebody must’ve let him out. That jail can’t be broken out of. I know ’cause I tried more than once.” Jessup stared at Sam. “I can keep nosing around to see if folks know anything.”

Sam put his hand on the shorter man’s shoulder. He had trouble remembering what he used to think of Jessup, because the man now had his utmost respect and friendship.

“Thanks, Jessup. I appreciate you doing that. I just don’t want my wedding to go haywire because of Angeline’s old beau.” Sam stared down the street and spotted Lettie walking on the sidewalk. “I’ll talk to you later today.”

“You betcha.” Jessup disappeared into the shadows as he usually did.

It was Friday afternoon and the wedding was scheduled for Saturday morning at ten. He didn’t have much time to get Lettie alone, so Sam raced to catch up with her.

He’d been surprised to learn Lettie was making a dress for Angeline. Given the history of where they’d come from, he’d expected her to disapprove of the entire marriage.

Yet he knew she was making the dress despite her own misgivings. Sam respected her feelings, although the woman had barely said two words to him in the entire time she’d been in Forestville. Though she probably wouldn’t like it, he had to speak to her.

“Lettie, I need to talk to you.”

She didn’t slow her stride. In fact, he swore she actually sped up. “Got nothing to say to you.”

Sam was a tall man and she only came up to his chin but, damn, the woman had the speed of a thoroughbred. He practically tripped over his feet to keep pace with her.

“Please, Lettie, you’re the only one she truly trusts.”

She halted so abruptly, Sam continued past her a few feet, then stopped to turn around. Lettie’s eyes were narrowed to near slits and her hands were on her hips.

“If I’m the one she truly trusts, then why has she been sneaking around with you? Why did she agree to marry you without talking to me first?” Lettie snorted. “Trust me? Ha, she barely could see past your handsome face.”

Handsome? She thought he was handsome? Before Sam could react to that, Lettie started to walk away. He put his bulk in her path and crossed his arms.

“You and me need to talk honest like.”

She pinched her lips together and held his gaze for what seemed like ten minutes. “Fine. but make it quick. I’ve got to get something at the store.”

Sam hadn’t expected her to give in so quickly. He glanced around and realized he was only a block from home. “Why don’t we go get some coffee then?” He gestured toward the yellow building. “My father is at the jail with Henry, looking at wanted posters.”

It had become a habit with Michael Carver. Each morning he insisted on helping the sheriff review the posters. It kept him busy and Henry didn’t mind the company. It also allowed Sam to prepare for his wedding and get some work done, preparing the house for its new mistress.

Lettie walked toward the house, leaving Sam to catch up again. Truthfully, he was a bit nervous about talking to her. She held a big place in Angeline’s life. He had a feeling if he
didn’t work out a truce with Lettie, then his marriage would always have a shadow over it.

Sam got to the door first and opened it for Lettie. She stepped inside and glanced at the newspaper equipment, then her head swiveled back again. He was surprised to see keen interest in her gaze. She didn’t say anything though, so he didn’t offer any information. Perhaps after the wedding, he might find out if she wanted to know more about publishing a newspaper.

“Let’s go into the kitchen. I can make coffee right quick.”

Again, Lettie said nothing but allowed him to lead her into the kitchen. The brand-new table he just finished shone brightly against the rest of the roughness in the room.

“Nice table.”

Sam was pleased by the compliment. “Thanks. I hope An-geline likes it too. I’m still working on chairs to go with it.” He held out one of the rickety old chairs for Lettie. “Sorry these are so pitiful.”

“I’ve certainly sat in worse.” Lettie was an odd duck, that was for certain.

Sam busied himself getting water on the stove for coffee, then sat down across from her. He laced his fingers together and thought about what he wanted to say. It had to be said just right because he’d only get one chance with this woman.

“I wanted to talk to you about Angeline. She thinks the world of you, and your opinion is very important to her. I think this marriage is going to be a thorn in your friendship if you and me don’t find a way to get along.” Sam knew it was silly to talk to a woman about her friendship with his intended, but he damn well wanted to do this right.

Lettie sighed. “You’re right to be concerned. I don’t approve of you two getting hitched and that isn’t going to change.” She met his gaze with a completely unwavering one. “She’s told you about Josiah?”

At the mention of the bastard who had hurt Angeline, Sam’s hands tightened until his nails were cutting into his skin. “She did.”

“All of it?”

“Enough of it. I’ve also seen her back. Believe me, if that bastard comes within a mile of her, I’ll shoot his head clean off.” Sam had already made sure his rifle and shotgun were cleaned and ready. He wasn’t about to take a chance with his new wife’s safety. Aside from that fact, he wanted to kill the man who’d dared to treat Angeline as if she were a thing put on earth for his pleasure. The man didn’t deserve even a shred of pity or mercy.

Lettie nodded. “I’m glad to hear it, but he’ll send hired killers after us. He won’t bother to do it himself. She escaped one already, but only because of her sister.” She leaned forward. “To be honest with you, I don’t think an ex-soldier with a crippled leg can defend her against a hired gun.”

Sam didn’t take offense. Lettie was only telling the truth. “Fair enough. I can also alert the sheriff to be on the lookout for strangers. Besides, once Angeline changes her name to Carver, it’ll be that much harder for anyone to find her.”

“That’s clever thinking, but you don’t know Josiah. I’m sure Angeline didn’t tell you everything.”

The water was bubbling on the stove so Sam rose to put the grounds in. He wasn’t sure he’d like what Lettie was going to tell him.

“Then why don’t you tell me what she hasn’t? I would never judge her for things she’s done.” He knew Angeline would feel the same way. Both of them knew the other was flawed, with more mistakes than they could carry, but none of it seemed to matter. They were deeply connected and nothing could break that bond.

“He beat his wives so he could get his staff hard.” The words were yanked from her, spat out as if they tasted bad.

“I knew that.” He put cool water in the coffee to settle it and kept his gaze on the brunette at the table.

“The more pain he inflicted, the harder he got.”

“He’s a lousy bastard.”

Lettie’s voice began to rise. “He also liked to watch. Did she tell you that? He would make us pleasure each other so he could then beat both of us and make us pleasure him.”

Sam couldn’t help being shocked. He had trouble imagining sweet Angeline touching another woman. “He did what?”

Lettie’s eyes began to burn like coals. “Oh, yes, he did every filthy thing imaginable to give himself pleasure. There wasn’t anything Josiah didn’t enjoy if it involved pain and humiliation. Angeline was lucky she only had to live with him for two months. There’s
nothing
in this world, no love or understanding, that could possibly erase my hideous memories of that black-hearted son of a bitch.”

Sam poured the coffee, glad to see his hands weren’t shaking. There was so much rage in Lettie and she obviously kept it bottled up if this small exhibit was any indication of what bubbled beneath the surface.

“I’m sorry, Lettie. I’m sorry he took so much from you.” He set the mug down in front of her, pleased to see she didn’t smack it away.