Texas Rose TH2 (47 page)

"Logan, you old bastard! Angelina told me you were dead." James Peyton calmly handed a now wailing Maria into Evie's hands as Jason put his hand on his gun and moved threateningly to block Evie and the children from the intruder.

"Don't give me that bullshit, Peyton. I want my money." Logan left the door open behind him as he held his gun high, but his gaze drifted nervously to Evie and her weeping charges.

"And you'll get it, but there's no sense in making the womenfolk hysterical. Let's go over to the Red Eye and catch up on old times." Peyton threw a glance to Jason. "Harding, you want to join us? Your stepmama was a friend of ours. We'd like to hear a word or two about her."

That statement was more likely to make Evie hysterical than the giant with the revolver, but she bit her tongue and watched the men warily holster their weapons. She'd like to take the skillet to all their heads at the moment, but Nanny had taught her to be a lady. Quieting Maria in her arms, she merely smiled as Jason gave her an apologetic farewell. The other two men were already out on the porch, arguing loudly.

"If you see Tyler, tell him everything's just fine," she said maliciously as Jason started for the door. He gave her a curt nod, then strode out.

Daniel had scrambled to his feet with the aid of his crutch when Logan made his entrance. Now he looked longingly at the door through which the men had left. Once again, he'd been left behind with the women and children.

Seeing that look, Evie spoke up. "Do you think you can find Jose and Manuel? I'm going to start hog-tying those two rascals if they don't start coming home by dark."

With relief, Daniel accepted this assignment. "My leg needs the exercise anyway," he responded gruffly, refusing to look at Carmen as he swung out the door.

Evie threw the girl a harried look. "I think the Shakers have the right idea. Men and women ought to be kept separated, if just for their own sanity."

Carmen smiled shyly. "But then where would babies come from?"

As Carmen took Maria to put her to bed, Evie contemplated that comment with despair. Babies were the least of the trouble men could wreak. She hoped Carmen never had to know a breaking heart.

* * *

From his seat at the card table, Tyler watched the three men at the bar with curiosity. He'd never seen a more unlikely combination than James Peyton, Jason Harding, and Logan. Drawing on his cheroot, he threw down a card and continued the game, but he kept one eye on the trio. They spelled trouble if anything did.

Starr approached them, and Logan gave her a hug. Apparently the lout was happy about something for a change. Tyler blew a smoke ring and pulled in the pot he'd just won. He didn't have to gamble anymore, but he didn't know what else to do with his time. Except watch for trouble.

His gaze slid to the corner where Tom was drinking away his misery. He didn't feel the least bit sorry for robbing the man of his half of the saloon. After going over the books, Tyler could tell he'd been robbing Starr for years of her share of the profits. Now he'd like to see the sales agreement that had bought the livery from the Rodriguez family. He was willing to wager that had been another form of robbery. Tom wasn't an honest sort of man, and his voice was naggingly similar to one Tyler had heard on a rather inauspicious occasion.

Suspicion wasn't enough to hang a man. Tyler shuffled and began dealing the deck, but his attention wandered back to the three men who had entered just a while ago. Apparently James Peyton was the man Logan had been hunting for and Logan was celebrating having the debt paid. Tyler wasn't certain where Peyton got his cash, but that wasn't any of his business. Only he couldn't help wondering how Harding had got in on it. Peyton was usually with Evie at this time of night.

That made him restless. Every damned man in town had a right to go call on Evie but him, and he was her husband. Sort of. He would have to do something about that situation sooner or later. With Peyton over here, maybe now was the time. She'd be alone except for the kids.

Except for the kids. Tyler snorted at that understatement. How in hell did Evie think she was going to keep a rein on those two wildcats, Manuel and Jose? They needed a man's firm hand, and the only man around was standing here at the bar. There was always Daniel, of course, but the boy had enough on his shoulders without being saddled with a couple of brats who could run circles around him any day. In a few years Daniel might be useful, but right now there were other things he needed to be doing besides riding roundup on children.

At the sight of the object of his commiserations appearing in the doorway, Tyler folded his cards and called it a night. If even Daniel was out of the house, someone had to see to Evie.

Daniel looked relieved as Tyler strode toward him. It was a weekday, and the bar wasn't crowded. The three men who had been joking and laughing together grew silent as Tyler strode by, but he didn't acknowledge their presence. He was more concerned about the expression on Daniel's face.

"Tyler..." Daniel glanced to the bar where everyone seemed to be staring at them. He backed out into the street at the nod of Tyler's head. The door closed, and darkness enveloped them. Daniel hurried to speak while Tyler crushed his cheroot beneath his boot. "Jose and Manuel have disappeared again. And I can't find Ben, either. Do you think they're together?"

"If they are, Ben has them bound and gagged. Evie's too lax with those brats. They ought to be home and in bed this time of night." Tyler started walking toward the livery, adjusting his stride to Daniel's halting one.

"She would if she could find them. They went out after supper and haven't come back."

"They've been told to stay out of that livery." Tyler wished he hadn't crushed his cheroot. He needed something in his hand right now besides a gun. Instinct was itching at him. Ben had always said he'd had a nose for trouble, and Tyler could smell trouble brewing now. The boys were probably just up to mischief somewhere, but that wasn't what his nose was telling him, not after what Ben had said earlier.

"That was the first place I searched. They aren't there." Daniel gave up on the extra crutch and propelled himself along with one as Tyler's speed increased.

"Did you see Ben?"

"No, I told you I didn't."

"He's there." Instead of taking the wide front doors used for carriages and wagons, Tyler hurried down the alley toward the side door, avoiding the corral and the other entrance on the far side.

Pulling his gun, Tyler stood in the dark doorway and whistled. An answering whistle echoed from the interior, and a moment later a shadow slipped from the stable. Ben materialized in the dim light thrown from the hotel windows into the alley.

"Somethin' wrong?"

Tyler shoved his gun back in the holster. "The brats are missing. Have you seen them?"

Ben shook his head. "But I went out for a bite to eat earlier. They could have slipped in then."

Tyler cursed. "All right, you'll have to go down and look for them." He turned to Daniel. "Can you whistle?" At Daniel's nod, he ordered, "Then you stand here and whistle if anyone comes. Then clear out. Make like you're just wandering home. Don't try to run. If anyone questions you, just bluff. You've been around Evie long enough to know how to do that."

Daniel nodded without argument. "Where are you going to be?"

"I'm going to see Evie." His tone was grim as he continued down the alley.

The front room was well lit, but even if it hadn't been, Tyler knew she would be up. She wouldn't get any rest until she had those boys back under the roof. He cursed the little brats again, but his brow was creased with worry as he stepped up on the porch. He should have done more to protect them besides order them out of the livery. Those men who had held the boys hostage could easily have others working with them. If Ben was right about what he'd found in the livery, they almost certainly had someone working with them.

Before Tyler could reach for the door, a large form rose from the shadows at the side of the house. The light from the front window glinted against the polished steel of a gun.

"Monteigne? Hale told me you'd try this. You've got orders to stay away from the lady." Sheriff Powell stepped up on the porch and gestured with his gun to indicate that Tyler back away from the door.

Tyler held his hands up so the man could see he wasn't going for his own gun. "The lady is my wife, and her cousins are missing. I'm just checking to see if they've got home yet."

"Let their uncle look for them. I've got someone back at the office you ought to see. He was swearing out a warrant for your arrest when I saw him last."

Tyler glanced longingly to the brightly lit front window, wishing for just a sight of Evie. He missed the warmth of that little room. It had been nice for a change to smell bread baking, listen to childish laughter, and have a woman who required only his presence, no matter what his mood. He could be churlish instead of charming, and Evie would tease him out of it. He could sit there and just talk with Daniel, and she wouldn't be leaning over his shoulder, demanding his attention. Evie was the least demanding woman he'd ever known, and that included his sainted mother. But then, that's what happened when a woman didn't need him. She could lock him out without a qualm. He'd finally found a woman who didn't require commitments, and look where it got him.

Tyler glanced at the sheriff's gun and shrugged. "Whatever you say, Powell. But if anything happens to those kids, it's on your head."

They walked back down the alley. Daniel had disappeared from sight. Tyler was relieved that the boy didn't see him with the sheriff holding him at gunpoint, but he had to wonder where he'd disappeared to so fast. That livery had to have more hiding places than the badlands.

When they reached the sheriff's office and opened the door, Tyler wished he'd been a little more forceful in resisting Powell's arrest.

Silas Dorset looked up from the papers he was signing, and his smile was genial as Tyler and the sheriff walked in. "That's one of them, Sheriff. Now find the woman and the nigger, and you've got the thieves."

Tyler's hand reached for his gun, but Powell jerked it away before he could free it.

* * *

"Mr. Hale, this is unexpected. It's late." Evie glanced uncertainly around the lawyer to see if her father or Harding accompanied him, but there was no one else on the porch.

"I realize, and I apologize, but this is important. I tried to speak with your father first, only... He and his friends are a trifle under the influence. Mr. Monteigne has just been placed under arrest, and I understand there will soon be a warrant for you. We've got to get you out of here before that can happen."

Shocked, Evie swung the door open and gestured for Hale to enter. He shook his head and remained where he was. "There isn't time. I've got my carriage out back. I'll take you out to the Harding ranch where you'll be safe until I can straighten this out. Does the name Dorset mean anything to you?"

Evie shook her head in puzzlement. The name rang a bell—Dorset! The man who had stolen Tyler's plantation. The man who had tried to cheat at cards. Her eyes widened. "That's ridiculous. The man's little better than a cheat and a thief. I can't believe he came all the way out here to make such false accusations."

"Well, he has, and it will take some time to disprove them. Unless you wish to suffer the unpleasantness of sitting behind bars while I straighten this out, you'd best come with me." Hale held out his hand.

Evie refused it. "I can't. Manuel and Jose are missing. I can't go anywhere until I know where they are. Daniel's out looking for them now. I'm certain they will be back shortly." She felt Carmen coming up silently behind her. This was a terrible way to bring up children. They should be protected from these kind of sordid goings on.

"I'm certain matters will be in good hands with their sister and your brother in charge. Go pack a few things in a bag. There isn't any time to spare." Hale finally entered the house, his nervous energy adding to the urgency of the situation.

Evie wanted to resist, but Carmen had already gone for a valise, and Mr. Hale looked as if he were ready to suffer apoplexy. She would almost rather go to jail than accompany him, but she supposed it would be much more pleasant to hide at the Hardings' ranch. She would be of more use to Tyler if she were free and could come to his defense.

"Is Mr. Harding going with us? He left with my father. I really need to see them before I run off like this."

"Miss Howell, there is no time to wait. Carmen will tell them where you've gone when they come back. If you'll just hurry, I can explain everything."

Howell. He called her Howell. She caught his eye, and the knowledge was there. He knew, and he was going to tell her everything. Excitement rippled through Evie's veins. No more charades. No more pretending she was what she wasn't. He was going to explain about her mother and the trust and then she would have the funds to help Tyler fight Dorset and to give the children a good home, and everything would be all right again. It would be almost like having Nanny with her again.

Giving Hale a quick look, Evie hurried to the bedroom to gather a change of clothing and her nightgown.

She was back in minutes, wrapping a mantle around her shoulders and adjusting her hat. "Are you certain the Hardings won't mind? They're friends of the sheriff. Won't they object to hiding a fugitive?"