The Reluctant Bride (21 page)

Tanzy watched as Tardy stacked the last of her luggage on the boardwalk, surprised at the sadness she felt at leaving Boulder Gap. She ought to be relieved to be going. And she might have been if she had any idea where she was headed. She could no longer stay in Boulder Gap. Betty’s accusation and the school committee’s reaction had ruined her chances of getting respectable work, but she hadn’t left St. Louis to give up so easily. Somewhere, somehow, she’d prove she was just as respectable as anyone else.

That’s the last one,” Tardy said.

He was more upset than Tanzy about her leaving. She’d tried to convince him that he had the necessary talent and strength of character to succeed on his own, but he seemed to believe he would go back to being the butt of everyone’s jokes. She wondered how Russ had survived much more brutal treatment with his self-confidence intact. She handed Tardy a coin, but he refused it.

“You’ll need it more than I will,” he said. His eyes were red. She wondered if he’d been crying. “Why can’t you stay here?”

“What would I do? Work in Mr. Pullet’s saloon? That would just confirm everyone’s opinion of me.”

“I hate Aunt Ethel,” Tardy said. “She’s mean and—”

“Don’t blame your aunt. She did what she thinks is right. Besides, the rest of the town agrees with her.”

“I hate them, too. I hate all of them. As soon as I’m big enough, I’m getting out of here.”

Tanzy didn’t tell him sixteen was already big enough. She’d been told that was Russ’s age when he went to Texas. She’d only been two years older when she ran away to St. Louis.

“Don’t let yourself hate anybody,” Tanzy said. “It’ll eat you up from the inside out.” She reached out to put her hand on his Shoulder. “Don’t neglect your studies. You can become a very successful man.”

“How? What can I do?”

“Why don’t you ask Mr. Tibbolt? Maybe he’ll have some ideas.”

“I can’t go out to his ranch. I don’t even know where it is.”

“Then find out. Don’t ever let lack of knowledge stop you from doing something you want to do.”

“What is all your baggage doing on the street?”

Tanzy turned to see Stocker Pullet approaching. Didn’t the man ever stay on his ranch? No wonder rustlers were taking his cows.

“I’m waiting for the stage,” Tanzy said.

“Why?”

“I don’t have a job.”

“I’ll give you a job. You can Start right now.”

“I appreciate your offer. I don’t think working in a saloon is a disreputable job, but it seems everybody else in town does.”

“That’s nonsense,” Stocker said. “Tell me who said that and I’ll see that they change their minds right now. You’re a fine, honorable woman, and I’ll make sure everybody knows it.”

Stocker’s influence might be able to force the townspeople to show outward acceptance, but he couldn’t change their hearts and minds.

“Can you make her be the schoolteacher again?” Tardy asked. “She’s the best teacher we’ve ever had.”

“I’m thankful for your belief in me,” Tanzy said to Tardy, “and your willingness to attempt to force the town to accept me,” she said to Stocker, “but I don’t want tö remain where people don’t want me.”

“I want you,” Tardy said. “All the kids do.”

“I want you, too,” Stocker said.

“I’ve already told you I won’t work in a saloon.”

“I wasn’t talking about the saloon. I was thinking of something more personal.”

“What do you mean?” Tardy asked.

Tanzy wasn’t eager to hear Stocker’s response.

“You’re a fine young woman,” Stocker said, “very pretty and full of spirit. I like spirit in women. It keeps them from being boring.”

“Miss Gallant is never boring,” Tardy said. “She even made school interesting.”

“Quite an achievement,” Stocker said. “Which just goes to back up what I said.”

“What
are
you saying?” Tardy asked. He seemed to be one step ahead of her.

“I like you,” Stocker said to Tanzy. “I’d like to get to know you better.”

“You mean you want to marry her?” Tardy asked.

“That’s premature, but I find her a fascinating young woman.”

“You’re old enough to be her pa,” Tardy said.

“I’m old enough to know what a woman wants and young enough to be able to deliver it,” Stocker said.

Tardy’s snort was more descriptive than any words Tanzy could have chosen.

“I’m flattered by your interest,” Tanzy said, “but I can’t afford to remain here when I have no money.”

“I can give you all you need,” Stocker said.

Tanzy didn’t need Tardy’s look of shock to know how the townspeople would react once they learned of that arrangement. “Thank you, but that would be far worse than working in any saloon.”

“No one would say a disrespectful word about you,” Stocker said. “I’d see to that.”

Russ Tibbolt’s unexpected arrival in a buckboard saved Tanzy from having to explain to Stocker that while he might be able to control what people said in public, he couldn’t control what they thought or what they said in private.

Russ pulled his buckboard, which was loaded with flour, sugar, coffee, bacon, and other staples, to a stop before her. Russ looked for a moment at the luggage stacked behind Tanzy—his gaze lingered longer on Stocker—before turning to her.

“You can’t leave,” he said.

“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell her all day,” Tardy said.

“Just what interest do you have in Miss Gallant’s actions?” Stocker asked.

“She owes me money,” Russ said.

“I’ll send you the rest as soon as I’m able,” Tanzy said.

“I don’t think much of that kind of security,” Russ said.

“Speak more respectfully to Miss Gallant,” Stocker said.

“I meant no disrespect to her,” Russ said without taking his eyes off Tanzy. “I just don’t think she’ll be able to find the kind of job that will enable her to pay me back.”

“Damn the money,” Stocker said. “I’ll pay you. How much is it?”

“You can’t pay it!” Tardy exclaimed.

“You don’t think I can afford it?” Stocker asked, insulted.

“I think what the young man is trying to say is that it wouldn’t reflect very well on Miss Gallant’s reputation to have you pay her debts,” Russ explained.

“Why not? I’m so rich I won’t even miss the money.”

“Now, I appreciate everyone’s interest in my wellbeing, but I have to leave. The stagecoach will be here any minute.”

“You can’t leave,” Russ repeated.

“What do you suggest I do,” Tanzy asked him, “stay here and take a job in Stocker’s saloon?”

“You could come out to the ranch and work for us until you’ve paid your debt.”

“No decent woman would let herself be lured into that nest of criminals,” Stocker declared. “I won’t permit it.”

“We’re not neat and we’re terrible cooks,” Russ said to Tanzy, “so we’d appreciate it if you’d agree to take care of us.”

“This is ridiculous,” Stocker said to Russ. “Get out of town before I have the sheriff lock you up.”

“What charges are you going to invent this time?” Russ demanded, suddenly turning on Stocker. “Not even a hand-picked jury could put me in jail for driving my buckboard down the street.”

“You’re assaulting an innocent young woman,” Stocker said.

“He ain’t!” Tardy explained. “He never would. He likes—”

“He’s doing nothing of the sort,” Tanzy said before Tardy’s impetuous tongue could make matters worse. “He’s merely offering me employment. I appreciate the offer, but I have to decline.”

“Why? The townspeople can’t think worse of you than they do already.”

Tanzy thought he was probably right, but she couldn’t like him for saying it.

“They’d think she was a whore if she went out to your place,” Stocker exclaimed.

“They wouldn’t,” Tardy said.

“They think that already,” Stocker said. “Well, don’t look so surprised. You came out here planning to marry Russ, didn’t you? The only woman who’ll speak to him is Betty Hicks, and you know what everybody thinks of her.”

“Is that what you think of me?” Tanzy asked Stocker.

“Of course not. I—”

“If Betty’s only sin is working in a saloon, how could you think anything else?”

“I’m afraid Betty’s got more sins on her slate,” Russ said. “I’m probably the worst one, but Stocker’s not blameless either.”

“You can’t believe a word he says,” Stocker said. “He was a lying hell-raiser even before he became a killer and a thief.”

“One of these days I’m going to make you eat those words,” Russ said. “But right now I’ve got to convince Miss Gallant she should pay off her remaining debt by working for me.”

“Miss Gallant isn’t setting one foot on your ranch,” Stocker said. “And if you try to force her, I’ll stop you myself.”

“You’ve tried that before and not succeeded,” Russ said, his tone and stance becoming more threatening.

“Before you two get into another senseless fight, let me remind you that I’m the one who’ll make this decision,” Tanzy said.

“I think you ought to go with Russ,” Tardy said.

“Your aunt always said you were stupid,” Stocker said to Tardy.

Tardy flushed at Stocker’s cruel words, which made Tanzy angry.

“Tardy is very intelligent, very responsible when he wants to be, and just about the nicest person in this town.”

Tardy blushed. Russ looked vaguely surprised. Stocker scoffed. “I suppose trying to see the best in everybody is what made you a good teacher.”

“I can also see the worst,” Tanzy said, “and there’s plenty of that around here. The stage is Coming. If you will—”

“I’ll follow it,” Russ said. “I know how to stop it.”

“Why would you take a risk like that?”

“It’s my duty to see you’re safe.”

“How do you propose to do that?”

“I’ll help you look for a place to go and make sure it’s safe for you to go there. Then when you’ve paid your debt, I’ll take you there and stay until I’m sure you’ll be all right.”

“I’ll help,” Tardy said.

“You can’t trust him,” Stocker said. “I told you, he’s always been a liar.”

“Mr. Tibbolt doesn’t lie,” Tardy said.

Stocker ignored him.

“Why would you do all that?” Tanzy asked Russ.

“Because I brought you out here. I take responsibility for everything the men who work for me do in my name.”

“I believe you do,” Tanzy said, barely able to get over her surprise.

“People might talk behind your back if you work in the saloon,” Stocker exclaimed, “but your reputation will be destroyed if you so much as set foot on his ranch.”

“I’ll go with her,” Tardy said. “Nothing bad will happen as long as I’m there.”

“What kind of chaperone is a sixteen-year-old boy?”

The stage pulled up in front of the hotel. “You getting on?” the driver asked Tanzy.

She hesitated only a moment. “I’ve changed my mind.”

“Thank God you’ve come to your senses,” Stocker said.

“I’m going to work for Mr. Tibbolt as his cook and housekeeper.”

“I’m Coming with you,” Tardy said. “Nobody here wants me anyway.”

If Russ thought a kick in the behind would have done any good, he’d have let all the Citizens of Boulder Gap have at it. He’d gone into town to buy supplies and was leaving with a housekeeper who was as prickly as she was pretty and a teenage bündle of enthusiasm with absolutely no concept of what was in störe for him.

“I intend to work for my keep,” Tardy was saying. “Lots of cowhands are no older than me. Besides, my aunt is always saying it’s time I started to make something of myself.”

Russ was certain Ethel Peters wouldn’t want her nephew having anything to do with him.

“I don’t suppose there’s any harm in your staying a couple of days,” Russ said.

“I’m not going back,” Tardy said. “I’m going to stay with you forever.”

Even on his best days Russ knew he wasn’t the kind of role model a boy like Tardy needed. And ranch work was no way to break in a green kid who probably had never ridden a horse for more than an hour at a time and never more than a few miles from town.

“I’m sure there’s a lot to be learned on a ranch,” Tanzy said to Tardy, “but I won’t let you neglect your studies.”

Russ still couldn’t figure out what fit of insanity could have overtaken him to make him believe bringing Tanzy back to the ranch could ever be a good idea. He still wasn’t sure why she’d agreed to come. She’d have done better to take Stocker’s job.

But that was part of the problem with women like Tanzy. They always wanted things to go the way
they
wanted. They weren’t tolerant of people who disagreed with them, and they held their principles as close as their petticoats. Which brought him back to the question of why he’d saddled himself with a woman he knew was going to be nothing but trouble.