Unexpected (25 page)

“I’m such an idiot.  I shouldn’t have left but I was worried about Cogan.”

Ryker looked over her head at the big man thinking that was a ridiculous statement.  However, he wasn’t a fool, and knew his sister’s feelings were ruling her head right now.  “You look like shit,” he murmured in her ear.  Dry mud was caked to her clothing, and her hair was a knotted mess.

She laughed
through her tears.  “I feel like that too.”

“Come dear.” Hattie reached over and grabbed her hand. “Let’s get you washed up.” She pulled her niece toward the house but not before giving Cogan a look of
gratitude.

Cogan watched her leave.  His expression was unreadable.  Yet, inside, it was a different story.  She glanced over her shoulder at him briefly, and he could easily see the insecurities registering on her face.  She had every right to feel that way.  She had given herself to him, and no other.  It wasn’t like Josie to make herself vulnerable to anyone. She was a strong proud woman. He was bestowed with a rare gift.  Ryker spoke just then and made him shift his attention.

“I didn’t realize she snuck out,” he said after the others went inside.  “I was sick with worry when she didn’t come out of the house.  I didn’t realize she wasn’t home.  I could kill her, but I’m too damn relieved.  It wasn’t until I noticed my horse and saddle gone that I figured out she went looking for you. Then there was the weather—oh hell, she’s killing me.  She sleeps like a rock.  I wouldn’t have been able to save her.” He may not have wept in relief, but his eyes definitely moistened up. His face was still filthy with ash.

“She’s stubborn.”
Cogan saw the lines of stress and fatigue in Ryker’s face. He probably didn’t notice the bay missing until hours later and that can sure age a man. Cogan knew that pain of losing someone he loved.  He was thankful the family was well.

“The least of my worries with her.”
He sighed and ran his hand through his hair in frustration setting it in disarray.  “I was just about to go looking now that I got Hattie and Thomas settled.  Thanks, thanks again.”

“I’m glad to see no one got hurt.”
Cogan’s chest heated up in anger again. He would need to calm his temper.  He wanted to rip Butch’s throat out with his teeth, but thinking irrationally would only get someone he cared about hurt.  First he had to help the Hamiltons, then he would seek revenge.

“We were lucky.  The dogs woke us.  We never saw a darn thing.  I grabbed Thomas, and Hattie was right behind me.
  We barely got out with the clothes on our backs.  Thankfully, the good doctor took us in.”

“You never saw who did it?”

“No. By the time we got out, they were long gone.  You and I both know who did this though.”  Ryker was angry, but also relieved at the safe return of his sister.  He didn’t know if she was still in the house when they got out, but after he discovered his horse missing, he easily put it together.  Still, that feeling of sheer terror will stay in his memory forever.  Nothing could compare to that, even when he thought he was going to die at the end of a noose.

It stopped raining just before dawn, and that’s when he heard the dogs.  Then he smelled the smoke.
  He didn’t have time to check on Josie.  He just grabbed Thomas and ran out of the house hoping she’d be right behind them.  It was unfortunate the downpour stopped, because it might have saved the house. “I guess I’ll need you now more than ever.  I have a house to rebuild.”

***

“And where are the Hamiltons now?” Butch asked Bill who was sitting at the bar of the saloon by himself.  It was obviously by choice, because the place was busy and noisy and Bill was well liked. He was also sitting at the far end with his back to the crowd. That was good for Butch because he could speak to him without being overheard.

Butch knew the townsfolk that were loyal to that family, and knew he’d find at least one of them in the saloon.
He’d walked in there a few minutes ago, and seeing Bill, made his way to him.  He leaned one arm on the bar and semi-faced the crowd. His two men stood just inside the door in case they were needed.  They scanned the throng with menacing expressions warning anyone who might say, or do something toward Butch.

Yes, he acted innocent, but o
f course it was him that orchestrated the whole thing against the Hamiltons.  He was just making sure he had an alibi. He conveniently was out of town inspecting his new mine after the funeral the day before and wasn’t around for the aftermath.  By now, the whole town knew that the ranch house was burned to the ground.

He’d just gotten in this morning
and received news from his men that the Hamilton ranch house was a pile of ash.  His grin of satisfaction would have revealed his involvement if anyone had noticed, but it quickly dropped with the next bit of information.  Josephine couldn’t be located.  That worried him.  He couldn’t care less about any of the other Hamiltons, but Josephine was not to be harmed.  He was enraged at the repeated sloppiness his men kept displaying, but unlike last time, didn’t shoot anyone.  He just dismissed them all to have some time alone to think.  He had another plan.  First he had to find out where Josephine was and if she was alive.

Bill took a long swallow from his glass of whiskey but didn’t answer him
, or look at him, but stared at the reflection of himself in the mirror behind the bar like he didn’t even hear him. He was afraid of the man, like everyone else in town.  Especially since young Deak’s body was discovered.  People knew who was responsible even though it couldn’t be proven.  Now it was clear that Butch was a ruthless murderer.  He was upset with how things were going in his beloved town.  Butch was running everything and there was nothing he or anyone else could do about it.  The Hamilton ranch house was the worst news yet.  Especially hearing that maybe Josephine perished in the fire.  Yes, he was upset over the news, and just wanted a drink by himself.  He went to the saloon because he wanted to be distracted and not wallow in grief over the loss of Ryker’s sister.  Yet, here was the bastard that caused it all, demanding information.  He hated him, so he ignored him, which wasn’t an easy thing to do knowing how deadly he was.

Butch was getting impatient with Bill’s lack of response.  He
leaned toward him and spoke in a threatening tone. “You have about thirty seconds old man, before I put a bullet in
your
head.”

Bill looked at him with
a mix of fear and hatred in his eyes. “You should know where they are.  We all know you were responsible!” He burst this out before he could stop himself.  There were a lot of mixed feelings in town over the Hamiltons lately, but Bill stood strong with them.  Others tended to listen to rumors. Thanks to Butch, there were circulated tales about Cogan Reid being more deadly than him, and maybe it was him that killed Deak.  Bill thought that was ludicrous. Cogan was a good man, and had done nothing but good for the Hamiltons.  He even inspired the townsfolk to an extent because even Gus stood up to Butch.  Yes, he killed some of Butch’s men, but that was to protect Ryker, and Bill couldn’t see him putting a bullet in a kid.  He’d seen him with Thomas.  He was genuinely affectionate with him.

The noise in the Saloon stilled at Bill’s loud accusation.
  People exchanged looks of apprehension fearing the worse.  If gunfire broke out, they could be caught in it.

“Really?
  How could that be?  I wasn’t even in town.  Any of my employees can vouch for me.” He turned around and faced the crowd while grinning innocently. His men, as usual mumbled their agreements.

People saw his expression
and relaxed, realizing there wasn’t going to be a gunfight, and then the noise started to slowly kick in again. No one else was willing to say anything, even though most of them thought he was guilty.

“Their words aren’t worth th
e horseshit on your shoes Butch,” Bill mumbled into his cup. “I know how you covet Josephine.  Everyone does. I know what you tried to do in my shop that day. I thank God she had the will to stand up to you.”

“Do you think that’s what happened?  I let her go because she stood up to me?”
Butch turned back to Bill leaning his arm on the bar to face him.  His expression turned terrifying. “You certainly don’t know me all that well.  It would have taken a hell of a lot more to stop me from getting what I want.  Do you not understand that a well baited hook makes the catch taste better?”

Bill spared him a glance and shut his mouth.
Oh, he knew the man was insane, but now he understood just how twisted he really was. Furthermore, Butch would kill him here, right now in front of everyone.  He saw the look in his eyes. It was cold and threatening to do just that.  He already knew that no one would come to his defense, even with all these witnesses.   So he chose to remain silent and return his attention straight ahead while taking another long swig from his glass.  His trembling hand betrayed him though. 

Butch saw his fear
and arrogantly expected it. “Now, I asked you a question and I sure as hell don’t like repeating myself.”

“The
y’re at the Russells,” he mumbled feeling horrible.

“Now that wasn’t so hard was it?”

“Go to hell, Butch,” he said under his breath, but Butch was already gone.

Butch stepped outside
into the cool night air and his men followed. He stopped and looked both ways down the street before he turned and walked toward his hotel along the boardwalk.  “I told you to keep an eye on them. I didn’t want them killed. Just intimidated,” he spoke as he walked. His voice was laced with malice.

“When the man came out with the kid and the old woman, we thought they was fine, boss.  You told us not to
be seen, so we left in a hurry,” said one of his men.

Butch nodded.  Yes he did tell them that, but he also needed to know about Josie.  They told him that they didn’
t see her, but assumed she’d gotten out alive.  He had to remember again, money didn’t buy brains. “I want you two idiots to ride out to Doc Russell’s spread and see if Josephine survived.  If she didn’t, I’m going to kill one of you.” His men paused and looked at each other in worry while he yanked open the door and entered his Hotel alone.

***

Josephine was submerged in a tub up to her chin in the bath house.  With a deep feminine sigh, she let heat sink through her skin and seep into her muscles. Doctor Russell’s wife, Magdalene made sure the water was hot and soapy and fresh towels were left in there.  She also took her clothes to launder.  What a wonderful woman!  She ached everywhere and knew she probably looked like she’d been dragged through hell.

The
Russells said they would take them in as long as they needed. They were grateful considering the risk on doing so.  She was sure Butch would retaliate against anyone who helped them.  Doc Russell was a rare sort.  He wasn’t the least afraid of Butch and his men. Maybe it was because he was needed to keep patching up the damage that Cogan did to them.

Since C
ogan brought her there, Magdalene had been all over her in concern, and she appreciated it a lot.  Her aunt was a wonderful caretaker, but she never doted on them.  That was probably a good thing, because it kept them unspoiled. But once in a while, it would be nice. She could certainly get used to this.  She smiled to herself.

Magda
was a little woman, much smaller than her, and very slender, but she found a dress that could possibly fit her.  The hot bath was amazing.  It was soothing the effects on her body from the night before. 

The
memory of Cogan’s hands on her flesh were still fresh in her mind, and her belly flitted about just thinking of it.  Then there was an odd feeling low in her pelvis to go with it.  Desire—it had to be. She’d never had to deal with it before, but the feeling was unmistakable.  She liked it.

Now that she had time to
consider things, and maybe think a little rationally, she was worried of the consequences.  Certainly, not about what she did. Nothing in this world could make her regret what they shared, but what about a baby? 

Her hands went to her flat abdomen.  She would love to have Cogan’s baby, but would he?  He’d already given up so much for them.
  Also, she was still concerned that he would eventually leave.  He was a drifter after all; a nomad, because of who he was. Then again, what would be the consequences of the child? Boy or a girl?  She remembered what he’d told her about the genders.  Could she handle another like him?  Would she even be able to bear sons for him?  It was odd how she seemed at peace with the thought of it all.

She shut her eyes while sorting her thoughts and letting the magic of the warm water do
its work.

There was one time the
Russells had cattle, but they were getting older, and got rid of them about five years ago except for one or two for winter food. Doctor Russell brought in enough money to maintain their cost of living.  Therefore, the bunkhouse was now empty, and roomy enough for eight men.

It took
them most of the day to clean it out and put in fresh linen. Now you couldn’t even tell it was empty for five years. At least that’s what Thomas came and told her before she went into the bath house.  She was sure the men could use a good scrub too.  Ryker and Thomas were sooty from the house fire, and Cogan didn’t look much better than she did.  Heavens though, he still looked good enough to her!  Now that she knew what he looked like without clothing, no man could measure up to him.  Every time she looked at him she could just blush.