Yellowstone Romance Series - Bundle (# 2-5) (56 page)

“Hurry, Danica. Maybe we can hide inside the mercantile, and he won’t find us.”

“All I need is a loaded shotgun, and he won’t be chasing after us again.”

Kate’s eyebrows rose as she watched two young women dart swiftly through the door. She judged them to be a few years younger than herself, perhaps sixteen or seventeen. The first girl through the door wore dark gray britches, and a blue cotton shirt that appeared to swallow her up, even with the tails tucked into the pants. The sleeves were rolled halfway up her arms to her elbows. Leather suspenders kept the britches from sliding down her hips. The pant legs disappeared inside dark leather boots, which were the only articles of clothing she wore that at least looked to be a correct fit. Her head was turned, and she glanced over her shoulder as she dashed inside the store. She collided against Josh, who was still facing Kate.

Josh whirled around, and grabbed the girl by her upper arms, an annoyed snarl on his face. She pulled back against his hold, until she looked up at him. Her eyes grew wide, and she ceased her struggle. Kate suppressed a smile. The raw look of admiration in the girl’s eyes would make a blind man blush.

Josh released her arms and stepped away, his expression unwavering. “Don’t you have any common sense in that female head of yours?” he growled, his eyes traveling up and down her body in apparent assessment of her clothing.

“Josh!” Kate couldn’t believe his rudeness. It was an accident that this girl collided with him, and he acted as if she’d done it on purpose.

“I need to find my father,” Josh grumbled. Without another glance at Kate or the two girls, he sidestepped past them and out the door. The young lady stared after him, while her friend held her hand to her mouth in apparent shock.

“Danica,” her friend finally nudged her, and whispered nervously, “Maybe we should go.” Unlike her tomboyish friend, this girl wore a modest calico dress, and a bonnet covered her hair.

“Can I help you find something?”  Kate stepped forward, smiling at them. The girl named Danica had blond hair that had been braided and coiled at the back of her head. The attractive hairstyle didn’t go with her distinctly non-feminine clothing. She had the most startling green eyes Kate had ever seen.

“We’re just trying to stay out of sight for a few minutes, if that’s okay,” Danica said. When Kate raised her eyebrows, the girl elaborated, “We’re hiding from Trent Sloacum. He fancies himself my beau, but I can’t stand him.”

“Stay as long as you like,” Kate offered, fully appreciating Danica’s dilemma. If only it were as easy for her. Kate hoped this girl’s parents would be more supportive of her decisions and would allow her to choose her own suitors and eventual husband.

“Who was that man that just left?” Danica asked, and glanced in the direction Josh had disappeared. Perhaps she was hoping he’d come back.  “I don’t think I’ve ever seen him in town before.”

“That was Josh Osborne. His father Samuel Osborne is part owner of this mercantile,” Kate said. Her intuition had been correct. One look at Josh, and Danica was smitten. Kate couldn’t tell her that any notions she might have of pursuing him would be futile. Kyle had mentioned on several occasions that Josh didn’t fancy fair-haired women. The chances of them meeting again were fairly slim. From everything Kate knew about Josh, he didn’t come to town very often.

“There you are,” a male voice said, startling all three women.

Danica backed up toward Kate. Her eyes quickly scanned her surroundings, and she picked up the object closest to her, a brass candlestick holder. “If you don’t leave me alone right now, Trent, I’ll throw this at your ugly head. Your brains can’t get any more addled than they already are,” she said, raising the weapon in front of her. Kate had a feeling this girl wouldn’t hesitate to carry out her threat. She didn’t appear afraid of the man entering the mercantile.

Trent Sloacum smiled, and Kate shuddered involuntarily. He pulled his dusty, sweat-rimmed hat off his head, revealing limp brown hair underneath. Running his hand across his brow, he repositioned the Stetson on his head.

“Hush your mouth, Danica. If your pa sees you dressed like that, he’ll lay you over his knees for sure.  You wouldn’t want to be an embarrassment to the all-important Lars Jensen, now would you?”

 The man’s eyes darted to Kate, and lingered. His shaggy eyebrows rose, and the smile on his face turned almost evil.

Kate’s pulse increased and her stomach churned when recognition filled his eyes.  She swallowed nervously. “Looks like I’m about to become a rich man,” he drawled. He looked toward Danica. “Then your pa can’t say I ain’t good enough for you anymore.” He leered at Kate. “You’re the spittin’ image of that missing wife of that railroad fella in Helena.”

Kate was too stunned to speak. She backed up several steps. The man in front of her apparently forgot all about Danica as he advanced on Kate.

“I saw you several months back. My brother works for Mr. Devereaux. You were dressed up all fancy like, but I never forget a pretty woman’s face.”

“Well you can just forget about this one,” another man’s menacing voice came from just outside the store. Kate’s eyes shot to where the voice came from. Kyle strode into the store, positioning himself between Kate and Trent. His mouth was set in a firm line, and his eyes blazed with anger. Josh entered behind him, and moved off to stand along the wall just inside the door, his hand near the hilt of his knife hanging off his belt.

“You’ve got her confused with someone else, friend,” Kyle said calmly.

 Trent’s grin faltered, and he shook his head. He seemed unsure now, but said, “No, she’s Mr. Devereaux’s kidnapped wife. There’s a five hundred dollar reward out for her, and I aim to collect it.”

Kyle grabbed the shorter man by the shirt, a sneer on his face. He shoved him backwards toward the door. “I suggest you leave right now, and not make any more false claims, if you know what’s good for you.”

Danica rushed up to Trent’s side, even while Kyle rammed him out the door onto the wooden sidewalk.  “Come on, Trent. Does she look like a kidnapped fancy lady? I’ve met a few of them myself, and they’re so high and mighty, they wouldn’t be caught dead in the kind of dress this woman here is wearing,” the girl said boldly. She followed Kyle and Trent out the mercantile door, darting a quick glance at Josh on her way out. Her head turned, and she met Kate’s eyes. Understanding passed between them, and Kate nodded in thanks.

“You’ve got nothing but straw between your ears, Trent,” Danica’s voice carried from the street. “Why don’t I help you find your horse, and you can ride on home.”

Kate leaned against the counter. She cradled her head in her hands, and tried to steady her breathing. That man had recognized her. She knew it would happen eventually. Her heart began to race, and sweat beaded her forehead. The warm hand on her shoulder caused her to jump, and she inhaled sharply.

“Easy, Katelyn.” Kyle’s deep reassuring voice behind her calmed her jumbled nerves. She expelled her breath.

“He’s going to come for me, Kyle,” she whispered. She turned and fell into his embrace.

“Let him come,” Kyle said quietly, stroking her back.

“Would someone care to fill me in with what’s going on here?” Josh asked, stepping out of the shadows.

Kyle ignored him, looking down at Kate. “You seem to have made a new friend. Who was that girl?”

Kate pulled out of his arms. She smiled, and glanced toward Josh. “Her name’s Danica Jensen. That man is her supposed beau.”

“Jensen? The banker?” Kyle shrugged off whatever he was thinking. “Well, she sure knew how to handle him,” he said, grinning. “I was ready to throw him in the horse trough, when she grabbed his arm and ushered him away.”

“Yes, I envy her strength and confidence,” Kate said. “She’s going to make some lucky man very happy one day.” Her eyes darted to Josh, who scowled at her in return.

“You’re just as strong, Kate,” Kyle whispered.

“I wish I could believe that.” She sighed. “I’ll need all the strength I can muster if Hiram comes for me.”

“You let me worry about that, okay?” Kyle smiled. She returned his smile. She didn’t share Kyle’s confidence that everything would be all right. She couldn’t let him know how her insides churned with dread at the thought of Hiram coming for her. Would she find the strength to face her husband when that day came?

Chapter 24

“Damn!”

Kyle entered the kitchen and tossed a crumpled piece of paper on the counter. The three men sitting around the table all stared up at him, expectant looks on their faces. Josh and Samuel laid down the hunting knives they’d been inspecting.  Kyle’s father held a pencil between his fingers. A thick ledger lay open in front of him on the table.

“Uncle Zach’s reply,” Kyle scoffed. His eyes darted to the door that led to the living room. He did not want Kate to hear what he had learned. All his hopes and promises to her had been riding on the response from his uncle in St. Louis. It had been three days since Kyle sent his telegram to Uncle Zach, asking for any information on how a woman could request a divorce from her husband. He’d explained Kate’s situation, that her husband was abusive, and that she’d fled from him, rather than continue to put her life in danger.

“You can talk freely. Kate isn’t here,” Samuel said. “She and your mother are meeting Hannah at the dressmaker’s shop. Apparently, a homemade wedding dress isn’t good enough for your sister.”

 ”I take it it’s not good news?” Kyle’s father asked, a concerned look on his face. He pushed his chair away from the table and rose. Patting Kyle’s shoulder as he passed him, he picked up the wad of paper off the counter and carefully flattened it out. His face darkened as he read it.

“There’s only been one case that Zach knows of where a woman successfully petitioned the courts for a divorce from her abusive husband,” Kyle said, while his father studied the telegram. “Zach says because it’s been a couple of months since Kate ran away, she would have a hard time proving she’s been abused, since there is no physical evidence.” He slammed his hands on top of the counter and leaned forward, gnashing his teeth.

“There’s got to be something helpful in that telegram,” Samuel said, his eyebrows contracting. Kyle cursed and pushed away from the counter.

“It says here that the law is on Devereaux’s side. He has every right to take his wife back if he comes looking for her,” Kyle’s father said quietly. “His advice to Kyle is to return her to her husband. In the eyes of the law, there’s nothing wrong with a man taking a firm hand to his wife and disciplining her.”

“Discipline?” Kyle sneered. “And what is it called when he beats her to death? At what point is it no longer considered discipline, but murder?” He kicked at the cabinet under the counter, and the door sprang open. Dishes rattled precariously inside.

“Cool you temper, son, or your mother’s gonna discipline both of us for breaking her cookware,” Kyle’s father said calmly. His demeanor only infuriated Kyle more. He fisted his hands in his hair, and groaned loudly through clenched teeth.

“So we’re at a dead end?” Samuel asked, and left his seat. He took the telegram from Kyle’s father.

“Well, without proof of abuse, she’s got no chance,” Kyle’s father said. “He does ask if there could be any other circumstances that might have made this an illegal marriage. Then there could be grounds for an annulment.”

“Like what?” Kyle growled.

“For instance, if she wasn’t of sound mind, and didn’t know she was getting married,” Samuel suggested. “She did say she has very little recollection of her wedding.”

Kyle stared at his uncle. “Kate’s not crazy,” he argued. “She knew she was getting married to that son of a bitch. That’s why she was so sick for weeks before. That’s what she told me.”

“Maybe we should just kill the bastard.” Josh’s quietly spoken words made everyone turn their heads toward him. He sat calmly, his elbows resting on the table, his knife held out in front of him. He rotated it slowly, admiring the light reflecting off the shiny blade as it moved ominously before his eyes.

“There’ll be no talk of killing anyone, Running Wolf,” Samuel said heatedly to his son, putting emphasis on Josh’s Indian name. “Although in this case, it might be justified,” he mumbled under his breath loud enough for Kyle to hear.

Josh met his father’s eyes. “A poisonous snake sometimes needs killing before it strikes,” he said as if discussing the weather, and shrugged.

“I have a better idea for you, Josh,” Kyle said slowly. His eyes scanned the room, looking at everyone. He had hoped that Uncle Zach would have a quick and easy solution for him. His cousin’s idea became more appealing with every day that dragged by, and he was no closer to an answer. Kyle knew with absolute certainty he would have no problem putting a bullet in Devereaux’s hide if the man laid one hand on Kate.

Kyle looked at each man in the room. “I’m going to talk to Kate again, and see what she remembers. Then I think it’s time for someone to take a little trip.” His eyes rested on Josh.

*****

“I’ve told you everything already, Kyle,” Kate said, her voice raised in exasperation as she paced the living room.  The soft crackling of wood in the fireplace did little to soothe her frayed nerves. Kyle’s relentless interrogations over the last couple of days had left her mentally exhausted.  He wanted to know every detail of everything she remembered about her wedding day, forcing her to relive a day in her life she’d rather forget.

Kyle stepped in front of her, blocking her movement. “This is important, Kate.” He held her arms in a strong yet gentle grip, and bent his knees so he was eye level with her.

The corners of her eyes quivered, and she swallowed back a choking sensation in her throat. She looked up at him.

“It’s no use, Kyle.” She shook her head. “I’ve told you everything I can remember. There’s nothing you or anyone else can do. If Hiram comes for me, I have to go back, and—”

Kyle pushed two fingers against her lips. “I’m not giving up, Kate,” he said forcefully.  He took her hand and led her to the settee. “I don’t care if we have to sit here all night. I am going to figure out a way to end your marriage.”

Kate stared into his determined eyes. There was nothing he could do. Why didn’t he just leave it be? “I can’t relive this day over and over again like you’re asking me to do, Kyle. What’s the use?” She pulled away from him. She darted back to the fireplace, and stared into the flames, her hands wrapped around her middle.

“Dammit, I am not walking away from this.” Kyle’s angry words were followed by a loud bang. Startled, Kate turned. His fist pounded the small table at the end of the settee, the lamp resting upon it shaking precariously. He raked his other hand through his hair repeatedly. When he looked up across the room at her, his eyes smoldered hotter than the fire in the hearth, and he leapt up from his seat to stand before her.  She took an involuntary step back, and squeezed her eyes shut.

Kyle held her face between his hands. “Open your eyes and look at me,” he demanded.  When she did, he stood so close, the heat radiated from his body and seeped through her clothes. She met his simmering stare.  “Katelyn, if it’s the last thing I ever do, I am going to make sure Hiram Devereux never hurts you again,” he growled.  “One thing you need to know about me and my family. We never give up when we believe in something.”

Kate knew without a doubt that Kyle would keep her safe if it was within his power. But she also knew that her husband was a man with many influential friends, and rarely did he concede anything to someone else. 

She pushed the air from her lungs, then inhaled deeply. “All right,” she whispered. “I’ll try harder to remember. What do you want to know?” This would lead them nowhere, but he seemed determined to continue.

Kyle heaved a sigh, and released her face. He took up one of her hands, and squeezed it gently. “Tell me again, what did you do the morning of your wedding day?”

Kate pushed her fingers against her forehead. She laughed with disdain. “Eliza had a hard time getting me out of bed that morning.” She pulled her hand from his, and turned her back to him. Walking to the window, she absently fingered the white lace curtains. Sarah and Chase had retired for the night, giving Kyle the privacy he wanted to interrogate her. She wished Sarah were here right now. The woman was more of a mother to her than her own mother had ever been. Kate stared into the darkness outside, her mind taking her back six months to that morning. The images appeared as ghostly shapes, nothing concrete.

“It felt as if I could sleep forever,” she said softly.  “I had to ask Eliza for a chamber pot straight away, I was so nauseous.” Kate smirked. “It didn’t help that my mother came into the room, and she talked . . . no wait, she argued, with Eliza.”  Kate turned, and looked for Kyle. This was a detail that had eluded her before. Why had her mother been arguing with Eliza? And why had Eliza, her demure and usually obedient servant, dared to challenge the authoritative woman?

 Kyle stood facing the hearth, his arms above his head, his hands gripping the split-log mantle. His shoulders sagged, and he stared at the ground, or into the fire. Kate couldn’t be sure which.

His head lifted and turned in her direction. “Your servant argued with your mother?” His eyebrows furrowed. “Did your maid argue with your mother a lot?”

“Eliza?” Kate shook her head, and her eyes widened. What a thought! “She never argued with anyone.”

 ”Then why did she have a disagreement with your mother that morning?” He pushed away from the mantle, and fully faced her.

“I don’t remember.” Kate shook her head. “I was too busy tending to my unsettled stomach.”

“Was it the nervousness that made you so sick?” He walked up to her. The concern in Kyle’s eyes touched her to her soul, warming her insides. He reached for her hands again. His thumbs caressed her palms, sending tingles up her arms, and butterflies to her stomach.

 Yes, she had been apprehensive for days, even weeks prior to her wedding day. And angry. Kate huffed. She pulled away from Kyle again. Right now, she didn’t want to feel his tender touch, not when her insides churned with anger at her mother. She ran her hand through the hair that fell over her shoulders, twisting a strand around her fingers until it coiled into a thin rope. Her mother had often scolded her for this activity when Kate was little.

A renewed wave of anger swept over her.  Anger at her mother for selling her off to a man more than twice her age, someone who thought of her as nothing but an acquisition to add to his collection of trinkets to show off. 

“Kate?” Kyle tugged on her arm.

“Don’t touch me,” she yelled, and jerked her arm away.  Instantly, she regretted her outburst. This was Kyle, not her mother telling her what she considered inappropriate behavior. Kate stared at him, seeing the confusion in his eyes. She scurried past him, ignoring his warm hand grazing her arm. When she reached the entry to the kitchen, she stopped and whirled around.

“Damn her. Damn that woman for what she did to me,” she stated heatedly, and her jaw clenched. For the first time ever, Kate wanted to lash out and hit someone. She balled her hands at her sides.

“Ladies don’t swear, Kate,” Kyle said softly, and a grin spread across his face. Instantly, he stood before her, the palm of his hand caressing her cheek. How could he be so calm all of a sudden? Kate’s fists shot up, and she pounded his chest.

“I hate her,” she bellowed. “Do you hear? I hate her, and him, for what they did to me.”

Kate’s eyes filled with tears, and her body shook. She continued to pound her fists against Kyle’s chest. He stood quietly, and absorbed her beatings. When he wrapped his arms around her, she sobbed loudly, and fell against his solid strength.

He stroked her back, running his hands through her hair. “It’s okay, Katelyn. Let it out.” His soothing voice only fueled her sobs. “You’ve never let yourself get mad, have you? You have every right to be furious.” His arms tightened around her.

Exhausted, Kate slumped against him, and lingered in his arms. He was right. She’d never allowed herself to give in to her anger at the injustice done to her. A great weight seemed to have lifted from her, and her mind and body felt much lighter. Kyle continued to stroke her, and Kate reluctantly pushed away from him.

With her hands on his shoulders, she looked up at him. Love-filled eyes gazed back at her, and a warm smile spread across his face. Kate expelled her breath. She loved this man. He hadn’t wavered from her side, hadn’t taken the easy route and walked away. He would always be there for her.