Anora's Pride Page 18

  Anora reached to clasp her friend's hand. “You and Lettie are my best friends in the entire world.”

  “Really?” Penny's voice rang with hurt. “Then you've got a different idea about friendship than regular folk. And you've had yourself two husbands while I've little chance of getting even one.”

  “What about Beau? I thought you and he...” Penny's eyes were suspiciously shiny, as if she fought back tears. “If you'd been the least bit interested, like a real friend, you wouldn't even ask me that.”

  Anora bit her lower lip. “If I've offended you somehow, I apologize. Believe me, I didn't set out to fall in love with Jesse. Or to marry him, for that matter.”

  Penny shook her head pityingly. “You've got a real talent, Anora. Gone and snagged yourself a second husband who spends all his spare time at Ricki's.”

  As Penny turned and walked away, Jesse must have sensed Anora's distress, for he immediately left his dealings and made his way to her side.

  “What was that all about?”

  “Seems I hurt Penny's feelings.”

  “Want me to talk to her?”

  “There's no point. She's hurting bad right now. And I don't think it has anything to do with me.” She looked around the room. “Where's Beau Brown?”

  “You haven't heard? He up and married some widow lady over in Indian Springs. Some woman whose husband left her a sizable fortune.”

  “Poor Penny. I ought to have been there for her. Instead of being so caught up in my own things.”

  “It happens. No matter how well intended a body is, some stuff just gets past you, is all. Other folks wind up feeling let down.”

  “I suppose. Who was that man you were talking to?”

  “What man?”

  “Over near the door. You gave him some money.”

  “Nothing you need fret about. Just a little surprise for later.”

  “Another surprise?” Anora asked.

  “You just wait.”

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  * * *

  Chapter 19

  “You're quiet,” Jesse remarked as they headed back to Three Boulders. The rear of the carriage was piled high with gifts galore, from embroidered samplers to homemade relishes to a beautiful patchwork coverlet for their bed. Seated next to Jesse, Anora felt as if her heart were full to bursting, a sensation that seemed ripe for the undoing.

  “You ever have a sense that things are much too good to continue on? When you just know something bad's going to happen, up around the next corner?”

  Jesse muttered something unintelligible under his breath.

  “ ‘Cause that's sure in creation the way I'm feeling. I know it's crazy and I've got no truck with feeling that way, but there it is.”

  “Funny way to feel as you head home from a party where you were the guest of honor.”

  “Isn't it just?”

  They both lapsed into thoughtful silence for several miles before Anora piped up, “Jesse, what about Rosco?”

  “What about him?”

  “Think he might be the something bad?”

  “You just quit that talk about something bad. I'm not about to let anything happen to you. Not so long as there's breath in my body.”

  Anora clutched his arm. “Don't say that. It's bad luck. Quick, make the sign of the cross.”

  “I'm not a religious man. You know that.”

  “Then I'll do it.” Head bowed, Anora murmured a hasty prayer that nothing untoward would befall her husband. After that she immediately felt better. Strange the way it seemed as natural as breathing to think of Jesse as her husband, to fear for his safety.

  When they reached the ranch and disembarked, Anora bounded ahead of Jesse, whose arms were laden with gifts. Just inside the door she screeched to a halt. For there, in the place formerly occupied by her narrow cot, stood a brand-spanking-new iron bedstead, topped with a plump feather mattress.

  “Where in heaven's name...?”

  She heard Jesse behind her. “Remember that surprise I promised you earlier?”

  “This is it?” Anora approached the bedstead and reverently ran her hands over the fancy iron footboard.

  “That fellow you saw me talking to was a furniture broker. When he told me how this bed had been delivered just this morning I didn't want to take a chance on missing out, so I had him bring it out and set it up while we were still at the hotel. Shall we see how Lettie's quilt looks on it?”

  Anora made her way to Jesse, took his face in both her hands, and kissed him full on the lips. Before she could step away, he dropped his packages, jerked her into his arms, and kissed her his way, long and deep, his tongue teasing hers. The kiss lasted a long, long time.

  Anora felt her color rise. “My, I feel a trifle tired after all the excitement. I wonder...”

  “Mmmm-hmmm?”

  “Would it be unseemly of me to have myself a little lie-down?”

  “I think that's a meritorious idea. I just might have to join you.” He placed one finger under Anora's chin and raised her face to his. “What's this here frown all about?”

  “I feel so bad.”

  “Why?”

  “For doubting you. I saw you talking to that man, giving him money, and...I don't know. I guess I got so used to Ben and my pa, frittering their money on cards and drink...”

  “I'm not like them, Anora.”

  She smiled cockily. “No, you're not. More than likely you take after your own kin.”

  “Dear Lord, if I thought that, I swear I'd go out to the barn and hang myself this very instant.”

  Anora didn't know exactly what it was she'd said wrong, but from the second the words left her lips about Jesse's kin, a change seemed to come over him. He didn't join her on their new bed that afternoon, and although they slept side by side each night, he didn't make another claim to his husbandly rights. Anora suspected he found her swelling belly unsightly and resigned herself to the fact that they likely wouldn't be together again until after the baby was born.

  Yet, in spite of Jesse's distance and moodiness, Anora had never felt happier. The Yuletide season was approaching and, for the first time ever, she busied herself making gifts for her friends.

  “Oh, bunk. I've dropped a stitch.”

  “Let me have it.” Lettie reached across and took the knitting needles out of her hands. The older woman's fingers flew as she unfastened a row, picked up the dropped stitch, then added a few rows of her own to the half-knit pink sweater.

  “Hmmph.” She checked out the garment with a critical eye. “I must say, your knitting is improving all the time.”

  “Practice makes perfect. And I got lots of time to practice.”

  “That'll end soon enough when the young one comes.”

  “I wish Penny had come out with you.”

  “She's pretty busy with the school.”

  Anora gave a wistful sigh. “I miss her.”

  Lettie leaned forward and patted Anora's hand.

  “She'll come around in her own time. I know the girl. She's still hurting over what happened with Beau Brown. But soon as that little one puts in an appearance, why, you won't be able to keep Penny away. Wait and see if I'm not right as always.” She sat back. “Shame about that latest holdup.”

  “What holdup?”

  Lettie gave Anora a searching look. “Lordy, sweetcheeks. You're married to the marshal. Don't the two of you talk?”

  “Not about lawmaking,” Anora said. “Tell me about the holdup.”

  “Seems Rosco's back at his old tricks. Except this time a child got killed.”

  Anora stifled a gasp. “How dreadful.”

  “That's what everyone says. A posse took off after him, but he gave them the slip near the river.”

  “Jesse never mentioned it to me.”

  “He likely doesn't want you to worry about something you got no control over. Menfolk get some strange ideas, ‘specially about their women being in the family way.”

  Anora nodded.
But she knew it wasn't her condition that had Jesse keeping quiet about Rosco's activities in the area. It was the fact that Rosco had a personal vendetta with Jesse.

  Lettie rose and stretched. “Lord, it gets dark early. Sam's bunion says we're in for snow. And Sam's bunion is never wrong.”

  Anora smiled. “I can hardly wait. You be careful on the way back to town.”

  Lettie tilted her muff Anora's way, giving her a clear glimpse of the pistol tucked inside. “Any rowdy foolish enough to try messing with Lettie winds up a sorry dead man.”

  From the porch Anora watched her friend off, then scuttled quickly back inside. The air temperature felt to be dropping by the minute. She threw another log on the fire and bundled into an extra shawl, wishing Jesse were home safe. No one had warned her how being married to a lawman brought its own private hell of worry.

  It was full dark before her straining ears caught the sound of a horse and rider and, as the newcomer climbed the porch stairs, she reached for her pistol. It wasn't Jesse, for she'd recognize his footsteps anywhere. She faced the door, pistol in one shaking hand, when she heard Charlie's voice on the other side of the door.

  “It's me, ma'am. Charlie. The marshal sent me.”

  Ever wary of a trap, Anora opened the door a crack and peered out, making sure he was alone.

  “Come in.” She stepped back as he entered, then immediately locked the door behind him. Charlie went directly to the fire, pulled his gloves off with his teeth, and held his hands to the warmth.

  “Where's Jesse?”

  “He asked me to tell you he won't be home tonight. Sent me to bring you this note and keep an eye out in his absence.”

  “You can't stay outside all night. You'll freeze.”

  “I'll hole up in the barn. I'll be okay. These old bones are used to this weather.”

  Anora unfolded the note and held it toward the lamp, her nose wrinkling as the faint smell of cheap scent wafted toward her. The same cheap scent that seemed to have a permanent place in Ricki's wardrobe. Even the writing paper was effeminate, bordered by a line of doves with curling ribbons in their beaks.

  Unlike the paper she held, there was nothing effeminate about Jesse's bold scrawl. The note stated that he'd return on the morrow and that she was to take every precaution in his absence. Anora wondered why he even bothered to write. Charlie could have relayed the message in person. Or was he looking to flaunt the fact that he was at Ricki's while she was alone at the ranch?

  “He's at Ricki's, then?” she said, as if Jesse had included that information.

  Charlie nodded. “Ricki and her girls are a good conduit to Rosco's comings and goings.”

  Anora crushed Jesse's note in her fist. “I'll rest easier when that man is behind bars.” She tossed the crumpled page into the fire and set about making Charlie a hot meal. The poor fellow needed something warm and solid in his belly if he was to keep watch all through the night.

  The new bed felt awfully empty without Jesse trussed up alongside of her, and Anora tossed restlessly, her ears tuned to the slightest sound outside the cabin. The baby inside her shifted, and Anora knew the sudden need to relieve herself, something that had been happening with greater frequency of late. She rose. Wrinkling her nose at the sight of the chamber pot Jesse had produced for this very purpose, she bundled up and made her way outside to the privy.

  On her way back to the cabin she paused and gulped in huge lungfuls of cold air. Not a single star showed through the thick blanket of clouds in the sky. Snow clouds, if she put any stock in what others had been saying all day.

  Where was Jesse? Was he outdoors, staring up at this same cloud-muffled sky and doing his best to keep warm on some lonely lawman's vigil? Or was he snug and warm, ensconced in the bed of Boulder Springs’ infamous madam? Plying Ricki with the physical attentions he'd withheld from his own wife?

  Some wives might be prepared to share their menfolk, to look the other way from their alley-catting. Anora wasn't one of them. A fact she'd be sure and make clear to Jesse at the first opportunity. If that was the type of marriage arrangement he thought he'd entered into, he was in for a rude surprise.

  She started as something cool and damp licked her cheek, and glanced up in time to see a snowflake drift past her face. Followed by another. And another. Silent as the night they drifted down, a scant handful to start. Then, as if by magic, she watched their numbers increase, doubling and doubling again. She stood a spell, drinking in the magic of the moment, till finally she made her way inside, aware that to take a chill would be bad for both her and the babe.

  The cabin felt cozy and warm after the outdoors, and Anora had dutifully locked the door after her, when the hair on the back of her neck stood on end. She'd know that smell anywhere. Slowly she turned.

  There were three of them: Rosco and two others. Each man held a gun trained directly at her.

  Anora swallowed her fear. She must be brave for the sake of the baby.

  “Didn't dare come alone this time, did you, Rosco? Afraid I'd run you off the ranch the way I did before?”

  She watched the sudden shift of his henchmen's eyes to their leader, as if seeking confirmation of her words.

  “Sit down and shut up,” Rosco said.

  Moving slowly, her mind awhirl with possible means of escape, Anora did as she was told. Rosco jerked his head to one of the men, who moved forward and tied her hands behind her, lashed to the chair back.

  “Good idea,” Anora said. “Don't take any chances on being bested by a woman a second time.”

  “You two. Out,” Rosco said. “I'll take care of this one alone.” His beady eyes fastened on Anora's face, intercepting her anxious glances toward the door. “If you're hoping to be rescued by the old guy, you can save yourself the bother. Me and the boys already took care of him.”

  “I'm surprised at you,” Anora said, as the other two outlaws took their leave. “I thought for a certainty you must have found whatever booty you claim Ben stole.”

  Rosco advanced until he stood directly in front of her, her eyes at a level with his belt buckle. She had to breathe through her mouth, the smell of him was so foul.

  “You think this is about money?”

  “Isn't it?”

  “No, indeedy. This here is all about how the best man always wins. ‘Specially when he's up against a Quantrill.” He laughed unpleasantly. “I been playing that marshal for a sucker long before he blew into town.”

  “Pity,” Anora said. “As it surely must take the fun right out of it if no one knows just how smart you are.”

  Rosco thumped his chest with a burly fist.

  “Folks'll know soon enough just who bested who.” His eyes narrowed, as if seeing Anora for the first time.

  “That a swollen belly you got there, girl? Quantrill didn't waste much time, from the look of things, did he? Too bad he won't be around to see his brat birthed.”

  “Jesse will never let you get away with whatever it is you're planning. He knows you killed that woman in Indian Springs. And that child yesterday. You'll hang for murder.”

  Rosco's eyes glittered with malice. “Not before Quantrill pays for the murder of my brother.”

  Anora tried to hide her reaction to Rosco's words. Jesse killed Rosco's brother? Not her Jesse. He wasn't a murderer. But he also hadn't wanted to tell her why Rosco was after him personally.

  “You best get out of here,” Anora said. “Jesse's due back anytime.”

  Rasco laughed. “I don't think so, missy. He's long gone till morning. A fact I made darn good and sure of.”

  Anora's mind raced. Jesse'd been at Ricki's earlier tonight. Anything could have happened. Ricki could even have slipped him a drink guaranteed to knock him out till tomorrow.

  Rosco stared at her stomach. “Whose brat is it? Not that it much matters. One's as bad as the next.” He stood. “Way I see it, I'm doing the whole of society a favor, makin’ sure he never gets born.”

  Anora tasted fear unlike anything s
he'd ever felt before. She struggled to free her hands, but the bonds were too tight. “I'm sorry I didn't shoot you when I had the chance.”

  “Regular little spitfire, ain'cha? Might have even given you a go myself at one time. Show you what a real man's capable of.”

  “Right. A real man. One who picks on defenseless women and children.”

  Rosco's mouth twisted grimly. He grasped a handful of Anora's hair and yanked her head straight back. Her eyes filled with tears from the sudden pain. “One thing I hate, it's a mouthy woman.” Raising his other hand he backhanded her across the mouth. Anora's ears rang from the blow. Her mouth filled with blood.

  She watched in horror as Rosco raised one booted foot and aimed it directly at her midsection. With both feet against the floor, she pushed with all her might. The chair tipped, taking her with it. She felt a searing pain in her temple. Followed by darkness.

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  * * *

  Chapter 20

  Snowflakes started to fall, gently at first, then with increasing force. Jesse turned up the collar of his jacket, too late to stop the handful that had melted against his neck and trickled inside his shirt. Ahead of him rode Eddy and two other men, temporary deputies. Jesse didn't know whether Rosco had intended to kill that youngster yesterday, and he didn't much care. To his mind, they'd been playing cat and mouse too long, a game he was about to put an end to once and for all.

  The wind shifted, bringing with it the acrid smell of wood smoke.

  Eddy dropped back to his side. “Smell that? We got ‘em dead to rights this time.”

  “Damn and thunderation!” Jesse reined Sully to an abrupt halt.

  “What is it?” Eddy pulled up as well and turned to Jesse, a puzzled look on his face.

  “Rosco won't be there.” The ominous feeling that built in his gut and poured with heated urgency through his veins was too powerful to ignore. “Any man who's eluded capture this long is way too smart to have a fire going, leading us straight to him.”

  “Smart? Rosco?” Eddy spat a plug of tobacco on the ground.

  “You and the others ride on ahead and locate that fire. With luck you'll find some of Rosco's men.”