Anora's Pride Page 4

  “I don't know how you do it,” Anora said, lowering herself into a front row desk. “How you manage to keep them cooped up in here all day.”

  “It's more like keeping me cooped up in here with them,” Penny said, as she moved to her friend's side. “Specially now it's so hot. But it's almost time for summer vacation.” She gave Anora a critical glance. “You sure you're all right? ‘Cause we can make it another day, if you'd rather.”

  Anora blew out a long breath. “I just want to forget about what happened. Darn near impossible, the way folks keep reminding me of it day and night.”

  Penny picked up a well-worn copy of Little Women and took a seat next to Anora. “Folks are just worried about you. That's all. Goodness, you could have been killed, or worse.”

  Anora gave her a puzzled look. “What's worse?”

  Penny bobbed her head. “You know.”

  At Anora's blank look, she shook her head. “I declare, Anora, some days you act so naive, I do believe some of my students got more smarts than you do about certain things. I'm talking about those horrid men forcing themselves on you.”

  “Oh, that. Rest assured, they didn't.”

  “But they could have. And I don't see how you can stand making that trip home alone every day, after your close call.”

  “I don't carry money anymore.”

  Penny rolled her eyes skyward. “Land sakes, girl. Maybe next time it won't be your money that catches their interest.”

  Anora pinkened. “I hardly think I'm the type to, you know, fuel a man's lust.” Even as she spoke she recalled the breathless feeling of being caught tight in Jesse's arms. The hungry look in his eyes, seconds before his lips captured hers... Belatedly she realized Penny was prattling on.

  “...don't understand that husband of yours. What good is he if he never does or says anything that lets you know you're a woman?”

  Anora shrugged and pulled the novel toward her in an attempt to change the subject. “Now, where were we?”

  Penny snatched the book back and slammed its cover. “I mean it, Anora. One of these days, some man is going to come along and sweep you clean off your feet. And when that happens, look out, girl. Your life will never be the same.”

  Anora flushed deeper. “That only happens in books.”

  Penny straightened and pounced. “You're blushing! Something happened. What? More important, who? You can tell me. I'm your best friend.”

  “It was nothing.”

  “I'm not teaching you to read another word until you tell me what happened.” She stared at the ceiling. “Some man made eyes at you. That must mean...” She gave an excited squeal and leaned forward. “Not the new marshal. Say it isn't so.”

  Anora couldn't stem the tide of color flooding her face. “It was nothing. After the robbery, he came out to the ranch, is all. Then he accidentally ran over my foot, so he picked me up—”

  “He picked you up? In his arms? Oh, you lucky thing, you.” Genuine envy colored Penny's words. “Then what?”

  “Nothing, really,” Anora fibbed. “Except it felt really funny. You know. Kind of hot and cold and dizzy, all at the same time.”

  “And Ben never made you feel that way, I wager?”

  Anora shook her head. Confidentially, she leaned forward. “I never felt that way before. It kind of scared me.”

  “Just tell me one thing. Do you think he felt it, too?”

  Anora pressed her lips together thoughtfully. “I think he felt something. ‘Cause he looked at me, kind of, I don't know. Like he was seeing me for the first time. Then he set me down sudden-like, as if he couldn't stand to touch me.”

  “More like couldn't trust himself to touch you,” Penny said with a knowing nod. “That's the way it happens. I remember Johnny, my first beau...” Penny launched into a lengthy yarn of her first love, and Anora stared longingly at the novel. She had so hoped to find out what had happened between Jo and Laurie. But once Penny got started, it was easiest to just let her go on till she wound herself down like a big, old clock.

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  * * *

  Chapter 4

  Another chapter of Little Women successfully completed, Anora stood and made ready to leave. As the two women descended the school steps to the street, who should come along right then but Jesse Quantrill, larger than life astride his glossy-coated mount.

  To Anora's chagrin, she heard Penny flag down man and horse. “Why, Marshal, what a coincidence. Not two minutes have gone by since your name passed between us.”

  “Penny!” Anora felt the telltale warmth creep over her jawline to her cheeks. A quick look at Jesse revealed the worst. His gaze was nailed to hers, eyes narrowed with suspicion. Like as not he thought she'd told Penny all about the kiss. And Penny wasn't helping things a bit, glancing from Jesse to Anora, a big grin stretched across her prominent front teeth.

  “Good day, ladies.”

  She relaxed slightly when Jesse let Penny's comment go unchallenged. Maybe she had him pegged wrong. Nope. A quick, sideways glance told her he was keeping his emotions under tightly leashed control.

  It was his own fault, Anora told herself righteously. After all, he'd been the one to sweep her up in his arms. He'd been the one to start the kiss. And end it, she reminded herself, flushing anew as his gaze wandered over her face. Could he read her thoughts?

  “Any more problems on the road home, Mrs. King?”

  “Not a one, thank you, Marshal.”

  “I was just telling Anora she's powerful lucky not to have been compromised as well as robbed,” Penny piped up. “Matter of fact, she's heading home now, and I was just saying I don't think it's such a good idea, her walking alone.” Penny paused for effect. “How lucky you just happened along now when you did. That way you can see to it that Anora gets back safe.”

  Jesse slanted her a cool glance. “I believe I suggested to Mrs. King that's a responsibility her husband ought to undertake.”

  Penny continued on, ignoring him. “Everyone hereabouts knows Ben King can't hardly get himself home in one piece. Imagine if Anora had to rely on him.”

  “Point well taken, ma'am.” Jesse dismounted to land directly in front of her. His confident stance had Anora quaking in her boots. He stood tall, dashing, and debonair, and every single maid's dream. She also recognized that, while meeting Jesse Quantrill was exciting, it was also far and away the worst thing that had ever happened to her.

  “How about it, Mrs. King? Do you accept my offer of safe escort?”

  Safe escort!

  Funny, but she found very little safety in the thought of being alone with Jesse Quantrill.

  Quit being a goose! He thinks I'm a married woman. As long as he continues to believe that, I'm quite safe.

  Anora's gaze skipped from the top of Jesse's wide-brimmed black hat to the tips of his dusty black boots, and for one ridiculous second she wished he knew the truth.

  But how could she bear the ridicule that was certain to result if the truth became known? Her new friends would never believe another word she said. Especially Jesse Quantrill.

  As he waited expectantly for her response, she sought to give him an easy out. “No doubt you're busy with far more pressing matters, Marshal.”

  Jesse took one long-legged step closer. Close enough for her to see the inordinately thick line of lashes rimming his dark eyes. “Actually, I feel it could be helpful in apprehending the thieves if we were to review, one more time, the particulars of the incident. I'd like you to show me the exact spot where the robbery took place.”

  “Then it's settled.” Penny stepped back, looking infinitely pleased with herself. “I know I, for one, will sleep better knowing Anora's in such capable hands.” Sending Anora a saucy wink, which Jesse couldn't fail to miss, Penny took her leave.

  Anora glanced back to Jesse in time to catch his disapproving frown. “It's not what you think.”

  “You have no idea what I'm thinking.”

  “On the contrary, I
believe I have a fairly accurate idea as to the direction of your thoughts.” It was a lofty sentence, sounding rather like something Louisa May Alcott might have written for Jo to say, and Anora relished the idea that she sounded schooled and well read.

  With a telling look Jesse bent and linked his fingers low to the ground to give her a leg up. By the time she'd taken in the fact that her perch atop the horse's broad back was actually much higher up than it looked from the ground, Jesse had positioned himself behind her. She felt the warmth of his body as he reached around her for the reins. When they started moving, she grabbed a handful of Sully's mane and hung on.

  “You mistakenly believe I ran around like some giddy schoolgirl, spreading tales we both agreed were best left unspoken.” The horse's swaying movement beneath her seemed to heighten the disquieting sensation of Jesse's nearness. She found it difficult to keep her balance without leaning back against him. He held the reins loosely in his fingers. His arms circled her waist in an intimate way and she swore she could feel his warm breath stir the hair on the top of her head, causing little prickles of awareness to whisper across her scalp.

  “And from whence, pray tell, might I have garnered such an impression?”

  “Penny has a flair for melodrama,” Anora said. “We were talking about you only insofar as the robbery was concerned.”

  “Ah, yes. The robbery,” Jesse mused. “I see you failed to heed my advice to have your husband accompany you on your trips to town.”

  “Sometimes he does,” Anora said quickly. “For the most part, Ben tends to get involved with what he's doing.”

  “Something he judges more important than his wife's safety?”

  “I wouldn't put it that way, exactly.”

  “Tell me something, Anora.”

  Anora caught her breath at the sound of her given name on his lips. He made it sound different from most folks. Throaty. Sensual.

  “Is your husband acquainted with Rosco and his cohorts? Any of them ever visit him at the ranch?”

  “No one visits the ranch. What are you getting at?”

  “It's possible the thieves were lying in wait, knowing you'd pass along the road at a certain time. Traveling alone. They also knew exactly where you carry your money.”

  “Are you implying Ben tipped them off? That my own b-... That he knew about the robbery in advance?”

  Jesse remained silent.

  “Ben wouldn't do such a thing,” Anora stated flatly. She felt him shift in the saddle.

  “Pardon my bluntness, but exactly how long have the two of you been married?”

  “Not long,” Anora said evasively. “But I've known Ben all my life. I admit he's got his faults, same as the next person. But you're wrong about this. No way did Ben have anything to do with the robbery.”

  “I commend your loyalty,” Jesse said stiffly. “Let's both hope I don't discover something that proves it's been misplaced.”

  Anora wished she could see Jesse's face. His words were so wooden she couldn't help but feel there was something he wasn't telling her.

  Just as Anora started to relax and enjoy the ride, Jesse opened another uncomfortable subject. “Just why did your friend the schoolteacher go out of her way to have me escort you home?”

  Anora thought quickly. Rather than lie she settled for a partial truth. “Tell you the truth, Marshal, I do believe Penny's a wee bit sweet on you. I think she hopes you might reveal certain things to me.”

  “Things?” Jesse echoed.

  “Things which I can, in turn, pass along to her.”

  She heard him chuckle. “You mean if I was to tell you I'm partial to auburn hair she might up and color hers with henna?”

  “Something like that,” Anora said, relieved he'd bought her story so readily.

  “And if I was to tell you how much I'm taken with those freckles of yours, your friend might be inclined to go out without her parasol.”

  “She might.”

  “And if I was to tell you how I fall asleep every night remembering the way it felt to catch you up in my arms, to hold you against me, the feel of your lips pressed against mine—”

  “You agreed we wouldn't mention that,” Anora interrupted in a rush.

  “So I did,” Jesse said. “You can tell her the rest of it, though.”

  “What rest of it?”

  “The part about the auburn hair and the freckles.”

  “Oh, I wouldn't dream of it,” Anora said quickly. “She might get the wrong impression.”

  “Wrong impression?”

  “Since I possess both auburn hair and freckles, why Penny might think...”

  “Might think what?” Jesse prompted. When Anora didn't respond he answered for her. “Your friend might think I find you attractive, Anora? It just so happens, I do. I find you extremely attractive indeed.” He heaved a huge sigh. “Course, you being a married woman and me not being one to poach on another man's wife... Well, I'm left with no choice but to admire you from afar.”

  Anora craned her head around to look at him. “I do believe you're teasing me, Marshal.”

  “The name's Jesse,” he said, his arms at her waist seeming to snug her just the slightest bit tighter. “I'd be much obliged if you'd call me that. Leastways when we're alone.”

  Jesse watched the intriguing flush of color creep up Anora's slender neck and knew he had effectively nonplused her once and for all. She was too damn easy to toy with. Easy to tease. He wished she were a trifle less naive, for it would make what he was planning to do easier. Maybe not easier, exactly, but at least he wouldn't feel so guilty about the fact that he intended to use Anora. More precisely, Anora and Ben King's connection to Rosco's gang.

  Rosco was wily. No surprise no one had caught him up to this point. Ben King, on the other hand, was a decided weak link. And the deeper King got in with Rosco, the easier it would be for Jesse to apprehend the outlaw gang in a lawless act.

  Anora stirred and the scent of her filled his nostrils. Warm and womanly, underscored with that same faint floral fragrance as the other day. If he'd shown up at the ranch earlier, he well might have come across her bathing in the creek. He imagined her naked, rivulets of water cascading down her perfectly formed breasts, over her abdomen, then disappearing into the tangle of auburn curls at the juncture of her legs...

  He was enjoying the mental picture so much it took him aback to hear Anora's voice. “Right up ahead there. That's where I stopped. Wasn't more than two minutes before I heard the sound of horses approaching.”

  “Which means they were waiting just ahead.” Jesse reined Sully to a halt and scanned the surrounding countryside.

  “What makes you say that?”

  “If they'd been riding toward you, you would have heard them sooner.” He pointed. “Good chance one of them was sitting watch up over there. That way he could signal to the others when you got close. Make sure you were alone, nobody else on the road.”

  Anora pivoted to face him, worrying her full bottom lip in a fetching way. “It's no secret Ben and me are dirt poor. Why would anyone set out to rob me?”

  Jesse touched his heels to Sully's flanks, urging the animal forward. “I have a few different theories on that score.” He felt the instinctive stiffening in her spine and knew he'd have a tough go convincing her that her husband was involved in any way. Women were such fools when it came to their menfolk. He thought again of his baby sister, Rose. And the part he'd played in killing the man who had abused her innocence and trust. Love. It sure as hell made a mish-mash of people's lives.

  They reached the Three Boulders Ranch shortly, an uncomfortable silence stretched between them. Jesse stopped Sully in front of the cabin and dismounted. Anora clung to the saddlehorn, wondering if there was any possible way she could reach the ground without Jesse's help.

  In her heart she truly believed he was teasing when he stated that he found her attractive. Trouble was, that same traitorous heart had taken on the annoying habit of skipping a beat or two w
henever he was around, then speeding up in a way that left her breathless. If she hadn't experienced it firsthand, she wouldn't have thought just the sight of him could have such an effect.

  Exhibiting considerably more poise than she was inwardly feeling, she managed, with Jesse's help, to slide down from Sully's back. “Thank you for seeing me home safe, Marshal.”

  Jesse touched two fingers to the brim of his hat.

  “Believe me, the pleasure was all mine.” He seemed to be waiting for her to open up the door and go inside. Anora was determined not to give him the satisfaction. A long, silent look passed between them. A look that told her she hadn't seen the last of Jesse Quantrill. Not by a long shot. It was a look that unsettled Anora clear down to the tips of her toes.

  Only after she was certain Jesse was well on his way did she venture inside. The sight of Ben, his back to her as he rifled through her trunk, stopped her cold.

  “Just what do you think you're doing?”

  Ben straightened and slowly swung about. The half light filtered in through the open door and revealed her brother's face, desperation twisting his boyish features. His hands were clenched into tight-fisted balls at his sides, an extension of the tension running through his body.

  “Where is it?”

  “Where is what?” Anora crossed the room, displaying more calm than she felt as she removed her shawl and hung it on a peg.

  “I need money. And I need it now.”

  His words spiked a terrible premonition of doom.

  She felt her insides tremble as she turned to face him. “I don't have any.”

  “You're lying.” Ben advanced, one fist raised.

  Anora held her ground, her gaze steady on him until he seemed to realize what he was doing and lowered his arm.

  “Lettie's keeping my money in her safe at the store. I couldn't chance getting robbed again.” Her voice softened. This was Ben, her little brother, life-long companion, and the only kin she had. She bit back the urge to tell him about the money. How she was saving for him to go to Boston and get his leg fixed by those good doctors there. She'd vowed from the first not to say a word till she had the means. “Ben. What's happened?”