Annabelle Weston (15 page)

“
Forgive me, please.”

“
I’m not the type of woman anyone can trust or hold on to. You’ll just get hurt in the end.” She smiled, to show no hard feelings, he reckoned, and pressed her other hand to his cheek. “But I am the type of woman you can have fun with. And Jed, I do have fun with you.”

He smiled in return but halfheartedly. She sure had a way about her.

Carly placed a kiss on his lips. Brief as the touch was, it left him intoxicated.

“
I’d like to keep having fun with you.” Her voice was low, sultry.

Jed nodded. He’d laid down what he needed from her tonight but she’d rejected him. Except she had come after him. She hadn’t let him leave thinking he meant nothing to her.

And maybe, just maybe, he could convince her that they could be together, that she was the type of woman a man could hold on to.

She pulled her hand from his and walked around the bar so she could stand beside him.

“
You came upstairs for a reason, and not to stare at my cunny.” She looked at him expectantly.

“
It wasn’t a social call, that’s true.”

“
It will be by the time you’re finished with what you came to say.” She lifted her skirt, showed him her fine, shapely legs were bare. So were her creamy thighs, so was her honeypot, which he’d romanced without regret and intended to do so again.

Jed cleared his throat. She tortured him with that body. Jed allowed she could have her way with only a look.

“
What were you saying about some business?” she asked sweet and playful. Jed was about ready to bust out of his britches.

“
I have some questions about the Crowley case.”

Her eyes widened and she shifted her feet. Her kohl-blackened lashes fluttered.

He had a hunch she didn’t want to talk about Crowley. Could she be dreading what his next words would be?

“
I haven’t found those men who murdered him.”

She winced for a fraction of a second. “They must be long gone. Good riddance.”

Jed jumped on the telling signs. She knew something. “What can you tell me about them?”

She looked away briefly and then returned to face him bold as brass. “What makes you think I know them?”

“
You were quick to come to the conclusion there was more than one killer out at the Crowley ranch.”

He watched her. She didn’t appear jolted by what he’d just said. Either she was an expert liar or he was wrong about her involvement with the killers.

“
That don’t mean anything.”

“
You’re telling me it was a lucky guess?” He spoke with contempt. He hadn’t believed in luck since he’d lit out of Denver with two dollars in his pocket and the notion he’d make a good lawman.

She frowned. “I don’t know why I said what I said. Could’ve been one man or two, four or a dozen.”

“
You don’t know who they are?”

“
Why don’t we go upstairs?” She put her hand on his chest, branding him with her touch. “I don’t want to talk about who killed Mr. Crowley.”

“
I’ve work to do.” He’d asked her point-blank and didn’t get the reply he’d sought after. He could tell she was hiding something. Had he misjudged her?

He hadn’t believed any of the palaver about her being the wrong kind of woman for him. Could he have got it all wrong?

She wiggled closer, full of sass. “Is that the way it’s going to be?”

“
That’s the way it’s
got
to be.” He lifted her chin, thought about kissing her and decided against it. One kiss was never enough with Carly.

He picked up his hat, satisfied they had at least mended their fences, and walked out of there.

Carly collapsed into a chair, sure Jed hadn’t believed her when she told him she didn’t know who the killers were. She rested her head against her fist, trying to think. What was she supposed to do now? She could go after him and tell him about overhearing the men talk murder. He’d understand, wouldn’t he?

The way he’d looked at her just now confirmed her worst fear. He didn’t trust her. No surprise there. It was that way with everyone she got close to. When they found out what kind of person she was, they were disappointed. It didn’t take long before they left her high and dry.

Alvin turned his head as the doors swung open. Her heart took an extra beat. She sat up and craned her neck. Had Jed come back?

“
Why if it ain’t Dr. Baxter,” Judith said.

Dressed in a top hat and tailcoat, Dr. Baxter looked like a gentleman, Carly mused. As long as she didn’t look too close. His frayed cuffs needed turning and there was a button missing on his coat.

Carly licked her lips. The terrible headaches and shakes that kept her up at night had begun to fade into dull thundering but the craving for some of his elixir never did. Her heart sped up and blood thrilled through her veins, and not because she was thinking about Jed or any man, but in anticipation of a drink. Dr. Baxter’s Eight-Day Elixir was something she could rely on.

“
Doc, I got a terrible pain right here.” Judith rubbed her ass and gave out a belly laugh that would’ve shaken the plate-glass window if Carly still had one.

“
Just the man I’ve been waiting for.” Carly rose from her chair and
sauntered toward the good doctor.

“
I’m looking for Big Jim,” he said.

“
Sorry, but Big Jim has gone to his reward.”

Dr. Baxter removed his hat and pressed it to his heart. “I’m real sad to hear such news.”

“
I’m the owner of the Lonesome now.” Carly spoke with a measure of pride and protectiveness.

“
Is that a fact?” His curly eyebrows lifted.

She could see he was impressed.

“
Why don’t you come on over and take a load off?” She took him by the arm and led him to the table.

“
I’m here on business, ladies. Important business.” He sat and grabbed hold of the lapels on his coat. Carly knew full well the nature of his business.

“
Came all the way from Santa Fe. The good citizens begged me to stay but I told them I had obligations to my friends here in Tucson.”

Judith slapped her knee and guffawed like a man. “You don’t say?”

“
More like you were run out of town.”

Carly spun around. Jed stood in front of the doors, a scowl that could turn a sunny day black and forbidding. The doors still swung on their hinges behind him.

Jed was probably right about why the man left Santa Fe. Damn, Jed was always right.

“
Have you met the new sheriff, Dr. Baxter?” She spoke sweet as honey, trying to bring Jed’s temper down a peg.

“
No ma’am, I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure.” He bowed and remained rooted to the spot.

Jed didn’t come off as very hospitable—he just stared at the doctor, glaring, his jaw muscles clenched. Carly had to do something fast.

“
Where’s my manners? Alvin, bring Dr. Baxter a drink.” She turned to Jed. “I believe you had important work to do?”

Jed stood his ground. “You’re not welcome in Tucson, Baxter.”

“
He’s a guest of the Lonesome, Sheriff. I won’t have you mistreating him.”

Dr. Baxter lifted one corner of his mouth. His lopsided smile had no conviction. “Just passing through, Sheriff. As soon as I take care of my business with these ladies, I’ll be on my way.”

Carly couldn’t let him leave before she’d made a purchase. “Alvin, where’s that drink?”

Her barkeep scurried from around the end of the bar and placed a full glass in front of the new arrival. Dr. Baxter’s gaze kept darting from the door to Jed and back. Beads of sweat broke out on his upper lip.

Jed strode over to the bar, his spurs singing. He rested his boot on the rail.

She hated when he got all authoritative. If Dr. Baxter fled the premises, she’d never see him and his elixir again.

“
Don’t pay the sheriff any mind,” she told Dr. Baxter. She grabbed his shoulder and pushed him down in a chair.

The good doctor bounced his leg and left his whiskey untouched.

Carly sat down beside him and leaned closer. “He’s not used to our kind of entertainments.”

Dr. Baxter nodded but didn’t look persuaded. He didn’t stop fidgeting. The man was close to bolting, Carly realized. She must act fast.

Judith draped a fleshy arm about the doctor’s neck. The smell of patchouli wafted in strong currents from her body.

“
If we could have a word in private,” Carly said quietly. She intended to buy what the doctor was selling. The less Jed knew, the better off they’d all be. She couldn’t have him emptying out her elixir bottles again.

Jed stared at them like a jealous lover. It had been a revelation to her when she realized he didn’t want her taking care of her customers. Even more of a surprise that he’d made such a confession outright. She shot him a look filled with a promise for a good time. Later.

He downed a glass of whiskey in one gulp. He’d already had one too many and she worried what he might do.

“
Where’s your wagon?” Carly asked the sweating Dr. Baxter, keeping her voice low.

“
Around the corner,” he mumbled.

“
I’ll meet you there.”

Dr. Baxter stood and pulled down on his jacket. “If you ladies will excuse me.” He nodded at Jed. “Sheriff. Alvin.”

Carly watched the man scurry out of there.

“
Hope that’s the last we’ll see of him,” Jed said. He saluted her with his empty glass.

Carly huffed. “You weren’t very friendly.”

“
I don’t make friends with polecats.”

He wiped his mouth. His gaze breached her defenses as if he knew exactly what she was thinking. It sent her nerves into a tizzy. Without a further lecture on the evils of the elixir, he tipped his hat and ambled through the doors, in no particular hurry.

Judith crossed her arms. “Why did the sheriff go and spoil all our fun?”

“
Because that’s what he does.” Carly shook her head. She hadn’t exactly defended Jed but there was a small measure of pride in her for what he’d done.
He’d seen Dr. Baxter’s arrival and hadn’t hesitated to follow him into the saloon. He knew the man was bad news and didn’t want him around Carly or the other women.

“
Maybe he’ll pester somebody else for a change.” Judith wouldn’t stand down.

“
Find something to cover yourself,” she told Judith. “The doctor is waiting on us.”

Alvin took a shawl off a hook and tossed it to her. Judith tied the shawl around her shoulders. Peeking through the doors, they looked up and down the street for the sheriff but he was long gone.

“
What a prick,” Judith said under her breath. “I’d like to give him a piece of my mind.”

“
You’ll do no such thing,” Carly answered. “Won’t do the Lonesome any good to make an enemy of the sheriff.”

Judith frowned. “I suppose.”

“
Come on.” Carly pushed through the doors. They hurried down the boardwalk and turned the corner. Dr. Baxter’s wagon was there. His nag munched out of a feedbag and kept swishing his long tail.

Dr. Baxter poked his head out of the back of the wagon. “Got what you’re after right here.”

“
Sell me a case,” Carly said. “No telling when you’ll be back.”

He climbed out. “I’ll need cash. Silver dollars. Gold, if you have them.”

“
Suits me fine.” Carly lifted her skirt and removed her reticule from her garter. “You still charging a dollar a bottle?”

He rubbed his chin, as he watched her. “Price has gone up. I’ve had expenses.”

“
How much?”

“
Two dollars.”

Carly sucked in a lungful of air. “That’s twenty-four dollars.”

“
Yes ma’am, and I’m firm on the price.”

Twenty-four dollars was a small ransom and not the amount of money she cared to part with. However, she
had
to have that elixir. Carly peered behind her. Thankfully, Jed hadn’t sneaked up behind them. She counted out the silver and handed it over. Her reticule was sadly near empty.

Dr. Baxter squinted at the coins, rubbed each one of them between his thumb and finger and then smiled. “Thank you kindly.”

Carly was losing patience. She couldn’t wait for the first taste of the elixir. “I’ve paid my money. Where are my goods?”

He reached into the back of his wagon and brought out a crate of bottles. They clinked together when he set them on the ground.

“
Twelve bottles of the finest elixir this side of the Mississippi.”

“
Save your speech.” Carly had what she’d come for. “Judith, help me heft this crate. We’ll use the back door of the saloon.”

She leaned over to pick up the crate when she heard the spurs.

Judith dropped her end of the crate. Carly didn’t dare turn around.

“
Well hello, Sheriff.” Dr. Baxter looked ready to pee his pants. “Would you care to try some of my one-of-a-kind elixir?”

Jed growled low in his throat. Carly had heard that sound before. She shivered.

Dr. Baxter reached into the back of his wagon and brought out a bottle. “It’s on the house. Yes siree. It’ll cure all that ails you.”

Jed walked up to him and knocked it out of his hand. The bottle fell and broke into a hundred pieces, the precious elixir seeping into the dirt.

Carly sighed. The smell of that elixir satisfied her senses like a favorite blanket on a cold night. She sucked in a deep breath, ready to tell the sheriff to mind his own business. They weren’t breaking any laws.

Jed’s nostrils flared. “I told you to git.”

Dr. Baxter withdrew his hand and shoved it in the pocket of his fancy trousers. “I was on my way when these two ladies waylaid me. I won’t trouble you any further.”