Comanche Haven (The Loflin Legacy: Book 1) (30 page)

With a gurgled sound, Casey sputtered
but swallowed the tea. The pained look she shot Maggie spoke
volumes, but she didn’t utter another word.

“
Now, that’s better. You
know I won’t let up until this cup is drained, so make it easier on
the both of us and finish this off like a good girl.”

“
I don’t need any help…”
Casey muttered. “I got a room at the saloon. Get Seth in here to
carry me back. Then, all of you can get on with your
lives.”

Defiance, Celia mused. There were a
whole lot of pent up emotions in Casey. She doubted the girl even
realized how much. Shaking her head slightly, she had to smile at
the absurdity of Casey’s retort to her help. She was a saloon whore
taking shots at a half-breed. If the situation wasn’t of such a
serious nature, she’d find it darkly amusing.

***

“
Miss Celia, Ty!” Smitty
Jones greeted them warmly as she entered the store. “It’s good to
see you both again. I must say you look as pretty as a picture,
Miss Celia.” The squat little proprietor beamed for her. “I see you
brought your helper.”

Joseph’s warm, brown eyes traveled from
her to the proprietor and back again.

She had decided she liked Smitty and
Rose. They were good people.

“
Mr. Jones. It’s good to see
you too.” Turning to Ty, who shadowed her every move these days,
Celia nodded. “It’s okay. I’ll just be a minute. If you want, you
can wait for me over at the livery. There seems to be a crowd
gathering.” Indicating the board game that was drawing men to
gather in conversation and speculation a few yards away, she
grinned when she saw Ty’s eyes light with interest in the
opportunity. Nothing like the simple pleasures of youth, she mused.
“I’ll be just fine.”

Ty grinned and gave her a hesitant nod.
“Okay, I guess so. After all, what harm could there be in picking
up medicines in a mercantile?” He turned then and with a wink left
her to her shopping.

“
What can I help you with,
Miss Celia?”

“
Smitty, I need some ginger
root and swamp wart, if you have it.” She smiled warmly for the
squat man before glancing around the interior of the store while
Joseph focused on the candy jars. She counted two other customers,
one examined cloth in the ladies’ section and another wore a long,
dark trail duster. His clothing, covered liberally in dust and dirt
showed snags and rips, indicating he’d been in a saddle for quite a
while. Then his cavalry style hat was sweat stained and drooping.
The man stood in front of the tall cabinet that housed the gun
display. There was a twinge of unease as he turned to her, tipping
his hat briefly. Before she could reply, he turned back to
concentrate on the guns in the cabinet. She had the oddest feeling
she’d seen him before. Unable to see his face clearly though,
because of the ill-kept beard covering his features, she couldn’t
place him as someone she’d been introduced to recently.

“
What else can I do for you,
dear?” Smitty stepped to the counter holding a package wrapped in
brown paper.

Celia blinked as she turned to Smitty
and the package he held. A tingle went up her spine like a spider’s
legs traveling up her backbone. “Ah, yes, let’s see, I need three
yards of muslin and three yards of cotton. Do you have any
chamomile?”

“
Yes, ma’am, I do. Step this
way and Rose will get the cloth for you while I fetch the
chamomile.”

Celia glanced back over her shoulder as
she followed Smitty toward the material counter. The man had
disappeared. She released the breath she’d been holding. Foolish to
allow one man’s appearance to disturb her. After all, Ty was only a
few yards away, wasn’t he?

Rose took Smitty’s place behind the
counter.. “You look mighty pretty in your new dress, if I do say so
myself.” The woman smiled with good humor in her voice and a
knowing wink.

Celia couldn’t help but look down and
smooth the soft muslin. Her nerves forgotten, she smiled warmly for
her new friend. “Thank you, Rose. I’ll have to let my dressmaker
know you approved.”

With the statement, both women laughed
companionably. Celia found a real connection with the woman. She
was genuinely friendly and it soothed Celia’s guarded
nerves.

“
Here we go, Miss Celia,
chamomile.” Smitty’s double chins rolled with the nod of his head
as he beamed next to his wife.

“
Thank you, Mr. Jones.” She
glanced at Joseph who had saddled up beside her. “Joseph, would you
like something from the sweets jar?” The young Indian’s face held a
pallor she hadn’t noticed earlier that morning. “Are you feeling
all right, Joseph? You look pale.” The young boy pressed his body
close to her skirts. Usually, he was outgoing and not in the least
bit bashful. Perhaps he was tired. With all that had gone on the
night before it was no wonder the boy looked a little peaked. He’d
had an adventure so far. Still perplexed at his strange behavior,
Celia glanced about for a reason.

Rose came around the counter. “Is
everything all right, Celia? Maybe the boy needs to lie
down.”

“
That’s okay, Rose. Joseph’s
had a busy morning, haven’t you? None of us got much sleep last
night,” She said as she watched the young Indian sink further
behind her skirt.

That needling feeling of someone
watching surfaced again. Celia glanced toward the doorway expecting
to see Ty there.

“
Excuse me,
miss.”

Celia froze. A cool sensation fanned
her calm. Mentally tallying the bodies inside the store, she feared
the man in the filthy duster had found an interest in her after
all. Irritation mingled with the desire to be gone warred within.
It wasn’t uncommon for men to ogle her. She’d grown used to the
crude behavior over the years. This though was something more
sinister.

Smitty’s eyes mirrored her concern as
the man advanced toward her from the rear of the store.

“
Madam...” The owner of the
deep baritone voice sent a shiver up her spine. Dirt and sweat on
the clothes he’d probably worn several days gave off a stench,
which was ripe with and the smell of liquor. Turning slowly, she
looked into the face of the devil himself. She recognized Brannon
though he sported a faux beard and mustache. Who was he hiding
form? Unlike the night before, he stood under his own power to his
impressive six feet and several inches. Her vision blurred. The
sight of him brought back visions she only recalled after
nightmares of someone chasing her. Reaching for the counter to
steady herself, she met his eyes. No longer bloodshot and puffed
from liquor, they bore into her with an intensity she swore she
could physically feel. Her skin crawled as if his fingers actually
traveled over her intimately. Someone gasped. Celia stopped moving
backward only when Rose clamped her hands on her shoulders in
support.

“
Is this man bothering you,
Celia?” Rose asked loud enough for all to understand her
meaning.

As if returning from a trance, Celia
shook her head gently. “No.” Glancing down at Joseph, who clung to
her skirts for dear life, his eyes huge with fear, she tried to
smile. “No, Rose. It’s all right.” Turning her attention to
Brannon, she pretended ignorance. “I’m sorry, sir. Do I know
you?”

Now, with all his faculties, Brannon
bore the thinly veiled arrogance of a man who was used to getting
what he wanted no matter what the cost.

“
My apologies, Madam.” He
touched two fingers to the brim of his sweat marked cavalry hat.
The Rangers emblem emblazoned on the front showed the star of Texas
in the center of a dull silver circle with the words “Protect and
serve” engraved in the metal. Bowing slightly, he continued to move
closer before extending his other hand for her to place hers in the
palm. “My name is Brannon, Captain John Brannon of the Texas
Rangers.”

Did he really mean to kiss her fingers
like a dandy? Taking a another step back. Celia came close to
trampling Rose’s foot. Rose stood ramrod straight in defense behind
her. Clutching at the brown paper wrapping of her purchases with
one hand, Celia wrapped the other around Joseph in a maternal
move.

“
I didn’t mean to startle
you. I’d like a moment of your time…in private, if you don’t mind.
I have a matter of importance to speak with you about.” His
mustache twitched with the words as he cocked a brow toward the
front door. “Would you be so kind as to accompany me to the diner?
We can speak there.”

Whether out of fear or disgust, Celia
wrinkled one corner of her lips and drew further out of his reach.
Brannon dropped his hand along with the polite offer.

Joseph clutched her skirt and wedged
himself between the counter and her hip. The scrutiny Brannon gave
her at that point reflected the displeasure she saw in his stance.
She had embarrassed him in a public place. Undoubtedly, as a Texas
Ranger, he expected people to do his bidding without
hesitation.

Joseph tugged at her skirt. “Miss
Celia!”

“
I…please excuse me.” She
gave Brannon a tight smile. “What Joseph?” She turned, peering down
at him.

With Brannon’s attention now on Joseph,
the young Indian seemed to melt into her side. Joseph went
mute.

Looking back, Celia tried to make a
courteous excuse. “I’m terribly sorry. I have to get back to the
hotel. Joseph isn’t well and I must see to him. Pardon
me.”

The thinning of his lips said he didn’t
like the idea. “As you wish...” Before she could move past him
though, Brannon’s hand snaked out and gripped her upper arm hard
causing her to rise onto her toes. His dirty fingernails bit down
hard on her flesh. “I’ll call on you later.” With a slight bow,
Brannon released her and left.

Smitty hurried around the counter, his
brow beetled with concern. “Miss Celia, are you all
right?”

“
I’m fine, Mr. Jones. I
would appreciate it if you would wrap up that cloth and have it
delivered to me at the hotel, please.” Trying for calm, Celia gave
them both a weak smile.

“
Certainly.” Smith said
sympathy rimming his expression.

“
One more thing.” Celia made
sure her face remained composed. “Please don’t mention any of this
to Seth. Understand?” She glanced at both the proprietor and his
wife with a stubborn set to her jaw.

Rose stepped to her husband’s side.
“But Celia. That man…I don’t like the way he looked at you. His
intentions aren’t honorable. You’re living at Shooter Creek under
Seth’s protection. He should know.”

She shook her head. “He just wanted to
talk. I didn’t agree to speak with him, so the matter is settled.”
Clutching Joseph, she watched both Rose and Smitty nod. “Thank you
both.” She reached out and hugged Rose before giving Smitty a warm
smile. Urging Joseph forward, she exited the door and went in
search of Ty.

***

The banging that woke Charles Harrison
was insistent and loud. “All right, wait just a damn minute, will
ya?”

Seth reminded himself that without his
glasses, Charles was blind in the dark. He prayed the man lit a
lamp before trying to make it to the door of his office.

“
All right, all right, I’m
coming. Hold on, Christ almighty!” Taking a moment to adjust the
spectacles on his nose, Charles peered out of the curtain at the
window to Harrison and Harrison, Attorneys at Law. “What in the Sam
hill is going on?” Opening the door to his oldest friend, Charles
rubbed at his eyes. “Seth, what’s wrong? What are you doing here in
the middle of the night? What time is it? Are you
drunk?”

“
No, but I wish to hell I
was. I’ve got to talk to you. It’s important!” Without waiting for
an invitation, Seth barged past Charles and headed for the kitchen
where a candle burned on the modest kitchen table. “I’ve got
trouble and I think I’m going to need your legal help.”

“
What have you gone and
done?” Caution battled with curiosity in his question as he
followed his friend in.

It wasn’t like him at all to give in to
such deep seeded fear.. He even ran his hand through his hair as he
paced the wood floor.

“
Have you killed somebody?”
Charles’ eyebrows shot up at the prospect. “I can help you bury the
body if you can wait until the sun comes up. It would be a lot
easier.”

Seth looked up distractedly. “What? Are
you serious? Hell, no, I haven’t killed anybody.” With the
curse-filled retort for which he wouldn’t apologize, Seth returned
to pacing.

Charles just shook his head and
grinned. Waving a hand in the air, he asked, “Want some
coffee?”

“
Would you stop fooling
around and listen?”

“
All right, all right, old
man. Muttering to himself, he pointed at a chair and went to get
his coffee pot. Christ, a man couldn
’
t even make a joke! With the water
in the pot and the pot on the stove, he turned to Seth in all
seriousness. “Calm down and start from the beginning.”

So, while Charles Harrison,
attorney-at-law and longtime best friend of Seth’s, started a fire
in the cast iron cook stove, Seth did his best to explain the
dilemma.

“
All right, let me see if I
understand. Sheriff Cole told you that the Texas Rangers are
looking for your young Comanche woman.” Charles flicked a glance at
Seth. “Brannon wants to use her to help him locate the renegade,
Red Bear.”