Dorothy Garlock (41 page)

“I'm going to miss her. She was the best friend I ever had.”

“Friends are treasures, sweet girl. A man is lucky if he has five good friends during his lifetime.”

“I had only one and she's …gone.”

“You've got me, Rosebud.”

“You've been a big help, Randolph. I've come to depend on you. But you just want to get me in bed.” She lifted her head to look at him.

“I'll not deny that. But you're a sweet little cuss, too. Go to sleep.” He pressed her head to his shoulder. “You'll be worn out tomorrow; and, if I know you, you'll be right in the thick of things.”

They were quiet. The only sound in the room was the ticking of the clock and occasionally low voices coming from the kitchen across the hall.

Blue was content just to hold the small woman, and being close to him helped Radna hold her grief at bay. He put his lips against her forehead, then whispered, “The wind has come up. We may be in for a storm.”

Radna didn't reply. She had fallen asleep.

“Go lie down on Thad's cot, Sis, and get some rest.”

“I don't want to leave you here alone.” Jill's eyes were swollen and red-rimmed from crying.

“I'll wander in and talk to Elmer. First I want to take a look outside. The wind came up pretty fast and I've been seeing flashes of lightning. Oklahoma storms can roll in like a stampede of buffalo.”

“Don't stay out long. Lloyd might come down.”

“Jelly is keeping an eye on him. His room is across the hall.” Joe grinned. “Before he went up, he asked Mrs. Cole for a half dozen tin cups. He said he'd line them up in front of Lloyd's door. If he came out, he was sure to kick one. Jelly is a light sleeper.”

“Thad was asleep the last time I looked in on him. The medicine the doctor gave him knocked him out.”

“Go on. Rest for a while. I'll wake you in the morning.”

Jill tiptoed into the darkened room. A strong wind was coming in through the south window. She went to fold up the curtain and tuck it into the curtain rod.

“Honey? ”It was Thad's voice.

“Did I wake you? ”

“I've been awake for a while.”

“Can I get you something? Water? ”

“No. Come here.”

“Aunt Justine is …gone, ”Jill blurted.

“Ah …law — ”Thad raised himself up and sat on the side of the bed, bringing the sheet across his lap.

“You shouldn't…get up! ”Jill hurried to him and knelt down on the floor between his knees.

“It's all right. I sit up every now and then when I can't lie on my belly any longer.” His hands stroked her hair and brought her face up for his kiss, then pressed her head to his chest. “I'm sorry about Aunt Justine. I should have been with you.”

“Radna and Blue are sitting with her. The undertaker will be here in the morning. Thank goodness she didn't have to see Lloyd again.” Jill lifted her head and clasped his hands. “Thad — you won't believe this. Lloyd is her son. She told us, Joe and me, tonight. Radna has known all the while.”

“Lordee, honey, ”he exclaimed. “That's hard to believe. Does Lloyd know that he's Justine's son? ”

“Oh, yes. He blames her for that mark on his face. Radna said she went to work in a big house for a judge. He …used her. When Lloyd was born with the birthmark, the judge threw her out. Aunt Justine met Ralph Byers and they came here.”

Jill went on to tell him about hitting Lloyd with the mop handle and about his bringing the sheriff to the hotel demanding to see his mother.

“Joe and Mr. Bryce are keeping an eye on him.” She turned her face, trailed kisses along his collarbone and felt the tremors pass through him. “It's all over, Thad. I can go home soon.”

“We
can go home. You're not going without me.”

“Are you sure? ”

“I was never so sure of anything.” He held her tightly to his naked chest. “Take off your shoes and lie down with me for a little while, ”he whispered to the top of her head.

“We … shouldn't — ”

“You're tired. Let me hold you.” He moved over into the middle of the bed and lay on his side. The sheet covered him from his waist to his middle thighs. The rest of him was exposed to her shy gaze.

Jill slipped off her shoes and eased down on the bed with her back to him. Thad looped an arm over her, his fingers spread over her rib cage.

“Closer, ”he whispered. “Closer.”

She moved until her back was snug against his chest, cradled in the bend made by his thighs pressed to the backs of hers. She drew in a deep, long breath before she could utter a word.

“Joe …might come in.”

“We're doing nothing wrong, sweetheart. You're tired and I'm holding you.” His cheek rested against her hair, his breath warm on her ear, when he whispered, “Don't you like it here with me? ”

“You know I do.”

His hand moved from her rib cage down to slide over her belly, then up to slip beneath and around her breast. She grabbed his wrist to pull his hand away.

“Let me touch you here.” His fingers tightened. “I know it's all I can have … for now.”

“You were hateful when you did it before.”

“I'm sorry, sweetheart. I was so damn frustrated. I was trying to prove that our kisses that night meant something to you, too. This hard, sweet little knot pops right out when I touch you.” His fingertips flicked lightly back and forth over her nipple.

“I'm not… I don't…”It was hard to carry on a conversation when his fingers were causing her heart to jump out of time, her breasts to ache and her womb to throb.

“Oh, Lord. I know that, and thank God for it, ”he said in a husky whisper, his lips nuzzling the soft spot beneath her ear. “Does it feel good? ”

“Yes.” The word came out on a breath. She was also conscious that her bottom was pressed snugly against his sex. It was rock-hard with desire.

“I can't do anything about it, ”he whispered urgently, knowing that she had to be aware of his arousal. “I can't help wanting you. But I can wait. When you're Jill Taylor, I'll love you all night, every night, and we won't have this ”— his fingers plucked at her dress — “between us. Don't be afraid of it, honey. I'll never, never, hurt you. You're too precious to me.”

“I'm not afraid. I love you.”

Her soft words fired him with a new tenderness. He leaned over her, lowering his mouth to hers for a long, sweet caress.

“I love you, too, sweetheart.” He lay back down. His hand slipped around her breast again, his thumb sliding back and forth across her nipple. “Go to sleep. You'll have a busy day tomorrow.”

“I can't…with you doing that.”

“Sweetheart.” He turned his face into her hair and laughed happily. “I love doing it, but I'll stop so you can go to sleep.”

Jill's heart was beating so hard and so fast, she was sure she'd never sleep. She felt guilty for being so gloriously, foolishly happy when her dear aunt lay dead in the next room.

Thad lay awake long after Jill's regular breathing told him that she was sleeping soundly. He wasn't sure how long he would have to wait after her aunt's funeral to marry her. He wanted to do it before they left Rainwater so he could take her home as his bride.

The wind became stronger as the prairie storm rolled in. Lightning flashed, followed by the crack of thunder. Rain came down suddenly. Not wanting to leave the girl in his arms, but knowing that the rain was coming in the window, Thad had pulled himself up to get out of bed and close it when the door opened. Joe came in. He went to the window and lowered it partway before he came to stand beside the bed.

“I don't have a shotgun, but I'll borrow one from Jelly. Looks like I'm goin 'to be needin 'it.”

“Go away.”

Joe stood a minute waiting for Thad to say something more, and when he didn't, Joe left the room, closing the door behind him.

Thad lay back down, snuggled close to the warm girl in his bed, cupped her soft breast in his hand and closed his eyes. Despite the painful burns on his back, he drifted off to sleep with a pleased smile on his face.

Chapter 29

M
ORNING FOUND THE STREETS OF RAINWATER
littered with tree limbs, shingles from the roofs of houses and business buildings, and puddles of water. Anything that wasn't tied down had been blown or battered by the vicious storm that had raced through town during the early morning hours. A few small trees had been uprooted and some signs had been ripped from buildings.

“Mistah Hunter, dat ole lean-to by de carriage house was blowed down by de wind.”

“Any other damage? ”Hunter was at the kitchen table eating his breakfast when Casper came in with the news.

“Jist tree limbs and dat board fence out back. Hit was goin 'ta go down anyhow.”

“Don't try to do the cleanup by yourself, Casper. Get the man who cleans out the septic tank to help you. He has a truck and can haul it away.”

“I do dat. We needs to use some of dem boards fo 'kindlin'.”

“Save some big stuff fo 'my cookstove, ”Dinah instructed.

“Yo knows dat I will.” Casper cast an impatient glance at his wife and headed for the door.

“Will ya be here for noonin'? ”Dinah asked.

“I don't think so. I'm going out to the well this morning. On second thought, I probably won't be, so don't plan on it.”

“Den I think I scrub dis floor. It be dry 'fore yo 'nd Casper come trackin 'in on it.”

Hunter left the house as soon as he finished his breakfast. He was eager to see Laura but was relieved that she wasn't at the house when he stopped there. He fed her chickens and filled their water trough. His next stop was at the sheriff's office.

Sheriff Page was talking to Jelly Bryce.

“Because Mrs. Byers was his mother, he says he has a claim to the hotel. He'll have to work it out with Bernie Shepard, Mrs. Byers's attorney. Thank God I don't have to deal with that.” He looked up when Hunter pushed open the door.

“Morning, ”Hunter said as soon as he entered the office.

The sheriff grunted a reply.

“Morning.” Jelly grinned. “The sheriff's not in the best of moods this morning.”

“Then I'm afraid I'm going to add to his distress. What are you going to do about Lloyd Madison's attack on Laura Hopper and her little girl? ”

“So it's an attack now? Pretty soon it'll be kidnapping or rape.”

“This is serious, ”Hunter snapped. “I don't appreciate your making light of it.”

“Hellfire, Westfall. What do you want me to do? ”

“Arrest him! ”

“I've not a shred of evidence that he intended to harm them.” Sheriff Page didn't mention that Lloyd had pointed this out to him. “He's the one with the injury, if you can call it that. He's got a knot on one side of his head and his ear is cut on the other side. He's thinking of filing charges against Jill Jones for assault.”

“So you're not going to do anything? ”

“Folks would be up in arms if I arrested him on the say-so of a couple of hysterical women. Like it or not, he's some kind of hero to some of the folks in this town.” The sheriff sank down heavily in his chair. “I've told him to stay away from Laura Hopper and Jill Jones.”

“And if he doesn't? ”

“I'll handle it when the time comes.”

“You've put your cards on the table, Sheriff, so I'll put down mine. If Lloyd Madison as much as touches Laura Hopper or her little girl, I will kill him just as I would a coiled rattler.”

“If you do that, Westfall, it'll be murder and I'll be after you.”

“I'm aware of that, but it doesn't change a thing. You've not had much luck catching the one who murdered Carsie.”

Hunter strode out the door, anger making him forget his sore hip and leg. He drove to the hotel and parked his car on the side street. Laura and Mary Pat were coming out the back door. Mary Pat saw him and tried to break away from her mother.

Hunter hurried to the edge of the porch and scooped the child up in his arms. His shining eyes met Laura's before he nuzzled his face in the baby's neck and set her to giggling. Mary Pat prowled his pockets, found the candy stick and hit him on the nose with it. Hunter laughed, made a blowing sound against her neck and set her on her feet.

“I stopped at the house and fed your chickens.”

“Thank you.”

“Are you staying here today? ”

“I'm helping in the kitchen. The undertaker came at daylight, and the word is out about Mrs. Byers. Folks are bringing food.”

“I'm glad you'll be here. I'm going out to the well, but I'll come back here around sundown. If you want to go home for a while, I can take you.”

“Mr. Blue offered.”

“I wish you'd consider staying at my house with Dinah.”

“No. I can't do that.” She shook her head.

“All right. 'Bye, honey. Be careful.”

“You, too.”

Hunter drove away with a worried frown on his face. He didn't want to leave her. In just a few short weeks, his priorities had changed so drastically that he resented the time he had to spend looking out for his business interests.

He disliked having to depend on Bluefeather and Joe Jones to protect her when he was the one responsible for her and the baby being in danger in the first place. The time had come to call in favors from high places. He had never expected to do that for personal reasons, but he had to do something about Lloyd Madison.

During the morning, an almost steady stream of Justine's friends came to the hotel to pay their respects; some left food or bouquets of garden flowers. Jill and Joe accepted the condolences. Radna stayed in the background, choosing to relieve Mrs. Cole of the cleaning chores so that she could accept the gifts of food that were piling up on the kitchen table.

After the burns on his back were dressed, Thad insisted on moving around with a loose shirt hanging from his shoulders. Shortly before noon, Rose Evans came to the kitchen to tell Thad that he had visitors. Puzzled as to who they might be, he followed her back to the lobby.

A woman and a small boy stood just inside the door. As he approached, the woman burst into tears. The boy, looking as uncomfortable as Thad felt, looked first at his mother, then held his hand out to Thad.

“Thank you, ”he murmured.

“You're welcome, ”Thad replied, taking the small hand in his.

“Are ya hurt bad? ”