Tempting Prudence: The Bride Train (14 page)

Poor Pru. Her complexion had gone pasty except for two bright spots beneath her cheekbones. She hugged the shawl as if it could somehow shield her. Those men would get the truth out of her, if they hadn’t already. Things were about to go from bad to worse.

Arch pushed past strangers and strode over. She wanted to escape, so he’d see to it that she got away.

Pru’s eyes widened. “What are you doing?” she asked breathlessly.

She might as well have said she expected him to run. Her low opinion of his integrity withered the remains of his pride. What else would she think, considering how he’d acted thus far? Despite her lack of faith, he’d brazen it out and do his level best to protect her.

“Here’s your ticket, Miss Walker.”

The railroad agent regarded him with narrowed eyes. Lieutenant Goldman’s frown didn’t bode well either.

Arch took Pru’s hand and stuffed the ticket into it, closing her fingers over it. “The train leaves in two hours. If you’d like, I’ll take you back to the hotel to fetch your bags.”

The lieutenant blocked his way with a set expression that said it would be unwise to try to push him aside. “A moment, Childers. We’d like a word with you.”

Whatever had ahold of Pru’s tongue let go. “Lieutenant Goldman, I told you I’m leaving town. There’s no need to bother Mr. Childers. He was getting me a train ticket.”

The ache in Arch’s chest eased somewhat. She hadn’t betrayed him. Maybe she thought it best for her sake to keep quiet. He appreciated her defense, regardless.

“That’s right. She’s leaving.” He let the lieutenant draw his own conclusions because it didn’t matter what they were. Once Pru left, the scuttlebutt would die down. Some would wonder why she left, and her friends would miss her. They wouldn’t miss her half as much as he would.

The railroad agent glared like he wanted to wrap his fingers around Arch’s neck, but it was Prudence he addressed in a tight voice. “Miss Walker, we’ve been searching for you over the past two weeks. We demand some answers.”

Curious onlookers had started to gather. The lieutenant glanced around, finally noticing they were attracting a crowd. He gestured to the building behind them. “Let’s step into Mr. Hardt’s office. We’ll have more privacy.”

Pru jerked her chin up and straightened her spine. “I have nothing more to say.”

A smile tugged at Arch’s lips. This was the Pru he knew, full of spunk and not about to take any guff. His heart filled to the brim with equal parts pride and longing. He wished more than anything that he could be worthy of this brave, beautiful woman. But it was too late to change now, and it was pointless to hope for something that could never be.

The lieutenant eyed Arch with suspicion. “Has this man threatened you?”

“No, of course not,” Pru scoffed. “What makes you think that?”

Hardt crossed his arms over his chest. Something about the smug way the railroad agent looked at him set Arch’s nerves on edge.

“His brothers are locked up,” the lieutenant answered. “They were bragging to some men in the saloon about stealing brides. When we questioned them, they refused to talk. We need for you to tell us what happened.”

Arch kept his expression neutral, holding his surprise inside. So that’s what had happened to his stupid brothers. Why hadn’t they kept their mouths shut? There would be no talking his way out of this.

Pru’s face drained of color. Instinctively, he reached out to steady her. With a gasp, she shrank away like his touch burned her. If she’d slapped him, it couldn’t have hurt worse.

Hardt’s gaze moved between them, speculative. He’d soon be making assumptions, most of which would be wrong. “Miss Walker, we can delay your departure…until you decide you’re ready to talk to us.”

These men were treating her like a criminal. Arch curled his hands into fists, prepared to fight for her honor. “You can’t hold Miss Walker against her will.”

At Pru’s gasp, he realized how stupid the reproach sounded coming out of his mouth. He was to blame for her misery. He could think of only one way to make amends.

The lieutenant started to move. Whether he intended to separate them or to take Pru into custody, Arch wouldn’t allow it. He pulled Pru behind him, shielding her with his body.

“Here’s the truth. My idiot brothers abducted her and brought her to me to be my bride. I kept her with me and tried to talk her into marrying me, but she wouldn’t have it, so I brought her back. Now you know where she’s been. You don’t have to question her or embarrass her any more. It’s me you want. Let her go.”

Chapter 8

Prudence watched in shock as the lieutenant led Arch away. Foolish man. He’d lost his mind. She would’ve kept silent. They couldn’t
make
her talk. He should’ve done the smart thing and slip away while he had the chance, rather than stay and get caught.

The crowd surrounding them moved down the street, following the officer and his prisoner. All males, jostling and snarling, like a pack of dogs. Growing bolder, they began to shout.

“Steal our women, will you? You dirty, thievin’ bootlegger…”

“He ravished her! I heard him say so!”

“String ’em up! Them Childers are no good!”

A clod of dirt exploded on the back of Arch’s coat.

Horrified, Prudence shouted, “Stop!”

Before she could take a step, the railroad agent restrained her. “Don’t even think about getting in the middle of that crowd. You’ll cause more problems. The soldiers will take care of it.”

Seemingly out of nowhere, blue coats appeared, the soldiers formed a box around Arch and the lieutenant. Curses heated the air and more dirt clods flew.

Prudence cupped her hand over her mouth to stifle a sob. If the situation turned violent, would the soldiers protect Arch? He hadn’t hesitated to protect her. He’d come straight over and had remained by her side, even when it became obvious the lieutenant had set a trap for him. He hadn’t even attempted to make excuses. He had sacrificed himself, so she could get away.

Regret didn’t begin to describe the emotions welling in her chest. Why hadn’t she gotten out of his wagon at the hotel, told him to leave town and not return until she’d gone? She shouldn’t have let him accompany her to the station and take the risk.

“Miss Walker?” The railroad agent’s concerned frown swam into view. “May I give you a ride to the Lagonda House? The other women would like to see you. They’ve been worried.”

Mr. Hardt’s voice sounded odd, almost gentle. Compassion wasn’t a trait she associated with him. He put his hand to her elbow.

Prudence shook off the unwanted touch. “Why, now, do you think you have to be nice?”

“If I seemed harsh earlier, I beg your pardon.”

“
Seemed
harsh?” She was incredulous. “You
threatened
me. You say you’re concerned with seeing the women in your charge happily wed, but all you’ve done is push us around and bully us. You, Mr. Hardt, are the
harshest
man I’ve ever met.”

The railroad agent weathered the gale with a stoic expression. “Your well-being is my utmost concern, Miss Walker. Pardon me if it appeared otherwise. You’ll be free to leave town, if that’s what you want, after you talk to Lieutenant Goldman and provide a sworn statement.

She couldn’t swear on a Bible and tell a lie, but couldn’t betray Arch, either. “I’m not going anywhere until Arch is freed.”

“Don’t feel too sorry for those men, Miss Walker. What they did was wrong.”

What Arch’s brothers did was outright criminal. Arch’s decisions were misguided. She hadn’t suffered during the time she spent with him. For the first time in her life, she’d known desire and true happiness. “Arch protected me.”

A raised eyebrow communicated the railroad agent’s doubt. “He admitted to holding you against your will. Are you saying he lied?”

“No, but—”

“Then he should be jailed along with his brothers.”

“Arch treated me kindly.”

“Holding you captive isn’t kind.”

The truth was more nuanced, although the difference between being captive and captivated would be lost on a hardnosed man like Mr. Hardt.

“He returned me unhurt, so there’s no harm done.”

“We can’t have other men thinking they can steal a woman and hold her hostage if they take a mind to. Releasing the Childers will send the wrong message.”

Prudence released a frustrated sigh. “
Blessed are the merciful
. You should consider the beatitude, sir. One day you might need someone to be merciful to you.”

“Pru!” The shout came from across of the street.

A petite woman with blond ringlets lifted a frothy yellow skirt and ran toward Prudence, dodging a horse whose rider didn’t stop fast enough to suit her.

“Charm!” Prudence rushed into the street to embrace her friend. Charm returned the hug. On her face, joyful surprise mingled with profound relief.

“Thank God, you’re all right. What happened? Where have you been?”

Prudence raised her voice to be heard over creaking wheels. “I’m fine, I’ve been—”

“Get outta the street!”

At the shout, she grabbed Charm and pulled her out of harm’s way. A wagon careened past, barely missing them. Another driver coming from the opposite direction cursed and turned his mule team, sending two mounted soldiers onto the sidewalk to avoid a collision.

Prudence linked arms with her friend and ran to the opposite sidewalk, not stopping until they reached the dry goods store. There, they paused, breathing heavily.

Mr. Hardt remained on the other side of the street, watching. The railroad agent could prevent her from leaving town if she refused to make a statement. However, she feared anything she could say might be misconstrued and make matters worse. She didn’t know how to help Arch, but her clever friend might.

She leaned down and spoke low, so as not to be overheard by passersby who had nothing better to do than eavesdrop. “Is there somewhere we can go to talk? Somewhere private?”

“The opera house,” Charm suggested. “No one’s there now but Patrick.”

Before Charm had married the owner, the opera house had been a saloon. Prudence wasn’t certain about the difference. The establishment served liquor. Had she been with anyone else, she would’ve suggested another location. But this was Charm, and she wouldn’t offend her friend by refusing. Besides, she couldn’t ruin her reputation any more than it was already ruined.

They entered through a set of carved doors painted red, a new feature. Prudence had been inside the saloon once, shortly after Charm had married Mr. O’Shea, and then because there was no other way to make amends after a terrible misunderstanding.

The place didn’t look much different. The ornate bar remained, as did shelves lined with colorful bottles filled with whiskey and other noxious spirits. The air smelled of fermented beverages and cigar smoke, the battered tables were now covered with linen tablecloths and fresh sawdust covered the plank floor around spittoons.

Loud pounding came from behind the stage. Mr. O’Shea appeared around a painted canvas he’d nailed to a large frame. The scene showed a castle and courtyard.

“We’re putting on a production of
Romeo and Juliet
.” Charm explained. She blew her husband a kiss and put her arm around Prudence’s waist. “Look who’s returned to us, Patrick.”

Mr. O’Shea lowered the hammer to his side and took a limping step in their direction. Grievous war injuries didn’t seem to slow him down and hadn’t stopped him from pursuing the vivacious actress, or from going after her when she’d been coerced to leave town with her crooked manager.

“Miss Walker, good to see you looking well,” he said in his Irish brogue.

“Thank you, Mr. O’Shea.” Prudence breathed deeply to relieve the ache in her chest. Arch hadn’t tried to hold on, he’d made a way for her to leave. One could argue he didn’t want her as desperately as Mr. O’Shea had wanted Charm. On the other hand, if he didn’t care about her, he wouldn’t have given up his freedom to secure hers.

“We’ll be upstairs.” Charm caught hold of Prudence’s hand and pulled her to an open doorway that led to the back room, which was filled with stage props, boxes and more bottles on shelves.

Prudence followed her friend up a flight of stairs, curious in spite of her apprehension. They entered a room that appeared to be the couple’s parlor.

Charm shut the door and whirled around. “Now we can speak freely. May I offer you tea?”

Tea sounded nice, but Prudence didn’t know how long she had before the lieutenant came looking for her. “Thank you. I don’t have time. I need your assistance.”

“Have a seat and tell me where you’ve been.” Charm gestured to a sofa. “I’ll do anything in my power to help you.”

Prudence alighted on the edge of the sofa. She ran her hand over the worn upholstery and looked at the dated, mismatched furnishings. Royal compared to those that filled the cabin where she’d spent the last two weeks. But furniture didn’t make a place warm and inviting. She felt more at home in Arch’s simple dwelling than anywhere, even her parent’s spacious farmhouse.

Charm had to scoot to the end of the cushioned chair to keep from being swallowed. Her toes barely touched the floor. She looked childlike. However, presuming her to be youthfully naïve would be a mistake. Arch looked fearsome, yet he had a tender heart. He could be uncouth and outrageous, but today he’d behaved heroically.