The Heart of a Soiled Dove (14 page)

“One hundred ought to do it. I am planning to sweep it under the rug you know.”

“I ain’t got that kind of money.” Luke sounded as though his heart sank. “I’ll be back later with it. But you best not breathe a word of this to anyone. No one is to know she’s in there, you understand?”

“I assure you, I wouldn’t do that.”

Aurora found her voice but by then it was too late. As soon as she uttered the whispered sound of Luke’s name, he’d gone.

The rage in his voice would shake fear into the worst outlaw and Donovan knew it. And still he took no pity on Luke standing humbly before him, hat in hand. He was already displeased about his not showing up for work that morning – now the man had reached his last nerve. His insane request to bail Aurora out of jail of all things. What was Luke thinking?

“Donovan, do it for Roman.”

“Hang it all, Luke,” Donovan shouted. He did not appreciate being backed into a corner like this. But if he didn’t handle it, then Roman would be involved and would pay the blasted fine. Money he knew his brother did not have. “A hundred dollars! If I do this, I won’t let it slip through my fingers easily.”

“I wouldn’t expect that,” Luke said firmly. “I’m willing to have it taken from my wages.”

Donovan looked at him sharply. “Why would you invest so much in her?”

“I don’t expect you to understand that, Boss.”

Donovan didn’t expect the man’s face to redden as it did. The familiar knot of jealousy came to taunt him, but so did a clever idea. The horse beneath Donovan was getting restless. He held firm the reins and looked down upon Luke. “I want something other than your salary.”

“What do you want?”

“A piece of her land.”

“Aw, come on, you know she won’t go for that.”

“Take it or leave it.”

“I ain’t got a choice, now, do I?”

“Where do you think you’re going?” Donovan asked when Luke turned to go.

“To tell Sheriff Bradbury our deal. He knows you’re good for your word.”

“
You
get to work. I’ll deal with Corbin… and Aurora myself.”

Luke began to protest, but swiftly, Donovan shot him a warning. “Don’t push me.”

“Yes, Boss, I’m much obliged to you for helping.”

On the ride to town all Donovan could think about was how right he was in his initial assessment of Aurora Young. Her fine face and high ways could only bring trouble, and now she was in a heap of it. He approached the jail methodically. Ever since Roman started working for Aurora, he’d thought about buying her out, to give her land to Roman, but he knew she’d never have it. He smiled shrewdly. She’d now made a partial way for that to come to pass. Donovan breathed deep and pushed open the door.

Corbin jumped to his feet. Clearly he’d been expecting Luke, not Donovan. With all of his self-imposed-god-given authority, Corbin asked, “Did Luke tell you about the bail?”

Donovan scoured him with a look, refusing to hold back dislike. “Why do you think I’m here, you idiot? Let’s get on with it. I didn’t come here to shoot the breeze with the likes of you.”

“I’ll get her.”

Donovan nodded curtly. This was robbery, blackmail. But it was to his advantage in the end. He would deal with the sheriff’s shortcomings another time. Donovan turned towards the shuffling noise where Corbin had Aurora in his grasp. Good Lord, she was in a pitiful state. Drunken and lethargic. Donovan glared at Corbin. “
This
is how you found her?” Even he had a hard time believing this.

“Of course it is. How else would she get this way? She’s been in my cell half the day.”

Donovan’s only response was a raised eyebrow. He removed a leather bound wallet from inside his vest and threw some money on the desk. “Give her to me.”

The men were not gentle during Aurora being handed off. She lifted her head towards her new guardian and smiled sheepishly. “Dovonanan,” she purred.

Donovan cursed at her all the way to his horse. The door to the sheriff’s office shut tight and he glanced back to see Corbin move quickly out of sight.
Weasel
. Aurora moaned deeply, coming across as a pleasant sigh. Donovan hefted her onto his horse and pulled himself behind her. After gathering her horse by the reins to follow, he headed in the direction of her ranch. The fresh air seemed to appease her senses, and at one point she even snuggled herself solidly into his chest and arms. The whole of his internal self tensed when she whispered, “Donovan Ramsey… you’re the handsomest man I’ve ever laid eyes on.” After an airy kiss, she tucked her head under his chin and passed out cold. A sweet sigh escaped her every now and then. His chest, where her head cradled, ached with tension, leaving Donovan hard pressed to stay focused.

Carrie Anne kept Donovan’s company and fed him with coffee and thick ham slices sandwiched between fresh bread. When Aurora began to stir on the sofa in front of him, he dismissed his sister-in-law. It was Aurora’s fault he was in a mood, stirring his physical senses the way she did. His eyes were cold upon her so that his unbreakable stare was what she awoke to.

“Are you well?” he asked, far from sincere.

When she did not answer, Donovan stood and paced the width of the rug, his work-worn boots thudding against it. He rested his arm on a bookshelf and looked her way. “I bailed you out.”

Creases filled her forehead in consternation and dawning revelation hit. “I didn’t do anything to be bailed out for.”

“Is that so?”

“I tell you it is! That sheriff tossed me into jail for spite.”
He laughed at the nerve she had.

Her spine stiffened haughtily. “I don’t care what you think, Mr. Ramsey. I did nothing and certainly didn’t deserve to be drugged and thrown into jail.”

“Oh, you were drugged now, too?”

She sat up even taller. “I don’t expect you to believe me. But Corbin Bradbury did pour laudanum down my throat for what it’s worth.”

That had his attention and so she carried on. “He is trying to get me back for Josie.”

Tiredly he asked, “What about Josie?”

“She’s here… upstairs I presume.”

This would be a problem for Thatcher Poe, but nothing to do with the sheriff. Donovan resigned, for sheer curiosity. “Alright, why is she here?”

“She ran away from him after he nearly killed her with his whip.”

“How should that concern you?”

She looked at him like he was daft. “Doesn’t that inhumane treatment concern
anybody
? You, too, condone such behavior?”

“She chose to live there. Josie knew what she was getting into. It never occurred to her to leave before.”
Before you came and interfered with everyone’s lives
.

She approached him. He looked down at her bemused, while she stated, “Why don’t you just say it, Donovan? You’re no different than anyone else. Prostitutes are the lowliest of the low. You would forgive a murdering thief before someone like Josie.” She cradled herself in her arms. “She is a person and she deserves to live a life other than what she’s used to.”

He shifted, unhappy that she might be sealing in a point.

Her large eyes beseeched his. “Josie, and anyone else who wants to better themselves, will be welcome here. Is there no one else who will help them?”

Donovan had never before seen her so passionate. “From what you’ve just stated outright,” she continued, “there is no one else. It appears us women are to be in this fight alone.”

“Fight?”

“This new battle that the sheriff has called up. I will not allow that man to get away with treating me the way he has. And I certainly will not give up Josie, unless….”

“Unless it’s what she wants. Do you honestly think you can stand against the men in this territory? You are more stupid than I thought.”

“I just care is all.” Aurora stepped away from his disappointing self and looked out the window. He followed her gaze to see what she saw. Carrie Anne hunched over tending to the garden. He recalled her fate, before Aurora had gotten her hands on her.

“Look at her,” she said to him. “Someone has to make a stand for those who are forced into their positions, with no way out.”

He wanted to get fast out of her house. He did not take well to conviction. As Aurora’s features and physical body softened, a tiny seed of admiration was planted in him, but it would remain tamped down. He had one more question burning on his tongue. “Why should you care so much about Josie? She’s a whore.”

“Until you see her otherwise, Donovan, you will never understand.” She smiled at him, be it as weak as it was, and said, “I don’t expect someone powerful and just and unscathed like you to understand.” She turned away sadly and took herself up the stairs.

The conversation went far away from his intent. If he’d stayed much longer, he would have melted under her compassionate eyes. He would have succumbed to her spell and been like any other fool – like Roman, like Luke, who tossed all aside to be near her. It was a good thing she left him when she did, or else he’d be obligated to her sentiments. Donovan stepped onto the porch. Mosquitoes swarmed about the warm air and he swatted at them.

It wasn’t until Donovan rode home to the Double R that he realized he never told Aurora about his right to a piece of her property.

“I came as soon I could break free from the Double R,” Luke said as he paid Aurora a visit. “How have you been?”

She gathered coffee supplies and glanced over her shoulder. “I’ve been well.”

Aurora joined Luke at the table. “You are busy this time of year. I’m surprised Donovan could spare you.”

“We’re busting our backs for sure.” He looked hard at her. “I suppose you know from Roman that we are gonna join up our cattle for the drive this year?”

“Of course. Roman asked for my permission.” It was her ranch and property. Why did people think she didn’t know anything about her own business? Aurora was the financier and Roman the laborer. But his next inquiry surprised her nearly out of her chair.

“What piece of land did you end up handing over to Donovan?”

“Why would I do something that absurd?”

“The trade, Aurora. He didn’t mention it?”

She leaned forward as menacingly as her womanly frame could portray. “What are you talking about? I wouldn’t trade a piece of my land for anything.”

Luke got up and paced the kitchen, taking himself away from her glare. He hooked his thumbs through the belt at his narrow waist and looked like a nervous school boy in trouble. “It was me…. I asked him to bail you out of jail and he said he would for a piece of your land.”

“And you said
yes
?” Unbelievable! She almost laughed, then saw his regretful countenance.

“I’ll pay him back the money.”

“Blast it! I would have bailed you out myself if only I’d had enough.” His face reddened with what she assumed was shame. “I couldn’t just leave you there.”

She placed her hand on his arm, not to comfort him, but to get to the bottom of this. “I’m not giving up anything and I’ll tell him myself – leave you out of it.”

“I gave him my word, Aurora. It’s a done deal.”

“We’ll see about that. Excuse me.” She left him there and disappeared up the stairs. She soon returned donning a pair of riding gloves.

“Aurora, don’t do this.”

“I’m sure deep down Donovan is a reasonable man.”

She called out the door to Philippe with orders to ready her horse, then turned to Luke. “Are you coming with me?”

He shook his head no but answered dully, “Yes.”