Читать книгу Jade - Ruth Langan, Ruth Ryan Langan - Страница 10

The cold, hard lump of fear settled in Jade’s throat, threatening to choke her. Recalling Rufus’s tales of horror, she urged her team into a run. The pretty, gilded carriage raced across the dusty ground, jolting over ruts and rocks until, at times, it seemed airborne.

Even when she heard the sound of gunfire she refused to halt. Instead, she shouted to her horses, urging them even faster.

A quick glance over her shoulder showed the horsemen gaining. One rider, on a lathered mount, pulled ahead until he was even with her rig.

“Stop or you’re dead!” he shouted, leveling his pistol at her.

When he saw that she had no intention of obeying, he whipped his dust-covered mount until it reached her team. Leaning far over in the saddle, he caught the lead horse’s bridle and held on until the team came to a shuddering halt.

Horsemen surrounded her carriage, their guns drawn.

“Now, woman, step down,” one of them called.

“Let’s see what we worked so hard to catch,” shouted another.

The men laughed until a glance at their leader made the laughter die on their lips.

He remained astride his mount. Instead of a gun he now held a whip in his hand. A bandanna covered the lower part of his face. Only his eyes were visible beneath the wide-brimmed hat. There was a simmering blood lust in those dark, feral eyes. Jade was reminded of a wolf about to devour helpless prey.

“Step down from that rig.” His voice, rough and commanding, added to his aura of danger.

Fear had Jade’s heart hammering, but she gave no outward sign. Instead, clutching her shawl firmly around her shoulders, she stepped from the carriage and faced her attackers.

“If it’s money you want—”

“Oh, we’ll help ourselves to your money. And…other things, as well.” At the leader’s suggestive words, his men began to laugh.

“Take off the shawl. I’d like to see what I’m getting.” He began to uncoil his whip.

Jade stood her ground, clutching her shawl even more tightly about her.

“I guess I’ll just have to teach you a lesson, woman. When I give an order, I expect it to be followed without delay.” The whip snaked out, and in one quick, practiced movement snagged her shawl, tearing it from her.

His eyes narrowed when he saw what she’d been hiding beneath it. The jeweled handle of a small, deadly dagger glinted in her hand.

“You think you can use that knife against all these guns?” he sneered.

“Would you care to test my skill?” Fear clogged her throat, making her voice husky. But she had no intention of giving in to the terror that threatened. “Before your bullets can stop me, my blade will find your heart.”

At her words he sat up straighter in the saddle, regarding her in silence. “I guess I’ll just have to call your bluff.”

He lifted his arm to crack his whip. At the same moment Jade tossed her knife. Reflexively he twisted in the saddle. Instead of finding his heart, the blade bit deeply into his shoulder.

“Why, you little…” He let out a snarl of rage as he pried the knife free and tossed it aside. Then he gripped his flesh to stem the flow of blood.

Before his men could react, a series of gunshots rang out, sending them diving for cover. Another round of gunshots sent the dirt spraying directly beneath the feet of their leader’s horse.

“It must be a posse, Ned,” someone shouted. “Run.”

The leader gave one last glance at Jade, then wheeled his mount and beat a hasty retreat. With shouts and curses, the rest of his men followed, leaving Jade standing alone.

She turned in the direction of the gunshots, but could see nothing but a thick stand of trees. She waited, lifting a hand to shield the sun from her eyes, but no horsemen appeared.

“They’ve gone!” she shouted. “You drove them away!”

Her words were met with silence.

Puzzled, she bent and retrieved her knife from the dirt. It was still stained with the blood of her attacker. Clutching it in her hand, she strode toward the trees, calling, “You can come out now. We’re alone.”

The grove of trees was empty. There was no one there.

She turned to look in all directions, but could see no one.

She knelt and studied the dirt. It bore the unmistakable sign of a single set of hoofprints.

Could it be that there had been only one man? If so, he had been wise to keep his identity hidden from those gunmen. For they would surely have stood up to his gunfire and exacted revenge for his interference.

But why hadn’t he remained to reveal himself to her? She had a right to know who had saved her life. She wanted to thank him. And somehow reward him for his kindness.

After carefully studying the surrounding area, she returned to her carriage and took up the reins. As the horses set off at a brisk pace, reaction to what had almost happened began to set in. Despite the warmth of the sunlight, she couldn’t stop shivering. Her body was racked with tremors. She had no doubt that, without the appearance of her unknown savior, her fate would have been the same as that of the other victims of this vicious gang.

But who had saved her? And why had he chosen to keep his identity secret?

“A mystery man. How romantic,” Pearl said when Jade told her sisters what had happened.

Her husband, Cal, foreman of the Jewel ranch, tightened his grasp on his bride’s shoulder when he heard the news, and drew their adopted sons, Daniel and Gilbert, closer. It was one more thing to be concerned about. One more reason for the wranglers to keep a close eye on the women and children. “We’ll need to report this to the marshal.”

Jade nodded. “If it weren’t for my…mysterious rescuer, there would be something far worse to report.”

“Mystery man. Hah.” Diamond, ever the cynic, touched a hand to the gun at her hip. Her cowhide vest couldn’t hide the slight swelling of her middle, the only indication that she was expecting a baby. “What you need is a pair of six-shooters.” She glanced lovingly at her husband, Adam, who returned her smile with a wink. “Then you won’t need a man to save your hide. You can do it yourself.”

“I have my knife,” Jade said softly. “And I used it against their leader. But even a pair of pistols would not have been enough against those men. Without that mysterious gunman, I would never have survived.”

“I wonder who it was,” Diamond mused. “Most of the wranglers around here work for us, or for one of the other ranchers in the area.”

“Perhaps a passing cowboy,” Pearl suggested.

“But why wouldn’t he reveal himself to me?” Jade demanded.

“Could be a man on the run,” Adam said, recalling his own scrape with the law, when he’d been wrongly accused of murder.

Cal nodded. “A man outside the law wouldn’t want anyone to know he was in these parts.”

“You are all wrong. I know who it was, chérie,” Ruby said to Jade.

Everyone turned to the young woman, whose lips were curved into a knowing smile.

“It was your guardian angel.”

“What nonsense,” Diamond snapped.

“Nonsense! You do not believe in spirits?” Ruby’s eyes flashed. “In the bayou we know these spirits intimately.”

“Well, here in Texas—” Diamond began, but a question from Pearl silenced her.

“Didn’t you say you saw hoofprints?” Pearl asked gently.

Jade nodded.

Pearl turned to Ruby, determined that common sense would prevail. “I don’t think guardian angels ride horses.”

“What do you know?” The fiery beauty gave her sisters a haughty look. “Jade said the grove of trees was empty. Those prints could have been made hours earlier. You will need more than that to convince me that it was not a guardian angel that saved Jade.”

As Jade made her way to her room, she mulled over all that she had seen and heard. She was more confused than ever. Whether it was a spirit, a guardian angel or a flesh-and-blood man, she owed her life to this invisible protector.

Wade Weston yawned and stretched before tossing aside his bedroll and getting to his feet. He had decided against returning to his regular room at Millie Potter’s boardinghouse last night. Sometimes he needed to be alone. To get away from the fancy black suit and the starched white shirt and the polite words expected of a man of the cloth.

It wasn’t that he didn’t like people. Most of the time he enjoyed their company. Decent folks like Millie Potter and her three sweet daughters, April, May and June. And honest folks like Rufus Durfee and his fine, strapping boys, Damon and Amos. And lonely old folks like Yancy Winslow.

But there were times when he just wasn’t fit company. When the black moods came over him, blotting out all the good, the fine, the decent things of this world. Then he had to pull away, draw into himself and keep his own counsel.

He tossed another log on the smoldering embers of the fire before placing a blackened pot on the coals. Soon the air was redolent with the deep, rich fragrance of coffee.

He lathered his face and ran the straight razor across his cheeks and chin in smooth, even strokes. Then he stripped and strode into the frigid waters of Poison Creek. After soaping himself, he began to swim. With strong, powerful strokes he swam the width of the creek and back. Pushing himself to the limit, he continued to swim back and forth until his muscles protested.

Breathing hard from the effort, he clambered up the slope and tossed back his wet hair, sending a spray of water dancing in the sunlight. With his skin still damp, he had to struggle into his pants. As he reached for his shirt, he caught a sudden movement out of the corner of his eye. He whirled.

Jade was there, seated in her carriage.

How long had she been here? From the strained expression on her face, long enough to have seen more than she’d bargained for, he thought. Her eyes were wide, her mouth slightly open in surprise. But to her credit she wasn’t blushing. And in the blink of an eye she composed herself.

“You shouldn’t sneak up without warning. If I’d been another kind of man I might have fired off a shot before I even knew who you were.” Wade grabbed up his shirt and shrugged into it, tucking it into his waistband and buttoning it as he walked toward her.

Seeing the tight line of her mouth, he softened his tone. “Sorry, Miss Jewel. I didn’t mean to be so abrupt. But you startled me.”

“You startled me, as well.” She couldn’t seem to tear her gaze from his strong fingers working the buttons. When she finally did, she found herself mesmerized by the width of his shoulders, the muscles visible beneath the fabric of his shirt. She couldn’t put aside what she’d just seen. He had the body of a rancher, or a cowboy. Hardly what was expected of a preacher. “I—wasn’t prepared to see you… to see anyone here.”

His stern features relaxed into a mocking grin. “Obviously I didn’t expect to see you, either, or I would have been better prepared. Or at least better dressed.” He nodded toward the campfire. “Will you join me for a cup of coffee?”

“No. Forgive me for intruding.” She lifted the reins, prepared to flee.

He reached a hand to stop her. “Please, Miss Jewel. Don’t run away. I’m afraid I reacted badly. I apologize. I really would enjoy your company.”

As his hand covered hers she felt the jolt. And struggled not to show it.

Her reaction to this man puzzled her. He had already made it clear that he intended to oppose her. What had her honorable father always said about an enemy? Better to face his angry words now than his gun later. Perhaps she should try to befriend her opponent. Or at least soften his arguments with a few of her own.

“I suppose I have time for a cup of coffee.” She stepped down from the carriage and crossed to a fallen log. “Do you often sleep in the woods?”

“Not often.”

“I thought you rented a room at Millie Potter’s.”

“Usually.” He poured two cups and handed one to her before taking a seat in the grass. “But sometimes I just need to be alone.”

“Ah.” She stared into her coffee. “I can understand that. I often find myself wishing for time alone.”

“I suppose it must seem overwhelming sometimes, facing the prospect of a new business, while also having to adjust to three new sisters.”

She nodded. “I haven’t decided which is more difficult. The business, or the strangers who are my sisters.”

Wade leaned his back against his saddle and studied her. One dainty foot was crossed over the other. Her gown of amber silk clung to her curves in a very beguiling way. She appeared tiny. Delicate. But he knew that her appearance was deceiving. There was nothing weak or fragile about Jade Jewel. Right now she was frowning, and he knew that he was the cause of that frown. Ordinarily he would have done whatever he could to ease her tension. But today there was a devil inside him. One that he was tired of fighting.

“What brings you to the banks of Poison Creek at this hour of the day, Miss Jewel? I don’t think it’s privacy you’re seeking. Or a bath.” Though the thought of seeing her bathing caused a pleasant heat low in his stomach.

“I was eager to see what the workmen had accomplished since my visit yesterday.” The truth was, it had taken all Jade’s courage to leave the safety of her ranch. But she couldn’t permit a gang of villains to rob her of her freedom. And so, despite her fears, she had forced herself to venture forth. “I…thought I’d take a different route to town.”

Wade heard the slight hesitation in her voice. “Is something wrong?”

“Of course not. Everything is fine. Why do you ask?”

He wrapped his hands around his cup and gave a negligent shrug of his shoulders. “I just wondered why you came in this direction, when it’s so far out of your way.” His gaze was arrested by the jewel-handled knife tucked into the sash at her waist. “And why you’re wearing that for protection.”

Seeing the direction of his gaze, she touched a hand to the hilt. “I carry this always, though I usually keep it hidden from view. It was my mother’s. And her mother’s before her. When my mother came here from China, she carried this to ward off evil spirits.”

His lips curved. “Did it work?”

She gave a mysterious smile. “I don’t know about evil spirits. But it saved her many times from men with evil intentions.”

Wade grew thoughtful as he stared into his cup. “The world is full of men with evil intentions.”

“I suppose you see a great deal of them in your work.” She sipped her coffee.

“And what about your work, Miss Jewel?” He looked up, pinning her with those fiery eyes. “Don’t you think you’ll have to deal with evil men in the Golden Dragon?”

She felt the heat stain her cheeks. “That will be my problem. And I’ll be the one to deal with it.”

“It won’t be just your problem. The presence of such men will become a problem for the entire town.”

She gave a sigh. “I knew you would find a way to twist this conversation until it got back to my business and why I should forsake my plans.”

“You’ll find many in town who oppose you, Miss Jewel. What you’re planning is offensive to them. It will attract the sort of people to Hanging Tree that often bring trouble. I hope you have good friends to stand by you.”

Again she heard that thread of righteous anger. “It’s what everyone hopes for. A friend to stand by us in our time of need.” She paused, thinking about her experience at the hands of the gunmen. Without thinking of the consequences she blurted, “I discovered such a friend yesterday.”

He watched her in silence over the rim of his cup.

“On my way home from Hanging Tree I was attacked by a group of armed men.”

His eyes narrowed. “Did you recognize them?”

She shook her head. “They called their leader Ned. Their faces were covered by bandannas. But I know that they intended…harm.” She saw the hardness that crept into his features. And the little muscle that began working in his jaw. Even a man of peace would know what armed, ruthless men did to helpless women. “All I had for defense was my knife. But I was prepared to use it.” She lowered her voice. “Or die trying.”

“You look very much alive to me, Miss Jewel.”

She drained her cup, then set it aside. “The gunmen were driven away by the sound of gunshots. But when they rode off, I found myself alone. Whoever fired those shots didn’t wish to be seen. But I keep asking myself, why? Why would someone go to the trouble of saving my life, and then leave before I could offer my thanks?”

“Perhaps you imagined the gunshots.”

“Did my attackers imagine them, as well?” Agitated, she stood.

He got slowly to his feet, towering over her. Again she felt awed by the sense of tightly coiled strength in this man of peace.

“No, Reverend Weston. I know what I heard. Someone saved my life. And though I don’t know him, I’m deeply indebted to him.” She tipped her head back to look up into his eyes. Her own were troubled. “Ruby explained it by saying that in the bayou everyone believes in the presence of guardian angels. Is that part of your culture, as well? Do you believe it was a…guardian angel who saved me?”

He gave her a dangerous smile. “It might have been.” The smile grew. “But more than likely it was a stranger just passing by who saw a need and responded to it.”

“But why would he leave without revealing himself?”

His gaze fastened on her lips, and she felt the heat rise to her cheeks.

“I can see that this disturbs you, Miss Jewel. But I don’t see why it matters so much. You’re safe. You walked away unharmed.”

The breeze caught a strand of her hair and flayed it against her cheek. Without thinking he reached up and caught it, watching through narrowed eyes as it sifted between his fingers.

Jade couldn’t breathe. Her heart was thundering so loudly in her chest, she was certain he could hear.

When he realized what he’d done, he lowered his hand to his side, where he clenched it into a fist. “And you’ve probably learned a valuable lesson about the perils of traveling alone in this desolate land.”

She let out the breath she’d been unconsciously holding. Sweet heaven, she’d feared he would kiss her. And the truth was, she couldn’t be certain whether or not she would have resisted.

“Now you sound like Diamond.” Highly agitated, she stalked to her carriage. “Thank you for the coffee, Reverend Weston.”

“Any time, Miss Jewel.” He placed a hand beneath her elbow to assist her into the rig.

Her pulse speeded up and she blamed it on anger.

As she took up the reins he said, “I hope you’ll be cautious on your ride into town.”

“You needn’t fear.” She flicked the reins, and the horses lurched ahead. “I wouldn’t want to test my guardian angel too often. By the time the Golden Dragon is completed, he may be the only one left on my side.”

Deep in thought, Wade watched until her carriage disappeared below a ridge. Then he returned to the campfire and tossed his lukewarm coffee into the flames.