Deep River Read online

  “She’s relentless. Shows up at the jail with pie or fresh bread, usually when I’m the only one there. I don’t know how she knows when you and Gabe are gone.”

  “I hope you have the good sense to take the food,” Cash quipped.

  Beau chuckled. “If the woman wants to spend her time baking for me, I’m not going to turn it down. I also don’t encourage her. I have no interest in any woman right now, except occasionally one of the girls at the Dixie or Wild Rose.”

  “If Sarah knows you’re frequenting the saloons, she might not be so inclined to spend her time pursuing you. If you want, I’ll put the word out.”

  Beau choked on his drink. “Hell no. I can handle the schoolteacher.”

  “Doesn’t seem as if you’re doing a very good job of it.” Cash shrugged and finished his drink, shifting his gaze to Allie, then back to Beau. “My wife’s pretty fond of Sarah. Whatever you do, let her down easy.”

  “I’ve no intention of courting her, so letting her down won’t be a problem.” Beau needed to move the conversation away from Sarah. “Has Gabe heard back from his friend about coming to Splendor to be a deputy?”

  “He hasn’t said and I haven’t asked. The way the town is growing, we could sure use the help.”

  “Would either of you gentlemen be willing to get Sarah and me another glass of punch?” Allie slipped her arm through Cash’s, smiling up at him.

  “I’ll get it.” Taking the empty glasses from the women, Beau walked over to the table, dipping a ladle into the yellow-colored liquid.

  “You doing all right?”

  Beau set down one of the glasses to shake Luke’s hand. “Fine. Getting the ladies some more punch.”

  “So, you and Sarah Murt—”

  “Don’t even think it.” The words came out harsher than intended. “We rode in the wagon together, nothing more.” His humor improved at the sight of Noah Brandt walking up to join them. “Noah.” He held out his hand, which his friend grasped.

  “Are you courting Sarah Murton?”

  “Ah, hell.” Beau shook his head, stepping around Noah to head back to the women.

  Glancing at Luke in surprise, Noah shook his head. “What did I say?”

  Luke grinned, taking a sip of his drink. “It may be best not to mention Sarah around Beau. He’s a little touchy where she’s concerned.”

  Noah’s brows lifted. “Guess he’s not courting her.”

  “You’d be right.” Luke noticed Beau hand Sarah her drink, then attempt to step away, stopping when she placed a hand on his arm. “Looks like she won’t give up easily.”

  Noah chuckled, turning his attention to the entry. “Appears Gabe and Lena finally made it.”

  Cash stood a few feet away from Noah and Luke, watching Gabe and Dax disappear down the hall. He turned toward Beau. “Something’s going on. It wouldn’t surprise me if you and I have to head back to town early.”

  “Why’s that?”

  Before Cash could answer, Rachel walked into the room. “Hey, everyone. Caro just arrived from San Francisco.”

  Beau’s head snapped toward Rachel, his gaze locking on Caro. Beside him, Sarah linked her arm through his. Without thinking, he settled a hand over hers.

  His chest seized the instant Caro’s gaze locked on his. She was even more beautiful than he remembered—blonde hair pulled into a loose bun, her violet eyes searching his. She offered a hesitant smile as she walked forward, her gaze shifting to the woman beside him, then down to their joined hands.

  Stopping abruptly, Caro’s smile faded before she turned away.

  Beau’s feet wouldn’t move, his body locked in place next to Sarah. Caro’s sudden appearance knocked the wind from his lungs. It had been close to a year without any contact.

  “Aren’t you going to say hello to Caro?”

  He looked at Cash, the pain in his chest becoming a ball of ice in his stomach. Months had passed since she’d boarded the stage for San Francisco, leaving without a backward glance. Beau had gone from being committed to making her his wife to pushing her from his thoughts. It took him weeks to stop pouring a bottle of whiskey down his throat each night, months to pull himself together enough to face a future without her. Losing himself in work and planning the house he’d designed with Caro in mind had filled the crushing loneliness.

  If it weren’t for Cash, Gabe, and his other friends, he might still be wallowing in self-pity, wondering if he should have gone after her. Once rational thought returned, Beau accepted the fact if she’d wanted him, truly loved him, she would’ve stayed. Nothing good could come from pursuing her.

  Beau shrugged. “No reason to. She’s here to see her friends, not me. Excuse me.” Aware of where she stood talking to Noah’s wife, Abby, across the room, he walked to the dining table, Cash stepping up beside him.

  Reaching into a pocket, Cash pulled out a flask, offering it to Beau. “Drink it all. I’m sure you need it more than me.”

  “Thanks.” Beau turned his back to the crowd, twisting off the top, taking a long swallow. Taking a deep breath, he handed it back to Cash. “I’d better stop or I’ll never make it back to Splendor.”

  “I wonder why she’s here. From what Lydia said, she has a pretty comfortable life in San Francisco.”

  Beau shrugged. “I don’t know, and don’t care.”

  Cash didn’t agree, but it was Beau’s decision. “Looks like Gabe is headed our way.”

  “Evening, Cash, Beau. I hate to end this evening so soon, but I need the two of you to ride back to Splendor with me.”

  “Trouble?” Cash asked.

  Gabe nodded. “Could be. Boyden Trask and his men were spotted heading our way.”

  Cash cursed under his breath. “I’d hoped that lowlife would be hundreds of miles from here by now.”

  Beau and Gabe nodded in agreement. Trask had been responsible for blackmailing a group of orphans into rustling cattle from the Pelletiers. When the orphans were caught and confessed, Gabe sent a telegram to the sheriff in Big Pine, where Trask owned several businesses. Overnight, the man had disappeared. Few believed he’d truly left the Montana Territory, most expecting him to reappear, taking revenge on the orphans who’d exposed his crimes.

  “I spoke to Dax. He’s saddling horses for you two. His men will take Allie and Sarah back to town after the party. Lena will drive Caro back in the wagon.”

  “Thanks, Gabe. I guess I’d better let Allie know what’s going on.” Cash shot a look at Beau. “I’ll make sure Sarah knows.”

  Beau nodded, his mind traveling to the beautiful blonde across the room. Talking with Isabella and Travis, Caro had glanced at him a couple times, then looked away when she saw him watching her. He’d given her plenty of time to come to him, start up a conversation. After all these months, her lack of interest hurt more than it should.

  “I’m ready to leave when you are, Gabe.”

  “Go ahead to the barn. Cash and I will meet you out there.”

  Beau grabbed his hat and gunbelt, stopping long enough to say goodbye to Bull and Lydia. Pushing Caro from his mind, he walked out the door and bounded down the porch steps. He couldn’t wait to leave. Facing a band of dangerous outlaws was preferable to staying in a room with a woman who owned his heart but didn’t want it.

  Chapter Two

  Caro let out a slow, painful breath, feeling her shoulders slump as Beau disappeared outside. The brave front she’d erected in San Francisco by attending parties, shopping, and eating at the best restaurants hadn’t changed her love for Beau. The first sight of him after almost a year had taken her breath away—until she’d seen him holding Sarah’s hand.

  “Would you excuse us, Travis? I’d like to speak with Caro for a few minutes.”

  Isabella Boucher, a longtime friend of Lena Evans’, had moved to Splendor from her home back east after her husband died. Although he had been over twenty years her senior, she loved him with all her heart. She didn’t believe love would come her way twice, and certainly not in
the form of Travis Dixon, a quiet southerner and ex-Confederate soldier who still dealt with the loss of his wife and daughter while he was away fighting the war. His friendship, steadfast loyalty to the Pelletiers, and gentle way with horses worked on her heart. Over time, they’d come to mean much more to each other than ordinary friends.

  Travis nodded, his mouth curving into a smile. “May I get you ladies more refreshments while you talk?”

  Isabella squeezed his arm. “I believe I’ll wait.”

  “Nothing for me right now, Travis. Thank you.” Caro had a hard time focusing. After traveling hundreds of miles, thinking of Beau every minute, her shock at seeing him with another woman hadn’t quite settled in, even as pain continued to ripple through her.

  “Shall we go out back, Caro? I believe you’d find Rachel’s garden quite interesting.”

  Caro blinked, her gaze rising to meet Isabella’s. “Garden?”

  Isabella slipped her arm through Caro’s. “Why, yes. She has quite a knack for growing vegetables and flowers.”

  As they stepped outside, Caro followed Isabella down the steps, sucking in a deep breath of cool afternoon air. Shivering, she wrapped her arms around her as they walked to a small fenced area on the side of the house.

  “Are you cold?”

  Caro shook her head, forcing herself to concentrate on Rachel’s garden. When they were well away from the house, Isabella turned toward her.

  “Why didn’t you send me a telegram about coming home?” Isabella had accompanied Caro to San Francisco, planning to stay long enough to see the Pacific Ocean before returning to Splendor and the life she hoped to build with Travis.

  Crossing her arms, Caro glanced back at the house before answering. “I’m sorry, Isabella. It was a sudden decision. I just arrived yesterday and am staying at the St. James Hotel.”

  Isabella studied her friend. Always cheerful and full of energy, she’d never heard such sadness in Caro’s voice before. “Did you come back to marry Beau?”

  Few people knew Beau had asked her to marry him days before she left for San Francisco. Telling him no and leaving had been the hardest decisions of her life, ones she regretted every day.

  Blinking back the moisture building in her eyes, she nodded. “Silly, I know. It appears he’s already found someone else.”

  Isabella’s eyes widened as she tilted her head to the side. “What are you talking about? Beau isn’t courting anyone.”

  Caro shot her a look. “Didn’t you see him with Sarah Murton? From what I saw, they are more than mere acquaintances.”

  Shaking her head, Isabella touched Caro’s arm. “I don’t know what you think you saw, but word would be all over town if he was courting Sarah. Not that she wouldn’t be interested. She’s made her interest in him perfectly clear.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You know how the women talk after church. Appears Sarah has mentioned more than once she’d very much like Beau to notice her.” Isabella saw Caro’s face still. “Of course, that doesn’t mean he shares her interest.”

  Pacing a few feet away, Caro felt a gentle breeze caress her face, a sudden gust of wind stirring the leaves in the garden. She’d never planted anything, always having people who tended the family garden, cooked their meals, and cleaned the house. From the day she was born, she’d looked to others to supply her needs, never imagining she’d crave something else. Looking at the ground, Caro had the sudden urge to drop to her knees and dig her hands into the soil.

  “Caro, did you hear me?”

  Glancing up, she nodded. “I heard you. Still, they touched in a way he never did with me in public.”

  Isabella smiled. “That’s because you were adamant people not learn about the two of you, and Beau respected your wishes. You met in secret, traveled to Big Pine to get away, and wouldn’t allow him to show you any affection in public. I wondered if…” Her lips drew into a thin line.

  “Wondered what?”

  “Please don’t hate me for saying this, but I often wondered if you were embarrassed to be seen with Beau.”

  Caro’s jaw dropped, her eyes growing wide. “I was never embarrassed to be with him.” Pushing aside the doubt Isabella’s comment caused, she shook her head. “I didn’t want people to think poorly of him when I left for San Francisco.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  Caro paced away, then turned back to Isabella. “When it started, I never dreamed I’d fall in love with him. My plan had always been to travel to San Francisco, perhaps meet a suitable, wealthy gentleman, and start a new life. Unfortunately, no matter how hard I tried, I could never rid Beau from my thoughts, nor push him out of my heart.”

  “I know, Caro. You put up a brave front. If someone didn’t know you well, they would’ve thought you were a young widow trying to get on with her life, attending soirees, dining at the best restaurants with the most eligible men.”

  “You knew differently, Isabella.”

  “Yes, I did. Each time Beau’s name came up, the sadness in your eyes broke my heart.”

  A sad smile crossed Caro’s face. “It took me a while to realize how much Beau meant to me, understanding the grave mistake I made when I turned down his offer to marry.” She drew in an unsteady breath. “It now appears I came to my senses too late.”

  “I’m certain it isn’t my place to give you advice.”

  A bitter laugh escaped Caro’s lips. “Please. Any advice is welcome right now.”

  Isabella walked up to Caro. “Are you certain you want to stay in Splendor, even if it’s without Beau?”

  “I’m not sure. All the way back here, the miles on the train and stagecoach, I never imagined him with someone else. I don’t know that I could stay in Splendor if he marries another woman.”

  “Caro, if Beau believes you’re back in Splendor for good, if he’s confident you aren’t going to run back to San Francisco, he won’t marry anyone else. Trust me.”

  “You truly believe that, Isabella?”

  “Absolutely.”

  She glanced around, trying to come to terms with what her friend proposed. “I’m not sure how to start.”

  Smiling, Isabella slipped her arm through Caro’s, then started walking back to the house. “Don’t worry. I have some ideas. Do you have plans for supper tomorrow?”

  Caro’s eyes sparked with the first signs of enthusiasm since she’d arrived at the ranch. “It appears I do now.”

  “I don’t know what kind of businessman Boyden Trask is, but he’s not much of an outlaw.” From his seat outside the sheriff’s office in Splendor, Cash focused on one of the upstairs windows of Suzanne’s boardinghouse.

  “Nick isn’t too happy about Suzanne allowing Trask and his two men to stay there.” Beau sat next to him, rubbing his chin.

  Cash smirked. “Nick won’t be happy until she agrees to marry him and live in the same house.”

  Beau looked at Cash, lifting a brow. “I didn’t know he’d asked her.”

  “That’s because you don’t pay attention.”

  “Suzanne must have said something to Allie.”

  Cash pulled out his gun and checked the cylinder. “Yep.”

  Beau grinned before his features stilled. “Trask is walking outside.”

  Straightening, Cash slid the gun back into its holster. “Gabe, Bull, Dirk, and Doc McCord are covering Rosemary at the clinic, and the boys are safe at the Pelletier ranch. We just have to wait until Trask makes his move, then arrest him.”

  Rosemary, her brother, and two other orphans had been swept into Trask’s plan to steal cattle from Dax and Luke. Bull and the Pelletier’s other foreman, Dirk Masters, had captured the four, taken them to the ranch, and listened to their confession. They’d been given a second chance, Rosemary learning to be a nurse, and the three boys attending school and working off their debt at Redemption’s Edge, the Pelletier’s ranch.

  “You make it sound easy.”

  Cash nodded. “I believe Mr. Boyden Trask is about
to spend a good deal of time behind bars.”

  Trask didn’t glance toward the jail as he and his two men walked down the boardwalk toward the clinic. It seemed none of them realized what they were walking into.

  Gabe had spoken to Suzanne and Nick the night the three men rode into town and took rooms at the boardinghouse. He explained the plan. If Trask asked about Rosemary, Suzanne was to tell him she worked at the clinic. By the confident stride and the arrogance on the man’s face, it appeared Trask would be walking into their trap.

  “The place we’re looking for is just ahead.” Trask moved easily, paying little attention to those around him. Stopping, he turned toward his men. “Stick with our plan. You two keep an eye on anyone else in the clinic while I escort Rosemary out the back. Meet me where we left the horses.”

  Nodding, the three moved on, stopping outside the clinic. For the first time, Trask looked around, noting a few people on the boardwalk, a few wagons, and several riders traveling down the main street. Nothing caught his attention. Settling his hand on the latch, he opened the door and strolled inside, his men right behind him.

  “Doc? Are you in here?”

  A door opened to what Trask assumed to be an examination room, the doctor stepping into the front waiting area.

  “You the doctor?”

  “I’m Doctor McCord.” Clay glanced at the three men, seeing nothing warranting medical treatment. “What can I do for you?”

  “We’re looking for my niece, Rosemary. I was told she’s working with you.”

  Clay glanced over his shoulder at the partially open door. “She’s with a patient right now. Why don’t you have a seat and I’ll have her come out when she’s finished.” He turned, stopping when Trask grabbed his arm.

  “If you don’t mind, I believe I’d like to surprise her. Keep an eye on the good doctor, boys.” Pushing Clay aside, he brushed past him. Shoving the door open, Trask stepped inside, seeing a woman bent over a patient on the table. Closing the door, he leaned his back against it. “Well, if it isn’t my little niece, Rosemary.”