Bay's Desire Read online

  “What does that mean?”

  “From what I’ve heard, you’ve done all you can to make both your lives miserable.” He rolled the wine glass between his fingers, ignoring Bay’s menacing stare. “Assuming you still love her, it may be time to listen to her side.”

  Bay shook his head, expelling a tired breath. “I tried today. She refused.”

  “You giving up after one attempt? If you are, I’ll be the first in line to go after her.”

  Jaw clenching, Bay’s nostrils flared, the anger subsiding when he saw the amusement in Griff’s eyes. “Then I’d have to kill you.”

  Chuckling, Griff finished his wine before his face sobered. “Calvan’s hired a man to get to you.”

  The news had Bay stiffening. “Where’d you hear this?”

  “From Dave Calvan himself. The man can’t help talking when he drinks, and he drank a lot a few weeks ago in Santa Fe.”

  Bay’s brows drew together. “Santa Fe?”

  “I heard a couple of his men say they were heading west to find you. It didn’t take more than a minute for me to decide to follow. For some reason, he’s never connected you and me, and since I’d planned to hunt you down myself, it made sense to follow him at the same time.” Griff rested his arms on the table, leaning forward. “Look, Bay. I know what you think you saw, and I know what the doctor and sheriff learned. I also know Suz. You need to hear it from her, but any fool could see it was a setup to get back at you for killing Calvan’s brother.”

  Scrubbing a hand down his face, he looked back at Griff, guilt consuming him. “Fine. He got back at me through Suzette. Why would he ride all this way for more?”

  “First, he wanted to humiliate you. Drive you and Suz apart. It worked just like the ornery cuss planned. Appears that wasn’t enough, though. Now he wants you dead, and if he gets your widow in the process…” Griff shrugged, letting his meaning settle in. “From what I heard, he’s already got a man in Conviction. I don’t know why or what the man plans to do, just that Calvan hired him. That alone makes it a bad deal for you, my friend.”

  Bay had to agree. “Who is this man?”

  “I have no idea. What I do know is Calvan wants to be the one to kill you, so whatever the man is doing, he doesn’t plan to put you in your grave.”

  “Doesn’t make me feel any better.” His thoughts turned to Suzette. “What about my wife?”

  Griff’s jaw tightened. “I don’t know.”

  Murmuring an oath, Bay stood, grabbing the back of the chair to steady himself.

  Griff jumped up, putting a hand on Bay’s back. “Hey, you all right?”

  Rubbing a hand over his forehead, he gave a terse nod. “Yeah. A little dizzy is all. I had a few drinks in the office before coming over here.” He waved a hand through the air. “It’s nothing.”

  “You seem a little unsteady.”

  “It’ll pass. It always does.”

  Griff cocked his head. “What do you mean it always does? Has this happened before?”

  Again, Bay waved him off. “A couple times. Where are you staying?”

  A tentative grin turned up the corners of Griff’s mouth. “I’m hoping to stay at your place.”

  “Good. You ready to head there or do you want to stop at the saloon?”

  “Your place, Bay. Then you can tell me why you’ve been such a sonofabitch to Suz.”

  Chapter Seven

  Brodie sat atop his horse, Colt and Sam on either side of him as they scanned the small house a hundred yards away. They’d ridden out of town at dawn, hoping the location they had for Maria Smith was accurate.

  It had taken longer than Brodie expected to track down the woman believed to be the sister of Andrés Delgado. Their plan had been to locate her, then keep watch until her brother arrived with the money the woman needed for her family. If what they’d learned proved accurate, Andrés visited at least once each month, and Brodie meant to keep men posted until he arrived.

  Their search for Ev Hunt, the Outlaw Doc, had proved less successful. He’d last been seen in Martinez, a town west of Conviction. A few days later, a man known to have won big at the gambling tables had been beaten, all his money gone. He might not have made it back to town if Hunt hadn’t left his horse a quarter of a mile away. An odd occurrence for an outlaw, but consistent with what Colt had told them about the bandit.

  “There.” Sam pointed to the front, watching the door open and a woman walk outside. “Does she fit the description, Colt?”

  Retrieving field glasses from his saddlebag, Colt peered through them, watching as the woman started her chores. “She matches what I know.” He handed them to Brodie. “Do you recognize her?”

  After a moment, Brodie lowered the glasses. “Nae. The lass looks small from here. Almost frail.” He passed the field glasses to Sam.

  “She’s short and thin as a reed.” He handed them back to Colt. “We can’t be certain until Delgado shows. If he doesn’t, we’ll know it’s been a waste of time. What do your instincts tell you, Brodie?” Sam had learned to listen to his brother-in-law’s gut feelings.

  “Aye. She’s the one we’re after.”

  Colt studied the woman one more time before sliding the field glasses back into the saddlebag. “She might recognize one of you, but not me. I’ll ride up and confirm who she is. If she is Delgado’s sister, we’ll figure how to keep watch on her.”

  Kicking his horse, Colt emerged from the cover of the trees, riding straight toward the small, wooden structure. Releasing his badge, he slid it into a pocket. His gaze roamed the area around the homestead, not wanting to be caught unaware if Delgado hid in the distance.

  The woman must have heard him approach because she whipped around from feeding the chickens to stalk toward him, waving her hand to warn him off. Instead, he continued forward.

  “You are not welcome here. Go!” Her Spanish heritage came through in her voice.

  “All I’m looking for is a drink of water—”

  Shaking her head, she took a tentative step closer. “You must go.” Her gaze jerked behind and around him in panic, her back rigid.

  Colt looked around. Seeing no one, he dismounted. “A little water and I’ll be gone.”

  Glaring at him, she blurted out a few words of Spanish, then stomped to a barrel by the front door. Turning, she motioned for him to follow. When he joined her on the small porch, she handed him a ladle full of water, which he swallowed in a few gulps.

  “Thank you, Mrs…”

  Taking the ladle from his outstretched hand, she set it aside. “Señora Smith,” she muttered, followed by more words of Spanish.

  Colt stifled a grin of satisfaction. “Thank you, Señora Smith. I’m grateful for the water.” Without waiting for a response, he returned to his horse and swung into the saddle. Reining away, he looked over his shoulder, touching a finger to the brim of his hat.

  He rode out in the opposite direction where Brodie and Sam waited, glancing around the surrounding area one more time. Making a wide arc, he took his time returning to where the other two lawmen stood next to their horses.

  “It’s Maria Smith, and she wasn’t too friendly.”

  Sam nodded. “I wouldn’t be either if my brother was an outlaw who might show up at any time. At least we know who she is.”

  Colt looked behind them, no longer seeing her from his spot between the trees. “Not only wasn’t she welcoming, she kept looking around as if expecting someone. She seemed afraid.”

  Brodie swung into his saddle. “Aye. The lass doesn’t want Delgado to discover her with a stranger. It may mean she expects the lad soon.”

  “I’ll take the first watch. Three days?” Colt sent a questioning look at Brodie.

  “Nae. Two days is enough before I send Alex or Seth. They’re anxious to do something besides sit outside the jail or make turns around town.”

  “What about Jack?” Sam asked, mentioning Jack Perkins, the deputy who’d been with Brodie the longest.

  Brodi
e chuckled. “The lad is enthusiastic, but I’m afraid he’d not be able to stay hidden and quiet for forty-eight hours. Nae, he’d give us away before sunset the first day.”

  Sam grinned, knowing Brodie was right. “I’ll come out. That’ll be four of us to split the watch.”

  Again, Brodie shook his head. “Nae, Sam. Jinny would have my head if you were gone for two days. Especially now with her carrying a wee bairn.” His sister took care of her stepson, Robbie, and also kept watch on Sam’s elderly father, Thomas.

  Grimacing, Sam nodded. “She’d shoot us both for sure.”

  “There’s no need for either of you to take turns. You have families who need you. Alex, Seth, and I can do this without your help.” Colt slid to the ground.

  “I’ll have Seth or Alex ride out with enough food for the next couple days.”

  Colt gave Brodie a crisp nod. “Thanks.”

  He watched Sam and Brodie ride away as he pulled out each of his six-shooters, making sure the cylinders were loaded. Shoving them back into their holsters, he took out his field glasses to take another look around.

  As before, nothing set off any of the warnings he often felt when allowing his instincts to take over. Instead, the day stretched before him as peaceful as when they’d ridden in over an hour ago. All he had to do now was wait for Delgado to appear. When the outlaw did, Colt would arrest him, then begin a more intensive search for Ev Hunt, the Outlaw Doc.

  Ev watched the comings and goings on Conviction’s main street, enjoying his breakfast of fried eggs, potato cakes, buttermilk biscuits, and wild berry shrub. He hadn’t eaten such a good meal since leaving Martinez. It might be he’d find better food at the restaurant partially owned by Bay Donahue, but he’d purposely avoided the more posh establishment.

  It wouldn’t do for the retired gunslinger to recognize him, even though Ev believed the possibility slim. If what Calvan said could be trusted, Donahue had no idea of the Outlaw Doc’s existence or his reason for being in Conviction.

  The tall, slender outlaw had shaved off his light brown beard and trimmed his auburn hair, characteristics prominent on the wanted posters scattered around the west. Instead of the dark pants, coat, and vest he preferred, Ev wore the garb of a successful rancher. Even he didn’t recognize himself.

  He’d been so lost in watching what went on outside, Ev didn’t hear the boots on the wood floor until they stopped by his table. Looking up, he first noticed the badge, then moved his gaze to the man’s face.

  “I don’t believe we’ve met. I’m Seth Montero, one of the deputies.” He held out his hand.

  Standing, Ev grasped it, studying the man before him. “Bill Jones. It’s a pleasure.”

  Seth’s gaze narrowed as he studied the man’s face. Something about him seemed familiar. “Are you looking for work or passing through?”

  Ev’s mouth drew into a thin line. “I’m a rancher near Sacramento. I’ve got some business up this way.” He hoped the vague answer would be enough to send the deputy on his way.

  Seth didn’t have any reason to continue questioning him. Still, his gut twisted in a way he couldn’t explain. “Hope you enjoy your stay in Conviction, Mr. Jones.”

  Turning away, he continued to a table, taking a seat facing Jones. Seth’s gaze lingered on him, trying to figure out why he seemed familiar, what caused the pulse of recognition. Several minutes later, Jones paid and left, not sparing Seth another glance.

  He continued studying Jones as he crossed the street and passed between two buildings. Once out of sight, Seth quickly finished his breakfast before leaving for the jail. He needed to go through the wanted posters. Somewhere in the stack of papers Seth believed he’d find the answer to the questions he had about Jones.

  Bay struggled to stay focused on the work in front of him, rubbing his temples every few minutes to relieve the pressure. He’d woken with the same pounding in his head and churning in his stomach which had plagued him for days.

  It would’ve seemed normal except he’d downed only two glasses of whiskey in his office the day before. He hadn’t swallowed another drop during supper with Griff, and nothing else after they’d gone home. At least he hadn’t experienced more tingling in his hands that morning, although when he’d first gotten out of bed, his feet felt numb for several minutes.

  Drawing a hand down his face, Bay tried again to concentrate on a contract for the purchase of land between Conviction and Settlers Valley. It wasn’t complicated. Still, he couldn’t focus on the document for more than a minute at a time.

  A soft knock drew his attention. Grateful for the interruption, he stood and walked to the door as another knock sounded. Drawing the door open, his body stilled at the sight of the woman waiting in the hall.

  He allowed his gaze to move over Suzette, taking in her beauty, the way her features softened when she saw him. A softness he hadn’t seen in much too long. Instead of welcoming her, his mouth curled into a rueful scowl.

  “I don’t recall having an appointment with you this morning.”

  Suzette’s open features closed at his terse comment. Lifting her chin, she glared at him.

  “We don’t.” Instead of waiting for him to stand aside, she stepped forward, brushing past him. “Regardless, it’s time we talked. Afterward, you can prepare the divorce documents. I’ll sign and we’ll be done with it.”

  Bay’s heart sank at her words. After hours of talking with Griff the night before, he’d realized how much of a fool he’d been. Griff had given him enough information, what his friend had learned from the doctor and sheriff, for Bay to understand Calvan’s intent. What Griff didn’t know was Suzette’s version. He hadn’t been in St. Louis when it all happened, and by the time Griff returned, Bay had fled and Suzette had slipped into a world she let no one enter.

  Closing the door, he stepped forward, stopping a few inches away. “No.”

  Her eyes flashed. “What do you mean no?”

  Crossing his arms, Bay’s determined gaze didn’t waver. “I’m no longer interested in ending our marriage.” His hand lifted to cup the back of her neck. Before she understood his intention, his head lowered, warm lips brushing across hers, voice softening. “I still want you, Suzette.” He whispered the words against her lips before placing another kiss on her mouth. Stepping away, he watched confusion, anger, and perhaps a slight amount of hope cross her face.

  Touching a finger to her lips, Suzette closed her eyes a moment before opening them to search Bay’s face. “After all that’s happened, the way you’ve treated me, why are you doing this now?” Her voice cracked on the last before she glanced away, fighting to control her emotions.

  His gut clenched at the stark regret in her voice. Regret he’d caused by his stubborn insistence to push her aside, not willing to hear her side of the story. Guilt pierced through him, remembering what Griff had told him, wondering what else he’d learn from Suzette.

  Pulling out a chair at the small table, he waited until she sat down, taking a seat next to her. Exhaling a slow breath, he leaned forward, wanting to take her hand in his but resisting.

  “It took me this long to realize what a fool I’ve been. I don’t want a divorce, Suzette.”

  She bit her bottom lip so it wouldn’t tremble. “What do you want?”

  Bay didn’t hesitate. “You.”

  Brows furrowed, Suzette shook her head, unable to grasp his meaning. “But all you’ve done is shun and demean me since that night. There must be more, Bay. I see no reason you should want me back in your life now.”

  “It’s quite simple. I want a family, children with someone who is compatible with me. I’ve no reason to search for another woman when I already have a wife who fills my every need. You’re also beautiful and smart. And we know we’re well-suited in bed.” He controlled the grimace he felt as the words tumbled forth. Everything he’d said was true. Once spoken, they sounded cold and calculating, not the words of a man who cared at all about his wife.

  The longer he spo
ke, the larger the ball of ice in her stomach felt. He’d not talked of love or wanting her back because he’d wrongly convicted her in his mind. Anger rising, she clenched her jaw, not wanting to spew her disgust at his sorry reasons for reconciliation.

  “Let me understand this. You don’t want the divorce because it would force you to start over in a search for someone to fulfill your long list of qualifications.”

  “Suzette…”

  Standing, she stared down at him, fury flaring in her dark emerald green eyes. She settled fisted hands on her hips, still not quite believing what she’d heard him say. “I mistakenly thought you wanted me back because you still love me and want to hear the truth of what happened with Calvan.” She blew away an errant strand of hair, which had fallen across her face.

  “Suzette…”

  “Don’t say any more, Bay. I’m not a stupid twit who’s willing to settle for so little after the true marriage we had before.” She sucked in a breath, willing herself to calm down. “Before you shoved me out of your life. Well, you’ll have to take the time to find another woman because this one wants no part in the callous future you seek. People may scorn me because of our divorce, but at least I’ll take satisfaction in knowing I did what was right, even if you see my actions as a personal betrayal.” Turning her back to him, she stomped to the door. “Rewrite the documents and give them to August. I’ll be back tomorrow morning to sign them.”

  Jumping to his feet, Bay grabbed her wrist as she reached her hand toward the doorknob. “Don’t go. Please. Let me try to explain.”

  Chest heaving in frustration, she shook her head. “You were already quite eloquent.” Swallowing, she lifted her haunted gaze to meet his. “Please, Bay. Let me go. You’ll never forgive me, never love me the way you once did. I just want…” She put a hand to her stomach, not wanting him to see the depth of her pain.

  He kept his grip on her wrist, his voice soft and soothing. “You just want what?”