Gunslinger (11 page)

Calvin’s lips thinned into a grimace when he noted the fading bruises on Tate’s face. “Did Jones do that?”

“Yeah,” Tate said sheepishly, “but he caught me unaware.”

“He probably caught you with your pants down around your ankles,” Calvin said with disgust. “If you hadn’t gone and ruined everything by forcing yourself on the girl, she’d be your wife now and none of this would have been necessary.”

“See here, Pa, that wasn’t entirely my fault. I admit I had a little too much to drink that night but I thought she was willing. She never told anyone about what I done, so she couldn’t have been too angry.”

“That’s neither here nor there,” Calvin said dismissively. “Our problem now is getting rid of Desperado Jones. If he’s taken up Chloe’s cause, I’ll never get the land, and time is running out. When the railroad starts buying up land for the spur, I intend to own every parcel it passes through. I’ll stand to make a fortune, since I purchased most of the land for a pittance.”

“Are you sure the railroad is coming through here, Pa?” Tate asked.

“As sure as I can be. My contacts in Washington assured me that a spur line will be built to connect Dodge City with Amarillo, and Trouble Creek is a likely spot for it to pass through. Once I have the Ralston spread, I’ll own all the land lying between Trouble Creek and Amarillo.”

“What are we gonna do about Jones?” Tate asked. “I saw him checking into the hotel a short time ago. Maybe he means to stick around town until he tires of Chloe. The little she-devil must find him more attractive than me,” Tate said sourly.

“We’re going to get even,” Calvin snarled. “No one betrays the Talbots and gets away with it.”

“I could challenge him again,” Tate suggested.

“You’d lose,” Calvin said flatly. “The man cannot be outdrawn. I’d like to know more about Jones before I lay my plans. No one seems to know a thing about his background.”

“Leave it to me, Pa,” Tate bragged. “I’ll dig up something. Every man has a past, especially a man like Jones. Maybe the Texas Rangers have something on him.”

“Already checked that out,” Calvin revealed. “Oddly enough, the man isn’t wanted by the law. Oh, they know about him and keep tabs on him, but there is nothing they can pin on him.”

“Sonofabitch!” Tate cursed. “How can a renowned gunslinger not be wanted by the law? Never mind, I’ll not let you down this time, Pa.”

“Big words considering you always come out the loser where Jones is concerned. Get me some information on Jones and I’ll overlook your failures. The Sommers girl has the money to pay her taxes, thanks to your bungling and Jones’s defection. Our only hope now is to get rid of Jones and convince Chloe to marry you. Try to keep your hands off of her until she’s your wife.”

Tate was glad he hadn’t told his father what he had done to earn a beating. Damn Chloe Sommers, he cursed beneath his breath. He was convinced that she was playing hard to get with him. She wanted to make him jealous by bedding Jones. Well, he had news for her. As soon as he and Pa got rid of Jones, he was going to take what he wanted. Once Chloe was his wife he’d make her toe the line or suffer the consequences.

Stationed behind a pillar holding up the balcony of Miss Milly’s brothel, Tate watched Desperado leave the hotel and amble across the street to the Devil’s Den. He waited a moment to make sure Desperado was going to stay put before darting into the hotel.

At first the clerk was reluctant to give Tate the spare key to Desperado’s room, but the color of Tate’s money and a few threatening words soon convinced him to hand over the key. Tate had no idea what he was looking for, but he’d seen Desperado carry in his saddlebags earlier today and he reckoned it couldn’t hurt to look through them.

The hallway was empty when he let himself into Desperado’s room. He spotted the saddlebags immediately. They were lying on the floor where Desperado had dropped them. Fearing Desperado’s vengeance should he be caught rifling through the gunslinger’s belongings, Tate wasted little time as he unlatched the bags and rummaged inside. He cursed softly to himself when he found little beyond the normal personal items men usually carried. Then his questing hand touched upon a book and he tugged it free, wondering what kind of book a man like Desperado would read.

To Tate’s surprise, the book appeared to be a family Bible. Intrigued by his find, Tate opened the cover and chuckled gleefully when names he recognized were inscribed inside. He sat back on his heels, wondering why Desperado Jones would carry a Bible belonging to the Ralston family. Had he stolen it? Was he somehow connected to the Ralston family?

The Talbots had arrived in town about five years ago, after Calvin had heard about the railroad spur. He’d come to buy up land, expecting to make a fortune from his inside information. Ted Ralston was already dead and his wife Norie was in ill health.

Tate stared thoughtfully at one of the names inscribed in the Bible. It registered the birth of Logan Ralston and then his death fifteen years later. Tate didn’t know exactly what it meant, but he made careful note of the dates and put the Bible back where he had found it. After making sure nothing was out of place, he left the room, returned the key to the clerk and hightailed it back to his father’s office.

“What do you make of it, Pa?” Tate asked after he’d informed his father of his find. “Why would Jones carry a Bible belonging to the Ralston family?”

“Beats me,” Calvin muttered. “Maybe I’ll go over to the newspaper office later and see what I can find out. Meanwhile, keep your eyes and ears open.”

Desperado left the saloon and headed over to Talbot’s office. He relished the thought of telling Talbot to leave Chloe alone. Tate had already left when Desperado barged into Calvin’s office.

“What the hell—” Calvin blustered when he saw Desperado looming in the doorway. “I don’t cotton to double-crossers, Jones. I thought we had a deal. You took my money, but obviously you preferred sexual favors to greenbacks,” he said dryly. “I never thought you’d let sex interfere with a job. I hope she was worth it.”

“One more word about Chloe and you’ll eat lead, Talbot,” Desperado growled. “Didn’t Tate return your money to you? I gave it to him with a message. I quit working for you the day Chloe nearly got herself killed.”

“What’s one more death to a man like you?” Calvin vin said with derision. “Never mind answering that. I didn’t want Chloe dead either. All I want is her land.”

“Just why is the Ralston spread so damn important to you?”

“That’s none of your business. Why are you sticking around town anyway? Haven’t you had your fill of Chloe yet?”

A strong will was all that kept Desperado from knocking the smirk off Talbot’s face. “I’m leaving as soon as I receive your word that you’ll stop harassing Chloe Sommers.”

“That good, is she?” Calvin remarked. “No wonder Tate is so eager to have her again. Obviously once wasn’t enough for him either.”

Desperado reached over the desk and hauled Calvin across the hard surface until they were nose to nose. His face was as hard as a slab of granite.

“If Tate so much as touches Chloe, I’ll kill him. Tell him that. As for you, I suggest you concentrate on the land you already cheated ranchers out of and leave the Ralston spread alone.”

“See here, Jones,” Calvin sputtered as he wrested free of Desperado’s bruising grip. “Tate’s intentions toward Chloe are honorable. He wants to make her his wife.”

“She doesn’t want him. She deserves better than an abuser of women.”

“Did Chloe tell you that? She’s lying, Jones. Chloe led Tate on until he was unable to control himself. A man can take only so much.”

Desperado knew if he didn’t leave now he wouldn’t be responsible for his actions. Only a fool would believe that Chloe had led Tate on. Tate had turned on an innocent young woman and used her cruelly.

“I’ve said all I’m going to on the subject, Talbot. Once Chloe pays her taxes, you can’t touch her land. And you can tell Tate he hasn’t a snowball’s chance in hell of marrying her.” “We’ll just see about that, won’t we, Jones?”

“If I were you I would think twice about doing anything to hurt Chloe,” Desperado warned. “My influence is far-reaching. I’ll know if you’ve disregarded my warning.” He tipped his hat. “Good day, Mr. Talbot.”

Chloe missed Desperado already and he’d only been gone a day. The man was infuriating and arrogant but she sensed in him an innate goodness despite his violent profession. She’d forgiven him long ago for working for Talbot. How could she not? He’d saved her life and had gotten her herd to Dodge without serious mishap. How could she let him ride out of her life and never see him again?

But Desperado Jones wasn’t the kind of man to settle down. For the rest of her life she would remember how sweetly he had made love to her, how easily he had banished her preconceived ideas of what lovemaking was like. He had shown her a side of himself that few people were allowed to see. She knew there was more to Desperado Jones than met the eye.

Chloe’s bed seemed cold and empty that first night home. She wondered if Desperado’s bed was as empty as hers and decided that it probably wasn’t. There wasn’t a woman in town who wouldn’t give her eyeteeth to share a bed with dark, dangerous Desperado Jones.

Chloe rose bright and early the next morning. Today she was going into town to pay her taxes. And there would be plenty of money left over to replace the barn that had burned down. After a hasty breakfast, Chloe placed the money in her saddlebags and carried them to the corral. As she rounded the corner she saw Desperado’s mustang tied to a fence post next to her mare. Then she saw Desperado striding in her direction from the bunkhouse.

“Morning,” he drawled. His warm perusal sent hot color to her cheeks.

“What are you doing here? I thought you spent the night in town.”

“I did. Thought I’d ride out this morning and escort you to town. You don’t want to take unnecessary chances with that money.”

“Thank you.”

“I saddled your horse,” he said, taking her saddlebags and throwing them over her horse’s withers.

“Thank you again. I suppose you’ll leave after you see me safely to the tax office,” she ventured.

“I suppose,” Desperado rasped. The thought of leaving Chloe and never seeing her again made his gut clench painfully. If only…But no, better to leave without revealing his identity, he decided. He’d learned the hard way that one can never go back, one can only go forward.

The ride to town was uneventful. Desperado waited outside with the horses while Chloe paid her taxes to the town clerk. Then he escorted her to the bank to deposit the surplus. They parted company shortly afterward.

“Will I see you again?” Chloe asked.

“Probably,” Desperado rasped. “I’ll be out to see the boys before I leave.”

“Desperado, I…”

God, he didn’t want to hear it. Leaving Chloe was the hardest thing he’d ever had to do. He placed a finger across her lips. “No, don’t say anything you’ll regret. You know what I am, Chloe. I can’t change.”

Then he whirled on his heel and strode away. Neither of them noticed Calvin Talbot exiting the newspaper office, but he saw them. A cunning smile curved his lips as he walked toward Chloe.

“Ah, just the person I wanted to see,” Talbot said exuberantly when he reached her.

“What do you want, Mr. Talbot?” Chloe asked crossly. She’d had all she could take from the Talbots.

“I spent the morning in the newspaper office and thought I’d share my findings with you.”

A chill crept down Chloe’s spine. “Nothing I want to hear, I’m sure.” She turned away.

“But I insist,” Talbot said, grasping her elbow in a bruising grip. “I’m certain you’ll be interested in what I have to say.”

“Let go of me,” she bit out.

“Miss Sommers, hear me out. I learned something today that could change your entire life. Did you know that Desperado Jones came to Trouble Creek with an agenda? I think you’d be interested to hear why he showed up when he did.”

Chloe’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. “An agenda? I don’t understand.”

“Of course you don’t understand, my dear. I’ll be happy to explain. The man we know as Desperado Jones is really Logan Ralston, Ted Ralston’s long-lost son. Obviously he came here to claim the Ralston land you’ve thought of as your own all these years.”

Chapter Ten

Chloe’s gaze settled on Calvin Talbot as she tried to make sense out of his words. It wasn’t possible. Talbot was lying. Desperado would have said something if he was Logan Ralston.

“I don’t believe you!”

Talbot gave her a pitying look. “Would a man like Jones show up in a town like Trouble Creek if he didn’t have an agenda? Think about it, my dear.” He tipped his hat and ambled off down the street, chuckling to himself.

Chloe’s mind whirled in confusion as she rode back to the ranch. Talbot’s words kept returning to haunt her. Why indeed had Desperado come to Trouble Creek? Normally the town was quiet and unremarkable, nearly indistinguishable from any other small Texas cattle town. Desperado had arrived unannounced and unexpected. No one had summoned him. He’d had no job awaiting him in Trouble Creek. Was he really Logan Ralston, Ted’s missing son? Had he come to claim his father’s property?

According to Ted’s will, her mother had inherited all Ted’s worldly goods, which in turn had come to her through her mother’s will. She hadn’t been at the reading of Ted’s will so she didn’t know the particulars, but she vaguely recalled her mother mentioning a codicil. Her mother hadn’t seemed too worried about the codicil, so Chloe had promptly forgotten it.

A cowboy sprinted up to take her horse when Chloe drew rein in front of the house. She nodded distractedly, dismounted and went inside. Her heart told her that Talbot was lying. Desperado would not have lied about something so important, would he? They had been as intimate as two people could be; he wouldn’t have kept that bit of knowledge from her. Unless…No, she wouldn’t believe it of Desperado. If there was a way to either prove or disprove that Desperado was Logan Ralston, she reflected, the answer lay somewhere in this house.

Suddenly Chloe recalled the several crates of personal items belonging to Ted that Norie had stored in a shed behind the house. The proof she needed might very well lie within those musty crates.

Chloe located three wooden crates in the shed with Ted’s name scrawled across the top and promptly pried opened the first with a crowbar she found nearby. There was nothing inside but neatly folded clothing. The second yielded letters and papers and ranch records from years gone by. Sighing in disappointment, she turned to the last crate. It was filled with personal mementos and odd pieces of jewelry. At the bottom of the crate she found several framed paintings. She picked one up, stared at it hard and nearly lost the ability to speak.

The painting was of a beautiful Indian woman and a little boy about ten years old. The boy was darkly handsome with twinkling black eyes and a deep dimple in his right cheek. Young Logan Ralston was a youthful version of Desperado Jones. Though hardened by his choice of profession, Desperado’s features had changed little over the years. Talbot had been right. Desperado Jones and Logan Ralston were one and the same. That thought led to another. Had Desperado come to Trouble Creek to seize the land she’d considered hers? Could he actually do it?

The lawyer who had drawn up Ted’s will still practiced in town. Though elderly and failing in health, Thadeous Baker still kept an office above the newspaper. Chloe intended to call upon Lawyer Baker bright and early the following morning. She had to know if there was any legal way Desperado could claim her land before she confronted the gunslinger with her knowledge.

Chloe had countless questions that needed answering, but first she had to arm herself with information that only Lawyer Baker could provide. Desperado had told her he was leaving town soon. Had everything he’d told her been a pack of lies? Why had he helped her defeat the Talbots if he meant to claim her land? Why had he agreed to work for the Talbots in the first place? Nothing made sense. But first things first. She’d give Desperado a chance to answer all her questions after she’d seen Ted’s lawyer.

Chloe leaned forward in her chair and said, “I want to know about the codicil to Ted’s will. I distinctly recall Mama mentioning it. But since she didn’t seem overly concerned about it, I promptly dismissed it.”

A battered desk separated Chloe from the elderly Thadeous Baker. She’d been waiting for him when he opened his office at eight that morning. Baker appeared somewhat startled when Chloe asked him about the codicil to Ted Ralston’s will but seemed willing enough to talk about it.

“I have a copy of the will on file,” Baker said.

Chloe glanced about the cluttered room and seriously doubted the lawyer could find anything, much less a will dating back several years. But to her surprise Baker went to a bulging filing cabinet, pulled open a drawer and withdrew a folder bearing Ted Ralston’s name.

“Ah, here it is,” Baker said, returning to his seat behind his desk. He opened the folder and quickly scanned the contents to refresh his memory. “According to Ted’s will, all his worldly goods were left to your mother, with one small provision. Should his son Logan turn up alive, the land and everything on it would automatically revert to his son. Now you’d better tell me what this is all about.”

“I have reason to believe that Desperado Jones and Logan Ralston are the same man.”

Baker’s eyebrows rose so high they nearly disappeared into his receding hairline as he peered at Chloe over his rimless glasses. “What a preposterous idea! If Desperado Jones really is Logan Ralston, which in my opinion is highly unlikely, then he could claim the land, the ranch, and all Ted’s worldly goods, or what’s left of them,” he added. “But mind you, I’d have to have solid proof before he could claim anything.”

Chloe rose. “Thank you, Mr. Baker, I reckon you’ve answered my question.”

“You realize I’m going to have to pursue this, Miss Sommers,” Baker called after her. “I owe it to Ted Ralston to follow the provisions of his will.”

His words went right over Chloe. She’d learned what she had come for and now it was time to confront Desperado. She had to know. She’d given herself to a gunslinger; had she given herself to Ted Ralston’s son as well?

Desperado was about to walk over to the cafe for breakfast when he heard a frantic knocking on the door. “Coming,” he called, wondering who could be visiting this early in the morning. He checked his gun out of habit, then flung open the door.

“Chloe! Is something wrong?” His first thought was that there was trouble at the Ralston ranch.

“Everything is wrong, Desperado,” Chloe bit out. “May I come in?”

“Of course.” Desperado stepped aside and Chloe brushed past him. His brow furrowed. He could tell by the expression on Chloe’s face that something terrible had happened. If one of the Talbots had given her grief, he’d personally take care of it.

Chloe walked over to the window, then whirled to confront him. “Who are you? I want to know the truth. Who are you,
really?
”

“You know who I am,” Desperado said after a tense pause. “What is this all about?”

“What were you doing in Trouble Creek the day I asked you to work for me?”

“Just riding through.”

“Liar!” Chloe shouted. “What else have you lied to me about?” Her hands were clenched at her sides, her face flushed, and Desperado felt something lurch in the pit of his belly.

What did Chloe know? he wondered. He reached her in three long strides and dragged her against him. He muttered a curse when he felt her stiffen in his arms.

“Tell me what’s bothering you.”

“What’s bothering me is you, Logan Ralston!” Chloe all but shouted.

“What? What did you call me?”

“I called you Logan Ralston. That’s your name, isn’t it?”

“Who told you?”

“Does it matter? Is it true? Or are you going to deny it?”

Desperado shrugged and looked away. “Maybe.”

“Maybe, hell! You know it’s true. Why did you pretend to be dead? Ted mourned you every day of his life. How could you be so heartless?”

Chloe’s accusations set off a firestorm within him. Grasping her arms, he gave her a rough shake. “Heartless! I’ll tell you about heartless. Heartless was the way your mother convinced my father to send me away so she wouldn’t have to look upon my dark, Indian face. For three years Norie found excuses to keep me from returning home. She was jealous of my father’s love and wanted him all to herself. Yes, dammit, I’m Logan Ralston!”

He saw tears gathering in the corners of her eyes and relaxed his grip.

“You let Ted believe you were dead,” she accused.

“I thought it was better that way.”

Chloe rubbed her arms where his fingers had left bruises. “Better for whom? Surely not Ted.”

Desperado had the decency to flush. “I was a kid, banished from my home at a woman’s whim. I begged my father to let me return home, but Norie always came up with a reason why I should remain in San Antonio. After three years I decided I’d had enough and left my aunt’s house without permission. I was determined to convince Father to let me stay home once I arrived. I had an accident along the way. Fortunately, I was found by Indians, nursed back to health and adopted by an Indian family.”

“You were held captive!” Chloe cried. “I knew there was an explanation.”

“No, I wasn’t held captive. I stayed with the Indians because they treated me like one of their own. Unlike my father, they wanted me. I grew to love them. From my foster father I learned how to take care of myself, how to survive in a hostile environment. I struck out on my own when I felt there was nothing more they could teach me.”

“Why didn’t you let Ted know you were alive?”

“I did set out one day to make peace with my father. I’d grown mature enough by then to want to end the estrangement. Unfortunately, I arrived too late. I stood on the sidelines at Father’s funeral. Rumor had it that he’d left his entire estate to his wife, and I didn’t bother to stick around after that. The only reason I’d returned to Trouble Creek in the first place was to see my father. Father’s will contained his final wishes, and I figured I didn’t have the right to reveal my identity and challenge his will.”

“Are you telling me you didn’t know about the codicil to the will?”

Desperado’s brow furrowed. “What codicil?”

“Don’t lie to me! You returned to Trouble Creek to claim your inheritance.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. There is no inheritance.”

“Why
did
you return?”

“I’m not sure.”

“I don’t believe you. You came to claim the ranch, didn’t you?”

Desperado pondered his answer. “That hadn’t been my intention. Not at first, anyway.”

“So you admit—”

“No, hear me out. Don’t condemn me out of hand. I admit I wanted to see you lose your land when I agreed to work for Talbot. I thought it would give me some kind of satisfaction after all the heartache your mother caused me. I didn’t want the ranch for myself, mind you. Shouldering that kind of responsibility didn’t appeal to me. I just didn’t want Norie’s daughter to have something that should have been mine. I know it doesn’t make sense, but my feelings were confused.”

“Oh, God, I can’t bear this. Did you intend to seduce me all along?”

“I…Dammit, Chloe. I…aw, shit! I just couldn’t help myself. I wanted you from the moment I laid eyes on you. I made love to you simply because it was something I had to do. I could no more stop myself than I could stop breathing.”

Chloe pushed past him. He blocked her path. “Where are you going?”

“I have to get out of here. I can’t listen to this. I thought you were beginning to care for me. I refused to believe you were going to walk out of my life. I hoped to convince you to stay. I was wrong, dead wrong. Only a desperate spinster like myself would believe a man like you could care for someone.”

He caught her arm, swinging her around to face him. “You’re not going anywhere. I do care for you. I’m leaving because you deserve better than me.”

Chloe laughed without mirth. “Were you really going to leave? Or were you getting ready to spring your little surprise on me? How soon do you want me to vacate the ranch?”

“I have no legal claim on the ranch, Chloe, and you know it.”

“I suggest you visit Mr. Baker. He was your father’s lawyer. His practice is located above the newspaper office. It will be most enlightening, I assure you.” She gazed pointedly at his hand where it clasped her arm. “Please let me go.”

“No, you’re not going anywhere in the frame of mind you’re in. I don’t want the damn ranch.”

She glared at him. “What
do
you want, Logan Ralston?”

He looked deeply into eyes that reminded him of green fire and knew exactly what he wanted. He wanted something he’d never had before. He wanted a home, a wife, children. He wanted Chloe Sommers. He tried to convey his emotions without words, but she refused to heed his silent plea. Unaccustomed to the strange feelings assailing him, and lacking the words to voice them, Desperado sought another way to make her understand.

Sweeping her into his arms, he carried her to the bed and followed her down onto the colorful but somewhat tattered quilt. She remained stiff, but unresisting as she stared up at him.

“I don’t want you,” she said without conviction. “Everything has changed.”

“Nothing has changed,” Desperado rasped into her ear. He pushed his loins against her softness, making her aware of his rock-hard erection. “I want you, Chloe Sommers.”

“That might have worked yesterday,” Chloe asserted.

He stroked her breast. “It will still work. Forget who I am. Just remember how good we are together.”

“How can I forget your reason for being in Trouble Creek? You want—”

Her words died in her throat as his mouth came down hard on hers. His need for her was raw and consuming. It throbbed inside him as he fought the natural inclination to take what he wanted. Chloe was the first woman whose feelings he’d truly cared about. He had deliberately denied his own feelings, fearing that he wasn’t good enough for her. He’d fought the urge to tell her the truth about himself, aware of the rift it would cause. But now that the truth was out, he had to use whatever means at his disposal to convince her he wasn’t out to claim her land. Didn’t she realize it was legally hers, that he could do nothing to take it from her?