Not the Marrying Kind (27 page)

Maddie Marlowe, of course. She’d told the
same vicious lies again, had spread the same malicious untruths,
had repeated her damning testimony, not to a judge and jury this
time, but to Reverend Virgil Kendrick.

The sneer on his face more pronounced now,
Kendrick crossed the room and stood looking down at Joshua’s leg.
“You didn’t get shot in the war. That’s just another of your lies.
You got that bad leg when you murdered Frank Lundy, back in Kansas
City.”

Joshua remained calm, refusing to let
Kendrick provoke him. Although his heart cried out to tell the
truth, to speak up and clear his name, he did nothing more than
reach up and scratch at his bearded jaw. Kat was right. He ought to
shave the damn thing off.

“You finished now?” he asked.

Kendrick placed a hand to his forehead,
pressed his thumb and forefinger to his temples, and rubbed. “I
haven’t told Mr. Phillips about your criminal record. Needless to
say, Katherine would never want anything to do with you if she knew
the truth, nor would her father ever allow you to set foot on the
Rocking P Ranch. I’m not a vindictive man, Barron. I do believe in
God’s grace, and I’m willing to offer forgiveness. So long as you
stay away from Katherine, no one will know of the sins you’ve
committed. I give you my word.”

“I don’t need your damned forgiveness.”
Joshua got to his feet. Standing beside Kendrick, he towered over
the man. “And your word’s not worth a plugged nickel as far as I’m
concerned.”

“Watch your language, Mr. Barron.”

“And you watch your step,” Joshua fired back
as he headed toward the door. Upon reaching it, he stopped and
turned toward Kendrick. “If I hear you’ve been sniffing around Kat,
I’ll be back.”

“Is that a threat, Mr. Barron?”

“No, Reverend. It’s a promise.”

* * * *

On Wednesday evening, Kat sat on the front
porch, staring off into the star-studded skies. She’d picked up the
mending from Lucille earlier that day and after supper, she’d
dispatched Benjamin to the cabin with it. She hoped to have a word
with the boy when he returned.

Lucille had done a fine job of mending.
She’d charged twice the usual amount though, but it was worth it.
Kat sighed, thinking of the broad-shouldered shirts and
overly-large socks. She wondered again what difference it made what
size feet a man had. So his were a bit bigger than most. She didn’t
hold it against him.

The screen door opened with a noisy creak
then banged shut as Emily Sue stepped out from the house. “What are
you doing, Kat?”

“Just sitting here. Enjoying the evening.
Want to join me?”

Although the two girls didn’t usually spend
much time together—at least, not by choice—lately Emily had been
acting much nicer. Fewer pranks. More courteous speech. The little
girl was growing up, and Kat had a suspicion as to what had wrought
the changes.

“Emily, have you talked much with Benjamin?”
she asked as her sister sat down beside her.

“No, not really.” There was no moon that
night. Not even the faintest ray of silver illuminated the
darkness, yet Kat could sense how quickly Emily’s face reddened.
The girl hugged her knees close to her chest. “I mean, yeah, sure,
we’ve talked, but not about anything important.”

“Has he ever mentioned his family?”

Emily’s golden ringlets shook. “Of course
not. Ben’s got no family. You know that, Kat.”

“Do you think he’d ever tell a lie?”

Emily frowned. She opened her mouth, but
closed it again. She and Kat both stilled when they heard a horse
and rider approaching.

“Hush, Kat,” whispered Emily. “It’s Ben.
He’s back.”

“Already?” He’d been gone only a short time.
Eager to hear Benjamin’s report, Kat smiled and went to greet him.
At once, she noticed the bag of clothes in his hands.

“Nobody home,” he told her, handing the
shirts and socks to her.

“Oh, well, thanks anyway. Maybe tomorrow you
can catch them.”

“Sure thing, Miss Kat.”

Before she could say another word, Benjamin
and Emily strolled off together. Kat stared at the package in her
hands, then looked up, smiling as the two kids disappeared into the
darkness. Pa might disapprove, but he didn’t need to know. Kat
would never say a word to him about it. In her heart, she
understood the innocent affection Emily and Benjamin shared with
one another.

Later that night as she slipped into bed, a
knock sounded softly at her door.

“Emily, is that you?” she asked, keeping her
voice low. “The door’s open.”

The little girl crept quietly into the room.
“Can I talk to you, Kat?” Instead of bouncing onto the bed as she
so often did, Emily Sue stood beside it, her hands clasped in front
of her. She kept her gaze downcast.

“It’s all right, Em, I’m not going to say
anything to Pa about you and Benjamin, if that’s what you’re
worried about.” She should probably charge a few pennies, at least,
for keeping her mouth shut, but somehow it didn’t feel right to
profit from her little sister’s misery. “I won’t mention it to
Mama, either.”

Emily shook her head. “That’s not what I’m
upset about.”

“What is it?” Kat sat up and peered through
the darkness, wishing there were at least a little moonlight coming
in through the windows. The fear in Emily’s voice alarmed her.
“Please, honey, tell me what’s wrong.”

“I lied to you. I feel awful about it.”

Kat pushed back the covers and swung her
legs over the edge of the bed. “About Benjamin? Is that what you
mean? About his family?”

Emily looked up, pursed her lips, and
nodded.

Clearly, she was in distress. Kat reached
for her hands. “It’s all right, Emily. Don’t cry.”

“But he asked me not to tell anybody.” She
pulled away and crawled onto the bed. “I promised.”

As much as Kat wanted to get the
information, she wouldn’t pry. Not if it meant hurting her sister
or forcing her to betray someone she cared about. “Promises are
sacred. I understand. I won’t ask you to break that promise.” But
weren’t there times, perhaps, when promises should be broken? She
hesitated then took a different approach. “Is Benjamin in some kind
of trouble, Emily?”

“What do you mean?”

“Is he running from something?”

Emily nodded and looked away. “His mother’s
dead, just like he said. But his father’s alive.” She hesitated,
then went on. “Ben’s father is a mean man. He beat him, Kat. He
used to take a bull whip to him.”

“Are you sure of this?” Dear God in heaven,
what sort of man would do such a thing? To his own child, no less.
“Are you sure Benjamin wasn’t just telling tales, leading you on?”
In her heart, Kat knew the boy would never lie to Emily.

“He showed me the scars on his back. There
are scars on his legs, too, and on his arms. You’ve seen them
yourself, Kat. You just didn’t know what caused them.”

True, she’d noticed the ugly marks on
Benjamin’s forearms, but she and Joshua had both assumed they were
from his treacherous slide down the mountainside when they’d found
him.

“Kat, I’m scared.” Emily drew her knees up
and sat huddled beside her sister.

“Scared of what? Scared that Benjamin will
find out you talked to me? I won’t say a word. You did the right
thing by telling me.”

“I’m scared his father might find him. And
I’m scared Ben might run away again.”

Kat placed her arms around her little
sister, touched by the tears on her cheeks. She longed to assure
Emily that everything would be all right, but that was a promise no
one could make.

* * * *

Joshua hated Thursdays. That was the day of
the week when Reverend Kendrick took his evening meal with the
Phillips family. Now that Kat’s feelings toward the man of the
cloth had apparently softened—judging by the time she’d spent with
him on Sunday—Joshua found himself disliking that particular
Thursday even more than usual.

But what should it matter, really? It’s not
like Cody was desperate to find a wife, and if Kat wanted to marry
Reverend Kendrick, it was none of Joshua’s business.

“It don’t make me no nevermind,” he said
aloud, giving his head a shake.

“What’s that?” Cody asked, glancing up from
his plate of beans. Tomato sauce dribbled down his chin. Like
Joshua, he’d shaved off his beard.

“Wipe your face.” Joshua tossed his cousin a
rag.

Cody drew his forearm across his mouth.
“That’s the thing about a beard. Catches all that juice. I don’t
care what you say, I’m letting mine grow back.”

“Fine, do what you want. Like I said, it
don’t make me no never mind.” He repeated his earlier words.

“You weren’t talking about my beard.”

“How the hell would you know what I was
talking about?”

“’Cause you’re my blood, and I can tell
what’s on your mind. It’s that gal. You just don’t want to admit
it.” Cody pushed back his chair and got to his feet. “Listen, let’s
just settle this here and now. I know you don’t much like losing a
bet, so I won’t rub it in. In fact,” he said, reaching up toward a
shelf high on the wall, “I’ll give you the twenty dollars. Money
don’t mean that much to me.” He opened a tin canister and pulled
out a gold piece.

“You need that money for your Saturday night
visits.”

“Nah, not really. I’m getting tired of those
whores, to tell the truth.” He held out the coin. “Go on, take it.
You did your best, found me a pretty little gal, but things didn’t
work out quite like you expected. I know you want her for yourself.
That’s all right with me.”

“I don’t want a wife.” True enough, but he
sure as hell
did
want Kat Phillips in other ways.

“Don’t reckon any man ever thinks he wants
one. But like you pointed out, there are advantages to having a
wife.”

“Yeah, maybe so, but put that money back,
Cody.” He still meant to convince Kat to marry his cousin. In time,
Cody would realize how lucky he was.

“Nope.” He set the gold coin down beside
Joshua’s plate. “Take it, buy that gal something pretty. Maybe new
ribbons for her hair.”

“Suit yourself.” He pocketed the twenty
dollars. Come to think of it, maybe he could pick up some hair
ribbons. Or maybe a box of chocolates. Kat deserved a treat, and
Reverend Kendrick didn’t impress him as the sort of man to give
gifts.

A rapping at the door caught both men by
surprise.

“You expecting somebody, Cody?”

“Course not. You?”

Joshua crossed the cabin, threw open the
door, then called over his shoulder, “It’s Benjamin.” Inviting the
young man in, he nodded toward the sack. “You’ve brought my shirts
and socks, I suppose.” Damn why did he feel such disappointment?
He’d looked forward to picking them up himself and seeing Kat.

“You sure look different, Mr. Barron.”
Benjamin patted his still-smooth cheeks. “You look good without
that beard. I reckon Miss Kat will think so, too.” He leaned
forward. “She never said anything about it to me, but I got the
impression she didn’t much care for it, sir.”

“Oh, really?” Joshua laughed. “Well, then, I
guess it’s a good thing I shaved.” What in hell was he talking
about? Why would Kat’s opinion actually matter? Sure, he’d agreed
when she’d suggested getting rid of it, but like he’d told her
before, he’d already been thinking about it. It had nothing to do
with Katherine Anne Phillips. Not a thing.

He picked up a shirt, smiling as he
inspected the neatly-sewn buttons and the carefully-stitched patch
at the elbow. He checked the freshly-turned collar too.

“Looks like she did a fine job.” He held the
shirt up for Cody to see, then turned back to Benjamin. “Be sure to
tell Miss Kat how much we appreciate this. Tell her she did a right
nice job of it.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a few
coins.

Benjamin shook his head. “Can’t take any
money from you, sir. Kat’s orders.”

“I told her I’d pay.”

“She said she was glad to help out and that
it wouldn’t seem right taking even a cent from you.”

Cody and Joshua exchanged shrugs. “Well, far
be it from me to spend money that doesn’t need to be spent, and I’d
sure hate to upset Miss Kat. But you, Benjamin, deserve a couple
pennies for the delivery service.” He placed two copper coins in
the boy’s hand. “You don’t need to tell her. This is just between
us men.”

“Yeah,” Benjamin said with a grin
brightening his freckled face. “Between us men.”

“Come on in and sit a spell, Benjamin.”
Joshua motioned toward a chair. “I’ve been wanting a chance to talk
to you, maybe get to know you a little better.”

“Yes, sir.” He lowered his gaze.

“No need to have that hang-dog look about
you. I don’t mean you harm, Benjamin. In fact, just the opposite.”
Joshua let out a long, slow breath. Nothing was ever gained by
pussy-footing around a situation, he’d learned. Might as well come
out with it. “I’m looking to protect you, Ben, but in order for me
to do that, I need to know the truth about a few things. Do you
understand why I’m asking?”

Benjamin nodded. His shoulders slumped.
“Yes, Mr. Barron.”

“So, have a seat there.” Joshua gestured
again toward the chair. “We’ll just sit here a spell and have a
good long chat.”

“Yes, sir.” Benjamin took his seat, refusing
to look up.

“Now, I could be wrong. I’ve been wrong a
lot of times in my life, but I don’t think you’ve ever lived in any
orphanage.”

“No, sir.”

“I suspect you’ve got family, and I suspect
there might be somebody looking for you.” He paused, hoping the boy
might speak up, but Benjamin remained silent. “Am I right? Or am I
wrong?”

“My ma’s gone, sir. Yeah, I still got a
father, but he’s not a good man. I don’t want to go back to
him.”

“What’s your name, son? Where are you
from?”