Page 24

T he bell on the door jangled. Rebekah started, hand flying to her chest.

She’d been jumpier than usual. After going to see the marshal four days ago to report the man with the tattoo on his hand, she’d been warned by the marshal against printing any information in the newspaper, but not forbidden.

With Mr. Sullivan out of town to visit his daughter, it’d seemed the perfect opportunity for Rebekah to print the news.

News that might up the readership and save the paper.

And hadn’t Mr. Sullivan taught her that the truth must be told?

Even now, the marshal and her deputies were busy searching for the criminal. The one who’d eluded them at every turn.

She closed her eyes tight, exhaled, then opened them as she spun to face the door.

“Everybody all right?” Mr. Lee handed over a stack of mail, a questioning expression on his face.

Rebekah offered a reassuring smile that all was well, even as sweat slicked her hands.

Mr. Lee tipped his hat, backing up to the door to let himself out.

Shuffling through the stack, she separated the items and ambled back to place all the bills on Mr. Sullivan’s desk. Too many bills. Mixed in amongst the other mail were a few letters for mail-order bride ads. None for Isaac. None for her.

She hadn’t slept a wink last night, thinking about what had happened.

Ed had kissed her.

She shouldn’t be thinking of it. Not after her proposal to Isaac in the last letter she’d sent.

But when she’d been in Ed’s arms, she hadn’t thought of Isaac once.

She’d not had another letter since writing her apology to him. She didn’t know what to do. The busywork wasn’t enough to distract her mind. She tapped the envelopes against the desk before moving to place them in the appropriate boxes.

Finished, she wandered back to her desk.

Rebekah eased her chair back and began opening her desk drawers one by one, taking everything out of them, wiping them out, then replacing the items in a tidier manner.

This place needed a good dose of organization.

Mr. Sullivan had been gone so often lately.

When he was here, he acted out of sorts.

His usually organized desk was a mess. She’d caught the Late Notice stamp on more than one invoice.

At least he’d return to find her area in order. When she fumbled the bottom drawer open, all the memories of those hidden letters flashed back. If she hadn’t hidden them, Mr. Sullivan wouldn’t be so angry.

She shook the image of his frustration away. In its place, the replay of Ed’s encouragement flashed through her. He believed in her writing. Warmth crept up from her neck to flush her face. She placed both hands on her cheeks to cool them.

There had to be another way to occupy her time and push back her nerves. Slamming the drawer shut, she raised her head at the very moment Ed strode past the big window of the newspaper office. She stood, smoothing her skirt, her hands trembling, but for an entirely different reason.

Perhaps he had an errand in town taking him past her office. Once he reached the end of the window, he paced back to the door, moving his lips while mumbling to himself.

What was he doing? Why was he in town earlier than usual to take her home? He looked as conflicted as she felt.

He came back again, heading toward his destination—to see her?—with shoulders straight and determined.

The bell of the door to the newspaper office jangled, and her heart began to pound. One hand flew to tuck a loose strand of hair back in place.

Ed stepped inside. His hand tapped his hat, but he didn’t remove it, as if deciding whether to stay. His clear blue eyes locked with hers. A hint of a shadow darkened his cheekbone beneath one of his eyes.

“Morning, Rebekah.” His lips lifted in a sheepish sort of grin. One that made her heart leap in her chest. She wanted to see that smile all the time.

He removed his hat, then replaced it. His fingers trailed over the twine on the nearest stack of papers. She’d never seen him so unsettled.

“Morning.” That kiss from the other day clouded her thoughts and made her nerves worse.

“Do you have time for a walk?” The words rushed out of him faster than she’d ever heard him speak. Surely he hadn’t come to town early just to walk with her.

“I do.” She pushed the chair back as she stood, smoothing her skirt.

She couldn’t bear to stay in the empty office a moment longer.

A walk with Ed was the best distraction she could think of.

This recent development in her own feelings left her more curious than all the flip-flopping her heart had done earlier.

“Actually, I need to—” Ed fumbled his hat. He stepped back to open the door, holding it for her. “The weather is fairly mild for a summer day.”

They’d taken a few steps down the boardwalk before she realized he was offering her his arm.

“It is a fine day.” Rebekah looped her arm through his extended one. For a moment she found herself holding her breath, his arm warm under her fingers. His muscles were tense.

The clomping of his boots filled the awkward silence. “I, um, did you get the paper all ready to go out?”

“They’re waiting for pickup.” She’d expected him to bring up the kiss. Hadn’t he said they shouldn’t have kissed? She didn’t want to hear him say it again. “How’s the family?”

When she tipped her head, she caught the way he worked his jaw.

“Any news from the marshal?” he asked.

She shook her head. He hadn’t answered her question.

“What about your aunt and uncle?” he asked before she could press him on it.

She leaned into his arm. “Are you anxious to be rid of me?”

“No.” His instant response warmed her. Until he added, “I wondered whether Vess had tried to make you see sense. After you wrote him about the bandit and the ranchers.”

She glanced across the street, knowing it would mean he couldn’t see her face directly.

Ed slowed and tugged her to where she faced him. His eyes searched her face. “You didn’t tell them about the bandit. About what’s been going on around here. And now you’re putting yourself in danger.”

It wasn’t a question, so she simply hiked her chin and held his stare.

He didn’t like it. She could see his thoughts in his expressive eyes, the tic at one side of his mouth. But he gathered her arm in his again and started walking.

The end of the boardwalk loomed ahead, but Ed made no sign of stopping. This time, a silence fell between them.

She hadn’t meant to hurt his feelings. She cleared her throat. “I appreciate your protective manner.”

“You do?” Now he was looking at her directly, and she couldn’t make out the emotion passing through his eyes.

Her breath froze in her chest. Everything was unsettled between them.

“Has Isaac—” She broke off the question as she registered the minute tightening of Ed’s eyes.

His lips settled in a determined line. He nodded, almost to himself. “We should talk about Isaac. He’s not—I’m the one?—”

A shot echoed from somewhere nearby. Dirt kicked up in front of the boardwalk, only feet from her shoes.

* * *

Realization crashed into him, and Ed jerked his head up, grabbing Rebekah’s arm to pull her back on the boardwalk while keeping his body between her and the direction of the gunshot. His hands moved to her forearms, pulling her close to him as a woman screamed from somewhere behind them.

He had to get her to safety. Rebekah’s head lifted as she tried to peer past him.

“Keep your head down.” He hissed out the words.

His first thought was that a brawl at the saloon had gotten out of control.

But it was early in the day. The street had emptied after the shot.

He pulled Rebekah back toward the town, his elbow knocking against the side of the dry-goods store as he passed around the corner.

A woman shoved her child through a shop door.

Ed pushed Rebekah behind him, shielding her body with his as he made for the front of the store.

“Let me see.” Her words were terse as she pushed her hand against his shoulder, struggling to see past him.

“Get back,” he grunted.

“Can you see anything?” Before he could stop her, Rebekah peered around the corner again. He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her back as a shot rang out and splintered the shingle that’d been right by her face.

He’d been in plain view for much longer than she had. “Whoever is doing the shooting is aiming at you.”

He must have said his thought aloud, because when their eyes met, hers were wide and terrified. Another shot rang out.

Ed pushed Rebekah against the wall. Face-to-face, they were close enough to kiss.

I’m the one who sent you those letters.

The words stuck in his throat. “C’mon. Let’s head for the marshal’s.” He guided her forward, weaving into another one of the alleyways. An angled shot nicked the side of the buildings.

A man on a horse raced past what Ed could see of the street, his hat pulled down over his eyes and a bandanna covering the rest of his face. Seconds later, the marshal followed close behind on her horse, moving so fast she was a blur.

Heart still racing, Ed stood slow and easy, then motioned to Rebekah.

“You’ll be safe at the marshal’s office.” He wrapped his arm around her shoulders in a protective stance as he led her back to the boardwalk.

He opened the door, letting her walk in first. Others from the town were peeking out from their shop doors as he stepped inside behind Rebekah. She turned slightly to face him. How he’d wanted to tell her about those letters.

“I’m so glad you were there.” Her lip trembled, then she folded into his arms.

As she leaned closer into him, the shaking of her delicate frame unnerved him. This was not the time to tell her, just the time to hold her. Ed let his eyes close as he wished for all he’d ever wanted to become a reality.

He lost track of time as he held her, until a rattle at the doorknob startled Rebekah.

She pushed away from him, swiping at her eyes as she did.

A tear-dampened spot on the front of his shirt clung to him, reminding him how close they’d been.

The door swung open, bringing a faint breeze along with a whiff of open spaces and horse sweat.

“I lost him at the canyon.” Marshal O’Grady frowned. “I’ve sent my best tracker after him.”

The marshal rounded her desk, glancing in concern at Rebekah before her sharp gaze met Ed’s. “Several folks grabbed me and said he was aiming at you. Seemed to think someone upset with you saw you in town and took a shot.”

Her pointed stare landed on Rebekah again.

Ed focused on Rebekah with concern. Her haunted eyes met his. The gunshots had shaken her like nothing else had. If only she’d listened to him before.

“I’ll need statements from both of you.” The marshal made her way around the desk, then settled herself in the chair. “Have a seat.”

Ed pulled out a chair, directing the still-shaken Rebekah to sit. She wound her hands together on her lap, a slight tremble still noticeable. His mind worked as Rebekah recounted what had happened. It was a big risk to take a shot in town, where anyone could see. What had prompted the man to do it?

“I’ve heard rumors coming out of the Jones ranch,” Danna said slowly. She played with a pencil on her desk. “And cowboys talk when they come to town to visit the saloon. That article you wrote has caused quite the ruckus.”

Rebekah was so shaken that she didn’t argue. She wasn’t all right.

“We’re putting a posse together to go after the shooter.” The marshal rose as if dismissing them. “It will take some time.”

“Rebekah can’t stay alone at the Boutwell place. She’d make an easy target.” Ed took a step in the marshal’s direction.

“I agree.” Marshal O’Grady shoved her hat back on.

Ed couldn’t see Rebekah’s face where she sat in the chair, but he felt the moment of hesitation before she said, “But I can stay above the newspaper office. Surely I’ll be safe there.”

The thought of someone taking a shot at her again when she was alone and vulnerable plagued him—an image of her, lifeless and cold, that he had to blink away. “Come stay with Drew and Kaitlyn. We take care of our own.”

Ed threw a pleading glance in Marshal O’Grady’s direction as Rebekah stood, shaking her head.

“You should listen to Ed,” Danna said gently.

Rebekah wanted to accept. He could see it.

He pressed. “Kaitlyn will be upset if you don’t come. If anything happened to you—” He watched her focus out the window, considering. “ I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

“Would you come with me to the newspaper office? I have to gather my things before we leave town.” Her fingers rubbed across her forehead as she let out a soft sigh. “With Mr. Sullivan at his daughter’s again, I also need to lock up the office.”

Ed slipped his hand under her arm. “Of course. You ready?”

The nod of her head was so slight that he wouldn’t have noticed if he hadn’t been so fixated on her—so grateful she’d heeded his warning this time and let him protect her without argument.

It wasn’t until they were seated beside each other on the wagon bench, rifle across his knees, that he realized he might’ve made a mistake.

He’d come to town to confess everything.

The letters. His feelings. Now he was bringing her home.

Closer to where Isaac was. At least his brother hadn’t come down the mountain, even after their brawl.

He needed a chance to state his piece to Rebekah.

He broke from his vigilant scan of the road to glance her way. She was still shivering beside him, worrying her lip between her teeth.

Not yet.

Soon.