He couldn’t keep away from her, even though he had promises to keep first, promises that placed him and Kate’s father at opposite ends of the law.
Clint had never cared much for the law.Perhaps because only one thing had mattered during the four years of war: loyalty to men who fought alongside him.It seemed crazy to him that he could do things during the war that would now condemn him.
Still, Clint’s conscience gnawed at him.He wondered whether the reason was Kate, whether she had shaken his insides, rearranging his heart, soul, and conscience.
So many things were pricking at him now: the woman up at Rafe’s camp; the lies to Kate’s father, a man Clint liked and admired, even the purposeful betrayal of a man who employed him.
Clint pulled on his coat in his private room in the bunkhouse.The foreman, Nate Kerry, would be coming, too, tonight, along with Mr.Randall.
The dances were monthly affairs, held at the school that Mr.Randall had built in Rushton.All the ranchers, town people, and some miners attended, as much to exchange information as to dance and socialize.This dance would be of particular importance.There would be talk about the robberies.There would be discussions on what to do about them.
Clint hoped Randall’s guest wouldn’t tail along.McClary was one of the most disagreeable and demanding men he’d ever met.Clint didn’t know why Randall tolerated him or made his men cater to him.McClary had been at the ranch on previous occasions, each time making enemies of all the hands.
Clint reminded himself to tell Rafe about McClary when he rode up to the cabin tomorrow.He’d already told Randall he planned to be gone all day, out hunting for a pack of wolves.Ben, Skinny, and the others would also be at Rafe’s cabin tomorrow, making plans for the next stage holdup.
Clint wondered briefly how the woman was doing.He knew Rafe well enough to realize that he wouldn’t harm her, but that look of fear in her eyes, of pleading, had stayed with Clint.He understood the necessity of holding her, but he didn’t like it any more than Rafe obviously had.
He thought of Kate being in the same position, and he felt a sudden tightening in his heart.Damn his brother.
The town dance was considerably more somber than usual.There were many more small groups of men talking quietly than there were couples dancing.
Clint had trouble concentrating on Kate as he danced with her, his feet unusually clumsy as he tried to listen in on various conversations.
In fact, he’d had trouble concentrating on anything since he’d arrived and heard that first scrap of information: “A miner was murdered last night.Must be the same outlaws that’s been attacking the stagecoach.”
“Clint?Is something wrong?”Kate’s voice was low, concerned.
He tried to smile, but he feared it was only a poor attempt.What in hell was going on?
“I’m sorry,” he said, as he tried to focus his attention on his partner.She looked very pretty, her taffy-colored hair pulled back and tendrils softly curling around her face.That face came alive with animation when she spoke, and she had a happy laugh that always seemed to light a room.Her green eyes had been sparkling earlier, but now they were concerned as they studied him.
Kate was twenty-one, an age at which a girl was considered an unlikely prospect for marriage.It was not that she’d not had opportunities; Clint knew every unmarried man in the valley courted her, but she’d seemed content enough to keep house for her father and two older brothers.She was unlike any other girl he’d met; she could discuss ranching with the most veteran of old hands, and she rode a horse as well as her father and brothers.
After the dance, he guided her to where her father, Sheriff Russ Dewayne, and brothers, Ed and Michael, stood.
“I’m thinking about putting a posse together,” Russ Dewayne said, “but Jack doesn’t think that’s such a good idea.”
Clint turned toward his employer, lifting an eyebrow in question.He would have thought Randall would have been the first to demand a posse since it was his payrolls that had been robbed, but he had been curiously quiet about it.
Randall shrugged now.“I just think it would be useless.There are a thousand hiding places in these hills.”
“What would you suggest?”Dewayne asked.
“More guards on the next coach,” Randall replied.“The others have been easy targets with only a driver and Old Pete riding shotgun.”
Dewayne hesitated, looked cautiously around him, and then said in a lower voice, “What about an ambush?We know where they struck last time.We can get there early.Your new payroll is coming on the next stage, isn’t it?”
Randall hesitated.“I’m thinking about sending several of my men to bring it back.”
“What worries me,” said Ed Dewayne, “is this attack on the miners.I think we all hoped that those stagecoach robberies were committed by outlaws just passing through.”
Randall’s eyes moved to the couples dancing, and Clint sensed his employer wanted to change the subject.Why?Did he know who was responsible for the stage robberies?Even more important, did he know anything about the attack against the miner?It hadn’t been Rafe, Clint knew that.A bullet in the back wasn’t Rafe’s style.But Rafe sure as hell was going to be blamed for it.Along with everyone who rode with him.
He felt Kate’s touch on his arm.
Clint looked down at her and saw the concern in her eyes, and he swallowed a sudden rush of pleasure.It was a new experience for him, watching a woman’s eyes deepen with caring, and he didn’t quite know how to handle it.Particularly now, when he was bound to hurt her.
He smiled feebly, knowing that he would probably be seen as troubled by the recent robberies and murder.Acting a deceitful role did not come easily to him.He didn’t like lying to men he liked and respected.Or to the first woman who had made him feel like settling down.
