“Except for this piece of bark in your hair.” Molly fished it out and surreptitiously brushed off the back of Clover’s gown. “Apparently you and Mr. MacGregor sorted out your differences. Although I guessed that when that hussy came stomping back in here alone, looking like she had been sucking on lemons.”
“Did my mother and Mr. Doogan return?” Clover asked, nibbling on a piece of cake.
“Yes, they are sitting over there talking quietly.” Molly frowned. “Here is something interesting. It looks to me as if those men who just walked in are not welcome.”
Clover looked toward the door and nearly gasped. Everyone in the room was falling silent and keeping a close eye on the four men. Big Jim Wallis and his three friends were clearly disliked by nearly everyone. She wished that had been enough to make the man stay away, but realized it had been foolish to hope they would never cross paths in Kentucky. When he fixed his dark gaze on her and started toward her, she resisted an urge to look for Ballard, and struggled to meet Big Jim’s glower calmly.
“I’da thought you’d be hightailing it back to Pennsylvania by now,” he said as he stopped in front of her.
“This is my new home. Why should I leave?” She heartily wished there was more than the food table separating them.
“‘Cause you ain’t built for this life and there ain’t gonna be a husband here for you much longer.”
“Is that a threat, Big Jim?” Ballard asked, stepping up to the man’s side.
Big Jim glared at him. “We got some unfinished business, you and me.”
“I dinnae think so. I believe we settled everything that day at the riverfront in Langleyville. We have no quarrel between us, unless ye are thinking of starting one.” He glanced around. “It would appear that ye and yours are nae exactly welcome here. People have long memories, Big Jim, and ‘tis hard to forget that ye nearly killed William Sutter at last year’s spring revel. Maybe it would be better if ye left. A lot of his kin and friends are here.” He nodded toward a large group of men edging toward Big Jim, their fists clenched and their expressions hard and angry. They outnumbered him and his friends nearly three to one.
Big Jim spat on the floor. “I ain’t here to have fun anyhow. Just came to warn you.”
“Warn me?”
“Enjoy her while you can, MacGregor. The day is coming fast when the enemies you done made are gonna get you. You ain’t gonna be standing so tall and cocky then.” He glared at everyone in the room. “And these fools ain’t always gonna be at hand to save your hide. Or hers.”
Ballard frowned as Big Jim and his friends turned and swaggered out the church door. It would be foolish to ignore the man’s threats, but he did not know what to make of them. Briefly he considered gathering up a few men and going after Big Jim to beat a few facts out of him, but he decided against it. It would not be wise to stumble around in the dark after a man who would have no qualms about stabbing someone in the back.
“What the hell was that all about?” demanded Lambert as he and Shelton hurried over.
“I dinnae ken, but I think it would be wise if we keep a close watch out for trouble,” Ballard answered.
“Big Jim wants revenge for that day at the riverfront?” asked Shelton.
“That is certainly some of it, but there seems to be more.” Ballard shrugged. “I cannae figure it all out yet.” He looked at Clover. “Are ye all right, dearling?”
“Fine. It was just a bit of a shock to see him here. Do you have many enemies, Ballard?”
“A few. I dinnae set out to make them, but that doesnae stop me from collecting them. Dinnae fret over it, lass. We will keep a close watch. I have dealt with tougher foes than that oaf.”
As she watched Ballard walk away, Clover knew he was not making an idle boast. Ballard MacGregor would be a hard man to bring down, but he was not invincible, and that knowledge stirred her fears. She could not shake the feeling that she was the cause of the trouble he now faced, and not simply because he had rescued her from Big Jim that day on the waterfront. But the only person who might want to hurt her was Thomas Dillingsworth, and she could not believe he would come all the way to Kentucky to satisfy some twisted need for revenge. He enjoyed his creature comforts too much, for one thing.
“Heed your man,” Molly advised as she handed Clover a cup of punch. “He can take care of himself.”
“I know.” Clover took a bracing sip of the alcoholic brew. “I feel very confident of Ballard’s ability to protect me. What troubles me is that although we know some threat hangs over us, we do not know when the danger will come or why. Our enemiesknow a great deal more about us than we do about them, and that is never good.”
“Well, if I be judging it right, those men now talking to Mr. MacGregor are offering their help.”
“That is certainly some comfort.”
“Pssst.”
Clover frowned and looked at Molly. “Yes?”
“I made no noise. Sounded like it came from under the table.” She glanced down and signaled Clover to do the same.
When she looked down, Clover found herself staring into a pair of familiar brown eyes. The little boy’s face was marked by several bruises. He had obviously suffered even more of Morrisey’s brutality since their brief meeting in Clemmons’s store on her first day in Kentucky. Such behavior was beyond her comprehension.
“Hello again,” she said.
