“No. That’s a stupid idea.”
“Yeah. Probably was.” He stood. “Leaving.”
Desiree nodded.
“I promise I’ll have your money for you soon.”
She wanted to believe him, but she suspected she was never going to get out of Falls Hollow. “Just go.”
“Desi,” he said softly. When she didn’t look at him, he left.
40
Ah, there you are,” Berry said when Laurel joined him in the parlor. “The cook said you went to the barn, but I looked out once and didn’t see you or anyone else.” He folded the newspaper he’d been reading and set it on the side table.
“Please. Don’t stop reading on my account.”
“Old news,” he said. “I read it when it was released in Denver.”
“Of course.” She took a seat in an armchair catty-cornered to where he was sitting on the sofa. “I was taking care of my horse.”
“Surely that’s what you have stage tenders to do.”
“I like to look after Abby myself. And the tenders had other horses to see to.”
“I see. Forgive me. I’m woefully ignorant about caring for the animals. I’ve never owned a horse.”
“Most of the horses here belong to Henderson Express.”
“What will happen to them if the train comes this way?”
“I imagine it will be the end of their trail days if the train doesn’t pass through here. Sam will sell off what mares he can and either pay me to care for the ones that are left or tell me to shoot them.”
Berry blinked. “Could you do that?”
“No, but Sam doesn’t know I can’t. I’ll board them for free for as long as I can. There won’t be much for any of us to do if...” Laurel looked away and couldn’t finish hersentence. Instead she said, “When do you plan to make your decision?”
“Soon.”
She looked at him again, studying his face, trying to discern the thoughts at the back of his dark, deep-set eyes. When she couldn’t, she asked baldly, “Are you in anticipation of a bribe?”
Of all the things he could have done just then, he did the least expected. He laughed, genuinely and with obvious humor. He removed a handkerchief from his pocket and dabbed at his eyes. “Forgive me,” he said. “My only excuse is that it was so astonishing. Usually the offer is put to me with the assumption that I’ll accept it. You’re the first person who’s ever asked me straight.” He tucked the handkerchief back into his pocket. “What sort of bribe did you have in mind?”
“I’m not offering.”
“And I’m not accepting. More curious than anything else.”
Laurel took a breath and spoke quickly before she lost her nerve. “When you asked me if I’d put you up for the night here, I thought...”
“I’m sorry for that. Truly. I had to know that you were unimpeachable. It was expected of me. The railroad could not be swayed from having an answer.”
“You hinted that you were open to that particular favor when Mr. Landry had dinner with you in Denver.”
“I’m not surprised he told you. I hoped he would. I needed to plant the seed and I thought I recognized fertile ground there. Mr. Landry was complimentary of you. It seemed that there might be something behind those compliments.”
Laurel thought it best not to confirm or deny what Berry supposed was the truth. “What have the Hammersmiths offered you?”
Berry’s sandy brown eyebrows lifted. “You know about that?”
