“But I do,” the man said, his attention returning to Nate. He raised the pistol just slightly, and Nate lifted his hands, keeping them outstretched in front of him.
He had nothing with which to defend himself, although given his recent inability to do just that, it probably didn’t matter. In fact, without a gun in his own hand, he could think. And he could speak. If he kept the man talking, then perhaps he could think of a way out of this situation.
“I’m sorry, I don’t believe we’ve met,” he said. “I’m Nate Harper.”
“I know who you are,” the man growled.
“His name is Paul Griffiths,” Miss Flagler supplied, almost as if she were irritated that her beau had forgone social niceties.
“May I ask, Griffiths, why you’re standing in my place of business with a pistol pointed at me?” If Nate were a gambling man, he would have laid down a tidy sum that the reason was Miss Flagler and her spurious accusation. But he wanted the man talking, and not shooting.
“You embarrassed my fiancée,” Griffiths said.
“Fiancée?” Nate raised his eyebrows and glanced at Miss Flagler.
“It’s . . . it’s unannounced,” she said, stumbling over the words.
Nate had all sorts of opinions about that on the tip of his tongue, but he kept those to himself, choosing only to say, “Congratulations. When do you plan to be married?”
“It’s no business of yours,” Griffiths replied sharply. “But I can’t have any man going around and telling folks that Sissy is anything less than the good woman she is.”
Nate also had many opinions onthatstatement. Although considering Miss Flagler attempted to warn him about Griffiths, he was on the verge of changing his general opinion about her. “I assure you, I’ve said nothing whatsoever about Miss Flagler.”
Griffiths narrowed his eyes. “You lie.”
“I do not.” He had to tread carefully. If he insulted Miss Flagler at all, it might send this man over the edge—and Miss Flagler herself might regret her attempt to help him and join her fiancé instead. “There was a simple misunderstanding that is all over now. I’m happily married, and it appears you two will be also.”
“A simple misunderstanding?” Griffiths shook his pistol. “Is that what you call—”
“Paul! Please, stop.” Miss Flagler stepped forward now and wrapped her hands around his arm as she looked up at him. “Mr. Harper is being truthful.”
Griffiths glanced at her quickly before returning his glare to Nate. “That isn’t what you told me after we met. He led you on, and when your father pressed him for your hand, he tried to ruin your reputation by producing a fiancée from essentially nowhere, indicating that you had made it all up.”
Tears rolled down Miss Flagler’s face now. She looked at Nate, who returned her gaze with sympathy. As much as he’d come to dislike her for what she’d done, it was hard to feel anything but pity for the woman now.
“I did. I fabricated the story,” she said softly through her tears. “I’m the one who pushed myself onto him, and when he acted the gentleman and refused me, I was angry.”
Nate held his breath. Surely the man would realize she was speaking the truth and lower that gun.
But instead, he grunted and shook his head. “No. That isn’t what you told me. And considering everything I’ve done hasn’t driven Harper from town yet, I’ll take care of him myself.”
Keep him talking, Nate ordered himself, even as the man’s expression grew harder and more dangerous.
“You were the one who sent men over here to tear up my studio and scare my wife,” he said.
“You didn’t,” Miss Flagler whispered.
“It’s the least he deserves,” Griffith said, his eyes on Nate. “I want you gone from this town.”
“And you sent that man after Ruthann—twice,” Nate pressed as his mind searched for a way out of this situation.
“Only once, but Jonesy likes to do a thorough job. Or he did, anyhow. I don’t know where he’s gotten off to.”
Miss Flagler was shaking her head, red-rimmed eyes looking at Griffiths like she didn’t know a thing about any of this. “I thought those were only threats.”
“I follow through on everything I say. I’m a man of my word,” Griffiths replied. Then he frowned. “Unlike the Sergeant or the men he found.”
Nate had been so preoccupied with the gun pointed at him the first time Griffiths had mentioned this Sergeant that he’d barely taken notice of it. But now . . .
