Chapter Fifteen
DEIRDRE HAD A PIECEof straw stuck in her hair when she met Liam and Tilly near the wide-open front door of the livery stable. For half a moment, Liam was able to smile as he pointed it out to her.
She brushed it aside and shook her head. “All I have to do is walk in the door and I find straw in my hair or clinging to my skirts.” She looked from Liam to Tilly. “It’s nice to see you both. Tilly, are you finally coming to take a horse out for a ride? You’re always welcome to do that. The marshal was in here yesterday, telling me just how much you loved horses. Or . . .” She looked between them, delight dancing in her eyes. “Are you wanting a carriage for a romantic ride together? I wish we had a sleigh to rent out. I mentioned that to Jeremiah and Roman just the other day. Wouldn’t it be nice to take a sleigh ride down by the creek with the snow falling all around you?”
Deidre took her husband’s new partnership in the livery almost more seriously than he did. Tilly nodded in agreement, but Liam’s mind was already back on the reason they were there. Worry knotted his stomach. What if Dutch Rodgers had already paid a visit here and Deirdre hadn’t known? It wasn’t as if he’d shown his face in Crest Stone last summer. Instead, he’d sent two other men to do his bidding. No one knew what the man looked like except Liam—and now Tilly.
“What’s wrong?” Deirdre’s smile had fallen.
Liam took a deep breath, and he hoped that what he had to say wouldn’t scare his sister too much. “Dutch Rodgers is in town.”
Her eyes widened. “Are you certain? But why? Did you see him? What does he want?”
Tilly’s hand found his and squeezed, and that somehow steadied him. “He spoke with Tilly last night, at Weston Gardiner’s social. I thought—” He swallowed and shook his head. “I thought I’d seen him a few days before, but I convinced myself that I’d mistaken someone else for him. But there was no mistaking him last night. I don’t know why he’s here or what he wants. He disappeared when he spotted me.”
Deirdre’s hand covered her mouth. This news had to be a shock. It certainly was to Liam, and he couldn’t imagine how it terrified Deirdre.
He went on to give her a description. Thankfully, she hadn’t remembered seeing anyone that fit it. Perhaps Rodgers would leave his sister alone, leaving Liam only to worry about Tilly and himself.
“I’ll tell Jeremiah and Roman,” Deirdre said. “Have you alerted the marshal or—”
“No.” Liam shook his head emphatically. “Not yet,” he amended when he saw Deirdre’s look of disapproval. “I will if I need to. I promise.” And then he said a quick prayer that it wouldn’t be necessary. The last thing he wanted was James Wright staring him down with a look of utter fury again. If the man believed Liam had put his sister in danger . . . Liam didn’t want to think about it.
“Are you certain we shouldn’t tell Jamie?” Tilly asked as they left the livery. A gust of wind blew a loose strand of chestnut hair across her face. Liam paused and brushed it back, not fully realizing what he was doing until his hand lingered on her cheek.He dropped it as heat rushed to his face and began walking again.
“He already despises me enough,” Liam said. “Let me see if I can’t work out what the man wants first.”
When Tilly didn’t reply, he added, “I was honest with Deirdre. I will go to your brother if I feel we’re in true danger.”
She nodded slowly. “You were so quiet last night after we returned. Why do you suppose Mr. Rodgers is here?”
Liam said nothing for a moment. The cheerful greenery and ribbon on the doors they passed was a stark contrast to every thought churning through his mind. “I don’t know. But after last night, I’m certain it has to do with me.”
And the only way he was going to find out was if he found Rodgers and asked him directly.
When they reached the hotel and he’d deposited Tilly back at their room, he left her with strict instructions. “Stay in the hotel today. I should have more information tonight.”
She eyed him curiously. And then she nodded, as if she understood what he wasn’t saying. She laid a hand on his arm. “Please be careful. And Liam . . .”
He looked down into her concerned face. He had the strongest urge to lift his hand to her cheek again, but he had no excuse this time.
“Remember that you have friends in this town. You have good men working with you this time. No Dutch Rodgers or anyone else can take that from you. You’ve worked hard to get to where you are.” Her voice was soft but strong, and her words wrapped themselves around his heart.
It meant the world to have someone who believed in him. He’d never realized that before when he’d only leaned upon himself. But now Tilly was here, looking up at him with a fierce admiration in her eyes, and it was almost more than he could bear. He couldn’t possibly fail with her behind him.
He gave in then. Cupping her jaw with one hand, he smiled down at her. He wanted to thank her. To tell her what it meant to him, but words escaped him. Instead, he held her gaze, hoping she understood.
