“I told him it needed to remain that way, and he agreed.” Wright looked at him expectantly.
Not sure what response Tilly’s brother wanted from him, Liam simply nodded. “I’ll keep you apprised.”
“You do that.” There was a note of irritation in Wright’s voice that Liam had grown all too familiar with.
“Of course. Thank you for your help,” Liam forced himself to say. He looked past Wright, ready to make his escape. Somehow, facing his fears with Tilly somehow seemed much less intimidating that standing here with her brother.
“Right,” the marshal said shortly. He shifted his stance and let out a deep breath. “I’ll be honest with you, Hannan. I don’t like you. I don’t trust you, not after what happened here over the summer. I think you’re too ambitious and cavalier with the lives of those around you. I was hoping you’d changed, so I gave you the benefit of the doubt when it came to your offer to marry Tilly. Now I’m wondering if I ought to have tossed you into a jail cell and sent her right back to our parents in Kansas.”
Liam flexed his gloved hands, searching for the right words. Hehadchanged. He knew he had. And yet, here was his past, come back to mess up his present.
He couldn’t even remember what he’d said in reply to Wright. Something to the effect of doing anything to keep Tilly safe, which seemed like all hecouldsay.
But could he keep her safe?
The question had haunted him all day.
“Liam.” Tilly appeared just then, radiant in the patterned dress he’d first seen her in. She smiled at him, and he did his best to return it as he rose to pull out her chair.
The waitress arrived shortly thereafter to tell them what the chef had on offer that night. Tilly had apparently befriended the girl, as they quickly chatted before the waitress had to run off to another table.
“I suppose I’ve discovered how you’ve kept yourself busy the past couple of days,” Liam said, forcing himself to make light conversation despite all the worries on his mind.
“The girls who work here are quite friendly,” Tilly replied. “They were kind enough to let me help decorate the lobby yesterday.”
It should’ve been a cheerful piece of information to relay to him, but as Tilly spoke, her eyes searched the room around them and her face appeared pinched.
Of course, Liam realized. She was just as worried about Rodgers as he was. He wanted to reach out a hand to lay it upon hers, but it felt as if he somehow didn’t deserve to touch her until he could ensure her safety. So he dropped his hands to his lap.
“There is something you ought to know,” Tilly said, her gaze coming back to meet his. “Mr. Rodgers has taken a room here. He found me in the hallway this morning to inform me. He was none too pleased that you sent my brother to visit him at the boardinghouse.”
The room spun as Liam digested Tilly’s news. “He’s here. At the hotel.” He crumpled the napkin in his lap as Tilly nodded. “Did he hurt you?”
“No, but . . . He grabbed my arm at one point just as I was about to leave, and I believe he only let go because a maid walked into the hallway.” Tilly pushed her shoulders back, as if she were trying to convince herself that the man hadn’t scared her at all. “I refused to let him think he frightened me, though.”
Liam’s heart ached. She shouldn’t have to worry about any man scaring her. Least of all one that felt the need to because of Liam. “I’m so sorry,” he said, his voice barely a whisper. “That shouldn’t have happened.”
She tilted her head. “You couldn’t have prevented it. You need to work, and you can’t do that here.”
“Yes, but he wouldn’t have approached you at all if it weren’t for me.”
“Liam, this isn’t your fault.”
But he barely heard her. All he could think was that itwashis fault. If he’d been more careful last summer. More patient and less willing to throw his lot in with criminals, then none of thiswould have happened. Tilly would have been happily enjoying her time in town, not hiding at the hotel.
And that wasn’t even safe anymore.
“I’ll move us out of here, as soon as I can,” he said decisively. He didn’t know where, but he’d figure it out. He’d take a room at Fred Polson’s if Tilly could stay with her brother, or with Deirdre.
Or anywhere away from him.
“I’m not sure that will change anything,” she said quietly.
Maybe it wouldn’t, but he had to try. He’d been so worried about failing again in business that he hadn’t given much thought at all to failing in his marriage.
But maybe he should. Distance from him might be the only thing that could keep Tilly safe.
DUTCH RODGERS WAS WAITINGfor him in the dining room the next morning.
