Another insistent knock sounded and although she glanced toward the disruption with a nervous glance, he kept his cool. He imagined it wasn’t Mr. Miracle paying a cautionary visit this time, but he wasn’t going to tell her that.He decided that whatever fate lay beyond that doorhe was going toaccept it like a man.
“Open the door, Elise.”
He could see the moisture swimming in her gaze as she looked at him. “Chauncey, please. Don’t do this.”
He had to clench his jaw to keep from kissing her. Since Martha, he hadn’t had anyone that truly cared about his welfare. But while he might appreciate her devotion to him, he wasn’t sure he’d earned it. “I’m tired of running,” he said evenly.
They regarded one another for a moment more, and then Elise slowly straightened. Smoothing her hands down her dress, she turned and walked over to the door. He saw her shoulders stiffen as she reached out and grasped the knob.
“Good evening, gentlemen.” Chauncey heard her greet her guests in a somber tone. He also noticed that she hadn’t fully opened the door to allow them to see inside where he was sitting. “To what do I owe the honor of this visit?”
“I apologize for the intrusion, Miss Erindelle. But we have reason to believe that you may be harboring a fugitive.”
She snorted at the accusation. “How preposterous! Whoever gave you that idea, Sheriff?”
“There were two men who came to Charming a few days ago witha claim—”
Chauncey closed his eyes and blocked out the rest of the Sheriff’s statement.Healready knew what he was going to say. After hisconfrontation with the two deserters who’d tried to harm Elise, he’d had the feeling he hadn’t seen the last of them. They were the type who didn’t take kindly to being ordered about and would seek revenge if the opportunity arose. No doubt they’d stumbled across one of Chauncey’s wanted posters and decided to turn him in for the bounty.
“They’re lying!” He heard Elise return hotly. “Those men were nothing more than deserters from the war who came here to pillage my root cellar. I can assure you that their intentions were far from honorable, then or now!”
“I thought that might be the case, Miss Erindelle. I’m sorry we had to disrupt your evening meal—”
Chauncey wasn’t sure what made him speak up. If he would have kept silent, then the threat would have passed and he could have spent the remainder of the night in Elise’s charming company. “No need to rush off, Sheriff. We were just about to play a hand of poker.”
Elise whipped her head around and pinned him with an anguished look. A pang shot through his midsection as he quickly averted his gaze and focused instead on the men who entered. The middle-aged man who led the trio was the sheriff, for when he moved and his coat shifted, Chauncey caught sight of a bright gold star on his belt. No doubt there was a pistol right next to it.
As the other two men came into view, Chauncey’s mouth kicked up at the corner, for they were well known to him.Stephen Gregory and Thomas Paineweretwo of the bestbounty hunterswhowere employed bythe Hudson Bay Company.He’d spoken to them many times when he’d worked atFortGarry, had even assisted them on several instances.However, Chauncey couldn’t help but grin, for it was rather ironic that these fellow Canadians should now be on the hunt for him.
He could tell the moment they recognized him as well, for instead of the friendly recognition they used to show him, now there was greed in their eyes. Then again, money often won out over all else and his head was currently priced at two thousand dollars.
“Mr. Cade.” Stephen looked just as Chauncey remembered him, a lumbering sort of man with dark features similar to his, with a direct gaze and that familiar bulge in his cheek that proved he still enjoyed his chewing tobacco.
“Mr. Gregory,” he returned dryly. “What a surprise to see another one of my countrymen in the wilds of Texas.” His focus shifted to his companion. “And Mr. Paine, of course. A pleasure, as always.”
Thomas reached up and tipped his hat, butsaid nothing.Then again, Chauncey knew he’d always been a man of little words. Rumor had it that he’d received the scar that ran down the side of his left cheek courtesy of a resistant bounty. However, the cloudy eye that was revealed made the sandy haired man appear more menacing.
Chauncey waved his hand to encompass the single chair across from him. “Please, have a seat.” When the men remained standing, he added quietly, “How foolish of me. Pray, forgive my oversight.” He pinned Stephen with a glare, as he was currently the biggest threat of the three. “Since there’sjustone, I suspect you’ll have to fight for it.”
Stephen’s grin broadened and he took a step forward,onlyto have his path blocked by Elise as she slid between him and Chauncey.Beau, who had been lounging by the fire as usual, rose and baredhis teeth witha threatening growl, which also caused Stephen to rethink his advance. Chauncey reached down to pat the faithful hound as Elise said,“Really, gentlemen, there’s no need for violence.Why don’t we reconvene to the living area where there is more roomto play? I’d be happy to move the table thereand make some refreshments—”
The sheriff had been standing by, watching the exchange rather warily, but now he looked at Elise with something akin to regret. “I fear we won’t be able to stay that long, Miss Erindelle.” He nodded to Chauncey. “This man is wanted by the Canadian authorities for murder. As you know, that’s a hanging offense. He’s going to need to come with us to Charmingin orderto await trial.”
Chauncey saw Elise’s face instantly pale, as she reached out and clutched the back of the dining chair. He yearned to go to her, to offer the reassurance that she needed, but unfortunately, his past had finally caught up to him and it was time to bear the consequences of his actions. And although she might not see it now, he was doing all of this for her, so she didn’t have to live a life looking over her shoulder for the rest of her days. He could spare her that, at least, if not his eventual demise.
Hestood. “I suppose we should be off then.”
At that, Elise spun to face him. “Surely you aren’t just going to…give up?” she demanded. “Aren’t you even going to fight this?”
Chauncey looked at her in compassion, but it likely conferred as something akin to pity, for her expression tightened. “That’s not for me to decide, sweetheart. The court decides my fate now.”
He moved around the edge of the table andsaw Stephen nod at the sheriff, whomoved forward holdinga pair of handcuffs. As they were clamped onto his wrists, Elise spoke up yet again. “Is that truly necessary? Mr. Cade has shown no hostility, nor resisted.”
Stephen walked over and grabbed Chauncey by the arm. “One can’t be too careful with a murdering outlaw, ma’am.” With that, he started to drag him toward the door.
“Wait!” Elise rushed toward the bearskin coat and draped it over Chauncey’s broad shoulders. Her blue eyes were pools of emotion as she whispered; “He will need this as protection against the cold.”
With one last look at Elise’s lovely face with that alabaster hair, Chauncey was shoved forward.
