“So, he doesn’t actually beat you. He tans your hide?” Matt stated.
She could hear the amusement in his tone.
“I see it as a beating,” she insisted stiffly. “I can barely sit, and it makes doing my chores all the more difficult. Surely, that’s more than any woman should have to tolerate!”
“I guess that depends on the woman and exactly how badly she’s behaving. My brother-in-law, Cole, has had to take my sister in hand on occasion, and he’s the kindest man I know.”
“It’s barbaric,” Cara insisted. “I simply can’t live like that anymore. He wants me to do everything he says, without an argument.”
“The majority of men expect obedience from their wives. In fact, I can almost guarantee the marshal won’t be very sympathetic to your story and will most likely hand you over to your husband should he come looking for you.”
“Oh dear, don’t say that,” she gasped out.
“Not to worry,” Matthew assured her. “Maybe now that you’ve run away, he’ll lean toward a little more patience and kindness when dealing with you. In any case, you’ll probably have a few days of respite. Still, if my wife ran away from our home, she probably wouldn’t sit for a good month,” he concluded with a chuckle.
Cara snapped her lips shut and didn’t say another word until they rode into town. Thank God she was only here for a short time to straighten out the mess Morgan created. However, she had to consider how angry Micah would be with her and how he would demonstrate his disapproval when she returned home. It didn’t bear thinking about, she concluded, with another shiver.
Matt thought longand hard on the ride into town. He couldn’t help but think of his sweet Laurie being at the mercy of an abusive husband. Just the idea made him want to shoot Floyd Dixon, which was ridiculous since the man had been dead for quite a spell. Still, beating a woman was one of the worst offenses a man could commit in his opinion.
However, this little lady’s story was a mite different, not to mention suspicious. Not knowing her husband, he had to give her the benefit of the doubt, although it was hard not to imagine the sort of things Caroline Whitmeyer might get in to. It was possible she deserved each and every trip over her husband’s knees, but it was not his place to judge. Better to get her settled somewhere and let things play out.
CHAPTER 14
Laurie was sweeping the boardwalk in front of The Blue Bonnet Café when Matthew rode into town, a pretty dark-haired woman sitting sideways on his lap. It took a minute for Laurie to realize her mouth was hanging open as she stared at him. He tipped his hat and rode on, stopping at The Duchess.
Carefully, Matthew lowered the woman to the ground before he swung out of the saddle and tied his mount to the hitching post. Matt’s voice carried on the air.
“Let’s leave your things here until I see if my sister-in-law can put you up,” he suggested, taking her arm.
Instantly the woman dug in her heels and tugged on the arm Matt was holding.
“Your sister-in-law?” she gasped out.
“Yes. Is there a problem?”
“Your sister-in-law owns a saloon? What is your name, sir?” she demanded.
Matt watched the color drain from Caroline’s face in surprise.
“Matthew Whittaker and you shouldn’t judge people for the way they earn a living,” he scolded. “Callie Mae is a sweetheart.”
“I’m sure she’s a nice person, but I don’t think asking her to put me up is a good idea,” Cara pleaded. “Is there nowhere else?”
“Not without paying,” he informed her, “and you already said you don’t have any money. We can see if Callie will give you a job. You won’t be alone and there will be plenty of men around to protect you if the need arises. My brothers, Morgan and Mead are here off and on all the time. Morgan is Callie Mae’s husband, and Mead is going to marry Marilee Muldoon. She works here too.”
“Oh, I don’t think I can live at a saloon,” Cara insisted.
Matthew shook his head. This woman seemed to be genuinely fearful of even going through the doors.
“Ma’am, do you think I would do anything to put you in danger?” he asked gently.
Laurie bristledat his tone as she continued to sweep even though the walk in front of her diner was clean as a whistle. Matt was talking to this woman much like he talked to her. And now that she thought about it, she’d heard him use that same tone to calm a nervous colt. Stopping, she leaned on the broom, listening intently.
“Are your brothers here?” Cara asked, standing on tiptoe and trying to peak in over the top of the swinging doors.
“No, I don’t think so. Mead is probably at the bank,” Matt said nodding toward the big building on the corner. “And Morgan said something about going to a cattle auction. Why? Does it make a difference?”
“Well, I’d rather not run into any men,” she said softly. “I’m still a little leery.”
