“But Louise mentioned that if he messed things up this time, she’d kill him personally.” She shrugged. “That made me think that she had paid the man to kill her father, too.”
“That would be the logical way of thinking, however, Mr. Tibbs confessed to hearing what happened when Albert was killed.”
Her eyes widened. “He did?”
Denton’s heart wrench again, thinking about his friend. “It was Terrance.”
She gasped and covered her hand over her mouth. “No,” she muttered, shaking her head.
“First thing in the morning, I’ll be riding to Stumptown to arrest him.”
“No, you won’t.” She gave him a stubborn expression. “Wewill ride to Stumptown.”
He chuckled. “The sheriff might come with us.”
“I don’t mind, just as long as he doesn’t try to arrest me.”
“I won’t let him. I’ll shoot him myself if he tries.”
Her shoulders relaxed, and she placed her hand on his chest. “Why are you so kind to me?”
He shrugged. “Because I have a kind heart.”
“Yes, you do, but... is that all?”
Denton held his breath. What was she trying to get him to say? Confessing his feelings to her had been on the tip of his tongue since right after he was shot, but he didn’t dare. He knew he had been caught up in the moment of her trying to save his life. Yet, he couldn’t stop the erratic beat of his heart whenever he looked into her beautiful grayish-blue eyes. And, when she touched him as she was doing now, her touch burned through his skin into his blood and warmed his whole body.
“Because I know,” he answered, “that you’re not guilty. I’ve always tracked down criminals, and you, my dear Miss Mills, are not a criminal.”
She sighed and smiled, but the gesture didn’t reach her eyes. “No, I’m not a criminal.”
Her gaze dropped to the bowl of stew as she scooped another spoonful. His emotions twisted, seeing the pain in her eyes. Oh, why was he so weak around her? If he told her his feelings now, he’d be vulnerable, and helpless men didn’t make good bounty hunters. Yet, he hated to see her this way. He hated the confusion filling him at this moment.
“Courtney.” He touched her hand, stopping her from lifting the spoon to his mouth. “It’s actually more than that.”
Her eyes widened in anticipation.
“I like you, and...” Oh, good grief! He needed to rein in his emotions. “I’m kind to those I really like.”
She laughed lightly. “I really like you, too.”
It was on the tip of his tongue to tell her the truth, but then someone knocked on the door, breaking the mood between them. Courtney left the bed and set the bowl and spoon on the table before opening the door.
“Miss Mills.” Sheriff Smith doffed his cowboy hat and nodded. “I was told Mr. Reed is here.”
She stepped back and motioned for him to enter. She pointed toward the bed. Denton waited for the sheriff to say something about Courtney being here, but the lawman didn’t. It relieved Denton to know that Mr. Tibbs and Mrs. Jackson must have talked to him and let him know what really happened.
“Welcome, Sheriff,” Denton greeted. “I wondered when you’d drop by.”
The tall man released a heavy breath and ran his fingers through his hair. “You left me a mess to clean up at the Greenwood estate.”
Denton carefully rubbed his bandaged shoulder. “I would have done that, but I was injured.” He paused and then asked, “How is the scarred man who shot me?”
“He won’t die, but he lost a lot of blood. Apparently, nobody wanted to tend to his wound as they tended to you.”
“If you ask me,” Courtney said, moving to a chair near the bed and sitting, “the man didn’t deserve our help. He was out to kill Mr. Reed, and I don’t feel sorry for him at all.”
Sheriff Smith looked at her. “I’m told you are the one who shot him.”
