Wild Western Women Boxed Set Page 32

  Matt plucked a stem of grass and toyed with it. “Did you?” His voice softened and she hated to think he pitied her.

  She sighed, recalling the pain of learning she’d been a fool to trust Lionel Jeffers. She’d worked hard and saved for years to get that money. “Yes, at least it seemed a tidy sum to me, but he soon gambled it away. That’s when he lost interest.”

  His eyes flashed like fire. “And started hitting you?”

  She couldn’t stop the gasp. She’d never told anyone, not even Mama, but having someone else share her secret somehow liberated her. “How did you know?”

  He threw the grass stem down and hugged his knees. The closely controlled anger in him startled her. “I wasn’t so drunk I missed the bruises or the yelling. I wanted to kill the man. We argued about it.”

  She raised her gaze to search his face. “I—I didn’t know. All this time I thought you approved of him, that you were friends.”

  His stormy gray eyes sparked with anger. “Lady, you were wrong. So wrong. Guess you weren’t too sorry to learn he’d been killed.”

  Her throat closed and she could hardly draw a breath. “Lionel’s dead? When? Where?” All this time she’d feared he might come for her, might want to be part of Davey’s life, and she’d been a widow.

  With a frown, he faced her. “You mean you didn’t know?”

  Shock, sorrow, relief, all warred within her. She couldn’t speak, didn’t know whether to cry or rejoice, but she shook her head and waited for Matt’s explanation.

  He touched her arm. “Damn, I wouldn’t have told you like that, but I figured someone had let you know. He fell in with counterfeiters. About three years ago, he was—um, he was shot resisting arrest down in New Orleans.”

  He looked ready to say more, but Mama and one of her friends from church stopped near. “Come on, you two. They’ve started serving the ice cream.”

  The mask slipped back over Matt’s face. He rose and held out his hands to help her up and offered a polite smile as he offered his arm. “May I escort you, Mrs. Jeffers?”

  Reining her hurricane of emotions under control, she took his arm and forced what she hoped was a pleasant smile. She knew he meant only to impress onlookers with his proper behavior, but it made her feel treasured for the first time in a long while. After the shock of his news, she could hardly stand. She needed his stabilizing arm and welcomed the special attention.

  A couple of the busybodies watched and whispered, but Beth finally conceded Mama was right. No one stopped those bent on vicious gossip. She had more important things to sort in her mind than worrying about those old biddies.

  The rest of the day people surrounded them and she had no chance to continue their private conversation. Just as well, for she feared she’d already confessed too much. She wondered what more he might have revealed if Mama hadn’t chosen that moment to appear? Her face hurt from her smiling façade. Inside, she needed to yell, to cry, to scream at fate for cheating her.

  How did he learn about Lionel’s death? Was Matt there, was he part of the gang who were caught? Why hadn’t someone notified her?

  As dusk fell, Matt folded the quilt and tucked it under his arm then picked up the picnic basket.

  Beth took Davey’s kite and held his hand. “Davey, you look half asleep.”

  It all seemed so normal, so casual, when inside she thought she’d explode. At least, now she had an answer for Davey when he asked why his father wasn’t here. Perhaps she’d have a chance to ask Matt more when they reached home.

  Davey waved goodbye to his friends. “It was great. They should have a picnic every Sunday.”

  The other boarders joined them in a procession home and Mr. Findley took his customary place escorting Beth.

  Matt walked with Beth’s mother. “Looked like most of the town turned out.”

  Mama agreed. “Oh, yes, even those who don’t attend church show up for the food and games, but the church was packed this morning. I didn’t see you there.”

  Matt didn’t look embarrassed by Mama’s probing, just flashed his cocky grin. “No, ma’am, you didn’t.”

  They reached home and old Mr. Findley held open the gate for them to pass. Miss Pounds, the prudish schoolteacher, hurried to hold the front door for everyone.

  As soon as Beth stepped into the house, she knew something was wrong. She stopped in the middle of the parlor and looked around. Tiger scooted out from under the sofa and raced to Davey, meowing her complaints. Papers littered a trail from the direction of the counter. Mama shrieked and rushed into the office.

  “Land sakes, someone’s robbed us!”

  Matt dropped the picnic things and strode around the counter to the office with Beth right behind him.

  Matt took charge. “Everyone stay calm and keep together in the parlor and office. The robber may still be in the house. Mr. Harvey, would you be kind enough to fetch the sheriff?”

  The salesman rushed out the door. Miss Pounds made a strange cry and fainted. Fortunately, Miss Tabor and Mr. Findley caught her and dragged her to the sofa. Before Beth could go to Miss Pounds’ aid, Mama’s face went gray and she appeared ready to pass out. Beth guided her to a chair.

  “Sit here, Mama, while we see what’s gone. Davey, you and Tiger stay right here with Grandma.”

  Mrs. Tabor opened her reticule. “Beth, you take care of Lena Mae and we’ll see to Miss Pounds. Don’t worry, I have smelling salts.” She uncorked a vial and waved it under Miss Pounds’ nose.

  Mama grabbed several pieces of paper from the desk and fanned her face. “I don’t understand who’d do such a thing.” Anger brought color back to her face. “Lands sakes, how’d they get that fancy new safe open?”

  Matt gathered the papers scattered across the room. “I’d guess a professional criminal did this. You have anything valuable in the safe?”

  Mama shook her head. “We’d already deposited this week’s rents in the bank. Mainly, the safe is for boarders if they have valuables to store. Thank goodness, no one had entrusted us with anything yet.”

  Beth forced her mind to function. “The safe is supposed to be fireproof, so we had our ledgers in it.” She scooped up the current account book and smoothed the crumpled pages. Nothing torn so it seemed all right. “We also put things like our deed to this house, but nothing of value to anyone but us.”

  “Here’s your deed.” Matt thrust that and a handful of documents at her. “I’d better check the house now. Keep everyone together here.”

  Sheriff Carpenter bolted into the house. “What’s this about a robbery?”

  Chapter Three

  Matt headed for the kitchen but stopped to talk to the lawman. “I was about to check the place, sheriff. Someone cracked open the safe.”

  “Already? Hell, they only bought the thing last week.” The sheriff went to the counter. “Lena Mae, you and Beth see if anything’s missing. I’ll check the rest of the place with Petrov.” He turned around. “Everyone else stay here.”

  The two men made short work of checking the rest of downstairs, which included Lena Mae’s suite with her sitting room. In the kitchen, the back door stood open.

  “Dammitall. Can’t get folks to lock up around here.” Sheriff Carpenter shook his head.

  Matt closed the door. “Probably wouldn’t have stopped whoever did this.”

  “You’re right there, but you’d be surprised how many times things disappear from a place just because the thief found a door or window wide open.”

  They searched a large pantry, the bathing room, dining room, and a large storeroom converted to a bedroom so elderly Mr. Findley didn’t have to climb the stairs. Nothing appeared out of place, so they went to the second floor. The first two doors were locked, so Matt raced back down for Lena Mae’s keys.

  Beth carried the keys and followed him up. “Mama and Miss Pounds are okay now so I’ll come with you. I’ll know if things are as they should be since I’m the one who cleans up here.”

  She stopped at the
top of the stairs. “Miss Pounds’ room is this first one.”

  The three rooms belonging to the women boarders appeared undisturbed. Mr. Harvey’s hardly looked as if anyone lived there.

  Matt couldn’t help staring when Beth opened the door to her own room. He expected it would be frilly and full of fussy geegaws, but he stared at the simple beauty.

  Lace curtains at the window billowed in the breeze. A rocker stood in the corner and a basket of mending sat on the floor nearby. A handsome quilt topped the bed. Several books were stacked neatly on the bedside table. He wished he could see the titles to learn more about her interests. Everything looked neat as a pin.

  She elbowed him. “Should I get a pencil and paper so you can draw it?”

  He grinned down at her. Saucy woman. “If you wish.” But he closed the door and moved on.

  “Davey’s room is next, and then Ivan’s is across from it at the end.” She opened the door to her son’s room. A few toys cluttered the floor. “This is the way he left it.” She backed out and closed the door. She bumped into him and he steadied her, glad for the excuse to touch her soft curves.

  “Looks like this interested someone.” Sheriff Carpenter pointed at paper poking out from under Ivan’s door.

  Matt stepped that way and Beth moved to insert the key in the lock, but the door opened at her touch and she gasped. “Good heavens, who would do this?”

  Each piece of furniture in the room had been taken apart or turned over. Clothes and belongings were strewn, seams ripped and linings removed. The mattress had been pulled off the bed and pillows ripped open. Feathers floated each time someone moved.

  Matt picked up Ivan’s black dress coat, or what remained of it. “Ivan has something valuable to someone.”

  Beth stooped to pick up a handful of shredded clothes. “What could it be?”

  “The deed to that ranch might be all.” Matt turned to the sheriff. “He mention anything else to you?”

  The sheriff walked to the window and looked out, then turned back. “Said he had papers to prove a crime had been committed. Soon as he took over that ranch, he planned to meet with me and go over it. Said he’d called in the Federal Marshall.”

  Matt didn’t want to get into that discussion right now. He picked up a couple of books. “You know if he registered the deed or not?”

  The sheriff shook his head. “Doubtful. Least he never mentioned it. I’ll check with the county clerk in the morning.” He looked around the room in disgust. “Let’s go down and talk to the others. Maybe one of them knows something.”

  “They were all at the picnic with us, Tom.” Beth carefully locked the door behind them.

  Matt figured that was a worthless gesture at this point.

  When they joined the other boarders, Miss Pounds sobbed near hysterics. “I can’t stay in this place another minute. That foreign fellow shot and disappeared and now this. It’s not a respectable place anymore. All these foreigners coming into town, is what it is. I can’t stand it.” She broke into sobs.

  “Now, now, Miss Pounds.” Lena Mae patted her on the back. “Tom will figure this all out.”

  Matt questioned that. Tom Carpenter seemed like a nice enough man but he wasn’t used to the kind of mischief that surrounded Ivan.

  Sheriff Carpenter addressed the group. “Listen here, folks. I want each of you to tell me everything you know about this foreign fellow, but no discussing this among yourselves until I talk to you.” He pointed at Mr. Findley. “We’ll start with you, Ned. Come into the office.”

  Davey tugged at the sheriff’s britches leg. “You going to ask me questions, Sheriff Carpenter?”

  The sheriff smiled and patted Davey’s head. “Not right now, son. I’ll keep you in mind, though.”

  While the sheriff questioned the other residents, Matt spoke to Lena Mae. “With the break in, I think I need to be here. All right with you if I move into Ivan’s room until he gets back?”

  “Well, I suppose he wouldn’t mind, since he sent for you and all.” She twisted the collar of her dress. “Yes, go on and get your things. I’ll feel better with you here. Poor Mr. Findley couldn’t fight off a fly and Mr. Harvey is a drummer and only here on the weekend.”

  She laid a hand on Matt’s arm. “Oh dear, you think whoever did this will return, don’t you?”

  He nodded, unsure if he should be honest. “Yes, ma’am, they’ll be back.”

  Her eyes widened and he saw the fear in them change to anger. “Oh, land’s sakes, the nerve. What’ll we do?”

  “We’ll be ready.” He left her to tell her daughter he’d be moving just down the hall.

  Beth had worried herself halfway sick. First she learned she was a widow, then this. The office being rifled angered her, but to know some ruffian or madman created all that bedlam across the hall from Davey’s room horrified her. She’d almost passed out herself when she realized Davey might have rushed upstairs and interrupted the hooligan if they’d come home earlier.

  In spite of all their reassurance, Miss Pounds packed her clothes. She handed Beth her key and carried a bag to the door. “I’ll send for the rest of my things. I refuse to stay in a place with this sort of goings on. It’s not respectable.”

  Mama shook her head. “Miss Pounds, where will you go on such short notice?”

  “I’ll be at the head of the school board’s home until I find new lodgings.”

  Beth groaned. “Oh, dear. This will be all over town by morning.” If it weren’t for the scandal, Beth definitely would not regret losing the fussy teacher as a boarder.

  Miss Pounds had hardly flounced out before Matt Petrov showed up carrying his saddlebags and rifle.

  Beth had an awful suspicion and whirled to face her mother. “Why is he back with his gear?”

  Mama blanched then pulled herself together. “He’s staying in Ivan’s room until Ivan returns. I for one will feel much safer with a strong young man on the premises.”

  “Mama, think what people will say.” Burglary or not, Beth could not believe her mother would place her in this position. To circumvent as much gossip as possible, they had always made it a point not to rent to young men.

  Her mother squared her shoulders and jutted her jaw out in an all too familiar look that meant what she said was final. “They’ll think we run a boarding house and Matt’s a boarder, and that’s all there is to that.”

  Mama went to the counter and located a key then handed it to Matt. “If you’ll wait until the sheriff finishes with us, I’ll tidy up the room for you. Beth said it’s in a terrible mess.”

  “Thanks, but if one of you could get me a fresh pillow and sheets, I’ll take care of the clean up.” He nodded at Beth with that crooked grin that crinkled the corner of his eyes and sent ripples of warmth shooting through her.

  Darn the man. He probably thought he’d put something over on her by arranging with Mama to use Ivan’s room. Truth be told, she too would feel more secure with him here, but she’d choke before she admitted it. “I’ll get them. Davey, you come with me. It’s time you were in bed.”

  “Aw, do I hafta?” Davey carried his kite like a shield, but he dragged his feet and looked back where the sheriff interviewed Mr. Harvey in the office. “The sheriff ain’t talked to me yet.”

  Too tired to correct his grammar, she pushed her son ahead of her. “He’ll know where you are if he wants to ask you questions tomorrow.”

  Matt followed the tempting sway of Beth’s bottom as he climbed the stairs. On the landing, she looked back over her shoulder and glared at him, as if she knew his lascivious thoughts. He smiled innocently at her, mainly because it appeared to aggravate her. At the top of the stairs, she stopped at a cupboard and pulled out clean sheets, then found a couple of pillows.

  “Sometime soon I hope we can talk more about that matter we discussed at the picnic.” She thrust the bedding at him. “Here you are. I hope you have a pleasant sleep.”

  “Thanks.” He tousled the kid’s hair. “Sle
ep tight, Davey. Don’t let the bed bugs bite.”

  Davey laughed, then sobered and looked up at his mother. “Mama, do we have bedbugs?”

  “We most certainly do not.” She glared at Matt. “It’s just something silly people say trying to be funny.”

  Davey yelled after him. “G’night, Matt. Don’t let the bedbugs bite.” Then he laughed until his mother shoved him into his room and closed the door behind them.

  Matt walked toward his room, chuckling. No one had called him silly in a hell of a long time. Damn, he was worse than silly to think a sorry sonofagun like him had the right to even talk to nice folks like these. And here he was, sharing a house with them.

  Made a man think.

  It pleased him, though, to know he was in a real home instead of a place like the saloon. And this might be a boarding house, but it was home to these folks. Except for Mr. Harvey, who traveled during the week, these folks slept in the same bed each night. And not a prison bed, but in a home. What would that feel like?

  Matt dropped his saddlebags on the floor and leaned his rifle in the corner. After righting a chair, he piled the linens on it. He lit the lamp and remade the bed, then started a methodical search of the room.

  Ivan must have hidden papers including the ranch deed. He claimed to have proof the King of Bayergrovenia had been assassinated by his successor. Who knew what else? But where had he cached them? In this house or somewhere nearby?

  Working from corner to corner along the wall, Matt checked for a hidden space. He righted furniture and checked each piece as he did. Sorting the torn clothing, he examined each garment carefully. Nothing.

  Oh, he found interesting things, many of which—like photographs and books—were salvageable, but nothing worth the crimes of kidnapping an elderly man or breaking into a house. When he heard the downstairs clock chime two, he gave up and went to bed. He turned out the lamp and stared at the shifting patterns cast by the moonlight that filtered in through the curtains.