Chapter 11

“You ain’t never seen an old dog run that fast in your life once that bull came after him.“

Colt smiled as Jessie laughed heartily at one of Doc’s stories about his days riding herd on cattle drives. She was easily amused by the tales that Colt had memorized years ago, but her laughter made them interesting to hear for the fiftieth time.

They sat after supper at the tiny restaurant on the edge of town that gave a good view of the vast miles of nothing from the widows. The scenery might not be exceptional, but Lilly was the best cook in town.

The door opened and Colt’s eyes glanced at the entrance as he took a sip of his coffee. He hid behind the brim of his coffee cup at the sight of the person in the doorway. If he took long enough of a drink, he might escape the wrath of…

“Colton Kidd?” The voice was right beside him.

Stifling a groan, Colt lowered his cup and forced a smile on his face. “Hey, Miss Minnie.”

“Don’t you ‘Hey Miss Minnie” me. You know good and well why I have a grievance against you.” Minnie Graceland sat in the chair across from him and pinned him with a glare.

Colt nodded. He did know why Minnie was mad at him, he just didn’t want to talk about the reason at the moment.

“I only get to see Bliss once every few months. I didn’t even get to talk to her when she came back from her honeymoon. So do you mind explaining to me why she didn’t come with you and this woman did?” Minnie sent a glance at Jessie, who looked at Colt with an expression of pure confusion.

Doc leaned over and whispered something in her ear. Jessie nodded went about drinking her glass of water.

“She wanted to be with Clint I’m sure. You can’t expect a newly wedded woman to want to traipse off and leave her husband for a week, even for such pleasant company,” Colt answered.

“Clint could have come with you,” Minnie offered.

“If you must know,” Colt leaned forward on his elbows. “We came to do some secret shopping.”

Minnie narrowed her eyes. “For what?”
“Sherman’s building her a house. Well, a few of the cowboys and I are… it was his idea,” Colt explained.

Minnie nodded, and then her gaze slid back to Jessie. “Then who’s she?”

Jessie looked at her. “I’m her sister.”

Colt narrowed his eyes. Her what?

Minnie gaped at Jessie. “Are you serious?”

“No,” Jessie didn’t even crack a smile.

Minnie’s eyebrows pulled together and turned to Colt.

“Who is she?” she mouthed at him.

Colt didn’t answer her question. He only grinned - much like a child with a secret.

Minnie shook her head and stood. “Make sure you don’t forget her again. I desperately need to speak with her.”

Colt nodded. “I’ll see what I can do.”

“In the meantime, give her this,” Minnie held out a letter to him. “Make sure she receives it?”

“Sure,” Colt accepted the letter and put it in his shirt pocket.

“Thank you.” With that, Minnie turned and left the restaurant, her brown shoulder-length curls bouncing as she walked.

Colt shook his head. He couldn’t see how Bliss and that woman could be friends. They were exactly alike in so many ways and it was a wonder that they hadn’t killed each other yet. He looked at Jessie.

“What was that about?” he asked.

Jessie shrugged. “I didn’t figure you wanted her to know why I was here… I don’t even know why I’m here. I’ve found in my short eighteen years that being awkward is the best way to dodge questions.”

Colt nodded, not questioning her methods. At least Minnie hadn’t pressed the subject. That would have been awkward for all parties involved.

“I, for one, am bushed. I think it would be a good idea if we headed over to the hotel,” Doc commented.

“I agree,” Colt stood and grabbed his hat.

They exited the restaurant and started walking toward the busier part of town. Colt kept his eyes on Jessie to make sure he was getting around okay. She seemed to be getting along fairly well with her crutches. They walked past an alleyway that lay between two abandoned buildings, and Colt noticed a strange man in the shadows. Plateau was known for the men who thought they could run around town and do whatever they wanted to with anyone, and for the men who stood against them. Yet despite the citizen’s way of handling the shifty characters, there were always a few who tested the waters. For this reason, Colt didn’t trust men he didn’t know personally around town - especially ones that his in the shadows of an alleyway.

His gaze followed the man’s and found that he was staring straight at Jessie.

And this was no admiring stare. This was a penetrating, lustful stare that disturbed Colt more than it should have.

Colt looked back at Doc and nodded for him to get on the other side of Jessie. Doc, too, had saw the man and moved to do what Colt suggested.

There was more than likely nothing to the look, but he didn’t like to take chances.

Especially with that look in that scoundrel’s eyes.

They passed the alley, and Colt sent a look back. He didn’t see anyone peeking around the corner, so he rested easier and the tension that had gathered in his muscles began to ease away.

“I declare, you two. What’s the big deal?” Jessie asked, eyeing them.

Colt shrugged. “What are you talking about?”

“Ya’ll are acting like some sort of mini gang around me,” Jessie complained.

Colt fell back a step. “Just protecting you.”

“From what?”

“You could bump into something,” Colt said.

Jessie rolled her eyes. “I may be hurt, but I’m not a china doll.”

“I know,” Colt mumbled.

She might look like a prissy woman on the outside, but he sensed that underneath lay a woman who could really take care of herself if it came down to it, but unless it came down to it, she would remain the composed, delicate young lady she had been raised to be.

*****

Jessie stood in the middle of the small hotel room, looking around at the furnishings. It wasn’t what she was used to back home, but she found that she would have been more than grateful for the bed alone. The nights of sleeping on her side and days of sitting in the jostling wagon had taken their toll on her.

“Here’s your bags, Miss Jessie,” Doc’s voice said.

She twisted around on her crutches and put her best smile on. “Thanks, Doc.”

“Like the room?” he asked.

She nodded. “It looks very comfy. I’m sure it’ll do just fine. “

“Good. Now, me and Colt are in the next room, so if you need us, just throw something against it and we’ll be here,” Doc told her.

Jessie smiled. “Will do.”

“I’ll leave you to it,” Doc backed out of the room and walked over to the next room.

Jessie went about unpacking her bag, taking out the only other dress she had, the navy blue one that Carby had stripped of its frills. Shaking her head at the travesty yet again, she put it in the small bureau and hobbled back over to the bed with her crutches.

Placing her bag with the rest of its contents on the bedside table, she lay on her back on the bed and sighed. She happened to glance up and saw a figure on the doorway.

Her heart hitched and dropped to her stomach. Then she recognized the face.

“Goodness’ sakes, Colt! You scared the tar outta me!” she exclaimed, sitting straight up, placing her hand on her head as dizziness overcame her.

“I’m sorry,” Colt rushed to her side.

“What on earth were you doing standing there like a creeping stalker, for pity’s sake?” Jessie asked as the dizziness subsided.

“Sorry. I should have announced myself,” Colt said, regret lacing his voice.

She immediately felt bad with being annoyed at him. “It’s fine. You just surprised me, is all.”

“I came to see if you needed anything. I was about to go down to the lobby to order a bath for you if that’s what you wanted,” he said.

Jessie smiled. “That would be nice, thank you. I’ve never been this fussed over in my life.”

A strange look came over Colt’s face, accompanied by an unfamiliar smile.

“That’s a shame,” he said.

“Oh, don’t get me wrong,” Jessie rushed to add. “Momma and Daddy spoiled me rotten.”

Colt smiled. “I believe it.”

She smacked him lightly on the arm. “Was that an insult?”

He chuckled. “No, not quite. You need anything else?”

Jessie shook her head. “Nope. I’ve got all I need.”

He walked to the door of her room and shut it as he left.

Jessie leaned back against her pillows and sighed. What on earth possessed those two to wait on her hand and foot? She wasn’t an invalid!

Though, she had to admit, she liked the sweet way they bumped into each other to do any little thing she asked. No one had ever been that way to her.

She couldn’t get used to it, though. They would telegraph her family in the morning and they could come get her as soon as possible.

Then she would never see them again.

The thought left her empty inside, like it disappointed her. She focused on remembering what her home was like, with it’s wide porch and pretty furnishings.

Suddenly, a memory presented itself in the front of her mind. One that she hadn’t remembered before. Closing her eyes, she focused on retrieving the memory.

There had been a conversation going on with two men. One of the men had a familiar voice, but it took her a minute to place it.

It was Adam’s voice.

Oh, if only she could make out what they were saying.

Just like that, the memory vanished. She opened her eyes and drew in a deep breath. She decided that there was no worse feeling than not remembering something that had happened in her life.

All at once, the feeling that she was being chased came over her again. Her heart began to beat faster, and her breathing became ragged. Her senses were on high alert and she sat up slowly, looking around the room.

What was she afraid of?

Who was chasing her?

******

Colt walked down the stairs to the lobby and tried to shoo the rogue thoughts out of his head. If that woman would stop getting in his head, he’d be mighty grateful.

Of course, he had been the one watching her like some sort of psychopath.

But she had looked so blame beautiful, laying there with her eyes focused on the ceiling. Her lips had curved into a slight smile, her hands had been delicately placed over her stomach, and her hair fell loosely over her shoulders in soft copper waves.

The memory of an equally beautiful person popped into his mind.

Bliss was the love of his life. There was no denying that, but Jessie was just as pretty as she was.

He shook his head.

No, Bliss was his one and only. Since he couldn’t have her, he wouldn’t have anyone. He wouldn’t wish a half-hearted man on anyone.

Besides, she had a fiancé! Why were these thoughts even in his mind? The suggested the most improper thing in the universe. He knew all too well what if felt like to have someone you love taken away by another man.

No.

He had to detach himself from Jessie Steele as soon as possible

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