A Reason to Believe by Maureen McKade

Author:Maureen McKade [McKade, Maureen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Group
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

WITH a coffee cup in her hands, Dulcie sat on the porch step. Half her concentration was on Madeline playing hopscotch and the other was pondering the Carpenters’ startling visit. Lurking behind those thoughts was Rye. She was anxious to hear what he’d learned when he’d visited the Carpenters.

Would he spend the night in town or come back to sleep in the barn? Imagining him in a saloon with a short-skirted whore perched on his lap twisted her lips into a scowl. Rye wasn’t her husband and it was no business of hers what he did with whom. So why did the thought of him making time with a saloon gal bring sharp jealousy?

“Ma, Mr. Rye’s back,” Madeline shouted, bringing Dulcie out of her dark musings.

Her heart leapt, and she stood, rubbing her suddenly damp palms against her trouser-clad thighs.

As Rye neared, she noticed someone riding behind him. Someone small. Collie.

Although uncomfortable around Collie because he’d bought her whiskey, she sincerely liked the boy. Finding Madeline before the storm was another point in his favor. But why was he with Rye?

She and Madeline joined them at the corral. They stood back as Rye lowered Collie to the ground then dismounted.

“Hello, Collie,” Dulcie said warmly.

“Miz McDaniel,” he said, his eyes lowered.

Madeline tugged on his shirtsleeve. “Hi, Collie.”

A smile touched the boy’s lips. “Whatcha doing?” “Playing hopscotch. Wanna play?”

Collie shrugged, but his expression lost its apprehension. “Sure.”

Madeline grabbed his hand and pulled him away.

Dulcie watched them go and smiled when the boy tossed his rock onto the first square. She turned to Rye and her eyes collided with his.

“I hope you don’t mind that I brought him here,” Rye said.

Frowning, Dulcie replied, “Why should I?”

Rye fiddled with his horse’s reins, then met her gaze squarely. “He’ll be here for a few days.”

She hadn’t expected that. “Why?”

His gaze sidled away. “He needs to be away from the Gearsons for a while.”

She tried to read his expression but he hid his thoughts too well. “Did something happen to him?”

Rye turned his attention to Collie and Madeline, and it seemed he was seeing something Dulcie didn’t. “He’s a good worker and I can use his help.”

It wasn’t an answer but she stifled her annoyance. “Where will he sleep?”

“He can bunk in the barn with me. Do you have a spare blanket?”

“Yes. I’ll get a couple for him. The nights can get cool.”

“Thanks.”

“He’s a good boy.” Dulcie jammed her hands deep in her pockets. “I had two visitors here about an hour ago.”

Rye paused in loosening the saddle cinch. “Who?”

“Lawrence Carpenter’s widow and son.”

Rye’s lips flattened into a scowl. “Did they tell you I talked to them this afternoon?”

She nodded. “They weren’t very happy about it.”

“I didn’t mean—”

She raised her chin. “I’m glad you did. They’re so certain my father was a murderer they won’t listen to anyone who says otherwise.” She paused. “Mrs. Carpenter said if we didn’t stop asking questions and dredging up the murder, I’d be sorry.”

“She threatened you?”

“Sounded that way to me.”

Rye chewed on the inside of his cheek, his expression both thoughtful and furious.

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