Tough Talk, Tender Kisses by Deborah Camp

Author:Deborah Camp [Camp, Deborah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

The last of the glass had been swept away. The broken windows were boarded up against the dirt and debris carried by the wind. Adele sat alone in the restaurant and looked out one of the two windows that hadn’t been demolished by bullets. She thought to check on Reno. He had seemed weary when she’d taken a supper tray to him, but that was to be expected, since he’d disobeyed her by getting dressed. Just dressing had obviously sapped his strength. He hadn’t argued when she’d insisted that he undress and get back into bed.

She would look in on him in a few minutes, she thought, but right at that moment it felt too good to be off her feet. She wanted to sit and rest and not think about the restaurant or last night’s riders or how close she had come to losing Reno.

Hearing the tap of heels on the depot platform, Adele jerked to attention, her nerves jangling and the hairs on the back of her neck lifting. She was relieved to see Doris McDonald approaching the door.

The cook let herself in with her own key and seemed surprised to find Adele still in the restaurant.

“Everything peaceful here?” she asked.

“Why, yes, Mrs. McDonald. Did you have a nice stroll?”

Mrs. McDonald nodded. “I stopped at the boardinghouse to have a cup of tea and talked with a woman I know there. She told me about what happened earlier. I sure hope Mr. Reno knows what he’s doing, yanking the Devil’s tail like that.”

Adele frowned and shook her head. “I don’t follow you.”

“Nobody’s said anything to you? I thought some of the town folks would have stopped by to spread the news.”

“Once the workmen were finished, I locked the restaurant. I’ve been taking inventory in the kitchen.”

“Oh.” Mrs. McDonald sighed. “I should have kept my mouth shut, I reckon.”

“If this concerns me, I should know about it. You mentioned Reno?”

“Yes, ma’am. He … Well, he tracked down Yancy Stummer and bloodied him good. He threatened to kill Buck Wilhite if he ever came around this place or you again.”

Adele fell back in the chair, her breath stuck in her throat. “When? When did he do this? He’s been here—” She chopped off the rest.

Mrs. McDonald shook her head and smiled grimly. “No, ma’am, he hasn’t been here all day. He snuck out while we were busy cleaning up the place.”

“That rascal.” Adele looked toward the door leading to her quarters. “I thought he was weak because it had taken such an effort for him to get out of bed and dress.”

“He had himself a big day, Mrs. Adele. A mighty big day.”

Adele knew she should be livid, but her reaction was just the opposite. She was glad, glad that Reno had given Yancy Stummer his due and had warned Buck to keep his distance. Naturally she wished he had waited until he was fully recovered from his injury, but she couldn’t deny the intense pride she felt for him.

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