Revealed (Intrigue Under Western Skies Book 3) Read online

  “Lovely. You’d be as pretty as a peach in that, and you were a sight pretty already.”

  Heat rushed up her neck and flushed her cheeks. Did she dare tell him that was the first compliment she’d ever received from a man? No, that would invite a flirtation, like her former girlfriends indulged in. But they’d only flirted with boys. This was a full gown man.

  She wished she had a fan.

  “Let’s see if we can find Myra. The apothecary is just across the street.”

  They left the mercantile and, dodging horse traffic, stepped onto the sidewalk on the other side, lined with the newer buildings. Colt entered the apothecary first, holding the door for Katherine and shouting, “Myra, are you back there?”

  A statuesque woman ambled from the back. Her brown, silver-shot hair was swept up into a poof on top. She was the picture of an attractive matron.

  Uncertainty made Katherine stop behind Colt. After the unfriendly reception at the mercantile, she didn’t know what to expect as he introduced her to Myra.

  The wide smile crossing the lady’s face alleviated her fears. Myra took her outstretched hand in both her own. “Welcome to Westerfield, Katherine. We were as excited as all get-out to hear Rhyan had a sister.” She dropped her hands and crossed her arms. “These flatlands might look strange to someone from Charleston, but you and your mother are going to love Sollano.”

  Katherine returned her smile. “I’m sure we will.”

  Myra looked around. “Where is Rhyan? And Carianne?”

  “They took Arabella to the doctor’s,” Colt said.

  Myra’s brows wrinkled as she sent a look of compassion to Katherine. “I heard your mother was doing poorly. We’re all going to be praying she gets better fast.”

  “Thank you. I’m sure Mama will appreciate that.” Truthfully, Mama didn’t believe in prayer and might not even believe in God. “I’m sure she’ll receive better care than back ho…back in Charleston.” It would take her some time to remember Charleston was no longer her home.

  And probably even longer to accept this place as her new home.

  Myra bobbed her head and touched Colt’s arm. “I wished Carianne had dropped in with you. Tell her Maggie’s coming back next week.”

  “Is she? That’s wonderful news. When? We were just in the mercantile, and Agnes didn’t say a word.” He turned to Katherine. “Maggie is Agnes’s daughter. She went away over a year ago to get her teacher’s certificate. You and Maggie will get along fine. She’s about your age.” He shifted his glance back to Myra. “Did she get the teacher’s job here?”

  Katherine had thought of becoming a teacher someday. How nice for Maggie to have something useful to do. Perhaps she could befriend Maggie. She needed a friend in this new place.

  She liked Carianne a lot, but they didn’t have much in common. Carianne was married and a new mother. Besides, Katherine suspected her sister-in-law carried a busy schedule and wouldn’t have much time for her.

  If she found a friend in Maggie, it would make the changes so much easier. And there would be changes. Big changes. Good and bad. Scary changes.

  “Mr. Jenson’s contract doesn’t run out until next year’s school term,” Myra said. “Maggie’s going to work in the library until then.”

  “And Carianne didn’t know?”

  “She knows Maggie is coming back, but she doesn’t know when. You’ll be sure and tell her. You say Agnes didn’t say anything. That’s strange. She hasn’t been talking about anything else since finding out Maggie’s finally coming home. Likely as not Dorcas came by twisting her around till she couldn’t think straight.”

  “Maybe she was too busy taking inventory.” Colt shifted, sending another smile Katherine’s way. “We’d best be going. I’m showing Katherine around town.”

  Myra nodded and passed a satisfied look from Colt to Katherine. “Glad to meet you, Katherine, and you come back anytime. If I’m not in here, I’ll be at the mercantile. Don’t have to wait until you need to buy something.”

  “I will, thank you.” At least Myra was friendly enough. Katherine felt the tension loosening from her shoulders.

  As they continued down the street, Colt introduced her to more people than she’d ever remember. Most were reserved. Not nearly as friendly as Myra.

  They made their way toward the edifice Colt told her was the Western Gates, a combination library, enclosed theater, and amphitheater where rodeos and Wild West shows were held. He explained the structure had once been a saloon, but had been bricked in and built out in back to cover the entire block.

  She was eager to see the inside, but it wasn’t to be. Rhyan’s yell jerked them around. Mama was coming out the doctor’s office.

  Anxiety fired her steps as she ran forward. Colt kept up with her. “I’ll get the carriage and bring it down to the doctor’s so your mama won’t have to walk back.”

  Mama’s pale face rested against Rhyan’s shoulder. Katherine slowed her steps to a stop. “Is she all right?”

  “She’s weak, but who wouldn’t be in this heat. Doc wants her to lie down on the way to the ranch. We’ll give her the whole of one seat,” Rhyan said. “You and Carianne and I will squeeze into the other.”

  Carianne pulled Katherine into a hug. “Don’t worry. She’ll get stronger. Doc Ulrich is sending off for some new medicines he says will improve her appetite and increase her strength.”

  They waited in silence while Colt made the short trip from the depot to the doctor’s office.

  He climbed down the side. “It’s mighty hot today,” he said. “Katherine, you might prefer to sit up top with me.”

  She sent an anxious glance from Mama to the high seat.

  “Go ahead, dear,” Mama said. “That will give Rhyan and Carianne more room. Besides, you’ll have a better view of the ranch from atop, and Colt can explain everything. The ranch covers miles, and it’s a sight to see.”

  Colt was already in position and holding his hand down for her. She couldn’t think of a single place she’d rather be on this ride.

  Chapter 5

  Silence cloaked them for a long while. After Colt had introduced Katherine to so many different people and things, he figured she needed some thinking time. She perched on the carriage’s shotgun seat with her small hands clasped together in her lap. The strain he’d detected in her eyes when she’d stepped off the train had faded.

  Mercifully, clouds had rolled in to cover the blistering sun, and, with the wind in their faces, the ride was quite comfortable.

  The breeze tugged Katherine’s bonnet off to hang down her back by its ribbons. For the first time, he got a good look at her brown hair pulled into a severe knot at the nape. He suspected the schoolmarm hairdo made her appear older than she really was.

  She was nothing like he expected Rhyan’s sister to look like. Only one feature resembled Rhyan and Arabella. The eyes, and even they were unique. That shape and those long, dark lashes were all Arabella, but the color of Katherine’s eyes startled him. They were a blend of brown and blue, radiating in lightness from the irises. Violet.

  He’d stared into her eyes far too long.

  She was probably right about not being a Cason. Her nose was shorter, chin more pointed. And her mouth smaller. Her lips reminded him of Ma’s spring roses just before they burst into bloom.

  As she relaxed and began to chatter about all she saw, her rosebud mouth drew him. He had to force his attention on the road to keep from staring. Instead, he concentrated on her breathless, young voice exclaiming over the vast open space on all sides.

  She was young. He calculated the years since Arabella left. Katherine had to be ten years younger than Rhyan. Colt was four months younger than Rhyan, which meant he was probably ten years older than Katherine as well. Twenty-eight had never seemed all that old, but compared to the young girl sitting beside him, it was.

  Katherine fell back against the back of the seat, staring out at the countryside. “It looks like I might see forever.”
r />   “At least all the way to the horizon.”

  Her soft laughter fell pleasantly on his ear. “I expect it looks sparse to you after the lush scenery of Charleston.” He’d never been to Charleston but imagined it was lush. “There are a few trees scattered about.” He pointed to the sprawling cottonwoods. “They provide shade for the cattle. You’ll find at least a few in every pasture.”

  “Why are the pastures separated by fences?”

  He decided to tease her a little. “Maybe so if a fence is broke, only a few dozen cows get out instead of several thousand.” When she sent him a sharp glance, he responded with a wink.

  She grinned. “Several…thousand? It’s a wonder they don’t eat up all the grass.”

  “They would if the cowboys didn’t move them to new pastures. They’re greedy varmints. They’d eat clear down to the dirt if you let them.”

  She’d just about lost that shyness that kept a wall between them. Abruptly, she grabbed his arm. “Is that a church?”

  He didn’t realize they’d come so far. When had he passed the entry onto ranch property? “That’s the Cowboy Chapel. Carianne had it built by the old graveyard. You can’t see much from here, but it’s beautiful. Ma and I started going there since it’s closer to our house than the church in town. We have a mighty fine preacher too. Hope you’ll visit it next Sunday. Do you by chance play the piano?”

  “I do a little.”

  “I’ll bet you could play the old hymns. We’ve been needing a pianist, if you’d like the job?”

  “I do miss my piano. We had to leave it at the old house. But I’m very rusty. It’ll take a lot of practice before I could play in public.”

  “Well, I expect the job is yours if you want it.”

  Her beautiful eyes made him not want to look away. He searched the unusual color—violet rays rimmed with lilac fading into dark brown. He stared a mite too long, and her cheeks pinked as long, dark lashes lowered, and she tilted her head to look ahead.

  Her profile was more similar to Rhyan’s than he’d first thought. The same shape of nose and ears, and when she smiled, a dimple popped into view.

  She was little more than a child, although the comely curves straining at a bodice she’d outgrown made him think otherwise.

  He shouldn’t be thinking such things. With a cough to clear his mind as much as his throat, he pointed to the other side of the road. “That’s Sam Farmer’s leather goods shop. Clay Bryce is learning the trade because Sam’s getting on in years and wants to sell out and move in with his son’s family.”

  Katherine lifted her shoulders and darted him a shy grin. “I wonder how long it will take to learn all these new people. Tell me a little about them so they’ll be easier to remember.”

  “Sam’s a former slave who sought refuge on Sollano before the war. He was already skilled as a tanner, and Oliver Cason needed a tanner.”

  “Oliver Cason is Rhyan’s grandfather, right?”

  “That’s right. Your grandpa too, I guess.” He knew it was the wrong thing to say as soon as the words left his mouth.

  She ducked her head, those long lashes swooping over rosy cheeks. “No, not really. Rhyan and I have the same material grandfather. He was an Italian merchant who died while Mama was a little girl. But I wouldn’t be related to Oliver Cason.”

  Colt twisted his lips to one side. It would be easier for Katherine to forget the sordid details of the past if she’d accept her new life. She evidently didn’t realize her insistence in letting people know she had a different father than Rhyan would remind them her birth was illegitimate. While that didn’t bother him, it would create a tidbit of gossip for some like Dorcas Wagner.

  The trouble with Dorcas, she thought she was doing her duty to keep people on the straight and narrow, but never gave a thought that she was judging them unfairly. And she wasn’t the only one.

  He clicked through his teeth, signaling the horses to pick up their pace, then cleared his throat again. “Anyway, Clay, who was one of Sollano’s cowboys, intends to buy the tannery and move it to town beside Tom Amerson’s livery. Clay got anthrax disease last year, and it left him too weak for ranch work. And this big barn on the right is where they hold barn dances twice a month.”

  Katherine probably didn’t even hear him. All her attention was riveted on the house now in full view at the far end of the road. “That’s the ranch house,” he said unnecessarily.

  “It looks like a castle. What are the other buildings?”

  “Those are the outbuildings. Bunkhouses, stables, corrals, two barns, the outside kitchen, the laundry.”

  “It’s like a town onto itself, isn’t it?”

  “For a fact. Off in that wooded section is a row of houses for the foremen and the married cowboys. On down past the house is the dairy and the milkmaids’ dormitories.”

  He drove the carriage into the circular drive toward the stables. Jake barreled to the horses’ heads, and Colt jumped down to help with the luggage. He froze as Charley came out of the stables, dressed in jeans and shirt, her spurs jingling.

  Her questioning turquois gaze bothered him. Her very presence bothered him. She probably waited to waylay Carianne.

  “This isn’t a good time, Charley. Rhyan’s mother is ill, and they need to get settled.” That should be evident to anyone. Sandwiched between Rhyan and Carianne, Arabella fell into coughing spasms. Rhyan swept her into his arms and hastened to the wide marble steps of the portico.

  “Jake, take the trunks to those two adjoining bedrooms in the west wing,” Carianne said. “The ones near the bathing room.” She swung around to acknowledge Charley. “I know we still have to set the schedule for the dinner shows so we can mail out the flyers, Charley. I’ll meet you at the Western Gates tomorrow at four o’clock, and we’ll finish up, I promise.” She started walking past them. “You’ll understand I want to see my baby now.”

  Annoyance crossed Charley’s pretty features as she shrugged. “I’ll be waiting.”

  “Help!”

  Colt jerked around. Katherine hung off the side of the carriage, one foot waving precariously, trying to find purchase. What a dolt. He’d forgotten to help Katherine down. His wide strides took him to her. He wrapped his hands around her waist and set her on solid ground. “Sorry about leaving you up there.” He gave her a sheepish smile.

  Charley came up from behind and nudged him.

  With a false smile in place, he made the introductions. “This here is Charley Ryder. She’s the star of our Wild West Show. Charley, this is Rhyan’s sister, Katherine.”

  The two women accessed each other. Katherine’s eyes growing wide as she took in Charley’s appearance. Colt breathed a sigh of relief as they shook hands. “Very nice to meet you, Miss Ryder.”

  “Same here. You must have been elated to learn Rhyan Cason is your brother, and this is your new home. I sure would have been.” Charley’s tone held no malice. She’d have heard all about Rhyan’s long lost mother coming home with a sister. What she thought about it, he couldn’t guess. Charley wasn’t a gossiper. She had that much to her credit.

  “Y…yes, I was. Please excuse me, I should go see about Mama.” Katherine wheeled around the back of the carriage and scampered toward the front door as if she couldn’t get away from them fast enough.

  Charley tipped her hat back. “Rhyan’s sister, huh? What do you think of her?”

  “She seems like a nice girl—young lady.”

  Charley laughed. “She’s too young for you. More suitable to Jake, I’d say.”

  If he had an ounce of sense in his head, he’d have protested the implication Katherine was “for him.” Instead, all that came out was, “Jake?”

  “Yes, Jake. What’s wrong with him? He’s about twenty-two or three, isn’t he. I bet they’d have a lot in common.”

  Colt rubbed his neck. Did she have to remind him how much older he was than Katherine? And why should that matter? But for some reason, it did.

  “Jake’s something
of a womanizer. I doubt Rhyan would want his sister to have anything to do with Jake.”

  “Jake isn’t a womanizer, though I admit he likes to flirt. You should take lessons from him.”

  “No, thanks.”

  Charley’s eyes widened. “Jake’s not a problem, but Rhyan had better keep Grayson Walsh from his sister.”

  “Who’s Grayson Walsh?”

  She rolled her eyes skyward. “You know, the announcer at the Western Gates. He came from the Kansas City circus.”

  He was sure Charley had told him about all the performers at the Western Gates. If there was anything she liked better than riding, it was talking. Now it struck him how little he paid attention to what she told him.

  She tapped the toe of her boot on the ground as he tried to remember.

  “The tall, curly brown-haired fellow?”

  “That’s right. He was the magician in the circus, but wanted to settle down and make some money, as he said. I like to rag him every chance I get. He found out I make more than him, and that set him off, let me tell you.”

  “Why should he care what you make?”

  “Because I’m a woman, and I’m better than he is. He can’t stand that, though he still tries to sugar talk me and turn me against Carianne. Would you believe he wants me to find out how much Rhyan has in his bank account? Says they could afford to pay us a lot more.”

  “You might want to discuss that with Carianne. She doesn’t need anyone stirring up trouble like that.”

  “Oh, I’ll discuss it all right, and I might even ask her about Rhyan’s bank account. It’s got me a little curious.

  Colt frowned and started to tell her it wasn’t Rhyan who paid the performers, but rather the trust set up by Carianne’s grandmother. He decided to drop the subject. Carianne could tell her it wasn’t Grayson’s or Charley’s business—but in the nicest way.

  “We’ll try to keep Katherine away from Grayson and Jake. She don’t need any fortune hunters after her.”

  Charley chuckled. “Good. But they’ll have to find someone to take her to the barn dance. Remember, you’re taking me.”