All the trust in the world shone in those eyes. Cooper’s chest filled. How he loved his little girl. “Come, let’s get you back in bed.”
It was a sweet task, tucking the covers up to her chin, wishing her good dreams, waiting as she drifted off. His two little daughters, safe and snug.
A noise downstairs spun him around. With his five shooter strapped tight to his thigh, he started down the stairs. This part of Montana was isolated but saw its share of trouble. That’s why the good people of Flint Creek had hired him. He had promised to keep their families and their businesses safe from crime. It was a tall order, but Cooper Braddock was a man of his word.
“I saw your light on,” Laura’s voice called out to him before he strode into the kitchen.
“More problems with Katie.” He unbuckled his gun belt, the day’s work done.
“That’s nothing new. What is it this time?”
He studied his young sister’s pretty face, the concern so bright in her eyes. He knew Laura loved his daughters, but the emerald flashing on her left ring finger left no room for doubt. Laura would soon be married, starting a new life, making her own family. It was time to stop depending on her so heavily.
He laid the gun belt on the table with a soft clink. “She can’t sleep. Nothing to worry about.”
“With Katie, there’s a lot to worry about.” Those caring eyes twinkled. “Will you share your coffee?”
“With pleasure. If you can stand my bitter brew.”
“Let’s just say I’m used to your cooking, big brother.” She lifted the enamel pot from the stove, just as she’d done hundreds, maybe thousands of times. “What are you going to do when I marry?”
“About the girls?” He sat down at the table. Sighed. “I’ve tried not to think about it. I don’t think Mrs. Potts is going to stay without you here.”
“I think Mrs. Potts is ready to run screaming to Canada if Katie brings one more slimy creature into this kitchen, whether on purpose or not.” Laura’s fondness rang in her voice. She set her steaming cup on the table and sat across from him. Her gaze met his. “Cooper, those girls of yours need a mother.”
“They have me.” He lifted his chin.
“A father’s love is important, but you’re a man. You’re busy providing for your family, protecting the town and doing your job. A man has to do that, I know. You need to provide for your girls and that takes you away from them. I’m not faulting you.”
He rubbed his brow, tired. “Whatever my daughters need, they have my love. Not every man stands by his family.”
“You’ve made a fine home for them.”
Those tender words, brimming with understanding, hurt more than Cooper could admit. He’d worked hard to do right by his girls after Katherine walked away. To love them, provide for them. “I couldn’t have done so much without your help, Laura.”
“I’ve been glad to do it, Cooper.” Her lower lip wobbled. “I’m proud of you for taking a risk and doing what’s right for yourself and my two beautiful nieces.”
Love filled him up. “That means a lot to me, Laura. Life would be damn empty without my daughters.”
He thought of Anna Bauer and how she’d come so close to losing her child. His family was safe, healthy and happy. Yes, he was a lucky man indeed.
Laura’s hand covered his, an act of comfort from sister to brother. “I haven’t taken the time to meet your Anna yet, out of respect for her injured girl, but from what Tucker says, she’s wonderful.”
Cooper’s hand shook, the cup slipped. Hot coffee scorched his thigh. “What has Tucker been saying, that no-good brother of ours?”
“Only that he found certain letters in the stage wreckage and because they were so personal, he’s keeping them away from the other deputies’ prying eyes.” Laura’s face beamed with happiness. “Oh, Cooper. Why didn’t you tell us? I’m so happy you’ve found a wife.”
Chapter Four
Lee Corinthos held the revolver in a white-knuckled grip. He hated the way the gun shook. Hated weakness of any kind, no matter how hurt he was. “Are you sure you ain’t causin’ more harm?”
Fear glittered in the doc’s watery eyes. “No, sir. I’m doing the best job I can. Your man is hurt real bad.”
Excuses. Corinthos was tired of those, too. “If my man dies, you die too, Doc.”
More fear in those eyes. Educated men didn’t know how to fight, Corinthos knew. The doctor brought up from Rocky Gulch would prove no threat. Men like him didn’t have the guts.
“I’ll do all I can.” The doc swallowed hard, as if realizing the importance of his surgery, and returned to digging the bullet out of Jeffrey’s thigh.
“Those lawmen were waitin’ for us.” Dusty wiped his brow, winced in pain, then lowered his bandaged hand. “It’s that sheriff Flint Creek hired to replace old Joe.”
“Old Joe made things easy for us.”
“With a little bit of bribery and just the right pressure,” Dusty cackled.
“I wish to hell he’d stayed. We’ve got problems.”
“We’ll find a way to deal with Braddock. Every man has his pressure points.” Dusty stopped. “Want me to keep a gun on the doc?”
“I can do it,” Corinthos growled. He was the toughest son of a gun in all of Montana Territory. He refused to show weakness in front of his men, even if he was hurt bad enough to pass out. “Yep, that damn new sheriff is a problem.”
“Braddock’s his name. Cooper Braddock.”
“He’s gotta cooperate or we’ll take him out of our way. I plan on keeping my business profitable.” With the amount of gold traveling from the mines on this side of the Rockies, he’d be rich before long. “First, I’ll have to pay that Braddock back for plowing a bullet into me.”
“I wanna be there to see it.” Dusty chuckled, as always relishing even the thought of violence.
“Doc, are you done yet?” Corinthos nosed the revolver against the scrawny doc’s neck. The room was starting to spin and the outlaw couldn’t keep standing much longer without a flask of whiskey, but he wouldn’t say it. Wouldn’t let his men know it.
“I’m just closing up now.”
“Then I’m next.” Corinthos gritted his teeth against the pain. He would get his damn wound stitched and then he’d be heading right back to Flint Creek. He had a witness to silence and a score to settle.
And settle it he would. Lee Corinthos always got what he wanted—at any cost. It didn’t pay for a man to be honest and polite. No, it was a ruthless man who won every time. Corinthos had learned that bitter lesson the hard way, for it was the way of the West.
As the hours passed watching Mandy sleep, Anna had to struggle to tamp down her fears. She could stand any amount of grief and hardship, but not the death of her daughter.
Anna reached for the borrowed storybook, smoothed open the nch paper pages to a favored tale. Over the rasp of Mandy’s breathing, she began to read. The story was familiar, often read in quiet hours back home, and Anna’s mind drifted. She thought of Dalton. Thought of her sister, who’d sent him in the wrong direction. She hoped Meg was safe. Anna thought of the stage robbers. Hoped that they, like Dalton, didn’t favor silencing every last witness.
Fear