Jesse didn’t want to think about her with Stoner because he didn’t want to think of any woman cursed with that fate. Especially not Haley. She was bright and funny, and she deserved more. She had spirit and an inner strength he respected.
“Your face is all scrunched up,” she said. “What are you thinking?”
“That you’re very different from my wife.”
“Your wife?” Haley’s eyes widened. “You’re married?”
He shook his head. “I’m a widower. Claire died about four years ago. She was...” His voice trailed off. For the first time since he’d lost her, he found himself willing to talk about her. Maybe it was because he knew he wasn’t going to be with Haley very long. Or maybe it was because Haley was in a similar situation and he wanted to warn her of the pitfalls.
“Claire was the youngest daughter of my mother’s second cousin. She was from the South—a small town near Atlanta, Georgia. She wanted to get married and I needed a wife, so our family arranged the match.”
Haley tilted her head as she studied him. “So you had a mail-order bride, too.”
“Yes.” He shrugged.
“What happened?”
A simple enough question. What had happened? “We weren’t well suited to each other and she wasn’t prepared for the life here.”
Not suited didn’t begin to tell the truth. Claire had been as delicate and fragile as a soap bubble. All pale skin and slender build, she’d never worked a day before in her life. The reality of ranch life had frightened her and she’d spent much of her time wandering through the rooms of the house, as if looking for a part of herself.
“She didn’t like Montana?” Haley asked.
“Not really. She thought it was too cold and the ranch was too isolated.”
He wasn’t willing to say more, or tell Haley how his wife had actually died. He didn’t want to think about that day, or any of the days before. He didn’t want to picture Claire in his mind. She always wore white and that was how he remembered her. A slender, wisp of a woman in a pale gown, as if she’d already turned into a ghost.
“You must miss her very much.”
He had regrets but little else. “No, I don’t miss her at all. That’s the tragedy of Claire’s death. Once she was gone, I rarely thought of her.” He glanced at the sky. “We’re going to be stopping early today.”
“Really?” She sighed. “I’m glad. I’m still sore from riding. I just want to take a nice walk around and stretch.”
She was still talking as she slid off her horse. Jesse didn’t want to do it, but he had no choice. She’d already proved she was more than capable of running off.
While she was occupied with her horse, he walked up behind her. In one quick movement, he captured her wrists and quickly secured them.
“What do you think you’re doing?” she demanded, tugging at the bindings. “You’re tying me up. You can’t do that. I don’t understand. You haven’t tied me up in a couple of days. I’m not going to run away. Jesse, why are you doing this?”
He swept her into his arms and set her on the ground. She started kicking, but he quickly subdued her, then tied her ankles.
Green eyes spit fire. “Jesse Kincaid, I demand an explanation. I have obeyed your every order.”
“You ran away,” he reminded her, his voice calm. “Twice.”
“I know, but—”
Her words were silenced by the bandanna he slipped into her mouth. He secured the ends behind her head. She worked at the material, trying to spit it out, but it didn’t budge. Shrieks of outrage cut through the afternoon, but they weren’t as loud as her screaming and Jesse knew it was the best he could do.
“I have to go talk to a friend of mine,” he said, crouching in front of her, careful to stay out of reach of her bound but kicking feet. “I won’t be gone long, but I need to make sure you’ll be here when I get back.” He motioned to the ties at her wrists and ankles. “I’m really sorry, Haley.”
Muffled sounds exploded from her. Obviously she wasn’t impressed by his apology. He stood up.
“You’ll be safe enough here. I’ll be back before sundown.”
She shrieked. This time he thought he made out what she was saying. What if you don’t come back?
She had a point. Bound and gagged, she was as vulnerable as a newborn. It was a risk they were both going to have to take.
“I’ll be back,” he promised. “You’ll see.”
He secured her horse to a tree, then got on his mount and headed out. Her muffled screams of protest faded quickly.
Less than an hour later, he’d reached the meeting place. A few minutes after that Bart Baxter rode up on his black gelding.
Bart grinned. “I don’t have to ask if you got her,” he said. “Everyone’s talking about it. You made a real impression on a couple from back east. They’ve been talking up a storm about how you held up the stage and attacked poor innocent passengers.”
Jesse grimaced. “The man pulled a gun on me.”
“I saw it, Jesse. It wasn’t much of a gun.”
“Agreed, but he was less than a couple feet from me. Even a fool like that wouldn’t have missed.”
“Did you have to go and break his wrist?”
“I just kicked him. How was I to know he was delicate as an eggshell?”
Bart’s grin broadened. “To hear him tell it, he wrestled you to the ground like a bear, but ultimately you got the better of him.” He’d raised his voice slightly so it sounded cultured and easternlike.
“Great,” Jesse muttered and pulled his hat lower over his forehead. “Lindsay got men out looking for me?”
“Some. I asked around and so far they haven’t found your trail.”
“A blind man could see it,” Jesse said, wondering how on earth they’d missed the very obvious clues he’d left. He looked at his friend. “Anything from Stoner?”
Bart shook his head. “Nothing. I got him word that I was the one he should come see and I was real obvious when I was in town today, but he didn’t talk to me. You want me to go to him directly?”
“No. You’re in this too deep already. I don’t want to give Lindsay an excuse to arrest you. So far there’s just a rumor that you’re involved.” He frowned. “I wish you’d change your mind about helping me. I don’t want anything to happen to you. Christine would kill me.”
“My wife understands and wants to help, too. Don’t worry. Lindsay isn’t going to do anything to me. You’re the one in danger here.”
Maybe, Jesse thought. But so far the plan wasn’t working. Stoner was supposed to be frantic over the loss of his bride and willing to talk. Or at least pretend he was.
“Stoner hasn’t said anything about Haley?” he asked.
“Not that I heard.”
“You think he’s going to want her back?”
Bart grimaced. “He paid for the ticket. You can bet he’s going to want to get his money’s worth. He’ll want her. I think he’s trying to wait you out. He’s probably hoping you’ll get nervous and make a mistake.”
Maybe he already