Texas Rose

chapter 21

Evie's words might have failed her, but her wits had not. She did what any sensible woman would have done when her husband put himself in danger of being shot down by a giant bully. She screamed.

She screamed when the man dropped Manuel. And she screamed as she swung her skillet with all her might and nearly took the man's gun hand off before he could reach for his holster. And she screamed when Tyler jumped on the giant's broad back and caught his neck in a stranglehold. That last scream was just for good measure. Evie was quite certain Tyler had the man well in hand as she swung her skillet at her attacker's kneecaps.

The man went down with a bellow of rage and pain. Tyler went with him, pinning his knee in the hollow of the man's back and jerking his head backward until his captive could no more than gurgle a protest.

"Don't kill him, Tyler," Evie told him calmly. "He says his money's been stolen. Jose has gone for the sheriff." She turned a thoughtful look on Manuel who had forgotten his own peril in the excitement, and was now bouncing up and down with glee and offering murderous threats.

He stopped bouncing when he caught Evie's look.

"Why did that man think you stole his money?" she asked with a deceptive calm.

"Evie, for Christ's sake, that can wait. Get this brute's gun and let me get him out of here." Tyler threw her an exasperated glance over his shoulder.

By this time a small crowd had gathered. Most of them were women who had been shopping in the general store, but one of the clerks came out and was busy snapping his suspenders while watching the proceedings, and Phil from the hotel had sauntered over to see the fun. Neither of them seemed much interested in helping until Evie bent over and removed the stranger's gun. Then they grabbed the giant's arms and held them so Tyler could get up and dust himself off.

By the time the sheriff made his way through the crowd, Tyler was returning to his normal dapper self. He straightened his string tie, pulled his ruffled cuffs into place, checked the buttons on his expensive brocade waistcoat, and glared daggers at Evie.

Evie was more concerned with the boy whose collar she held as he tried to make a dash through the crowd. "Manuel, I want the truth now. If you didn't do it, I want to know why that man thought you did."

"Because I'm a greaser, that's why!" the boy spat out with anger and shame. "Anything goes wrong, and they always point the blame at me."

"A greaser?" Evie lifted a questioning gaze to Tyler, who shrugged, then to the sheriff who came in for the last of this conversation.

Powell offered the explanation she sought. "A Mex. They're considered lower than a snake's belly around these parts. You got to know the history, Mrs. Peyton. During the war, the Mexicans would lie and connive and shoot a man as soon as his back was turned. Some consider them worse than red devils."

Red devils. Indians. Evie sighed and shot Tyler another glance, but his mouth was pursed tight with disapproval, and she couldn't tell whether it was for this prejudice or for herself. She donned her sweetest smile and turned it on the sheriff.

"Why, I believe my father was of Spanish origin, Mr. Powell. I guess that means I'm a greaser, too. But I like to think of myself as a schoolteacher. Manuel"—the tone of her voice changed, and the boy straightened obediently—"you are an eleven-year-old boy with a talent for trouble, but if anyone calls you a greaser again, I give you my permission to hit him where it hurts. And then hit him one for me, too. Is that understood?"

Manuel stared at her as if she had lost her mind, but he nodded eagerly enough. The people around them were staring, too, but Evie stood there coolly, her chestnut hair piled in ringlets above a pale neck bearing no stain of Mexican origin. She kept her smile as pleasant as a summer day. They didn't know what to make of her.

Tyler did. He knew she was a liar, but the lie had been extremely efficacious. She wasn't Mexican or Spanish any more than he was, but the sheriff was questioning the boy with considerable more gentleness than he would have otherwise.

"I was in the livery," Manuel explained defensively. "It used to be my pa's, and Tom lets me work there sometimes. But I didn't take nothing."

The sheriff turned to the giant still held captive by Phil and the clerk. Rage burned in the man's eyes, but it wasn't directed at Manuel or even his two captors right now. It was directed at Tyler and Evie.

"Where were you carrying the money and when did you last see it?" the sheriff asked his prisoner.

"It was in my saddlebag, and I last saw it when I put it there. Those bags were in the livery with my horse when I went over to the saloon. That's the only time they were out of my sight. I just want the money back. I ain't gonna press charges 'gainst no whippersnapper."

"Manuel, turn your pockets out." It was a silly gesture, but it was the only way Evie could convince the sheriff Manuel wasn't responsible. The boy was reed slim and wearing clothes two sizes too small for him. Anyone with half an eye could see he couldn't be carrying wads of money.

The boy did as told and the crowd murmured their approval. There was nothing in his pockets but a small penknife and a marble.

The sheriff turned to Evie and Tyler. "You want to press any charges?"

Evie could feel Tyler stiffening with anger as he remembered how the bully had swung at her, but she hadn't been hurt. "I think we're even. There's no sense pressing charges. Maybe someone ought to help him search the livery and see if his money fell out somewhere."

Once the giant was released, he didn't give them a second glance. He walked immediately to the stables, and several of the townspeople followed out of curiosity. If there was money in the straw, everyone would like to find it. Evie watched him go almost with regret. He knew something about a man named Peyton. It was an unusual name. She had always wondered why her parents had given it to her instead of something normal like Maryellen. Maybe they were trying to tell her something.

Tyler caught her look and growled, catching her arm and leading her away. "Don't you even think it. Spanish! Christ, Evie, you're going to tell one tale too many one of these days, and people will quit believing anything you say."

"Watch your language, Tyler. I won't have the children learning blasphemy." Evie watched as Manuel and Jose scampered ahead. The little brats knew that livery inside and out. She had no doubt that they were heading for some secret passage or hiding place right now. If she found they had been stealing from people's saddlebags, she would have a rough time ahead. She hoped their uncle received the cable Carmen had sent days ago.

"To hell with blasphemy! Ben tells me you've moved in with those brats. I know that's not what you came here for. Are you planning to settle here? Or are you just waiting for that lawyer to get back? I heard Jace tell Kyle that Hale's wired them that he'll be back shortly."

Evie caught her skirt and stared up at Tyler with suppressed excitement. The lawyer! She would know something soon now. Her eyes danced with delight, but she replied coyly, "Why, I daresay that depends on you, my husband. Whither thou goest, so should I, shouldn't I?"

Tyler caught his breath before he could say something he shouldn't. He had just seen her fighting like a raging schoolboy in the streets, but she was looking up at him through the lashes of a demure young lady. She wasn't what she seemed, but neither was he, so he guessed they were even.

"Let's not fool each other. You don't want this marriage any more than I do. I'll admit, it could be mighty convenient to tell marriage-minded females that I'm already taken, and I have no objections to sharing your bed. You're damned good in bed, and it's almost worth taking the chance, but I don't want to do that to you. You were meant to have a home and children and all that folderol, and I'm not the man for that."

They had stopped in the alley between the livery and the hotel, where the sun couldn't reach. Evie stared up at Tyler with a growing sense of frustration. He had done "that" to her, even admitted that he enjoyed it, and still he couldn't see that they could work it out together. He knew more than she about these things; maybe he was right.

But when she looked in his eyes, she didn't believe him. The golden flecks disappeared into deep pools of pain, and the lines were back around his mouth again. Tyler's looks made women swoon, and his elegant clothes bespoke the gambler the world saw, but she had seen the man without his clothes and looks. He was just a man, like any other. And right now, he was her man. She had always thought Jane Eyre a bit of a prig for walking out on Mr. Rochester.

She smiled at that. "I'm sure you're right, Tyler. Won't you come in and have some supper with us? Daniel would like to see you again. He's rather depressed because he can't get out and about. It would do him good to see you."

Put like that, Tyler couldn't refuse. He had told her he wasn't a family man, and she hadn't argued or cried or tried tearful persuasion. She had simply agreed with him and invited him to dinner for her brother's sake. Tyler supposed she was as devious as the next woman, but he liked the way she went about it. The pregnancy trick had been despicable, but he was the one who had contributed to that. Whatever other wiles Evie wielded, she wielded with creativity and grace, and an innocence that he couldn't refuse. He followed her down the alley.

He had forgotten about the children. The minute Tyler walked through the door, he knew his mistake. It had been easy enough to forget who the boy in the street was when he had seen Evie attacked, but he couldn't forget the rest of the menagerie easily. The ankle-biter toddled forward with grinning gabbles as soon as he entered. She had some fascination with his trousers; her little fingers crushed them as she steadied herself on his leg.

"Maria just wants to be picked up, Tyler. I daresay it gives her a whole new perspective on the world from your height." Evie set the skillet back on the shelf and added another plate to the table that Carmen was setting.

"We'll be eating shortly. Let me get you something to drink while we call Manuel and Jose." She poured Tyler a cup of coffee and disappeared out the back door on some errand.

Tyler wanted to run. He wanted to disengage his pant leg and bolt out the door and never look back. But he'd had a week to think about his last hasty departure, and it looked mighty like he'd turned tail that time. He wouldn't be thought a coward because of a few rambunctious juveniles. They weren't anything to him. Someone was bound to come and claim them sooner or later. Then he'd have Evie to himself again, figuratively speaking. Tyler threw a glance at the boy reading a book in the corner.

"Well, Daniel, you've changed locations. Does that mean you're going to live?" Tyler bent and picked up the termite on his leg, unable to move without moving her.

Daniel watched with interest as Tyler lifted Maria and stared at her as if she were a bug from outer space.

"I'll make it," he answered with his best effort at manliness. "Maria might not, though, when Evie discovers she's been ransacking through her paints. Carmen only just got her cleaned up."

Tyler eyed the toddler's fresh-scrubbed face with suspicion. Maria giggled and patted his cheeks with both hands. Tyler blew his cheeks into big puffs and shook his head and made an impolite noise. Maria erupted in gales of laughter.

Tyler gave up and sat down with the toddler in his lap. "Evie surely wouldn't do anything to her. She's just a baby."

Coming in from the back porch with some fresh kindling, Evie asked, "What won't Evie do to whom?"

Maria reached for the mug that Tyler was lifting. The hot coffee threatened to tilt on her head, and he hastily returned it to the table. "I suspect there isn't anything Evie won't do to anyone, given a chance," he retorted, "but we're just all getting along real friendly like here."

Evie threw Tyler a suspicious glance. "So I see. You better scoot your cup away from the table edge. She'll have it in your lap."

The brat curled up in his lap and spread her arms around him until Tyler was forced to hug her back. Then crowing with delight, she scrambled up and planted a sloppy kiss on his cheek, slid down his leg, and toddled merrily off in another direction. She didn't play fair. Tyler reached for his coffee and wished it were something stronger. He could have had that once, but he didn't want it any longer. And it wasn't the coffee he was thinking about.

Daniel chuckled and went back to his book with a final gambit. "Ask Evie how her painting is coming along."

"Painting? What have you two been up to while my back was turned?" She threw a suspicious glance to Tyler, who was finally sipping his coffee.

He shrugged and figured in for a dime, in for a dollar, and asked, "What have you been painting lately?"

Evie threw an irate glare at her brother. "Daniel! What have you been telling him? And how do you know what I've been doing? You're supposed to be in bed, resting that leg."

Daniel shrugged and ignored her tirade, leaving Tyler to handle it. Tyler threw him a look that said Daniel would pay for this later, but he maintained his calm in the face of the storm.

"I just asked a simple question. You don't need to fly off the handle. Maybe I should ask what you mean to see that lawyer about when he returns." That made Daniel's ears perk up, Tyler noted with satisfaction. Let the boy work that one out for himself.

"Let's just take one topic at a time. When did you ever see my painting? Have you been sneaking around here while my back is turned?" Evie shook a piece of silverware at him as she finished setting the rest of the table.

Tyler grinned. The light in here wasn't the greatest, but he could see the flame of irate color on her cheeks. He could see that getting under Evie's skin could be an interesting pastime, particularly since she was so good at getting under his. Besides, it was safer than thinking what else he would like to be doing with her.

"I rummage through ladies' things all the time. It always pays to know a little more about a lady than she knows about me. Are you going to tell me about the painting, or am I going to have to find out on my own?"

"I paint." She said that emphatically, slapping down a spoon she had just polished until the silver should have worn off. "Why don't you go wash before Manuel and Jose get here?"

Tyler rose obediently, but he couldn't resist temptation. He stopped behind Evie and catching her waist, kissed the nape of her neck. He could feel her stiffen, but he didn't dare do more under Daniel's nose. With a chuckle, he tugged one of her curls. "Yes, ma'am, I'm going, ma'am. Do I get to see your painting after we eat?"

"No one will ever see my painting again," she answered with a dramatic sniff and a glare that pinpointed Daniel.

Daniel looked over his glasses in the direction of Evie's bedroom. "Guess again, sister." He nodded toward the doorway.

Maria stood there, both chubby hands wrapped around a piece of wood as tall as she was. She dragged it farther into the room, grinning hugely. "Mine," she pronounced adamantly.

Tyler whooped and grabbed the board, lifting it into the air before Evie could beat him to it. It wasn't a board but a wood frame for a canvas, and he was nearly thrown off balance by the lightness of it as he tried to keep it over his head and catch the subject in the light.

"Tyler Monteigne, if you don't give that back to me right now, I'll never speak to you again!"

"Promise?" Tyler whistled as he recognized the dark-eyed urchin in the front corner of the canvas. The figure in the background was barely sketched in, but he had the ominous feeling that he might be the subject. There was something uncomfortably familiar about the figure's stance with hands in pocket and shoulders thrown back. The child in the picture was apparently offering him something, but the object wasn't finished yet. The whole subject made him uneasy.

Manuel and Jose burst in at that moment, followed by Carmen. Evie scowled at Tyler as he continued to peruse her work, but she was forced to ignore him as she shepherded the boys into cleaning up before they came to the table.

Without comment, Tyler handed the piece to Daniel. Then he bent and picked Maria up and put her on the high stool evidently meant for her. The boys' excited chatter filled the sudden silence between the adults as they settled at the table.

Tyler watched as Evie bustled around making certain everyone had what they needed, including Daniel, who had to eat in his corner. She was not only a beautiful liar and a woman who could handle four children and a rebellious adolescent at once, but she had talent that he had never suspected.

What else was he going to find out about Evie Peyton before she put the noose around him and lynched him good?