Texas Tiger

chapter 16





"You did what?"

The man behind the massive desk leapt up and glared at his eldest son as if he had taken off his head and bounced it on the floor.

Peter shoved his hands in his pockets and glared back. "I wasn't going to let her be ruined by that scoundrel. It serves them both right. What I want to know is where he got the name. I haven't been down to the courthouse yet, but he swears his name is Mulloney and that he's my brother. Even an ass wouldn't make that claim unless he has something to back it up."

Artemis Mulloney went white, whether with rage or some other emotion wasn't easily discernible. His fingers locked around the desk, and the light from the window behind shadowed his face, making it impossible to read his expression. "The lying, conniving son of a..." He halted in mid-curse, straightened up, and took his seat. "His intent is evident, of course. It's a simple enough matter to forge documents. I'm not certain how he found out, but he has evidently done his research. We've not mentioned it to any of you because it never seemed important, but there was a child born before you, a son. He died within three days of his birth. He's buried in the family cemetery. You can see the stone for yourself. It reads 'Daniel Ewan Mulloney.' "

Peter took the first deep breath of the morning. "I knew there had to be an explanation. The bastard is trying to pass himself off as one of us so he can walk in and claim his share of our wealth and Georgina's, too. Do you think he means to take it to court? Surely forged documents can be detected?"

Artemis reached for a pen and began to scribble across a piece of letterhead. "I suspect he will opt for blackmail. He won't want the courts involved. I'll notify our attorney. We'll stop this before it can even begin." He looked up and glared at his son. "Marrying him to Georgina Hanover is the stupidest thing you've ever done. But I'll take care of that. You get back to work."

Peter stiffened again. Biting his tongue, he swung around and stalked out. Sometimes, he had a great deal of difficulty liking his father, but he didn't have to like him to obey him. The old man knew what he was doing, there was no doubt about that. But just this once, Peter would like to be a step ahead of him.

He would start with a visit to the courthouse.

* * *

Georgina stared out the window of her new home to the dirty street below where a farm cart rattled past loaded down with fresh produce from the country. It was a little late to be arriving for the Saturday morning market. Perhaps the farmer had been so successful he had gone back for a second load.

Turning around, she gazed at the nearly empty room that she and Daniel would now share. This wasn't even a house. It was a warehouse. These rooms were made for offices and stock and hordes of dirty, sweating men. The walls hadn't been painted since the building had been built. The floors were worn and scraped with years of machinery and feet crossing them. They had never been sanded and polished for the feet and delicate shoes of women.

At least there was some semblance of plumbing, she had discovered much to her relief, but that was as gracious as it got. The windows had no curtains. The floors had no rugs. The rooms had no furniture, unless one counted a printing press, a pallet, and an old armchair.

Her eyes strayed to the pallet Daniel had slept on the night before. Surely he wouldn't expect her to share that?

Raising her chin, Georgina started for the door. Daniel had left her here while he ran errands. She didn't know what he expected her to do with the time, but she knew what she wanted to do. She set out to explore the other possibilities of this filthy building.

When she was done, she was even more depressed than before, but at least she had some ideas. There was another room across the hall she could use for herself. She just needed a broom, a pail, and a mop to clean out the dirt and the spiders and the cobwebs that had accumulated with years of neglect. She hoped Daniel didn't have to pay much rent for this pile of garbage.

She counted the coins left in her purse after she had given Daniel some for Dr. Phelps. Her allowance was generous, and she could calculate the number of new dresses and shoes she could purchase with it, but she didn't know the cost of anything else. It seemed wisest to hang on to every penny until she knew where the next would come from. Why should she waste her precious money on brooms and mops when she knew where she could get some for nothing?

Her father would have a conniption fit, but Hanover Industries belonged to her as much as it did to him. Or almost as much. She could see no reason in the world why she couldn't use their brooms and mops if she liked.

Deciding action was better than inaction, Georgina unpacked her satchel, shook out the simplest cotton gown she had, and changed. She kept one ear open for the sound of footsteps, terrified Daniel would be back before she could dress, but all she heard was the whine of the dog wanting his ears scratched.

After she smoothed the gray skirt over her oldest petticoat and tied her shoelaces, she let the dog in and gave him the requisite pat. His tail wagged eagerly, and she debated taking him with her, but Daniel needed him to guard his machines. Leaving him with a scratch and a promise, she walked across the street.

Doris stared when Georgina sashayed into the office in a gown that looked like it had never been pressed and should have been worn by a servant. Georgina gave her a big smile, commented on the weather, and swept into the next room. The women at the machines had their backs to her and didn't dare to turn to see who entered, but the foreman was quick to note any invasion of his turf. Fortunately, he was on the other side of the room and had to dodge boxes and machinery before reaching her. Georgina waved tauntingly and opened the maintenance closet door.

She had the required equipment in her hands before Emory could reach her. Praying that her father had not mentioned her disgrace, knowing he wouldn't breathe a word of it for the sake of his own pride, she pretended she was still the spoiled daughter and merely smiled at the foreman's shout.

Gathering up her tools, she called, "I'll bring them back shortly. Don't worry about me! I can handle them." Then with an insouciant calm she didn't feel, she deliberately swung her hips and walked out.

Georgina waved at Doris as she passed by. She didn't realize she was holding her breath until she got outside and let it out again. She had done it. She hadn't exactly bearded the lion, but she had staked a claim. And she would keep on staking that claim until they realized they couldn't keep her out.

It was just a matter of time until she ran into her father, but she would worry about that when she got there.

When Daniel returned to the press room sometime later, it was to find his bedraggled wife covered with the grime that had once coated the floors and walls of his home. The pale gold of her hair was hidden behind a scarf sporting cobwebs instead of spring flowers, and a smear of dirt instead of powder adorned her nose. But her lips carried a smile brighter than dawn, and beneath the smudges, her cheeks were as pink as roses. He hoped the tug at his heartstrings at the sight was just admiration for her pluck.

He gestured for the men behind him to enter, and she squealed as they began carrying in the bedposts.

"Not in here!" she cried, shooing them away with her feather duster as if they were dust balls and not two-hundred-pound men with arm muscles bigger than her waist.

They halted and turned to Daniel for direction. He shrugged and turned to Georgina. "Where else would you put it?"

"In the bedroom." Skirting around the movers, she crossed the hall and threw open the door to the spacious room she had just finished cleaning.

The windows sparkled in the sun, flooding the room with light, and on one wall, Daniel noted the outline of the missing fireplace. She was right. This would make an ideal bedroom. Daniel's gaze swerved to take in his remarkable wife. He wondered how she would react if he moved in here with her.

But he let her bustle and peck like a mother hen without disturbing her excitement. It was kind of nice having a woman to look out for his creature comforts. He hadn't thought Georgina would be the type to give in to housewifely instincts, but he certainly wouldn't complain. He had fully expected to come home and find her curled up in the chair with a book, waiting for him to take her out to lunch. That she had made an effort to make this place into a home warmed him inside.

When the bed was where she wanted it and the mattress tested for plumpness and the movers gone, Daniel crossed his arms and waited for Georgina to remember he was still here. The flush on her cheeks and the way she took the duster to an imaginary cobweb told him she was having some difficulty accepting the fact that he wouldn't disappear and leave her to this playhouse she was creating.

"The place looks great, Miss Merry. I appreciate it. I suppose now I ought to get a desk for the other room so we can work like professionals."

She swung around and eyed him uncertainly. "I thought you were saving your money for the paper."

Daniel leaned against the doorjamb and shoved his hands in his pockets. He was suddenly aware that he wore only shirtsleeves and not proper gentlemanly attire. He didn't know why he should think of that when she looked at him that way, but he moved his shoulders restlessly beneath the light cotton. It was suddenly very, very warm in here.

"The paper won't make money for a long time, but I've got a number of printing jobs already. That's another reason you'll be good to have around. You can go out and gather information while I finish those jobs. Since Max likes you so well, you can take him along as bodyguard."

She nodded doubtfully, and Daniel took pity on her. The poor little rich girl had faced enough harsh reality for one day. He shouldn't be so damned soft on her, but he couldn't help it. The hero instinct died hard—one of the reasons he'd given her the Pecos Martin name when they'd first met. Pecos was the gunfighter Daniel wasn't.

"Why don't I bring you some water so you can freshen up and then we can go out to eat? There's a place owned by some Italians not so far from here, and they have the greatest food you've ever tasted."

Georgina brightened, and her hand instantly went to her hair. When it came away with the filthy scarf, her smile dimmed, and Daniel couldn't stop himself from crossing the room and burying his fingers in the soft curls revealed. It felt good to have the right to touch her. He swelled with the intensity of some emotion he preferred not to name. He just enjoyed the sensation of soft curls against his fingers and left it at that.

"You have hair like spun sunlight. Nothing can detract from it. I'll buy you a mirror so you can see for yourself."

The words were what she needed to hear, but Daniel's touch was unnerving. Georgina jerked slightly, but didn't move away when he wound his fingers in a strand. She stared up into gray eyes that smoldered, and her heart skipped a beat. Surely that look couldn't mean what she thought it meant.

She glanced away, and he released her. Trying not to sigh with relief, she murmured, "I'll be ready quickly," and said nothing when he turned and left the room.

Thank goodness she had thought to clean a room for herself. Last night she had thought their relationship was purely platonic. Today, she was beginning to think men didn't understand the meaning of the word. She was much better off staying as far from her husband as possible.

* * *

Daniel knew something was wrong as soon as he woke from his pleasant daydream.

He had just finished delivering a load of posters to the grocery and was on his way home, picturing Georgina greeting him at the door. He was mentally contemplating a soothing evening relaxing with a book and gentle conversation, anticipating the moment when they could retire to bed when he became aware of the footsteps following him.

He tried to continue imagining the seductive persuasiveness that would entice Georgina into their first kiss, but his feet instinctively carried him around a corner and into the nearest alley. It was a little difficult imagining how that kiss would turn out while waiting in a dark doorway to see if the footsteps would go on by.

They didn't. They hesitated.

With a sigh of regret Daniel found a better position. He should have known better than to drift into daydreams in this area of town. Those two bullies he had scared off would have friends they would dearly like to set loose on him. There were even real thieves and low-life scum waiting in the alleys like this one for anyone unfortunate enough to display any sign of wealth. He knew better than to be caught unprepared. The wariness he had learned in Texas hadn't been left behind when he hopped the train. He had just momentarily misplaced it while dreaming foolish dreams. He definitely knew better.

He could hear their whispered consultation at the end of the alley and wished he had brought his Colt. He didn't often carry it. It was a shade melodramatic for the sleepy town of Cutlerville, Ohio. But if he meant to continue producing radical papers attacking the Mulloney establishment, he had better learn to be prepared. He had the sneaking suspicion Artemis Mulloney was a man to be reckoned with.

And no doubt he was already on the rampage if Peter had gifted him with the information of Georgina's hasty marriage. Daniel almost felt sorry for his brother, only he had difficulty thinking of Peter as a real brother. He was twenty-eight years old and the only brothers Daniel had ever known were his adopted sister Evie's cousins. He'd take those two heathen rattlesnakes over the civilized copperheads bearing the Mulloney name any day of the week.

Bracing himself, Daniel waited for his followers to attack.

They entered the alley unarmed. That was a good sign. Leaning his shoulder against the brick wall beside him, Daniel called, "Looking for someone, gentlemen?"

They gaped, jerked around, searched the narrow alley, and finding nothing, glanced upward.

Daniel smiled beatifically down upon them from his perch on the windowledge. "Better talk fast. I've got an appointment with a beautiful lady."

They weren't dumb; he had to give them credit for that. Finding themselves in an unexpected position, they cut right to the parleying rather than the usual fisticuffs to warm him up.

The tallest wore a checked coat and a striped waistcoat and looked very much like Egan except for the bulbous nose. Maybe Mulloney kept a stable of matched bullies, Daniel thought whimsically as the man yelled up at him.

"Come down here where we can talk to you!"

He smiled and crossed his arms and leaned back against the painted window.

"We got something to say that'll be worth your time," Checked-coat called in an almost wheedling tone.

Daniel shrugged. "I said to hurry it up. If you have something to say, spit it out."

The shorter man developed a fierce scowl that turned his face into a shriveled potato with eyes. "We'll spit you out, you highfalutin turd." He reached for Daniel's boots.

Daniel caught the wall on either side of him, adjusted his weight, and swung his foot outward. The kick caught Potato-head right beneath the chin. He went wheeling backward with a scream as much of fury as agony.

Checked-coat immediately retreated to a safer position. "We've got an offer to make, like I said. There's someone as wishes you to leave town. The faster you do it, the more he'll pay. We've got tickets here for tonight's train. If you're on it, there'll be someone at the station with a bag of greenbacks for you. If you wait until the next night, he takes out a hundred, and a hundred every night thereafter. And if you take it and try to come back, that same someone will be there to greet you with a knife."

Daniel leaned against the window again. "How exceptionally generous of you. Tell your employer if the man meets me with a packet of deeds for the houses owned by ABC, I'd be much more likely to cooperate. I'll be even more generous than he and offer to wait until tomorrow. But for each day I have to wait after that, I'll demand the deed to another property. The one the department store is sitting on would be pleasant."

"Why you little—" The curse was lost in the scuffle as Checked-coat leapt to grab one of Daniel's legs while Potato-head went for the other.

Prepared for his action, Daniel shoved off the window ledge and jumped before they could grab him. His boots landed squarely in their faces as he did so.

He had a hard time keeping his balance as they went down, but he caught himself up a good deal quicker than they did. Giving his good sturdy Mexican boots a mental word of thanks, Daniel swung at the first man up.

This would certainly make a long day even longer.