But he didn’t have to. Jay’s clear blue eyes had already assessed the situation. He rapidly concluded the only circumstance in which Braddock would be caught without his guns. “So you brought them here to protect the woman.”
Braddock met Jay’s penetrating gaze. “Yes.”
“What about the brother? What are you going to do with him?”
“I’m going to let him go. I don’t think he’ll try anything like the stagecoach robbery again.”
“Let him go? Why in hell would you do that? The man’s a thief.”
“He’s not a man. He’s a kid who got caught up with the wrong bunch.”
“You’re in love with his sister.”
Braddock gazed out over the yard. Oh, he wanted to deny it. Vehemently.
“Maybe.”
Jay laughed. “I never thought I’d see the day.”
Braddock gave Jay his fiercest scowl, which was pretty damned fierce. “Are you going to help me or not?”
His anger didn’t seem to lessen Jay’s amusement. “Of course, I’m going to help you.”
“I’d like to see Lorelei married to a good man. Someone who can take care of her and make sure she doesn’t let her brother talk her into anything that’s bad for her.”
Jay finally did lose his humor with the situation. He frowned. “I thought you said you loved her?”
“What does that have to do with anything? You know I can’t be tied down to a woman. I’d only get her killed. I was the one who dragged her into Coyote Pass. I was so determined to find Mulcahy, I didn’t stop and think.”
“But you came out of it all right.”
“I care about Lorelei more than I have a right to. I’m going to do the right thing by her. I want your help with that.”
“How does she feel about you?”
“It doesn’t matter. This is the favor I want. The one you’ve been wanting to give.”
“If it’s what you want, I’m not going to argue about it.”
Braddock grabbed the whiskey bottle and took another swig. “Thanks.”
He handed it to Jay, who sipped instead of guzzled, then wedged the bottle between his thighs. “Do you want to help pick out her husband?”
Braddock’s fingers itched to grip the bottle. “No. Do it after I’m gone. When I leave here to find Mulcahy, I won’t be coming back.”
“You going after him by yourself?”
“Yeah.”
“You looking to commit suicide?”
“If I bring a posse it will give too much warning. Mulcahy will get away like he’s done in the past. I’ll have to take him by surprise. If I can get him, his gang won’t last.”
“One of these days it’s all going to catch up with you, Chris. You’re not invincible like you think.”
Braddock gave in to his weakness and snatched the bottle back from Jay. If only he could be so lucky.
CHAPTER TWELVE
“Tell us how Mr. Braddock saved your life, Pa,” said little Chris through a mouthful of food.
Lorelei rearranged Rachel on her lap so she could glimpse across the table. Christopher was studying Beth’s blue and white china which still held a large hunk of untouched corn bread. As if the question asked didn’t concern him, he stabbed a piece of pork from some pinto beans and chewed on it as if he were being forced to eat Lucky.
“Christopher saved your life?” Lorelei asked. “He must make a habit of doing that.” She flashed Braddock a teasing grin, but her effort didn’t erase his frown.
Little Chris stood on the rawhide seat of his pine chair. “That’s why he’s a hero and I’m named after him.”
“Sit down and finish your beans.” Beth cocked her head and studied Lorelei in a way that made her shift. “You know, my dear, Chris doesn’t tell many people his first name. He only told Jay because he thought he was dying.”
Christopher’s gaze lifted, but he didn’t comment.
Jay set down his fork. “He had everyone in the regiment guessing at what went in between ‘Captain’ and ‘Braddock.’ ”
Lorelei smiled. “He tried that on me, but I got it out of him.”
Corey made a mule like noise through closed lips. “Lucky you.”
Alice’s gaze strayed to Corey, and she smiled shyly. Lorelei noticed that the girl couldn’t keep her eyes off her brother.
Beth’s stare darted from Corey to Lorelei to Christopher. She didn’t miss a thing. “How did you get it out of him, Lorelei?”
Lorelei forced down a piece of com bread that had suddenly swelled in her throat, wishing she’d kept her big mouth shut.