After the Ashes(77)

“I’m not finished,” complained the kid.

“You are now.” Braddock made his gaze threat enough.

“I can see this isn’t going well.” Lorelei’s slight smile belied her words. She practically levitated with happiness, which made Braddock smile in return.

She had left him well before dawn. He’d hated letting her go a moment before he had to, but farmers rose early. If Beth or the kids caught her in his room, they’d have a wedding on their hands by sunset.

Corey glanced to Braddock and then back to his sister. He frowned, but withheld any comments on the obvious change in his sister’s mood.

“Go inside, Lori. This is between me and Braddock.”

Braddock rubbed his hand over his mouth and studied Corey. If Corey could use his sister for subterfuge, he usually did. The kid glared back at him, a glint of accusation in his narrowed eyes. Damn. Suddenly Braddock felt like a criminal slated for interrogation.

Lorelei put her hands on her hips, confronting Corey with none of Braddock’s reluctance. “I’ll go in once you promise to give Christopher the information he needs.”

Corey sneered. “I’ll tell him what he needs to know.”

The side door slammed, saving Braddock the effort of appearing calm. Archie staggered out toward them, prompting Lorelei to rush to his aid. Corey stood and watched them, turning his back on Braddock.

Braddock raked his palm over his face, grateful for the distraction. Corey had the upper hand and Braddock didn’t like it. That he deserved Corey’s disdain he liked even less. Making love to Lorelei last night had been selfish and irresponsible. His leaving would be that much harder for both of them. He wouldn’t be able to wipe the indignant look off Corey’s face with any satisfaction.

“Are you all right, Archie?” Lorelei’s worried voice brought Braddock back to the present.

Archie looked like hell. Sweat slicked his hair to his head and beaded on his face. His clothes hung in awkward angles. He appeared to have been wadded up in a saddlebag and ridden across the country. When you hadn’t been sober in weeks, or in Archie’s case, maybe years, the hangover had to be brutal.

“I just need some air, Miss Lorelei.” Archie swayed toward her before staggering past.

She caught his arm. “Let me help you, Archie. Beth told me of a spring a few yards from the house. Let’s see if we can find it.”

“I’d be ever so grateful.” Without his slur, it was obvious Archie was a Southerner and a gentleman, or had been once.

He paused in front of Braddock’s chair. “I implore you one more time, sir. Take me to a town. Any town.”

Braddock gazed up at him. “What about Beth and the baby?”

Archie covered his bleary eyes. They were so red it was a wonder he could see from them. “I’d be no good to her.”

Braddock shrugged. “You shouldn’t have told her you were a doctor. She has her heart set on you delivering her baby.”

“I used to be a doctor.” Archie dropped his hand. “Why did you listen to me, anyway?”

“You never shut up. How could we not listen to you?”

Lorelei gave him a harsh look and shook her head. “You said you liked to deliver babies, Archie. Please stay. Beth said the midwife who lived near here moved away. If you don’t do it, I’ll have to. And I know you can do a better job than me.”

Archie tried to disengage himself from Lorelei’s grip. “Thank you for your consideration, Miss Lorelei. You shouldn’t see me like this.”

“We’ve seen you worse, Archie,” said Corey. “But we still like you. Do me a favor and let Lori take care of you so I can talk to Braddock about Mulcahy.”

If it were possible, Archie’s pallor turned a few shades lighter. He suddenly clamped his hand over his mouth. Braddock sprang from his chair just in case Archie lost his breakfast. After a moment, the man took a big shuddering breath that returned a touch of yellow to his colorless cheeks.

He let Lorelei guide him toward the spring without any resistance.

“You’d better talk to him, Corey,” she called over her shoulder. “You’ll be talking to me if you don’t.”

They both stood until Lorelei wandered out of earshot. Corey sat down first. “I think she wants to get rid of you.”

Braddock sank into the chair’s rawhide seat. He hoped the kid didn’t notice how the idea jolted him. “Why would she?”

The way Corey cocked his head said he’d noticed how he rattled Braddock. but that the kid wasn’t nearly satisfied. “Why wouldn’t she? You’re no good for her.”

A muscle worked in Braddock’s jaw. He didn’t like hearing his own thoughts out of Corey’s mouth. “Let’s talk about Mulcahy.”