Salvation in the Sheriff's Kiss(40)

“Have you heard anything on when the judge is set to arrive?”

Tension pulled the fair skin over her cheekbones taut. He knew she worried over Yucton and it bothered him no end to see her getting wrapped up in this all over again. Yucton was doing nothing to help his cause, still refusing Platt’s daily requests to defend him. Hunter couldn’t figure out what Yucton’s intent was, but if he didn’t do something to save himself soon, the trial would be under way and he would find himself swinging from the end of a rope or becoming a permanent resident of the nearest prison.

He hadn’t wanted to talk about the trial today and ruin her chance at having an afternoon away from it all, but he didn’t want to lie to her. Not if he could avoid it.

“I received a wire last night. The new judge is set to arrive within a week.”

“Then the trial will start soon.”

It was more of a statement than a question, but he nodded anyway. They reached the wagon and he moved to help her up into the seat. It staggered him how featherlight she was in his hands, despite the fancy layers of silks and satins or whatever it was that made up the construction of the dress she had on. It reminded him that while she may possess the internal fortitude of a hundred men, she was still vulnerable and in need of his protection.

It scared him a little, the responsibility. Perhaps it would be different if he had a better handle on just what he was up against. As it was, he was still shooting in the dark, and the only way he could think to keep her safe was to glue himself to her side. A prospect filled with a host of dangers of a different sort.

They rode in silence for a bit, until the town fell away and the trees that filled the space between Salvation Falls and the Circle S Ranch swallowed them up. The sun fought its way through the thick forest, tossing rays of light onto the path and into pools along the way, illuminating the dew where it had collected on the leaves and moss.

Hunter had forgotten how comfortable silence was with her. He never felt as if he had to fill the space with mindless chatter or struggle for words to gloss over a quiet awkwardness. He toyed with the idea of telling her his plans to speak with Foster, but decided against it for now. McLaren had declared it a dead end and he didn’t want to raise her hopes when he didn’t hold out much of his own.

They were well along the path before anything was said. “I had lunch with the Bancrofts the other day.”

He glanced over at Meredith. Despite the jostling the wagon took over the rutted path, she managed to keep her back straight and her hands folded on her lap. Though when his gaze traveled the length of her legs, he saw her feet braced against the front of the wagon boards.

“Did you?”

She nodded. “It was rather unpleasant. And odd.”

He didn’t care for Anson Bancroft. He found him to be a bit of a cold individual not given to friendly overtures. He couldn’t imagine sitting through an entire meal with him trying to make conversation.

“Odd how?”

“When I asked where they had traveled from, I received two different answers. Mrs. Bancroft said Colorado, but Charlotte said San Francisco.”

Hunter sat up straight and pulled on the reins, slowing the wagon to allow a lazy porcupine to amble across the path a little ways in front of them. “Did they give any reason for it?”

“No.” Meredith shook her head and confusion marred her delicate features. He loved the way her nose crinkled when she was deep in thought. Made him want to lean over and kiss the tip of it. He checked himself. He needed to stop that. “That was the odd part. Mrs. Bancroft corrected herself in her usual dithering manner and then Mr. Bancroft interrupted her and turned the conversation to questions about Pa. I couldn’t help but feel...”

Her words drifted off.

“Feel what?” The hackles on the back of his neck tickled against the collar of his jacket.

Meredith let out a short breath. “That he was doing it as a warning of sorts.”

Hunter stiffened, his hands inadvertently pulling the reins taut until his horse shimmied against them, forcing him to release his hold.

“What did he say?” If the man dared to threaten her, the law be damned. He’d run the bastard so far out of town he’d never find his way back.

“Oh, nothing specific, really.” She waved her hand in the air. “Just his opinion on Pa’s guilt or innocence.”

“How would he know about your pa?”

She slid him a look. “Hunter, anyone who spends more than one day in this town eventually gets around to hearing about the trial. The fact that I’m back in town and Bill is about to be tried probably has tongues wagging all the more.”