The Demure Bride(21)

"That leaves family," Ted said quietly.

"My older brother dislikes me intensely; I thought having an ocean  between us would solve that problem. No matter how much he dislikes me,  Ted, I am fairly confident he would not hire gun slingers to come after  me. If he was going to kill me, he would come himself and shoot me face  to face in a duel."

"He'd have to be pretty damn good with a gun to do that, from what I hear," Ted said matter-of-factly.

"I have written to my sisters to see if anyone has asked about my  whereabouts, Ted. Frankly, I am more than a little at a loss to come up  with a name for anyone who might wish me dead. No one but my sisters, at  this point, would benefit from my untimely death. To my knowledge, I  have not wronged anyone."

"We'll figure it out, Rob."

Rob helped the storekeeper load the supplies he ordered onto the wagon,  and then he left town, only to see one of the Circle C riding toward him  in a big hurry. He pulled the wagon to a stop. "What's wrong, Leon?" he  asked.

"I was told to get the Doc, Mr. Thorne. One of the ladies is hurt real  bad," the young man said, and then kicked his gelding to make him run  again.

Rob hurried for the Circle C, worrying about Amanda the entire way. He  rushed inside the house and nearly ran into Matt. "I saw Leon, Matt; is  Amanda hurt?"         

     



 

"No, son. She's doing better again today. Seems that bastard Fox beat on  little Helene, too. She didn't tell no one, but Whitey found out today  when he took her over his knee for riding reckless like. He's upstairs  with the girls," Matt said, shaking his head. "How could I figure a man  so damn wrong!" he growled.

"He was good at his job, Matt. You weren't checking him out as a  potential husband," Rob answered. "May I go up?" he asked permission.

"Yeah, come on. I'm sure Mandy has Helene tucked in bed now. She sure  lit into Whitey for putting a hand to the girl, but if he hadn't of done  it, I would. Darn fool girl. One second she's terrified to be on  Molasses' back, and the next she's kicking the durn horse to make her  run just to see if Whitey was serious when he said he'd spank her if she  took any risks." Matt looked at Rob and said, "I swear, I'm tempted to  spank her again myself!"

"No, sir, you sure aren't gonna do that!" Whitey said as they entered  the room, his face set in stubborn lines. "I settled that matter and  wish I wouldn't have. Helene is in a lot of pain."

"It is my own fault, Whitey. Please don't blame yourself," Helene said,  reaching for his hand. "I'm sorry I behaved like a bratty child." When  Whitey simply raised her hand and kissed it, both Matt and Rob had to  refrain from smiling.

"Helene, would you like for me to get your uncle?" Rob offered. "I am positive he will want to know about this."

"No, please don't tell him. He'll think me foolish for even believing Ted Fox could care about me!"

"Honey, the man in your guardian. He has a right to know you are  injured; I already told Leon to fetch him out here," he said, his manner  direct and to the point. "Now, don't you lose your temper with me,  girl. I'm still of a mind to spank your backside for nearly breaking  your neck today. I am responsible for you while you are in my home, and I  won't let you ride like that. Hear me?"

"Yes, Mr. Chambers. I am sorry," Helene apologized again, feeling very small.

"Boss, I already settled the matter and there's no need to keep  scolding. Helene knows she was in the wrong and has said her sorries for  it," Whitey reminded Matt.

"Yes, you're right. Are you goin' to listen to Whitey's advice about riding now, young lady?" Matt asked quietly.

"Oh yes, Mr. Chambers. I promise I will. I truly enjoyed my riding  lesson today... except for the spanking part," she added, her cheeks  pink as could be with embarrassment.

"Papa, you are embarrassing Helene. Besides, she was riding Molasses...  Helene was perfectly safe. She wasn't injured riding," she added, giving  Whitey a meaningful look that spoke volumes.

"It wasn't Whitey's fault, Amanda. It was mine. You know Whitey... If  I'd told him I was injured, he never would have put a hand to me, no  matter if I did deserve it." Whitey gave Helene a grateful smile as she  defended him.

"Okay, who is hurt?" Doc asked as he made his way into the room. "Goldie  let me in and pointed up here," he said when Matt looked at him  questioningly. "Miss Helene, you don't look like you're dying," he said  with a smile.

"That bastard Ted Fox hit her, Doc. She's got a few bruises, but the worst one is on her ribcage," Whitey spoke up.

"And how would you be knowing this, young man?" Doc demanded, looking over his glasses at the young man.

"I checked when I realized she was hurt," Whitey answered. "Don't you be  thinking anything improper happened. Helene is not that sort of girl."

"That is what I am saying to you, Mister, and best you don't forget  that, or you'll be marrying this young lady at the end of a shotgun."  Doc had five daughters, and he wasn't about to see an innocent girl  taken advantage of if he had anything to say!

"Doc, I have it all under control," Matt said firmly.

"Then control everyone out of this room so I can examine Miss Helene.  You can stay, Miss Amanda; the rest of you get!" he gruffly ordered, and  then pointedly ignored them as they filed out of the room.

Whitey waited until they were downstairs in Matt's study before  exploding. "Helene didn't do nothing wrong, Boss. I don't like what Doc  is thinking. I just pulled out her shirt and unbuttoned a couple of  buttons to see where she was bruised. I sure didn't do anything to  insult Helene; I wanted to help her."

"I know that, son. Calm down."

"If Doc tells her Uncle that, he'll expect me to marry Helene, and you  know as sure as sin I can't marry nobody. I don't even know my real  name, damn it!"

"We can do some digging, Whitey, and find the answers," Matt offered.
         

     



 
"No." The answer was firm and final, and then Whitey said, "I got work  to do." He stomped from the room and a few seconds later the front door  slammed.

While they waited for the Doctor to come downstairs, Rob told Matt about  the shooting in the saloon. Matt was clearly upset, but knew that Rob  was doing everything in his power to figure out who was behind the plan  to kill Rob. "I think it best if I refrain from seeing Amanda right now,  sir. I will not put her in danger, and that is precisely what I am  doing when I take her riding, or into town for a meal, or to a dance. It  is not safe for her to be with me."

"She is in love with you, Rob."

"I feel the same about her, Matt. That is why I cannot put her in  danger. I would rather have her think my feelings for her have changed  than tell her the truth. She fears nothing."

"I know what you mean, son." Matt shook his head when Rob walked out of  the room and out of the house. He would keep his own eyes open and see  if he could find out who was trying to bushwhack his young neighbor. His  Mandy was going to be hurt by Rob's sudden departure from her life.

Helene's uncle arrived, clearly shaken by the news that Helene was in  some way injured. Matt was blunt as he explained the situation, and once  Doc was done examining his niece, he made his way upstairs to see her.  "Why didn't you tell me the truth about this, young lady?" he demanded.  "I've a good mind to take your hairbrush to you!"

"Why should I tell you about my private life when you won't discuss your  private life, Uncle Peter? You have never once mentioned your feelings  for Roxy." Helene was hurt by this and let him know how she felt. "Are  you ashamed of me?" she tearfully asked.

"Lord, girl! No, I'm not ashamed of you! Well, I didn't think you'd get  along with Roxy. She works in a saloon," he admitted, his face a bright  red.

"I know all about her. She's a nice lady; I talked to her in the  mercantile one day. She helped me pick out some nice dry goods to make a  tablecloth. Uncle Peter, do you have any idea of how hurt she is that  you won't bring her home to meet me properly?"

"She's never said so!"

"Just because she doesn't say so doesn't mean I am wrong," Helene  insisted. When he gave her an angry look she said softly, "I am not  trying to be disrespectful, Uncle Peter. I know the last thing you  wanted to do was take me in when my Papa died, but I had nowhere else to  go. I love you, and I think you do love me. Please talk to Roxy and go  ahead with your plans to marry her. It will make me feel less of a  burden to you."

Peter nodded and smiled, but then added, "That still doesn't explain why  you didn't tell me about Fox. I am your guardian and I have a right to  know these things. No more secrets, young lady," he said firmly, and  then had the grace to add, "from either of us."