Page 63 of Taming Lady Temperance

Collecting the edges of the fallen blanket, he arranged it over her. A flash of white caught his eye as he pulled the blanket toward her chin. He picked up a damp wadded handkerchief, shook it open, and draped it over the edge of the table so it could dry.

He turned to go, but something about the handkerchief nagged at a memory. Taking it in hand, he walked over to the window to examine it in what little light the moon had to offer. A cluster of flowers had been embroidered in one corner. Nothing unusual about that. Except that he’d seen the exact pattern earlier that day on a different handkerchief. One stained with blood. That one had borne Luella Templeton’s initials. This one bore Noreen’s. It seemed odd for them to have identical handkerchiefs. Odd but not particularly significant, seeing as how the two were friends.

James returned Noreen’s handkerchief to the table, then exited the cell. He clicked the door softly closed behind him and turned the key, each scrape sounding loudly in his ears. His prisoner didn’t awaken, however, so after one long final look, James made his way downstairs to the uncomfortable prison cot waiting for him in his bedroom. Not that he’d sleep much anyway. A man who wanted to be his woman’s hero while stuck being her jailer had more than a few mental knots to untangle.

Jane Cowan showed up bright and early with oatmeal fixin’s, a teapot, and what looked to be a book in her apron pocket. After showing her to the stove, James climbed the stairs to check on his guest.

“Noreen?” He announced his presence before he cleared the top steps. “Is it all right if I come up?”

“Yes.” Her voice sounded stronger this morning, as if she’d regained a bit of her fiery spirit overnight.

A grin traveled from his heart to his face as he hopped up the last few steps to the second-floor landing. “Good morning.”

She set a book aside that she’d been reading, then rose from her chair. A shy smile curled the edges of her mouth as her chin dipped and pink painted her cheeks. Was she remembering how he’d held her last night? The feel of his lips pressed against her hair? The thundering of his heart beneath her cheek? He certainly was. Every delicious detail.

Slowly those lashes lifted, and her gaze met his. “Good morning.” Warmth radiated through her greeting but so did caution.

The key to her cell lay heavy in his pocket. He longed to open the door and go to her. To clasp her tightly to his chest and assure her that the light of day had not changed his feelings. Unfortunately, the light of day had changed other things. Like the number of people traipsing in and out of the jailhouse.

“Miss Cowan is downstairs making breakfast. She knew better than to trust me with the duty.”

Her smile widened slightly, and his own joy doubled in response.

“It’s nice to know I’ll have more to eat than bread and water.”

James rested his forearms on one of the crossbars. “I probably could have managed biscuits and water since I rescued your basket last night. The jam jar had dented a few of the biscuits, but I figured they were still edible. Unlike the eggs I burned this morning.”

“You should have waited for Jane.”

He wagged his head slightly. “I would have if I didn’t have business to attend to first thing this morning.”

Her eyes shuttered slightly. “Oh?”

“Yep. I’m heading out to the Templeton place. Gotta return the wagon and team.”

Noreen’s arms wrapped themselves around her midsection. “Is that all?”

His jaw tightened. “Thought I’d do a little hunting while I’m out there. See if I can track down the troublesome coyote that attacked one of my citizens yesterday.”

Her arms lowered as she moved forward to stand directly in front of him. “Be careful, James. Wild animals are unpredictable—and dangerous.” She reached out and touched his hand.

He twisted his palm, laced his fingers through hers, then brought her knuckles to his lips through the bars. Her eyes slid closed, and her breathing changed, matching the leap in his pulse, but then she tugged her hand away and retreated a step, clasping her hands at her waist.

James exhaled, doing his best to ignore the disappointment that spiked through him. She’d not be won over by spoken promises until he proved to her that he could be trusted to follow through. It would take time to convince her that his feelings would not be easily uprooted and planted elsewhere. That he’d chosen to plant himself at her side for all time.

“I’ll stay alert. Don’t worry.” He offered a wink that earned him a raised eyebrow. A chuckle rumbled in his throat for a moment before he grew serious. “I’ll check in on Luella, too, and let you know how she’s doing.”

Noreen’s expression instantly softened. “Thank you.”

He wished he could do more, but it would have to be enough for now. Unless his hunting trip turned up a prize he could gift wrap for her.

James had returned the wagon to the Templeton homestead and was unhitching the horses when the coyote attacked.

“What’d you do with them?” Claude Templeton charged out of his front door, cocking his lever-action rifle as he came. “Where’s my wife and kid?”

James turned slowly, keeping his hands well away from his weapon. No need to give the man a reason to shoot. “You don’t remember?”

Claude stumbled a bit as if his feet weren’t fully operational. Not surprising. The man looked half dead. Dirt and blood stained his trousers and untucked shirt. His suspenders drooped low over his hips. His hair stood out at all angles, and dark smudges circled his eyes. “Whaddya mean, ‘remember’?”