Johanna Lindsey - Angel

Cassie nodded, understanding too well. Her own troubles seemed like nothing now. At least she wasn’t pregnant and hopelessly in love with a man her mama would never approve of. But she couldn’t bear that she’d be gone and out of this mess in a week or so, while Jenny would be left behind with the turmoil Cassie had created.

As she walked her friend to the front door, she said, “I wish I could sit your mama and R. J. down in the same room to talk some sense into them.”

“They wouldn’t stay in the same room together.”

“Then I’d lock them in.”

Jenny actually laughed. “Wouldn’t that be something — no, they’d kill each other for sure.”

“Or be forced to settle this thing between them.”

“It’s a nice thought, Cassie, but if d take a miracle to see it happen.”

Cassie was fresh out of miracles, but she did have a tarnished Angel living under her roof. As she closed the door behind her friend, she wondered—

“Don’t even think about it.”

Cassie started at that deep voice and swung around. She located Angel sitting at the bottom of the stairs. His hat was on and tipped low. He was wearing his yellow slicker, too, and the black bandana tied at the side of his neck. He’d obviously been on his way out, or in. How much had he heard?

She crooked a brow at him, playing dumb. “Don’t even think about what?”

The look that came back at her said he didn’t appreciate her innocent act. “Meddling. I catch you at it again in these parts, I’m liable to do what your papa should’ve done years ago and whip your bottom. And don’t go getting all huffy, or I’m liable to anyway. I swear, you don’t know when to quit while you’re ahead.”

“What makes you think I’m ahead?”

“We’ll both be out of here in a few days, this ranch is still standing, you’re still in one piece, and I’ve had to kill only one man. In my book, that’s way ahead. So you wait to start meddling again until you get home, where your mama can take care of the trouble you cause. Hell and I bet she’s used to it.”

Cassie marched toward him, her fingers itching to slap him, but all she did was stop near his feet to glare down at him. “I didn’t ask you here, if you’ll recall. Fact is, I remember asking you to leave. And since my neighbors have been quiet, I don’t see why you’re sticking around any longer. They’re obviously allowing me to wait until my papa gets home.”

“Your point?”

“I’d say you’ve done what you came to do, and you ought to be thinking about leaving— preferably today.”

“So who asked you?”

He growled that as he stood up, which forced her to back up if she wanted to keep eye contact. She didn’t at the moment, since there was no mistaking that she’d pushed him beyond his mild annoyance. And he wasn’t finished.

“I’m staying, Cassie, not until your father gets here, but until I see you packed and out of this county. That can’t happen soon enough for me, but until it does—no more meddling. You got that?”

She was surprised that she could do more than nod. “Yes, quite perfectly. I should have known better than to expect you to sympathize with my position or to feel one ounce of compassion for those two young people who happen to love each other. You’d have to have a heart…”

She left it at that, marching off to disappear down the hall. He stared after her, amused at her gumption. Her courage kept popping up when he least expected it. Damned if he didn’t like that about her.

“Oh, I’ve got one, honey,” he said softly. “Fortunately, it’s wrapped in rawhide too tough for you to crack.”

Cassie had put off making another trip to town with Angel for as long as she could, but the fact was, her papa wasn’t one for surprises, so he should have let her know by now exactly when he’d be arriving. A telegram would have been delivered, but a letter would sit in town until she got around to picking it up. That meant going to town, and Angel still wouldn’t let her go alone.

With Christmas just short of a week away, she also had some shopping to do. That was a cheerless thought. It was a holiday she’d always looked forward to. This year was going to be an exception, because if there’d been no further delays and her papa returned in the next few days, she couldn’t take the chance of extending her visit even for the holidays. It’d be the first Christmas that she didn’t spend with at least one of her parents. She’d be spending it alone on a train or a stagecoach heading north.

That wasn’t what she was thinking about, however, that afternoon on the way to Caully. After she and Angel had had those last unpleasant words following Jenny’s visit three days ago, it had struck her, forcefully, that he’d be out of her life soon, very soon, and she’d probably never see him again. They might hail from the same area of Wyoming, but look at all the years he’d been in and out of Cheyenne and she’d never crossed paths with him. She had no reason to think if d be any different when she returned home.

And even if she did happen to see him someday in Cheyenne, Angel would probably cross to the other side of the street to avoid her. And why not? It wasn’t exactly as if they’d become friends during his time here. Just the opposite. He couldn’t wait to leave, and she — she’d felt like crying these past three days.

Surprisingly, Cassie had no misgivings this time about riding with Angel. In fact, by taking the carriage today, she was sort of daring him to endure her company and conversation. He must not have been up to the challenge. He rode his horse, and kept it just far enough ahead to rule out talking while on the road. And he didn’t even notice that beneath her fur-trimmed coat she had on the very latest in Chicago finery in lavender-and-white lace. So much for spending half the morning agonizing over her appearance.

There was indeed a letter from her papa waiting for her in town. He didn’t give her an exact day of arrival, but he promised to be home before Christmas.

When she informed Angel of that, he greeted the news with his usual inscrutability, which told her nothing of his feelings. But she could guess. He had to be delighted it was almost over.

At least they had no trouble in Caully this time. Richard was there with a couple of the MacKauley cowboys, but all he did was stare at them a bit on his way out of town. Cassie stayed no longer than she had to, though it was getting on toward evening by the time she rolled the carriage into the barn. Angel followed her in and began unhitching the horse before she’d even alighted from the carriage.

“Emanuel will do that,” she informed him dully, her mood sunk to the dregs.

He didn’t stop what he was doing to reply, “I don’t see the kid about, do you?”

Cassie’s head snapped up at the surly tone he’d used. She was the one in the rotten mood. What did he have to be testy about?

“Considering the hour,” she said stiffly now, “I suppose he’s having his dinner. But I can take care of the carriage horse. You have your own horse to—”

“Don’t push it, Cassie,” he cut in, still without stopping what he was doing. “Go on to the house—”

“Now that’s a right fine idea,” a new voice interjected. “Why don’t we all do that?”

Three guns cocked simultaneously. Cassie stared wide-eyed as Richard MacKauley stepped out of the shadows at the back of the barn. From the sides, Frazer and Morgan came forward. Each of them held his gun pointed at Angel.

A trap? Richard must have raced home to fetch his pa the same as Morgan had that other time. Only this time it wasn’t just to confront Cassie.

“Don’t move, Angel, or your name will take on new meaning,” Richard said as he came up behind him and carefully lifted Angel’s Colt out of his holster.

Angel let him. He didn’t have much choice, Cassie supposed, though she was surprised that he didn’t say or do something before he lost the opportunity. In his line of work he had to be familiar with this type of situation, must have a few tricks or moves that he could have already used to turn the tables on the MacKauleys. Of course, she hadn’t yet seen the fourth gun trained on herself.

Not that she paid much attention to it when she did turn to the man who’d originally spoken. R. J. stood in the wide entrance to the barn, grinning broadly. That grin should have warned her she wouldn’t like hearing what this was about.

She still had to ask, “What are you up to now, Mr. MacKauley?”

“Just here to do you a favor, Miss Stuart, a sort of thank-you for all you’ve done for my family. Couldn’t let you return home without a proper show of… appreciation.”

Cassie looked around her. Frazer had gotten a kick out of his father’s choice of words. Richard wasn’t amused, however, and Morgan didn’t look like he wanted to be there at all. Clayton was conspicuously absent. And Angel, he was as inscrutable as ever.

The thought ran through Cassie’s mind that today, of all days, she had decided not to wear her own weapon to town — and for what? Stupid vanity and trying to look her best for someone who hadn’t even noticed. But then, R. J. couldn’t be planning anything of a serious nature. He wouldn’t be standing there grinning if he meant to do any real harm. Would he?

“I’d just as soon you didn’t do me any favors, Mr. MacKauley,” she began cautiously, then suggested, “Why don’t you simply think of me as already gone? I will be in a matter of days.”

“I know it. That’s why I’m here now, to help you out before it’s too late.”

Cassie frowned. “Help me out how?”

“We’re gonna get you hitched up nice and proper, before that young fella of yours just happens to disappear on you again.”