Texas Hero Part 2

He tormented her with hot, nibbling kisses across her face and neck and she lost herself in him. He smelled of horses and leather and tasted faintly of whiskey and tobacco. The dark, mysterious taste of a man. Her man. Her heart swelled at the thought. Her man. In the firelight her hair was touched with flame. It flowed, dark and silky, against the paleness of her skin. He remembered the first time he'd seen her skin, untouched by sunlight, as pale as alabaster. Even then he'd wanted to touch it. Now he was free to touch, to taste. To possess. He studied her eyes, gilded by the light of the fire, gleaming more brightly than a mountain cat's. In their depths he could see himself. "G.o.d in heaven, Caroline, how I've wanted you." He kissed her with a savageness that took them both by surprise. The kiss was by turns harsh, then gentle. Pleading, then demanding. She smelled of soap and water and the disinfectant he'd used on her cuts and bruises. A hint of the evergreen forest clung to her. Clean, untouched, he thought. And he, in turn, was being cleansed by her love. She tasted sweet. Sweeter than anything he'd ever tasted. And she was his. His woman. To love, to cherish. To protect. His lips roamed her throat and the hollow between her neck and shoulder, then dipped lower to capture her breast. Icy needles of pleasure skittered along her spine. But as he nibbled and suckled, first one breast, then the other, her blood quickly heated until it flowed like molten lava. His hands, his lips, moved over her, drawing out all the hidden pleasures. She lay, steeped in feelings, her body humming with need. Her hands fisted into the bedclothes beneath her and she arched herself. He gave her no time to recover before his lips followed the trail his fingertips had blazed. With his tongue and fingertips he brought her to the first peak. With the coa.r.s.e blanket beneath her, his work-roughened fingers arousing her, she experienced pleasure she had never even dreamed of. And still he drove her relentlessly higher and higher. Shuddering, she struggled for air and arched against him. So this was the dark, mysterious pleasure that men and women had sought from the beginning of time. This was the treasure men killed for. She touched a hand to his chest and felt the wild thundering of his heart. It gave her a sense of power to know that it was her touch, her taste, that excited him. Drunk with the knowledge, she touched him as he was touching her, and was rewarded with a low moan of pleasure that escaped his lips. As she grew bolder, he felt a hunger sharper and deeper than anything he'd ever known. Only Caroline could feed it. It was a thirst that only she could quench. He struggled to bank his needs, determined to draw out the moment. He would make this first time a memory she could carry always in her heart. Her touch was driving him mad with desire. As he moved over her, he whispered her name and his hand fisted in her hair. The need was so great now that he felt himself whirling toward madness. Desire clawed at his insides, seeking release. And still he waited, relentlessly drawing out every last sensation, every steamy pleasure, until, desperate, she clutched at his shoulders. Her needs matched his, as did her strength. They came together in a storm of desperation and felt themselves thrown into a raging river of pa.s.sion. This was how he had wanted her. No longer cool, controlled, but desperate, demanding. His own control was gone, washed away in a flood of need that left him trembling. She had known he would not be gentle, but it wasn't tenderness she craved. It was fulfillment. As they moved together, they whispered incoherent words of love. Each gave and took and gave until, fueled by the madness, they felt as if for one fleeting moment they had died. Still clinging, they raced to the stars and tumbled into a world of exquisite pleasure. They lay, still joined, their bodies damp and s.h.i.+mmering. Thad's face was buried in her neck. Neither of them had the energy to move. "Do you know how long I've waited to hold you like this?" "How long?" she murmured. "Since I first saw you in that torn gown and ugly hat." She pushed against him. "My hat was not ugly." "It was. But then, you knew that. It was part of your plan." He rolled to one side and drew her into the circle of his arms. Grabbing a handful of her hair, he watched as it sifted through his fingers. "And you pinned up all this beautiful hair in an even uglier bun." She pursed her lips into a pout and sat up. "Was there anything you didn't find ugly?" He gave her a lazy, heart-stopping smile. "You, Teacher. You took my breath away." "Did I?" Pleased, she touched a hand to his chest, idly running her fingers through the crisp golden hair. "Mm-hmm." He lay back, watching her through half- closed eyes. "And I've been breathless ever since." "When I first saw you," she said, trailing her finger along a thin, raised scar that ran the length of his chest to his side, "I was afraid of you."

"And now?" Did she have any idea what her touch was doing to him? How was it possible that the hunger could begin again so soon? "Now I'm still afraid. But not of you. It's me." She lowered her lashes for a moment, s.h.i.+elding her gaze from him. He wondered if she knew how seductive that little movement was. "You've made me think about things I never would have dreamed of. And made me want things I'll probably never have." "Things?" His lips curved into a teasing smile. "I hope one of them is me." She looked suddenly shy. "Thad?" She met his eyes, then glanced away quickly. He could see the hint of color that flooded her cheeks. "Are you very tired?" He was puzzled. "Not very. Why?" "I thought..." She moved her hand lower until she heard his little moan of pleasure. "Would it be very wicked of me to want you to love me again?" He swallowed back the laughter that threatened. She was so serious. "Yes. Very wicked. " " Oh. " She drew her hand away and he caught it firmly in his and placed it back where it had been. He could no longer contain his laughter. He threw back his head and roared. "Teacher, I can see that you have a whole lot more to learn. So why don't we get on with your lessons." He pulled her down until her b.r.e.a.s.t.s were flattened atop his chest. Her thighs were pressed firmly to his. "Lesson number one. A gentleman should never refuse a lady's request." Caroline propped her elbows on his chest and stared down into his eyes. "Never? No matter how tired he is?"

"That's right." He kissed the tip of her nose. "And lesson number two is, a lady should never climb on top of a gentleman if she wants him to sleep. Especially if the lady and gentleman are missing their clothes. " She tried to a.s.sume her cla.s.sroom manner. It wasn't easy. Laughter kept bubbling up, making her eyes dance with mischief. "Is there something I ought to know before we proceed?" "Woman," he muttered thickly against her throat, "if I didn't know better, I'd swear you had lessons in how to drive a man mad." "Am I? Driving you mad?" She pressed hot, quick kisses over his chest and stomach. Her hair swirled around him like a dark silken veil. "Yes." His hand closed in her hair. With a moan he rolled them over until she was lying under him. "But there are still some things I'd like to teach you." "I'm willing to learn. I think you'll find me a good pupil." He cut off her words with a slow, leisurely kiss. Against her lips he muttered, "Now lesson number three..." With sighs of pleasure they tumbled into a dark river of pa.s.sion. A place where only lovers can go. Thad lay with one arm beneath his head. The other curled protectively around Caroline, who snuggled against his chest. He watched her while she slept and marveled again at the love he felt for this little creature. For most of his life he'd been alone, yet he'd never felt lonely. Now the thought of waking without her beside him caused an unbearable pain around his heart. She still had not confided in him about the stranger. He wouldn't press her. When the time was right, when her trust in him was solid, she would tell him what he needed to know. This much he already knew--she would never have to face anything alone again. Her lids fluttered open and he watched as she slowly awakened. "Is it morning already?" "Not quite. There's another hour or two before dawn." He touched a hand to her cheek in a gesture of tenderness. "You should sleep awhile longer." "And miss seeing the sunrise with you?" She surprised him by drawing closer and pressing a kiss to his chest. He felt desire surface instantly. How could it be that he could want her again? All night they had loved, slept fitfully, then loved again. And each time it was wonderful, and each time different. They had been rough and tender, greedy and giving, selfish and generous. And this much he knew. He would never have enough of her. "Do you think you might have something more you'd like to teach me?" "Why, Miss Adams, I'm surprised at you." He lifted a handful of her hair and kissed her neck. "Is that all you can think about?" "Is there anything else?" He lifted his head and thought a minute. "There's food." He ran nibbling kisses along her shoulder. "We didn't eat a thing yesterday." She s.h.i.+vered. "That's true." "And there's the fire. It's burned to ashes and the room is cold." "Is it? I hadn't noticed." "Then why are you s.h.i.+vering?" She drew his face close for a slow, lingering kiss. "I always do that when you touch me."

"Like this?" His clever hands began seeking out all the sweet, sensitive places of her body that he had discovered during their long night of lovemaking. When she gasped he covered her mouth with his in a deep, pa.s.sionate kiss. "I guess we'll do without a fire or food," he murmured against her lips. Their bodies were already heated. And with their love, they fed each other's souls.

Chapter Nineteen

Q^r^s^Q V-^aroline awoke to see Thad, s.h.i.+rtless and barefoot, tossing a log into the fireplace. For long moments she studied the way he looked in the thin morning sunlight. Pale s.h.a.ggy hair dusted a wide forehead. A stubble of bronze beard gilded his cheeks and chin. The powerful muscles of his arms and shoulders accentuated a flat stomach and lean hips. When the flames danced along the log, chasing the chill from the room, he stood and wiped his hands on his pants. "The bed is cold," she whispered. Turning, he gave her a smile that wrapped itself around her heart. He crossed the room and the mattress sagged as he sat on the edge of the bed and drew her close. "Someone has to see to the unimportant details like food and warmth." "Mmm. I can feel the warmth." She snuggled against him. "But where's the food?" "Rosita is preparing it." "Rosita." Caroline began to scramble from the bed. "She's already here? She knows I'm here in your room? " He hauled her back and wrapped his arms around her, stilling her movements. "Yes and yes."

"But I can't let her see me like... Thad, I have to get dressed." He chuckled. "That's going to be pretty hard to do, Teacher, since you don't have any clothes." ' "What happened to my clothes?" ' "By the time I got them off you last night, they were rags. I told Rosita to burn them." "What?" He could see the flush that colored her cheeks. "Now what am I going to do?" He kissed her lightly to stop the questions. Instantly she wrapped her arms around him and grew soft and pliant in his arms as she returned the kiss. What was it about this man that he could ease all her fears and silence all her questions? Trust, she thought, with a sigh of satisfaction. She trusted him completely. When they finally came up for air he brought his mouth to a tangle of hair at her temple. "Rosita sent Manuel back to their ranch for some of her clothes. So until he returns, it looks like you'll just have to stay here in my bed and let me...

amuse you." Her fingertips caressed his head, moving in slow, sensuous circles through his hair. He sighed contentedly and drew her closer. She could remain like this forever, she thought. Just the two of them, hidden away at his ranch, locking out the rest of the world. She had never known such peace, such happiness. Such love. For no logical reason, she found herself weeping. Tasting the salt, Thad became alarmed and lifted his head. "Tears?" He touched a finger to the moisture that rolled down her cheeks. "Have I done something to hurt you, love?" Love. His use of the endearment made her tears flow faster. "No. It's just..." She flushed in embarra.s.sment. "I.

often heard my mother crying in the night, and I know they weren't happy tears. " ' " And are these happy tears? " He pressed his lips to the corner of her eye to stem the flow. She nodded and struggled to compose herself. "In some ways very happy tears. And in some ways sad. I never dreamed that loving could be like this. Somehow I always thought that it was only pleasurable for the man." She sat very still, loving the feel of him holding her just so, his lips still pressed to the side of her face. Almost timidly she asked, "Is it always like this?" "It is if you're with someone you love." "Then I truly pity my poor mother," she whispered gravely. "She was never with a man who loved her." "Not even your father?" "She hardly knew him." At Thad's questioning look she paused a moment, gathering her thoughts. Then, taking a deep breath, she said, "How much did I reveal when I was having my... bad dream?" "Enough," he admitted. "You spoke aloud about your mother, having to run away from a man. But you never revealed his name." He felt her stiffen. Against her temple he muttered, "You don't have to talk about it now." "Yes." She took in a deep breath. "I do. You have a right to know. His name is Silas Tate. He's a very wealthy, very powerful man who owns a tavern and hotel in Kansas City. When I was ten years old, my mother sent me away to save me from him. You see, she . worked for him. " Thad nodded in understanding. She looked away, unable to meet his eyes. "After my mother sent me away, I spent three days searching among the shops and crowds in the city until I was able to locate Jonathan Coming, an old friend of my mother's. You can imagine the shock he and his wife must have felt when they saw a ten-year-old girl, hungry, frightened and looking like a filthy beggar. But they were good people. They took me in, cleaned me up, fed me and offered to keep me until I could take care of myself. " She smiled despite the painful things she had just admitted. "For Jonathan, who had once taught my mother at Miss Tully's School for Ladies in Boston, the worst sin of all was that I was illiterate. I could neither read nor write. So he undertook to educate me and, to his surprise and mine, discovered that I had a quick mind. I once heard him boast that I was his best student, despite my foul language." Agitated, she slid from the bed and picked up Thad's heavy s.h.i.+rt. Shrugging into it, she walked to the fireplace and stared into the flames for several minutes before turning to face him. It gave Thad the strangest sensation to see her in his s.h.i.+rt. She looked so young, with her hair falling in tangles around her shoulders and her long sleek legs so pale against the first slanting rays of morning light. But her youthful beauty hid years of pain. "I began to dream of being a schoolteacher," she said softly, 'and Jonathan encouraged me. Within a year or two, he said, I could even teach at Miss Tully's School for Ladies if I set my mind to it. " She smiled dreamily. "It was the greatest compliment anyone could have paid me. But then, one day in the spring when I had thought my past was behind me, I was strolling along the streets of Kansas City and I suddenly felt a man's hand clamp over my mouth. When I twisted around I found myself face-to-face with Silas Tate." Thad saw the look of revulsion on her face as she whispered, "He pulled my head back and ran a hand over my body as though he owned me.

And he told me I looked even more beautiful than he'd remembered. And he couldn't wait to show me to all my mother's customers. Then he started dragging me toward his carriage, and I knew that if he succeeded in taking me away, I would never be free of him." Thad saw the effort it cost her to retain her composure, but though his heart ached for her, he knew that she needed to tell her story. "I was fighting him, but he was so much bigger and stronger. He hauled me into his carriage and ordered the driver to start. Then he sat back against the cus.h.i.+ons and began to laugh. To laugh." She shook her head, as if still unable to believe his cruelty. "He took a knife from his belt, the same knife he'd held to my mother's throat. And he said, I made your mother pay for disobeying me. And he laughed again as he told me that he'd killed her...." A tear squeezed from the corner of her eye but she forced herself to go on. "But, he said, no one would ever care, since she was nothing more than a wh.o.r.e." Caroline's voice broke for a moment, but she caught herself and whispered, "I don't know what happened. Something inside me seemed to snap. I s.n.a.t.c.hed up the knife and slashed his face, then leaped out of the carriage. " Her voice was stronger now as she added, "In the confusion, I managed to escape. I knew I was no longer safe in the city. Jonathan had heard about the teaching position here in Hope and suggested that I send my letter and leave town at once." "What about the school in Boston?" Thad asked. She shook her head. "It was a lie. Jonathan didn't know about it. He wouldn't have approved of using the name of a school I never attended. That was my idea. I was afraid I might not get the job unless I had the proper credentials. "

" And Silas Tate? " Caroline looked at Thad for the first time. Tears glittered in her eyes, but her voice was steady. "I don't know how he found out where I was headed. But he must have known almost from the beginning. And he has played with me like a cat with a mouse. And now he has come to have his revenge." Thad crossed the room and drew her close against his chest, wis.h.i.+ng he could spare her the pain of her memories. "You're not a helpless little girl anymore. You're a bright, educated woman who has a right to defend herself. And there's something else, Caroline. You're not alone anymore. We're in this fight together. " She shook her head. "I knew you'd say that. But I've had plenty of time to think this through. I've already caused my mother's death. I won't have yours on my hands, as well. " She caught a flash of anger in his eyes and was reminded of his ruthlessness when he'd faced her attackers. His voice was low with feeling. "You weren't the cause of your mother's death. And in case you've forgotten"

-- he made a strained attempt at lightness "--I have a reputation to uphold. Folks around here think I'm the best d.a.m.ned shot in Texas. We can't let them down now, can we? " "This isn't a joke, Thad. I have no" -- They both looked up at the knock on the door. "What is it?" Thad snapped. "I have your breakfast, Senor Con way," came Rosita's voice through the closed door. "And clean clothes for Senorita Adams." "Thanks, Rosita. Just leave them outside the door." They stood facing each other, listening to the clatter of a tray as it was deposited on the floor. Moments later they heard the soft tread of footsteps retreating. Thad turned away. For the moment, at least, the tension between them dissolved. "You agree, then," Thad said as he drained a cup of steaming coffee. He took a long, admiring look at Caroline soaping herself in a tub of hot water positioned on a rug in front of the fire. "We'll ride into town and let the sheriff know that Silas Tate is no friend of yours. You'll let him know that you want Tate to leave you alone." Caroline leaned her head back and closed her eyes. "You make it sound so simple." "It will be." He wished the day would disappear and night would come upon them again. He'd never be able to coax her back into bed knowing Rosita and Manuel were in the house. But he wanted to. He wanted desperately to love her one more time before they faced the man from her past. ' "Once Sheriff Horn knows that this man is here to cause trouble, he'll see that Silas Tate leaves the territory. And if Tate refuses, you'll have the sheriff and the whole town on your side." "All right. If you say so." As she felt a splash in the water, Caroline's eyes snapped open. "Thad, what are you doing?" He was kneeling beside the tub, his face so close to hers that his warm breath whispered over her cheek. "I'm was.h.i.+ng your hair." "Mmm." His fingers gently ma.s.saged her scalp, and she closed her eyes, letting all the tensions begin to drain away. "You have wonderful hands," she murmured. "I'm glad you noticed." He continued to ma.s.sage the soap into her scalp, then commanded, "Close your mouth, Teacher. I'm about to push you under." He pressed her head underwater and watched the soap float to the surface. When she came up sputtering, he wrapped a towel around her hair and pulled her close for a quick kiss. He touched his lips to the droplets of water that clung to her lashes, murmuring, "You smell like Jessie's roses." "It's the soap Rosita gave me. She said she mixes it with crushed rose petals." He drew her closer, pressing his lips to her temple. "Careful," she warned as the water lapped around the rim of the tub. "If you're not careful, you'll get wet." He stood suddenly and began slipping out of his clothes. She looked shocked. "Thad, what are you doing?" "I'm going to join you. Teacher." "You can't," she said laughing. "And why not?" "Because you wouldn't fit in this little tub with me." "Want to make a wager on that?" He stepped into the water and it nearly overflowed. "See? I told you." He sat down and pulled her on top of him. Warm, soapy water sloshed onto the floor, soaking the rug. For a minute she was convulsed with laughter. Then, as he drew her head down to his for a long, lazy kiss, the laughter died in her throat. His hands were already beginning to work their magic. Her body reacted instinctively to his touch. ' "How about another lesson. Teacher?" She wrapped her arms around his neck and said against his lips, "You know I'm always eager to learn." "You look... beautiful." Beautiful didn't seem nearly eloquent enough, but Thad had never been a man of words. Barefoot, Caroline stood in front of the looking gla.s.s and stared at her reflection. The woman looking back at her was a stranger. She was wearing Rosita's ivory, lace-frosted blouse which fell off her shoulders, and a skirt that fell to her ankles in tiers of vivid scarlet and violet and vibrant yellow. Her black hair fell to below her waist in a jumble of curls. "We'll have to go to my cabin and pick up a proper dress," she said without turning. Across the room, Thad had been studying her in silence for long minutes. At her words he seemed jolted out of his reverie. Crossing the room, he took the hairbrush from her hands and began running it through her tangles. "Are you still afraid to look beautiful, Teacher?" Despite all that they had shared, she felt herself blus.h.i.+ng. "I've never really thought about it. I suppose, because of my mother's fears for me, I never wanted to be beautiful. But now, looking at your eyes..." She turned and placed her hands on either side of his face. When he gazed down, she saw herself reflected in the blue depths. And for the first time in her life she began to believe that being beautiful was a blessing. He made her feel truly beautiful. And cherished. "I wish..." "You wish what. Teacher?" She moved her hands to his shoulders. "I wish I could always see that look in your eyes." "You will," he said softly. "Even years from now?" "If we live to be a hundred, you'll still see the love I feel for you s.h.i.+ning in my eyes." He pressed a kiss to the tip of her nose. "Now sit down." "Why?" "Because you can't go into town in bare feet. Manuel made these for you." His hands lingered a moment at her ankles as he slid her feet into soft kid slippers. "Oh, Thad. I always hated those heavy old boots." She stood and danced around the room, twirling so that the full skirt drifted and billowed around her. "In these clothes I feel... I feel so free," she said, laughing. "You are free." He lifted her and spun her around and around until they were both dizzy. He lowered her until her feet touched the floor. Still holding her, he bent his head and brushed her lips with his. A knock at the door had them both looking up sharply. "Seiior Con way." From the other side of the closed door came Rosita's worried voice. "You must come at once." Thad hurried to open the door. "What is it?" "Manuel said that many horses are approaching. They are led by the sheriff and" -- she looked beyond Thad to where Caroline stood alone "--the stranger who caused Senorita Adams to run away."

Chapter Twenty

Q^^s^Q.

(. (T. I can't face anyone looking like this," Caroline said in alarm. She cast a quick glance in the mirror and was horrified at her sultry reflection. The townspeople would be shocked to see their new teacher in such a different light. Hearing the thunder of hoofbeats, Thad said, "Looks like you have no choice. They're already here. " When she held back, Thad led the way to the front porch. Holding the door open, he watched as she stiffened her spine and lifted her head before stepping through the doorway. "Remember, Teacher," he said in a tone meant for her ears only, "the truth shall set you free." The horses came to an abrupt halt in a cloud of dust. As the dust settled, Caroline could make out the sheriff and Reverend Symes, as well as Sara Waverly, Cora Meadows and Bel va Spears. All of them glanced around appreciatively, since it was their first venture onto Thad Con way's property. Until now he had steadfastly kept the townspeople away. If he was angered by their presence, he gave no indication. He nodded in greeting to everyone, then gave a quick, tight smile to Jessie and Cole and Clan and Morning Light. Though Caroline was aware of all who were there, her gaze centered on one man, Silas Tate, who rode beside the sheriff. Despite the presence of so many people, the crowd seemed strangely silent. They remained astride their horses, watching Caroline Adams as she faced the man she had fled. They couldn't help but notice the change in their teacher. Garbed in brilliant colors, her dark hair soft and loose, she was far different from the prim schoolteacher they had become accustomed to seeing. Many of them seemed disturbed by her appearance. And more than a little shocked. "Miss Adams." Sheriff Horn cleared his throat and looked extremely uncomfortable. The back of his neck turned red and he pressed a sleeve to the sweat that beaded his forehead. "Before you say anything. Sheriff Horn," Thad said quietly, "I think you should hear what Caroline has to say." The crowd waited expectantly. The only sound was an occasional snap of leather or jingle of harness as the horses moved restlessly. ' "What is it. Miss Adams?" the sheriff encouraged. "That man's name is Silas Tate," she said, pointing to the man who sat stone-faced astride his horse. "He killed my mother and has threatened my life." There were murmurs of shock and disbelief from the others as she added, "I. also believe it was he who planned the attack on the stage and who helped Fox escape jail. " " Those are mighty serious charges. Miss Adams. " The sheriff glanced at the man beside him, whose face now bore a smug look of confidence. "Can you prove any of them?" "He admitted to me that he'd killed my mother." ^ "Were there any witnesses?" Caroline shook her head. "We were alone." "When was this, ma'am?"

"When he tried to abduct me from a street in Kansas City." Sheriff Horn arched a brow. "Kansas City, ma'am? I thought you told us you came from Boston?" "I..." Caroline swallowed and glanced at Thad. She knew now that the truth was her only course of action, even though it seemed buried beneath layers of falsehoods. But was it truly the best course of action? There was no. time left to consider the consequences. "I lied." A ripple of alarm ran through the crowd. "I wanted desperately to teach children," Caroline said defensively. "And I needed to get out of Kansas City immediately. So I said that I'd been educated at Miss Tully's School for Ladies in Boston." "And what school did you actually attend. Miss Adams She swallowed again. She could feel Thad's glance but refused to look at him. "I--I didn't attend school. I was taught at home by Jonathan Coming, who had once taught at Miss Tully's School in Boston." "Jonathan Coming, you say?" The sheriff glanced at Silas Tate, then back at Caroline. "Mr. Tate told us you might say that. He brought along a newspaper clipping about the murder of a Jonathan Coming and his wife. It would seem that your Mr. Coming is conveniently dead and can no longer vouch for you." Dead. The only man who had ever been kind to her in her childhood. Caroline felt a wrenching loss. Then, as the sheriffs words sank in, her voice frosted over. "Conveniently? And what is that supposed to mean, Sheriff?" The lawman shrugged, looking even more uncomfortable. "Mr. Tate told us that your whole life has been a lie and that he had no doubt that you would lie again to cover your tracks." Caroline allowed her gaze to scan the crowd of familiar faces. All of them were watching her carefully. And in their eyes she could see the doubt. All Silas Tate had had to do was plant the seed of distrust. Desperately she tried again. "What about the attack on the stage? I can't prove that Silas Tate hired the gunmen who attacked the stage. But how else can you explain why they killed the others and spared my life?" The sheriff sounded truly unhappy as he cleared his throat and said, "Mr. Tate mentioned that himself. He suggested that you might have offered the gunmen--something--in exchange for your life. " He looked down at his stubby fingers loosely holding the reins. It pained him to repeat all the things that had been revealed by this stranger, but now it seemed everything Silas Tate had predicted was coming true. Thad's voice, low and dangerous, caused the sheriff to lift his head sharply. "You forget. Sheriff, I was there. I saw the way Caroline fought those gunmen. She wasn't making any deals. Even to save her life. And tell me this. Why is it that Luke Cochrane's gang didn't seem surprised to find a lone woman on the stage bound for Hope?" "h.e.l.l, Thad, half the territory knew we had a new schoolteacher arriving on the stage. It was no secret." Sheriff Horn turned to Caroline. "Now, Miss Adams, I want you to know I wish none of this had happened, 'cause we were all happy with the way you were teaching our children. But now that Mr. Tate has told us these. things about you, the good people of Hope deserve some answers. " Caroline saw the flicker of a smile on Silas Tale's lips and felt her heart begin to thunder. He hadn't spoken a word.

And yet he controlled these people as surely as if they were all attached to strings. Strings he was pulling. The words coming out of the sheriff's mouth were Silas Tate's words. Words that would destroy everything she had begun to build here. ' "Mr. Tate has told us some mighty serious things. Miss Adams. He has said publicly that your mother earned her keep by..." The sheriff cast a sideways glance at Reverend Symes, then added delicately, "Catering to the base instincts of the men of Kansas City." He shot a pleading look at Thad before saying, "I surely hope you can deny it. Miss Adams." And the truth shall set you free. Caroline swallowed the bitter gall of defeat. In her case, the truth would ensnare her forever in its ugly slime. She lifted her head. She would not be shamed by what her mother had done to survive. Caroline had heard her mother crying in the night and had seen the bruises and marks made by men who enjoyed inflicting pain on helpless women. "I cannot deny it. Sheriff Horn." The crowd gave an audible gasp. Sara Waverly covered her mouth and half turned away, as if offended by the mere sight of Caroline. Cora Meadows and Bel va Spears appeared to be stunned. The others seemed both repelled and fascinated by her admission. As if by some unspoken agreement, Jessie and Cole, Clan and Morning Light dismounted and moved to stand beside Thad and Caroline. Touched by their support, she turned and gave them a weak nod. But when she tried to smile, her lips trembled and she found herself on the verge of breaking down. "There is more. Miss Adams," the sheriff said softly. "And I'm afraid it's worse."

Tears glittered in Caroline's eyes as she lifted her head and faced him. Her fists were clenched at her sides. Thad could see that she was losing the battle to control her emotions. ' "How can there possibly be anything worse than what I have just been forced to admit, Sheriff?" "Forgive me. Miss Adams, but Mr. Tate says that from the time you were hardly more than a girl, you... followed in your mother's footsteps." Thad's gun was out of the holster before anyone had a chance to react. He aimed it at Silas Tate. His words were harsh, clipped, angry. "I know your kind, Tate. All my life I've had to watch sc.u.m like you destroy good people's lives with rumors and lies. But you're not going to succeed here in Hope." Just as quickly Sheriff Tate drew his gun. "Do you want a dozen witnesses to cold-blooded murder? Put the gun away, Texan, or you'll have to shoot me, too." Caroline put a hand on Thad's arm. In soft, pleading tones she murmured, "Please, Thad. Nothing can be gained by this. I couldn't bear to see you go to jail because of me." "Jail? Caroline, I'd go to h.e.l.l and back for you. I'm not going to stand here and let him spread these lies about you." She could feel the anger pulsing through him. His eyes narrowed on Silas Tate, who continued to sit quietly with a look of supreme confidence on his face. "Please, Thad. This isn't the way and you know it. If you resort to bloodshed, he'll still win." She saw the effort it cost Thad to return his gun to the holster. Even then he continued to allow his hand to rest just above the pistol, as though poised to draw if Silas Tate should threaten her.

Everyone seemed to let out a collective sigh of relief, especially Thad's family. "I'll ask you again, Miss Adams," the sheriff said. "Can you deny what Mr. Tate has said?" "I do deny it. Silas Tate is lying." "Then you've never been with a man?" In the silence that followed, Caroline studied Tate's smug face and knew in that instant that he still had one card left to play. The flush had crept up Sheriff Horn's neck until his face was now suffused with color. In almost apologetic tones he said, "Mr. Tate told us that he followed you here last night, Miss Adams. And that he knows for a fact that you spent the night. In Thad Con way's bed. " Not a sound broke the silence. The wind stirred in the trees, rustling the leaves. No one noticed. They were staring intently at the young, beautiful creature who had been transformed from a prim, plain, soft-spoken woman into a dazzling beauty. For some, that fact alone was enough to prove the truth of the stranger's claims. Why had she taken such pains to hide her beauty? What other secrets was she hiding? Thad took a step forward and placed a hand on her shoulder. Further proof to those watching that a bond had been forged between these two. A bond deeper than mere friends.h.i.+p. Thad's touch couldn't dispel the chill that raced through Caroline, leaving her trembling. ' "Since when has that become a crime?" Thad hissed. "Human nature is human nature," the sheriff said almost sheepishly. "But a teacher's got a calling that sets her above the rest. We need Miss Adams to put our minds at ease. That's all we ask," the sheriff added. Caroline's gaze fastened on the evil man who had just destroyed everything she had ever valued. With rumor and hints and evil whispers, he had turned something beautiful into something dark and sinister and degrading. Her voice was low, the tone flat. "You've won, Silas." "What are you saying, Caroline?" Thad's voice beside her caused her to turn, but only for a moment. She couldn't bear to look at him. It was too painful knowing that the only man she had ever loved was being destroyed along with her. Because of her, the privacy he treasured had been violated. Because of her, his own nieces and nephews would have to withstand even more taunts from their friends. She no longer minded for herself. She had chosen to lie in order to hide her past. But it wasn't fair to destroy Thad because of his a.s.sociation with her. Glancing at the sheriff, she said, "I suppose you'll want me to leave town at once?" He coughed. "I think that would be best. For the children, you understand." "Yes, of course." ' "What the h.e.l.l are you saying?" Thad looked from Caroline to the sheriff, then back to Caroline again. "You aren't leaving. Where would you go?" "Someplace where I can make a new start. And the next time, I'll tell the truth about myself before I let anyone take a chance on me." "And what about Silas Tate?" Thad's eyes narrowed on the man who watched the unfolding scene without emotion. "He'll have no hold over me as long as I tell the truth. You said it yourself, Thad. The truth will set us free." "The h.e.l.l it will. Look at him, Caroline." When she lowered her head he caught her face and forced it up. "Take a good look at him. He's obsessed with revenge. He'll never let you alone."

"Thad Con way," Reverend Symes said softly, "your problem has always been that you've gone looking for reasons to draw that gun. This fine man came all this way just to warn the good people of Hope that their teacher was not what they thought she was. And he has already a.s.sured us that he has to hurry back to Kansas City to tend to his business." "Have you asked this 'fine' man what his business is?" Thad could barely get the words out because of the fury choking him. "He owns a respectable hotel and tavern." Reverend Symes thought about the large contribution the stranger had made to the church. "And he has invited us all to visit him if we ever get to Kansas City." Caroline took a deep breath to calm the feeling of quiet despair that had descended upon her. Turning to the sheriff, she said softly, "Would you mind if I returned to the schoolhouse? Just to pack my trunk?"

she added. "I can be on the next stage." The sheriff nodded. "I'll go there now and pick up your rig. I should be back to collect you in a little while." Glancing around at the others, he called loudly, "All right, folks. Our business here is concluded." Silas Tate gave a slight bow of the head before turning his mount. The sheriff and the others followed suit, and within minutes they were gone, leaving only a cloud of dust in their wake. Jessie and Cole, Clan and Morning Light were the only ones who remained. "The b.a.s.t.a.r.d," Thad said through gritted teeth. "He was enjoying it." He turned to Caroline and saw the way she held herself in such rigid control. If he were to hold her, she would snap. "I'm not letting you go," he said simply.

"You no longer have a choice, Thad." Through a haze of tears Caroline turned away and fled to Thad's bedroom, leaving him to answer his family's questions. In the silence of his room she threw herself across his bed and wept as though her heart would break. "The sheriff is here with the carriage, Caroline." Jessie's voice roused her from her stupor. Woodenly she sat up and shoved the heavy hair from her eyes. Her cheeks were still stained with her tears. Her eyes were red-rimmed from crying. She glanced from Jessie and Cole to Clan and Morning Light, who had all gathered in the doorway. "Where's Thad?" "The last I saw he was thinking about barring the gate." Jessie paused, wondering how far she dared to intrude on her brother's business. "Caroline, we think we know why you're going. And we want you to know that, although we think it's very n.o.ble, we also think you're making a terrible mistake." It was obvious that they had discussed this in great detail. Caroline brushed past her, but Jessie put out a hand as if to stop the young woman from going. "Don't, Jessie." Caroline shook her hand away and started toward the door. "I know my brother very well," Jessie called after her. "And I've never seen him in a rage like this before. He loves you, Caroline. Truly loves you. " " And I care deeply about him, too. " Caroline paused with her hand on the door, keeping her back to the others. It would be too painful to speak of love. A love that even now tugged at her, breaking her heart into little pieces. She pulled open the door. "And that's why you're leaving. Because you think that those of us who love Thad will reject him because of you. But you're wrong. We grew up free, Caroline. Thad and Clan and I broke the law many years ago rather than see our pa hang for a crime he didn't commit. Out here, we never cared what others thought. We never judged a person by what his life was like before he came here. We won't judge you, either." Caroline turned. Her eyes were dry. There were no tears left. "Thank you, Jessie. That means a lot to me. But I still have to go." She walked through the open doorway. "Caroline." At Morning Light's call, she turned back. The young Comanche woman extended her hand. I want you to know how grateful I am for what you taught my children. " Caroline accepted her hand. "And I want you to know that I am proud to know you," Morning Light added. Caroline felt a lump in her throat and tried to swallow it back. "And I'm proud to know you." She turned to include the others. "All of you." On the porch, Rosita and Manuel stood to one side. They turned as she stepped through the doorway. From the corner of her eye she saw Thad standing just beyond the carriage. He and the sheriff spoke not a word. Caroline turned to Rosita. "I'll see that your clothes are returned." ' "There is no need, senorita." She touched a hand to her flat stomach. "Soon enough I will be unable to wear them anyway. Please wear them and remember me." ' "I wish I could be here to see your baby. Rosita caught her hand. "You should not let them drive you away." "The choice is my own." She turned to Manuel. "Thank you for the shoes, Manuel. They're the finest I've ever owned." ' "You are welcome, senorita. I hope you will wear them with pride." They watched as Caroline made her way to the waiting rig. Before she could climb aboard, Thad caught her by the shoulder. "Why are you doing this?" Because I love you, she thought. Because I won't have anyone else hurt because of me. How many have had to die? My mother, Jonathan Coming. Dead because they cared about me. If she stayed with Thad, she would only bring the trouble to his doorstep. Until now he'd been very adept at keeping the world away. She couldn't bear it if she brought pain and suffering to another person she loved. The thought of what she was giving up made the night of love they'd shared seem all the sweeter. And all the more poignant, because it was lost to her forever. But she said none of this. Instead, all she whispered was "Goodbye, Thad." His grip on her shoulder tightened until his fingers were digging into her flesh. He lowered his voice. "I won't let you go. I can't." "The decision isn't yours to make." "This will decide," he said, withdrawing the pistol from his holster. "I'll make them listen to you. They'll have to believe the truth." "Haven't you learned anything? Even your gun is useless against words." She pushed away from his arms. Though tears threatened, she kept herself under tight control. She would not cry here in front of all these watchful eyes. "They've already heard Silas Tate's version of the truth. That's all they want to hear."

She climbed up beside the sheriff and forced herself to stare straight ahead. He flicked the reins and the rig jolted forward. As they crested a hill, Caroline turned to drink in the curve of hills, the st.u.r.dy outbuildings, the graceful house. One figure stood alone in the swirling dust. She felt a shaft of pain around her heart and choked back the cry that sprang to her lips. She watched until they dipped below a ridge and the figure in the distance slipped out of sight. She closed her eyes against the pain. And only opened them when the rig stopped in front of the small cabin that, for the past few months, had been her home and the source of all her dreams.

Chapter Twenty-One

Q^^r^Q i Cj-1 Ihere isn't much time to pack. Miss Adams. " Sheriff Horn's voice conveyed his sorrow at his unpleasant task. " The stage driver will want to get started before noon. " " It won't take me long. Sheriff. " Not long at all, she thought sadly as she opened the door to the small cabin and stepped inside. After the heat and dust of the trail, the interior of the cabin seemed cool, serene. Caroline made a slow turn around the room, touching a hand to the crisp white curtains that hung at the windows, stooping to run her fingers over the colorful rag rug in front of the fireplace. Cora and Bel va. The first friends, along with Jessie and Morning Light, to bring her gifts and welcome her to Hope. They had been shocked by her admissions, as she'd known they would be. She didn't blame them. She removed the curtains and folded them for Cora, then rolled the rug for Bel va. Perhaps the women would bring them again when a new teacher arrived. The thought of another teacher taking her place brought a fresh bout of sadness. She ran her fingertips along the smooth wood of the rocker, imagining Thad's hands as they'd shaped and fas.h.i.+oned the chair. The thought of him brought a sharp pain. Crossing the room, she carefully wrapped her mother's china in the embroidered towels and placed them in her trunk. On top of these she placed her blanket and pillow. Like the dishes, they had once belonged to her grandmother. She slipped out of Rosita's colorful skirt and blouse and folded them carefully, placing them atop the other items in the trunk. Though she would probably never wear them, it would bring her pleasure to be able to look at them occasionally, to remember a time of magic in a life that had had too few happy memories. But for now, the sight of them made her heart ache. She slipped on the drab brown gown. Twisting her long hair, she pinned it into a neat knot and secured her hat with pins. A glance in the looking gla.s.s had her heart plummeting. For a few brief s.h.i.+ning hours she had felt loved and cherished. She'd believed she was beautiful. Now. now she must become again that other person she had tried so hard to be. The one she no longer knew or understood. The liar. The cheat who had come to town pretending to be a fine lady. A lady. She turned away in self-disgust. Taking a deep breath, she opened the door that led to the cla.s.sroom. She stopped to touch each desk, mentally speaking the name of the child who had sat there. She knew them all. Jack, Lisbeth, Frank. Runs With The Wind, Danny and little Kate. Emma and Ethan Waverly. Her heart contracted. She loved them all. At the front of the cla.s.sroom she ran a hand lovingly along the top of the table that had served as her desk. A teacher's desk. It was all she'd ever wanted. To teach. To feed hungry minds all the knowledge that she had once craved so desperately in her own starved and lonely childhood. She swallowed back the tears that threatened to choke her and filled her arms with her precious store of books. Then she resolutely strode from the room and closed the door. When her trunk was shut and the straps secured, she took a last loving look around. Tears clouded her vision. She'd had such hopes, such dreams. And for a little while she had found heaven. She squared her shoulders and took a deep breath. Now it was time to face the consequences of her actions. Wrapping her shawl modestly around her shoulders, she opened the door and called to the sheriff, "I'm ready." He strode inside and lifted her trunk. It was surprisingly light. "The curtains, rug and chair should be returned," she said. "And I would like you to give away the food in the root cellar to those most in need." The sheriff nodded as he strapped her trunk to the back of the rig. When he was finished he saw Caroline standing by the shed, kneeling among the chickens, which gathered around her like pets. She looked up when he approached. "Runs With The Wind gave them to me. You'll see that he gets them back, won't you? " " Yes, ma'am. " "Thank you." She scattered grain inside the shed and watched as the chickens scrambled after it. Carefully closing the door against predators, she secured it and turned away. The sheriff could see the tears that glittered on her lashes. He glanced aside, to give her a chance to compose herself.

"We'd better be leaving, ma'am." "Yes." She gave a last look around, then climbed up to the seat beside him. As they drove away, she turned for a final glimpse. To casual observers, she thought, it probably looked like a little shack in the woods, badly in need of repair. But they didn't know. She twisted her hands in her lap and blinked back tears. They didn't know that this had once been a place of great promise. A place where children's futures were forged in the pages of books. A place where one woman had found her whole reason for being. Thad prowled the empty rooms of his house. He'd sent everyone home. Jessie and Cole, Clan and Morning Light, Manuel and Rosita. He preferred his own company. He needed no chorus of voices, no sympathetic looks. What he needed was action. What he wanted was to ride into town and challenge Silas Tate to a gunfight. He had no doubt what the outcome would be. There wasn't a man in Texas who could out draw him. But even though killing Tate would satisfy his bloodl.u.s.t, it wouldn't be a solution to Caroline's problems. She would still be guilty in the eyes of the townspeople. He slammed a fist against the wall. It went against everything he'd ever believed in to stand by and do nothing while the woman he loved was being railroaded. The sight of the mare loping around her corral caught his attention. Leaning a hip against the windowsill, he paused to watch. The animal's pure bloodlines were obvious to the trained eye. He'd bred her to his finest stallion, a mustang that, until now, had roamed these hills freely since birth. From another corral the stallion whinnied and the mare stopped and lifted her head. The fire in her eyes was un mistakable. Except for the bars that confined her, she would race to the stallion's side, and despite all the generations of fine breeding, she would gladly follow him to the distant hills, where they would never see a human again. That was what he wished for Caroline. He wanted to carry her off to his ranch and keep her safe from all the cruel words, the cutting accusations. It didn't matter to him what the others thought. All that mattered was that she be here with him, safe from the Silas Tates of the world. But, he realized, it would matter to Caroline. Despite what he might want, she had a need for other people and an unquenchable love for children. No matter how much he loved and protected her, it would never be enough. Like the mare, who would never survive life in the wilderness, Caroline would never survive the loneliness and isolation if she had to endure the rumors of her guilt. He turned away from the window, deep in thought. If he couldn't fight Silas Tate with a gun, he would have to find a way to fight with Tate's own choice of weapon. "You can wait in my office until the stage arrives, ma'am." "Thank you. Sheriff." Caroline felt the stares from the people as their rig rolled through the town. When they pulled up in front of the sheriffs office, she waited until he unlashed her trunk, then followed him inside the jail. He dropped her trunk on the floor and dusted off a wooden chair. She sat and folded her hands primly, keeping her gaze fixed on a spot on the floor. At a sharp rap on the door, the sheriff sc.r.a.ped back his chair and crossed the room. Caroline heard the murmur of men's voices before the sheriff called, "Make yourself comfortable. Miss Adams. I'll be gone for a while, but I'll be back before the stage leaves." Caroline nodded. A moment later she heard the door slam and saw the sheriff walking toward the church. Caroline looked up as the door opened. Thad strode into the sheriffs office and stood facing her, a look of grim determination on his face. "Don't try to talk me out of this again, Thad." Caroline turned away and began to pace in antic.i.p.ation of whatever was to come. "I won't." She turned to study him. He seemed so still, so watchful. Squaring his shoulders, he crossed to the sheriffs desk and began to unbuckle his gun belt. "What are you doing?" He tossed the belt and pistol down. "Turning in my gun." "But why?" "You were right, Caroline. Being quick on the draw isn't the answer anymore. Tate taught me that. Without firing a single shot, he's managed to ruin both our lives. " "I'm so sorry, Thad." Without thinking, Caroline touched a hand to his sleeve. But when she looked up and saw the intense expression in his eyes, she took a step back. "I never wanted you to be hurt. But when I saw all those people invading your land, I realized how selfish I'd been. I hope someday you'll find it in your heart to forgive me." They both looked up sharply as the door that separated the cells from the sheriffs office burst open and they found themselves face-to-face with Silas Tate. In his hand was a gun. "Isn't this tender?" His tone was heavy with sarcasm. "Amanda's dirty little brat, Caroline, who now calls herself the very proper Miss Adams. And the hero of Hope, Texas. " His gaze slid to the gun lying atop the sheriffs desk. "Unarmed? How n.o.ble. n.o.ble and foolish." He laughed as he aimed the gun at Thad. "Think you can reach it in time?" Thad stood perfectly still. "I wouldn't even try." "Too bad." Silas gave a satisfied smile as he crossed the room and jammed Thad's pistol into the waistband of his pants. "I'm going to enjoy killing you, Texan." Caroline felt terror growing in the pit of her stomach. "How did you get in?" ' I removed the grate in the last cell. I had Fox working on it since the first day he was brought in. That's how I managed to break him out of jail without the deputy seeing me. Poor Fox," he added with a laugh, " he thought he was heading toward freedom, but he only made it as far as the grave. "

Caroline swallowed the fear that was filling her throat. " The sheriff will be back any minute. " Tate gave a harsh laugh. "The sheriff isn't coming back until the stage arrives." "How do you know that?" "I watched him leave and followed him. He's in a town meeting in the church, arranged by the preacher. Practically everyone in town is there. They're probably choosing your successor. " His words caused her unexpected pain. She had given up without a fight and had lost everything. Not only had her lies been uncovered and her job lost, but now even Thad was being forced to pay for her mistakes. And from the hatred that throbbed between these two men, she had no doubt he would pay with his life. "Come here," Silas ordered. Caroline felt her heart thundering in her ears as she inched away until she felt the rough boards of the wall against her back. Tate's hand snaked out, catching her by the wrist. "Where do you think you're going?" She struggled to free herself but he dragged her closer until she could feel the sting of his breath against her cheek. "Let her go, Tate." Silas swung around and brought his pistol to the side of Thad's head, knocking him to the floor. When Thad started to get up, Silas kicked him, sending him sprawling. As Thad came to his knees and shook his head, Silas pressed the gun to Caroline's temple. "You move, Texan," he warned, "and I'll have to kill your woman." He gave a satisfied smile as Thad remained on the floor, his eyes hot with fury. "If you shoot either of us," Caroline cried, "the gunshots will bring the whole town running." Tate threw back his head and roared. "And who do you think they'll believe? A concerned citizen or a hardened gunman?" "You forgot about me. I'll tell them the truth," she said. "You do that, woman. And we'll see who they believe when I tell them you just offered to pleasure me in return for enough money to take you back to Kansas City." "You filthy animal." She swung her hand in an arc, but he easily caught it and twisted it behind her. "Now," he rasped against her ear, "you listen, my high- and-mighty lady. Before I'm finished with you, you'll beg me to let you work in one of my shacks. " " Never. I know what it did to my mother before you killed her. " "Do you? Well, did you know that she begged me to spare her miserable life? She even offered to work for nothing if I'd let her live." At his words, Caroline felt tears spring to her eyes. "You're worse than an animal. I wish I'd killed you with that knife instead of only wounding you." "You should have," he sneered. "Because you'll never have another chance. I vowed I'd make you pay for what you did to my face if it took me to the ends of the earth. " He touched a hand to the jagged scar and his features twisted into a mask of pure malice. "And," he added, "you'll keep on paying until I decide to end your suffering. Like I ended your dear mother's. " "And Jonathan Coming?" Caroline cried. "Did you kill him, too?" Silas Tate laughed. "The old man swore he didn't know where you were headed. But I knew how to make him talk. I put a knife to his wife's throat and started cutting. He told me everything before I killed them both and burned down their house." Caroline was blinded momentarily by the tears that spilled from her eyes. How could any man's cruelty against another go unpunished? She pulled back, and his grasp on her wrist tightened. "You can force me," she whispered. "But you can't stand over me every minute of the day and make me keep on doing your bidding. No matter what you do to me, short of killing me, I'll escape. And when I do, you'll pay for what you've done." He laughed again, and the sound sent a chill along her spine. "There's a way to make anyone do anything. Like your cool, elegant mother. And the very cultured Jonathan Coming. They ended up doing what I told them. And look at your hero. Doesn't he look good on his knees? " He twisted her arm painfully. "And you will, too. You'll do exactly as you're told. And you'll start now. The Texan can watch." He pointed the gun at Caroline's temple and said to Thad, "Get up." Thad got slowly to his feet. "Walk," Silas ordered. From the sheriffs desk he picked up a ring of keys. Thad walked to a cell and Silas slammed the door and turned the key. Then he dragged Caroline into the next cell and tossed her down on a narrow cot. His gaze raked her. "When I saw you that day, a dirty little street urchin with big eyes and long black hair and a body that was just beginning to bloom, I knew I had to have you." He touched a finger to the jagged scar along his cheek. "And when you left your mark on me, I knew that I'd make you pay and pay." He gave a short laugh. "You'll never know how many nights I dreamed of ways to make you pay. I'm going to enjoy every minute of this." He turned to where Thad stood, seething with impotent rage. "I. know you'll enjoy every minute of this, too, cowboy. " Tate's hands went to the b.u.t.tons of his s.h.i.+rt, and then suddenly he froze. Behind him the sheriffs voice said calmly, "Better start with the gun belt, Mr. Tate." The moment the key twisted in the lock of Thad's cell, freeing him, he pushed his way through the crowd. Silas spun around to find the sheriff and half the town facing him. But it was Thad's fist that bloodied his face and sent him sprawling. Caroline scrambled to her feet and rushed past Silas, falling into Thad's arms with a sob. "But you were at a town meeting." Silas mopped at the blood with his sleeve and leaned his head back weakly. "I followed you." "That's what we wanted you to think." Sheriff Horn turned toward Thad, who was watching the color begin to return to Caroline's face. "It was The Texan's idea. He said a bully always has to do a little bragging, if he's given the chance." Sheriff Horn shrugged. "The town has long owed Thad Con way a big favor. It was about time we paid our debt to him." He turned back to Caroline. "So we decided to give him one last chance to prove your innocence. Sorry, Miss Adams. There was no way to warn you. " The sheriff turned to Thad and saw the blood that trickled from the corner of his mouth. "I'm sorry you had to take such a beating." "I expected it," Thad said dryly. "Although you could have broken in a few minutes earlier." "We wanted to be sure he'd confessed to everything before we showed our hand." Removing Silas Tate's gun belt, the sheriff turned the key in the lock. "Thanks for letting me know about that jailbreak. We still hadn't figured out how it was done." He turned to his deputy. "See that the bars in that other cell are secured. Mr. Tate will be our guest until the federal judge arrives for trial." The sheriff turned to Thad. "I'm real proud of you, Texan. I know it took a lot of courage to face a man like Tate without a gun." Thad gave a crooked smile and winced at the pain. "It was Caroline who convinced me that it's sometimes more courageous to throw away a gun and face an attacker with your wits." "In this case it paid off," the sheriff said with admiration. They all looked up as the stagecoach arrived with a clatter of harness and hooves and drew to a stop in front of the jail. With a sigh the sheriff hurried outside. Caroline could hear his voice raised and a m.u.f.fled response as if from many voices. When Sheriff Horn returned to his office he called, "Time to go outside. Miss Adams. " His voice was unusually cheerful, and she glanced from him to Thad and then back again. "What are you up to?" Thad shrugged. "I guess the only way to find out is to see for ourselves." With his hand beneath her elbow, he escorted her to the door. She stared around in surprise. A cl.u.s.ter of wagons and people clogged the dusty road. The town was nearly as crowded as it had been for the town social. The first person Caroline saw was Ben Meadows, being helped into his wheeled chair by his father. At the boy's request, Ab Meadows rolled his son closer. "Ma said you're leaving," Ben called. Caroline stopped beside him and knelt down until their eyes were level. "Yes. I have to go away." "But why. Miss Adams? Don't you like being in Hope anymore?" "Oh, Ben." She put a hand over his. "I love it here. This is the best town in the world. I guess I'd rather live here in Hope than anywhere I can think of." Her tone lowered. "It's the first real home I've ever had." "Then why are you leaving us?" Young Jack walked up to join his friend. His troubled eyes, so like Thad's, caused her heart to leap. Caroline looked up and met his gaze without flinching. "Because I lied. Jack. And the people of this town deserve something better than that. ""

What was the lie. Miss Adams? " The high voice belonged to Emma Waverly.

Caroline turned toward her and saw that her arm was around her younger brother, Ethan. "I never went to a fancy school, Emma. I couldn't even read or write until I was older than you." "But that's nothing to be ashamed of," Ethan said hotly. "My pa never did learn to read or write. And Ma said he was a man to be proud of." ' "Your mother is right, Ethan. The shame, for me, is that I lied. And now I have to make amends." "Can't you mend here in town with us?" Lisbeth asked tearfully. "Amends, Lisbeth," Caroline corrected gently. "It means to put right. When people do wrong, it isn't enough to admit their mistake. They also have to do something right to make up for the wrong." "Then why are you leaving?" Runs With The Wind asked with all the logic of his people. "How can you put something right when you are no longer here with us?" "You deserve a better teacher," she said simply. "We've never had a teacher as fine as you," Ben said. "You're the first one who ever bothered to ride all the way out to our ranch and help me read." "And you're the first one who ever took the time to explain why book learning would help me be a better rancher," Jack said. "You don't know anything about my background," Caroline protested. "You once told us," Runs With The Wind said somberly, "that you were not interested in our backgrounds. You said you were far more concerned with what we made of our lives." He shot her a grave look. "Is that not the same for you?" Caroline could find no words. "And you taught me that grownups can be afraid, too,"

Emma cried, "and get tired sometimes, and even make mistakes. And ever since then, Ma and I are closer than we've ever been." "That's right," came a voice behind Caroline. "And you taught me that mothers sometimes forget what it's like to be young, and laugh, and have fun." Caroline turned to find Sara Waverly standing beside Reverend Symes. "Please forgive me, Caroline," Sara said softly. "I was so quick to condemn. The sheriff has told us that everyt