"Of course not."
Reed slowly straightened up. "Everyone is welcome at the mission. No one is turned away."
"I appreciate that, Reverend."
Nauseated by the mutual hypocrisy expressed, Reed knew he could not take much more. "Sorry to cut this visit short, but we have to be on our way."
"I'm sorry, too, Mr. Jefferson." Chastity's voice held a true note of regret. "I hope we have a chance to meet again."
"You can count on it, ma'am."
Morgan tipped his hat, and Reed slapped the reins sharply against the team's back, startling the horses into a jump forward.
Chastity's rigid posture was revealing as they rode away. Reed knew the silence between them would not last long.
His smile dismissed, Morgan watched the wagon continue down the road. His men exchanged glances as Morgan maintained a tense silence.
Walker ventured, "That was a waste of time."
Turning sharply toward him, Morgan spat, "You think so? I think it worked out real fine."
Walker's wiry mustache twitched. "Maybe you saw somethin' that I didn't, but I think that parson made it pretty clear he didn't like the way you was lookin' at his woman."
"I wasn't payin' much attention to him. I was lookin' at his wife… and she was lookin' at me. She made it pretty plain that she was glad to see me."
Walker shrugged. "I'd say that's right."
"She's better lookin' than I remembered. There's somethin' about her." Morgan's chest began a slow heaving. "I'm thinkin' all the fire in that woman ain't just in the color of her hair. She wanted to get to know me better… and I'm goin' to give her the chance."
"Not if that parson has any say about it, you ain't."
"He won't."
The wary silence that followed Morgan's response was broken by Walker's cautious question. "You ain't thinkin' what I think you're thinkin'…"
"This is wild country Injun country." Morgan raised his dark brows. "Accidents happen."
Walker looked at the men beside him. They were watching Morgan incredulously, their thoughts obviously running in the same vein as his as Walker responded, "You can't be serious!
We got a good thing goin' here. Killin' off that parson will start all kinds of trouble. There'll be marshals ridin' all over Injun Territory!"
Morgan shook his head. "I don't think so."
Walker's shoulder twitched. "What about Conchita? She ain't goin' to take this lightly."
"She doesn't have anythin' to say about it."
"That one's smarter than you give her credit for. You're goin' to have to watch out for her!"
Morgan's expression grew suddenly vicious. "There isn't any problem that I can't handle, and that includes gettin rid of a Mexican whore who can find a new home at the nearest
cantina!
"
"You really are a cold bastard."
"Maybe…" His gaze drifting back toward the trail where the wagon had disappeared from sight, Morgan repeated, "Maybe, but I got a feelin' that Chastity can warm me up."
"I got a bad feelin' about all this," Simmons said, speaking up at last. "I don't want
no
part of it."
Morgan's expression grew rabid. "Who asked you?"
"I'm goin' back to the cabin."
"No, you're not. We're goin' to find those steers first and take care of business." He turned toward Turner. "And Turner's goin' to lead the way."
Turner's jowled jaw drew tight. "Them steers run off durin' the night, like I told you. They could be scattered all over creation."
"You know where they are!" Morgan's gaze grew deadly. "You were just too lazy to round them up again and drive them back. Well, you aren't gettin' out of it this time, 'cause we're gettin' those steers now, and we're not goin' back without them. So, lead the way!"
Cursing under his breath, Turner wheeled his horse sharply,
then
kicked it into a burst forward.
Following behind, Morgan stared at Turner's back. His thoughts returned to the woman presently traveling in the opposite direction, and he grunted low under his breath. She had slipped away from him again, but only temporarily.
Morgan consoled
himself
. It would only be a little longer.
Chastity's question emerged through stiff lips. "You didn't like him, did you?"
The wagon moved along the trail at a clipped pace. It had been hours since they left Morgan behind them. The conversation between them had been stilted.
Reed did not immediately respond. How could he explain to her the true danger of the situation a danger intensified by a complication of which she appeared
unaware.
Morgan
wanted
Chastity. He had seen the desire concealed behind that courteous facade. It had wrenched at his gut, flushing him with a rage he had barely controlled. That rage had not yet faded.
"Reed?"
Daylight was fading. The extravagant colors of sunset lit the delicate contours of Chastity's face as Reed turned toward her. He knew he would never see a sight more beautiful than the one he was presently beholding.
"Reed…"
Reed struggled to conceal his emotions. "Didn't like who?"
"You know very well who I mean."
Reed chose to remain silent.
"You were rude to him."
"Was I?"
"You know you were."
"We didn't have time for a detour that might add another day to our trip."
"You were rude."
"If you say so."
"Why? He helped me, Reed! He made sure that Mr. Dobbs knew he would stand behind me. I don't really know what would've happened if he hadn't been there."
"You're too gullible, Chastity."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Suddenly unable to conceal his anger any longer, Reed snapped, "It means you don't see the obvious when it's hidden behind a smile."
Chastity stiffened. "Are you saying that Mr. Jefferson isn't sincere?"
Clutching the reins in a tight fist, Reed turned to face Chastity squarely, "Yes, that's part of it."
"What are you trying to tell me?"
"He
wants
you, Chastity!"
Chastity gasped. Her face flamed. "You're wrong! He was never anything but courteous and polite. You spoke to him! He's a
gentlemen
."
Reed bit back the response that rose to his lips.
Chastity's expression softened unexpectedly. "I suppose I should be flattered that you think I'm so desirable." Chastity's warm color darkened. "You're prejudiced, Reed, because of everything that's happened between us, but you see me in a different light than most men. Mr. Jefferson was just being friendly."
Frustrated, Reed replied, "You're going to have to trust my judgment about this, Chastity. I've seen this kind of thing a thousand times. I
know
what I saw in his eyes."
"You're wrong."
"No, I'm not."
"I don't want to argue with you, Reed. But neither do I want you to be rude to Mr. Jefferson because of me. Promise me you won't act that way again."
"I won't promise."
"Why are you so stubborn?"
Reed's jaw locked tight.
"You're not going to answer me, are you?"
Chastity took an angry breath when he did not respond. "When are we going to stop for the night?"
"We're not."
Chastity looked at him. Her lips parted with confusion. "What do you mean?"
"I'm telling you that we're going to drive on through the night."
"It's getting dark. We won't be able to see!"
"It's a clear night and there's a full moon. If necessary, I'll walk ahead with the lantern and you can drive the team."
"This is insane!"
"It's necessary."
"Necessary… because of Mr. Jefferson? Is that what you're trying to say?"
"It's necessary because the situation has changed. It isn't safe here any longer."
"Because of Mr. Jefferson… or because of that Indian?"
Chastity's flushed cheeks suddenly paled. "Is that it… you're afraid the Indians will attack?"
"No."
"Then what is it?"
Reed did not respond.
"It
is
because of Mr. Jefferson!" Chastity shook her head. "What's the matter with you, Reed? He's just a cowman like any other. He's trying to make
a living
raising cattle, just like any other cowman."
"No, he isn't."
"What do you mean, he isn't?" Chastity grasped Reed's arm, forcing him to draw back on the reins as she shook it roughly. "Tell me!"
"All right!"
Angry frustration pounding through his veins, Reed rasped, "You have to find out sooner or later. His name isn't Jefferson. It's Morgan Will Morgan. He isn't a cowman trying to make
a living
raising cattle. He's a rustler a criminal man who makes his living
stealing
cattle, not raising them, Chastity."
"How do you know all this?" Chastity struggled to catch her breath. "He doesn't know you."
"I've seen the wanted posters."
"Wanted posters."
"He's wanted in Texas for cattle rustling… and murder."
"Murder!"
Chastity closed her eyes. She snapped them open again a moment later, shuddering visibly. "No, I don't believe it. You made a mistake. You're as new to this territory as I am. This Morgan person you're referring to is someone else who just happens to look like Mr. Jefferson."
"Listen to me, Chastity!" Reed gripped her shoulders, forcing her to meet his eyes. "It's not a mistake. He's Morgan, all right. I know because I've been on his trail for over a year."
"On his trail?"
Chastity's eyes
widened,
her bewilderment apparent. A new light gradually dawning in her gaze, she replied slowly, "Mr. Jefferson's name isn't Jefferson. It's Morgan." She raised her chin, her voice rising as well. "Does that mean your name isn't Reed Farrell, either? Who are you, Reed?"
"Chastity, please…"
"You aren't a minister are you, Reed?"
Reed stared intently at her. "No, I'm not."
"Who are you?
What
are you?"
Reed felt the hysteria rapidly building within Chastity. He whispered, "Don't be afraid of me, Chastity, please. My name is Reed Farrell, just as I told you.''
"Are you a lawman? Is that it?"
"No."
"What are you, then?"
Reed gripped her shoulders tighter. "I'm a bounty hunter."
Reed felt the shock that rippled through her. He attempted to draw her close, but she fought against him, her voice rising as she ordered, "Take your hands off me! Let me go!"
Reed released her,
then
whispered, "We don't have time for this, Chastity. Whatever you think of me, we have to go on. We have to get out of here. It isn't safe!"
Chastity drew back, her stiff shoulders quaking. "I should have known. The bullet wound in your leg… you didn't get it trying to stop a gunfight, did you?"
"No."
"You were shot. Did the other man survive?"
"No."
"Oh, God…"
Reed reached for her.
"No!" She
paused
her breathing heavy. "That man Mr. Jenkin she wasn't a Federal Indian Agent, was he?"
"No. He brought me a map to Morgan's hideout. It's only a short distance away."
"That's why you came here."
"Yes."
"Everything you told me about yourself is a lie. You aren't expected at the mission. You aren't a preacher. You don't care about the Indian children or the teacher they need so badly." Chastity gave a short, hysterical laugh. "You made it all up!"
Reed did not respond.
"Didn't you!"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"A preacher and his wife were expected at the mission."
Chastity blinked. "So you decided to give them what they expected. I was convenient and I was gullible. I believed everything you said." Chastity raised a trembling hand to her forehead.
Reed glanced around them. Night was rapidly falling.
"We don't have time for this now, Chastity. We have to get out of here. We have to get to the mission as soon as possible. You'll be safe there."