Among the Fair Magnolias Page 28

  Mr. Talbot’s gray eyes settled on Russell as he stood up as well. “Like I said, I cannot give you any information. Because I find it extremely helpful, I wish I could. I really wish I could.” Fixing a hard stare on Russell again, he said, “I hope you understand what I’m saying.”

  Russell did.

  And in that moment he found something deep within himself that he’d been certain he’d lost years before. He found his sense of self-worth. Maybe even something greater too.

  Maybe he finally believed in God again. Though he’d always figured the Lord existed, some time ago he’d come to the conclusion that the great man up in heaven had given up on him.

  And the majority of Russell had never really blamed Him. After all, he wasn’t much.

  But now, seeing a glimmer of respect in the banker’s eyes, Russell found himself believing again. Believing in something greater than himself.

  He figured what had just happened might not make any difference to Nora, but it went a long way toward helping him regain his confidence in himself.

  Perhaps he wasn’t as lost as he’d imagined he was.

  With that in mind, Russell turned away and walked through the office door. He was determined at last to trust his instincts and tell Nora everything he’d learned about Braedon Hardy.

  There was a good chance she might not believe him. But there was a chance she might. And if she did, it would make the seven years of suffering well worth it.

  But those good intentions fell to the wayside when he scanned the filled lobby.

  Because sitting on an iron bench were the two people who’d been occupying his mind for almost every minute of the last twenty-four hours.

  Nora Hudson. The woman he knew to be the love of his life even if she never returned the favor.

  Sitting next to her was the man he mistrusted with every fiber of his being: Braedon Hardy.

  It took everything Russell had not to claim Nora’s hand and pull her close to his side.

  CHAPTER NINE

  EVEN THOUGH BRAEDON PRESSED A HAND TO HER ARM AND commanded her to stay, Nora leaped to her feet the moment she saw Russell.

  Just a few minutes after Russell entered Mr. Talbot’s office, Braedon had rushed in the bank, looking like his world was about to collapse.

  Her first impulse had been to tell him that she’d had a change of heart about him, but he’d sat down on the bench beside her and started talking a mile a minute. Talking about how he’d heard that Russell had ridden to San Antonio in order to collect rumors about him.

  Talking about how he was a man of the cloth and Russell had done things no woman should ever think about.

  The story he painted about Russell made her start to doubt her feelings for Russell. Made her wonder if she was still thinking of Russell as the boy he used to be instead of the violent man he’d become.

  Finally it was time to face the truth. She needed to know the truth about Braedon, about Russell’s past, and maybe most important, she needed to come to terms with her own heart.

  When Russell stood in front of her, Nora said, “Braedon told me that you weren’t here on personal business. You’re here telling tales about him. Is that true?”

  A muscle in his jaw jumped. “Somewhat.”

  “Why would you do that?”

  With a hard glint in his eyes, Russell looked just beyond her. “Word travels fast around here.”

  “Why are you surprised that he does anything sneaky or devious?” Braedon asked. “A man like him is probably used to riding roughshod over any person of worth to get what he wants.”

  A man like him. Braedon’s voice held so much venom, Nora regretted that she’d listened to him for even a moment. “Maybe we should not discuss this after all.”

  “It’s all right, Nora,” Russell said under his breath. “Mr. Hardy is exactly right, if that is even his name. I haven’t been the type of person I wanted to be for quite some time. Years now.”

  Inwardly she flinched. How many times had she ached to relive that terrible afternoon? If she could, she would have never allowed herself to be in the company of his stepfather. She certainly would have never spent even a single minute alone with him.

  And even if she couldn’t have prevented the man’s hands gripping her shoulders or his lips pressing into her neck, she would have tried harder to remain calm.

  Or at least not burst into hysterical tears like she had.

  Perhaps if she’d controlled her reaction, Russell wouldn’t have risked everything he had in order to avenge her honor.

  But even if she hadn’t been able to stop that, she knew in her heart that she could have handled his return far better. She could have given him shelter. She could have told him that she understood why he’d done what he did.

  She could have forgiven him.

  No, she could have said that she loved him.

  But she’d done none of those things. And she’d regretted those choices for months and months, until the months melded into years.

  Until she’d almost let herself believe that he’d never come back and she’d never get the chance to make things right. Or at least better.

  “What did you discover from Mr. Talbot?”

  “He didn’t tell me a thing.”

  Nora glanced at Braedon and was dismayed to see a look of triumph in his eyes. She scanned Russell’s face. “Then . . . then was everything you heard just what Braedon said it was? Rumors and lies?”

  “No.” Looking directly at Braedon, Russell explained. “I’m guessin’ you see Nora as a lifeline to a better future. And if that is the case, you would be right. There is no better woman on the face of the earth.”

  His statement was beautiful. But it also sounded like Russell wanted her to accept Braedon’s suit. Her heart sank. Was that what Russell wanted to happen? “I don’t understand.”

  “I do. He’s come to his senses,” Braedon said. After curving his fingers around the soft skin above her elbow, he pulled on her arm. “Come along.”

  “Not yet,” Nora said.

  “Our business here is done. From now on I want you to stay far away from Russell Champion. He’s nothing more than a dangerous outlaw. A killer. There’s no telling what he could do.”

  Eyeing the way Braedon was clutching her, Russell stepped forward. “You need to release her, Hardy. Now.”

  Maybe it was Russell’s reputation, or maybe it was the cold promise in his eyes. But whatever the reason was, Braedon immediately dropped his hand.

  Once she was free, Nora knew she had nothing to lose. She could either go with a man she’d been willing to accept because she’d forgotten how to hope, or at last give Russell her heart.

  She turned to the only man she’d ever loved. “Russell, what’s going on?”

  The corners of his lips curved. “I’m trying to find the nerve to ask you to give me a chance, Nora. Again.”

  “I suggest you address her in a more respectful way,” Braedon interjected. “She is nothing to you.”

  “She is everything to me.” Russell took a deep breath. “I cannot prove anything, but I have reason to believe that this man is merely a charlatan, Nora. He only wants your money. And furthermore, I learned in San Antonio that he isn’t a man of God. He’s something far from that.”

  Looking at her carefully, he murmured, “Nora Hudson, I may not ever be good enough for you. I may always be an outlaw in your eyes, but at least I have never hidden anything from you. He has done nothing but lie and evade and hide. He’s not worthy of you. Whatever you do, whatever you decide to do with your future, please do not bind yourself to him forever.”

  As she stared at Braedon, her mouth went dry. “Is this true?”

  “You shouldn’t believe a thing he says. He’s nothing but a murderer.”

  By now she realized that Braedon had been a master of threats and accusations. Whatever it took to evade the truth. “No, Braedon,” she whispered. “What Russell said about you . . . is it true?”

  “Of
course not.”

  “There’s a group of men in San Antonio who tried to string you up,” Russell said. “Seems they don’t take real kindly to men preying on women. I’d advise you to stay far away from the Menger Hotel.”

  Soft laughter floated around them. Startling Nora.

  Suddenly she remembered they were standing in the lobby of the bank. She looked around and noticed that everyone—including Mr. Talbot and Jennifer—was listening and watching.

  Nora had no idea what to do next. Biting her bottom lip, she met everyone’s gaze. Two ladies who’d once been friends of her mother. Mr. Kincaid, the teller. A pair of cowhands. Even Belle Weathers, who many whispered owned a brothel the next town over. All of them were looking directly at them, their expressions rapt.

  “Mr. Talbot? Do you think Russell might be right?” She purposefully didn’t provide a name to her question.

  “I believe he is,” he said quietly.

  And that kind expression, together with the static expectation in the room, told her everything she needed to know.

  Gathering her courage, Nora prepared herself to send away another man.

  But unlike seven years ago, when she’d been too young, too scared, and too distraught to completely understand what she was saying, she had no regrets. “I don’t want to see you ever again, Braedon.”

  He flinched. “Nora.”

  “Don’t speak my name.”

  “I’ll call you whatever I want.” He reached for her, his expression hard.

  Immediately a hand reached out and jerked Braedon away.

  But to her surprise, it wasn’t Russell who reached for Braedon; it was Mr. Kincaid. “I don’t think so,” he said smoothly.

  “Unhand me.”

  “Nope. You may be just fine with ignoring a woman’s wishes, but I don’t cotton to that.”

  Braedon blustered. “Whom do you think you are talking to? I am a man of the cloth.”

  “Um, no, I don’t think so,” murmured Jennifer.

  He turned to Jennifer with an angry glare. “You have no call to interfere.”

  To Nora’s disbelief, the person who saved the day was Belle. “Come now, Hardy,” she called out, her voice full of sass. “We both know you have better manners than this. Why, you’re almost a gentleman when you visit my establishment.”

  As several of the onlookers gasped, Braedon seemed to shrink before them all. He stood stiff and dejected.

  Gently, Russell pressed a hand against the small of her back. “Nora, darlin’. Are you all right?”

  “I’m not sure.”

  Pure concern filled his expression. “How may I help? What may I do?”

  “Nothing.”

  He stilled. “Forgive me.” Straightening, he dropped his hand. Looked like he was about to turn and walk out of the bank.

  Making Nora realize that he didn’t expect anything from her. Or from their future.

  But Nora knew she would never again err on the side of protecting herself or her emotions. This time she reached out and clasped his hand. “Russell, wait. I meant nothing right this minute,” she said with a smile. “However, if you would care to come see me this evening, I would look forward to your call.”

  “Is that a promise?”

  “Oh yes.” She released a shaky sigh.

  In his brown eyes appeared a look that she’d almost forgotten. It had been the open way he used to gaze at her, back before either of them had been tested and neither of them was really sure what love was.

  He exhaled. Then, right in front of everyone, he lifted her hand and kissed the inside of her palm, finally closing her fist around his kiss.

  Just like he used to do.

  Braedon’s mutter was ungentlemanly and didn’t sound very much like something that a man of the cloth would say.

  When he raised his head, Russell said, “I’ll see you tonight, Nora. Thank you.”

  After smiling at him softly, she turned and walked down the steps of the bank building, determined to speak to Aunt Jolene, make things right, and think long and hard about what she wanted.

  Because nothing, nothing was going to stop her love of Russell now.

  CHAPTER TEN

  ONCE NORA WALKED OUT THE DOOR AND DISAPPEARED FROM view, Braedon Hardy gave up the last remnants of his ruse. Pride and disdain evident in every step, he glared at Russell. “What are you going to do now?”

  “I have no idea,” Russell replied. Oh, he had an idea, but it mainly revolved around walking over to Nora Hudson’s house every single day until she agreed to marry him.

  “Nothing?” Braedon taunted. Looking around at the men and women still assembled, he waved a hand. “This is the big outlaw everyone talked about? This is the man I’d been warned about? The man to be feared? Why, you’re nothing more than an out-of-work outlaw, Russell Champion. You’re nothing.”

  “That is probably true.”

  “You should have let me keep her, you know. I might have wanted her inheritance, but I cared for her too.”

  “You would have made her miserable.”

  Behind them, Sheriff Canfield opened the door. He frowned when he looked at Russell, but then his expression turned lethal when he faced Hardy. “Ah, just the man I was looking for.” Holding up a pair of silver handcuffs, he said, “You’re under arrest, Hardy.”

  “For what? I’ve done nothing wrong.”

  Russell figured he’d done everything wrong. But he refrained from saying a word.

  The sheriff, on the other hand, had no such ideas. “I received a telegram from the law out in San Antonio. After Russell here started visiting with folks, they decided to put an end to your foolishness. One of the women you ruined is ready to press charges against you.” He seized Braedon’s arm in what looked like an iron grip.

  Braedon yanked. “Unhand me.”

  “Not a chance. But if you yank me again, I’m going to be tempted to ask Russell to give you a good right fist to your chin.”

  “You’d condone such violence?”

  “Oh yeah. Because I believe in justice even more.”

  “You will regret this,” Braedon yelled at Russell.

  “Never,” Russell replied.

  After the sheriff roughly escorted Hardy out, Russell breathed a sigh of relief.

  But then one pair of hands started clapping, followed by the rest of the room. Stunned, he looked around.

  It was Mr. Talbot who provided the answers. “Most times things don’t work out, Russell. But today, I think the Lord has let a little bit of His goodness and grace shine through.”

  “Just in the nick of time too,” Jennifer said.

  Russell met each person’s gaze. “I don’t know what to say. I never expected anyone in Broken Arrow would even want to look at me again.”

  Belle laughed. “This is probably the only time that we’ll ever have the occasion to talk, Russell, so listen to me good.”

  “Ma’am?”

  “You’d best go get cleaned up and spit shined. And, well, you heard what Miss Hudson said. She’s waiting for you to come calling. Go on now, son, and do us proud.”

  He tipped his Stetson. “Yes, ma’am.”

  But then before he reached the door, he cleared his throat. “Just in case I get her to say yes in the near future, anyone know where a real preacher might be?”

  “One just happens to be coming this way for the picnic,” Jennifer said.

  “Thank you.” Though Russell ached to tell them all that there would be a wedding, he knew he was going to let Nora decide. He’d wait forever until she was ready.

  After all, he already had.

  After stopping in the mercantile and purchasing a fresh shirt, a small gift for his mother, and a gold ring just in case Nora would have him, he headed home.

  He was pleased to see his ma sitting in one of the kitchen chairs. She was still rail thin and pale, but her dark eyes seemed a little bit brighter.

  “Russell? Is everything all right?”

  “It’s
better than all right.” After pulling up a chair, he told her everything that had happened in the bank. His conversation with Talbot, the showdown between him and Hardy, the sheriff arresting Braedon, and most especially the fact that Nora was looking forward to him paying a call on her that very evening.

  She’d stayed silent the whole time, though the expressions that crossed her features matched his story. Only when he finished did she close her eyes.

  Then she rested a hand on his cheek. So sweetly. “You’d best get spruced up, then. I’ll light the stove; you go pump the water.”

  “Ma’am?”

  “I didn’t want to say anything, but you really do need a proper bath. Rainwater don’t do much good, you know.”

  “I reckon not.”

  “Get ready now. It’s time you went calling.”

  He was anxious to do that. But he didn’t want to leave the house again with so much between them still unresolved. “Ma—”

  “Don’t worry, Son. I’ll be here waiting for you when you come home again.”

  He turned so she wouldn’t see how much her words had affected him. Once again, he had his mother’s love and he had a home. It seemed miracles really did happen from time to time.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  IT HADN’T BEEN EASY TO CONVINCE AUNT JOLENE THAT HER change of heart wasn’t all that sudden or alarming.

  Luckily, though, half the folks in town decided to lend a hand. Mrs. Green and Mrs. Winter, the two friends of her mother who had been at the bank, came by with a plate of cookies and some lovely red satin ribbon.

  Mr. Talbot popped in and spoke with Aunt Jolene. Nora wasn’t sure if the banker had offered Aunt Jolene a promise of a secure future or merely reaffirmed everything that Nora had said. But when he left, her aunt had looked very thoughtful.

  Other ladies came by. Ladies who hadn’t witnessed the commotion in the bank but had heard about it mere moments after. One brought along a lovely blue gown. It had been purchased by a woman none of them were supposed to ever acknowledge. Of course it had to be Belle Weathers.

  Her aunt had been rather shocked and unsure that Nora should accept such a gift. Nora, however, bathed quickly and slipped it on without reserve. The dress was everything proper and lovely. As far as she was concerned, she was thankful for Belle Weathers. That lady had stood up to Braedon in front of everyone.