Forever by Your Side (Willamette Brides #3) - Tracie Peterson Page 0,95
. and you.”
“Afraid for us? Why?”
She seemed to be thinking over her answer. Her pretense at innocence annoyed him.
“Never mind. I don’t need any more of your lies,” he said.
“When have I lied to you?”
Now she sounded angry. Clint almost laughed. “Your whole appearance has been a lie. Don’t think I didn’t know you were trying to prove your mother and father innocent of inciting the Indians to war.”
“But they are innocent, as you well know.”
“And just what is that supposed to mean?”
She planted her hands on her hips. “It means that my parents are innocent. And I didn’t lie. I came here to chronicle the Indian tribes. It just so happened that I wanted to help my folks as well. I didn’t lie about my investigation. I just didn’t bother to tell you about it.”
“And why not? Don’t you trust me? I thought you were madly in love with me.”
She shook her head and backed up a pace. “I didn’t trust you then, and I don’t trust you now.”
This time Clint did laugh. “So you’re a private investigator now, eh? Little Connie Browning playing Pinkerton agent.”
“Why are you treating me like this? I thought the tables were turned and you were in love with me now. What about that?” She raised a brow.
“Ha, that’ll be the day, when I fall in love with an Indian. You’re an eighth Cherokee, after all.” He could see her surprise. “Didn’t think I knew that, eh? I’ve known it since you were a child throwing herself at me.”
“So that’s why you didn’t return my love or even show an interest in me.” She nodded. “It all makes sense now.”
“That and the fact that your crazy father would have had my hide if I so much as looked at you with serious intent. He knew you were smitten, but he talked to me long and hard about it.”
“He did? I never knew. I guess he could sense your bad character.” She crossed her arms. “It’s funny how a God-fearing man has insight no one else has. My father apparently knew you were nothing but trouble, even back then.”
“Just as I knew he was nothing but another Indian. I kept his secret as long as it served me to do so. Of course, it no longer does.”
“I saw your false report in the Portland newspaper. It couldn’t have come from anyone else, so don’t bother to deny it.”
“I wasn’t going to.” Clint leaned back against the counter and smiled. “I take full responsibility.”
“Well, you could have at least gotten the facts right. Father is only one-quarter Cherokee.”
“I know, but half-breed sounded so much better.” Clint shook his head. It really was a pity. If not for that Indian blood, he might have done other things with Connie instead of thinking how he might kill her. Her boldness was appealing.
She raised her chin. “All I care about is that your plans are foiled. Someone in your group of cronies came forward to the army and police and told them everything. They know all about your plans—that you killed those two men and probably more.”
Clint narrowed his eyes at the thought of Elias Carter’s betrayal. It had to be him. No one else knew enough to cause any real fuss. Still, it was like a stab in the heart. He’d thought he could trust Carter. Thought he had him so frightened he would never say anything about any of it.
Connie continued. “And what does your father think about the harm you’ve caused so many people? The harm you planned against the Indians he’s fought so valiantly for all these years?”
“You really don’t know anything, do you? My father was in on all of this. He doesn’t hate the Indians as much as I do, but neither does he hold them in any admiration. He simply took advantage of them. My father saw my brother’s compassion for the Indians and how a great many easterners who’d never had to deal with them also felt that way. He simply decided to use it to his benefit. Once the Oregon Indians started a war, my father was going to lead the charge to remove all Indians in this state and those in reservations in California and Washington Territory as well. Seeing how well that would be received, especially after word came of all the white people who had been killed, my father intended to present a bill that would remove all Indians from the entire country. He was the one