The Lone Rancher - By Carol Finch Page 0,44
the important documents and money in the box. “Take this and your belongings outside, then send in Bea to fetch her things,” he suggested. “Thankfully, Elda’s belongings are safe at 4C.”
Adrianna scampered outside to see Quin and Lucas frowning at the hatbox. “I haven’t had a chance to wear my new hat yet,” she said to the men and the cowboys who stared at her as if she was crazy for saving frivolous headgear.
While Elda helped Bea grab a few items, Adrianna set her carpetbag and hatbox under the seat of the buggy. She raked the mop of wet hair from her face, then turned to see Quin towering over her.
“You’re staying with me,” he said in no uncertain terms.
She smirked in contradiction. “No, I’m not. There are so many rumors and speculations swirling around us right now that the gossip mill will be grinding for a week. Rosa offered the use of her apartment above the shop for the night. We can stay at Merritt Dixon’s nice boardinghouse on the south side of the square or Jenkinses’ Château Royale near the train depot.”
“No, I want you close by so I can make certain you’re all right,” he insisted sternly.
She tilted her grimy face to survey his rock-hard expression. “What does that mean?”
“It means that I’m not completely convinced that lightning started this fire, Boston. But I sure as hell was not going to voice that speculation in front of your cowboys and mine because that would incite more gossip.”
Her mouth dropped open. When she recovered from shock she clamped her jaw shut. “You think this was deliberate?”
“Four of your men and five of my men were here during the party. All of them were attempting to douse the fire when I arrived. But one of them might have set it, then appeared innocent of wrongdoing by sloshing water on the flames.”
“Or someone could have lit the fire and left the scene without being noticed,” Adrianna speculated. “Indeed, someone might have hightailed it to town to attend the party. It is impossible to know who is guilty when so many people are milling about.”
Quin muttered under his breath. “We can’t tell for certain what happened, or where the fire originated, until daylight. Maybe not even then. The rain ruined the chance of finding tracks and following them.”
Adrianna nodded glumly. “Why would someone target me? Have I made that many enemies around Ca-Cross already?”
“There are several possibilities,” he speculated. “Your former disgruntled foreman might have acted on his resentment.”
“Oh, damn, I didn’t consider that. George Spradlin didn’t like being demoted so he collected his wages and stormed off. I haven’t seen him since.”
“Then again, someone might be trying to throw suspicion on me,” Quin suggested. “Torching your home might be a tactic to keep our personal feud alive. The fire might make you want to retract that kiss you planted on me in front of our men. Contrasting speculations will be flying now.”
“So someone wants me to blame you,” she mused aloud. “If I don’t fall for your charm, who gains from it?”
“Someone who wants to court you and sees me as an unwanted rival,” Quin speculated, then studied her quizzically. “How many marriage proposals did you receive tonight?”
“Several. But compared to the number at a Boston soiree it was an off night. Surely no one would be spiteful enough to break up our potential courtship…or would they?” She expelled a frustrated breath, then raked her mop of hair from her face. “I’m not sure what is going on or why but it is evident someone wants to undermine you, me or both of us.”
“You’re coming home with me and that’s that.” Quin scooped her up and plunked her down on the carriage seat before she could object again. “Take your family of employees to my place. I’ll be home soon.”
While the threesome carted belongings to the carriage, Quin walked up to speak to Lucas, who glanced up sharply, stared in Adrianna’s direction, then nodded his raven head.
“Blast it,” Adrianna grumbled. “Lucas and Rosa don’t need to be involved in this. They are newlyweds.” But clearly, Quin considered the former Texas Ranger a confidant and he’d shared his suspicions about the fire being deliberately set.
“So much for needing a bath this evening.” Butler plucked at his soggy clothes after he had assisted Bea and Elda into the buggy. “Things could have been much worse, I suppose.”
They are worse than we thought, Adrianna mused as she turned the carriage toward the 4C.