reason why he should face it now.
They could pass right by the Ridge if he took Miss Peyton to the steamboat dock down the river instead of the one in Natchez. He'd left an unfinished task in that vicinity.
"You know you're free to go anytime you want, Ben, but I'm thinking of moving on. I hear the railroads are finally starting to build toward Texas, and the price of cattle is going up. There ought to be money to go around now. Maybe I'll pick me up some."
The lanky negro stared as if Tyler had suddenly announced he was going into the priesthood. "Texas? Have you lost your mind, boy? Way I heard, they're practically shooting at each other in the halls of guvmint. We got enough of that kind of trouble right here. You just asking for more to stick your nose in with all those wild men over there."
"Well, I'm not much interested in wild men, but there's a certain little temptress who just might make it worth my while. She's got eyes that could melt a man, and a tongue swifter than a whip. I think maybe it's time to come to a little understanding with her."
Ben rolled his eyes heavenward. "Boy, you got brains in the wrong part of your anatomy. Let's go back to the Ridge, do a little fishing, and I'll find you some nice quiet girl to fool around with. A roll in the hay ain't worth a trip to Texas."
Tyler's hand stilled as he raised the glass to his lips. With a soft curse, he set the glass down and turned to face the man who had taught him to fish and ride and had been his companion more certainly than his own brothers.
"I'm not taking any more Ridge girls, Ben. I'll stick to the kind who like a little fun and nothing more. I'll see you after a while."
With that, he walked out, leaving Ben to frown and finish off the whiskey.
* * *
"Why, Mr. Martin, how good to see you so soon. Do come in. Daniel, find Mr. Martin a seat."
Since the room had little more than two twin beds, one chair, and a dresser, finding a seat presented few difficulties. The skinny adolescent wryly drew out the one chair and gestured for their guest to take it.
Tyler noted that the boy walked with a limp that required balancing himself on the rickety furniture. A dashing gold-handled cane rested against the wall in one corner. He took in the boy's pale brown hair and gray eyes, then gazed at the auburn-haired, dark-eyed vision in green. There was no family resemblance whatsoever, but their familiarity with each other was marked.
Maryellen handed her brother his writing desk as he returned to one of the beds, and she poured him a glass of water before he could ask for it. Daniel pulled out a bundle of letters and a small dime novel, and handed them to Maryellen as she spread her skirts across the second bed. Neither of them needed to speak for the other to know what he or she wanted. It was quite a cozy tableau.
"Mr. Martin, this is my brother Daniel. We've come down here to Natchez from St. Louis to find you because of this book. The reporter seems to think you know all there is to know about Texas. We understand the interior isn't particularly civilized yet, and we'd like your help in reaching Mineral Springs. We're willing to pay whatever fees you charge."
Judging by the costliness of their clothing, Tyler could see that their pockets weren't empty, but he had to wonder at their staying in a hotel in Under-the-Hill and sharing a room. Such economies spoke of a lack of cash flow. He caught Maryellen's knowing gaze. He hadn't failed to notice her continuance of the pretense that he was this Pecos fellow despite everything she'd seen and heard.
She couldn't be more than a couple of years older than her brother, but it was obvious that the maturity was all on her side. She was cosseting a dreamer, and in a more cynical fashion than Tyler had expected.
"Well, you're fortunate that something has just recently come up that requires my attention in that direction," Tyler replied.
"Teee-rrific." Daniel beamed happily. "I knew you would come. Maryellen thinks we can do everything ourselves, but she doesn't read about Texas like I do. If someone offered her an insult, all I could do is smite them with my cane.