Chapter Nineteen
LIAM RUBBED HIS EXHAUSTED face as he waited for Tilly to join him in the hotel’s dining room for supper. The worry kept him from giving his full attention to his work at the land office, and Jake Gilbert had finally asked if he was feeling well. Liam had shaken his head, not exactly lying since the entire situation made him feel sick to his stomach. Gilbert had sent him home, but unable to face Tilly just quite yet, Liam had spent the remainder of the afternoon wandering the town, keeping an eye out for Rodgers and then unfortunately running into James Wright.
“I paid the man a visit at Fred Polson’s last night,” Wright had told him, hands on his hips. “He was amiable enough, but clearly annoyed to hear from me. He denied being anything but friendly toward you and Tilly.”
Liam had let out a sarcastic chuckle, which only made Wright frown even harder. He wished Wright hadn’t let Rodgers know that Liam had come to him. He feared it would make everything worse.
“I told him it needed to remain that way, and he agreed.” Wright looked at him expectantly.
Not sure what response Tilly’s brother wanted from him, Liam simply nodded. “I’ll keep you apprised.”
“You do that.” There was a note of irritation in Wright’s voice that Liam had grown all too familiar with.
“Of course. Thank you for your help,” Liam forced himself to say. He looked past Wright, ready to make his escape. Somehow, facing his fears with Tilly somehow seemed much less intimidating that standing here with her brother.
“Right,” the marshal said shortly. He shifted his stance and let out a deep breath. “I’ll be honest with you, Hannan. I don’t like you. I don’t trust you, not after what happened here over the summer. I think you’re too ambitious and cavalier with the lives of those around you. I was hoping you’d changed, so I gave you the benefit of the doubt when it came to your offer to marry Tilly. Now I’m wondering if I ought to have tossed you into a jail cell and sent her right back to our parents in Kansas.”
Liam flexed his gloved hands, searching for the right words. He had changed. He knew he had. And yet, here was his past, come back to mess up his present.
He couldn’t even remember what he’d said in reply to Wright. Something to the effect of doing anything to keep Tilly safe, which seemed like all he could say.
But could he keep her safe?
The question had haunted him all day.
“Liam.” Tilly appeared just then, radiant in the patterned dress he’d first seen her in. She smiled at him, and he did his best to return it as he rose to pull out her chair.
The waitress arrived shortly thereafter to tell them what the chef had on offer that night. Tilly had apparently befriended the girl, as they quickly chatted before the waitress had to run off to another table.
“I suppose I’ve discovered how you’ve kept yourself busy the past couple of days,” Liam said, forcing himself to make light conversation despite all the worries on his mind.
“The girls who work here are quite friendly,” Tilly replied. “They were kind enough to let me help decorate the lobby yesterday.”
It should’ve been a cheerful piece of information to relay to him, but as Tilly spoke, her eyes searched the room around them and her face appeared pinched.
Of course, Liam realized. She was just as worried about Rodgers as he was. He wanted to reach out a hand to lay it upon hers, but it felt as if he somehow didn’t deserve to touch her until he could ensure her safety. So he dropped his hands to his lap.
“There is something you ought to know,” Tilly said, her gaze coming back to meet his. “Mr. Rodgers has taken a room here. He found me in the hallway this morning to inform me. He was none too pleased that you sent my brother to visit him at the boardinghouse.”
The room spun as Liam digested Tilly’s news. “He’s here. At the hotel.” He crumpled the napkin in his lap as Tilly nodded. “Did he hurt you?”
“No, but . . . He grabbed my arm at one point just as I was about to leave, and I believe he only let go because a maid walked into the hallway.” Tilly pushed her shoulders back, as if she were trying to convince herself that the man hadn’t scared her at all. “I refused to let him think he frightened me, though.”
Liam’s heart ached. She shouldn’t have to worry about any man scaring her. Least of all one that felt the need to because of Liam. “I’m so sorry,” he said, his voice barely a whisper. “That shouldn’t have happened.”
She tilted her head. “You couldn’t have prevented it. You need to work, and you can’t do that here.”
“Yes, but he wouldn’t have approached you at all if it weren’t for me.”
“Liam, this isn’t your fault.”
But he barely heard her. All he could think was that it was his fault. If he’d been more careful last summer. More patient and less willing to throw his lot in with criminals, then none of this would have happened. Tilly would have been happily enjoying her time in town, not hiding at the hotel.
And that wasn’t even safe anymore.
“I’ll move us out of here, as soon as I can,” he said decisively. He didn’t know where, but he’d figure it out. He’d take a room at Fred Polson’s if Tilly could stay with her brother, or with Deirdre.
Or anywhere away from him.
“I’m not sure that will change anything,” she said quietly.
Maybe it wouldn’t, but he had to try. He’d been so worried about failing again in business that he hadn’t given much thought at all to failing in his marriage.
But maybe he should. Distance from him might be the only thing that could keep Tilly safe.
DUTCH RODGERS WAS WAITING for him in the dining room the next morning.
All Liam wanted to do was to turn and walk the other way. Leave the hotel and find a place for Tilly immediately. But if he turned his back on Rodgers now, the man would think him a coward, and who knew what he’d do with that idea.
Rodgers’ presence was entirely at odds with the pretty Christmas centerpiece and the porcelain teacup the man drank from. Liam forced his shoulders back and took the seat across from him.
“I assume you weren’t waiting for someone?” Besides myself . Liam rested his hands on the table and looked Rodgers straight in the eye. All it took was picturing Rodgers grabbing Tilly’s arm in the hallway upstairs, and anger easily replaced any fear Liam felt.
Rodgers raised his eyebrows. “Only you,” he said in congenial tone. “Please, sit.” He chuckled, but Liam simply stared at him.
“I tired of that boardinghouse, as you can imagine,” Rodgers said as the waitress returned with a plate of hotcakes.
“What can I get for you, sir?” she asked Liam.
“Nothing right now. Thank you,” he said, giving her a smile.
She nodded and left.
“You need a heartier appetite, Hannan. It doesn’t do a man good to skip meals,” Rodgers said as he began to cut his hotcakes.
“You’ve never fully answered my question,” Liam said. He was tired of Rodgers, of conversations that never went anywhere, and of feeling on edge all of the time. “Why are you here? In Crest Stone,” he amended before the man could regale him with stories of Fred Polson’s Boardinghouse. “Surely you have business you need to attend in Denver?”
Rodgers chewed for a moment, seemingly considering Liam’s question. “I’m exploring other opportunities.”
“Why?” Liam refused to back down, even if every self-preserving thought in his head was telling him not to push Rodgers.
“Denver’s become somewhat . . . unwelcoming.” Rodgers gestured with his fork.
In other words, the law was bearing down on him. That was welcome news—except that it had sent him here.
“Why come here, then? Why not go to some other city? Somewhere with far more opportunity than Crest Stone.”
Rodgers’ mouth curved up in a smile. “I beg to differ. There’s opportunity aplenty here. You’d be surprised how many men I’ve been in talks with since I arrived. In fact, I’ve made an investment already.”
Liam’s skin crawled as he wondered what unknowing businessman or shopkeeper made the mistake of entering an arrangement with Dutch Rodgers. Whether it was a true investment or Rodgers was loaning money the way he had to Liam, he ought to warn the fellow who’d taken the unfortunate deal. “And what did you invest in here in our small town? Shoeing horses? The general store?” He kept his tone light as he leaned back in his chair.
Rodgers laid down his fork and knife and reached for his napkin. After he pressed the cloth to his mouth, he gave Liam a smile. One that was colder than the snow falling outside. “A hotel.”
Liam’s heart nearly stopped. He couldn’t have heard the words correctly. “A hotel,” he repeated.
“Indeed. It should be a fine establishment. Not as nice as this place, of course, but something more for the less well-to-do. For folks who would like something more than a boardinghouse. Clever idea, isn’t it?”
Liam’s hands went flat against his lap. It couldn’t be . . .
“Morris,” was all he could say.
“Works for me.” Rodgers shrugged and reached for his fork again.
Rodgers was the unnamed partner. Why in the world didn’t he ask for a name when he agreed to take Morris on as an investor? As careful as he’d been, the moment the end was in sight, his eagerness had gotten the best of him again.
“You look disappointed, Hannan,” Rodgers said. “I hate to see that.”
“Why?” he managed to ask.
“You’ve a good head for business. I sent Morris out to find opportunities, and he stumbled across you. It was awfully fortuitous, don’t you think?”
Liam swallowed, but the lump in his throat wouldn’t go away. He wanted to scream, to throw something, to do anything but sit here and look at Rodgers’ smug expression.
“If you’ll excuse me, I need to get to work.” Liam rose abruptly, pulling the tablecloth a little sideways as he stood.
Rodgers eyed him. “Why don’t we meet later on tonight? As you know, I like to see a return on my investment quickly, and while I appreciate your thoroughness, I need you to move along with your plans. Bring your wife. We’ll make a little party out of it.” He paused. “And Hannan? Keep the marshal out of it this time, all right? We can’t make money with the law breathing down our necks.”
Liam glared at him, unable to keep the anger to himself.
Rogers laughed just a little before gesturing with his hand toward the lobby. “Go to work, Hannan. I’ll see you tonight.”
Liam forced himself to walk normally from the dining room. He felt as if he trailed fire with his steps as the fury and the disappointment burned him from the inside out.
Outside, he paused, taking a great gulp of the freezing air. The wind sailed right through his clothing as his coat hung uselessly from his arm. But he hardly felt it.
How had he been so foolish— again ?
He ran his free hand over his face, wishing he could go back to that morning in the saloon. He didn’t know Morris. There were a hundred questions he should have asked the man before agreeing to his investment. But all he’d been able to see was the prize—the ability to finally purchase the land he needed.
And now the entire venture was at risk. Not to mention his life—and Tilly’s. Tilly . A heaving sadness settled in his soul when Liam thought of her. She was so certain she’d married a good man, one who was smart and kind. One who could take care of her, protect her, and provide everything she needed.
But she’d gotten Liam. And he’d failed her in every respect.
She deserved better. Her brother’s inclination had been right. He ought to have sent her back to Kansas. She’d be broken-hearted, but at least she’d be safe with her family.
He turned around and glanced up at the hotel building. She was inside now, trapped in the same place where Dutch Rodgers was roaming the halls.
And it was all his fault.
He glanced back down the hill toward town.
He’d failed. He had to make peace with that and move forward. The question was what he’d do next.
Liam shrugged into his coat and took the first step down the hill.