Chapter 6

Chris bit back the words he really wanted to say to the woman. His wife. He slowed his step so she could keep up with him. What was he going to do? She was nothing like the dreams he'd had about the woman he would marry.

When he worked at the bank, he'd been on the lookout for a sophisticated woman who would help further his career. On the battlefields, he gave up on having a future. Once the war was over, he thought maybe a nice Yankee girl would take him, and he'd get a farm or ranch. But as the harshness of the memories of the things he'd done settled over him, he'd given that idea up, too.

More than a settled life, he wanted revenge against the South that had upset his life and stolen his future. Now, he was to be chained to a Southern girl with a drawl. It was the last stab by his old enemy. The war had won, taking his life and dreams away. She'd probably teach his kids to speak with a drawl and give the rebel yell.

The longer he thought about the unfairness of it all, the more he gave in to the idea of Drake's invitation to join his gang. After all, the South had ruined his life. They deserved to pay. As far as this woman, she represented all he'd come to hate. With every drawn-out word she spoke, his anger boiled.

Mary Anna must have gotten the message because she became quiet. Chris glanced at her to make sure she was still beside him. One look at her eyes, and he could see she was stewing over her own feelings.

To fill the awkward silence, Chris told her about his plans for the future. "My partner and I are looking into buying a ranch. Right now, we're staying at this hotel." He gestured to an older hotel. He cringed as he looked at the aged wood and boarded-up windows. One of them was because of a fight Chris had with a drunken cowboy the other night. There wasn't really much point in replacing the windows, as Friday night fights usually broke them out, anyway.

She halted and stared at him. "This rundown dump? Isn't there another one we can stay at?"

Chris shrugged. "We need to save our money to buy the ranch. It's not that bad inside." He felt embarrassed. She was right. Even if she was a rebel, she deserved something better than this. "Let me go in and tell my partner. We'll go to a better hotel for a night. Our first night."

She drew in a sharp breath but nodded.

He looked at the people around them. It would not be safe to leave her here. "You'll have to come with me. Once I tell Jake, we'll go to the hotel."

"I am hungry, too." She gazed at him. "Please. I haven't had anything to eat today."

"I can take you to The Drover Hotel. It has a restaurant. That's where we'll go." Chris said a silent goodbye to the money in his pocket. There'd be no gambling or drinks today. He glanced at the woman next to him and wondered if he'd ever get to gamble and have a drink with Jake again.

"First, I'll tell Jake where we're going."

She followed him up the stairs and to their room. Chris knocked and was relieved when Jake opened the door.

His partner stepped back and studied Mary Anna. "Is this Mrs. Starke?" Jake said it with a half-grin.

Chris wanted to deck his partner. "Yes, Mary Anna from Mississippi."

"Oh-oh." Jake stared at her. "You're a pretty thing, anyway."

Mary Anna glared at him. "Anyway? What is that supposed to mean?"

Jake stepped back. "Nothing. Nothing at all."

Not willing to stay and watch Mary Anna and Jake get into a fight, Chris took her by the arm and headed for the door. "We're going to stay at The Drover and have dinner. If you want, find Sheila and join us for dinner."

Jake nodded. "You sure?" He smiled at Mary Anna. "You'll like Sheila."

"Is that your wife?" Mary Anna stared at him. She was sure Sheila and Jake weren't married, but just as sure that they probably should be.

Jake looked away from her and nailed Chris with a look that said in unspoken words that he was in trouble. "If Sheila agrees, we'll meet you there."

Chris practically yanked Mary Anna from the room before any more hard words could be spoken and rushed her down the stairs.

"So that's your partner. Neither one of you looks very prosperous."

"I doubt you've got more than a couple of nickels to rub together." Chris pulled her away from an ornery drunk and walked her out the door. "Like I said, this hotel isn't decent for ladies."

Mary Anna moved closer to him. "I can see that. So where does that leave Sheila?"

"Leave Sheila alone." Despite Mary Anna's rebel loyalties, Chris felt protective of her. She was his wife. So, he kept on the street side of her. Growing up in New York City, he knew about the ways of a gentleman. Not that he'd acted like one since the war. But in Abilene, it wasn't uncommon to have a cowboy ride his horse on the boardwalk. Like it or not, Mary Anna was his wife, and he needed to protect her.

Not that they walked together. After leaving the hotel, she kept at least two feet between them. She seemed as put out about the arrangement as he did. Still, he bet she hadn't been tricked into marrying him. He was going to get even with Jake if it was the last thing he did.

***

Mary Anna didn't believe in divorce. It wasn't something that her family did, but she doubted any of her ancestors had been proxies married to the enemy. What a fool she'd been to give her future away to an unknown man. And a Yankee.

She knew the war was over, but the pain and suffering continued in the South. Her presence in dusty Abilene was proof. She hoped to meet Alice sometime and see how she had fared with her husband. By the looks of her and her man at the stage depot, Alice had looked happy.

She glanced at Chris. While Alice's husband was the owner of the livery, Chris was still trying to find his place in the world. By his looks, drifter or outlaw fit his description. That he had said he and his partner were looking to buy a ranch didn't bode well for her.

He finally stopped in front of a hotel that looked slightly better than the one they'd left. But she had to admit the men coming out of The Drover looked better than the riff-raff at the other hotel, and there was definitely a restaurant with food that smelled delicious.

Chris looked at her and held the door open for her. "We'll eat first."

Thank goodness. She'd thought she was going to faint from hunger. Her meager funds wouldn't pay for much. She hoped Chris had enough to buy her a good dinner.

"Steak is their specialty. Beef is one thing Abilene has a lot of." He grinned. "I bet it's been a while since you had a good steak."

She glared at him. "Yes, it has been years. Although before you Yanks attacked us, we had good meat every day."

"Let's enjoy our dinner and stop fighting a war that's over. Looks like we both lost, anyway." He put a hand on her elbow and escorted her into the restaurant and to a table near the back. "You can order whatever you want. I have money for a dinner."

She sat in the chair he'd pulled out for her. "You have good manners. I'm impressed. From the looks of you, I didn't think you'd be familiar with the ways of a gentleman."

Chris stared at her. "Is it customary for Southern ladies to be so rude?"

Heat warmed her cheeks. He was right. "I do apologize. Let's eat." Mary Anna looked at the menu and ordered steak and potatoes. She couldn't remember the last time she'd had such a good meal.

Halfway through her meal, she remembered where she was, and fear chased through her. Next would be the hotel room. What had she done?