Tattoo Your Name Across My Heart
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Katherine was swimming and she felt as though she were on the verge of a nervous breakdown. She had just discovered that her fiancé, a man whom she trusted implicitly, was not only a con man but also an outlaw—a murderer! What did it mean for Katherine?
Would she ever be able to live without fear of being betrayed or hurt again in some way? If she could trust no one, who should she trust then? Herself. That meant facing every fear and doing whatever she needed to do to protect herself from further harm.
It seemed impossible, but Katherine didn’t think so at all. The idea terrified her, yet somehow there was a sense of peace inside her; it made her feel stronger than she’d ever been before. This feeling wasn’t something she could control, like the anger, sadness, and other emotions she’d experienced over the past two weeks, which now seemed far away and unimportant compared to what she would face in the future.
She glanced up as Tom walked into the room with his gun tucked under his arm. He stopped next to the fireplace and looked at her. “You’ve got a lot to think about,” he said calmly.
“I have.”
His eyebrows rose slightly. “What you’re thinking is that this isn’t over.”
She nodded.
He reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out a small paper packet, which he handed to her. It was half full of blue pills. She looked down at them and frowned. Then she smiled. “Are they sleeping pills?”
He shook his head. “No. I’ll give these to you every night when you go to sleep.”
She took the package and opened the flap. There were four pills inside and she put them into her mouth, chewing them thoughtfully before swallowing them dry. Tom stood there watching her with concern written across his features. When she was finished, she swallowed two more and placed the bottle back in Tom’s hand. “Keep this.”
He nodded.
When she was done, Tom turned and left the room and she followed him to the stairs. On the landing, she watched Tom walk down to the basement while she went back upstairs. Once inside her room, she sat on her bed and stared at the ceiling until Tom returned.
She heard the door shut behind him but did not move for several minutes, lost in her own thoughts. How would she find another place to live where she wouldn’t be seen? And how would she keep from getting caught if any of her neighbors suspected the truth?
She knew there was only one person who might help her. That same someone who’d been there when she needed him most, had been there when she needed him most. She had been too angry and afraid to speak with him when he came to the house that morning.
But now she knew she must talk with him; she owed it to him after all he’d done for her. So Katherine waited until Tom left the room before going downstairs and following him to the cellar.
He unlocked the door and stepped inside and locked it once again. Then he motioned for her to follow him. As they headed toward the stairs, she asked, “Did you tell anyone about my brother?”
“Yes.”
The answer surprised her. Had she believed that Tom would lie to protect her family? No, she hadn’t. She wondered what had prompted his answer. Was it possible that he cared about others as much as she did?
As they neared the top of the staircase, she paused and looked around. They were alone except for the horses in their stalls. The sun was setting through the large window and a warm wind drifted in from the west. The barnyard appeared peaceful and still. She looked at Tom, wondering how she could make him understand what she wanted.
“Please don’t let people know who I am,” she said quickly.
Tom stopped walking and turned to look at her. She saw his expression soften. Then he reached out and brushed the hair off her face, tucking it behind her ear. When he drew his hand back, he ran his thumb along the side of her jaw and his voice was gentle when he spoke.
“You can’t do this,” he said firmly. “That’s why I told everyone your name is Katherine. You see, there are two men who killed the sheriff—”
“No!” She couldn’t bear it. Not knowing who had killed Sheriff Corman. She knew that she would have to face it sooner or later and now she wished she had never known, even though it meant finding the killers. “Tell me.”
“Two men. One shot him and one drove his horse away. They’re probably riding together somewhere right now. We need to find them.”
Katherine nodded numbly. “I have to tell someone else.”
“Why?”
“To get them to come here and arrest them.”
“They won’t. I know them and they wouldn’t turn them in for fear of being arrested themselves.”
Katherine felt a chill run down her spine at the thought. She knew Tom had done things in the past to protect others. Yet now she was asking him to do something illegal, which could land them both in jail, and he wasn’t doing it. His words sounded like a warning to her, yet she didn’t want to listen. “I’m sorry, Tom.”
She was silent as they continued climbing the stairs and then turned left toward his office. At the doorway, she hesitated. “Do you believe in God?” she whispered.
He shrugged. “It doesn’t matter what I think.”
She moved closer to him so that they were almost touching, wanting him to feel her sincerity. “God knows everything that has happened.”
“So does Satan.”
“Don’t say that. Don’t ever call yourself Satan, Tom.”
A smile formed on his lips and he shook his head. “Never. I’ll always be your friend.” He glanced over his shoulder and added, “But I will do as you ask. I can’t stop myself.”
“Good,” she said and started up the stairs.
They walked into his office and she stopped at the desk before opening her bag and taking out the envelope he’d given her earlier, placing it on the corner of his desk. Then she pulled out the photographs and handed them to him. “I’ve decided who I want you to bring with you to arrest the men.”
She took another deep breath before saying, “Sheriff Corman.”
His eyes widened as he stared at her. “Is that all?”
Katherine held her hands on the sides of her dress, trying to calm the shaking in her fingers as she met his gaze steadily. “I want to take responsibility for what has happened and I wish to make sure they pay for what they’ve done.
If Sheriff Corman hadn’t been so busy chasing after those two men instead of looking for them himself, he could have protected my family and the other innocent people.”
Tom leaned back and crossed his arms as he stared at her. After a few seconds, he stood and picked up the photos. “These are really good shots,” he remarked casually, studying each picture carefully.
“I got them just before sunrise.” She watched as he studied the pictures. He looked up and she saw him frown slightly. It was obvious he hadn’t expected her to show them. He was probably thinking she wanted revenge on the sheriff for his death.
Instead, she was showing him how dangerous these men were. She waited until his attention returned to the pictures and then asked, “Did you notice anything unusual about the sheriff before he died?”
“What?”
“There’s something wrong with his clothes. I found him wearing a coat that didn’t belong to him, or at least he wore it differently than normal.”
“Hmm.” Tom looked up at Katherine’s face and she saw his eyes widen. “This is important,” she said gently, sensing something strange in his expression. “I can’t explain it, but if we find the man who killed him, it will be because I made sure no one missed the details.”
He stared at her, not speaking. Then he cleared his throat. “The sheriff’s clothing will be in the trunk of his personal belongings,” he said slowly, still frowning.
“Then why did he wear a different coat?”
“Maybe he changed his mind.”
Katherine was confused by this answer and her brows knitted together. He wasn’t giving her much to work with. But she wasn’t going to give up easily.
As she followed Tom into the kitchen, she said, “You’re right, there is something wrong with his clothes, but I don’t understand it. Maybe when I see where the sheriff slept—”
She turned and froze instantly.
Her heart was pounding and her pulse raced through her body. In his place at the table sat a man with wavy black hair. It was only for an instant, and then the man rose from the chair, leaving his hat on the table. A moment later, he was gone.
Katherine turned to Tom. “That was Sheriff Corman. Do you know what that means?”
She’d never seen him like that before and she was surprised to hear his voice sounded so cold. He was obviously trying to hide his true feelings; maybe it was because he suspected the sheriff had returned.
***
After they’d eaten their meal and cleaned up in the kitchen, Katherine helped Tom carry food to the dining room while they talked about the men she’d chosen for him to arrest. They discussed which ranch hands had been closest to the marshals and how many people they’d killed. The more they talked, the more convinced she became of what she’d told him.
The problem was, she’d thought about the sheriff’s death before, especially the night before, and yet she’d never mentioned any of this to Tom. That night had been so difficult for her. Even though she knew the sheriff had been shot, she’d believed Tom might still be alive when he arrived.
Now she understood why her imagination had come up with such strange thoughts and ideas. She’d been unable to control her emotions and now that she was getting better, her subconscious had taken over her thinking.
Tom glanced up at her as they reached the dining room and noticed she looked upset. She hadn’t spoken since he showed her the sheriff. She seemed nervous and anxious. She kept glancing around as if expecting the sheriff to suddenly reappear.
Tom had to admit he was glad she’d finally shown him the photos. It would make finding these outlaws a little easier. It would also help if Katherine could learn more about their methods and tactics. The more she learned about them, the safer they would be able to keep themselves.
But he couldn’t stop worrying about her and his own safety. What if someone had been watching them and saw the sheriff? Or heard their voices?
“I’m sorry you have to put up with me,” Katherine muttered quietly. “You must get tired of my constant worry.”
Tom chuckled softly. “No, ma’am.” Then he stopped as he took in her somber expression. “Is there something else bothering you?”
A small smile curved her lips. “Yes.” She hesitated a second and then added, “And it has nothing to do with my being afraid of these men. It’s because you’ve started calling me ‘ma’am.’ I’m not used to it.”
He looked down at her, realizing she really hadn’t accepted him yet. He’d never felt such an urge to protect anyone and his protective instincts were making it impossible for him to think logically.
“It seems strange, but I suppose I’ll get used to it,” she said slowly.
His hand closed over hers and he squeezed gently. “When you’re ready, I want to know every detail.” His words held a promise he was determined to keep, even if it meant he spent most of his time at his desk studying these men.
“Thank you,” she replied softly, and he saw a faint blush rise to her cheeks.
He let go of her hand and led the way back toward the kitchen as she continued, “Sheriff Corman told me you’d found another woman. Did you tell me this already?”
“I did.”
She stopped in mid-stride and stared at him. “How can you know about it already?”
“Because I asked.” He shrugged casually. “You didn’t exactly volunteer the information.”
This time, he was certain that the blush on her cheeks was real. She seemed embarrassed for some reason.
“Are you sure you haven’t known all along?” he asked, but she shook her head.
“No, but I wish I had. You should have told me sooner.”
They reached the kitchen door and he opened it for her. She slipped inside and he quickly followed. Once they were alone in the kitchen again, he walked behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders. For the first time, he realized she had an odd way of standing and moving.
She moved slowly but always stayed in motion. Her arms swayed slightly as she walked, and she almost seemed to glide instead of walk. But the best thing about her movement was the way her hips swayed as if she was enjoying the way it felt.
She’d caught him staring and he tried to pretend nothing was unusual about her movements. “Did you notice anything strange about Sheriff Corman?” he asked quietly.
Katherine looked startled by the question and he wondered why. Had he asked her something personal? Was there something about Sheriff Corman that bothered her or made her uncomfortable? Why hadn’t she told him?
“I didn’t see much of him during our stay here, so no, I can’t say I noticed anything unusual about him,” she replied. She leaned against the table and folded her arms across her chest.
For a second, Tom thought he might get away with asking one more question without telling her everything. He wanted to hear what she thought of Sheriff Corman, but he had to know if she could recognize anyone from the photos. It might be important.
“Was it because I wasn’t there that he didn’t bother coming into town?” she asked.
That gave him pause and he stepped closer. “Maybe you should talk to him sometime about it.”
“What?”
He smiled slightly and nodded toward the door. “We both know it would make us feel better knowing someone else is looking out for you. You may not realize how dangerous things are around here.”
Her eyes widened in surprise as she turned to face him. “Why didn’t you tell me this before?”
“Your safety is my number one priority. If I thought there was any danger in meeting him, I wouldn’t have suggested it.” He paused as he watched her reaction. She seemed surprised. He hadn’t seen this look on her pretty features before. The flush rose to her cheeks and the slight frown marred her brow.
“Do you mean to tell me you’d have preferred me to remain ignorant about the dangers I’m facing?” she demanded.
“Well—”
“No! I won’t accept that!” A flash of anger crossed her face, and he was glad he’d been unable to meet her gaze when she was angry. She was so beautiful when she was mad. That was something new.
“There are many reasons why I prefer to do things on my own,” she snapped. “If you’re trying to convince me otherwise, I’m not going to listen to another word.” She turned away abruptly and walked over to the sink where she began to wash dishes. He followed her and took a seat at the small table while she rinsed out a teacup and started filling it with water.
He knew better than to ask her about Sheriff Corman or suggest that he’d met him personally. This woman was strong-willed and stubborn. No doubt about it, but he couldn’t allow her to remain ignorant forever. It was his job to teach her what she needed to know—and soon.
“The only thing I’ll say is that you should take precautions whenever possible.”
“And you think this will make me safer? What good will that do? Besides, I’ve lived here most of my life. I know what’s normal about this town and what isn’t. How many people are killed each year by accidents?”
“I don’t want you to be killed.” He watched her carefully. He suspected she was angry because he hadn’t immediately agreed with her. “I meant to give you the benefit of my advice and tell you that it may help prevent an accident or two.”
“How? By making me more aware of what’s going on around me?”
“Yes. If I could find those three men who attacked you and shot at us yesterday, I would.” He hesitated. “But I didn’t. So, you should be careful until we figure out where they live.”
Her eyebrows drew together as she frowned at him. “How can I protect myself if you won’t share your information about those men with me?”
Tom had no idea how to answer that. The problem was that there were still too many unknowns. He was sure that if they worked together and shared all their information, it might make a difference.
“You’re welcome to return to New York tomorrow, where you’ll surely be safe enough.”
His words stopped her cold.
“What? Are you saying you wouldn’t come with me? We need each other. I can’t leave now.”
“Are you planning to return alone?”
“Of course I am!”
“Then, you can do whatever you like as far as traveling back home. But if you expect me to accompany you again, I’ll insist on staying behind.”
Katherine turned to face him and her blue eyes pierced him with their intensity. Her hands balled into tight fists beside her on the counter top and she stared at him silently for several seconds before speaking again.
“I won’t allow you to risk your life for me.”
“What? Why?” For a moment, he couldn’t believe the accusation in her voice. “You came here of your own free will; I made no threats against you or threatened anyone else.”
She glared at him. “Don’t forget you nearly got yourself killed last night and then you almost died from a gunshot wound today!”
A knot formed in his stomach, and he fought hard not to let the anger show on his face. “You seem very upset, Miss Darrow. Did I say something to offend you?”
“No, sir,” she said curtly. Then, in an even sharper tone, she continued. “It just seems odd to hear such talk coming from a man who has never asked my permission to get close to me. You’ve barely known me twenty-four hours yet, and already you’re telling me that you plan to risk your own life to keep me alive.”
“Miss Darrow—”
“Just stop! Don’t try and justify it by arguing with me.” Katherine stood up and walked to the door. He was amazed at how fast she recovered. Her eyes narrowed in displeasure as she stared at him. “This is ridiculous. Let me go home and pack some clothes, then we’ll head for Denver.”
He rose from the chair. “I wish you would reconsider your decision. Please stay and work with me so that we can solve this case together.”
She whirled toward him, her cheeks flushed red with fury. “We’ll see about that!” She pushed past him and stormed from the kitchen.
***
After she left, Tom was left wondering what was happening between them. He’d assumed she was angry because he hadn’t told her everything. When she’d returned, he expected her to be less agreeable. And, while she wasn’t happy, she certainly seemed willing to continue working with him.
Why? He tried to sort through all the conflicting emotions that swelled inside him and couldn’t pinpoint why he suddenly felt compelled to please this woman instead of the other way around. His first inclination was to follow her when she left the house, but his curiosity kept him at his desk instead.
He thought about the sheriff’s office and what little he knew of the lawman himself. John O’Malley had been raised in this area, so he must know what went on around here. Tom decided it would be best to speak with the sheriff directly, rather than have one of his deputies relay his messages to the man. It was a short drive down to the sheriff’s house.
John answered the front door himself, and after a quick exchange with him, Tom was led back to his office. The sheriff listened attentively as Tom described each of the suspects and their criminal activities. The sheriff sat quietly until he was finished.
“So, this isn’t exactly a typical bank robbery, is it?” The sheriff’s expression indicated that he wasn’t satisfied with his answer.
“No, Sheriff, it’s more of an assault on a bank teller.”
The sheriff rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “That’s not good news.” He looked at Tom and asked, “Do you have any idea where those men are staying?”
Tom shook his head. “None whatsoever.”
“What about the bank employees? Who were they?”
“All of them except me, Mr. O’Mally.”
“And you’re certain that everyone else has fled?”
“Yes, sir, they were gone by the time I arrived.”
“You mean that the robbers left behind nothing more than this bank book?”
“That’s right. There’s no money or anything else in there.”
“You seem very sure of yourself, Mr… Oh, yes. I remember now. You’re the detective hired by the bank to find the perpetrators. Am I correct?”
“Yes, sir,” Tom replied with a nod.
O’Mally sighed heavily and ran a hand over the side of his thinning gray hair. “Mr. Darrow, I’m trying to be polite, so I hope you don’t mind me asking, but how did you ever manage to get yourself mixed up in this mess?”
“Actually, I didn’t. I got involved because the bank sent me to investigate this matter,” he said. “I’ve been in Denver for less than two days, and yet, here I am investigating the attempted murder of a bank teller.”
“Why? What does a bank employee have to do with any of this?”
“As I understand it, one of the suspects was found dead, and another wounded. Now the surviving suspect is still at large—well, actually missing. So I’m going to need to hire another deputy to help locate her.”
“Are you telling me that you aren’t familiar with our criminal laws?”
“My apologies, Mr. O’Mally. I should have realized that. I assume the sheriff would normally handle these sorts of matters.”
“Well, if it helps any, Mr. Darrow, you’re probably the only one who knows about this bank’s involvement with the crime syndicate.”
“What makes you say that?”
The sheriff gave him a wry smile and said, “I believe I’m beginning to understand you. But it doesn’t really matter anyway. My job is to find whoever’s responsible for this attack on a bank teller.”
“Then I suggest you start with the man you already arrested. If we can find out why he was involved in the assault, then perhaps I can figure out why someone tried to kill him,” Tom suggested.
The sheriff leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. “If it will help, I’ll have my deputies search the jail for any documents that may contain information regarding your case.”
“I appreciate that Sheriff, but it wouldn’t hurt if the man was brought back here to question.”
“Of course, Mr. Darrow, of course,” O’Mally said quickly and stood. “Follow me.”
The End