She’d failed those responsibilities already in believing herself ready for romance and marriage. From here on out, she wouldn’t fail. Couldn’t fail.
“Why is that mutually exclusive? Plenty of people marry and take on another’s children.”
The conversation was clearly headed in a direction she didn’t need to go. Didn’t need to consider.
“Not when there are six of them,” she said. Mindful of Polly’s gaze turning in her direction, Mary changed course. “What work did you do in Denver with Jasper?”
Will coughed slightly. “I...uh...I did some security for his father’s bank.”
* * *
Will had supposed that at some point or another, his previous line of work would come up. At least it had been about the security he’d done for the Jacksons as opposed to his fall from grace in the sheriff’s office in Century City. Though it was only a matter of time before the gossip got back to people, he’d like that piece of information to remain confidential for as long as possible.
Who wanted to associate with a disgraced lawman? It had been his fault Perry’s gang had gotten away with robbing Colorado Citizens Bank. He’d been so wrapped up in his romance with Daisy, so intent on saving her from Ben’s nefarious schemes, that he hadn’t realized that she was spying on him for Ben. He’d been a fool. And in so doing, everyone believed that he’d willingly given them information, willingly let them go.
Plus, despite Mary’s denials about Ben, he still had to wonder what she knew. What her involvement with the gang might be. Could he get her to trust him enough to tell him the truth? And given his past poor judgment when it came to women working with Ben, could he trust that whatever she told him was the truth?
No, letting Mary know his story was not a safe option at this point. Much as he’d like to, there was too much at stake.
“Is that what you’re doing in Leadville? Working for Jasper’s father?”
He didn’t like the way her eyes narrowed at the question.
“No,” he told her honestly. “I’m here in pursuit of Ben.”
She gave him a look similar to what she’d given him every other time the other man’s name came up. “Why?”
If she was in on Ben’s schemes, the truth would only serve to make things harder for him. But surely nothing could make Mary more hostile than she’d already been.
“He robbed a bank in Century City, and I aim to bring him to justice.”
Easy enough to share the gist of what was going on. Harder to read the expression that crossed her face, which darkened, but just as quickly turned back into the stone mask that matched her name.
“So you’re a lawman?”
Not anymore. But that was a shame he couldn’t face.
“No.”
She looked doubtful, chewing on her lip ever so slightly, almost imperceptibly, except that he’d somehow gotten to know the very fullness of her lips. What kind of cad was he, thinking of her in this way?
“How much is the bounty on his head?”
“None.” Because he’d botched the job too badly to get the evidence on Ben.
“Then why do you care?” she snapped, turning away and leaning in toward the other girls.
Yes, Mary’s reactions to his investigation of Ben definitely held an air of suspicion. He tapped her on the shoulder.
Mary turned, and the other girls giggled. Definitely not helping diminish the mistaken impression that he was Mary’s beau. But he couldn’t afford to fight fair. Not with all the money to be stolen in Leadville. Not with his reputation on the line. Not with the women Ben kept abusing. He’d make it up to Mary. Somehow.
“What Ben’s done is wrong. All I want is to find out what you know about him because there might be something in that knowledge, no matter how insignificant you believe it is, that can help put him in jail.”
Her face softened for a moment but then hardened again. “There’s nothing I can tell you. I knew him in Ohio, before he came to Colorado. He left Ohio before I did, and we hadn’t spoken from then until he showed up last night at the church.”
Will stared at her and examined her expression for any sign of prevarication. “He claimed you were engaged. Last night, you looked every bit the happy couple.”
That part might have been an exaggeration. Through the cheers and Ben’s loud proclamations, Mary looked like a rabbit caught in a snare. Will had replayed the scene in his mind over and over, trying to figure it out. She’d looked just as miserable with Ben as she had when Will questioned her about him. Which would almost have convinced him that Mary would be an ally—except that Daisy had told Will over and over that she wanted nothing more than to escape Ben’s clutches.
The wagon hit a bump, jostling everyone and sending Mary nearly into his lap.
“Easy there.” He tried to steady her, but Mary jumped again.
“I’m fine.” She glared at his hands, then smoothed her skirts. “As for my supposed engagement to Ben, it’s a misunderstanding that will soon be cleared up.”
Her voice shook as she explained her status with Ben. Will didn’t need his aching bullet wound to tell him something was definitely not right with Mary. But how could he get her to trust him? And how would he know to believe her?
The wind picked up, blowing tendrils across her face and stirring something inside Will. Was he stepping into a trap by thinking that somehow Mary was different? That his feelings for her were different?
“I can help you with that,” he told her quietly. “Help me, Mary. And I’ll help you.”
The words echoed dangerously in his brain as he recalled saying that exact phrase to Daisy. Of course, he’d been trying to help Daisy escape her work as a barmaid, where she’d claimed to fear that Ben was pushing to get her to work above stairs, as well. Surely this was different.
But Mary remained stiff, straightening beyond her already perfect posture. “I don’t need your help. I don’t know anything about Ben robbing a bank. So, please, leave me alone. It’s going to be hard enough to maintain my reputation as it is. Don’t make it worse for me.”
Her clipped tone made him realize how different the situation was. Daisy had never been a lady. But Mary...not only was she a lady, but by all accounts, she was a lady with standing. Building on their father’s first discovery, Mary’s brother was mining one of the richest veins of silver found in Leadville to date. Mary was an heiress of significant worth. Even though the fortune would be enough to tempt any man, the women of the community still refused to accept any woman who failed to follow proper standards of behavior.
Will’s brain started to spin. What if Mary had been honest with him? What if things really had been over between her and Ben? Could Ben only be chasing her because he wanted access to her fortune? Marrying a fortune would surely be easier than stealing one.
The wagon rumbled over a number of rocks,
