As he went up the stairs, feeling as if the worst thing in his life had just happened, he suddenly realized that he had to give Blair a reason for leaving. He was no longer a bachelor who answered to no one. He now had a wife who deserved an explanation as to where he was going. At the moment, he was feeling so miserable that he couldn’t think of a lie—and heaven forbid that he should tell her the truth! With Blair’s total lack of a self-preservation instinct, she’d no doubt insist on going with him. And if he didn’t have enough to worry about, he couldn’t have her in danger, too.
The best way was to do it quickly and get out of the house.
He had never moved faster in his life, and considering that there were what seemed to be tears fogging his eyes as he looked at Blair lying there in that thin little piece of cloth, every nook and cranny of her delicious body showing, he should have been given an award. He didn’t say much at all, except that he had to go and he’d be back as soon as possible. He ran down the stairs and was out the door before Blair could even move.
At his father’s house, he was still feeling miserable and thinking that the miners could riot all night as far as he was concerned.
Reed told Lee that an informer had let the guards know about the unionist, and that the stupid man had gone back into the camp without Lee. He’d sneaked down the back side of the mountain and was being very bold when the guards heard about him. Now, the armed guards were searching each house and making threats against innocent people.
Leander would be able to get into the camp, and if he could find the u
nionist before the guards did, he might be able to save the man’s life—and the lives of the miners who were being falsely accused of bringing the man in.
Lee knew that he was the only one who could do this, and he set to readying his carriage.
“If Blair comes to you, don’t even hint at where I’ve gone. If you tell her I’m on a case, she’ll want to know where it is, and she’ll want to help. Make up something, but, whatever you do, don’t tell her the truth. Anything would be better than the truth because she’d tear into the middle of the riot and I’d have to save both her and the unionist.”
Before Reed could ask what sort of story his son had in mind, Lee was off with a cloud of dust and rocks spewing behind him.
Chapter 19
Blair’s mouth didn’t close for several minutes after Leander left their house. She couldn’t believe that one minute he was there, and the next he was gone.
Her first reaction was anger, but then she smiled. It must have been a serious case that would take Lee away on his wedding night, something that was life and death—and something that was dangerous, she thought, sitting upright. If it weren’t serious, no doubt with guns blazing or outlaws terrorizing people, Lee would have taken her with him.
Blair tossed the covers aside and hurriedly dressed in her medical uniform. Leander was going into something dangerous, and he’d need her help.
Downstairs, she picked up the telephone. Mary Catherine was on the switchboard at this time of night. “Mary, where did Lee go?”
“I don’t know, Blair-Houston,” the young woman answered. “His father called him, and the next thing Leander said was that he was on his way. Not that I listened in, of course. I’d never do that.”
“But if you did happen to hear a few words, what would they have been? And don’t forget the time I didn’t tell Jimmy Talbot’s mother who broke her best cut-glass pitcher.”
There was a pause before Mary Catherine answered. “Mr. Westfield said that some man I’ve never met was having a heart attack. That poor man. It seems that every time Mr. Westfield and Leander talk on the telephone, it’s about this Mr. Smith who has one ailment after another. Last month he had at least three diseases and Caroline—she’s on the day shift—said that Mr. Smith was ill twice. I don’t think he’s going to live very long, but then he seems to heal quickly between illnesses. He must be awfully important for Leander to leave you on your wedding night. You must,” Mary Catherine paused to let a rude little giggle escape, “miss him very much.”
Blair wanted to tell the woman what she thought of her constant eavesdropping, but she merely whispered, “Thank you,” and put the receiver down, vowing to never again say anything private on the telephone.
In the stable behind the house, Lee’s carriage was gone, and the only horse there was a big, mean-looking stallion that Blair had no intention of trying to ride. The only way to get to her father-in-law’s house was to walk. The cool mountain air gave her energy, and she half ran up and down Chandler’s steep streets to the Westfield house.
She had to pound on the door to wake up the household and a sleepy, sullen housekeeper came to the door, Reed just behind her.
“Come into the library,” Reed said, his face a strange ashen color. He was fully dressed but looking old and tired. Blair was sure that he was up because he was worried about Leander. What in the world had her husband gotten himself into now?
“Where is he?” Blair asked as soon as they were alone in the well-lit library that was filled with the smoke from too many pipes.
Reed just stood there, his face taking on more of a resemblance to a bulldog.
“He’s in danger, isn’t he?” Blair asked. “I knew he was. If it were an ordinary case, he’d take me with him, but something’s wrong with this one.” Still, Reed didn’t say anything. “The telephone operator said that he often goes to look after a Mr. Smith. I would imagine that I could find out where the man lives, and I can go from house to house and ask if anyone’s seen Leander tonight. If I know him, he left in his usual flurry, and I’m sure several people saw him.” Blair’s face began to have the same look as Reed’s—of complete determination. “My husband is going into something dangerous, as he did that day when he knowingly went into a range war, and he’s walking into it alone. I believe that I can help. There may be others wounded, and if Lee were hurt,” she stumbled over her words, “he would need attention. If you won’t help me, I’ll find someone who will.” She turned away from him to leave.
Reed was bewildered for a moment. She might not be able to find Lee, but she’d certainly manage to stir up a great deal of trouble, and she’d make people aware that something was important enough to take him away on his wedding night. And, of course, people would hear about the riot in the mine, and all that had to happen was for one person to put two and two together and connect Leander and the mine riot. He had to tell Blair something that would stop her here and now, something so awful that she’d go home and not wake the town searching for Leander. Damn, but why hadn’t Lee married Houston? She’d never have questioned her husband’s whereabouts.
“There’s another woman,” Reed blurted before he thought about what he was doing. His own wife wouldn’t have let anything stop her except the thought of his love going to someone else. Why didn’t women ever feel secure that they were loved? Blair should certainly know, since Lee had done so much to prove to her just how much he loved her.
“Woman?” Blair asked, turning back to him. “Why would he go to another woman? Was she ill? Who is Mr. Smith and why is he always ill? Where is my husband?”
“The ah…woman tried to kill herself because of Lee’s marriage,” Reed said and knew that now his relationship with his son was over, because Lee would never forgive him as long as either of them lived.
Blair sat, or rather fell, into a chair. “That kind of woman,” she whispered.