The Lady And The Outlaw

Chapter Two

New York, March 1876

Her hands cradling her protruding stomach, Hester continued to pace the creaking floor. Time was running out. Soon she would be giving birth. Who would help her? There was no midwife and she had already determined that the duchess knew nothing of such matters.

Unfortunately, even as near as her time was, Hester knew that they had to get on with their journey. Had they not missed the Dolphin, they wouldn’t be stranded in New York. But they had missed the Dolphin’s sailing, and consequently Her Ladyship had booked passage on the next available ship leaving for the colonies. The duchess had reasoned that the colonies were far too small a landmass to be concerned about where they docked.

Hester rubbed her stomach. The baby had kicked. Good fortune had not deserted her. Having the duke’s son was going to give her more power than she had ever dreamed of. The ocean voyage had provided ample time for planning her future.

When they arrived at Beau Falkner’s ranch, Hester Potter would declare herself as being the duchess of Gravenworth.

Hester smiled and resumed her pacing. While aboard ship, she had waited hand and foot on her seasick mistress to gain her confidence. The single piece of information that had started her thinking about switching places had been the discovery that Beau Falkner had never met his cousin. Bored, and with a minimal amount of coaxing, Her Grace had spent hours talking of her past and willingly answering questions. Hester now knew everything about the duchess, including her life at Seaborne.

Hester’s chest swelled with pride. She hadn’t been foolish enough to think that was enough to get her what she wanted. Speech and mannerisms were also important. So she had listened carefully to the way Her Grace talked. Then, when off by herself, she had practiced diligently until she could talk with the same sophistication as her mistress and move about with equal grace. Very soon, all her hard-earned efforts were going to put gold in her pocket.

Undoubtedly the duchess’s father or uncle had already sent a message to their nephew informing him of Ann’s arrival and that she was with child. Though they had different shades of hair, she and milady were both blondes. Yes, she praised herself, she had planned well and was quite prepared to make the transition.

Hester laughed, already anticipating playing the part of a duchess. Of course, she would have to make sure Antoinette Huntington never reached her cousin’s ranch.

Hester looked out the window. Snow was starting to fall, but it didn’t matter. Knowing she would soon be treated with dignity gave her the strength to tolerate anything. When money arrived from England, she’d be rich. Then she’d stick the brat in an orphanage and go her own way.

The door suddenly flew open and Ann waltzed in. The bellboys trailed behind, each with his arms loaded with boxes. The duchess had been shopping again. Hadn’t she already purchased enough clothes for a dozen women?

“Oh, Your Grace,” Hester said with mock sweetness as soon as the door had closed, “1 can’t wait to see what you’ve purchased.”

Ann removed her wool cloak. Her hat and veil followed. Rubbing her arms to rid the lingering cold, she smiled fondly at Hester. Poor woman, Ann thought. How could she move about with such agility while having so heavy a burden? She pointed at two of the boxes. “Those are for you.”

Hester tried to act excited about receiving the gifts. “Did you find a wet nurse?” she asked as she untied the ribbons. She pulled a hat from the box but didn’t bother putting it on.

Ann frowned. “No. In England it wouldn’t have presented a problem. They’re everywhere. America is so confoundedly uncivilized. Here women are actually expected to nurse their own children.”

Hester plopped ungracefully onto the small space left on the bed. “We’re no closer to your cousin’s estates, and now you tell me there is no one to suckle the child! You promised that a boat trip was all it would take to reach him.” She had to regain control of her temper.

Ann felt guilty. All these months couldn’t have been easy for Hester, yet she had never complained. “I’m certain I’ll find one soon.” The problem was when and where? Though Ann could never forget whose child Hester carried, she had grown quite fond of the maid. Hester had remained by her side when she was seasick and had offered an immeasurable amount of kindness and friendship.

Ann smoothed her hair back and pulled one of the heavy new gowns from its container. It was a lovely brown velvet affair with a long train. At least her new clothes allowed her some degree of satisfaction.

“Have you discovered where your cousin resides?”

“No,” Ann replied honestly. “I’ve inquired at all the fashionable stores, but no one has ever heard of him.”

“I believe I have a solution to our problem.”

Ann was pleased at hearing how Hester’s speech had changed. With such improvements, the abigail might make something of herself.

Hester lowered her lashes. “I understand that the duke’s son will belong to you. However, why couldn’t I be the child’s wet nurse?”

Ann’s green eyes momentarily glowed with interest, then faded. “It has been proven repeatedly that such matters work best when child and mother are parted at birth,” she said kindly. “It causes less hurt.”

Ann suddenly wondered what would happen if Hester should change her mind about giving up the child. How could she excuse forcefully taking the boy from her? Hadn’t enough wrongs already been committed?

Hester pressed on. “Even you have said Matthew’s men are certain to find us if we remain here much longer. I could nurse Richard, and no one would ever suspect that I gave him birth. And, most importantly, we could continue on to your cousin’s ranch.”

“We can’t leave. Richard has to be born before we reach the ranch or everyone will know he isn’t mine.”

Hester ground her teeth. The closer they were to the Arizona Territory when she had the child the easier it would be for her plan to work. “We can stop at a town on the way. Matthew would be less apt to find us.”

Ann pursed her lips. “It wouldn’t work. One day you would want to proclaim yourself as his real mother.”

“Who would believe my word over Your Grace. especially after the years pass? Milady, how could I, a mere servant, not want my son to become the duke of Gravenworth? I would be so proud.”

Ann made the mistake of looking into Hester’s blue, soulful eyes and couldn’t refuse the request. Besides, what Hester had said made sense. “We do need to be on our way.” She sighed. “All right, we’ll try it.”

When Ann left the suite, her stomach was churning. Every instinct was telling her that she had made a bad decision.

Ann stepped from the hired conveyance and surveyed the building before her. She had read in the London Times that Vanderbilt had spared no cost to build Grand Central Station. She had to agree that it was indeed a magnificent edifice.

Fifteen minutes later, Ann continued to stand steadfast in front of the beak-nosed booking clerk, absolutely refusing to move on. She had not yet received an answer that made any sense. She took two deep breaths and tried again. “As I have already stated, I want two tickets to Arizona Territory.”

“And as I said, lady, I cannot sell you tickets to there. I’ve looked at all the timetables and there is no train going to such a place. You can’t even tell me which direction you’re talking about.”

“I believe the lady wants to go west,” the man standing behind Ann said impatiently.

“West,” the booking clerk repeated. He studied his schedule again. “I can get you to Colorado on the Pennsylvania Railroad. Then.” He ran his finger down the row of numbers. “From there you can catch the Denver & Rio Grande to Pueblo where you can make a stage connection. They’ll know how to route you from that point.” He handed her the proper tickets. “Your train departs at 8:25 p.m. tomorrow.”

Ann’s head was swimming with names she had never heard before. “How long will the trip take?”

“Only a day or two, lady,” the gentleman behind her again spoke up. “You got your tickets, now move on so I can purchase mine.”

Ann paid the clerk, then turned to face the man who had been heckling her. “You, sir, are extremely rude!” With the dignity befitting her station, she left.

Once out of sight of the offensive man, Ann frowned. She had misjudged her money. It was going a bit too quickly. However, she had no idea how she could have spent less. She hadn’t bought a thing she didn’t need.

Ann was about to leave the depot when someone tapped her shoulder. Expecting to see the same irritant she had just encountered, she turned, ready for battle. But she had never laid eyes on the rail thin man standing in front of her. He was too poorly kept to be a gentleman of substance.

“Madam, please permit me to introduce myself.” He removed his worn top hat and bowed deeply. “The name’s Jefferson Davis. Perhaps you’ve heard of me?”

“No.”

Jefferson smiled. “I happened to overhear you talking to the clerk. From your accent, I take it you’re new in our country.”

“Well, yes. I am.”

He glanced around as if to be sure no one was listening to their conversation. “What the clerk didn’t tell you was that when you leave New York City, you’ll be facin’ every kind of no-account known to mankind.” He tried taking the lady’s arm to lead her outside, but she stepped away.

“What does that have to do with you, Mr. Davis?”

“Just trying to be neighborly, ma’am. I wouldn’t sleep well if I didn’t at least give you a warning. If you and a servant or-worse yet-a child, are traveling by yourselves, you are in grave danger.”

Ann’s concern increased. Acquaintances had said that the land surrounding the towns was infested with outlaws and Indians. Absolutely no one was safe. “Well. what do you think I should do?”

“I’d suggest you hire someone to travel with you and your party. Someone good with a gun.”

“Do you know anyone who would fit that description?”

“You’re looking at him, my lady.”

“What the hell are you doing here?” a loud voice blared as Jefferson was jerked about.

Jefferson made a run for it. As Ann watched the bear chase the weasel, she caught sight of an entirely different gentleman standing off to the side, seemingly observing everything. Fear shot through her, as cutting as if she had been pierced by steel. Was he one of Matthew’s spies? She should have left New York the day after they had arrived. But she had thought to wait for the child to be born. Then there was the wet nurse and new clothes. What choice had she had?

Ann lowered her head and hurried outside. Immediately she spotted another suspicious man watching people entering and exiting the depot. Possibly her imagination was running amok, but paranoia had already infiltrated her mind. It was all she could do to maintain a steady step instead of running to a carriage for hire.

Not until Ann had the red-faced driver take several side streets was she finally convinced that they weren’t being followed. Why did one problem seem to compound into another? She had believed Jefferson Davis, which meant she needed to be more suspecting of people. But Mr. Davis had pointed out something very important. Women traveling alone were at the mercy of others. Despite this sad fact she had to continue on to Beau’s ranch and pray that along the way she wouldn’t be murdered, raped or robbed, or all three.

Ann looked out the window just as the coach passed a tailor shop with a man’s suit on display in the window. Could she? She thought only a moment. “Stop!” she yelled to the driver.

The cab came to an abrupt halt, throwing Ann forward. Her hat was pushed to the side, and the hat pin pulled unmercifully at her hair. After taking a moment to repair the damage, she turned and looked out the rear window at the shop.

“You gettin’ out, lady?” the driver called.

“Yes, but I want you to wait for me,” Ann replied to the obnoxious man. Apparently the driver had no intention of helping her down. She was forced to perform the service herself. She disliked New York more and more.

Ann walked back to the shop and stared at the tweed suit on display. She could fit in it. She was tall, slender and, unlike Hester, her bosom was small.

Even though the thought of putting on such clothing turned her stomach to whey, a solution to her problems was taking form. She and Hester could travel as man and wife. If men performed as women in Shakespeare’s plays, why couldn’t a woman pose as a man? A cold wind stirred, and she felt the added chill. She moved to the door and opened it.

Hester’s gaze shifted from the man’s suit to the duchess, then back to the man’s suit. “We are to travel as husband and wife?”

“Don’t look so shocked. We have to do whatever is needed to protect ourselves.”

The thought of the duchess wearing such a suit threatened to send Hester into peals of laughter.

“I trust you won’t have the babe until we find a midwife.”

Hester chose not to point out that it wasn’t something she had any control over.

Turning her attention to the suit, Ann held the trousers in front of her to judge their fit.

“After we’re settled, I’m certain you’ll adjust to the American way of living. I’m quite knowledgeable about the colonies,” Ann stated proudly. “Before I married, friends and I often found it an interesting topic for discussion. For instance, you will be glad to know that this land isn’t even as large as England. Why we bothered to go to war over such a place is still beyond my understanding.”

“You said that sailing on a ship destined for New York wouldn’t cause further delays,” Hester goaded. “If that was so, why did your father book passage on the Dolphin which was to berth in San Francisco?”

“Probably because it set sail sooner. Arizona Territory has to be somewhere in the middle of the two.” Ann unbuttoned her gray wool skirt and let it fall to the floor.

“You also said the ocean voyage was only going to take six weeks,” Hester reminded the tall woman. “But by the time we reached the islands, waited, then sailed again, another two months had passed.”

“The captain forgot to mention the Caribbean Islands,” Ann excused.

Hester sneered. The pampered duchess knew nothing. “I’ll get my sewing basket from the other room. Adjustments are going to have to be made for the suit to fit properly.”

Ann pulled on the trousers. The material was scratchy. “Hester,” she said soberly when the abigail had returned, “we have to be very careful. We can’t talk to anyone. I had foolishly begun to believe we were safe, today I was reminded of how wrong I have been. I saw two men at the train station. Either or both could have been sentries for Matthew. It reminded me of how precarious our position still is.”

Hester wasn’t at all worried. If Matthew caught up with them, he’d have no reason to kill her now. “What shall we call ourselves?”

“What do you mean?”

“As husband and wife. What names will we use?”

Ann’s fingers paused at buttoning the trousers. “You’ll still be Hester. what is your last name?”

“Potter.”

“Very well, we will be Mr. and Mrs. Potter. I…I will be Albert. I have always admired the name. I purchased something else to go with my new look.” Ann fished about in the hatbox. Finding what she was searching for, she pulled it out and showed it to Hester.

“It’s a mustache. I thought my face might be too smooth, so this should take care of that just fine.” Ann held it to her upper lip.

“It’s the wrong color.”

“It’s just a little darker, that’s all. I’ve seen lots of men whose mustaches weren’t the same exact color as their hair.”

Hester could not hold back the laughter that bubbled forth. “Did you have to get such a bushy one?” she managed to ask.

“We can trim it,” Ann stated defensively.

Hester shook her head. “What about your hair?” she asked.

“My hair?”

Hester marked on the pants where she would take in the waist. “Gentlemen do not have hair to their hips.”

Knowing Hester was right, a single tear trickled down Ann’s cheek. As Edmund had pointed out, her hair was her only beautiful quality. “You will have to cut it.”

Hester forced back a smile. “Such a shame.”

“It will grow again,” Ann said, more to herself than to the abigail.

The women began their work. They had a lot to do if they were to be ready for tomorrow’s journey.

While the bellboys attended to the luggage, Ann took one last look at herself in the mirror. She still had trouble believing that she and the image were one and the same. She really did look like a gentlemanfrom the suit to the top hat-and even the watch fob and cane that finished off the entire look. Edmund often said her low, raspy voice made her sound more like a man. The mustache didn’t look right, but there was little she could do about it now. She turned away and shoved the derringer into her coat pocket. Now she would find out if she could fool others.

As Ann and Hester hurried behind the porter carrying their luggage, Ann had to fight back a sense of giddiness. The man in front hadn’t even looked twice at them. Women openly flirted with her-no, they flirted with Albert. Her disguise was working. Ann started to relax. As her confidence grew, she even lengthened her stride, tapping her cane on the floor with every other step.

Ann turned to encourage the huffing Hester to move faster, when she ran into a solid, jarring object. After some fast handwork to catch her hat, which had been knocked off, she looked to see what she had run into. To her shock, it turned out to be a man!

Ann resented the way the man looked at her with smoldering black eyes. After all, it had been an accident. Then, completely dismissing her before she’d had a chance to apologize, he circled his arms around the woman he was with. His lips captured the redhead’s in a kiss that had Ann’s cheeks burning from embarrassment. No gentleman would kiss a lady in such a manner, and certainly not in public!

Disgusted at having to witness the man’s lack of chivalry, Ann straightened her vest and continued after Hester. Still, she couldn’t resist looking back at the man who had towered over her. He and the woman remained locked in an embrace. She had never seen a man wearing a white doeskin frock coat before, let alone one with fringes down the arms. True, it was a bit worn; nevertheless, it was indeed a magnificent piece of apparel. But then she had never seen anything quite like the man wearing it, either. His dark shoulder-length hair, chiseled features and wide breadth culminated in pure masculinity. She found him to be quite intimidating.

Chapter Three

After entering their car, Ann and Hester settled themselves on the red horsehair seat in the Pullman coach. Hester glanced around at the lavish accommodations. Fine wood lined the interior, and brass lanterns with green glass swung from the clerestory. The porter had even informed Albert that there was a saloon car on the train where passengers could relax on soft sofas and men could smoke.

“Are you comfortable?” Ann asked Hester.

“I will be as soon as I catch my breath.”

Ann was anxious for the train to be on its way. They wouldn’t be safe until they had departed New York.

Seated next to the window, Ann looked out to see if anyone suspicious was stationed about. Her gaze ceased its traveling when it came to rest on the same tall man she’d bumped into. He was again kissing the beautiful redhead but was obviously trying to pull away from her.

The whistle blew and the conductor shouted, “Last call! All aboard!”

The train jerked, then the wheels slowly moved forward. Ann became intrigued. Was it the dark-haired man or the red-haired woman who was supposed to be boarding?

As the train picked up momentum, Ann lost sight of- the couple who were obviously very much in love and hated to part. She would never know what happened, or why either had to leave.

“Howdy, sir.”

Ann looked up and found herself staring at the very same towering figure she had just been thinking about. His eyes were warm and friendly and so dark they looked black. Though she couldn’t call him handsome in the sense of being pretty like Edmund, he was undoubtedly the most magnificent rogue she had ever seen. She nodded her acknowledgment, but made no reply.

“Are you traveling far?” he asked Ann as he took the seat directly across the aisle from Hester.

“Ah. er.” Even his voice was deep and pleasing to the ear. “Just to Coloda.”

“You mean Colorado?”

Ann reminded herself that as long as she and Hester remained to themselves, fewer problems would arise. But just looking at the stranger had caused a pleasant fluttering in the pit of her stomach. “Yes. That’s the village.”

“Village?” He chuckled. “Are you sure you know where you’re going? Colorado is a territory, not a village.”

“We’re going to Arizona Territory,” Hester inserted.

Ann resented Hester’s intrusion.

The man removed his low-crowned hat and placed it on the empty seat beside him. “Looks like we’re going to be traveling for a spell together. Name’s Nathan Bishop. Folks call me Nate. I’m also headed for Denver.”

“Quite a spell?” Hester repeated. “You’ve been misinformed. Colorado is only a day or two away.”

Nate chuckled. “I don’t know who you’ve been talking to, but it’s a six-day trip to Colorado.”

“Six?” Hester gasped. “But we may not have that long.” She turned an accusing eye on her so-called husband. “You said two days! Where are we going to sleep?”

Ann was equally shocked at hearing the length of traveling time. “We sleep here,” she defended. “The porter said the seats become beds and beds fold down from above. Curtains are pulled for privacy. I shall take the top. We’ll be quite comfortable.”

Nate settled himself in the seat. “When did you leave England?” he asked Hester.

“If you don’t mind, my wife needs rest,” Ann said in a less than friendly tone.

“I feel fine now, Albert.” Hester smiled sweetly. “My husband worries about me,” she told Nate, teasingly acting as if it were a confidentiality.

Blood surged through Ann’s veins when the stranger gave her a knowing smile, then a sense of disappointment followed when he dismissed her and turned his attention back to Hester. This was ridiculous! She didn’t even know the man.

Hester smiled at the deliciously handsome man. “We left England nearly five months ago.”

“You didn’t tell me your name,” Nate said.

Her cheeks dimpled. “Hester Potter. This is my husband, Albert.”

Nate nodded.

Worried at Hester so easily handing out information, Ann tried to give the woman a pinch on the hip as a reminder of their plight. Unfortunately there was too much material clumped together for her to reach her target, and a verbal reminder would draw attention.

“You must be traveling home to be with your wife and children,” Hester said matter-of-factly. She intended to find out right off if the gentleman was married.

“I’m not married.”

“How interesting. Why would you want to leave New York and go west?”

“I have a small ranch near the Arizona Territory.”

As the stranger and Hester continued their conversation, Ann was wishing she could warn Hester of the stranger’s uncouth nature. He’d proven that when he’d stood in the middle of the depot kissing that woman goodbye! And such a kiss. Why, she’d never allow any man -to kiss her in such an unacceptable manner.

Ann looked out the window to see if there were any Indians yet, and discovered she could see Mr. Bishop’s reflection in the glass. His face was strong, with chiseled features, and his even, white teeth were a pleasing contrast to-his bronzed skin. The set of his shoulders indicated a man of confidence. He smiled easily and was friendly, but there was also an unmistakable air of danger about him. Ann suddenly realized that Mr. Bishop was also looking at the window. Had he sensed her watching him? She placed her head against the back of the seat, and the image disappeared. How could she be attracted to such a man? After putting up with Edmund’s abuse, she had thought she would never want to look at a man again. Yet just now, she had actually been staring at Mr. Bishop. No, she couldn’t call him that. She should call him Nate. Men generally used another man’s first name.