Give Me Tonight(87)

There was a sickening plunge in her stomach every time she heard a noise outside, each time she heard a man's voice and knew it wasn't Ben's. Her head dropped to her folded arms on the table and she closed her eyes, waiting, waiting for the footsteps that were different from anyone else's, for the voice that could ease her tension and calm her fears. She felt Caroline's hand on her shoulder.

"I'm going to pour more coffee. I think they're back."

Addie's head jerked up, her eyes fastening on the doorway in a blank stare. Wearily Peter walked into the kitchen and settled his large frame in a chair, ac­cepting the mug Caro handed to him. Russell burst into the kitchen in much the same way Cade had, breathing fire as he started to tell May his version of what had happened. And then Ben closed the door behind him, quiet and calm, his green eyes clear de­spite the lateness of the hour.

He met Addie's hungry stare with a faint nod, un­derstanding all that she wanted to say but could not. It was the hardest thing she had ever done to sit at the table when all she wanted to do was throw herself at him and snuggle into his arms. Her throat loosened in relief. It seemed as if she had been holding her breath for hours. Her eyes moved over him as she tried to assure herself that he was all right, and she focused on the bloodstains on his shirt. She was shaken by sudden panic.

"Ben, there's blood—"

"One of the fence-cutters was killed," he inter­rupted, downing half a mug of coffee in one swallow. "Pete and I took the body to town. The sheriff seems to have taken our side in all of this, but the rest of the county is going to be hopping mad—"

"What the hell for?" Russell exploded. "You mean a man can't defend himself and his own property when he's bein' attacked?"

Ben shrugged as he regarded the other man. "You know what the general opinion about your fence is, Russ. On top of that, the first rule of the code is never shoot a man in the back, whether he's law-abiding or a damn horse thief. It just doesn't smell good. "

"The rest of the county had better take a good whiff of it anyway," Russell fired back. "It'll help 'em un­derstand what happens to anyone who lays a goddamn finger on my fence."

"Daddy," Addie broke in, "I know your pride is involved, but there are times when—"

"I'll be damned if! need to start takin' advice from my own daughter," Russell roared.

Addie closed her mouth, sensing the surprise that had flickered through the room, not at Russell's reac­tion but at her attempt to state an opinion. Disapproval was etched in every face but Ben's, and he was looking at Russell steadily.

"Russ, you know I'll back you no matter what you decide," Ben said, his face inscrutable. "But it's my position to make you aware of all your options." He slid a glance in the direction of the office and looked back at Russell with an arched brow. "Let's go have a drink, hmmn?"

Ben's persuasive tone and the welcome suggestion caused Russell's anger to fade magically. Without hes­itation he nodded and preceded Ben out of the room. Ben gave Addie a reassuring glance before following. She felt better immediately, certain that he would pre­vent Russell from doing anything drastic.

"Peter, aren't you going with them?" Caroline prodded. "You're a member of the family, and—"

"They don't need me," her husband replied, yawnng and standing up. "I'm going to bed."

Caro fell silent and followed him, leaving May and Addie alone in the kitchen.

Addie fidgeted with the sleeves of her robe before making a move to stand up. May stopped her with a single observation.

"Ben's treated more like a member of the family than Pete, isn't he?"

Addie wasn't sure what May was really asking. "I don't know what you mean. Peter's your son-in-law, while Ben's only—"

"Your father couldn't care less about what Pete has to say. He relies on Ben."

"Everyone does, to a certain extent."

"But especially your father. And you."

She was stunned by May's bluntness. "What do you— "

"Is Ben going to be my other son-in-law?" May asked, surprisingly resigned. "I saw the way he looked at you just now. You're two of a kind. I couldn't bear to admit it until now."

"Mama, maybe we should talk about this when you're not so tired."

"I want to hear it from you. It's worse suspectin' and not knowin', Adeline. And there are things that need to be said between us."

"It's hard to tell you how I feel about him when I know how you feel."

"It's not a personal dislike. Lord knows he could charm the birds out of the trees. I just know he's not good for you."

"But he is." Addie leaned forward and spoke swiftly, eagerly. "You don't really know him, Mama, not as he really is."

"He'll be difficult to handle."

"Not for me."

"If you marry him you'll never get away from here."

"I don't want to."

"The two of you are like fire and powder. The ex­plosions might be exciting for now, but you'll never have a moment's peace. Later you'll regret—"