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  Charlie seemed to consider her words. “Your pa doesn’t talk a lot about how bad things were back then, but he wouldn’t have sent you away if he wasn’t worried about what might happen.”

  “But nothing did happen.”

  “Not to him. Some of the other ranchers weren’t so lucky. Between the cattlemen and sheepmen, plenty lost their lives.”

  She knew it. Had followed what the newspapers called the “Johnson County War” and snuck glimpses of the letters her father had written to Aunt Jennie.

  “But what about after things had settled? Why didn’t he send for me?” Why hadn’t he wanted her back? Shouldn’t a father love his daughter enough to want her with him?

  “I can’t answer for your pa. Maybe he thought you were better off with your aunt. I do know he wants you to stay right now.”

  “If he wants me to stay, why hasn’t he said anything? He’s been sick, but not that ill.”

  “Maybe he’s a little stubborn, like someone else—” He tweaked the end of her nose and Opal flicked his hand away impatiently.

  “Yes, but—”

  “Maybe he’s afraid to admit he wants you here. Worried your heart’s back in Omaha and you might not be happy on the Circle B. It can be tough for a woman out here in the West.”

  Opal’s breath caught in her throat. Was Charlie talking about her father now, or himself? It almost sounded as if he had personal experience, but he didn’t offer more. He shifted, dislodging her head from its resting place on his shoulder. “I should go check and see if the bandits have fallen asleep.”

  She wanted nothing more than to escape the mine shaft, but when Charlie stood and moved away, the emptiness he left behind had her reaching for him in the darkness.

  He wasn’t gone long.

  “Two of ‘em are bedded down but the third is keeping watch,” he muttered as he settled beside her again. He curled his arm around her, which was nice because the night had cooled. “It’s almost as if they know we’re nearby, trapped here. We need to get out before daybreak or they’ll be able to see the entrance to the mine.”

  Thinking of the bullets flying after them, and Charlie putting himself in danger over her stupid mistake wasn’t helping her to stay calm. He must’ve heard her breath going ragged again, because he squeezed her tightly.

  “We’ll be all right. It might be best if you could rest for a bit. Do you think you can manage it?”

  She doubted it. She’d started shaking again and couldn’t seem to stop.

  “Hey, hey.” His voice was warm, and close. His breath warmed her temple. “I’ll do everything I can to get you out of this predicament safely. Even if it comes down to creating a diversion and us splitting up.”

  That didn’t help. She didn’t need a hero, she needed someone who would stick by her side. Someone to build a life with, who wouldn’t send her away.

  For a moment, when Charlie had suggested bringing her orphans here and settling them on the ranch, she’d thought he might be that person. His intuitive suggestion that God might be answering her prayers, unasked as they might be, had touched her heart.

  “It helps when you talk,” she admitted softly. And when they’d kissed, she’d forgotten all about being stuck in the dark, trapped by men who wanted to hurt them. But her aunt’s training was too much ingrained in her to mention that.

  “Tell me about Carl,” she said instead.

  “Carl. What about him?”

  “Yes. How did you come to have him? What happened to his parents?”

  He hesitated, the moment unusual for such a decisive man. Was his nephew such a sensitive subject? She hadn’t realized.

  “I was engaged once.”

  It wasn’t what she’d expected him to say. Perhaps she should have been. Charlie was a confident, personable man. Mostly. He’d make a fine husband. But he’d told her once before he’d never been married. She couldn’t help wanting to know what had happened.

  “She was a real pretty gal. Citified, like you.”

  He tensed, as if he might be afraid she’d take offense at that.

  “How did you meet?” Opal asked, because she sensed he wanted to tell her something with his story.

  “We started exchanging letters through a mutual acquaintance. I told her all about how I hoped to have my own spread some day, and she told me all about the parties and teas she liked to go to.

  “I didn’t realize how much she needed her social activities to be happy.” He spoke softly, his words carrying a wealth of old hurt. “Not until it was too late.”

  She felt his chin brush the top of her head as he shook his head. “We got on so well through our letters that we decided to get married. She came out here to meet me. Your pa let her stay in the big house—she’d brought along a female friend for company—but I guess… I guess I wasn’t what she needed. Too tied up in the ranch work to see she was unhappy. It only took her a few days to decide she couldn’t live out here without more folks close-by. She broke off our engagement.”

  “I’m sorry,” Opal breathed when he paused.

  She felt the movement of his shoulders in a shrug. “It wasn’t meant to be. If she was unhappy after two days, she would’ve been unhappy the whole rest of her life. And I’m not cut out to live in the city…” He sighed. “I dunno. Maybe I shoulda tried harder to be what she needed.”

  Again, he paused, as if the telling was painful for him. “She intended to leave on the next train, but before it came, she’d run away with my brother, who also worked on the Circle B.”

  Opal tried not to react, but her surprise made her inhale sharply. Charlie squeezed her close, as if he appreciated her indignation.

  “He was more exciting than I am. He rode in cowboy exhibitions, roped and whooped it up and had a way with the ladies. Had a certain flair about him.”

  Opal thought Charlie was plenty exciting, at least for her tastes. Before she could vocalize that thought, he spoke again.

  “About a year later, Edith came back to the Circle B. Without Pete, but carrying his child.”

  Opal could only imagine how much that must’ve hurt Charlie. She noticed he hadn’t said they’d married.

  “Would you have married her?” she asked softly.

  “I dunno. It was only a couple of weeks before Carl arrived and she didn’t survive the birth.”

  “And your brother?”

  Charlie hesitated once again. “I’ve had a couple of letters from him. He’s been in some trouble with the law. Did a short stint in the penitentiary. Doesn’t want to take responsibility for Carl.”

  So Charlie had. Because that was the kind of man he was. Maybe it wasn’t too much of a stretch to believe Charlie really wanted to help her with the orphans. She’d realized while under duress that she was in love with this cowboy with a heart of gold, but she still wasn’t entirely sure if she could trust him…

  “Perhaps…” she started slowly, “…when we get back to the Circle B, you and I could sit down and talk to my father together? About the orphans?”

  He brushed a kiss to her temple. “Yes.” Squeezed her once more. “You should really try and sleep for a bit. Are you warm enough?”

  Snuggled against him like this? “Mmm, yes.”

  The moment was enough to give her hope for her future and that of the children back in Omaha. Hope would have to be enough for now. Because like it or not, morning was coming.

  ~~~~

  Chapter Nine

  The sun was rising.

  Right now only a thin silver band lit the horizon, but Charlie knew it wouldn’t be long until it was light enough for the cutthroats to see the entrance to the mine shaft.

  They’d taken turns spelling each other during the night—he’d checked frequently—and he hadn’t had a chance to escape with Opal.

  This failure left a bitter taste in his mouth. It was worse than not being able to make Edith love him. He’d promised Frank to take care of Opal. Promised himself a new future if they got out of this aliv
e.

  But he didn’t hold out much hope with only a one-shot derringer and a knife between the two of them.

  There was only one thing left to do. If he waited until the last moment, when the men were entering the cave, he might have a chance to take them out. Likely he’d be shot in the process, but if he could get Opal out of this without her being hurt, that was all that mattered.

  His life for hers.

  A week ago, before he’d really known her, he would have bitterly regretted it. But now that he knew her true self, how much she cared about those kids, he couldn’t help but love her, and he refused to let her be hurt by those scoundrels.

  He returned to where he’d left her sleeping, slumped against the wall. Even though the sky was lightening outside, it remained dark in the mine shaft. Charlie knelt on the packed dirt floor and gently touched her arm.

  “Opal, darlin’, it’s time to get movin’.”

  She moaned softly and stirred, but didn’t wake. Charlie let his hand slide across her jaw until his fingers tangled in her hair and he cupped her face. “Opal, darlin’…”

  “Mmm. Charlie?”

  Her breath fanned his chin and this might be his last chance to kiss her, so Charlie took it, slanting his lips over hers.

  Aware they didn’t have much time left, he pulled away before his brain could get muddled. Too much, anyway.

  “That felt like a goodbye,” she whispered, fingers grasping the front of his shirt. “What’s happening?”

  “Sun’s coming up. They’re still out there and I can’t make out any sign of your pa’s boys.”

  He helped her stand, heard the rustling as she adjusted her dress.

  “What do you want me to do?” she asked.

  “I scouted further back in the mine shaft and it extends straight back a bit, then curves. I want you to go back as far as you can and get down on the ground. That way if bullets start flying, you’ll have less chance of being hit.”

  “But, Charlie-what about you?” She clutched his waist and her concern sent his heart flying, spiraling into the sky like a hawk riding an upward draft.

  “Don’t worry about me.” He didn’t want to tell her what he planned, was afraid Miss Independent would try and do something to help him and end up getting herself hurt.

  “Do you-do you want my derringer?”

  He closed his hands over hers. “You keep it. If I can’t divert,” or stop, “the bandits, it might give you a chance.”

  “But Charlie—”

  He kissed her again, because he couldn’t not, not when love for her rushed through him like rapids after a heavy rainfall.

  “Charlie, wait. I need to tell you I love—”

  Voices murmuring made him push her away, back toward where he wanted her, where he hoped she would be safe.

  “Remember to stay down on the ground, darlin’.”

  She went and Charlie turned to face the threat, alone.

  She couldn’t just leave Charlie to face three armed men by himself, could she?

  Opal lay flat on the ground with her arms over her head, vacillating. She’d just palmed the derringer from her dress pocket and crouched to her knees when the sharp sound of gunshots rang out.

  “Charlie!” she cried out. Oh, God, protect him! She sent the silent plea heavenward before she even realized it.

  There were other noises, sounds of a scuffle, magnified in the darkness. Then, Charlie’s voice, shouting, “Stay back! Opal, stay back!”

  She couldn’t bear it if he died, not after discovering she loved him. God, please! Save Charlie!

  And then suddenly there were more shouts, more noise. Then silence. She could hear someone coming toward her and didn’t know who it was or whether to shoot—she’d never wanted anything more than to have some kind of light right at this moment.

  She raised the derringer, hand shaking. Could she really pull the trigger? Really shoot at another person?

  “Opal? It’s me.”

  “Charlie.”

  She let the gun fall to the ground and rushed toward him, banging into him with an “oomph” because she still couldn’t see anything. His arms came around her and she touched his arms, shoulders, chest, then put her trembling palms against his bristly, unshaven cheeks.

  “What happened? Are you hurt?” She was almost afraid to ask, but she had to know the answer.

  “I’m fine, darlin’.” He wrapped one arm around her and began guiding her toward the outside. “Danny and Erick showed up just in the nick of time—”

  Could it really be true? Had God finally heard her prayers?

  They rounded the bend in the mine shaft and blessed light met Opal’s eyes. She beamed at Charlie but then stopped in her tracks when she noticed his state: the purpling bruise under one eye, blood oozing from a scrape on his forehead.

  “Charlie! Your poor face-you’re not fine. You’re all banged up!”

  There was enough light to see the roguish grin he gifted her with. “Guess you’ll have to doctor me up again, darlin’.”

  She reached out and touched the puffy bruise under his eye. “I can’t believe you were going to fight off those men with only a knife.”

  His grin changed into an intense look she couldn’t interpret but that made her stomach swoop. “I would’ve done anything to keep you safe.”

  She asked, because she had to know. “Because of my father? Or for another reason?”

  His eyes darkened and his hands clasped over her elbows, but before he could say anything, she caught sight of a metallic glint over his shoulder.

  “Charlie—” she gasped. “Look.”

  He turned and they both stepped closer to where it was obvious a piece of rock had been chipped away from the wall of the mine shaft. A yellow metal seemed to gleam in the early morning light penetrating the darkness.

  “When your pa first bought out the land around here, he and I went over every inch of this cave. There was no sign that the prospectors who left this shaft behind had found anything…” But Charlie didn’t sound entirely convinced as he let his voice trail off, staring at the glittering rock.

  “Do you think… is it possible one of the bullets those men fired did this? Chipped off a piece of rock just to show us this?” Opal couldn’t resist reaching out and touching the line of what she desperately hoped was real gold.

  She turned to Charlie, unable to keep the excitement from her voice. “Charlie, this could be the answer to my prayers after all!”

  ~~~~

  Chapter Ten

  Charlie held his silence as they rode into the yard between the ranch house and barn. Nearly as tightly as he clutched the reins. His fingers had numbed a while ago.

  He was afraid if he opened his mouth, he’d blurt out something crazy, like how much he loved Opal and he didn’t want her to leave.

  Even the feel of Opal’s arms tight around his waist was no comfort, not after she’d been so ecstatic about the possibility of gold in that mine shaft. If there really was gold there, she had no reason to stay. She could take the money and go back to her life in Omaha.

  And he’d still be here, nursing a broken heart.

  No, he didn’t feel like talking.

  But when Frank shuffled out onto the porch, crutch thumping, and demanded Opal get herself inside and explain, Charlie knew he was going to have to find some way to speak up without making a fool of himself. The older man’s worry was obvious to see, but Charlie couldn’t let things remain unsaid between father and daughter anymore.

  Opal slid right off the horse and went to her father, holding her skirts above her ankles so she could move faster. “Oh, Papa, you won’t believe it!”

  Charlie dismounted slowly and followed the sound of her chatter inside and to Frank’s study, not really seeing the house around him, absently rubbing the back of his neck.

  He stepped into the study as Opal finished her recital of the last days’ events.

  “…and Charlie thinks it might be real gold, which means—�
��

  She paused for a moment, face shining with joy so that it hurt Charlie to look at her.

  “Oh, Papa. I have to tell you about the orphans back in Omaha. They need so much and… I love them. You have to believe me, even if Aunt Jennie doesn’t think they are a worthy cause, the children—”

  Frank, seated next to her on the settee, patted the hand she’d laid on his forearm. “And I want to hear all about them, daughter.” He turned intense eyes on Charlie. “But first, I have something to say to you, young man.”

  Charlie braced himself. That particular tone in Frank’s voice never boded well.

  “While I appreciate having my daughter back and willing to make amends,” he smiled briefly at Opal, then turned to Charlie again, “You and Opal were out all night without a chaperone. The hands are already talking, and if the gossip spreads to the other ranches and in town, like I know it will, this doesn’t look good for Opal’s reputation. Yours either, really, and if we’re going to be partners…”

  It was a far cry from the reprimand Charlie had expected to hear that he laughed. He’d thought Frank would be more concerned about the danger his daughter had been placed in. “What?”

  “You were out alone all night with my daughter,” Frank said gravely. “We both know you were just trying to keep her safe, but the way people will talk… it won’t look good.”

  “Papa, Charlie was a perfect gentleman, I assure you.”

  Opal’s eyes met Charlie’s briefly and he remembered those kisses they’d shared. Well, he’d been close to a perfect gentleman.

  “Be that as it may, the fact remains you’re going to have to get married.”

  While Charlie found himself liking the idea, Opal’s tense frown told it all. She wasn’t in favor of marrying him.

  “Papa, you can’t force us to marry.” She sounded so reasonable, so matter-of-fact. “Let’s talk some more about the children.”

  Seemed she’d moved right on as if her father hadn’t spoken, totally disregarding his words. Charlie’s stomach clutched. Should’ve known she wouldn’t want a cowhand like him.