Harper George - A Marriage Deal With The Outlaw

“Ran? On a train?” Hunter smiled, sitting forward at the prospect of an exciting story.

Castillo shrugged and took a sip of the twelve-year-old aged whiskey he liked. It sat warm on his tongue before going down to heat his belly and ease his tired muscles. “He tried. Ended up jumping off when we were just outside Moreland. We got off at the station and found some tracks, but we never found him. I know he must’ve been hurt from the fall, but he just disappeared. Like his father.”

Hunter frowned into his own tumbler. “You don’t think it was coincidence that he was on the train?”

“It was an accident that we saw him, but he didn’t just happen to be on that train. What are the odds that when Derringer ran away with my grandfather’s money he’d settle here?”

“Zero. We would’ve heard about him moving here.” The Jamesons knew everyone in the area, especially if they were throwing around money.

Castillo nodded. “He’d have been looking to get far away from Texas, but all the signs pointed to California.”

“So, he’s heard we’ve been looking for him and he’s come to find us first?” Hunter said.

“Could be. There aren’t many people left who knew Tanner Jameson when he married my mother. Those who did either died in the war or moved on after it was over. But it’s possible Derringer made the connection and figured out I’m his son. Since he couldn’t find me in Texas, he could be sniffing around up here.”

“Then the ass should know we’re ready for him.” Hunter tossed back the rest of his whiskey and stood up, pacing with excited energy at the prospect of finally catching the man they’d been chasing for the past few years.

“No, Hunter. I won’t have you involved. Your wedding is in a week. Zane and I will go and that will lead him away, if he’s even here. I don’t want to put Emmaline and her sisters at risk. And the guests...” Castillo ran a hand over his head. He hadn’t even thought about all the guests who were due to arrive and the nightmare of protecting them from possible attacks by Derringer and any hired guns the man might’ve brought with him.

“Are you kidding me? It’s my wedding.” Hunter paused in his pacing and held his arms out wide. “You’re my brother. I want you here.”

Castillo sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. He didn’t want to miss the wedding, but honestly, avoiding an awkward confrontation with their father held its own special appeal. “I want to be here, too, but not if it’s safer for everyone if I’m not.”

“It’s not safer. If Derringer knows you’re a Jameson then he knows I’m your brother. I imagine he’d be happy to take us all out, because he knows if anything happens to you, Zane and I won’t stop hunting him until he’s dead.”

It had been over three years since Derringer had murdered their grandfather. Hunter had been riding with him ever since to track the killer down. It had made them closer than most brothers, with a loyalty that ran deeper than blood.

But, still, Castillo felt like an outsider in his father’s home, especially now that Hunter was getting married and had his own family to consider. “I don’t want you putting your family at risk for me.”

“Brother?” Hunter waited for Castillo to look at him before finishing. “I never would’ve met Emmy if it hadn’t been for you. You, Zane and Emmy are my family. We stand together to take this man down. Besides, Buck Derringer may not even be here. You only saw Bennett.”

Castillo rose to his feet. “But this isn’t what you meant when you pledged to help me find Derringer. We never meant for the fight to end up on your doorstep. It already came far too close when Ship Campbell and his gang found their way here just a couple months ago.”

“That was my fight, too. It wasn’t just yours. That was about saving Emmy from them as much as it was about getting Miguel back. We fought together then and we’ll fight together now.”

“Together,” Castillo said, grasping his brother’s arm. Perhaps this was ideal. Between the ranch hands and the men in the gang, they’d have enough to take Derringer down. “I promise you, Hunter, I’ll make sure Derringer doesn’t get anywhere close to Emmy.”

Hunter nodded. “We’ll take precautions, but Derringer won’t attack with so many guests here. My mother’s invited her family from Boston, so there’ll be a few arriving every day. Derringer will stay hidden, and in the meantime we’ll quietly figure out where he’s hiding.”

“I already spoke with Glory. She claimed to know nothing, but that’s one reason Zane’s stayed behind. Someone at the brothel will know something...if Derringer is here.”

“Damn right. I bet we find Derringer before he knows what hit him.”

Castillo laughed, his mood improving for the first time since losing Bennett on the train.

“Come on. Let’s get you fed.” Hunter slapped him on the back and led the way toward the dining room.

Castillo followed, his belly grumbling as he anticipated Willy’s famous biscuits with the buffalo-berry jam she made to go with them. He’d been hooked on them ever since the housekeeper made them for him the first time he’d come home with Hunter. They’d make suffering through useless conversation with a few guests worth it.

Hunter put his hand on the crystal doorknob but paused before opening the door to the dining room. “The old man’s inside.”

Castillo took in a sharp breath through his nose. He hadn’t seen his father since his first visit after his mother’s death. Her last request had been for Castillo to go meet his father, so he’d gone to honor her, but Castillo had had nothing to say to the man who’d abandoned him and his mother. Though he’d known it was inevitable that he’d see Tanner Jameson this week, he’d managed to push the reality of that aside. Now it was time to face it.

He let the breath out slowly, forcing the tension in his shoulders away. Be civil. Avoid him. Hunter deserved that much from Castillo. “Let’s get it over with.”

Hunter smiled and opened the door.

The candlelight from the large chandelier overhead wrapped the room in a warm glow. He’d eaten meals here many times when Tanner had been out of town but had never seen the room like this. Several candelabras sat at intervals down the middle of the table, light from the candles flickering off the pristine white tablecloth and glinting off the silverware. The candles created an intimacy that hadn’t existed before. Or perhaps it was that the table was large enough for twelve but only set for five people. They were all gathered at one end.

Tanner sat at the head, in the middle of telling one of his elaborate stories, but paused when he caught sight of Castillo. His mouth hung open, a momentary lapse in composure, before he pushed back his chair and rose to his feet. “Castillo. What a pleasant surprise.”

Emmy sat to his right, with Hunter’s place vacant beside her. Two blonde women sat across from them, one of them a bit older, but Castillo didn’t pay them much attention. He opened his mouth to reply, but he’d never called the man Father and wouldn’t start now. However, calling him Tanner might seem rude with guests present. Damn, he probably should’ve thought this through. “Sorry if I’m interrupting. I offered to wait, but Hunter insisted.”

Tanner started to wave off his concern, but Hunter interrupted. “Ladies, you’ll have to forgive our provincial ways. This is my brother, Castillo. He’s just returned from Boston and we’ve missed him. I didn’t think you’d mind if he joined us.”

“Why, of course not.” The older woman seated at his father’s left pushed back from the table and rose to greet him. “I’ve been anxious to meet your brother. Besides, we’re only on the second course.” She laughed as she offered her hand to Castillo. She had golden hair streaked with gray at the temples, but was still very pretty with vivid blue eyes.