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Gabriel's Heart. Madeline George
Читать онлайн.Название Gabriel's Heart
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Автор произведения Madeline George
Издательство HarperCollins
There he lay. Deader than a doornail. Trina shivered, but not from the cold. If she were to inspect the body, looking for a gun, she’d have to touch—
The door slammed back with a loud thud. “Are you lost, Miss McCabe?”
Trina jumped about a mile and let out a yelp.
The conductor latched the door and shook his head at her. “This is the baggage car, ma’am. I don’t believe whatever you’re lookin’ for will be in here, unless you mean to get into one of those trunks you brought on board.”
“Trunks? I didn’t bring any trunks. You must have me confused—”
“Two of ‘em. Heavy. I figured they was chock-full of your fancy clothes and doodads. Your father saw to the loading hisself.”
“My father? Are you sure?”
“Yes, ma’am. Now, if you’ll tell me what you’re lookin’ for, maybe I can help you find it.”
“Nothing. I’m…lost…just as you said. I guess I got turned around and went out the back door instead of the front. I’ll go back to my quarters now. Thank you kindly.”
The conductor shook his head again and watched her go, muttering under his breath about foolish females.
Trina went straight to Gabriel’s door and knocked lightly.
Gabriel came, hesitated when he saw it was her, then opened the door. “Miss McCabe—”
“Shh! I have to talk to you. It’s important.” She pushed past him.
There didn’t seem to be any escaping this woman. He closed the door and waited.
“Mr. Hart, I have just learned something extraordinary.”
“I see.” Gabriel was back on an even keel. He didn’t want to lose the edge again, but if anyone could make him do it, it was Trina McCabe. “Who?”
Trina stopped. “I beg your pardon?”
Was she slow or stupid or something? “Who told you whatever it is you’re so all-fired excited about?”
“No one. The conductor. You did!”
Gabriel didn’t like the sound of this. “Miss McCabe…”
“Let me start again. May I sit down?”
Gabriel threw up his hands. “Sure! Why not? Mi casa es su casa.”
Trina stopped halfway down and stood again. “What was that? Spanish?”
“Never mind. Just get it said.”
“Back in the baggage car just now—”
“What were you doing back there?”
“Looking at the dead body.”
“You enjoy looking at dead bodies, do you?”
“Of course not. I just wanted to see if he had a gun.”
“I told you he didn’t.”
“I wanted to see for myself.”
“Humph.” Gabriel didn’t cotton to being doubted.
“Anyway, the conductor startled me. He thought I was looking for one of the trunks I brought on board the train.”
“How long are you plannin’ to be in Silver Falls, Miss McCabe?”
“Two days. Why?”
“Just wonderin’ why you’d bring trunks for such a short stay.”
“But I didn’t.”
“Didn’t what?”
“Bring any trunks.”
“Wait a minute. You just said—”
“The conductor thought they were my trunks, but they weren’t.”
Gabriel sighed. She was determined to make him pull the story out of her word by word. “Whose were they?”
“My father’s.”
Gabriel’s head started to hurt. “Is there a point to any of this?”
“I was getting to the point when you interrupted.”
“Pardon me, ma’am, for interrupting.”
“You’re pardoned.”
“Can we get on with this little recital?” He rubbed his forehead tiredly.
“Certainly.” If he wanted her to hurry, why was he asking so many questions? It must be the nature of an ex-sheriff. “It seems that my father brought two heavy trunks on board the train in Denver. I wasn’t aware of it until now.”
“So?”
“So I don’t know what’s in those trunks. What could it be? My father’s bodyguard pushed a man off the train, then killed a man who was trying to shoot my father, only the man had no gun, and…and…Mr. Hart, I’m so confused, I don’t know what to think next!”
“You and me both, ma’am.” He’d been right about her seeing something earlier. But it brought him no satisfaction to have figured it out. Gabriel just wanted to be alone. Trina was giving him the granddaddy of all headaches and he needed a drink and some shut-eye to get rid of it. “I’ll think about it for a while and let you know later what I decide, all right? You really must go to your quarters now. I think part of your confusion is due to lack of rest.”
Trina could see the pain in his eyes when he reached to massage his temples. She stifled the impulse to massage them for him. “I’m sorry, Mr. Hart. I’ve caused you more distress than I have a right to. I won’t bother you again, I promise.”
“Thank you, ma’am.” He opened the door for her and smiled thinly when she walked past him. He waited until she entered her compartment and clicked the lock into place before he closed his door and lay down on the bed.
Distractions. He had to rid himself of distractions and get back to the task at hand, which was to find Blackburn and kill him. Nothing else could hold any importance for him.
In his mind he saw Trina’s face, shining with excitement Her lower lip, stuck out in a pout. The dismay and regret he’d seen in her eyes when she’d asked if he was married. He’d never seen a woman with as many different faces as she had.
Damnedest woman he’d ever met.
Hannah had been as predictable as night and day. Not Trina McCabe. Guessing which face she’d show him next was like trying to guess when it would rain in Texas. Or when it would quit.
He rubbed his temples and tried to blank his mind of anything except his primary thought—kill Blackburn.
He’d forgotten to have that drink.
Gabriel got up, grabbed his coat and headed for the dining car. The scent of lilac perfume lingered on the collar of his coat where it had touched her face and neck. A hollow feeling opened up in the pit of his stomach.
Damn woman.
He stalked off down the hall.
Trina watched him go, then left her compartment Tiptoeing, looking back over her shoulder at every noise, every bump of the train, she headed for the baggage car.
Inside the dank baggage car, Trina took a long, slow, deep breath and tried to stop shivering. The dead