Gabriel's Heart - Madeline George

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the fact she’d been the one to draw attention to her buttons in the first place. Her cheeks warmed until she knew they must be flaming.

      “Absolutely, Mr. Hart. I can see now that I was silly to worry. I’m sure you’re quite capable of taking care of any…little thing…that gets in your way.”

      Gabriel stifled his laughter by coughing. “Coal dust. Awful stuff,” he mumbled.

      Senator McCabe looked from his daughter to Gabriel and back again with a thoroughly puzzled expression. “Come on, Trina. I’m sure Mr. Hart needs to rest.”

      Trina offered her hand to Gabriel—just the fingertips—and squeezed lightly when he reciprocated. “Thank you, Mr. Hart, for your assistance in this matter. I’m sure we’ll be seeing more of each other later.” She left with her father, babbling something about being starved.

      Gabriel closed the door behind her. Damnedest woman he’d ever known. The idea of seeing her again—seeing more of her, kissing her again—made him uncomfortably anxious.

      Hannah’s face chided from deep in his mind. He felt guilty as hell. Yet, thinking more about Hannah, he wondered if she might not encourage him to get back to living again.

      Gabriel sank into the empty pale green chair, propped his elbows on the ragged spots and closed his eyes. Would life ever be normal for him again? Could it be, without Hannah? Without their child? His hands tightened into fists until his fingers ached from the pressure. Blackburn had murdered an unborn child. No man capable of such an act deserved to share the earth or breathe the same air as decent folk. Gabriel intended to see to it that Blackburn wouldn’t for much longer.

      A light tapping at the door brought Gabriel back to the present. Miss McCabe again? If so, she’d chosen a bad time to come for more kisses.

      Gabriel didn’t get up. “Who is it?”

      “Amos McCabe. I beg your pardon, Mr. Hart, but there’s a matter of the utmost importance I must discuss with you.”

      First the daughter, now the father. Gabriel wished again he’d chosen another train. He pushed himself out of the chair and opened the door.

      The senator hurried inside. “Close the door. What I’m about to tell you shouldn’t be heard by anyone but yourself.”

       Chapter Five

      “All right, Senator, spit it out.”

      “This won’t take long, Mr. Hart. May I sit down?” He sank into the chair by the window and tried to catch his breath. The altitude was already hindering his breathing. He sighed and shook his head. “It’s gotten out of hand. I’m not sure I’m going to be able to keep things together much longer.”

      Gabriel matched the senator’s sigh with one of his own, picked up his hat and sat down in the other chair, knowing it was a mistake. The senator might drone on for an hour if they got too comfy. He propped one ankle on the other knee and rested the hat in his lap. One blue feather fluttered from the hat to the floor. He decided to ignore it—and take up the matter later with Trina.

      “I don’t follow you, Senator. To tell the truth, I’m not sure I want to. Your business is yours. I don’t aim to interfere or get mixed up in it.” If he could just convince a certain redhead that was the case, his life would be a lot simpler.

      McCabe nodded. “It’s unfair of me to involve you, I know. But, as I said, things have gotten out of hand. I’m not sure there’s anyone else on this train I can trust.”

      “What makes you certain you can trust me?”

      “I know you. I know of you. After you’ve heard what I have to say, if you decide you don’t want any part of it, I’ll shake your hand and honor your wishes. Fair enough?”

      A trap. If he said no to whatever the hell was stuck in McCabe’s craw, Gabriel would come out a coward, or, at least, an uncaring son of a bitch. There was no way out he could see.

      “Spill it, Senator. I’m listening.” Gabriel reached for his watch and flipped open the cover to give the idea he didn’t want to spend all day jawing.

      “Thank you, Mr. Hart. You won’t be sorry.”

      “I already am.”

      The senator looked a bit guilty at that, but it didn’t stop him. “The two men who’ve been killed—”

      “Do you admit you pushed a man off this train?”

      McCabe stopped. “I…pushed him?”

      “Your daughter saw it happen.”

      “She told you that?”

      “I saw her face when she was standing at that window. Nothing else would have disturbed her that much.” He figured he’d protect Trina’s little indiscretion for the time being. No use in getting the senator riled at his daughter.

      McCabe nodded. “Very well. I watched while Wilson pushed him—before he could push me.”

      “So it was self-defense.”

      “Yes, indeed.”

      “Just as it was with the man Wilson shot. The man without a gun.”

      “No gun? That’s nonsense. Of course he had a gun. If Wilson hadn’t shot him—”

      “No gun, Senator. Why don’t you cut the bull and tell the truth? Why did you let him kill those two men?”

      McCabe hesitated, running one hand over his mustache. “You want the truth? Here it is.” McCabe licked his lips, looking everywhere in the room except at Gabriel.

      “Those men have been threatening me for the past month—since Lucias Cobb decided to deed his land to the state of Colorado. They’re Cobb’s sorry kin, and they claim the land is rightfully theirs. Cobb wanted to make sure they never got their filthy hands on it, so he decided to give it to the state. I was told—weeks ago—that if I showed up in Silver Falls to accept the land on behalf of the state, they’d kill me before I could do it. When they tried, they were killed—in self-defense. It’s as simple as that.”

      Gabriel didn’t buy it. The story was too pat, and it didn’t explain why McCabe had let an unarmed man be shot. Something wasn’t right, and Gabriel knew McCabe wasn’t telling him the whole story.

      “What do you want me to do about all this, Senator?” Gabriel uncrossed his legs.

      “Protect me from these scoundrels until we get to Silver Falls. And, when we get there, be my bodyguard until I’ve had a chance to secure the deed. Once that’s done, Cobb’s kin will be powerless.” McCabe dug deep in his coat pocket. “I don’t expect you to do it for nothing.” He pulled out a small roll of bills and peeled off several. “I intend to pay well for your services.”

      “Senator, I—”

      “Don’t say no right off. Think about it.” He got up and laid the bills on his chair. “Consider this payment for services already rendered. If you decide to take me up on the offer, there’ll be more, I assure you. Much more.” He extended his hand. “Think it over. I’ll be in my quarters.”

      Gabriel shook his hand, then stood silent while the senator left.

      “Damn.” Gabriel stared at the money on the chair. Better than a hundred dollars, from the looks of it. McCabe was desperate. If what he confessed was the truth, he had every right to be. Yet a gut feeling told Gabriel the senator had lied through his teeth, beginning to end. Something in his eyes…If Gabriel agreed to provide protection, and the senator was caught up in something illegal, then Gabriel would be involved, as well. Yet if his story—far-fetched as it sounded—proved to be true, and Gabriel didn’t protect him…

      Gabriel

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