Love on the Line - Deeanne Gist [105]
Her lips quivered. “I don’t even know who you are.”
“You do. I’m still me. The only thing that’s different is my name and occupation.”
“That’s not true. Luke Palmer—or Lucious Landrum, for that matter—would never have tied me up and burnt those hats.”
“I’ve sworn to protect. And in order to do my job, sacrifices sometimes have to be made. In this case, there was no contest. Your safety was much more important than the hats.”
“You tied me up.”
“And you’re lucky it was me, because I made sure your circulation wasn’t cut off. I also protected you from unwanted advances.”
He could see the memories flicker through her mind. Of him tying her to the bedpost, tight enough to impress Necker, but not so tight she’d lose blood flow. Of him tossing Duane across the room when he’d made crude suggestions. Of him covering her nightdress and preserving her modesty.
“Who were they?” she asked.
“I can’t tell you.”
Her lips parted. “Why not?”
“It would be too hard for you to act like yourself around them.”
She gasped. “I know them?”
“Yes.”
“Are they part of the Comer Gang?”
“Yes.”
She wrapped her hands around her binoculars, as if hanging on to them would somehow give her stability. “Was Mr. Ottfried behind it?”
“No. He had absolutely nothing to do with it.”
“But the entire town thinks he did.”
“I know.” He watched as she absorbed the ramifications of his revelation.
She rubbed her forehead. “What about the train robbery?”
“What about it?”
“Why did you rob it?”
“That wasn’t me.”
“But your eyes . . .”
“Are blue. Lots of people have blue eyes.”
“Not like yours.” Her tone held a dreamy note and despite himself, he felt a pang of satisfaction.
“Did you see me when I was questioning the passengers?” he asked.
“I did.”
“Then maybe that’s what you remember. It was an awful lot to take in all at once.”
Her brows crinkled. “Maybe so.” Hugging herself, she rocked back and forth.
Never did he want to take her in his arms so badly as he did now, but he’d promised not to touch her until she touched him first.
“Was the Mai tree a ruse?” she asked.
“A ruse? What do you mean?”
“Did you bring it to me voluntarily, or was that also part of your ‘job’?”
“A little bit of both, I guess.”
“What does that mean?”
He slipped his belt back through the loops and fastened its buckle. “It wasn’t a tradition I was familiar with, not like valentines or something. So it never really occurred to me in advance to bring you one. But if it had, I certainly would’ve.”
“So it was a ruse. An excuse to free me from my binds.” It wasn’t so much a question as a statement.
“Once I thought of it, I’d have brought it to you whether you were in need of help or not.”
Sighing, she rose to her feet. “I’d like to go home now.”
He stood in response. “I enjoyed escorting you to Maifest. I can’t remember when I’ve had such a good time. And it had nothing to do with my job. Nothing.”
She gave him a sad smile. “It’s all very confusing—what’s real and what’s not.” Her nose crinkled. “Am I really going to have to call you Lucious?”
He shook his head. “No one can know who I am. Everything has to appear exactly the same as before.”
“I see.”
“I’m sorry I’m not going to be able to walk you home, but I’m not in my overalls.”
She looked him up and down. “You look much different in normal clothes.”
“That’s why I wear the overalls.”
Nodding, she backed up a step. “Yes. Well.”
“I need your word you won’t tell anyone who I am or what I’m doing here.”
“Does Sheriff Nussbaum know?”
“No one knows.”
She wrapped the strap of her opera glasses around her finger. “I’d like to see your badge and paperwork.”
“I’ll bring it by as soon as I clean up the glass over there and change back into my overalls. Do I have your word?”
Biting her lip, she nodded.
“The entire operation would be jeopardized if anyone suspected.”
“Do you know where Comer is?