Pemberley Ranch - Jack Caldwell [97]
“I’m all right, Fitz,” she said into his dusty shirt as he held her to his chest. “I’d best get the luncheon from the cart.”
Soon the two were nibbling on cheese, bread, and apples, sharing water from Fitz’s canteen. The romantic spell had been broken for now, so they discussed the doings around town.
“Denny’s men are still crawling all over the place,” Charlotte told Fitz. “They walk around as if they own the town, demanding favors from the shopkeepers. Mrs. Zimmerman’s told me she can’t keep sweets in stock.” She noticed the concern and anger on Fitz’s face. “Oh, they leave me alone, don’t worry.”
“Like hell I won’t! What makes you so sure you’re safe walkin’ the streets?”
“Besides being the sheriff’s daughter? They’ll have to notice me, first. Being plain has its advantages.”
“You ain’t plain,” Fitz said with conviction and not for the first time.
Charlotte smiled. “I’m glad you think that.”
Fitz grimaced. “Humph. I reckon I ought to be grateful them bushwhackers must be blind as well as greedy,” he said without a smidgen of counterfeit praise. Charlotte was amused, gratified, and just a little mystified at this continued evidence of her boyfriend’s admiration. “You sure you’re safe?”
“Absolutely.”
Fitz sighed. “I still don’t like this. What’s your paw doin’ about it?”
“He’s had words with Judge Phillips, and he’s been told that they’ll be reined in. Besides, there’s not much he can do if the folks won’t swear out an official complaint. They’re scared of Denny, and they won’t, so all Paw and his deputies can do is try to keep an eye on things.”
Fitz tossed an apple core into the woods. “He ought to do more,” he grumbled.
“With what? Fitz, there’s only the three of them. How can he go up against Denny? He’s outnumbered four-to-one.”
Fitz paused. “I suppose they ain’t spendin’ a whole lot o’ time lookin’ for Miss Lily.”
“No. Ever since they found her horse, they’ve given up on the search, no matter how much they claim otherwise. Paw’s busy watching Denny, and…” She looked away. “Fitz, do you really think Lily can be found?”
“I don’t know, but Will says we gotta keep an eye open for her. He promised the Bennets he wouldn’t quit, an’ he won’t until she’s found, alive or… well, until she’s found.”
Charlotte sighed. “Mr. Darcy must really love Beth.”
“I reckon so. Why he don’t just ask th’ girl to marry him is just plumb loco.”
Charlotte looked at her sweetheart through her eyelashes. “So, you think a man in love ought to propose to his intended?”
Fitz’s sardonic grin faded. “I do if’n he thinks th’ girl in question will give him the answer he wants.” His eyes bore into hers. “For example, would she marry without her father’s approval?”
Charlotte felt her tears rising. “Fitz, I… I…”
“Shush, sweetie,” he said as he gathered her into his arms. “We’ll just give him a little more time to accept us.” He grinned without humor. “A little more time.”
“But what if he never comes around?”
“Then we got us a decision to make.”
Charlotte wasn’t fooled by Fitz’s use of the word “us”—it was she who would have to decide between father and lover. The unfairness of it all threatened to cause her unshed tears to fall.
“I’d best be getting back home,” she said to cover up her distress. Fitz refused to release her hand.
“Can you come next week? As long as it’s safe, I mean.”
Charlotte knew she shouldn’t. “Of course.”
The man behind the desk rose from his chair upon Darcy’s entrance into the office. “Good evening, Mr. Darcy,” said the middle-aged, well-dressed man as he walked around the desk, hand held out in greeting. “I hope I can