Payton's Woman by Marilyn Yarbrough Page B

mother. I suppose that makes me an orphan. Would you like to hear about
the rest of my life?” she asked in a curt voice. “My parents traveled west to
spread the gospel. I was born somewhere along the Oregon Trail in the back of a—”
    “Why are you angry?” he
interrupted.
    “I’m not angry. You
wanted to know about me so I’m telling you. Not that it matters. You already
seem to have your own preconceived notions.”
    “What do you mean by
that?”
    “You know exactly what I
mean. You think just because I work for Mrs. Collins, I must be one of her girls .”
    “No, I don’t. It’s just
that I was surprised when I learned who you worked for.”
    “You needn’t worry. I
only provide secretarial services.”
    “Was it your secretarial
duties that took you to San Francisco last week?”
    She turned away from his
gaze. He had too many questions, and she couldn’t give any answers. “My work for
Mrs. Collins had nothing to do with my visit there, so you can put your mind to
rest.”
    “My mind would rest a
lot easier if you’d tell me how you managed to stumble into the Devil’s Lair.”
    “I already told you why
I was there.”
    “That you were lost? No,
I mean the truth. Or are you afraid I won’t be able to handle the shock?” A
hint of humor tinged his voice.
    “You don’t strike me as
a man who’s easily shocked.”
    “I’m glad you realize
that.” With his hand on her shoulder, he turned her towards him. “So tell me. I
want to hear it from you.”
    Although she knew it impossible,
deep down, she had an uneasy feeling that somehow he already knew what had
happened that night. “I may be obligated to you for helping me, but I do not
owe you an explanation for everything I do.”
    “You’re right, of
course, but I thought perhaps you believed in me enough to tell the truth. You
trusted me with your life. And last night you depended on me not to say
anything to Sylvia Morgan.”
    Her eyes closed for a
moment. She did trust him, but how could she tell him the truth. She had to
tell him something, though. He seemed determined not to let the matter go without
an explanation.
    A woman with two small
children traveled along the path. Julia waited until they walked farther away,
giving her time to concoct a believable story. Feeling certain no one could
overhear, she began her story, but she couldn’t bring herself to look at him
while she lied.
    “All right, if you must
know, I went to San Francisco to interview for another position...as a
governess. I became lost because I wasn’t familiar with that part of town. The
reason I didn’t want Sylvia to know was because she would undoubtedly tell Mrs.
Collins, and I was afraid I’d be dismissed for seeking other employment.”
    When he didn’t answer, she
looked at him. An unreadable expression covered his face. His lips thinned. The
muscles in his jaw flexed. His eyelids squinted to narrow slits as if he
studied her intently.
    After a moment, his
expression softened, but the brilliance had disappeared from his eyes. He took
her arm. They strolled along the path together, neither speaking for a short
time.
    “If you claim that’s the
truth, I won’t argue,” he said, his tone casual. “I don’t think anyone else
will call you a liar either...seeing as how a dead man can’t talk.”
    Julia froze in her
tracks. Her gaze scanned his face. She hoped to find a hint of the dead man to
whom he referred.
    He stared back just as determined,
as if daring her to speak the name out loud.
    Her heart almost leapt
out of her throat, but she swallowed it down. “You mean the two men you killed
that night?” Her breath halted as she waited for his answer.
    “There were three dead
men,” he said, his voice as chilling as his gaze. “Are you forgetting Wilbur
Hennigan?”
    Stunned, she stared at
him without speaking. Abruptly, she turned away and started up the path at a
rapid pace. His hurried footsteps across the packed dirt echoed close behind.