Chapter Sixteen

Samantha woke the next morning with an aching heart but a determined spirit. Zachary had not come back. Timothy had brought her something to eat yesterday afternoon and informed her Zachary had ordered him to 'guard her with his life' and then simply hopped on Blazes' back and ridden away.

Timothy seemed to want an explanation since Zachary had failed to provide one, but Samantha had simply taken her tray of food and closed the door on him. She hadn't been strong enough to admit to Timothy that Zachary had chosen to continue his quest for vengeance instead of continuing his life with her.

Samantha stepped to the window and gazed down at the quiet morning street below her. Through the swirling fog that hung low in the air waiting until the sun became strong enough to burn it away, she could see people beginning to mill around and begin their days.

Sliding into her brown wool skirt and cream cotton blouse, Samantha readied herself to begin her day as well. Today was Monday. It meant she started work at Doctor Reynolds office, cleaning and organizing. Her mind went to Zachary. Where was he? Was he okay?

She knew he felt strongly that he had to kill Clinton Matthews but Samantha felt just as strongly that he didn't. It had been six months since she had seen the man—always before he had caught up to her within a week, two or three at the most, and sent her running again from wherever she'd taken shelter. If he were still looking for her, Clinton would have found her by now. Samantha was not naïve enough to believe that he was no longer a threat altogether. She knew that if he somehow ended up here and saw her, that could once again spark his obsession, but couldn't they simply deal with that when, or if, it happened?

Was there any real reason to go running across the country chasing a man who killed for sport? For joy? Who would not hesitate to kill Zachary? Zachary had already given Clinton Matthews five years of his life. He had chased him and seen and done horrible things—while Samantha didn't know the details, she didn't need to in order to know they were ugly. She wondered if Zachary had truly left yesterday to chase Clinton because he worried for Samantha's safety, or if he had simply used her safety as an excuse to justify returning to the chase?

There was no point worrying about that now. Samantha was going to build a life for herself here in Hackney. She had hoped Zachary would be a part of that but he had chosen a different path. She wasn't angry about the choice he had made, but she was sad.

After pulling her hair away from her face and securing it with pins, Samantha slipped into her boots and opened the door to the room. A large body was there and moving into her space the moment the door opened. Samantha let out a yell and swung, determined to defend herself from whoever was attacking her.

It wasn't until her fist connected solidly with a jaw that she realized the owner of that jaw was Timothy. He let out a loud grunt before chuckling as he rubbed at his abused mouth. "Dang, now I know how poor Judith Channing felt yesterday."

Samantha felt blood rush to her face as even her ears heated. She was certainly the talk of Hackney because of her interaction with Judith yesterday. "Why were you hiding outside my door that way? You scared the life out of me!" she exclaimed, holding her hand over her racing heart.

The only descriptor for those green eyes was mischievous as he smiled down at her. "Guarding you with my life—I just wish Zach would have left someone to guard me. You're mean."

At the mention of Zachary's name, Samantha stiffened. "I don't need a bodyguard. You can go find something else to do."

"Nope." Timothy shoved his hands in his pockets and rocked back on his heels. "Zach's never asked me for much of anything, so I reckon I'm obligated to do this."

Samantha simply rolled her eyes and slipped past him, leaving the room and heading down the staircase. She took a moment to glance up and down main street as she stepped on the boardwalk. A rooster crowed in the distance causing a dog to bark. She heard the laughter of children and the call of the town baker urging people to come buy his products fresh from the oven.

Timothy came to stand beside her. "Gonna be a pretty day."

"I'm going to the diner for breakfast. Since you're going to follow me anyway, I suppose I'll invite you to come along."

"That's real nice." Timothy grinned. "I could use a bite to eat."

Making their way down the boardwalk toward the diner, Timothy sighed. "I wish you'd tell me where Zachary went and why he left. Last time he took off without a word he was gone for five years and I thought the damn man was dead."

Sympathy broke through Samantha's annoyance. She stopped and motioned for Timothy to follow her. She stepped into the alleyway between the saloon and the diner to award them a bit of privacy. "Yesterday, Zachary and I realized that the man who murdered his family is the same man who murdered my father and chased me for two years before I ended up here in Hackney six months ago."

Timothy's eyes widened. "Shit." He nodded as he looked back toward the street. "And I guess Zachary took it upon himself to go gunning after him once again."

Samantha wrapped her arms around herself. "I tried to talk him out of it. I tried to convince him to stay here with me...."

Timothy sighed. He put his finger under Samantha's chin and forced her gaze to meet his. "Zachary is stubborn, Samantha. Stubborn, closed off, and set in his ways. He's over-protective, but you know as well as I do, he has his reasons. He'll come back." Timothy shrugged. "He loves you."

Samantha felt color rise in her face as she bit her lip. "I don't...."

"I suppose this should be expected from a woman like you!"

Judith Channing's shrill voice had Samantha leaping away from Timothy and spinning to face the street. Judith was standing there with her thin arms crossed over her chest and her small foot tapping on the rough-hewn boards of the boardwalk.

"You again?!" Samantha demanded with annoyance. "Do you enjoy getting punched?"

"Why, you going to punch her?"

Fear lodged in Samantha's gut at that familiar voice. She turned and saw Thomas Williamson coming up behind them. Samantha was afraid of Thomas. He was big, he was strong, and the man did not like her—pure hatred radiated from him as his hard gaze studied her.

Timothy was quick to put Samantha behind him, shielding her from Thomas' view. "I reckon Zachary made it pretty damn clear to you that you aren't to speak to Samantha," he warned.

Thomas appeared unfazed. "According to the most recent rumor, Zachary left town yesterday and I reckon it seemed like he'd be gone a while. And if Samantha doesn't want to be treated like a whore then she should stop taking private rides with men and meeting men in allies. Or at least come back in here and get her job back so she can make both of us a little profit while she spreads her legs."

Samantha gasped. Timothy tensed. "You'll apologize to the lady now."

Thomas laughed. "I don't blame you for snatching her up, Timothy. You like whores pretty damn well, I've seen you in the saloon. And she is a damn pretty one."

Timothy surged forward, clearly about to begin throwing punches. Samantha just wanted to get away. She grabbed his arm and gave him a hard tug, dragging him toward the main street. Judith Channing was quick to leap out of the way and let them pass.

"I need to kick his ass, Samantha," Timothy warned, as she led him toward the diner. "Zachary would want me to kick his ass."

"Zachary isn't here," Samantha reminded him, her heart hurting and her nerves on edge. Why did evil men seem to want to torment her? Clinton Matthews. Thomas Williamson. Would there be more? Was that just the way her life was now? And Judith Channing?

"Samantha?" Speaking of annoying birds.

"Judith, you'll leave me alone. I've had it with being bothered by you." Samantha warned, whirling around to face her.

"I have no intention of being a bother, and you'd do well to keep your hands to yourself. Marshall Oxley has made it clear that he will arrest you the next time you assault me."

"Because Zachary isn't here to kick his ass into next Tuesday," Timothy mumbled.

"You're right. Zachary isn't here." Judith raised a brow at Samantha. "I tried to warn you away from that man. Instead of listening, you slipped off alone with him, gave him what he wanted, and then he left you here alone once again. Less than a day later, you've moved on to a new man—and Zachary's friend no less!"

Samantha sighed and rubbed at her tired face. "Can you please leave me alone, Judith?"

Judith sneered. "Of course. I've realized you are a lost cause, Samantha. I give up. Even the Lord cannot help you."

Samantha glanced at Timothy, saw him preparing to speak, and nudged him in the elbow with her gut to silence him. Judith simply sneered, spun on her heel, and strode away. "I've never been so happy to be given up on," Samantha grumbled.

"You should have punched her. I didn't get to see you do it yesterday."

Samantha glanced down at her knuckles, which thankfully showed no evidence of yesterday's encounter. She said nothing and simply stood there feeling defeated and alone even though Timothy was standing with her.

"Samantha?" he asked gently. "You want to go get breakfast now?"

Her stomach turned a bit. "I've lost my appetite, Tim. You go ahead. I'll just go to the docs and get started on my work a little early."

Timothy frowned, grabbed her arm gently and led her to a bench. He pushed her to sit down before taking a seat beside her. "What's wrong? You might as well tell me."

"Nothing is wrong."

"Don't try that with me," Timothy scolded with a smile and a nudge of his shoulder. "I don't fall for the tough guy act. I've seen Zach do it too many times to hide his feelings. Talk to me, Samantha."

She leaned back against the bench, folded her hands in her lap, and watched as the town came more alive as the morning grew later. She could open up to Timothy and trust him. He was Zachary's friend—maybe even her friend if she allowed him to be. Samantha was tired of being alone. "I ran for two years after that man killed my father and vowed he'd have me for himself. He caught up to me a few times but I always managed to get away before he could get his hands on me. Then I ended up here." She motioned around them. "The only people who seemed eager to help me were the Morgan's so I took a job in their saloon cleaning and helping with inventory and they gave me a room in their apartment. For nearly six months I was with them and I began to feel just a little safer with every passing day. I'd never been able to stay in one place so long before with Clinton finding me. Then the Morgans left and Thomas Williamson came into my life. Zachary saved me from him and got me away from that saloon. I found a job and a place at the hotel and I was truly starting to believe I may have a future and a home here in Hackney."

Timothy crossed his arms on his legs as he leaned forward. "And now?"

Samantha shrugged one shoulder. "Now I'm not so sure."

"Why? Because of Judith Channing?"

"Not only her... Though, she seems to have her venom aimed at me, Tim, and she's respected in this town...."

Timothy's laughter cut her off. She glared at him as he attempted to sober himself. "No Samantha.... No, she's not respected. Everyone talks about how horrible she is. She's an angry, mean, two-faced, gossip and the entire town knows it. But there's only one church and one preacher in Hackney so she gets away with it."

Samantha felt a smile tug at her lips. "Well, she shouldn't. And it's not just her. What about Thomas?"

Timothy's green eyes narrowed a bit. "You're afraid of him, aren't you?"

Samantha adjusted her shirt sleeve. "Of course I am. He's proven that he's not afraid to use his fists on me. I'm not foolish enough to think I can handle him alone."

"But you're not alone. You have the doc, you have them women from the saloon that seem pretty fond of you, you have Gavin, you have me, you have Zachary...."

"Zachary's gone. He left me here to fend for myself while he goes chasing devils across the country." Samantha winced. That sounded much more bitter and childish than she had intended it to. But she couldn't control her own emotions and that was how she felt. She felt as if the man had promised to help her—finally made her feel safe enough to lean on someone else and then he had simply walked away.

"That's not fair, Sam," Timothy scolded, crossing his arms over his chest and leaning back. "Zachary has every right to chase that man. A man has a right to protect his woman. It's instinct. Nature. You can't argue with it."

"I know," Samantha admitted, staring down at her hands.

"And he didn't just leave you alone," Timothy continued. "You have all those people I already mentioned. Plus, he made it clear to me that I'm supposed to look after you and make sure no one hurts you. And he left me with plenty of money to make sure if you needed anything, or if anything came up, you'd be taken care of."

Samantha rolled her eyes. "I don't want his money...."

Timothy laughed. "Well why not? He's got plenty of it. One thing my drunk of a step-dad taught me was to never turn your nose up at free money."

Samantha glared at him and he put his arm around her shoulders and gave her a squeeze. "You had a bad afternoon yesterday and a bad morning today but don't let that stop you from being happy here in Hackney. Keep making friends, keep living your life, keep making your place here, and soon, Zach will be back and you can get married, have a home, make some babies with your red hair and his temper... Life will be perfect."

Samantha cursed under her breath as her cheeks flamed. "You're an idiot," she scolded, rising to her feet and smoothing out her skirt.

"Are you saying you don't want that future?" Timothy asked, the teasing in his tone would have been obvious to even a deaf man.

Samantha's heart practically sang at the thought of that future. A happy home, children, a loving husband—Zachary. She was not able to completely stop herself from sighing. Timothy just laughed. "You go on to work then, Sam, if you're sure you don't want breakfast. I'll hang around town and come pick you up around lunchtime to eat."

"I truly don't need a body guard," Samantha assured him.

Timothy simply grinned as he winked. "I'll guard your body just the same." 

A/N: Timothy and Samantha bonding! I'm thinking we might have some best friends in the making. Poor Zachary will never win any battle once the two of them are teamed up against him HA!  Judith has finally given up her crusade. Thomas Williamson is begging to be beaten again. Now, where is Zachary. Let's check in on him next chapter, shall we?