The Teacher's Star

of her. Tenderly, he ran that finger over her cheek. “Glad you got him good. The man’s wanted for rape and murder so don’t regret protecting yourself.”
Her mouth flew open, rounding in shock. “I thought he was just a thief.”
He shook his head. “No, he’s hiding out west to escape the hanging he’s earned. And he’s not just a thief.”
She knew she’d missed something on the warrant but wasn’t sure what it could be. “He’s not?”
“Remember Jessup wired that this man was HG.”
At her nod, he explained. “Those aren’t his initials. Hg means head guy.” His voice was resolute as he pronounced, “Jubal Yarborough is the leader I’ve been looking to arrest.”

Chapter 5
Before they rode out of Belle, Rol led her to David Knight’s home. He’d been meeting the sheriff in his home rather than the jail and always under the cover of darkness. Hopefully, none of the thieves watched him. Still, he took as few chances as possible so he wouldn’t give away his true identity as a lawman.
Hope Knight, David’s wife, opened the back door a crack and peeked out. When she recognized him, the woman opened the door wider and silently waved for him to enter. Her eyes showed surprised when Delia moved out of a shadow and entered.
Once the door closed and the need for silence was over, Hope started a barrage of questions. “Miss Perkins, what are you doing here? Has Mr. Anderson recruited you as a part of his case? Are you sure you know what you are doing?”
Behind her, Sheriff David Knight laughed. “Leave it to my wife to mother anyone who comes into our home.”
Squeezing his wife’s shoulders affectionately, the man shushed her. “Let them alone, Hope. I want to find out why Rol is here.”
The woman grabbed his hand and smiled up at her husband. “Yes, dear. I’ll be quiet.”
He groaned. “Alright. You can stay and listen.”
Rol thought this must be an old argument, with Knight trying to keep his wife out of his law business. Seems like he might as well hold back a flood.
“Wanted you to know, Sheriff, that I have the warrant for Jubal Yarborough. He’s the leader I’ve been looking for.”
Knight nodded, deep in thought for a moment. “Makes sense. He and that cobbler’s wagon never go far from Belle. Not like Errol Marsden when he owned the wagon.” Rubbing his jaw, he considered the situation. “You going to finally arrest Yancy along with Jubal. Seems like bringing in that gang is more than a one-man job.”
The marshal shook his head. “Hate to leave those animals they rustled to die in the cold. I need to find the herd first.” He fisted a hand and banged it into the other palm. “Jubal’s the key to that, I think. I’ve followed Yancy and haven’t found a thing so far.”
The sheriff frowned. “When you arrest them, won’t they just tell you where they’ve stashed the cattle?”
Giving a harsh laugh, Rol shook his head. “Not likely. That would mean admitting their guilt.”
The men sat at the small wooden table and discussed the situation while Hope pulled Delia to a corner of the kitchen. She studied the teacher for a moment. “You’re with him but not glowing like a bride so you two can’t have gotten married?”
Delia’s head moved from side to side. “No, we are married. Mrs. Stewart found us together in my room. It was all a mix up. Still, we’re married for now.”
Hope’s brows rose at the last two words. “For now? Better plan on it being longer than that.”
Shrugging, Delia changed the subject. “I’ve been allowed to finish out the schoolyear. After that, I’m not sure what I’ll do.”
Hearing her name, Delia turned and saw Rol standing by the door. “Come on, honey. Let’s get a move on. I hate leaving Eenie too long with the ranch foreman’s wife. Mrs. Lucas is good enough to keep an eye on her, but I don’t want to take advantage of the woman’s kindness.”
Smiling a goodbye to Hope, Delia followed her husband out the door. So, he didn’t know to let a lady exit first? What did that matter if they weren’t going to stay married?
With a great deal of help from him, Delia mounted the black and white horse. A paint, he’d called it earlier when he chose it for her.
After declaring he needed to purchase a mare for her, Rol picked up the carpet bag she’d hurriedly packed and led her to the nearby livery. In a town the size of Belle, no building was very far from the others.
Paps had made his way back to the livery by then. He poked his head around a stall door and grinned at Rol’s request to purchase a mare.
“Glad to see you ain’t leavin’ her on her lonesome here in Belle. A visit to the ranch’ll be good for her.”
Frowning, Rol squared his shoulders defensively. “Now, why would I leave my new bride in town just because someone played matchmaker? Winter nights are mighty cold, Paps.”
Delia felt heat color her cheeks at Rol’s suggestive words. Thank goodness she didn’t have to face a wedding night. Did she? Rol wouldn’t demand his rights and still plan to annul the marriage, would he? She worried over the thought and almost missed the conversation between the men.
Rol was shaking his head when she again focused on their talk. “No, not the palomino. A blonde won’t compliment my wife. How about that paint?”
Rol checked the black and white horse’s teeth and then her legs. “She has good conformation. How much?”
The two dickered over a price and soon Paps produced a saddle. Delia had rarely had the chance to ride so she stared stupidly at the mounting block when Rol led the horse to it.
“I,