“What the hell’s the matter with you?” Lee sidestepped to avoid being hit by the enameled pot. “Just wait a minute. You’ve got this all wrong.” He took another step. Forward this time.
But Mary entered the fray. “You heard her,” she told the tall blond man. “She asked you to leave.”
“Listen, lady,” Lee began. “I don’t know what’s going on here, but I assure you—”
“I assure you you’ll be sporting two holes if you come any closer,” Mary said softly.
Lee glanced down to where Mary held a two-shot derringer. The silver muzzle glinted dangerously.
“Easy, lady. It doesn’t take much to make those things go off.” Lee mentally began measuring the distance between Mary’s hand and his own.
“I know,” Mary replied. She kept her gaze locked on Lee. She caught the glint in his eye and interpreted it correctly. “I wouldn’t try it if I were you,” she warned.
“Tessa? What’s wrong?” Coalie’s voice sounded from the hall.
Tessa whirled around. “Go back! Go to my room, Coalie! Lock the door!” Tessa blanched; her breath came in gasps.
“But, Tessa—”
“Do it!” Tessa ordered.
Tessa heard Coalie run to her room and slam the door. She held her breath as he locked it.
“All right?” Mary spared a quick glance at Tessa and saw that she’d begun to breathe easier.
Tessa nodded, noticing for the first time that David’s sister had a gun pointed at Liam Kincaid. She said the first thing that came to mind. “Where did you get that?”
“My pocket. I always carry a derringer when I travel.” Mary kept her eyes on the handsome man. “So I’m ready for any emergency. Where do you want him?”
“Outside,” Tessa said.
“Okay,” Mary directed Lee, “back up slowly toward the door.”
Lee did as he was told.
“Tessa, open the door for him. But stay out of his reach.”
Tessa hurried to open the door.
“Out you go,” Mary ordered. “One step at a time.”
Lee backed up another step, right into David Alexander.
“What the devil is going on here?” David demanded.
“Ask her,” Lee suggested a moment before Mary came into David’s line of vision. I’ll be damned if I know. All I did was deliver a wagonload of supplies from the depot.”
David looked around Lee and saw his sister brandishing her little silver gun. “It’s always good to see you, Mary, but this visit is unexpected.” He smiled at her. “Do you mind telling me why you’re here?”
Tessa, right behind Mary, answered for her. “She came to see you. She brought some schoolbooks. It’s a good thing she was here, too, because he walked right in as bold as brass without knocking.”
“This is a business office,” Lee said. “Open to the unsuspecting public.”
“Be quiet, mister,” Mary directed, motioning with the gun.
“That’s enough of that.” David took control. “Hand me the gun, Mary.” He held out his hand.
“David…”