“I told you. I don’t want a husband.”
“You’re very young. Trust me, you will.”
She sighed but it was more like a growl. “Are you an eighteen-year-old woman?” When he didn’t answer, she continued, “No, you’re not. So stop pretending like you know what’s best for me.”
Jake placed a hand against the wall, remaining close, his jaw flexing. She reached up and stroked her fingertips along his cheek, grazing the rough-hewn stubble of his whiskers, liking him in this raw, masculine state. Liking him a lot.
His eyes met hers. “I’ll have to marry you, you know.”
Winter flooded her body, driving out the heat, leaving her limbs and heart frozen.
“Like hell you do.” She pushed away from the cabin wall, forcing him to take a step back. “Do you think I’m teasing you? Tricking you to wed me by using my body as bait?”
“Regardless, I’m caught, Chigger.”
His gaze was steady which only served to unnerve her. She jammed her hands into the pockets of the coat he’d given her, her right hand immediately fumbling with what felt like a smooth rock.
“I’m not hunting for a husband,” she ground out.
“I’m beginning to think I can’t be a passing fancy for you.”
His earnest expression had to be a trick. She turned the stone around in her hand. “What are you saying?”
“I won’t ruin you. I owe Robert more than that. If the only way to have you is by marriage, then so be it.”
“You just said you didn’t want to settle down. Have you gone mad since leaving the shed?”
What was wrong with him?
Molly paused as understanding dawned—both about Jake’s true nature and what was in her hand. It was a sample. Jake must’ve pocketed it when they’d been investigating the Chigger. Why hadn’t he shown it to her? From the smooth texture of it, it was very likely gold or silver. And quite large.
Why was he hiding it?
Only one explanation made sense. He intended to keep it for himself.
While she certainly didn’t have a stake in all of this, Robert did. Should she tell him? Should she confront Jake?
Maybe he had a perfectly plausible explanation. Or maybe he didn’t. Perhaps the distrust everyone had for him was justified.
“Maybe I have gone mad,” he admitted.
She pushed past him and rounded the cabin once again, confusion filling her thoughts. This time she didn’t hesitate as she approached Robert and Bridget, who, at this point, was partially unclothed. It would seem Robert had no compunction about taking liberties with the woman he fancied.
This isn’t like Robert. It only deepened her bewilderment.
They jumped as she stomped toward them and plowed right through the middle, breaking them apart. She entered the cabin, slamming the door behind her.
She immediately regretted the action when Nine Toes startled awake from where he lay on the bed.
Pearl glanced up from a seat near the cook stove, Ivan beside her. When she saw Molly, she said, “The course of true love never did run smoothly.”
Molly nodded and sought to calm her nerves. She angled her body so that the Krupin’s wouldn’t see her pull the stone from Jake’s coat pocket. Just as she suspected—in her palm sat a brassy-colored nugget. She quickly returned it to its hiding spot.
“I’ve got imported Chinese tea.” Pearl stood and headed to the kitchen. “You sit and collect your thoughts while I get you a cup.”
But Molly couldn’t shake the thought that plagued her the most. If Jake was hiding evidence of a new claim, was he also less than truthful about his feelings for her?
Chapter Eighteen
Jake awoke at first light. His slumber in the shed hadn’t been altogether bad—the straw bed had been surprisingly comfortable. He’d fallen into a deep sleep, which had been a blessing, considering Robert had also slept in the shed—Bridget hadn’t been able to bring herself to leave his side. Jake had put a blanket over his ears to block out the sounds of their canoodling.
It didn’t help that all he wanted was to be alone with Molly. But she’d nursed her irritation from their heated encounter the previous night and stayed inside the cabin.
He couldn’t blame her. He ran a hand down his face then through his hair. His behavior was new to him as well.
Robert stirred, wincing.
“Does it hurt?” Jake asked quietly.
Robert nodded, trying not to disturb Bridget curled against him.
“I’m thinking you’re not gonna be able to ride today. What if I head to town and bring a doc back to have a look at your leg?”
Robert laid his head back and stared at the shed roof. “I’d say quit treating me like a fragile teacup, but it would no doubt make Bridget and Molly happy.”
It would also give Jake a chance to file the new claims without an audience. Still, he voiced a worry that had been nagging him. “Can you keep Molly in Creede longer than her planned visit?”
“Why?”
“So I can convince her.”
“Of what?”
“To marry me.”
Robert raised his head and stared at him. “You’re joking.”
Jake remained silent.
“You’re not joking,” Robert murmured. “When the hell did this happen?”
“Honestly? The first time I saw her.” It was true. Instinctively, he’d known as soon as he’d watched her exit the train that his life had taken a major turn; he just hadn’t wanted to acknowledge it.
Clearly skeptical, Robert asked, “When did you decide it was time to get hitched?”
“I’ll admit it was never in my plans. I just hadn’t met the right woman.”
“And Molly is that woman?”
“Why do you say that like it’s such a preposterous notion? She’s your sister. You must know how unique she is.”
Robert muttered what sounded like an obscenity under his breath. His reaction took Jake aback a bit. He thought Robert would be happy about welcoming him into the family. Setting that aside, there was still one problem. “She’s proving to be a bit stubborn.”
“Because she won’t marry you after knowing you for little more than a week? What a surprise.”
“I really thought I’d get more support from you.” He flicked his gaze to Bridget. “At least I’m trying to do the right thing.”
Robert raised an eyebrow. “And what’s that supposed to mean?”
Bridget rolled away from Robert and stretched, her eyes barely open. “We became engaged last night,” she said sleepily.
“I stand corrected, then,” Jake said. He shifted his attention back to Robert. “You are doing the right thing. You’re getting a good man, Bridget. I hope your family doesn’t chew him up and spit him back out.” Jake regretted the words as soon as he said them.
Robert pinned him with a hard glare. “You’ve got no say in the matter.”
Jake exhaled in an effort to release his frustration. “You’re right. My apologies. No disrespect intended, but take care around Lannigan. I wouldn’t trifle with him.”
Bridget watched him. “I know.”
For the first time, Jake saw something in Bridget that almost resembled a mature woman. It gave him hope that Robert wasn’t saddling himself with a relationship full of hardship.
Robert sighed and rubbed a hand on Bridget’s shoulder. “If Molly wants you, then you have my blessing. But you two are cut from the same cloth. You won’t get her to settle down, and you sure as hell don’t want to settle down yourself. I don’t care what you say. Molly needs a nice man in Tucson to take pity on her. That will make my folks happy.”
“Why would you saddle her with a life that would make her miserable? I think I can do better for her.”
“I look forward to watching that.”
“You underestimate my charms.”
Robert chuckled. “You underestimate my sister.”
* * *
Molly rose from the pallet she had
shared on the floor with Pearl and Grom. Ivan had reluctantly slept beside Nine Toes. Pearl had insisted on it since he had many aches and pains these days, and it wasn’t proper for Pearl to share accommodations with a man who wasn’t her husband.
Bridget had disappeared and never returned; Molly suspected she’d been in the shed with Robert and Jake.
Everyone still slumbered, so she quietly stepped outside on the porch to think. The day beckoned with cool, pine-scented air, and bluebirds flitted from ground to bush to tree and back. Their bright azure feathers floated in the stillness, the slight mist in the air blurring their edges, making it appear as if she viewed a dream.
Should she ask Jake about the sample in his pocket?
She’d returned his coat and the gold nugget to him last night—because surely that’s what it was, surely that was why he had neglected to mention it.
Perhaps she was reading too much into it. She didn’t understand the intricacies of mining or establishing a claim. Perhaps there was a good explanation.
She crossed her arms and chewed her lower lip because a bigger issue loomed.
I’m falling in love with Jake McKenna.
She closed her eyes. Falling? No. She was already there.
And it was very clear that while this went against her plan of getting tied down—at least in the short term—what weighed heavy on her was the knowledge that Jake would never truly love her…not the way she wanted him to.
All the talk of marriage was simply his sense of obligation to her brother, alongside the overwhelming physical pull that existed between them. As he’d said himself—he wasn’t the settling down kind of man. Even if they did marry, he would likely soon tire of it. Molly wasn’t sure she could handle that.
It didn’t help that he’d withheld finding the nugget. It only spoke to a self-serving attitude, which he’d apparently managed to keep under wraps. Perhaps everyone in town was right about him, and she’d been too blinded by his charm to see it.
Conflicted, she debated what course of action to take.
A scratch from within the cabin told her Grom wanted out, so she opened the door and released the hound. He bounded away, tail wagging.
Jake appeared, and Molly’s heart tumbled in her chest. He stopped to pet the dog. Grom was beyond excited, spinning in circles, both tail and tongue wagging, his body gyrating in joyful twists and turns. To be truthful, Molly’s insides were reacting much the same way at the sight of Jake, but she schooled her features to hide it.
It didn’t help that he looked rugged and masculine—he hadn’t shaved, probably hadn’t bathed in any fashion at all, and his clothes had the wrinkled look of having slept in them. Molly knew hers weren’t in any better shape. It didn’t matter. She watched him like a half-starved coyote, and he was the meal to end all meals.
“Morning, Chigger.” He grinned at her as Grom finally wound down.
She drew her brows together and kept her face expressionless. “Good morning.”
“Sleep well?”
“Yes.” She came down the steps. “You’re up early.”
“Figured I’d get a start on the day.”
She stopped before him, hands on hips. “What’s your plan?”
“I thought to head to town and bring a doctor for Robert. I don’t think he’s fit to ride just yet.”
His gaze warmed her. “I agree that he should stay put until his leg heals more. I’m guessing that Bridget will want to remain with him.”
Jake narrowed his eyes, the side of his mouth lifting into a smile. “What are you going to do, Molly?”
She shifted her eyes to a thicket of trees just beyond the cabin since watching him scattered her thoughts. “Why are you so difficult?”
But she couldn’t stop a smile from creeping onto her face. She glanced downward in an effort to hide it, but he surprised her with a kiss. Within seconds, he’d enclosed his arms around her, his mouth angled against hers so perfectly she all but melted into him. She savored his attention, indulging the always-present need to touch him.
When he finally loosened his hold, she sighed, craving so much more.
“Jake, I found the gold nugget,” she said against his mouth.
Would he lie to her? Did she even care anymore?
He pulled back and she held her breath, worried over his reaction.
His face was an unreadable mask. “You plan on stealin’ it?”
“Of course not. Why didn’t you tell me about it?”
The amorous spell between them began to dissipate. “You’re thinking you don’t trust me now, right?”
She withdrew from his embrace, but he held her hands in his large ones. “If you’re asking if I searched your things, the answer is no. I found it by accident last evening when you loaned me your coat.”
“The truth is, you’re not equipped to deal with the fallout from any of this—with the Chigger or any other claim. I’d rather you not be any part of it. And I’m concerned about Robert. He and Bridget sealed their future last night. They’re gonna get married.”
Molly stilled. “They are?”
“Anything they have, Lannigan will take. Anything you have might get you killed, just like Pedro.”
She considered his words. “So you’re going to take all these claims for yourself? I may be young Jake, but I’m not stupid. You think you have the Bluebird, don’t you?”
“Maybe.”
The man staring at her wasn’t the charming and romantic Jake that he so often showed her. It was The Jackal—world traveler and salt smuggler, French spy and opportunist. Could they have a life together? Longing pierced her, and she knew she wanted to try, the future be damned.
“Then marry me, and we’ll call it even,” she said.
His eyes gleamed with surprise. “I didn’t expect you to succumb so easily.”
“Are you retracting your offer?”
“No,” he said, all levity gone. “I know this is fast, but I’m not playing a game. I mean to keep you, Molly Rose. Are you prepared for that?”
A gusting wind blew through the ravine, a breath from God’s divine mouth. That she was taking a leap off a cliff into the unknown wasn’t lost on her, but Molly wanted Jake. It was as simple as that. He’d offered himself to her, and while she might never know why he was so willing to tie his destiny with hers, it didn’t matter. He was inclined to try. Molly wanted to meet him halfway. She wanted to be his wife and partner and friend. And she wanted to be his lover, his one and only.
“Yes.” Her voice drifted away on the breeze.
He stepped close again and brought both hands to frame her face then kissed her with infinite gentleness.
“Sell your cleverness and buy bewilderment.” He pressed his lips softly to hers again.
“Are you quoting Rumi again?” She wrapped her hands around his wrists, enjoying the exquisite restraint of his kisses.
“No one has bewildered me more than you, Chigger.”
“I hope I’ll be enough for you, Jake.”
He rested a forehead against hers. “You already are.”
Chapter Nineteen
“Are you sure?”
The dumbfounded expression on Robert’s face shouldn’t have surprised Molly, but a part of her bristled over the look he gave her— as if she’d lost her senses, as if she’d disappointed him.
“Why do you look at me as if I haven’t a shred of intelligence?”
“Quit exaggerating.” He crossed his arms and leaned against a stall railing. “I want you to be happy.”
“You don’t think Jake can do that?” It was true that she didn’t totally trust The Jackal, but Molly hoped that, in time, she and Jake would grow to depend on and confide in one another.
Robert grimaced. “You’re my sister. I’m responsible for your welfare. Ma and Pa will surely blame me for introducing you to such a smooth talker.”
A laugh escaped Molly. “Jake’s no smooth talker, and you didn’t introduce us.”
“Now you�
�re just splitting hairs.” He shook his head. “Fine. I can see you’ve made up your mind.”
“As have you. I didn’t warm to Bridget upon our first acquaintance, but I’ll give her a chance because she’s obviously important to you.”
Robert watched her, his gaze contemplative. “Who would’ve thought we’d fall in love under such circumstances? Can we trust either of them?”
The desire she had for Jake was overwhelming. It wasn’t simply that she ached to join her body to his, it was a sense that she was innately already tied to him, mind and soul, and that it was meant to be, a sort of divine connection. Perhaps that was Robert’s fate with Bridget as well.
Molly’s throat clogged. “Can we afford not to?”
* * *
Jake sat on the Krupin’s porch, watching the countryside come to life.
He was soon to be a married man.
The thought didn’t terrify him as he’d always imagined it would.
Molly was in the shed with Robert, presumably sharing their news. He’d offered to be by her side, but she’d wanted to do it alone.
It was a fast courtship…perhaps too fast, but Jake often acted on impulse. Planning was never his strong suit. I might need to change that. Decisions would need to be made—when and where to marry, where to live. He imagined Molly would want to be wed with her family present, which was all right by him, but he hoped she’d be amenable to travel. There were still lands he was keen to see, places like Scotland and Spain and Italy. If all went well here in Creede over the next few months—if the Bluebird panned out—then they’d have enough money to move on, and then some.
He and Molly would have to sit down at some point and work out the particulars. In the meantime, he should get back to town and file those new claims as soon as possible, if for no other reason than to secure a future for him and Molly.
A man atop horseback approached. Jake immediately recognized Boom. He rose and met him as the man dismounted.
“I’m glad I found you,” Boom said.
The urgency in the big man’s voice concerned Jake. “What’s wrong?”
The Bluebird Page 18