River Lady

by Jude Deveraux

  And Wesley didn’t speak to anyone. He did his chores, but retreated into himself, seemingly unaware that anyone else was near him.

  “That young man is considerin’ somethin’ powerful hard,” Sadie said as she and Hank took their leave. “I’m hopin’ he’s decidin’ which woman he wants.”

  Leah just looked at her. “You’re too much of a romantic, Sadie. Wesley has been in love with Kim for years. He’s probably trying to force himself to wait until the wedding.” She couldn’t add that it’d be a long time before their wedding because of the inconvenience of Leah and Wes’s marriage.

  Leah hugged all the family good-bye and she was very glad that they’d never know the truth about her. They’d never learn of how she’d flaunted herself at Wes and he’d discarded her.

  It was a silent group that trudged ahead toward Sweetbriar, Kentucky.

  On the fourth day after Sadie, Hank, and their children had left, two men came galloping toward them. One was Oliver Stark, Justin’s nineteen-year-old brother who worked for Wesley. The other was John Hammond, a tall, handsome man in his thirties with prematurely gray hair.

  “The farm’s doin’ just fine,” Oliver said, grinning at Wesley and his brother. “It sure took you a long time gettin’ here.”

  “I didn’t expect to see you here, John,” Wesley said, extending his hand.

  “The man you sent ahead said you had two of the prettiest women he’d ever seen with you. It looks like he was right,” he said, looking Leah and Kim over.

  Kim looked down at the ground. As usual, her eyes were red from crying.

  “I’d like to introduce the ladies,” Wes said, but Kim put her hand on his arm, her eyes pleading.

  “Let me speak to Leah, please,” Kim half whispered.

  Wesley’s jaw flexed, but he nodded and looked back at the men and began to ask questions about his farm.

  Puzzled, Leah followed Kim to the back of the wagon. Something was upsetting her greatly. “Are you all right, Kim?” she asked, concerned.

  “Wesley is being beastly,” she spat out. “Once he makes up his mind to something, nothing will change it.”

  Leah couldn’t believe she was being asked to comfort the woman who was to marry her husband. “I would think you’d be glad of that. He decided to marry you and nothing will change his mind, not even his marriage to someone else.”

  Kim gave her a hard look. “Sometimes he changes his mind. It takes him awhile to decide to do it but when he does, nothing will make him change.”

  “What in the world are you talking about? Oh!” Leah gasped as she slipped and nearly fell. The wagons were stopped on a narrow road on the side of a steep hill. Below them ran a stream with no trees in between.

  “Watch out!” Kim said. “You nearly fell!”

  Leah smiled. “It’s not steep enough to be a danger. Unless the wagon fell on top of me, I guess.”

  Kim didn’t reply to this. “Leah,” she said slowly. “I need my pink hat. It’s in that little brown trunk on the far side of the wagon. I’d get it but you’re so much more agile than I am. Would you get it for me? Please?”

  When Leah hesitated, Kim persisted. “You’ll get rid of me soon and you won’t have to help me out anymore.”

  Sighing, Leah agreed. Kim had been so upset lately that Leah couldn’t refuse her request. Besides, anything thing that would postpone their arrival into Kentucky was good for her. She climbed into the back of the wagon and began looking for Kim’s trunk.

  When Kim returned to the men at the front of the wagon she was frowning. They were deep in conversation, not even aware of Kim as she stood by the horses on the side away from the steep drop. With one glance upward to be sure the men were busy, she slowly removed her bonnet, pulled out a four-inch-long hatpin, and with great deliberation stuck it into the horse’s rump.

  “Hey!” John Hammond shouted.

  Kim turned frightened eyes toward the man, knowing he’d seen what she’d done.

  But no one reacted to John’s shout because instantly the horse reared, frightened the other horses, and the wagon began tumbling down the side of the hill.

  “Oh damn!” Wes cursed, watching the wagon. Then he stiffened. “Leah! Where’s Leah?”

  Kim’s eyes were locked onto John Hammond’s and she couldn’t speak.

  Wesley didn’t bother to wait for an answer as he ran down the hill after the wagon, Justin on his heels. Oliver and John followed quickly. Kim stood where she was in the road, not moving.

  When the wagon stopped, leaving a trail of goods behind it, the horses screaming in pain, Leah was nowhere to be found. Wesley was throwing trunks and bags of food everywhere while Oliver cut the horses loose.

  “Where is she?” Wesley demanded while Justin scanned the hillside, looking for her body.

  “Kim is up there,” came a voice beside Wesley.

  Wesley turned to see Leah standing calmly behind him.

  “What happened? How badly are the horses hurt? How much can be saved?” Leah asked all at once as she started to help Oliver with the horses.

  “Damn you!” Wesley hissed, then the next second he caught her in his arms and kissed her so hard he hurt her.

  “Wesley!” She gasped, pushing at him. “People are watching.” She looked at Justin, who was scowling furiously, and John, who was watching them with great interest.

  Wesley set her down and, for the first time in weeks, his face showed happiness. “Gentlemen, allow me to introduce my wife, Leah Stanford.”

  Only John saw Kim faint, and he was quickly up the hill after her.

  Leah’s knees gave way and Wes swept her off the ground. “Don’t you have anything to say, honey?” Wes asked her.

  Chapter 13

  It took hours to clean up the mess of the wagon. One horse had to be destroyed and the other three were badly scraped and cut, but they’d heal in time. Some sacks of seed had burst open and most of the contents were lost, but few other goods were really hurt.

  At the top of the hill, Kimberly was crying loudly while John Hammond tried his best to comfort her. Justin was very angry and threw goods about with force, never once looking at Leah or Wes. Oliver kept looking from one person to another while Leah, with shaking hands, tried to help sort the misplaced wagon contents.

  But Wesley acted as if nothing at all was unusual. He was smiling, even humming at times, and telling everyone what to do.

  “Leah, honey,” Wes said, “hand me that little hatbox.”

  Obediently Leah picked it up, but as she looked at him smiling at her she threw it at his face, turned, and ran toward the stream, tears in her eyes.

  Wesley caught up with her, took her shoulders and turned her to face him. “What’s wrong, honey? I thought you’d be happy when I told everyone the truth about us. It’s what you wanted, isn’t it?”

  She moved away from him and tried to calm herself. “I knew it had to happen sometime, but when I heard you say it…You ought to tell your friends about the divorce and for heaven’s sake, stop calling me ‘honey.’”

  “Divorce?” He looked puzzled. “Oh no, you don’t understand. I’ve decided we should stay married. There won’t be any divorce.”

  “I think I’ll sit down,” Leah said quietly before she almost collapsed onto the damp ground. “Could you explain all this to me?”

  He grinned down at her confidently. “It’s just that I’ve come to like you, Leah. I was pretty mad at first. Well, all right, more than a little mad and maybe I didn’t give you much of a chance, but you’d ruined all my plans and all I could think of was losing Kim.”

  He hunkered down in front of her. “But on this trip I’ve come to know you. I thought I wanted a woman like Kim who needed me, but Kim needs a maid more than she needs a man. And besides, you need me, too. You’re always trying to take on too much, always trying to do everything for everyone else.”

  “So you decided I needed you, too,” Leah said softly.

  “Yes. And besides, you’re
more fun than Kim. It took me a long time to make the decision but I decided we’ll stay married. It just makes sense anyway and it’ll cause a lot less trouble.”

  “And Kim?” Leah asked.

  Wes looked down at his feet. “I used to think I loved her but I’m not sure I ever did. I’m not sure I’ve ever loved any woman. And I think Kim may be more interested in my money than in me,” he said, his jaw clenched. “I’ve worked things out with her. She’ll receive a handsome sum from me every month until she marries. She’s pretty so I’m sure she’ll have no trouble finding a husband.”

  He was quiet for a moment. “Aren’t you going to say anything? I thought you wanted to marry me. That’s why you seduced me that first time, isn’t it?”

  Leah stood and walked away from him. “I want to make sure I’ve heard you correctly. You don’t love me and you’ve never loved Kim, but between the two of us you’ve chosen me because it’s easier than a divorce and remarriage, and besides, I’m more fun and I need you to protect me from myself. Is that about it?”

  He frowned up at her. “I guess so, but you make it sound awfully cold. I think we’ll make a good team, Leah. Between the two of us we’ll build a place bigger than my brother’s and I know you’re fertile so we’ll have lots of children.”

  “And would you like to check my teeth also?”

  He stood. “I think you’re getting mad. Here I am giving you what you wanted and you’re getting mad. Do you expect me to go down on one knee and declare undying love for you? I’m not sure I know what love is. I thought I loved Kim but now all I know is I’ve had enough of her tears and helplessness and I want something different.”

  She was breathing deeply to try to calm her fury. “And what happens to me when you decide you want more than just fun and my needing you? Will you go back to Kim or perhaps choose another woman?”

  “Are you accusing me of…of being fickle?” he said.

  She smiled at him. “As much as any woman trying to choose the right color of dress.”

  He took a step toward her and Leah backed away. “I don’t want to stay married to you,” she said. “I don’t want your big farm and I especially don’t want your children. You may have decided you like me but I do not like you. I will not build my future with a man who may run out on me at any moment. I don’t want a husband who bases everything on a fun wallow in the mud. What if you and some other woman fall in a river? No! I cannot live with someone as fickle as you. Now I’m going to announce to everyone our intention to obtain a divorce.” She turned on her heel, but Wes clamped a hand down on her shoulder.

  “You will not make any such announcement,” he said under his breath. “I’ve made my decision and I didn’t do it lightly. I thought about this for a long time.”

  “And I don’t make my decision lightly. I’ve known about our divorce always and I’ve come to accept it. We’ll do the procedure in your town of Sweetbriar and after it’s over I’ll leave, maybe even leave Kentucky altogether.”

  His hand tightened on her shoulder. “You’d rather go through that than stay married to me?” he asked, astonished.

  “I don’t really have much choice. Maybe I can get away from my reputation as a loose woman but I’d never be able to live with a man who was so…so dishonest and changeable. I’d spend my whole life wondering from day to day if the kids and I would have a man to provide for us.”

  Wesley looked shocked. “No one,” he said, “no one, man or woman, has ever hinted that I might not be trustworthy. I’ve never taken my responsibilities lightly.”

  “Tell that to Kim,” she said, turning away again.

  “Damn you!” he half yelled, grabbing both her shoulders and making her face him. “If you were a man I’d call you out for what you’ve said to me. But for you…you will remain married to me. You understand that? And furthermore, tomorrow we’re going on a hunting trip, just the two of us, and we’re going to act married. We’re going to travel together, eat together—and sleep together.”

  She tried to twist away from him. “Get your hands off of me!”

  “I’m going to put my hands all over that pretty little body of yours and you can damn well get used to it. You’re my wife and you’re going to start acting like a wife.”

  “I hate you,” she said, seething.

  “I don’t bear you any great love at the moment either.”

  “I will not submit to you. I will never be your wife.”

  He dropped his hands from her shoulders and his eyes were steely hard. “I don’t believe you have any choice in the matter. As my wife you’re my property. Tomorrow morning at dawn you’ll leave with me even if I have to tie you to the saddle. Is that clear, you stubborn little cat?”

  “I’ll do what you say because you have the legal right and the muscle to force me, but I’ll fight you every step of the way. What you get from me you’ll have to take and I guarantee you’ll find no pleasure in the taking. Is that clear, you stubborn oaf?”

  He tipped his head back and gave her a nasty little smile. “You’ll give to me, Leah,” he said seductively. “By the time we leave the forest you’ll be begging for me to touch you.”

  She returned his smile. “You think more highly of yourself than anyone else does. I don’t beg.”

  He narrowed his eyes at her. “Let’s put it this way: We’ll stay in the cold, wet, scary forest until you do slip into my arms—and my bed—with a smile on your lips and an eager, warm, little body. So if you ever want to see a house or a soft bed again you’ll give in to me.”

  She looked up at him in astonishment. “Do you forget how I grew up? Only recently have I even seen the comforts you’ve known all your life. I can hold out much longer than you can.”

  Wesley took her chin in his hand, forced her to keep facing him, then slowly he brought his mouth down on hers and kissed her sweetly. His lips were warm and moist and in spite of herself Leah leaned into him. He pulled away abruptly. “Can you hold out against me, Leah? Can you resist me while camped on some lonely mountainside when the cats howl and the bears come close to the fire? Just remember that I’ll always welcome you to my bed.”

  She met his eyes with hostility, but his hand on her face felt good. She jerked away.

  “Go and get ready for tomorrow’s journey, wife,” he commanded as he turned and left her.

  “Of all the most ridiculous…” Leah muttered when she was alone. Virginal Kim wouldn’t give him what he wanted, but he was sure a Simmons would. Maybe he’d begun to realize that Kim was never going to be a great bed partner, and since his upbringing as a gentleman wouldn’t allow him to divorce merely because he wanted to try other women, he had decided to stay with Leah. She was a swamp rat and there was no need to treat her with any respect, no need to consider what she wanted as he would have with a lady like Kim.

  “Men!” she said aloud. Wesley thought he could change women as he did clothes. Well, this woman was going to change his mind. He thought she’d seduced him the first time so he’d have to marry her. Even after all she’d told him, he still believed that. But maybe that was better than his knowing the real reason she’d walked into his arms. How could she have ever thought she loved him?

  She straightened her shoulders because now she faced the ordeal of confronting the others. Both Justin and Kim were going to be very angry with her.

  Slowly, reluctantly, she walked back toward the wagons.

  The first sight that greeted her was Justin’s fist plowing into Wesley’s jaw. Quickly John Hammond and Oliver grabbed Wesley’s arms.

  “You could have told me from the beginning,” Justin said loudly. “And putting Leah through hell! She doesn’t deserve that. She was your wife, but she had to watch you paw Kimberly for months.”

  Pausing just below them on the hillside, Leah smiled to herself. It was good to hear someone defend her.

  “Leah,” Justin shouted, as he ran down the hill toward her. He held her at arms’ length and looked into her eyes. “It’s tr
ue, isn’t it?” he whispered. “This is what’s been hanging over your head all this time, isn’t it? You could have told me.”

  As he started to pull her into his arms, Wesley’s hand clamped on his shoulder. “That’s my wife you’re handling, Stark, and if you want to keep your face on that side of your head, you’ll release her.”

  Leah stepped between the men before another battle started. “Justin,” she said loudly, “legally, he is my husband and he has the right to change his mind as often as he pleases. Today he wants me, tomorrow I may be free again.”

  “Leah,” Wes warned.

  “I’m sorry, Justin. I wish I’d had enough courage to tell you before this happened. But I was afraid…” She looked down at the ground, unable to continue.

  “I understand, Leah,” Justin said. “It’s him I blame for this. You don’t deserve a woman like her, Stanford.”

  Wesley put his hand possessively on Leah’s shoulder. “Deserve her or not, she’s mine and I plan to keep her.”

  Chapter 14

  Leah trudged along behind Wesley through the silent, roaringly loud forest. Her eyes kept darting this way and that, trying to see behind trees and bushes. A sound in the distance made her jump. Ahead of her, Wesley didn’t even turn at Leah’s sound.

  In the morning he’d turned every time she’d given a little squeal of fright, then smiled smugly and turned back around. Leah swore she’d be quiet from now on, but she broke her vow constantly. Never had she been so far away from people. She’d grown up surrounded by brothers and sisters and the only time she’d left was to live at Wesley’s plantation, where there’d been even more people near her. On the trip toward Kentucky, they’d never been out of sight and sound of many people.

  Now for the first time in her life she was alone—or at least very close to it. The way she felt now, Wesley didn’t count as a human being. Very early that morning they’d loaded goods into packs.

  “Which horses do you plan to take?” John Hammond asked.

  “We’re going where a horse can’t go,” Wesley answered, slinging the pack on his back.