Jesse jumped from his seat, knocking the chair over. “Objection, Your Honor. No evidence has been presented to indicate the defendant and Mrs. Smith were lovers.”
“Sustained.” The judge scowled at the district attorney “Don’t try those tricks in my courtroom, counsellor.”
“Yes, Your Honor.” Fighting a smile, the district attorney returned to his seat. “Your witness, Mr. Cochran.”
Jesse ran his palm down his face, then stood and buttoned his jacket. “Good morning, Mrs. Smith.”
Emily nodded, her heart still pounding from the last exchange. She patted her forehead with a handkerchief. At least with Jesse questioning her, it shouldn’t be that bad.
“Mrs. Smith, since Mr. Spencer decided to probe into your marriage to Mr. Smith, let me ask you a question. Why did you feel the need to get away?”
“Because I was frightened.”
“Of what?”
She wished for the floor to open up and swallow her whole. Even though she knew this would all come out in the trial, now that the time had arrived she was terrified. “My husband,” she whispered. She wiped her palms on her skirt, aware of the gasps and mumbling in the audience. The judge smacked his gavel.
“Mrs. Smith, will you tell the court why you were afraid of your husband?”
She stared at the kind man’s face. She hadn’t realized until this very moment how difficult it was going to be to speak of Louis’s behavior. For the three years she’d put up with the beatings she always felt ashamed, as if it were her fault. As if there was something wrong with her that caused the man who married her, promised to love and care for her, to beat her into unconsciousness. Surely no other woman provoked such anger in her husband.
“Mrs. Smith?” Jesse’s voice was gentle as he prodded her.
She twisted the handkerchief in her hands. “Because he, um, he beat me.” There. It was out. Her deep, dark secret. She’d said it. Memories of the police officers grinning and treating her like she was an idiot when she had told them, had heat climbing to her face. She raised her head and looked out at the observers. Disbelief on most of the men’s faces, disgust on several women’s, and at least one woman with sympathy and pain in her eyes.
The woman smiled softly and, closing her eyes briefly, dipped her head in acknowledgement.
“In three years of marriage, how many beatings would you say you received at the hands of the deceased?”
Hunter’s breathing sped up as Jesse questioned Emily. The embarrassment on her face hit him like a fist to the gut. She had nothing to be embarrassed about. All the blame and responsibility rested on the shoulders of her dead husband. How he wanted to stride up to the witness box and pull her into his arms. Assure her that she would never again be hurt.
The rest of her testimony continued on, with Jesse creating a picture of a man so evil that he used his fists on a regular basis on this delicate woman. He brought out the fear and disgust Emily had suffered at her husband’s hands over and over.
With Jesse’s gentle probing, the jury seemed to garner sympathy for her run from Galveston. There was no way of telling whether that would help his case or not. But at least it had hopefully explained why a married woman would leave her husband and lie about being single.
“One final question, Mrs. Smith, and I will let you go. While you and Mr. Henderson kept company in Guthrie, were you lovers?”
She raised her head and regarded him. “No.”
Jesse had been very clever. Based on the way he’d worded the question, either he knew, or suspected, they’d made love since Louis’s death.
“No further questions.”
The judge folded his hands on the desk and peered over his spectacles at the district attorney? “Any re-direct, counsellor?”
“No, Your Honor.”
Hunter was a bit surprised the district attorney didn’t want to qualify the lover statement. However, since the judge had already ruled against his previous question about it, most likely Mr. Spencer had decided to let it go.
“Good. Since it is Friday afternoon, we will stop here and have a shortened session. Court is adjourned for the day. We will resume Monday morning.” The judge smacked his gavel and left the courtroom.
Immediately a buzz filled the area, women whispering together, several of them casting glances at Emily as Jesse helped her from the witness box. She looked pale, shaky, and flat out drained. It took all his willpower, but he waited for them to join him at the table. Emily chewed on her lower lip, and blinked rapidly.
He had to get her away from probing eyes. She looked about to fall apart.
“Let’s go,” he said as soon as Jesse and Emily reached the table. Hunter gathered up their notes and shoved them into Jesse’s satchel. Taking Emily by the elbow, he propelled her through the crowd, hoping Jesse followed behind.
Once they stepped out into the sunshine, Hunter relaxed. Emily still looked pale as death. He glanced over his shoulder at Jesse. “I’m taking Emily back to the hotel so she can lie down. I’ll see you at supper.”
Jesse nodded and waved him on.
Luckily Hunter was able to secure a taxi automobile, and they were entering the hotel within minutes. By now Emily’s entire body shook and she swiped furtively at her eyes. Hunter wanted to ram his fist into the nearest wall.
He pulled her into the elevator and asked the operator for the third floor. The slow ride seemed to take forever, but once the door to her room closed behind them, he wrapped his arms around her. “Oh, baby. Please don’t cry. It’s over now.”
Her quiet tears turned into sobs as she clung to his jacket lapels. He rubbed her back, then picked her up and carried her to the bed. Laying her gently down, he removed his jacket, collar and tie, and crawled in alongside her, enfolding her soft body into his arms. He murmured soothing words until her sobs stopped and turned into gentle hiccups.
Hunter brushed back the locks plastered to her forehead and kissed her silky skin. “Feel better?”
She took a shuddering breath and nodded. “I need a handkerchief.”
He drew one from his pants pocket and handed it to her. She wiped her eyes and blew her nose. “Sorry, I’ll wash this for you.”
He cupped her chin and turned her head to face him. Her eyes were red and swollen. The peak of her nose could light up the room. She worried her bottom lip, still taking shuddering breaths. Yet she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.
And he loved her. Loved her so much his heart ached just looking at her.
“Sweetheart, you did a wonderful job today.”
“It was so hard.”
“I know. But it’s over now.” He studied her eyes as he lowered his head. Her lips were warm, soft, and sweet. He tasted the salt from her tears and swallowed her gasp. He nudged her lips open and swept in, teasing her tongue, the sides of her mouth, all the places he’d learned were sensitive.
“I want to make love to you.” His whispered words against her ear elicited a moan and a tightening of her fingers on his shirt. “I need to touch your skin, to feel your body underneath mine, hear you call my name as you shatter in my arms.”
“Yes.” She hissed the word. “I need that, too. I have to erase the ugliness. So much ugliness.”
His hand drifted up the side of her body, stopping to caress her curves and squeeze her soft bottom. Her breathing sped up as her fingers fumbled with the buttons on his shirt. He made quick work of the fasteners on her shirtwaist, and helped her sit up to remove the garment. After she shimmied out of it, he tossed it to the floor.
Next came her corset and petticoats until only her bloomers, stockings, and camisole remained. Hunter stood and made quick work of his clothing until it was in a pile next to the bed.
“Ah, sweetheart, you’re so beautiful.” He removed the pins
from her hair, and the silky strands floated around her in a cascade of blonde waves.
“How can you say that? I’m a mess from crying.”
“No, honey. You’re never a mess in my eyes.” He reached for the edge of her camisole. “Let’s get the rest of these clothes off.”
She gave him a shy smile as he divested her of the few remaining garments. He leaned over her, bracing himself on one elbow. Slowly, his palm moved over her body, squeezing her breasts, circling her navel with his index finger, before making his way down to the warm moistness at her center. “Ah, you’re ready for me. I love how you respond to my touch.”
“And I love the way you touch me.” Her fingernails raked softly down his chest, tangling in the hairs there, until her small hand reached for his swollen member. He sucked in a breath between his teeth as she encircled him, her thumb rubbing over the small drop of liquid at the tip.
“You’re so soft, and so strong all at the same time.” She gripped him harder and squeezed. “Does that hurt?”
He closed his eyes, his jaw clenched. “No, baby. That doesn’t hurt. It feels great.”
“Then why are you holding your breath?”
He blew out the air from his lungs. “Because as much as I love your touch, if you keep that up, I will explode in your hand.”
She grinned and continued to stroke him. “How does this feel?”
“Baby, you’re killing me,” he groaned.
She pulled her hand away, and he grabbed it, returning it to his cock. “But don’t stop.”
Fisting her hair in his hands, he took her mouth in a searing kiss, rubbing his body against her as she continued to caress him. Her scent of flowers, lemon, and just-Emily was pushing him over the edge. Their tongues tangled, then he drew back and kissed the skin under her ear, her jaw, and back to her lips.
He shifted until he again felt her warmth, her moisture coating his fingers. “I want to hear you scream. I want my name on your lips over and over again.”
Emily whimpered when he encircled her pearl as it stiffened and rose from her center.
“That’s it, honey. I want you to come for me.”
Her breathing increased, her beautiful breasts rising and falling as she thrashed her legs, twisting, pushing her center up against his hand. She opened her eyes, the lids heavy as she strained toward him. “Help me.”
Hunter leaned down and took her breast into his mouth, laving the nipple until it puckered. He bit gently on the nub and suckled hard. With a loud moan, she cupped his neck with both hands and pulled him close. She made those little mewling sounds he loved as she gave in to the pleasure his ministrations had brought her.
Giving one final shudder, she relaxed, her arms sliding from his shoulders.
With both hands he spread her legs wide, and settled in the warmth of her center. In one swift movement, he entered her, groaning as the warm slickness gripped him. “Baby, I’m not going to last. I need you so much.” He braced himself on his elbows over her, as he slid in and out.
“That feels so good,” she whispered, as her breathing picked up to match his. The sounds and scents of lovemaking filled the room, blocking from Hunter’s mind all the fear and ugliness of the day. Right now he was in heaven, and fully intended to keep his place there, with Emily right by his side.
He threw his head back and stiffened as he poured himself into her.
She was his.
And would always be his.
Chapter 23
The following Monday, Emily stood behind the closed door of her hotel room and waited for Jesse and Hunter to leave for court. About five minutes after she’d heard the last of their footsteps, she stepped out and hurried down the stairs. Despite Hunter’s insistence that she not help with the investigation, she simply had to do something.
The three of them had enjoyed a restful Saturday that Jesse had declared as a day off. Then Sunday they returned to work, going over notes and interviews. Today was the end of the prosecution’s case, which meant tomorrow Jesse had to start presenting Hunter’s defense.
He had reluctantly admitted to both of them yesterday that he was short a great deal of information. Despite putting in lengthy hours after court to piece together what Jeremy had done, he’d said it still wasn’t enough.
Earlier, she had lain in bed thinking about Hunter, and how different making love with him had been compared to Louis. Of course, nothing Louis had ever done in the bedroom could be called making love. With Hunter, she’d felt cared for and wanted. Not like she was a possession to be degraded and abused, and treated like an animal.
With the way things stood right now, her life was on the line as much as Hunter’s. Without him, there would always remain a gaping hole in her heart. If she wanted to have the full life she’d always dreamed of, she had to act, and not sit and wait upon others. Hadn’t she yet learned her lesson about depending on someone else?
Despite Hunter’s stern warning, she would search Smith and Sanders’ office. She’d hopped from the bed and made a list of names Louis had ordered her to unearth gossip about. His favorite way to control people.
That list could easily lead them to the person who had murdered Louis.
At the last court session, Mr. Sanders had testified about the business he and Louis had been involved in. Since to date no charges had been filed against the partnership, Jesse had been unable to question him about any criminal activities. Why no charges had been brought was frustrating. Just another example of the police refusing to believe such ‘upstanding’ citizens could do any wrong. Sanders would likely escape before they could gather enough evidence to stop him.
Idiots.
As she descended the stairs, she once again checked her pocket for the key to the office that she’d found in Louis’s desk drawer in the library. That had been the only worthwhile thing she’d recovered before she’d been escorted from her home. She’d turned it over to Jeremy, but Hunter and Jesse hadn’t known Jeremy gave it back to her when they were both staying at the boardinghouse.
A good thing, too, since it would have burned up in the fire with him. With her list of the names of those Louis had her spying on, she would search the office for their financial records. She had no doubt someone on their client list had lost enough money to kill Louis.
The morning air was cool and crisp. While Galveston rarely got actually cold in the winter, this day was one that reminded her winter had indeed arrived. As she rode the trolley she’d caught to take her further into town, she enjoyed watching diamonds of sunshine sparkling on the gulf water. When she left Galveston, there was no doubt she’d miss the beaches.
It seemed to take forever to arrive at the end of town where the office was situated. Emily slowly approached the building where Louis had worked for years. She shivered as she stared up at the structure housing Smith and Sanders, Financial Investors. Sometimes it was hard to believe he was really dead. If someone made a quick move near her she still flinched, waiting for the blow.
The stairs creaked as she climbed to the second floor. She let herself in with the key and softly closed the door. She wasn’t surprised to see Miss Blake’s desk empty. Poor woman probably lost her job as soon as Louis was killed.
After removing her coat and rolling up the sleeves of her shirtwaist, she pulled open the top filing cabinet drawer in Louis’s office. Empty.
Damn.
“Please state your name for the record.” The district attorney had advised the court this was his last witness. Tomorrow Jesse needed to be ready to present his defense, and right now things didn’t look good from Hunter’s standpoint.
“Captain Robert McNeil.”
“And you are a Captain in what law enforcement branch?”
McNeil leaned forward. “The Texas Rangers.”
Hunter twisted in his seat,
once more checking behind him for Emily. Small kernels of fear clenched his gut. Ordinarily Emily walked with them to the courthouse each day, but this morning she told them to go ahead without her, that she would join them soon. The Ranger on the stand was the third witness of the day. The driver, Martin, and the dressmaker, Millie, had given their testimony earlier. Emily still had not appeared.
“Captain, please tell the court what type of gun is used by the Texas Rangers.”
“A Walker Colt forty-four caliber.”
“And was Mr. Henderson issued a Walker Colt forty-four caliber?”
“He was. When Henderson first joined the Rangers the men supplied their own weapons, but then several years back we began to issue the guns.”
“And did you have occasion to work with Mr. Henderson when he was a Ranger?”
Hunter once more checked behind him. He glanced at the clock on the wall alongside the jury. Eleven fifteen. Where the devil was she? He leaned over toward Jesse. “Emily’s still not here.”
Jesse nodded. “I’m getting worried myself.”
“Yes, I worked with Mr. Henderson a number of times,” the captain said.
“Would you say Mr. Henderson was skilled in the use of the Walker Colt?”
“All our Rangers are.”
The district attorney rubbed his chin. “I see. Would you say Mr. Henderson was comfortable with his gun?”
Anyplace But Here (Oklahoma Lovers Series Book 5) Page 22