White Deception

by Susan Edwards

  “Almost. Not over yet.”

  Startled from her thoughts, Mattie sighed. “The money.”

  “Yeah.”

  “And your parents and children.”

  “Them too.”

  Reaching out, she found his face. Using the fingers of her free hand, she traced the deep grooves etched around his mouth. “We’ll find that money, Reed. Then you’ll return it and be free to make amends with your family. You’ll hold your children again.”

  Reed took her hand in his and kissed her palm. “Thanks to you, Mattie. I’d given up hope of ever getting my family back.”

  Mattie allowed him to pull her close. “I wish we were alone.”

  He smiled against the side of her face. “We will be.”

  “Promise?” She tipped her head back, her forehead sliding across his cheek. She felt the dimple in his cheek when he smiled.

  “Promise.” He got to his feet but leaned down. “Tonight.”

  As he walked away, Mattie felt the glow of his promise in her heart. She was so happy. Everything was right with her world again. And tonight, with Reed, she’d get another taste of heaven.

  * * *

  The soft scent of nightfall soon swept over the land, helping to erase the horrors of the day. Darkness fell, cloaking all, hiding the blood that had soaked into the earth. Above, the stars seemed brighter, the moon larger—a reminder of the wonders of the world, that with death, came life.

  And life would always go on. A circle, Mattie said.

  Reed drew in a deep breath, filling his lungs. His eyes took in the twinkling of the heavens while the glow of the moon’s light washed over him.

  Yes, he could see that now. And he’d come full circle.

  “Are you happy?”

  Reed glanced down at the woman walking beside him. “Very.” He pulled her close. He’d promised her a walk in the moonlight. He grinned. He’d sneaked her out of her open window clad only in her nightshirt.

  “Where are we going?” But Mattie didn’t care. As long as they were together, she was content.

  “To a special place,” Reed said. He nuzzled the side of her neck. Mattie turned and wrapped her hands around his neck. She kissed him. Slow, then deep.

  Reed groaned. “Not yet. A bit farther.”

  Mattie swallowed his protest. “I think here is just fine.” She opened to receive the thrust of his tongue, then closed her lips around him. The heat in her center started a slow burn.

  Reed pulled away. “Come on.” He scooped her up into his arms.

  “This is becoming a habit, Reed.”

  He chuckled and gave her a quick, hard kiss. “Get used to it. I like the feel of you in my arms.”

  “I think I like being in your arms,” she whispered. She opened two buttons on his shirt and slid her fingers inside. His skin was smooth. Warm. Leaning her head against his shoulder, she nuzzled his throat and drew in his scent. Heaven. His was a mixture of promise and man.

  In her heart, they were married. She’d told Gil she couldn’t marry him earlier. She’d thought she’d seen relief in his face, but he hadn’t been able to talk.

  Mattie couldn’t blame him. His world was in shambles even as hers was righted once more.

  She looked forward to sharing this night with Reed. Their future was still uncertain. Tonight was not. Tonight was theirs, shared only with the stars and moon beaming down upon them. She breathed in clean, fresh air. Soon, the sounds of their love and passion would travel up to the heavens, carried by the gentle breath of the wind.

  Impatience made Mattie lick the warm flesh of Reed’s throat. She stroked him with the tip of her tongue and smiled when she felt his pulse jump and his jaw tighten. She chuckled.

  “Witch. You best watch yourself. I’m hanging on by a thread.”

  “I don’t want you controlled.” She nipped him none too gently. “I want you now.”

  Stopping, Reed groaned. He took her mouth, plundered his way inside and drank. And tasted. He took her tongue and lips hostage. His control had snapped. He could wait no longer to have her.

  He let her slide slowly down the length of him. With her feet almost to the ground, he wrapped his arms around her lower back and held her there, tight against his throbbing need.

  Mattie clung to him with hands and lips. When she felt his hand slip beneath her nightshirt and draw the fabric up, she moaned. The feel of his hand sliding over her bare buttocks made her jerk herself hard against him.

  She felt the bulge in his pants, needed it against her. Restless, she tried to shift, to lift herself a bit higher. Mattie lifted one leg, gripped his shoulders with her hands, and wrapped her legs around his waist so she could straddle that which she so desperately had to have.

  “I want this to be perfect,” Reed moaned in her ear. Each hand cupped a rounded cheek.

  Mattie drew her head back. “This couldn’t be more perfect, Reed. This is what I want. You. Now.” She slid her hands down his chest, tearing at his shirt, uncaring that the buttons were being torn from the material. She spread his shirt wide, ran her hands down the hard, warm, smooth flesh.

  Reed sucked in a breath when her fingers made quick work of the buttons on his breeches. His hard, throbbing member sprang loose, jumping into her hand.

  “Mattie,” he breathed as she took him in her hand, enclosing him with her warmth and love.

  “Reed. Come to me. Like before.”

  Without waiting, Reed lifted her slightly, let her guide him to her, then into her. Slowly he slid her down over him. “Home,” he breathed. He’d found a home at last.

  Chapter Nineteen

  It should have been a gloomy day, a day full of cold, wind and rain. A day when most wouldn’t set foot outside the house. As fate would decide, the skies were clear, the sun bright and the wind a gentle breath of sweet spring air.

  It was not a day for a funeral, but that was where a goodly number of Pheasant Gully citizens were. It wasn’t the dead that had them paying their respects; it was curiosity, pure and simple.

  Patrick O’Leary had been a citizen for a short time, but most were new to this area and homesteading. He’d been well liked and well loved for his booming, good-hearted voice, his cheery attitude and his willingness to work hard. If a man needed help, he had only to ask Paddy.

  The man’s wife was another matter. It was clear from the beginning she had no wish to be there, and she’d made no effort to hide that fact. Some congregating in the tiny, sun-filled meadow felt sorry for Katherine.

  Others were there to collect gossip the way many gathered their eggs each morning—one at a time. A tidbit here, whisper there. The ambush of Matthew and Renny, the kidnapping of Caitie and Daire, and the killing of four men, including one most had called a friend, would feed the gossip mills for years to come.

  Also, those who looked closely saw love simmering in the air between Reed and Mattie. Reed didn’t stray too far from her. And, as though it were the most natural thing in the world, he’d touch her on the arm, smooth a strand of hair from her face or offer his arm.

  Mostly, his feelings were seen on his face. He couldn’t take his eyes from Mattie, and those blue eyes were always filled with love. Mattie did her own share of touching, or leaning close to talk to him. And with uncanny accuracy, her gaze followed him. It unnerved many.

  Reed provided his own fuel for talk. Men admired the man for taking control of the three dead criminals. The bounty due him for Leo Granger had been donated to the town. A committee was being formed to decide how to best put the money to use.

  The women admired Reed for an entirely different reason. He was a hero. In him, they saw the tall, dark, handsome prince riding to the rescue. More than one envious eye followed the couple.

  To Mattie, the day seemed surreal. For once she was g
lad she could be “oblivious” to what was going on around her. She easily pretended not to hear the rampant gossip and the personal questions she didn’t want to answer. Most meant well, but normally there was no such excitement as this in Pheasant Gully.

  Listening to yet more talk about Patrick and his betrayal of the town, Mattie turned away. What bothered people the most was the deception. Had Patrick been mean, kept to himself or otherwise fit the image of a criminal on the run, it wouldn’t have hurt so much. But the man had deceived them all. Patrick O’Leary was really Malcolm Clemmings. O’Leary had been his mother’s maiden name; Patrick, his father’s given name.

  Mattie was torn by her feelings. The man had done some horrible, unforgivable things. But he’d also helped prevent Tyler and others from splitting up the O’Brien children.

  He’d been there whenever they needed advice or help, and he’d made them all part of his family. Had the whole thing been a lie? A way to try to get access to the money?

  Mattie didn’t know. She wished she could talk to him one last time, but he’d been dead when found.

  She sighed. How could she still think of the good in Paddy—no, she could never think of him by that name again—the good in Patrick O’Leary?

  Sadness gripped her. She had no desire to be angry or resentful. She wanted to understand, to forgive and to put all to rest. No one around seemed of the same mind. Did no one understand that grief did things to people? That it changed them?

  Why did no one talk about how Patrick had chosen death in order to keep Leo from killing Daire and Caitie? They only talked about his being behind the kidnapping.

  But from Daire, they knew at least some of the truth. Before Leo could shoot Daire, Patrick had shot Leo. But when Leo had pulled his revolver to kill Daire, he’d kept a rifle trained on Patrick. As a result, Patrick took a bullet to the chest and died. Mattie would forever be grateful to the man for doing the right thing in the end.

  Strong hands closed over her shoulders. She inhaled Reed’s warm scent.

  “It’s so sad,” she murmured. “I want to be angry but I can’t.”

  “Life is twisted sometimes. I think he was basically a good man driven mad by his loss.” Reed sighed.

  “It’s not your father’s fault either, Reed.”

  “I know.” He threaded his hand through her hair. For him, she’d left it loose.

  “Will you be all right if I head down to see Tyler?” he asked. “We have some business to finish.” Reed slid a finger down the side of her face.

  “I’ll be fine.” Mattie knew he was wrapping up the last details of organizing an operation to find the money. Before they started digging in the area Renny suggested, Reed and Tyler wanted backup. They wanted marshals there to guard the site once the search for the money began, then to take charge of the money once found.

  She heard him groan. Then he said, “Your mother-in-law—Katherine—is coming toward us. Want me to stay?”

  Mattie shook her head. “No, you don’t have to.”

  Behind her, Reed gently squeezed her shoulder. “I’ll stay.” He remained right where he was. Mattie was glad. She wasn’t sure what to expect of her mother-in-law. Yesterday, Mattie had found Gil and told him that she couldn’t marry him. She’d made sure Gil understood that it had nothing to do with what his father had done.

  Of course, her mother-in-law was sure to be pleased that the wedding was off.

  “Mattie, dear child. Could I have a word with you?”

  The happiness in Katherine’s voice confirmed Mattie’s thoughts. Life was strange, she thought.

  Mattie nodded. She’d never figured on hearing her mother-in-law addressing her in so friendly a manner. “What is it, Mother O’Leary?”

  “Come. We can talk in the church. There’s no one there.”

  “All right.” She turned back to Reed. “I’ll be fine.” She walked away from him, allowing Katherine to lead her away.

  Brenna stopped them. “Mattie!”

  “Hi, Brenna.” Of everyone in Patrick’s family, Mattie worried about Brenna the most. The scandal was sure to affect the girl.

  Katherine stopped. “Brenna, I’m going to talk to Mattie. Run along.”

  “Mother—”

  “Not now, Brenna! Come along, Mattie.”

  Following her mother-in-law, Mattie felt sorry for her. Mattie couldn’t fathom what it felt like to have lived with a man and never really known him.

  She sighed. It was over, life would go on, and for that she was grateful. What life had to offer, she wasn’t sure. But she knew it would soon be time to give Reed her answer. She smiled. He wouldn’t be leaving alone.

  She’d held a family meeting early that morning. Daire, Kealan and Caitie were coming with her. Together, with Reed, they planned to help him regain custody of his children. No matter how long it took.

  Mattie figured if his parents saw that he had her, and that there were other children, they might not fight to keep Danny and Lizzie from Reed. Mattie didn’t know what Reed had as far as money, but she had enough to buy them a house near Reed’s children. From there, they’d have to wait and see. She knew only that they’d be together.

  “Here, my dear. Up the steps.”

  Mattie heard the squeak of the door. The sickly-sweet scent of flowers overwhelmed her. The church was filled with them.

  “Wait here a moment.” Katherine O’Leary hummed as she walked away. Mattie heard her up at the front of the church.

  Strange, Mattie thought, for a woman grieving to be in such good spirits. She reached out, felt the pew to her left. “Mother O’Leary, are you all right?” Feeling the bench so she’d know for sure which direction she was facing, she walked toward the front of the church.

  “Oh, just fine, my dear.” The woman laughed as she walked back toward Mattie. “Just fine,” she whispered close to Mattie’s ear.

  Mattie froze. She’d heard that eerie laugh once before. In the barn. Over the roar of flames. She turned slightly, needing some distance and a moment to think through her revelation.

  Something struck the side of her head. As she fell, she remembered that on the day of her marriage to Collin, Katherine O’Leary had asked Mattie to help her with a surprise for Collin in the barn. Mattie had gone with her, just as she’d come in to the church today.

  Too late, she’d forgotten that last vision of the fire in the church.

  * * *

  Outside the church, Brenna didn’t know what to do. She’d tried everything to protect Mattie from her mother, but the glow of madness in her mother’s eyes said that it was useless.

  Brenna whirled around. Spotting Reed walking away, she ran after him. “Mattie needs you.”

  Reed glanced down at her. “She’s with your mother.”

  Brenna bit her lower lip and ran her sweat-slicked hands down over her dress. She could no longer protect her mother either. “Mattie’s in danger. You must hurry.” Each breath came faster. She glanced back at the church. The door was closed. Mattie was alone with her mother.

  “It’s okay, Brenna. The danger is over.” Reed’s gaze strayed to the church and to the surrounding groups of people. Nothing looked out of place.

  Brenna grabbed his arm. Her voice rose. “You don’t understand. She’ll kill her this time!” As she spoke aloud the words she’d hoarded deep inside her for so long, she felt some of the tightness in her chest ease.

  Reed’s eyes sharpened on her. She didn’t give him a chance to talk. “My mother hates Mattie, always has. But now…she’s crazy. She blames Mattie for everything.” Tears spilled down the girl’s cheeks. “Please, just go to her. Get her away from my mother.”

  To her relief, Reed took off at a run toward the church. Brenna’s shoulders sagged. Her world was in shambles. What was she going to do? If her mother hurt Mattie
, she’d go to jail. If anyone ever found out that it had been her mother who’d set fire to the barn, killing Collin, injuring Mattie so severely that she’d lost her sight, she’d be hanged.

  Brenna closed her eyes, reliving the horror of last summer when her mother had tried to kill Mattie by setting the barn on fire.

  Strong hands gripped her shoulders. Fear held her still. “Explain,” came the soft voice. “Why is your mother trying to hurt Mattie?”

  Brenna shook with fear at the sound of Matthew’s voice. He’d appeared from nowhere, and he was the one person she feared most. “You know she hates Mattie.”

  “Tell me, Bree, did she ask you to shoot Mattie?” His voice was soft. Dangerously soft.

  Brenna whirled around, her eyes wild. “No.” Her heart stuttered as she stared up into the harsh planes of his face. He knew. She saw it in the darkness of his eyes, the set of his jaw, and felt it in the hard grip of his hands.

  “I had to do that. I had to protect Mattie.” Tears coursed down her cheeks. “And my mother.”

  She told him the truth that she’d kept for the last year. “I saw her and Mattie go into the barn. I followed, and sneaked around to the back. There was a crack. I figured Ma was going to talk to Mattie about the marriage bed.” She bit her lower lip. “I wanted to know. Ma refused to tell me anything, said it was something I’d have to wait for until my own wedding day. Then she…” She couldn’t say it.

  “She what? No games, Bree.”

  Brenna stared down at her hands. “Ma hit Mattie on the head. I saw her,” she whispered, clutching her stomach, gasping at the burning pain as she remembered how horrified she’d been, so shocked she couldn’t move.

  By the time she’d run around to the other side of the barn, it had been engulfed in flame and her mother was nowhere in sight.

  “Your mother started the fire.” Matthew’s voice was harsh, cold.

  Brenna nodded. “I didn’t see her do it. I ran to find Pa. Then everyone started screaming that there was a fire in the barn. Ma had to be the one who set it.