Outlaw's Bride

by Maureen McKade

  Mattie choked on her coffee. She hadn’t expected that from Mrs. Orville Johnson. Of course, if she was carrying on with Clint … Mattie swiped at her watering eyes after regaining her breath.

  “Are you all right?” Amelia asked, leaning forward.

  “I think so,” Mattie said hoarsely. “You just surprised me, is all.”

  A little smile lifted the corners of Amelia’s lips. “Because I’m married to a man nearly twice my age?” She paused. “You think I married him for his money, don’t you?”

  Mattie’s cheeks heated, giving away her answer.

  “That’s all right.” Amelia shrugged. “Most people in town believe the same thing. But it’s not true. I married him because I love him.”

  If she loved him so much, why were she and Clint …? Mattie pressed her lips together, courage abandoning her.

  “People see him as arrogant and demanding, but Orville’s not like that,” Amelia said. “He treats me like I’m made of fine bone china, and when we’re in bed together, he makes sure I’m satisfied, too.”

  Mattie blinked in shock. She’d never spoken to another woman about such intimacies, not even Ruth. Mrs. Hotzel had told her that what went on between a husband and wife wasn’t anyone else’s business, only that the woman must submit to her husband. She’d also said that a woman must not enjoy “the act,” either.

  That was one rule Mattie hadn’t been able to follow.

  Especially in Clint’s arms.

  “Why are you telling me these things, Amelia?” Mattie asked bluntly. “I’ve been married before.”

  “From what I understand, you were forced to marry and then you were a wife for less than two weeks.” She eyed Mattie. “Have you slept with him yet?”

  “Kevin?”

  “Who else?” Amelia asked with an arched brow.

  Mattie didn’t want to answer that one. “No. He’s an honorable man and believes in marriage first,” she replied stiffly.

  Amelia laughed. “An old fogy, huh? Take my advice, Mattie—find out if he’s any good first. Pretend he’s a horse that you need to take for a ride before deciding to buy him or not.”

  The picture the woman drew in her mind was so amusing that an unladylike snort escaped Mattie; the giggles followed closely after.

  Amelia joined in and the kitchen echoed with their shared laughter.

  “I’m sorry,” Mattie finally managed to say. She took a deep breath to gather her composure. “I understand what you’re saying, but there’s more to marriage than what happens in bed.” If Amelia could speak so openly without embarrassment, so could she.

  “Oh, I agree completely. But one without the other makes for a boring marriage. What you have to do is find a man who excites you both in bed and out. A man who can make you feel all squishy on the inside with just one look. A man who understands you better than you understand yourself.”

  Mattie’s breath quickened. Amelia had just described Clint Beaudry.

  Amelia reached across the table and laid her hand on Mattie’s forearm, startling her. “Love isn’t something you choose, Mattie. It chooses you. Do you love Kevin the way a woman should love a man? If not, you’re going to be sentencing yourself to a mediocre life. And when love does choose you, you won’t be able to do a damn thing about it because you’ll already be married to the wrong man.”

  The swear word on the elegant woman’s lips surprised Mattie. She was finding there was a lot she didn’t know about Amelia Johnson.

  Ask her about Clint.

  “Would you like some more coffee?” Mattie asked.

  Amelia nodded and Mattie refilled their cups, then sat down again. She drew courage from her curiosity. “Tell me one thing, Amelia. How can you say you love your husband, then secretly meet with another man?”

  Amelia’s face lost all color. “What?”

  Mattie’s heart sank. Amelia’s guilty reaction confirmed her suspicions. “I saw you and Clint in the alley together on Saturday, after those two men tried to rob the bank.”

  Amelia stood and Mattie thought she would bolt for the door. Instead, she crossed her arms and paced to the stove and back. She gripped the back of the chair, her knuckles whitening. “It’s not what you’re thinking, Mattie. I’ve never cheated on my husband. I love him.”

  Mattie eyed her suspiciously. “Then why did I see you with Clint?”

  Amelia closed her eyes and took a deep breath, then looked down at Mattie. “I knew him when he was a marshal down in Texas. I—I was a different woman then.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Amelia rubbed her palms together, then gripped her shoulders as if she were cold. “I, ah, used to work in a saloon.”

  Mattie’s mouth gaped. “You were a whor—?” Her face heated.

  “I was alone and broke. What was I to do?” the younger woman demanded. “Starve?”

  Mattie’s mind spun. Hadn’t she been alone and broke when her husband had died? If Ruth hadn’t hired her, would Mattie have done the same as Amelia?

  “Clint would come by once in a while for a beer and we’d talk. Nothing more.”

  Mattie found herself wanting to believe her, yet she had seen the two of them in the alley together. But what had she actually seen?

  Amelia dropped back into her chair and grasped Mattie’s hands. “Orville doesn’t know. If he finds out, he’ll hate me, and I couldn’t live with that.” The woman’s eyes filled with tears. “Please, Mattie, don’t tell him.”

  Dazed, Mattie shook her head. This was all so unexpected. She had hoped to get a tearful confession from Amelia, but not this one. “I won’t. I—I never even suspected …”

  Amelia smiled weakly. “You weren’t supposed to. Nobody was supposed to. Clint said he wouldn’t tell anyone, and I believe him. I’ve never known him to break his word.”

  Mattie’s throat clogged with self-pity. No, he was too honorable.

  “I’m sure I’ve overstayed my welcome,” Amelia said with false cheer. She jumped to her feet and placed her hat on her head.

  Mattie stood. “No, not at all. I’m sorry for the things I thought about you and Clint.”

  Amelia gazed at her intently. “His heart is already taken.”

  Emily.

  “Thank you for stopping by,” Mattie said past the lump in her throat. “It’s nice to have a woman to talk to.”

  Amelia paused and smiled. “It is, isn’t it?” She finished tying the ribbons beneath her chin. “Will you be attending the dance tomorrow night?”

  Mattie had almost forgotten—she’d agreed to accompany Kevin. Maybe she could claim a headache. He would understand.

  That I’d rather lie to him than see Clint?

  She nodded, trying to put some enthusiasm into the gesture. “Kevin and I will be there.”

  Mattie accompanied Amelia to her surrey.

  Before she climbed into the buggy, Amelia turned to Mattie and asked, “Do you love him?”

  Mattie turned her eyes to the land, which was becoming lifeless and barren with the coming of winter. Just like her heart.

  She had resigned herself to the loss of Clint and the impending marriage to Kevin. Amelia’s words only confirmed her decision. Clint’s heart still belonged to his wife.

  She brought her attention back to Amelia and forced herself to smile. “I love him.”

  As she spoke the words, her mind’s eye pictured Clint, but that was a secret only she and her unborn child shared.

  “Are you certain?” Clint demanded.

  Amelia nodded. “She said she loved him.”

  Clint stood and paced the length of Amelia’s parlor, then stopped to gaze down at the thoughtful expression on her face and his jaw clenched. “So, I guess that’s it.”

  Amelia rose to her feet, stroking her chin. “Maybe not.”

  “But you said—” Clint began.

  “I know, but there was something odd about her when she said it.” She stopped in front of Clint. “Mattie’s going to the dance tomorro
w night with Dr. Murphy. That’s where you’ll have to make your move.”

  Completely baffled, Clint frowned. “He’ll be watching her like a hawk. He won’t let me anywhere near her.”

  Amelia smiled coyly. “He won’t be able to stop you if he’s dancing with me.”

  “And what’s Orville going to be doing during all this?”

  She waved a hand. “What he always does at these kind of things—politicking. I’ll even get his permission before I ask Dr. Murphy to dance.”

  Clint stared at her a moment, then began to laugh. “You sound like you’re enjoying this.”

  Amelia shrugged, but a little smile played on her lips. “I always did like to play matchmaker. Besides, I have a feeling Mattie wasn’t completely honest with me. Call it woman’s intuition.”

  Clint’s heart skipped a beat. “You really think she doesn’t love him?”

  “That’s right, but it’s up to you to find out for sure.” She glanced down, but not before Clint caught the crease in her brow.

  “What is it?” he asked.

  “She saw us come out of the alley Saturday. She thought we were secretly meeting. I had to tell her—about me and how I knew you.”

  “I’m sorry, Amelia. You shouldn’t have done that.”

  “And let her believe we were carrying on?” She met his gaze squarely. “No, I couldn’t do that. I don’t think she’ll tell anyone.”

  “Mattie’s not one to spread gossip,” Clint said. If nothing else, he knew Mattie well enough to know what he said was true. “I’d best get going.” He retrieved his hat from a chair. “Thanks.”

  As he strode down the boardwalk five minutes later, he heard someone call his name. He stopped and turned to see Andy St. Clair running to catch up to him. Pleasure filled him at the sight of the boy, and Clint leaned over to hug him.

  “It’s good to see you again, Andy,” Clint said, his voice surprisingly husky. He rested his hands on Andy’s shoulders as he looked him over. “You’ve grown a foot since I saw you.”

  Andy’s face flushed. “Ma says I’m growing so fast that by the time she gets new clothes home from the store, they’re already too small.”

  Clint chuckled. He wrapped an arm around the boy’s shoulders and steered him into the jailhouse. “Looks like your ankle’s all healed.”

  Andy glanced down. “It was all right a few days after you left, but Dr. Murphy wouldn’t let me get out of bed.” He wrinkled his nose. “He brought these stupid books over for me to look at.”

  Clint squelched a smile as he settled one hip on the corner of his desk. “He was just trying to help.”

  Andy scuffed his toe against the floor. “That’s what Ma said, but she didn’t have to stay in bed and look at them.”

  “Look at it this way, partner: You’re all better now.”

  “Yeah, but now Ma’s marrying him.” Andy sighed. “He doesn’t even like to fish.”

  It was obvious the boy didn’t like the idea of Murphy being his stepfather, which Clint could use in his favor. But his conscience balked at using Mattie’s son to get to her. “I can take you fishing.”

  Andy grinned. “Are you staying here for good?”

  More than anything, he wanted to, but there was still a murderer to catch. Even if he could talk Mattie into calling off her marriage to Murphy, he wasn’t certain she would accept his proposal. Especially since he couldn’t have the wedding until he had completed his obligation to his first wife.

  “I’m not sure. We’ll have to see what happens,” Clint said.

  Andy’s smile faded. “I wish you wouldn’t have left before. Then Ma wouldn’t be marrying Dr. Murphy.”

  Clint’s muscles tensed. “Why do you say that?”

  “She was real sad when you left, then the doctor came calling almost every day. He made Ma smile.”

  Clint’s breath hitched in his throat. What he wouldn’t give to see Mattie’s smile again. “So he made her smile, huh?”

  Andy hopped onto the desk to sit beside Clint. “Yeah, but if you look close enough, her eyes are still sad. I think she was hoping you would come back and when you didn’t, she decided to marry the doctor.”

  Elation filled Clint and he crossed his arms deliberately. So Amelia was right, Mattie. You weren’t being honest with her. He’d learn the truth one way or another at the dance. “How’s Herman?”

  Andy shrugged. “Okay, I guess. He sleeps even more than he used to. Ma says he’s getting old.”

  Clint had grown fond of the crusty codger, just as he’d come to like Walt Atwater. The two men had looked after Mattie, cared for her like they were related by blood, and for that alone, Clint respected each of them.

  “I’ll stop by and see him one of these days. Maybe we can all go fishing again.” He paused, smiling. “Maybe we can even talk your ma into going.”

  “She went fishing with me and Herman yesterday.”

  Clint was surprised, but glad—the stubborn woman worked too damned hard. “Did she catch Fred the Second?”

  Andy laughed. “She said she had him and he got away. Herman and me didn’t believe her.”

  Clint chuckled, imagining Mattie’s mock indignation. He could picture her with one hand planted on a curved hip, her lips tipped up at the corners and her eyes dancing with mischief. His heart stumbled, reminding him how much he had to lose if she married the doctor. “Sounds like you had fun.”

  The boy sobered. “She didn’t have as much fun as when you came with us.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “I could just tell.” Andy turned and gazed into Clint’s eyes. “She cried.”

  Clint’s fingers curled into fists as his breath faltered. “Why? Was she hurt?”

  “No. She said it was a woman’s per—” He frowned, obviously unable to remember the exact word.

  “Prerogative?”

  Andy nodded vehemently. “Yeah, that’s it. What does it mean?”

  “That it’s a woman’s right. Kind of like being a mother, I guess,” Clint replied. She’d only cried once while he’d been there, after Andy had fallen in the well. It just wasn’t like the Mattie he knew to be crying over something trivial. Hell, she’d even remained dry-eyed when he’d left—something Clint himself had barely managed to do.

  Was Mattie that upset about marrying the doctor? Or was something else bothering her?

  He had too many questions without answers, but he’d have to curb his impatience until the dance Saturday.

  “Come on, let’s go over to the bakery and get some bear claws,” Clint said.

  Andy grinned and hopped off the desk.

  Smiling, Clint followed the boy out of the office and down the boardwalk.

  “Did I tell you Ma lets me drive the wagon now all by myself?” Andy asked as they walked.

  Clint rested a hand on the boy’s shoulder. “That’s real good. Are you helping her more around the house?”

  “Yep. I’m even doing Herman’s chores—he lets me.”

  Amusement filled Clint, but he kept his humor hidden. “I’ll bet he does.”

  Clint opened the door to the bakery and the warm scents of yeast, cinnamon, and sugar surrounded him. Andy ducked under his arm and slipped in ahead of him.

  “Hello, Ellen,” Clint said to the red-cheeked woman behind the counter.

  “Good afternoon, Sheriff,” she replied with a smile that transformed her plain face to pretty. “I see you brought a friend with you today.”

  “This is Andy St. Clair,” Clint introduced. “Andy, say hello to Miss Willoughby.”

  “Hello,” Andy said with a shy smile.

  “You’re Mattie’s son? Goodness, you’ve grown,” Ellen said. “I’ll bet you’d like something to eat.”

  Andy nodded eagerly as he eyed the baked goods on the counters. He pointed to the largest bear claw on the tray. “I’ll take that one.”

  “You’re just like my brother. He would always pick the biggest one, too,” Ellen said, then turned to Cl
int, her eyes twinkling. “And what about you, Sheriff? The usual?”

  Clint laughed. He’d been in her place twice and had bought a bear claw each time. “Yep. I always did have a weakness for them.”

  He gave her a couple of coins and took the bag from her outstretched hand. “Thanks.”

  “You come again, and bring Andy with you,” Ellen said. “Say hello to your mother for me, Andy.” She paused, her expression slipping. “And give her my good wishes for the upcoming wedding.”

  “I will,” Andy said after a moment of hesitation.

  “’Bye, Ellen,” Clint said, then ushered Andy out of her place ahead of him. He was puzzled by the woman’s seeming reluctance to have Andy pass on her well-wishes.

  He shrugged the odd feeling aside and sat down on the edge of the boardwalk, his feet planted on the ground below. Andy joined him and Clint opened the bag, giving the boy the largest roll, then took the other one himself. Grinning at one other, they each took a monstrous bite of their bear claws.

  His mouth full, Clint glanced around and spotted Dr. Murphy crossing the street, headed their way. The man had a sour look on his face, like he’d just bitten into a rotten peach.

  “Afternoon, Beaudry,” Murphy greeted with as much friendliness as a skunk-sprayed porcupine. He turned to the boy. “Does your mother know you’re here, Andy?”

  The kid’s face tightened and his eyes narrowed. “She knows I’m in town.”

  Andy definitely didn’t like Dr. Murphy.

  “Maybe you should head on home,” Murphy said. “I’m sure your mother will be looking for you soon.”

  “Let him finish his bear claw first,” Clint said, irritated by the man’s dictatorial tone. “Mattie won’t mind.”

  Dr. Murphy’s eyes flashed with impatience. “It seems to me you’re not in any position to presume what Mattie will or will not mind.”

  Andy’s lips thinned and he opened his mouth, but Clint dropped a hand on his shoulder.

  “Mattie trusts her son, and Andy’s old enough to come visiting by himself,” Clint said.

  The doctor’s jaw muscle clenched. “Perhaps, but I know she worries about the boy, and Mattie has enough on her mind without having to be concerned about Andy’s whereabouts.”