“Just feelings? Nothing more?” His eyes flickered, waiting for her response.
Mollie looked away, no longer able to lie, yet unable to voice what she felt. She couldn’t bear to love a man who didn’t feel the same for her. It wouldn’t be fair to either of them.
He grasped her chin between his thumb and forefinger, drawing her gaze back to him. The desolation he saw tore at his heart. She didn’t love him. The realization triggered an intense pain that squeezed his chest, causing his breath to hitch. He swallowed the lump in his throat as a finger traced a tentative, soft line down her cheek to her jaw.
Her eyes searched his. Mollie wanted with all her heart to say what she felt, but her stubborn pride held her back. She would not make her heart vulnerable, not to a man who had the power to crush it if he were never able to return her love. She reached up and let her warm, soft lips brush across his. Mollie couldn’t give him a lifetime, but she could give him one last night.
Pierce felt the flutter of her lips against his, creating a heat that flowed through him. His response was quick. His arms tightened around her, drawing her softness up against his hard chest. The blood in his veins turned to molten fire, pounding through his temples. He bent, lifted her into his arms, and walked with slow determined steps to his room, kicking the door closed behind them.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Pierce woke to the bright, warm rays of the sun beating onto his face. He pulled the covers up, trying to put off the morning, and then remembered the night before. Mollie. He reached over to find the bed empty and the sheets cold.
“What the hell?” he mumbled and rolled from the bed. He jammed his legs into his pants, stabbed his arms through the sleeves of a shirt, and stormed to her room.
Pierce grabbed the knob and threw the door open, knowing instantly that she was gone. The room was as clean as the first day they’d arrived, as if she’d never been there at all. He slammed the door and dashed down the stairs.
“Penelope!”
She came running from the kitchen, a towel gripped in her hand.
“Where is she?” he demanded, his voice fierce, his disposition worse.
“You mean, Mrs. MacLaren, sir?”
“Yes, who else?”
“She left, sir. About two hours ago. Took her bags and ordered the driver to take her to the train station.”
Two hours. How had he slept through it?
Pierce opened the entry door and looked out, hoping to find…. Well, he wasn’t certain what he thought he’d see. Mollie had made her choice. She was gone and out of his life.
“Shall I get you some breakfast, sir, or coffee?”
He looked at Penelope, reclaiming his calm and letting his eyes sweep the parlor, knowing he’d find it empty. “Coffee is all. Please bring it to my room. I’ll be leaving within the hour.”
His steps felt heavy on the stairs, but not as heavy as the dreadful thumping in his chest. He pushed open his bedroom door, grabbed his satchel, and began to cram clothes inside without thought to anything except the dull ache in his heart.
An hour later, he entered the San Franciscan Hotel and asked for Chaz, Lee, or Eva. Any one of them would do. He waited in the restaurant, the coffee in his cup getting cold from lack of attention. The sound of a cough brought his head up.
All three stood beside his table.
“She’s gone.”
Lee, Eva, and Chaz looked at each other then took their seats, waving for a server to bring coffee.
“Did she say where?” Eva asked as she laid a comforting hand on his. It had been obvious to all of them how much Pierce and Mollie cared about each other, even as they fought their feelings.
“No. She left before I got up. I suspect Boston, that’s where she’s from.”
“You could go after her,” Chaz put in as he waited for his coffee to cool.
“It’s a big city. I’d have no idea where to start.” Pierce shook his head then let it fall back against his chair.
“That’s a joke, right?” Lee asked, his eyes crinkling at the corners.
Pierce stared at him.
“We have access to some of the most incredible resources for finding people and you say you have no idea where to start? Not including the fact she still works for the Treasury Department,” Lee reminded him.
Pierce ran a hand through his dark brown hair. “Guess I’m not thinking too clearly.” His half-smile was the first sign of the Pierce each of them had worked with for the past couple of months.
“You want a suggestion?” Eva asked.
“Anything…” His voice trailed off.
“Give her some time. Go home to Arizona. Decide what you want, where your life stands, and if she is truly the woman who will make you happy. If she is, we’ll be available to find her. There’s no possibility she’d be able to hide from all of us.” Eva smiled at him while her heart ached for the young couple who was so obviously in love and unable to admit it.
She reached for Lee’s hand under the table and squeezed it lightly. After everyone had left the night before, he’d escorted her upstairs, to his room, and hadn’t left until they’d gotten the message from Pierce. They’d leave for New York in a few hours, together. Neither had made any promises, knowing they had a long journey ahead of them to reestablish the trust they’d lost years ago. Both were hopeful they’d be able to put the past behind them and build a future.
Lee reached into his pocket and pulled out an envelope. “Noah sent this a few weeks ago, in case you and Mollie needed it. Not important now, but you may want to save it for later.” He handed it to Pierce then stood. “Eva and I have plans to spend a couple of quiet hours in San Francisco before boarding the train for New York. Let us know if you need any help at all.” He reached out a hand to Pierce, then Chaz. Each man stood. “You two have a safe journey.”
“It was as pleasure, Lee,” Pierce said, glad he’d had the chance to work with such a remarkable man.
“We’re going to try to work things out.” Eva sent a meaningful look at Chaz before kissing the cheek of each man then slipping her arm through Lee’s and following him outside.
Chaz and Pierce stood at the table, their eyes following the couple to the street.
“What did Eva mean when she said they were going to try to work things out?” Pierce asked.
“You don’t know?”
“Know what?”
“They were married once, very much in love. Owen Kendall was the cause of the breakup.” Chaz watched as Lee assisted Eva into the carriage, sat next to her, then took her hand in his before pulling the door closed. “This assignment has given them a second chance. Maybe it will work out for them this time.”
“I’ll be damned,” Pierce muttered as he watched the carriage pull away. “You going back to Fire Mountain?”
“Not yet. I think I’ll stay in San Francisco a while. See what mischief I can get into before returning to help Dodge and Meggie at the hotel. I’ll see you soon.”
Pierce sat back down, finished his cold coffee, and made a decision to do as Eva suggested. He’d give it some time. If he still felt the same in a few weeks, a couple of months, well, he’d figure out what to do then. Pierce glanced at the envelope Lee had left for him, picked it up, and shoved it in the pocket of his jacket. No hurry, Lee had said. He decided to read it another time.
******
One month later, Fire Mountain
Pierce never knew his muscles could ache so much. He, Drew, and Will had been working non-stop on a new horse breeding area ever since Drew had returned to the ranch. It was Tess’s idea, something she’d been reading about and wanted to try. So far, all of her ideas had proven successful. There was little doubt this one would work out well also.
“What do you say?” Will drawled. “Time to call it a day?”
“Fine by me,” Drew replied and poured some water over the hot, tired muscles in his back. “Three more days of this and we should be done.” He chuckled, hearing the other two
groan.
It was Saturday and they’d all been invited to Dodge and Meggie’s hotel for supper. Aunt Alicia said they had some news to announce and everyone was pretty sure what that meant.
“So is this a fancy shindig or are ranch clothes okay?” Pierce asked.
“Hell, she’s your sister. You tell us,” Will replied and slipped on his shirt before climbing atop his horse, Justice, for the ride home.
******
Pierce’s older brother, Connor, had completed a home on a beautiful piece of land within the MacLaren Ranch while Pierce was in San Francisco. He and his wife, Grace, lived there, and now, so did Pierce. Both Drew and Will had offered him rooms. For now, he’d chosen to be near his brother, who spent much of his time in Fire Mountain managing the three saloons his oldest cousin Niall owned.
Tonight, Pierce would tie his horse, Bandit, to the back of a wagon and drive Grace to the hotel where Connor would be waiting. Getting the MacLarens together was no small task. He figured they were close to needing their own private dining room.
The news of the MacLaren cousins in Settlers Valley was unexpected to everyone. Aunt Alicia was already making plans to visit. Mr. Jericho had said he’d be honored to accompany her. Niall and Kate, and possibly Jamie and Torie, thought they might go along also. It was an odd feeling to know that more MacLarens had made the arduous journey across the Atlantic to start a new life about the same time as Connor, Pierce, and Meggie. Everyone was anxious to learn their full story.
Pierce’s life had settled into a routine that now seemed to fit him. As much as he enjoyed the adventure that sometimes accompanied the life of an agent, he felt at home in Fire Mountain, on the ranch with his family. One day, he hoped to have what each of them had found—a good person to love, marry, and the expectation of children.
His mind had rarely left Mollie. He wondered how she was, where she’d settled, and if she ever thought of him.
A message from Noah, asking him to continue with the agency, had revealed that Mollie had decided to take some time off, needing a break to decide if she wanted to continue as an agent. Pierce understood her feelings.
He found the work exhilarating and challenging. The agents he’d met were dedicated, willing to put their lives at risk for their beliefs, and committed to each other. The camaraderie had its appeal and he’d learned much from the more experienced agents.
Pierce worked from dawn until supper each day. It exhausted his body and kept his mind off the woman he’d come to realize he loved. He hadn’t been prepared to confess his feelings earlier, needing to know how Mollie felt before risking his heart to a woman who might not feel the same. She’d told him she cared for him, and at the time, he’d taken that as proof she didn’t love him. Now, he wasn’t certain.
The way her gaze followed him, the smile she flashed when he’d enter a room then conceal in hopes he hadn’t noticed, the way her eyes sparkled, and most of all, her uninhibited response to his touch when they made love, all told Pierce more about her true feelings than she’d been able to put into words. He believed she had the same fears as him when it came to putting her heart at risk.
Pierce finished cleaning up and was slipping into his best clothes when he spotted the envelope Lee had handed him from Noah. He’d forgotten all about the note, which had gotten buried in a drawer after his return. He picked it up, started to open it, then set it back down, believing it to be an offer for continued work at the agency.
“Pierce, you ready?” Grace called from downstairs.
“On my way.” He grabbed his coat and left for the ride to Fire Mountain.
******
“I don’t think I can wait much longer to hear your news,” Aunt Alicia warned as they finished a delicious meal Dodge Delaney’s chef had prepared for the MacLarens.
The comment brought everyone’s attention to Dodge and his wife, Meggie, who sat together on one side of the long, rectangular table, between their cousins.
“Then we won’t make you wait any longer,” Dodge replied and stood, holding a wine glass in one hand as he pulled out Meggie’s chair with the other and helped her stand. He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close. “As you may have already guessed, Meggie and I are pleased to announce she’s pregnant.” His smile was broad as he raised his glass into the air.
The room erupted in cheers, toasts, congratulations, and hugs.
Grace walked to Meggie, her best friend since their time together in Utah. She was thrilled for her and Dodge, and gave Meggie a warm hug before whispering something in her ear. Meggie leaned back, a gasp springing from her mouth, before she grabbed Grace and pulled her into another quick hug. She turned to Dodge, pulled his head down, and whispered in his ear.
Dodge walked over to Connor and slapped him on the back before addressing the family again.
“It seems there’s another announcement.” He nodded at his brother-in-law.
Connor motioned for Grace to join him then turned to the others. “We didn’t want to infringe on Meggie and Dodge’s announcement, but I’ve just been given the approval to make our own announcement.” He smiled at his wife. “Grace is pregnant, too.”
Again, the family responded as they had with Dodge and Meggie’s news.
Mr. Jericho slapped Connor on the back and hugged Grace. He couldn’t remember a night like this in his life. It had taken a long time, and now it was all coming together for Connor and Meggie. Now, it was just Pierce he had to concern himself about. His gaze drifted down the table to the young man, wondering what he was thinking.
Pierce was thrilled for his sister and his brother. Both would be adding more MacLarens to the growing brood. Tess MacLaren was due within a few weeks.
It had been a wonderful evening. The celebratory mood continued through dessert until it grew late.
Connor watched as Pierce sat alone at one end of the table, nursing a whiskey. He’d been concerned about his younger brother ever since he’d returned from San Francisco. He hadn’t asked, but suspected Pierce’s long hours on the ranch, quiet, introspective mood, and long walks after supper had something to do with Mollie Jamison and not his decision to leave the agency.
He pushed from his chair and walked toward Pierce. “Mind if I sit?”
“Up to you, Papa.” Pierce’s grin didn’t quite reach his eyes.
Connor nodded and sat down.
“You hoping for a boy or girl?” Pierce asked as he finished off his drink.
“Hell, I don’t care. Either works for me.” Connor looked down the table at Grace laughing at something Will had said, then back to his brother.
“You haven’t mentioned Mollie since you got back. She handle herself okay up there?”
“Yeah, she did real good. Mollie’s a professional.”
“Seems like a different story than what you told us before you left.”
“Well, I was wrong about her.” His jaw tightened and Connor watched as Pierce’s grip on the edge of his seat tightened.
“That’s all there is to it?” Connor asked, pushing for his brother to get out whatever he’d bottled up inside.
Pierce’s head turned toward Connor and he saw the concern in his brother’s eyes. “No, there was more. It’s over now and she’s moved back to Boston.” He looked down into his lap and the whiskey glass he rolled between his palms.
“Boston. You lived there for a while. How long has it been?”
“How long?”
“Since you were back there? I guess maybe five, six years.”
Pierce thought a moment. “Maybe. I don’t know exactly.”
“Seems like it might be a good time to find a reason to return. Take a break and return to the east for a bit. ‘Course, I’m not suggesting you stay, just go for a visit.”
Pierce’s eyes narrowed on his brother. “You looking to get rid of me?”
“Nope. Just looking to see you back the way you were before heading to San Francisco. Appears you and Mollie may have some unsettled business
. Might be best to find an excuse to visit. You could probably think up something if you tried hard enough.”
“This coming from the man who almost lost Grace due to pride and misunderstandings?”
“Yep, and that’s exactly why I’m telling you this. You once told me that the right woman would come along, and when she did, I’d better reach out and grab her. I almost missed my chance. I don’t want to see you miss yours.” Connor stood and clasped Pierce on the shoulder. “Doesn’t have to be tomorrow or next week. Just think about it.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Pierce spent Sunday riding Bandit through the heart of the ranch, thinking about what Connor had said and wishing he did have a good excuse to head east to Boston. Maybe his brother was right about Mollie being the one for him. He’d been thinking the same. The problem was he had no reason to go back—except Mollie. He no longer had friends in the city, and it wasn’t a place people went to visit. The bustling city teamed with action at all hours, much like San Francisco, which he’d been anxious to leave.
It was getting dark. He turned Bandit toward home, or rather, Connor’s home. Pierce groomed his horse before heading up the back steps and into the kitchen. They’d built it large, hoping for a passel of kids, and it appeared they were on their way toward that goal.
“Supper will be ready in a bit, Pierce. Let Connor know. He’s in the study.” Grace stood at the stove, stirring a pot and checking the skillet biscuits. The fried chicken waited in the warming oven of the cook stove Connor had ordered from back east.
“Just let me wash up and I’ll be down to help.” Pierce dashed up the stairs, stopping briefly to let Connor know about supper. He was ready to head down within ten minutes. He checked the small mirror above the dresser, ran a hand through his damp hair, and noticed the envelope he’d ignored for over a month.
“Hell,” he muttered and picked it up, deciding he might as well take a look and get back to Noah on whatever he wanted Pierce to consider.
He tore it open and pulled out the paper. Only it wasn’t just any piece of paper. It was a marriage certificate, and from the looks of it, either a perfect forgery or the genuine article. It was between Pierce and Mollie, signed and dated by both of them. Noah had decided to make sure it was real in case there was any reason someone would doubt their marriage. He’d said he probably wouldn’t file it—he had. Noah had included a short note saying he’d decided to file the document as he preferred to err on the side of caution.
Wilder Than the Rest: MacLarens of Fire Mountain Page 20