When they were alone, Luke motioned toward the same chair Michael had occupied during their last visit. “Now, tell me why you’re here.”
“You know exactly what I came for.”
“Star?” He gave a short laugh. “I’m afraid she’s a bit tired from the trip. I gave her the night off. One of our other ladies perhaps?”
Fury burned inside of Michael at the man’s crude inference. “Star isn’t going back to that life. We both know she was forced. I’ve come to take her home.”
“That’s where we differ, Mr. Riley.” Luke leaned forward, his eyes no longer hinting at friendliness. “I say she’s staying here where she belongs.”
“Star belongs with me, and I intend to marry her.” Wheeling about, he strode to the door. “Star!” he called as he stepped out of the room. “Where are you?”
He noticed Clem standing in front of a door at the other end of the hall. The man was poised to fight. Michael closed the distance between them in a few long strides. “She’s in there?”
“You’re not getting past me.”
“Michael, is that you?” Star’s voice came through the closed door.
“It’s me, Honey. I’m here to take you home.”
“Oh, thank you, Lord.”
“I don’t think so, Bub.”
Michael turned just as a fist connected with his face. Everything went out of focus for an instant. Blinking, he tried to stop the spinning. The bartender took the opportunity and grabbed him by the collar. He practically carried him down the steps and tossed him out the door. Michael took a second to gather his wits, then he barreled back through the door. He made a run for the steps again, but this time the bartender had help. Four men stopped him, but instead of throwing him out the front, they carried him toward the kitchen.
“Star! I’ll find a way, I promise. I love you! I’ll be back!” he called.
“You don’t learn so good.” Those were the only words he heard before everything went black.
Everything hurt when he woke up, freezing and lying in the alley behind the saloon. His first conscious thought was that they must have mistaken him for dead—either that or they’d left him to die. He shivered and winced as pain shot through his middle. Gritting his teeth determinedly against the pain, he forced himself to his feet. He knew if he returned to the saloon they’d kill him, but better to die trying to save the woman he loved than to walk away and seal her fate.
One eye was swollen completely shut and his mouth felt puffy. He knew he had broken ribs. He also knew he had to go back inside. He stumbled to the kitchen door and opened it a crack. Through his one good eye, he perused the room. A black woman stood peeling potatoes at a table in the center of the kitchen.
Cautiously, he opened the door wide enough to gain entrance.
The woman glanced up, her eyes went wide, and she drew back in horror, confirming to Michael that he looked about as bad as he felt.
“Star.” He managed to say through his swollen lips. “I. . .need. . .to. . .get. . .to. . .her. I. . .won’t. . .hurt. . .you.”
She chuckled. “I ain’t fearin’ that one bit. You cain’t hurt nothin’ like that. My girl say you be comin’ back. I tole her you was probly dead.”
“Not yet.”
A tender smile touched the slave woman’s face. “You be wantin’ ter marry my Star?”
He nodded.
“Well, you wind up dead if you goes through there.” She jerked her thumb toward the door leading to the main room. “Come on, Lila show you which room. Don’ know how you plan ter get her out, though.”
“Let. . .me. . .worry. . .about. . .that.”
She gave him a doubtful look, but took him back outside to the alleyway. They walked a few steps, then she stopped and pointed at a lighted window. “Dat be my Star’s room.”
“Thank you.” He bent and kissed the dark, withered cheek. “Get back inside before you’re missed.”
He glanced around. How could he climb up there in his condition?
“Hey, Cowboy!”
With a groan, Michael glanced back toward the kitchen door. The same woman who’d escorted him up the stairs during his last visit to Luke’s stood, her face a mask of amusement.
“Do you really think you can climb up there in your condition?”
“I have to try.”
“You’ll get yourself killed.”
A shrug lifted his shoulders. “She’s worth it.”
“Is she? Well, then lucky for you, Lila told me she brought you out here. That little old woman stayed here, sure Luke would bring Star back somehow. She wasn’t about to leave Star alone with him.”
“So why did she get you?”
“Lila knows I can help.”
Michael looked at her, defenses alerted. “Why would you do that?”
“Well, for one thing, Star’s mother was my friend. I’ve known Star since she was a little girl. If she has a chance at a better life, I owe it to her mother to do everything I can to help.”
Michael nodded. “All right. Then how do I get up there?”
“You don’t. You’ll kill yourself.”
“I thought you said you wanted to help.”
“If you’ll trust me, I can help you. My way. Is that your hat on the ground?”
He looked to where she pointed. “Yes.”
“Grab it and come on. By the way, my name’s Tina.”
“Michael.”
Still not sure what Tina was up to, Michael nevertheless knew he had no choice but to trust her. Once he was back in the kitchen, she reached up and adjusted his hat so that it nearly covered his face. “All right, Michael. Put your arm around me.”
Michael drew back in alarm.
She scowled. “You’re going to have to pretend you like me, Cowboy. That’s the only way to get you upstairs. Once we’re there, don’t go half-cocked and take off after Clem like you did before. It was brave, but incredibly stupid.”
“What do you have in mind?”
“First, I’m going to take you into my room like you’re a customer.” She gave him a wry grin. “Still with me?”
He scowled as well as he could through his swollen face. “Yeah.”
“I’ll call for Clem, and when he comes in, I’ll whack him over the head with a lamp. Then you can sneak into Star’s room.”
“What about the lock?”
“Luke doesn’t believe in locks. That’s why Clem was standing guard.”
“All right. Let’s go.”
Michael trembled as he put his arm around the strongly perfumed woman. She laughed uproariously as though he’d said the funniest thing as they made their way through the kitchen door and toward the staircase. Michael prayed fervently that no one recognized his clothes. He’d tucked his shirt back in and brushed off his trousers to appear a bit more presentable. Playing his role, he nuzzled Tina’s neck, eliciting another round of giggles from her. They nuzzled and giggled all the way up the steps. Each step burned like fire, and he nearly fainted from the pain. Michael stumbled when they reached the landing.
“Easy, Cowboy,” Tina said. “You’ve had a little too much whiskey tonight.”
“You all right, Tina?”
Michael stiffened at the sound of Clem’s voice, but Tina laughed and waved the thug off. “I’m fine. This cowboy’s had a bit too much to drink, but I can handle him. I’ll call if I need you.”
She led him to a room. “All right,” she said when the door was safely shut behind them. “Take a minute to catch your breath. You okay?”
Every inch of his body hurt, but Michael knew this was his one shot to rescue Star. He nodded. “I’ll be fine.”
“You’re a real hero,” she said pensively. She turned her back to him. “Unbutton me.”
Michael frowned and drew back. “I don’t know what you thought, but—”
“Just do it,” she snapped. “When you leave, take my dress for Star to put on. Our hair is close to the same color. If you leave down the steps with
her, she can keep her face turned so the bartender doesn’t see her. The room’s so crowded, no one will look close enough to make sure the girl in the red dress is the same one you went upstairs with.” She tossed him the gown. “When you get to the main room downstairs, keep going and leave by the front door. The girls walk their customers out all the time. No one will think anything of it. Once you get outside, don’t stop, and you should be safe.”
“What about you? Won’t you get into trouble?”
Again she waved her hand. “Clem won’t know what hit him. I’m good at talking my way out of trouble.”
“Thank you,” he said, pressing her hands.
Her eyes misted and she quickly looked away. Grabbing a glass lamp from a nearby table, she screamed, “Clem!”
Seconds later, he burst through the door. “Tina, what’s—”
Crash!
The lamp found its mark, and Clem fell unconscious to the ground.
Tina looked into the hallway. “Hurry!”
With the red satin gown slung over his arm, Michael rushed to Star’s room. He flung open the door and shut it quickly after him.
“Michael!” She flew into his arms, knocking the breath from him. “Oh, my love. I thought they’d killed you.” As much as he relished having her in his arms, he pushed her gently from him.
Her lips quivered. “Michael, I’m so sorry I wasn’t honest with you from the very first day.”
“It’s all right. We have a lot to talk about, Honey, but for now put this on.”
Star gasped as she glanced at the gown.
“Trust me,” he urged.
Hesitantly she took the dress. Michael faced the door. Listening to the rustle of the satin behind him, he inwardly cringed, hating the thought that she’d have to wear the immodest garment.
“I–I’m ready,” she said a moment later, her voice trembling and barely above a whisper.
Michael gathered a sharp breath at the sight of her. The pain in his stomach extended from the physical to a very emotional pain.
She lowered her gaze, her face ashen. “I love you,” she whispered. “I’m sorry to bring you into such a mess.”
He went to her and drew her gently into his arms. “I love you too. You’ll never have need to be ashamed again, my love.”
Pulling away, he cupped her cheeks and gently kissed her lips, despite the pain in his own.
“How touching.”
Looking past Michael, Star gasped. “Luke!”
❧
Nausea seized Star at the sight of Luke standing in the doorway, holding a gun on them. His face held no hint of its usual calm. Instead, the veins in his neck bulged. He sneered. “You look lovely, Star. Finally dressed as you should be.” Turning his attention to Michael, Luke gave a mocking grin. “It appears as though you can’t be taught a lesson, Mr. Riley. I believe I made it clear that Star remains with me.”
Michael pulled Star into the circle of his arm. “And I told you, I’m taking her home.”
“Ah, yes. You intend to make her the little wife. But don’t you realize what having babies will do to her figure?”
Heat burned Star’s cheeks even as she realized that he’d said Michael intended to make her his wife. Joy bubbled inside of her, pushing back the fear.
“What do you intend to do?” Michael asked.
“Well, unfortunately for me, the sheriff came in to get himself a beer. If I shoot you right now, he’ll hear it, and I doubt I could make him believe another drifter killed you. It looks like we’ll have to wait here until the sheriff finishes his drink.”
He stepped forward. “Now, turn loose of my girl, please.”
“She’s not your girl,” Michael said through gritted teeth.
“She’ll be dead if you don’t do as I said.”
Unwilling to take a chance that Luke might fly into a rage and harm Michael, Star stepped away from the warmth of his arm.
Luke rewarded her with a smile. “That’s a good girl. If you keep being cooperative, I won’t have to punish you too much.”
“You won’t touch her,” Michael said.
“Is that so?” Luke’s free hand shot out and grabbed Star. She gasped as his fingers bit painfully into her bare arm. “Let’s get one thing straight before you die. I will touch her anytime I choose and however I choose.” Keeping his gun pointed at Michael’s chest, he brought his mouth down hard on Star’s. She fought against him; and in that wretched moment when his cold lips punished hers, she brought her hands flat against his chest and shoved as hard as she could. Then before he could get his bearings, she grabbed his hand that held the gun and knocked the weapon onto the floor. Racing forward, Star kicked it toward Michael.
“Why you. . .” Cold hatred shot from Luke’s eyes. “You’ll regret that.” He brought his hand up.
“I wouldn’t advise that.” Michael’s tone carried a deadly threat. Star held her breath as Luke’s arm remained poised to strike. With a sneer, he gave in and dropped his arm to his side. Michael motioned him to a straight-backed wooden chair. “Get something to tie him up with, Star.”
Glancing about, Star felt as helpless as a kitten until she spotted a corset hanging from a peg in the corner. She grabbed the garment and pulled out the strings. “This is all I could find.”
Michael scowled. “That won’t hold him for long, but it’ll give us time to get out of here. Take the gun and keep it aimed at him.”
Star took the weapon. Luke’s lips twisted into a smirk. “Do you really think I’m going to let you go? All this is, is a little setback. Even if you do get out of here, we know where to find you. Make no mistake, Star. I’ll come after you.”
“Shut up, Luke,” Michael said as he wound the corset strings around the meaty wrists.
Ignoring Michael’s threatening tone, Luke continued to bait. “I recognized you’d be a great beauty even when you were a little girl. Why do you think I kept your mother around as long as I did? I should have kicked her out five years ago, and I would have if not for you. She barely earned enough to feed and clothe the two of you, but I knew once you were old enough, you’d more than make up for what she cost me.”
Fury began to build inside of Star. Oh, God, help me. Her finger rested on the trigger. She’d never fired a gun before, but at this range, she knew she couldn’t miss.
“Shut up, Luke,” she whispered. “Just stop talking.”
“Come now, Star. What are you going to do? Kill me? After I raised you as though you were my own daughter? You’re as ungrateful as your filthy mother was. After all I did for her, she had the nerve to threaten to take you and leave. I had to kill her, and I’d do it again.”
Star’s world zeroed in on one thing. . .the fact that she held the means to avenge her mother’s death. All it would take was a little more pressure and Luke would be dead.
“Give me the gun, Star.” Star barely heard Michael’s voice through the fog of memories that roared through her mind. She heard her mother’s scream. Heard Luke’s taunting confession. Lord, he deserves to die. Tears flooded her eyes as her mind filled with the image of Jesus on the cross. She couldn’t do it. No matter how much she believed he deserved to die, Jesus had died for him too, and she had no right to take his life. She handed the gun to Michael. “Take it,” she said hoarsely.
The door burst open at that moment. Tina, accompanied by the sheriff, walked into the room.
“It’s a good thing you’re here, Sheriff,” Luke said. “These two were about to rob me. I want them arrested.”
“Save it. We heard every word you said to the girl. You just talked yourself into a murder charge, Luke.”
Protesting all the way, Luke was escorted out by the sheriff. Star smiled at Tina. “I don’t know how we can thank you for all you’ve done.”
The woman’s face grew red. “Think nothing of it. I guess now we all gotta start thinking about another place to work.” She winked at the two of them. “Unless I can find me a cowboy like yours.” With a grin,
she left them.
Star caught her breath and sat hard on the bed. “Oh, Michael. I almost killed him.” She covered her face with her hands.
He came to her and knelt before her. “Shh,” he said, taking her hands from her face and holding them firmly. “The important thing is, you didn’t.”
“I’m just so glad it’s over, and Luke won’t be able to hurt anyone else.”
Michael nodded. “So am I.” He captured her gaze. “I’m glad all of this is behind us and we can get on with our life together.”
He stroked her hand with his thumb.
“Our life together?” she whispered, afraid to believe it.
Pressing her hands to his lips, he kissed each knuckle, then looked up to capture her gaze. “I was so wrong. I accused you of not being a decent woman, when the truth is that anything in the past is gone.
“When Luke told me what you were, I went crazy with jealousy that other men had touched you.”
“Michael. . .”
“Let me finish.” He kissed her hand again. “I sought the Lord long and hard about this, and I know that I have no right to hold something against you that He forgot the moment you confessed it. I don’t have to be ashamed or afraid to love you and make you my wife. You’re as pure as the day you were born as far as God is concerned. And as far as I’m concerned as well.”
Tears flowed down Star’s cheeks. Pulling her hands gently from his, she slid from the bed to the floor and knelt beside him. “Oh, Michael. Luke told you I was one of his girls?”
“Yes, my love. But it doesn’t matter. I want you to be my wife and Aimee’s mother.” His brown eyes filled with tears. “I never want to be without you again. Tell me you’ll marry me.”
“Of course, I will. But, Michael, you have to know something.”
“What’s that?
Placing her palm against his cheek, she smiled. “Darling, I am coming to you pure.”
“I know, Honey. I know.”
“No, you don’t know.” He was being so noble, she almost didn’t have the heart to tell him. “Luke lied to you. I was never one of his girls. That’s why I ran away in the first place—because he was going to force me to work for him. When I say I’m coming to you untouched, I mean it.”
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