She’d never wish that on another living soul.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Christie glided into the ballroom with a tight, fixed smile. After tucking Evie in and suffering Meagan’s hysterics over a rent in the hem of her gown, Christie was fit to be tied. Meeting a prospective husband, who wasn’t a possibility at all, seemed an ominous task.
Good God!
Why wouldn’t her father face facts?
Her reputation was ruined. Word may not have reached the ears of the eastern gossip mills yet, but eventually it would, and when it did, she’d be thoroughly compromised. Just how long did he intend to string Mr. Cavanaugh along?
Gad!
Would he never give up?
Well, if he wouldn’t set Cavanaugh straight, she would. She couldn’t come right out and say she was no longer a pinnacle of virtue, nor that her own impetuous actions had led to her destruction. But, she could inform him of her kidnapping, which would hopefully lead him to his own conclusions.
There.
That wasn’t so hard.
Now all she had to do was say it out loud.
No sooner had Christie glided through the door, than did Aunt Madeline hustle over to take her by the arm. Her delicate nostrils flared as her high voice rose above the music from the string quartet and the din of the crowd. “I’m sorry, my love. The Cavanaughs are here, but he isn’t.” She shook her head, bouncing her crown of strawberry curls. “I don’t know what’s keeping him.” She gave a vigorous flutter with the green silk brocade fan, which matched her gown. “But Carolyn assures me he’s coming.”
“No need to worry on my account.” Christie flicked open her white lace fan as Aunt Madeline towed her by the arm through the chattering throng of guests. “I have no desire to meet him at all.”
Aunt Madeline tilted her head to bring her lips closer to Christie’s ear. “Yes, yes, I know, so you’ve said, but I believe you’ll be singing a different tune once you’ve clapped eyes on him. He’s devilishly handsome, at least he was the last time I saw him.”
“And when was that?” Aunt Madeline had placed him on such a high pedestal, Christie was beginning to wonder if he was actually real.
Tiny lights danced in Aunt Madeline’s green eyes. “After the war, I can’t quite remember when. At his wedding, perhaps.”
“Wedding?”
“Yes, he was married once. According to Carolyn, he has led a very adventuresome life since his wife’s death. I doubt he’ll be as shocked about your kidnapping as you think. Besides, after he sees how ravishing you are, he’ll be too besotted to care.”
Christie gave a wry laugh. “You and Father are a great pair, making rules as you go along. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way, as you’ve both told me so many times. After a lifetime of hearing you harp on about the necessity of keeping my virtue intact, you can’t suddenly and casually push it aside to suit your own ends.”
“We shall see.”
That’s what her father said, but as far as Christie was concerned, they were both clutching at straws. Oh well, it could be worse. They could have disowned her as many families would have, instead of sinking their teeth into Cavanaugh’s unsuspecting hide, like a pair of rabid terriers.
After a series of lengthy introductions, Aunt Madeline trotted off to see to her guests, leaving Christie with her father.
“I’m beginning to regret giving my consent to this trip.” Her father scowled daggers across the dance floor at Meagan, who was laughing with rapture. “Especially when my side of the bargain isn’t being upheld.”
“I’m here, aren’t I?” Christie’s voice came tight and strained. “I’m doing my part. When and if you produce this gentleman, I shall happily speak with him.”
His lips flattened as his gaze swept the crowd. “Where in God’s name can he be!”
“Perhaps it’s for the best. You can forget about marrying me off and concentrate on seeing Meagan properly matched.”
“No, it is not for the best,” he said with great feeling. “You are the eldest and so should be married first.”
“It makes no difference to me if Meagan marries before I do, or if I even marry at all,” she declared flatly. “As long as Meagan is happy and settled, I shall be very happy. She’s almost eighteen.”
He let out a loud huff of exasperation. “And you wonder why I am so persistent. For God’s sake Christie! Forget about your sisters for once and worry about your own happiness. I’m their father and quite capable of taking care of them myself.”
Christie stiffened at his stern rebuff.
“I’m sorry. That dinna come out the way I wanted,” he said, slipping into his brogue, as he always did when he spoke passionately about anything. He gathered both of her hands in his. “Don’t you see, it was wrong of me to pile such responsibility on you at such a young age. Finding you a good husband is the only way I can make it up to you.” He ran one hand through his hair. “Oh damn, I’ve made such a mess of this! If only I hadn’t sent you to Nevada.”
“It wasn’t your fault. I wanted to go. I don’t regret it for a moment.” If she hadn’t gone, she’d have never met Nat. But she couldn’t tell her father that, so she shrugged and said the only thing she could think of to ease his mind, “Not to worry, Mr. Cavanaugh isn’t the only fish in the sea. One day I’ll meet someone who cares for me more than his reputation. In the meantime, why don’t we enjoy ourselves? Come along,” she said, taking her father by the arm. “There’s a reel playing. Let’s show them how it’s done.”
For such a large man, her father was surprisingly agile on his feet.
Christie found herself forgetting where she was and why she was there. By the time the dance ended, her cheeks were flushed with the effort of keeping up with him. Her head continued to whirl as he led her laughing from the floor.
Aunt Madeline whirled over, gushing like a schoolgirl. “What did I tell you, he’s here! Carolyn’s bringing him over to meet you right now.”
Christie lifted her gaze in the direction of her aunt’s wave.
What she saw made her blink.
Her whole body went weak.
If not for her father’s firm grip on her arm, she might have crumbled to the floor.
Nat.
What was he doing here?
A deluge of emotions rushed over her — joy, desire, regret.
Her first instinct was to turn and bolt — hide her distress and confusion.
Then it was too late.
He was there — coming toward her.
She was trapped.
There was no time for polite excuses. Besides, what use would it do? She couldn’t run from her own heart. She’d already tried.
Her pulse pounded so loud in her ears, Aunt Madeline’s introduction only registered as a faint hum.
Carolyn Cavanaugh extended her hand to Christie, then her father, while murmuring something Christie couldn’t comprehend.
Christie just stood there, staring at Nat, tongue caught as though stuck to a frozen lamp-post.
Nat held out his hand and drawled, “Pleasure to meet you, Miss Wallace.”
“Yes,” she managed to utter, lost in the deep blue of his eyes — too afraid to speak, for fear he wasn’t real and her words might make him disappear.
“Perhaps you’d care to dance?” He didn’t wait for an answer, but took her by the arm and led her onto the floor.
Her legs trembled beneath the folds of her gold, silk gown as he swept her into his arms. “What are you doing here?” She rasped.
“Rescuing you.” He cocked a lazy half smile. “I should have thought that was obvious.”
Rescuing her?
What did that mean?
She didn’t understand.
In fact, she couldn’t think at all.
The sight of his tanned face, the one she dreamt of every night, rendered her completely speechless. The feel of his arm around her waist and the touch of his hand quickly wiped all thought from her head. She felt as though she was floating on air, like a feather, and any moment a gust of wind might come up and blow it away. “What do you mean?”
“You’re looking for a husband aren’t you?”
“Yes … I mean no!” Her mouth dropped open. It took a moment to maneuver her tongue. “You’re Nathan Cavanaugh — the man my father wants me to marry?”
“Randall was my mother’s maiden name.” He sounded calm and matter of fact. “I took it when the Pinkerton’s recruited me during the war. But that’s a long story.”
Christie blinked.
It was all too sudden — too confusing — too good to be true. Her Nat was the man she’d been running from all along. The one she didn’t want, but longed to have. Her lip began to tremble. She couldn’t speak. Something swelled to her throat. If not for Nat holding her up, she’d have dropped to the floor.
He lifted one brow and smiled. “Well, what’s it going to be, sweetheart, yes or no? I’ve got a ranch to run. Should I book passage for a long sail, or a quick train ride?”
“Yes!” She threw her arms around his neck with a sob.
After a moment, Nat drew her away from him. “You’re not crying are you?” He gazed down at her, looking completely baffled, as though he didn’t quite know what to make of her. Of course, he didn’t know what she’d been through — how leaving Nevada had been like a deathblow.
“Of course not.” She drew a shaky breath, attempting to rein in her emotions.
“Come on,” he said, taking her by the hand. “We’d better get out of here. I have a feeling your father’s the kind of man who shoots first and asks questions later.”
A quick glance over her shoulder explained what he meant.
The murderous look on Ian Wallace’s face across the dance floor, hurried her along behind Nat.
He led her straight out the French doors, down the stone steps, and around the house to the gate.
The fresh air shocked Christie back to her senses. “You’re supposed to be rescuing me, not kidnapping me. What are you doing? Where are you taking me?”
“To my carriage where we can talk in private, without a gun pointed at my back.”
“This isn’t Nevada.” Christie laughed as she raced along beside him. “My father isn’t packing a gun. Even if he were, he wouldn’t shoot you. Though I’ve heard Aunt Madeline say he can hold his own in a round of fisticuffs.”
“I’ll bet he can,” Nat said, handing her up into the carriage. “I’ll have to put an addition on the house, if our sons decide to grow that big.”
“Sons?” she inquired, after he’d returned from speaking to the driver, to settle on the seat beside her. “Just how long have you been planning this? Don’t tell me you’ve known about this all along, because if you have, I don’t know what I shall say!”
“I hope you’re not thinking of slapping me again,” he said, gathering her into his arms. “Not after all the trouble I went to, to make an honest woman out of you.”
Her gasp was lost in the loud rattle of carriage wheels as they rolled off down the lane. “I was an honest woman long before I met you, Nat Randall — Nathan Cavanaugh, whatever your name is.” She struggled to pull away. “How long have you known about this? Tell me?”
“Very well,” he conceded with a chuckle. “I started to put it together not long after I saw you with Burke.”
“The Pinkerton man? He accosted me on the boat, inquiring about your whereabouts. Of course at the time, I didn’t know you were there.”
“Burke has a habit of showing up at the wrong time.” Nat’s tone turned to annoyance. “I wouldn’t have missed that damn train if it hadn’t been for him.”
“You came to the station?” A lump formed in her throat. “You were there?”
“Of course I came.” He ran one long finger along the edge of her cheek. I said I would, didn’t I?”
Delicious rivers of heat rushed over her skin. “I waited as long as I could.” She groaned with remorse. “But … ”
He drew her into his arms and kissed her tenderly.
The feel and the taste of him made her go weak. To think that he was hers for the rest of her days, rushed joy straight through her to the tips of her toes, and something else — something untamed and fierce, like a great hunger after a hard day’s work.
“I know. The stationmaster told me,” he rasped against her ear. “If Burke hadn’t delayed me, I’d have been there.”
“What did he want?” Her voice rose, thinking of all the agonizing hours she’d spent, thinking Nat didn’t care.
“My father sent him to look for me.” He proceeded to place tiny kisses all over her neck. “But let’s talk about it later,” he said thickly, unhooking her gown, “When I can think.”
So that was the reason he’d come home — to make peace with his father. Uncertainty and disappointment pricked at the back of her mind. Did he actually love her, or was his proposal just a result of their fathers’ plot? Was this just another promise Nat had been forced into?
But when he pushed her back on the leather seat quivering and naked, she found she no longer cared. The hard heat of him pressed tight against her spoke of another promise — too urgent — too wild to compare.
“Christie,” he breathed. “Do you know what you do to me?”
“The same thing you do to me.”
His mouth crushed against hers and she could no longer think. The carriage filled with warmth as their bodies joined.
She went careening down that slippery slope of desire only to be lifted up and up and up, higher, and higher, until she flew and crashed in a splintering climax. Pulses of delicious pleasure squeezed her inside and out, making her cry out Nat’s name.
He plunged one more deep earth-shattering thrust then collapsed with his face in her hair. And still, she couldn’t get enough of touching him, running her hands down his back, feeling his heart beat fast and hard against hers. They lay entwined for the longest time, breathing hard.
“Good God, woman!” Nat rose up with his hands braced behind her head, panting for breath. “Never leave me again.”
She couldn’t stop smiling. “Are you saying that you missed me?”
He chuckled. “I’m saying if I have to wait that long again, it will take more than a trip around The Horn to satisfy my lust.”
“Oh! I see!” She attempted to push him off, giving a look of mock horror. “Is that all you’re marrying me for?”
“Of course not.” He placed both hands on her shoulders to hold her still. “You’re uncommonly beautiful besides being the lustiest woman I’ve ever met.” He chuckled. “But the main reason is, I love you and I can’t live without you.”
She swallowed hard, blinking back the tears brimming in her eyes. “You love me?”
“I wouldn’t marry you if I didn’t.” He smiled down at her. “I may be as loyal as an old hound, but I’m not stupid enough to ever do that again.”
“I thought cowboys were tougher than that.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him slowly and thoroughly. “But don’t worry, your secret’s safe with me.”
About the Author
Rachel Donnelly lives in Canada with her husband, two children, and one crazy cat. She fell in love with historical romance as a teenager and, after reading everyone she could get her hands on, decided to write some of her own.
Sneak Peek at Crimson Romance
Charming the Chieftain by Deanie Roman
Brave in Heart
Emma Barry
Avon, Massachusetts
This edition published by
Crimson Romance
an i
mprint of F+W Media, Inc.
10151 Carver Road, Suite 200
Blue Ash, Ohio 45242
www.crimsonromance.com
Copyright © 2013 by Emma Barry
ISBN 10: 1-4405-7022-1
ISBN 13: 978-1-4405-7022-3
eISBN 10: 1-4405-7023-X
eISBN 13: 978-1-4405-7023-0
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, corporations, institutions, organizations, events, or locales in this novel are either the product of the author’s imagination or, if real, used fictitiously. The resemblance of any character to actual persons (living or dead) is entirely coincidental.
Cover art © istockphoto.com/RapidEye, istockphoto.com/oliale72
To Tim, Henry, and Eleanor, you have my heart.
Contents
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Prologue
Chapter I
Chapter II
Chapter III
Chapter IV
Chapter V
Chapter VI
Chapter VII
Chapter VIII
Chapter IX
Chapter X
Chapter XI
Chapter XII
Chapter XIII
Chapter XIV
Chapter XV
Chapter XVI
Chapter XVII
Chapter XVIII
Chapter XIX
Chapter XX
Epilogue
About the Author
A Sneak Peek from Crimson Romance
Acknowledgments
It would be impossible to sufficiently thank everyone who assisted the creation of Brave in Heart. If we’ve met and talked about books — which is another way of saying if we’ve met — you’ve helped form my taste and hone my mind and I am in your debt.
To be a more specific: to my teachers for making me love the written word, the United States of America, and its complicated, painful history. To the men and women whose remembrances of and fiction about the American Civil War haunt me. To the authors, living and dead, whose books made me want to write down the stories I imagine.
Time After Time Page 143