To Kiss a Texan

by Jodi Thomas

  ‘‘Who is that with you?’’ Victoria asked. ‘‘I hear another crawling behind you like a snake.’’

  ‘‘Don’t you recognize your own son?’’ Katherine snapped. ‘‘Has it been so many years you’d forget the sound of his footsteps?’’

  Victoria’s face softened for a moment. ‘‘Michael, I thought you’d never come home.’’

  ‘‘I didn’t, Mother. I came to take what’s mine before you give it away. You’ve dominated everything and everyone in your life for years. But you never could dominate me. Not even with your slave-dog, Hardy, to keep tracking me down. I took my freedom years ago, and now I’ve come back to take what belongs to me.’’

  Allie watched. He raised his weapon.

  ‘‘Good-bye, Mother!’’ He said the last word with pure hate in his tone.

  Victoria stood like a ruling queen before him. She didn’t look surprised or even hurt by his words. She silently accepted a fate she’d known would come with the same courage with which she’d faced all problems in her life.

  Just as Michael drew his mother into his gun sight, a shot rang out from the hallway, hitting him full in the chest. Blood splattered over the fine lace tablecloths and handmade cushions as he fell.

  ‘‘You’ve killed him!’’ Katherine screamed as she dropped with Michael to the floor. She tried to break his fall, but her body was too frail.

  Victoria didn’t move as Wes stormed the room, his gun still aimed at Michael as though the man in black might yet rally to fight.

  ‘‘Are you all right, Victoria?’’ Wes yelled.

  She nodded slightly.

  ‘‘And Allie? And the sheriff?’’ Wes advanced, laying his weapon down when he saw Hardy’s wound.

  Before Victoria could answer, Katherine screamed a full war cry. ‘‘Who cares about them? They’re nothing! Michael’s been shot. Victoria, McLain’s killed your last son.’’

  The old blind woman blinked back tears, not allowing them to fall. ‘‘I know. It had to be done, and I couldn’t have pulled the trigger. He was rotten from childhood. By the time he could talk I knew something was twisted in his soul. He hated me for everything I ever did to help him. Just as he hated Maxwell.’’

  ‘‘Well, a man like McLain is not getting away with killing one of my kin.’’ Katherine rose with Michael’s gun in her hand. ‘‘A life for a life, that’s what the Good Book says.’’

  Wes jumped for his Colt as twin blasts shattered the room. For a moment he froze, surprised he felt no pain. Then Katherine crumbled, her body falling protectively over Michael’s. Her blood blended with his on the multicolored rug.

  Victoria calmly laid Maxwell’s gun back at his side and walked slowly to her sister. Her steps were not as sure as they had been. She felt her way, stretching her hands low in front of her, searching for her sister.

  The tip of Victoria’s boot touched the bundled fabric of Katherine’s dress. She knelt, pulling Katherine into her arms, holding the wounded woman to her chest.

  ‘‘Why?’’ Victoria whispered. ‘‘Why’d you unlock the gate, Katherine?’’

  ‘‘It wasn’t—’’

  ‘‘Of course it was. Don’t lie to me now. I stood just above the kitchen door listening to the swish of your skirts. Nothing sounds like your skirts moving about the place. I should have yelled to warn Wes and the guard, but I couldn’t believe you’d truly open us up for attack.’’

  Neither of the old women seemed aware of the action going on around them. Their world was only one another. They didn’t notice Wes calling for Allie and then helping her down from the shelves.

  Katherine gripped her side in pain as her face twisted with hatred. ‘‘All right. I opened the door. I let Michael in. I couldn’t let you give everything away to a little tramp of a girl who lived wild like a savage. Michael has always had a man in Austin watching for her to surface. He thought he took care of her when she was given to a preacher who swore he’d take her north and keep her caged. But McLain didn’t mind his own business, then Hardy interfered when the preacher failed.’’

  Victoria moved her hands gently over her sister’s cheek. ‘‘Michael wanted the ranch that badly?’’

  ‘‘Bad enough to kill anyone who got in his way. Including you, dear sister.’’ Katherine almost spit the words.

  ‘‘But why you?’’ Victoria asked. ‘‘Did you hate me so much?’’

  Shots continued outside. Wes ordered Allie to do what she could for the sheriff and Katherine, then vanished through the window with both Colts drawn.

  Katherine’s voice weakened. ‘‘Yes,’’ she choked out the words, ‘‘you’ve always had everything. The love of many men, children, wealth. I’ve had nothing.Nothing.’’

  Victoria cradled her sister. ‘‘But you had my love.’’

  ‘‘I didn’t want your love.’’ Her words were only a faint whisper now. ‘‘I wanted your life.’’

  Victoria rocked her little sister to sleep with the same lullaby she’d used when they were children. She’d lost her Michael years ago. She’d only been hanging on to memories and hope. But she’d lost her sister tonight.

  Allie watched her, not knowing how to help. Victoria was in a world of darkness now without a guide.

  Though gunfire still sounded outside, in the study all was quiet.

  TWENTY-TWO

  THE GUNFIGHT FINALLY STOPPED. TORCHES AND lanterns were lit in the courtyard. All told, seven men had passed through the door. And seven men, including Michael, lay dead . . . along with three of Victoria’s army.Wes checked Hardy’s wounds and hurried back toward Allie. He’d sent Gideon and Jason on ahead to see if the sheriff was still alive, but Wes held little hope.

  ‘‘McLain!’’ yelled the guard manning the main gate as Wes reached the center of the courtyard. ‘‘More riders coming in fast. Do we fire?’’

  By now, the moon was up, giving any man a clear shot from the level of the gate. Snakes, like Michael’s men, would be holding to the shadows.

  ‘‘No!’’ Wes climbed the ladder to the lookout post. ‘‘Stand ready, but let them come closer.’’

  He looked into the night. Three riders sliced the distance between them and the headquarters. Wes could tell by the way they handled their mounts they were experienced horsemen who’d spent most of their lives in the saddle. As they neared, he shouldered his rifle, holding his call to fire until they were nearer.

  Their hats were low, their dusters flying in the night like huge capes. If men could truly ride the wind, these three appeared to be doing just that. A bag bounced on the side of one rider’s saddle—a medical bag.

  Suddenly Wes lowered his weapon and jumped from his post. ‘‘Hold your fire!’’ he shouted. ‘‘Open the gates!’’

  For a moment, the guards stood staring.

  ‘‘Open the gates!’’ Wes ordered again. ‘‘Let my brothers in!’’

  Dust flew as the men rode through the gates and pulled their powerful animals to a stop.

  Daniel jumped down first. ‘‘We heard shots!’’ He spotted Wes and rushed toward him. ‘‘Is everyone all right?’’

  Wes slapped his little brother on the shoulders. ‘‘Showed up a little late, preacher. The fighting’s all over.’’

  Adam swung from his saddle, unstrapping his medical bag as he moved. ‘‘We came as soon as we could. The sheriff in Brady didn’t know where you’d gone, but the doc said he’d been out here and seen you and Allie.’’

  The huge hairy man who made up the trio remained in his saddle. ‘‘My housekeeper telegraphed that you might need us. You’re not an easy man to track down, Wes McLain.’’ His voice was loud and deep, like a rumbling river. ‘‘ ’Course, I had to go to Fort Worth first. You Yanks can’t bring a McLain into this world without me. I’m getting to be a regular midwife . . . even if this one did jump out of Nichole so fast Adam barely had time to catch it.’’

  ‘‘Welcome, Wolf,’’ Wes laughed as he motioned his brothers up the stairs. ‘‘And what d
o we share? A nephew, or a niece?’’

  ‘‘A niece. But don’t worry, I’ll teach her to ride and shoot just like I did my Nick.’’ Wolf shook his head, as though to say he had his work cut out for him as an uncle.

  ‘‘Adam, you’ll need your bag.’’ Wes motioned with his head toward the house. ‘‘We have one man down. As soon as he’s taken care of, I want every detail of the new McLain, except the birthing, of course.’’

  Wolf grabbed the reins of Daniel’s and Adam’s mounts. ‘‘I’ll see to the horses. I’ll get there in time for the bandaging or the burying. I’d just as soon miss the doctoring.’’

  The three McLain brothers walked through the double doors, shoulder to shoulder. Wes wasted little time with introductions as Adam went to work on the sheriff.Daniel helped Wes clear out the bodies of Michael and his gunman. Victoria insisted her sister be taken upstairs to her own room so that she could be properly dressed.

  Wes saw to all that had to be done, then dozed in the chair as Adam continued to work on Hardy. He couldn’t explain the peace he felt at having Adam, Daniel, and Wolf with him. He now had someone to cover his back if there was more trouble.

  He slept while Allie helped Adam. Wolf and Daniel bedded down outside with the men, and Jason watched, fascinated by every stitch Adam made. The boy finally had a real doctor he could put questions to—and he appeared to have been storing them up for years.

  At dawn, Victoria walked behind Michael’s casket to the family graveyard. She listened without emotion as Daniel said the last words and prayed. She didn’t move from her place until she heard the thud of the box hit bottom. Then, she raised her hand to Gideon’s arm and they walked back to the house not saying a word.

  An hour later, she made the same journey behind Katherine’s casket. This time, tears flowed from her eyes. Victoria didn’t wipe them away or try to hide her sorrow.

  By midmorning, the marshal had come from town to collect the bodies of Michael’s men. He didn’t bother asking too many questions. Most, he said, he recognized as troublemakers from as far back as he’d pinned on a badge. As far as he was concerned Wes and Victoria’s Old Guard had done the state a favor.

  He also brought news of a stranger asking questions about a woman who fit Allie’s description. The marshal hadn’t been too loose with information, because the stranger claimed Allie was being held against her will. The lawman wasn’t certain about Wes, but half the town remembered seeing Allie in the restaurant. He had twenty witnesses who would swear the little lady didn’t appear to be in bondage when she kissed her husband in front of half the town. Also, he knew Victoria would tolerate no such thing at her ranch.

  At exactly noon, three more dead were delivered to the cemetery. Fallen warriors. Wolf, Allie, and the McLains stood beside Victoria as her men were given a full military funeral. Republic of Texas flags draped the coffins and a full-gun salute resounded in the countryside.

  When they returned to the house, Victoria and Jason took their meals beside a still-breathing Maxwell. The McLains congregated in the kitchen.

  Wolf related every detail of the birth of his niece, ending with how Nichole ordered them all out to help Wes so she could get some rest. She swore if they didn’t ride to his aid within the day, that she would do so herself.

  The men laughed, marveling at how easily a woman ran their lives. Adam even told a story of May, Daniel’s wife. The healing from her death had begun, and the memories were no longer so painful to voice. The way the McLains treasured their women hung thick in the room.

  When Allie entered, the men fell silent, self-conscious of a woman seeing such vulnerability. They all watched her as she filled her bowl and joined them at the table.

  After several minutes of silence, Daniel could hold his tongue no longer. ‘‘Is this the same girl who held a knife on us all the morning I married her to you, Wes? Or did you trade wives somewhere long the trail?’’

  Wes smiled. ‘‘Allie, you’ve met everyone but Nichole’s brother, Wolf.’’

  ‘‘Howdy, ma’am,’’ the bear of a man said as he slid along the bench to within a few feet of her. ‘‘I’m real sorry to hear about you having to marry Weston. He’s meaner than a polecat in quicksand. You want me to kill him for you and make you a happy widow?’’

  Allie’s eyes widened in panic.

  Wes smiled. ‘‘Stop it, Wolf. You’re scaring her. She thinks you’re serious.’’

  Allie relaxed and continued her meal.

  ‘‘Well, maybe I am,’’ Wolf bellowed. ‘‘One look at this lady tells me she’s far too fine a woman for the likes of you, Yank. And she’s little, too. You should have married a few hundred pounds of woman who could box your ears good and hard now and again.’’ He grinned and danced his bushy eyebrows. ‘‘You want me to skin him for you like we do down in Tennessee?’’

  Allie’s eyes widened and she dropped her spoon.

  ‘‘That’s enough, Wolf,’’ Wes warned. ‘‘She doesn’t get the joke.’’

  ‘‘What joke?’’ Wolf teased. ‘‘There’s getting to be a pile of McLains in this world. I could thin the herd a bit.’’

  In one swift movement, Allie grabbed her knife from her boot and swung along the table to stick the blade to Wolf’s throat.

  All laughing stopped.

  Wolf held his hands up. ‘‘I was only—’’

  ‘‘Do not touch Wes,’’ Allie stated without humor. She let the knife remain a moment longer then pulled away and slipped it back in her boot. ‘‘I will kill him myself if he gets bothersome.’’

  Wolf’s laughter rumbled from deep within him, and all the men relaxed. ‘‘Mighty nice to meet you, ma’am,’’ he bellowed when he could gain enough control.

  He slapped Wes hard on the back. ‘‘That’s one fine woman, Wes. To think I was worried about her being so small up against the likes of you. Now, I’m thinking maybe I should worry about you.’’

  Wes watched Allie closely. He’d done it again. He’d judged her short. She’d understood the teasing and played along in just the way Wolf would understand. If she’d cried or panicked, Wolf would have never stopped pestering. She was changing before Wes’s eyes.

  Jason hurried into the room as the men laughed. ‘‘Doc, the sheriff’s asking for water.’’

  Adam stood. ‘‘I’ve got a feeling Hardy’s out of danger. I’ll check the bandages.’’

  He went back to Hardy. Daniel and Wolf excused themselves for the night. All at once, Wes was alone with Allie.

  He sat drinking the last of his coffee and watched her move about the kitchen. It seemed like it had been a month since they’d been alone in the bedroom. There was still much to be said between them, decisions to be made, plans.

  He could feel her nervousness as she moved about. She was busy doing nothing, but she didn’t leave the room.

  Without a word, he stood and walked to the fireplace where she poked at the embers. He took the iron from her hand and replaced it, then pulled her into his arms.

  For a moment she didn’t react, then she softened against him. Slowly, she raised her hands and circled his neck.

  He lifted her up, molding her to him as he buried his face in her hair. He wanted to hold her tight, to breathe her inside him. But he knew he could have only a part of her and Wes wasn’t sure that would be enough.

  TWENTY-THREE

  WES SAT ALONE ON THE WIDOW’S WALK, WATCHING the sun come up. He’d slept in the study until almost dawn, knowing he couldn’t go up to the bedroom he shared with Allie. Another day was coming, and he had some decisions to make before everyone woke up. Maxwell held his own despite continued loss of blood from his chest wound. Now that the trouble was over, Adam and Daniel were in a hurry to start home. But the doctor in Adam wouldn’t allow him to leave until he knew Maxwell was out of danger.

  ‘‘But what of me?’’ Wes mumbled to the rising sun. ‘‘Where am I headed?’’

  He unfolded the map and spread it across his leg. The Goliad gold
. Maybe it was only a legend. He might be chasing something that never existed.

  But what were his alternatives? He could take Allie back to his ranch and scratch out a living until next spring. If she’d go. She’d only promised to stay with him until the danger was over.

  Maybe she could remain here while he looked for the treasure, or she could ride back toward Fort Worth with his brothers.

  Wes took a swig of an almost full whiskey bottle, making a face as he lowered his liquid breakfast. The liquor wasn’t going to do it this time. It couldn’t make the emptiness go away.

  Never, she’d said. Never was a long time.

  He tried to tell himself it didn’t matter. He could just be around her and protect her—that was all he’d signed on for in the first place. If she were hurt or dying, then her not being able to make love to him wouldn’t make him turn away. He’d still stay by her side.

  But she wasn’t hurt or dying. She was healthy and more than able to feel the passion in his kisses and to react to his touch. She just didn’t want him as a woman should want a man. As he wanted her.

  He propped his foot on the railing. What was he going to do with Allie? Or maybe the question was, what was he going to do about the feelings churning inside himself? For, according to Allie, he was going to do nothing with her.

  The trapdoor rattled. Wes turned with dread, figuring he was in for another lecture from Miss Victoria. The old woman had been almost silent since the shootings, but he didn’t think it would last.

  Wolf squeezed his bulk through the opening. ‘‘You reckon this little walk will hold us both?’’ He glanced at the ten-foot length and three-foot width, as if doubting.

  He took one look at Wes and laughed. ‘‘Who cares. We’ll have quite a ride down if it doesn’t. Right?’’

  ‘‘Right.’’ Wes offered him a drink.

  Wolf raised one bushy eyebrow. ‘‘I think I’ll wait until I’ve at least had my breakfast. But thanks for the offer.’’

  Wes turned back to the sunrise. He liked and respected Wolf, but Wes wasn’t in a mood to talk. Something told him that wouldn’t matter much to Wolf.