“Ah, well…” I smiled sheepishly. “I haven’t gotten out much, I reckon.”
Abigail shook her head in mock exasperation. “I don’t know what we’re gonna do about you, missy. I reckon we ought to ride to town and get some groceries.”
I bit down on my lip as I contemplated her. “Aw, Abby, I don’t think I can. I’m… not today.”
She tilted her head thoughtfully. “Well, you can’t rightly let Clay starve. A hungry husband is worse’n an angry bear.”
I giggled at her. “I ‘spose you’ve the right of it.”
“Libby and I could go for you.”
“Oh, no. I couldn’t let you do that.”
“It’s no trouble, truly. Isn’t that right, Libby?”
“We’d be happy to, Maggie.”
I smiled gratefully. “That’s mighty kind of you both. Thank you.” Libby reached for the baby and I tightened my grip around her. “Libby, I was thinking, might I keep Mabel here with me? She could keep me company, and give you a moment to yourself.”
“What a grand idea,” Abby said at the same time Libby replied, “I don’t know, Maggie.”
“Please?” I pleaded softly. “I promise I’ll take real good care of her while you’re out.”
“She’s family,” Abby interjected softly. “Besides which, you could use a bit of a break, Libby.”
“Well…” Libby turned her head to look at Abby and then back at me again. “I suppose it’d be alright then.”
I beamed a smile at the pair of them and they didn’t waste any time. Abby got me to dictate a list and I promised I’d have Clay pay the tabs next time he went in to town. It wasn’t until they’d left me alone with the baby—Abby had to practically pull Libby away, and even then she kept her neck craned around looking at us until the buggy pulled away—that I realized I hadn’t the faintest idea what to do with a baby.
“Hey there, Miz Mabel,” I cooed to her, bouncing her on my knees to see how she liked that. “I’m your aunt Maggie. You sure do have the prettiest smile, sweetheart.”
Mable seemed content to look up at me and gurgle.
“You’re tryin’ to answer me back, aren’t you? Oh, I know you are. You know what, I think I might have a toy back yonder.” I carried her, bouncing her just a bit, the way I’d seen Libby do. We’d just gotten to the bedroom when I heard the door screech open. “I’ll bet anythin’ that’s your mama,” I told little Mabel. “I guess she’s changed her mind, after all. Can’t say I blame her, you sure are a cute little thing.” I found the rag doll I’d used when I was a little girl and putting it under my arm, I toted Mabel back to the parlor.
When I saw the tall, unfamiliar man standing in the doorway of my house, I gave a start of surprise.
“Howdy, ma’am. I didn’t mean to spook you.”
“Why, whatever are you doin’?” I demanded, pulling the baby closer to me. “Who are you?”
“You’re not awful friendly, is you?”
I frowned at him, furrowing my brow. “You’re right, where are my manners? Beg your pardon, sir. Now, might I inquire as to why you find yourself in my house uninvited?”
“I thought I’d catch up with an old friend.”
I peered at the man through narrowed eyes. “Do you know my husband?”
He guffawed loudly. “Naw, I haven’t met your husband.”
“Then who—”
He doffed his hat and when he stood into the sunlight, I nearly collapsed. I’d know that strong jaw, those gray eyes anywhere. They’d haunted my dreams longer than I’d even known the man.
“Joshua?”
“So you do remember. I was beginnin’ to worry, darlin’.”
I began to shake and Mabel whimpered in my arms.
“Mighty fine baby you got there, Mags. Can’t say she looks a speck like ya, though.”
“I’ll… I’ll be right back.” I retraced my steps and went back in the bedroom, trying to soothe the baby. “Shh, now, darlin’ girl. Don’t cry, Mabel. It’ll all be fine, beautiful angel. Your mama will be back before you know it.” I laid her down gently on the bed and put a pillow on either side. “I’ll be right back.”
I closed the door softly behind me and when I looked up, I saw that Joshua had made himself right at home on the couch. “What are you doin’ here?” I asked without preamble.
He grinned lazily, the same grin I used to lose time thinkin’ on. Now, it just left me cold. “Is that any way to talk to an old friend?”
“Were we?” I shot back. “Friends, I mean. After all, you had no trouble lookin’ me in the face and lyin’.”
His smile stayed in place; he was as confident as he’d always been. “Aw, you’re not still holdin’ a grudge over somethin’ like that, are you, Mags?”
“Don’t call me that.”
“What should I call you, then? How ‘bout my desert rose?”
“I’ll pass, thank you. Seems another woman claimed that name before me.”
He arched a brow. “Why, Maggie, have you really found your backbone at last?”
“Time hasn’t changed you a bit,” I snapped.
“Well, now, I’m sorry to say I can’t say the same.” With that, he let his eyes slide over my body, takin’ his sweet time about it.
I folded my arms around my chest, suddenly feeling as though I’d been stripped to my undergarments. “I want you to leave.”
“Two times in one week,” he whistled. “I guess I’ve lost my stock with you.”
I scowled at him. “Two times?”
“You hadn’t heard? Thought Lydia would’ve told you I was comin’ into town. I went to see her first, in Jackson, you know. Wanted to see my boy, but she wouldn’t have it. Seems she’s married now, too.”
“Didn’t think we’d waste our lives away waitin’ on you, now did you?”
Joshua tilted his head, his eyes plainly laughing at me. “I reckon I did. ‘Specially you, Maggie.”
“Why are you here?” I demanded, wondering what I’d ever seen in the man in front of me. He’d always been a worthless liar, I could see that now, even if I’d been blind to it before.
“I told ya. I wanted to come callin’. I thought you’d be happier to see me, Mags.”
“I said—”
He was on his feet quicker than a blink and in front of me, towering over me. “I heard whatcha said. Don’t say it a’gin if you know what’s good for ya.”
I took a step back, stunned by this new side of him. “I want you to leave now. My husband’ll be back soon and if he finds you here—”
“I ain’t got no mind to leave just yet.” He reached a hand and stroked a finger down my cheek. “Least, not till I’ve got what I come for.”
“What might that be?” I asked in a strangled voice.
“You know, there was one thing I was lookin’ forward to about you and me bein’ married.” He yanked me toward him and held me there even though I tried to push away. “You want to try and guess?”
“Please, Joshua. What did I ever do to you? Let me go.”
“What’d you do? You doubted me, Maggie. Otherwise, your father woulda let me marry you, and I wouldn’t ever hafta leave.”
“People would have realized,” I asserted, turning my head away from his lips. “Once Lydia’d had her baby.”
“But by then I woulda been safe, don’t you see? If your pa hadn’t been so… so damn prickly about his precious daughter, I wouldn’t have been in that heap of trouble. Tell it true, I was mighty glad when I heard he was dead.”
With a gasp, I renewed my efforts to get away and Joshua laughed at my attempt.
“Oh, no, you’re not goin’ to get away that easy.”
“Why’d you come back then? Why didn’t you stay hid?”
“A man doesn’t want to spend his whole life on the run, Maggie! A man’s gotta be free to do what he wants! Besides which, I found myself on the wrong end of a poker bet.”
“People are after you,” I said in realization. “Yo
u want to hide here?”
“I’m just lookin’ for shelter for a day or so, is all. I was sure you’d wanna help me out.”
“How’d you know where I live?” I demanded.
“You sure are the spitfire nowadays, Maggie. I sure woulda liked to know this side of you. You seem a lot more fun.”
“How’d you know?” I demanded.
“Talk in town,” he shrugged. “Not a soul recognized me, though I was sure the sheriff did. For a minute there, I was sure I was done for.” He laughed as though it was the wildest thing. “It weren’t so hard, droppin’ your name and sayin’ I was an old friend, askin’ where your house was. Now, enough questions. I’ma get what I came for.”
When he grabbed my chin, forcing my head up, I felt a wave of fear grip me. He brought his lips to mine in a rough kiss that had me whimpering.
“That’s it, Maggie,” he breathed, his breath stale and sour smellin’. “You like it, don’tcha, girl?” He leaned in, pinned his lips to mine.
I opened my mouth and the instant his tongue slid in, I bit down, hard.
He drew back, hissing. “Now what’d you go and do a fool thing like that for?”
Without remorse, I stomped down hard on his foot. He yelped and I scooted out of his grasp. I had to lead him away from the house, I thought frantically. I couldn’t chance that he wouldn’t hurt Mabel, who was crying her pretty little head off. I could hear her sobs through the walls. I had to run and get him to chase me. It was the only way. Maybe I could find help somehow.
I was poised to take off when Joshua grabbed me roughly, shoving me backwards as hard as he could. I slammed into the bedroom door and bounced back toward him. He caught my wrists and knocked me to the floor. I scrambled to get away, but he easily overpowered me.
“Looks like I need to teach you a lesson,” he growled. “You gonna lie still and do this the easy way?”
I looked up at him, whimpering. “Joshua, please…”
“You shoulda thought of that before you got all ornery.”
“Please… was there a time you ever loved me at all? If you did, you’ll let me go.”
He grinned, that same easy, rakish smile. “I don’t see as that matters now. Love or not, I’ma enjoy takin’ you.” He leaned in, pressing his body on mine. “Tell you what, though, you did always have the prettiest eyes.”
“Please, stop!” I squirmed beneath him, my mind thinking wildly on how I could manage to escape. As he kissed me forcefully, I found I could hardly move my legs and my arms not at all, since he still had them captured. He held them together with one wrist as he began to stroke my face.
He’d just leaned forward, aiming for my breast, when I saw someone towering over the pair of us. I’d just made out my husband when Clay pulled back and connected a solid punch to the back of Joshua’s head. It made a loud sound, almost as loud as the yell Joshua let out. Clay was on him in an instant, yanking him off me and throwing him to the floor.
“Maggie? Are you hurt?”
“No,” I said shakily, putting a hand to my lips. “No, you found me just in time.”
“Thank God for that.” He turned on Joshua, who was heading for the door. Clay caught up to him easily, turned him around and landed another punch straight to his face. “You’re not goin’ anywhere,” he announced as Joshua sank to the floor.
Clay stayed put standing guard over him until the sheriff came. Only then did he tend to me, looking me over to be sure I was truly unharmed, after which he pulled me into his arms and held me close, petting my hair.
“I have to go check on the baby,” I said, trying to free myself, but Clay held on fast.
“In a minute, darlin’. Catch your breath.”
“How’d you know? I didn’t expect you until much later.”
“I ran into the sheriff ridin’ this way and he filled me in on a man who’d been askin’ after you and the house. He thought it might be a man who’d run off some years ago and when I saw how he was frettin’ over it, I figured I’d better check on you.”
“I’m glad you did,” I said, my lip trembling as frightened tears slid down my cheeks.
“Hey, now, it’s alright, darlin’. He can’t hurt you.”
“I know,” I whimpered, looking up at him.
He stroked a gentle thumb along my cheek, wiping the tears away. “He was right about one thing, though. You do have the prettiest eyes of any woman I’ve ever saw.”
Chapter Eight
“Oh, there you are, Maggie,” Abby gushed, ushering me into the house. Clay was right behind me. “We were just wonderin’ if you were still comin’.”
“We got held up,” I apologized, kissing the cheek she offered.
“Not to worry, we’re still gettin’ ready ourselves. Well,” she smiled, her eyes sliding toward the hallway, “some of us are. Wes already told Libby that if she wasn’t ready by the time he got back…”
I nodded in understanding. He was forever scolding her over how long she took to get dressed. I couldn’t imagine it had gotten any better now that she had a baby to make ready, too.
“Are you excited about the fair?” she asked, her eyes bright.
“Oh, yes,” I gushed, taking her arm and walking to the couch. “I can’t wait to see what goods they have this year. After all,” I glanced slyly at my husband, “I have a whole house to fill.”
“You don’t need to do it all in one day,” Clay replied, his tone raised in warning. I saw his eyes sparkling at me, though.
Just then, the door opened and Wesley walked in, Trent following behind. “Howdy there, Clay!” Wes said, walking over to my husband to shake his hand. “Glad you could make it.”
“Thank you kindly.”
“Just spoke to the sheriff yesterday,” Wes commented, hooking his thumbs in his trousers. “Looks like ol’ Joshua is gonna be sent back to Indianola and the sheriff there will deal with him.”
I went still as I listened to him. It was curious; I’d once felt so much for the man and now, I was only glad to be done with him. I felt Clay’s eyes on me and I met them, letting them reassure me. Ever since the attack, he’d been almost afraid to let me out of his sight. We’d spent the week that followed doing little else other than eating and making love, which was hungry work.
“Well, I’m sure glad this’ll all be behind us.”
“Me too.” Wesley looked at me, his face softening with brotherly affection. “Me too.”
“Are we gonna be headin’ out soon?” Trent asked.
Wesley frowned. “Should be. Where’s my wife? Libby?” he called out before any of us could answer. “You ready?”
When she emerged from the hallway a few minutes later, it was plain to see that she was irritated. “Yes, Wesley, Mabel and I are ready to go.” It was clear from her tone that she wasn’t happy about it.
Wesley’s raised eyebrow told me he’d heard it, too. “Well, I reckon you and Mabel could stay home, if you’d rather.”
Her eyes flashed and I thought she might argue, but in the end, she dropped her gaze, chastened. “No, thank you. We’re ready to go.”
He still didn’t seem altogether pleased, but he nodded and made for the door and we all followed close behind. It would be a tight squeeze for all of us to fit in the buggy, so Clay and I followed behind riding Sapphire. I slipped my arms around my husband’s waist and leaned into him, enjoying the feel of the wind in my face. It had been too long since I’d ridden, I’d almost forgotten how it made me feel like I was flying. That was what I needed to do: fly away from all the sadness and the tension that had been weighing me down. A day at the town fair seemed just the way to do it.
In no time at all, we were pulling into town and I saw people milling about, talking and laughing. Clay pulled us over to a post and tied the horse’s reins before we joined my brothers and sisters-in-law.
“What do you want to do first?” Abby asked, eyes wide as she turned her head from side to side, taking it all in.
I felt a deep
surge of affection for Abigail. She really was what this family needed—she brought us all together and made us better. I grabbed her arm and hugged her side, nearly jumping up and down as I caught her excitement. “I heard there’ll be sack races and of course there’s the pie-baking contest—”
“You should have entered!” she scolded lightly. “You know you make the best pecan pie in the whole of Texas.”
“That she does,” my husband agreed, patting his belly. “When I’m old and fat, I’ll blame the pecan pie.”
“Next year,” I demurred, smiling at the praise. “We can always help judge,” I suggested with a giggle.
“What a wonderful idea,” she agreed, grinning back.
“Naw, y’all do your shoppin’ and lookin’ around and leave the pie tastin’ to the experts, hear?”
I rolled my eyes at Wesley and looked to Libby, who’d remained awfully silent.
When she caught my eyes on her, she surprised me by scowling. “Don’t you look at me, I won’t be caught eatin’ pie.”
I arched a brow and looked at Abby, but she looked as mystified as I did. “Well, then, would you care to join us for a little stroll? I thought we might—”
“Alright,” she sighed, looking anything but happy at the idea. “Let’s go.”
As mystified as I was by her prickly mood, I was determined to stay upbeat. I didn’t like the slump of sadness I’d fallen into, and now that things were starting to feel like they were back to normal, I wasn’t going to let one of Libby’s bad moods derail it.
“We’re gonna take a look at those horseraces,” Clay said. “If you ladies need us, you know where we’ll be.”
Libby waited until we were out of earshot before she muttered under her breath.
I exchanged another puzzled look with Abby and shrugged. I didn’t know what bee she had in her bonnet, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to push, either.
“Ooh, look at that pretty yarn!” Abby exclaimed softly, pointing.
I followed her finger and saw a pair of old ladies minding a table strewn with brightly colored balls of yarn that surely were on sale. “Ought to make some fine-lookin’ baby clothes, hmm?” I asked, but Libby stared off in the other direction as though she didn’t hear me.
Maggie Meets Her Match Page 14