by Leah Brooke
Then she saw another. And another.
Her heart pounded as she turned the vest inside out and saw that three small leather pouches had been pinned inside.
Barely breathing, she unpinned the smallest one, surprised at the weight of it in her palm.
With hands that shook, she untied the strip of leather holding the pouch closed, her breath catching at the flash of light.
Gold.
She counted the gold coins, her heart pounding faster. Twelve of them in the small pouch, and there were two more pouches.
More than enough to buy her freedom.
Thank you, God!
It took her several minutes to unpin the pouches from the vest, and pin the two larger ones to the inside of her skirt. Shaking the entire time, she jolted at every sound, knowing that it was only a matter of time before Willy realized that his money was gone.
He might not come after her, but he’d definitely come after his money.
Straightening, she tucked the pouch she’d opened into the top of her dress, knowing that the cloth she’d used to bind her breasts would keep it in place.
She had to move fast.
Gathering her meager possessions, she raced as quickly and silently as she could down to the kitchen, taking several small loaves of bread and pieces of fruit and hurriedly tying them into a napkin. Trying to control her breathing, she rushed out the back door and around the saloon to the sidewalk.
She’d grown up in Waco, and knew too many people. She didn’t want anyone to recognize her as she made her way across the street to buy a ticket for the stage. Just as she got to the other side of the street, the sound of the train whistle pierced the air.
If she took the train, she could get away faster, and go farther than she would have been able to go on the stage.
Willy Krenshaw wouldn’t be able to catch her so easily.
There would be more people. She could lose herself in the crowd, and hopefully, no one would remember her.
Changing direction, she kept her head down and headed toward the train station, acutely aware of the pouches pinned inside her skirt hitting her legs with every hurried stride. Only a block away, she found herself in the middle of a crowd of passengers from the train, just as a loud commotion broke out in the center of town.
Keeping the shawl in place with a hand fisted in the material below her chin, she sneaked a look over her shoulder, her stomach clenching when she saw Willy outside the saloon.
He looked mad as hell, whipping his head from side to side, obviously searching the street for someone.
Her.
She had to get out of here.
Ducking lower, she kept walking briskly, but not fast enough to gather unwanted attention, not slowing until she got to the train depot.
Slipping behind the small wooden building, she fought for composure. If she cried or acted guilty, people would notice and remember her.
She had to blend in.
If she could just get away, she could have a life—a real life.
Taking a deep breath, she straightened, her gaze drawn to a poster nailed to the side of the depot.
Brides wanted. Circle T Ranch. Desire, Oklahoma. Safety guaranteed.
Safety guaranteed.
She’d never even considered something like that, but at least she would have a man to keep her safe.
She would have a place to go—a place to hide. A husband. A family of her own.
Women alone seemed to end up in trouble. Even Rose, who ran her own business, had to do disgusting things with strange men in order to survive, and she had no man to turn to.
Sarah couldn’t forget the look of fear on the other woman’s face when Willy had made her get on her knees to please him. She’d seen her mother drink in order to face taking strange men into her bedroom.
Sarah wanted no part of a life like that.
The sound of Willy calling her name sent a jolt of terror through her, one that made it nearly impossible to think.
Safety guaranteed.
She couldn’t even imagine what it would feel like to feel safe, and she was too shaken to even think of anywhere else to go.
Without hesitation, she went to the counter on legs that shook. “A ticket to Desire, Oklahoma, please.”
The man behind the counter looked up. “Train don’t go to Desire. Closest station is Tulsa. You can get a ride from there.”
“Fine. Thank you.” She bought the ticket, grateful that the man behind the counter didn’t seem at all surprised that she paid for it with a gold coin. Maybe she could just stay in Tulsa and get a job there.
Pleased that she’d figured out another option, she hid a smile and accepted the ticket.
Although it seemed to take forever, it took only a few minutes to board the train and take a seat on the opposite side, placing herself as far from the bustle of Waco as she could.
Trying not to gape at her surroundings, which seemed so extravagant to her, she held her bundle of belongings close, prepared to run if she had to.
Trying not to gape, she lifted her head just enough to blend in with the others, taking in the ornate curtains on the windows and sliding her hand surreptitiously over the soft, velvet covered seats.
She’d never seen anything so lavish.
No one sat in the seat next to her, and she could only imagine it was because of her worn clothes and hair that smelled of tobacco, whiskey, and sweat.
She just hoped it wouldn’t cause people to remember her.
Sweating, shaking, and praying, she waited—each second seeming to take forever. Her breath caught at the gravity of what she’d done, but she couldn’t look back.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the train lurched, the movement so unexpected that she had to hold on.
Watching the street as they passed, she saw Willy riding his horse through town with two of his men, and he looked mad as hell.
He whipped his head around several times, and although she couldn’t hear what he said, it was clear he was yelling.
Blinking back tears, she turned to look out the window on her side of the train, her heart pounding furiously as the train pulled out of the station.
She’d escaped.
She was on her way to another life.
She was on her way to a new town—to a husband.
To a man she didn’t even know.
It terrified her, but not as much as returning to Waco.
She’d made her decision, and there was no going back.
Staring out the window, she settled more comfortably in her seat and imagined the man she would marry—a nice, gentle man.
Like Mr. Andrews, who always smiled at her and fussed over his wife, who’d taught her to sew.
Like Mr. Smith, who worked in the livery and always had a piece of fruit or a cookie for her.
Like Mr. Johnson, who owned the General Store and slipped her candy when no one was looking.
She knew nothing about love, and didn’t plan to find it.
She needed safety, and a place to hide.
She didn’t dare dream for anything else.
Chapter Two
Phoenix Royal hid a smile, amused that two of Tulsa’s bad asses and the town’s worst troublemakers quieted when they saw his oldest brothers, Hawke and Blade.
Giving his two stone-faced brothers a wide berth, they strode past them and headed down the street toward the livery.
He and his brothers had reputations for not backing down from a fight—any kind of fight—but a glare from his older brothers seemed to strike terror in men who liked to terrorize others.
Phoenix, as always, thought it funny as hell. He’d always been proud of them, and because they’d been left alone at an early age, the three of them had always been close.
His brothers were unlike any other men he’d ever met, and made others nervous, much to Phoenix’s unending amusement.
Both Hawke and Blade wore clothing made of buckskin, as if they didn’t want anyone to forget
that they were half-Indian. Blade wore his hair in a long braid down his back, while Hawke wore his loose, giving him a wild, savage look that made even the toughest men take notice.
Phoenix wore his hair shorter and bought his clothes in town. He didn’t look for trouble, but didn’t go out of his way to avoid it. Unlike Hawke, he and Blade spent as much time as they could enjoying the amusements they found in town, including the bordello across the street.
Looking in that direction, he grinned, smiling at the two giggling women standing on the small porch in front of the saloon. He and Blade had bedded both of them several times, and he wished he had the time to enjoy them right now. Knowing he’d never be able to convince Hawke to spend the night in town, he nodded in their direction and turned back to his work.
Lifting another bag of flour onto the buckboard, he waited until the men still eyeing Hawke warily were several yards away before he spoke, careful to keep his voice low. “Everyone in town seems to be scared of you.”
Hawke grunted in response and turned to go back into the general store for another load of supplies.
Blade smiled and followed his brother. “Maybe they’re just afraid we’re gonna scalp ’em.”
The train whistle sounded as the train pulled into the station at the edge of town, so Phoenix didn’t even try to answer. Following his brothers, he glanced around, nodding at the greetings from several townspeople. They called to Blade as well, but very few dared to address Hawke.
He reached the store just as Hawke exited, and stepped aside so his brother could pass with his armload of supplies. “It wouldn’t hurt you to go have a drink while you’re here in town.”
“Don’t drink.”
Phoenix shook his head, knowing his brother never touched alcohol because Hawke never wanted to be out of control. Phoenix thought it would be good for his brother to relax once in a while, but relax wasn’t a word in his brother’s vocabulary. “I know the saloon girls would love to get to know you. They ask about you every time I go. It would be good for you to have some fun.”
Hawke grunted again, not even slowing. “You have enough fun for both of us. The saloon girls seem to be waiting for you.”
“And for you.”
“If you decide to pay them a visit, you’ll have to make your way home by yourself. I’m leaving as soon as I check the train station.”
Accepting the bags of sugar from Blade, Phoenix headed back to the buckboard. “We could all spend the night, and head back after breakfast in the morning.”
Hawke grunted again and headed back inside the store, his expression hard with disapproval.
Shaking his head, Phoenix loaded the bags onto the buckboard and sighed in frustration. He hated that his brother never seemed to enjoy anything. He worked and slept. Day after day.
Hawke seemed to get harder and colder with every year that passed, and it worried Phoenix.
His older brother got especially cold when the subject of women arose.
Clenching his jaw, Phoenix started back inside with the intention of trying to talk Hawke into visiting the bordello with him.
As far as Phoenix knew, Hawke hadn’t been with a woman in years—not since the woman he’d courted back east had informed him in no uncertain terms that she’d never tie herself to a half-breed—and Phoenix worried that he’d keep getting worse.
As he started into the shop, Blade came through the door with bags of flour over his shoulders.
“You’re wasting your breath.” Blade’s lips thinned, his eyes glittering with anger. “Hawke isn’t about to mingle with the townspeople, Phoenix. He barely speaks to the men on the ranch, and he actually likes them. There’s no way he’s going to put himself in the position to be humiliated by a woman again.”
Wincing, Phoenix gestured toward the women across the street. “They always ask about him. There’s something about his cold attitude that’s a challenge to them or something. They all want to be the one to make him smile, and to soften him up a little.”
Blade’s lips twitched, but his expression remained hard. “That’s not ever gonna happen.”
“Bullshit. We’ve just gotta find the right woman for him. He needs to take a wife—to have someone warm and soft to come home to.”
Blade lowered his shoulder, dropping the bag of sugar onto the buckboard and sighing as he straightened. “Don’t hold your breath. Our older brother is too stubborn to lower his guard again.”
With a curse, Phoenix scrubbed a hand over his face. “That chip on his shoulder is gonna get him in trouble one day.”
Blade’s lips twitched. “I’ve never seen trouble that Hawke can’t handle.”
Gripping his brother’s shoulder, Phoenix turned him toward the saloon. “Look at them. Don’t tell me you wouldn’t want to get between Annie’s thighs again. Look at the way she’s looking at you. Hell, she’s even waving you over. She must like those games you play with her.”
After lowering the bags to the buckboard, Blade shrugged. “She likes ’em. She wiggles that ass at me until I turn her over my knee.” Blade’s eyes narrowed, a small smile playing at his lips. “Tempting, but not as tempting as it used to be.”
Stunned, Phoenix tore his gaze away from the women and faced his brother. “What the hell are you talking about? Look at them. Thick about those creamy breasts and soft thighs.” Phoenix’s cock stirred at the thought of sinking his cock into Betsy’s soft pussy.
Shaking his head, Blade pulled away from his brother to return to the buckboard. “No, thanks. It’s getting boring. I want something a little different now.” Shaking his head, he frowned. “I want someone of my own. Someone who’d be mine to take care of.”
“You’re both turning into old men. I still want some fun.” Frustrated, Phoenix turned and went back into the store to grab another sack of flour. Eyeing Hawke as his oldest brother strode past him, he bent to hoist it over his shoulder and headed back outside. He passed Blade, surprised to see Hawke standing outside, leaning against the buckboard.
After stacking the sack on top of the others, Phoenix eyed his brother. “Something wrong? There are still a lot of supplies to load.”
“I know.” Hawke’s gaze slid to meet Phoenix’s. “I know you like coming to town, but don’t forget what we are. Don’t get too attached to these people, and don’t trust any of them.”
“What’s wrong with them?”
“They can turn on you. The girls at the saloon cater to you because you pay them to. Don’t ever think otherwise.” A muscle worked in his jaw. “I don’t want you to get the idea that you fit in here. You might dress like a white man, but that doesn’t make you one of them.”
Biting back anger, Phoenix crossed his arms over his chest, wishing he could get through to his brother. “I’m not trying to be one of them, but I’m sure as hell not going through life with a chip on my shoulder. Life is what you make of it and I’m sure as hell not going to spend it alone—the way you seem hell bent on doin’.”
Hawke clenched his jaw, his eyes narrowing to slivers. “You’ve gotten worse ever since Eb and Jeremiah married Maggie—and since Wyatt and Hayes married Savannah, you’ve been impossible. Men sharing a wife. I know it sounds exciting to you, and it’s a way of life we’ve never even heard of, but don’t think it would work for us. Get it out of your head, Phoenix, or you’re just going to end up miserable.”
“Like you?” With his hands on his hips, Phoenix moved closer, careful to keep his voice low. “I’m not the only one who’s changed. You want what they have, but you just won’t admit it.”
“You have no idea what I want.”
Recognizing his brother’s icy tone and the yearning and anger behind it, Phoenix swallowed his own anger and smiled. “In case you haven’t noticed, there’s not a lot of women around here. Sharing a wife just makes sense. What’s wrong with wanting a woman in my bed every night? What the hell’s wrong with wanting a family? Blade wants the same thing.”
Hawke’s gaze sharpened and na
rrowed. “There’s nothing wrong with wanting either, but expecting it to happen is just askin’ for trouble.”
Straightening, Hawke turned back toward the store. “Go check out the train station while we finish loading the buckboard.”
Phoenix sighed. “Do you really think anyone’ll be there?”
Hawke shrugged. “We got orders to check, so we check.”
They’d all waited for months for the women and the doctor Eb and Jeremiah had advertised for to make their way to Tulsa looking for Desire, but so far, none had shown up.
Phoenix stilled as something flickered in his brother’s eyes, something that looked very much like regret.
Stepping down from the buckboard, he caught Hawke’s arm as his brother started back toward the store. “You want a woman, too.”
Hawke’s sighed and jerked his arm away. “I have needs like any other man, Phoenix.”
“Then why haven’t you come with Blade and me to the saloon?”
“Too busy and using my money to furnish the house we just built.” He nodded toward Blade as he approached. “Help Blade finish loading the supplies. I’ll go to the train station.”
“Damn it, Hawke!”
Blade shook his head and caught his arm before Phoenix could go after him. “Leave it, Phoenix. Give him a few minutes alone. Let’s get the rest of this loaded. He’s gonna be in a hell of a mood when no one shows up again.”
Watching his brother stride down the street, Phoenix cursed. “What the hell’s wrong with him lately? He’s had a burr under his saddle for a long time, but in the last several months he’s been worse. He avoids Maggie and Savannah as much as possible. Oh, hell. He was hell bent on building that cabin.”
Blade flung a rope across the buckboard and started securing the supplies. “What does that tell you?”
Phoenix sighed, bracing his hands on the back of the buckboard. “That he wants a woman of his own as much as we do.”
“Yeah. He does. Probably more.”
Phoenix frowned, staring after Hawke before turning to Blade. “Why won’t he admit it?”
“You know Hawke.” Blade yanked the rope and knotted it, securing the stack of burlap bags. “He wants a wife, and it pisses him off. He’s already made up his mind that he can’t have one, so wanting a woman to care for infuriates him because he knows it’s futile. He’s getting a little more bitter every day, and seeing the women at the ranch and how happy the others are makes it even worse. That’s why he’s been avoiding them.”