Twice a Texas Bride

by Linda Broday

  He wanted Callie more than he wanted anything else on earth. As he’d written in the note, she was his life.

  Callie Quinn Sinclair was his everything.

  He’d never known what it was to love someone with all his heart and soul and mind.

  When the slick wetness told him she was ready, he moved on top and eased into her. The pleasure stole his breath, his mind, his purpose. Fighting the desire to give passion free rein, he stilled his body until he regained control.

  “Are you in pain, Callie?”

  “No. Please don’t stop. I never knew this could feel so good.”

  A few moments later, he began moving again and found that she instinctively matched his rhythm. His wife was a constant surprise—all proper on the outside and a tigress within.

  He felt the beginning quickening of her release. She cried out, pulling him to her. The waves became stronger, rising ever higher. When he could stand no more, he shattered into a million pieces, becoming fragments of his old self.

  As they came back together, he was reborn into a stronger, more determined man. Panting, he collapsed on top of her—then, not wanting to crush her, he rolled off to the side.

  A fine sheen covered their bodies, the proof of their love.

  Though Rand had been with countless women during his life, Callie truly was his first. She was certainly the only one who mattered. The others had been merely women to pass the time with.

  After several minutes, he rose to plant a kiss on her eyelids. “Thank you, Callie. I lock your gift into a special place in my heart.”

  She’d suffered greatly, had her babe ripped from her arms. He made a solemn vow. No one would ever take anything else from her. If they tried, they’d find themselves six feet under and providing the worms with food.

  Callie settled beside the hard planes of his body and laid her palm on his face. “I never knew what lying with someone could be like. Is it always like this?”

  Resting his chin on the top of her head, Rand smiled. “Only with someone you love, I’m told.”

  “Do you love me, Rand?”

  His old self would hedge. But the new one answered forthrightly and without reservation. “I once foolishly told you that I’d never give my heart to you. I was wrong. You had it a long time ago. Darlin’, I love you more than my own life.”

  She raised up and kissed him long and hard. Rand accepted what she gave and felt a familiar stirring inside once more. But he needed a bit of rest first.

  They belonged together. Their lives were like a canvas that was only half-painted. Love would complete it in glorious, vibrant hues.

  “I love you too, Rand,” she murmured against his mouth. “I have for a while, but I wouldn’t let myself say the words, because I felt unworthy of you.” She laid her head on his shoulder. “We’re going to be all right, aren’t we?”

  Rand smoothed her hair. “Yes. We’re going to be better than all right. I’m going to fill your life with so much happiness and love that you grow dizzy from it.”

  “That sounds like a promise.”

  “It is, darlin’, and I aim to deliver.”

  * * *

  Later, lying there with Callie in his arms, listening to her soft breathing, Rand thought back on all he had learned and shook with rage. A powerful yearning to knock Callie’s stepfather’s teeth out rose up inside. Rand wasn’t going to let Edmund Powers or his son, David, get away with such a heinous, unspeakable crime. They would answer to him. Before he got through with them, they would know what exacting retribution was and that Callie would always be protected from the likes of them. It was all Rand could do to keep from springing from bed and saddling Blue.

  “My daughter would be seven years old now,” Callie said softly. “She wouldn’t remember me. I guess it’s the mother in me, but I like to think that she’s happy wherever she is. Just once before I die, I’d dearly love to see her.”

  “Never fret about that. You will get your wish just as soon as I can make it happen.” Rand hated the gruffness of his voice. The anger coloring it was too strong to hide. “Tell me, why did you come back here when you were running from Fleming?”

  “My mother’s treasure chest. She hid the chest somewhere on this property, and I came for it. Mama never said what was in the box, but she told me and Claire, when our lives needed to look up, to find and open it. I thought it might have some money inside, and I needed something to sustain Toby and me.”

  He shivered with longing as she brushed back a stubborn lock of hair from his forehead. Though they’d just made love, he felt the heat already building again.

  “I never knew the greatest treasure would be finding you.”

  Rand lifted her hand and kissed her fingers. “And I you. Until you came along, I had given up on love and family, focusing instead on protecting my heart. You gave me purpose. I take it you were unable to locate the box.”

  “I searched everywhere with no luck. Even the key that went to it was missing from where I’d buried it by the woodpile. You have it on your brass key ring. The fancy scrolled one you found.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me? I would give it back in a heartbeat.”

  “I know, but it does me no good without a lock to put it into. I think Edmund must’ve taken the treasure box. It’s the only conclusion I can come to.”

  They discussed that, then Rand told her that Toby had shared a secret of his own while sitting beside him. “Remember what Toby said about his father making him do horrible things?”

  “I recall that very clearly, and how troubled I was.”

  “He told me how Nate forced him to kill small animals, then later used him to gain unsuspecting victims’ trust, luring them into a trap where Nate robbed and gunned them down. That’s a big burden for a little boy to carry. I assured him that he would never have to do anything like that ever again. Not as long as I’m alive.”

  “I’m sure that relieved Toby’s mind. Thank you, Rand.” She raised her head from his shoulder and kissed his cheek, her soft breath brushing his.

  “Darlin’, keep doing that and I’ll have to forget all about my aching head.”

  “I’m sorry. I know you’re not feeling well.”

  “Hey, don’t apologize. You can kiss me all you want. I can be dead and buried, but one kiss from you and I’ll pop right up from that dirt. You should patent your kisses as some kind of new medicinal tonic. Make a fortune.”

  Her eyes twinkled. “I’ll bet you tell all your ladies that.”

  Rand kissed the tip of her nose. “You’re the only lady in my life and the only one I’ll ever want, both in this lifetime and the next.”

  Slowly, he traced every line, indentation, and curve of her body and committed them to memory. He felt a raging storm coming and he didn’t know what, if anything, would be left once it passed. He wasn’t leaving anything to chance.

  He knew from experience how fragile and fleeting good fortune was.

  Closing his eyes, he drew Callie’s sweet fragrance deep into his heart.

  The depth of his love for her shook him to the core. If this was to be their only time to lie together, he didn’t want to forget a single detail.

  * * *

  Callie kept close watch over Rand for the next two days and slept beside him at night. It grew increasingly hard to keep him from getting up and doing chores. She only managed, with Toby’s help, by keeping him distracted and entertained.

  On the third day, she woke to find an empty bed. From the height of the sun outside the window, it was well past daybreak. Rand had left her sleeping. He must be seeing to the needs of the children. She threw back the covers, intent on dressing and rushing downstairs. Her men, as well as the baby, must be starving.

  Despite the compulsion to leap up, she lay there a moment, remembering the night spent in her husband’s bed. Rand didn’t hate h
er for what she’d kept from him. He loved her, showing her in his touch, his kisses, and the light in his eyes.

  “You’re a lucky, lucky woman, Callie Sinclair,” she murmured.

  She stared up at the cracked, leaky ceiling of the partially renovated room. Over in the corner came a strange glint. She rose and moved closer.

  There, in a nook where the wall and ceiling met—revealed thanks to the renovations—was a box of some kind. After throwing her clothes on, she pulled a chair beneath the space. Climbing up, she carefully lifted the box from its hiding place.

  A layer of dust and cobwebs covered the top. Wiping it clean, she stared at the initials. NQ. Nora Quinn. This was her mother’s treasure chest. Callie’s fingers trembled. She’d found it.

  Giving a happy cry, she stumbled down the stairs to the kitchen, where she drew to a halt, stunned at the sight. Flour covered every inch of the counter in addition to the floor. In the midst of the floury mess everywhere was a raw egg with the broken shell and a large puddle of milk.

  “Good morning, darlin’.” Rand grinned, looking up from his attempt at making biscuits. Toby stood beside him, and both had flour on their faces and hair. “Before you get mad…we’re making breakfast for you. Our first effort seems to have failed, but I have confidence we’ll get the hang of it.”

  “I’m helping,” Toby said happily.

  “I’ll clean everything, don’t worry.” He came closer, dropping bits of dough to the gooey mess beneath his feet. Leaning in, he kissed her. “I love you, Callie.”

  “I love you too, Rand. And I appreciate the thoughtful gesture, truly, but you should’ve woken me.” Her gaze swept to the baby, where she lay in her cradle. Rand had tied a bottle to Wren’s hands using a strip of flour sack and had it propped on a wadded-up shirt. It took every bit of self-control Callie had to keep from erupting into gales of laughter. Her sweet, darling, blue-eyed husband.

  “What is that you’re holding?” Rand tried to wipe away the flour he left on her face, but Callie could feel he’d only smeared it all over her.

  She glanced down, remembering her find. “It’s my mother’s treasure box I told you about last night. I found it tucked into a corner of your bedroom ceiling.”

  “You don’t say. Wonder what’s in it?”

  “Haven’t a clue. Let me assist with this breakfast, then we’ll see if we can find the key.” She gently shooed him outside to wash off, cleaned Toby as best she could, and set to work.

  An hour and a half later, she took the treasure box from a shelf where it had silently beckoned and set it on the table in front of Rand. He took out his ring of keys, selected the scrolled one he’d found on the property, and slid the teeth into the lock. The lid came open.

  “There you go, darlin’.” He pushed the chest to her. “See what your mama left inside.”

  Callie lifted out an old Bible and peered underneath. There didn’t appear to be anything else inside. She opened the Bible and found a tintype of a beautiful woman with white hair. She had a ring on her finger and wore an ornate brooch on her dress. A piece of paper under the likeness simply stated, “Your legacy.”

  “Who is that?” Rand asked.

  “I think it’s my grandmother. I saw one picture of her a long time ago. She died before I was born.”

  “Anything else in the box?”

  She felt around and discovered the bottom was loose. “I think this has another layer.”

  Taking the chest, he lifted out a piece of thin board. Nestled on a cushion of black velvet lay an emerald ring and an emerald-and-ruby brooch.

  Callie’s breath caught. “These must be worth a small fortune.”

  “They’re certainly stunning,” Rand admitted. “But what do they signify?”

  “Rand, these must’ve belonged to my grandmother and probably her mother before that. They’re the same as the ones in the image.”

  “Could be, darlin’.”

  Lifting out the jewels, Callie discovered several sheets of yellowed paper. Unfolding them, she saw it was a property deed. “Rand, where do you suppose this land is located?”

  He took the deed from her and studied it. “It’s the section right next door. Seems you own it, my dear.”

  “If that’s true and this is legal and binding, I’m giving the deed to you.” Callie touched his face and stared into the eyes that could make her knees as weak as milk toast.

  “Darlin’, that’s sweet, but this belongs to you. I can’t take it.”

  “Don’t you want it? You can triple the size of your land.”

  “I’ll tell you what. In this marriage, there is no yours and mine. This land will belong to both of us equally until it passes to our children.”

  “I like that.”

  “But the ring and brooch belong only to you.”

  When she opened her mouth to argue, he added, “Put it away for the children if you want. Or your daughter, when I find her.”

  She tipped her head back for his kiss, wondering what she had done to deserve a man like Rand. Whatever it was, she meant to keep on doing it.

  Toby appeared in the doorway and sighed loudly. “Do you always have to kiss?”

  Callie stared at the boy who tried so hard to be a man. He was holding Wren by an arm and part of her dress. The child was kicking her legs like a runaway chicken and wearing a slobbery smile.

  “Toby, one of these days you’re going to like kissing girls very much.” Rand slipped a hand around Callie’s waist and murmured so that only she could hear. “I hope you intend to sleep with me for always, because I have lots more ideas for staying awake. Besides, I really shouldn’t be left alone with this head injury. You never know what’ll happen.”

  The mention of sleeping with him permanently made her heart pound with excitement. It was exactly what she wanted, but she hadn’t known how to broach the subject. “I can do that. I wouldn’t want you to fall into a coma.”

  “Then you’ll move into my bedroom?”

  Callie laid a hand on his broad chest. “I’ve wanted to for a long time, but I didn’t know how to tell you.”

  “Don’t wait next time. You can tell me anything. All right?” Rand lowered his head and placed his lips on hers for a kiss that curled her toes.

  “I love you, Rand.” She leaned back and gazed into his beautiful eyes, truly grateful that their paths had crossed. She couldn’t imagine being anywhere else. She’d never known such contentment. Though their marriage seemed just about perfect, Callie had learned the hard way not to get too comfortable.

  Things were going too well. Her luck couldn’t last.

  Twenty-six

  The next morning, after another unforgettable night spent in Callie’s arms, Rand rose and started out to do his chores. Making love to his wife consumed his every thought, every second, and every fiber of his being. She was more addictive than the opium he’d seen others use. He couldn’t get enough of the feel of Callie in his arms, with her shapely legs entangled in his. Though they’d only just risen, hunger for more ravaged his body.

  He gave a sigh. It was a long time until dark. He forced his mind to the business he meant to do in town. He needed to check on the adoption, make sure his mother was all right, and see about the validity of the deed they’d found. Then he’d come around by Brett’s place and find out if Tom Mason had found him.

  When he opened the door and stood on the top step, his blood froze.

  Lying at his feet was a playing card—the king of diamonds.

  Like the one Cooper had found on the day of Rand’s and Callie’s wedding, the eyes were burned out.

  Nate Fleming was back.

  Rand rested his hand on the handle of his Colt and scanned the property and tree line for movement. Though he didn’t see anything, the hair that stood on the back of his neck warned him that Fleming was watching.

&n
bsp; Toby started out the door only to have Rand stop him. “Get inside and stay away from the windows. Tell your mama trouble’s come to call.”

  Though the boy’s face turned sickly white, he nodded and stepped back, shutting the door.

  Slowly, Rand moved toward the barn, every muscle on high alert. He had a feeling that this time they wouldn’t be dealing only with Nate Fleming. The outlaw had likely brought reinforcements.

  This would be a fight to the finish. Rand clenched his fists. He was ready to be done with the murdering scum.

  A few yards from the kitchen lay a slaughtered wild animal. The killing had been so vicious he couldn’t tell what kind of critter it was. Its eyes were burned out, head almost totally removed, and the body halfway skinned.

  The warning wasn’t lost on Rand.

  His flesh crawled. The man they were dealing with would kill without a second thought. He already had. Fleming would have no qualms about snuffing out any life, especially of those who crossed his path. He’d kill all except Toby.

  Briefly, Rand thought of riding to get his brothers. But he wouldn’t leave Callie and the children, and it was too dangerous to remove them from the security of the house. They would simply be asking for disaster to strike.

  He forced himself to keep walking. He had to check on the livestock. If Fleming killed the horses, they’d be stranded here at his mercy.

  The barn was quiet and dark when he swung open the door and stepped inside. Though sunlight streamed in from the entrance, Rand took down a lantern from a nail and lit it. Then he searched every corner of the structure, finally satisfied no one hid in the deep shadows.

  Blue nickered from his stall, as did the horse named Crow Bait next to him. The cow was alive and well also. That was a relief. He’d expected to find the animals dead. He turned to go when he heard a sound and found a dark figure filling the doorway.

  “Keep your hands where I can see them,” Nate Fleming ordered. “You got something that belongs to me.”