“No…I’m warm, now.”
“Oh, Dev, you’re—”
But his lips captured hers, cutting off whatever else she’d been about to say.
She’d never been kissed. She didn’t know how. It was the most intimate thing she had ever done. Ever. A glowing warmth started in the pit of her stomach and radiated out, settling into her bones, her joints, every particle of her being—and she welcomed it shamelessly.
Dev groaned, pulling her closer to him, stealing her breath completely. Her heart seemed to beat uncontrollably, but she wanted more.
“Uh…Dev…I’ll take Red on down to the barn and see to him…” Pete’s voice sounded from the doorway.
“Mmm-hmm…” Dev said as he lifted his lips from Julia’s. “Okay…thanks.”
“Good Lord,” Pete muttered as he hurried by them and snatched Red’s reins from the ground.
“Kids are back in bed,” Tom said from the doorway, laughter in his tone. “Y’all better come on inside out of the cold.” He closed the door behind him, then came onto the porch, and down the steps. “Oh, I checked on Alex. He’s asleep, but looks like he’ll be all right. I can ride into town for the doc.”
“No, we’ll send one of the others, come daylight—unless we’ve found out what we need to know from those sons of bitches we brought in.” Dev took a deep breath, forcing his voice to steadiness. “I’ll be down in a bit—but you can go ahead and start without me.”
“My pleasure,” Tom grated, turning away to lead his horse to a warm stall before he took care of the other business that awaited him.
Julia stepped back and opened the door, regaining her composure. One of the men had put more wood on the fire, and she led Dev toward the blaze.
“Let me pour you some coffee. I just made a fresh pot before I laid down.” She hurried to the kitchen as Dev stood in front of the fire, soaking up the warmth. He must be numb from the long ride home. No coat, again… Her mind raced, thinking of how she could bring comfort to him.
Julia brought him a hot cup of coffee, and sat on the settee, facing him. “Tell me everything,” she entreated.
Dev did—laughing at Lauralee’s call of help, halting when he told of shooting her captor, and of Tom’s clubbing the man who’d stolen Jamie with the stock of his rifle.
“Julie…I’m sorry. Your coming here seems to have put Lauralee in danger.”
“It could’ve happened anywhere, Dev.”
He moved away from the fire to sit beside her, setting his cup on the small table at the end of the settee.
“Thank you for bringing her home safe to me,” Julia said.
“To both of us. No one threatens our kids…my family.”
• ♥ •
Tears rose in her eyes.
Julia had never imagined the turns her life would take that long-ago summer when her parents had died…the slow ruination of her family, until all that was left was the two of them—herself, and Lauralee.
She’d tried so hard to give her niece a good, safe life—but what of herself? Embarrassment flooded through her once more as she thought of the way she’d thrown herself at Dev—asking him to marry her!
But…that kiss couldn’t be forgotten…ever. It was imprinted on her lips just as much as in her heart.
“Honey, what’s wrong?” Dev asked, leaning toward her.
She shook her head—and said the first silly thing that came to mind. “We can’t even have a—a Christmas tree! Or stockings—for the children—” She sniffed. So unladylike. Mama and Helena would both agree on that.
Dev’s lips turned up, and she thought, at this moment, he must believe her to be mad—or utterly ridiculous!
“We still have tomorrow—Christmas Eve—before Christmas gets here,” he said softly.
She shook her head, looking into the fire.
“I think this snow has stopped. But—” his tone turned regretful, “I’m not sure we’d be able to get a wagon to town yet. It’s not that far, as you know, but even if the snow melted, the roads would be muddy. It would bog a wagon down. Break a wheel…”
“You’re going for the doctor—”
Dev nodded. “Horseback. I could bring back some things.”
“Oh, yes, please! Something for the children! I so want them to have a wonderful holiday. Especially after this.”
Dev nodded.
“And maybe a very few grocery items?” she asked.
“I can make more than one trip, you know.”
“I—I just hate to ask.”
He took her hand in his. “Don’t, Julie. I’m glad to do what I can. I just—well, we never had much cause for celebration of any kind when I was young. Christmas was just another day.”
Julia gasped. Just another day…
“I’m sure you find that appalling, but—” He shrugged. “That’s just the way it was.”
“Oh…I’m so sorry—” Immediately, she covered her mouth with her hand. She was only making matters worse! He would not appreciate her pity, or her faulting his upbringing. “Again—I apologize—”
But Dev only laughed. “It’s all right. I’m sure it’s hard for you to imagine.”
“Yes…our Christmases were lovely when I was a child,” she admitted. “Everyone should be so lucky. That’s one thing I’ve tried to provide for Lauralee—though I’ve failed in so many other areas, it seems,” she finished softly.
Dev squeezed her hand gently. “I don’t think you’ve failed at all, Julie. And knowing you, I believe you’ve always done the best you could.”
She gave him a faint smile. “Well, that much is true. It’s been so hard.” Her voice broke, though she tried to control it. She wasn’t used to confiding in anyone, now that Helena was gone. But Dev made it easy. She supposed it was because he didn’t seem to mind sharing some of his past with her. And he had a way of speaking honestly and freely.
They’d fallen silent, both collecting their thoughts. After a few moments, Dev said, “I need to go find out if Tom has learned anything. I want to know who’s behind all this. Why don’t you go get some rest? Morning’s just a few hours off, and those little ones will be up and around before you know it.”
He rose, extending a hand to help her up. Surprising her, he pulled her close and gave her a light kiss on the forehead.
“Be thinking about what you want me to pick up tomorrow in town, honey. This is one Christmas I’m looking forward to.”
• ♥ •
Dev’s thoughts were twisting like a pit of snakes as he made his way to the barn. He was determined to find out who was causing the destruction on his property, the shot that had been taken at him, and the wounding of his brother. And, of course, this crowning achievement—kidnapping two children right out of his own home! Reluctantly, he had to admit that Alex was as much a victim as he was.
And Alex was a Campbell—family. Dev’s rampant suspicions made him ashamed; especially when he thought of his anger toward Alex and his brother’s reluctance to explain. Now, he realized, that had most likely been because of his own behavior, and not an admission of Alex’s guilt in any way.
Julie…she loved her family—every one of them, including the feckless Jerome, who’d beggared them, and gotten himself murdered.
Loyalty was a quality that was as ingrained in Julie as anything could be—and not because it was expected; it was just part of the person she was.
He thought of Lauralee’s unquestioning faith that “Debbil” would come to rescue her, too—not just Jamie. Both of them, in her eyes, were equally important.
Marriage hadn’t been in his plans. But he’d not expected—hell, he’s not expected Miss Julia Jackson…and the kiss they’d shared.
Nor had he expected her proposal of marriage.
Which made perfect sense, for both of them.
Love could come, with time. He sighed. Annella had burned his soul, seared his heart. Could he ever truly love again? Cold dread filled him. If not, how could he tie Julie to such a lonely, unfair existen
ce for the rest of her days?
With a groan of frustration, he opened the barn door, shutting out the cold night air as he walked inside.
CHAPTER 8
“Been wonderin’ where you were,” Tom said from the shadows.
“Get any answers yet?” Dev asked, coming toward the group—outlaws and Flying C men all together—in the middle of the barn’s open space.
“Mm-hm. Got ’em all.”
There was a secret smile in Tom’s expression that made Dev stop, cock his head, and watch him. “Enlighten me, Tom.”
“Seems Aaron Miles has sunk to new depths to get his hands on this place.”
“How’s that?” Dev approached again, and they both walked into the group of men, who parted as they drew near. It was no secret Miles had coveted the Flying C for years.
“Well, ol’ Harve, here, decided he would talk, after all, when I mentioned a few—ah—skills I had, and offered to demonstrate. Main thing is, Miles wants this place for two reasons: the good water source for the animals, and the rumor that there’s gold buried on your land from a bank robbery that took place over in Arkansas a few years back. These are his men who were charged to get the Flying C, no matter what. Kill you, or kidnap the children for a trade of the deed to the ranch—all this because Alex wouldn’t cooperate. Guess Miles got tired of waiting for his plans to unfold.”
“So…Alex was in on it—” Disappointment hit him like a fist in the gut.
Tom held up a quick hand. “No. Miles evidently offered his only daughter, Deborah, to Alex; offered him his own spread, the Rocking M, after they were married. Then, Miles planned to move in and take over here—merge the two.”
“What happened?”
“Your brother’s smart.” Tom said with a slow grin. “He knew something didn’t ring true with the ‘offer’ Miles made him. His daughter, Deborah, is Miles’s pride and joy—pure Anglo, and—” He shook his head. “Not for the likes of…well, someone like Alex.”
“Pride and joy, huh? Why would Miles offer her to my brother? Same thought must have occurred to Alex,” Dev mused. “He wants this place badly. But there’s no gold buried here. He’d be disappointed.”
Tom shrugged. “Yeah. That part about the money from the bank robbery bears some lookin’ into, though, Dev. Rumors get started somewhere. Anyhow, Alex was coming here to talk it all over with you. But he got shot and hit on the head. The plan was for him to marry Deborah Miles and eventually for her to convince him to do away with you. ’Course, he didn’t know any of that—yet. And I don’t believe she did, either. All he knew was that Miles was pushing Deborah at him, when normally, he wouldn’t have wanted his precious white daughter within ten miles of someone like Alex.
“Miles knew there was bad blood between you two and thought to take advantage of that. When it didn’t seem to work out between Alex and Deborah, he came up with the kidnapping idea.”
“Son of a bitch!”
“Yeah.” Tom nodded his agreement, his stare piercing. “Time to take care of business.” Dev gave him an affirmative look and stepped forward into the circle of men.
“We’ll take ’em into town, Boss,” Dell said, and several of the other hands nodded their agreement.
“’Course…it might take us four or five days to get ’em there,” Terry added, with a slow grin.
“And ain’t no tellin’ if they’ll be dead or alive when we do get there, either,” Tom said quietly, bending a steady gaze on Harve, who seemed to pale a little beneath his dark complexion.
Dev walked over to look at the man he’d shot. He was almost done in. The man Tom had clubbed lay still, awake, but trying not to move. Harve and the one called Curly both sat leaning against the wall of a stall.
Curly was so young—younger than Alex, Dev thought. And he looked frightened. Harve tried to draw his bravado around him like a cloak, feigning disinterest in everyone and everything.
Dev squatted in front of him. “What Tom told me…is all that true?”
Reluctantly, Harve nodded.
“Miles must be paying a lot for men like you… Mercenaries. Killers.” Dev paused. “Kidnappers.”
“We wasn’t gonna hurt them kids,” Harve muttered. He jerked a thumb at Curly. “An’ your brother was an accident. The idiot, here, got trigger-happy. Thought he was you. We didn’t know if he was alive or dead. Prob’ly would’ve bled to death, or frozen, if your men hadn’t found him when they did. Just plain ol’ bad luck.” He shot Curly—the “idiot”—a quick glance.
Curly cringed back against the wall. “It was you what hit him in the head—both times!”
“Shut up, you little bastard!” Harve shouted.
Dev rose, his fists clenched. “I oughtta shoot both of you and be done with it,” he growled. “Anyone who steals children from their beds deserves whatever comes their way.”
“Please, Mr. Campbell!” Curly begged. “I won’t never do nothin’ like that again!”
“You’re damn straight you won’t!” Dev fired back. “You’re going to jail. Judge’ll decide what’ll happen, but horse thieving is a capital offense, so just imagine what kidnapping’ll bring down on your heads!”
At this, Curly gasped and began to cry.
Harve gave him a disgusted look. “You damn tit-bag!”
“Shut your mouth, Harve, or I’ll carve you up like I promised—startin’ with your tongue,” Tom said quietly.
Harve glanced away, but fell silent.
“What do you want to do?” Tom asked Dev as they walked away a few steps for privacy.
Dev pulled off his Stetson, raked a hand through his hair, and replaced the hat. “I have to ride into town come daylight. I’ll go with you and speak to Sheriff Briscoe. I want to ask him to go light on Curly, over there.”
Tom’s eyes showed a flicker of relief at Dev’s words. He gave a quick nod of approval. “Prob’ly for the best. We’ll be ready to ride come dawn.”
Sudden weariness swept over Dev. “Thanks, Tom. I appreciate—everything.”
Tom flashed a rare smile. “Go rest. I think that kidnappin’ was harder on you than anything—even harder than fallin’ in love so hard and fast.”
“Fallin’ in lo—I’m not—Tom, I swear, if anybody else said such a thing to me—”
“But, they didn’t. And if you didn’t trust me, you could discount it.” He chuckled at Dev’s bewildered look. “I figure we’ll be hearin’ wedding bells by New Year’s Day.”
He turned and walked away, and Dev could’ve sworn he heard another soft chuckle drift back to him in the frigid air.
• ♥ •
Julia was torn between going to sit with Alex or sitting beside Lauralee and thanking God for delivering her back home to safety.
She made her way to Alex’s room first. He still slept, but his fever was up. That hadn’t changed since she’d checked last. She’d done everything for him she knew how—which, admittedly, wasn’t much. But between her and Pete, they’d done no more than a doctor could, she surmised. Still, it would be good to have a real doctor come and check him over. Two hard knocks to the head couldn’t be a good thing. And though Elmer had seemed to be experienced at removing the bullet, a doctor might be able to somehow bring the fever down.
She sponged some water between Alex’s parched lips and brushed his dark hair back from his forehead. With a silent promise to return soon, she turned to go, only to be drawn up short by his hand grasping her wrist.
She looked down at him anxiously. Dark eyes opened slowly.
“Don’t…go. Stay with…me.”
She nodded. “I’ll be right back. I want to go check on the children.”
He regarded her for a few seconds, as if he were trying to discern the truth of her words.
“I promise, Alex. I—just want to be sure they’re safe.” Her voice sounded strained. “I’ve been so worried. All night.”
“Safe, now?”
She realized he didn’t know what had happened. He’d been a
sleep. She smiled at him. “Yes. Yes—they’re fine. Dev and some of the others rode out and found the kidnappers. They brought them back and rescued the children.”
Alex smiled. “There’ll be…hell to pay. Dev won’t—won’t allow…that.”
“No. I am so relieved. Everyone’s safe.”
“Think…maybe…a doctor…”
Alarmed, she put her hand on his forehead again. So hot.
“I’ll tell Dev—”
Alex shook his head slowly. “No…he won’t…not for me. Maybe Tom…”
Julia’s heart broke at the certainty in Alex’s voice—and the hurt at his brother’s uncaring—he tried so hard to mask. How could Dev not help his own brother? No matter what had come before, Alex was wounded. He needed care. Anger shot through her. What she wouldn’t give to be able to have the chance to do more for her own sister, or Jerome—who’d had no one to support him at all!
“I’ll be back,” she assured Alex. “Don’t worry. I’ll see we get you a doctor—if I have to go for him myself.”
• ♥ •
Julia marched down the hallway with a quick glance inside her room to be certain Lauralee was still snuggled into bed. Her niece slept soundly, and the room was warm, the small fire burning steadily in the fireplace.
She left her door partially open, then strode purposefully to Dev’s door and opened it without knocking. She’d check on Jamie, and then she’d go to the barn in search of Dev. She’d insist that—
Dev turned swiftly as the door opened, his hand flashing downward for the gun he hadn’t removed yet.
Julia gasped. Dev cursed. Then they both stared at one another in silence.
“Shut the door, Miss Julie,” Dev said in a mocking tone. He replaced the gun in the holster. “You almost got yourself shot. That would be one hell of an ending to this perfect day.”
Julia, having been trained to keep her composure no matter the circumstances, pretended she’d seen plenty of half-naked men in her life. Dev stood before the washing stand, a damp rag in his hand as he turned back to the mirror to finish washing his face. “Feels like I’ve been buckshot,” he muttered.
“Maybe the weather…” Julia took a step toward him, then glanced at where Jamie lay asleep in the big bed.
The Devil and Miss Julia Jackson Page 6