An Outlaw to Protect Her

by Harper St. George

  “What have you seen, Aunt?”

  She’d been anxious about what to do with him, afraid that the soldiers would come take him away if they found out his father was white and his mother had died; afraid that they wouldn’t and he’d starve to death because there was no food.

  When the warriors left the reservation to go find food there was always fighting. Everyone knew it was only a matter of time before there was another massacre or the tribe was moved again.

  “I saw three deaths for you, little one. One came in the morning, when you were covered in my tears. Your father can take you away from here and we can avoid that one. One comes when the moon is low. A flower is to blame. The white men call it a rose. Avoid them and you avoid that death. The third one comes when the moon is high and full. When you are gray. That is the good one, little one. That is the one you should accept.”

  Zane jerked himself out of his sleep. Glory stirred beside him, rolling over onto her back, her breaths deep and even. He couldn’t help but stare at her by the light of the moon and the streetlamp that came in through the window. She looked so peaceful lying there, as if untouched by the awful things she had experienced in her life.

  Was there anything to what his aunt had said? At the time he hadn’t questioned her. As soon as he realized that she really meant to send him away with his father, he’d wailed and resisted leaving the only home he’d ever known. He’d only met his father a handful of times when he’d drifted through camp with supplies. He didn’t want to leave with him.

  His own misery had made him not question the rest of her vision. He wasn’t sure if he should believe it now, but the dream unsettled him. Gently tucking Glory’s hair back off her forehead, he left the bed to get his sketchbook. It was the only thing that could calm him down on nights like this.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Glory awoke to soft morning light filtering in through her pale blue curtains, casting a soft glow over her bed. The first thing she noticed was that the space beside her was empty. She lay there for a while, wondering if the past night had been a dream. She could remember sitting with Sally in the parlor, but after that things became a little bit hazy. She’d been afraid for Zane and angry that he hadn’t talked to her about finding Justin. They’d argued and she’d eventually told him about her past.

  Well, most of it. There were some things she couldn’t tell him, not yet anyway. Maybe not ever.

  Then he’d lain down with her. She pressed a hand to her stomach, remembering the press of his palm there. Last night had been no dream. It had felt so good to have him at her back with his arms around her. For the first time in a long time she’d gone to sleep with a feeling of peace surrounding her.

  Even this morning she carried that feeling with her, which was a surprise. Justin had found her and she knew that meant he was coming for her. But while she was concerned and even anxious about that, she felt lighter than she had in years. When she took a deep breath her chest didn’t feel pinched with the weight of all that she’d carried with her since stepping foot on the Dubose estate so many years ago. It actually felt good that she’d talked to Zane.

  A door shut in the other room, so she sat up quickly listening for any signs of Zane. How did he feel this morning? Had he left her as soon as she’d gone to sleep? Had he stayed? Had her confession changed things between them? His familiar step moved across the parlor, prompting her to get to her feet.

  Grabbing her dressing gown from the armoire, she put it on over her chemise and sat down at her dressing table to run a brush through her hair. A piece of paper caught her eye as she reached for the brush and she paused, her heart skipping over itself as she recognized the paper as that from Zane’s sketchbook. The bottom corners of the parchment were slightly worn and softened from months of being held in his hands and carried in his coat. The top edge was jagged from where he’d torn the page out of his sketchbook.

  Her heart pounded as she turned it over, but nothing could have prepared her for what she saw. Her own image stared back at her, only it couldn’t be her. Could it? The woman was stunning in her sleep. She lay with one arm in a graceful sprawl above her head and the other on her belly. Her hair fell around her in a riot of waves. She looked both peaceful and confident, innocent and mischievous. Glory recognized the chemise as her own, except the ribbon between her breasts hung free leaving the valley between them exposed.

  She gasped as she noticed the chemise was see-through and even stupidly looked around on impulse to make sure no one was around her to see the drawing. A faint outline of her nipples and areolae could be seen through the material. Heat warmed her cheeks as she looked closer to make sure that’s what she really saw. Yes, they were both there, the shading there was different than the rest of her chemise. Surely he hadn’t seen her like that. Her own nipples grew hard beneath the linen of her chemise at the thought of him looking at her. She giggled and opened her dressing gown to look at herself in the mirror.

  “Dear Lord,” she whispered. The dark pink was just barely visible through the thin material and the ribbon had fallen untied. He’d seen them. He’d stayed awake after she slept and drawn her and he’d seen them through the fabric.

  Her blush spread from her face to her chest. She couldn’t seem to stop smiling as she realized how much she wanted him to see. She wanted to feel his hands on her skin and to know what it felt like to have his mouth on her. It felt as if she was waking up after a long sleep and she really liked the feeling.

  Running the brush through her hair, she quickly braided it over her shoulder and tied off the end with a piece of ribbon. Deciding that Able might come up this morning, she hurried into the first gown she pulled from the armoire. It was a simple morning gown in white muslin and one of the few she had that she could wear without much assistance with the fastenings. She was nearly breathless as she rushed out the door. Zane looked up from where he stood at her dining table filling a glass with water.

  “Good morning,” she said, unable to read his expression. This was like their first morning together all over again. Her unsure of him but unable to stifle the inexplicable feeling of hope that wanted to take hold of her.

  He smiled and the hope dug its roots in a little bit deeper. “Good morning. How do you feel?”

  “Surprisingly good. I didn’t mean to drink so much.” Sally had kept filling her glass and the fiery liquid had helped, she had to admit. It had kept her terror at bay. Even now she could feel it starting to creep back in, but she wouldn’t let it. She was stronger than she’d been the last time she’d seen Justin. This time would be different. This time she could fight back.

  “Charlotte came by to check on you this morning, so I asked her to send up breakfast. I wasn’t sure if you’d be up for going downstairs.”

  Well, that explained the plates of steaming food and coffeepot on the table. She was gratified to see that there were two plates. He meant to take his own breakfast with her.

  “I feel good, but thank you.” She really needed some water, but other than that and a light headache, she felt better than she should. “I’d rather have breakfast with you than go downstairs.”

  His expression changed in an instant. His eyes became hooded and deep and he gave her body a quick sweep as if remembering what she looked like beneath the clothes. Her nipples beaded again, sending a tight dart of pleasure rushing through her. His gaze warmed every place it touched her.

  His smile broadened and he set the pitcher of water down and walked over to her. Coming to a stop only inches away from her, he tilted her chin up. He was so tall and broad he completely towered over her. At first she had found that unsettling, but now it made her feel protected and safe. He wouldn’t use his strength to bring her harm.

  She slid her palms up his chest and around the nape of his neck, feeling as if she had some right to touch him after all they’d shared. Lacing her fingers together, she pulled him down for a
kiss. His mouth was hot and tender as it closed over hers. He also seemed more hesitant than he’d been last night, the kiss was slow and easy. When he pulled back, she stared up at him, searching for the reason why. But his smile was still in place and he kissed the tip of her nose.

  “You’re beautiful in your sleep.”

  Her face burned again. “Thank you for the drawing. It’s beautiful, although I think you tend toward flattery.”

  He laughed, a soft, deep sound that moved through her in the most delicious way. “Is it still flattery if it’s true?”

  She couldn’t answer that. She didn’t think it was true, but she was glad that he saw her that way. “Thank you. You make me feel beautiful.”

  He opened his mouth to say something but he was interrupted by a knock at the door. She sat down at the table while he went to answer it. She’d become accustomed to not answering her own doors with him around. Able stepped in, mumbling a greeting to Zane, but his gaze found her. She was touched by the concern she saw there. Able’s friendship had gotten her through so much, she couldn’t imagine what would’ve happened without him.

  “Morning.” She forced a brighter smile, because now that those few precious moments with Zane were over, reality was starting to intrude. Justin was coming and they had a very big problem to deal with.

  Able pulled up a chair and Zane took his seat across from her.

  “Breakfast?” She offered him her plate. When Able shook his head, she asked, “How’s Clara?”

  “Good.” His brow was furrowed as he said that. He was clearly upset.

  “How are you?” She reached out and squeezed his hand.

  He shook his head. “I never thought this day would come. I knew it was possible, but after the first few years I didn’t think it was likely. Why would he still be looking after so long?”

  Zane paused from cutting through a piece of sausage on his plate and looked up at her, as if he had wondered the same thing.

  She shrugged. “Justin isn’t like anyone I’ve ever met. He doesn’t like it when things don’t go his way. He really doesn’t like it.” In Justin’s mind she belonged to him and he couldn’t cope with the fact that she’d gotten away.

  Able nodded along, likely remembering his own run-ins with him.

  Zane frowned and put his fork and knife down. “I won’t let him take you back, Glory. I promise you that.”

  Glory took a breath. She knew that he’d try and that he’d even likely succeed, but she didn’t like the danger that she was putting everyone in. An idea that had been lurking in the back of her mind came to the forefront. “I’ve been thinking...” Both men looked at her expectantly. “I think it’s me that he wants. He thinks he owns me and it must have been eating at him all these years that I escaped. If we split up, I could draw him away from you. I could leave.”

  Able shook his head immediately. “It’s too late for that. He knows I’m here. He’ll stop here anyway.”

  She nodded in agreement. If Justin was still on their trail after all these years, then that was likely true. “I think you have to go too. We simply go in separate directions. Chances are he’ll follow me and you’ll have a chance to get away once and for all.”

  Able squeezed her fingers. “Do you really think I’d let you face him alone?”

  “No.” It had been worth suggesting the option, but she’d known that Able wouldn’t agree to it. “I want this to be over. I don’t want to run anymore, but I don’t like that I’m putting everyone in danger. If he comes here, the women, the staff, anyone who gets in his way becomes his prey.”

  “They’ll all be in danger anyway. Justin Dubose is a madman. He won’t care that you’re not here anymore. They’re connected to you now and he could use them to lure you back,” said Able.

  It was impossible to argue with his logic. Justin was the devil incarnate.

  “He’s right.” Zane caught her gaze and held it. “If Dubose is half as bad as you both say he is, then we have no choice but to fight him. Our chances are better here on our own terms.”

  She nodded, torn with the reassurance of that statement and the fact that she wanted Zane as far away from Justin as possible. “We need to come up with a plan. How long do we think we have before he arrives?” There was no question that he was coming.

  “Hunter sent out a telegram late last night,” said Zane. “He’ll have a solicitor from Charleston let us know if Dubose is still at his estate. With any luck we’ll hear back by tonight, maybe tomorrow. If we know he’s still there, or when he left, that should help us narrow down a time.”

  “That’s good.” If he hadn’t left yet then they would likely be able to intercept him, but they’d have to cross that bridge when they had more information. She felt confident that they could handle this, so this time when she smiled it was a little more genuine. “In the meantime I think we need to start the process of closing the boardinghouse.”

  “What?” Able’s surprise wasn’t unexpected. She’d never have wanted to do that in a million years.

  “I think we have to do it temporarily. If he shows up here, I don’t put it past him to try to use the children or women there to get to us. We have to send them away for their own safety.” The very thought of sending Emily and Edward away tore at her heart, but it would be so much worse if Justin got to them. He had no regard for human life. He’d proven that to her over and over again.

  “It’s the smart thing to do,” Zane agreed.

  “I already have a couple of positions in Seattle lined up for the two women staying there. I’d hoped to give them more time, but I think we need to put them on a train as soon as possible.” She’d settle extra money on them to help them get situated in a room before having to start their new jobs in their new town.

  “What about Emily and Edward?” Able asked. He knew what the twins had come to mean to her.

  She swallowed thickly. “I’ll have to telegram their mother and let her know to expect them.” Pain welled in her chest and she had to blink past the prickling of tears. She didn’t want to lose them, and especially not if their mother didn’t want them. But what else could she do? She couldn’t keep them here and submit them to facing down Justin with her.

  Zane reached across the table and took her other hand. She nearly sobbed from the tenderness of that touch. “Do you know if she wants them?”

  She shook her head. She hadn’t had time to write to her.

  He squeezed her hand. “I’ll talk to Hunter and Emmaline. The kids would be safe out at the Jameson ranch. I’m sure they’d be happy to have them there for a little while.”

  Tears of gratitude filled her eyes, nearly spilling down her cheeks before she could blink them back. “Do you really think they’d agree to that?” Keeping them near—keeping them safe—while avoiding sending them to a mother and stepfather, who may very well not want them, would be the perfect solution.

  “I do.” He gave her a comforting smile.

  Able cleared his throat. “Do you think they’d be willing to have Clara come along?”

  Zane nodded, none of the previous ill will between them evident in the exchange. “I think they’d like that.”

  Able nodded and she squeezed his hand again. With Clara so close to giving birth, she could only imagine how it must hurt to send her away.

  “Let’s pay a call after breakfast. I’d rather ask Hunter and Emmy in person,” she said. In that moment she realized exactly how lucky she was. Justin might be coming, but she had Able and now she had Zane. It was almost scary how quickly Zane had come to mean so much to her, but he had. What she felt for him was real and one day soon they were going to have to talk about what the future might have in store for them. But for right now, she was simply going to appreciate what she had while she still had it.

  Chapter Sixteen

  The carriage ride to the Jameson town home was me
rcifully quick, because it had been one of the stranger trips she’d ever taken. Able sat next to her, his brawn leaving her very little room in her corner. Zane sat across from her to give Able room to stretch out his long legs, which meant that Zane’s long legs practically caged her in. There was one on either side of her two. That’s not to say that she minded him caging her in, precisely. She rather liked that each jolt of the carriage had her legs bumping into him. It was just that it was so awkward with Able looking down on him like a disapproving older brother.

  It reminded her that she needed to talk to him and figure out what his problem was with Zane. If things were going to go as she hoped, then she’d need Able’s cooperation.

  The carriage rolled to a stop and the driver came down to help her out. Zane dutifully moved his legs out of the way and she left him and Able to fight out which of them would follow first.

  The house was a lavish affair, built within the last decade in the fashionable part of town. Glory had specified that they should use the back door, because she knew gossip would spread should she use the front door, and she was conscious of protecting the reputations of both Emmy and Caroline. Rumors were likely to spread anyway, but her carriage was inconspicuous and it was midmorning, hardly the usual time for people to be out calling. She hoped they’d get lucky and no one would notice them. Although she’d taken the precaution of dressing in black and had a long veil covering her face and hair.

  The door was opened by an elderly woman as soon as she reached the stoop.

  “Good morning, Miss Winters. You’re expected in the parlor.” The kindly woman waited for them all to come inside before leading them to the front of the house and opening a pair of tall French doors. The room was tastefully done in shades of rich brown and amber.

  The two couples were already waiting inside. Castillo and Caroline were settled on a settee next to the window. His color had returned, and he looked much better than the last time she’d seen him. She couldn’t see any hint of his bandage, but he sat awkwardly and seemed to favor his side. It was one of the clues that he was injured; the other being that Caroline kept her hand in his, as if even now she was afraid that he could be taken from her.