by Smith, Bobbi
Nick went back inside the jail to take charge.
He was the sheriff now.
Chapter Twenty-six
“It’s time to go home,” Martin announced as he returned to the church to let Anne, Rachel, and Michelle know that the danger was over.
They’d looked up nervously when they’d heard him come in and had hurried from their pews to join him in the greeting area.
“Is Clint all right?” Rachel worried.
“He’s fine,” he told her and then looked at Michelle. “And so is Nick.”
Relief filled Rachel and Michelle at the good news.
“Did they get Sheriff Reynolds?” Michelle asked.
“Yes, and they should be over at the jail locking him up right now.”
“Was anyone injured?” Anne asked.
“Just the sheriff. He was shot in the arm, but the wound is not life-threatening. I’m sure he’s going to stand trial with the rest of them.”
“Our prayers have been answered.” Anne was truly thankful that the arrest had turned out so well. “Everyone is safe.”
Martin looked at Rachel. “I managed to speak with Clint for a moment and told him to come home when he was finished at the jail.”
Rachel gave her father a heartfelt smile. “Then we’d better go. I want to be there waiting for him when he shows up.”
“You’re right. Let’s go home,” Anne agreed.
“Here, Papa.” Rachel handed over the gun she’d been carrying with her.
Martin took the gun, saddened that good folks had to be prepared to defend themselves that way. He couldn’t wait to get back home and lock the weapon up again. Martin left them for a moment to put out the lights as Rachel led the way out of the church.
Rachel had just opened the door and stepped out into the cool, dark night when she caught sight of Clint coming up the street.
Her heartbeat quickened at the sight of him.
Clint was her love.
He was her life.
Clint had been a man on a mission as he’d headed to the Hammond house next to the church to get Rachel. As he neared the church, he saw Rachel standing in the glow of the open doorway.
They both went still, staring at each other across the distance, and then nothing mattered but their being together.
Rachel hurried down the steps, and they rushed toward each other in the night, desperate to be in one another’s arms. She ran straight into Clint’s embrace and tightly clung to him as he lifted her up in his arms and kissed her.
“You’re all right,” she breathed, gazing up at him adoringly when they finally broke apart.
Clint looked down at her and smiled tenderly. “Now that I’m with you, I am.”
Rachel kissed him again, just to make sure he was really, truly there with her. When the kiss ended, she drew him back to where her parents and Michelle were standing, watching them.
“Martin told us what you did tonight, Clint. We’re very proud of you,” Anne said.
“Thank you.” Looking at Michelle, he told her, “I’ve got a message for you from Sheriff Evans.”
“ ‘Sheriff’ Evans?” Michelle repeated, wide-eyed.
“That’s right.” Clint grinned easily at her. “The mayor offered Nick the job, and he took it.”
“That’s wonderful.” She was delighted at the news.
“Yes, it is. He’s a good lawman. Anyway, Nick said to tell you he’ll be by to see you tomorrow when things have calmed down.”
“I’ll be waiting for him!” Michelle was excited—Nick was safe and he wanted to see her!
“Would you like to come over to the house?” Anne invited.
“If you don’t mind, I think I’ll take my bride ‘home’ now,” Clint said. He appreciated Anne’s invitation, but wanted nothing more than to be alone with Rachel in the privacy of his hotel room—without any fears or worries.
Her parents completely understood.
“We’ll see you tomorrow,” Martin said.
“Good night,” Rachel bade them. Then she turned to Michelle. “We’ll walk you home, since I won’t need you to sneak me into the hotel tonight.”
They all chuckled at the memory.
“Do you think we should change Clint’s registration to read ‘Mr. and Mrs. Williams’ instead of just ‘Kane McCullough’?” Michelle asked with a grin.
“Absolutely,” Clint agreed. “Kane McCullough’s gone.”
Rachel couldn’t help herself. She looked up at Clint and said, “But I loved him, too.”
He reached out and took her hand, and they started off with Michelle.
Martin and Anne watched them walk away and knew they were truly blessed.
After seeing Michelle home, Clint and Rachel wasted no time getting to the hotel. Mr. Lofton was working the desk that evening, so they went up to speak with him.
“I heard what happened tonight. Congratulations on bringing those outlaws in,” he told Clint.
“I’m glad it’s over.”
“You did a fine job.”
“Thanks.”
“How can I help you?” he asked.
“We need to change my registration listing.”
“To what?” He frowned.
“To ‘Mr. and Mrs. Williams,’ ” Clint told him with a smile.
“That’s right,” Rachel said, reaching in her pocket to take out the wedding ring she’d been carrying. She slipped it on her finger and smiled up at her husband.
“Congratulations!” he said.
“Thanks.”
They didn’t bother to make any more small talk. They just hurried upstairs to be alone, finally.
As soon as they were in their room with the door locked safely behind them, Clint he lit the lamp and turned to his wife.
“Come here, woman,” he growled, giving her a wicked smile.
Rachel all but threw herself into his arms. He kissed her hungrily, letting her know by that embrace how much he needed and wanted her.
When he drew back from the kiss, he gazed down at her and said, “I love you.”
“Show me,” she whispered.
With utmost care, Clint did just that. He swept her up into his arms and gently laid her on the bed. He joined her there, holding her close, fitting her perfectly against him as his lips found hers in a devouring exchange that left them both desperate for more.
Rachel reached up and began to unbutton Clint’s shirt. She wanted to be close to him. She wanted to be one with him. When she’d freed the last button, he drew away from her just long enough to shrug the shirt off. Rachel reached out to touch his bare chest, sculpting that hard, muscular expanse with sensual caresses.
Clint gave a low groan as Rachel’s hands trailed paths of fire over him. He decided to return the favor and quickly unfastened her dress and slipped it down off her shoulders. He pressed heated kisses to her throat, and then, unable to tolerate any barriers between them, he drew away from her and left the bed.
“Clint—?” Rachel wanted him in her arms, and she was confused as to why he’d left her.
He didn’t speak. There was no need to. He just reached down and drew her up with him. They quickly stripped away the last of their clothing and went back into each other’s arms on the bed.
They needed nothing more than to be as one.
There in the sweet heat of the night, they came together. In a blaze of passion and glory, with searing kisses and caresses they shared their love. They moved in a rapturous rhythm that stoked the flames of their burning need. The fire of their desire burned ever higher until, in a moment of pure ecstasy, fulfillment was theirs.
Still clinging to each other, Clint and Rachel collapsed back onto the bed, their passion spent—for the moment. Rachel nestled against him and rose up to press a sweet kiss to his lips.
“It’s a good thing we didn’t make love in the cabin that night,” she whispered.
“Why’s that?” Clint frowned, unsure of her meaning.
“Because if we had,
we might still be there.” Rachel gave a throaty chuckle.
He felt the heat rise deep within him at her words. “We don’t have to leave this room, you know.”
“I know.”
They smiled at the thought, and Rachel gave herself over to his loving.
Late that night Clint lay quietly beside Rachel, watching her sleep. He remembered the times when he’d saved Rachel from danger, and in that moment, he realized that she had saved him, too. Without her love, he would have still been lost. He would have still been dead inside. Her innocence and devotion had freed his soul and made him whole again.
Clint found himself thinking of the future, and he knew that with Rachel by his side, life would always be worth living. He closed his eyes and sought sleep, cherishing this time of peace and renewal.
It was in the predawn hours that Rachel slowly came awake. She opened her eyes and stared at her husband. Her gaze traced his lean, handsome features, relaxed now as he slept, and then moved down lower to visually caress his broad, powerful shoulders and hair-roughened chest. She was tempted to reach out and touch him, but she held back, knowing he needed his rest.
Rachel’s heart swelled with love for him. Whether he was Clint Williams or Kane McCullough, he was the man she had waited her whole life for. He was her love.
Rachel didn’t know what the future held for them, but she knew it would be bright as long as they were together. Their days would be filled with love—and so would their nights.
At the last thought, she smiled to herself.
“What are you grinning about?” Clint asked, waking to find her watching him and smiling.
His question startled her, for she’d thought he was sound asleep. She gave a soft laugh and purred as she rose up over him and fit herself boldly against him. “I was thinking about how exciting our life together is going be if every night is like this one.”
“So you’ve enjoyed yourself, have you?” he murmured, pressing heated kisses to her silken flesh.
Rachel didn’t bother to answer with words. She showed him how much she was enjoying this blissful time of loving him.
It was much later when they collapsed together, sated for the moment. Clint held Rachel close, cherishing her nearness as they rested.
“Clint,” she began slowly, not quite sure how to broach the subject. “Do you know what you want to do now that you’re done tracking the Tucker Gang?”
Clint had been wondering the same thing. After what had happened that fateful night, there was no way he could go to live on his family’s ranch. The memories were too painful. He considered leaving the Rangers and possibly finding some other kind of work, but he knew he couldn’t.
Clint raised himself up on one elbow to look down at her as he answered, “I’m a Ranger, Rachel. It’s my calling. It always has been.”
“And you’ll be happy staying with the Rangers?”
“Yes—as long as I know I have you to come home to.”
Rachel looked up at him adoringly and lifted a hand to caress his cheek. She was proud of her Texas Ranger. A shiver went through her when he pressed a heated kiss to her palm. “Will Dry Springs be home?”
“Yes.” He wanted to keep her close to her family, so she wouldn’t be lonely during the times when he was away. “We can look for a place of our own in the morning. Although, we could stay here at the hotel and call this home—”
“But it’s only a—”
“Bedroom,” he said, and he bent down to kiss her once more.
Rachel giggled and returned his kiss. “I don’t think Michelle’s parents take on long-term boarders.”
“Too bad.” Clint was smiling.
“When will you contact your captain and let him know what happened here?”
“I’ll send him a telegram tomorrow. He’s waiting to hear from me, and I’m sure he’ll want to meet with me sometime soon so I can fill him in.”
“I hope it’s not too soon.” Rachel didn’t even want to start thinking about the times when they’d be apart—when he’d have to ride out, and she wouldn’t know where he was going or how long he’d be away.
“I’ll see what I can do about convincing him to give me some time off, since I just got married.”
“Ask him for a year or two,” she teased, giving him a seductive look.
“Do you think that would be long enough?” he asked ready to take her up on her unspoken invitation.
“We could try it and find out—if he agrees. What do you think?” She linked her arms around his neck and drew him down for a kiss.
“Knowing my captain, I think we’d better take advantage of every moment we have together, right now,” Clint murmured against her lips.
And they did.
Chapter Twenty-seven
One Month Later
Clint rode to the top of the hill and reined in to look down at the scene below. There before him lay the deserted ruins of his family’s ranch. Since the night of the attack, he hadn’t been able to think much about the Lazy W, but now it was time.
The Andersons had been good to him and his family over the years. While he’d been away, they’d been tending the stock and watching over things. Clint knew they’d be interested in buying the place, and he was ready to sell it to them for a fair price.
Clint planned to ride over and see them later that day after he’d met up with Captain Meyers at the Lazy W. It would be the first time they’d met face to face since he’d brought in the Tucker Gang.
Clint knew he was early for their meeting; he had planned it that way.
There was something he had to do while he was there at the ranch by himself.
Urging his horse on, Clint rode slowly down to the gravesite where his family and the ranch hands who’d been killed that night had been buried. He reined in nearby and dismounted, then walked slowly over to their graves. Deep, painful emotions filled him as he looked down at their markers.
Clint stopped before his father’s grave. His heart ached as he bowed his head for a long moment. He finally looked up at the grave marker that read “Frank Williams” and nodded.
“I brought them in for you,” he said aloud, wanting his father to know that he’d finished the job. “They went on trial, and the law took care of them. They’ve gone to meet their Maker.”
Clint felt some satisfaction knowing the killers had paid the price for their deadly crimes, but even so, nothing was ever going to bring his family back.
He stood there for a moment longer, staring down at his father’s marker, before moving on to stare down at his own.
Clint Williams
Born February 16, 1852
Died March 23, 1877
Clint knew that for all these months those words had been true. He had been dead inside—until Rachel had come to him and shown him that life was worth living again. By the grace of her presence, he had been able to go on. He was going to continue to follow his father’s example and work hard to be the best Texas Ranger he could.
That was why he was there today.
Clint took down the marker that bore his name.
He was back among the living.
“Clint?”
He turned to find Captain Meyers walking toward him. Clint went to greet him, and they shook hands.
“It’s good to see you,” the captain told Clint, looking him over.
“It’s good to see you, too—especially under these circumstances.”
“I’m sorry I couldn’t meet with you sooner, but I was finishing up a case.”
“That’s all right,” Clint said. “Everything has worked out just fine.”
“I’ll say. That was some good work you did, finding Pete Reynolds and bringing the whole Tucker Gang to justice.” Captain Meyers reached in his pocket and took out Clint’s Texas Ranger badge. He handed it to him. “It’s time you started wearing this again. You should never have given it to me in the first place.”
“It won’t happen again.”
“I’m counti
ng on that,” he told him. “By the way, congratulations on your marriage.”
“Thanks. Rachel is the best thing that ever happened to me. She told me to thank you for the extra weeks I had off,” Clint said.
“You’re welcome. You earned it.”
“I warned her not to get used to it, though.”
“That’s right. We need you. You’re a good man, just like your father was.”
“Thanks, Captain.” Clint knew there was no higher compliment Meyers could have given him. Solemnly, Clint pinned his badge on his shirt.
Captain Meyers watched him and was glad to have him fully back with the Rangers.
“I see you took down the grave marker,” he said, gesturing toward the place where Clint’s false grave had been.
“Yes, I’m back among the living.”
“Good, because I’ve got a new assignment for you.”
The two Texas Rangers looked at each other and smiled as they started back to where they’d left their horses.
Epilogue
One Year Later
It was a beautiful day for a wedding. The church was crowded with guests. As the music began, the bride started down the aisle escorted by her father.
Nick stood with Reverend Hammond in front of the altar, watching Michelle make her way toward them. She was a vision of beauty in her white gown and veil, and Nick was thrilled that this day had finally come. Soon, very soon, she would be Mrs. Nick Evans.
Michelle’s heart was racing as she clung to her father’s supportive arm on their way up the aisle.
Today her dream was coming true.
Today she and Nick were getting married.
She looked up at Nick, standing so tall and handsome beside Reverend Hammond, and she knew he was the love of her life.
As she passed by the pew where Rachel was sitting with Clint and her mother, she cast her friend a quick sidelong smile.
Rachel smiled back up at Michelle, truly thrilled for her friend on her wedding day. She had always expected to be Michelle’s matron of honor, but her current delicate condition had kept that from happening. Rachel rested a loving hand on the mound of her stomach. It wouldn’t be long now until her son or daughter was born. Rachel looked up at Clint and knew she loved him even more now than she had before—if that were possible.