The rest was now in the hands of the shop owner, and she refused to think sadly of the exchange.
Passing in front of the jewelry store, she realized she was beginning to tire and needed to get back to the hotel room as quickly as possible.
A block from the hotel, she stopped at the telegram office and quickly penned a message to Mr. Tucker Burnett, WILL BE ARRIVING IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS,LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING YOU. MISS ELIZABETH ANDERSON.
Exhausted, Beth hurried back to the hotel, feeling tired but pleased at the results of her outing. She ignored the niggling disappointment that Tanner would soon be out of her life.
***
Beth turned the knob of the door to their room and was surprised to see Tanner pacing the floor.
“Where the hell have you been?” he asked harshly.
“I ... I went for a walk.” She didn’t know why she didn’t tell him the truth—maybe it was the anger in his voice—but she didn’t. The jewels had been hers, though Tanner had already expressed his disapproval of her selling them. And she was too tired to argue right now or do anything more than gaze at the unyielding man.
He stared at her and then pulled out a chair. “Sit down before you fall. You look exhausted.”
“I am rather tired. I pushed myself today.”
“I see that,” he said. “Don’t overtax your strength.”
“I have to get well. I need to become stronger,” she said, walking across the room to the nearest chair.
She watched him pace the floor, his brow furrowed deep in thought. He seemed genuinely concerned that she hadn’t been here when he returned. Yet the surly man from last night wasn’t a distant memory, and she was wary of just who had returned to their hotel room, the real Tanner or his evil twin.
He paced for several more moments while she rested and stared out the window.
“I ... I owe you an apology,” he said, breaking into her reverie. His voice, calmer, still held a strident note.
“What?” she asked, stunned.
“I said I owe you an apology,” he repeated. “For the way I acted last night.”
“Oh,” she said, surprised.
“I was rude,” he acknowledged.
She sat and stared at him, astonished that he was admitting he was wrong.
“You didn’t do anything to deserve to be treated badly, and I apologize for my behavior,” he said, not looking at her.
Beth felt as if someone had just kicked her in the shin. Before this moment, she had begun to doubt that he had ever felt any sympathy regarding her injuries, yet she knew better. It was just so much easier to think of him as a scoundrel she would be glad to be rid of than the man who had taken care of her, fed her, and seen her at her very worst. A man she had been forced to depend on.
Although she didn’t want to be beholden to him for anything, whenever they were in the room together, everything seemed intensified. Smells were stronger, tastes were richer, feelings were deepened, and Beth was afraid. Tanner evoked emotions she had never explored and couldn’t afford to discover at this time in her life.
“Your a . . . apology is accepted,” she said stumbling over the word and still reeling from this unexpected turn of events. She’d never heard a man, other than a family member, express regret, especially one who looked capable of taking on the world by himself.
He took a quick look at her dress. “Since you’ve already been out of the hotel, I was thinking, if you aren’t too tired, maybe we could go downstairs tonight and eat.”
She glanced down at her hands. “Just let me rest for about fifteen minutes and then I think I’ll be well enough.”
“Why don’t you rest while I change clothes?”
Oh, God. How could she lie on that bed and watch him shed his clothes? The sponge bath he’d taken the other night had almost done her in, and now he was going to change in front of her?
She wasn’t prepared to face Mr. Tanner without his clothes on today—maybe never.
“I . . . think maybe I’ll meet you down in the dining hall.” Before he could object, she all but ran out the door.
***
Tanner glanced around the crowded dining room and realized immediately that he’d made a mistake. He should never have brought Beth down to dinner. The waitress had asked her how she was feeling, he’d overheard the words “shot during a hold up” several times, and he knew they were being observed by the other guests of the hotel. And she was with him.
From the moment they appeared in the doorway, people had turned and stared. Not only did Beth’s auburn hair attract attention; the emerald-green dress that clung to her curves brought out the brilliance of her eyes and reminded him of a Georgia Pine forest in summer. She was by far the most beautiful woman in the room, and Tanner was awestruck at her beauty.
Yet she appeared completely unaware of the sensation she had caused when entering the dining room of the hotel. Seated across from him, she daintily wiped a crumb from her bottom lip and smiled. “I’m so glad we didn’t eat in the room tonight. I was tired of staring at those same four walls.”
“Well, it shouldn’t be much longer before your life will be back to normal,” he said, his voice deepening. “I spoke with the doctor this morning, and he said in another week you should be able to ride.”
Beth picked up her wineglass and twirled it between her fingers. “Where did you see the doctor?”
Tanner couldn’t tell her he’d been looking for a place to leave her, so he lied. “He was on his way to visit someone when I ran into him.”
“One more week.” She glanced up at him, her emerald eyes dilating in the candlelight. “Soon I’ll be meeting the man I’m going to marry.”
Tanner knew their time was limited, that another man was waiting for her, but that didn’t mean his thoughts didn’t wander down paths he knew he could never travel. Paths that he wanted to explore with Beth.
She took a sip of the wine, her tongue running along the curve of her lips.
“Why did you decide to become a mail-order bride?” he asked, suddenly curious about her. “I would have thought that you would have more marriage proposals than you could handle.”
She shrugged her shoulders. “I lived in a rural section of Georgia, not far from Atlanta. I was barely of age when the war began, and then so many of the boys from back home died. There wasn’t anyone left to marry.”
“So you decided to take your chances in Texas with a man you’ve never met?” He scowled.
Her smile seemed to droop as her eyes changed the green turning a shade darker, and she took a deep breath.
“I answered an ad. We corresponded for a while, and then he asked me to come to Fort Worth, Texas.” Tanner felt a pang of homesickness rattle his bones at the sound of Fort Worth. Home, where he could never return.
He didn’t ask the man’s name. He didn’t want to know Beth’s new name once she was married. That way he could never be tempted to look her up. Or even worse, he might know her husband. No, it was better if he didn’t know who she was marrying, and she didn’t seem inclined to tell him.
She tilted her head to the side, and the candlelight reflected off the smooth plane of her cheekbone, bathing her in a luminous glow that made her even more beautiful. If only his life had been different, he could have been the man Beth was going to marry.
“What about you? You’ve not told me what bank you work for. Or even much about yourself.”
He cleared his throat, determined not to let the glow of the candles on her satiny skin, dainty nose, and full lips distract him. But somehow all he could do was stare at the beautiful woman before him, knowing he was losing the battle. He wanted to run his fingers along her chin and touch her skin to see if it felt velvety soft beneath his fingertips.
“Not much to tell. I work for whoever needs me.”
“I know you served in the war.”
She was referring to his dreams at night. He glanced away “Yeah, so did everyone else.”
“You must have family somewh
ere.”
He shrugged and watched the elegant way she put her fork to her lips. Beth was a refined lady who, like so many others, had been misplaced by the war. Unlike himself, she’d dealt with her loss and moved on.
“Yeah, I have two brothers. How about yourself? Any brothers or sisters?”
She laid her fork on her plate and dabbed her mouth with her napkin. “No, I was an only child. My parents were older when they had me.”
He remembered her saying they were dead and suddenly the image of her, feverish and pleading with him that she was a good girl, came back, and he wondered at the memory. The lady was so proper, so refined that he couldn’t imagine her doing anything unseemly.
Yet there was a certain mysteriousness and worldliness about her that led him to believe she was not an innocent but a woman who knew about the intimacies of life. He couldn’t help but wonder about the man who had showed her how to be a woman.
He couldn’t help but stare at her; the fiery highlights in her hair flittered in the candlelight like tiny shooting stars. She was warm, responsive, and if he had been a less honorable man, she’d be doing more than just sleeping in his room.
It was surprising he had some measure of honor left after all these years that still held him in check.
He took a deep breath to calm the erratic beating of his heart. “So you were an only child.”
“Yes,” she said breathlessly.
“Is it true that only children are spoiled?” he asked not really caring about her answer, just wanting to hear her talk, to see the vivid expressions on her lovely face.
She laughed and he couldn’t help but think how nice it was to hear the sound.
“Somewhat. But what people don’t tell you are the high expectations placed on an only child. After all, your parents only have one chance to do it right. Not to mention the fact that there’s no one there to share the laughter, the responsibilities, and the burdens. I would have loved to have had siblings.”
Beth had gone from laughing and playful to serious, and he resisted the urge to reach across the table and hold her hand. He wanted to, but somehow he knew it wasn’t appropriate. Damn the proprieties! He wanted to touch her, feel her silky skin beneath his own.
She smiled, though the sadness in her eyes still lingered. “I’ve talked all evening, and you’ve said very little. So where is home?”
He raised his hand and signaled for the check. It was time to go. Her questions were becoming more focused.
The waiter brought over the check, and he reached into his pocket and pulled out the necessary coins.
“Wherever I lay my head, that’s where I call my home.” He stood and pulled back her chair.
“I think you’re avoiding the subject,” she said, rising from her seat, her interest clearly piqued.
“Maybe. It’s been so long since I went home that I’m sure they’ve forgotten about me.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“I didn’t leave under the best of circumstances,” he said, taking her by the arm and leading her toward the staircase.
“Even more reason for you to go home and straighten things out,” she said.
“Not likely.”
He could never return home and face his father, mother, and brothers. His past was anything but honorable, and having to face his father was impossible.
The comfortable atmosphere that had enveloped them since Beth’s return evaporated, leaving Tanner feeling uneasy as they trod up the steps of the hotel.
A thought crossed his mind. What would he do if the couple next door were as busy tonight as they had been last night? Surely the man next door wouldn’t get lucky two nights in a row.
He opened the door, and Beth stepped into the hotel room that had been their sanctuary, their home, since her accident. A feeling of dread came over Tanner.
The air seemed thick and heavy with the remembrances of the night before. Every little creak and groan caused Tanner to jump for fear the couple next door were about to repeat their performance.
“I bet you’re feeling tired, since you went for a walk today,” he asked, hoping that she would just go to bed and he could slip out for a while.
“Not really.” She sat down in the chair, watching him expectantly.
“Have you read today’s newspaper?” he asked, starting to pace the floor.
“Twice.”
She glanced at him, and her eyes darkened to a deep green, her pupils wide and dilated. She swallowed nervously. God, just looking at her left him with little doubts as to what she was thinking.
“Want me to set up the checker board tonight?” he asked, a restless energy preventing him from sitting down.
“No.” She went to her reticule, which lay open on the dresser. “Why don’t you go smoke one of those cigars you’re so fond of while I get ready for bed. I think I’d like to take a quick bath and slip into my nightgown.”
He swallowed. The thought of her slipping into that soft nightgown, the one that was a luminous white, that clung to every curve, every voluptuous inch, the one that shadowed the nipples of her breast, was too tempting, and he agreed. It was time for a cigar.
“Take your time. I’ll be back in a little while,” he said, hurrying out the door, and shutting it firmly behind him. He leaned against the frame and took a deep breath. God, he didn’t know how much more close proximity to this woman he could take. She was soft, appealing, and sexy as hell, but worse than that, he enjoyed being with her, and that scared him worst of all.
***
Tanner found himself sitting at the counter of the White Elephant Saloon, a block from the hotel. He’d needed more than a cigar. He’d needed a sip of whiskey to dull how much he wanted Beth.
She was a lady. He was an outlaw. And she would soon be married, though the idea of seducing her was a temptation dreams were made of. But it was a deed he could never attempt. He’d caused more heartache in his short life than one person should be allowed, and he was not about to accrue yet another offense.
Still, the thought of her languishing naked in a tub filled with warm water was enough to require a second drink.
And that was the one that got him into trouble.
Tanner sat at the bar thinking about Beth, dreaming of the way her breasts peeked through the cotton material of her gown, the way she appeared, so gentle and kind, but with such a strong spirit. He couldn’t help but remember the way she had withstood the pain while he had held her down and Doc Benson removed the bullet.
Yes, she was a lady, but she was a strong, decent person, and he wasn’t going to corrupt her with his ways.
“So I finally caught up with you without your lady friend.” The voice came out of the blue, sending his heart into rapid pulsating.
Tanner jerked around at the sound of a voice he immediately recognized.
He tried not to let his surprise show. “Hi, Sam, sit down and I’ll buy you a beer.”
“Thanks, don’t mind if I do.”
The bartender drew a draught of beer and sat the mug in front of Sam, the man who had robbed Beth’s stage.
“We’d just about given up on you ever riding with us again. Where you been?” the outlaw asked.
“Had some things here in town that I needed to take care of,” Tanner drawled trying to slow his racing heart and get his nerves under control.
“Yeah, I saw what you’ve been taking care of. She’s a right pretty little piece, too.”
Tanner only smiled.
“So why don’t the two of you come out to where we’re staying. You know where it is. After all, you’ve been there before.”
“Yeah, I know where you’re at. I’ve been busy.”
Sam drank from his glass, greedily gulping almost half the beer.
“You know, Jackson, I’ve gotten the feeling you don’t want to be with us anymore.”
“No, I’ve just been busy, that’s all. Women can take up all your time.”
Sam stared at him, picked up his drink, a
nd downed it. “I’m going over to the Palace and try out Miss Jane’s girls. Why don’t you come with me? We’ll make a night of it.”
“Sounds like fun, but well, she’s waiting for me, and I think I’m going to finish my beer and call it a night.”
Sam set his empty glass on the counter and then stared at Tanner.
“Bring her out soon, Jackson. We’d all like a piece of her.”
Anger flared like an explosion in a mine shaft, but Tanner managed to hide it.
He shrugged. “I’m not much good at sharing, but I’ll be out there soon enough, Sam.”
“You do that.”
The outlaw stood and walked out the door, leaving Tanner alone, trying to hide the fact that he was shaking, he was so angry.
Sam wanted him to bring Beth out to the hideout where his men would insist on sharing her.
That was it. He would not harm Beth deliberately even if it meant destroying the rest of his life. Though the doctor had wanted her to wait another week, Beth’s life suddenly seemed to be in more danger here in town than from a horseback ride.
Tanner couldn’t just put her on a stagecoach and send her on to Fort Worth, where Sam and his boys might hold it up again. He couldn’t just let her fend for herself. But taking her to Fort Worth would mean days together on the trail. No matter what he did, Tanner was going to come out the loser, but he really had no choice.
He was taking a huge risk, and he knew it. But it seemed small compared to the danger that Beth would be in if she stayed here, where Sam could find her. Tanner couldn’t let anything happen to Beth.
It was too late to leave tonight, but they would be departing at first light.
Chapter Eight
Tanner opened the door and was greeted by the sight of Beth wrapped in a towel, her long, bare legs exposed to his gaze.
She blushed. “I ... I took longer than I expected.”
“I’ll come back,” he said, stepping back into the hall, determined to go anywhere to get away from the sight of Beth in that clinging wet towel and all that exposed skin.
“No, uh, I’m almost done,” she said hurriedly, her hazel eyes warm and languid. “Just turn around and close the door.”
The Outlaw Takes A Bride (The Burnett Brides) Page 10