Issued to the Bride One Marine (Brides of Chance Creek Book 4)

by Cora Seton

  Faint for the first time in her life, Lena swayed on her knees before getting a hold of herself. She lifted the musket and cocked the hammer. What had the General always said? Take aim, then let God do the rest.

  “Come on out of there, fight like a man, you little shit,” Harley suddenly called to Logan. “If it hadn’t been for you, none of this would have happened. Lena would have fallen for me, and I could have saved her. Put your hands up, drop whatever it is you’re lugging around. Now.”

  Harley couldn’t see the sword Logan held, but that didn’t mean he didn’t have a shot. Lena could almost see Logan considering the odds. There was no way he could win.

  She hoped he knew Harley was wrong. She would never have fallen for a man like him. Especially not while there were men like Logan in the world.

  Ray moaned where he lay in a heap. He shifted but didn’t get up. Good, he was down for the count.

  Harley took two steps forward and pointed the gun right Logan’s face. “You’re lucky my brother is alive. Now I’ll just shoot you instead of tearing you apart limb from limb.”

  Time was up. Lena sent up a prayer, took aim, sucked in a breath, pulled the trigger—

  Fired.

  Her shot ripped through the barn. Harley cried out and lurched forward, staggered a few feet and collapsed, uttering a horrible, gurgling sound that made Lena drop to her knees. Ray let out a wail, pushed up to a sitting position and nearly keeled over again, obviously groggy, but managed to stay upright.

  Logan dropped beside Harley, moving quickly to try to stanch the wound, but a moment later, he sat back. Lena waited for what seemed forever, too numb to pray or hope—not knowing what to pray or hope for—but when she saw Logan cross himself, cold pierced her.

  “He’s gone,” Logan said.

  Gone.

  She’d killed Harley?

  Lena swayed, put a hand on to steady herself, the musket falling with a metallic thump onto the hay-strewn floor of the loft.

  She’d killed Harley—

  “You bitch! He did this for you!” Ray fumbled around and lurched to his feet, his pistol in his hand.

  He pointed it at Lena, and her breath escaped her.

  Logan spun around and swore, dove for his sword and came up swinging.

  Ray took his shot. A bullet zinged by Lena’s cheek, burning her flesh. She fell back and clapped a hand to it with a cry. Below her Logan bellowed. When she pulled her hand away, it was covered in blood. Her stomach turned.

  She heard a grunt and a smack of metal against flesh.

  “Logan?” In a flash, she scrambled back to the edge of the loft. Had Ray somehow managed to shoot him, too?

  “Lena!” Logan staggered and turned to look up at her. “Lena? You’re okay?”

  “I’m okay.” She looked beyond him to Ray.

  “Don’t look. Lena, don’t look!” Logan cried, shifting to block her view.

  She leaned forward. Why shouldn’t she—?

  She remembered the sword in Logan’s hand.

  Swallowed.

  “Jesus, baby girl,” Logan said from down below. “Why didn’t you tell me the blades on these things were sharp?”

  Chapter Thirteen

  ‡

  Logan didn’t think he’d ever forget the moment Lena’s musket ball ripped through Harley Ellis’s neck.

  If she’d fired a second later, he didn’t think he’d have been alive to see it.

  “You would have made one hell of a Revolutionary War soldier,” he told her several hours later, when the sheriff had been and gone, a neighbor had brought Atlas back safe and sound, and Harley’s and Ray’s bodies had been carted off. Cab had told them he and his deputies would hunt down the twins’ uncle before the night was out and hold him for questioning. The twins’ driver’s licenses had been issued in Tennessee. Cab was already sure he’d find a connection between the Ellises and the drug dealers who’d been harassing them for months.

  “I wanted to be a spy, not a soldier, remember?”

  “I’m glad you decided to be a soldier tonight.”

  They were seated in the kitchen, lights blazing, mugs of hot coffee in their hands, sweetened with a lot of sugar for the shock Cass seemed to think they both might succumb to. Neither of them had been injured except for Lena’s cheek, but once she’d washed the wound it hadn’t turned out to be more than a scrape. Still, Logan knew Lena was badly shaken. The fire department had been here, too, and had spent more than an hour hosing down the outside of the houses to dilute the kerosene the twins had spread around their foundations. They didn’t find anything else awry on the property. Brian and the other men had teamed up with the sheriff’s department to do a thorough search of all the buildings. They’d investigate again in the morning, but with the men taking turns keeping watch tonight—and Harley and Ray both dead—Logan was positive nothing more would happen.

  He didn’t blame Lena for being overwhelmed, though.

  Hell, he was a little off his game, too.

  He’d never killed someone with a sword before.

  He couldn’t believe those old swords were sharp. He could have sworn they were the same cheap knock-offs his uncle had owned. Logan felt sick every time he thought of his battle with Lena. He could have taken her head off when they were fooling around earlier.

  Now he caught her eye. “I suppose a gentleman would let you off the hook, all things considered. You lost the bet we made earlier,” he elaborated when she raised an eyebrow. “You’re supposed to marry me. But a gentleman wouldn’t hold you to that after you saved his life.”

  “Good thing you’re not a gentleman,” Lena said.

  Logan’s heart skipped a beat. Did she mean—? He found he couldn’t ask her. Not yet.

  “At least now you know what your dream was about,” Lena said, leaving him confused until he remembered St. Michael.

  “You’re right. I got a sword tonight, didn’t I? And I tried like hell to protect you, baby girl. And then you went and saved me instead with that damn musket.”

  “But you saved me, too, so it worked out in the end, didn’t it?”

  “I guess,” he said ruefully.

  “I used to have a dream,” she said and reached out to take his hand, “that one day I’d meet a man I didn’t have to protect myself from. Someone who saw me. All of me. And loved me anyway.”

  “That’s me,” Logan said softly.

  “And I’m the woman in your dream,” she told him. “The one carrying the musket.”

  Lena ran her thumb over Logan’s knuckles. His hand was larger than hers. Stronger. And she didn’t mind.

  They complemented each other. Just like Brian and Cass, Connor and Sadie, Hunter and Jo. Like her mother and the General. She didn’t know how she could have missed it at first, that together they were better than when they were apart.

  “I’ve been letting life pass me by,” she told him. “Holding myself back from loving any man because I was so angry at the General—and at myself. I hated myself.” It was satisfying to put it into words. “That wasn’t any way to live.”

  “But—”

  “You make me like myself,” she explained, “because you like me.”

  He nodded. “I do like you.” He covered her hand with his. “You are everything I’ve ever searched for, Lena Reed. Whip-smart, takes no shit, action-packed, funny as hell. What more could a man want in a woman?”

  Lena softened. “What more could a woman want in a man?”

  “Muscles?” He struck a pose. Lena reached out and patted his bicep.

  “You’ve got those.”

  “Wit?” He waggled his eyebrows.

  “You’ve got that, too.”

  “A hell of a way about him in the sack?”

  “We can hear you, you know!” Sadie called from the living room.

  Lena laughed out loud. “I’m not sure about that last one. Maybe we need to try it again.” She kept her voice low enough only he could hear. She hoped.

  “S
ounds like a plan.” He stood and led her upstairs, but Lena tugged him past their bedrooms and continued to the attic, where they could finally have privacy. For the next several hours, Logan demonstrated all his moves.

  She liked those, too, as it turned out.

  Later, tangled together on the couch, Lena rested her head on Logan’s chest. She was done fighting him—done fighting her fate.

  Logan seemed to be thinking along the same lines. He reached down to paw through his clothes and pulled out a little box she recognized. When he opened it up, her heart squeezed.

  Her ring. The one she’d thrown in his face.

  “I think it’s time to try this again,” Logan said. “Lena, you know who I am and what I have to give you. And I hope now you trust me a little bit. All I want is your happiness, and I hope you’ll always tell me if I fall short and give me the chance to get back on track—before you swing a crowbar at me—or a sword. Lena, will you marry me and make me the happiest man on the planet?”

  “Yes,” she said, and let him slide it onto her finger. It felt right there. A reminder of his love. A promise of their future.

  “Don’t take it off this time.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  ‡

  “Logan!”

  Two weeks later, at the Chance Creek Regional Airport, Logan’s mother burst through the door after disembarking her plane and rushed to throw her arms around him. His father quickly followed.

  It was James’s turn next, and his oldest brother made a big show of shock at Logan’s appearance.

  “You’re not my little brother, you’re a monster. Look at you!”

  “Less preaching, more working out—that’s what you need,” Logan advised him. He was touched that James had come all the way from Africa for the wedding. It had been years since they’d been in the same place.

  “I don’t get much time for working out,” James told him.

  Anthony hugged Logan last. “I’m really happy for you. You look great,” he said.

  “Right back at you.”

  “Look at my three sons,” their mother said. “I’m so proud of all of you. I wish you all lived closer, though.”

  “Aida, you promised,” their father said.

  “All right, all right; I’ll save it for the reception, when everyone’s had a little wine. I am proud of you, though,” she told Logan as she linked an arm through his. He led her and the rest of the family toward the baggage carousel.

  “For what?” he teased her.

  “For finding a woman and settling down. Finally.”

  “You’ve got the General to thank for that,” he said.

  “When am I going to meet this General?” Aida asked.

  “I wish I knew.”

  “You look stunning,” Alice said, twirling Lena around to stand her in front of the mirror in her bedroom. Lena took in her own reflection and had to agree. That was one good thing about tomboying around most of the time. When you finally did your hair and nails, the results made everyone flabbergasted.

  She flicked her fingers. “Stupid nails again.”

  “You can survive one day with them.” Cass smiled. “Alice is right; you’re beautiful, Lena. Logan won’t know what hit him.”

  “Four married, one to go,” Jo said, punching Alice’s shoulder lightly. “Who will the General send next?”

  Alice got a distant look in her eyes. “I don’t know—and it’s driving me crazy.”

  Alice had seemed strained these days, and not just because of the deadline for her sample costumes. Lena knew she was mostly worried about the General; they all were. And Lena had questioned more than once if she should be going through with this wedding right now—especially since Beau Ellis had never been found.

  Her sisters had assured her it was what the General would want. “He sent Logan, after all,” Jo said. “And Beau must be a thousand miles away by now. We won’t see him again.”

  Lena had gone with the flow. Truth was, she didn’t want to put off the wedding. She wanted to step into her new life with Logan, even if they hadn’t worked out all the details of that yet.

  For one thing, she wasn’t sure what name to take. She’d always thought of herself as Lena Reed and thought taking a man’s name was an old-fashioned custom. On the other hand, as Cass pointed out, Reed was her father’s name—another man. Besides, there were the children to think about.

  Children.

  She’d never thought of children. Wasn’t sure she ever wanted to, either. But she found herself thinking it would be okay if she ever decided she wanted to think about it. Logan’s mom was gunning for grandkids and made no bones about it. Logan told her he was willing to wait until they had more time to talk it over.

  That was all she could ask for.

  “Ready?” Cass asked. “It’s about time for us to take our places.”

  “I’m ready,” Lena said.

  But as they made their way out into the hall, they spotted a man Lena recognized just cresting the stairs.

  “Jed?” she cried. “Jed Henderson? Is that you?” She hurried to greet the overseer she hadn’t seen in years. Too late she remembered how surly she’d been when he left Two Willows. She hoped he could forgive her.

  “Sorry for intruding right before your big moment,” he said. “I just had to see you before you walked down the aisle. I wanted to make sure… well, to make sure that man waiting for you at the altar was right for you. It’s your father’s job, I know, but he hasn’t been around much, has he?” he pointed out dryly. “I guess I’m a poor substitute, but I’ve let you down all these years. I couldn’t stand it if I held back now and regretted it later.”

  “You let me down?” Lena was incredulous. “I was the one who was awful to you.”

  “You were hurt. I should have prepared you better before I retired. It hurt me, too. Leaving you. You… meant a lot to me. Don’t have children of my own, you know.”

  “Thank you.” It was all she could think of to say. “I’m so glad you came. It means a lot to me. I’ve thought about you so much over the years—everything you taught me.”

  “I’m glad to know I was of service,” he said simply. “Now I’ve taken too much of your time. You need to get going. Don’t keep that young man waiting. I’ve taken a peek, and he looks like a good candidate. You’re sure he’s the one?”

  “I’m sure.” She was, and she was grateful to be able to say so. “But, Jed. Don’t go yet. I know this is last minute, but…” She took a breath. “I was going to walk myself down the aisle. Like you said, the General isn’t here. Would you consider… would you…?” She found she was afraid to put her question into words.

  “I’d be mighty proud to walk you down that aisle.” Jed’s smile spread ear to ear, leaving no doubt of the old man’s sincerity, and Lena’s heart rose. She’d be proud, too, to walk by this man’s side. Jed was proof that men could be heroes. Logan was proof of that, too. Lena came to a decision on a matter that she’d been debating for days.

  “We have to hurry,” Cass said. “We should have been downstairs already.”

  “Ready?” Jed asked Lena, crooking his arm and offering it to her.

  Lena linked her arm through his. “Ready.”

  “Ready?” Anthony asked Logan as they took their places along with Brian, Connor and Hunter near the altar that had been constructed at one end of Two Willows’ living room. Reverend Halpern was already waiting for them, smiling and calm, ready to perform the ceremony. With the men’s Revolutionary War uniforms and the setting of the old house, Logan could believe that he’d traveled back in time.

  He was more nervous than he’d imagined he’d be—mostly because he couldn’t believe Lena hadn’t changed her mind again. More than once he’d thought she would. She was balky as an unbroken horse, that one. But she’d held fast to her promise to him and had worn her engagement ring happily—without throwing it in his face again. She’d been softer lately. More willing to talk to him. More willing to share her duties
around the ranch.

  She confessed her worry about her father more than once and allowed him to be there for her. It was as if she was testing the waters—seeing what a relationship with a man could look like. And liking the results.

  Logan liked them, too.

  Spending time with Lena was better than just about anything else—except spending time in bed with her, where they found themselves compatible in all kinds of ways.

  He couldn’t wait for the winter to pass so they could ride together. Camp, maybe. Explore Montana together. Meanwhile, he’d enjoy their warm nest on the top floor—when she invited him.

  His family had taken to her on the spot when they met her, Anthony and James instantly at ease enough with her to joke around—usually at Logan’s expense.

  Only the General’s absence was a blot on their happiness. He hoped the man was okay. Hoped to hear from him soon so they could all rest easy. He knew all the Reed women were expecting the worst after breaking tradition and leaving the ranch at the same time.

  “Here they come,” Anthony said, and Logan turned his eyes to the stairs, down which Jo was already stepping slowly in her bridesmaid gown. Sadie came after her, followed by Alice and then Cass.

  Then Lena came into view, on the arm of a man he didn’t recognize. It had to be Jed Henderson. He’d made sure Cass sent him an invitation to the wedding. Lena needed men she trusted in her life.

  But Logan only had eyes for Lena. Her wedding gown had been transformed into an old-fashioned dress.

  And she was… stunning.

  Lena… but even more Lena, if that was possible. Logan didn’t know how to put it into words.

  She walked proudly down the aisle between the rows of chairs. When she reached the altar, Jed gave Logan a little salute, kissed Lena’s cheek and stepped back.

  Logan took her hand, not able to take his gaze from her face when she tilted her chin up, caught him looking and smiled. “Hey, baby girl.”