by Jodi Thomas
Delta nodded slowly and slid her hand into Colton’s. “I’ll do that, and I’ll have him buried along with that part of my life.”
“What about the deed?” Audrey asked as she motioned for Colton to take another drink.
“I’ll mail it back to my mother. She can do whatever she likes with the land. I want no part of it.” Delta forced a smile back on her face as she watched Audrey thread a needle. “You didn’t finish telling me about Wiley.”
Audrey examined the small place where her stitches hadn’t held. “Wiley wasn’t too happy about my heading for Chicago. I told him if he wanted me to stay, he’d best be making a declaration ‘cause I was for getting on with my life.” Audrey ignored Colton’s groan of pain as she stitched. “The big oaf just stood there and told me his declaration was he was going to Texas.”
“To Texas?” both Delta and Colton said at once.
Audrey nodded. “Said he had money to buy a ranch down there, and maybe by the time I become a doctor, he’ll have the place started.”
“Did you make any plans?” Delta asked.
“No.” Audrey raised her head slightly. “He wouldn’t talk of nothing but this ranch, and I’m not promising to wait for a man who talks more of land than love.”
“I’m sorry,” Delta whispered.
Audrey raised her head proudly. “Way I figure it is my Granny Gates may have been right. I heard her say once that trying to keep a man from going to Texas once he sets his mind to it is like trying to talk a body into floating upstream. I may have only thought Wiley was man enough for me.”
Delta looked into Colton’s bottomless black eyes. He was man enough for her, she thought. Man enough to be the father of all her children. Of course she wouldn’t tell him that until he was well.
Chapter 33
Rain poured in endless sheets against the windows of the ranch. Jennie stared out into the blackness wondering where Austin had gone. He’d hurried out of the house behind Spider Morris without a word to her or anyone else. Maybe she’d gone too far in letting folks believe he was True’s father, but she hadn’t started the rumor.
Everyone in the house had turned in for the night, but Jennie couldn’t bring herself to go to her room. She wanted to talk with Austin. He’d said his job was through. Was that his way of saying good-bye? She pulled a chair into the warm corner beside the kitchen stove. The constant patter of the rain slowly washed away all the violence of the day, and she relaxed.
Back home it would be time to think of spring and the future. For the first time in her life she was afraid to plan, for she had no idea what awaited. She’d gone from a life of sameness to a life of change and wasn’t sure which was heaven and which hell.
The kitchen door rattled suddenly, making every muscle inside Jennie tense. Spider Morris and Austin clambered in looking like two huge mud monsters.
“It was there!” Spider yelled as he tossed his hat on the floor with a plop. “Just like I told you it would be.”
Austin flung a mud-covered carpetbag on the clean kitchen table. “Yeah, it was there, but I’m not sure I would have dug up a grave to get it.”
Spider tried to smear the mud off his face with an even muddier hand. “I didn’t bother the coffin. I wouldn’t have done that without asking Barkley, even if this is official business. The bags were laying right on top of it like I thought they’d be.”
Jennie could hold her curiosity no longer. “What bags? What grave?”
Austin turned, noticing her for the first time. “Jennie,” he whispered, as if her name answered some prayer. She’d never seen a man so muddy, or so handsome. He had the boyish smile of an adventurer, while his wet clothes plastered against his lean, hard frame reminded her he was solid man.
Spider glanced at Austin as if deciding the marshal must be slow witted. “Evening, Jennie. Sorry to have to leave without telling anyone, but I had a stroke of genius while True was telling me everything that happened this afternoon. I figured if Lawton came all this way for the robbery money, it must still be here on the ranch. But where?” His smile reached from ear to ear. “I heard one of Barkley’s men say once that Colton buried his wife in her traveling dress and even threw her bags into the grave.”
“You found the robbery money?” Jennie put the puzzle together.
“Darn right I did.” Spider smiled. “Now only question is who does it belong to? The gamblers around that table on the train were either killed or they’re long gone by now. And since the railroad don’t have any claim to the money, I guess that just leaves me.”
Pulling off his coat and draping it over one of the kitchen chairs, Austin shook his head. “Every man who had anything to do with the train that day or the capture will lay claim to this money. Enough people have died for this gambling money. It would have been better to leave it buried with Rachel Barkley.”
Spider twisted the leather strap. The rotting latch fell off in his hands. “I can think of a few things I’d do with this much stash. Quit sheriffing and go down to Mexico, where I could stay drunk the rest of my life on warm tequila and warmer women.” He closed his eyes and allowed himself a moment to mentally picture his fantasy before continuing. “We’ll fight over it later. Right now let’s take a look.”
Turning the bag over, Morris dumped the contents onto the table. Several gold twenty-dollar pieces rolled off, but the bulk of the loot hit the wood with a plop. Molded, decaying currency tumbled like a fallen hope before the old man.
Spider stared at the smelly pile of molding dreams without blinking.
Jennie lifted a handful of the wealth turned to rubble. “It’s worthless,” she whispered.
“It was never worth the trouble it caused,” Austin agreed.
Spider Morris lightly brushed the decaying money and sighed. “There goes my dream of a feisty retirement. Good-bye fiery tequila and hot-blooded women.”
“I’m sorry.” Jennie looked up into his disappointed face.
Spider scratched the stubble across his chin. “Now I’ll have to marry some hardworking, bossy widow and stay sober the rest of my life.”
“You’ll live years longer.” Austin patted him on the back.
“That’s what I’m afraid of,” Spider answered as he picked up his hat and moved to the door. “Night, folks. I’m sleeping in the bunkhouse.”
As Spider closed the door behind him, Austin laughed. “He’ll never talk Mrs. Gray into marrying him, but he’ll be happier trying than flirting with trouble in Mexico.”
Jennie suddenly felt like the room was closing in around her. She looked down at her hands and tried to think of something to say to the man who’d held her so tenderly last night and saved her life only hours later. She wasn’t sure she could say good-bye to him. Maybe it would be better if he just left without a word. There was nothing to keep him in a small town like Florence, and his work didn’t lend itself to hauling a wife around with his saddlebags.
Austin lifted the copper bath. “I think I’d best wash off some of this mud.” He watched her with a look that seemed to say there were a thousand things he needed to tell her but he didn’t know where to begin.
“I’ll check on True,” Jennie answered, wishing she could break down the wall that had formed between them since the gunfight was over. They both knew he’d be leaving, but somehow putting it into words seemed impossible.
JENNIE KISSED TRUE gently on the forehead and covered her. She was sleeping like an angel, with Audrey beside her. The redhead was still fully dressed, in case Colton needed more doctoring during the night. Audrey, after several tries, had found her career if not her love. Who knows, Jennie thought, maybe Wiley would be waiting for her in Texas when she finished schooling. Audrey was a woman worth waiting for, and Jennie had a feeling Wiley would realize that fact in time.
Jennie left their door open and walked across the house to the hallway where her room was located. As Jennie passed Austin’s door, she heard the sound of water splashing. The door was slightly ajar.
Curiosity pulled her into his room. She almost tripped over his muddy boots as she reached the door leading to a little dressing area.
He might think his job was over and he was Texas bound, but she wanted to see him one more time. She had to hold him and tell him that now she knew heroes were real and not only in her books.
As she pushed the door open, she saw him sitting in the copper tub. Steam thickened the air as she watched him stand. He poured a bucket of water over his head and thin streams ran down his body, twisting slightly over the bulge of each muscle.
Without making a sound, she stared at him. His hair was brown with water and pulled back away from his face, making his jawline seem even stronger. As her eyes slowly moved over his body, she saw the scars from a lifetime of being a warrior. She wished she’d have time to ask him the story of each wound.
He moved suddenly, slinging water with a jerk of his head. His chest was ribbed tight down to his flat stomach. His powerful thigh blocked her view of his manhood as he reached for a towel.
Wrapping the white cloth around his waist, he turned to her. “Are you going to stand there staring all night?” he asked without changing the expression on his face, silently telling her he’d known she was there all along.
“I’m sorry.” Jennie backed away. “I didn’t mean to eavesdrop.”
Before she could reach the door of his bedroom, Austin caught her arm and pulled her against his still-damp chest. “Don’t ever be sorry for being near me,” he said as he held her. “I’ve been waiting since the day I met you on the train to have my say with you.”
“But not now.” Jennie tried to pull away. She didn’t want to fight when she knew they only had a few hours left before he rode toward home. She pushed past him.
Austin followed her to the door and closed it before she could escape. He captured her with his arms on either side of her bracing the door.
“Now.” He stood so close she could feel the warmth of his body, but his arms didn’t hold her. She could smell the soap and water warming on his skin and longed to dry all the places he’d missed. Talking to him was not what she had in mind.
When she didn’t protest, he began. “First, in the matter of you always lying.”
“I never lie,” Jennie answered quickly, wishing she could taste his clean skin.
“Hell, woman, if lies were buttons, it would take you half a day to dress.” His words softened in laughter, and his autumn eyes already darkened with desire.
Jennie saw no use in defending herself. In truth she was having trouble even remembering what he said with him standing so close. A single drop of water trailed its way down the center of his chest, and she fought the urge to follow its progress with her finger.
“Take today, when Lawton asked if you were Mrs. Barkley, you lied, knowing he planned to kill Colton’s wife.”
Jennie opened her mouth to protest, but he silenced her with a single finger on her lip. “I know why you did it, but it was a lie.” His finger remained against her lips, caressing now. “Which brings me to the second problem you have. This willingness to die for others. Hell, woman, you’re a walking sacrifice looking for an altar.”
Jennie giggled as his fingers moved to her throat after tickling their way across her ear.
“You’ve got to put yourself first, Jennie. Now and again it has to be what’s good for Jennie. What Jennie wants.”
She smiled, knowing exactly what she wanted. She wanted this man before her for a night or a lifetime. Without hesitation she raised her hand and pulled the towel from around his waist.
“Now, wait a minute,” Austin objected, without moving away from her or trying to stop her hands as they teased along the sides of his body. “I’m not finished talking to you yet.”
“I’m finished listening,” Jennie whispered as she raised her mouth to his.
The moment her lips touched his, he couldn’t have remembered enough words to form a sentence. He pulled her against him and kissed her as he’d longed to do from the moment she’d tried to shoot him that morning. She’d shown him a bravery he’d thought no woman and very few men would ever have. Brave enough to face anything. Brave enough to die.
His hand slid down her back and lifted her in his arms. He carried her slowly to his bed, not breaking the kiss as he lowered her onto the covers.
“I love you,” he whispered against her mouth as he pulled the clothing from her. “I’ve loved you since the day I met you on the train and you stood up to me.” He’d never said the words before, but they seemed as natural as breathing now with her.
She pulled him down against her. “Then love me,” she answered. “Love me tonight like there is no tomorrow. For you are and will always be my only love.”
His strong fingers trailed slowly down her body, loving every curve. When a moment later his lips followed his fingers, she cried out softly in pleasure.
He wanted to move slowly, to make their time together last forever. But her body drove him insane with desire.
This time there was no hesitation when he entered her, no pain. She knew she was welcoming home the only man she’d ever love, and if he only stayed a night, she’d still love him for a lifetime.
They moved together in a passion born of caring. He took her to a height she hadn’t known existed and brought her down cradled in satisfaction. She’d found what she came west to find—adventure, excitement and a reason for living. A man worth the loving.
THE NEXT MORNING Jennie awoke to an empty bed. She felt the place where Austin had slept, but the sheets were already cold. She slowly stood and picked up her robe. As silently as possible she crossed the hall and dressed in her own room.
Ten minutes later when she entered the kitchen, she had to fight to hide her disappointment that Austin wasn’t in the room.
“Mornin’,” True said between bites. “You ready to go?”
“Go?” Jennie looked from True to Spider.
Spider glanced down at his plate. “Marshal left before sunup. He said he wanted to get back to the prisoners in town. It don’t seem practical to leave them with Moses too long.”
“Oh.” Jennie wanted to scream that he hadn’t said good-bye. Or maybe he had last night. In his way.
“As soon as you’re ready, I’ll take you back to the Harvey House. True wants to ride along, but she’s already told me she’s planning on riding back later to check on Colton.”
“How is he?” Jennie felt bad. She’d been so wrapped up in her own life, she’d forgotten Colton.
Spider smiled. “He’s fine. Couldn’t have a better nurse than Delta, and that Audrey can work wonders.”
Jennie felt out of place. Suddenly she didn’t belong again, the only person at a dance without a partner, and she didn’t know what to do or say.
True offered her the answer. “We best hurry. I’ll bet Mrs. Gray is having a time with all her girls running out on the Harvey House. She’s lost about half a dozen to marriage this month already. I swear it’s worse than some plague. They’ve probably got Henry serving meals.”
“I’ll be ready in a few minutes,” Jennie answered as she hurried back to her room to pack. It was happening all over again. She was just an extra, not really belonging anywhere. At least she could get back to the Harvey House, where she’d always be needed.
Spider had the wagon loaded by the time she finished packing. Jennie hugged Delta good-bye, trying to smile. The sheriff, Jennie and True drove off, with every man on the place stopping to wave.
Jennie forced her head high as she rode silently along the muddy road. She’d learned a great deal about herself. She was a survivor, and with or without Austin she’d make it. At least she’d had last night to warm her dreams for the rest of her life.
When they turned the first bend toward town, she noticed a red ribbon tied to a tree beside the road. Within a few hundred yards she saw another. Then another.
“How strange.” Jennie looked at Spider, who didn’t seem to see them. “My family used to t
ie ribbons to fence posts back home so I could find my way. I wonder if there’s another person in this country who can’t tell direction any better than I can?”
They passed another ribbon before Spider answered. “I doubt it. Far as I know everyone in these parts knows north from south. Otherwise they’d have been smart enough to stay back east.”
Jennie watched as another ribbon came into view. “But they couldn’t be for me.”
“Well, they ain’t for me,” True chimed in from the back of the wagon. “I was born knowing directions. I could follow a map even before I could walk.”
Jennie remained silent as they passed ribbon after ribbon until they were within sight of the Harvey House. There a red ribbon was tied around the door handle.
“Can’t think of anyone else it could be for but you.” Spider smiled as he helped her down from the wagon.
Jennie lifted the long streamer and followed it into the house. As she entered the dining room, the first thing she saw was that all the tables had been pulled back. The employees stood lifting the walls, and at the end of the line was Austin.
He walked slowly toward her, smiling as though he were witnessing a dream taking form. His dream.
“I hoped you’d find your way.” He held his hand out to her. “I’d hate for you to miss our wedding.”
Jennie looked around at all the smiling faces. “But …” She couldn’t believe he’d done all this for her.
He raised her left hand and slid a gold band on her third finger. “This ring will never come off, so you’ll always know you’re cherished.”
Jennie stared at the single band of gold. “But …” He couldn’t be doing this. Not Austin McCormick.
“Now, don’t waste time.” Mrs. Gray stepped forward. “If you’re agreeing to marry this man, you’d best answer. We have to have these tables back in working order by the lunchtime train.”
“Are you sure?” Jennie looked up into his smiling face.
“No,” he answered honestly. “I just know that I can’t live without you. I love you more than I thought a man could ever love a woman. I’m not sure about you being able to live with me. I don’t know if I can change, but I know I’ll never stop loving you.”