Last Promise

by Scarlett Dunn

  The look on her face gave him his answer. “They can’t do anything to me. Are you marrying him to save your father from ruin? If you have feelings for Stafford you need to tell me now.”

  She knew her father wouldn’t hesitate to harm him now that he’d come for her. “Luke, I’m so happy to see you, but you shouldn’t be here.”

  “Do you kiss Stafford the way you kiss me?”

  “No.” She wouldn’t lie to him. The thought of kissing Stafford made her stomach turn.

  Luke couldn’t keep his hands off her. He trailed his finger over her bare shoulder and felt her shiver at his touch. “Do you want him to touch you like this?”

  She shook her head as she stared into his eyes. When he touched her, she forgot all of the reasons he shouldn’t be here.

  He pulled her to him again and whispered in her ear. “Tell me you love him and I will go away and you’ll never see me again.”

  She couldn’t say those words. “I don’t love him.”

  “I’ve carried your letter with me all this time,” he told her.

  It made her so happy to hear those words. “I’ve carried your telegram.”

  “Marry me,” he said.

  Those were the very words she’d longed to hear for months. “Oh Luke. Don’t you see, I can’t?”

  “You love me,” he stated. Even if she hesitated to say the words, he knew she did love him.

  “That doesn’t mean I can marry you,” she countered.

  “Yes it does. And I want to hear it from you. Tell me you love me.” Before she could answer, he looked into her silver eyes and he kissed her again.

  When he pulled his lips from hers, she whispered, “Yes, I do love you, but that doesn’t change anything.”

  Luke took her by the hand and headed back to the ballroom. “It changes everything. I’m going to talk to your father.”

  “Luke, you can’t do this. You don’t understand what Father will do to you.”

  He turned to face her. “Honey, trust me. Your father can’t hurt me. The only way I’m leaving here without you is if you say you don’t want me.”

  “What made you change your mind? I thought you didn’t want to see me again.”

  He cupped her chin in his palm. “I figured out I couldn’t live without you.” It wasn’t an exaggeration, he couldn’t think of a future without her beside him.

  “What about Sally?”

  “Sally said she hopes one day a man will look at her like I look at you.”

  “What about the women at the saloon? I saw you with that woman upstairs that night. I don’t want a man who will be with other women.”

  He could see why she thought he was a philanderer. He had been, but he was a changed man. “I haven’t been at the saloon since that night. I don’t want anyone but you.” He wanted her to know what he felt in his heart. He put his arms around her waist and pulled her to his chest. “I fell in love with you when I saw you under that pink hat. I fought it. I didn’t think I was ready for marriage. I wasn’t ready before, I was waiting for you. I’ll never want anyone but you for the rest of my life.”

  She threw her arms around his neck. “Oh Luke!”

  “When we go inside I want you to go pack a valise for tonight. We will come back to get everything you need later.”

  “I don’t think Father will allow me to leave. They haven’t left me alone for five minutes.”

  “Were they afraid you would take off again?”

  “Yes.”

  “Were you going to leave again?”

  “My valises are already packed.”

  He grinned at her. “Let me handle your father.” He turned and entered the ballroom with his arm around her. The sea of people parted again and murmurs filled the room.

  Luke saw George was still in an animated conversation with Hardwicke and Stafford. Before he let go of Mary Ann’s hand, he winked at her. “Go get your valises.”

  * * *

  Mary Ann raced from the room, she didn’t even look her father’s way. She ran up the staircase to her room and pulled her wardrobe open and grabbed the valises she’d already packed. She didn’t know if she would be able to come back for the rest of her things, but she didn’t care. The only thing that mattered was Luke was here. He loved her and he’d come after her. She would be going home with him.

  The door opened and in walked her mother. “What do you think you are doing?”

  “I’m leaving.”

  Her mother hurried across the room, picked up a valise, and emptied the contents on the bed. “You most certainly are not. In case you haven’t noticed, we have a houseful of guests and they are here in honor of your wedding. Now get yourself downstairs and show your appreciation!”

  Mary Ann turned to face her. “No! You go downstairs and show your appreciation. This is all for you, not for me. I’ve told you I don’t love Edmund and I’m not going to marry him!”

  Coreen drew her arm back and slapped her across the cheek. “You want to ruin everything!”

  Mary Ann stared at her for a long time before she turned and walked to her dressing table. She grabbed the small velvet box that held Edmund’s ring and walked back to her mother and placed the box in her hand. “This should be for you.” She grabbed her valise and stuffed everything back inside.

  “We will see if you get out of this house!” Coreen stomped out of the room and slammed the door behind her.

  * * *

  Luke stopped in front of Hardwicke and Stafford. “Hardwicke, I want to talk to you.”

  “Don’t think you are leaving here with Mary Ann,” Stafford said.

  Luke turned his icy eyes on him. “Don’t think I won’t.”

  Hardwicke saw his guests staring at them and he didn’t want to make a scene like they did outside that hotel in Wyoming. “Let’s take this conversation to my study.”

  Luke and George followed Hardwicke and Stafford from the ballroom.

  As soon as they reached the study, Hardwicke turned to face them. “What do you think you’re doing coming here?”

  “I came for Mary Ann,” Luke said.

  “I came with Luke so I could see my sister. I assume you have no objections,” George stated.

  “You are not taking Mary Ann,” Stafford stated again.

  Luke’s eyes narrowed and he took a step forward. “I don’t think you are going to stop me.”

  Hardwicke held his hands up as if to separate the two men. He faced Luke and said, “Now see here, Mary Ann is marrying Stafford in a few days. You can’t come in here and think that the marriage is not going to happen.”

  “It’s not going to happen,” Luke said pointedly. “I’m taking Mary Ann out of here tonight.”

  The door opened and Coreen walked in. “George, what in heaven’s name are you doing here?”

  “I wanted to see what had happened to my sister. You have let this bully turn you into a coward, Coreen. Why on earth would you allow your husband to come after Mary Ann when you knew she didn’t want to marry him?” He pointed in Stafford’s direction.

  Coreen looked stunned that her brother would speak to her in such a way. When she didn’t respond, George said, “It’s not too late to do the right thing, Coreen. If you don’t, you’re going to lose a daughter for good.”

  Coreen slumped to a chair. “George, this marriage will save the estates.”

  Stafford smiled at Luke. “You see, this wedding will take place.”

  Luke ignored Stafford and looked at Hardwicke. “How much do you need?”

  Hardwicke looked confused. “What?”

  “How much money do you need?”

  Stafford laughed. “It’s much more money than a man like you will ever have.”

  Losing his temper, Luke grabbed Stafford by the shirt and shoved him to a chair. “Stay there and shut up unless you want a repeat of what happened in Wyoming.”

  “Sir!” Coreen jumped up and ran to Stafford.

  “Do be quiet, Coreen,” George told her.


  “Stafford is right. It’s a great deal more money than a cowboy from America will ever see,” Hardwicke snapped.

  “I told you he’s as stupid as he appears,” George said to Luke.

  Pulling out a bank draft from his pocket, Luke picked up a pen and dipped it in the inkwell.

  “Give me a figure.”

  “I’m not quite sure I understand,” Hardwicke said.

  “Hardwicke, you see a cowboy before you who also happens to own a silver mine in Arizona,” George informed his brother-in-law. “I can assure you he is wealthier than Stafford.” George didn’t know for sure if he spoke the truth that Luke was wealthier, but he suspected as much.

  Luke could see Hardwicke’s mind working, trying to figure out if what George said was true. “One way or the other Mary Ann is leaving with me tonight. You want money for your estates, I’ll give it to you. But this is the only time. If you risk it again, it’s your problem.”

  Mary Ann walked in the room and overheard what Luke said. She was already aware of the reason her father insisted she marry Stafford, but it was still difficult to hear. She felt like a piece of artwork being sold to the highest bidder. “Luke, I don’t want you to do this.”

  Hearing the sadness in her voice, Luke turned to her and said, “Honey, let me handle this.”

  Hardwicke took the pen from Luke and scribbled a number on a piece of paper.

  Taking the paper from him, Luke looked at the figure then tore it up and stuffed it into his shirt pocket. He wrote on the bank draft and handed it to Hardwicke. “Mary Ann will return tomorrow for whatever else she will need.” He walked across the room and took the valises from her.

  “I won’t come back here. I have all I need and I will never have to come back here again.” Mary Ann turned her back on her mother and father. She didn’t want them to see how much they had hurt her.

  Luke recalled all of the luggage she had with her when she arrived in Wyoming. She would be leaving a lot behind, but he understood. He handed George one of the valises so he could pull Mary Ann to his side. “Good, I wanted to buy my wife a new wardrobe.”

  “I should call you out for this,” Stafford said.

  Luke’s hard stare landed on Stafford. “I wish you would. I’ll be happy to meet you at dawn.”

  Stafford remained silent.

  “What on earth are we to say to our guests?” Coreen asked.

  “Tell them that your daughter came to her senses,” George suggested. He looked at his sister one last time. “If you ever come to your senses you are welcome in Wyoming.”

  Chapter Thirty

  Mary Ann was quiet in the coach on the way to the hotel. Luke knew it had to be difficult for her to hear that her father considered her nothing more than chattel.

  “I’m so happy you are going home with us, Mary Ann,” George told her. “It wasn’t the same after you left.”

  “Victoria and Promise will be glad to see you. As a matter of fact they told me not to come back if you weren’t with me.” He didn’t know if she would ever want to see her mother and father again, but she had a new family. Family was important to him, but her family had hurt her and he knew it would take a long time for her to forgive them.

  “We will have a big party when you get home,” George said.

  “I’m sorry you had to buy me, Luke.” She didn’t want the man she loved to feel like he’d purchased her love.

  “I didn’t buy you. You are going to be my wife and I wanted to help your family. Stafford probably felt the same way. I’m sure with his wealth he had his choice of women.” That galled him to say that about Stafford, though it was probably true.

  “But Luke, can you afford to do that?” Mary Ann knew about the mine, but she wasn’t aware that he was wealthy. And knowing her father, he had probably demanded an exorbitant amount.

  “Yes I can, and I don’t want you to worry about the money. That’s not important to me. You are.”

  Mary Ann buried her head against his chest and cried.

  Luke and George exchanged a look that said they would like to go back and beat the devil out of Hardwicke, but they said nothing. Luke slid his arms around Mary Ann and lifted her to his lap and let her get all of her tears out.

  * * *

  The next morning Luke left the hotel early before they were to leave for the docks. Mary Ann and George were packed and ready to leave when he returned two hours later.

  “The ship will depart soon, let’s be on our way.” He smiled as he held his arm for Mary Ann.

  He noticed she was wearing the silver dress she wore when she got off that stagecoach, but it hung loosely on her now. “You look beautiful just like the first day I saw you.”

  She looked up at him and smiled, but Luke could still see the sadness in her eyes. “Thank you.”

  “Do you have a cape? It’s a chilly morning and the voyage home will be much cooler this time of year.”

  “No, I forgot to pack one. I’ll be fine.”

  * * *

  They boarded the ship and George left them to go to his cabin. Luke escorted Mary Ann to a cabin and when they entered she saw it was much larger than the one she had on the prior journey to England. The bed was also much larger. She noticed two large trunks at the foot of the bed. “Luke, I think someone is already in this cabin.”

  “Why?”

  “There are trunks in here.” She turned to leave.

  Luke reached out and grabbed her around the waist and pulled her up to him. “Honey, this is our cabin.”

  Her eyes widened when she looked up at him. She assumed the trunks belonged to him. “But Luke, we can’t share a cabin.”

  “Do you think I’m going to cross an ocean and not be in bed with you?”

  She was shocked. Did he think since he paid her father that he had the rights of a husband without benefit of matrimony?

  Luke knew what she was thinking. “You said you loved me.”

  “I do, but . . .” She did love him more than anything, but she never thought he would treat her as he would one of the saloon girls.

  Luke reached in his pocket and pulled out a small box. “Then I guess if you do love me you might consider marrying me.” He opened the box for her to see the ring he’d picked out that morning.

  The diamond ring was almost as beautiful as his sparkling blue eyes. “Oh, yes, I will marry you.”

  “Good! The captain will be down to marry us as soon as we are on our way. But don’t think you will get out of a church wedding when we get home. Colt would shoot me if I don’t have a church wedding. And he’s a very good shot and you don’t want a dead groom, do you?” Luke took her hand and gently pushed the ring on her finger. “Perfect.” He congratulated himself on guessing the right size.

  “Luke, are you sure you want to marry me?”

  He tried to figure out why she asked that question. It didn’t make sense to him. He lifted her face to his and looked into her eyes. “If I didn’t want to marry you I wouldn’t have crossed an ocean for you.”

  “It’s just that you have so many women that you’ve . . .” She didn’t quite know how to say what she was thinking.

  “Mary Ann, I’ve known women, and I know you thought I was a philanderer . . . and maybe I was, but I’ve never asked another woman to marry me. You are the one I love.” Just in case she wasn’t convinced, he kissed her.

  He pulled away from her because they were alone in a cabin with a large bed. “You better stop kissing me like that or I won’t wait for the captain.”

  “Will it be a legal marriage?”

  “Yes, very legal.” He really didn’t want to offer to wait to get married, but he knew it would be the gentlemanly thing to do. “If you want to wait until we get to Wyoming . . .” He said a quick prayer that she would say no. If she said she wanted to wait he didn’t know what he would do, maybe jump into the ocean to cool off frequently.

  “No, I don’t want to wait.” She was eager to become his wife.

  He
expelled a loud breath. “Good.” He pointed to the trunks. “Those are yours, so why don’t you open them up and see if there is something in there you want to wear to our wedding. The only thing I ask is that you wear the one thing on top when you open that trunk.” He pointed to the trunk he was talking about. He’d made sure the lady at the shop placed one particular item on top so Mary Ann would see it as soon as she opened the lid.

  She looked at the trunks and back at him. “But . . . how . . .”

  He gave her a quick kiss. “Your husband is allowed to surprise his wife. I’ll go get George and see when the captain will be here.”

  Mary Ann walked to the trunks not knowing what to expect. Had Luke gone back to her home and collected her things? After the money he gave her father he’d certainly paid for the right. She opened the trunk and found the most beautiful pink satin corset. She remembered how he’d touched that corset in her shop. Every article of clothing in the trunk was new, he hadn’t gone back for her things. All of the undergarments were of the same quality she carried in her shop. Only Luke would notice things like that. Along with the pink corset, he’d also purchased one in heliotrope just like the one Colt purchased for Victoria. She also found a lovely deep sapphire velvet cape.

  She lifted the lid on the second trunk and she couldn’t believe her eyes. On the very top was a creamy white wedding dress designed very much like the yellow gown she had worn last night. She found a smaller case inside the trunk that held combs and brushes, perfumes and powders. It made her feel guilty that he’d spent so much money. Perhaps she should have taken the time to pack more things from her home. She had been in such a hurry to leave and she thought she would go back, but after she heard the conversation with her father she didn’t want to return ever again.

  She sat down in front of the mirror and looked at her reflection. She was so pale and thin, but she wanted to look beautiful for Luke. She had so much to be thankful for and she needed to focus on that. The man she loved had come for her and he wanted to marry her. For the first time since she’d left Wyoming she felt genuinely happy. She brushed her hair and secured it on top of her head with the combs that he’d purchased. Nervous excitement filled her. Tonight she would be sharing a bed with her new husband.