Promises Prevail

by Sarah McCarty

  Mark hauled back on the reins, causing the bit to cut into the horse’s mouth. The chestnut reared and spun. Clint wasn’t surprised when the horse took off under a gouge of spurs. Dougherty had always been a bully. When Mark was a blur in the distance, Jenna relaxed, slumping against his spine.

  “For a woman who couldn’t shoot, you sure were ready to plug Mark.” Clint removed the revolver from her hand, and eased the hammer back into place.

  “I don’t like him.”

  “So I gathered.”

  “You can’t trust him.”

  “I never have, but I’m more interested in why he terrifies you.”

  “He doesn’t terrify me.”

  “Worries you, then.”

  “He’s a bully.”

  “Has he ever bullied you?” There was a little too much lag before her “no” to be believable. “C’mon back up here, Sunshine.”

  He felt the shake of her head rather than saw it.

  “Are you telling me no?” Her nod was emphatic. “It’s only ten minutes to the house, Sunshine.”

  “I know.”

  “You’re only adding to that beating you’ve got coming.” He pried her fingers loose from the folds of his jacket. Her hand jerked in his. He kissed her fingers.

  “I can’t talk about it.”

  “You will.”

  “Not tonight.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because you promised me something better.”

  “So I did.” He smiled, tickling her palm with his tongue, enjoying the press of her breasts on his back as she took a steadying breath. He waited until she rested in relief against him, before adding, “But I’m not going to forget the other.”

  He hadn’t earned his reputation by giving up.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Jenna ladled stew into the last bowl. The tension in the small kitchen was thick enough to cut with a knife. When she turned, Gray was glaring at Clint, who was bouncing Bri on his knee and ignoring the boy in that complete way that added sparks to Gray’s resentment. Her stomach churned. She had to do something about this.

  She held out the bowl. “Gray, could you please take this.”

  The boy sat and stared at his utensils as if he hadn’t heard. Clint frowned. She quickly brought it to the table and set it in front of him.

  Gray centered it with a shove. Broth sloshed over the side. Jenna wiped up the spill with the towel, but Gray didn’t even glance her way.

  Jenna angled her body so that she blocked Clint’s view.

  “I’m sorry, Gray.” She took his grunt as a response.

  “You don’t have anything to apologize for,” Clint pointed out from behind her.

  She ignored him and focused on Gray. “I had no right to put you in the middle like that.”

  “You didn’t put him anywhere. The boy made his own choices.” The tightness in his tone indicated that he wasn’t pleased with either of them.

  Gray had made those choices to protect her. Jenna understood that even if Clint couldn’t. She kept talking to Gray as if Clint wasn’t behind her putting in his two cents.

  “In the future, I don’t want you to ever go against your father. Even to protect me.” She touched Gray’s shoulder. He glared at her and jumped up, knocking over his chair. She flinched from the disgust in his eyes. Bri started to cry.

  Clint hushed her with soft talk and a knuckle to chew on.

  “He hates me.” Jenna sighed as the door slammed behind Gray.

  “He doesn’t hate you, Sunshine. Clint sighed. “He’s just mad because he can’t go over and work toward that horse he wants.”

  “You were too hard on him.”

  “He risked your life.”

  “He thought he was protecting me.”

  “He thought wrong.”

  “Couldn’t you just—”

  “No.” He patted Bri’s back with the softest of touches, but his eyes were hard as they met hers. “He can’t come between us, Jenna, and he can’t endanger you, Bri, or himself by being a wild card.”

  “But he’s new here, Clint.”

  “The sooner he learns, the sooner he’ll settle.”

  “His supper is getting cold.” Jenna touched Gray’s bowl. He was so thin.

  “He’ll come in when he’s hungry.”

  “He’s too proud.” Jenna looked out the window. All she could see was the reflection of the oil lamp. Gray didn’t even have his coat.

  “Doesn’t the Bible say something about pride going before the fall?”

  “Pride is all he has.”

  “Would it make you feel better if I went and talked to him?”

  “Yes.” She had great faith that Clint’s heart would soften if he spent time with the boy.

  “Take Bri then.” Jenna eased Bri off his shoulder. As always, it didn’t matter how careful she was, Clint was Bri’s favorite person in the whole world and she never left him willingly. Clint kissed her lips as Bri wailed in her ear. “The boy isn’t going to thank me for this.”

  She found her voice. “But I will.”

  “I’m counting on it.” He nodded and shrugged into his coat, grabbing Gray’s off the adjoining hook.

  * * * * *

  Gray hadn’t gone far. He was sitting on the far corner of the porch. In the light spilling out from the window, Clint could see him rubbing his arms. Clint made his next step heavy, giving the boy warning. Gray immediately sat up straight and dropped his hands.

  “Your mother’s worried about you.” He handed the boy his coat.

  “She’s not my mother,” he growled, shrugging into the heavy wool.

  “Do me a favor son, and don’t ever say that to her directly. Even if you feel it.” Clint pulled his makings out of his pocket.

  “Or you’ll beat me?”

  “Worse son, she’ll cry.” He sprinkled tobacco onto the paper.

  “Women always cry.”

  “Not my woman.” Clint had to give the boy credit. He had his sneer down to an art form. Still, he was going to have to debate the point. He licked the side edge of the paper to seal it before twisting the ends. “I like my woman happy and content.”

  “A man should not fear a woman’s tears.”

  “He shouldn’t go courting them either.” Clint struck the sulfur.

  The boy had the grace to flinch and looked through the window. Clint followed the trajectory of his gaze. It led straight to where Jenna sat at the table, toying with the rim of a plate, her expression heavy with worry. As he watched, she bit her lip, and a tear slid down her cheek. He took a drag on his cigarette, his insides twisting at the sight. Damn he liked her smile better.

  “I want to thank you for bringing Bri to her.”

  “I knew she would not turn her away.”

  “No, she wouldn’t.” Clint took another drag, blowing the smoke out in a lazy stream. “I also want to thank you for not kicking up a fuss when she claimed you, too.”

  “It wasn’t necessary.” Clint looked the boy over, from his lean frame to his too-old eyes. If anyone needed Jenna’s warmth, it was this hard-edged boy.

  “I know that, just like I know her fussing annoys you, but she has her heart set on you being her son, and she’s just treating you the way she would her own.”

  “It’s not bad when she’s cooking me something.” Gray shoved his hands into his pockets.

  “She does know her way around an oven,” Clint chuckled.

  “I didn’t ask her to talk to you.” Gray cut him a glance.

  Now there was a loaded opening.

  “I never thought you did.” He flicked the half smoked cigarette into the dirt. He was doing better with his quitting.

  “She shouldn’t have done it,” Gray muttered.

  “Son, she can’t help wanting to protect you anymore than you could help wanting to protect her.”

  “You won’t beat her?” Gray rubbed Danny’s ear as if the answer didn’t interest him much.

  “I hadn’t planned o
n it. Especially now that I’ve got you and Danny dead-set against the idea.” Clint figured it wasn’t a good plan to let the boy know he’d threatened her with it. For all his nonchalance, the kid was a keg of dynamite ready to explode.

  “It would break her spirit if you beat her.”

  “She’s stronger than you know.”

  Gray shook his head. “She would shatter under your hand.” He turned those too-old, too-wise eyes on Clint, suddenly looking all man. “She loves you.”

  “She thinks she does.”

  It was an unsettling experience to be pitied by a kid, even if it was only with a look.

  “If you are ever so foolish as to hurt her, I will kill you.”

  He believed him. “If I ever sink so low, you have my blessing.”

  “You need to stop her tears.” Gray nodded toward the window. Clint looked. That single tear had burgeoned into a torrent.

  “The only thing that’s going to do that is if you and I come back in smiling.”

  “Some things were easier when I was alone.” Gray sighed and glanced through the window again.

  “Yeah, but I bet the grub wasn’t nearly as good.”

  “That is very true. Gray pushed to his feet.” He wiped his hands of the seat of his pants. “What will you tell her?”

  “The truth. Things are settled between us, and instead of a week of being ranch-bound, you’ve got two days and extra barn chores until Sunday—when you get back from Asa’s.”

  “Thank you.” Gray stood there and suddenly he was all uncertain kid, faced with an emotion he didn’t know how to handle. He rubbed his hand on his skinny hips.

  “Don’t be thanking me until you see the shitload of crap I’ve been putting off getting to.”

  “It won’t matter.”

  Clint knew it wouldn’t. The boy had integrity and drive. And he loved that horse.

  “I’m going to need a promise from you, too.”

  The wariness returned immediately to Gray’s eyes. As if he knew that there had to be a catch to anything good that happened in his life. That wariness tore at Clint’s insides as much as Jenna’s tears. Maybe he really was going soft. He put his hands on the kid’s shoulders, amazed at how lacking in muscle they were. Gray just gave the impression of mass.

  “Don’t withhold information from me again. Not when it concerns Jenna, Bri, or yourself.” Gray shrugged out from under his hand and grunted. “Is that a promise or your stomach acting up?”

  “I promise.”

  “Good, because McKinnelys work together, not against each other.” Gray didn’t have anything to say to that. Clint mentally sighed. Getting Gray settled into the family would take time and patience. He glanced through the window. Jenna had stopped crying, but she still looked worried.

  That, he could do something about.

  “You ready to go make Jenna smile again?” he asked.

  He thought the kid would balk when he opened the door, but he didn’t. He walked straight through, and when Jenna caught his eye, Clint answered with a nod. Gray didn’t flinch away from her hug. He even patted her awkwardly on the back, which had Jenna promptly bursting into tears. Gray stepped back in horror.

  “I’m sorry.”

  Clint shook his head and tucked Jenna into his side. “These are happy tears, son. Nothing to do but ride them out.”

  Gray didn’t look any less appalled with the explanation.

  “If you could see to Bri and eat your dinner, I’ll take care of this.”

  Gray bolted for the table.

  Against his chest, Jenna sniffed. “I don’t think he could get out of here fast enough.”

  “McKinnely men don’t tolerate tears well.”

  “I’ll try to toughen up.” She wiped her nose on her sleeve.

  “How many times do I have to tell you? I like you just the way you are.” He wiped her face with the towel that was sitting on the edge of the Hoosier cabinet. He had to use his finger to wipe off the smear of flour the towel left. She turned fully into his arms.

  “Even though I cry at the worst times?”

  “I’ve gotten used to it.”

  Her laugh choked on a sniff. “Thank you for talking to Gray.”

  “I gotta tell you, Jenna. That’s a hell of a boy you brought into the family.” He kissed the top of her head.

  “You like him?”

  He nodded, brushing a hair off her face. “He’s going to be a hell of a man.” And a hell of an enemy for someone. He didn’t tell Jenna that though. She had enough to deal with, and she wouldn’t understand the drive a boy felt to avenge the death of his mother. He also didn’t tell her the boy had threatened to kill him. She wouldn’t understand that, either. Another hiccough shook her.

  “C’mon, Sunshine. Don’t cry.” He kissed her hair, wiping at her damp cheeks with his thumb. “It tears me up.”

  “The McKinnely weakness?”

  “Yes.” He looked at her red eyes, tear-wet cheeks, and mussed hair. He tilted her face and brushed the tears from her lashes with his lips, the salty flavor spreading through his mouth. She was beautiful through and through. “Damn, I’m going to have to beat the men off with a stick next Saturday at the social.”

  “We’re going to a social?” Her lashes fluttered against his lips.

  “That’s not supposed to scare you.”

  “I’ve never been to one.”

  “Then it’ll be my pleasure to take you to your first.”

  “I don’t know how to dance.”

  “Another first for us to share.”

  “I’m not good in crowds.” She plucked at a button on his shirt.

  “You just have to be good with me.” Her fingers slid under the flap, soft and warm on his chest.

  “I could say or do something stupid and embarrass you.” Her nails dug in, teasing his senses.

  “I could behave like an ass and embarrass you.” Her fingers were still on his chest, just inches from his nipple. She looked up, her eyes wide.

  “You never embarrass me.”

  “And you never embarrass me, so I guess that means we’re set for the night.” He turned them slightly so that the boy couldn’t see.

  “I don’t have a dress.”

  “Guess you’ll have to spend my money then.”

  “There isn’t time to get one made up.”

  “Then throw more money at the problem.” He kissed her nose. He ran his fingers down the prim row of buttons on her dress, pressing in as he went so that the deep valley between her breasts was revealed. Son of a bitch, he’d love the privacy to rip that dress open and bury his face between those soft mounds. “Just don’t make it too low-cut. I don’t want to spend the night beating awestruck men over the head with chairs.”

  “You think men are going to be interested in me?” Her chuckle was as soft as her touch.

  He smiled at the wheedle in her voice. He considered it a real step up in their relationship that she felt comfortable enough with him to fish so obviously.

  “There’s going to be a line out the door waiting to dance with you. But,” he didn’t have to work to find a frown, “I don’t want anyone but me shining their belt buckle with you so you practice saying ‘no’ every way you can between now and then.”

  The thought of another man anywhere near her drove him nuts.

  She patted his hand comfortingly. “I’ll practice, but I don’t think you need to worry.”

  He touched the shining length of her bright gold hair. He’d had a hard enough time keeping men away from her before they married, but now that she was beginning to find her feet, that inner light that so warmed him was shining brighter and brighter, drawing more and more attention to her gentle beauty. He touched the strand of hair to her full pink lips. She was all shiny light and deep heat, his Jenna.

  “Ah baby, if you think that, you’ve got one hell of a surprise coming.”

  He tugged the strand of hair, tilting her head back. As she looked at him, a question in her light
blue eyes, he took her mouth deep and hard, thrusting his tongue past her surprised gasp, tasting her sweetness. Her willingness. The truth.

  It didn’t matter how many men came at her. At the end of the night and every other night she’d be going home with him. And no other.

  * * * * *

  Jenna didn’t have to wait until the social to be surprised. Walking into Pearl’s Dressmaking Shop with Mara three days later took care of that for her. If seeing Lorie, Elizabeth, Millicent, and Dorothy crammed into the small parlor wasn’t disorienting enough, when Pearl reached behind her and locked the door, flicking the sign to closed, the deal was sealed.

  “What’s going on?”

  “I sent them a note,” Mara answered, weaving through the women.

  “In regard to what?” Jenna squeezed to the left past Millicent’s bulk, Bri in her arms complicating the maneuver.

  “In regard to Clint being an ass,” Millicent answered, frowning impatiently toward the back of the small shop.

  “He’s not an ass,” Jenna protested.

  “Sounds to me like he’s being a perfect one,” Lorie interjected.

  “You don’t know him.” Clint was wonderful. Good to her in all ways. It wasn’t his fault he couldn’t love her.

  “I do. I know that boy inside and out and I’d say about now he’s being an ass.” Dorothy looked up from the lace she was admiring.

  “I don’t want to fight. I just need a dress.” How was she supposed to argue with Clint’s aunt? She patted Brianna’s back.

  “Oh honey, don’t you worry,” Pearl said, coming forward, a measuring tape around her neck and a pincushion tied to her wrist. “We can do more than one thing at a time.”

  That’s what Jenna was afraid of.

  “But we might want to get the fitting done before the reverend gets here,” Lorie offered.

  “That’s a good point,” Millie added in her husky siren voice that was so at odds with her flamboyant red hair and clothes. “Won’t be any good for business for Jenna to be sporting a dress with uneven seams.”

  “Isn’t that the truth!” Pearl grabbed Jenna’s hand. For such a petite, ladylike woman she was amazingly strong. She yanked Jenna past Elizabeth. Jenna mouthed a “Help”. Elizabeth smiled, shrugged, and held her hands out for Bri.