Abducted at the Altar

by Charlene Sands

  “What do you want, Shane?” Dorie asked quietly, her voice a mere whisper.

  You, he wanted to say. He wanted her. If he had a choice in the matter, he’d marry her and become a father to Jeremiah. And he knew he’d never live a moment of regret. That the crazy notion hadn’t shocked him down to his socks did surprise him. He’d been falling in love with Dorie these past two weeks, without even realizing it. After last night, he figured he’d never want any other woman but her. But Shane wasn’t getting what he wanted any more than Dorie was.

  “I want this to be over,” he said regretfully.

  “Then you’ll make Marilee your wife?” she asked, though both knew the answer. He’d never lied to Dorie about that. He had to marry Barkley’s daughter. He’d given her his word. Honor and blackmail tied his hands.

  Shane nodded then a thought struck and he spoke aloud what he should have kept to himself. “Maybe old man Barkley won’t find her.”

  Hope registered in her eyes. “I’ve been praying for that, Shane.”

  Shane looked at Dorie and smiled sadly with regret. He shouldn’t have blurted out that notion. Barkley always got what he wanted. He’d find his daughter, if he hadn’t already. The look of hope on Dorie’s face right now was another crime he’d committed on her behalf. Shane couldn’t bear to hurt her any longer.

  He stepped closer, took her into his arms and kissed her hard on the mouth. “I have to go.”

  Dorie clung to him a moment, then let go. “Goodbye, Shane.”

  “If you ever need me…”

  Dorie smiled bravely and with a shake of her head, she said, “Jeremiah and I will be just fine.”

  Shane climbed into the wagon, looking at Dorie one last time as wrenching pain seared through his heart.

  Dorie wasn’t just fine. She was miserable. So miserable that she’d spent two sleepless nights, tossing and turning, trying to forget Shane and the incredible night they’d spent together. She’d been so sure she could make things right. She’d been certain she could help him find a way out of his dilemma. She’d been so sure the feelings they shared would be enough.

  She’d been wrong.

  On all accounts.

  Her heart had broken into tiny pieces the other day watching Shane ride off her property. She’d been grateful to him. Jeremiah would remain with her because of his help. She should feel satisfied, but instead, she wanted more. She wanted Shane.

  Dorie sat slumped in her kitchen chair, wearing her old baggy work clothes again, slowly mixing batter for her biscuits. She’d gone about her chores these past few days without any joy in her heart. All she knew now was a powerful ache that refused to go away. She kept thinking of what Mrs. Whitaker had said about true love.

  “If you truly love someone then you put their needs above your own. I did that, Shane. I let you go.”

  Dorie churned the batter again with languid movements. “But I never planned on it hurting so much.”

  Dorie closed her eyes for a moment, allowing herself thoughts of her time in Virginia City. She’d had a few days of pretending that Shane had been her husband. She’d always remember his soft touches, his sweet kisses on the cheek and the times he’d called her “sweetheart.” She’d remember their one night together, pressing those memories of making love with him into her memory for all eternity.

  “You have to beat that dough harder if you want it to blend.”

  Dorie looked up. Mrs. Whitaker stood beside her holding a basket in her arms. “Jeremiah let me in. I hope I’m not disturbing you.”

  Dorie straightened in her seat. “Oh, no. Not at all. I meant to visit you when I returned. But I just…”

  Mrs. Whitaker waved off her explanation. “It’s all right.” She sat down and set the basket on the table. “I made you and Jeremiah supper for tonight. There’s chicken and potatoes and cornbread pudding.”

  Dorie smiled. “Thank you. That’s very kind. And I did mean to come by to thank you for your help. I think our plan worked. I…I didn’t mess up…much. The Parkers left Virginia City without knowing the truth. And, well, as you can see, Jeremiah is still with me.”

  “Yes, yes. That’s all wonderful news. So why do you look so sad, dear?”

  Dorie shrugged, holding back tears. “No reason.”

  “I see.”

  “How is Mr. Whitaker?” Dorie asked to be polite.

  “Fine. As ornery as ever. Some days I don’t know why I married that man.” Then she grinned. “Of course, I love him more than my next breath.”

  Dorie glanced up to peer into Mrs. Whitaker’s eyes. They were soft, with the light of love shining through. Dorie didn’t think she’d ever have that look in her eyes. She loved Shane more than her next breath, too, but she wouldn’t have the happy ending Mrs. Whitaker had. “You’re lucky, Mrs. Whitaker.”

  She appeared momentarily puzzled. “Why so?”

  “You got to marry the ornery man you loved.”

  “Ah, I see. You know, Shane stopped by yesterday. He looked about as unhappy as you.”

  “He did?” she asked, unable not to inquire about him.

  “Yes. He told me that the Parkers left Virginia City without worry about Jeremiah.”

  Dorie nodded. “Did he say anything else?”

  “Just that he was proud of the way you handled yourself with the Parkers. He said you were a woman to be admired.”

  Tears she couldn’t hold back trickled down her cheek. She pursed her trembling lips and wiped them away.

  “Dorie, what’s wrong? Did Shane do something to upset you?”

  She shook her head adamantly. “He was…he was perfect. The perfect husband. Only now, I’m in love with him. For real.”

  Mrs. Whitaker nodded her head in understanding. “I do see. Has he expressed his feelings for you?”

  “No, but, oh it was wonderful being with him. And we…we…got closer than ever.”

  Mrs. Whitaker sighed deeply. She remained silent a moment, her eyes softening with understanding. “He must care a great deal for you, Dorie.”

  “He thinks it best that we don’t see each other anymore.”

  “That might be wise,” she said carefully, “but not easy for either of you.”

  “I keep recalling what you said about wanting what’s best for the one you love. I let Shane go so he wouldn’t lose his ranch to Mr. Barkley. But it just doesn’t feel like what’s best, Mrs. Whitaker. I miss him so much.”

  “Dear girl, judging by the way Shane appeared yesterday, I’d say he misses you just as much. He seems to have no options in the matter. If he could change things, I’m sure he would.”

  “Really?”

  “Really.” She smiled giving Dorie a measure of hope. “It’s been my experience that things seem darkest just before the light. I’ll be praying for you, dear.” She patted her hand gently. “I know you’re a strong enough woman to endure whatever trials come your way. And I’ll be here, if ever you need me.”

  Dorie cast her a small smile, though she wasn’t convinced she could endure losing Shane forever. “Thank you.”

  Mrs. Whitaker rose and hugged Dorie’s shoulders, then bent to kiss her forehead. “Shane was right,” she said softly. “You are a woman to be admired.”

  Dorie tossed and turned once again that night. Instead of lying in bed hoping to sleep for the third night in a row, she rose to do some late night mending in the parlor. She made sure to keep the lantern light low, so not to wake Jeremiah. Although usually her brother slept soundly, she’d sensed his own restlessness lately and didn’t want to disturb his sleep. Tonight, it seemed all was quiet.

  She worked for several hours, until her eyes hurt and she’d exhausted her mind. She fell into bed well past midnight and when she awoke the next morning it was as if she hadn’t slept at all. She rose from the bed, dressed quickly, unmindful of the shabby clothes she’d donned, and ventured into the kitchen.

  Dawning light broke, filtering early rays of sunshine through her window. Dorie squint
ed against the brightness and her grouchy mood worsened. She looked around her home with critical eyes, seeing all its shortcomings. Dorie had been too busy raising Jeremiah before to care about the appearance of her homestead, meager as it was.

  Now, she did care.

  She wanted better for Jeremiah. And for herself. And now that she had some ready cash from the sale of those gowns, she decided it was high time they worked on fixing up their home. She needed to keep busy, to distract herself and work so hard that she’d fall asleep the minute her head hit the pillow at night. Mostly, she had to try to forget about Shane.

  When Jeremiah sat down at the kitchen table ten minutes later, she barked orders. “After breakfast, you’re going to fix the fences, Jeremiah. And after that, you’re going to fix the planks on the porch, nail them down but good and we’ll paint them. In fact, we’re going to paint the entire house. You and me.”

  Jeremiah looked at her with baffled amazement. “We are?”

  “Yes, it’s time we make this house a more respectable home.”

  “It’s respectable enough for me.” He spooned up the oatmeal she’d set in front of him.

  “Don’t sass me.”

  Jeremiah thought better than to argue with her when she was in a mood, and she knew it. “While you’re outside fixing things, I’ll be out back ripping up weeds and tilling the soil. It’s time we had a real garden. We’ll grow corn and all sorts of other vegetables. And flowers. I always wanted a flower garden.”

  “Okay,” Jeremiah said with no shred of enthusiasm.

  Dorie had a plan to better their lives, but five hours later, with calluses on her hands and sweat beading on her forehead, she wondered if maybe her plan had been a bit too ambitious for the two of them. In truth, she wanted everything she’d never had and she wanted to accomplish it quickly. But the labor was difficult, not that she minded hard work. She’d worked hard the better part of her teen years, but it was tedious and exhausting and she still had all of her other chores to do.

  Dorie wiped sweat from her forehead and headed into the house for a drink. She poured water into a glass and gulped down half of it immediately, the cool liquid helping to refresh her parched throat. She listened for any sound of Jeremiah working and when she was met with silence, she ventured to the front door, deciding to check on him.

  She popped her head out and lifted the glass of water to her lips when she spotted her brother. Shock, dismay and dread jolted her system with terrifying force. The glass slipped from her fingers, crashing to the parlor floor. Dorie closed her eyes, wishing away the sight before her, but when she opened them again, her fears were confirmed.

  Jeremiah stood in the shade of the oak tree by the barn with two other people.

  Oliver and Helene Parker.

  Chapter Sixteen

  “I told them, Dorie. I told them everything,” Jeremiah declared in earnest. “And I’m glad of it.”

  Dorie sat facing the Parkers in her parlor, her tattered horsehair sofa looking unsightly against Helene’s taupe raw silk traveling gown and Oliver’s fine light woolen russet suit. Dorie felt every bit as dreadful appearing before them in her most soiled work clothes. To their credit the Parkers didn’t seem to judge her appearance, but she knew they couldn’t be happy about her part in their deception.

  “He did,” Helene stated calmly. “Jeremiah told us everything.”

  Dorie faced them directly, fearful of their retaliation, but also ashamed of deceiving such nice people. “I suppose you hate me for lying to you.”

  “We don’t hate you, child,” Oliver said in voice devoid of anger.

  “We’re trying to understand,” Helene added. “We only wanted to meet our grandson.

  “You wanted to see if he was well cared for. Well, he is. I’ve raised him the best I know how. We don’t have a lot of money or fancy things, but we manage. And he’s as well cared for and loved as any boy on this earth, I can assure you of that.”

  Helene glanced at her husband. Oliver pursed his lips.

  “Dorie…takes good care of me,” Jeremiah added. “Even if I got chores to do. Everybody I know has chores.”

  Dorie reached for Jeremiah. He stood beside her and she took hold of his hand.

  The Parkers sat stonily quiet for a time, then Helene asked, “Who is Shane?”

  “He’s our neighbor,” Dorie answered, wanting to say that he was so much more to her now.

  “I understand he’s got some troubles, yet he helped you out.”

  “He didn’t like lying to you,” Dorie said in his defense. “Once we saw what kind people you were, we were both sorry for the pretense.”

  “It wasn’t necessary,” Helene said sweetly.

  “I didn’t know that. I didn’t know if you’d force me to give Jeremiah up. I can’t lose Jeremiah. He’s all I have.”

  “And this fellow, Shane,” Oliver began. “Did you really drag him away from his wedding?”

  Jeremiah averted his gaze when Dorie glared at him. Jeremiah really had told them everything. “I did. I didn’t see any other way. Besides, Shane doesn’t want to marry Mr. Barkley’s daughter. He’s being blackmailed.”

  “We know,” Helene said. “We heard about it from Mr. Charles at the hotel and a Miss Caty Rumsford at the diner. Seems everyone knows the goings-on in this town.”

  “Why did you come here?” Dorie asked pointedly. “Didn’t you believe our…our…”

  “Oh, we believed you,” Helene said. “You and Shane appeared the happiest of couples and Jeremiah couldn’t have been any more kind and sweet. We left Virginia City feeling quite good about the place our grandson had in your lives. No, we came back, because, well, we missed him so, for one. We found a few more books he might like and…this.”

  Helene reached into her reticule and came up with a jeweled box. She handed it to Dorie. “I couldn’t believe it when I saw it. Oliver and I wanted you to have it.”

  Stunned, Dorie looked down at the box in her hands. “What is it?”

  “Open it,” Oliver said kindly.

  “Are you still sure you want to give this to me?”

  “Of course, dear,” Helene said with a smile. “We’re not angry with you. But well, I think I can speak for Oliver, as well, we are disappointed in your behavior. You judged us before meeting us. I’ll be honest, I don’t know how we would have reacted if we’d come here and witnessed all this beforehand. But now, we do have a better understanding of just how very much love you have in your heart, Dorie. I’m not agreeing with what you did. It was wrong. But well, you’re family now. And we can forgive you.”

  Tears streamed down Dorie’s face. “I don’t believe I deserve this gift.”

  “You do,” Helene said, handing her a handkerchief, “and more.”

  “That’s right,” Oliver said, in total agreement. “Now go on and open it.”

  Dorie wiped her tears, her heart wrenching from their kindness. She felt smaller than small for hurting and deceiving them. With trembling fingers, Dorie fumbled with the box, until finally she managed to lift the lid to find a dainty pearl bracelet. “It matches the necklace…the one like my mother’s. There’s even a tiny cameo.”

  Helene leaned back with a satisfied expression on her face. “We thought you’d be pleased.”

  Dorie’s eyes watered up again. “It’s the kindest…the kindest gift I’ve ever received. I…truly, I don’t know what to say.”

  “Promise us no more lies and we’ll call it even,” Oliver said without reproach.

  “I do. I promise.”

  “Is there anything more you want to tell us?”

  Dorie blinked her eyes and decided that these people should know the whole truth. “I’m in love with Shane Graham. He’s destined to marry a woman he doesn’t want. There’s no hope for it. And I’m only telling you this in case you had it in your mind that one day Shane and I might truly marry. It’s my fondest wish, but it’ll never be.”

  “I’m so sorry, Dorie,” Helene said. �
�It was plain to see the love you two had for each other.”

  She wasn’t certain if Shane loved her, but she sure as anything had enough love in her heart for the both of them.

  Helene took hold of Oliver’s hand and glancing at him first, she turned to her. “So, in that case, would you and Jeremiah consider moving to New York? Would you consider living with us? We have plenty of room. There’s a school only minutes from our home. And Oliver could teach him the freight business. You and Jeremiah would have whatever you needed. We’d be a real family, Dorie.”

  A cold shiver ran down her spine. This was what she feared—that the Parkers would force Jeremiah to move away from Silver Hills. Then she realized that they had included her as well. They wouldn’t break up her small family but only add to their own.

  “It’s a good life, Dorie,” Oliver stated. “And I understand you have quite a talent. We could open a shop for those gowns you create. You wouldn’t have to sell them to brothels. You’d have your own shop.”

  “Jeremiah, you told them that!”

  “I…I,” Jeremiah stammered with a look of fear in his eyes as if he’d just nailed her coffin shut.

  “It’s okay, Dorie. I’m glad it’s all out in the open,” Helene said. “You did what you had to do to survive. We admire that.”

  “Indeed,” Oliver said. “Our grandson says that you’re very talented. I’m sure you’d like to see decent folks wearing your creations.”

  “It’s been a dream of mine,” she admitted, once she’d settled down. She didn’t know if she could leave Silver Hills, and Shane, behind. Still, somewhere in the back of her mind, she’d held one tiny iota of hope that he’d return to her.

  “Will you think about it?” Oliver asked.

  Yes, she could do that. She could think of a better life for Jeremiah and herself—of owning her own dress shop and not struggling for every dollar she earned. “Yes, I’ll give it some thought.”

  “Fine, then.” Oliver rose from his seat and helped his wife up. They stood facing her without recrimination and Dorie knew that they would truly welcome her into their home if she decided to leave Silver Hills. “We’ll be staying at the hotel in town for a day or two. We’d like to see Jeremiah during that time, if that’s all right.”