Renegade Wife

by Charlene Sands

  Sitting upon the bed, he turned to face her. She smiled with eager eyes. “Stay.”

  She wiggled her body down on the bed, her head resting on the pillow, and Kane could no sooner leave her there like that than he could cut off his right arm.

  He slid in bed beside her and brought her close, slipping her chemise once again from her shoulders. Molly’s delicate sigh of pleasure was all he needed to hear.

  A short time later, Molly faced Kane in bed, fully sated from a night and early morning of lovemaking. They shared their bodies so intimately, yet Kane refused to share his life. He kept that part of himself locked up and closed off to her. She knew he would rise soon, ready for his day of work on the Bar J and, perhaps, to visit the Cheyenne village. She longed so terribly to go there with him, to meet all the children and to start her school. She needed a purpose on the ranch, and while she loved her time with Bennett, he seemed to need her company less and less, spending more time resting in his room. And for Charlie—the wait seemed endless, the anticipation of reuniting with her brother keeping her on edge.

  “Kane, are you going to the village today?”

  “Later today, I will spend some time there.”

  “I might join you,” Molly said, realizing that now that she knew where the village was located she didn’t really need Kane’s permission. “After I go into town to purchase slates and chalk for the children.”

  Kane grimaced. He rose from the bed and turned to her. She sucked in a breath, seeing his powerful body, naked and slick from their lovemaking. He appeared a fierce warrior in his own right, those gray eyes narrowing on her as she dared to defy him. Even now as she gazed at him, his strength and power came through as well as his anger. “You would disobey me?”

  Molly swallowed and stared into his eyes.

  “Never mind, of course you would,” he said harshly. “When have you ever done as you were told?”

  Molly rose then and, mustering her courage, she walked over to him, keeping her eyes trained on him. Exposed and vulnerable in her naked state, she reached out to touch his chest. He flinched as if burned. “Last night, Kane,” she said softly. “And this morning, remember?”

  Kane’s eyes widened. Even Molly couldn’t believe she had the audacity to bring up their lovemaking, the way Kane tutored her, the way she willingly gave herself up to his every gentle command. Certainly by Kane’s surprised expression, he couldn’t believe it, either.

  “I have listened and learned,” Molly said softly, then smiled. “And enjoyed. But now it’s time for you to listen. It’s time for you to give me a chance. I’m only asking for a day or two. If the children don’t want me there, then you have my promise, I will not force myself on them.”

  Molly took his hand and squeezed gently, meeting his gaze. “Please.”

  Kane’s eyes softened, his face lost the stubborn set and thankfully, his anger seemed to have evaporated. “You have won your point, Little Bird. You have two days.”

  Joyous, Molly threw her arms around his neck and jumped into his arms. She kissed him soundly on the mouth. “Thank you. Thank you, Kane. You’ve made me so happy.”

  Kane groaned and held her tight, the intimate rub of their bodies not lost on either of them. Molly heated up immediately and Kane, well, she knew that he, too, was affected.

  “I have work to do,” Kane said, but there was no real effort in his words.

  “Yes, and I have to travel into town,” Molly agreed.

  But when Kane lifted her up and set her down on his bed, both knew their morning plans would have to wait a little bit longer.

  Molly’s plans to start her school at the Cheyenne village had to be postponed. Kane had had some trouble with the Bar J ranch hands. Two men had quarreled with Kane over the Indians’ presence on the ranch, both refusing to work alongside savages. Kane had fired them both and had come up shorthanded with workmen. Now, days later, once Kane had finally hired on two more amiable workmen, Molly set her own plan into action.

  Kane had taken her into Bountiful yesterday and now she stood under a cottonwood tree, handing out slates and chalk to a group of children ranging in age from four to fifteen years of age. Molly did a quick tally and counted nine students in all, sitting cross-legged on tall grass and looking more mystified than curious at the moment. Kane had agreed to translate in their native tongue for the first session, but after that Molly was on her own.

  “Tell them, I wish to learn all of their names and what it means in my language.”

  Kane spoke with the children, taking care to make sure even the youngest of the students understood what they were trying to do here. And Molly noticed that she’d also attracted many of the elder Cheyenne as well, most of whom stood back from their little makeshift school in the shade of an old tree, to watch and listen.

  Molly recited their names and with Kane’s assistance, learned what the names meant in the English language. She knew teaching was a give-and-take endeavor, and for her to be successful she must also be willing to learn about the Cheyenne culture as well. And the one thing she did note almost immediately was that the names given to a child at birth were not always complimentary. Smiling Eyes and Black Raven were pretty enough names, but the Cheyenne named their children according to what was most noticeable about them. Crooked Foot had been born with a foot that curved off to one side and Tall Neck had indeed a long, thin almost birdlike neck.

  “My name is Miss Molly.” She turned to Kane. “Please have them repeat my name one by one.”

  And so it went. By the end of three hours, with Molly finishing the lesson by allowing each one to mark on their slate by drawing a favorite scene, she had hoped they were interested enough to wish her back tomorrow.

  Kane put forth the question and an overwhelming display of head nods confirmed what Molly had hoped. Perhaps being confined on this little piece of land, the children, too, might have known the same sort of boredom Molly had.

  With joy in her heart, Molly smiled at Kane. “Tell them I will see them tomorrow and we will begin to learn the English language.”

  Kane spoke the next few words as Molly collected the slate boards and chalk. Many of the children glanced with longing at their new learning tool, giving Molly hope. Tomorrow she would make sure they’d have plenty to do with the slate board.

  And a short time later, Molly planned her next lesson in her head as she rode beside Kane in the wagon. Her life had new meaning and purpose now, and though she had bullied her way into this, she knew if Kane hadn’t really wanted her to teach the children, all her taunts wouldn’t have amounted to beans. He’d bought the slate boards and chalk. He had gathered the children up. He’d explained Molly’s intentions and agreed to stay for the first session to ease Molly’s way.

  With gratitude in her heart, Molly leaned over to kiss Kane’s cheek. “Thank you.”

  Kane didn’t say a word. He didn’t smile. But his hand covered hers on the seat of the wagon and they rode back to Bar J that way, hand in hand. Molly couldn’t remember a time when she felt such a keen sense of accomplishment. And having Kane beside her today, having his blessing, albeit somewhat grudgingly, meant a great deal. She’d felt a strong connection to him today, more so than any other time in their brief marriage.

  Once they reached the house, Kane helped Molly down and she raced to the front door, eager to tell Bennett of her success today. But just as she reached for the door handle, Bennett appeared, smiling with eyes aglow, looking healthier than she’d ever seen him.

  “Molly, we’ve been waiting on you. Seems there’s a young lad who calls himself Roper McCall here to see you.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  “Roper McCall?” Molly’s breath caught in her throat as she gazed into Bennett’s gleaming eyes. “My brother Charlie is—”

  But Molly didn’t finish her sentence, because Bennett had taken a sweeping step back.

  Charlie appeared in the doorway.

  “Hello, sis.” He smiled that same impish smile
that Molly remembered from their childhood. But Charlie had grown up in the year since she’d seen him. Taller, broader, his dark hair only now highlighted with the auburn tones they’d been born with, Charlie no longer looked like the tintype Molly had been toting around all of west Texas. No, he was a man—well, nearly a man. No wonder he hadn’t been recognized. With his grown-up appearance and his name changed to Roper McCall, it all made sense now why she hadn’t been able to locate him.

  “Charlie,” she breathed out, awed and a little bit stunned. She fell into his arms as tears swelled in her eyes. “I can’t believe it’s you! I can’t believe you’re here!”

  “I know, sis,” he said apologetically. “I’m sorry, Molly. Truly sorry.”

  Molly sobbed now, full out. She cried with both joy and sorrow. She cried for the little boy who’d grown up into such a good-looking man. She cried with relief at having him here, safe and sound in her arms. She cried for the heartache they would both endure when she explained about their mama’s death. And she cried deep inside, for one end of Kane’s bargain with her was met. He had helped to find her brother. And they were now one step closer to parting.

  But Molly wouldn’t allow that last thought to mar her joy. Instead, she relished the good news that she was finally reunited with her brother. She broke their tight embrace to look at him, wiping her tears away. “My goodness, Charlie. You’ve grown.”

  Charlie raked a hand over his unshaven face. “Some.” And then he took a good long look at her. “You’re married now. And you look happy. Mr. Jackson has filled me in on what you’ve been doing. You came here as a mail-order bride?”

  Molly smiled, too happy at the moment to admonish Charlie for what he’d put her through. “Yes, I came out west to marry and to search for you. There are things I must tell you, Charlie.”

  Bennett stepped up then, to intervene. “Why don’t you both get comfortable in the parlor? You two can speak in private. Kane and I will see you later on.”

  Molly agreed and, arm in arm, she guided Charlie to the parlor. She took a seat on the wing chair, while Charlie sat down on the sofa.

  Lupe rushed in, bringing a pitcher of lemonade and a tray of fresh fruit. Molly quickly made introductions, Lupe seeming genuinely happy to meet Charlie. “But he is not a boy,” Lupe said easily.

  Molly studied Charlie’s face. “I know. I’m quite surprised myself.”

  Lupe nodded. “It is good that you are together again,” she said before leaving the room.

  “What things, Molly? What did you have to tell me?” Charlie asked.

  Molly wanted answers from Charlie, before she would have to deal with all of his questions. “You’ve been on a cattle drive all this time?”

  “Well, most. I traveled a few months before landing a job on the Shannon ranch. Before I knew it, I was herding cattle to Kansas.”

  “Why did you change your name?”

  Heat rose up his cheeks and he shrugged with embarrassment. “It was a stupid thing, I suppose. I was so green when I arrived, that I thought I needed to prove myself and that name seemed to fit out here. But it’s over now. I took my real name when I got back.”

  “So, you’re known as Charlie McGuire again?”

  He nodded, the green in his eyes, almost an identical match to Molly’s, flickered with shame.

  “I tried to find you,” Molly said, sternly. “I did everything I knew to do until I just ran out of ideas. Bennett and my husband, well, they’ve been wonderful about helping me.”

  Again, Charlie appeared repentant. “I shouldn’t have run off like that. I meant to make some real money and come back for you. I wrote letter after letter, Molly.”

  “Mama and I only received one.”

  Charlie put his head down. “I know about Mama dying. I’m sorry. So sorry I wasn’t there.”

  “How did you find out about her?” Molly asked, finding the pieces of this puzzle a bit too confusing. Her heart ached just speaking of her mama’s death. Sharing this news with Charlie brought it all back so vividly.

  “I started getting worried while I was out on the trail. Afraid you wouldn’t be able to contact me, so I wired home. When I didn’t get a response, I sent another wire to Mrs. Wiley. I figured she would know how to contact you.”

  Mrs. Wiley was their mama’s one trusted friend. She lived across town, married to a banker, but she would always find time to visit her childhood friend. Mrs. Wiley had helped Molly with the burial arrangements. She’d also offered Molly a home while she was deciding what to do, but Molly had already made up her mind to come out west to find Charlie. She had no home and no ties any longer in St. Louis. “So Mrs. Wiley told you in a wire?”

  Tears stung Charlie’s eyes and he nodded. “I found out just one month ago. But Mama had already been gone months before that.”

  “Oh, Charlie.” Molly rushed to his side and put an arm around his shoulder.

  He lifted his head to look into her eyes. “You don’t know how glad I was to come back from the trail drive to find out you’re living here. I almost couldn’t believe it. I was going to set out to find you myself.”

  Molly took his hand. “There’s no need for that now. I’m here and we’ll never be separated again. Mama would want it that way.”

  Charlie nodded. “I want it that way, too.”

  Molly smiled. It’s about all she’d asked for when coming west—to reunite with Charlie and be a family once again. But Molly wanted more now. So much more, yet she feared the day when she would lose Bennett, the man she had come to think of as Grandfather, and in turn lose Kane, the husband whom she had come to love.

  “There’s more to tell, Charlie, but it can wait.” Molly debated about telling Charlie the terms of her “marriage vows” to Kane, not wanting to disparage her husband in her brother’s eyes. She would wait for the right time to explain to Charlie those circumstances. Right now, Molly just wanted to look her fill at her nearly grown younger brother. “I still can’t believe you’re here. Tell me that you’re home now, for good.”

  Charlie shook his head and laughed derisively, the familiar sound bringing back memories of their youth in St. Louis when Charlie had gotten in a pickle of some sort. “I wish. I haven’t got a home. Or a job anymore. Seems, uh, Parker Shannon fired me the minute I stepped foot on his land. Not because of anything I did on the trail. The trail boss said I did real good for a greenhorn, but uh—”

  “It’s because of his daughter, isn’t it?”

  “You know about Lacey?”

  Molly nodded, recalling how she learned of Lacey’s fascination with Roper McCall at the mercantile that alerted her to Charlie’s whereabouts. “It’s a good thing that rumors fly faster than a bumblebee in Bountiful, because your name came up along with Miss Lacey Shannon’s one day. Or at least, Roper McCall’s name came up.”

  “Shannon is real nice, Molly. But her pa’s dead set against me or anybody else seeing her.”

  “She cares for you, so he fired you?”

  “That’s about right. What kind of man courts a woman when he’s got no home and no job?”

  “You have a home and a job now, if you want one,” Kane announced.

  Molly and Charlie both turned their heads toward the parlor doorway. Kane stood with his shoulder braced casually against the doorjamb, but there was nothing casual in the look in his eyes. He was dead serious, and Molly wanted to grab him around the neck and hug him tight.

  “Kane,” she breathed out.

  Charlie stood.

  Kane walked over to Charlie. “I’m Kane Jackson.”

  “Charlie McGuire.” The two men shook hands.

  Molly rose from the sofa as well to offer a more proper introduction. “Charlie, I’d like you to meet my husband. And Kane, this is… Charlie, my brother.”

  Both men’s eyes twinkled and they grinned at each other, most likely laughing at Molly’s expense, but she didn’t care. She was just too thrilled to worry about sounding silly.

  “I’m
serious about the offer, Charlie,” Kane went on. “I’m shorthanded here and I know Molly would like to have you close by since we’ve spent a good deal of time looking for you.”

  “I appreciate that. And I’ll take you up on your offer. I’m still green, as the boys say, but I learn fast.”

  Kane nodded. “If you’re anything like your sister, I don’t doubt it.”

  A flush rose on Molly’s cheeks but the men were too busy shaking hands again to notice.

  “I see we have a new employee as well as a new relation. That’s what I call a good day,” Bennett said, walking into the room. “The boy and I had a bit of time to talk while waiting on you, Molly. I like him.”

  Molly smiled at Bennett’s blunt statement. “Thank you.” She beamed with joy thinking that for the time being at least, her life had come full circle.

  “Looks like things have come full circle for Molly,” Bennett said, lowering himself down into a kitchen chair. He appeared robust but his movements were those of an ailing man. Kane took a seat and the two faced each other.

  “What do you mean?” Kane asked.

  “Well, Molly’s found a home here. She’s been reunited with her brother and she seems to have you strung around her finger.”

  Kane opened his mouth to protest, but his grandfather was quick as a whip.

  “Don’t get me wrong, I’m happier than a coyote in a henhouse that you two are getting along so well.” Bennett lowered his head, and peered at Kane through narrowed eyes. “You are, aren’t you? I mean to say, I’ve seen the bounce in your step when you come downstairs in the morning. And Molly, too, she looks…shall I say, fulfilled.”

  “Grandfather,” Kane warned, realizing his grandfather was taunting him, hoping to gain insight into their marriage. Kane would never tell him the truth about the bargain he’d made with Molly. That bit of information would surely send him to his grave.