The Stagecoach Bride

by Stephannie Beman

  “It’s all about the money. Everything hinges on him not getting his hands on my inheritance. I’m worth $10,000. If he gets that—if anyone who would use it to hurt others gets their hands on it—I would never forgive myself. I look like my brother if I dress up as a man, and I went into the bank to get everything due to me. It wasn’t easy, but I figured out a way to put all that money in my trunk. I thought by changing my name and sneaking out of Virginia before Robert or Albert could find out, I could protect the people Robert wanted to hurt. Without that money, the Montgomery’s will be able to stop him. They’re good people.

  “But I’m afraid I wasn’t smart enough. I wore that hat once I was safely out of Virginia. I never thought anyone would draw up a poster of me wearing it. Even if I changed my name to Lillian Christian, that hat is unique to my family. Then there’s Wade. He had that trunk. I have no idea if he looked in it or not, but he said that he hoped I wouldn’t bring any trouble to you. What else can he mean but the money?”

  She finally took a moment to breathe, her heart hammering in her chest.

  Mic cupped her face in his hands, his eyes hooded. “I wondered why it was easier to call you Uzizitka than Lillian. You are very brave and strong to go against Robert and your brother, Prudence. I can’t fault you for using another name to hide from them.” He sat back on his heels, his frown deepening. “As for Wade, the only way to know what Wade meant is to ask him and I don’t think he meant your money.”

  “I tried to ask him, but he wouldn’t tell me. He just asked me what he could possibly want from me. That’s what made me think he meant the money.”

  “It’s never held as much meaning for us as it does for others. Besides, Wade has money. Not as much as you, but he won’t want for much if he’s inclined to spend it.”

  “Why be cryptic when he’s made nothing else he’s thought about me a secret? What can he possibly gain by it?”

  “Because he knows you have a secret, just not what it is. He was trying to get you to tell him.”

  “I can’t tell anyone but you. I trust you to do what’s right with it. I trust so few people anymore. I understand that I need to do what I can to protect myself, but I also know that doesn’t mean I’m going to get out of this alive. If I die, then I want to know it wasn’t in vain. I want you to find someone who needs the money and help them. Will you do that for me?”

  “Don’t talk like that, Prudence. You’re safe here. No one knows where to find you.”

  She shook her head. “Wade doesn’t want me here.”

  “But I do and this is my home, not his.”

  She remained silent for a long moment as she debated whether to express her concerns then finally decided with everything else she’d told him, there was no point in holding back now. “Wade believes that my being here is going to put your life in jeopardy. What if he decides to act in what he believes to be your best interest? What if he tells someone about my money? A $1000 reward is nothing compared to what I have.” She clasped his hands. “I’m being selfish by staying here. If I was smart, I’d learn everything I can about defending myself then get out of here so no harm will come to you.”

  Mic sighed and rose to his feet. He stomped to the door and roared, “Wade! Get over here. Now.”

  Her body stiffened. She didn’t think Mic would call Wade in here. While Mic had his back turned to her, she reached for the skillet she’d placed by the moccasins she’d been working on and moved it within reaching distance. If Wade tried to hurt her or Mic, she had to be ready, even if her skills needed much improvement.

  Wade slinked past Mic several seconds later, his chest heaving. He looked much like a little boy facing his father for doing something wrong. “Mic, I—”

  “Don’t want to hear it. What I want to hear is why you feel the need to pick on our guest as if she is the criminal and not us.” He pointed at the bench. “Sit!”

  Wade sat and glanced between Mic and Lillian.

  Lillian’s stomach tensed up into terrible knots. Maybe she shouldn’t have said anything to Mic. She didn’t like the way Wade was looking at her, as if she was the reason everything was wrong.

  “She’s hiding something,” Wade accused, making her jerk.

  She cursed herself for showing he could scare her. Fear was weakness, and she had just given him some power over her. She gripped the chair, willing herself to stop acting like a coward. Just an hour ago, she felt confident and strong, and now she felt like a coward all over again. No, I’m not a coward. I just know when there’s danger nearby and my body is telling me to be careful.

  “And what do you think that is?” Mic demanded.

  Wade shook his head. “I don’t know. I tried to trick her into talking, but she won’t.”

  Her eyes narrowed at him. Trying to trick her?

  “And you expected her to tell you after the way you’ve treated her?” Mic pressed. “Did it ever cross your thick skull that maybe you aren’t the only one in this world with problems? Or that possibly not everyone who crosses paths with you is out to get you?”

  Wade stood. “I was trying to protect this family from any more harm.”

  “Lillian is not our enemy, Wade. She’s not like Charles. She’s not like any of the women Charles prefers. If I had to guess, Charles didn’t want a wife, he wanted a nanny for Lloyd.”

  Confusion crossed Wade’s face and he seemed to deflate as he glanced toward her, as if seeing her for the first time.

  “I don’t care why he wanted me,” she finally said, glancing from Mic to Wade. “I’m not going to him. If you think you’re going to take me to him, I won’t let you. I’ll do whatever I have to so you can’t take me there.” She looked at Mic. “Would Charles want money?”

  Wade shook his head. “Did Charles mention a boy? Were you supposed to take care of him?” he asked as if she hadn’t even spoken.

  “I’m tired of answering your questions but you never answering mine,” she snapped, rising to her feet.

  Wade didn’t respond, not that she thought he would since he’d been so insistent on annoying her ever since he abducted her.

  Mic turned to her. “Charles would want money, always has. He’s greedy. But right now I need you to answer Wade’s question. It’s important, Uzizitka.”

  His gentle tone took her attention off of Wade who was still staring at her, his expression hard. “Yes. He said he was a widower who needed a wife to help raise his son. A child of three. I felt sorry for him.”

  “Oh my God.” Wade’s breath whooshed from his lungs and he fell onto the bench seat. “How could he, Mic? How could he use Lloyd like that?”

  “I don’t know, Wade.” Mic glanced at Lillian, smiled and nodded his gratitude, his eyes soft. “Charles has never been married. The child isn’t his. Lloyd is Wade’s son. Taken the night Jane died. ”

  “What?” she asked, her mind not comprehending what they were saying.

  “You were to be the ransom for Lloyd’s release if Charles had accepted.” Mic knelt before her again. “But he didn’t. Charles wants one thing and it’s something I refused to give him. This whole fight between the Nichols Boys and Charles started with me and there is not enough money in this house to make Charles back down now that his pride has been pricked.”

  “How…” She looked at Wade, seeing him in a new light but not quite grasping what it meant. Then she turned back to Mic. “Why would he take someone else’s child? What could he possibly have to gain from it? And what do you refuse to give him? He’s the one who has the child.”

  “Charles wanted to make a deal with me. He wanted free range on my lands and in return, he would take my unmanageable seventeen-year-old sister off my hands. No mention of marriage or dowry or anything civilized. I refused to consider it.”

  “I think your exact words were you’d shoot him if he tried it,” Wade said from across the room. “Then you proceeded to knock him on his royal—”

  Mic cleared his throat and Wade blushed, looking away. “T
he next two years were a battle between us. He stole my stock and I stole them back. He tried to cut off my water rights and I threatened to shoot him.” Mic glanced up at her, his eyes begging her to understand. “About five months back, Wade, Caleb, Abby, and Noah drove a part of the herd to a stock sale. I stayed behind with Jane and Lloyd to watch what remained of the cattle and keep an eye out for Charles’ men. I asked Jane to stay in my cabin until Wade returned, but she didn’t want to leave her home. I was coming back from checking on the cattle when I heard Jane’s scream. By then I was too late to save her.”

  Lillian chanced another look at Wade who stared at the floor, his expression indicating that he’d been through so much that he didn’t have the ability to shed another tear. Mic, however, had tears in his eyes. She pressed a hand to the side of his face and wiped a stray tear from his cheek. “The reason why you said you killed her? Because you weren’t there to stop him? That all was because of the land you mentioned protecting?”

  He nodded, unable to speak.

  “We were naive enough to believe they wouldn’t kill for a piece of land or our sister Abby,” Wade said. “Kind of funny, because I think Charles would kill for less. Thought he might actually have killed Lloyd along with Jane.”

  “Then he’s no better than Robert,” she whispered, thinking of all the families he’d destroyed. The methods might not have been the same, but the two men had managed to cause the same pain and heartache. “I’m sorry.”

  “Robert?” Wade asked. “Who’s Robert?”

  Mic shook his head. “Another time.”

  “I don’t mind telling him,” she said and lowered her hand so she could place it on top of Mic’s. “Robert doesn’t go after land and cattle, but he does pursue businesses. He takes by force what he can’t get and destroys whoever stands in his way. I was supposed to marry him but came out here so I wouldn’t have to. Little did I know I’d end up almost married to someone just as terrible.” She sighed and squeezed Mic’s hand. “I never thought I’d say this, but thank you for kidnapping me.”

  Mic smiled at her and squeezed her hand in return.

  Wade stood. “I’m sorry, Miss Lillian. I couldn’t understand why a woman would want to be with Charles for anything more than money and power. I thought you no better than them. I see now that I was very wrong, that you came because of the man you thought Charles to be and the son he claimed. I won’t be bothering you again.” He turned and walked out of the cabin.

  She turned her attention back to Mic and leaned forward. “We have to get Lloyd back.”

  “I know. There were rumors that Charles might have Lloyd, but there was no way to know for sure. Wade wanted to sneak into Charles’ house and take his son back if he was there. It’s risky and could work with a diversion, but it could also mean some of us don’t make it out alive. It’s a plan that we decided would be our last option.”

  “This is about a child. We have to do it.”

  “Plans are in motion. Abby and Caleb are keeping an eye on the house. In a few days, Charles’ men will be driving the cattle to summer pasture. We’ll go then.”

  “I want to help. Whatever I can do, I’ll do it.”

  Mic cupped her face in his rough, calloused hands. “Marry me, Uzizitka.”

  She smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Of course.” Then she kissed him.

  Chapter Sixteen

  The naked blades flickered in the sunlight. Wade and Mic danced around each other, dodging and slicing, moving quicker. The speed and skill of their dance, the precision of their cutting blades, and lack of blood spilled was a testament to their adeptness.

  Lillian gasped and the small distraction nearly cost him. Cloth tore and fire flared briefly along his ribs. Mic sidestepped Wade’s next cut and slipped beneath his guard, disarming him and sweeping his legs out from beneath him in a single fluid moment.

  Wade’s foot shot out as he fell, catching Mic’s leg. He stumbled, throwing his knife to the side so as not to fall on it. He wanted to beat his brother in a fight not kill him. They wrestled on the ground like schoolboys until Mic succeeded in placing Wade in a chokehold.

  Rising off the ground like a bull, Mic rode on his brother’s back, arm firmly around his throat and legs wrapped around his waist. Wade swung his body, seeking to throw Mic off his back.

  Wade was shorter, stronger, and stockier. He relied more on brute strength, giving Mic the advantage of speed and cunning.

  “Alright,” Wade gasped. “You win.”

  Mic instantly released him, grinning.

  Lillian stomped over to them, hands on her hips, looking very much like a disapproving mother. “I can’t believe you two! I let you out of my sight to wash the dishes, and when I come out here, I see you two trying to kill each other. Only you were just playing?”

  Mic laughed, grabbing her around the waist and swinging her around. “We’re practicing. And now it’s your turn. You get to practice with the knife.” He kissed her soundly on the lips.

  “Hey!” Wade shouted. “I don’t want to see that.”

  She smirked at Wade then brought her arms around Mic’s neck and kissed him in return.

  The feel of her lips, lush and soft over his, sparked interest in his lower extremities and he groaned.

  “I’m ready to practice,” she said.

  Mic grew harder yet grinned at the innocent remark. He was so ready to practice, but what he wanted to practice at that second had nothing to do with knife fighting. It involved a bed, Lillian, and himself.

  Wade laughed until he couldn’t stand any longer and fell on the ground.

  “Eww,” Noah said from behind Lillian. “It’s Jane and Wade all over again.”

  She frowned, her eyes darkening. “I don’t get it. What’s so funny?”

  Wade shook his head. “If you haven’t asked her to marry you by now,” he gasped, “you’d better do it soon or the baby will be here before a wedding.”

  Her cheeks flushed a light pink and she looked rather cute in her indignation. “Whatever Noah told you, it’s not true.”

  Wade stared at her, then Mic, and finally at Noah, before he burst into another round of laughter. Holding one side of his chest, he shook his head and wiped tears from his eyes. “Don’t make me laugh. It hurts.”

  Refusing to make eye contact with any of them, she took the knife out of her belt and asked, “Now, how do I use this?”

  Mic kicked dirt at his brother, who was too far away for it to touch, and repositioned Lillian’s hand for a better grip. “First, I never want you to get into a knife fight like you saw me and Wade doing. I would rather you were safe. So if you can, hurt them where it counts, then run and hide. Got it?”

  Eyeing Wade who was sitting on the ground braying like a donkey, she nodded. “Got it.”

  “The whole point of this is to show you ways to use the knife to your best advantage, but remember no matter how good you are, you’ll never be strong enough to go one on one with a man. You need to work smarter.” He turned to Wade. “Get up, you idiot. You’re the practice dummy.”

  Wade stood, still gasping. “Ready?”

  She took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. Then she lowered her voice so Wade couldn’t hear and asked, “Am I supposed to practice the…uh,” she glanced at Wade, “kicking the man where it counts thing or just use the knife?”

  Mic winced. He doubted his brother would appreciate her kicking him in the family jewels. Although after everything Wade had put her through, it was a very tempting idea. “Let’s leave that for another day, my Uzizitka. We’re just going to use the knife right now.” He stepped up behind Lillian, his hand sliding along her arm, closing around the hand holding the knife hilt. His body pressed tightly to hers. His other hand snaked around her waist. “Now follow my movements.” He glanced at his brother. “Ready, Wade?”

  Wade nodded and came at Lillian and Mic slowly moved, letting her see his movements. As she grew accustomed to the knife, his movements quickened,
leading her into swifter thinking and reacting.

  Mic guided her through the gliding dance of fighters Jim had once shown him as a boy, but it hadn’t been anywhere near as pleasant as what he experienced now. Every brush of her against him sent sparks tingling over his skin.

  As with everything, Lillian learned quickly, her movements going from uncertain to more confident, moving slightly ahead of his as she watched and anticipated Wade’s next move.

  Wade’s grin grew.

  “Why do I have the feeling that Wade’s enjoying this too much?” she asked, a worried frown on her face.

  Wade wasn’t the only one enjoying himself. Mic was having a difficult time keeping his mind on knife practice and not the other type of practice Lillian had so innocently implied earlier. Her body slid along his, pressing on parts of his anatomy he so wanted her to touch. He could feel himself hardening against her bottom and prayed to God she didn’t feel it.

  His need to finish what he had started with Lillian earlier was strengthening by the second. He didn’t think he could wait until after they saved Lloyd to marry Lillian without wanting to take advantage of her. Only his promise to her kept him from acting on his baser impulses. “He likes to fight.”

  “Apparently,” she muttered under her breath. “Does he have any idea how scary he is?”

  Mic gave into his urge and nipped her on the side of her neck. “No.”

  She giggled and wiggled closer to him.

  “Stop distracting her,” Wade growled, upping the pace a little, judging her movements. He was a good instructor when he wanted to be and right now he seemed to be applying himself to the task very nicely. “She needs to focus.”

  “Mic’s more fun than you,” she teased and snuggled up to him again.

  Mic groaned. Did she know what she was doing to him? Every second of her teasing was bringing him closer to exploding. Only he refused to release her and allow Wade to mock the hardness pressing against his pant seam.