Vance halted too close for Emma's comfort. She took an instinctive step back, but only succeeded in pressing up against the wooden rail of the corral. As if sensing her discomfort, Vance moved closer. Emma lifted her chin and glared at Vance. "Don't come any closer," she snapped.
Vance froze and, although his brows furrowed, he didn't look remotely intimidated by her harshly uttered command. "What kind of a way is that to talk to a friend?" Vance asked.
"You and I are not even acquaintances, sir," she retorted.
Vance sighed heavily and the scent of cigar smoke wafted across her face. She felt a surge of revulsion and dragged her gaze toward the children. Thankfully, they'd already made their way inside the stable. She didn't want them to see or hear any of this, she told herself.
"I would have thought all those hours we've spent sharing a carriage would have persuaded you of my good intentions," Vance said sounding vaguely affronted by her attitude.
Emma scoffed. "Your good intentions haven't impressed me, nor the children," she said evenly. "In fact, you've made a positive nuisance of yourself for most of the time we've been traveling."
"Is that so?" Vance asked. "Here was I thinking that I'd made such a favorable impression on you." His gaze darkened and he moved a few inches closer. "But, you being such a fine lady and all that. And with two lovely children with you." He glanced across at the main building as if checking he wouldn't be interrupted. Lowering his voice, he peered deeply into her eyes. "There's one thing I haven't quite been able to figure out. Where exactly is Mr Dunbar?"
Emma's breath halted and her throat tightened. Heart pounding with sudden panic, she peered into Vance's eyes, seeing cruelty there. "That's none of your concern, sir," she blurted out trying hard to contain the quivering in her voice. "I'll be thankful if you keep my children out of this conversation."
Encouraged by her visible distress, Vance tilted his head and leaned forward. "You see, that's what I find hard to believe," he murmured.
"What do you mean?"
His lips curled into a callous sneer. "I'm wondering if they are, in fact, your children."
Emma grabbed hold of the wooden fence at her side. Fingers curled around the post as she tried not to slide to the ground. There was a roaring in her ears. Now she was in a full panic, but she didn't dare let out a scream. People would come running. The children would be affected. Then there would be impossible questions. Accusations she might not be able to deny.
She called on God to help her. To protect her as he'd done so often before. And, in particular, when she'd been faced with an awful dilemma only a day ago. He had come to her aid then. Answered her fervent prayers. When she'd had to discern what she needed to do to keep the children safe. And now this man was trying to destroy all of that?
A sudden wave of determination swept through her. She hadn't come through all the difficulties, only for this vile man to try and impose himself upon her. "That's ridiculous," she gasped. "Of course the children belong to me."
Vance shook his head slowly. "I don't think so. You see, one of your girls said something I've been trying to figure out. Bethany, it was. When we made one of our stops. She said that you all had left Billings in a hurry. Because, apparently, you'd said something about the place the girls were going not being safe for them." Vance lifted a brow. "Does that sound right to you, Miss Dunbar? Or is that even your real name? I'm beginning to wonder what is really going on with you and those two girls."
He'd said enough, Emma groaned inwardly. She couldn't allow him to continue. She slid along the outside of the fence, edging away from him. But he followed her, cutting off her escape. He wasn't going to give up so easily.
"What's the hurry?" he asked in an acidic tone of voice.
"Why are you doing this?" she demanded, urging herself to control the emotion in her voice.
"I like to know who I'm traveling with." Vance shrugged. "It helps if I know the truth about my companions."
"Is that all?" Of course, she couldn't believe that was his only motive for seeking her out like this. He was probably thinking ahead to when they were all arriving in Helena. What did he plan to do then? He already knew too much.
Emma tried to move, but he thrust out a hand, grabbing the fence, blocking her way. His presence felt huge, now. Intimidating. Just like it had been for most of the journey. She glared up at him. "Out of my way!" she exclaimed. Her voice echoed loudly across the empty yard.
Vance didn't move a muscle. He just peered down at her. She saw victory in his gaze, and that was enough to push her into action.
Grabbing his arm, she thrust it aside and ducked her head, plunging forward. Her booted feet caught on a mound of earth by the fence and she staggered. Stretching out her hands, she tumbled and knew she was about to end up face down in the dirt. However, at the last moment, she twisted and managed to grab hold of the corral fence, holding herself upright. It wasn't elegant, but at least she hadn't ended up flat on her face.
As she grasped hold of the railing, trying to calm her rapid breathing, she heard the sound of the door to the main building opening with a loud creak. She saw Jake Buchanan come hurtling out through the open door and felt a wave of relief sweep over her. She stood quickly, trying her best to compose herself as she watched Jake come running across the yard.
Vance took in the sight of Jake's advancing figure, glanced at Emma, and then drew in a deep breath, shifting on his heels, preparing for the inevitable face-off with the rancher.
Jake slid to a halt in front of Vance. "What's going on here?" he demanded. His voice was firm and emphatic.
Vance's shoulders rose. "Miss Dunbar and I were talking. She almost took a tumble," Vance said, not sounding at all convincing.
Jake came to Emma's side and ran his gaze down the length of her petite frame. His eyes were aflame with a mixture of concern and barely disguised indignation. She wondered just how much he'd seen through the window of the building while he'd been inside. Maybe he'd been watching the whole thing, she told herself. He must be wondering what had caused the fuss, she told herself. She wasn't going to tell him. All she wanted to do was get away from Vance.
Instinctively, Emma moved closer to Jake. His eyes narrowed slightly as he watched her move toward him. Surely he could see how upset she was. When he gently cupped her elbow in his hand, she felt sensation race up her arm and down her spine. She was sure her cheeks had flamed pink. Normally, she would have recoiled from such familiarity. But, right now, she was glad that he was willing to show her even the smallest sign that he was concerned for her safety.
Jake glared at Vance. "I think you've outstayed your welcome," he stated.
Just as they'd done earlier, both men locked eyes on one another. Neither looked willing to back down. There was a long silence. Finally, with one last glance at Jake's hand on her arm, Vance nodded. "I think I understand," he said slowly.
"You do?" Jake asked.
"The stage will be leaving soon," Vance said. "There'll be plenty of time for Miss Dunbar and I to continue our conversation then."
And with that, Vance turned and strode back in the direction of the main building. Emma waited until he had closed the door behind him before letting out a heavy sigh. Jake loosened his hold on her arm. She leaned back against the corral fence and ran a hand across her forehead. Her hand was shaking and she was sure she looked pale. Jake regarded her carefully, concern written across his features. A long silence passed between them.
Finally Jake spoke up: "You want to tell me what that was all about?"
Emma shook her head. "He was just being mean."
Jake's jaw tightened. She saw his fists clench tightly."To you? Why?"
"He wasn't threatening me, if that's what you think," Emma suggested.
"It looked like it, from where I was standing," Jake admitted. "I saw the whole thing from the window." So he had been watching over her, she told herself. "He's lucky he's still on his feet," Jake added firmly.
"He was bothe
ring me and the children all through the journey from Billings," she told him. "He just wanted to get something off his chest, I guess."
Jake literally grunted. For a moment, she looked at him with something approaching shock. Something about Vance's behavior clearly touched a raw nerve in the rancher. Maybe his concern wasn't so much for her benefit, as for the fact that he disliked men of Vance's sort. She wondered what had caused such a dislike. The knowledge that she'd never know made her earlier regret cut into her even more keenly.
"I'll have a word with him,"Jake said turning away from her.
Emma reached out and took hold of his arm. "Please, don't," she pleaded. His gaze dropped to her hand and she immediately wrenched her fingers away from his arm. "There's no need to do that. You've done more than enough already, Jake. The last thing I want is any kind of trouble."
Jake thought for a moment and then nodded. "Okay. If that's what you really want." He sighed. "But, you know it's only going to encourage him when you all get back on that stagecoach." She could tell from his expression that he desperately wanted to do anything except leave things as they were now.
Emma nodded, but said nothing to Jake about what had just flashed into her mind. The only solution which made any sense. Even if it would make life even more difficult for her and the children. But, God would look after them. She was sure of that. "I'm sure there's something that can be done to make sure Mr Vance doesn't make a nuisance of himself again. Apart from which, the driver already doesn't like him very much. He'll keep an eye on us."
Jake didn't look convinced. "He's going to have plenty to deal with driving the stagecoach."
Emma smiled, in spite of the twisted knot of nerves which had taken up residence in her stomach. "I'm sure it'll all be fine. When are you and your sister leaving?"
He sighed. "We were planning on heading out in the next hour."
Disappointment flared within her heart. It was all she could do to mask her reaction. "I better get the children. They're in the stable."
Realizing that she hadn't given him even the slightest hint of what she was planning to do, she started to walk away from him.
"Emma, wait a moment," he said, causing her to halt in her tracks and look back at him.
She lifted her brows, wondering what he was going to say. His mouth opened, and then he seemed to have second thoughts. He waved a hand. "I'll say goodbye before we leave."
"That will be nice, Jake," Emma replied. And when she turned away from him and started toward the barn, she was glad he couldn't see the worry which had taken hold of her features.
CHAPTER FOUR
"Where are they?" Jake asked Grace almost an hour after he'd prevented Vance from making unwanted advances toward Emma.
"Emma and the children? I haven't seen them for the last half hour," Grace replied.
Jake and Grace were readying their own horses over by the open doors of the stable. Out on the main trail, the stagecoach was ready to leave, horses hitched, but there was no sign of Emma and the children. Looking impatient, the driver was standing by the open door. Alongside him stood Vance. He looked as puzzled as everyone else. And annoyed. Only his bag had been loaded up on the roof of the stagecoach. There was no sign of any other bags. Vance was doing everything possible to avoid looking at Jake. And that was fine as far as Jake was concerned.
"Where have they gotten to?" Dan was leaning against the stable door.
Jake shrugged. "I don't know," he replied thoughtfully.
Jake thought about what had happened earlier. It had taken every ounce of patience he had to stop from putting Vance down on the ground. It had been that simple. When he'd seen the way Vance had been treating Emma, Jake had gone running out there intending to do what was right. To do what was necessary. But Emma's reaction, her obvious fear, had forced Jake to hold his emotions in check.
When Jake had seen the look in her eyes, the anxiety that lurked there, the almost white color of her face, he'd been taken aback. Something had passed between Vance and Emma. Something terrible. For a moment, after Vance had left them, Jake had thought Emma had been about to reveal to him what she and Vance had spoken about. Whatever it had been, it must have been momentous. Must have had consequences for Emma and the children. But, frustratingly, she'd kept silent.
"I'm going to try and find them," Jake announced. "Maybe they wandered off down to the river," he suggested pointing past the trail and down the valley. For some reason, that seemed like the most probable place they'd go, he told himself. Up behind the staging station was mostly inhospitable rocky escarpment.
Before Grace had a chance to talk sense into Jake, he strode across the yard, past the stagecoach and started down the side of the hill. He gazed out across the hillside, but there were too many trees for him to have a chance of seeing anything clearly enough. He fought his way through the dense ground cover of shrubs until he reached a thicket of trees.
Pausing a moment, he listened and heard voices. His spirits lifting immediately, he started toward the sound of the voices. He heard children laughing and knew he'd found them and Emma. Wondering why she had wandered off like this, he forced his way through the low-hanging branches until he reached a clearing. There, sitting on a blanket, as if they were simply out enjoying a picnic, were Emma and the two girls.
Seeing him emerge from the trees, Emma's smile faded, but the children, not having noticed Jake, just kept on giggling about something. Emma stood as Jake made his way across the clearing. Finally, the girls noticed him and looked at Jake with puzzled expressions on their faces.
"Stay there a moment, girls," he heard Emma say. "I have to talk with Mr Buchanan for a moment."
The girls did as they were told. Obedient as always, Jake observed. Jake halted as Emma advanced toward him. For the life of him, he couldn't figure out why she wasn't up at the staging station, getting ready to leave.
Emma halted in front of Jake. He squinted at her. "Isn't it time you were all leaving? I think they're waiting for you up there."
Emma smiled nervously and tilted her head. There was a hesitant look in her eyes. Even more uncertain than usual, he thought. "Can we walk for a moment?" she asked.
"Sure," Jake replied and followed her toward the grove of trees. Whatever she wanted to say to him obviously had to be said out of the earshot of the girls. Finally, Emma seemed satisfied that whatever she was going to say to him couldn't be overheard.
Standing beneath the shadow of the trees, Emma looked suddenly wary. For a moment, he savored the way the light dappled across her face. The soft light made her seem even more beautiful, he told himself. Emma wrapped her arms around her middle, gazed back at the girls and then at Jake. "We're not leaving today," she announced abruptly.
"What!" Jake peered at Emma disbelievingly.
"We're going to wait for the next stagecoach. I can't get on that stage with Vance. Not after what he did this morning." She frowned. "I've had enough of him. And I need to take care of the girls. They're my responsibility."
For a few moments, Jake was lost for words. He shook his head. "You can't stay here."
"Why not?" she responded, a hint of defiance in her voice.
"It's not safe. You're a woman, alone with two children. Out here in the middle of nowhere. Isn't it obvious?"
"Dan will take care of us," Emma retorted.
Jake scoffed. "Dan can hardly take care of himself."
"The next stage won't be long coming," she said.
He frowned. "It won't be along for days. I know that for a fact."
She seemed surprised by that revelation. "Then we'll wait," Emma declared. Her jaw tightened and her gaze steadied, hard as flint. "We'll be fine." For the first time since he'd met her he could sense the fire in her spirit. The sheer determination to do whatever she had to do for the sake of the children.
The Rancher’s Devout Bride Page 3