Jake cleared his throat and swallowed. She felt him draw in a deep breath, as if preparing himself to say something. Unease knotted in her middle. A panicked thought flashed into her mind.
He was going to ask her the most important question of all. She stiffened and leaned away from him. "Jake," she started to say, desperation seizing her.
However, before Emma could say another word, she heard a voice from the direction of the house. "Jake? Emma?" It was Zane's voice. The eldest Buchanan brother walked up the path between the hedgerows.
Emma shifted abruptly, putting distance between herself and Jake. For his part, Jake stood, straightening his waistcoat. "What is it, Zane?"
Zane's features were a blank. He wasn't the type to show any judgment on his features. Not when faced with the sight of his cousin holding someone in his arms. "There's a visitor," Zane announced. He flicked a thumb back in the direction of the ranch house. "Sheriff Nathan is here."
"The sheriff?" Jake exclaimed.
Emma's chest tightened. She stood and took a few steps toward Zane.
Zane nodded. "And he ain't alone. There's some guy with him. Says he's an attorney from back east."
Suddenly Emma's heart was pounding. She felt her legs weaken. "What's his name?" she asked, her voice quivering.
Zane gazed at her. "Mr Curtis?" he replied. "He's in the sitting room with the sheriff. Said he'd like to speak with Emma."
Without thinking what she was doing, Emma reached out a hand, grasping onto Jake's arm. She was sure she was about to tumble onto the garden path. Jake took hold of Emma, steadying her. "What's wrong, Emma?" he asked.
"He's here!" she exclaimed. "It's all over," she added breathlessly. She stared at Jake. "This is the end of everything."
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Jake narrowed his eyes in Zane's direction, making it clear he wanted a moment alone with Emma. Zane nodded and headed back toward the house.
Once Zane had left, Jake took gentle hold of Emma's shoulders. She was shaking and he was scared she was about to crumple to the ground. He held on tight to her. "Emma. What's this all about?"
"I told you they were sending an attorney," she groaned. "He's come to take the children away. I can't let him do that," Emma added.
Jake felt Emma try to pull away from him, try to bolt in the direction of the house, but he held on tight. "Hold on, Emma. You're not doing anything alone."
Her eyes widened. "This is none of your concern, Jake," she exclaimed.
"That's where you're wrong. You and those children have been my concern since the day we met," he declared.
"But, if he's come here with the sheriff, that can only mean one thing," Emma retorted. "He's found out something back in Billings. And it means I'm going to lose the children." Emma took hold of Jake's arms, her fingers digging deep into his muscles. "Can't you see? I knew this would happen."
Determined to keep a clear head, Jake frowned. "You don't know that for sure. Maybe it's good news. I spoke with Nathan about this."
Her brows shot up in a line. "You did?"
Jake nodded. "He told me there'd been inquiries. But he promised to hold things at bay for a while."
Emma squinted at Jake. "Why would the sheriff do that?"
Jake gazed into Emma's eyes. "Because I wanted him to do that. I needed more time."
She stared at him. He could see she was trying to understand what he'd said. What it could mean for them both. "More time for what?"
Jake shifted his hands to Emma's waist and held her close. "To win your heart, Emma." Jake lowered his head slightly, holding her captive with his gaze. "Because I love you, Emma Dunbar."
Her mouth opened in shock. Her features were frozen into a disbelieving mask. Jake lifted a hand and caressed her cheek, feeling the exquisite softness of her skin. "Did you hear me?" he asked softly.
Emma nodded. "But that can't be, Jake," she pleaded. "Especially not now when that man has come here. What you want is impossible."
Jake leaned closer. He breathed in her sweet scent, a mixture of oranges and spice. His lips were close enough now that, if he wanted to he could lean in and kiss her. But, he restrained himself. "Don't you want the same, Emma?" Jake asked. He lifted his thumb to her lips and traced a delicate line along the length of her moist lower lip. "Tell me what's in your heart," he breathed. "Tell me what you truly feel."
He felt her breath against his hand. Her gaze softened and she spoke the words he so desperately wanted to hear. The words he'd dreamed of hearing. "I do love you, Jake," she whispered.
Jake's heart warmed instantly, and he leaned forward, unable to hold back. He kissed Emma, savoring the sensation of her lips, the softness of her breathing, the warmth of her skin.
Suddenly, she pulled away from him, as if reality had come flooding back in again. "I have to go inside. Speak to Mr Curtis."
She tried to move away from Jake, but, as before, he held on tight. "You're not going anywhere without me," he stated.
"This isn't your concern," she objected.
Jake shook his head firmly. "We're going to face this together. If he wants to talk to the woman I love, on my ranch, then he'll do the talking with us both."
Her gaze brightened instantly. He could see that the defiance of his declaration had won her support. She nodded. "Okay."
They headed down the path and came to the rear doors which led straight into the sitting room. Before Jake opened the doors, he stuck out an arm, offering her the chance to scoop her own inside his. She slipped her arm through his and he opened the doors to the sitting room.
They stepped inside the sitting room. Sheriff Nathan Cameron and Mr Curtis, the attorney, were standing at the far end of the room. They turned as Jake and Emma walked into the room. Jake saw Nathan's brows rise at the sight of Emma holding onto him. Nathan was outfitted in full sheriff gear. Jeans, waistcoat, Stetson and a silver badge that glinted in the soft light of the room.
Mr Curtis was around forty years of age. He was dressed in a plain brown suit and was holding onto a small satchel. Like Nathan, Curtis seemed surprised to see Jake and Emma holding onto each other.
Jake and Emma strode to the two men. Jake felt Emma's grip on his arm tighten as they neared Mr Curtis. Jake nodded to Nathan. "Sheriff Cameron. What's your business here today?"
Nathan glanced at Curtis. "Mr Curtis here introduced himself to me at the office. He just got off the train from Billings."
"Is that so?" Jake asked turning to Curtis. "And what's your business at my ranch, sir?"
Curtis cleared his throat and glanced at Emma. "Actually, I've come to speak with Miss Dunbar," he said. He looked at Emma. "I assume you are Miss Emma Dunbar."
Emma loosened herself from Jake's grasp and clasped her hands. She straightened to her full height and peered at Curtis. "I am Miss Emma Dunbar. Employee of the Foundling Society." She narrowed her eyes at Curtis. "But, I'm sure you already know that."
"I do, indeed, Miss Dunbar," Curtis replied. He turned and peered out through the sitting room windows. "And those must be the two girls the Society placed in your charge."
Jake heard Emma draw in a sharp breath. "They are. And I suppose they are the reason why you have come out here." Emma's voice was no longer shaky. Now it was positively defiant.
Curtis smiled at Emma. "I was instructed to come here when the Society received your first telegram. It has taken me over a week to get here." Curtis removed a handkerchief from his jacket pocket and wiped sweat from his brow. "A long journey from New York to Billings."
At the mention of Billings, Jake felt nerves twist in his middle. Now they were getting down to business, he told himself. "The sheriff informed me there were some inquiries to be made in Billings." There was no sense in delaying the truth, Jake figured. Jake took a step closer to Curtis and asked: "What was the outcome?"
Appearing taken aback by Jake's forthrightness, Curtis peered at Nathan. "As I'm sure the sheriff has informed you, there were objections raised by the Wh
itney couple in Billings." Curtis sighed. "It appears they felt they were wronged. Especially by the manner in which Miss Dunbar removed the children from their care."
Emma gasped. "The children were never in their care," she objected. "Not officially, anyway. No papers were exchanged. I still have them here. Up in my room." She scowled at Curtis. "Do you want me to go and get them?"
Curtis shook his head slowly. "That won't be necessary, Miss Dunbar. I'm sure the paperwork is all in order."
That last remark seemed to take Emma by surprise. Had she expected Curtis to demand to see evidence of her decision? He was an attorney, after all.
"I visited Billings and met with the Mr and Mrs Whitney," Curtis revealed. He paused a long moment and then continued. "I also consulted with the sheriff in Billings." Curtis glanced at Nathan.
"Seems like the sheriff in Billings has his own view of things," Nathan explained. "He's done some digging."
Jake peered at Nathan. He'd known Nathan long enough to know when the sheriff was about to reveal something significant. There was something about the way Nathan had looked at him that made Jake know that what was coming next might not be bad.
"That is correct," Curtis continued. "It seems the personal circumstances of Mr and Mrs Whitney were not what they'd led the Society to believe."
Emma glanced at Jake. He could see a sudden hope in her eyes. "In what way?" Emma asked Curtis.
"It seems the reason Mr and Mrs Whitney wanted to adopt Bethany and Clara was so that they could acquire an appearance of respectability," Curtis explained.
"They were up to no good," Nathan added. "They've been carrying out some fraudulent activities around Billings."
"Fraud!" Emma exclaimed.
Curtis nodded. "Mr and Mrs Whitney are currently being held in the Billings jailhouse."
"What!" Now it was Jake's turn to lose control.
"They've been using their community connections to embezzle money from investors," Nathan said. "Some kind of complicated business to do with selling fake insurance. Maybe they figured folks would trust them more if they had a family, complete with two beautiful daughters."
Emma gasped. "How awful," she stated. Although she looked shocked by the revelations, Jake could also sense relief in Emma. She took a step toward Curtis. "So the children aren't going back to Billings?"
Curtis shook his head. "There's nothing for them in Billings."
Emma glanced at Jake. He wondered if she was thinking about what they had said to each other back in the garden. Because he certainly was running those words over in his mind. And he was asking himself what all this meant for him and for Emma.
Curtis shifted on his heels. Jake felt something twist hard in his middle. The man was about to say something. And it wasn't going to be good, Jake told himself.
Before Curtis could say another word, Jake stepped forward and cupped Emma's elbow in his hand. "You were right, Emma," Jake told her.
Her brows lifted. "I was?"
Jake looked at Curtis. "Emma knew the minute she met those people that something wasn't right." He smiled at Emma. "She saved those two girls from being placed in a bad home where they could have suffered terrible harm."
Curtis nodded and wiped his forehead again. "Indeed, Miss Dunbar did a commendable thing. I'm sure the Society will show its appreciation, once she and the children return to New York."
"No!" Emma exclaimed.
Curtis frowned. "I beg your pardon?"
Emma took a step closer to Curtis. Now she was almost nose to nose with the man. "The children will not be returning to New York, Mr Curtis. They're going to be staying right here, in Inspiration. This is where they belong. This is where they will be happy."
"But, no formal adoption has been agreed, Miss Dunbar," Curtis retorted. "That cannot possibly happen."
Jake saw Emma's gaze harden as she looked into Curtis' eyes. She shook her head. "It will happen, Mr Curtis. Because it is what God has intended for those children all along."
Curtis' mouth opened and his face became visibly white. "I must tell the children the good news," she declared. Before he had a chance to say another word, Emma started toward the door to the sitting room.
Jake didn't even have a chance to persuade Emma to stay. She left the room, closing the door firmly behind her. Through the sitting room window, Jake saw Emma striding across the yard toward the table. His whole family watched, eyes filled with curiosity, as Emma made her way toward the children.
"This is most irregular," Curtis puffed. "She cannot claim the children in such a manner. Doesn't she know she would have to provide evidence of a stable home for the children? That she would most likely have to marry in order to do that?"
Jake exchanged a look with Nathan. It seemed the sheriff was one step ahead of the rancher. "I think she already knows all that, Mr Curtis," Jake said to the attorney.
Curtis frowned, clearly puzzled by Jake's remark. Jake reached out a hand to Curtis. "I'd like to thank you, sir, for all the help you've provided today."
Curtis took Jake's hand and shook it. "I don't understand," he said. "I've only done my duty."
"You've done more than that, Mr Curtis," Jake told the man. "You've made me just about the happiest man in this territory."
Slapping Curtis on the arm, Jake started toward the door. "If you'll excuse me, I have a question I need to ask someone."
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Emma crouched down by the children's seat. "I have something wonderful to tell you, girls," Emma murmured.
Bethany and Clara turned to face Emma. They both gazed, wide-eyed at her. She could see confusion and anticipation in the little girls' eyes. At last, she was about to give them the good news they deserved. The good news for which she had prayed.
All the others at the table were watching and listening. Emma swallowed, trying hard to compose herself. A miracle had taken place in the sitting room, she told herself. God's favor had been placed in the midst of them all. There would be no terrible outcome. There would be no awful separation. The only thing left outstanding was the question of how she and the children were going to build their life out here in Inspiration.
"We can stay in Inspiration," she said, unable to contain the good news for a moment longer.
"We can?" both girls exclaimed in perfect unison.
Emma nodded and stood. She reached out her arms and the girls threw themselves into Emma's embrace. She hugged them against herself, holding them tight, never wanting to let them go. Never again would she allow anything bad into their lives.
Matilda and Grace came to Emma. "Is it true?" Matilda asked, looking uncertainly at Emma.
Emma nodded. "It is. Isn't it wonderful? I don't have to take the girls away. We can stay."
Matilda opened her arms. Bethany and Clara went to Matilda and hugged her. Matilda's eyes glistened with emotion. "This is the most wonderful birthday present I could ever have asked for."
And then, from behind Emma, came a familiar voice.
Jake.
"I think we can make that gift even better, ma," Jake said slowly.
Emma turned. Jake was standing close to her. He was gazing into her eyes with all the same emotion he'd shown her in the garden. With that same look of love and devotion. Emma's heartbeat began to race. She heard a few cries of surprise from those around the table. Emma lifted her hands to her chest, trying in vain to slow her thundering heart.
The Rancher’s Devout Bride Page 21