"Meg mentioned him in the dress shop. All she told me was he was killed on a fishing trip. Since I don't have any brothers or sisters, I would love to hear about yours," she said, placing her delicate hand on his thigh.
Maybe he should tell her about David and how his death affected him to the point he wanted to kill anyone who committed injustice.
"School was over and we loved the outdoors. Fishing and camping were our favorite pastimes and Mother often complained we never stayed home. Every chance we had, we took off together."
He sighed, his brother's laugh resounding in his head like it was only yesterday. "David and I snuck off one weekend to go fishing on the Brazos River located about a day's ride from here. The weather was perfect as we camped out, caught fish, and sat around laughing. Only eighteen months separated us."
Staring out into the black night, like a nightmare in slow motion, he remembered that fateful day. The final moments, the all-consuming rage of something so senseless gripped his insides twisting them into a painful knot.
"Late that afternoon we stood on the bank fishing for the last time before we started home. The plan was to load up in the morning and return home with our catch. I needed to relieve myself, so I stepped away from the river and into the woods. It was then all hell broke loose."
As he ran his hand through his hair, could he convey to her the terror, the agony, even the guilt associated with living while his brother died?
"While I was in the bushes, I heard shots fired. Quickly, I crawled to the edge of the shrubs in time to see my brother reaching for his gun as they riddled his body with bullets, laughing all the while.
“Later one of them told me it wasn't that David had done anything wrong, they were having fun. They rode up and wanted the fish and when he didn't hand the catch over quickly enough, he became the target of the day."
"What did you do?"
"The shooting lasted less than a minute but seemed like eternity as I lay on my stomach wanting to rescue my brother, but if I did, I would be their next victim. So I watched and waited. Once they had the fish, they left mocking the ‘stupid kid,’ they just murdered. Not knowing I had witnessed their grotesque act of violence.
"After they rode off, I ran to his side and held him. There was nothing I could do to save him." Choking on the memory, he paused, the ache in his chest gripping him like every time he recalled that day. The unbearable anguish that consumed him as he held his brother. "David died in my arms. But the outlaws’ faces were forever etched in my brain."
After David's murder, he couldn't sleep, couldn't eat, and finally he did the only thing that probably saved his own life. In the middle of the night, he packed up his belongings and left.
Quinlan picked up his hand and held it in hers, then laid her head on his shoulder. "I'm so sorry this happened to you. Your poor mother...how she must have suffered."
"Yes, they were ravaged with grief."
Wrapping his arms around her, he pulled her against him, the beat of her heart next to his, comforting.
"Did they ever capture the men?"
Should he tell her he spent the next ten years of his life going after those outlaws, catching all but one of them and even now, Al still searched for Lee. Will wanted to capture that criminal, but after his near brush with death, the realization if he died, his mother would be heartbroken, sent him home.
Already having experienced the loss of one son, losing both, she would be beyond devastated.
"Two weeks after the funeral, I went in search of the gang that killed my brother. For the next ten years, I systematically captured all but one of the outlaws. Not one of them did I kill. Though at times, the urge was hard not to let them experience the piercing of a bullet the way David suffered."
Now looking back, he gritted his teeth at the path life had chosen for him. With a sigh, he tried to relax as he told her his secret. "Instead, I collected the bounty on them and some of the men with them and made a small fortune."
"You were a bounty hunter," she exclaimed. "I knew it."
Laying her head against him again, she relaxed holding him close. "Why didn't you catch the last one? After bringing all the others in, it seems odd you left one of them free."
Death, even near death, leaves one with a different perspective. Plus, he'd been gone from home for so long, he wanted to return, settle down, and have a normal life.
"Six months ago, Al and I found him, but he almost killed me. Shot me up pretty bad. Left me for dead. Though I had been fired at before, it was then I realized how my mother would react to my death. After Al nursed me back to health, I came home."
Quinlan gasped. "Al is going after that man. That's why he came to visit to try to convince you to go with him."
"Yes," Will said. "And I'm worried about him."
Still, no word had been received from his friend. Lee Culver would do anything to remain free including murdering anyone who came after him.
"Promise me you won't leave to go chasing after him again."
When he married, he was ready for a different kind of life. One that didn't involve near death experiences and pursuing evil. Now he sought a quiet life and had no plans of being a bounty hunter again.
Could he give Quinlan this promise he would never go hunting again?
"No, I'm not going bounty hunting again," he said.
"Thank you," she said. "Is what happened the reason you decided to marry?"
"In some ways yes. After being gone for ten years, the time had come to settle down and have a family. After all, I'm now the last Adams boy."
With her head on his chest, sitting there holding one another close, he fell more in love with Quinlan. Thank goodness, his mother ran the ad for a mail-order bride and Quinlan answered.
"Maybe it's time we started on our family," she said quietly.
His heart skipped a beat as he leaned back and stared at her. "Are you sure."
"Yes, I think we've waited long enough."
The next morning, Quinlan woke beside her husband, curled around his naked body. They had made love well into the night and she'd never felt more at peace with her decision. Her husband was nothing like her father and she felt certain she'd made the right decision in marrying him.
In fact, after yesterday, she was certain she'd fallen in love with him. The man was kind, generous, and when he told her the story of his brother, her heart had shattered for him. The feelings of responsibility and hopelessness, she was well acquainted with. And yet there was nothing he could do to stop the men from murdering his brother. Just like she was unable to stop her father from killing her mother.
She felt his lips kissing the top of her head and she sighed. "Good morning."
"Good morning. We slept in this morning," he said, curling around her.
Last night she had never dreamed that being with this man could be so touching, so beautiful. After all, she had no preconceived ideas about what happened between a man and a woman. All she had ever witnessed was the painful relationship between her mother and father.
Life with Will was so very different.
"That's because we didn't sleep much last night," she said with a giggle.
He grinned. "My wife is such a wanton."
Heat flooded her face. "I didn't know."
He laughed out loud. "Honey, I'm teasing you. Last night was perfect."
Just then they heard pounding on the door. "Quinlan, Will are you two there?"
"It's your mother," she said, jumping naked out of the bed. "They're going to know what we were doing."
Will chuckled as he rose and put his pants on along with a shirt. "And she'll be so pleased we're working on those grandchildren she wants so badly."
"You can't tell her," Quinlan said, pulling on her chemise.
Why today did her in-laws decide to visit? Why this morning?
He shrugged. "I'm not going to say anything, but that delicious hint of pink on your cheeks is a definite sign."
Shaking her head at
this man she was falling in love with, she grinned. "Go answer the door."
Her husband disappeared into the house while she finished dressing. A few minutes later, she went into the room where her in-laws sat waiting.
"Quinlan, honey, are you feeling all right?"
Oh no, his mother thought she'd remained in bed because of morning sickness. And now, there was the possibility she could be expecting and the thought made her smile. "No, I'm feeling fine."
There was no way she would tell her mother-in-law they had just started trying for a child. That was private between the two of them, but she couldn't help but sneak a glance at her husband who winked at her.
"Oh," she said clearly disappointed. "These things take time. You've been here over a month and I was so hoping by now you'd be expecting."
Had the woman expected her to jump into bed with her husband immediately? A man she didn't know?
"These things take time," she told her, not about to let the woman rush her into children.
"I just hope I didn't choose the wrong bride," her mother-in-law said.
What? What was the woman talking about? Will had chosen her to be his bride, not his mother.
"I'm sure Will is happy. I know I am," she said glancing at her husband who had a strange look on his face, like he was about to face a firing squad. "You did choose me? Right, Will?"
His mother laughed. "Oh no, dear. I'm the one who placed the ad that you answered. In fact, we had a whole pile of letters from women and I choose your letter, because after all the town needed a teacher."
Quinlan bristled, her heart aching at the betrayal she felt. Her mother-in-law had chosen her for her son. "Well, maybe I should have married you."
"Quinlan," Will said, but she turned and went into the kitchen to pour herself a cup of coffee.
He followed her into the kitchen. "Don't be upset."
"It's a little hard not to be. The man who is my husband, didn't even choose me for his wife. His mother did."
"Please don't take it as an insult. I didn't care at the time, now I do."
"Oh, and that's supposed to make me feel better. You didn't care who your mother chose as your wife."
"Quinlan," he said. "We promised each other that we would not let my mother come between us."
"That was before I knew she had picked me to be your wife." Just then there was another knock at the door. "What is the deal today? We never have company."
Quinlan didn't move from the kitchen as she made herself a cup of coffee, letting the hurt and betrayal wash over her. Was she crazy for being upset, but it hurt. She'd always loved the idea that Will chose her and now she'd learned his mother did.
"Sheriff," she heard Will say, "What brings you out..."
Suddenly she knew and she ran to her husband, fearing the worst.
Will stood before Zach, his hands covering his face as she watched him absorb the news.
"His body was found in Fort Worth, hanging outside of town with a bullet hole through his heart."
Will's face went white and she glanced at him, knowing this terrible man had now taken not only his brother, but his best friend as well.
At first, he didn't say anything, but then she could see the cold resolve come over him and she knew.
"No, Will," she said running to him, knowing that even though they were probably in the midst of their first fight, she didn't want him going after this outlaw.
"I have to," he said. "If I don't, he's going to get away with murder. And who is to say that he won't come after you or our children. I'm not going to risk him hurting anyone else I love."
What if Will was right? What if this man came after their children? Still, she didn't want him going alone.
"Let me go with you," she pleaded.
"No," he said in a voice she'd never heard before. "There would be too much risk."
His mother appeared at the door. "Dear, what are you talking about? I know you and Al were friends. But what does this man have to do with you?"
Will turned and gazed at his mother. "One of the outlaws that killed David. Last year, he almost killed me and now he's killed Al. He knows I turned in everyone in his band of outlaws and now I'm certain he's coming after me."
Chapter 9
Quinlan had been angered by his mother's words and yet Will was at fault. Yes, he should have chosen her, but at the time, he showed very little interest in finding a wife. His mother had been the one to find his beautiful woman, but that didn't mean he didn't love her.
Shoving his things into his duffel bag, he hated going off. Especially now. After last night, there was no doubt they were meant to be together forever. She made him happier than he'd ever been and he loved her innocence, her patience and kindness, and how she insisted on them making certain this marriage would work before they consummated the union.
Now they had, and she could be expecting while he was going off on a journey with no guaranteed return date.
Walking into the bedroom, she saw him packing his bag. "You're leaving."
"I have no choice," he said.
"But you promised me you would never leave me."
He stopped and went to his wife. Moments earlier, she'd been furious with him and now they would be separated for possibly months.
"Only until I find Lee. The man has a vendetta to resolve and I'm the person he hates the most. He'll come after me and I don't want you involved. In fact, I think you should go into town and stay with my parents."
The look she gave him was one he hadn't seen from his wife before. A stubborn gaze that let him know quickly his suggestion had been heard, duly note, and discarded. No, she wasn't going anywhere.
"All right. Double check the doors are locked at night. There is a pistol in the nightstand in case you need it."
"And you think I could fire that gun?"
She had a point, but he couldn't go off and leave her without any protection. "Maybe my parents should stay here while I'm gone."
"No," she said. "I'm home alone. So you hurry back to me."
As he took her in his arms, his heart ached. Just when they finally discovered each other in a real marriage, he was leaving and may never return. The thought of being separated from her was killing him.
"About my mother choosing you--"
She placed her fingers over his lips. "I'm hurt. Somehow that doesn't seem to be important right now. We'll discuss this when you come home," she said with a sigh.
"In the meantime, Will Adams, you better not make me a widow. I've just gotten married, I'm starting to like being your wife, and I hate you're leaving. So get this man and you come back safe and sound to me."
Will layered his mouth over his wife's knowing this would be their last private kiss before he came home to her. The kiss evoking the memory of how he spent the night in her arms. Remembering the way her body felt against his, he was determined to do everything to return as quickly as possible.
"Quinlan," he sighed as their lips broke apart. "I never thought any woman would make me feel this way. Though I must leave, it's tearing me up inside."
"Good," she said. "Come home to me, Will."
Before his courage weakened, he grabbed his bag off the bed and hurried out the door. He hated Lee now more than ever for taking him away from his wife.
Will had been gone three days, nine hours, and twenty-seven minutes and with each passing day, her heart seemed to crack a little more. There was no scheduled time on when he would return. Only when he caught this outlaw who had it out for him and his friends.
Standing at the door of the schoolhouse, Quinlan rang the bell to let the children know the day was beginning. As she closed the door behind them, she realized she hadn't seen Isatai this morning. Normally, he sat on the hill, gazing down, making certain that Pecos arrived safely. The boy was here, so maybe everything was fine.
With a swish of her skirts, she turned to the class. "This morning, we're going to have a test on spelling words. When I call your name, I'll give you
a word and you spell it for me and give me the definition. These are the same words from last week along with a few others. For every correct answer, you receive five points added to your grade."
"John, your word is antique and be sure to use it in a sentence."
"A n t i q u e. My grandmother’s antique dresser sits in my mother's bedroom."
"Very good," she said. "Jane, spell march and give me the meaning of the word."
A quiet little girl stood, her blonde curls perfect. "M a r c h. March has two definitions. It's the third month of the year or it’s the way a soldier walks."
"Excellent," Quinlan said and looked down her list of students and words. "Sam, your word is search."
The kid frowned and rose from his desk. "S e a c h. They searched all night for the missing child."
"Your sentence is right, but the spelling is wrong. Search is spelled S e a r c h. No points."
Same dropped back into his chair shaking his head.
Looking at her list, searching for the next student, the bang of the door being kicked in startled her as a man forced his way into her classroom. A little girl started crying.
"All you had to do was knock and I would have opened the door," she said. Horror raced along her spine as she gazed at the tall muscular man who wore his guns slung low on his hips. Something about the way he stared at her made her skin crawl. What did he want?
"Shut up. You're coming with me," he said.
Fear scurried up her spine and she knew she had to resist him for as long as possible, and yet, there were the children in her care. If she fought him, she worried they would be injured. "I'm...teaching. The school board doesn't approve of me leaving the children alone."
Laughter resounded from his lips and then he sent her an ugly smile. "Lady, if you don't come with me right now, you won't need to worry about these kids."
The man pulled his gun from his holster and pointed the weapon at Jessica, who began to cry.
"All right, I'll go with you, just don't hurt the children."
The man gave her a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Me? I love kids."
Lipstick and Lead Series: The Complete Box Set With a Bonus Book Page 138