The Outlaw's Heart

by Amy Sandas

  At first, he looked angry, possibly even furious. But then his eyes narrowed by a barely noticeable degree, and his lips twitched at one corner. A quick flicker of his gaze seemed to take in all he needed to know, and the anger slid into a more contemplative assessment.

  He pushed himself to his feet. Directing his words first to Eve, he said, “I’m glad to see you didn’t get lost on your walk the other day.”

  There was a slight hint of censure in his tone, and Eve responded with a proud tilt of her head. “You said I was free to roam the valley as long as it was not at night and I stayed out of the forest.”

  Luke frowned at her quick defense. “You should have made sure someone knew where you were.”

  Eve arched her brows. She had finally started to experience true freedom over the last couple of days. She wasn’t about to let Luke or anyone curb that glorious feeling.

  “Gabriel knew,” she replied succinctly, declaring more than one thing with the short statement and inspiring a brief hum of appreciation from the man beside her.

  There was a flicker of surprise in Luke’s light-dark eyes as he glanced at Gabriel.

  “I need you to ride into town tomorrow to fetch some supplies from the doc. It appears he won’t be visiting the valley after all.” He tipped his head toward Eve. “Maybe you’d like to go with.”

  Eve’s eyes widened at the prospect of seeing the nearby town.

  “It’s just a few hours there and back,” Luke explained.

  Gabriel’s expression was hard to read, but his gaze was steady as he said, “I’ll keep you safe.”

  “I know,” she replied without hesitation.

  * * *

  It was midafternoon when Eve and Gabriel rode into town. A few people could be seen going about their business, but for the most part, the narrow dirt roads through town were rather quiet. Some of the townsfolk glanced over Eve with mild curiosity before their gazes shifted to one of wary distress when they looked at Gabriel.

  He had dressed in his usual denims with a light-colored shirt under an open leather vest. His hair was left unbraided down his back, and a wide-brimmed hat shadowed his strong features. He wore no gun on his hip, unlike some of the men they passed, but Gabriel did not need a weapon to appear intimidating. His size and unapproachable demeanor accomplished that well enough.

  Eve tensed at the change in people as they noted Gabriel’s appearance. One woman even grabbed her children and backed into a shop at the sight of him.

  Yet he continued through town, his gaze proud and his bearing even more so. If he noticed the looks he was getting—and she had to believe he did—he gave no sign of it.

  She couldn’t fathom being the object of so much open belligerence and distrust. A lesser man might have reacted in kind to the harsh attitudes. That Gabriel managed to maintain a calm and self-assured demeanor despite it all just made her admire him more.

  They were riding side by side and had turned down a street that took them away from the main part of town when she asked, “Does it bother you when people do that?”

  He tilted his head in question.

  “Look at you as though you might attack at any moment.”

  The corner of his mouth twitched. “No. It keeps me from having to make small talk.”

  He was making light of it, but she knew the issue went deeper than he would admit. She studied him as they rode. Everything in his posture declared he was unapproachable. But she knew now how much of a facade it was, and her heart ached with an intimate understanding of the loneliness inherent in always being at a distance from those around him.

  “Do you ever let anyone know you?” she asked quietly.

  Though his expression didn’t change, his entire body tensed. He didn’t turn to look at her when he replied. “You know me.”

  “I know you. But I still wonder what you shelter in the depths of your heart, what you yearn for.”

  The muscles of his arms flexed, and he finally turned his head. His gaze was deep as he replied. “You know that as well.”

  The words were a rough murmur, but they rushed through Eve with the force of a gale wind. Love and sadness and hope flowed along with them.

  Then he looked away. “We’re here.”

  Eve blinked to see that they had ridden up to the rear of a row of buildings that all faced the main street they’d just come from. Gabriel brought his horse to the hitching rail near the horse trough filled with water.

  “Is this the doctor’s office?” Eve asked, knowing they had come to town for medical supplies.

  Gabriel dismounted and came to her side. Lifting her to the ground, he replied, “Out of respect for the doc, we keep our business with him quiet, if we can.”

  Eve nodded and followed him to the back door. He gave a short knock, and within a couple of minutes, a young woman—no more than seventeen perhaps—opened the door. She did not appear surprised by the sight of Gabriel, though she glanced at Eve curiously.

  “He’s finishing up with his last patient. You can wait in his office.”

  She turned and led them down the short hall to the first open door and gestured for them to enter.

  The office was not at all what Eve would have expected of a doctor’s office in a small western town. The walls were painted navy blue, and the room held a polished desk, neat bookshelves with wide medical tomes, sturdy chairs, and a distinct air of competence. In its style and tone, it was surprisingly similar to the studies in the mansions back east.

  The familiarity made Eve suddenly rather nervous.

  As though sensing her discomfort, Gabriel stepped up to her, bringing her focus to him. His chin was lowered and his voice assured as he said, “It’s a quick stop.”

  She nodded, trying to calm her unexpected anxiety by wandering over to the corner of the room where a small window allowed her to see their horses enjoying a drink at the trough. Soon enough, they’d be on their way again.

  Only a few moments later, footsteps could be heard coming toward them down the hall.

  “I take it Luke couldn’t wait for us to come to him,” the doctor said with a hint of annoyance as he entered the small office.

  Eve had turned toward the door at the sound of the doctor’s approach, but she suddenly wished she hadn’t. With everything in her, she wished she could be anywhere but in that office.

  Gabriel stood near the door, but he hadn’t bothered to turn at the doctor’s entrance. He was looking at Eve instead.

  In a desperate need for courage, Eve shifted her gaze to his face. He had been about to reply, but as his eyes met Eve’s, his brows pulled together and his chin lowered in silent question.

  Could he so easily detect her distress?

  “Evelyn? What on earth are you doing here?”

  Eve couldn’t pull her gaze from Gabriel’s. His dark stare held hers with a strength and steadiness she needed just then, as though he saw her sudden panic and uncertainty and wished only to assure her that she wasn’t alone.

  Once she looked away, the moment would instantly become real. She wasn’t ready. She had gotten so far.

  She couldn’t go back.

  She wouldn’t go back.

  Warren Reed passed Gabriel and crossed the room toward Eve in long strides. She couldn’t avoid acknowledging her brother any longer.

  It had been almost six years since she’d last seen him. He’d still been in medical school in Pennsylvania and had come home for Christmas. She’d been only fifteen—a child in many respects.

  He looked nearly the same as he had then. Thick black hair—worn a bit longer now than it had been before—vivid, intelligent blue eyes, and that partially concerned, partially irritated expression big brothers always seemed to wear when addressing their little sisters.

  Warren had never been unkind to her. He just hadn’t been a very present or consistent
figure in her life. So it came as a bit of a shock when he reached her and immediately drew her into a warm hug.

  The open display of emotion was not something he had ever done in the past. They had both been brought up under strict rules of decorum that valued a reserved and undemonstrative nature above all else.

  Eve took just a moment to soak up the comfort and strength in her brother’s embrace, before she recalled the threat he posed to her current situation. As she stiffened, he drew back, leaving his hands resting gently on her shoulders, almost as though he sensed her desire to flee.

  When he met her gaze, his expression shifted again, confusion and exasperation warring for purchase. “What are you doing here? Do you have any idea how worried Mother is right now? She thinks you’re on your deathbed in Boston. Why the hell aren’t you in Boston? Why didn’t you send word you were coming out to visit me?”

  The rapid-fire questions made her want to shrink into the corner, but she held herself unmoving.

  “Maybe you should let her answer one question before asking another,” Gabriel suggested in a heavy tone.

  Eve’s stomach tightened in a deep and involuntary response to the low-voiced words. She glanced past her brother to see Gabriel standing with his feet in a wide stance, his arms crossed over his chest, and his features drawn in a firm representation of displeasure.

  Warren turned toward him, his expression suggesting he’d forgotten the outlaw was there. “What the hell is my sister doing here, Gabe?”

  Gabriel didn’t answer. He just stood there, allowing Eve the space to respond to Warren, though she had no doubt he would step in if she needed him.

  She appreciated his confidence in her and his fierce desire to protect her. Her heart expanded with courage. “Warren, I’d like to explain, but…”

  Her brother must have misunderstood her reticence since he looked back to Gabriel. “Would you give us a few minutes, Gabe?”

  Gabriel didn’t acknowledge the request. His gaze remained focused on Eve until she gave him a subtle nod. Figuring out how to respond to her brother’s questions would not be easy, but it was something she needed to do on her own.

  Without a word, Gabriel left the room. As soon as he was gone, Warren turned back to her with a look of disapproval. “What are you doing out here, Evelyn? And how did you come to be in Gabe’s company?”

  Eve took a breath, unsure of just how much to tell him about the kidnapping. “There was a bit of a…misunderstanding on the train.”

  Warren frowned, apparently not satisfied with her answer. Then he stepped back and took a more thorough look at her appearance. “Wait a minute. That dress looks familiar. Is that Honey’s dress?”

  It suddenly occurred to her that Luke’s sister was Warren’s wife. The cabin had been the home of her brother’s family. Did he know of the activities Luke and his men engaged in?

  Warren’s questioning gaze turned sharp. “Have you been to the valley?”

  Of course, he knew. And he had been very careful not to let Eve or their mother know of his association with the outlaws. Apparently, she was not the only one adept at keeping secrets.

  “Yes,” she replied, choosing not to elaborate.

  Warren shook his head in disbelief. “I’m trying really hard to understand what’s going on here. I thought Mother’s message was a bit dramatic, but it seems she was right to be worried.”

  Eve’s muscles tensed painfully. “Mother? What do you mean?”

  “She sent me a telegram a couple of weeks ago. She said she hadn’t seen you in over a month, that you hadn’t been out in society, and she was worried something had happened to you.”

  A stab of guilt momentarily overwhelmed Eve. Her mother had been worried about her absence. Worried enough to contact Warren.

  “I assured her that if you were ill, the doctors in Boston were quite competent. I suggested she speak to your husband about her concerns.”

  No!

  “Wait a minute…” Warren’s black brows lowered sharply. “Does your husband know where you are?”

  Eve met her brother’s hard stare. “He does not.”

  Warren started shaking his head. “We’ll have to get messages to Mother and your husband, letting them know you are safe.”

  Panic claimed her, nearly choking her. “No, Warren. You can’t do that.”

  “I have to. They’re likely worried sick about you. Why would you leave without telling anyone?”

  She wanted to trust Warren and tell him everything she had been through since her marriage, but the idea of putting her experience into words was daunting. And she didn’t know how he would respond.

  Even if he sympathized with what she had endured at Matthew’s hands, that did not mean he would agree with her breaking her marriage vows. Warren had been raised with the same guiding principle she had—that appearances were everything.

  What if he still insisted on contacting Matthew?

  She didn’t know if she could take that risk.

  When she didn’t answer his last question, Warren lifted his brows. “Don’t tell me you just ran away?”

  Eve tensed at his tone. “It’s complicated.”

  He tilted his head, and his gaze was not without compassion as he replied, “Marriage can be complicated, but that is no reason to run away. You have to face your problems and deal with them. From Mother’s letters, I understand it was a rare love match. I am sure your husband will understand if you talk to him about why you left.”

  “You don’t understand.”

  “I understand more than you know,” he said firmly, his blue eyes darkening. “A misunderstanding kept Honey and me apart for far too long. I would give anything to have those years back. I won’t let you make a childish mistake you will regret forever.”

  “No, Warren. I can’t—”

  He placed his hands on her shoulders. Eve felt like a block of ice beneath his touch, but he didn’t seem to notice. “You have to go back, Evelyn, and face whatever it is. Trust me, it is the only way.”

  “I am not going back to Boston,” she stated boldly. Firmly. Praying he would accept her declaration without requiring further explanation.

  “Of course you are.” His tone had shifted into one she recognized. Level-toned, commanding, in charge. It reminded her of their father’s—at least what she remembered of their father before he had passed. “You are married. You belong home with your husband.”

  Eve didn’t answer. Her chest was too tight to form words. He wasn’t going to listen to her. Disappointment, anger, and frustration warred for purchase inside her.

  Seeming to sense her resistance, Warren sighed, then tilted his head. “We can talk about this more later, if you’d like. Nothing needs to be done today. If you’d just give me a few minutes to close things up here, I’d love it if you’d come back to the house with me. Meet Honey and the children.”

  Eve had no idea how she managed the smile, but it seemed to satisfy her brother as he gave a nod. “Great. I’ll just be a few minutes.”

  Thirty-Six

  Gabriel studied every nuance that crossed her face.

  She was going to run.

  Deep in her eyes—beneath the veils and the shields—shone the frantic fear and desperation of prey caught in a trap. They’d accompanied the doc back to his house, which was set a short way out of town, and Eve was introduced to his wife and their two kids. Warren had briefly explained to Honey that Eve would be staying with them until they could further discuss her current situation. Honey didn’t press for more information as she welcomed Eve with a brief embrace.

  Through the interaction, Gabriel witnessed a return of that perfect and polished facade Eve used to wear like a shield. But he could see through it now.

  Though her pleasure at meeting the doc’s kids was clearly genuine and her interactions with Honey were warm and friendly
, there remained a gleam of panic in her eyes. It had flashed bright at the first sight of her brother before she banked it behind her unflappable poise.

  She was not comforted by her reunion with her brother.

  Just the opposite.

  Despite her calm exterior, she seemed more skittish than ever. He lost track of how many times she glanced toward the door, only to force her gaze down to where her hands were clasped tightly in her lap.

  She felt trapped.

  Desperate creatures did extraordinary things when they felt trapped.

  At one point, Honey and the doc were each occupied by one of their children, and Eve finally glanced his way. Until then, he’d sensed that she had been intentionally avoiding looking in his direction. He caught her gaze and held it.

  He saw the panic and the fear she hid so well from everyone else. He also saw the strength and the determination in her stoic gaze. He tried to assure her that she was safe, that there was no need to run. That she could trust him.

  Her lips parted softly in response, and her lashes lowered. When she opened her eyes again, her resolve was back in place, hard and unmovable.

  Gabriel tilted his head in silent question, and the blue of her eyes darkened, almost sadly.

  He frowned.

  Holding his attention, she rose to her feet. Without a word, she left the parlor where they were all gathered and went outside to the front porch.

  No one else seemed to notice she had left.

  To him, it was as though a light had left the room.

  He stayed where he was for only a moment more, standing against the wall across the room. He would follow her. There was never a question of that. The force of his entire being was already stretched across the space between them in an instinctual need to be near her.

  But as he took a step forward, the doc was suddenly there in front of him.

  Gabriel had not often had cause to engage in conversation with Luke’s brother-in-law, but he had always believed the man to be noble and level-headed, which appeared to balance out Honey’s more impassioned nature. Gabriel had long admired the doc’s competence and loyalty.