Safe Havens Bundle

by Sandy James

  Damn, but Victoria and Matthew really needed to get things sorted out between them.

  After a quivering sigh, Grace said, “I trust that you’ll protect me. Let’s go to Matthew.”

  ***

  Grace thought she’d brought her tumultuous emotions back under control. Then she walked into the jail.

  Seeing her brother locked up in a cell was almost her undoing.

  Adam had led her into the marshal’s office. They found the marshal passed out at his desk, reeking of alcohol.

  Her husband excused himself and hurried out to find the other members of the town council, saying they had some important business that needed attention.

  Matthew sat on his stark bunk, frowning at the snoring marshal. His gaze found hers. “Did you know he locked himself in the cell a couple of hours ago? How he managed that, I’ll never know.”

  “You should’ve used the opportunity to escape,” she teased before realizing just how ridiculous she sounded. “I’m so sorry.”

  He came to stand by the bars, gripping them with his calloused hands. “Why are you sorry? You didn’t invite that snake. He always slithers out from under his rock. I thought he was dead.”

  Tears stung her eyes. “So did I.”

  “What exactly happened in San Francisco? All you said was you’d shot him.”

  Her brother seemed calm enough now, but if she told him the whole story… Too ashamed to confess, she gave her head a shake.

  “Grace, so help me…”

  “It doesn’t matter now. I was wrong. He’s not dead.”

  “Adam will take care of you.”

  “I know, but…Stephen’s not here for me. Not this time.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean—not here for you? He’s always hunting you.”

  God help her, she felt as if she was betraying her own brother. “He’s here…to court Victoria.”

  “No!” He shook the bars hard enough the whole structure rattled. “That bastard can’t have her!”

  She hurried to the bars and placed her hands over his where he gripped the metal with whitened knuckles. “I’ll try to protect her.”

  “How? By telling her what he did to you? You’d do that to save Victoria, wouldn’t you?”

  Closing her eyes, she released a shuddering sigh. “I can’t.”

  Matthew jerked his hands away. “Can’t? Or won’t? Adam would understand.”

  “I know that,” Grace snapped back.

  “Well then, why can’t—”

  A sob bubbled out, breaking off his words. “I can’t. Stephen will have me arrested. He’s carrying an arrest warrant with him.”

  His derisive snort was louder than the marshal’s snoring. “For what?”

  “Attempted murder.”

  His gaze settled on the drunken marshal. “Then why didn’t he have that idiot arrest you?”

  “He told me if I don’t tell Victoria about…our history…he wouldn’t have me thrown in jail. All I have to do is keep quiet.”

  “He raped you.”

  She gave her head a quick shake. “It was my fault.”

  “Grace… No. You didn’t do anything wrong. You have to tell what he did to you.”

  Sniffing hard, she shook her head again. “I can’t go to jail.”

  His eyes turned so hard, so accusing, she wanted to turn and run. “So you’ll let him get his filthy hands on Victoria? Then I’ll tell her myself.”

  If she started crying, she would never stop. She didn’t let a single tear fall. “You can’t. It doesn’t matter who tells, Stephen would have me arrested. I can’t go to jail, Matthew.”

  “You’re a coward,” he scolded. Giving the bars another shake, he turned his back on her. “Adam would hire a lawyer. He’d get you out in a heartbeat.”

  “I shot a Shay. No lawyer would be able to help me and you know it.”

  “Adam would—”

  “You don’t understand. I can’t go to jail.”

  “You wouldn’t be there too long and—”

  “I’m pregnant.”

  Whirling around to face her, Matthew stared at her with big eyes until his gaze softened. “Oh, Grace…”

  She leaned her forehead against the cold bars and closed her eyes. She’d cost her brother too much already. If she did nothing else, she would set him free—even if it meant going to jail.

  “Just as soon as Emily has the baby I’m going to tell Adam and Victoria about Stephen. Then I’ll surrender myself to the marshal. Surely Adam will be able to post some kind of bond. I won’t let Stephen hurt Victoria—even if I have to stand up in court and shame myself by telling everyone the truth.”

  Warm hands wrapped around hers. “Don’t.”

  She glanced up at her brother. “I have to.”

  He shook his head. “I won’t let you do it.” He splayed his fingers through his hair. “I’ll warn Victoria, I–I’ll try to get her to listen without telling her everything. I’ll talk to Adam. He’s smart. Even if I don’t tell him…everything, he’ll understand. Hell, he probably already knows most of the story.”

  Her heart clenched at what she feared was coming next. “And then?”

  “As soon as they let me out of this goddamn cage, I’m leaving.”

  “No! Please–please don’t leave me!”

  Matthew reached between the bars to stroke her cheek. “You don’t need me anymore.”

  “You’re my brother. I love you.” Her words fell to a whisper. “We’ve always been together. Always.”

  “It’s time for your husband to take care of you. I can’t stay here. Not now. I can’t watch Victoria—” His head bowed, he took a deep breath. “Go on now. Go back to Emily. How is she?”

  “It’s still early. Her pains aren’t too difficult yet, and they’re still well apart.” A hard swallow. “The doctor isn’t coming, Matthew. I’m going to have to deliver the baby.”

  “Oh, Lord. Can you do that?”

  “Of course, she can.” Adam’s confident voice boomed through the jail, causing Grace to jump in surprise.

  He strode across the way, pausing only to frown at the snoring marshal, and put himself behind her.

  Strong hands gripped her shoulders. “Grace can do anything she puts her mind to.”

  Matthew smiled although his heart was close to breaking. His whole life—from the time he and Grace had left their home at the tender ages of eight and fourteen—they’d relied on each other. To let her safety and happiness pass to another man was a hard swallow.

  Adam Morgan was a good man. He would do right by Grace.

  “You’re right,” Matthew said. He gave her hands one more squeeze before letting his own drop away. “She can do anything. Promise me one thing, Adam?”

  He quirked a brow.

  “Never, never let Stephen Shay near her again.”

  “We need to have a serious talk ’bout that and ’bout something else. I’ll be back shortly to get you out of here.”

  “What about the charges?”

  “They’ve been dropped,” Adam replied. “Victoria convinced that jaycock to let the whole situation go.” He glanced back at the marshal. “Once you’re free, Will and I need to have a serious discussion with you.”

  Victoria hurried into the office. “Grace, Emily’s asking for you.”

  Grace leaned against her husband as if drawing strength from him before she squared her shoulders. “I need to go.”

  “Let me walk you back,” he said. “As long as that man’s still around, you’re not going anywhere alone.’”

  He took her hand in his and led her out of the marshal’s office.

  Matthew could only stare at Victoria.

  She stared right back at him, those hazel eyes searching for something.

  “Thank you,” he finally said.

  “For what?”

  “For getting the charges dropped.”

  Her reply was a curt nod. “Do you want to tell me why you attacked him?”

  “
I’ll leave the telling to Grace. Just one warning, Victoria—don’t trust him. Don’t ever trust him.”

  “I don’t.” She waved him off when he tried to speak again. “He’s nothing but a friend. He came to Ty’s rescue, but I… There’s just something about him. Makes me…uneasy.”

  “Good. Trust that instinct.”

  Cautiously approaching the bars, she nibbled on her lower lip. “I–I was wondering if you were still planning on leaving.”

  With a frown, he nodded.

  “There’s nothing that could make you stay? I don’t want you to…I mean…Grace is staying. Don’t you want to be with…her?”

  I want to be with you.

  He held his silence.

  “She’ll be sad if you go.”

  “She has your father.”

  “I’ll be—” Victoria turned around and wrapped her arms around her waist, taking several long breaths. “I wasn’t coming back, you know.”

  “Pardon?”

  “I was gonna stay in Denver. I’m going back there again—just as soon as I can. I only came here to see Ty home safely. I’m going back after I help Emily. I promised her I’d stay for a few days.”

  “Why would you go back to Denver?”

  “I’m going to be a governess. There’s a family who invited me to stay with them—to teach their children. I can’t stay here. Daddy and Grace don’t need me anymore.”

  “They love you.”

  I love you.

  “I won’t stay and be the object of pity.” When he tried to correct her, she cut him off with a slash of her hand. “Don’t waste your breath arguing with me. They love me. I know that. But I’m nothing but a burden.”

  “You’re talking nonsense.”

  “Am I? What’s there for me in White Pines?” She didn’t even give him a chance to reply. “Nothing. There’s nothing here for me. I have to go. I have to make a life for myself. Besides, you’re—”

  “I’m what?”

  “Leaving.”

  The office door opened, and Adam and Will came inside.

  Adam grabbed the keys from the desk and went to the cell. He opened the door and with a grin set Matthew free.

  The marshal didn’t stir through the entire process.

  Victoria hurried to the door. “I should go. Grace will be needing me.” She ducked outside before Matthew could find the courage to go to her.

  “Head on back to the ranch,” Adam said. “Ty could probably use some help. I’m staying here ’til I can take Grace home.”

  “Don’t let her out of your sight,” Matthew cautioned again. He picked up his hat off the marshal’s desk and snorted. “He’s drunk again.”

  “Appears so.”

  “Then he won’t be of any help if Grace needs him. Hell, he wouldn’t be any help even if he was sober.”

  “Don’t you worry,” Adam replied. “I’ll take care of Grace. Stephen Shay won’t get within a mile of her.”

  Matthew put on his hat. “I wish I could say the same about Victoria.” He leveled a hard stare. “Has she told you her plans? That’s she’s heading back to Denver?”

  With a sigh, Adam rubbed the back of his neck. “I was afraid of that. I need to sit her down for a long talk. Is it because of Shay?”

  “No. She took a job as a governess. Wants to leave you and Grace to have some privacy on the ranch. She’s silly enough to think she’ll be in your way.”

  “We’ll just have to set her straight then, won’t we?” Giving Matthew’s back a friendly push, Adam inclined his head to the door. “Go on back to the ranch. When you get a chance, bring the mare back here and leave her in the livery so Victoria can come back home when she’s ready.”

  Matthew nodded and followed Adam and Will outside. Being in a cell had been an uncomfortable experience, but a cost he would gladly pay to keep Stephen Shay the hell away from Grace. That Stephen showed an interest in Victoria came as a surprise. Not that Victoria wasn’t one of the most beautiful women in the territory, but Stephen had doggedly stalked Grace for so many years, his sudden change of heart seemed…wrong. Out of character.

  And damned suspicious.

  Just as he was about to say his farewells to Adam and Will so he could go fetch Sin, Matthew spotted Stephen. The snake was standing on the boardwalk, talking to his lackey.

  Without a word to his companions, Matthew bunched up his shoulders, put his head down, and charged, intent upon finishing what he’d started earlier.

  “Matthew, wait!” Adam called after him.

  Matthew gave him no heed.

  Stephen turned to face him when his little weasel of an assistant pointed his direction.

  Matthew kept marching—despite the fact Stephen was now wielding his silver-topped cane like a sword.

  With a swipe of his left arm, Matthew knocked the cane away as his right hand shot out to grab Stephen by the throat. He had the man pinned to the outside wall of the general store before the bastard could draw another breath. Balling his left hand into a fist, he prepared to break Stephen’s jaw.

  Adam shoved Stephen’s man aside and had a hold of Matthew’s arm before he could throw a punch. “He’s not worth it, son.”

  Will—breathless from the jaunt across the road—nodded. “Don’t want to go back in that cell now, do you, boy?”

  Everything inside Matthew ached to beat Stephen into a bloody pulp. When he thought about all that man had cost his sister… Hatred drowned out any common sense. “You don’t know what he did to Grace.”

  “Got a damned good idea,” Adam replied.

  Matthew glanced back at him, surprised in the wealth of emotion he heard in those five words.

  “Still doesn’t make you judge and jury,” Adam added. “Trust me on this. Let him go. Justice has a way of working itself out.”

  Stephen was gasping for air and clutching at Matthew’s arm.

  The urge to inflict pain on him was overwhelming. “Give me one reason not to break his sorry neck.”

  “Because he’s not worth a good man like you getting himself into trouble.”

  Matthew’s head whipped around to Victoria’s voice.

  She strode over and placed her hand on Matthew’s stiff arm. “Let him go. Please.”

  “Did he touch you?” He turned back to glare at Stephen, hoping the man could see the hatred in his eyes—hoping the man would one day feel the same fear he’d put into Grace. “Did you lay even one goddamn finger on her?”

  “He never touched me. Not once. Please, Matthew. Let him go.”

  With a grunt, he dropped Stephen who collapsed on the boardwalk, gasping for air. “I… will…have…you…arrested.”

  “Arrested?” Will laughed. “Fer what?”

  “Assault,” Stephen’s assistant answered as he tried to help Stephen to his feet. “I’m heading right to the marshal’s office.”

  “Ain’t got no witnesses.” Will let his gaze fall on everyone in the small crowd surrounding them. “Nope. Not a single witnesses.”

  Several townsfolk shook their heads and walked on.

  “B’sides,” he continued, “the marshal’s passed out drunk. Not gonna get much help there.” He leveled a lethal stare at Stephen. “Never gonna get much help from anyone in White Pines.”

  “You’ll pay for this,” Stephen rasped, still struggling to get enough air.

  Matthew scoffed. “Why don’t you pack up your things and get the hell out of town?”

  Stephen straightened his coat, reached down to grab his cane, and narrowed his dark eyes at Victoria. “After all I’ve done to help Ty Bishop, you’d turn on me too?”

  “About that,” Adam interjected. “Were there any witnesses to Ty’s robbery?”

  “I was the witness,” Stephen insisted. “I routed those thieves before they could kill him.”

  Adam swept his vest aside and set his hands on his hips. “I’m planning to have a nice long talk with Ty and with the authorities in Denver. I’m gonna solve that mystery if it’s the
last thing I do.”

  His haughty visage back in place, Stephen sneered at them all. “Then it would seem my welcome in this…fair town has worn thin. I will be leaving as soon as I can make arrangements. You ungrateful buffoons can all go to hell.” He turned to his assistant. “You take care of all the…arrangements. Then you find me.”

  Matthew watched them walk away, the need to pound the man into the mud still choking him. His hands were fisted at his sides, and he’d clenched his jaw so tight, he feared he’d cracked a few teeth. He didn’t trust Stephen to leave, and his mind warred over whether to offer protection to Grace or to Victoria.

  Victoria soothed him with a simple touch. Her fingers wrapped around his right fist and gently pried his fingers open. After a deep breath, he took her hand in his.

  Adam glanced at Will. “I think a quick town council meeting’s in order.” His gaze shifted to the marshal’s office. “Yep. I definitely think a meeting’s in order.”

  “It’s over, Daddy,” she whispered.

  Adam only smiled in reply.

  Victoria’s touch calmed Matthew enough for him remember the rest of the day’s events.

  “Emily needs you,” he said. “Let me take you back to the Four Aces.”

  She didn’t pull her hand away as they walked together toward the saloon.

  ***

  A common boarding house.

  For the love of all that was holy, he’d been reduced to spending the night in a goddamn boarding house.

  Stephen relentlessly paced the room, wondering how everything had gone wrong so quickly. The plans had all been carefully made—every piece of the puzzle falling into place so easily.

  Ty’s assault went off without a hitch, and the man never suspected the whole thing had been a set up.

  Victoria had accepted him with only a token resistance, even traveling to this backwater town with him as her escort—just as he’d hoped.

  Grace had even been properly surprised to know that she hadn’t ended his life back in San Francisco.