A Hero's Heart (24 page)

“Can’t we stay up for a little while?” Toby asked.

Rachel rose to her feet and began to clear the dishes away. “No. It’s been a long day.”

“Let’s get these dishes cleaned up; then I’ll help you get the children to bed,” Mary said, rising to her feet. The food on her plate had been shuffled around and picked at, too.

“Thanks. But why don’t you sit by the fire and rest. It won’t take me a minute.”

“I can’t just sit and do nothing, Rachel.” Mary wrung her hands. “I’ll put the children to bed, and you wash the dishes.”

“Deal.”

For the first time since they’d joined up together, Wade dried the dishes while Rachel washed. “I think we have to tell her,” Rachel whispered.

Running the towel across a plate, Wade acknowledged, “I’m not too sure she doesn’t already know.”

“She’s definitely suspicious.”

“Are you willing to risk everyone finding out about us, for Mary’s sake?”

Rachel closed her eyes, pain pounding in her temples. “I can’t live with this knowledge anymore, Wade. My conscience will not give me any peace until I tell her the truth.”

Wade sighed. “I was afraid you were going to say that.”

“How are you going to feel about everyone finding out we’re not married?” Rachel asked, wishing he would put an end to her unmarried state and say the words she so longed to hear.

“I don’t like it one damn bit. But I like Mary. She deserves to know the facts, not Ethan’s lies.”

Rachel scrubbed the dishes with a force that reflected her frustration. “I have to tell her, no matter what it does to us.”

“I know,” Wade said, his voice full of resignation.

Strolling back from the tent where she’d put the children to bed, Mary called, “You two are whispering like conspiring thieves. Whatever are you talking about?”

The answer stuck in Rachel’s throat. Now was the time to confess, tell Mary the truth. But the words lodged in her throat were not to be released, for the guilty pair strolled into camp. Mary’s expression, already tense, tightened. Her lips thinned at the sight of Becky and Ethan standing side by side, their clothes slightly rumpled.

“I knew I’d find you here.” Ethan walked over to Mary, a big smile on his lips. He acted as if strolling in with another woman was an everyday occurrence.

“Did you forget about our celebration dinner?” Mary asked, her tone polite yet distant.

“No. I rode further than I realized, and I just got back. But I did find Becky along the way.” Ethan’s face wore a mask of innocence that made Rachel physically ill.

Stepping around Ethan, Becky walked over to the box where the food was stored. “You’ve already put everything up?”

“Supper was an hour ago.” Rachel tried to control the trembling in her voice. “Where were you?”

Becky’s glance could have started a fire. “Out.”

Like a proud warrior, Mary announced, “I’m going home.” She started across the encampment, her head held high, her eyes brimming with tears.

“Wait, Mary,” Rachel cried. She couldn’t let her friend suffer any more indignity. “There’s something I need to say.”

Mary turned around, and Rachel could feel all eyes focused on her. Secrets and suppressed desires hummed about them like insects, making the air thick with tension. She twisted the dish towel in her hands and glanced at Ethan and Becky. Ethan appeared to hold his breath, while Becky glared at her.

Mary stood patiently waiting, her face taut and drawn.

“You know, don’t you?” Rachel’s hands shook. “You know that my sister is committing adultery with your husband.”

“Yes, Rachel, I know,” Mary said, her voice dull.

“Rachel!” Becky cried, rushing toward her sister.

Blocking her path, Mary pushed Becky down into the rocker. “You’re not the first one. But you are the last.”

Stunned, Becky remained seated, her mouth gapping.

Ethan hurried over to his wife’s side. “You know I love you, Mary. How can you believe such lies?”

Like burning coals, Mary’s eyes raked him. “Ethan, I’m not going to listen to your foolishness anymore. I’ve overlooked your women in the past. I’ve listened to your promises for the last time. No more.”

“But, Mary—”

“Stop!” The woman’s voice shook with anger. “From the day we were married, you’ve been unfaithful. Tonight, the two of you come back into camp with your clothes rumpled, and the smell of Becky clinging to you; then you expect me to believe lies?”

“I’m your husband, Mary. We’ll always be together.”

“Wait a minute!” Becky declared. “What about our plans?”

Mary clasped her arms. “Get your things out of my wagon. You’re not welcome in my bed any longer.”

Ethan didn’t even look at Becky. “I’ll make it up to you, Mary. I’ll never do it again.”

“Save your speeches for Becky. You’ll cheat on her, too. You’ve fooled me for the last time.”

Mary turned and proudly walked from the campfire. Rachel ached to go after her, check on her, make sure she was really all right. But somehow she knew her friend needed time alone to clear her thoughts and deal with the idea that she and Ethan would no longer live as husband and wife.

Ethan didn’t follow his wife. Neither did he take a seat next to Becky. They sat worlds apart, staring into the fire.

“You shouldn’t have told her, Rachel.” His voice held a menacing tone that Rachel had never heard before.

“I think you’re confused, Ethan. You shouldn’t be cheating on your wife with my sister. Not only have you sullied your name, but my sister’s as well.”

Becky jumped up, hands on her hips. “Oh, Rachel. It’s always been Ethan and me. Papa sent Ethan away when he caught Ethan kissing me. Not you. Me!”

Rachel glanced at the two of them, stunned. “All this time I thought Papa sent Ethan away because he caught him kissing me, and it was really because of you?”

“Papa warned me not to tell you. He wanted to protect you.”

Silence filled the camp as Rachel realized just what a fool she’d been. As the information slowly penetrated, she asked, “If you loved Becky, then why did you marry Mary, Ethan?”

“I didn’t plan on finding Becky again. It just happened. In the meantime, I’d met Mary. Things were working just fine until you managed to louse it up. But I’ll get Mary back.”

Barely able to look at her sister, Rachel asked, “How can you think he loves you when he just said he’s going to get Mary back? Do you really think he can be faithful to you?”

“He would have stayed with Mary until we reached Oregon. There our life would begin. I know how to make him happy, and she doesn’t,” Becky smugly replied.

Rachel’s heart ached over Becky’s irresponsible behavior. “You deserve one another. And it’s obvious Mary deserves better.”

Ethan stood, his face turning red. “I think you’re forgetting something. I know all about you and Wade.”

A look of confusion crossed Becky’s face. “Know what?”

The truth was coming out about herself and Wade, and though she dreaded the scandal, it would be a relief to be rid of the lies. “The wagon train wouldn’t accept us unless one of us was married. So I persuaded Wade to pretend to be my husband for the length of the trip.”

Rachel watched as her sister’s eyes grew large and Becky’s hand flew to her mouth. “You’re not really married?”

“No,” Rachel admitted, her chin rising.

Becky laughed, her voice loud in the still night air. “My angelic sister is fornicating with a man who is not her husband, after all the times she warned me about the sins of the flesh.”

“At least my man isn’t married to someone else,” Rachel replied quietly.

“You told Mary about Becky and me, I think it only fair I tell Frank about you and Wade.”

Ethan’s smile revealed just how wicked the man really was. Not for the first time that day, Rachel wondered how she had ever thought she loved this man.

“You do and you’ll answer to me,” Wade said from the shadows.

Ethan laughed. “I’m not worried. But if I were you, I’d be concerned about Rachel’s good name, about Frank forcing you to marry her. It’d be a shame if you were trapped in your own game. Forced to go spend the rest of your days together.

In two steps, Wade reached Ethan. He grabbed a handful of Ethan’s shirt, yanking him off the bench. His fist cracked against the side of the preacher’s jaw sending him sprawling onto the ground. “I’ve wanted to do that for the last five hundred miles.”

Becky screeched and flew to Ethan. She brushed her hand tenderly across his cheek, glaring at Wade.

“Are you crazy?” she exclaimed. “Why did you hit him?”

“For trying to blackmail me,” Wade said, as Ethan stared up at him from the ground, a trickle of blood trailing from his lip. “And for threatening Rachel.”

Reaching into her pocket, Becky withdrew her handkerchief. She blotted the blood on Ethan’s rapidly swelling lip.

Wade growled in warning, “Tell anyone you like about me and Rachel, but just remember one thing. After everyone finds out about the two of you, who do you think they’re going to believe. Rachel and me or Becky and you?”

Rachel touched Wade’s sleeve, her eyes brimming with tears. “I’ve had my fill of this. Let’s go to bed.”

Wade turned toward her and offered her his hand. She looked at it without expression, but put her fingers on his.

Leading her to the wagon, he helped Rachel up the wheel and over the seat. Quickly, he climbed up after her.

Inside, Rachel lit the lantern and sank down on the cedar chest, her face showing she was wracked with grief.

He didn’t know who he wanted to hurt the most, Becky or Ethan. “I guess by tomorrow we’ll be the gossip in camp.

Rachel bowed her head, her body sagging. A tear rolled down her cheek, followed by another. “Why is this happening? First Grace, now Becky and Ethan. What will happen next?”

Bent over like an old man to keep his head from rubbing the top of the wagon, Wade crept to Rachel’s side, then sat on the chest and pulled her onto his lap. He held her in his arms while her tears cleansed her tired spirit.

“It’s been a tough couple of days,” he said. “But the important thing is, Grace is okay, and Mary will be, too.

“But how could Becky do this?” Rachel sobbed. “Mary’s my friend. And they hurt her so badly.”

“You’re not responsible for what Becky did.” Wade brushed his hand across her back in a comforting gesture.

“But Mary will never be able to look at me without thinking of what my sister and Ethan did to her.”

Rachel shivered. “I want to believe you, for she has no one, Wade. No one but us. We have to help her.”

“And we will,” Wade promised.

“How could my own sister do such a terrible deed?” Rachel’s tears were accompanied by little hiccup sounds.

“What makes your family any different from everyone else’s?” Wherever people are, you find good and evil. And we never know when evil will reach out and touch us.”

Swiping at the tears with her fingers, Rachel gazed at him quizzically. “I’m surprised to hear you say such a thing, Wade Ketchum. The next thing I know you’ll be quoting scripture.”

“Don’t count on it, honey, though being raised in a whorehouse, you see people do all kinds of strange things.”

She leaned her head on his shoulder. “How could I have been such a fool, Wade? To trust Ethan, to believe in him.”

“You’re a trusting person, Rachel. Sometimes you’ll get burned.” Wade rubbed the back of her head, her hair soft to the touch. “When Ethan was courting you, do you remember how he treated Becky?”

“Becky was only thirteen years old.”

“Old enough, honey.”

She grimaced. “Poor papa. No wonder he hated Ethan. And to think I grieved over the man for years. And Becky knew I grieved. I feel so deceived, by both Ethan and my sister.”

“Do you still care for Ethan?” The question slipped from Wade’s lips.

“Heavens, no!” She paused a moment, and then whispered, “You’re the only man I care about, Wade.”

Moments ticked by, while Wade sat holding Rachel in his arms, neither one speaking. They simply held one another, giving and receiving comfort while he

tried to think of anything other than the fact that Rachel was in his arms. He tried to deny the words she’d whispered.

Finally, Rachel asked, “What will we say when Ethan and Becky tell everyone we’re not really married?”

Wade sighed. “The truth. It seems to be the best place to start. Are you worried about it?”

Tilting her head back, she gazed at him, probing. The lantern’s glow turned her eyes a warm amber, filled them with a heat that seeped through him and burned away the day’s evil.

After what seemed like hours, she said, “I’m tired of worrying about what others think. I only know how I feel.”

Holding her, Wade wanted to speak all the words she longed to hear. He knew she waited for his declaration of love, waited for him to ask her to be his wife, to protect her good name from the gossip. He wanted to defend Rachel.