Blackstone's Bride (29 page)

He shook his head. “That was my gift to you, Abby. It’s all I can give you.”

“No—”

He touched a finger to her lips. “Yes. I won’t break my promise. As long as we don’t consummate this marriage, we can have it annulled. That’s what you want, isn’t it? To be free, so you can leave?”

Was it? She couldn’t think straight anymore. Not when she was in his arms like this. The thought of leaving him sat like a stone on her heart.

But he was right. She needed to be free. As much as she wanted to ignore that fact, she couldn’t. Taking a deep breath, she looked at him.

Her chest swelled with gratitude at his unselfishness. Pain hovered around the edges, but she pushed it away. She wouldn’t think about it now. Leaning on her elbow, she hovered over him and placed a light kiss on his lips.

“Thank you, Jarrod.”

“
Wish ya didn’t have to go off so soon, Jarrod.”
Hettie Schafer put a hand to her forehead, shielding her eyes from the early morning sun that was just peeking up over the boardinghouse roof.

“Got to get back to the ranch,” Jarrod said, trying to tamp down his irritation with the woman. He knew her gift of a wedding night had been given out of kindness, but a kick in the head would have been more charitable than being alone with Abby. He felt about ready to explode even if someone only looked at him cross-eyed.

He was waiting for Abby to round up the kids so they could head back to the ranch. Couldn’t be too soon for him. Another night in the same room with her would probably do him in.

He heard bootsteps on the boardwalk behind him. When Rafe Donovan stepped down into the dirt street beside him, Jarrod’s morning went from godawful to downright stinking.

“What do you want, Donovan?”

Hettie started to say something, and Jarrod held up his hand to silence her.

Donovan scratched his chin thoughtfully. “Hear tell congratulations
are in order. Everyone in town is talkin’ about how you married that pretty little redhead.”

“So?”

“Funny that no one told me you weren’t hitched when I took her for your wife.”

Jarrod shrugged. “Your mistake. What of it?”

“It ‘pears to me that you got married pretty sudden like. Could be you think the judge’ll favor you because of it?”

Hettie put her hands on her hips. “Folks who live in Hollister know Jarrod and Abby have been sweet on each other for a long time. They were bound to get married sooner or later.”

“Maybe it happened sooner so’s you’d get the edge on me.”

Hettie pointed at him. “That’s a lie. Jarrod and Abby got married because they’re in love. I’m prepared to swear to that in a court of law, and so will everyone else in this town.”

Jarrod was grateful for her support. But he was afraid if she kept it up, she would confirm what Donovan already suspected.

He turned to the small woman and bent low to kiss her cheek. “Thanks for everything, Hettie. You go on inside. You’ve got customers to see to.”

“But—”

He gestured toward her front door. “Go on, now. I’ll take care of this.”

She reluctantly agreed and went to the door of the restaurant. After shooting Donovan a hostile look, she disappeared inside.

“It won’t work, Blackstone.”

“What?”

“This phony weddin’ to get the kids.”

“A couple is a damn sight better bet to make a home for them than a bachelor they never laid eyes on before.”

“I talked to that lawyer fella here in town. He says the judge will look at custody of those kids like property. A man owns everything.”

Jarrod’s eyes narrowed. “What are you getting at?”

“I’ve got a will signed by my brother and duly witnessed. You got a letter from Sally. Married or not, the judge will see my side as the stronger.”

“Like hell he will, Donovan. There’s more at stake than the law. Like what those kids want. Where they want to stay. Where they’ll be happy.”

“It’s like I told you, they’re just kids. They need someone to tell ‘em what to do.”

“I don’t care what that two-bit lawyer said. You won’t be the one calling the shots. Count on it.”

Donovan pulled his hat down on his head. “We’ll just have to wait and see what the judge says. Won’t we, Blackstone?”

“I reckon we will, Donovan.”

The man started to walk away, then turned back, his blue eyes narrowed. “By the way, I just came from the sheriff’s office.”

“Glad to hear it. Too bad Zach didn’t talk you into dropping your claim.”

“He wanted me to know the circuit judge is due in two weeks.”

Abby saw Rafe Donovan nod to Jarrod, then walk away. She briefly wondered what they had talked about, but she had other things on her mind.

She stopped by the wagon and looked up at Jarrod. “Have you seen Oliver?”

He frowned. “Isn’t he at Bea’s with the other kids?”

“No. Bea put him to bed, but he wasn’t there this morning. All his things are gone.” She lifted her chin in the direction Donovan had taken. “I saw you with Donovan. Do you think he might have Oliver?”

“I didn’t get that feeling.” He glanced over his shoulder, an angry scowl twisting his features. “He had other things on his mind.”

Abby decided she would ask him about that later. Right now, she was going from concerned to frantic about Oliver.

“Where do you suppose he could be? He’s so little, Jarrod. What if—”

“Don’t go borrowin’ trouble. He’ll turn up.” He tugged her against him and rubbed her back reassuringly.

She wanted to stay there forever. But she pulled out of his arms. “I can’t wait. I’ll go crazy if I don’t look for him.”

“Then start at the Shemanskis.”

“But he was told not to go there. Matt’s sick.”

“Oliver doesn’t care. He was sure disappointed that he had to stay at Bea’s.”

“But Annie would have sent him packing,” Abby said.

“If she knew he was there,” he answered.

“Let’s go look.”

They hurried down Main Street toward the mercantile, where the Shemanskis lived above their store. A staircase in the back led up to the rooms. When Abby knocked on the door, Annie quickly answered it, holding a year-old-baby on her hip.

The woman was taller than Abby, with hazel eyes and brown hair pulled away from her face and into a bun at her nape. “I’m so glad to see you.”

“Is Oliver here?” Abby asked.

Annie nodded. “I just discovered him. Might not have noticed except my Sarah didn’t have a place to sit at the breakfast table.”

“He’s all right, then?” Jarrod wanted to know.

“Fine as frog’s hair,” Annie said. “Now. Has he had chicken pox?”

Jarrod shoved his hands in his denim pockets. “Good question. Guess we’re gonna find out.”

The baby in her arms started to squirm and she shifted the infant to a more comfortable position. “He sneaked into Matt’s room. The boys were so quiet we never knew. The damage is done. I’m sorry, Jarrod,” she said, shooting Abby a sympathetic look.

“I apologize, Annie.” Abby looked past her to where there was raucous laughter. “I never would have dreamed he’d sneak over here.”

The other woman laughed. “He certainly wasn’t any trouble.” She looked from one to the other. “I hear congratulations are in order. I’m real happy for both of you.”

“Thanks,” Jarrod said, sliding Abby a glance. “We’re real happy about it too.”

He didn’t look or sound very happy, Abby thought. The lines creasing his face beside his nose and mouth, and the circles beneath his eyes, made him look like he’d been awake all night. At least that wouldn’t give away their secret. After the exquisite things Jarrod had done to her, she could understand why a man and woman newly married would stay up all night. A shiver raced through her as she recalled the feelings Jarrod had elicited from her.

“You’ve got your hands full,” Jarrod said. “So we’d best take our little fella on home. I’d say he needs a lesson in learning to mind what he’s told.”

“Don’t be too hard on him,” Annie said.

Abby smiled up at Jarrod. “I wouldn’t worry about that.”

In her own room the following morning, Abby smoothed the quilt over her mattress one last time. It wasn’t quite sunup, and she had to fix breakfast for Jarrod before he began his day. The children were still asleep. They didn’t get up until after he had gone, including Tom, who stayed for lessons before joining his uncle for chores.

Abby opened her door and heard voices in Jarrod’s room. Just as she stepped into the hall, Tom did the same. When he saw her, he froze.

“What are you doing up so early?” she asked.

“What are you doin’ sleepin’ in your old room? You married Uncle Jarrod. Married folks sleep in the same bed.” His voice rose a notch.

“Quiet, Tom. You’ll wake everyone else.”

The last thing she needed was trying to explain this to all the children. It would be hard enough telling Tom. She wasn’t sure what to say. It had been late when they’d arrived at the ranch. She had bedded the children down, then gone straight to her own room without a thought about
how it would look if anyone found her away from her brand-new husband.

“What’s wrong?” Jarrod stopped in the hall beside his nephew, and his eyebrows rose when he saw her standing there. He put a hand on the boy’s shoulder. “Let’s go down to the kitchen and have some breakfast.”

Tom shook his head, and straight brown hair fell over his eyes. He angrily brushed it away. “I wanna know what she’s doin’ in her old room now that she’s married to you.”

Abby saw the love in his young eyes when he looked at his uncle. Then his gaze rested on her and it was filled with hurt and betrayal. This bargain she had struck was getting worse all the time.

“Let’s go down to the kitchen and talk about this before we wake everyone else.”

“Yes, sir.” Tom stomped past Abby without acknowledging her and went downstairs.

Jarrod followed and stopped beside Abby, a concerned expression on his face. He hadn’t shaved yet, making him look more intense. “I hadn’t thought further than speaking the vows, Abby.”

“Me either. What are we going to say to him?”

He shook his head. “Wish I knew. At the reverend’s he was downright cheerful. I was beginning to think he was warming up to you.”

“I know. The same thought crossed my mind.” She bit her lip as she studied the spot where the boy had been. She took Jarrod’s arm and moved him away from the other children’s rooms. “I think we have to tell him the truth. Maybe you can convince him that dishonesty is all right sometimes.”

He looked at her sharply. “What does that mean?”

She touched a finger to her lips, shushing him. “I’m sorry, Jarrod. But a twelve-year-old boy sees everything in black and white. To him we’re lying.”

He ran a hand through his hair. “You’re right. We have to tell him what’s going on and hope he’ll understand.”

“You have to do the talking. He looked at me as if he wished I’d disappear.”

“You’re exaggerating.”

She shook her head. “You didn’t see the expression on his face.”

“No matter. We can’t put it off.”

She nodded, then led the way downstairs. Tom was sitting at the table, and Abby took the chair across from him, while Jarrod sat to his left.

“Tom, do you have any idea how much I’ve come to care about you and your brother and sisters?”

Tom looked at his uncle. “Really?”

Jarrod smiled. “Really. I’d do anything to keep the four of you here with me.”

“Includin’ marrying Abby?”

“That’s right.”

“Don’t see what that’s got to do with anything.”

“I’m going to try to explain it.” Jarrod took a deep breath. “Your father left a paper saying that you would live with his brother if anything happened to him. Rafe wants to honor that wish and take you back to his ranch in New Mexico.”

“I don’t want to go. Neither will the others.”

Jarrod squeezed his arm reassuringly. “I don’t want you to. Neither does Abby. We have to go before a judge and let him decide who you should live with. All I have is your mother’s letter giving the four of you to me. I don’t want to take any chances that the judge won’t see things my way. Your uncle Rafe isn’t married. So—”

“You married Abby?” There was such distaste in his voice that Abby flinched.

“It was my idea.” Jarrod met her gaze, and she saw that he hadn’t missed the venom in the boy’s tone. “Abby didn’t think it was a good one. But Donovan wanted to split you up. And the day he was here, the way he was with all of you convinced her that you’d be better off with me.”

“Married folks stay in the same room together.” Tom sat up and folded his arms over his chest, staring down at the table.

“That’s true. In this case, Abby’s doing me a favor. She’s my wife in name only. Do you know what that means?”

“Means she’s pretending.” The boy shot her a glare.

“That’s right. When the judge says that the four of you can stay with me, then we won’t be married anymore.”

“I thought it was real. Reverend Taylor is a real preacher. You said real words. You kissed her real hard. Why isn’t it forever?”

Jarrod sighed and rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “When Abby agreed to be our housekeeper, she did it to help me out, but she made sure I knew it was only for a short time.”

“Why?” Tom’s eyes narrowed, but this time he didn’t look at her.

Abby spoke up. “I can’t stay because I have to find my father. He went away when I was about your age, Tom, and I promised myself when I was big enough I’d find him and live with him. Can you understand what that means to me?”

“So you’re tricking everyone.”

“Not exactly,” Jarrod said. “We’re really and truly married. But when everything is settled and you can stay, we’re going to annul it as if we never said the vows. Do you understand, son?”

The boy looked at Jarrod without saying anything.

“I know it’s dishonest, and I wouldn’t blame you if you lost respect for me. That would hurt me a lot, but not as much as losing you. That’s all I have to say. Except that it would be best to keep this from your brother and sisters. If word gets back to the judge, it wouldn’t look good.”

Tom shifted on his chair. “Can I tell Lil? Katie and Oliver got big mouths. But Lil won’t say anything.”