Defiant (17 page)

“So you think the Tucker Gang is in Dry Springs?” She was aghast at all he had revealed.

“I’m reasonably sure they were the ones who tried to rob your stagecoach that day. It was real lucky you had your gun with you. There’s no telling what might have happened if you’d been unarmed.”

“But they’re gone now, aren’t they?”

“I don’t know. That’s why I’ve stayed around. I’ve been watching and waiting to see if they show up in town.”

“So that’s why you asked me if I remembered anything unusual about the outlaws—”

“That’s right. I’ve studied their wanted posters, and I’ve been keeping a lookout for them. Glen Tucker and Ax Hansen are as cold-blooded as they come. They slaughtered my family, and I’m going to bring them to justice one way or another—dead or alive.”

Rachel stared up at the man she’d known as Kane, seeing the fierce determination in his hardened expression. She could only imagine what he’d lived through, and her heart ached for him.
She went to him and put her arms around him. He had been holding himself rigid, but she felt him relax slightly at her touch. Rachel knew that words would hold little meaning for him right then, so instead she drew him down to her for a kiss, telling him with that embrace what was in her heart.

Clint gathered her to him, holding her close as they shared kiss after heated kiss.

In her arms he could forget the ugliness of the world—if only for a little while.

In her arms he could find peace.

“Rachel!”

The roar of Martin Hammond’s outraged voice jarred them both and forced them apart.

“Papa.” Rachel gasped at the sound of her father’s voice so close by. Obviously, Michelle had failed in her effort to keep both her parents busy. Rachel moved away from Clint, feeling guilty as she faced her father.

“What are you doing?” Martin raged.

“I can explain.” Rachel had never seen her father so angry before.

“Are you trying to prove all the gossips right?” he demanded.

Martin was still upset about all the hateful talk he’d heard, and now to find Rachel and Kane kissing right out there in the garden where anybody could have come upon them! He seared them both with a condemning glare. He had always considered himself a man of peace. He’d always preached God’s love, but at that moment he
was an angry father, and it was the closest he’d ever come in his life to wanting to hit someone.

“Papa—no! Listen to me,” she insisted, stepping between the two men she loved. “There’s more than you know going on here. You’ve got to listen.”

“Listen to what?” he demanded, not taking his eyes off Kane. He had wanted to trust the man, in spite of what he’d heard, but now he had his doubts.

Rachel looked at Clint pleadingly. “You have to tell my parents, so they’ll understand.”

Clint had had misgivings about telling Rachel, but the idea of revealing the truth to her parents disturbed him deeply.

“They are my parents,” Rachel repeated. “You can trust them.”

“Why would he have to trust us?” her father asked, confused by her behavior.

“Papa, please, let’s go inside and get Mother. Then he can tell you everything.”

Clint faced the reverend. “Rachel’s right. It would be best if we went inside.”

Martin turned and led the way. He was not a happy man as he stalked back to the house.

“Anne!” he bellowed as he stood in the front hallway.

Anne heard her husband’s shout and wondered why he sounded so angry. She rushed out of the kitchen to see what he wanted, leaving Michelle to follow.

Michelle had a sickening feeling that she
knew what had happened as she went after Mrs. Hammond.

“What is it, Martin?” Anne asked as she came into the foyer where her husband was standing with Rachel and Kane.

“I just found the two of them together in the garden. It seems Mr. McCullough wants to speak with us.”

Anne moved forward.

“Should I leave?” Michelle asked, looking at Rachel. She regretted that she hadn’t been able to do a better job of keeping the Hammonds distracted while Kane had been talking with Rachel.

Rachel looked up at Clint for a moment, then told her, “No. It’s all right. I want you to hear this, too.”

Clint wasn’t comfortable revealing the truth to so many people, but there was really no way around it, considering what Michelle had already witnessed.

“I don’t understand what’s going on,” Anne said as she went into the parlor with her husband and Michelle.

Rachel paused for a moment with Clint in the hall. “You can trust them—Clint.” She said his name aloud for the first time.

He gazed down at her, trusting her, and nodded. He knew what he had to do, and he was ready to do it.

They walked into the parlor to find her mother and Michelle seated on the sofa and her father pacing in agitation.

Martin looked up when they entered the room. He’d been telling himself that, gunfighter or not, Kane had saved Rachel from harm at the Last Chance that first night and then again during the storm. He knew that nothing the gossips were saying about Rachel was true, but catching them kissing in the garden had shocked and troubled him.

“This had better be good,” he stated, looking from his daughter to the man standing at her side.

Clint didn’t wait for Rachel to speak. He wanted to put her father’s fears to rest as quickly as possible.

“What I’m about to tell you needs to be held in strictest confidence,” he began, looking from her father to her mother and then to Michelle.

“What are you talking about?” the reverend demanded.

“I’m talking about saving lives.”

They looked stricken at his remark.

“We know you’re a gunfighter, Kane, but—” Anne began worriedly.

“But you can always give up those evil ways and turn to the Lord,” Martin said, struggling to find the peace he knew was his when he was doing the Lord’s work. Whatever was troubling Kane, he could tell it was serious and it did involve his daughter.

“Clint is not a gunfighter, Papa,” Rachel explained quickly, wanting the truth out.

“Clint?” Hammond said. They were all startled when she used the different name.

“His name is not Kane McCullough. He’s Clint Williams, and he was a Texas Ranger.”

Martin could only stare at the two of them as they stood together. This man had been a Ranger—

“You’re not Kane McCullough?” Michelle asked first in open surprise, trying to make some sense out of what Rachel was telling them.

“There is no Kane McCullough,” Clint answered. “I made up the alias to use as a cover while working to track down the Tucker Gang.”

Rachel told them what had happened to his family, and both her mother and Michelle had tears in their eyes as they heard the terrible story of his loss. She went on to explain how he had tracked the gang to Dry Springs.

Clint spoke up, telling them, “I never wanted to involve Rachel in any of this. I came to town intending only to try to work my way into the gang as the gunfighter Kane McCullough, so I could identify their main leader and bring them down, but after the night of the storm, all that changed.” Clint smiled down at Rachel as he told them, “I fell in love with your daughter that night.” Clint paused and looked up at Reverend Hammond and his wife. “And I want to marry her.”

Chapter Seventeen

“Rachel, will you marry me?” Clint asked, turning to Rachel.

“Yes.” Rachel was breathless in her excitement. True, they’d said they loved each other, but she’d had no idea he was actually going to ask her to marry him. Her happiness was so great, she embraced Clint, unmindful that her father and mother were standing right there.

Martin and Anne were completely taken aback by all that had just happened. To learn that the man they’d believed to be a deadly gunfighter was, in truth, an ex-Texas Ranger was startling enough, but now, to find that he loved Rachel and wanted to marry her was the answer to all their prayers.

“Reverend Hammond, may I have your daughter’s hand in marriage?” Clint asked.

Her parents shared a look before Martin answered Clint. “Yes.”

“Oh, Papa.” In her happiness, Rachel went to hug him and then her mother.

Michelle looked on, stunned by the revelation of Clint’s true identity. She realized Rachel had been right when she’d sensed that he was not a cold-blooded gunman. When Rachel finished embracing her parents, Michelle gave her a hug, too. She was amazed that her prayers had been answered so quickly.

“But how are you going to be married if you’re still looking for the Tucker Gang?” Martin asked.

“That’s what I’ve been worried about. I don’t want to put Rachel in any danger, and if the news of my true identity or our marriage gets out, whoever tried to kill me before might try to come after her, too.”

“Can’t you give up your desire for revenge and settle down here with us and be a part of our family?” Anne asked.

Clint’s gaze was steely as he looked at her. “No. I’ll never give up on bringing in the Tucker Gang. I’m going to see to it that they pay for what they’ve done.”

“But what about Rachel? If you’re married . . .” Martin broke off, worried about her future with Clint.

“That’s why I thought it would be best if we kept the news of our marriage private. That way, Rachel can stay with you while I finish what I’ve started. It could be over real soon, if things work out the way I hope, or I could still be on their trail for months yet. One way or the other, nothing is
going to stop me from seeing this through to the end, and that’s why I need to know that Rachel is safe here with you.”

Martin understood the seriousness of Clint’s intent and knew there was no point in trying to dissuade him.

“Do you want me to marry you now—tonight?” Martin offered.

“Would you?” Rachel was breathless at the thought. True, her whole life she’d dreamed of a romantic church wedding—of a white wedding gown and a beautiful ceremony, but that was before Clint. Now all that mattered was that he loved her and wanted to marry her.

“Your mother and Michelle can be your witnesses, if this is what you want,” Martin offered.

Rachel turned to Clint. “Are you sure about this?”

“I’m sure,” he answered with no hesitation.

“I’ll get my Bible,” Martin said.

A short time later, Martin returned. He drew Clint aside to speak with him.

“This belonged to my mother,” he said, handing Clint a simple gold wedding band. “I know that in the future you may want to get another ring, but I thought for today. . . .”

“Thank you,” Clint said. He was truly grateful for the reverend’s thoughtfulness.

Martin was ready then to begin the ceremony.

“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here to witness the joining in holy matrimony of Rachel Hammond and Clint Williams.”

Rachel almost felt as if she were dreaming. Clint had saved her from the drunk and saved her from the storm. He had come to her and proclaimed his love. He was with her now, taking a vow that would bind them together forever.

“Do you, Rachel Hammond, take this man Clint Williams to be your lawfully wedded husband?”

“I do,” she answered softly, thrilled at the thought of being in his arms forever.

“Do you, Clint Williams, take Rachel Hammond to be your lawfully wedded wife?”

“I do,” Clint pledged.

“I now pronounce you man and wife,” Martin proclaimed. “Do you have the ring?”

Clint took the ring out of his pocket and slipped it on Rachel’s finger.

“What God has joined together, let no man put asunder,” Martin added.

Clint didn’t wait for the reverend to say anything more. He gathered Rachel in his arms and kissed her.

It was a tender moment that left them both breathless when they moved apart.

Clint went to her father and shook his hand. “Thank you, sir.”

“God bless you, son,” Martin said, looking Clint in the eye. “And take care of my daughter.”

“I will,” he told him.

When Martin turned to Rachel, she went straight into his arms. “I love you, Papa.”

“I love you, too.”

Anne was looking on, teary-eyed. This wasn’t
quite what she had dreamed of for her only daughter’s wedding, but it didn’t matter as long as Rachel and Clint were in love. She embraced them both, and then said with a smile, “We won’t be having a big reception tonight, but we can have cake. I baked one this morning. Shall we all go out to the kitchen?”

They laughed and started from the room.

Michelle gave Rachel a quick hug before following the others.

“Are you happy?” Michelle asked her.

“Oh, yes.” Rachel smiled as she watched Clint walking away with her father. “I just can’t believe everything happened so fast. I mean, it was such shock just finding out who Clint really is, and now we’re married.”

“See, your instincts were right about him. You believed all along he wasn’t a gunfighter.”

“Let’s just pray that he’s able to bring in the Tucker Gang fast. I’m worried about what might happen. He’s only one man going after whole gang of killers—”

“He’ll do it. You’ll see.”

They shared another quick hug. The men had already gone into the kitchen while the women lingered behind.

Martin and Clint sat down at the kitchen table together to eat their cake.

“Now that you’re married, how do you want to handle this?” Martin asked.

“It’s probably best if Rachel and I keep our distance. I know there’s talk going around, but for
now, there’s not much we can do about that. When the time comes, the gossips are going to find out just how wrong they were.”

“That’s right. There is one thing, though, Clint.” Martin looked up at his new son-in-law, wanting to counsel him.

“What?”

“Remember that the Lord said ‘Vengeance is mine.’ You weren’t raised to be like those killers. You are not a cold-blooded murderer. You’re a Texas Ranger. Arrest them and bring them to justice. Let the law handle them.”

“They deserve to die,” Clint ground out.

“And God will see that they are held accountable for their actions. Don’t lower yourself to their level—for your own sake.”

Clint looked at Martin and said slowly, “I have to bring them down.”