Defiant (26 page)

Returning to the office, Nick sent Chip to get the doctor to look at Pete’s arm.

When he’d gone, Nick looked over at Clint with open admiration.

“I’m glad you came to town,” he told him. “As good as Pete was at keeping his connection to the
gang a secret, I don’t know that I would have figured it out on my own. And especially the truth about Pete killing Deputy Taggart.”

“He killed Deputy Taggart?” Mayor Parker was horrified by the revelation. He’d wondered why the popular lawman had quit his job and left town so quickly.

“Yes,” Nick answered. “Taggart must have caught on to what Pete was doing, so the sheriff killed him.”

“Well, they’re not going to hurt anyone else—ever again,” Clint said. Then he asked, “How soon will they be going on trial?”

“The circuit judge will be coming through in two weeks,” Mayor Parker said. “And we’re going to keep them locked up good and tight until then.”

“That’s right,” Nick agreed.

“I’ll send a wire to Captain Meyers of the Rangers and let him know.”

“That’ll be good.” Nick paused, then looked at Clint and said, “It’s over.”

There was a moment of silence in the office as the two lawmen realized what they’d accomplished that night, and with very little bloodshed.

“Have you got things under control here?” Clint asked Nick.

“We’re going to be fine with the three of us here keeping watch, so why don’t you go on?”

Clint managed a real smile, thinking of his bride waiting for him. “I’ll check in with you in the morning.”

Nick walked Clint out of the office. “If you see
Michelle, tell her I’ll try to get over to see her tomorrow.”

“I’ll let her know.”

Clint started off into the night.

Nick watched him go with admiration. Clint had defied the odds by surviving the wounds he’d received during the massacre of his family and by bringing their murderers to justice. Clint Williams was a lawman to be reckoned with, and Nick was proud to claim him as a friend.

Nick went back inside the jail to take charge.

He was the sheriff now.

Chapter Twenty-six

“It’s time to go home,” Martin announced as he returned to the church to let Anne, Rachel, and Michelle know that the danger was over.

They’d looked up nervously when they’d heard him come in and had hurried from their pews to join him in the greeting area.

“Is Clint all right?” Rachel worried.

“He’s fine,” he told her and then looked at Michelle. “And so is Nick.”

Relief filled Rachel and Michelle at the good news.

“Did they get Sheriff Reynolds?” Michelle asked.

“Yes, and they should be over at the jail locking him up right now.”

“Was anyone injured?” Anne asked.

“Just the sheriff. He was shot in the arm, but the wound is not life-threatening. I’m sure he’s going to stand trial with the rest of them.”

“Our prayers have been answered.” Anne was
truly thankful that the arrest had turned out so well. “Everyone is safe.”

Martin looked at Rachel. “I managed to speak with Clint for a moment and told him to come home when he was finished at the jail.”

Rachel gave her father a heartfelt smile. “Then we’d better go. I want to be there waiting for him when he shows up.”

“You’re right. Let’s go home,” Anne agreed.

“Here, Papa.” Rachel handed over the gun she’d been carrying with her.

Martin took the gun, saddened that good folks had to be prepared to defend themselves that way. He couldn’t wait to get back home and lock the weapon up again. Martin left them for a moment to put out the lights as Rachel led the way out of the church.

Rachel had just opened the door and stepped out into the cool, dark night when she caught sight of Clint coming up the street.

Her heartbeat quickened at the sight of him.

Clint was her love.

He was her life.

Clint had been a man on a mission as he’d headed to the Hammond house next to the church to get Rachel. As he neared the church, he saw Rachel standing in the glow of the open doorway.

They both went still, staring at each other across the distance, and then nothing mattered but their being together.

Rachel hurried down the steps, and they
rushed toward each other in the night, desperate to be in one another’s arms. She ran straight into Clint’s embrace and tightly clung to him as he lifted her up in his arms and kissed her.

“You’re all right,” she breathed, gazing up at him adoringly when they finally broke apart.

Clint looked down at her and smiled tenderly. “Now that I’m with you, I am.”

Rachel kissed him again, just to make sure he was really, truly there with her. When the kiss ended, she drew him back to where her parents and Michelle were standing, watching them.

“Martin told us what you did tonight, Clint. We’re very proud of you,” Anne said.

“Thank you.” Looking at Michelle, he told her, “I’ve got a message for you from Sheriff Evans.”

“ ‘Sheriff’ Evans?” Michelle repeated, wide-eyed.

“That’s right.” Clint grinned easily at her. “The mayor offered Nick the job, and he took it.”

“That’s wonderful.” She was delighted at the news.

“Yes, it is. He’s a good lawman. Anyway, Nick said to tell you he’ll be by to see you tomorrow when things have calmed down.”

“I’ll be waiting for him!” Michelle was excited—Nick was safe and he wanted to see her!

“Would you like to come over to the house?” Anne invited.

“If you don’t mind, I think I’ll take my bride ‘home’ now,” Clint said. He appreciated Anne’s invitation, but wanted nothing more than to be
alone with Rachel in the privacy of his hotel room—without any fears or worries.

Her parents completely understood.

“We’ll see you tomorrow,” Martin said.

“Good night,” Rachel bade them. Then she turned to Michelle. “We’ll walk you home, since I won’t need you to sneak me into the hotel tonight.”

They all chuckled at the memory.

“Do you think we should change Clint’s registration to read ‘Mr. and Mrs. Williams’ instead of just ‘Kane McCullough’?” Michelle asked with a grin.

“Absolutely,” Clint agreed. “Kane McCullough’s gone.”

Rachel couldn’t help herself. She looked up at Clint and said, “But I loved him, too.”

He reached out and took her hand, and they started off with Michelle.

Martin and Anne watched them walk away and knew they were truly blessed.

After seeing Michelle home, Clint and Rachel wasted no time getting to the hotel. Mr. Lofton was working the desk that evening, so they went up to speak with him.

“I heard what happened tonight. Congratulations on bringing those outlaws in,” he told Clint.

“I’m glad it’s over.”

“You did a fine job.”

“Thanks.”

“How can I help you?” he asked.

“We need to change my registration listing.”

“To what?” He frowned.

“To ‘Mr. and Mrs. Williams,’ ” Clint told him with a smile.

“That’s right,” Rachel said, reaching in her pocket to take out the wedding ring she’d been carrying. She slipped it on her finger and smiled up at her husband.

“Congratulations!” he said.

“Thanks.”

They didn’t bother to make any more small talk. They just hurried upstairs to be alone, finally.

As soon as they were in their room with the door locked safely behind them, Clint he lit the lamp and turned to his wife.

“Come here, woman,” he growled, giving her a wicked smile.

Rachel all but threw herself into his arms. He kissed her hungrily, letting her know by that embrace how much he needed and wanted her.

When he drew back from the kiss, he gazed down at her and said, “I love you.”

“Show me,” she whispered.

With utmost care, Clint did just that. He swept her up into his arms and gently laid her on the bed. He joined her there, holding her close, fitting her perfectly against him as his lips found hers in a devouring exchange that left them both desperate for more.

Rachel reached up and began to unbutton Clint’s shirt. She wanted to be close to him. She wanted to be one with him. When she’d freed the last button, he drew away from her just long
enough to shrug the shirt off. Rachel reached out to touch his bare chest, sculpting that hard, muscular expanse with sensual caresses.

Clint gave a low groan as Rachel’s hands trailed paths of fire over him. He decided to return the favor and quickly unfastened her dress and slipped it down off her shoulders. He pressed heated kisses to her throat, and then, unable to tolerate any barriers between them, he drew away from her and left the bed.

“Clint—?” Rachel wanted him in her arms, and she was confused as to why he’d left her.

He didn’t speak. There was no need to. He just reached down and drew her up with him. They quickly stripped away the last of their clothing and went back into each other’s arms on the bed.

They needed nothing more than to be as one.

There in the sweet heat of the night, they came together. In a blaze of passion and glory, with searing kisses and caresses they shared their love. They moved in a rapturous rhythm that stoked the flames of their burning need. The fire of their desire burned ever higher until, in a moment of pure ecstasy, fulfillment was theirs.

Still clinging to each other, Clint and Rachel collapsed back onto the bed, their passion spent—for the moment. Rachel nestled against him and rose up to press a sweet kiss to his lips.

“It’s a good thing we didn’t make love in the cabin that night,” she whispered.

“Why’s that?” Clint frowned, unsure of her meaning.

“Because if we had, we might still be there.” Rachel gave a throaty chuckle.

He felt the heat rise deep within him at her words. “We don’t have to leave this room, you know.”

“I know.”

They smiled at the thought, and Rachel gave herself over to his loving.

Late that night Clint lay quietly beside Rachel, watching her sleep. He remembered the times when he’d saved Rachel from danger, and in that moment, he realized that she had saved him, too. Without her love, he would have still been lost. He would have still been dead inside. Her innocence and devotion had freed his soul and made him whole again.

Clint found himself thinking of the future, and he knew that with Rachel by his side, life would always be worth living. He closed his eyes and sought sleep, cherishing this time of peace and renewal.

It was in the predawn hours that Rachel slowly came awake. She opened her eyes and stared at her husband. Her gaze traced his lean, handsome features, relaxed now as he slept, and then moved down lower to visually caress his broad, powerful shoulders and hair-roughened chest. She was tempted to reach out and touch him, but she held back, knowing he needed his rest.

Rachel’s heart swelled with love for him.
Whether he was Clint Williams or Kane McCullough, he was the man she had waited her whole life for. He was her love.

Rachel didn’t know what the future held for them, but she knew it would be bright as long as they were together. Their days would be filled with love—and so would their nights.

At the last thought, she smiled to herself.

“What are you grinning about?” Clint asked, waking to find her watching him and smiling.

His question startled her, for she’d thought he was sound asleep. She gave a soft laugh and purred as she rose up over him and fit herself boldly against him. “I was thinking about how exciting our life together is going be if every night is like this one.”

“So you’ve enjoyed yourself, have you?” he murmured, pressing heated kisses to her silken flesh.

Rachel didn’t bother to answer with words. She showed him how much she was enjoying this blissful time of loving him.

It was much later when they collapsed together, sated for the moment. Clint held Rachel close, cherishing her nearness as they rested.

“Clint,” she began slowly, not quite sure how to broach the subject. “Do you know what you want to do now that you’re done tracking the Tucker Gang?”

Clint had been wondering the same thing. After what had happened that fateful night, there
was no way he could go to live on his family’s ranch. The memories were too painful. He considered leaving the Rangers and possibly finding some other kind of work, but he knew he couldn’t.

Clint raised himself up on one elbow to look down at her as he answered, “I’m a Ranger, Rachel. It’s my calling. It always has been.”

“And you’ll be happy staying with the Rangers?”

“Yes—as long as I know I have you to come home to.”

Rachel looked up at him adoringly and lifted a hand to caress his cheek. She was proud of her Texas Ranger. A shiver went through her when he pressed a heated kiss to her palm. “Will Dry Springs be home?”

“Yes.” He wanted to keep her close to her family, so she wouldn’t be lonely during the times when he was away. “We can look for a place of our own in the morning. Although, we could stay here at the hotel and call this home—”

“But it’s only a—”

“Bedroom,” he said, and he bent down to kiss her once more.

Rachel giggled and returned his kiss. “I don’t think Michelle’s parents take on long-term boarders.”

“Too bad.” Clint was smiling.

“When will you contact your captain and let him know what happened here?”

“I’ll send him a telegram tomorrow. He’s waiting to hear from me, and I’m sure he’ll want to meet with me sometime soon so I can fill him in.”

“I hope it’s not too soon.” Rachel didn’t even want to start thinking about the times when they’d be apart—when he’d have to ride out, and she wouldn’t know where he was going or how long he’d be away.

“I’ll see what I can do about convincing him to give me some time off, since I just got married.”

“Ask him for a year or two,” she teased, giving him a seductive look.

“Do you think that would be long enough?” he asked ready to take her up on her unspoken invitation.

“We could try it and find out—if he agrees. What do you think?” She linked her arms around his neck and drew him down for a kiss.

“Knowing my captain, I think we’d better take advantage of every moment we have together, right now,” Clint murmured against her lips.