Authors: Jo Ann Ferguson
Just Her Type (26 page)
“What a shot, Bradfield!” gasped O'Grady.
Mackenzie looked at the gun in Luke's hand. It oozed smoke. “You killed him?”
“Integrity has its place,” he said grimly, “but so does a Colt. I love you, Mackenzie.” Memories of pain burning in his eyes became a vengeful smile as he looked past her to Rutherford's motionless body. “I'd be damned before I let anyone else I cared for be murdered by a two-bit thief.”
His mouth covered hers. The eager shouts of the cowhands did not intrude as she answered his passion with her own. She leaned her head against his chest, not wanting to move ever again.
“Great shooting,” said O'Grady with grudging admiration. “Didn't know you had it in you, Bradfield.”
When Connolly chuckled and slapped him on the back companionably, Mackenzie said, “And maybe, Connolly, you'll learn how unwise it is to burn the newspaper out.”
“You can't accuse me of that! You've got no proof!”
“No?” Her eyebrows arched. “I have all the proof I need.” When she saw his fingers clench near his pistols, she smiled. “It's about time you faced the facts. Nothing you or anyone else does will suppress the truth as long as I edit
The Bentonville Bugle
. Kill us. Then you'll be facing murder charges. How quickly do you think Aaron will go to the sheriff with the truth?”
Connolly shuffled his feet.
Mackenzie knew she was pushing hard. Perhaps too hard, for if Connolly was half as smart as Rutherford had been, he would realize he could hold the same threat over Luke's head. Saving her might not hold up in court, especially when Rutherford had been trying to keep himself from being lynched.
She hid her smile as Connolly asked, “How about if I send in some boys to help you rebuild? I'm not saying I had anything to do with the fire, but the town needs a newspaper. I'd like to help get you going again.”
“Help us rebuild, and I'll be a character witness at your trial. That you've tried to make reparations will weigh heavily in your favor.”
“My trial?” he choked. “After whatâ”
Luke laughed. “She's told you more than once she can't be bought.” He gave the shocked cattle baron no chance to answer as he asked, “Shall we go home, Mackenzie?”
Leaning her head against his shoulder, she whispered, “Yes. I never thought I'd be grateful to Rutherford, but you've missed your train again. We have two more days before you can catch the next train east.”
He brought her to face him as Connolly and O'Grady went to help their men disguise any sign of the attempted lynching before the sheriff arrived. “I know now you can't leave here.”
“I have an obligation to these people.”
“So I've seen tonight. I never realized Bentonville needs you more than you need it.”
She whispered, “If I could, I'd go with you in a moment, Luke.” Lowering her eyes shyly, she whispered, “We'd go with you.”
“I know, my love.” He smoothed her hair back from her face. “I've tried to imagine you living in Albany, but it's impossible. You're as much a part of this land as the mountains. If those rocky crags are the heart of Wyoming, you are its soul. I can't ask you to leave.”
“No.”
He touched her cheek. “You're crying, my love.” He enfolded her to him. “Let's go back to town. Douglas is waiting for us at the Benton House. Paid for by your buddy Connolly, by the way, who was trying to quiet his conscience. Horace can talk to you there.”
“All right.” A thousand things she wanted to say, but each one would begin with her telling him how she longed never to say good-bye to him. As he led her to where the dark silhouette of a buggy waited, she saw the garish brand of the Lazy Bar R Ranch on its side. She wondered if Aaron or Connolly had planned to steal it.
Luke handed her up and climbed in beside her. Picking up the reins, he said, “I have one stop to make before we go to the Benton House.”
“All right,” she whispered again.
“Not curious where?”
“Where?”
“The telegraph office. I have a couple of things to send to Carter.”
A sad smile pulled at her taut lips as tears bubbled from her eyes. “I told you this would make a great ending to your series.”
“Probably, but I'll be writing it for you ⦠if you'll hire an old printer's devil for the
Bugle.
”
“You're staying?”
He laughed. “I'm sending my resignation to Carter along with my last article.”
“But, Luke, you said you wanted to see more of the world. You saidâ”
He placed his finger against her lips. Pulling back on the reins, he stopped the buggy and brought her into his arms. “I said many things, and I meant them, but, after what I've learned in the past day, I think it'll take me the rest of my life to explore this corner of Wyoming and fight all the battles to be won here. I'd like to spend that life with you, my love. What does one have to do to get hitched in this state?”
“Hitched? You mean, married?”
Again he laughed. “I really want my child to share our name. I think, after the print shop is rebuilt, I'd like to try my hand at painting the new sign to read
The Bentonville Bugle
, Luke and Mackenzie Bradfield, proprietors. How does that sound?”
“âMackenzie and Luke Bradfield',” she returned saucily. “Editor in chief's name first. Managing editor next.”
“Managing editor?”
She laughed. “I think you deserve a promotion to make up for the one you won't be getting in Albany. Quite a jump from being the printer's devil to managing editor.”
“You're the most irritating woman I've ever met.” With a husky growl, he pressed her back against the carriage seat and seared her lips with his desire. A desire she would savor as they fought their battles at the helm of
The Bentonville Bugle
. It was the perfect closing to a story she had yearned to write from the moment he had entered her life.
All rights reserved, including without limitation the right to reproduce this ebook or any portion thereof in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Copyright ©1999 by Jo Ann Ferguson
Cover design by Neil Alexander Heacox
ISBN: 978-1-5040-0892-1
Distributed in 2015 by Open Road Distribution
345 Hudson Street
New York, NY 10014
