Lauri Robinson (6 page)

“Abigail?”

“Yes, you remember Abigail, your fiancée?”

He shook like a wet dog. “She’s not my fiancée. The woman is loco. Who told you she’s my fiancée?”

“She did.”

“I told you she was loco.” He stepped forward, held up one hand when she started to take another step back. “Hannah, I swear to you, I never asked Abigail to marry me. I’ve never asked any woman to marry me, and I hope to dear heaven I never ask another woman besides you.”

Like they had roots, her feet were stuck to the ground.

He took another step, reached out to caress her shoulders. “Hannah, please, what I said earlier is the God’s honest truth. I love you. And more than anything else on this earth, I want to marry you, only you.”

Chapter Seven

Adam held his breath, and watched the play of emotions ripple over her face.

Her gaze met his. Tears welled in the bottom of her eyes.

He pulled her to him, wrapped both arms around her. “Aw, sweetheart, I know you’ve had a hell of a time. I’m sure you don’t feel there is anyone out there you can trust.” His kissed the top of her head. “But I swear you can trust me, please give us a chance. I promise you won’t be disappointed.”

Her body began to move, her shoulders shook. He glanced down, sure she was crying again.

A wide smile met his. Happiness made her face even more beautiful and the sunlight made every golden hair on her head sparkle. The sight almost took his breath away. His heart began to race.

“Deal,” she said.

“What?”

She laughed. “Deal. I said you have a deal.”

With a shout that was sure to send the longhorns back their way, Adam lifted her into the air. She grasped his shoulders as he swung her around. When he set her back on her feet he lowered his face. Before their lips merged, he whispered, “I love you, Hannah Carlton, and I promise to make sure you never regret a day of our married life.”

The earth-shaking kiss vibrated his body, rocked his feet. Luckily, his legs were strong and kept them both from collapsing onto the hard ground. When their lips parted, she admitted, “And I love you, Sheriff McBride.”

That’s all it took, that simple declaration was enough to turn his muscles into mush. Holding her close, he tried to make their tumble to the ground soft, and broke her fall with his body.

She giggled and settled her lithe body atop his in the most enticing way. Softer than a butterfly, her moist, smiling, lips brushed across his. “Adam, don’t you think we should have the wedding before we lie together?”

He wasn’t sure whether she was teasing or not, but the word wedding was like a cold glass of water. He had to tell her about the inheritance. If he didn’t Evan would before he even had a chance to find Reverend Ostlund.

He took a moment to kiss her, long and demandingly, before he moved, repositioned so he sat on the ground with her on his lap. “Hannah?” he started.

“Hmm?” She snuggled her head into the crook of his neck. Tiny fingers continued to make streaks of fire lick the skin over his ribcage as she caressed his chest.

“When you marry me, you are going to become a very rich woman.”

She lifted her head, looked at him quizzically. “Adam, I’m not marrying you for your money. It really doesn’t matter to me.” A smile pricked at her lips before they touched his cheek. “For richer, for poorer,” she quoted.

He knew it. Love meant more than money. A dark cloud hovered over the thoughts as they formed. A deep sigh filled his lungs, telling him he needed to clarify his statement. “I don’t mean my money.”

She frowned.

“I have plenty, but—but when we get married, you will inherit a substantial fortune.”

Her spine became as stiff as a new board. “What are you talking about?”

“Your grandmother—”

“Died right after I was born,” she interrupted and rose to her feet.

He followed suit, brushed the dried grass from his backside. “Before she died, she made a will, you are the benefactor.”

Her face scrunched as she tried to digest what he said. “I’ve never heard anything about a will. Not even after my parents died. Why?”

“I don’t really know, but Evan said the banker in Paradise has the will. Has had it since your grandmother passed.”

“Buford Holmes? He’s the one who foreclosed on the farm.”

He reached out, took her hands. “No, not Buford, another banker, I think Evan said his name was Harold Jones.”

“Harold Jones? He’s as old as the hills. Everyone knows his mind is going, if not already gone. Why he’s rarely allowed in the bank, only when Buford has to go out of town.” She shook her head. “He doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”

“Evan was pretty convinced the man knew what he was talking about.”

“When did Evan talk with Harold?”

“They didn’t actually talk, but sent telegrams back and forth this morning.” He tried to tug her closer.

She remained where she was, stood stiff. “What else did Evan learn today?”

He didn’t like the way she looked at him, it was clear her feathers were ruffled. With a hard tug, he pulled her into his embrace and decided to tell her everything. “From what Evan learned, Buford Holmes found out about the will as soon as he became the banker. Right afterward is when his cousin, Nathaniel Kingston moved to town.”

A stunned looked covered her face. “Nathaniel and Buford are cousins?”

He nodded. “It appears the sheriff of Paradise is another cousin.”

She pressed her head to his chest. “No wonder it was so easy for him to take over the town.”

Relief flooded his system, happy to feel her relaxing in his arms. “A full investigation has been started. Don’t worry, we’ll find out the truth.”

It was a few moments before she said, “And if the truth discovers there is a will. Then what?”

She had once again gone stiff. “Then you inherit a substantial amount of money and property.”

Her hands slipped from his waist and she stepped back, peered up at him. “If there is a will, and I have money, I’ll have to leave.”

His heart skipped a beat. “Leave?”

She nodded. “Yes, I’ll have to return to Paradise.”

He didn’t like the sound of that. “No, I’m sure Evan can handle most of it through the mail.”

She shook her head. “No, I’ll have to return so I can take care of the town.”

It was his turn to stiffen. What the hell was it with woman today, thinking they needed to take care of a town? He rubbed his forehead. “What?”

She’d moved over to pick her hat up off the ground, fluffed the bent flowers. “I’ll have to go back to fix what Nathaniel ruined.” Her eyes popped open as if she just thought of something wonderful. “I’ll be able to re-open the school. Find another doctor to move to town…” The hat landed on her head at an odd angle, she straightened it as she added, “Oh, I’ll be able to help so many!”

Adam went cold. Had he really just asked this woman to marry him, she’d said yes, but now she was standing here, overly excited about the prospect of having money, moving back to Ohio, and helping others? Where did he fit into her plans?

Hannah hadn’t felt this joyous in ages. What a day. First Adam McBride vows his love for her then asks her to marry him, and she discovers she will have the means to help Paradise become the city it used to be. She rushed back to were he stood, wrapped her arms around his middle. “Oh, Adam, isn’t it wonderful?”

He hugged her back, but his body didn’t fold around her as it did earlier. She tilted her head to gaze up at his handsome face. It was unbelievable; a man this wonderful actually loved her. The thought made her head swirl.

His gaze met hers, but a twisted frown pulled on his face. “What? What’s so wonderful, Hannah?”

“All of it. You, me, us…” She had to pause. The heat of a blush covered her cheeks in a rush that took her breath away.

A thoughtful gaze filled his eyes. He rubbed a finger over her hot cheeks. “I think it’s time we head back to town.”

“Yes, yes of course.” She turned to move toward his horse. “Adam, do you happen to know where my cousins are working?”

“Yes, why?” He fell into step beside her.

“Because I’ll have to contact them.”

“Oh, why? Invite them to the wedding?”

“Yes, that too, but I need to tell them about the inheritance, they’ll want to return to Paradise, too.”

His answer was little more than a grunt as he mounted then pulled her up to sit in front of him. Her mind didn’t have time to worry about his stiff behavior; it was too busy thinking about all the people she’d help. Mrs. Miller would be the first. The elderly widow had always been so kind, and after the law was passed the church could no longer have pot luck suppers, she was sure Mrs. Miller never had a decent meal. And then there was the youngest Blain boy, Hobbs. The child needed a new pair of glasses since Nathaniel had broken the other pair after finding the boy peering in the mercantile’s front window. Oh and then there was Alice Temple, the poor girl had had a baby out of wedlock and the entire town had been ordered to stay away from her.

She leaned her head back, rested it on Adam’s shoulder. As soon as they arrived at Birdie’s she would have to make a list of all the people, and what she’d do for them. No, she wouldn’t—as soon as she arrived in town, she’d start planning her wedding. Her whole body felt like smiling.

A strong arm tightened its hold around her waist. She readily accepted the safety it provided. Even traveling at a gallop across the rough land didn’t fear her—not when Adam cradled her close. If she’d awoken this morning and said, “I think I shall agree to become Mrs. Adam McBride,” she would have laughed herself right out of bed—thought she’d completely lost her mind. But it had happened, and she couldn’t wait to get started living a new life with him. She sincerely hoped he would travel to Paradise with her. She needed to fix all the wrongs Nathaniel and Buford had caused, but she really didn’t want to be separated from Adam either.

****

It was still early afternoon when they arrived at the boarding house. Her stomach rumbled, reminding she hadn’t eaten since the morning before. She sighed at the memory, had it really been a mere twenty-four hours since Adam had cornered her at the front desk? Her life had completely turned around. Soon, she’d no longer be an outlaw, and she’d be married to the most wonderful man on earth.

The horse drew to a halt, and Adam slipped from the saddle. He reached up and folded his hands around her hips. She laid her hands on his shoulders as he lifted her down, but by the time her toes touched the ground, her arms were wrapped around his neck and her lips brushed his. She’d never have believed she could be so forward, but with Adam, it was so natural. And the way he responded to her touch made her heart race until blood surged through her veins like a river at flood stage.

When the kiss ended, she feared he might need to carry her up the front steps. Her legs were as useless as old ropes. She looked up, caught his gaze. His green eyes glistened, but something tugged at her heart. There wasn’t the sparkle she’d seen in them earlier, it was almost as if something was missing. A frown tugged on her brows. Did he have second thoughts about marrying her?

“You two get in the house,” Birdie’s whisper was harsh. “You can’t stand in the middle of the street doing such things.”

Adam turned, keeping one arm around her shoulder. “Yes, we can,” he said to his aunt as he moved them forward.

“Well, you shouldn’t make such a scene before the wedding,” Birdie huffed before she turned to lead them up the walk. The giggle floating around her wide frame told Hanah how happy the woman was about the occurrence.

Once in the house, Birdie left them alone in the front parlor.

Adam’s hand slipped off her shoulder, and she turned to gaze up at him. “I’ll go send a message to the ranch, let your cousins know the wedding will be tonight,” he said.

Hannah looked down at her dress, sucked in a quick breath. “Tonight?”

“Yes, tonight.” Adam folded his arms across his chest. He appeared slightly muffed. “You do remember you won’t get your inheritance until we’re married.”

She drew her face up in confusion. “Oh, yes, I guess you did say that.”

“So the sooner we get married, the sooner you get your money.” This time he sounded almost angry.

Was he upset because he thought she was only marrying him to get money? “Adam, it’s not the money, not my inheritance.” She held her skirt up for him to see the dark streaks on the front of her dress. “I left my carpet bag under that tree, before the stampede. I don’t have anything else to wear, and this dress is quite…dusty.”

His gaze bore onto her face, as if trying to read her mind.

She stepped forward, pressed her palms against his cheeks. There was no way she would let their marriage start out on the wrong foot. “Adam, I swear to you, I’m not marrying you for the money, neither yours, nor mine, if there truly is any. We don’t know there is an inheritance for sure yet. Harold Jones is quite old, he may be mistaken.”

He blinked a couple times then crushed her to his chest. “You’re right, you are so right. Forgive me. I didn’t know I was capable of jealousy.”

“Jealousy?” she questioned against the material of his shirt.

He leaned back. Her heart skipped a beat. The sparkle was back in his eyes. “Yes, jealousy.”

“Who are you jealous of?”

“Not who, but what. You were so excited about the thought of an inheritance, so happy about returning to Paradise. It made me jealous. I want to be the only thing that makes you smile like that.”

“You do make me smile.” She ran a finger over the softness of his mustache. “And I’m so happy to be marrying you. Matter of fact, when you told me about the money, all I could think about was making others as happy as I am right now. To me that meant returning to Paradise and righting all the wrongs Nathaniel created. I loved that town, and it was so hard to see so many people hurt.” She leaned up, kissed his warm lips. “But marrying you means much more. Please forgive me.”

“There’s nothing to forgive, my love.”

A thankful sigh escaped as she asked, “You will return to Paradise with me, won’t you?”

Chapter Eight