Lauri Robinson (8 page)

Tom nodded in agreement.

She smiled. “Thank you both very much for all you have done for me. I don’t know what I would have done without you this past year.”

“None of this explains how this marriage to Sheriff McBride came about,” Joe said after a moment of silence.

“I think it was fate.” Her cheeks felt like they were being pricked with a thousand pins. “I think I fell in love with him the day I arrived here.”

“Love at first sight?” Tom asked before he looked at Joe. “We always said you read too many of those dime novels Widow Miller got in the mail.”

“I know it’s hard to believe, but it’s even harder to explain. He’s…he’s wonderful,” she paused, searched for more of an explanation, “and he’s going to clear all of our names.”

Joe looked around the room. “So, where is Mr. Wonderful?”

A sad frown tugged at her face, and she pressed a hand to her chest. “Nathaniel broke out of jail. Adam and a posse rode out after him.”

“Kingston broke out of jail?” Tom let out a deep sigh. “I think you need to start over, explain things a little more thoroughly.”

She did, and tried with all her might to make the boys understand her rushed marriage, and the possible inheritance.

When she explained how they could all travel to Ohio together, Joe held up one hand. “Whoa up there, Hannah. Return to Ohio? Not on your life.”

She squinted. “What? Why wouldn’t you want to return to Paradise?”

The boys glanced at one another. Tom was the one to answer. “Why would we?”

“To right all the wrongs Nathaniel caused.”

“Those weren’t our fault, why should we have to fix them?” Joe asked.

“Because if there is an inheritance, and we have the means to help, we need to do it. It’s the right thing,” she tried to explain.

“Hannah, how is it you’ve always worried about others more than yourself? When are you going to realize you can’t fix everything? Nor do you have to.” Tom looked at Joe, as if he wanted his brother to agree with him.

Joe nodded. “Yeah, what happened in Paradise wasn’t your fault. The people of Paradise could have done something to stop it all.”

“They tried—” she started.

Joe interrupted, “No they didn’t. No one protested when Buford took over the bank, no one tried to stop Nathaniel from taking over the mercantile, and no one said anything when Sheriff Acer moved to town and got Alice Temple in the family way.”

“Well, they didn’t like it. People told me so all the time.”

“Yeah, they told you, but did they try to help themselves?” Tom asked.

She couldn’t believe her cousins were being so callous. They had always been such good and caring boys.

Joe stood up, walked over to kneel in front of her. “Hannah, the best thing you could do to help the town of Paradise is to tell them to stand up for themselves. Haven’t you looked around Blue Spring? Do you honestly think one person could move in here and take over like Kingston did in Paradise?”

She tossed the thought around in her mind.

Her cousin continued, “No, it wouldn’t happen. And do you want to know why? Because the town is strong. The folks here would bond together and send the newcomer back out on the same train he rode in on. An inheritance isn’t going to change Paradise.” He shrugged his shoulders. “If there is an inheritance, use it for yourself; use it to build your own foundation. Use it here, in Blue Spring.”

Her temples began to throb. She rubbed at them. “How do you know so much about Blue Spring? You’ve rarely been to town the past six weeks.”

“A man doesn’t have to be in town everyday to know it’s well run, to know it’s a place people want to live. One visit here clearly shows how happy everyone is.”

Her mind was swimming.

Joe patted her cheek. “Just think about what I said before you make a decision. And know Tom and I will always be here to help you.”

Tears pricked her eyes. She blinked against them. Through the tears she saw Tom step closer.

He put a hand on Joe’s shoulder, gave him a slight shove so he could kneel down in front of her to say, “Forget about the inheritance, Hannah. I have a more important question to ask you.”

She nodded, studying him.

“Do you really know what you’re getting yourself into by marrying a lawman?”

“What?”

“It’s not going to be easy. He’s the sheriff. There will be many days just like today, where his job will take him into danger. Can you live with that?”

The answer to his question was simple, and made the tears slip from her eyes. “I can’t live without him.”

****

The sun had long since set. A full moon and bright, twinkling stars led the posse into Blue Spring. Adam glanced down at his dust covered clothes. He’d have to take a bath, couldn’t show up at a wedding in this condition. Especially not
his
wedding. The vision of his bride-to-be had been with him throughout the long ride. His blood heated up ten degrees as he remembered how she’d ran down the stairs, the thin straps of her shift slipping off her shoulders…

He shook his head and repositioned his rump in the saddle. Damn, the wedding better be quick, he was wound tighter than a new lasso.

“We going straight to the jail?” One of the men asked. Adam’s mind was too jumbled to figure out which rider.

He glanced back to the horse tied by a lead rope to his, and gave the bound and gagged Kingston a disgusted look. Shit, he also had a prisoner to deal with before he could start heating water for a bath. Hell be damned but Abigail Christenson was right. He did need a deputy. A deep sigh left his chest as he answered with an unenthusiastic voice, “Yeah.”

Every window at Birdie’s was lit. Lanterns sat on the rail of the front porch, casting the front door with welcoming warmth. His entire frame went tight. The law had never interfered with his life before, and it had already interfered enough today. He pulled his horse up short. “Jake!” he shouted to his brother.

“Yeah?” His brother reined in next to him. “What’s up?”

“Go to my place and get my Sunday suit, will ya?”

The moon made Jake’s teeth glow as his lips pulled into a wide smile. He spurred his horse with enough gusto to stir up street dust, and shouted over his shoulder, “Sure will. Be right back.”

A smile tickled the edges of his mouth, made his mustache quiver as Adam turned about to search the posse for someone he could ask to take charge of Kingston. The bang of the screen door slamming drew his gaze from the crowd to the house.

His oldest brother, Cal walked down the steps. Adam nudged his horse to step closer to the yard. “What are you doing here?”

Cal let out a boom of a laugh. “Did you really think I’d miss your wedding?”

“I’d hoped,” Adam said with a grin. He’d teased his brothers quite mercilessly when they both hit the altar at a full run, and he really expected the same in return. Just really didn’t want to subject Hannah to it, their teasing could easily be mistaken for seriousness. He un-looped the lead rope from his saddle horn, threw it toward Cal. “But since you’re here, put yourself to use.”

Cal caught the rope, looked toward the horse Kingston sat on. “That’s Juan’s horse.”

“Yeah, he loaned it to us to bring the prisoner in. He and Lupe are on their way to town,” he glanced toward the house, “for the wedding.”

Cal looked at Kingston with disgust. “What do you want me to do with him?”

Adam had already dismounted, was pushing his way past his brother. “Use your imagination,” he said as he slapped Cal’s shoulder.

His feet picked up pace as he hit the stairs, taking them two at a time. He pulled open the door, scanned the dozens of people filling the boarding house from wall to wall. Glistening blonde hair and Sunday-morning, sky- blue eyes were no where in sight. His heart somersaulted.

“Don’t worry, she’s upstairs,” Birdie said as she grabbed his arm. “Come on, I got the tub ready for you.”

Her wide, ruffle-covered dress cleared a path through the crowd. He couldn’t keep up with responses to all the people patting his arms, shoulders, and back, exclaiming congratulations as he let her lead him to the stairs. The thought of a hot bath and clean clothes was appealing, but greatly overshadowed by the sight of the woman who seemed to magically appear at the top of the steps.

Somehow he was past Birdie, whether he leaped over her, or pushed her off the side of the railing, he didn’t quite know, nor did he care. His steps hit the landing, and his arms wrapped Hannah in an embrace nothing, nor anyone, could break.

Chapter Ten

Hannah melted into Adam’s arms. The way her head swooned and her heart thudded when she heard the posse ride into town had made her so dizzy, she was afraid she’d collapse. Still might. She pressed her cheek against his chest, once again thankful his arms were so solid and strong. They’d hold her up. Always would.

Fear she might never see him again had hung in the back of her mind like a dried up grape on an old vine since he’d ridden away. Now those fears seemed silly, impossible. She kneaded his back, ran her fingers along the solid muscles beneath his shirt. Tipping her head, she lifted it so she could see his face, gaze upon his reality.

Smiling lips, topped with that dark, soft mustache that so intrigued her, dipped down. When his mouth met hers it took her breath away with such quickness she wobbled. His arms tightened, crushing her to his massive frame as his kiss consumed her, mind, body, and soul.

She may never like the thought of him riding posse, of being the one on the front line on a daily basis, but she’d never tire of him coming home to her. Never tire of the overwhelming, indisputable, sense of joy and love his closeness ensued.

His tongue brushed over her lips, and as her mouth parted, opening to his, one vow floated through her mind before the sensations took over. She wanted to be here every time he came home, and as long as there was a breath in her body, she would be.

The roar of the crowd below finally drew them apart. His face lifted, and he hooted with glee to the mass of people at the foot of the stairs. She ignored the blood blistering her cheeks, and raised a hand, giving a happy wave to the wedding guests waiting for the event to begin.

He twisted her about, but before he began to guide her toward an open doorway, shouted over her head, “We’ll be back. Don’t start the ceremony without us!”

The crowd roared, and he gently pushed her into the closest room. A large tub with swirls of steam floating above it stood before her. A bit of bashfulness crept over her body. Nibbling on her bottom lip, Hannah turned to gaze at him as he shut the door.

“Hello, my sweet.”

Her knees wobbled. “H-hello.”

He stepped forward, wrapped a hand over her elbow, his gaze enveloping and pensive. “I thought I loved you, for the past six weeks you have been the center of my attention…”

The bones in her spine seemed to melt like ice on a summer day. He thought he loved her? A huge lump formed in her throat.

“But when I caught sight of you at the top of the stairs, it was like seeing an angel stepping down from heaven. If I were a miner, I’d call you the mother lode.” His arms folded around her shoulders, held her in a tender embrace. “I don’t just love you. I adore you.” He sighed and brought his hands up to frame her face. “I can’t even explain it, how you make me feel. Just promise me, promise me you’ll always be here when I come home.”

Happiness rocked her, made tears sting her eyes. Her breath caught as she whispered, “Forever.”

He kissed the tip of her nose. “We can leave tomorrow.”

“W-what? Leave?” She blinked.

He nodded, stepped back and began to unbutton his shirt. “Yes, leave. For Ohio. We don’t need to wait to hear if there is or isn’t an inheritance, I have enough money to help you,” he pulled the shirt open, “do whatever it is you need to do in Paradise.”

She stepped forward, laid a hand on his bare chest. The solid beat of his heart filled her palm. “I may have changed my mind about that.”

“May have?” He ran a fingertip along the side of her face.

She nodded and shrugged at the same time, still somewhat confused. “I have some more thinking to do about Paradise.” She slipped her hands down to tug the tail of his shirt out of his britches. “But I don’t want to think about Paradise, or an inheritance. Right now, I want you to get in that tub so we can get married.”

His hands went to her waist, floated up and down her sides in a gentle caress. “Well, whatever you decide is fine with me. My life is where you are.”

“And mine is wherever you are,” she whispered as their lips connected.

****

Hannah didn’t feel nervous, but she was excited. Anxious to get the ceremony over and the honeymoon started. She folded her hands together; there was no need to squeeze her cheeks, the thought of being Mrs. Adam McBride brought a warmth to her cheeks no amount of pinching could create. It had been only fifteen minutes since she’d left him in the bathing chamber, but here she stood, ready for her cousins to escort her down the aisle.

Adam had already walked into the parlor. She’d caught a quick glimpse of him from where Birdie stationed her in the dining room. As Mrs. Orson began to dance her hands over the keys of the small piano, music filled the room and Hannah ran a smoothing hand down the front of her silk dress. The ecru, pearl-encrusted gown was absolutely gorgeous. And so very impractical. There would never be another event she’d be able to wear the gown.

Her gaze slipped to Birdie. The woman smiled, but kept her hand held up, telling her to stay put. Josie and Emma, her soon-to-be sisters-in-law smiled and stepped forward as Birdie pointed to them. Birdie, as well as the women married to Adam’s brothers, had all insisted a wedding dress was made to never be worn again. It was a once in a lifetime ensemble. They all assured her she could tuck it away in a trunk, where it would await the day her and Adam’s daughter would wear it.

A new blush flushed her face. The boys stepped forward and took her arms as Birdie began to wave energetically their way. A giggle shook her shoulders, and she smiled to Tom and Joe before setting her feet into motion.